Eirik the Reds Saga | Page 3

in Iceland, he proceeded with his wares
along Snoefellsnes, with the object of selling; he came to Arnarstapi;
Orm invited him to stay there, and Einar accepted his invitation,
because there was friendship between him and Orm's people, and his
wares were earned into a certain outhouse. There he unpacked his
merchandise, showed it to Orm and the housemen, and bade Orm take
therefrom such things as he would. Orm accepted the offer, and
pronounced Einar to be a goodly gallant traveller, and a great favourite
of fortune. When now they were busy with the wares, a woman passed
before the door of the outhouse; and Einar inquired of Orm who that
fair woman might be, passing before the door. "I have not seen her here
before," said he. "That is Gudrid, my foster-child," said Orm, "daughter
of Thorbjorn the franklin, from Laugarbrekka." "She must be a good
match," said Einar; "surely she has not been without suitors who have
made proposals for her, has she?" Orm answered, "Proposals have
certainly been made, friend, but this treasure is not to be had for the

picking up; it is found that she will be particular in her choice, as well
as also her father." "Well, in spite of that," quoth Einar, "she is the
woman whom I have it in my mind to propose for, and I wish that in
this suit of mine you approach her father on my part, and apply yourself
to plead diligently[A] for me, for which I shall pay you in return a
perfect friendship. The franklin, Thorbjorn, may reflect that our
families would be suitably joined in the bonds of affinity; for he is a
man in a position of great honour, and owns a fine abode, but his
personal property, I am told, is greatly on the decrease; neither I nor my
father lack lands or personal property; and if this alliance should be
brought about, the greatest assistance would accrue to Thorbjorn."
Then answered Orm, "Of a surety I consider myself to be thy friend,
and yet am I not willing to bring forward this suit, for Thorbjorn is of a
proud mind, and withal a very ambitious man." Einar replied that he
desired no other thing than that his offer of marriage should be made
known. Orm then consented to undertake his suit, and Einar journeyed
south again until he came home. A while after, Thorbjorn had a
harvest-feast, as he was bound to have because of his great rank. There
were present Orm, from Arnarstapi, and many other friends of
Thorbjorn. Orm entered into conversation with Thorbjorn, and told him
how that Einar had lately been to see him from Thorgeirsfjall, and was
become a promising man. He now began the wooing on behalf of Einar,
and said that an alliance between the families would be very suitable on
account of certain interests. "There may arise to thee, franklin," he said,
"great assistance in thy means from this alliance." But Thorbjorn
answered, "I did not expect the like proposal from thee, that I should
give my daughter in marriage to the son of a thrall. And so thou
perceivest that my substance is decreasing; well, then, my daughter
shall not go home with thee, since thou considerest her worthy of so
poor a match." Then went Orm home again, and each of the other
guests to his own household, and Gudrid remained with her father, and
stayed at home that winter.
[Footnote A: The word "alendu" is a difficulty. Perhaps we ought to
read "allidnu," or "allidinu."]
Now, in the spring, Thorbjorn made a feast to his friends, and a goodly

banquet was prepared. There came many guests, and the banquet was
of the best. Now, at the banquet, Thorbjorn called for a hearing, and
thus spake:--"Here have I dwelt a long time. I have experienced the
goodwill of men and their affection towards me, and I consider that our
dealings with one another have been mutually agreeable. But now do
my money matters begin to bring me uneasiness, although to this time
my condition has not been reckoned contemptible. I wish, therefore, to
break up my household before I lose my honour; to remove from the
country before I disgrace my family. So now I purpose to look after the
promises of Eirik the Red, my friend, which he made when we
separated at Breidafjordr. I purpose to depart for Greenland in the
summer, if events proceed as I could wish." These tidings about this
design appeared to the guests to be important, for Thorbjorn had long
been beloved by his friends. They felt that he would only have made so
public a declaration that it might be held of no avail to attempt to
dissuade him from his purpose. Thorbjorn distributed