in the summer of the same year, in the same spring of which his father had sailed away. Biarni was much surprised when he heard this news[1], and would not discharge his cargo. His shipmates enquired of him what he intended to do, and he replied that it was his purpose to keep to his custom, and make his home for the winter with his father[2]; 'and I will take the ship to Greenland, if you will bear my company.' They all replied that they would abide by his decision. Then said Biarni, 'Our voyage must be regarded as foolhardy, seeing that no one of us has ever been in the Greenland Sea[3].' Nevertheless they put out to sea when they were equipped for the voyage, and sailed for three days, until the land was hidden by the water, and then the fair wind died out, and north winds arose, and fogs, and they knew not whither they were drifting, and thus it lasted for many 'dœgr.' Then they saw the sun again, and were able to determine the quarters of the heavens[4]; they hoisted sail, and sailed that 'dœgr' through before they saw land. They discussed among themselves what land it could be, and Biarni said that he did not believe that it could be Greenland. They asked whether he wished to sail to this land or not. 'It is my counsel' [said he], 'to sail close to the land.' They did so, and soon saw that the land was level, and covered with woods[5], and that there were small hillocks upon it. They left the land on their larboard, and let the sheet turn toward the land. They sailed for two 'dœgr' before they saw another land. They asked whether Biarni thought this was Greenland yet. He replied that he did not think this any more like Greenland than the former, 'because in Greenland there are said to be many great ice-mountains.' They soon approached this land, and saw that it was a flat and wooded country. The fair wind failed them then, and the crew took counsel together, and concluded that it would be wise to land there, but Biarni would not consent to this. They alleged that they were in need of both wood and water. 'Ye have no lack of either of these,' says Biarni–a course, forsooth, which won him blame among his shipmates. He bade them hoist sail, which they did, and turning the prow from the land they sailed out upon the high seas, with southwesterly gales, for three 'dœgr' when they saw the third land; this land was high and mountainous, with ice-mountains up it (64). They asked Biarni then whether he would land there, and he replied that he was not disposed to do so, 'because this land does not appear to me to offer any attractions[6].' Nor did they lower their sail, but held their course off the land, and saw that it was an island. They left this land
- ↑ 'þau tíðindi þóttu Bjarna mikil:' lit. these tidings seemed great to Biarni.
- ↑ 'þiggja at fǫður sínum vetr-vist:' lit. receive from his father winter-quarters.
- ↑ That part of the ocean between Iceland and Greenland was so called.
- ↑ 'deila ættir,' to distinguish the airts, i.e. as we should say, to tell the points of the compass.
- ↑ 'ófjǫllótt ok skógi vaxit:' lit. not mountainous and grown with woods.
- ↑ 'ógagnvænlight:' lit. unprofitable, i.e. sterile.
