heimskringla-第34章
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it a priest and other teachers； with whom he went to Brattahild to lodge with his father Eirik。 People called him afterwards Leif the Lucky： but his father Eirik said that his luck and ill luck balanced each other； for if Leif had saved a wreck in the ocean； he had brought a hurtful person with him to Greenland； and that was the priest。
105。 RAGNVALD SENDS MESSENGERS TO OLAF。
The winter after King Olaf had baptized Halogaland； he and Queen Thyre were in Nidaros； and the summer before Queen Thyre had brought King Olaf a boy child； which was both stout and promising； and was called Harald； after its mother's father。 The king and queen loved the infant exceedingly； and rejoiced in the hope that it would grow up and inherit after its father； but it lived barely a year after its birth； which both took much to heart。 In that winter were many Icelanders and other clever men in King Olaf's house； as before related。 His sister Ingebjorg； Trygve's daughter； King Olaf's sister； was also at the court at that time。 She was beautiful in appearance； modest and frank with the people； had a steady manly judgment； and was beloved of all。 She was very fond of the Icelanders who were there； but most of Kjartan Olafson； for he had been longer than the others in the king's house； and he found it always amusing to converse with her； for she had both understanding and cleverness in talk。 The king was always gay and full of mirth in his intercourse with people； and often asked about the manners of the great men and chiefs in the neighbouring countries； when strangers from Denmark or Sweden came to see him。 The summer before Halfred Vandredaskald had come from Gautland； where he had been with Earl Ragnvald； Ulf's son； who had lately come to the government of West Gautland。 Ulf； Ragnvald's father； was a brother of Sigurd the Haughty； so that King Olaf the Swede and Earl Ragnvald were brother's and sister's children。 Halfred told Olaf many things about the earl： he said he was an able chief； excellently fitted for governing； generous with money； brave and steady in friendship。 Halfred said also the earl desired much the friendship of King Olaf； and had spoken of making court Ingebjorg； Trygve's daughter。 The same winter came ambassadors from Gautland； and fell in with King Olaf in the north； in Nidaros； and brought the message which Halfred had spoken of； that the earl desired to be King Olaf's entire friend； and wished to become his brother…in…law by obtaining his sister Ingebjorg in marriage。 Therewith the ambassadors laid before the king sufficient tokens in proof that in reality they came from the earl on this errand。 The king listened with approbation to their speech； but said that Ingebjorg must determine on his assent to the marriage。 The king then talked to his sister about the matter； and asked her opinion about it。 She answered to this effect； 〃I have been with you for some time； and you have shown brotherly care and tender respect for me ever since you came to the country。 I will agree therefore to your proposal about my marriage； provided that you do not marry me to a heathen man。〃 The king said it should be as she wished。 The king then spoke to the ambassadors； and it was settled before they departed that in summer Earl Ragnvald should meet the king in the east parts of the country； to enter into the fullest friendship with each other； and when they met they would settle about the marriage。 With this reply the earl's messengers went westward； and King Olaf remained all winter in Nidaros in great splendour； and with many people about him。
106。 OLAF SENDS EXPEDITION TO VINDLAND。
King Olaf proceeded in summer with his ships and men southwards along the land （and past Stad。 With him were Queen Thyre and Ingebjorg； Trygveis daughter； the king's sister）。 Many of his friends also joined him； and other persons of consequence who had prepared themselves to travel with the king。 The first man among these was his brother…in…law； Erling Skjalgson； who had with him a large ship of thirty benches of rowers； and which was in every respect well equipt。 His brothers…in…law Hyrning and Thorgeir also joined him； each of whom for himself steered a large vessel； and many other powerful men besides followed him。 （With all this war…force he sailed southwards along the land； but when he came south as far as Rogaland he stopped there； for Erling Skjalgson had prepared for him a splendid feast at Sole。 There Earl Ragnvald； Ulf's son； from Gautland； came to meet the king； and to settle the business which had been proposed ；n winter in the messages between them； namely； the marriage with Ingebjorg the king's sister。 Olaf received him kindly； and when the matter came to be spoken of； the king said he would keep his word； and marry his sister Ingebjorg to him； provided he would accept the true faith； and make all his subjects he ruled over in his land be baptized； The earl agreed to this； and he and all his followers were baptized。 Now was the feast enlarged that Erling had prepared； for the earl held his wedding there with Ingebjorg the king's sister。 King Olaf had now married off all his sisters。 The earl； with Ingebjorg； set out on his way home； and the king sent learned men with him to baptize the people in Gautland； and to teach them the right faith and morals。 The king and the earl parted in the greatest friendship。）
107。 OLAF'S EXPEDITION VINDLAND。
（After his sister Ingebjorg's wedding； the king made ready in all haste to leave the country with his army； which was both great and made up of fine men。） When he left the land and sailed southwards he had sixty ships of war； with which he sailed past Denmark； and in through the Sound； and on to Vindland。 He appointed a meeting with King Burizleif； and when the kings met； they spoke about the property which King Olaf demanded； and the conference went off peaceably； as a good account was given of the properties which King Olaf thought himself entitled to there。 He passed here much of the summer； and found many of his old friends。
108。 CONSPIRACY AGAINST KING OLAF。
The Danish king； Svein Tjuguskeg； was married； as before related； to Sigrid the Haughty。 Sigrid was King Olaf Trygvason's greatest enemy； the cause of which； as before said； was that King Olaf had broken off with her； and had struck her in the face。 She urged King Svein much to give battle to King Olaf Trygvason； saying that he had reason enough； as Olaf had married his sister Thyre without his leave； 〃and that your predecessors would not have submitted to。〃 Such persuasions Sigrid had often in her mouth； and at last she brought it so far that Svein resolved firmly on doing so。 Early in spring King Svein sent messengers eastward into Svithjod； to his son…in…law Olaf； the Swedish king； and to Earl Eirik； and informed them that King Olaf of Norway was levying men for an expedition； and intended in summer to go to Vindland。 To this news the Danish king added an invitation to the Swedish king and Earl Eirik to meet King Svein with an army； so that all together they might make an attack； on King Olaf Trygvason。 The Swedish king and Earl Eirik were ready enough for this； and immediately assembled a great fleet and an army through all Svithjod； with which they sailed southwards to Denmark； and arrived there after King Olaf Trygvason had sailed to the eastward。 Haldor the Unchristian tells of this in his lay on Earl Eirik：
〃The king…subduer raised a host Of warriors on the Swedish coast。 The brave went southwards to the fight； Who love the sword…storm's gleaming light； The brave； who fill the wild wolf's mouth； Followed bold Eirik to the south； The brave； who sport in blood each one With the bold earl to sea is gone。〃
The Swedish king and Earl Eirik sailed to meet the Danish king； and they had all； when together； an immense force。
109。 EARL SIGVALDE'S TREACHEROUS PLANS。
At the same time that king Svein sent a message to Svithjod for an army； he sent Earl Sigvalde to Vindland to spy out King Olaf Trygvason's proceedings； and to bring it about by cunning devices that King Svein and King Olaf should fall in with each other。 So Sigvalde sets out to go to Vindland。 First； he came to Jomsborg； and then he sought out King Olaf Trygvason。 There was much friendship in their conversation； and the earl got himself into great favour with the king。 Astrid； the Earl's wife； King Burizleif's daughter； was a great friend of King Olaf Trygvason； particularly on account of the connection which had been between them when Olaf was married to her sister Geira。 Earl Sigvalde was a prudent； ready…minded man； and as he had got a voice in King Olaf's council； he put him off much from sailing homewards； finding various reasons for delay。 Olaf's people were in the highest degree dissatisfied with this； for the men were anxious to get home； and they lay ready to sail； waiting only for a wind。 At last Earl Sigvalde got a secret message from Denmark that the Swedish king's army was arrived from the east； and that Earl Eirik's also was ready； and that all these chiefs had resolved to sail eastwards to Vindland； and wait for King Olaf at an island which is called Svold。 They also desired the earl to contrive matters so that they should meet King Olaf there。
110。 KING OLAF'S VOYAGE FROM VINDLAND。
There came first a flying report to Vindland that the Danish king； Svein； had fitted out an army； and it was soon whispered that he intended to attack King Olaf。 But Earl Sigvalde says to King Olaf； 〃It never can be King Svein's intention to venture with the Danish force alone； to give battle to thee with such a powerful army； but if thou hast any suspicion that evil is on foot； I will follow thee with my force （at that time it was considered a great matter to have Jomsborg vikings with an army）； and I will give thee eleven well…manned ships。〃 The king accepted this offer； and as the light breeze of wind that came was favourable； he ordered the ships to get under weigh； and the war…horns to sound the departure。 The sails were hoisted and all the small vessels； sailing fastest； got out to sea before the others。 The earl； who sailed nearest to the king's ship； called to those on board to tell the king to sail in his keel…track： 〃For I know where the water is deepest between the islands and in the sounds； and these large ships require the deepest。〃 Then the earl sailed first with his eleven ships； and the king followed with his large ships； also eleven in number； but the whole of the rest of the fleet sailed out to sea。 Now when Earl Sigvalde came sailing close under the island Svold； a skiff rowed out to inform the earl that the Danish king's army was lying in the harbour before them。 Then the earl ordered the sails of his vessels to be struck； and they rowed in under the island。 Haldor the Unchristian says：
〃From out the south bold Trygve's son With one…and…seventy ships came on； To dye his sword in bloody fight； Against the Danish foeman's might。 But the false earl the king betrayed； And treacherous Sigvalde； it is said； Deserted from King Olaf's fleet； And basely fled； the Danes to meet。〃
It is said here that King Ola
