heimskringla-第126部分

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This　song　was　composed　by　Stein　Herdison　about　Olaf；　son　of　King　Harald；　and　he　speaks　of　Olaf　being　in　this　battle　with　King　Harald；　his　father。　　These　things　are　also　spoken　of　in　the　song　called　〃Harald's　Stave〃：　

　　　　　〃Earl　Valthiof's　men　　　　　　Lay　in　the　fen；　　　　　　By　sword　down　hewed；　　　　　　So　thickly　strewed；　　　　　　That　Norsemen　say　　　　　　They　paved　a　way　　　　　　Across　the　fen　　　　　　For　the　brave　Norsemen。〃

Earl　Valthiof；　and　the　people　who　escaped；　fled　up　to　the　castle　of　York；　and　there　the　greatest　loss　of　men　had　been。　　This　battle　took　place　upon　the　Wednesday　next　Mathias'　day　（A。D。　1066）。



89。　OF　EARL　TOSTE。

Earl　Toste　had　come　from　Flanders　to　King　Harald　as　soon　as　he　arrived　in　England；　and　the　earl　was　present　at　all　these　battles。　　It　happened；　as　he　had　foretold　the　king　at　their　first　meeting；　that　in　England　many　people　would　flock　to　them；　as　being　friends　and　relations　of　Earl　Toste；　and　thus　the　king's　forces　were　much　strengthened。　　After　the　battle　now　told　of；　all　people　in　the　nearest　districts　submitted　to　Harald；　but　some　fled。　　Then　the　king　advanced　to　take　the　castle；　and　laid　his　army　at　Stanforda…bryggiur　（Stamford　Bridge）；　and　as　King　Harald　had　gained　so　great　a　victory　against　so　great　chiefs　and　so　great　an　army；　the　people　were　dismayed；　and　doubted　if　they　could　make　any　opposition。　　The　men　of　the　castle　therefore　determined；　in　a　council；　to　send　a　message　to　King　Harald；　and　deliver　up　the　castle　into　his　power。　　All　this　was　soon　settled；　so　that　on　Sunday　the　king　proceeded　with　the　whole　army　to　the　castle；　and　appointed　a　Thing　of　the　people　without　the　castle；　at　which　the　people　of　the　castle　were　to　be　present。　　At　this　Thing　all　the　people　accepted　the　condition　of　submitting　to　Harald；　and　gave　him；　as　hostages；　the　children　of　the　most　considerable　persons；　for　Earl　Toste　was　well　acquainted　with　all　the　people　of　that　town。　　In　the　evening　the　king　returned　down　to　his　ships；　after　this　victory　achieved　with　his　own　force；　and　was　very　merry。　　A　Thing　was　appointed　within　the　castle　early　on　Monday　morning；　and　then　King　Harald　was　to　name　officers　to　rule　over　the　town；　to　give　out　laws；　and　bestow　fiefs。　　The　same　evening；　after　sunset；　King　Harald　Godwinson　came　from　the　south　to　the　castle　with　a　numerous　army；　and　rode　into　the　city　with　the　good…will　and　consent　of　the　people　of　the　castle。　　All　the　gates　and　walls　were　beset　so　that　the　Northmen　could　receive　no　intelligence；　and　the　army　remained　all　night　in　the　town。



90。　OF　KING　HARALD'S　LANDING。

On　Monday；　when　King　Harald　Sigurdson　had　taken　breakfast；　he　ordered　the　trumpets　to　sound　for　going　on　shore。　　The　army　accordingly　got　ready；　and　he　divided　the　men　into　the　parties　who　should　go；　and　who　should　stay　behind。　　In　every　division　he　allowed　two　men　to　land；　and　one　to　remain　behind。　　Earl　Toste　and　his　retinue　prepared　to　land　with　King　Harald；　and；　for　watching　the　ships；　remained　behind　the　king's　son　Olaf；　the　earls　of　Orkney；　Paul　and　Erlend；　and　also　Eystein　Orre；　a　son　of　Thorberg　Arnason；　who　was　the　most　able　and　best　beloved　by　the　king　of　all　the　lendermen；　and　to　whom　the　king　had　promised　his　daughter　Maria。　　The　weather　was　uncommonly　fine；　and　it　was　hot　sunshine。　　The　men　therefore　laid　aside　their　armour；　and　went　on　the　land　only　with　their　shields；　helmets　and　spears；　and　girt　with　swords；　and　many　had　also　arrows　and　bows；　and　all　were　very　merry。　　Now　as　they　came　near　the　castle　a　great　army　seemed　coming　against　them；　and　they　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　as　from　horses'　feet；　and　under　it　shining　shields　and　bright　armour。　　The　king　halted　his　people；　and　called　to　him　Earl　Toste；　and　asked　him　what　army　this　could　be。　　The　earl　replied　that　he　thought　it　most　likely　to　be　a　hostle　army；　but　possibly　it　might　be　some　of　his　relations　who　were　seeking　for　mercy　and　friendship；　in　order　to　obtain　certain　peace　and　safety　from　the　king。　　Then　the　king　said；　〃We　must　all　halt；　to　discover　what　kind　of　a　force　this　is。〃　　They　did　so；　and　the　nearer　this　force　came　the　greater　it　appeared；　and　their　shining　arms　were　to　the　sight　like　glancing　ice。



91。　OF　EARL　TOSTE'S　COUNSEL。

Then　said　King　Harald；　〃Let　us　now　fall　upon　some　good　sensible　counsel；　for　it　is　not　to　be　concealed　that　this　is　an　hostile　army　and　the　king　himself　without　doubt　is　here。〃

Then　said　the　earl；　〃The　first　counsel　is　to　turn　about　as　fast　as　we　can　to　our　ships　to　get　our　men　and　our　weapons；　and　then　we　will　make　a　defence　according　to　our　ability；　or　otherwise　let　our　ships　defend　us；　for　there　these　horsemen　have　no　power　over　us。〃

Then　King　Harald　said；　〃I　have　another　counsel。　　Put　three　of　our　best　horses　under　three　of　our　briskest　lads　and　let　them　ride　with　all　speed　to　tell　our　people　to　come　　quickly　to　our　relief。　The　Englishmen　shall　have　a　hard　fray　of　it　before　we　give　ourselves　up　for　lost。〃

The　earl　said　the　king　must　order　in　this；　as　in　all　things；　as　he　thought　best；　adding；　at　the　same　time；　it　was　by　no　means　his　wish　to　fly。　　Then　King　Harald　ordered　his　banner　Land…ravager　to　be　set　up；　and　Frirek　was　the　name　of　him　who　bore　the　banner。



92。　OF　KING　HARALD'S　ARMY。

Then　King　Harald　arranged　his　army；　and　made　the　line　of　battle　long；　but　not　deep。　　He　bent　both　wings　of　it　back；　so　that　they　met　together；　and　formed　a　wide　ring　equally　thick　all　round；　shield　to　shield；　both　in　the　front　and　rear　ranks。　　The　king　himself　and　his　retinue　were　within　the　circle；　and　there　was　the　banner；　and　a　body　of　chosen　men。　　Earl　Toste；　with　his　retinue；　was　at　another　place；　and　had　a　different　banner。　　The　army　was　arranged　in　this　way；　because　the　king　knew　that　horsemen　were　accustomed　to　ride　forwards　with　great　vigour；　but　to　turn　back　immediately。　　Now　the　king　ordered　that　his　own　and　the　earl's　attendants　should　ride　forwards　where　it　was　most　required。　　〃And　our　bowmen；〃　said　he；　〃shall　be　near　to　us；　and　they　who　stand　in　the　first　rank　shall　set　the　spear…shaft　on　the　ground；　and　the　spear…point　against　the　horseman's　breast；　if　he　rides　at　them；　and　those　who　stand　in　the　second　rank　shall　set　the　spear…point　against　the　horse's　breast。〃



93。　OF　KING　HARALD　GODWINSON。

King　Harald　Godwinson　had　come　with　an　immense　army；　both　of　cavalry　and　infantry。　　Now　King　Harald　Sigurdson　rode　around　his　array；　to　see　how　every　part　was　drawn　up。　　He　was　upon　a　black　horse；　and　the　horse　stumbled　under　him；　so　that　the　king　fell　off。　　He　got　up　in　haste　and　said；　〃A　fall　is　lucky　for　a　traveller。〃

The　English　king　Harald　said　to　the　Northmen　who　were　with　him；　〃Do　ye　know　the　stout　man　who　fell　from　his　horse；　with　the　blue　kirtle　and　the　beautiful　helmet？〃

〃That　is　the　king　himself。〃　said　they。

The　English　king　said；　〃A　great　man；　and　of　stately　appearance　is　he；　but　I　think　his　luck　has　left　him。〃



94。　OF　THE　TROOP　OF　THE　NOBILITY。

Twenty　horsemen　rode　forward　from　the　Thing…men's　troops　against　the　Northmen's　array；　and　all　of　them；　and　likewise　their　horses；　were　clothed　in　armour。

One　of　the　horsemen　said；　〃Is　Earl　Toste　in　this　army？〃

The　earl　answered；　〃It　is　not　to　be　denied　that　ye　will　find　him　here。〃

The　horseman　says；　〃Thy　brother；　King　Harald；　sends　thee　salutation；　with　the　message　that　thou　shalt　have　the　whole　of　Northumberland；　and　rather　than　thou　shouldst　not　submit　to　him；　he　will　give　thee　the　third　part　of　his　kingdom　to　rule　over　along　with　himself。〃

The　earl　replies；　〃This　is　something　different　from　the　enmity　and　scorn　he　offered　last　winter；　and　if　this　had　been　offered　then　it　would　have　saved　many　a　man's　life　who　now　is　dead；　and　it　would　have　been　better　for　the　kingdom　of　England。　　But　if　I　accept　of　this　offer；　what　will　he　give　King　Harald　Sigurdson　for　his　trouble？〃

The　horseman　replied；　〃He　has　also　spoken　of　this；　and　will　give　him　seven　feet　of　English　ground；　or　as　much　more　as　he　may　be　taller　than　other　men。〃

〃Then；〃　said　the　earl；　〃go　now　and　tell　King　Harald　to　get　ready　for　battle；　for　never　shall　the　Northmen　say　with　truth　that　Earl　Toste　left　King　Harald　Sigurdson　to　join　his　enemy's　troops；　when　he　came　to　fight　west　here　in　England。　　We　shall　rather　all　take　the　resolution　to　die　with　honour；　or　to　gain　England　by　a　victory。〃

Then　the　horseman　rode　back。

King　Harald　Sigurdson　said　to　the　earl；　〃Who　was　the　man　who　spoke　so　well？〃

The　earl　replied；　〃That　was　King　Harald　Godwinson。〃

Then；　said　King　Harald　Sigurdson；　〃That　was　by　far　too　long　concealed　from　me；　for　they　had　come　so　near　to　our　army；　that　this　Harald　should　never　have　carried　back　the　tidings　of　our　men's　slaughter。〃

Then　said　the　earl；　〃It　was　certainly　imprudent　for　such　chiefs；　and　it　may　be　as　you　say；　but　I　saw　he　was　going　to　offer　me　peace　and　a　great　dominion；　and　that；　on　the　other　hand；　I　would　be　his　murderer　if　I　betrayed　him；　and　I　would　rather　he　should　be　my　murderer　than　I　his；　if　one　of　two　be　to　die。〃

King　Harald　Sigurdson　observed　to　his　men；　〃That　was　but　a　little　man；　yet　he　sat　firmly　in　his　stirrups。〃

It　is　said　that　Harald　made　these　verses　at　this　time：　

　　　　　〃Advance！　　advance！　　　　　　No　helmets　glance；　　　　　　But　blue　swords　play　　　　　　In　our　array。　　　　　　Advance！　　advance！　　　　　　No　mail…coats　glance；　　　　　　But　hearts　are　here　　　　　　That　ne'er　knew　fear。〃

His　coat　of　mail　was　called　Emma；　and　it　was　so　long　that　it　reached　almost　to　the　middle　of　his　leg；　and　so　strong　that　no　weapon　ever　pierced　it。　　Then　said　King　Harald　Sigurdson；　〃These　verses　are　but　ill　composed；　I　must　try　to　make　better；〃　and　he　composed　the　following：　

　　　　　〃In　battle　storm　we　seek　no　lee；　　　　　　With　skulking　head；　and　bending　knee；　　　　　　Behind　the　hollow　shield。　　　　　　With　eye　and　hand　we　fend　the　head；　　　　　　Courage　and　skill　stand　in　the　stead　　　　　　Of　panzer；　helm；　and　shield；　　　　　　In　hild's　bloody　field。〃

Thereupon　Thiodolf　sang：　

　　　　　〃And　should　our　king　in　battle　fall；　　　　　　　A　fate　that　God　may　give　to　all；　　　　　　　His　sons　will　vengeance　take；　　　　　　And　never　shone　the　sun　upon　　　　　　Two　nobler　eaglet；　in　his　run；　　　　　　And　them　we'll　never　forsake。〃



95。　OF　THE　BEGINNING　OF　THE　BATTLE。

Now　the　battle　began。　　The　Englishmen　made　a　hot　assault　upon　the　Northmen；　who　sustained　it　bravely。