heimskringla-第112部分

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ngly　the　lot　which　was　left　behind　was　examined；　and　all　men　saw　that　Gyrger's　mark　was　upon　it；　and　accordingly　the　judgment　was　given　that　the　Varings　had　gained　the　first　choice　in　all　they　had　been　quarrelling　about。　　There　were　many　things　they　quarrelled　about；　but　the　end　always　was　that　Harald　got　his　own　way。



5。　HARALD'S　EXPEDITION　IN　THE　LAND　OF　THE　SARACENS　（SERKLAND）。

They　went　out　all　on　a　campaign　in　summer。　　When　the　whole　army　was　thus　assembled　Harald　kept　his　men　out　of　the　battle；　or　wherever　he　saw　the　least　danger；　under　pretext　of　saving　his　men；　but　where　he　was　alone　with　his　own　men　only；　he　fought　so　desperately　that　they　must　either　come　off　victorious　or　die。　　It　thus　happened　often　that　when　he　commanded　the　army　he　gained　victories；　while　Gyrger　could　do　nothing。　　The　troops　observed　this；　and　insisted　they　would　be　more　successful　if　Harald　alone　was　chief　of　the　whole　army；　and　upbraided　the　general　with　never　effecting　anything；　neither　himself；　nor　his　people。　　Gyrger　again　said　that　the　Varings　would　give　him　no　assistance；　and　ordered　Harald　to　go　with　his　men　somewhere　else；　and　he；　with　the　rest　of　his　army；　would　win　what　they　could。　　Harald　accordingly　left　the　army　with　the　Varings　and　the　Latin　men；　and　Gyrger　on　his　side　went　off　with　the　Greek　troops。　　Then　it　was　seen　what　each　could　do。　　Harald　always　gained　victories　and　booty；　but　the　Greeks　went　home　to　Constantinople　with　their　army；　all　except　a　few　brave　men；　who；　to　gain　booty　and　money；　joined　themselves　to　Harald；　and　took　him　for　their　leader。　　He　then　went　with　his　troops　westward　to　Africa；　which　the　Varings　call　Serkland；　where　he　was　strengthened　with　many　men。　　In　Serkland　he　took　eighty　castles；　some　of　which　surrendered；　and　others　were　stormed。　　He　then　went　to　Sicily。　　So　says　Thiodolf：　

　　　　　〃The　serpent's　bed　of　glowing　gold　　　　　　He　hates　　the　generous　king；　the　bold！　　　　　　He　who　four　score　towers　laid　low；　　　　　　Ta'en　from　the　Saracenic　foe。　　　　　　Before　upon　Sicilian　plains；　　　　　　Shield　joined　to　shield；　the　fight　he　gains；　　　　　　The　victory　at　Hild's　war　game；　　　　　　And　now　the　heathens　dread　his　name。〃

So　says　also　Illuge　Bryndala…skald：　

　　　　　〃For　Michael's　empire　Harald　fought；　　　　　　And　southern　lands　to　Michael　brought；　　　　　　So　Budle's　son　his　friendship　showed　　　　　　When　he　brought　friends　to　his　abode。〃

Here　it　is　said　that　Michael　was　king　of　the　Greeks　at　that　time。　Harald　remained　many　years　in　Africa；　where　he　gathered　great　wealth　in　gold；　jewels；　and　all　sorts　of　precious　things；　and　all　the　wealth　he　gathered　there　which　he　did　not　need　for　his　expenses；　he　sent　with　trusty　men　of　his　own　north　to　Novgorod　to　King　Jarisleif's　care　and　keeping。　　He　gathered　together　there　extraordinary　treasure；　as　is　reasonable　to　suppose；　for　he　had　the　plundering　of　the　part　of　the　world　richest　in　gold　and　valuable　things；　and　he　had　done　such　great　deeds　as　with　truth　are　related；　such　as　taking　eighty　strongholds　by　his　valour。



6。　BATTLE　IN　SICILY。

Now　when　Harald　came　to　Sicily　he　plundered　there　also；　and　sat　down　with　his　army　before　a　strong　and　populous　castle。　　He　surrounded　the　castle；　but　the　walls　were　so　thick　there　was　no　possibility　of　breaking　into　it；　and　the　people　of　the　castle　had　enough　of　provisions；　and　all　that　was　necessary　for　defence。　Then　Harald　hit　upon　an　expedient。　　He　made　his　bird…catchers　catch　the　small　birds　which　had　their　nests　within　the　castle；　but　flew　into　the　woods　by　day　to　get　food　for　their　young。　　He　had　small　splinters　of　tarred　wood　bound　upon　the　backs　of　the　birds；　smeared　these　over　with　wax　and　sulphur；　and　set　fire　to　them。　As　soon　as　the　birds　were　let　loose　they　all　flew　at　once　to　the　castle　to　their　young；　and　to　their　nests；　which　they　had　under　the　house　roofs　that　were　covered　with　reeds　or　straw。　　The　fire　from　the　birds　seized　upon　the　house　roofs；　and　although　each　bird　could　only　carry　a　small　burden　of　fire；　yet　all　at　once　there　was　a　mighty　flame；　caused　by　so　many　birds　carrying　fire　with　them　and　spreading　it　widely　among　the　house　roofs。　Thus　one　house　after　the　other　was　set　on　fire；　until　the　castle　itself　was　in　flames。　　Then　the　people　came　out　of　the　castle　and　begged　for　mercy；　the　same　men　who　for　many　days　had　set　at　defiance　the　Greek　army　and　its　leader。　　Harald　granted　life　and　safety　to　all　who　asked　quarter；　and　made　himself　master　of　the　place。



7。　BATTLE　AT　ANOTHER　CASTLE。

There　was　another　castle　before　which　Harald　had　come　with　his　army。　　This　castle　was　both　full　of　people　and　so　strong；　that　there　was　no　hope　of　breaking　into　it。　　The　castle　stood　upon　a　flat　hard　plain。　　Then　Harald　undertook　to　dig　a　passage　from　a　place　where　a　stream　ran　in　a　bed　so　deep　that　it　could　not　be　seen　from　the　castle。　　They　threw　out　all　the　earth　into　the　stream；　to　be　carried　away　by　the　water。　　At　this　work　they　laboured　day　and　night；　and　relieved　each　other　in　gangs；　while　the　rest　of　the　army　went　the　whole　day　against　the　castle；　where　the　castle　people　shot　through　their　loop…holes。　　They　shot　at　each　other　all　day　in　this　way；　and　at　night　they　slept　on　both　sides。　　Now　when　Harald　perceived　that　his　underground　passage　was　so　long　that　it　must　be　within　the　castle　walls；　he　ordered　his　people　to　arm　themselves。　　It　was　towards　daybreak　that　they　went　into　the　passage。　　When　they　got　to　the　end　of　it　they　dug　over　their　heads　until　they　came　upon　stones　laid　in　lime　which　was　the　floor　of　a　stone　hall。　　They　broke　open　the　floor　and　rose　into　the　hall。　　There　sat　many　of　the　castle…men　eating　and　drinking；　and　not　in　the　least　expecting　such　uninvited　wolves；　for　the　Varings　instantly　attacked　them　sword　in　hand；　and　killed　some；　and　those　who　could　get　away　fled。　　The　Varings　pursued　them；　and　some　seized　the　castle　gate；　and　opened　it；　so　that　the　whole　body　of　the　army　got　in。　　The　people　of　the　castle　fled；　but　many　asked　quarter　from　the　troops；　which　was　granted　to　all　who　surrendered。　　In　this　way　Harald　got　possession　of　the　place；　and　found　an　immense　booty　in　it。



8。　BATTLE　AT　A　THIRD　CASTLE。

They　came　to　a　third　castle；　the　greatest　and　strongest　of　them　all；　and　also　the　richest　in　property　and　the　fullest　of　people。　Around　this　castle　there　were　great　ditches；　so　that　it　evidently　could　not　be　taken　by　the　same　device　as　the　former；　and　they　lay　a　long　time　before　it　without　doing　anything。　　When　the　castle…　men　saw　this　they　became　bolder；　drew　up　their　array　on　the　castle　walls；　threw　open　the　castle　gates；　and　shouted　to　the　Varings；　urging　them；　and　jeering　at　them；　and　telling　them　to　come　into　the　castle；　and　that　they　were　no　more　fit　for　battle　than　so　many　poultry。　　Harald　told　his　men　to　make　as　if　they　did　not　know　what　to　do；　or　did　not　understand　what　was　said。　　〃For；〃　says　he；　〃if　we　do　make　an　assault　we　can　effect　nothing；　as　they　can　throw　their　weapons　under　their　feet　among　us；　and　if　we　get　in　the　castle　with　a　party　of　our　people；　they　have　it　in　their　power　to　shut　them　in。　and　shut　out　the　others；　for　they　have　all　the　castle　gates　beset　with　men。　　We　shall　therefore　show　them　the　same　scorn　they　show　us；　and　let　them　see　we　do　not　fear　them。　　Our　men　shall　go　out　upon　the　plain　nearest　to　the　castle；　taking　care；　however；　to　keep　out　of　bow…shot。　　All　our　men　shall　go　unarmed；　and　be　playing　with　each　other；　so　that　the　castle…　men　may　see　we　do　not　regard　them　or　their　array。〃　　Thus　it　went　on　for　some　days；　without　anything　being　done。



9。　OF　ULF　AND　HALDOR。

Two　Iceland　men　were　then　with　Harald；　the　one　was　Haldor　（1）；　a　son　of　the　gode　Snorre；　who　brought　this　account　to　Iceland；　the　other　was　Ulf　Uspakson；　a　grandson　of　Usvifer　Spake。　　Both　were　very　strong　men；　bold　under　arms；　and　Harald's　best　friends；　and　both　were　in　this　play。　　Now　when　some　days　were　passed　the　castle　people　showed　more　courage；　and　would　go　without　weapons　upon　the　castle　wall；　while　the　castle　gates　were　standing　open。　The　Varings　observing　this；　went　one　day　to　their　sports　with　the　sword　under　their　cloaks；　and　the　helmet　under　their　hats。　　After　playing　awhile　they　observed　that　the　castle　people　were　off　their　guard；　and　instantly　seizing　their　weapons；　they　made　at　the　castle　gate。　　When　the　men　of　the　castle　saw　this　they　went　against　them　armed　completely；　and　a　battle　began　in　the　castle　gate。　　The　Varings　had　no　shields；　but　wrapped　their　cloaks　round　their　left　arms。　　Some　of　them　were　wounded；　some　killed；　and　all　stood　in　great　danger。　　Now　came　Harald　with　the　men　who　had　remained　in　the　camp；　to　the　assistance　of　his　people；　and　the　castle…men　had　now　got　out　upon　the　walls；　from　which　they　shot　and　threw　stones　down　upon　them；　so　that　there　was　a　severe　battle；　and　those　who　were　in　the　castle　gates　thought　that　help　was　brought　them　slower　than　they　could　have　wished。　　When　Harald　came　to　the　castle　gate　his　standard…bearer　fell；　and　Harald　said　to　Haldor；　〃Do　thou　take　up　the　banner　now。〃　　Haldor　took　up　the　banner；　and　said　foolishly；　〃Who　will　carry　the　banner　before　thee；　if　thou　followest　it　so　timidly　as　thou　hast　done　for　a　while？〃　　But　these　were　words　more　of　anger　than　of　truth；　for　Harald　was　one　of　the　boldest　of　men　under　arms。　　Then　they　pressed　in；　and　had　a　hard　battle　in　the　castle；　and　the　end　was　that　Harald　gained　the　victory　and　took　the　castle。　　Haldor　was　much　wounded　in　the　face；　and　it　gave　him　great　pain　as　long　as　he　lived。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　One　of　the　descendants　of　this　Haldor　was　Snorre　Sturlason；　　　　　　the　author　of　〃Heimskring1a〃。



10。　BATTLE　AT　A　FOURTH　CASTLE。

The　fourth　castle　which　Harald　came　to　was　the　greatest　of　all　we　have　been　speaking　about。　　It　was　so　strong　that　there　was　no　possibility　of　breaking　into　it。　　They　surrounded　the　castle；　so　that　no　supplies　could　get　into　it。　　When　they　had　remained　here　a　short　time　Harald　fell　sick；　and　he　betook　himself　to　his　bed。　He　had　his　tent　put　up　a　little　from　the　camp；　for　he　found　quietness　and　rest　out　of　the　clamour　and　clang　of　armed　men。　　His　men　went　usually　in　companies　to　or　from　him　to　hear　his　orders；　and　the　castle　people　observing　there　was　something　new　among　the　Varings；　sent　out　spies　to　discover　what　this　might　mean。　　When　the　spies　came　back　to　t