все думаю и думаю об этом Бьярни и об этом нидинге

[gleb]

Erik’s saga adds that on the return voyage a ship owned by Bjarni Grimolfsson was blown far off course into Irish waters. The ship’s hull became infested with driftwood-eating worms and began to leak. The ship’s boat was only large enough to take half the crew. Bjarni decreed that lots would be drawn to decide who would go in the boat, and who would remain behind. Bjarni was one of those who drew a place in the boat. As Bjarni prepared to depart with the boat, a young Icelander asked:
‘Are you going to leave me here Bjarni?’
‘That is how it has to be,’ replied Bjarni.
The Icelander said, ‘But that is not what you promised when I left my
father’s farm in Iceland to go with you.’
‘I see no other way,’ said Bjarni, ‘what do you suggest?’”
‘I suggest we change places, you come up here and I shall go down
there.’
‘So be it,’ said Bjarni, ‘I can see that you would spare no effort to
live and are afraid to die.’ (trans. Magnus Magnusson & Hermann
Pálsson.)
With that, Bjarni climbed back into the sinking ship and the Icelander took his place in the boat. Those in the ship’s boat reached safety in Ireland; Bjarni and everyone left with him in the ship were never seen again and presumably drowned. Bjarni was within his rights to refuse to change places with the Icelander, but could not have done so without also appearing to be afraid of death. The Icelander, perhaps intentionally, had put him in a difficult situation. Bjarni could save his life or save his honour, but not both. For a proud man like Bjarni, it was not a difficult dilemma to resolve. By giving up his place in the boat Bjarmi saved his honour, secured his posthumous reputation, and was remembered by future generations. No one knows the name of the cowardly Icelander, he was niðing and would have lived the rest of his life as a social outcast.