Eirik the Reds Saga | Page 8

(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.
7. During this time much talk took place in Brattahlid about making

ready to go to Vinland the Good, and it was asserted that they would
there find good choice lands. The discourse came to such conclusion
that Karlsefni and Snorri prepared their ship, with the intention of
seeking Vinland during the summer. Bjarni and Thorhall ventured on
the same expedition, with their ship and the retinue which had
accompanied them. [There was a man named Thorvard; he married
Freydis, natural daughter of Eirik the Red; he set out with them
likewise, as also Thorvald, a son of Eirik.] There was a man named
Thorvald; he was a son-in-law[B] of Eirik the Red. Thorhall was called
the Sportsman; he had for a long time been Eirik's companion in
hunting and fishing expeditions during the summers, and many things
had been committed to his keeping. Thorhall was a big man, dark, and
of gaunt appearance; rather advanced in years, overbearing in temper,
of melancholy