The Vinland Sagas by Leifur Eiricksson

Author:Leifur Eiricksson [Kunz, Keneva; Sigurðsson, Gísli]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141991559
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2019-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

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Thorgeir Vifilsson took as his wife Arnora, the daughter of Einar of Laugarbrekka, the son of Sigmund, son of Ketil Thistle who had claimed land in Thistilfjord.

Einar had another daughter named Hallveig. She was married to Thorbjorn Vifilsson and was given land at Laugarbrekka, at Hellisvellir. Thorbjorn moved his household there and became a man of great worth. He ran a prosperous farm and lived in grand style. Gudrid was the name of Thorbjorn’s daughter. She was the most attractive of women and one to be reckoned with in all her dealings.

A man named Orm farmed at Arnarstapi. His wife was named Halldis. Orm was a good farmer and a great friend of Thorbjorn’s. The couple fostered Gudrid, who spent long periods of time there.

A man named Thorgeir farmed at Thorgeirsfell. He was very rich in livestock and was a freed slave. He had a son named Einar, a handsome and capable man, with a liking for fine dress. Einar went on trading voyages abroad, at which he was quite successful, and he usually spent the winters in Iceland and Norway by turn.

It is said that one autumn, when Einar was in Iceland, he travelled with his goods out to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, intending to sell them. He came to Arnarstapi and Orm invited him to stay with them, which Einar accepted, as friendship was included in the bargain. Einar’s goods were placed in a shed. He took them out to show to Orm and his household, and asked Orm to choose as much as he wished for himself. Orm accepted and praised Einar as both a merchant of good repute and man of great fortune. While they were occupied with the goods a woman passed in front of the shed doorway.

Einar asked Orm who this beautiful woman was who had passed in front of the doorway – ‘I haven’t seen her here before.’

Orm said, ‘That is Gudrid, my foster-daughter, the daughter of the farmer Thorbjorn of Laugarbrekka.’

Einar spoke: ‘She’d make a fine match. Or has anyone already turned up to ask for her hand?’

Orm answered, ‘She’s been asked for right enough, my friend, but is no easy prize. As it turns out, she is choosy about her husband, as is her father as well.’

‘Be that as it may,’ Einar spoke, ‘she’s the woman I intend to propose to, and I would like you to put my proposal to her father, and if you do your best to support my suit I’ll repay you with the truest of friendship. Farmer Thorbjorn should see that we’d be well connected, as he’s a man of high repute and has a good farm, but I’m told his means have been much depleted. My father and I lack neither land nor means, so we’d be a considerable support to Thorbjorn if the match were concluded.’

Orm answered, ‘Though I think of myself as your friend, I’m not eager to breach the question with him, for Thorbjorn is prone to take offence, and a man with no small sense of his own worth.

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