heimskringla-第130章

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Harald　replies；　〃It　is　true　that　there　are　men　in　Ireland　whom　no　horse　in　Norway　could　overtake。〃　　They　exchanged　some　words　about　this；　and　both　were　drunk。　　Then　said　Magnus；　〃Thou　shalt　make　a　wager　with　me；　and　stake　thy　head　if　thou　canst　not　run　so　fast　as　I　ride　upon　my　horse；　and　I　shall　stake　my　gold　ring。〃

Harald　replies；　〃I　did　not　say　that　I　could　run　so　swiftly；　but　I　said　that　men　are　to　be　found　in　Ireland　who　will　run　as　fast；　and　on　that　I　would　wager。〃

The　king's　son　Magnus　replies；　〃I　will　not　go　to　Ireland　about　it；　we　are　wagering　here；　and　not　there。〃

Harald　on　this　went　to　bed；　and　would　not　speak　to　him　more　about　it。　　This　was　in　Oslo。　　The　following　morning；　when　the　early　mass　was　over；　Magnus　rode　up　the　street；　and　sent　a　message　to　Harald　to　come　to　him。　　When　Harald　came　he　was　dressed　thus。　　He　had　on　a　shirt　and　trousers　which　were　bound　with　ribands　under　his　foot…soles；　a　short　cloak；　an　Irish　hat　on　his　head；　and　a　spear…shaft　in　his　hand。　　Magnus　set　up　a　mark　for　the　race。　Harald　said；　〃Thou　hast　made　the　course　too　long；〃　but　Magnus　made　it　at　once　even　much　longer；　and　said　it　was　still　too　short。　　There　were　many　spectators。　　They　began　the　race；　and　Harald　followed　always　the　horse's　pace；　and　when　they　came　to　the　end　of　the　race　course；　Magnus　said；　〃Thou　hadst　hold　of　the　saddle…girth；　and　the　horse　dragged　thee　along。〃　　Magnus　had　his　swift　runner；　the　Gautland　horse。　　They　began　the　race　again；　and　Harald　ran　the　whole　race…course　before　the　horse。　　When　came　to　the　end　Harald　asked；　〃Had　I　hold　of　the　saddle…girths　now？〃

Magnus　replied；　〃Thou　hadst　the　start　at　first。〃

Then　Magnus　let　his　horse　breathe　a　while；　and　when　he　was　ready　he　put　the　spurs　to　him；　and　set　off　in　full　gallop。　　Harald　stood　still；　and　Magnus　looked　back；　and　called；　〃Set　off　now。〃

Then　Harald　ran　quickly　past　the　horse；　and　came　to　the　end　of　the　course　so　long　before　him　that　he　lay　down；　and　got　up　and　saluted　Magnus　as　he　came　in。〃

Then　they　went　home　to　the　town。　　In　the　meantime　King　Sigurd　had　been　at　high　mass；　and　knew　nothing　of　this　until　after　he　had　dined　that　day。　　Then　he　said　to　Magnus　angrily；　〃Thou　callest　Harald　useless；　but　I　think　thou　art　a　great　fool；　and　knowest　nothing　of　the　customs　of　foreign　people。　　Dost　thou　not　know　that　men　in　other　countries　exercise　themselves　in　other　feats　than　in　filling　themselves　with　ale；　and　making　themselves　mad；　and　so　unfit　for　everything　that　they　scarcely　know　each　other？　Give　Harald　his　ring；　and　do　not　try　to　make　a　fool　of　him　again；　as　long　as　I　am　above　ground。〃



36。　OF　SIGURD'S　SWIMMING。

It　happened　once　that　Sigurd　was　out　in　his　ship；　which　lay　in　the　harbour；　and　there　lay　a　merchant　ship；　which　was　an　Iceland　trader；　at　the　side　of　it。　　Harald　Gille　was　in　the　forecastle　of　the　king's　ship；　and　Svein　Rimhildson；　a　son　of　Knut　Sveinson　of　Jadar；　had　his　berth　the　next　before　him。　　There　was　also　Sigurd　Sigurdson；　a　gallant　lenderman；　who　himself　commanded　a　ship。　　It　was　a　day　of　beautiful　weather　and　warm　sunshine；　and　many　went　out　to　swim；　both　from　the　long…ship　and　the　merchant　vessel。　　An　Iceland　man；　who　was　among　the　swimmers；　amused　himself　by　drawing　those　under　water　who　could　not　swim　so　well　as　himself；　and　at　that　the　spectators　laughed。　　When　King　Sigurd　saw　and　heard　this；　he　cast　off　his　clothes；　sprang　into　the　water；　and　swam　to　the　Icelander；　seized　him；　and　pressed　him　under　the　water；　and　held　him　there；　and　as　soon　as　the　Icelander　came　up　the　king　pressed　him　down　again；　and　thus　the　one　time　after　the　other。

Then　said　Sigurd　Sigurdson；　〃Shall　we　let　the　king　kill　this　man？〃

Somebody　said；　〃No　one　has　any　wish　to　interfere。〃

Sigurd　replies；　that　〃If　Dag　Eilifson　were　here；　we　should　not　be　without　one　who　dared。〃

Then　Sigurd　sprang　overboard；　swam　to　the　king；　took　hold　of　him；　and　said；　〃Sire；　do　not　kill　the　man。　　Everybody　sees　that　you　are　a　much　better　swimmer。〃

The　king　replies；　〃Let　me　loose；　Sigurd：　I　shall　be　his　death；　for　he　will　destroy　our　people　under　water。〃

Sigurd　says；　〃Let　us　first　amuse　ourselves；　and；　Icelander；　do　thou　set　off　to　the　land；〃　which　he　did。　　The　king　now　got　loose　from　Sigurd；　and　swam　to　his　ship；　and　Sigurd　went　his　way：　but　the　king　ordered　that　Sigurd　should　not　presume　to　come　into　his　presence；　this　was　reported　to　Sigurd；　and　so　he　went　up　into　the　country。　



37。　OF　HARALD　AND　SVEIN　RIMHILDSON。

In　the　evening；　when　people　were　going　to　bed；　some　of　the　ship's　men　were　still　at　their　games　up　in　the　country。　　Harald　was　with　those　who　played　on　the　land；　and　told　his　footboy　to　go　out　to　the　ship；　make　his　bed；　and　wait　for　him　there。　　The　lad　did　as　he　was　ordered。　　The　king　had　gone　to　sleep；　and　as　the　boy　thought　Harald　late；　he　laid　himself　in　Harald's　berth。　　Svein　Rimhildson　said；　〃It　is　a　shame　for　brave　men　to　be　brought　from　their　farms　at　home；　and　to　have　here　serving　boys　to　sleep　beside　them。〃　　The　lad　said　that　Harald　had　ordered　him　to　come　there。　　Svein　Rimhildson　said；　〃We　do　not　so　much　care　for　Harald　himself　lying　here；　if　he　do　not　bring　here　his　slaves　and　beggars；〃　and　seized　a　riding…whip；　and　struck　the　boy　on　the　head　until　the　blood　flowed　from　him。　　The　boy　ran　immediately　up　the　country；　and　told　Harald　what　had　happened；　who　went　immediately　out　to　the　ship；　to　the　aft　part　of　the　forecastle；　and　with　a　pole…axe　struck　Svein　so　that　he　received　a　severe　wound　on　his　hands；　and　then　Harald　went　on　shore。　　Svein　ran　to　the　land　after　him；　and；　gathering　his　friends；　took　Harald　prisoner；　and　they　were　about　hanging　him。　　But　while　they　were　busy　about　this；　Sigurd　Sigurdson　went　out　to　the　king's　ship　and　awoke　him。　　When　the　king　opened　his　eyes　and　recognised　Sigurd；　he　said。　〃For　this　reason　thou　shalt　die；　that　thou　hast　intruded　into　my　presence；　for　thou　knowest　that　I　forbade　thee：〃　and　with　these　words　the　king　sprang　up。

Sigurd　replied；　〃That　is　in　your　power　as　soon　as　you　please；　but　other　business　is　more　urgent。　Go　to　the　land　as　quickly　as　possible　to　help　thy　brother；　for　the　Rogaland　people　are　going　to　hang　him。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃God　give　us　luck；　Sigurd！　　Call　my　trumpeter；　and　let　him　call　the　people　all　to　land；　and　to　meet　me。〃

The　king　sprang　on　the　land；　and　all　who　knew　him　followed　him　to　where　the　gallows　was　being　erected。　　The　king　instantly　took　Harald　to　him；　and　all　the　people　gathered　to　the　king　in　full　armour；　as　they　heard　the　trumpet。　　Then　the　king　ordered　that　Svein　and　all　his　comrades　should　depart　from　the　country　as　outlaws；　but　by　the　intercession　of　good　men　the　king　was　prevailed　on　to　let　them　remain　and　hold　their　properties；　but　no　mulct　should　be　paid　for　Svein's　wound。

Then　Sigurd　Sigurdson　asked　if　the　king　wished　that　he　should　go　forth　out　of　the　country。

〃That　will　I　not；〃　said　the　king；　〃for　I　can　never　be　without　thee。〃



38。　OF　KING　OLAF'S　MIRACLE。

There　was　a　young　and　poor　man　called　Kolbein；　and　Thora；　King　Sigurd　the　Crusader's　mother；　had　ordered　his　tongue　to　be　cut　out　of　his　mouth；　and　for　no　other　cause　than　that　this　young　man　had　taken　a　piece　of　meat　out　of　the　king…mother's　tub　which　he　said　the　cook　had　given　him；　and　which　the　cook　had　not　ventured　to　serve　up　to　her。　　The　man　had　long　gone　about　speechless。　　So　says　Einar　Skulason　in　Olaf's　ballad：　

　　　　　〃The　proud　rich　dame；　for　little　cause；　　　　　　Had　the　lad's　tongue　cut　from　his　jaws：　　　　　　The　helpless　man；　of　speech　deprived；　　　　　　His　dreadful　sore　wound　scarce　survived。　　　　　　A　few　weeks　since　at　Hild　was　seen；　　　　　　As　well　as　ever　he　had　been；　　　　　　The　same　poor　lad　　to　speech　restored　　　　　　By　Olaf's　power；　whom　he　adored。〃

Afterwards　the　young　man　came　to　Nidaros；　and　watched　in　the　Christ　church；　but　at　the　second　mass　for　Olaf　before　matins　he　fell　asleep；　and　thought　he　saw　King　Olaf　the　Saint　coming　to　him；　and　that　Olaf　talked　to　him；　and　took　hold　with　his　hands　of　the　stump　of　his　tongue　and　pulled　it。　　Now　when　he　awoke　he　found　himself　restored；　and　joyfully　did　he　thank　our　Lord　and　the　holy　Saint　Olaf；　who　had　pitied　and　helped　him；　for　he　had　come　there　speechless；　and　had　gone　to　the　holy　shrine；　and　went　away　cured；　and　with　his　speech　clear　and　distinct。



39。　KING　OLAF'S　MIRACLE　WITH　A　PRISONER。

The　heathens　took　prisoner　a　young　man　of　Danish　family　and　carried　him　to　Vindland；　where　he　was　in　fetters　along　with　other　prisoners。　　In　the　day…time　he　was　alone　in　irons；　without　a　guard；　but　at　night　a　peasant's　son　was　beside　him　in　the　chain；　that　he　might　not　escape　from　them。　　This　poor　man　never　got　sleep　or　rest　from　vexation　and　sorrow；　and　considered　in　many　ways　what　could　help　him；　for　he　had　a　great　dread　of　slavery；　and　was　pining　with　hunger　and　torture。　　He　could　not　again　expect　to　be　ransomed　by　his　friends；　as　they　had　already　restored　him　twice　from　heathen　lands　with　their　own　money；　and　he　well　knew　that　it　would　be　difficult　and　expensive　for　them　to　submit　a　third　time　to　this　burden。　　It　is　well　with　the　man　who　does　not　undergo　so　much　in　the　world　as　this　man　knew　he　had　suffered。　　He　saw　but　one　way；　and　that　was　to　get　off　and　escape　if　he　could。　　He　resolved　upon　this　in　the　night…time；　killed　the　peasant；　and　cut　his　foot　off　after　killing　him；　and　set　off　to　the　forest　with　the　chain　upon　his　leg。　　Now　when　the　people　knew　this；　soon　after　daylight　in　the　morning；　they　pursued　him　with　two　dogs　accustomed　to　trace　any　one　who　escaped；　and　to　find　him　in　the　forest　however　carefully　he　might　be　concealed。　They　got　him　into　their　hands　and　beat　him；　and　did　him　all　kinds　of　mischief；　and　dragging　him　home；　left　barely　alive；　and　showed　him　no　mercy。　　They　tortured　him　severely；　put　him　in　a　dark　room；　in　which　there　lay　already　sixteen　Christian　men；　and　bound　him　both　with　iron　and　other　tyings；　as　fast　as　they　could。　　Then　he　began　to　think　that　the　misery　and　pain　he　had　endured　before　were　but　shadows　to　his　present　sufferings。　　He　saw　no　man　before　his　eyes　in　this　prison　who　would　beg　for　mercy　for　him；　no　one　had　compassion　on　his　wretchedness；　except　the　Christian　men　who　lay　bound　with　him；　who　sorrowed　with　him；　and　bemoaned　his　fate　together　with　their　own　misfortunes　and　helplessness。　　One　day　they　advised　him　to　make　a　vow　to　the　holy　King　Olaf；　to　devote　himself　to　some　office　in　his　sacred　house；　if　he；　by　God's　compassion　and　Saint　Olaf's　prayers　could　get　away　from　this　prison。　　He　gladly　agreed　to　this；　and　made　a　vow　and　prepared　himself　for　the　situation　they　mentioned　to　him。　　The　night　after　he　thought　in　his　sleep　that　he　saw　a　man；　not　tall；　standing　at　his　side；　who　spoke　to　him　thus；　〃Here；　thou　wretched　man；　why　dost　thou　not　get　up？〃

He　replied；　〃Sir；　who　are　you？〃

〃I　am　King　Olaf；　on　whom　thou　hast　called。〃

〃Oh；　my　good　lord！　　gladly　would　I　raise　myself；　but　I　lie　bound　with　iron　and　with　chains　on　my　legs；　and　also　the　other　men　who　lie　here。〃

Thereupon　the　king　accosts　him　with　the　words；　〃Stand　up　at　once　and　be　not　afraid；　for　thou　art　loose。〃

He　awoke　immediately；　and　told　his　comrades　what；　had　appeared　to　him　in　his　dream。　　They　told　him　to　stand　up；　and　try　if　it　was　true。　　He　stood　up；　and　observed　that　he　was　loose。　　Now　said　his　fellow…pris