heimskringla-第122章

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When　they　came　west　to　England；　Giparde　said　the　Northmen　had　slandered　him。　　A　meeting　was　appointed；　and　a　count　came　to　it；　and　the　case　was　brought　before　him　for　trial。　　He　said　he　was　not　much　acquainted　with　law　cases；　as　he　was　but　young；　and　had　only　been　a　short　time　in　office；　and　also；　of　all　things；　he　said　what　he　least　understood　to　judge　about　was　poetry。　　〃But　let　us　hear　what　it　was。〃　　Then　Eldjarn　sang：　

　　　　　〃I　heard　that　in　the　bloody　fight　　　　　　Giparde　drove　all　our　foes　to　flight：　　　　　　Brave　Giparde　would　the　foe　abide；　　　　　　While　all　our　men　ran　off　to　hide。　　　　　　At　Foxerne　the　fight　was　won　　　　　　By　Giparde's　valour　all　alone；　　　　　　Where　Giparde　fought；　alone　was　he；　　　　　　Not　one　survived　to　fight　or　flee。〃

Then　said　the　count；　〃Although　I　know　but　little　about　skald…　craft；　I　can　hear　that　this　is　no　slander；　but　rather　the　highest　praise　and　honour。〃　　Giparde　could　say　nothing　against　it；　yet　he　felt　it　was　a　mockery。



16。　BATTLE　OF　FOXERNE。

The　spring　after；　as　soon　as　the　ice　broke　up；　King　Magnus；　with　a　great　army；　sailed　eastwards　to　the　Gaut　river；　and　went　up　the　eastern　arm　of　it；　laying　waste　all　that　belonged　to　the　Swedish　dominions。　　When　they　came　to　Foxerne　they　landed　from　their　vessels；　but　as　they　came　over　a　river　on　their　way　an　army　of　Gautland　people　came　against　them；　and　there　was　immediately　a　great　battle；　in　which　the　Northmen　were　overwhelmed　by　numbers；　driven　to　flight；　and　many　of　them　killed　near　to　a　waterfall。　King　Magnus　fled；　and　the　Gautlanders　pursued；　and　killed　those　they　could　get　near。　　King　Magnus　was　easily　known。　　He　was　a　very　stout　man；　and　had　a　red　short　cloak　over　him；　and　bright　yellow　hair　like　silk　that　fell　over　his　shoulders。　　Ogmund　Skoptason；　who　was　a　tall　and　handsome　man；　rode　on　one　side　of　the　king。　　He　said；　〃Sire；　give　me　that　cloak。〃

The　king　said；　〃What　would　you　do　with　it？〃

〃I　would　like　to　have　it；〃　said　Ogmund；　〃and　you　have　given　me　greater　gifts；　sire。〃

The　road　was　such　that　there　were　great　and　wide　plains；　so　that　the　Gautlanders　and　Northmen　were　always　in　sight　of　each　other；　unless　where　clumps　of　wood　and　bushes　concealed　them　from　each　other　now　and　then。　　The　king　gave　Ogmund　the　cloak　and　he　put　it　on。　　When　they　came　out　again　upon　the　plain　ground；　Ogmund　and　his　people　rode　off　right　across　the　road。　　The　Gautlanders；　supposing　this　must　be　the　king；　rode　all　after　him；　and　the　king　proceeded　to　the　ships。　　Ogmund　escaped　with　great　difficulty；　however；　he　reached　the　ships　at　last　in　safety。　　King　Magnus　then　sailed　down　the　river；　and　proceeded　north　to　Viken。



17。　MEETING　OF　THE　KINGS　AT　THE　GAUT　RIVER。

The　following　summer　a　meeting　of　the　kings　was　agreed　upon　at　Konghelle　on　the　Gaut　river；　and　King　Magnus；　the　Swedish　king；　Inge；　and　the　Danish　king；　Eirik　Sveinson；　all　met　there；　after　giving　each　other　safe　conduct　to　the　meeting。　　Now　when　the　Thing　had　sat　down　the　kings　went　forward　upon　the　plain；　apart　from　the　rest　of　the　people；　and　they　talked　with　each　other　a　little　while。　　Then　they　returned　to　their　people；　and　a　treaty　was　brought　about；　by　which　each　should　possess　the　dominions　his　forefathers　had　held　before　him；　but　each　should　make　good　to　his　own　men　the　waste　and　manslaughter　suffered　by　them；　and　then　they　should　agree　between　themselves　about　settling　this　with　each　other。　　King　Magnus　should　marry　King　Inge's　daughter　Margaret；　who　afterwards　was　called　Peace…offering。　　This　was　proclaimed　to　the　people；　and　thus；　within　a　little　hour；　the　greatest　enemies　were　made　the　best　of　friends。

It　was　observed　by　the　people　that　none　had　ever　seen　men　with　more　of　the　air　of　chiefs　than　these　had。　　King　Inge　was　the　largest　and　stoutest；　and；　from　his　age；　of　the　most　dignified　appearance。　　King　Magnus　appeared　the　most　gallant　and　brisk；　and　King　Eirik　the　most　handsome。　　But　they　were　all　handsome　men；　stout；　gallant；　and　ready　in　speech。　　After　this　was　settled　they　parted。



18。　KING　MAGNUS'S　MARRIAGE。

King　Magnus　got　Margaret；　King　Inge's　daughter；　as　above　related；　and　she　was　sent　from　Svithjod　to　Norway　with　an　honourable　retinue。　　King　Magnus　had　some　children　before；　whose　names　shall　here　be　given。　　The　one　of　his　sons　who　was　of　a　mean　mother　was　called　Eystein；　the　other；　who　was　a　year　younger；　was　called　Sigurd；　and　his　mother's　name　was　Thora。　　Olaf　was　the　name　of　a　third　son；　who　was　much　younger　than　the　two　first　mentioned；　and　whose　mother　was　Sigrid；　a　daughter　of　Saxe　of　Vik；　who　was　a　respectable　man　in　the　Throndhjem　country；　she　was　the　king's　concubine。　　People　say　that　when　King　Magnus　came　home　from　his　viking　cruise　to　the　Western　countries；　he　and　many　of　his　people　brought　with　them　a　great　deal　of　the　habits　and　fashion　of　clothing　of　those　western　parts。　　They　went　about　on　the　streets　with　bare　legs；　and　had　short　kirtles　and　over…cloaks；　and　therefore　his　men　called　him　Magnus　Barefoot　or　Bareleg。　　Some　called　him　Magnus　the　Tall；　others　Magnus　the　Strife…lover。　　He　was　distinguished　among　other　men　by　his　tall　stature。　　The　mark　of　his　height　is　put　down　in　Mary　church；　in　the　merchant　town　of　Nidaros；　which　King　Harald　built。　　In　the　northern　door　there　were　cut　into　the　wall　three　crosses；　one　for　Harald's　stature；　one　for　Olaf's；　and　one　for　Magnus's；　and　which　crosses　each　of　them　could　with　the　greatest　ease　kiss。　　The　upper　was　Harald's　cross；　the　lowest　was　Magnus's；　and　Olaf's　was　in　the　middle；　about　equally　distant　from　both。

It　is　said　that　Magnus　composed　the　following　verses　about　the　emperor's　daughter：　

　　　　　〃The　ring　of　arms　where　blue　swords　gleam；　　　　　　The　battle…shout；　the　eagle's　scream；　　　　　　The　Joy　of　war；　no　more　can　please：　　　　　　Matilda　is　far　o'er　the　seas。　　　　　　My　sword　may　break；　my　shield　be　cleft；　　　　　　Of　land　or　life　I　may　be　reft；　　　　　　Yet　I　could　sleep；　but　for　one　care；　　　　　　　One；　o'er　the　seas；　with　light…brown　hair。〃

He　also　composed　the　following：　

　　　　　〃The　time　that　breeds　delay　feels　long；　　　　　　The　skald　feels　weary　of　his　song；　　　　　　What　sweetens；　brightens；　eases　life？　　　　　　'Tis　a　sweet…smiling　lovely　wife。　　　　　　My　time　feels　long　in　Thing　affairs；　　　　　　In　Things　my　loved　one　ne'er　appears。　　　　　　The　folk　full…dressed；　while　I　am　sad；　　　　　　Talk　and　oppose　　can　I　be　glad？〃

When　King　Magnus　heard　the　friendly　words　the　emperor's　daughter　had　spoken　about　him　　that　she　had　said　such　a　man　as　King　Magnus　was　appeared　to　her　an　excellent　man；　he　composed　the　following：　

　　　　　〃The　lover　hears；　　across　the　sea；　　　　　　A　favouring　word　was　breathed　to　me。　　　　　　The　lovely　one　with　light…brown　hair　　　　　　May　trust　her　thoughts　to　senseless　air；　　　　　　Her　thoughts　will　find　like　thoughts　in　me；　　　　　　And　though　my　love　I　cannot　see；　　　　　　Affection's　thoughts　fly　in　the　wind；　　　　　　And　meet　each　other；　true　and　kind。〃



19。　OF　THE　QUARREL　OF　KING　MAGNUS　AND　SKOPTE。

Skopte　Ogmundson　came　into　variance　with　King　Magnus；　and　they　quarrelled　about　the　inheritance　of　a　deceased　person　which　Skopte　retained；　but　the　king　demanded　it　with　so　much　earnestness；　that　it　had　a　dangerous　appearance。　　Many　meetings　were　held　about　the　affair；　and　Skopte　took　the　resolution　that　he　and　his　son　should　never　put　themselves　into　the　king's　power　at　the　same　time；　and　besides　there　was　no　necessity　to　do　so。　When　Skopte　was　with　the　king　he　represented　to　him　that　there　was　relationship　between　the　king　and　him；　and　also　that　he；　Skopte；　had　always　been　the　king's　friend；　and　his　father's　likewise；　and　that　their　friendship　had　never　been　shaken。　　He　added；　〃People　might　know　that　I　have　sense　enough　not　to　hold　a　strife；　sire；　with　you；　if　I　was　wrong　in　what　I　asked；　but　it　is　inherited　from　my　ancestors　to　defend　my　rights　against　any　man；　without　distinction　of　persons。〃　　The　king　was　just　the　same　on　this　point；　and　his　resolution　was　by　no　means　softened　by　such　a　speech。　　Then　Skopte　went　home。



20。　FIN　SKOPTASON'S　PROCEEDINGS。

Then　Fin　Skoptason　went　to　the　king；　spoke　with　him；　and　entreated　him　to　render　justice　to　the　father　and　son　in　this　business。　　The　king　answers　angrily　and　sharply。　　Then　said　Fin；　〃I　expected　something　else；　sire；　from　you；　than　that　you　would　use　the　law's　vexations　against　me　when　I　took　my　seat　in　Kvaldinsey　Island；　which　few　of　your　other　friends　would　do；　as　they　said；　what　was　true；　that　those　who　were　left　there　were　deserted　and　doomed　to　death；　if　King　Inge　had　not　shown　greater　generosity　to　us　than　you　did；　although　many　consider　that　we　brought　shame　and　disgrace　only　from　thence。〃　　The　king　was　not　to　be　moved　by　this　speech；　and　Fin　returned　home。



21。　OGMUND　SKOPTASON'S　PROCEEDINGS。

Then　came　Ogmund　Skoptason　to　the　king；　and　when　he　came　before　him　he　produced　his　errand；　and　begged　the　king　to　do　what　was　right　and　proper　towards　him　and　his　father。　　The　king　insisted　that　the　right　was　on　his　side；　and　said　they　were　〃particularly　impudent。〃

Then　said　Ogmund；　〃It　is　a　very　easy　thing　for　thee；　having　the　power；　to　do　me　and　my　father　injustice；　and　I　must　say　the　old　proverb　is　true；　that　one　whose　life　you　save　gives　none；　or　a　very　bad　return。　　This　I　shall　add；　that　never　again　shall　I　come　into　thy　service；　nor　my　father；　if　I　can　help　it。〃　　Then　Ogmund　went　home；　and　they　never　saw　each　other　again。



22。　SKOPTE　OGMUNDSON'S　VOYAGE　ABROAD。

The　spring　after；　Skopte　Ogmundson　made　ready　to　travel　out　of　the　country。　　They　had　five　long…ships　all　well　equipped。　　His　sons；　Ogmund；　Fin；　and　Thord；　accompanied　him　on　this　journey。　　It　was　very　late　before　they　were　ready；　and　in　autumn　they　went　over　to　Flanders；　and　wintered　there。　　Early　in　spring　they　sailed　westward　to　Valland；　and　stayed　there　all　summer。　　Then　they　sailed　further；　and　through　Norvasund；　and　came　in　autumn　to　Rome；　where　Skopte　died。　　All；　both　father　and　sons；　died　on　this　journey。　　Thord；　who　died　in　Sicily；　lived　the　longest。　　It　is　a　common　saying　among　the　people　that　Skopte　was　the　first　Northman　who　sailed　through　Norvasund；　and　this　voyage　was　much　celebrated。



23。　MIRACLE　OF　KING　OLAF　THE　SAINT　AT　A　FIRE。

It　happened　once　in　the　merchant　town　（Nidaros）　where　King　Olaf　reposes；　that　there　broke　out　a　fire　in　the　town　which　spread　around。　　Then　Olaf's　shrine　was　taken　out　of　the　church；　and　set　up　opposite　the　fire。　　Thereupon　came　a　crazy　foolish　man；　struck　the　shrine；　threatened　the　holy　saint；　and　said　all　must　be　consumed　by　the　flames；　both　churches　and　other　houses；　if　he　did　not　save　them　by　his　prayers。　　Now　the　burning　of　the　church　did　cease；　by　the　help　of　Almighty　God；　but　the　insane　man　got　sore　eyes　on　the　following　night；　and　he　lay　there　until　King　Olaf　entreated　God　A1mighty　to　be　merciful　to　him；　after　which　he　recovered　in　the　same　church。



24。　MIRACLE　OF　KING　OLAF　ON　A　LAME　WOMAN。

It　happened　once　in　the　merchant　town　that　a　woman　was　brought　to　the　place　where　the　holy　King　Olaf　reposes。　　She　was　so　miserably　shaped；　that　she　was　altogether　crumpled　up；　so　that　both　her　feet　lay　in　a　circle　against　her　loins。　　But　as　she　was　diligent　in　her　prayers；　often　weeping　and　making　vows　to　King　Olaf；　he　cured　her　great　infirmities；　so　that　feet；　legs；　and　other　limbs　straightened；　and　every　limb　and　part　came　to　the