heimskringla-第132章

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ENDNOTES：　（1）　　Hauga…thing　means　a　Thing　held　at　the　tumuli　or　burial　　　　　　mounds。　　L。



2。　OF　THE　FORCES　OF　HARALD　AND　MAGNUS。

When　the　two　relations；　Harald　and　Magnus；　had　been　about　three　years　kings　of　Norway　（A。D。　1131…1133）；　they　both　passed　the　fourth　winter　（A。D。　1134）　in　the　town　of　Nidaros；　and　invited　each　other　as　guests；　but　their　people　were　always　ready　for　a　fight。　　In　spring　King　Magnus　sailed　southwards　along　the　land　with　his　fleet；　and　drew　all　the　men　he　could　obtain　out　of　each　district；　and　sounded　his　friends　if　they　would　strengthen　him　with　their　power　to　take　the　kingly　dignity　from　Harald；　and　give　him　such　a　portion　of　the　kingdom；　as　might　be　suitable；　representing　to　them　that　King　Harald　had　already　renounced　the　kingdom　by　oath。　　King　Magnus　obtained　the　consent　of　many　powerful　men。　　The　same　spring　Harald　went　to　the　Uplands；　and　by　the　upper　roads　eastwards　to　Viken；　and　when　he　heard　what　King　Magnus　was　doing；　he　also　drew　together　men　on　his　side。　　Wheresoever　the　two　parties　went　they　killed　the　cattle；　or　even　the　people；　upon　the　farms　of　the　adverse　party。　　King　Magnus　had　by　far　the　most　people；　for　the　main　strength　of　the　country　lay　open　to　him　for　collecting　men　from　it。　　King　Harald　was　in　Viken　on　the　east　side　of　the　fjord；　and　collected　men；　while　they　were　doing　each　other　damage　in　property　and　life。　　King　Harald　had　with　him　Kristrod；　his　brother　by　his　mother's　side；　and　many　other　lendermen；　but　King　Magnus　had　many　more。　　King　Harald　was　with　his　forces　at　a　place　called　Fors　in　Ranrike；　and　went　from　thence　towards　the　sea。　　The　evening　before　Saint　Lawrence　day　（August　10）；　they　had　their　supper　at　a　place　called　Fyrileif；　while　the　guard　kept　a　watch　on　horseback　all　around　the　house。　The　watchmen　observed　King　Magnus's　army　hastening　towards　the　house；　and　consisting　of　full　6000　men；　while　King　Harald　had　but　1500。　　Now　come　the　watchmen　who　had　to　bring　the　news　to　King　Harald　of　what　was　going　on　and　say　that　King　Magnus's　army　was　now　very　near　the　town。

The　king　says；　〃What　will　my　relation　King　Magnus　Sigurdson　have？　　He　wants　not　surely　to　fight　us。〃

Thjostolf　Alason　replies；　〃You　must　certainly；　sire；　make　preparation　for　that；　both　for　yourself　and　your；　men。　　King　Magnus　has　been　drawing　together　an　army　all　the　summer　for　the　purpose　of　giving　you　battle　when　he　meets　you。〃

Then　King　Harald　stood　up；　and　ordered　his　men　to　take　their　arms。　　〃We　shall　fight；　if　our　relative　King　Magnus　wants　to　fight　us。〃

Then　the　war…horns　sounded；　and　all　Harald's　men　went　out　from　the　house　to　an　enclosed　field；　and　set　up　their　banners。　　King　Harald　had　on　two　shirts　of　ring…mail；　but　his　brother　Kristrod　had　no　armour　on；　and　a　gallant　man　he　was。　　When　King　Magnus　and　his　men　saw　King　Harald's　troop　they　drew　up　and　made　their　array；　and　made　their　line　so　long　that　they　could　surround　the　whole　of　King　Harald's　troop。　　So　says　Haldor　Skvaldre：　

　　　　　〃King　Magnus　on　the　battle…plain　　　　　　From　his　long　troop…line　had　great　gain；　　　　　　The　plain　was　drenched　with　warm　blood；　　　　　　Which　lay　a　red　and　reeking　flood。〃



3。　BATTLE　AT　FYRILEIF。

King　Magnus　had　the　holy　cross　carried　before　him　in　this　battle；　and　the　battle　was　great　and　severe。　　The　king's　brother；　Kristrod；　had　penetrated　with　his　troop　into　the　middle　of　King　Magnus's　array；　and　cut　down　on　each　side　of　him；　so　that　people　gave　way　before　him　everywhere。　　But　a　powerful　bonde　who　was　in　King　Harald's　array　raised　his　spear　with　both　hands；　and　drove　it　through　between　Kristrod's　shoulders；　so　that　it　came　out　at　his　breast；　and　thus　fell　Kristrod。　　Many　who　were　near　asked　the　bonde　why　he　had　done　so　foul　a　deed。

The　bonde　replies；　〃He　knows　the　consequences　now　of　slaughtering　my　cattle　in　summer；　and　taking　all　that　was　in　my　house；　and　forcing　me　to　follow　him　here。　　I　determined　to　give　him　some　return　when　the　opportunity　came。〃

After　this　King　Harald's　army　took　to　flight；　and　he　fled　himself；　with　all　his　men。　　Many　fell；　and　Ingemar　Sveinson　of　Ask；　a　great　chief　and　lenderman；　got　there　his　death…wound；　and　nearly　sixty　of　King　Harald's　court…men　also　fell。　　Harald　himself　fled　eastward　to　Viken　to　his　ships；　and　went　out　of　the　country　to　King　Eirik　Eimune　in　Denmark；　and　found　him　in　Seeland　and　sought　aid　from　him。　　King　Eirik　received　him　well；　and　principally　because　they　had　sworn　to　each　other　to　be　as　brothers　（1）；　and　gave　him　Halland　as　a　fief　to　rule　over；　and　gave　him　seven　long…ships；　but　without　equipment。　　Thereafter　King　Harald　went　northwards　through　Halland；　and　many　Northmen　came　to　meet　him。　　After　this　battle　King　Magnus　subdued　the　whole　country；　giving　life　and　safety　to　all　who　were　wounded；　and　had　them　taken　care　of　equally　with　his　own　men。　　He　then　called　the　whole　country　his　own；　and　had　a　choice　of　the　best　men　who　were　in　the　country。　　When　they　held　a　council　among　themselves　afterwards；　Sigurd　Sigurdson；　Thorer　Ingeridson；　and　all　the　men　of　most　understanding；　advised　that　they　should　keep　their　forces　together　in　Viken；　and　remain　there；　in　case　Harald　should　return　from　the　south；　but　King　Magnus　would　take　his　own　way；　and　went　north　to　Bergen。　　There　he　sat　all　winter　（A。D。　1135）；　and　allowed　his　men　to　leave　him；　on　which　the　lendermen　returned　home　to　their　own　houses。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　These　brotherhoods；　by　which　one　man　was　bound　by　oath　to　　　　　　aid　or　avenge　another；　were　common　in　the　Middle　Ages　among　　　　　　all　ranks。　　〃Sworn　brothers〃　is　still　a　common　expression　　　　　　with　us。　　L。



4。　DEATH　OF　ASBJORN　AND　OF　NEREID。

King　Harald　came　to　Konungahella　with　the　men　who　had　followed　him　from　Denmark。　　The　lendermen　and　town's　burgesses　collected　a　force　against　him；　which　they　drew　up　in　a　thick　array　above　the　town。　　King　Harald　landed　from　his　ships；　and　sent　a　message　to　the　bondes；　desiring　that　they　would　not　deny　him　his　land；　as　he　wanted　no　more　than　what　of　right　belonged　to　him。　　Then　mediators　went　between　them；　and　it　came　to　this；　that　the　bondes　dismissed　their　troops；　and　submitted　to　him。　　Thereupon　he　bestowed　fiefs　and　property　on　the　lendermen；　that　they　might　stand　by　him；　and　paid　the　bondes　who　joined　him　the　lawful　mulcts　for　what　they　had　lost。　　A　great　body　of　men　attached　themselves；　therefore；　to　King　Harald；　and　he　proceeded　westwards　to　Viken；　where　he　gave　peace　to　all　men；　except　to　King　Magnus's　people；　whom　he　plundered　and　killed　wherever　he　found　them。　　And　when　he　came　west　to　Sarpsborg　he　took　prisoners　two　of　King　Magnus　s　lendermen；　Asbjorn　and　his　brother　Nereid；　and　gave　them　the　choice　that　one　should　be　hanged；　and　the　other　thrown　into　the　Sarpsborg　waterfall；　and　they　might　choose　as　they　pleased。　Asbjorn　chose　to　be　thrown　into　the　cataract；　for　he　was　the　elder　of　the　two；　and　this　death　appeared　the　most　dreadful；　and　so　it　was　done。　　Halder　Skvaldre　tells　of　this：　

　　　　　〃Asbjorn；　who　opposed　the　king；　　　　　　O'er　the　wild　cataract　they　fling：　　　　　　Nereid；　who　opposed　the　king；　　　　　　Must　on　Hagbard's　high　tree　swing。　　　　　　The　king　given　food　in　many　a　way　　　　　　To　foul…mouthed　beasts　and　birds　of　prey：　　　　　　The　generous　men　who　dare　oppose　　　　　　Are　treated　as　the　worst　of　foes。〃

Thereafter　King　Harald　proceeded　north　to　Tunsberg；　where　he　was　well　received；　and　a　large　force　gathered　to　him。



5。　OF　THE　COUNSELS　PROPOSED。

When　King　Magnus；　who　was　in　Bergen；　heard　these　tidings；　he　called　together　all　the　chiefs　who　were　in　the　town；　and　asked　them　their　counsel；　and　what　they　should　now　do。　　Then　Sigurd　Sigurdson　said；　〃Here　I　can　give　a　good　advice。　　Let　a　ship　be　manned　with　good　men；　and　put　me；　or　any　other　lenderman；　to　command　it；　send　it　to　thy　relation；　King　Harald；　and　offer　him　peace　according　to　the　conditions　upright　men　may　determine　upon；　and　offer　him　the　half　of　the　kingdom。　　It　appears　to　me　probable　that　King　Harald；　by　the　words　and　counsel　of　good　men；　may　accept　this　offer；　and　thus　there　may　be　a　peace　established　between　you。〃

Then　King　Magnus　replied；　〃This　proposal　I　will　not　accept　of；　for　of　what　advantage　would　it　be；　after　we　have　gained　the　whole　kingdom　in　summer　to　give　away　the　half　of　it　now？　　Give　us　some　other　counsel。〃

Then　Sigurd　Sigurdson　answered；　〃It　appears　to　me；　sire；　that　your　lendermen　who　in　autumn　asked　your　leave　to　return　home　will　now　sit　at　home　and　will　not　come　to　you。　　At　that　time　it　was　much　against　my　advice　that　you　dispersed　so　entirely　the　people　we　had　collected；　for　I　could　well　suppose　that　Harald　would　come　back　to　Viken　as　soon　as　he　heard　that　it　was　without　a　chief。　Now　there　is　still　another　counsel；　and　it　is　but　a　poor　one；　but　it　may　turn　out　useful　to　us。　　Send　out　your　pursuivants；　and　send　other　people　with　them；　and　let　them　go　against　the　lendermen　who　will　not　join　you　in　your　necessity；　and　kill　them；　and　bestow　their　property　on　others　who　will　give　you　help　although　they　may　have　been　of　small　importance　before。　　Let　them　drive　together　the　people；　the　bad　as　well　as　the　good；　and　go　with　the　men　you　can　thus　assemble　against　King　Harald；　and　give　him　battle。〃

The　king　replies；　〃It　would　be　unpopular　to　put　to　death　people　of　distinction；　and　raise　up　inferior　people　who　often　break　faith　and　law；　and　the　country　would　be　still　worse　off。　　I　would　like　to　hear　some　other　counsel　still。〃

Sigurd　replies；　〃It　is　difficult　for　me　now　to　give　advice；　as　you　will　neither　make　peace　nor　give　battle。　　Let　us　go　north　to　Throndhjem；　where　the　main　strength　of　the　country　is　most　inclined　to　our　side；　and　on　the　way　let　us　gather　all　the　men　we　can。　　It　may　be　that　these　Elfgrims　will　be　tired　of　such　a　long　stride　after　us。〃

The　king　replies；　〃We　must　not　fly　from　those　whom　we　beat　in　summer。　　Give　some　better　counsel　still。〃

Then　Sigurd　stood　up　and　said；　while　he　was　preparing　to　go　out；　〃I　will　now　give　you　the　counsel　which　I　see　you　will　take；　and　which　must　have　its　course。　　Sit　here　in　Bergen　until　Harald　comes　with　his　troops；　and　then　you　will　either　suffer　death　or　disgrace。〃

And　Sigurd　remained　no　longer　at　that　meeting。



6。　OF　HARALD'S　FORCE。

King　Harald　came　from　the　East　along　the　coast　with　a　great　army；　and　this　winter　（A。D。　1135）　is　called　on　that　account　the　Crowd…winter。　　King　Harald　came　to　Bergen　on　Christmas　eve；　and　landed　with　his　fleet　at　Floruvagar；　but　would　not　fight　on　account　of　the　sacred　time。　　But　King　Magnus　prepared　for　defence　in　the　town。　　He　erected　a　stone…slinging　machine　out　on　the　holm；　and　had　iron　chains　and　wooden　booms　laid　across　over　the　passage　from　the　king's　house　to　Nordnes；　and　to　the　Monks　bridge。　　He　had　foot…traps　made；　and　thrown　into　Saint　John's　field；　and　did　not　suspend　these　works　except　during　the　three　sacred　days　of　Christmas。　　The　last　holyday　of　Yule；　King　Harald　ordered　his　war…horns　to　sound　the　gathering　of　his　men　for　going　to　the　town；　and；　during　the　Yule　holydays；　his　army　had　been　increased　by　about　900　men。



7。　KING　MAGNUS　TAKEN　PRISONER。

King　Harald　made　a　promise　to　King　Olaf　the　Saint　for　victory；　that　he　would　build　an　Olaf's　church　in　the　town　at　his　own　expense。　　King　Magnus　drew　up　his　men　in　the　Christ　church　yard；　but　King　Harald　laid　his　vessels　first　at　Nordnes。　　Now