heimskringla-第144章
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men had a severe conflict。 Erling himself was on the forecastle； and called his forecastlemen； and ordered them to board the king's ship； but they answered； this was no easy matter； for there were beams above with an iron comb on them。 Then Erling himself went to the bow； and stayed there a while； until they succeeded in getting on board the king's ship： and then the ship was cleared of men on the bows； and the whole army gave way。 Many sprang into the water； many fell； but the greater number got to the land。 So says Einar Skulason：
〃Men fall upon the slippery deck Men roll off from the blood…drenched wreck； Dead bodies float down with the stream； And from the shores witch…ravens scream。 The cold blue river now runs red With the warm blood of warriors dead； And stains the waves in Karmt Sound With the last drops of the death…wound。
〃All down the stream； with unmann'd prow； Floats many an empty long…ship now； Ship after ship； shout after shout； Tell that Kign Hakon can't hold out。 The bowmen ply their bows of elm； The red swords flash o'er broken helm： King Hakon's men rush to the strand； Out of their ships； up through the land。〃
Einar composed a song about Gregorius Dagson； which is called the River…song。 King Inge granted life and peace to Nikolas Skialdvarson when his ship was deserted； and thereupon he went into King Inge's service； and remained in it as long as the king lived。 Eindride Jonson leaped on board of King Inge's ship when his own was cleared of men； and begged for his life。 King Inge wished to grant it； but Havard Klining's son ran up； and gave him a mortal wound； which was much blamed； but he said Eindride had been the cause of his father's death。 There was much lamentation at Eindride's death； but principally in the Throndhjem district。 Many of Hakon's people fell here； but not many chiefs。 Few of King Inge's people fell； but many were wounded。 King Hakon fled up the country； and King Inge went north to Viken with his troops； and he； as well as Gregorius； remained in Viken all winter （A。D。 1160）。 When King Inge's men； Bergliot and his brothers； sons of Ivar of Elda； came from the battle to Bergen； they slew Nickolas Skeg； who had been Hakon's treasurer； and then went north to Throndhjem。
King Hakon came north before Yule； and Sigurd was sometimes home at Reyr； for Gregorius； who was nearly related to Sigurd； had obtained for him life and safety from King Inge； so that he retained all his estates。 King Hakon was in the merchant…town of Nidaros in Yule； and one evening in the beginning of Yule his men fought in the room of the court； and in this affray eight men were killed； and many were wounded。 The eighth day of Yule； King Hakon's man Alf Rode； son of Ottar Birting； with about eighty men； went to Elda； and came in the night unexpectedly on the people； who were very drunk； and set fire to the room； but they went out； and defended themselves bravely。 There fell Bergliot； Ivar's son； and Ogmund； his brother； and many more。 They had been nearly thirty altogether in number。 In winter died； north in the merchant…town； Andres Simonson； King Hakon's foster… brother； and his death was much deplored。 Erling Skakke and Inge's men； who were in Bergen； threatened that in winter they would proceed against Hakon and his men； but it came to nothing。 Gregorius sent word from the east； from Konungahella； that if he were so near as Erling and his men； he would not sit quietly in Bergen while Hakon was killing King Inge's friends and their comrades in war north in the Throndhjem country。
12。 THE CONFLICT UPON THE PIERS。
King Inge and Gregorius left the east in spring； and came to Bergen； but as soon as Hakon and Sigurd heard that Inge had left Viken； they went there by land。 When King Inge and his people came to Bergen； a quarrel arose between Haldor Brynjolfson and Bjorn Nikolason。 Bjorn's house…man asked Haldor's when they met at the pier； why he looked so pale。
He replied； because he had been bled。
〃I could not look so pale if I tried； at merely being bled。〃
〃I again think；〃 retorted the other； 〃that thou wouldst have borne it worse； and less manfully。〃 And no other beginning was there for their quarrel than this。 Afterwards one word followed another； till from brawling they came to fighting。 It was told to Haldor Brynjolfson； who was in the house drinking； that his house…man was wounded down on the pier and he went there immediately。 But Bjorn's house…men had come there before； and as Haldor thought his house…man had been badly treated； he went up to them and beat them； and it was told to Bjorn Buk that the people of Viken were beating his house…men on the pier。 Then Bjorn and his house…men took their weapons； hurried down to the pier； and would avenge their men； and a bloody strife began。 It was told Gregorius that his relation Haldor required assistance； and that his house…men were being cut down in the street； on which Gregorius and his men ran to the place in their armour。 Now it was told Erling Skakke that his sister's son Bjorn was fighting with Gregorius and Haldor down on the piers； and that he needed help。 Then he proceeded thither with a great force； and exhorted the people to stand by him； saying it would be a great disgrace never to be wiped out； if the Viken people should trample upon them in their own native place。 There fell thirteen men； of whom nine were killed on the spot； and four died of their wounds； and many were wounded。 When the word came to King Inge that Gregorius and Erling were fighting down on the piers； he hastened there； and tried to separate them； but could do nothing； so mad were they on both sides。 Then Gregorius called to Inge； and told him to go away； for it was in vain to attempt coming between them； as matters now stood。 He said it would be the greatest misfortune if the king mixed himself up with it； for he could not be certain that there were not people in the fray who would commit some great misdeed if they had opportunity。 Then King Inge retired； and when the greatest tumult was over； Gregorius and his men went to Nikolas church； and Erling behind them； calling to each other。 Then King Inge came a second time； and pacified them； and both agreed that he should mediate between them。
When King Inge and Gregorius heard that King Hakon was in Viken； they went east with many ships； but when they came King Hakon fled from them； and there was no battle。 Then King Inge went to Oslo； and Gregorius was in Konungahella。
13。 MUNAN'S DEATH。
Soon after Gregorius heard that Hakon and his men were at a farm called Saurby； which lies up beside the forest。 Gregorius hastened there； came in the night； and supposing that King Hakon and Sigurd would be in the largest of the houses； set fire to the buildings there。 But Hakon and his men were in the smaller house； and came forth； seeing the fire； to help their people。 There Munan fell； a son of Ale Uskeynd； a brother of King Sigurd Hakon's father。 Gregorius and his men killed him； because he was helping those whom they were burning within the house。 Some escaped； but many were killed。 Asbjorn Jalda； who had been a very great viking； escaped from the house； but was grievously wounded。 A bonde met him； and he offered the man money to let him get away； but the bonde replied； he would do what he liked best； and； adding that he had often been in fear of his life for him； he slew him。 King Hakon and Sigurd escaped； but many of their people were killed。 Thereafter Gregorius returned home to Konungahella。 Soon after King Hakon and Sigurd went to Haldor Brynjolfson's farm of Vettaland； set fire to the house； and burnt it。 Haldor went out； and was cut down instantly with his house… men； and in all there were about twenty men killed。 Sigrid； Haldor's wife； was a sister of Gregorius； and they allowed her to escape into the forest in her night…shift only； but they took with them Amunde； who was a son of Gyrd Amundason and of Gyrid Dag's daughter； and a sister's son of Gregorius； and who was then a boy about five years old。
14。 OF THE FALL OF GREGORIUS DAGSON。
When Gregorius heard the news he took it much to heart； and inquired carefully where they were。 Gregorius set out from Konungahella late in Yule； and came to Fors the thirteenth day of Yule； where he remained a night； and heard vespers the last day of Yule； which was a Saturday； and the holy Evangel was read before him。 When Gregorius and his followers saw the men of King Hakon and Sigurd； the king's force appeared to them smaller than their own。 There was a river called Befia between them； where they met； and there was unsound ice on the river； for there went a stream under the ice from it。 King Hakon and his men had cut a rent in the ice； and laid snow over it； so that nobody could see it。 When Gregorius came to the ice on the river the ice appeared to him unsound； he said； and he advised the people to go to the bridge； which was close by； to cross the river。 The bonde…troops replied； that they did not know why he should be afraid to go across the ice to attack so few people as Hakon had； and the ice was good enough。 Gregorius said it was seldom necessary to encourage him to show bravery； and it should not be so now。 Then he ordered them to follow him； and not to be standing on the land while he was on the ice； and he said it was their council to go out upon the dangerous ice； but he had no wish to do so； or to be led by them。 Then he ordered the banner to be advanced； and immediately went out on the ice with the men。 As soon as the bondes found that the ice was unsound they turned back。 Gregorius fell through the ice； but not very deep； and he told his men to take care。 There were not more than twenty men with him； the others having turned back。 A man of King Hakon's troop shot an arrow at Gregorius； which hit him under the throat； and thus ended his life。 Gregorius fell； and ten men with him。 It is the talk of all men that he had been the most gallant lenderman in Norway that any man then living could remember； and also he behaved the best towards us Icelanders of any chief since King Eystein the Elder's death。 Gregorius's body was carried to Hofund； and interred at Gimsey Isle； in a nunnery which is there； of which Gregorius's sister； Baugeid； was then the abbess。
15。 KING INGE HEARS OF GREGORIUS'S FALL。
Two bailiffs went to Oslo to bring the tidings to King Inge。 When they arrived they desired to speak to the king： and he asked； what news they brought。
〃Gregorius Dagson's death；〃 said they。
〃How came that misfortune？〃 asked the king。
When they had told him how it happened； he said； 〃They gave advice who understood the least。〃
It is said he took it so much to heart that he cried like a child。 When he recovered himself he said； 〃I wanted to go to Gregorius as soon as I heard of Haldor's murder； for I thought that Gregorius would not sit long before thinking。 of revenge。 But the people here would think nothing so important as their Yule feasts； and nothing could move them away； and I am confident that if I had been there； he would either have proceeded more cautiously； or I and Gregorius would now have shared one
