heimskringla-第142章
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m。 Simon told the man who had to put the king to death to do so immediately； for the king had been creeping about upon the grass long enough。 He was accordingly slain； and he appears to have suffered manfully。 His body was carried to Fors； and lay all night under the hill at the south side of the church。 King Eystein was buried in Fors church； and his grave is in the middle of the church…floor； where a fringed canopy is spread over it； and he is considered a saint。 Where he was executed； and his blood ran upon the ground； sprang up a fountain； and another under the hill where his body lay all night。 From both these waters many think they have received a cure of sickness and pain。 It is reported by the Viken people that many miracles were wrought at King Eystein's grave； until his enemies poured upon it soup made of boiled dog's flesh。 Simon Skalp was much hated for this deed； which was generally ascribed to him； but some said that when King Eystein was taken Simon sent a message to King Inge； and the king commanded that King Eystein should not come before his face。 So King Sverre has caused it to be written； but Einar Skulason tells of it thus：
〃Simon Skalp； the traitor bold； For deeds of murder known of old； His king betrayed； and ne'er will he God's blessed face hereafter see。〃
SAGA OF HAKON HERDEBREID （HAKON THE BROAD…SHOULDERED） （1）
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
This saga describes the feud between Hakon Sigurdson and his uncle Inge。
The only skald quoted is Einar Skulason。
ENDNOTES： （1） The period is from A。D。 1157 to 1161。 L。
1。 BEGINNING OF HAKON HERDEBREID。
Hakon； King Sigurd's son； was chosen chief of the troop which had followed King Eystein； and his adherents gave him the title of king。 He was ten years old。 At that time he had with him Sigurd； a son of Halvard Hauld of Reyr； and Andreas and Onund； the sons of Simon； his foster…brothers； and many chiefs； friends of King Sigurd and King Eystein； and they went first up to Gautland。 King Inge took possession of all the estates they had left behind； and declared them banished。 Thereafter King Inge went to Viken； and was sometimes also in the north of the country。 Gregorius Dagson was in Konungahella； where the danger was greatest； and had beside him a strong and handsome body of men； with which he defended the country。
2。 OF GREGORIUS DAGSON。
The summer after （A。D。 1158） Hakon came with his men； and proceeded to Konungahella with a numerous and handsome troop。 Gregorius was then in the town； and summoned the bondes and townspeople to a great Thing； at which he desired their aid； but he thought the people did not hear him with much favour； so he did not much trust them。 Gregorius set off with two ships to Viken； and was very much cast down。 He expected to meet King Inge there； having heard he was coming with a great army to Viken。 Now when Gregorius had come but a short way north he met Simon Skalp； Haldor Brynjolfson； and Gyrd Amundason； King Inge's foster…brothers。 Gregorius was much delighted at this meeting； and turned back with them； being all in one body； with eleven ships。 As they were rowing up to Konungahella； Hakon； with his followers； was holding a Thing without the town； and saw their approach； and Sigurd of Reyr said； 〃Gregorius must be fey to be throwing himself with so few men into our hands。〃 Gregorius landed opposite the town to wait for King Inge； for he was expected； but he did not come。 King Hakon put himself in order in the town； and appointed Thorliot Skaufaskalle； who was a viking and a robber； to be captain of the men in the merchant ships that were afloat in the river； and King Hakon and Sigurd were within the town； and drew up the men on the piers； for all the townspeople had submitted to King Hakon。
3。 KING HAKON'S FLIGHT。
Gregorius rowed up the river； and let the ship drive down with the stream against Thorliot。 They shot at each other a while； until Thorliot and his comrades jumped overboard； and some of them were killed； some escaped to the land。 Then Gregorius rowed to the piers； and let a gangway be cast on shore at the very feet of Hakon's men。 There the man who carried his banner was slain； just as he was going to step on shore。 Gregorius ordered Hal； a son of Audun Halson； to take up the banner； which he did； and bore the banner up to the pier。 Gregorius followed close after him； held his shield over his head； and protected him as well as himself。 As soon as Gregorius came upon the pier； and Hakon's men knew him； they gave way； and made room for him on every side。 Afterwards more people landed from the ships； and then Gregorius made a severe assault with his men； and Hakon's men first moved back； and then ran up into the town。 Gregorius pursued them eagerly； drove them twice from the town； and killed many of them。 By the report of all men； never was there so glorious an affair as this of Gregorius； for Hakon had more than 4000 men； and Gregorius not full 400。 After the battle； Gregorius said to Hal Audunson； 〃Many men； in my opinion； are more agile in battle than ye Icelanders are； for ye are not so exercised as we Norwegians； but none； I think； are so bold under arms as ye are。〃 King Inge came up soon after； and killed many of the men who had taken part with Hakon； made some pay heavy fines； burnt the houses of some； and some he drove out of the country； or treated otherwise very ill。 Hakon fled at first up to Gautland with all his men； but the winter after （A。D。 1159）； he proceeded by the upper road to Throndhjem； and came there before Easter。 The Throndhjem people received him well； for they had always served under that shield。 It is said that the Throndhjem people took Hakon as king； on the terms that he should have from Inge the third part of Norway as his paternal heritage。 King Inge and Gregorius were in Viken； and Gregorius wanted to make an expedition against the party in the north； but it came to nothing that winter； as many dissuaded from it。
4。 FALL OF GYRD AND HAVARD。
King Hakon left Throndhjem in spring with thirty ships nearly； and some of his men sailed before the rest with seven ships； and plundered in North and South More。 No man could remember that there ever before had been plundering between the two towns （Bergen and Nidaros）。 Jon the son of Halkel Huk collected the bondes in arms； and proceeded against them； took Kolbein Ode prisoner； killed every woman's son of them in his ship。 Then they searched for the others； found them all assembled in seven ships； and fought with them； but his father Halkel not coming to his assistance as he had promised； many good bondes were killed； and Jon himself was wounded。 Hakon proceeded south to Bergen with his forces； but when he came to Stiornvelta； he heard that King Inge and Gregorius had arrived a few nights before from the east at Bergen； and therefore he did not venture to steer thither。 They sailed the outer course southwards past Bergen； and met three ships of King Inge's fleet； which had been outsailed on the voyage from the east。 On board of them were Gyrd Amundason； King Inge's foster…brother； who was married to Gyrid a sister of Gregorius； and also lagman Gyrd Gunhildson； and Havard Klining。 King Hakon had Gyrd Amundason and Havard Klining put to death； but took lagman Gyrd southwards； and then proceeded east to Viken。
5。 OF THE CONSULTATIONS OF KING INGE。
When King Inge heard of this he sailed east after them； and they met east in the Gaut river。 King Inge went up the north arm of the river； and sent out spies to get news of Hakon and his fleet； but he himself landed at Hising； and waited for his spies。 Now when the spies came back they went to the king； and said that they had seen King Hakon's forces； and all his ships which lay at the stakes in the river； and Hakon's men had bound the stems of their vessels to them。 They had two great East…country trading vessels； which they had laid outside of the fleet； and on both these were built high wooded stages （castles）。 When King Inge heard the preparations they had made； he ordered a trumpet to call a House…thing of all the men； and when the Thing was seated he asked his men for counsel； and applied particularly to Gregorius Dagson； his brother…in…law Erling Skakke； and other lendermen and ship…commanders； to whom he related the preparations of Hakon and his men。
Then Gregorius Dagson replied first； and made known his mind in the following words： 〃Sometimes we and Hakon have met； and generally they had the most people； but； notwithstanding； they fell short in battle against us。 Now； on the other hand； we have by far the greatest force； and it will appear probable to the men who a short time ago lost gallant relations by them； that this will be a good occasion to get vengeance； for they have fled before us the greater part of the summer； and we have often said that if they waited for us； as appears now to be the case； we would have a brush with them。 Now I will tell my opinion； which is； that I will engage them； if it be agreeable to the king's pleasure； for I think it will go now as formerly； that they must give way before us if we attack them bravely； and I shall always attack where others may think it most difficult。〃
The speech was received with much applause； and all declared they were ready to engage in battle against Hakon。 Then they rowed with all the ships up the river； until they came in sight of each other； and then King Inge turned off from the river current under the island。 Now the king addressed the lendermen again； and told them to get ready for battle。 He turned himself especially to Erling Skakke； and said； what was true； that no man in the army had more understanding and knowledge in fighting battles； although some were more hot。 The king then addressed himself to several of the lendermen； speaking to them by name； and ended by desiring that each man should make his attack where he thought it would be of advantage； and thereafter all would act together。
6。 ERLING'S SPEECH。
Erling Skakke replied thus to the king's speech： 〃It is my duty； sire； not to be silent； and I shall give my advice； since it is desired。 The resolution now adopted is contrary to my judgment； for I call it foolhardy to fight under these circumstances； although we have so many and such fine men。 Supposing we make an attack on them； and row up against this river…current； then one of the three men who are in each half room must be employed in rowing only； and another must be covering with the shield the man who rows； and what have we then to fight with but one third of our men？ It appears to me that they can be of little use in the battle who are sitting at their oars with their backs turned to the enemy。 Give me now some time for consideration； and I promise you that before three days are over I shall fall upon some plan by which we can come into battle with advantage。〃
It was evident from Erling's speech that he dissuaded from an attack； but； notwithstanding； it was urged by many who thought that Hakon would now； as before； take to the land。 〃And then；〃 said they； 〃we cannot get hold of him； but now they have but few men； and we have their fate in our own hands。〃
Gregorius said but little； but
