> Hann fór austur og gaf honum eigi austan

This looks similar to the impersonal and absolute examples of 'gefa'
cited under Zoega (1), 'gaf þeim byr' "they got a fair sailing wind",
'gaf þeim vel' "they got a fair sailing wind", 'ef foeri gefr á' "if
you get a chance". He went east but it wasn't given to him (i.e. it
wasn't possible for him, the circumstances didn't allow him) to come
back from the east. MM & HP: "Th. went east but could not get back."