heimskringla-第25章

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　　　　without　eyes；　and　used　like　shoemaker's　awls。　　L。



44。　EARL　SIGVALDE'S　FLIGHT。

The　Jomsborg　vikings　had　larger　and　higher…sided　ships；　and　both　parties　fought　desperately。　　Vagn　Akason　laid　his　ship　on　board　of　Svein　Earl　Hakon's　son's　ship；　and　Svein　allowed　his　ship　to　give　way；　and　was　on　the　point　of　flying。　　Then　Earl　Eirik　came　up；　and　laid　his　ship　alongside　of　Vagn；　and　then　Vagn　gave　way；　and　the　ships　came　to　lie　in　the　same　position　as　before。　　Thereupon　Eirik　goes　to　the　other　wing；　which　had　gone　back　a　little；　and　Bue　had　cut　the　ropes；　intending　to　pursue　them。　　Then　Eirik　laid　himself；　board　to　board；　alongside　of　Bue's　ship；　and　there　was　a　severe　combat　hand　to　hand。　　Two　or　three　of　Eirik's　ships　then　laid　themselves　upon　Bue's　single　vessel。　　A　thunder…storm　came　on　at　this　moment；　and　such　a　heavy　hail…storm　that　every　hailstone　weighed　a　pennyweight。　　The　Earl　Sigvalde　cut　his　cable；　turned　his　ship　round；　and　took　flight。　　Vagn　Akason　called　to　him　not　to　fly；　but　as　Earl　Sigvalde　paid　no　attention　to　what　he　said；　Vagn　threw　his　spear　at　him；　and　hit　the　man　at　the　helm。　　Earl　Sigvalde　rowed　away　with　35　ships；　leaving　25　of　his　fleet　behind。



45。　BUE　THROWS　HIMSELF　OVERBOARD。

Then　Earl　Hakon　laid　his　ship　on　the　other　side　of　Bue's　ship；　and　now　came　heavy　blows　on　Bue's　men。　　Vigfus；　a　son　of　Vigaglum；　took　up　an　anvil　with　a　sharp　end；　which　lay　upon　the　deck；　and　on　which　a　man　had　welded　the　hilt　to　his　sword　just　before；　and　being　a　very　strong　man　cast　the　anvil　with　both　hands　at　the　head　of　Aslak　Holmskalle；　and　the　end　of　it　went　into　his　brains。　　Before　this　no　weapon　could　wound　this　Aslak；　who　was　Bue's　foster…brother；　and　forecastle　commander；　although　he　could　wound　right　and　left。　　Another　man　among　the　strongest　and　bravest　was　Havard　Hoggande。　　In　this　attack　Eirik's　men　boarded　Bue's　ship；　and　went　aft　to　the　quarter…deck　where　Bue　stood。　　There　Thorstein　Midlang　cut　at　Bue　across　his　nose；　so　that　the　nosepiece　of　his　helmet　was　cut　in　two；　and　he　got　a　great　wound；　but　Bue；　in　turn；　cut　at　Thorstein's　side；　so　that　the　sword　cut　the　man　through。　　Then　Bue　lifted　up　two　chests　full　of　gold；　and　called　aloud；　〃Overboard　all　Bue　s　men；〃　and　threw　himself　overboard　with　his　two　chests。　　Many　of　his　people　sprang　overboard　with　him。　　Some　fell　in　the　ship；　for　it　was　of　no　use　to　call　for　quarter。　　Bue's　ship　was　cleared　of　people　from　stem　to　stern；　and　afterwards　all　the　others；　the　one　after　the　other。



46。　VIKINGS　BOUND　TOGETHER　IN　ONE　CHAIN。

Earl　Eirik　then　laid　himself　alongside　of　Vagn's　ship；　and　there　was　a　brave　defence；　but　at　last　this　ship　too　was　cleared；　and　Vagn　and　thirty　men　were　taken　prisoners；　and　bound；　and　brought　to　land。　　Then　came　up　Thorkel　Leira；　and　said；　〃Thou　madest　a　solemn　vow；　Vagn；　to　kill　me；　but　now　it　seems　more　likely　that　I　will　kill　thee。〃　　Vagn　and　his　men　sat　all　upon　a　log　of　wood　together。　　Thorkel　had　an　axe　in　his　hands；　with　which　he　cut　at　him　who　sat　outmost　on　the　log。　　Vagn　and　the　other　prisoners　were　bound　so　that　a　rope　was　fastened　on　their　feet；　but　they　had　their　hands　free。　　One　of　them　said；　〃I　will　stick　this　cloak…pin　that　I　have　in　my　hand　into　the　earth；　if　it　be　so　that　I　know　anything；　after　my　head　is　cut　off。〃　　His　head　was　cut　off；　but　the　cloak…pin　fell　from　his　hand。　　There　sat　also　a　very　handsome　man　with　long　hair；　who　twisted　his　hair　over　his　head；　put　out　his　neck；　and　said；　〃Don't　make　my　hair　bloody。〃　　A　man　took　the　hair　in　his　hands　and　held　it　fast。　　Thorkel　hewed　with　his　axe；　but　the　viking　twitched　his　head　so　strongly　that　he　who　was　holding　his　hair　fell　forwards；　and　the　axe　cut　off　both　his　hands；　and　stuck　fast　in　the　earth。　　Then　Earl　Eirik　came　up；　and　asked；　〃Who　is　that　handsome　man？〃

He　replies；　〃I　am　called　Sigurd；　and　am　Bue's　son。　　But　are　all　the　Jomsborg　vikings　dead？〃

Eirik　says；　〃Thou　art　certainly　Boe's　son。　　Wilt　thou　now　take　life　and　peace？〃

〃That　depends；〃　says　he；　〃upon　who　it　is　that　offers　it。〃

〃He　offers　who　has　the　power　to　do　it　　Earl　Eirik。〃

〃That　will　I；〃　says　he；　〃from　his　hands。〃　　And　now　the　rope　was　loosened　from　him。

Then　said　Thorkel　Leira；　〃Although　thou　should　give　all　these　men　life　and　peace；　earl；　Vagn　Akason　shall　never　come　from　this　with　life。〃　　And　he　ran　at　him　with　uplifted　axe；　but　the　viking　Skarde　swung　himself　in　the　rope；　and　let　himself　fall　just　before　Thorkel's　feet；　so　that　Thorkel　ell　over　him；　and　Vagn　caught　the　axe　and　gave　Thorkel　a　death…wound。　　Then　said　the　earl；　〃Vagn；　wilt　thou　accept　life？〃

〃That　I　will；〃　says　he；　〃if　you　give　it　to　all　of　us。〃

〃Loose　them　from　the　rope；〃　said　the　earl；　and　it　was　done。　Eighteen　were　killed；　and　twelve　got　their　lives。



47。　DEATH　OF　GISSUR　OF　VALDERS。

Earl　Hakon；　and　many　with　him；　were　sitting　upon　a　piece　of　wood；　and　a　bow…string　twanged　from　Bue's　ship；　and　the　arrow　struck　Gissur　from　Valders；　who　was　sitting　next　the　earl；　and　was　clothed　splendidly。　　Thereupon　the　people　went　on　board；　and　found　Havard　Hoggande　standing　on　his　knees　at　the　ship's　railing；　for　his　feet　had　been　cut　off　（1）；　and　he　had　a　bow　in　his　hand。　　When　they　came　on　board　the　ship　Havard　asked；　〃Who　fell　by　that　shaft？〃

They　answered；　〃A　man　called　Gissur。〃

〃Then　my　luck　was　less　than　I　thought；〃　said　he。

〃Great　enough　was　the　misfortune；〃　replied　they；　〃but　thou　shalt　not　make　it　greater。〃　　And　they　killed　him　on　the　spot。

The　dead　were　then　ransacked；　and　the　booty　brought　all　together　to　be　divided；　and　there　were　twenty…five　ships　of　the　Jomsborg　vikings　in　the　booty。　　So　says　Tind：

　　　　　〃Many　a　viking's　body　lay　　　　　　Dead　on　the　deck　this　bloody　day；　　　　　　Before　they　cut　their　sun…dried　ropes；　　　　　　And　in　quick　flight　put　all　their　hopes。　　　　　　He　whom　the　ravens　know　afar　　　　　　Cleared　five…and…twenty　ships　of　war：　　　　　　A　proof　that　in　the　furious　fight　　　　　　None　can　withstand　the　Norsemen's　might。〃

Then　the　army　dispersed。　　Earl　Hakon　went　to　Throndhjem；　and　was　much　displeased　that　Earl　Eirik　had　given　quarter　to　Vagn　Akason。　It　was　said　that　at　this　battle　Earl　Hakon　had　sacrificed　for　victory　his　son；　young　Erling；　to　the　gods；　and　instantly　came　the　hailstorm；　and　the　defeat　and　slaughter　of　the　Jomsborg　vikings。

Earl　Eirik　went　to　the　Uplands；　and　eastward　by　that　route　to　his　own　kingdom；　　taking　Vagn　Akason　with　him。　　Earl　Eirik　married　Vagn　to　Ingebjorg；　a　daughter　of　Thorkel　Leira；　and　gave　him　a　good　ship　of　war　and　all　belonging　to　it；　and　a　crew；　and　they　parted　the　best　of　friends。　　Then　Vagn　went　home　south　to　Denmark；　and　became　afterwards　a　man　of　great　consideration；　and　many　great　people　are　descended　from　him。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　This　traditionary　tale　of　a　warrior　fighting　on　his　knees　　　　　　after　his　legs　were　cut　off；　appears　to　have　been　a　popular　　　　　　idea　among　the　Northmen；　and　is　related　by　their　descendants　　　　　　in　the　ballad　o　Chevy　Chase。　　L。



48。　KING　HARALD　GRENSKE'S　DEATH。

Harald　Grenske；　as　before　related；　was　king　in　Vestfold；　and　was　married　to　Asta；　a　daughter　of　Gudbrand　Kula。　　One　summer　（A。D。　994）　Harald　Grenske　made　an　expedition　to　the　Baltic　to　gather　property；　and　he　came　to　Svithjod。　　Olaf　the　Swede　was　king　there；　a　son　of　Eirik　the　Victorious；　and　Sigrid；　a　daughter　of　Skoglartoste。　　Sigrid　was　then　a　widow；　and　had　many　and　great　estates　in　Svithjod。　　When　she　heard　that　her　foster…brother　was　come　to　the　country　a　short　distance　from　her；　she　sent　men　to　him　to　invite　him　to　a　feast。　　He　did　not　neglect　the　invitation；　but　came　to　her　with　a　great　attendance　of　his　followers；　and　was　received　in　the　most　friendly　way。　　He　and　the　queen　sat　in　the　high…seat；　and　drank　together　towards　the　evening；　and　all　his　men　were　entertained　in　the　most　hospitable　manner。　　At　night；　when　the　king　went　to　rest；　a　bed　was　put　up　for　him　with　a　hanging　of　fine　linen　around　it；　and　with　costly　bedclothes；　but　in　the　lodging…house　there　were　few　men。　　When　the　king　was　undressed；　and　had　gone　to　bed；　the　queen　came　to　him；　filled　a　bowl　herself　for　him　to　drink；　and　was　very　gay；　and　pressed　to　drink。　　The　king　was　drunk　above　measure；　and；　indeed；　so　were　they　both。　　Then　he　slept；　and　the　queen　went　away；　and　laid　herself　down　also。　　Sigrid　was　a　woman　of　the　greatest　understanding；　and　clever　in　many　things。　　In　the　morning　there　　was　also　the　most　excellent　entertainment；　but　then　it　went　on　as　usual　when　people　have　drunk　too　much；　that　next　day　they　take　care　not　to　exceed。　　The　queen　was　very　gay；　and　she　and　the　king　talked　of　many　things　with　each　other；　among　other　things　she　valued　her　property；　and　the　dominions　she　had　in　Svithjod；　as　nothing　less　than　his　property　in　Norway。　　With　that　observation　the　king　was　nowise　pleased；　and　he　found　no　pleasure　in　anything　after　that；　but　made　himself　ready　for　his　journey　in　an　ill　humor。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　queen　was　remarkably　gay；　and　made　him　many　presents；　and　followed　him　out　to　the　road。　　Now　Harald　returned　about　harvest　to　Norway；　and　was　at　home　all　winter；　but　was　very　silent　and　cast　down。　　In　summer　he　went　once　more　to　the　Baltic　with　his　ships；　and　steered　to　Svithjod。　　He　sent　a　message　to　Queen　Sigrid　that　he　wished　to　have　a　meeting　with　her　and　she　rode　down　to　meet　him。　　They　talked　together　and　he　soon　brought　out　the　proposal　that　she　should　marry　him。　　She　replied；　that　this　was　foolish　talk　for　him；　who　was　so　well　married　already　that　he　might　think　himself　well　off。　Harald　says；　〃Asta　is　a　good　and　clever　woman；　but　she　is　not　so　well　born　as　I　am。〃　Sigrid　replies；　〃It　may　be　that　thou　art　of　higher　birth；　but　I　think　she　is　　now　pregnant　with　both　your　fortunes。〃　　They　exchanged　but　few　words　more　before　the　queen　rode　away。　　King　Harald　was　now　depressed　in　mind；　and　prepared　himself　again　to　ride　up　the　country　to　meet　Queen　Sigrid。　　Many　of　his　people　dissuaded　him；　but　nevertheless　he　set　off　with　a　great　attendance；　and　came　to　the　house　in　which　the　queen　dwelt。　　The　same　evening　came　another　king；　called　Vissavald；　from　Gardarike　（Russia）；　likewise　to　pay　his　addresses　to　Queen　Sigrid。　　Lodging　was　given　to　both　the　kings；　and　to　all　their　people；　in　a　great　old　room　of　an　out…building；　and　all　the　furniture　was　of　the　same　character；　but　there　was　no　want　of　drink　in　the　evening；　and　that　so　strong　that　all　were　drunk；　and　the　watch；　both　inside　and　outside；　fell　fast　asleep。　　Then　Queen　Sigrid　ordered　an　attack　on　them　in　the　night；　both　with　fire　and　sword。　　The　house　was　burnt；　with　all　who　were　in　it　and　those　who　slipped　out　were　put　to　the　sword。　　Sigrid　said　that　she　would　make　these　small　kings　tired　of　coming　to　court　her。　　She　was　afterwards　called　Sigrid　the　Haughty　（Storrada）。



49。　BIRTH　OF　OLAF；　SON　OF　HARALD　GRENSKE。

This　happened　the　winter　after　the　battle　of　the　Jomsborg　vikings　at　Hjorungavag。　　When　Harald　went　up　the　country　after　Sigrid；　he　left　Hrane　behind　with　the　ships　to　look　after　the　men。　　Now　when　Hrane　heard　that　Harald　was　cut　off；　he　returned　to　Norway　the　shortest　way　he　could；　and　told　the　news。　　He　repaired　first　to　Asta；　and　related　to　her　all　that　had　happened　on　the　journey；　and　also　on　what　errand　Harald　had　visited　Queen　Sigrid。　　When　Asta　got　these　tidings　she　set　off　directly