heimskringla-第94部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


e　raised　above　other　lendermen　as　thou　art　more　able　than　they。〃　　Einar　saw　sufficiently　how　matters　stood　with　regard　to　his　business；　and　got　ready　to　return　home；　but　as　he　now　knew　the　king's　intentions；　and　thought　it　probable　if　King　Olaf　came　from　the　East　the　country　would　not　be　very　peaceable；　it　came　into　his　mind　that　it　would　be　better　to　proceed　slowly；　and　not　to　be　hastening　his　voyage；　in　order　to　fight　against　King　Olaf；　without　his　being　advanced　by　it　to　any　higher　dignity　than　he　had　before。　　Einar　accordingly　went　to　sea　when　he　was　ready；　but　only　came　to　Norway　after　the　events　were　ended　which　took　place　there　during　that　summer。



206。　OF　THE　CHIEF　PEOPLE　IN　NORWAY。

The　chiefs　in　Norway　had　their　spies　east　in　Svithjod；　and　south　in　Denmark；　to　find　out　if　King　Olaf　had　come　from　Russia。　　As　soon　as　these　men　could　get　across　the　country；　they　heard　the　news　that　King　Olaf　was　arrived　in　Svithjod；　and　as　soon　as　full　certainty　of　this　was　obtained；　the　war　message…token　went　round　the　land。　　The　whole　people　were　called　out　to　a　levy；　and　a　great　army　was　collected。　　The　lendermen　who　were　from　Agder；　Rogaland；　and　Hordaland；　divided　themselves；　so　that　some　went　towards　the　north；　and　some　towards　the　east；　for　they　thought　they　required　people　on　both　sides。　　Erling's　sons　from　Jadar　went　eastward；　with　all　the　men　who　lived　east　of　them；　and　over　whom　they　were　chiefs；　Aslak　of　Finey；　and　Erlend　of　Gerde；　with　the　lendermen　north　of　them；　went　towards　the　north。　　All　those　now　named　had　sworn　an　oath　to　King　Canute　to　deprive　Olaf　of　life；　if　opportunity　should　offer。



207。　OF　HARALD　SIGURDSON'S　PROCEEDINGS。

Now　when　it　was　reported　in　Norway　that　King　Olaf　was　come　from　the　East　to　Svithjod；　his　friends　gathered　together　to　give　him　aid。　　The　most　distinguished　man　in　this　flock　was　Harald　Sigurdson；　a　brother　of　King　Olaf；　who　then　was　fifteen　years　of　age；　very　stout；　and　manly　of　growth　as　if　he　were　full…grown。　Many　other　brave　men　were　there　also；　and　there　were　in　all　600　men　when　they　proceeded　from　the　uplands；　and　went　eastward　with　their　force　through　Eid　forest　to　Vermaland。　　From　thence　they　went　eastward　through　the　forests　to　Svithjod　and　made　inquiry　about　King　Olaf's　proceedings。



208。　OF　KING　OLAF'S　PROCEEDINGS　IN　SVITHJOD。

King　Olaf　was　in　Svithjod　in　spring　（A。D。　1030）；　and　had　sent　spies　from　thence　to　Norway。　　All　accounts　from　that　quarter　agreed　that　there　was　no　safety　for　him　if　he　went　there；　and　the　people　who　came　from　the　north　dissuaded　him　much　from　penetrating　into　the　country。　　But　he　had　firmly　resolved　within　himself；　as　before　stated；　to　go　into　Norway；　and　he　asked　King　Onund　what　strength　King　Onund　would　give　him　to　conquer　his　kingdom。　　King　Onund　replied；　that　the　Swedes　were　little　inclined　to　make　an　expedition　against　Norway。　　〃We　know；〃　says　he；　〃that　the　Northmen　are　rough　and　warlike；　and　it　is　dangerous　to　carry　hostility　to　their　doors；　but　I　will　not　be　slow　in　telling　thee　what　aid　I　can　give。　　I　will　give　thee　400　chosen　men　from　my　court…men；　active　and　warlike；　and　well　equipt　for　battle；　and　moreover　will　give　thee　leave　to　go　through　my　country；　and　gather　to　thyself　as　many　men　as　thou　canst　get　to　follow　thee。〃　　King　Olaf　accepted　this　offer；　and　got　ready　for　his　march。　　Queen　Astrid；　and　Ulfhild　the　king's　daughter；　remained　behind　in　Svithjod。



209。　KING　OLAF　ADVANCES　TO　JARNBERALAND。

Just　as　King　Olaf　began　his　journey　the　men　came　to　him　whom　the　Swedish　king　had　given；　in　all　400　men；　and　the　king　took　the　road　the　Swedes　showed　him。　　He　advanced　upwards　in　the　country　to　the　forests；　and　came　to　a　district　called　Jarnberaland。　　Here　the　people　joined　him　who　had　come　out　of　Norway　to　meet　him；　as　before　related；　and　he　met　here　his　brother　Harald；　and　many　other　of　his　relations；　and　it　was　a　joyful　meeting。　　They　made　out　together　1200　men。



210。　OF　DAG　HRINGSON。

There　was　a　man　called　Dag；　who　is　said　to　have　been　a　son　of　King　Hring；　who　fled　the　country　from　King　Olaf。　　This　Hring；　it　is　said　further；　had　been　a　son　of　Dag；　and　grandson　of　Hring；　Harald　Harfager's　son。　　Thus　was　Dag　King　Olaf's　relative。　　Both　Hring　the　father；　and　Dag　the　son；　had　settled　themselves　in　Svithjod；　and　got　land　to　rule　over。　　In　spring；　when　Olaf　came　from　the　East　to　Svithjod；　he　sent　a　message　to　his　relation　Dag；　that　he　should　join　him　in　this　expedition　with　all　the　force　he　could　collect；　and　if　they　gained　the　country　of　Norway　again；　Dag　should　have　no　smaller　part　of　the　kingdom　under　him　than　his　forefathers　had　enjoyed。　　When　this　message　came　to　Dag　it　suited　his　inclination　well；　for　he　had　a　great　desire　to　go　to　Norway　and　get　the　dominion　his　family　had　ruled　over。　　He　was　not　slow；　therefore；　to　reply；　and　promised　to　come。　　Dag　was　a　quick…　speaking；　quick…resolving　man；　mixing　himself　up　in　everything；　eager；　but　of　little　understanding。　　He　collected　a　force　of　almost　1200　men；　with　which　he　joined　King　Olaf。



211。　OF　KING　OLAF'S　JOURNEY。

King　Olaf　sent　a　message　before　him　to　all　the　inhabited　places　he　passed　through；　that　the　men　who　wished　to　get　goods　and　money；　and　share　of　booty；　and　the　lands　besides　which　now　were　in　the　hands　of　his　enemies；　should　come　to　him；　and　follow　him。　Thereafter　King　Olaf　led　his　army　through　forests；　often　over　desert　moors；　and　often　over　large　lakes；　and　they　dragged；　or　carried　the　boats；　from　lake　to　lake。　　On　the　way　a　great　many　followers　joined　the　king；　partly　forest　settlers；　partly　vagabonds。　　The　places　at　which　he　halted　for　the　night　are　since　called　Olaf's　Booths。　　He　proceeded　without　any　break　upon　his　journey　until　he　came　to　Jamtaland；　from　which　he　marched　north　over　the　keel　or　ridge　of　the　land。　　The　men　spread　themselves　over　the　hamlets；　and　proceeded；　much　scattered；　so　long　as　no　enemy　was　expected；　but　always；　when　so　dispersed；　the　Northmen　accompanied　the　king。　　Dag　proceeded　with　his　men　on　another　line　of　march；　and　the　Swedes　on　a　third　with　their　troop。



212。　OF　VAGABOND…MEN。

There　were　two　men；　the　one　called　Gauka…Thorer；　the　other　Afrafaste；　who　were　vagabonds　and　great　robbers；　and　had　a　company　of　thirty　men　such　as　themselves。　　These　two　men　were　larger　and　stronger　than　other　men；　and　they　wanted　neither　courage　nor　impudence。　　These　men　heard　speak　of　the　army　that　was　crossing　the　country；　and　said　among　themselves　it　would　be　a　clever　counsel　to　go　to　the　king；　follow　him　to　his　country；　and　go　with　him　into　a　regular　battle；　and　try　themselves　in　this　work；　for　they　had　never　been　in　any　battle　in　which　people　were　regularly　drawn　up　in　line；　and　they　were　curious　to　see　the　king's　order　of　battle。　　This　counsel　was　approved　of　by　their　comrades；　and　accordingly　they　went　to　the　road　on　which　King　Olaf　was　to　pass。　　When　they　came　there　they　presented　themselves　to　the　king；　with　their　followers；　fully　armed。　　They　saluted　him；　and　he　asked　what　people　they　were。　　They　told　their　names；　and　said　they　were　natives　of　the　place；　and　told　their　errand；　and　that　they　wished　to　go　with　the　king。　　The　king　said；　it　appeared　to　him　there　was　good　help　in　such　folks。　　〃And　I　have　a　great　inclination；〃　said　he；　〃to　take　such；　but　are　ye　Christian　men？〃

Gauka…Thorer　replies；　that　he　is　neither　Christian　nor　heathen。　〃I　and　my　comrades　have　no　faith　but　on　ourselves；　our　strength；　and　the　luck　of　victory；　and　with　this　faith　we　slip　through　sufficiently　well。〃

The　king　replies；　〃A　great　pity　it　is　that　such　brave　slaughtering　fellows　did　not　believe　in　Christ　their　Creator。〃

Thorer　replies；　〃Is　there　any　Christian　man；　king；　in　thy　following；　who　stands　so　high　in　the　air　as　we　two　brothers？〃

The　king　told　them　to　let　themselves　be　baptized；　and　to　accept　the　true　faith。　　〃Follow　me　then；　and　I　will　advance　you　to　great　dignities；　but　if　ye　will　not　do　so；　return　to　your　former　vocation。〃

Afrafaste　said　he　would　not　take　on　Christianity；　and　he　turned　away。

Then　said　Gauka…Thorer；　〃It　is　a　great　shame　that　the　king　drives　us　thus　away　from　his　army；　and　I　never　before　came　where　I　was　not　received　into　the　company　of　other　people；　and　I　shall　never　return　back　on　this　account。〃　　They　joined　accordingly　the　rear　with　other　forest…men；　and　followed　the　troops。　　Thereafter　the　king　proceeded　west　up　to　the　keel…ridge　of　the　country。



213。　OF　KING　OLAF'S　VISION。

Now　when　King　Olaf；　coming　from　the　east；　went　over　the　keel…　ridge　and　descended　on　the　west　side　of　the　mountain；　where　it　declines　towards　the　sea；　he　could　see　from　thence　far　over　the　country。　　Many　people　rode　before　the　king　and　many　after；　and　he　himself　rode　so　that　there　was　a　free　space　around　him。　　He　was　silent；　and　nobody　spoke　to　him；　and　thus　he　rode　a　great　part　of　the　day　without　looking　much　about　him。　　Then　the　bishop　rode　up　to　him；　asked　him　why　he　was　so　silent；　and　what　he　was　thinking　of；　for；　in　general；　he　was　very　cheerful；　and　very　talkative　on　a　journey　to　his　men；　so　that　all　who　were　near　him　were　merry。　The　king　replied；　full　of　thought；　〃Wonderful　things　have　come　into　my　mind　a　while　ago。　　As　I　just　now　looked　over　Norway；　out　to　the　west　from　the　mountains；　it　came　into　my　mind　how　many　happy　days　I　have　had　in　that　land。　　It　appeared　to　me　at　first　as　if　I　saw　over　all　the　Throndhjem　country；　and　then　over　all　Norway；　and　the　longer　this　vision　was　before　my　eyes　the　farther；　methought；　I　saw；　until　I　looked　over　the　whole　wide　world；　both　land　and　sea。　　Well　I　know　the　places　at　which　I　have　been　in　former　days；　some　even　which　I　have　only　heard　speak　of；　and　some　I　saw　of　which　I　had　never　heard；　both　inhabited　and　uninhabited；　in　this　wide　world。〃　　The　bishop　replied　that　this　was　a　holy　vision；　and　very　remarkable。



214。　OF　THE　MIRACLE　ON　THE　CORN　LAND。

When　the　king　had　come　lower　down　on　the　mountain；　there　lay　a　farm　before　him　called　Sula；　on　the　highest　part　of　Veradal　district；　and　as　they　came　nearer　to　the　house　the　corn…land　appeared　on　both　sides　of　the　path。　　The　king　told　his　people　to　proceed　carefully；　and　not　destroy　the　corn　to　the　bondes。　　The　people　observed　this　when　the　king　was　near；　but　the　crowd　behind　paid　no　attention　to　it；　and　the　people　ran　over　the　corn；　so