heimskringla-第124章
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It happened then； as before related； that the sun； although the air was clear； withdrew from the sight； and it became dark。 Of this Sigvat the skald speaks：
〃No common wonder in the sky Fell out that day the sun on high； And not a cloud to see around； Shone not； nor warmed Norway's ground。 The day on which fell out this fight Was marked by dismal dusky light； This from the East I heard the end Of our great king it did portend。〃
At the same time Dag Hringson came up with his people； and began to put his men in array； and to set up his banner； but on account of the darkness the onset could not go on so briskly； for they could not see exactly whom they had before them。 They turned； however； to that quarter where the men of Hordaland and Rogaland stood。 Many of these circumstances took place at the same time； and some happened a little earlier； and some a little later。
240。 KING OLAF'S FALL。
On the one side of Kalf Arnason stood his two relations； Olaf and Kalf； with many other brave and stout men。 Kalf was a son of Arnfin Arnmodson； and a brother's son of Arne Arnmodson。 On the other side of Kalf Arnason stood Thorer Hund。 King Olaf hewed at Thorer Hund； and struck him across the shoulders； but the sword would not cut； and it was as if dust flew from his reindeer…skin coat。 So says Sigvat：
〃The king himself now proved the power Of Fin…folk's craft in magic hour； With magic song； for stroke of steel Thor's reindeer coat would never feel； Bewitched by them it turned the stroke Of the king's sword； a dust…like smoke Rose from Thor's shoulders from the blow Which the king though would end his foe。〃
Thorer struck at the king； and they exchanged some blows； but the king's sword would not cut where it met the reindeer skin； although Thorer was wounded in the hands。 Sigvat sang thus of it：
〃Some say that Thorer's not right bold； Why never yet have I been told Of one who did a bolder thing Than to change blows with his true king。 Against his king his sword to wield； Leaping across the shield on shield Which fenced the king round in the fight； Shows the dog's （1） courage brave； not bright。〃
The king said to Bjorn the marshal； 〃Do thou kill the dog on whom steel will not bite。〃 Bjorn turned round the axe in his hands； and gave Thorer a blow with the hammer of it on the shoulder so hard that he tottered。 The king at the same moment turned against Kalf and his relations； and gave Olaf his death…wound。 Thorer Hund struck his spear right through the body of Marshal Bjorn； and killed him outright； and Thorer said； 〃It is thus we hunt the bear。〃 （2） Thorstein Knarrarsmid struck at King Olaf with his axe； and the blow hit his left leg above the knee。 Fin Arnason instantly killed Thorstein。 The king after the wound staggered towards a stone； threw down his sword； and prayed God to help him。 Then Thorer Hund struck at him with his spear； and the stroke went in under his mail…coat and into his belly。 Then Kalf struck at him on the left side of the neck。 But all are not agreed upon Kalf having been the man who gave him the wound in the neck。 These three wounds were King Olaf's death； and after the king's death the greater part of the forces which had advanced with him fell with the king。 Bjarne Gullbrarskald sang these verses about Kalf Arnason：
〃Warrior！ who Olaf dared withstand； Who against Olaf held the land； Thou hast withstood the bravest； best； Who e'er has gone to his long rest。 At Stiklestad thou wast the head； With flying banners onwards led Thy bonde troops； and still fought on； Until he fell the much…mourned one。〃
Sigvat also made these verses on Bjorn：
〃The marshal Bjorn； too； I find； A great example leaves behind； How steady courage should stand proof； Though other servants stand aloof。 To Russia first his steps he bent； To serve his master still intent； And now besides his king he fell； A noble death for skalds to tell。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） Thorer's name was Hund the dog； and a play upon Thorer Hund's name was intended by the skald。 L。 （2） Bjorn； the marshal's name； signifies a bear。 L。
241。 BEGINNING OF DAG HRINGSON'S ATTACK。
Dag Hringson still kept up the battle； and made in the beginning so fierce an assault that the bondes gave way； and some betook themselves to flight。 There a great number of the bondes fell； and these lendermen； Erlend of Gerde and Aslak of Finey； and the banner also which they had stood under was cut down。 This onset was particularly hot； and was called Dag's storm。 But now Kalf Arnason； Harek of Thjotta； and Thorer Hund turned against Dag； with the array which had followed them； and then Dag was overwhelmed with numbers； so he betook himself to flight with the men still left him。 There was a valley through which the main body of the fugitives fled； and men lay scattered in heaps on both sides； and many were severely wounded； and many so fatigued that they were fit for nothing。 The bondes pursued only a short way； for their leaders soon returned back to the field of battle； where they had their friends and relations to look after。
240。 KING OLAF'S MIRACLE SHOWN TO THORER HUND。
Thorer Hund went to where King Olaf's body lay； took care of it； laid it straight out on the ground； and spread a cloak over it。 He told since that when he wiped the blood from the face it was very beautiful； and there was red in the cheeks； as if he only slept； and even much clearer than when he was in life。 The king's blood came on Thorer's hand； and ran up between his fingers to where he had been wounded； and the wound grew up so speedily that it did not require to be bound up。 This circumstance was testified by Thorer himself when King Olaf's holiness came to be generally known among the people； and Thorer Hund was among the first of the king's powerful opponents who endeavoured to spread abroad the king's sanctity。
243。 OF KALF ARNASON'S BROTHERS。
Kalf Arnason searched for his brothers who had fallen； and found Thorberg and Fin。 It is related that Fin threw his dagger at him； and wanted to kill him； giving him hard words； and calling him a faithless villain； and a traitor to his king。 Kalf did not regard it； but ordered Fin and Thorberg to be carried away from the field。 When their wounds were examined they were found not to be deadly； and they had fallen from fatigue； and under the weight of their weapons。 Thereafter Kalf tried to bring his brothers down to a ship； and went himself with them。 As soon as he was gone the whole bonde…army； having their homes in the neighbourhood； went off also； excepting those who had friends or relations to look after； or the bodies of the slain to take care of。 The wounded were taken home to the farms； so that every house was full of them； and tents were erected over some。 But wonderful as was the number collected in the bonde…army； no less wonderful was the haste with which this vast body was dispersed when it was once free； and the cause of this was； that the most of the people gathered together from the country places were longing for their homes。
244。 OF THE BONDES OF VERADAL。
The bondes who had their homes in Veradal went to the chiefs Harek and Thorer； and complained of their distress； saying； 〃The fugitives who have escaped from the battle have proceeded up over the valley of Veradal； and are destroying our habitations； and there is no safety for us to travel home so long as they are in the valley。 Go after them with war…force； and let no mother's son of them escape with life； for that is what they intended for us if they had got the upper hand in the battle； and the same they would do now if they met us hereafter； and had better luck than we。 It may also be that they will linger in the valley if they have nothing to be frightened for； and then they would not proceed very gently in the inhabited country。〃 The bondes made many words about this； urging the chiefs to advance directly； and kill those who had escaped。 Now when the chiefs talked over this matter among themselves；
