This version is from _Codex Flatöiensis_, and is given in _Antiquitates
Americanæ_, pp. 47-55. The expedition was wholly unsuccessful, and the
leader finally died without reaching the desired land. One cannot help
feeling, notwithstanding the marvellous events recorded, that the basis
of this account, is formed of solid fact. The main narrative is not one
likely to have been invented by an impostor.
* * * * *
In the meantime it had happened in Greenland, that Thorstein of
Ericsfiord had married, and taken to wife, [A. D. 1005.] Gudrid, the
daughter of Thorbiorn, who had been married, as before related, to
Thorer, the Eastman.[137] Thorstein Ericsson bethought him now, that he
would go to Vinland, for his brother Thorvald's body. He rigged out the
same vessel, and chose an able and stout crew. He had with him,
twenty-five men, and his wife Gudrid; and as soon as they were ready he
put to sea, and they quickly lost sight of the land. They drove about on
the ocean the whole summer, without knowing where they were; and in the
first week of winter,[138] they landed at Lysifiord in Greenland, in the
western settlement. Thorstein looked for lodgings for his men, and got
his whole ship's crew accommodated, but not himself and wife; so that
for some nights they had to sleep on board. At that time Christianity
was but recent in Greenland. One day, early in the morning, some men
came to their tent, and the leader asked them what people were in the
tent? Thorstein replies, "Two; who is it that asks?" "Thorstein," was
the reply, "and I am called Thorstein the Black, and it is my errand
here, to offer thee and thy wife lodging beside me." Thorstein said he
would speak to his wife about it; and as she gave her consent, he agreed
to it. "Then I shall come for you to-morrow with my horses,[139] for I
do not want means to entertain you; but few care to live in my house,
for I and my wife live lonely, and I am very melancholy. I have also a
different religion[140] from yours, although I think the one you have,
the best." Now the following morning he came for them with horses; and
they took up their abode with Thorstein Black, who was very friendly
towards them. Gudrid had a good outward appearance, and was knowing, and
understood well how to behave with strangers. Early in the winter, a
sickness prevailed among Thorstein Ericsson's people, and many of his
ship men died. He ordered that coffins should be made for the bodies of
the dead, and that they should be brought on board, and stowed away
carefully; for he said, "I will transport all the bodies to Ericsfiord
in summer." It was not long before sickness broke out in Thorstein
Black's house, and his wife, who was called Grimhild, fell sick first.
She was very stout, and as strong as a man, but yet she could not bear
up against the illness. Soon after, Thorstein Ericksson also fell sick,
and they both lay ill in bed at the same time; but Grimhild, Thorstein
Black's wife died first. When she was dead, Thorstein went out of the
room for a skin to lay over the corpse. Then Gudrid said, "My dear
Thorstein, be not long away;" which he promised. Then said Thorstein
Ericsson, "Our housewife is wonderful, for she raises herself up with
her elbows, moves herself forward over the bed-frame, and is feeling for
her shoes." In the same moment, Thorstein the Goodman, came back, and
instantly, Grimhild laid herself down, so that it made every beam that
was in the house, crack. Thorstein now made a coffin for Grimhild's
corpse, removed it outside, and buried it. He was a stout and strong
man, but it required all his strength to remove the corpse from the
house. Now Thorstein Ericsson's illness increased upon him, and he died,
which Gudrid his wife took with great grief. They were all in the room,
and Gudrid had set herself upon a stool before the bench on which her
husband Thorstein's body lay. Now Thorstein the goodman took Gudrid from
the stool in his arms, and set himself with her upon a bench just
opposite to Thorstein's body,[141] and spoke much with her. He consoled
her, and promised to go with her in summer to Ericsfiord, with her
husband Thorstein's corpse, and those of his crew. "And," said he, "I
shall take with me many servants to console and assist." She thanked him
for this. Thorstein Ericsson then raised himself up and said, "Where is
Gudrid?" And thrice he said this; but she was silent. Then she said to
Thorstein the Goodman, "Shall I give answer or not?" He told her not to
answer. Then went Thorstein the Goodman across the room, and sat down in
a chair, and Gudrid set herself on his knee; and Thorstein the Goodman
said: "What wilt thou make known?" After a while the corpse replies, "I
wish to tell Gudrid her fate beforehand, that she may be the better able
to bear my death; for I have come to a blessed resting place. And this I
have now to tell thee, Gudrid, that thou wilt be married to an Iceland
man, and ye will live long together; and from you will descend many men,
brave, gallant and wise, and a well pleasing race of posterity. Ye shall
go from Greenland to Norway, and from thence to Iceland, where ye shall
dwell. And long will ye live together, but thou wilt survive him; and
then thou shalt go abroad, and go southwards, and shall return to thy
home in Iceland. And there must a church be built, and thou must remain
there and be consecrated a nun, and there end thy days."[142] And then
Thorstein sank backwards, and his corpse was put in order and carried to
the ship. Thorstein the Goodman did all that he had promised. He sold in
spring [A. D. 1006.] his land and cattle, and went with Gudrid and all
her goods; made ready the ship, got men for it, and then went to
Ericsfiord. The body was buried at the church.[143] Gudrid went to
Leif's at Brattahlid, and Thorstein the Black took his abode in
Ericsfiord, and dwelt there as long as he lived; and was reckoned an
able man.