Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/366

 354 CHRONICLE OF THE APPENDIX, 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, 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 fellow-travellers. " 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 shalt return to thy home in Iceland. And there must be a church built, and thou must remain there, and be consecrated a nun, and there end thy days." And then Thorstein sunk backwards, and his corpse was put in order and carried to the ship. Thorstein the goodman held all that he had promised. He sold in spring 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. Gudrid went to Leif's at Brattalid ; and Thorstein the Black took his abode in Erics- fiord, and dwelt there as long as he lived; and he was reckoned an able man. Chapter That Same summcr came a ship from Norway to Green- OfThorfinn ^'^^^' The man was called Thorfinn Karlsefne who steered Karisefne. the ship. He was a son of Thord Hesthofde, a son of Snorro wenuovin- Thordarson from Hofda. Thorfinn Karlsefne was a man of