heimskringla-第47章
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and his troop； and overtook them among the Swedish isles on the coast； and gave battle。 There Thorgaut and the most of his men were killed； and the rest sprang overboard。 Eyvind took all the goods and all the costly articles of King Olaf which they had captured from Gudleik； and went with these back to Norway in autumn； and delivered to King Olaf his precious wares。 The king thanked him in the most friendly way for his proceeding； and promised him anew his favour and friendship。 At this time Olaf had been three years king over Norway （A。D。 1015…1017）。
65。 MEETING OF OLAF AND RAGNVALD。
The same summer （A。D。 1017） King Olaf ordered a levy； and went out eastwards to the Gaut river； where he lay a great part of the summer。 Messages were passing between King Olaf； Earl Ragnvald； and the earl's wife； Ingebjorg； the daughter of Trygve。 She was very zealous about giving King Olaf of Norway every kind of help； and made it a matter of her deepest interest。 For this there were two causes。 She had a great friendship for King Olaf； and also she could never forget that the Swedish king had been one at the death of her brother； Olaf Trygvason； and also that he； on that account only； had any presence to rule over Norway。 The earl； by her persuasion； turned much towards friendship with King Olaf； and it proceeded so far that the earl and the king appointed a meeting； and met at the Gaut river。 They talked together of many things； but especially of the Norwegian and Swedish kings' relations with each other； both agreeing； as was the truth also； that it was the greatest loss； both to the people of Viken and of Gautland； that there was no peace for trade between the two countries； and at last both agreed upon a peace； and still…stand of arms between them until next summer； and they parted with mutual gifts and friendly speeches。
66。 KING OLAF THE SWEDE。
The king thereupon returned north to Viken； and had all the royal revenues up to the Gaut river； and all the people of the country there had submitted to him。 King Olaf the Swede had so great a hatred of Olaf Haraldson； that no man dared to call him by his right name in the king's hearing。 They called him the thick man； and never named him without some hard by…name。
67。 ACCOUNT OF THEIR RECONCILIATION。
The bondes in Viken spoke with each other about there being nothing for it but that the kings should make peace and a league with each other； and insisted upon it that they were badly used by the kings going to war； but nobody was so bold as to bring these murmurs before the king。 At last they begged Bjorn the marshal to bring this matter before the king； and entreat him to send messengers to the Swedish king to offer peace on his side。 Bjorn was disinclined to do this； and put it off from himself with excuses； but on the entreaties of many of his friends； he promised at last to speak of it to the king； but declared； at the same time； that he knew it would be taken very ill by the king to propose that he should give way in anything to the Swedish king。 The same summer （A。D。 1017） Hjalte Skeggjason came over to Norway from Iceland； according to the message sent him by King Olaf； and went directly to the king。 He was well received by the king； who told him to lodge in his house； and gave him a seat beside Bjorn the marshal； and Hjalte became his comrade at table。 There was good…fellowship immediately between them。
Once； when King Olaf had assembled the people and bondes to consult upon the good of the country； Bjorn the marshal said； 〃What think you； king； of the strife that is between the Swedish king and you？ Many people have fallen on both sides； without its being at all more determined than before what each of you shall have of the kingdom。 You have now been sitting in Viken one winter and two summers； and the whole country to the north is lying behind your back unseen； and the men who have property or udal rights in the north are weary of sitting here。 Now it is the wish of the lendermen； of your other people； and of the bondes that this should come to an end。 There is now a truce； agreement； and peace with the earl； and the West Gautland people who are nearest to us； and it appears to the people it would be best that you sent messengers to the Swedish king to offer a reconciliation on your side； and； without doubt； many who are about the Swedish king will support the proposal； for it is a common gain for those who dwell in both countries； both here and there。〃 This speech of Bjorn's received great applause。
Then the king said； 〃It is fair； Bjorn； that the advice thou hast given should be carried out by thyself。 Thou shalt undertake this embassy thyself； and enjoy the good of it； if thou hast advised well； and if it involve any man in danger； thou hast involved thyself in it。 Moreover； it belongs to thy office to declare to the multitude what I wish to have told。〃 Then the king stood up； went to the church； and had high mass sung before him； and thereafter went to table。
The following day Hjalte said to Bjorn； 〃Why art thou so melancholy； man？ Art thou sick； or art thou angry at any one？〃 Bjorn tells Hjalte his conversation with the king； and says it is a very dangerous errand。
Hjalte says； 〃It is their lot who follow kings that they enjoy high honours； and are more respected than other men； but stand often in danger of their lives： and they must understand how to bear both parts of their lot。 The king's luck is great； and much honour will be gained by this business； if it succeed。〃
Bjorn answered； 〃Since thou makest so light of this business in thy speech； wilt thou go with me？ The king has promised that I shall have companions with me on the journey。〃
〃Certainly；〃 says Hjalte； 〃I will follow thee； if thou wilt： for never again shall I fall in with such a comrade if we part。〃
68。 JOURNEY OF BJORN THE MARSHAL。
A few days afterwards。 when the king was at a Thing…meeting； Bjorn came with eleven others。 He says to the king that they were now ready to proceed on their mission； and that their horses stood saddled at the door。 〃And now；〃 says he； 〃I would know with what errand I am to go； or what orders thou givest us。〃
The king replies； 〃Ye shall carry these my words to the Swedish king that I will establish peace between our countries up to the frontier which Olaf Trygvason had before me； and each shall bind himself faithfully not to trespass over it。 But with regard to the loss of people； no man must mention it if peace there is to be； for the Swedish king cannot with money pay for the men the Swedes have deprived us of。〃 Thereupon the king rose； and went out with Bjorn and his followers； and he took a gold…mounted sword and a gold ring； and said； in handing over the sword to Bjorn； 〃This I give thee： it was given to me in summer by Earl Ragnvald。 To him ye shall go； and bring him word from me to advance your errand with his counsel and strength。 This thy errand I will think well fulfilled if thou hearest the Swedish king's own words； be they yea or nay： and this gold ring thou shalt give Earl Ragnvald。 These are tokens （1） he must know well。〃
Hjalte went up to the king； saluted him； and said； 〃We need much； king； that thy luck attend us；〃 and wished that they might meet again in good health。
The king asked where Hjalte was going。
〃With Bjorn；〃 said he。
The king said； 〃It will assist much to the good success of the journey that thou goest too； for thy good fortune has often been proved； and be assured that I shall wish that all my luck； if that be of any weight； may attend thee and thy company。〃
Bjorn and his followers rode their way； and came to Earl Ragnvald's court； where they were well received。 Bjorn was a celebrated and generally known man； known by sight and speech to all who had ever seen King Olaf； for at every Thing； Bjorn stood up and told the king's message。 Ingebjorg； the earl's wife； went up to Hjalte and looked at him。 She recognized him； for she was living with her brother Olaf Trygvason when Hjalte was there： and she knew how to reckon up the relationship between King Olaf and Vilborg； the wife of Hjalte； for Eirik Bjodaskalle father of Astrid； King Olaf Trygvason's mother； and Bodvar father of Olaf； mother of Gissur White the father of Vilborg； were brother's sons of the lenderman Vikingakare of Vors。
They enjoyed here good entertainment。 One day Bjorn entered into conversation with the earl and Ingebjorg； in which he set forth his errand； and produced to the earl his tokens。
The earl replies； 〃What hast thou done； Bjorn； that the king wishes thy death？ For； so far from thy errand having any success； I do not think a man can be found who could speak these words to the Swedish king without incurring wrath and punishment。 King Olaf； king of Sweden； is too proud for any man to speak to him on anything he is angry at。〃
Then Bjorn says； 〃Nothing has happened to me that King Olaf is offended at； but many of his disposition act both for themselves and others； in a way that only men who are daring can succeed in。 But as yet all his plans have had good success； and I think this will turn out well too； so I assure you； earl； that I will actually travel to the Swedish king； and not turn back before I have brought to his ears every word that King Olaf told me to say to him； unless death prevent me； or that I am in bonds； and cannot perform my errand； and this I must do； whether you give any aid or no aid to me in fulfilling the king's wishes。〃
Then said IngebJorg； 〃I will soon declare my opinion。 I think； earl； thou must turn all thy attention to supporting King Olaf the king of Norway's desire that this message be laid before the Swedish king； in whatever way he may answer it。 Although the Swedish king's anger should be incurred； and our power and property be at stake； yet will I rather run the risk； than that it should be said the message of King Olaf was neglected from fear of the Swedish king。 Thou hast that birth； strength of relations； and other means； that here in the Swedish land it is free to thee to tell thy mind； if it be right and worthy of being heard； whether it be listened to by few or many； great or little people； or by the king himself。〃
The earl replies； 〃It is known to every one how thou urgest me： it may be； according to thy counsel； that I should promise the king's men to follow them； so that they may get their errand laid before the Swedish king； whether he take it ill or take it well。 But I will have my own counsel followed； and will not run hastily into Bjorn's or any other man's measures； in such a highly important matter。 It is my will that ye all remain here with me； so long as I think it necessary for the purpose of rightly forwarding this mission。〃 Now as the earl had thus given them to understand that he would support them in the business； Bjorn thanked him most kindly； and with the assurance that his advice should rule them altogether。 Thereafter Bjorn and his fellow… travellers remained very long in the earl's house。
ENDNOTES： （1） Before writing was a common accomplishment in courts； the only way of accrediting a special messenger between kings and great men was by giving the messenger a token； that is。 some article well kno
