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Asmund entrusted his son to the keeping of a man called Haflidi, the captain of a ship that was sailing for Norway; father and son parted with but little sorrow between them, but Asdis accompanied the boy part of the way, and gave him a sword which had been owned by Jokul, her grandfather; for which Grettir thanked her well, saying he deemed it better than things of more worth, so he came to the ship.
"Rider of wind-driven steed, Little gat I to my need, When I left my fair birth-stead, From the snatchers of worm's bed; But this man's-bane hanging here, Gift of woman good of cheer, Proves the old saw said not ill, <i>Best to bairn is mother still</i>." Haflidi said it was easily seen that she thought the most of him.
Asmund was much put out and said he would be a trouble to everybody. There dwelt at Reydarfell on the banks of the Hvita a man named Haflidi, a mariner, owning a ship of his own which was lying in dock in the Hvita river. He had as his mate a man named Bard who had a young and pretty wife. Asmund sent a man to Haflidi asking him to take Grettir and look after him.
"But his lampoons we deem worse than all the rest together," they said. Haflidi said in a loud voice, "He will surely fare ill for it in the end." But when Grettir heard Haflidi speak blamefully of him, he sang
"That," he answered, "I am quite equal to." Haflidi then went to the sailors and said: "You have much toil; and it seems that you don't get on with Grettir." "His lampoons," they answered, "annoy us more than anything else." Then Haflidi, speaking loud, said: "It will be the worse for him some day."
He rode South over the heath and did not stop till he reached his ship. Haflidi received him well and asked him about his outfit for the voyage. Grettir spoke a verse: "Oh trimmer of sails I my father is wealthy, but poorly enough he sent me from home. My mother it was who gave me this sword. True is the saying: The mother is best." Haflidi said it was evident that she had most thought for him.
Grettir thanked her well for this gift, and said he deemed it better than things of more worth; then he went on his way, and Asdis wished him all good hap. Now Grettir rode south over the heath, and made no stay till he came to the ship. Haflidi gave him a good welcome and asked him for his faring-goods, then Grettir sang
There was a man called Haflidi, who dwelt at Reydarfell in Whiteriverside, he was a seafaring man and had a sailing ship, which lay up Whiteriver: there was a man on board his ship, hight Bard, who had a wife with him young and fair.
"Why should they not be free to do as they will?" says Grettir; "but I well would that one or two of them tarry here behind with me, or ever I go overboard." Haflidi says, "Such deeds are not to be done, and we shall never thrive if ye rush into such madness; but I shall give thee good rede." "What is that?" says Grettir.
Haflidi answered that he had heard that Grettir was very difficult to get on with, but out of friendship for Asmund he took him. Grettir, therefore, prepared to go to sea. His father would not give him any outfit for his voyage beyond his bare provisions and a little wadmal. Grettir asked him to give him some sort of weapon. Asmund answered: "You have never been obedient to me.
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