Karlsefni and Gudrid in Vinland

Þat sama sumar kom skip af Noregi til Grenlandz. sa madr het Þorfinnr kallz efnni er þui skipe styrde. hann var son Þordar hesthofda Snorra sonar Þordar sonar fra Hofda. Þorfinnr kallz efni var storaudigr at fe ok var vm uetrin j Bratta hlid med Leifui Æireks syne. bratt fellde hann hug til Gudridar ok bad hennar en hon ueik til Læifs suðrum firir sig. sidan var hon honum fostnut ok gert brudhlaup þeirra a þeim uetri.

That same summer a ship came from Norway to Greenland. That man was named Thorfinn Karlsefni who steered that ship. He was son of Thord Horsehead, son of Snorri, son of Thord from Hofdi. Thorfinn Karlsefni was very rich in goods and was over the winter in Brattahlid with Leif Eiriksson. Soon he set [his] mind on Gudrid and asked for her, and she referred [it] to Leif to answer for her. Then she was betrothed to him, and their wedding was made that winter.

That same summer a ship came from Norway to Greenland. Its captain was a man named Thorfinn Karlsefni.1 He was the son of Thord Horsehead, the son of Snorri, the son of Thord of Hofdi. Thorfinn Karlsefni was very rich, and he spent the winter at Brattahlid2 with Leif Eiriksson. He soon fell in love with Gudrid3 and asked to marry her, but she left it to Leif to answer for her. Then she was promised to him, and their wedding was held that winter.

1. A nickname, roughly “the makings of a real man.” Thorfinn was an Icelander from a well-known family.
2. Erik the Red’s farm on Eiriksfjord, in the Norse settlement of southern Greenland. Leif was Erik’s son.
3. Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir, widow of Leif’s brother Thorstein. In the other Vinland saga, Erik’s Saga, she and Karlsefni lead the whole venture.

Hin sama var vmræda a Uinlandz fôr sem fyrr. ok fystu menn Kallzefni miog þeirrar ferdar bæde Gudridr ok adrir menn. nu var radin ferd hans ok red hann ser skipveria .lx. kalla ok konur .v. Þann maldaga gerdu þeir Kallzefni ok hasetar hans at iofnum hondum skylldi þeir hafa allt þat er þeir fengi til gæda. þeir hǫfdu med ser allz skonar fenat þuiat þeir ætlodu at byggia landit ef þeir mętti þat. Kallzefni bat Leif husa a Uinlande en hann kuetzst lia mundu husin en gefa æigi.

The same talk was about a Vinland voyage as before, and men urged Karlsefni much to that journey, both Gudrid and other men. Now his journey was decided, and he got himself a ship’s crew, 60 men and 5 women. That agreement Karlsefni and his crewmen made, that in equal shares they should have all that they got of goods. They had with them all kinds of livestock, because they intended to settle the land if they could [do] that. Karlsefni asked Leif for [the] houses in Vinland, but he said he would lend the houses but not give [them].

People were talking about a voyage to Vinland,4 just as before, and they pressed Karlsefni hard to go, Gudrid as well as others. So his voyage was settled, and he took on a crew of sixty men and five women. Karlsefni and his crew agreed to share equally in all the valuable goods they got. They took all kinds of livestock with them, because they meant to settle the land if they could. Karlsefni asked Leif to give him his houses in Vinland. Leif said he would lend the houses but not give them.

4. “Wine Land,” named by Leif for its grapes. Leif’s Booths were the houses he built there. Birgitta Wallace argues that they blend memories of the Norse base at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, and a summer camp farther south.

Sidan helldu þeir j haf skipinu ok komu til Leifs buda med heilu ok holldnu ok baru þar upp hudfôt sin. þeim bar brátt j hendr mikil fông ok god þuiat reydr uar þar upp rekin będe mikil ok god. foru til sidan ok skaru hualinn. skorti þa æigi mat. fenadr gek þar a land upp en þat uar bratt at gradfe vard urigt ok gerde mikit vm sik. þeir hofdu haft med ser gridung æinn. Kallzefni let fella vidu ok telgia til skips sins ok lagde vidinn a biarg eitt til þurkanar. þeir hofdu oll gæde af landkostum þeim er þar voru będe af vinberium ok allz skonar ueidum ok gędum.

Then they held the ship out to sea and came to Leif’s Booths safe and sound, and carried up there their skin bags. Into their hands quickly came great catches and good, because a rorqual [whale] was driven up there, both big and good. [They] went to then and cut up the whale. Then food was not lacking. The livestock went up on land there, but it was soon that the uncastrated beasts became unruly and made much of themselves. They had had with them one bull. Karlsefni had trees felled and hewn for his ship, and laid the timber on a rock for drying. They had all the good things of the land’s resources that were there, both of grapes and all kinds of hunting and good things.

Then they put out to sea and reached Leif’s Booths safe and sound, and carried their skin sleeping bags ashore. Soon they had plenty of good food on hand, because a big, fine whale had been driven ashore. They went and cut up the whale, so they did not lack food. The livestock were turned out on land, but the males soon grew wild and hard to handle. They had brought one bull with them. Karlsefni had trees felled and shaped for his ship’s cargo, and laid the timber on a rock to dry. They made use of all the good things the land had to offer: grapes, every kind of game, and other produce.

Eftir þann uetr hinn fysta kom sumar þa urdu þeir uarir vit Skrælingia ok for þar ór skôgi fram mikill flokkr manna. þar uar nærr naut fe þeirra en gradungr tok at belia ok gialla akafliga hatt en þat hrędduzst Skrælingar ok lǫgdu undan med byrdar sinar en þat uar grauara ok safuali ok allz skonar skinna uara ok snua til bæiar Kallz efnis ok uilldu þar inn j husin en Kallzefni let ueria dyrnnar. huorigir skildu annars mal.

After that first winter came summer; then they became aware of Skrælings, and there came forth out of the forest a great crowd of men. Their cattle were near there, and the bull began to bellow and roar very loudly, and that frightened the Skrælings, and they made off with their burdens, and that was gray fur and sable and all kinds of skin wares, and [they] turn to Karlsefni’s farm and wanted to go in there into the houses, but Karlsefni had the doors defended. Neither understood the other’s speech.

After that first winter, summer came. Then they became aware of the Skrælings.5 A large crowd of men came out of the forest near where the cattle were. The bull began to bellow and roar very loudly. This frightened the Skrælings, and they ran off with their bundles, which held gray furs, sables, and all kinds of skins. They turned toward Karlsefni’s farm and tried to get into the houses, but Karlsefni had the doors guarded. Neither side understood the other’s language.

5. The Norse name for the Native people they met in Vinland. The saga does not say who they were. Birgitta Wallace argues that the people met farther south, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, were probably Mi’kmaq.

þa toku Skrælingiar ofan bagga sina ok leystu ok budu þeim ok uilldu uopn hellzst firir en Kallz efni bannade þeim at selia uopnin ok nu læitar hann rads med þeim hætti at hann bad konur bera vt bunyt at þeim ok þegar er þeir sa bunyt þa villdu þeir kaupa þat en ekki annat. nu uar su kaupfôr Skrælingia at þeir baru sinn varning j brott j môgum sinum. en Kallz efni ok forunautar hans hôfdu eftir bagga þeirra ok skinna uǫru. foru þeir vid suobuit j burt.

Then the Skrælings took down their bundles and untied [them] and offered [them] to them, and wanted weapons most of all for [them], but Karlsefni forbade them to sell the weapons. And now he seeks a plan in this way, that he told the women to carry out milk produce to them, and as soon as they saw the milk produce, then they wanted to buy that and nothing else. Now the trading journey of the Skrælings was that they carried their wares away in their stomachs, but Karlsefni and his companions kept their bundles and skin wares. They went away with things so.

Then the Skrælings put down their bundles, untied them, and offered them for trade. Above all they wanted weapons in exchange, but Karlsefni forbade his men to sell any. Then he hit on a plan. He told the women to carry out milk products6 to them. As soon as the Skrælings saw the milk, they wanted to buy that and nothing else. So the Skrælings’ trading ended with their goods carried off in their stomachs, while Karlsefni and his companions kept their bundles and furs. With that, the Skrælings went away.

6. Bunyt: dairy produce, such as milk. The Native peoples of this region kept no dairy animals, so milk was probably new to them.

Nu er fra þui at segia at Kallzefni lętr gera skidgard ramligann um bę sinn ok biugguzst þar vm. J þann tima fædde Gudridr suein barnn kona Kallzefnis ok het sa sueinn Snorre.

Now it is to be told of this, that Karlsefni has a strong palisade made around his farm, and they prepared themselves there. At that time Gudrid, Karlsefni’s wife, bore a boy child, and that boy was named Snorri.

Next, Karlsefni had a strong palisade built around his farm, and they got ready there. At that time Gudrid, Karlsefni’s wife, gave birth to a baby boy, and he was named Snorri.

A aunduerdum odrum uetri þa kuomv Skrælingar til motz vid þa ok voru myklu fleiri en fyrr. ok hofdu slikan varnnat sem fyrr. þa mællti Karlzefni vid konur. nu skulu þer bera vt slikan mat sem fyrr uar rifazstr en ekki annat. ok er þeir sa þat þa kostudu þeir boggunum sinum inn yfir skidgardinn

At the beginning of the second winter, then the Skrælings came to meet them, and were many more than before, and had such wares as before. Then Karlsefni said to the women: Now you shall carry out such food as before was most eagerly taken [?], and nothing else. And when they saw that, then they threw their bundles in over the palisade,

At the start of the second winter, the Skrælings came to meet them again. There were many more of them than before, and they had the same kinds of goods. Then Karlsefni said to the women, “Carry out the same food that sold best before, and nothing else.” When the Skrælings saw it, they threw their bundles in over the palisade.

en Gudridr sat i dyrum inne med uǫggu Snorra sonar sins. þa bar skugga j dyrrin ok gek þar inn kona j suortum nam kyrtli helldr lag ok hafde dregil um hofut ok lios iôrp a har foleit ok miog eygd suo at æigi hafde iafnn mikil augu set j einum mannz hause. hon gek þar at er Gudridr sat ok mællti. huat hæitir þu segir hon. Ek hæiti Gudridr. edr huert er þitt hæiti. ek heiti Gudridr segir hon. þa retti Gudridr husfreyia hond sina til hennar at hon sæti hia henni en þat bar allt saman at þa heyrde Gudridr brest mikinn ok uar þa konan horfin.

but Gudrid sat inside in the doorway with the cradle of Snorri her son. Then a shadow fell in the doorway, and a woman went in there in a black close tunic [?], rather short, and had a band around [her] head, and light chestnut-brown of hair, pale of face and very large-eyed, so that no one had seen such big eyes in a human skull. She went to where Gudrid sat and said: What are you called? says she. I am called Gudrid. And what is your name? I am called Gudrid, says she. Then Gudrid the housewife stretched out her hand to her, that she should sit beside her, but it all happened together that then Gudrid heard a great crash, and then the woman was vanished.

Gudrid was sitting inside the doorway beside the cradle of her son Snorri. Then a shadow fell across the door, and a woman came in. She wore a short, close-fitting black tunic7 and had a band around her head. Her hair was light chestnut, her face pale, and her eyes so large that no one had ever seen such eyes in a human head. She went over to where Gudrid sat and said, “What is your name?” “My name is Gudrid. And what is yours?” “My name is Gudrid,” she said. Then Gudrid, the lady of the house, held out her hand to her, so that she would sit beside her. But at that very moment Gudrid heard a great crash, and the woman vanished.

7. Namkyrtill: a rare word, probably a close-fitting tunic. The saga never says who the woman was.

ok j þui var ok ueginn æinn Skrælingr af æinum huskalle Kallzefnis þuiat hann hafde uiliat taka uopnn þeirra. ok foru nu j brott sem tidazst en klæde þeirra lagu þar eftir ok varningr. æinge madr hafde konu þessa set utan Gudridr æin.

And at that [moment] also one Skræling was killed by one of Karlsefni’s housecarls, because he had wanted to take their weapons. And [they] went now away as fast as [they could], but their clothes lay there behind, and wares. No man had seen this woman except Gudrid alone.

At that same moment one of Karlsefni’s servants killed a Skræling, because he had tried to take their weapons. The Skrælings fled as fast as they could, leaving their clothes and goods behind. No one but Gudrid had seen the woman.

Nu munum ver þurfa til rada at taka segir Kallzefni þuiat ek hygg at þeir mune vitia uor hit þridea sinne med v fride ok fiolmenni. nu skulum ver taka þat rad at .x. menn fari fram a nes þetta ok syne sig þar en annat lid uort skal fara j skog ok hoggua þar riodr firir nautfe voru þa er lidit kemr fram ór skoginum. uer skulum ok taka gridung uornn ok lata hann fara firir oss. en þar var suo hattat er fundr þeirra uar ætladr at uatn uar audru megin en skogr a annan ueg. nu uoru þessi rad hofd er Kallzefni lagde til.

Now we will need to take counsel, says Karlsefni, because I think that they will visit us the third time with hostility and great numbers. Now we shall take that counsel, that ten men go forward onto this headland and show themselves there, and the other troop of ours shall go into the forest and cut a clearing there for our cattle [?], when the troop comes forth out of the forest. We shall also take our bull and let him go before us. And it was so arranged where their meeting was planned that there was water on the one side and forest on the other side. Now these counsels were followed that Karlsefni proposed.

“Now we must make a plan,” said Karlsefni, “because I think they will come to us a third time, in hostility and in great numbers. This is what we will do. Ten men will go out onto this headland and show themselves there. The rest of our band will go into the forest and cut a clearing there for our cattle, for when their war band comes out of the woods. We will also take our bull and let him go ahead of us.” The place chosen for the meeting had water on one side and forest on the other. Karlsefni’s plan was followed.

Nu komu Skrælingar j þann stad er Kallzefni hafde ætlat til bardaga. nu uar þar bardage ok fell fiollde af lide Skrælinga. einn madr uar mikill ok uænn j lide Skrælinga ok þotti Kallzefni sem hann munde vera hôfdinge þeirra. nu hafde æinn þeirra Skrælinga tekit upp ôxi eina ok leit a um stund ok reidde at felaga sinum ok hio til hans. sa fell þegar daudr. þa tok sa hinn mykle madr vit ôxinne ok leit a vm stund ok uarp henni sidan a sioinn sem leingst matti hann. en sidan flyia þeir a skoginn suo huerr sem fara matti ok lykr þar nu þeirra vidskiftum.

Now the Skrælings came into that place that Karlsefni had intended for battle. Now there was a battle there, and a great many fell of the Skrælings’ troop. One man was tall and handsome in the Skrælings’ troop, and it seemed to Karlsefni that he must be their chieftain. Now one of the Skrælings had picked up an axe and looked at [it] for a while and swung [it] at his companion and struck at him. He fell at once dead. Then the tall man took the axe and looked at [it] for a while and then threw it into the sea as far as he could. And then they flee into the forest, each as he could go, and there now their dealings end.

Then the Skrælings came to the place Karlsefni had chosen for the battle. There was a battle there, and many of the Skrælings fell. There was one tall, handsome man in the Skrælings’ band, and Karlsefni thought he must be their chief. One of the Skrælings had picked up an axe.8 He looked at it for a while, then swung it at a companion and struck him. The man fell dead at once. Then the tall man took the axe, looked at it for a while, and threw it into the sea as far as he could. After that they fled into the forest, each as best he could, and that was the end of their dealings.

8. The saga suggests that a Norse iron axe was new to them. At L’Anse aux Meadows the Norse made their own iron in a small furnace hut.

Voru þeir Kallzefni þar þann uetr allan en at uore þa lyser Kallzefni at hann uiill eigi þar vera læingr ok vill fara til Grenlandz. nu bua þeir ferd sina ok hofdu þadan morg gæde j vinuide ok berium ok skinna voru. nu sigla þeir j haf ok kuomu til Æireks fiardar skipe sinu heilu ok voru þar vm uetrinn.

Karlsefni and his men were there that whole winter, but in spring then Karlsefni announces that he will not be there longer and wants to go to Greenland. Now they prepare their journey and had from there many goods in vine-wood and berries and skin wares. Now they sail out to sea and came to Eiriksfjord with their ship whole and were there over the winter.

Karlsefni and his people stayed there all that winter. But in spring Karlsefni announced that he would not stay any longer and wanted to go to Greenland. So they got ready for the voyage and took away many valuable goods: vine wood,9 berries, and furs. Then they sailed out to sea and reached Eiriksfjord with their ship unharmed, and they spent the winter there.

9. Vinvidr, “wine wood”: Birgitta Wallace explains it as the trees that wild grapevines climb, felled and shipped home as timber along with the grapes.