Gripla - 20.12.2008, Page 82

GRIPLA80
Þu uerdr sialfr fra þui ath seigia huad þier þikir liklegaztt huar eg hafa mest um
laund farit (Flat III, 431) [“You’re going to have to say yourself where you
think it is most likely that I have travelled.” (CSI I, 393)].
The Icelander, however, did not even make an attempt to solve this
puzzle on his own and preferred instead to search for assistance from a
much more competent adviser. For that purpose he went to the shrine
of Saint Óláfr and that very night dreamed that he had a visit from a man
who advised him to start on a journey but did not say a word about the
location of the object he was supposed to find and fetch. When Þorsteinn
awoke, he did as he was counselled and set out without delay. He travelled
far and long, “without resting and suffered much from lack of sleep and
hunger.” Once when he was going through deep forests, Þorsteinn came
upon a stone where he finally found shelter. In that place was the abode
of a hermit who welcomed the stranger and listened to his story. The
hermit told the hero that he was on the right road and gave him detailed
instructions which should enable him to fulfil his task. It turned out that
Þorsteinn had almost reached the place he was searching for. Very soon he
was to see a small islet covered with forest. All the trees there would look
like gold, and this precious grove would be guarded by a fierce serpent. So
as not to attract the serpent’s attention, the Icelander should not remove
anything but the two knife handles he was sent for, and any delay might
cost him his life.
Having arrived to the wonderful island, the hero found a beautiful
sapling which looked as if some of its twigs had already been cut off, and
recognised the tree he was searching for. Then he rushed up, cut off two
knife handles and, despite the warning he had received, was planning to
take some more, but at that very instant he heard a hissing and jumped into
the water. When the serpent perceived that his domain had been invaded
by a thief it started after the stranger and would certainly have gained on
him if Þorsteinn had not been rescued by Saint Óláfr, whose protection
he had invoked. Having heeded his entreaty the holy king arranged for
the enraged guard of the island to suddenly lose sight of the Icelander and
have to return. As soon as Þorsteinn reached the shore, he set off back to
Norway, and after having travelled “through many lands” he finally came
to king Haraldr. He narrated his adventures to the king and showed him
the knife handles he had taken, after which the king compared them to the