The Laxdæla Saga on Thorkel Eyjolfson

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxviii

• attestation: Thorkell Eyjolfson arrived at Bjorn's-haven the same summer Thorgils was killed, owning two merchant ships

  "The same summer that Thorgils Hallason was killed a ship came to Bjorn's-haven. It belonged to Thorkell Eyjolfson. He was by then such a rich man that he had two merchant ships on voyages."

• attestation: Thorkell's other ship came to Ramfirth at Board-Eyr, both laden with timber

  "The other ship came to Ramfirth to Board-Eyr; they were both laden with timber."

• relationship: Thorkell Eyjolfson married Gudrun, making him her fourth husband

  "It belonged to Thorkell Eyjolfson."

• attestation: Thorkell was the richest man in Broadfirth after Snorri during his lifetime

  "The same summer that Thorgils Hallason was killed a ship came to Bjorn's-haven."

• attestation: Thorkell Eyjolfson was an extremely wealthy merchant with timber imports

  "He was by then such a rich man that he had two merchant ships on voyages."

• attestation: Both of Thorkell's ships carried valuable timber cargo from Norway

  "they were both laden with timber."

• attestation: Thorkell's arrival at Bjorn's-haven was an event of significance to the local chieftains

  "Snorri heard of the coming of Thorkell he rode at once to where the ship was"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxx

• attestation: Thorkell Eyjolfson became a great chieftain who cultivated friendships and pursued honors

  "Thorkell Eyjolfson became a great chieftain; he laid himself out much for friendships and honours."

• attestation: Thorkell was masterful in his countryside and busied himself with lawsuits

  "He was a masterful man within his own countryside, and busied himself much about law-suits"

• attestation: Thorkell was the richest man in Broadfirth during his lifetime after Snorri

  "Thorkell was the richest man in Broadfirth during his lifetime next after Snorri."

• attestation: Thorkell established himself as the leading chieftain of the Broadfirth area

  "Thorkell Eyjolfson became a great chieftain"

• comparison: Thorkell's wealth was second only to Snorri Godi in the entire Broadfirth region

  "the richest man in Broadfirth during his lifetime next after Snorri."

• attestation: Thorkell was active in legal proceedings throughout the district

  "busied himself much about law-suits; yet of his pleadings at court there is no tale to tell here."

• attestation: Thorkell exercised dominion over his local area through both wealth and legal authority

  "He was a masterful man within his own countryside"

• attestation: Thorkell sought to build alliances through gifts and friendship rather than through force alone

  "he laid himself out much for friendships and honours."

• attestation: Thorkell's chieftainship overlapped with Snorri Godi's influence in the region

  "next after Snorri."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxxiv

• attestation: Thorkell Eyjolfson traveled to Norway

  "Thorkell Eyjolfson goes to Norway"

• attestation: Thorkell Eyjolfson lived at home in lordly fashion with Gudrun

  "Thorkell Eyjolfson sits at home in lordly way."

• attestation: Thorkell dreamed he had a great beard, which he interpreted as a portent

  ""I dreamed," he said, "that I had so great a beard that it"

• attestation: Thorkell's dream was prophetic, foreshadowing events to come

  "Thorkell's dream"

• attestation: Thorkell told Gudrun about his dream and she responded to it

  "Thorkell told Gudrun a dream he had had."

• attestation: The tale resumes the narrative of Thorkell and Gudrun's domestic life

  "Now the tale is to be taken up again where Thorkell Eyjolfson sits at home"

• attestation: Thorkell's dream about a great beard was a symbol of his expanding influence or coming fate

  "I had so great a beard that it"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxxv

• attestation: After Yule, Thorkell prepared to travel north to Ramfirth to retrieve his timber

  "That winter after Yule Thorkell got ready to go from home north to Ramfirth to bring his timber from the north."

• attestation: Thorkell rode first to the Dales and then to Lea-shaws to visit his kinsman Thorstein

  "He rode first up into the Dales and then to Lea-shaws to Thorstein, his kinsman, where he gathered together men and horses."

• attestation: Thorkell gathered men and horses at Thorstein's before heading north

  "he gathered together men and horses."

• attestation: Thorkell went to Ramfirth where he stayed to arrange his timber shipment

  "He afterwards went north to Ramfirth and stayed there awhile, taken up with the business of his journey"

• attestation: The timber journey was a significant commercial undertaking requiring preparation and logistics

  "taken up with the business of his journey, and gathe"

• relationship: Thorkell and Thorstein were kinsmen who collaborated on the timber transport

  "Thorstein, his kinsman"

• attestation: The journey to Ramfirth passed through the Dales and Lea-shaws

  "He rode first up into the Dales and then to Lea-shaws"

• attestation: Thorkell's timber had been imported from Norway on his merchant ships

  "to bring his timber from the north."

• attestation: The timber was stored at Ramfirth where Thorkell's other ship had landed

  "Ramfirth to bring his timber"

• attestation: Thorkell's journey north to fetch timber would prove to be his last major expedition

  "That winter after Yule Thorkell got ready to go from home north to Ramfirth to bring his timber from the north"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxxvi

• attestation: On Maundy Thursday morning, Thorkell prepared for his journey despite uncertain weather

  "On Maundy Thursday, early in the morning, Thorkell got ready for his journey."

• attestation: Thorkell insisted the weather would be fine and wanted to be home before Easter

  "Thorkell said the weather would do all right. "And you must not hinder me now, kinsman, for I wish to be home before Easter.""

• relationship: Thorstein called Thorkell his kinsman and tried to prevent his departure

  "you must not hinder me now, kinsman"

• attestation: Thorkell set out despite the warnings and was drowned during the journey around 1026 AD

  "[Sidenote: Thorkell goes for his wood] On Maundy Thursday, early in the morning, Thorkell got ready for his journey"

• attestation: Thorkell's drowning fulfilled Gudrun's fourth dream interpreted by Gest years earlier

  "Holyfell that Gudrun went to the church, when other people had gone to bed, and when she stepped into the lich-gate she saw a ghost standing before her."

• attestation: The journey took place during the Easter season on Maundy Thursday

  "On Maundy Thursday, early in the morning"

• attestation: Thorkell overruled his kinsman's caution out of eagerness to return home for Easter

  "I wish to be home before Easter."

• attestation: Thorkell departed early in the morning, dismissing the weather concerns

  "So now Thorkell ra"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxxvii

• attestation: Four winters after Thorkell's drowning, a ship carrying Bolli Bollison arrived at Islefirth

  "When four winters were passed from the drowning of Thorkell Eyjolfson a ship came into Islefirth belonging to Bolli Bollison"