heimskringla-第208章

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had　a　great　battle；　in　which　Erling　was　victorious。　　Sigurd　Agnhot；　and　many　others　of　Olaf's　men；　fell　there；　but　Olaf　escaped　by　flight；　went　south　to　Denmark；　and　was　all　winter　（A。D。　1169）　in　Alaborg　in　Jutland。　The　following　spring　Olaf　fell　into　an　illness　which　ended　in　death；　and　he　was　buried　in　the　Maria　church；　and　the　Danes　call　him　a　saint。



35。　HARALD'S　DEATH。

King　Magnus　had　a　lenderman　called　Nikolas　Kufung；　who　was　a　son　of　Pal　Skaptason。　　He　took　Harald　prisoner；　who　called　himself　a　son　of　King　Sigurd　Haraldson　and　the　princess　Kristin；　and　a　brother　of　King　Magnus　by　the　mother's　side。　　Nikolas　brought　Harald　to　Bergen；　and　delivered　him　into　Earl　Erling's　hands。　　It　was　Erling's　custom　when　his　enemies　came　before　him；　that　he　either　said　nothing　to　them；　or　very　little；　and　that　in　all　gentleness；　when　he　had　determined　to　put　them　to　death；　or　rose　with　furious　words　against　them；　when　he　intended　to　spare　their　lives。　　Erling　spoke　but　little　to　Harald；　and　many；　therefore；　suspected　his　intentions；　and　some　begged　King　Magnus　to　put　in　a　good　word　for　Harald　with　the　earl；　and　the　king　did　so。　　The　earl　replies；　〃Thy　friends　advise　thee　badly。　　Thou　wouldst　govern　this　kingdom　but　a　short　time　in　peace　and　safety；　if　thou　wert　to　follow　the　counsels　of　the　heart　only。〃　　Earl　Erling　ordered　Harald　to　be　taken　to　Nordnes；　where　he　was　beheaded。



36。　EYSTEIN　EYSTEINSON　AND　THE　BIRKEBEINS。

There　was　a　man　called　Eystein；　who　gave　himself　out　for　a　son　of　King　Eystein　Haraldson。　　He　was　at　this　time　young；　and　not　full　grown。　　It　is　told　of　him　that　he　one　summer　appeared　in　Svithjod；　and　went　to　Earl　Birger　Brosa；　who　was　then　married　to　Brigida；　Eystein's　aunt；　a　daughter　of　King　Harald　Gille。　　Eystein　explained　his　business　to　him；　and　asked　their　assistance。　　Both　Earl　Birger　and　his　wife　listened　to　him　in　a　friendly　way；　and　promised　him　their　confidence；　and　he　stayed　with　them　a　while。　　Earl　Birger　gave　him　some　assistance　of　men；　and　a　good　sum　for　travelling　expenses；　and　both　promised　him　their　friendship　on　his　taking　leave。　　Thereafter　Eystein　proceeded　north　into　Norway　（A。D。　1174）；　and　when　he　came　down　to　Viken　people　flocked　to　him　in　crowds；　and　Eystein　was　there　proclaimed　king；　and　he　remained　in　Viken　in　winter。　　As　they　were　very　poor　in　money；　they　robbed　all　around；　wherefore　the　lendermen　and　bondes　raised　men　against　them；　and　being　thus　overpowered　by　numbers；　they　fled　away　to　the　forests　and　deserted　hill　grounds；　where　they　lived　for　a　long　time。　　Their　clothes　being　worn　out；　they　wound　the　bark　of　the　birch…tree　about　their　legs；　and　thus　were　called　by　the　bondes　Birkebeins。　They　often　rushed　down　upon　the　settled　districts；　pushed　on　here　or　there；　and　made　an　assault　where　they　did　not　find　many　people　to　oppose　them。　　They　had　several　battles　with　the　bondes　with　various　success；　and　the　Birkebeins　held　three　battles　in　regular　array；　and　gained　the　victory　in　them　all。　　At　Krokaskog　they　had　nearly　made　an　unlucky　expedition；　for　a　great　number　of　bondes　and　men…at…arms　were　assembled　there　against　them；　but　the　Birkebeins　felled　brushwood　across　the　roads；　and　retired　into　the　forest。　　They　were　two　years　（A。D。　1175…1176）　in　Viken　before　they　showed　themselves　in　the　northern　parts　of　the　country。



37。　BIRKEBEINS；　KING　EYSTEIN；　AND　SKAKKE。

Magnus　had　been　king　for　thirteen　years　when　the　Birkebeins　first　made　their　appearance。　　They　got　themselves　ships　in　the　third　summer　（A。D。　1176）；　with　which　they　sailed　along　the　coast　gathering　goods　and　men。　　They　were　first　in　Viken；　but　when　summer　advanced　they　proceeded　northwards；　and　so　rapidly　that　no　news　preceded　them　until　they　came　to　Throndhjem。　　The　Birkebeins'　troop　consisted　principally　of　hill…men　and　Elfgrims；　and　many　were　from　Thelemark；　and　all　were　well　armed。　　Their　king；　Eystein；　was　a　handsome　man；　and　with　a　little　but　good　countenance；　and　he　was　not　of　great　stature；　for　his　men　called　him　Eystein　Meyla。　　King　Magnus　and　Earl　Erling　were　in　Bergen　when　the　Birkebeins　sailed　past　it　to　the　north；　but　they　did　not　hear　of　them。

Earl　Erling　was　a　man　of　great　understanding　and　power；　an　excellent　leader　in　war；　and　an　able　and　prudent　ruler　of　the　country；　but　he　had　the　character　of　being　cruel　and　severe。　　The　cause　of　this　was　principally　that　he　never　allowed　his　enemies　to　remain　in　the　country；　even　when　they　prayed　to　him　for　mercy；　and　therefore　many　joined　the　bands　which　were　collected　against　him。　　Erling　was　a　tall　strong…made　man；　somewhat　short…necked　and　high…shouldered；　had　a　long　and　sharp　countenance　of　a　light　complexion；　and　his　hair　became　very　grey。　　He　bore　his　head　a　little　on　one　side；　was　free　and　agreeable　in　his　manners。　　He　wore　the　old　fashion　of　clothes；　　long　body…pieces　and　long　arms　to　his　coats；　foreign　cloak；　and　high　shoes。　　He　made　the　king　wear　the　same　kind　of　dress　in　his　youth；　but　when　he　grew　up；　and　acted　for　himself；　he　dressed　very　sumptuously。

King　Magnus　was　of　a　light　turn　of　mind；　full　of　jokes；　a　great　lover　of　mirth；　and　not　less　of　women。



38。　OF　NIKOLAS。

Nikolas　was　a　son　of　Sigurd　Hranason　and　of　Skialdvor；　a　daughter　of　Brynjolf　Ulfalde；　and　a　sister　of　Haldor　Brynjolfson　by　the　father's　side；　and　of　King　Magnus　Barefoot　by　the　mother's　side。　Nikolas　was　a　distinguished　chief；　who　had　a　farm　at　Ongul　in　Halogaland；　which　was　called　Steig。　　Nikolas　had　also　a　house　in　Nidaros；　below　Saint　Jon's　church；　where　Thorgeir　the　scribe　lately　dwelt。　　Nikolas　was　often　in　the　town；　and　was　president　of　the　townspeople。　　Skialdvor；　Nikolas's　daughter；　was　married　to　Eirik　Arnason；　who　was　also　a　lenderman。



39。　OF　EIRIK　AND　NIKOLAS。

As　the　people　of　the　town　were　coming　from　matins　the　last　day　of　Marymas　（September　8th）；　Eirik　came　up　to　Nikolas；　and　said；　〃Here　are　some　fishermen　come　from　the　sea；　who　report　that　some　long…ships　are　sailing　into　the　fjord；　and　people　conjecture　that　these　may　be　the　Birkebeins。　　It　would　be　advisable　to　call　the　townspeople　together　with　the　war…horns；　to　meet　under　arms　out　on　Eyrar。〃

Nikolas　replies；　〃I　don't　go　after　fishermen's　reports；　but　I　shall　send　out　spies　to　the　fjord；　and　in　the　meantime　hold　a　Thing　to…day。〃

Eirik　went　home；　but　when　they　were　ringing　to　high　mass；　and　Nikolas　was　going　to　church；　Eirik　came　to　hint　again；　and　said；　〃I　believe　the　news　to　be　true；　for　here　are　men　who　say　they　saw　them　under　sail；　and　I　think　it　would　be　most　advisable　to　ride　out　of　town；　and　gather　men　with　arms；　for　it　appears　to　me　the　townspeople　will　be　too　few。〃

Nikolas　replies；　〃Thou　art　mixing　everything　together；　let　us　first　hear　mass；　and　then　take　our　resolution。〃

Nikolas　then　went　into　the　church。　　When　the　mass　was　over　Eirik　went　to　Nikolas；　and　said；　〃My　horses　are　saddled；　I　will　ride　away。〃

Nikolas　replies；　〃Farewell；　then：　we　will　hold　a　Thing　to…day　on　the　Eyrar；　and　examine　what　force　of　men　there　may　be　in　the　town。〃

Eirik　rode　away；　and　Nikolas　went　to　his　house；　and　then　to　dinner。



40。　THE　FALL　OF　NIKOLAS。

The　meat　was　scarcely　put　on　the　table；　when　a　man　came　into　the　house　to　tell　Nikolas　that　the　Birkebeins　were　roving　up　the　river。　　Then　Nikolas　called　to　his　men　to　take　their　weapons。　When　they　were　armed　Nikolas　ordered　them　to　go　up　into　the　loft。　But　that　was　a　most　imprudent　step；　for　if　they　had　remained　in　the　yard；　the　townspeople　might　have　come　to　their　assistance；　but　now　the　Birkebeins　filled　the　whole　yard；　and　from　thence　scrambled　from　all　sides　up　to　the　loft。　　They　called　to　Nikolas；　and　offered　him　quarter；　but　he　refused　it。　　Then　they　attacked　the　loft。　　Nikolas　and　his　men　defended　themselves　with　bow…shot；　hand…shot；　and　stones　of　the　chimney；　but　the　Birkebeins　hewed　down　the　houses；　broke　up　the　loft；　and　returned　shot　for　shot　from　bow　or　hand。　　Nikolas　had　a　red　shield　in　which　were　gilt　nails；　and　about　it　was　a　border　of　stars。　　The　Birkebeins　shot　so　that　the　arrows　went　in　up　to　the　arrow　feather。　　Then　said　Nikolas；　〃My　shield　deceives　me。〃　　Nikolas　and　a　number　of　his　people　fell；　and　his　death　was　greatly　lamented。　　The　Birkebeins　gave　all　the　towns…people　their　lives。



41。　EYSTEIN　PROCLAIM