heimskringla-第133章
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s drew up his men in the Christ church yard； but King Harald laid his vessels first at Nordnes。 Now when King Magnus and his people saw that； they turned round towards the town； and to the end of the shore； but as they passed through the streets many of the burgesses ran into their houses and homes； and those who went across the fields fell into the foot…traps。 Then King Magnus and his men perceived that King Harald had rowed with all his men across to Hegravik； and landed there； and had gone from thence the upper road up the hill opposite the town。 Now Magnus returned back again through the streets； and then his men fled from him in all directions； some up to the mountains； some up to the neighbourhood of the convent of nuns； some to churches； or hid themselves as they best could。 King Magnus fled to his ship； but there was no possibility of getting away； for the iron chains outside prevented the passage of vessels。 He had also but few men with him； and therefore could do nothing。 Einar Skulason tells of this in the song of Harald：
〃For a whole week an iron chain Cut off all sailing to the main： Bergen's blue stable was locked fast； Her floating wains could not get past。〃
Soon after Harald's people came out to the ships； and then King Magnus was made prisoner。 He was sitting behind in the forecastle upon the chests of the high…seat； and at his side Hakon Fauk； his mother's brother； who was very popular but was not considered very wise； and Ivar Assurson。 They； and many others of King Magnus's friends； were taken； and some of them killed on the spot。
8。 KING MAGNUS MUTILATED。
Thereafter King Harald had a meeting of his counsellors； and desired their counsel； and in this meeting the judgment was given that Magnus should be deposed from his dominions； and should no longer be called king。 Then he was delivered to the king's slaves； who mutilated him； picked out both his eyes； cut off one foot； and at last castrated him。 Ivar Assurson was blinded； and Hakon Fauk killed。 The whole country then was reduced to obedience under King Harald。 Afterwards it was diligently examined who were King Magnus's best friends； or who knew most of his concealments of treasure or valuables。 The holy cross King Magnus had kept beside him since the battle of Fyrileif； but would not tell where it was deposited for preservation。 Bishop Reinald of Stavanger； who was an Englishman； was considered very greedy of money。 He was a great friend of King Magnus； and it was thought likely that great treasure and valuables had been given into his keeping。 Men were sent for him accordingly； and he came to Bergen； where it was insisted against him that he had some knowledge of such treasure； but he denied it altogether； would not admit it； and offered to clear himself by ordeal。 King Harald would not have this； but laid on the bishop a money fine of fifteen marks of gold； which he should pay to the king。 The bishop declared he would not thus impoverish his bishop's see； but would rather offer his life。 On this they hanged the bishop out on the holm； beside the sling machine。 As he was going to the gallows he threw the sock from his foot； and said with an oath； 〃I know no more about King Magnus's treasure than what is in this sock；〃 and in it there was a gold ring。 Bishop Reinald was buried at Nordnes in Michael's church； and this deed was much blamed。 After this Harald Gille was sole king of Norway as long as he lived。
9。 WONDERFUL OMENS IN KONUNGAHELLA。
Five years after King Sigurd's death remarkable occurrences took place in Konungahella （A。D。 1135）。 Guthorm； a son of Harald Fletter； and Saemund Husfreyja； were at that time the king's officers there。 Saemund was married to Ingebjorg； a daughter of the priest Andres Brunson。 Their sons were Paul Flip and Gunne Fis。 Saemund's natural son was called Asmund。 Andres Brunson was a very remarkable man； who carried on divine service in the Cross church。 His wife （1） was called Solveig。 Jon Loptson； who was then eleven years old； was in their house to be fostered and educated。 The priest Lopt Saemundson； Jon's father； was also in the town at that time。 The priest Andres and Solveig had a daughter by name Helga； who was Einar's wife。 It happened now in Konungahella； the next Sunday night after Easter week； that there was a great noise in the streets through the whole town as if the king was going through with all his court…men。 The dogs were so affected that nobody could hold them； but they slipped loose； and when they came out they ran mad； biting all that came in their way； people and cattle。 All who were bitten by them till the blood came turned raging mad； and pregnant women were taken in labour prematurely； and became mad。 From Easter to Ascension…day； these portentous circumstances took place almost every night。 People were dreadfully alarmed at these wonders； and many made themselves ready to remove； sold their houses； and went out to the country districts； or to other towns。 The most intelligent men looked upon it as something extremely remarkable； were in dread of it； and said； as it proved to be； that it was an omen of important events which had not yet taken place。 And the priest Andres； on Whit Sunday； made a long and excellent speech； and turned the conclusion of it to the distressing situation of the townspeople； telling them to muster courage； and not lay waste their excellent town by deserting it； but rather to take the utmost care in all things； and use the greatest foresight against all dangers； as of fire or the enemy； and to pray to God to have mercy on them。
ENDNOTES： （1） The Catholic priests appear to have had wives at that time in Norway； and celibacy to have been confined to the monks。 L。
10。 THE RISE OF WAR IN KONUNGAHELLA。
Thirteen loaded merchant ships made ready to leave the town； intending to proceed to Bergen； but eleven of them were lost； men and goods； and all that was in them； the twelfth was lost also； but the people were saved； although the cargo went to the bottom。 At that time the priest Lopt went north to Bergen； with all that belonged to him； and arrived safely。 The merchant vessels were lost on Saint Lawrence eve （August 10）。 The Danish king Eirik and the Archbishop Assur； both sent notice to Konungahella to keep watch on their town； and said the Vindland people had a great force on foot with which they made war far around on Christian people； and usually gained the victory。 But the townspeople attended very little to this warning； were indifferent； and forgot more and more the dreadful omens the longer it was since they happened。 On the holy Saint Lawrence day； while the words of high mass were spoken； came to the Vindland king Rettibur to Konungahella with 550 Vindland cutters； and in each cutter were forty…four men and two horses。 The king's sister's son Dunimiz； and Unibur； a chief who ruled over many people； were with him。 These two chiefs rowed at once； with a part of their troops； up the east arm of the Gaut river past Hising Isle； and thus came down to the town； but a part of the fleet lay in the western arm； and came so to the town。 They made fast their ships at the piles； and landed their horses； and rode over the height of Bratsas； and from thence up around the town。 Einar； a relation of priest Andres； brought these tidings up to the Castle church； for there the whole inhabitants of the town were gathered to hear high mass。 Einar came just as the priest Andres was holding his discourse； and he told the people that an army was sailing up against the town with a great number of ships of war； and that some people were riding over Bratsas。 Many said it must be the Danish king Eirik； and from him they might expect peace。 The people ran down into the town to their properties； armed themselves； and went down upon the piers； whence they immediately saw there was an enemy and an immense army。 Nine East…country trading vessels belonging to the merchants were afloat in the river at the piers。 The Vindland people first directed their course toward these and fought with the merchants； who armed themselves； and defended themselves long； well； and manfully。 There was a hard battle； and resistance； before the merchant vessels were cleared of their men； and in this conflict the Vindland people lost 150 of their ships； with all the men on board。 When the battle was sharpest the townsmen stood upon the piers； and shot at the heathens。 But when the fight slackened the burgesses fled up to the town； and from thence into the castle； and the men took with them all their valuable articles； and such goods as they could carry。 Solveig and her daughters； with two other women； went on shore when the Vindlanders took possession of the merchant vessels。 Now the Vindlanders landed； and mustered their men； and discovered their loss。 Some of them went up into the town； some on board the merchant ships； and took all the goods they pleased； and then they set fire to the town； and burnt it and the ships。 They hastened then with all their army to assault the castle。
11。 THE SECOND BATTLE。
King Rettibur made an offer to those who were in the castle that they should go out； and he would give them their lives； weapons； clothes； silver； and gold； but all exclaimed against it； and went out on the fortification； some shot； some threw stones； some sharp stakes。 It was a great battle； in which many fell on both sides； but by far the most of the Vindlanders。 Solveig came up to a large farm called Solbjorg； and brought the news。 A message war…token was there split； and sent out to Skurbagar； where there happened to be a joint ale…drinking feast； and many men were assembled。 A bonde called Olver Miklimun （Mickle Mouth） was there； who immediately sprang up； took helmet and shield； and a great axe in his hand； and said； 〃Stand up； brave lads； and take your weapons。 Let us go help the townspeople； for it would appear shameful to every man who heard of it； if we sit here sipping our ale； while good men in the town are losing their lives by our neglect。〃
Many made an objection； and said they would only be losing their own lives； without being of any assistance to the townspeople。
Then said Olver； 〃Although all of you should hold back； I will go alone； and one or two heathens； at any rate； shall fall before I fall。〃
He ran down to the town； and a few men after him to see what he would do； and also whether they could assist him in any way。 When he came near the castle； and the heathens saw him； they sent out eight men fully armed against him； and when they met； the heathen men ran and surrounded him on all sides。 Olver lifted his axe； and struck behind him with the extreme point of it； hitting the neck of the man who was coming up behind him； so that his throat and jawbone were cut through； and he fell dead backwards。 Then he heaved his axe forwards； and struck the next man in the head； and clove him down to the shoulders。 He then fought with the others； and killed two of them； but was much wounded himself。 The four who remained took to flight； but Olver ran after them。 There was a ditch before them； and two of the heathens jumped into it； and Olver killed them both； but he stuck fast hims
