6. There was a man named Thorfinn Karlsefni, son of Thord Horsehead,
who dwelt in the north (of Iceland), at Reynines in Skagafjordr, as it
is now called. Karlsefni was a man of good family, and very rich. His
mother's name was Thorun. He engaged in trading journeys, and seemed a
goodly, bold, and gallant traveller. One summer Karlsefni prepared his
ship, intending to go to Greenland. Snorri, Thorbrand's son, from
Alptafjordr, resolved to travel with him, and there were thirty men in
the company. There was a man named Bjarni, Grimolf's son, a man of
Breidafjordr (Broadfirth); another called Thorhall, son of Gamli, a
man from the east of Iceland. They prepared their ship the very same
summer as Karlsefni, with intent also to go to Greenland. They had in
the ship forty men. The two ships launched out into the open sea as
soon as they were ready. It is not recorded how long a voyage they
had. But, after this, I have to tell you that both these ships came to
Eiriksfjordr about autumn. Eirik rode down to the ships with other men
of the land, and a market-fair was promptly instituted. The captains
invited Gudrid to take such of the merchandise as she wished, and
Eirik displayed on his part much magnificence in return, inasmuch as
he invited both these ships' companies home with him to pass the
winter in Brattahlid. The merchants accepted the invitation, and went
home with Eirik. Afterwards their merchandise was removed to
Brattahlid, where a good and large outhouse was not lacking in which
to store the goods. The merchants were well pleased to stay with Eirik
during the winter. When now Yule was drawing nigh, Eirik began to look
more gloomy than he was wont to be. Presently Karlsefni entered into
conversation with him, and said, "Art thou in trouble, Eirik? it
appears to me that thou art somewhat more taciturn than thou hast
been; still thou helpest us with much liberality, and we are bound to
reward thee according as we have means thereto. Say now what causes
thy cheerlessness." Eirik answered, "You receive hospitality well, and
like worthy men. Now, I have no mind that our intercourse together
should be expensive to you; but so it is, that it will seem to me an
ill thing if it is heard that you never spent a worse Yule than this,
just now beginning, when Eirik the Red entertained you at Brattahlid,
in Greenland." Karlsefni answered, "It must not come to such a pass;
we have in our ships malt, meal, and corn, and you have right and
title to take therefrom whatever you wish, and to make your
entertainment such as consorts with your munificence." And Eirik
accepted the offer. Then was preparation made for the Yule-feast, and
so magnificent was it that the men thought they had scarcely ever seen
so grand a feast. And after Yule, Karlsefni broached to Eirik the
subject of a marriage with Gudrid, which he thought might be under
Eirik's control, and the woman appeared to him to be both beautiful
and of excellent understanding. Eirik answered and said, that for his
part he would willingly undertake his suit, and said, moreover, that
she was worthy of a good match. It is also likely, he thought, that
she will be following out her destiny, should she be given to him;
and, moreover, the report which comes to me of him is good. The
proposals were now laid before her, and she allowed the marriage with
her to be arranged which Eirik wished to promote. However, I will not
now speak at length how this marriage took place; the Yule festival
was prolonged and made into a marriage-feast. Great joy was there in
Brattahlid during the winter. Much playing at backgammon and telling
of stories went on, and many things were done that ministered to the
comfort of the household.
Eirik the Red's Saga
by Anonymous
Chapter 5 <<<
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