heimskringla-第20章
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foemen slain He was named bravest on the plain。〃
32。 HAKON'S DEATH。
When King Hakon came out to his ship he had his wound bound up； but the blood ran from it so much and so constantly； that it could not be stopped； and when the day was drawing to an end his strength began to leave him。 Then he told his men that he wanted to go northwards to his house at Alreksstader； but when he came north； as far as Hakonarhella Hill； they put in towards the land； for by this time the king was almost lifeless。 Then he called his friends around him； and told them what he wished to be done with regard to his kingdom。 He had only one child； a daughter； called Thora； and had no son。 Now he told them to send a message to Eirik's sons； that they should be kings over the country； but asked them to hold his friends in respect and honour。 〃And if fate；〃 added he； 〃should prolong my life； I will； at any rate； leave the country； and go to a Christian land； and do penance for what I have done against God； but should I die in heathen land； give me any burial you think fit。〃 Shortly afterwards Hakon expired； at the little hill on the shore…side at which he was born。 So great was the sorrow over Hakon's death； that he was lamented both by friends and enemies； and they said that never again would Norway see such a king。 His friends removed his body to Saeheim； in North Hordaland； and made a great mound； in which they laid the king in full armour and in his best clothes； but with no other goods。 They spoke over his grave； as heathen people are used to do； and wished him in Valhal。 Eyvind Skaldaspiller composed a poem on the death of King Hakon； and on how well he was received in Valhal。 The poem is called 〃Hakonarmal〃：
〃In Odin's hall an empty place Stands for a king of Yngve's race； ‘Go； my valkyries；' Odin said； ‘Go forth； my angels of the dead； Gondul and Skogul； to the plain Drenched with the battle's bloody rain； And to the dying Hakon tell； Here in Valhal shall he dwell。'
〃At Stord； so late a lonely shore； Was heard the battle's wild uproar； The lightning of the flashing sword Burned fiercely at the shore of Stord。 From levelled halberd and spearhead Life…blood was dropping fast and red； And the keen arrows' biting sleet Upon the shore at Stord fast beat。
〃Upon the thundering cloud of shield Flashed bright the sword…storm o'er the field； And on the plate…mail rattled loud The arrow…shower's rushing cloud； In Odin's tempest…weather； there Swift whistling through the angry air； And the spear…torrents swept away Ranks of brave men from light of day。
〃With batter'd shield； and blood…smear'd sword Slits one beside the shore of Stord； With armour crushed and gashed sits he； A grim and ghastly sight to see； And round about in sorrow stand The warriors of his gallant band： Because the king of Dags' old race In Odin's hall must fill a place。
〃Then up spake Gondul； standing near Resting upon her long ash spear； ‘Hakon！ the gods' cause prospers well； And thou in Odin's halls shalt dwell！' The king beside the shore of Stord The speech of the valkyrie heard； Who sat there on his coal…black steed； With shield on arm and helm on head。
〃Thoughtful； said Hakon； ‘Tell me why Ruler of battles； victory Is so dealt out on Stord's red plain？ Have we not well deserved to gain？' ‘And is it not as well dealt out？' Said Gondul。 ‘Hearest thou not the shout？ The field is cleared the foemen run The day is ours the battle won！'
〃Then Skogul said； ‘My coal…black steed； Home to the gods I now must speed； To their green home； to tell the tiding That Hakon's self is thither riding。' To Hermod and to Brage then Said Odin； ‘Here； the first of men； Brave Hakon comes； the Norsemen's king； Go forth； my welcome to him bring。'
〃Fresh from the battle…field came in； Dripping with blood； the Norsemen'a king。 ‘Methinks；' said he； great Odin's will Is harsh； and bodes me further ill； Thy son from off the field to…day From victory to snatch away！' But Odin said； ‘Be thine the joy Valhal gives； my own brave boy！'
〃And Brage said； ‘Eight brothers here Welcome thee to Valhal's cheer； To drain the cup； or fights repeat Where Hakon Eirik's earls beat。' Quoth the stout king； 'And shall my gear； Helm； sword； and mail…coat； axe and spear； Be still at hand！ 'Tis good to hold Fast by our trusty friends of old。'
〃Well was it seen that Hakon still Had saved the temples from all ill （1）； For the whole council of the gods Welcomed the king to their abodes。 Happy the day when men are born Like Hakon； who all base things scorn。 Win from the brave and honoured name； And die amidst an endless fame。
〃Sooner shall Fenriswolf devour The race of man from shore to shore； Than such a grace to kingly crown As gallant Hakon want renown。 Life； land； friends； riches； all will fly； And we in slavery shall sigh。 But Hakon in the blessed abodes For ever lives with the bright gods。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） Hakon； although a Christian； appears to have favoured the old religion； and spared the temples of Odin； and therefore a place in Valhal is assigned him。 L。
SAGA OF KING HARALD GRAFELD AND OF EARL HAKON SON OF SIGURD。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS
This saga might be called Gunhild's Saga； as she is the chief person in it。 The reign of King Harald and Earl Hakon is more fully described in the next saga； that is； Olaf Trygvason's。 Other literature on this epoch：
〃Agrip〃 （chap。 8）； 〃Historia Norvegia〃； （p。 12）； 〃Thjodrek〃 （chap。 5）； 〃Saxo〃 （pp。 479…482）； 〃Egla〃 （chaps。 81； 82）； 〃Floamanna〃 （chap。 12）； 〃Fareyinga〃 （chaps。 2； 4； 10）； 〃Halfred's Saga〃 （chap。 2）； 〃Hord Grimkelsons Saga〃 （chaps。 13； 18）； 〃Kormak〃 （chaps。 19…27）； 〃Laxdaela〃 （chaps。 19…21）； 〃Njala〃 （chaps； 3…6）。
The skalds of this saga are： Glum Geirason； Kormak Agmundson； Eyvind Skaldaspiller； and Einar Helgason Skalaglam。
1。 GOVERNMENT OF THE SONS OF EIRIK。
When King Hakon was killed； the sons of Eirik took the sovereignty of Norway。 Harald； who was the oldest of the living brothers； was over them in dignity。 Their mother Gunhild； who was called the King…mother； mixed herself much in the affairs of the country。 There were many chiefs in the land at that time。 There was Trygve Olafson in the Eastland； Gudrod Bjornson in Vestfold； Sigurd earl of Hlader in the Throndhjem land； but Gunhild's sons held the middle of the country the first winter。 There went messages and ambassadors between Gunhild's sons and Trygve and Gudrod； and all was settled upon the footing that they should hold from Gunhild's sons the same part of the country which they formerly had held under King Hakon。 A man called Glum Geirason； who was King Harald's skald； and was a very brave man； made this song upon King Hakon's death：
〃Gamle is avenged by Harald！ Great is thy deed； thou champion bold！ The rumour of it came to me In distant lands beyond the sea； How Harald gave King Hakon's blood To Odin's ravens for their food。〃
This song was much favoured。 When Eyvind Finson heard of it he composed the song which was given before； viz。：
〃Our dauntless king with Gamle's gore Sprinkled his bright sword o'er and o'er；〃 &c。
This song also was much favoured； and was spread widely abroad； and when King Harald came to hear of it； he laid a charge against Evyind affecting his life； but friends made up the quarrel； on the condition that Eyvind should in future be Harald's skald； as he had formerly been King Hakon's。 There was also some relationship between them； as Gunhild； Eyvind's mother； was a daughter of Earl Halfdan； and her mother was Ingibjorg； a daughter of Harald Harfager。 Thereafter Eyvind made a song about King Harald：
〃Guardian of Norway； well we know Thy heart failed not when from the bow The piercing arrow…h
