heimskringla-第111章

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ng　　　　　　For　mighty　actions　of　their　doing。　　　　　　Fin　Arnason；　in　battle　known；　　　　　　With　a　stout　Norse　heart　of　his　own；　　　　　　Would　not　take　flight　his　life　to　gain；　　　　　　And　in　the　foremost　ranks　was　ta'en。〃


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　The　Laplanders　paid　their　seat；　or　yearly　tax；　in　bows　and　　　　　　arrows；　and　the　meaning　of　the　skald　appears　to　be；　that　as　　　　　　many　as　were　paid　in　a　year　were　shot　at　the　foe。　　L。



66。　KING　SVEIN'S　FLIGHT。

Earl　Hakon　lay　behind　with　his　ships；　while　the　king　and　the　rest　of　the　forces　were　pursuing　the　fugitives；　for　the　earls'　ships　could　not　get　forward　on　account　of　the　ships　which　lay　in　the　way　before　him。　　Then　a　man　came　rowing　in　a　boat　to　the　earl's　ship　and　lay　at　the　bulwarks。　　The　man　was　stout　and　had　on　a　white　hat。　　He　hailed　the　ship；　〃Where　is　the　earl？〃　said　he。

The　earl　was　in　the　fore…hold；　stopping　a　man's　blood。　　The　earl　cast　a　look　at　the　man　in　the　hat　and　asked　what　his　name　was。　　He　answered；　〃Here　is　Vandrad：　speak　to　me；　earl。〃

The　earl　leant　over　the　ship's　side　to　him。　　Then　the　man　in　the　boat　said；　〃Earl；　I　will　accept　of　my　life　from　thee；　if　thou　wilt　give　it。〃

Then　the　earl　raised　himself　up；　called　two　men　who　were　friends　dear　to　him；　and　said　to　them；　〃Go　into　the　boat；　bring　Vandrad　to　the　land；　attend　him　to　my　friend's　Karl　the　bonde；　and　tell　Karl；　as　a　token　that　these　words　come　from　me；　that　he　let　Vandrad　have　the　horse　which　I　gave　to　him　yesterday；　and　also　his　saddle；　and　his　son　to　attend　him。〃

Thereupon　they　went　into　the　boat　and　took　the　oars　in　hand；　while　Vandrad　steered。　　This　took　place　just　about　daybreak；　while　the　vessels　were　in　movement；　some　rowing　towards　the　land；　some　towards　the　sea；　both　small　and　great。　　Vandrad　steered　where　he　thought　there　was　most　room　between　the　vessels；　and　when　they　came　near　to　Norway's　ships　the　earl's　men　gave　their　names　and　then　they　all　allowed　them　to　go　where　they　pleased。　Vandrad　steered　along　the　shore；　and　only　set　in　towards　the　land　when　they　had　come　past　the　crowd　of　ships。　　They　then　went　up　to　Karl　the　bonde's　farm；　and　it　was　then　beginning　to　be　light。　They　went　into　the　room　where　Karl　had　just　put　on　his　clothes。　The　earl's　men　told　him　their　message　and　Karl　said　they　must　first　take　some　food；　and　he　set　a　table　before　them　and　gave　them　water　to　wash　with。

Then　came　the　housewife　into　the　room　and　said；　〃I　wonder　why　we　could　get　no　peace　or　rest　all　night　with　the　shouting　and　screaming。〃

Karl　replies；　〃Dost　thou　not　know　that　the　kings　were　fighting　all　night？〃

She　asked　which　had　the　better　of　it。

Karl　answered；　〃The　Northmen　gained。〃

〃Then；〃　said　she；　〃our　king　will　have　taken　flight。〃

〃Nobody　knows；〃　says　Karl；　〃whether　he　has　fled　or　is　fallen。〃

She　says；　〃What　a　useless　sort　of　king　we　have！　　He　is　both　slow　and　frightened。〃

Then　said　Vandrad；　〃Frightened　he　is　not；　but　he　is　not　lucky。〃

Then　Vandrad　washed　his　hands；　but　he　took　the　towel　and　dried　them　right　in　the　middle　of　the　cloth。　　The　housewife　snatched　the　towel　from　him；　and　said；　〃Thou　hast　been　taught　little　good；　it　is　wasteful　to　wet　the　whole　cloth　at　one　time。

Vandrad　replies；　〃I　may　yet　come　so　far　forward　in　the　world　as　to　be　able　to　dry　myself　with　the　middle　of　the　towel。〃

Thereupon　Karl　set　a　table　before　them　and　Vandrad　sat　down　between　them。　　They　ate　for　a　while　and　then　went　out。　　The　horse　was　saddled　and　Karl's　son　ready　to　follow　him　with　another　horse。　　They　rode　away　to　the　forest；　and　the　earl's　men　returned　to　the　boat；　rowed　to　the　earl's　ship　and　told　the　success　of　their　expedition。



67。　OF　KING　HARALD。

King　Harald　and　his　men　followed　the　fugitives　only　a　short　way；　and　rowed　back　to　the　place　where　the　deserted　ships　lay。　　Then　the　battle…place　was　ransacked；　and　in　King　Svein's　ship　was　found　a　heap　of　dead　men；　but　the　king's　body　was　not　found；　although　people　believed　for　certain　that　he　had　fallen。　　Then　King　Harald　had　the　greatest　attention　paid　to　the　dead　of　his　men；　and　had　the　wounds　of　the　living　bound　up。　　The　dead　bodies　of　Svein's　men　were　brought　to　the　land；　and　he　sent　a　message　to　the　peasants　to　come　and　bury　them。　　Then　he　let　the　booty　be　divided；　and　this　took　up　some　time。　　The　news　came　now　that　King　Svein　had　come　to　Seeland；　and　that　all　who　had　escaped　from　the　battle　had　joined　him；　along　with　many　more；　and　that　he　had　a　great　force。



68。　FIN　ARNASON　GETS　QUARTER。

Earl　Fin　Arnason　was　taken　prisoner　in　the　battle；　as　before　related；　and　when　he　was　led　before　King　Harald　the　king　was　very　merry；　and　said；　〃Fin；　we　meet　here　now；　and　we　met　last　in　Norway。　　The　Danish　court　has　not　stood　very　firmly　by　thee；　and　it　will　be　a　troublesome　business　for　Northmen　to　drag　thee；　a　blind　old　man；　with　them；　and　preserve　thy　life。〃

The　earl　replies；　〃The　Northmen　find　it　very　difficult　now　to　conquer；　and　it　is　all　the　worse　that　thou　hast　the　command　of　them。〃

Then　said　King　Harald；　〃Wilt　thou　accept　of　life　and　safety；　although　thou　hast　not　deserved　it？〃

The　earl　replies；　〃Not　from　thee；　thou　dog。〃

The　king：　〃Wilt　thou；　then；　if　thy　relation　Magnus　gives　thee　quarter？〃

Magnus；　King　Harald's　son；　was　then　steering　the　ship。

The　earl　replies；　〃Can　the　whelp　rule　over　life　and　quarter？〃

The　king　laughed；　as　if　he　found　amusement　in　vexing　him。　　〃Wilt　thou　accept　thy　life；　then；　from　thy　she…relation　Thorer？〃

The　earl：　〃Is　she　here？〃

〃She　is　here；〃　said　the　king。

Then　Earl　Fin　broke　out　with　the　ugly　expressions　which　since　have　been　preserved；　as　a　proof　that　he　was　so　mad　with　rage　that　he　could　not　govern　his　tongue：　

〃No　wonder　thou　hast　bit　so　strongly；　if　the　mare　was　with　thee。〃

Earl　Fin　got　life　and　quarter　and　the　king　kept　him　a　while　about　him。　　But　Fin　was　rather　melancholy　and　obstinate　in　conversation；　and　King　Harald　said；　〃I　see；　Fin；　that　thou　dost　not　live　willingly　in　company　with　me　and　thy　relations；　now　I　will　give　thee　leave　to　go　to　thy　friend　King　Svein。〃

The　earl　said；　〃I　accept　of　the　offer　willingly；　and　the　more　gratefully　the　sooner　I　get　away　from　hence。〃

The　king　afterwards　let　Earl　Fin　be　landed　and　the　traders　going　to　Halland　received　him　well。　　King　Harald　sailed　from　thence　to　Norway　with　his　fleet；　and　went　first　to　Oslo；　where　he　gave　all　his　people　leave　to　go　home　who　wished　to　do　so。



69。　OF　KING　SVEIN。

King　Svein；　it　is　told；　sat　in　Denmark　all　that　winter；　and　had　his　kingdom　as　formerly。　　In　winter　he　sent　men　north　to　Halland　for　Karl　the　bonde　and　his　wife。　　When　Karl　came　the　king　called　him　to　him　and　asked　him　if　he　knew　him；　or　thought　he　had　ever　seen　him　before。

Karl　replies；　〃I　know　thee；　sire；　and　knew　thee　before；　the　moment　I　saw　thee；　and　God　be　praised　if　the　small　help　I　could　give　was　of　any　use　to　thee。〃

The　king　replies；　〃I　have　to　reward　thee　for　all　the　days　I　have　to　live。　　And　now；　in　the　first　place；　I　will　give　thee　any　farm　in　Seeland　thou　wouldst　desire　to　have；　and；　in　the　next　place；　will　make　thee　a　great　man；　if　thou　knowest　how　to　conduct　thyself。〃

Karl　thanked　the　king　for　his　promise；　and　said　he　had　now　but　one　thing　to　ask。

The　king　asked　what　that　was。

Karl　said　that　he　would　ask　to　take　his　wife　with　him。

The　king　said；　〃I　will　not　let　thee　do　that；　but　I　will　provide　thee　a　far　better　and　more　sensible　wife。　　But　thy　wife　can　keep　the　bonde…farm　ye　had　before　and　she　will　have　her　living　from　it。〃

The　king　gave　Karl　a　great　and　valuable　farm；　and　provided　him　a　good　marriage；　and　he　became　a　considerable　man。　　This　was　reported　far　and　wide　and　much　praised；　and　thus　it　came　to　be　told　in　Norway。



70。　OF　THE　TALK　OF　THE　COURT…MEN。

King　Harald　stayed　in　Oslo　the　winter　after　the　battle　at　Nis…　river　（A。D。　1063）。　　In　autumn；　when　the　men　came　from　the　south；　there　was　much　talk　and　many　stories　about　the　battle　which　they　had　fought　at　Nis…river；　and　every　one　who　had　been　there　thought　he　could　tell　something　about　it。　　Once　some　of　them　sat　in　a　cellar　and　drank；　and　were　very　merry　and　talkative。　　They　talked　about　the　Nis…river　battle；　and　who　had　earne'd　the　greatest　praise　and　renown。　　They　all　agreed　that　no　man　there　had　been　at　all　equal　to　Earl　Hakon。　　He　was　the　boldest　in　arms；　the　quickest；　and　the　most　lucky；　what　he　did　was　of　the　greatest　help；　and　he　won　the　battle。　　King　Harald；　in　the　meantime；　was　out　in　the　yard；　and　spoke　with　some　people。　　He　went　then　to　the　room…door；　and　said；　〃Every　one　here　would　willingly　be　called　Hakon；〃　and　then　went　his　way。



71。　OF　THE　ATTEMPT　TO　TAKE　EARL　HAKON。

Earl　Hakon　went　in　winter　to　the　Uplands；　and　was　all　winter　in　his　domains。　　He　was　much　beloved　by　all　the　Uplanders。　　It　happened；　towards　spring；　that　some　men　were　sitting　drinking　in　the　town；　and　the　conversation　turned；　as　usual；　on　the　Nis…river　battle；　and　some　praised　Earl　Hakon；　and　some　thought　others　as　deserving　of　praise　as　he。　　When　they　had　thus　disputed　a　while；　one　of　them　said；　〃It　is　possible　that　others　fought　as　bravely　as　the　earl　at　Nis…river；　but　none；　I　think；　has　had　such　luck　with　him　as　he。〃

The　others　replied；　that　his　best　luck　was　his　driving　so　many　Danes　to　flight　along　with　other　men。

The　same　man　replied；　〃It　was　greater　luck　that　he　gave　King　Svein　quarter。〃

One　of　the　company　said　to　him；　〃Thou　dost　not　know　what　thou　art　saying。〃

He　replied；　〃I　know　it　for　certain；　for　the　man　told　me　himself　who　brought　the　king　to　the　land。〃

It　went；　according　to　the　old　proverb；　that　the　king　has　many　ears。　　This　was　told　the　king；　and　he　immediately　ordered　horses　to　be　gathered；　and　rode　away　directly　with　900　men。　　He　rode　all　that　night　and　the　following　day。　　Then　some　men　met　them　who　were　riding　to　the　town　with　mead　and　malt。　　In　the　king's　retinue　was　a　man　called　Gamal；　who　rode　to　one　of　these　bondes　who　was　an　acquaintance　of　his；　and　spoke　to　him　privately。　　〃I　will　pay　thee；〃　said　he；　〃to　ride　with　the　greatest　speed；　by　the　shortest　private　paths　that　thou　knowest；　to　Earl　Hakon；　and　tell　him　the　king　will　kill　him；　for　the　king　has　got　to　the　knowledge　that　Earl　Hakon　set　King　Svein　on　shore　at　Nis…river。〃　　They　agreed　on　the　payment。　　The　bonde　rode；　and　came　to　the　earl　just　as　he　was　sitting　drinking；　and　had　not　yet　gone　to　bed。　　When　the　bonde　told　his　errand；　the　earl　immediately　stood　up　with　all　his　men；　had　all　his　loose　property　removed　from　the　farm　to　the　forest；　and　all　the　people　left　the　house　in　the　night。　　When　the　king　came　he　halted　there　all　night；　but　Hakon　rode　away；　and　came　east　to　Svithjod　to　King　Steinkel　and　stayed　with　him　all　summer。　　King　Harald　returned　to　the　town；　travelled　northwards　to　Throndhjem　district；　and　remained　there　all　summer；　but　in　autumn　he　returned　eastwards　to　Viken。



72。　OF　EARL　HAKON。

As　soon　as　Earl　Hakon　heard　the　king　had　gone　north　he　returned　immediately　in　summer　to　the　Uplands　（A。D。　1063）；　and　remained　there　until　the　king　had　returned　from　the　north。　　Then　the　earl　went　east　into　Vermaland；　where　he　remained　during　the　winter；　and　where　the　king；　Steinkel；　gave　him　fiefs。　　For　a　short　time　in　winter　he　went　west　to　Raumarike　with　a　great　troop　of　men　from　Gautland　and　Vermaland；　and　received　the　scat　and　duties　from　t