heimskringla-第24章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
15。 GRJOTGARD'S FALL。
King Harald Grafeld and his brother King Gudrod gathered together a great army in the east country； with which they set out northwards to Throndhjem （A。D。 968）。 When Earl Hakon heard of it he collected men； and set out to More； where he plundered。 There his father's brother； Grjotgard； had the command and defence of the country on account of Gunhild's sons； and he assembled an army by order of the kings。 Earl Hakon advanced to meet him； and gave him battle； and there fell Grjotgard and two other earls； and many a man besides。 So says Einar Skalaglam：
〃The helm…crown'd Hakon； brave as stout； Again has put his foes to rout。 The bowl runs o'er with Odin's mead； （1） That fires the skald when mighty deed Has to be sung。 Earl Hakon's sword； In single combat； as I've heard； Three sons of earls from this one fray To dwell with Odin drove away。〃 （2）
Thereafter Earl Hakon went out to sea； and sailed outside the coast； and came to Denmark。 He went to the Danish King； Harald Gormson； and was well received by him； and staid with him all winter （A。D。 969）。 At that time there was also with the Danish king a man called Harald； a son of Knut Gormson； and a brother's son of King Harald。 He was lately come home from a long viking cruise； on which he had gathered great riches； and therefore he was called Gold Harald。 He thought he had a good chance of coming to the Danish kingdom。
ENDNOTES： （1） Odin's mead； called Bodn； was the blood or mead the sons of Brage； the god of poets； drank to inspire them。 L。 （2） To dwell with Odin； viz。 slew them。 L。
16。 KING ERLING'S FALL。
King Harald Grafeld and his brothers proceeded northwards to Throndhjem； where they met no opposition。 They levied the scat…duties； and all other revenues； and laid heavy penalties upon the bondes； for the kings had for a long time received but little income from Throndhjem； because Earl Hakon was there with many troops； and was at variance with these kings。 In autumn （A。D。 968） King Harald went south with the greater part of the men…at…arms； but King Erlin remained behind with his men。 He raised great contributions from the bondes； and pressed severely on them； at which the bondes murmured greatly； and submitted to their losses with impatience。 In winter they gathered together in a great force to go against King Erling； just as he was at a feast； and they gave battle to him； and he with the most of his men fell （A。D。 969）。
17。 THE SEASONS IN NORWAY AT THIS TIME。
While Gunhild's sons reigned in Norway the seasons were always bad； and the longer they reigned the worse were the crops； and the bondes laid the blame on them。 They were very greedy； and used the bondes harshly。 It came at length to be so bad that fish； as well as corn； were wanting。 In Halogaland there was the greatest famine and distress； for scarcely any corn grew； and even snow was lying； and the cattle were bound in the byres （1） all over the country until midsummer。 Eyvind Skaldaspiller describes it in his poem； as he came outside of his house and found a thick snowdrift at that season：
〃Tis midsummer； yet deep snows rest On Odin's mother's frozen breast： Like Laplanders； our cattle…kind In stall or stable we must bind。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） Byres = gards or farms。
18。 THE ICELANDERS AND EYVIND THE SKALD。
Eyvind composed a poem about the people of Iceland； for which they rewarded him by each bonde giving him three silver pennies； of full weight and white in the fracture。 And when the silver was brought together at the Althing； the people resolved to have it purified； and made into a row of clasps； and after the workmanship of the silver was paid； the row of clasps was valued at fifty marks。 This they sent to Eyvind； but Eyvind was obliged to separate the clasps from each other； and sell them to buy food for his household。 But the same spring a shoal of herrings set in upon the fishing ground beyond the coast…side； and Eyvind manned a ship's boat with his house servants and cottars； and rowed to where the herrings were come； and sang：
〃Now let the steed of ocean bound O'er the North Sea with dashing sound： Let nimble tern and screaming gull Fly round and round our net is full。 Fain would I know if Fortune sends A like provision to my friends。 Welcome provision 'tis； I wot； That the whale drives to our cook's pot。〃
So entirely were his movable goods exhausted； that he was obliged to sell his arrows to buy herrings； or other meat for his table：
〃Our arms and ornaments of gold To buy us food we gladly sold： The arrows of the bow gave we For the bright arrows of the sea。〃 （1）
ENDNOTES： （1） Herrings； from their swift darting along； are called the arrows of the sea。
KING OLAF TRYGVASON'S SAGA。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
Hitherto the narrative has been more or less fragmentary。 With Olaf Trygvason's Saga reliable history begins； and the narration is full and connected。 The story of Hakon the earl is incorporated in this saga。
Accounts of Olaf Trygvason may be found in Od the Monk's legendary saga； in parts of 〃Agrip〃； 〃Historia Norvegiae〃； and in Thjodrek。 Icelandic works on this epoch are：
〃Egla〃； 〃Eyrbyggja〃； 〃Finboga〃； 〃Floamanna〃； 〃Faereyinga〃； 〃Hallfredar Saga〃； 〃Havardar Saga〃； 〃Are's Islendinga…bok〃； 〃Kristni Saga〃； 〃Laxdaela〃； 〃Ljosvetninga〃； 〃Njala〃； 〃Orkneyinga〃； 〃Viga Glums Saga〃； and 〃Viga Styrs Saga〃。
The skalds quoted are： Glum Geirason； Eyvind Finson； Skaldaspiller； Einar Skalaglam； Tind Halkelson； Eyjolf Dadaskald； Hallarstein； Halfred Vandraedaskald； Haldor Ukristne； Skule Thorsteinson； and Thord Kolbeinson。
1。 OLAF TRYGVASON'S BIRTH。
King Trygve Olafson had married a wife who was called Astrid。 She was a daughter of Eirik Bjodaskalle； a great man； who dwelt at Oprustader。 But after Trygve's death （A。D。 963） Astrid fled； and privately took with her all the loose property she could。 Her foster…father； Thorolf Lusarskeg； followed her； and never left her； and others of her faithful followers spied about to discover her enemies； and where they were。 Astrid was pregnant with a child of King Trygve； and she went to a lake； and concealed herself in a holm or small island in it with a few men。 Here her child was born； and it was a boy； and water was poured over it； and it was called Olaf after the grandfather。 Astrid remained all summer here in concealment； but when the nights became dark； and the day began to shorten and the weather to be cold； she was obliged to take to the land； along with Thorolf and a few other men。 They did not seek for houses unless in the night…time； when they came to them secretly； and they spoke to nobody。 One evening； towards dark； they came to Oprustader； where Astrid's father Eirik dwelt； and privately sent a man to Eirik to tell him； and Eirik took them to an out…house； and spread a table for them with the best of food。 When Astrid had been here a short time her travelling attendants left her； and none remained； behind with her but two servant girls； her child Olaf； Thorolf Lusarskeg； and his son Thorgils； who was six years old； and they remained all winter （A。D。 964）。
2。 OF GUNHILD S SONS。
After Trygve Olafson's murder； Harald Grafeld and his brother Gudrod went to the farm which he owned； but Astrid was gone； and they could learn no tidings of her。 A loose report came to their ears that she was pregnant to King Trygve； but they soon went away northwards； as before related。 As soon as they met their mother Gunhild they told her all that had taken place。 She inquired particularly about Astrid； and they told her the report they had heard； but as Gunhild's sons the same harvest and winter after had bickerings with Earl Hakon； as before related； they did not seek after Astrid and her son that winter。
3。 ASTRID'S JOURNEY。
The spring after （A。D。 964） Gunhild sent spies to the Uplands； and all the way down to Viken； to spy what they could about Astrid； and her men came back； and could only tell her that Astrid must be with her father Eirik； and it was probable was bringing up her infant； the so
