heimskringla-第35章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　from　King　Olaf's　fleet；　　　　　　And　basely　fled；　the　Danes　to　meet。〃

It　is　said　here　that　King　Olaf　and　Earl　Sigvalde　had　seventy　sail　of　vessels：　and　one　more；　when　they　sailed　from　the　south。



111。　CONSULTATION　OF　THE　KINGS。

The　Danish　King　Svein；　the　Swedish　King　Olaf；　and　Earl　Eirik；　were　there　with　all　their　forces　（1000）。　　The　weather　being　fine　and　clear　sunshine；　all　these　chiefs；　with　a　great　suite；　went　out　on　the　isle　to　see　the　vessels　sailing　out　at　sea；　and　many　of　them　crowded　together；　and　they　saw　among　them　one　large　and　glancing　ship。　　The　two　kings　said；　〃That　is　a　large　and　very　beautiful　vessel：　that　will　be　the　Long　Serpent。〃

Earl　Eirik　replied；　〃That　is　not　the　Long　Serpent。〃　　And　he　was　right；　for　it　was　the　ship　belonging　to　Eindride　of　Gimsar。

Soon　after　they　saw　another　vessel　coming　sailing　along　much　larger　than　the　first；　then　says　King　Svein；　〃Olaf　Trygvason　must　be　afraid；　for　he　does　not　venture　to　sail　with　the　figure…head　of　the　dragon　upon　his　ship。〃

Says　Earl　Eirik；　〃That　is　not　the　king's　ship　yet；　for　I　know　that　ship　by　the　coloured　stripes　of　cloth　in　her　sail。　　That　is　Erling　Skialgson's。　　Let　him　sail；　for　it　is　the　better　for　us　that　the　ship　is　away　from　Olaf's　fleet；　so　well　equipt　as　she　is。〃

Soon　after　they　saw　and　knew　Earl　Sigvalde's　ships；　which　turned　in　and　laid　themselves　under　the　island。　　Then　they　saw　three　ships　coming　along　under　sail；　and　one　of　them　very　large。　　King　Svein　ordered　his　men　to　go　to　their　ships；　〃for　there　comes　the　Long　Serpent。〃

Earl　Eirik　says；　〃Many　other　great　and　stately　vessels　have　they　besides　the　Long　Serpent。　　Let　us　wait　a　little。〃

Then　said　many；　〃Earl　Eirik　will　not　fight　and　avenge　his　father；　and　it　is　a　great　shame　that　it　should　be　told　that　we　lay　here　with　so　great　a　force；　and　allowed　King　Olaf　to　sail　out　to　sea　before　our　eyes。〃

But　when　they　had　spoken　thus　for　a　short　time；　they　saw　four　ships　coming　sailing　along；　of　which　one　had　a　large　dragon…head　richly　gilt。　　Then　King　Svein　stood　up　and　said；　〃That　dragon　shall　carry　me　this　evening　high；　for　I　shall　steer　it。〃

Then　said　many；　〃The　Long　Serpent　is　indeed　a　wonderfully　large　and　beautiful　vessel；　and　it　shows　a　great　mind　to　have　built　such　a　ship。〃

Earl　Eirik　said　so　loud　that　several　persons　heard　him；　〃If　King　Olaf　had　no　ether　vessels　but　only　that　one；　King　Svein　would　never　take　it　from　him　with　the　Danish　force　alone。〃

Thereafter　all　the　people　rushed　on　board　their　ships；　took　down　the　tents；　and　in　all　haste　made　ready　for　battle。

While　the　chiefs　were　speaking　among　themselves　as　above　related；　they　saw　three　very　large　ships　coming　sailing　along；　and　at　last　after　them　a　fourth；　and　that　was　the　Long　Serpent。　　Of　the　large　ships　which　had　gone　before；　and　which　they　had　taken　for　the　Long　Serpent；　the　first　was　the　Crane；　the　one　after　that　was　the　Short　Serpent；　and　when　they　really；　saw　the　Long　Serpent；　all　knew；　and　nobody　had　a　word　to　say　against　it；　that　it　must　be　Olaf　Trygvason　who　was　sailing　in　such　a　vessel；　and　they　went　to　their　ships　to　arm　for　the　fight。

An　agreement　had　been　concluded　among　the　chiefs；　King　Svein；　King　Olaf　the　Swede；　and　Earl　Eirik；　that　they　should　divide　Norway　among　them　in　three　parts；　in　case　they　succeeded　against　Olaf　Trygvason；　but　that　he　of　the　chiefs　who　should　first　board　the　Serpent　should　have　her；　and　all　the　booty　found　in　her；　and　each　should　have　the　ships　he　cleared　for　himself。　　Earl　Eirik　had　a　large　ship　of　war　which　he　used　upon　his　viking　expeditions；　and　there　was　an　iron　beard　or　comb　above　on　both　sides　of　the　stem；　and　below　it　a　thick　iron　plate　as　broad　as　the　combs；　which　went　down　quite　to　the　gunnel。



112。　OF　KING　OLAF'S　PEOPLE。

When　Earl　Sigvalde　with　his　vessels　rowed　in　under　the　island；　Thorkel　Dydril　of　the　Crane；　and　the　other　ship　commanders　who　sailed　with　him；　saw　that　he　turned　his　ships　towards　the　isle；　and　thereupon　let　fall　the　sails；　and　rowed　after　him；　calling　out；　and　asking　why　he　sailed　that　way。　　The　Earl　answered；　that　he　was　waiting　for　king　Olaf；　as　he　feared　there　were　enemies　in　the　water。　　They　lay　upon　their　oars　until　Thorkel　Nefia　came　up　with　the　Short　Serpent　and　the　three　ships　which　followed　him。　When　they　told　them　the　same　they　too　struck　sail；　and　let　the　ships　drive；　waiting　for　king　Olaf。　　But　when　the　king　sailed　in　towards　the　isle；　the　whole　enemies'　fleet　came　rowing　within　them　out　to　the　Sound。　　When　they　saw　this　they　begged　the　king　to　hold　on　his　way；　and　not　risk　battle　with　so　great　a　force。　The　king　replied；　high　on　the　quarter…deck　where　he　stood；　〃Strike　the　sails；　never　shall　men　of　mine　think　of　flight。　　I　never　fled　from　battle。　　Let　God　dispose　of　my　life；　but　flight　I　shall　never　take。〃　　It　was　done　as　the　king　commanded。　　Halfred　tells　of　it　thus：　

　　　　　〃And　far　and　wide　the　saying　bold　　　　　　Of　the　brave　warrior　shall　be　told。　　　　　　The　king；　in　many　a　fray　well　tried；　　　　　　To　his　brave　champions　round　him　cried；　　　　　　‘My　men　shall　never　learn　from　me　　　　　　From　the　dark　weapon…cloud　to　flee。'　　　　　　Nor　were　the　brave　words　spoken　then　　　　　　Forgotten　by　his　faithful　men。〃



113。　OLAF'S　SHIPS　PREPARED　FOR　BATTLE。

King　Olaf　ordered　the　war…horns　to　sound　for　all　his　ships　to　close　up　to　each　other。　　The　king's　ship　lay　in　the　middle　of　the　line；　and　on　one　side　lay　the　Little　Serpent；　and　on　the　other　the　Crane；　and　as　they　made　fast　the　stems　together　（1）；　the　Long　Serpent's　stem　and　the　short　Serpent's　were　made　fast　together；　but　when　the　king　saw　it　he　called　out　to　his　men；　and　ordered　them　to　lay　the　larger　ship　more　in　advance；　so　that　its　stern　should　not　lie　so　far　behind　in　the　fleet。

Then　says　Ulf　the　Red；　〃If　the　Long　Serpent　is　to　lie　as　much　more　ahead　of　the　other　ships　as　she　is　longer　than　them；　we　shall　have　hard　work　of　it　here　on　the　forecastle。〃

The　king　replies；　〃I　did　not　think　I　had　a　forecastle　man　afraid　as　well　as　red。〃

Says　Ulf；　〃Defend　thou　the　quarterdeck　as　I　shall　the　forecastle。〃

The　king　had　a　bow　in　his　hands；　and　laid　an　arrow　on　the　string；　and　aimed　at　Ulf。

Ulf　said；　〃Shoot　another　way；　king；　where　it　is　more　needful：　my　work　is　thy　gain。〃


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　The　mode　of　fighting　in　sea　battles　appears；　from　this　and　　　　　　many　other　descriptions；　to　have　been　for　each　party　to　bind　　　　　　together　the　stems　and　sterns　of　their　own　ships；　forming　　　　　　them　thus　into　a　compact　body　as　soon　aa　the　fleets　came　　　　　　within　fighting　distance；　or　within　spears'　throw。　　They　　　　　　appear　to　have　fought　principally　from　the　forecastles；　and　　　　　　to　have　used　grappling　irons　for　dragging　a　vessel　out　of　　　　　　the　line；　or　within　boarding　distance。　　L。



114。　OF　KING　OLAF。

King　Olaf　stood　on　the　Serpent's　quarterdeck；　high　over　the　others。　　He　had　a　gilt　shield；　and　a　helmet　inlaid　with　gold；　over　his　armour　he　had　a　short　red　coat；　and　was　easy　to　be　distinguished　from　other　men。　　When　King　Olaf　saw　that　the　scattered　forces　of　the　enemy　gathered　themselves　together　under　the　banners　of　their　ships；　he　asked；　〃Who　is　the　chief　of　the　force　right　opposite　to　us？〃

He　was　answered；　that　it　was　King　Svein　with　the　Danish　army。

The　king　replies；　〃We　are　not　afraid　of　these　soft　Danes；　for　there　is　no　bravery　in　them；　but　who　are　the　troops　on　the　right　of　the　Danes？〃

He　was　answered；　that　it　was　King　Olaf　with　the　Swedish　forces。

〃Better　it　were；〃　says　King　Olaf；　〃for　these　Swedes　to　be　sitting　at　home　killing　their　sacrifices；　than　to　be　venturing　under　our　weapons　from　the　Long　Serpent。　　But　who　owns　the　large　ships　on　the　larboard　side　of　the　Danes？〃

〃That　is　Earl　Eirik　Hakonson；〃　say　they。

The　king　replies；　〃He；　methinks；　has　good　reason　for　meeting　us；　and　we　may　expect　the　sharpest　conflict　with　these　men；　for　they　are　Norsemen　like　ourselves。〃



115。　THE　BATTLE　BEGINS。

The　kings　now　laid　out　their　oars；　and　prepared　to　attack　（A。D。　1000）。　　King　Svein　laid　his　ship　against　the　Long　Serpent。　　Outside　of　him　Olaf　the　Swede　laid　himself；　and　set　his　ship's　stern　against　the　outermost　ship　of　King　Olaf's　line；　and　on　the　other　side　lay　Earl　Eirik。　　Then　a　hard　combat　began。　　Earl　Sigvalde　held　back　with　the　oars　on　his　ships；　and　did　not　join　the　fray。　　So　says　Skule　Thorsteinson；　who　at　that　time　was　with　Earl　Eirik：　

　　　　　〃I　followed　Sigvalde　in　my　youth；　　　　　　And　gallant　Eirik；　and　in　truth　　　　　　The'　now　I　am　grown　stiff　and　old；　　　　　　In　the　spear…song　I　once　was　bold。　　　　　　Where　arrows　whistled　on　the　shore　　　　　　Of　Svold　fjord　my　shield　I　bore；　　　　　　And　stood　amidst　the　loudest　clash　　　　　　When　swords　on　shields　made　fearful　crash。〃

And　Halfred　also　sings　thus：　

　　　　　〃In　truth　I　think　the　gallant　king；　　　　　　Midst　such　a　foemen's　gathering；　　　　　　Would　be　the　better　of　some　score　　　　　　Of　his　tight　Throndhjem　lads；　or　more；　　　　　　For　many　a　chief　has　run　away；　　　　　　And　left　our　brave　king　in　the　fray；　　　　　　Two　great　kings'　power　to　withstand；　　　　　　And　one　great　earl's；　with　his　small　band；　　　　　　The　king　who　dares　such　mighty　deed　　　　　　A　hero　for　his　skald　would　need。〃



116。　FLIGHT　OF　SVEIN　AND　OLAF　THE　SWEDE。

This　battle　was　one　of　the　severest　told　of；　and　many　were　the　people　slain。　　The　forecastle　men　of　the　Long　Serpent；　the　Little　Serpent；　and　the　Crane；　threw　grapplings　and　stem　chains　into　King　Svein's　ship；　and　used　their　weapons　well　against　the　people　standing　below　them；　for　they　cleared　the　decks　of　all　the　ships　they　could　lay　fast　hold　of；　and　King　Svein；　and　all　the　men　who　escaped；　fled　to　other　vessels；　and　laid　themselves　out　of　bow…shot。　　It　went　with　this　force　just　as　King　Olaf　Trygvason　had　foreseen。　　Then　King　Olaf　the　Swede　laid　himself　in　their　place；　but　when　he　came　near　the　great　ships　it　went　with　him　as　with　them；　for　he　lost　many　men　and　some　ships；　and　was　obliged　to　get　away。　　But　Earl　Eirik　laid　his　ship　side　by　side　with　the　outermost　of　King　Olaf's　ships；　thinned　it　of　men；　cut　the　cables；　and　let　it　drive。　　Then　he　laid　alongside　of　the　next；　and　fought　until　he　had　cleared　it　of　men　also。　　Now　all　the　people　who　were　in　the　smaller　ships　began　to　run　into　the　larger；　and　the　earl　cut　them　loose　as　fast　as　he　cleared　them　of　men。　　The　Danes　and　Swedes　laid　themselves　now　out　of　shooting　distance　all　around　Olaf's　ship；　but　Earl　Eirik　lay　always　close　alongside　of　the　ships；　and　used　hid　swords　and　battle…axes；　and　as　fast　as　people　fell　in　his　vessel　others；　Danes　and　Swedes；　came　in　their　place。　　So　says　Haldor；　the　Unchristian：　

　　　　　〃Sharp　was　the　clang　of　shield　and　sword；　　　　　　And　shrill　the　song　of　spears　on　board；　　　　　　And　whistling　arrows　thickly　flew　　　　　　Against　the　Serpent's　gallant　crew。　　　　　　And　still　fresh　foemen；　it　is　said；　　　　　　Earl　Eirik　to　her　long　side　led；　　　　　　Whole　armies　of　his　Danes　and　Swedes；　　　　　　Wielding　on　high　their　blue　sword…blades。〃

Then　the　fight　became　most　severe；　and　many　people　fell。　　But　at　last　it　came　to　this；　that　all　King　Olaf　Trygvason's　ships　were　cleared　of　men　except　the　Long　Serpent；　on　board　of　which　all　who　could　still　carry　their　arms　were　gathered。　　Then　Earl　Eirik　lay　with　his　ship　by　the　side　of　the　Serpent；　and　the　fight　went　on　with　battle…axe　and　sword。　　So　says　Haldor：　

　　　　　〃Hard　pressed　on　every　side　by