heimskringla-第44章
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〃Our lads； broad…shouldered； tall； and hale； Drew on their cold shirts of ring…mail。 Soon sword on sword was shrilly ringing； And in the air the spears were singing。 Under our helms we hid our hair； For thick flew arrows through the air。 Right glad was I our gallant crew； Steel…clad from head to foot； to view。〃
48。 EARL SVEIN'S FLIGHT。
When the men began to fall on board the earl's ships； and many appeared wounded； so that the sides of the vessels were but thinly beset with men； the crew of King Olaf prepared to board。 Their banner was brought up to the ship that was nearest the earl's； and the king himself followed the banner。 So says Sigvat：
〃‘On with the king！' his banners waving： ‘On with the king！' the spears he's braving！ ‘On； steel…clad men！ and storm the deck； Slippery with blood and strewed with wreck。 A different work ye have to share； His banner in war…storm to bear； From your fair girl's； who round the hall Brings the full mead…bowl to us all。'〃
Now was the severest fighting。 Many of Svein's men fell； and some sprang overboard。 So says Sigvat：
〃Into the ship our brave lads spring； On shield and helm their red blades ring； The air resounds with stroke on stroke； The shields are cleft； the helms are broke。 The wounded bonde o'er the side Falls shrieking in the blood…stained tide The deck is cleared with wild uproar The dead crew float about the shore。〃
And also these lines：
〃The shields we brought from home were white； Now they are red…stained in the fight： This work was fit for those who wore Ringed coats…of…mail their breasts before。 Where for the foe blunted the best sword I saw our young king climb on board。 He stormed the first； we followed him The war…birds now in blood may swim。〃
Now defeat began to come down upon the earl's men。 The king's men pressed upon the earl's ship and entered it； but when the earl saw how it was going； he called out to his forecastle…men to cut the cables and cast the ship loose； which they did。 Then the king's men threw grapplings over the timber heads of the ship； and so held her fast to their own； but the earl ordered the timber heads to be cut away； which was done。 So says Sigvat：
〃The earl； his noble ship to save； To cut the posts loud order gave。 The ship escaped： our greedy eyes Had looked on her as a clear prize。 The earl escaped； but ere he fled We feasted Odin's fowls with dead： With many a goodly corpse that floated Round our ship's stern his birds were bloated。〃
Einar Tambaskelfer had laid his ship right alongside the earl's。 They threw an anchor over the bows of the earl's ship； and thus towed her away； and they slipped out of the fjord together。 Thereafter the whole of the earl's fleet took to flight； and rowed out of the fjord。 The skald Berse Torfason was on the forecastle of the earl's ship； and as it was gliding past the king's fleet； King Olaf called out to him for he knew Berse； who was distinguished as a remarkably handsome man； always well equipped in clothes and arms 〃Farewell； Berse！〃 He replied； 〃Farewell； king！〃 So says Berse himself； in a poem he composed when he fell into King Olaf's power； and was laid in prison and in fetters on board a ship：
〃Olaf the Brave A ‘farewell' gave； （No time was there to parley long；） To me who knows the art of song。 The skald was fain ‘Farewell' again In the same terms back to send The rule in arms to foe or friend。 Earl Svein's distress I well can guess； When flight he was compelled to take： His fortunes I will ne'er forsake； Though I lie here In chains a year； In thy great vessel all forlorn； To crouch to thee I still will scorn： I still will say； No milder sway Than from thy foe this land e'er knew： To him； my early friend； I'm true。〃
49。 EARL SVEIN LEAVES THE COUNTRY。
Now some of the earl's men fled up the country； some surrendered at discretion； but Svein and his followers rowed out of the fjord； and the chiefs laid their vessels together to talk with each other； for the earl wanted counsel from his lendermen。 Erling Skialgson advised that they should sail north； collect people； and fight King Olaf again； but as they had lost many people； the most were of opinion that the earl should leave the country； and repair to his brother…in…law the Swedish King； and strengthen himself there with men。 Einar Tambaskelfer approved also of that advice； as they had no power to hold battle against Olaf。 So they discharged their fleet。 The earl sailed across Folden； and with him Einar Tambaskelfer。 Erling Skialgson again； and likewise many other lendermen who would not abandon their udal possessions； went north to their homes； and Erling had many people that summer about him。
50。 OLAF'S AND SIGURD'S CONSULTATION。
When King Olaf and his men saw that the earl had gathered his ships together； Sigurd Syr was in haste for pursuing the earl； and letting steel decide their cause。 But King Olaf replies； that he would first see what the earl intended doing whether he would keep his force together or discharge his fleet。 Sigurd Syr said； 〃It is for thee； king； to command； but；〃 he adds； 〃I fear； from thy disposition and wilfulness； that thou wilt some day be betrayed by trusting to those great people； for they are accustomed of old to bid defiance to their sovereigns。〃 There was no attack made； for it was soon seen that the earl's fleet was dispersing。 Then King Olaf ransacked the slain； and remained there some days to divide the booty。 At that time Sigvat made these verses：
〃The tale I tell is true To their homes returned but few Of Svein's men who came to meet King Olaf's gallant fleet。 From the North these warmen came To try the bloody game； On the waves their corpses borne Show the game that Sunday morn。 The Throndhjem girls so fair Their jeers； I think； will spare； For the king's force was but small That emptied Throndhjem's hall。 But if they will have their jeer； They may ask their sweethearts dear； Why they have returned shorn Who went to shear that Sunday morn。〃
And also these：
〃Now will the king's power rise； For the Upland men still prize The king who o'er the sea Steers to bloody victory。 Earl Svein！ thou now wilt know That our lads can make blood flow That the Hedemarkers hale Can do more than tap good ale。〃
King Olaf gave his stepfather King Sigurd Syr； and the other chiefs who had assisted him； handsome presents at parting。 He gave Ketil of Ringanes a yacht of fifteen benches of rowers； which Ketil brought up the Raum river and into the Mjosen lake。
51。 OF KING OLAF。
King Olaf sent spies out to trace the earl's doings （A。D。 1015）； and when he found that the earl had left the country he sailed out west； and to Viken； where many people came to him。 At the Thing there he was taken as king； and so he proceeded all the way to the Naze； and when he heard that Erling Skialgson had gathered a large force； he did not tarry in North Agder； but sailed with a steady fair wind to the Throndhjem country； for there it appeared to him was the greatest strength of the land； if he could subdue it for himself while the earl was abroad。 When Olaf came to Throndhjem there was no opposition； and he was elected there to be king。 In harvest （A。D。 1015） he took his seat in the town of Nidaros； and collected the needful winter provision （A。D。 1016）。 He built a king's house； and raised Clement's church on the spot on which it now stands。 He parcelled out building ground； which he gave to bondes； merchants； or others who he thought would build。 There he sat down with many men…at…arms around him； for he put no great confidence in the Throndhjem people； if the earl should return to the country。 The people of the interior of the Throndhjem country showed this clearly； for he got no land…scat from them。
52。 PLAN OF SVEIN AND THE SWEDISH KING。
Earl Svein went first to Svithjod to his brother…in…law Olaf the Swedish king； told him all that had happened between him and Olaf the Thick； and asked his advice about what he should now undertake。 The king said that the earl should stay with him if he liked； and get such a portion of his kingdom to rule over as should seem to him sufficient； 〃or otherwise；〃 says he； 〃I will give thee help of forces to conquer the country again from Olaf。〃 The earl chose the latter； for all those among his men who had great possessions in Norway； which was the case with many who were with him； were anxious to get back； and in the council they held about this； it was resolved that in winter they should take the land…way over Helsingjaland and Jamtaland； and so down into the Throndhjem land； for the earl reckoned most upon the faithful help and strength of the Throndhjem people of the interior as soon as he should appear there。 In the meantime； however； it was determined to take a cruise in summer in the Baltic to gather property。
53。 EARL SVEIN'S DEATH。
Earl Svein went eastward with his forces to Russia； and passed the summer （A。D。 1015） in marauding there； but on the approach of autumn returned with his ships to Svithjod。 There he fell into a sickness； which proved fatal。 After the earl's death some of the people who had followed him remained in Svithjod； others went to Helsingjaland； thence to Jamtaland； and so from the east over the dividing ridge of the country to the Throndhjem district； where they told all that had happened upon their journey： and thus the truth of Earl Svein's death was known （A。D。 1016）。
54。 OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE。
Einar Tambaskelfer； and the people who had followed him went in winter to the Swedish king； and were received in a friendly manner。 There were also among them many who had followed the earl。 The Swedish king took it much amiss that Olaf the Thick had set himself down in his scat…lands； and driven the earl out of them； and therefore he threatened the king with his heaviest vengeance when opportunity offered。 He said that Olaf ought not to have had the presumption to take the dominions which the earl had held of him； and all the Swedish king's men agreed with him。 But the Throndhjem people； when they heard for certain that the earl was dead。 and could not be expected back to Norway； turned all to obedience to King Olaf。 Many came from the interior of the Throndhjem country； and became King Olaf's men； others sent word and tokens that they would service him。 Then； in autumn； he went into the interior of Throndhjem； and held Things with the bondes； and was received as king in each district。 He returned to Nidaros； and brought there all the king's scat and revenue； and had his winter…seat provided there （A。D。 1016）。
55。 OF KING OLAF'S HOUSEHOLD。
King Olaf built a king's house in Nidaros； and in it was a large room for his court； with doors at both ends。 The king's high… seat was in the middle of the room； and wi
