heimskringla-第102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！
er again said that the Varings would give him no assistance； and ordered Harald to go with his men somewhere else； and he； with the rest of his army； would win what they could。 Harald accordingly left the army with the Varings and the Latin men； and Gyrger on his side went off with the Greek troops。 Then it was seen what each could do。 Harald always gained victories and booty； but the Greeks went home to Constantinople with their army； all except a few brave men； who； to gain booty and money； joined themselves to Harald； and took him for their leader。 He then went with his troops westward to Africa； which the Varings call Serkland； where he was strengthened with many men。 In Serkland he took eighty castles； some of which surrendered； and others were stormed。 He then went to Sicily。 So says Thiodolf：
〃The serpent's bed of glowing gold He hates the generous king； the bold！ He who four score towers laid low； Ta'en from the Saracenic foe。 Before upon Sicilian plains； Shield joined to shield； the fight he gains； The victory at Hild's war game； And now the heathens dread his name。〃
So says also Illuge Bryndala…skald：
〃For Michael's empire Harald fought； And southern lands to Michael brought； So Budle's son his friendship showed When he brought friends to his abode。〃
Here it is said that Michael was king of the Greeks at that time。 Harald remained many years in Africa； where he gathered great wealth in gold； jewels； and all sorts of precious things； and all the wealth he gathered there which he did not need for his expenses； he sent with trusty men of his own north to Novgorod to King Jarisleif's care and keeping。 He gathered together there extraordinary treasure； as is reasonable to suppose； for he had the plundering of the part of the world richest in gold and valuable things； and he had done such great deeds as with truth are related； such as taking eighty strongholds by his valour。
6。 BATTLE IN SICILY。
Now when Harald came to Sicily he plundered there also； and sat down with his army before a strong and populous castle。 He surrounded the castle； but the walls were so thick there was no possibility of breaking into it； and the people of the castle had enough of provisions； and all that was necessary for defence。 Then Harald hit upon an expedient。 He made his bird…catchers catch the small birds which had their nests within the castle； but flew into the woods by day to get food for their young。 He had small splinters of tarred wood bound upon the backs of the birds； smeared these over with wax and sulphur； and set fire to them。 As soon as the birds were let loose they all flew at once to the castle to their young； and to their nests； which they had under the house roofs that were covered with reeds or straw。 The fire from the birds seized upon the house roofs； and although each bird could only carry a small burden of fire； yet all at once there was a mighty flame； caused by so many birds carrying fire with them and spreading it widely among the house roofs。 Thus one house after the other was set on fire； until the castle itself was in flames。 Then the people came out of the castle and begged for mercy； the same men who for many days had set at defiance the Greek army and its leader。 Harald granted life and safety to all who asked quarter； and made himself master of the place。
7。 BATTLE AT ANOTHER CASTLE。
There was another castle before which Harald had come with his army。 This castle was both full of people and so strong； that there was no hope of breaking into it。 The castle stood upon a flat hard plain。 Then Harald undertook to dig a passage from a place where a stream ran in a bed so deep that it could not be seen from the castle。 They threw out all the earth into the stream； to be carried away by the water。 At this work they laboured day and night； and relieved each other in gangs； while the rest of the army went the whole day against the castle； where the castle people shot through their loop…holes。 They shot at each other all day in this way； and at night they slept on both sides。 Now when Harald perceived that his underground passage was so long that it must be within the castle walls； he ordered his people to arm themselves。 It was towards daybreak that they went into the passage。 When they got to the end of it they dug over their heads until they came upon stones laid in lime which was the floor of a stone hall。 They broke open the floor and rose into the hall。 There sat many of the castle…men eating and drinking； and not in the least expecting such uninvited wolves； for the Varings instantly attacked them sword in hand； and killed some； and those who could get away fled。 The Varings pursued them； and some seized the castle gate； and opened it； so that the whole body of the army got in。 The people of the castle fled； but many asked quarter from the troops； which was granted to all who surrendered。 In this way Harald got possession of the place； and found an immense booty in it。
8。 BATTLE AT A THIRD CASTLE。
They came to a third castle； the greatest and strongest of them all； and also the richest in property and the fullest of people。 Around this castle there were great ditches； so that it evidently could not be taken by the same device as the former； and they lay a long time before it without doing anything。 When the castle… men saw this they became bolder； drew up their array on the castle walls； threw open the castle gates； and shouted to the Varings； urging them； and jeering at them； and telling them to come into the castle； and that they were no more fit for battle than so many poultry。 Harald told his men to make as if they did not know what to do； or did not understand what was said。 〃For；〃 says he； 〃if we do make an assault we can effect nothing； as they can throw their weapons under their feet among us； and if we get in the castle with a party of our people； they have it in their power to shut them in。 and shut out the others； for they have all the castle gates beset with men。 We shall therefore show them the same scorn they show us； and let them see we do not fear them。 Our men shall go out upon the plain nearest to the castle； taking care； however； to keep out of bow…shot。 All our men shall go unarmed； and be playing with each other； so that the castle… men may see we do not regard them or their array。〃 Thus it went on for some days； without anything being done。
9。 OF ULF AND HALDOR。
Two Iceland men were then with Harald； the one was Haldor （1）； a son of the gode Snorre； who brought this account to Iceland； the other was Ulf Uspakson； a grandson of Usvifer Spake。 Both were very strong men； bold under arms； and Harald's best friends； and both were in this play。 Now when some days were passed the castle people showed more courage； and would go without weapons upon the castle wall； while the castle gates were standing open。 The Varings observing this； went one day to their sports with the sword under their cloaks； and the helmet under their hats。 After playing awhile they observed that the castle people were off their guard； and instantly seizing their weapons； they made at the castle gate。 When the men of the castle saw this they went against them armed completely； and a battle began in the castle gate。 The Varings had no shields； but wrapped their cloaks round their left arms。 Some of them were wounded； some killed； and all stood in great danger。 Now came Harald with the men who had remained in the camp； to the assistance of his people； and the castle…men had now got out upon the walls； from which they shot and threw stones down upon them； so that there was a severe battle； and those who were in the castle gates thought that help was brought them slower than they could have wished。 When Harald came to the castle gate his standard…bearer fell； and Harald said to Haldor； 〃Do thou take up the banner now。〃 Haldor took up the banner； and said foolishly； 〃Who will carry the banner before thee； if thou followest it so timidly as thou hast done for a while？〃 But these were words more of anger than of truth； for Harald was one of the boldest of men under arms。 Then they pressed in； and had a hard battle in the castle； and the end was that Harald gained the victory and took the castle。 Haldor was much wounded in the face； and it gave him great pain as long as he lived。
ENDNOTES： （1） One of the descendants of this Haldor was Snorre Sturlason； the author of 〃Heimskring1a〃。
10。 BATTLE AT A FOURTH CASTLE。
The fourth castle which Harald came to was the greatest of all we have been speaking about。 It was so strong that there was no possibility of breaking into it。 They surrounded the castle； so that no supplies could get into it。 When they had remained here a short time Harald fell sick； and he betook himself to his bed。 He had his tent put up a little from the camp； for he found quietness and rest out of the clamour and clang of armed men。 His men went usually in companies to or from him to hear his orders； and the castle people observing there was something new among the Varings； sent out spies to discover what this might mean。 When the spies came back to the castle they had to tell of the illness of the commander of the Varings； and that no assault on that account had been made on the castle。 A while after Harald's strength began to fail； at which his men were very melancholy and cast down； all which was news to the castle…men。 At last Harald's sickness increased so rapidly that his death was expected through all the army。 Thereafter the Varings went to the castle…men； told them； in a parley； of the death of their commander； and begged of the priests to grant him burial in the castle。 When the castle people heard this news； there were many among them who ruled over cloisters or other great establishments within the place； and who were very eager to get the corpse for their church； knowing that upon that there would follow very rich presents。 A great many priests； therefore； clothed themselves in all their robes； and went out of the castle with cross and shrine and relics and formed a beautiful procession。 The Varings also made a great burial。 The coffin was borne high in the air； and over it was a tent of costly linen and before it were carried many banners。 Now when the corpse was brought within the castle gate the Varings set down the coffin right across the entry； fixed a bar to keep the gates open； and sounded to battle with all their trumpets； and drew their swords。 The whole army of the Varings； fully armed。 rushed from the camp to the assault of the castle with shout and cry； and the monks and other priests who had gone to meet the corpse and had striven with each other who should be the first to come out and take the offering at the burial； were now striving much more who should first get away from the Varings； for they killed before their feet every one who was nearest； whether clerk or unconsecrated。 The Varings rummaged so well this castle that they killed all the men； pillaged everything and made an enormous booty。
11。 OF HARALD。
Harald was many years in these campaigns； both in Serkland and in Sicily。 Then he came back to Constanti
