heimskringla-第39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！
le burnt。 But when the bondes heard of this； they sent out a war…arrow as a token through the whole district； ordering out a warlike force； and intended to meet the king with it。 In the meantime King Olaf sailed with a war force out of the fjord along the coast northward； intending to proceed to Halogaland； and baptize there。 When he came north to Bjarnaurar； he heard from Halogaland that a force was assembled there to defend the country against the king。 The chiefs of this force were Harek of Thjotta； Thorer Hjort from Vagar； and Eyvind Kinrifa。 Now when King Olaf heard this； he turned about and sailed southwards along the land； and when he got south of Stad proceeded at his leisure； and came early in winter （A。D。 998） all the way east to Viken。
66。 OLAF PROPOSES MARRIAGE TO QUEEN SIGRID。
Queen Sigrid in Svithjod； who had for surname the Haughty； sat in her mansion； and during the same winter messengers went between King Olaf and Sigrid to propose his courtship to her； and she had no objection； and the matter was fully and fast resolved upon。 Thereupon King Olaf sent to Queen Sigrid the great gold ring he had taken from the temple door of Hlader； which was considered a distinguished ornament。 The meeting for concluding the business was appointed to be in spring on the frontier； at the Gaut river。 Now the ring which King Olaf had sent Queen Sigrid was highly prized by all men； yet the queen's gold…smiths； two brothers； who took the ring in their hands； and weighed it； spoke quietly to each other about it； and in a manner that made the queen call them to her； and ask 〃what they smiled at？〃 But they would not say a word； and she commanded them to say what it was they had discovered。 Then they said the ring is false。 Upon this she ordered the ring to be broken into pieces； and it was found to be copper inside。 Then the queen was enraged； and said that Olaf would deceive her in more ways than this one。 In the same year （A。D。 998） King Olaf went into Ringenke； and there the people also were baptized。
67。 OLAF HARALDSON BAPTIZED。
Asta； the daughter of Gudbrand； soon after the fall of Harald Grenske married again a man who was called Sigurd Syr； who was a king in Ringerike。 Sigurd was a son of Halfdan； and grandson of Sigurd Hrise； who was a son of Harald Harfager。 Olaf； the son of Asta and Harald Grenske； lived with Asta； and was brought up from childhood in the house of his stepfather； Sigurd Syr。 Now when King Olaf Trygvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity； Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized； along with Olaf her son； and Olaf Trygvason was godfather to Olaf； the stepson of Harald Grenske。 Olaf was then three years old。 Olaf returned from thence to Viken； where he remained all winter。 He had now been three years king in Norway （A。D。 998）。
68。 MEETING OF OLAF AND SIGRID。
Early in spring （A。D。 998） King Olaf went eastwards to Konungahella to the meeting with Queen Sigrid； and when they met the business was considered about which the winter before they had held communication； namely； their marriage； and the business seemed likely to be concluded。 But when Olaf insisted that Sigrid should let herself be baptized； she answered thus： 〃I must not part from the faith which I have held； and my forefathers before me； and； on the other hand； I shall make no objection to your believing in the god that pleases you best。〃 Then King Olaf was enraged； and answered in a passion； 〃Why should I care to have thee； an old faded woman； and a heathen jade？〃 and therewith struck her in the face with his glove which he held in his hands； rose up； and they parted。 Sigrid said； 〃This may some day be thy death。〃 The king set off to Viken； the queen to Svithjod。
69。 THE BURNING OF WARLOCKS。
Then the king proceeded to Tunsberg； and held a Thing； at which he declared in a speech that all the men of whom it should be known to a certainty that they dealt with evil spirits； or in witchcraft； or were sorcerers； should be banished forth of the land。 Thereafter the king had all the neighborhood ransacked after such people； and called them all before him； and when they were brought to the Thing there was a man among them called Eyvind Kelda； a grandson of Ragnvald Rettilbeine； Harald Harfager's son。 Eyvind was a sorcerer； and particularly knowing in witchcraft。 The king let all these men be seated in one room； which was well adorned； and made a great feast for them； and gave them strong drink in plenty。 Now when they were all very drunk； he ordered the house be set on fire； and it and all the people within it were consumed； all but Eyvind Kelda； who contrived to escape by the smoke…hole in the roof。 And when he had got a long way off； he met some people on the road going to the king； and he told them to tell the king that Eyvind Kelda had slipped away from the fire； and would never come again in King Olaf's power； but would carry on his arts of witchcraft as much as ever。 When the people came to the king with such a message from Eyvind； the king was ill pleased that Eyvind had escaped death。
70。 EYVIND KELDA'S DEATH。
When spring （A。D。 998） came King Olaf went out to Viken； and was on visits to his great farms。 He sent notice over all Viken that he would call out an army in summer； and proceed to the north parts of the country。 Then he went north to Agder； and when Easter was approaching he took the road to Rogaland with 300 （=360） men； and came on Easter evening north to Ogvaldsnes； in Kormt Island； where an Easter feast was prepared for him。 That same night came Eyvind Kelda to the island with a well…manned long…ship； of which the whole crew consisted of sorcerers and other dealers with evil spirits。 Eyvind went from his ship to the land with his followers； and there they played many of their pranks of witchcraft。 Eyvind clothed them with caps of darkness； and so thick a mist that the king and his men could see nothing of them； but when they came near to the house at Ogvaldsnes； it became clear day。 Then it went differently from what Eyvind had intended： for now there came just such a darkness over him and his comrades in witchcraft as they had made before； so that they could see no more from their eyes than from the back of their heads but went round and round in a circle upon the island。 When the king's watchman saw them going about； without knowing what people these were； they told the king。 Thereupon he rose up with his people； put on his clothes； and when he saw Eyvind with his men wandering about he ordered his men to arm； and examine what folk these were。 The king's men discovered it was Eyvind； took him and all his company prisoners； and brought them to the king。 Eyvind now told all he had done on his journey。 Then the king ordered these all to be taken out to a skerry which was under water in flood tide； and there to be left bound。 Eyvind and all with him left their lives on this rock； and the skerry is still called Skrattasker。
71。 OLAF AND ODIN'S APPARITION。
It is related that once on a time King Olaf was at a feast at this Ogvaldsnes； and one eventide there came to him an old man very gifted in words； and with a broad…brimmed hat upon his head。 He was one…eyed； and had something to tell of every land。 He entered into conversation with the king； and as the king found much pleasure in the guest's speech； he asked him concerning many things； to which the guest gave good answers： and the king sat up late in the evening。 Among other things； the king asked him if he knew who the Ogvald had been who had given his name both to the ness and to the house。 The guest replied； that this Ogvald was a king； and a very valiant man； and that he made great sacrifices to a cow which he had with him wherever he went； and considered it good for his health to drink her milk。 This same King Ogvald had a battle with a king called Varin； in which battle Ogvald fell。 He was buried under a mound close to the house； 〃and there stands his stone over him； and close to it his cow also is laid。〃 Such and many other things； and ancient events； the king inquired after。 Now； when the king had sat late into the night； the bishop reminded him that it was time to go
