The Heimskringla on Thorarin Nefiulfson

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 86. King Hrorek'S Journey To Iceland.

• attestation: Thorarin Nefiulfson was an Icelander from the north of the country, not high-born but prudent, eloquent, and far-traveled.

  "There was an Iceland man, by name Thorarin Nefiulfson, who had his relations in the north of the country. He was not of high birth, but particularly prudent, eloquent, and agreeable in conversation"

• attestation: Thorarin was remarkably ugly with great ugly hands and even uglier feet.

  "Thorarin was a remarkably ugly man, principally because he had very ungainly limbs. He had great ugly hands, and his feet were still uglier"

• attestation: Thorarin won the wager by showing his other foot, which was even uglier and missing its little toe.

  "he stretches out his other foot from under the bed-clothes, and it was in no way handsomer than the other, and moreover, wanted the little toe"

• attestation: Thorarin said he had never been to Greenland, and the king replied this was an opportunity for a well-traveled man.

  "Thorarin replies, "I have never been in Greenland." The king--"Thou, who art a far-travelled man, wilt now have an opportunity of seeing Greenland, if thou hast never been there before.""

• attestation: Thorarin was in Tunsberg when King Olaf was there, and the king hosted him as a guest for several days.

  "Thorarin was in Tunsberg when this event happened which has just been related, and he was known to King Olaf by their having had conversations together"

• attestation: Thorarin was preparing a merchant vessel to sail to Iceland that summer.

  "Thorarin was just then done with rigging out a merchant vessel which he owned, and with which he intended to go to Iceland in summer"

• attestation: Thorarin even slept in the king's own lodgings during his stay.

  "Thorarin even slept in the king's lodgings"

• attestation: Thorarin wished to join King Olaf's court-men if he had won the wager, and the king granted this request.

  "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"

• attestation: Thorarin sailed past the Naze into the open ocean, eventually making landfall in southern Iceland and sailing west around to the Greenland ocean.

  "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"

• attestation: Heavy storms drove Thorarin back to Iceland in Breidafjord at summer's end, failing to reach Greenland.

  "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"

• attestation: Thorarin Nefiulfson continued voyaging after delivering Hrorek and sometimes stayed with King Olaf.

  "Thorarin Nefiulfson was afterwards for a long time upon voyages; but sometimes he was with King Olaf"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 126. Of Thorarin Nefiulfson.

• attestation: Thorarin delayed the execution by citing Bishop Sigurd's teaching about Christ enduring temptation, comparing it to the king's situation.

  "it was said by Bishop Sigurd on Friday last, that the King who has all things in his power had to endure great temptation of spirit; and blessed is he who rather imitates him, than those who condemned the man to death"

• attestation: Thorarin paid the church priest two marks of silver to ring in the Sabbath as soon as the king's table was cleared.

  "Thorarin went out to the priest who had the church under his care, and gave him two marks of silver to ring in the Sabbath as soon as the king's table was taken away"

• attestation: Thorarin asked to be relieved of guarding Asbjorn on Sunday; the king thanked him and appointed other guards.

  "Thorarin then went to the king, and asked him to appoint men to guard the murderer. "I will now," he said, "be free of this charge." The king thanked him for his care, and ordered men to watch over Asbjorn"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 134. King Olaf'S Message To Iceland, And The Counsels Of The Icelanders.

• attestation: Thorarin arrived at the Althing at the Lawhillock and announced King Olaf's claim to sovereignty over Iceland.

  "He proceeded immediately to the Althing, and came just as the people were upon the Lawhillock"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 135. The Answer Of The Icelanders.

• attestation: Thorarin made two voyages that summer and reported back to King Olaf by harvest that some chiefs or their sons would come from Iceland.

  "Thorarin made two voyages that summer, and about harvest was back again at King Olaf's, and reported the result of his mission, and that some of the chiefs, or their sons, would come from Iceland according to his message"