This narrative is taken from Eyrbyggia Saga, which contains the early
history of that part of Iceland lying around Snæfells, on the west
coast. The Saga is not of a later date than the thirteenth century. It
is given here, not because it applies largely to the question under
consideration, the pre-Columbian discovery of America, but rather
because it will make the reader fully acquainted with the hero, who
afterwards appears.
* * * * *
Bork the Fat, and Thordis, daughter of Sur, had a daughter named Thurid,
who married Thorbiörn the Fat, living on the estate of Froda. He was a
son of Orne the Lean, who held and tilled the farm of Froda. Thorbiörn
had before been married to Thurid, daughter of Asbrand, of Kamb, in
Breidavik, and sister of Biörn Breidaviking the Athlete, soon to be
mentioned in this Saga, and of Arnbiörn the Handy. The sons of Thorbiörn
and Thurid, were Ketil the Champion, Gunnlaug and Hallstein.
Now this must be related of Snorre the Priest,[226] that he undertook
the suit for the slaying of Thorbiörn, his kinsman. He also caused his
sister to remove to his own home, at Helgefell, because it was reported
that Biörn Asbrand, of Kamb, had come to pay her improper attention.
There was a man named Thorodd, of Medalfells Strand, an upright man and
a good merchant. He owned a trading vessel in which he sailed to distant
lands. Thorodd had sailed to the west,[227] to Dublin, on a trading
voyage. At that time, Sigurd[228] Hlodverson, Earl of the Orkneys, had
made an expedition towards the west, to the Hebrides and the Man, and
had laid a tribute upon the habitable part of Man. Having settled the
peace, he left men to collect the tribute; the earl himself returned to
the Orkneys. Those who were left to collect the tribute, got all ready
and set sail with a southwest wind. But after they had sailed some time,
to the southeast and east, a great storm arose, which drove them to the
northward as far as Ireland, and their vessel was cast away on a barren,
uninhabited island. Just as they reached the island, Thorodd the
Icelander came sailing by from Dublin. The shipwrecked men begged for
aid. Thorodd put out a boat and went to them himself. When he reached
them, the agents of Sigurd promised him money if he would carry them to
their home in the Orkneys. When he told them that he could by no means
do so, as he had made all ready to go back to Iceland, they begged the
harder, believing that neither their money nor their liberty would be
safe in Ireland or the Hebrides, whither they had just before been with
a hostile army. At length Thorodd came to this, that he would sell them
his ship's long-boat for a large sum of the tribute money; in this they
reached the Orkneys, and Thorodd sailed to Iceland without a boat.
Having reached the southern shores of the island, he laid his course
along the coast to the westward, and entered Breidafiord, and came to
the harbor at Dögurdarness. The same autumn he went to Helgefell to
spend the winter with Snorre the Priest; and from that time he was
called Thorodd the Tribute Taker. This took place just after the murder
of Thorbiörn the Fat. During the same winter, Thurid, the sister of
Snorre the Priest, who had been the wife of Thorbiörn the Fat, was at
Helgefell. Thorodd made proposals of marriage to Snorre the Priest, with
respect to Thurid. Being rich, and known by Snorre to be of good repute,
and that he would be useful in supporting his administration of affairs,
he consented. Therefore their marriage was celebrated during this
winter, at Snorre's house, at Helgefell. In the following spring,
Thorodd set himself up at Froda, and was thought an upright man. But
when Thurid went to Froda, Biörn Asbrandson often paid her visits, and
it was commonly reported that he had corrupted her chastity. Thorodd
vainly tried to put an end to these visits. At that time Thorodd Wooden
Clog lived at Arnahval. His sons, Ord and Val were men grown and youths
of the greatest promise. The men blamed Thorodd for allowing himself to
be insulted so greatly by Biörn, and offered him their aid, if desired,
to end his coming. It chanced one time when Biörn came to Froda, that he
sat with Thurid talking. It was Thorodd's custom when Biörn was there to
sit in the house. But he was now nowhere to be seen. Then Thurid said,
"Take care, Biörn, for I fear Thorodd means to put a stop to your visits
here; I think he has secured the road, and means to attack you, and
overpower you with unequal numbers." Biörn replied, "That is possible,"
and then sang these verses:
O Goddess[229] whom bracelet adorns,
This day (I linger
In my beloved's arms)
Stay longest in the heavens,
As we both must wish;
For I this night am drawn
To drink myself the parentals[230]
Of my oft-departing joys.
Having done this, Biörn took his weapons, and went to return home. As he
went up the hill Digramula, five men jumped out upon him from their
hiding place. These were Thorodd and two of his men, and the sons of
Thoror Wooden Clog. They attacked Biörn, but he defended himself bravely
and well. The sons of Thoror pressed him sharply, but he slew them both.
Thorodd then fled with his men, though he himself had only a slight
wound, and the others not any. Biörn went on until he reached home, and
entered the house. The lady of the house[231] ordered a maid to place
food before him. When the maid came into the room with the light, and
saw Biörn wounded, she went and told Asbrand his father, that Biörn had
returned, covered with blood. Asbrand came into the room, and inquired
what was the cause of his wounds. He said, "Have you and Thorodd had a
fight!" Biörn replied that it was so. Asbrand asked how the affair
ended. Biörn replied with these verses:
Not so easy against a brave man
It is to fight;
(Wooden Clog's two sons
Now I have slain).
As for the ship's commander,
A woman to embrace,
Or for the cowardly,
A golden tribute to buy.[232]
Asbrand bound up his son's wounds, and his strength was soon restored.
Thorodd went to Snorre the Priest, to talk with him about setting a suit
on foot against Biörn, on account of the killing of Thoror's sons. This
suit was laid in the court of Thorsnesthing. It was settled that
Asbrand, who became surety for his son, should pay the usual fines.
Biörn was exiled for three years,[233] and went abroad the same summer.
During that summer, a son was born to Thurid, who was called Kiarten. He
grew up at home, in Froda, and early gave great hope and promise.
When Biörn crossed the sea he came into Denmark, and went thence to
Jomsberg. At that time, Palnatoki was captain of the Jomsberg[234]
Vikings. Biörn was admitted into the crew, and won the name of the
Athlete. He was at Jomsberg when Styrbiörn the Hardy, assaulted it. He
went into Sweden, when the Jomsberg Vikings aided Styrbiörn;[235] he
was in the battle of Tynsvall, in which Styrbiörn was killed, and
escaped with the other Joms-vikings in the woods. While Palnatoki lived,
Biörn remained with him, distinguished among all, as a man of remarkable
courage.
The same summer [A. D. 996.] the brothers, Biörn and Arnbiörn returned
into Iceland to Rönhavnsos. Biörn was always afterwards called the
Athlete of Breidavik. Arnbiörn, who had gotten much wealth abroad,
bought the Bakka estate in Raunhavn, the same summer. He lived there
with little show or ostentation, and in most affairs was silent, but
was, nevertheless, a man active in all things. Biörn, his brother, after
his return from abroad, lived in splendor and elegance, for during his
absence, he had truly adopted the manners of courtiers. He much excelled
Arnbiörn in personal appearance, and was none the less active in
execution. He was far more expert than his brother in martial exercises,
having improved much abroad. The same summer after his return, there was
a general meeting near Headbrink,[236] within the bay of Froda. All the
merchants rode thither, clothed in colored garments, and there was a
great assembly. Housewife Thurid, of Froda, was there, with whom Biörn
began to talk; no one censuring, because they expected their
conversation would be long, as they had not seen each other for a great
while. On the same day there was a fight, and one of the Nordenfield men
was mortally wounded, and was carried down under a bush on the beach; so
much blood flowed out of the wound, that there was a large pool of blood
in the bush. The boy Kiarten, Thurid of Froda's son, was there; he had a
little axe in his hand, and ran to the bush and dipped the axe in the
blood. When the Sondensfield's men rode from the beach south, Thord Blig
asked Biörn how the conversation between him and Thurid of Froda, ended.
Biörn said that he was well satisfied. Then Thord asked if he had seen
the boy Kiarten, their and Thorodd's son. "I saw him," said Biörn: "What
is your opinion of him?" asked Thord. Biörn answered with the following
song:
"I saw a boy run
With fearful eyes,
The woman's image, to
The wolf's well[237] in the wood;
People will say,
That his true father [was]
He that ploughed the sea,
This the boy does not know."
Thord said: "What will Thorodd say when he hears that the boy belongs to
you?" Then Biörn sung:
"Then will the noble born woman [make]
Thorodd's suspicion
Come true, when she gives me
The same kind of sons;
Always the slender,
Snow-white woman loved me,
I still to her
Am a lover."
Thord said, it will he best for you not to have anything to do with each
other, and that you turn your thoughts. "It is certainly a good idea,"
said Biörn, "but it is far from my intention; though there is some
difference when I have to do with such men as her brother Snorre." "You
must take care of your own business," said Thord, and that ended their
talk. Biörn afterwards went home to Kamb, and took the affairs of the
family into his own hands, for his father was now dead. The following
winter he determined to make a journey over the hills, to Thurid.
Although Thorodd disliked this, he nevertheless saw that it was not easy
to prevent its occurrence, since before he was defeated by him, and
Biörn was much stronger, and more skilled in arms than before. Therefore
he bribed Thorgrim Galdrakin to raise a snow storm against Biörn when he
crossed the hills. When a day came, Biörn made a journey to Froda. When
he proposed to return home, the sky was dark and the snow storm began.
When he ascended the hills, the cold became intense, and the snow fell
so thickly that he could not see his way. Soon the strength of the storm
increased so much that he could hardly walk. His clothes, already wet
through, froze around his body, and he wandered, he did not know where.
In the course of the night he reached a cave, and in this cold house he
passed the night. Then Biörn sung:
"Woman that bringest
Vestments,[238] would
Not like my
Dwelling in such a storm
If she knew that
He who before steered ships,
Now in the rock cave
Lay stiff and cold."
Again he sang:
"The cold field of the swans,
From the east with loaded ship I ploughed,
Because the woman inspired me with love;
I know that I have great trouble suffered,
And now, for a time, the hero is,
Not in a woman's bed, but in a cave."
Biörn stayed three days in the cave, before the storm subsided; and on
the fourth day he came home from the mountain to Kamb. He was very
weary. The domestic asked him where he was during the storm. Biörn sung:
"My deeds under
Styrbiörn's proud banner are known.
It came about that steel-clad Eric
Slew men in battle;
Now I on the wide heath,
Lost my way [and],
Could not in the witch-strong
Storm, find the road."[239]
Biörn passed the rest of the winter at home; the following spring his
brother Arnbiörn fixed his abode in Bakka, in Raunhafn, but Biörn lived
at Kamb, and had a grand house....
This same summer, Thorodd the Tribute Taker invited Snorre the Priest,
his kinsman, to a feast at his house in Froda. Snorre went there with
twenty men. In the course of the feast, Thorodd told Snorre how much he
was hurt and disgraced by the visits of Biörn Asbrandson, to Thurid, his
wife, Snorre's sister, saying that it was right for Snorre to do away
with this scandal. Snorre after passing some days feasting with Thorodd
went home with many presents. Then Snorre the Priest rode over the hills
and spread the report that he was going down to his ship in the bay of
Raunhafn. This happened in summer, in the time of haymaking. When he had
gone as far south as the Kambian hills, Snorre said: "Now let us ride
back from the hills to Kamb; let it be known to you," he added, "what I
wish to do. I have resolved to attack and destroy Biörn. But I am not
willing to attack and destroy him in his house, for it is a strong one,
and Biörn is stout and active, while our number is small. Even those who
with greater numbers, have attacked brave men in their houses, have
fared badly; an example of which you know in the case of Gissur the
White; who, when with eighty men, they attacked Gunnar[240] of Lithend,
alone in his house, many were wounded and many were killed, and they
would have been compelled to give up the attack, if Geir the Priest had
not learned that Gunnar was short of arrows. Therefore," said he, "as we
may expect to find Biörn out of doors, it being the time of haymaking, I
appoint you my kinsman, Mar, to give him the first wound; but I would
have you know this, that there is no room for child's play, and you must
expect a contest with a hungry wolf, unless your first wound shall be
his death blow." As they rode from the hills towards his homestead, they
saw Biörn in the fields; he was making a sledge,[241] and no one was
near him. He had no weapon but a small axe, and a large knife in his
hand of a span's length, which he used to round the holes in the sledge.
Biörn saw Snorre riding down from the hills, and recognized them. Snorre
the Priest had on a blue cloak, and rode first. The idea suddenly
occurred to Biörn, that he ought to take his knife and go as fast as he
could to meet them, and as soon as he reached them, lay hold of the
sleeve of Snorre with one hand, and hold the knife in the other, so that
he might be able to pierce Snorre to the heart, if he saw that his own
safety required it. Going to meet them, Biörn gave them hail; and Snorre
returned the salute. The hands of Mar fell, for he saw that if he
attacked Biörn, the latter would at once kill Snorre. Then Biörn walked
along with Snorre and his comrades, asked what was the news, keeping his
hands as at first. Then he said: "I will not try to conceal, neighbor
Snorre, that my present attitude and look seem threatening to you, which
might appear wrong, but for that I have understood that your coming is
hostile. Now I desire that if you have any business to transact with me,
you will take another course than the one you intended, and that you
will transact it openly. If none, I will that you make peace, which when
done, I will return to my work, as I do not wish to be led about like a
fool." Snorre replied: "Our meeting has so turned out that we shall at
this time part in the same peace as before; but I desire to get a pledge
from you, that from this time you will leave off visiting Thurid,
because if you go on in this, there can never be any real friendship
between us." Biörn replied: "This I will promise, and will keep it; but
I do not know how I shall be able to keep it, so long as Thurid and I
live in the same land." "There is nothing so great binding you here,"
said Snorre, "as to keep you from going to some other land." "What you
now say is true," replied Biörn, "and so let it be, and let our meeting
end with this pledge, that neither you nor Thorodd shall have any
trouble from my visits to Thurid, in the next year." With this they
parted. Snorre the Priest rode down to his ship, and then went home to
Helgefell. The day after, Biörn rode south to Raunhafn, and engaged his
passage in a ship for the same summer. [A. D. 999.] When all was ready
they set sail with a northeast wind which blew during the greater part
of that summer. Nothing was heard of the fate of the ship for a very
long time.[242]