The king--"Thou, who art a far-travelled man, wilt now have an
opportunity of seeing Greenland, if thou hast never been there before."
At first Thorarin did not say much about it; but as the king insisted
on his wish he did not entirely decline, but said, "I will let you hear,
king, what my desire would have been had I gained the wager. It would
have been to be received into your body of court-men; and if you
will grant me that, I will be the more zealous now in fulfilling your
pleasure." The king gave his consent, and Thorarin was made one of the
court-men. Then Thorarin rigged out his vessel, and when he was ready
he took on board King Hrorek. When Thorarin took leave of King Olaf,
he said, "Should it now turn out, king, as is not improbable, and often
happens, that we cannot effect the voyage to Greenland, but must run for
Iceland or other countries, how shall I get rid of this king in a way
that will be satisfactory to you?"
The king--"If thou comest to Iceland, deliver him into the hands of
Gudmund Eyolfson, or of Skapte, the lagman, or of some other chief who
will receive my tokens and message of friendship. But if thou comest to
other countries nearer to this, do so with him that thou canst know with
certainty that King Hrorek never again shall appear in Norway; but do so
only when thou seest no other way of doing whatsoever."
When Thorarin was ready for sea, and got a wind, he sailed outside of
all the rocks and islands, and when he was to the north of the Naze set
right out into the ocean. He did not immediately get a good wind, but
he avoided coming near the land. He sailed until he made land which he
knew, in the south part of Iceland, and sailed west around the land out
into the Greenland ocean.
There he encountered heavy storms, and drove long about upon the ocean;
but when summer was coming to an end he landed again in Iceland in
Breidafjord. Thorgils Arason (1) was the first man of any consequence
who came to him. Thorarin brings him the king's salutation, message,
and tokens, with which was the desire about King Hrorek's reception.
Thorgils received these in a friendly way, and invited King Hrorek to
his house, where he stayed all winter. But he did not like being there,
and begged that Thorgils would let him go to Gudmund; saying he had
heard some time or other that there in Gudmund's house, was the most
sumptuous way of living in Iceland, and that it was intended he should
be in Gudmund's hands. Thorgils let him have his desire, and conducted
him with some men to Gudmund at Modruveller. Gudmund received Hrorek
kindly on account of the king's message, and he stayed there the next
winter. He did not like being there either; and then Gudmund gave him a
habitation upon a small farm called Kalfskin, where there were but few
neighbours. There Hrorek passed the third winter, and said that since he
had laid down his kingdom he thought himself most comfortably situated
here; for here he was most respected by all. The summer after Hrorek
fell sick, and died; and it is said he is the only king whose bones
rest in Iceland. Thorarin Nefiulfson was afterwards for a long time upon
voyages; but sometimes he was with King Olaf.
ENDNOTES: (1) Thorgils was the son of Are Marson, who visited America
(Vindland). Thorgils, who was still alive in the year 1024,
was noted for his kindness toward all persecuted persons.