heimskringla-第46章
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102。 CREW ON BOARD OF THE LONG SERPENT。
Ulf the Red was the name of the man who bore King Olaf's banner; and was in the forecastle of the Long Serpent; and with him was Kolbjorn the marshal; Thorstein Uxafot; and Vikar of Tiundaland; a brother of Arnliot Gelline。 By the bulkhead next the forecastle were Vak Raumason from Gaut River; Berse the Strong; An Skyte from Jamtaland; Thrand the Strong from Thelamork; and his brother Uthyrmer。 Besides these were; of Halogaland men; Thrand Skjalge and Ogmund Sande; Hlodver Lange from Saltvik; and Harek Hvasse; together with these Throndhjem men Ketil the High; Thorfin Eisle; Havard and his brothers from Orkadal。 The following were in the fore…hold: Bjorn from Studla; Bork from the fjords。 Thorgrim Thjodolfson from Hvin; Asbjorn and Orm; Thord from Njardarlog; Thorstein the White from Oprustadar; Arnor from More; Halstein and Hauk from the Fjord district; Eyvind Snak; Bergthor Bestil; Halkel from Fialer; Olaf Dreng; Arnfin from Sogn; Sigurd Bild; Einar from Hordaland; and Fin; and Ketil from Rogaland and Grjotgard the Brisk。 The following were in the hold next the mast: Einar Tambaskelfer; who was not reckoned as fully experienced; being only eighteen years old; Thorstein Hlifarson; Thorolf; Ivar Smetta; and Orm Skogarnef。 Many other valiant men were in the Serpent; although we cannot tell all their names。 In every half division of the hold were eight men; and each and all chosen men; and in the fore…hold were thirty men。 It was a common saying among people; that the Long Serpent's crew was as distinguished for bravery; strength; and daring; among other men; as the Long Serpent was distinguished among other ships。 Thorkel Nefja; the king's brother; commanded the Short Serpent; and Thorkel Dydril and Jostein; the king's mother's brothers; had the Crane; and both these ships were well manned。 King Olaf had eleven large ships from Throndhjem; besides vessels with twenty rowers' benches; smaller vessels; and provision…vessels。
103。 ICELAND BAPTIZED。
When King Olaf had nearly rigged out his fleet in Nidaros; he appointed men over the Throndhjem country in all districts and communities。 He also sent to Iceland Gissur the White and Hjalte Skeggjason; to proclaim Christianity there; and sent with them a priest called Thormod; along with several men in holy orders。 But he retained with him; as hostages; four Icelanders whom he thought the most important; namely; Kjartan Olafson; Haldor Gudmundson; Kolbein Thordson; and Sverting Runolfson。 Of Gissur and Hjalte's progress; it is related that they came to Iceland before the Althing; and went to the Thing; and in that Thing Christianity was introduced by law into Iceland; and in the course of the summer all the people were baptized (A。D。 1000)。
104。 GREENLAND BAPTIZED
The same spring King Olaf also sent Leif Eirikson (A。D。 1000) to Greenland to proclaim Christianity there; and Leif went there that summer。 In the ocean he took up the crew of a ship which had been lost; and who were clinging to the wreck。 He also found Vinland the Good; arrived about harvest in Greenland; and had with him for it a priest and other teachers; with whom he went to Brattahild to lodge with his father Eirik。 People called him afterwards Leif the Lucky: but his father Eirik said that his luck and ill luck balanced each other; for if Leif had saved a wreck in the ocean; he had brought a hurtful person with him to Greenland; and that was the priest。
105。 RAGNVALD SENDS MESSENGERS TO OLAF。
The winter after King Olaf had baptized Halogaland; he and Queen Thyre were in Nidaros; and the summer before Queen Thyre had brought King Olaf a boy child; which was both stout and promising; and was called Harald; after its mother's father。 The king and queen loved the infant exceedingly; and rejoiced in the hope that it would grow up and inherit after its father; but it lived barely a year after its birth; which both took much to heart。 In that winter were many Icelanders and other clever men in King Olaf's house; as before related。 His sister Ingebjorg; Trygve's daughter; King Olaf's sister; was also at the court at that time。 She was beautiful in appearance; modest and frank with the people; had a steady manly judgment; and was beloved of all。 She was very fond of the Icelanders who were there; but most of Kjartan Olafson; for he had been longer than the others in the king's house; and he found it always amusing to converse with her; for she had both understanding and cleverness in talk。 The king was always gay and full of mirth in his intercourse with people; and often asked about the manners of the great men and chiefs in the neighbouring countries; when strangers from Denmark or Sweden came to see him。 The summer before Halfred Vandredaskald had come from Gautland; where he had been with Earl Ragnvald; Ulf's son; who had lately come to the government of West Gautland。 Ulf; Ragnvald's father; was a brother of Sigurd the Haughty; so that King Olaf the Swede and Earl Ragnvald were brother's and sister's children。 Halfred told Olaf many things about the earl: he said he was an able chief; excellently fitted for governing; generous with money; brave and steady in friendship。 Halfred said also the earl desired much the friendship of King Olaf; and had spoken of making court Ingebjorg; Trygve's daughter。 The same winter came ambassadors from Gautland; and fell in with King Olaf in the north; in Nidaros; and brought the message which Halfred had spoken of; that the earl desired to be King Olaf's entire friend; and wished to become his brother…in…law by obtaining his sister Ingebjorg in marriage。 Therewith the ambassadors laid before the king sufficient tokens in proof that in reality they came from the earl on this errand。 The king listened with approbation to their speech; but said that Ingebjorg must determine on his assent to the marriage。 The king then talked to his sister about the matter; and asked her opinion about it。 She answered to this effect; 〃I have been with you for some time; and you have shown brotherly care and tender respect for me ever since you came to the country。 I will agree therefore to your proposal about my marriage; provided that you do not marry me to a heathen man。〃 The king said it should be as she wished。 The king then spoke to the ambassadors; and it was settled before they departed that in summer Earl Ragnvald should meet the king in the east parts of the country; to enter into the fullest friendship with each other; and when they met they would settle about the marriage。 With this reply the earl's messengers went westward; and King Olaf remained all winter in Nidaros in great splendour; and with many people about him。
106。 OLAF SENDS EXPEDITION TO VINDLAND。
King Olaf proceeded in summer with his ships and men southwards along the land (and past Stad。 With him were Queen Thyre and Ingebjorg; Trygveis daughter; the king's sister)。 Many of his friends also joined him; and other persons of consequence who had prepared themselves to travel with the king。 The first man among these was his brother…in…law; Erling Skjalgson; who had with him a large ship of thirty benches of rowers; and which was in every respect well equipt。 His brothers…in…law Hyrning and Thorgeir also joined him; each of whom for himself steered a large vessel; and many other powerful men besides followed him。 (With all this war…force he sailed southwards along the land; but when he came south as far as Rogaland he stopped there; for Erling Skjalgson had prepared for him a splendid feast at Sole。 There Earl Ragnvald; Ulf's son; from Gautland; came to meet the king; and to settle the business which had been proposed ;n winter in the messages between them; namely; the marriage with Ingebjorg the king's sister。 Olaf received him kindly; and when the matter came to be spoken of; the king said he would keep his word; and marry his sister Ingebjorg to him; provided he would accept the true faith; and make all his subjects he ruled over in his land be baptized; The earl agreed to this; and he and all his followers were baptized。 Now was the feast enlarged that Erling had prepared; for the earl held his wedding there with