The Pre-Columbian Discovery of America by the Northmen: Illustrated by Translations from Icelandic Sagas — John Shaqi
The Pre-Columbian Discovery of America by the Northmen: Illustrated by Translations from Icelandic SagasDeCosta, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin)
History
The Pre-Columbian Discovery of America by the Northmen: Illustrated by Translations from Icelandic Sagas
DeCosta, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin)
America -- Discovery and exploration -- Norse
The voyage of Biarne to Greenland was attended by many hardships. His
vessel was blown away from the course during a storm, at which time he
saw the shores of the American continent, yet he made no attempt to
land. Of this voyage we have two versions. The first is a translation of
a passage from _Codex Flatöiensis_, given in _Antiquitates Americaæ_, p.
17. The second is taken from _Grönland's Historiske Mindesmærker_. The
date of this voyage is fixed by the fact that Biarne sailed the same
season that his father settled in Greenland, which, as we learn from the
narrative of Eric, was in the year 985. There is a complete agreement
between this account and the preceding.
FIRST NARRATIVE.
Heriulf was the son of Bard, Heriulf's son, who was a relation of Ingolf
the Landnamsman.[88] Ingolf gave Heriulf land between Vog and
Reikianess. Heriulf dwelt first at Dropstock. His wife was called
Thorgird, and their son was called Biarne. He was a promising young
man. In his earliest youth he had a desire to go abroad, and he soon
gathered property and reputation; and was by turns a year abroad, and a
year with his father. Biarne was soon in possession of a merchant ship
of his own. The last winter [A. D. 985.] while he was in Norway, Heriulf
prepared to go to Greenland with Eric, and gave up his dwelling. There
was a Christian man belonging to the Hebudes along with Heriulf, who
composed the lay called the _Hafgerdingar_[89] Song, in which is this
stave:
May he whose hand protects so well
The simple monk in lonely cell,
And o'er the world upholds the sky,
His own blue hall, still stand me by.[90]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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