heimskringla-第57章

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Thorvid　the　Stammerer　said；　〃I　remain　behind。　　Let　Jacob；　your　son；　go　with　them；　for　that　is　necessary。〃

Then　said　Freyvid；　〃Let　us　do　as　Thorvid　says：　he　will　not　leave　you；　and　I　and　Arnvid　must　travel。〃

This　counsel　was　followed。　　Olaf　went　to　his　ships；　and　set　out　into　the　Maelar　lake；　and　many　people　came　to　him。　　The　brothers　Arnvid　and　Freyvid　rode　out　to　Ullaraker；　and　had　with　them　the　king's　son　Jacob；　but　they　kept　it　a　secret　that　he　was　there。　The　brothers　observed　that　there　was　a　great　concourse　and　war…　gathering；　for　the　bondes　held　the　Thing　night　and　day。　　When　Arnvid　and　Freyvid　met　their　relations　and　friends；　they　said　they　would　join　with　the　people；　and　many　agreed　to　leave　the　management　of　the　business　in　the　hands　of　the　brothers。　　But　all；　as　one　man；　declared　they　would　no　longer　have　King　Olaf　over　them；　and　no　longer　suffer　his　unlawful　proceedings；　and　over…weening　pride　which　would　not　listen　to　any　man's　remonstrances；　even　when　the　great　chiefs　spoke　the　truth　to　him。　When　Freyvid　observed　the　heat　of　the　people；　he　saw　in　what　a　bad　situation　the　king's　cause　was。　　He　summoned　the　chiefs　of　the　land　to　a　meeting　with　him　and　addressed　them　thus：　　〃It　appears　to　me；　that　if　we　are　to　depose　Olaf　Eirikson　from　his　kingdom；　we　Swedes　of　the　Uplands　should　be　the　leading　men　in　it：　for　so　it　has　always　been；　that　the　counsel　which　the　Upland　chiefs　have　resolved　among　themselves　has　always　been　followed　by　the　men　of　the　rest　of　the　country。　　Our　forefathers　did　not　need　to　take　advice　from　the　West　Gautlanders　about　the　government　of　the　Swedes。　　Now　we　will　not　be　so　degenerate　as　to　need　Emund　to　give　us　counsel；　but　let　us；　friends　and　relations；　unite　ourselves　for　the　purpose　of　coming　to　a　determination。〃　All　agreed　to　this；　and　thought　it　was　well　said。　　Thereafter　the　people　joined　this　union　which　the　Upland　chiefs　made　among　themselves；　and　Freyvid　and　Arnvid　were　chiefs　of　the　whole　assemblage。　　When　Emund　heard　this　he　suspected　how　the　matter　would　end；　and　went　to　both　the　brothers　to　have　a　conversation　with　them。　　Then　Freyvid　asked　Emund；　〃Who；　in　your　opinion；　should　we　take　for　king；　in　case　Olaf　Eirikson's　days　are　at　an　end？〃

Emund　　〃He　whom　we　think　best　suited　to　it；　whether　he　be　of　the　race　of　chiefs　or　not。〃

Freyvid　answers；　〃We　Uplanders　will　not；　in　our　time；　have　the　kingdom　go　out　of　the　old　race　of　our　ancestors；　which　has　given　us　kings　for　a　long　course　of　generations；　so　long　as　we　have　so　good　a　choice　as　now。　　King　Olaf　has　two　sons；　one　of　whom　we　will　choose　for　king；　although　there　is　a　great　difference　between　them。　　The　one　is　noble…born；　and　of　Swedish　race　on　both　sides；　the　other　is　a　slave…woman's　son；　and　of　Vindish　race　on　the　mother's　side。〃

This　decision　was　received　with　loud　applause；　and　all　would　have　Jacob　for　king。

Then　said　Emund。　〃Ye　Upland　Swedes　have　the　power　this　time　to　determinate　the　matter；　but　I　will　tell　you　what　will　happen：　　some　of　those　who　now　will　listen　to　nothing　but　that　the　kingdom　remain　in　the　old　race　will　live　to　see　the　day　when　they　will　wish　the　kingdom　in　another　race；　as　being　of　more　advantage。〃

Thereupon　the　brothers　Freyvid　and　Arnvid　led　the　king's　son　Jacob　into　the　Thing；　and　saluted　him　with　the　title　of　king；　and　the　Swedes　gave　him　the　name　of　Onund；　which　he　afterwards　retained　as　long　as　he　lived。　　He　was　then　ten　or　twelve　years　old。　　Thereafter　King　Onund　took　a　court；　and　chose　chiefs　to　be　around　him；　and　they　had　as　many　attendants　in　their　suite　as　were　thought　necessary；　so　that　he　gave　the　whole　assemblage　of　bondes　leave　to　return　home。　　After　that　ambassadors　went　between　the　two　kings；　and　at　last　they　had　a　meeting；　and　came　to　an　agreement。　　Olaf　was　to　remain　king　over　the　country　as　long　as　he　lived；　but　should　hold　peace　and　be　reconciled　with　King　Olaf　of　Norway；　and　also　with　all　who　had　taken　part　in　this　business。　Onund　should　also　be　king；　and　have　a　part　of　the　land；　such　as　the　father　and　son　should　agree　upon；　but　should　be　bound　to　support　the　bondes　in　case　King　Olaf　did　anything　which　the　bondes　would　not　suffer。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　Refsithing　　a　Thing　for　punishment　by　penalty　or　death　for　　　　　　crimes　and　misdemeanours。　　L。



97。　MEETING　OF　RECONCILIATION　BETWEEN　THE　KINGS；　AND　THEIR　GAME　　　　　AT　DICE。

Thereafter　ambassadors　were　sent　to　Norway　to　King　Olaf；　with　the　errand　that　he　should　come　with　his　retinue　to　a　meeting　at　Konungahella　with　the　Swedish　kings；　and　that　the　Swedish　kings　would　there　confirm　their　reconciliation。　　When　King　Olaf　heard　this　message；　he　was　willing；　now　as　formerly；　to　enter　into　the　agreement；　and　proceeded　to　the　appointed　place。　　There　the　Swedish　kings　also　came；　and　the　relations；　when　they　met；　bound　themselves　mutually　to　peace　and　agreement。　　Olaf　the　Swedish　king　was　then　remarkably　mild　in　manner；　and　agreeable　to　talk　with。　　Thorstein　Frode　relates　of　this　meeting；　that　there　was　an　inhabited　district　in　Hising　which　had　sometimes　belonged　to　Norway；　and　sometimes　to　Gautland。　　The　kings　came　to　the　agreement　between　themselves　that　they　would　cast　lots　by　the　dice　to　determine　who　should　have　this　property；　and　that　he　who　threw　the　highest　should　have　the　district。　　The　Swedish　king　threw　two　sixes；　and　said　King　Olaf　need　scarcely　throw。　　He　replied；　while　shaking　the　dice　in　his　hand；　〃Although　there　be　two　sixes　on　the　dice；　it　would　be　easy；　sire；　for　God　Almighty　to　let　them　turn　up　in　my　favour。〃　　Then　he　threw；　and　had　sixes　also。　　Now　the　Swedish　king　threw　again；　and　had　again　two　sixes。　Olaf　king　of　Norway　then　threw；　and　had　six　upon　one　dice；　and　the　other　split　in　two；　so　as　to　make　seven　eyes　in　all　upon　it；　and　the　district　was　adjudged　to　the　king　of　Norway。　　We　have　heard　nothing　else　of　any　interest　that　took　place　at　this　meeting；　and　the　kings　separated　the　dearest　of　friends　with　each　other。



98。　OF　OLAF　OF　NORWAY；　AFTER　THE　MEETING。

After　the　events　now　related　Olaf　returned　with　his　people　to　Viken。　　He　went　first　to　Tunsberg；　and　remained　there　a　short　time；　and　then　proceeded　to　the　north　of　the　country。　　In　harvest…time　he　sailed　north　to　Throndhjem；　and　had　winter　provision　laid　in　there；　and　remained　there　all　winter　（A。D。　1090）。　　Olaf　Haraldson　was　now　sole　and　supreme　king　of　Norway；　and　the　whole　of　that　sovereignty；　as　Harald　Harfager　had　possessed　it；　and　had　the　advantage　over　that　monarch　of　being　the　only　king　in　the　land。　　By　a　peaceful　agreement　he　had　also　recovered　that　part　of　the　country　which　Olaf　the　Swedish　king　had　before　occupied；　and　that　part　of　the　country　which　the　Danish　king　had　got　he　retook　by　force；　and　ruled　over　it　as　elsewhere　in　the　country。　　The　Danish　king　Canute　ruled　at　that　time　both　over　Denmark　and　England；　but　he　himself　was　in　England　for　the　most　part；　and　set　chiefs　over　the　country　in　Denmark；　without　at　that　time　making　any　claim　upon　Norway。



99。　HISTORY　OF　THE　EARLS　OF　ORKNEY。

It　is　related　that　in　the　days　of　Harald　Harfager；　the　king　of　Norway；　the　islands　of　Orkney；　which　before　had　been　only　a　resort　for　vikings；　were　settled　。　The　first　earl　in　the　Orkney　Islands　was　called　Sigurd；　who　was　a　son　of　Eystein　Giumra；　and　brother　of　Ragnvald　earl　of　More。　　After　Sigurd　his　son　Guthorm　was　earl　for　one　year。　　After　him　Torf…Einar；　a　son　of　Ragnvald；　took　the　earldom；　and　was　long　earl；　and　was　a　man　of　great　power。　　Halfdan　Haleg；　a　son　of　Harald　Harfager；　assaulted　Torf…　Einar；　and　drove　him　from　the　Orkney　Islands；　but　Einar　came　back　and　killed　Halfdan　in　the　island　Ronaldsha。　　Thereafter　King　Harald　came　with　an　army　to　the　Orkney　Islands。　　Einar　fled　to　Scotland；　and　King　Harald　made　the　people　of　the　Orkney　Islands　give　up　their　udal　properties；　and　hold　them　under　oath　from　him。　Thereafter　the　king　and　earl　were　reconciled；　so　that　the　earl　became　the　king's　man；　and　took　the　country　as　a　fief　from　him；　but　that　it　should　pay　no　scat　or　feu…duty；　as　it　was　at　that　time　much　plundered　by　vikings。　　The　earl　paid　the　king　sixty　marks　of　gold；　and　then　King　Harald　went　to　plunder　in　Scotland；　as　related　in　the　〃Glym　Drapa〃。　　After　Torf…Einar；　his　sons　Arnkel；　Erlend；　and　Thorfin　Hausakljufer　（1）　ruled　over　these　lands。　In　their　days　came　Eirik　Blood…axe　from　Norway；　and　subdued　these　earls。　　Arnkel　and　Erlend　fell　in　a　war　expedition；　but　Thorfin　ruled　the　country　long；　and　became　an　old　man。　　His　sons　were　Arnfin；　Havard；　Hlodver；　Liot；　and　Skule。　　Their　mother　was　Grelad；　a　daughter　of　Earl　Dungad　of　Caithness。　　Her　mother　was　Groa；　a　daughter　of　Thorstein　Raud。　　In　the　latter　days　of　Earl　Thorfin　came　Eirik　Blood…axe's　sons；　who　had　fled　from　Earl　Hakon　out　of　Norway；　and　committed　great　excesses　in　Orkney。　　Earl　Thorfin　died　on　a　bed　of　sickness；　and　his　sons　after　him　ruled　over　the　country；　and　there　are　many　stories　concerning　them。　　Hlodver　lived　the　longest　of　them；　and　ruled　alone　over　this　country。　　His　son　was　Sigurd　the　Thick；　who　took　the　earldom　after　him；　and　became　a　powerful　man　and　a　great　warrior。　　In　his　days　came　Olaf　Trygvason　from　his　viking　expedition　in　the　western　ocean；　with　his　troops；　landed　in　Orkney　and　took　Earl　Sigurd　prisoner　in　South　Ronaldsha；　where　he　lay　with　one　ship。　King　Olaf　allowed　the　earl　to　ransom　his　life　by　letting　himself　be　baptized；　adopting　the　true　faith；　becoming　his　man；　and　introducing　Christianity　into　all　the　Orkney　Islands。　　As　a　hostage；　King　Olaf　took　his　son；　who　was　called　Hunde　or　Whelp。　Then　Olaf　went　to　Norway；　and　became　king；　and　Hunde　was　several　years　with　King　Olaf　in　Norway；　and　died　there。　　After　his　death　Earl　Sigurd　showed　no　obedience　or　fealty　to　King　Olaf。　　He　married　a　daughter　of　the　Scottish　king　Malcolm；　and　their　son　was　called　Thorfin。　　Earl　Sigurd　had；　besides；　older　sons；　　namely；　Sumarlide；　Bruse；　and　Einar　Rangmund。　　Four　or　five　years　after　Olaf　Tryrgvason's　fall　Earl　Sigurd　went　to　Ireland；　leaving　his　eldest　sons　to　rule　the　country；　and　sending　Thorfin　to　his　mother's　father；　the　Scottish　king。　　On　this　expedition　Earl　Sigurd　fell　in　Brian's　battle　（l）。　　When　the　news　was　received　in　Orkney；　the　brothers　Sumarlide；　Bruse；　and　Einar　were　chosen　earls；　and　the　country　was　divided　into　three　parts　among　them。　Thorfin　Sigurdson　was　five　years　old　when　Earl　Sigurd　fell。　　When　the　Scottish　king　heard　of　the　earl's　death　he　gave　his　relation　Thorfin　Caithness　and　Sutherland；　with　the　title　of　earl；　and　appointed　good　men　to　rule　the　land　for　him。　　Earl　Thorfin　was　ripe　in　all　ways　as　soon　as　he　was　grown　up：　he　was　stout　and　strong；　but　ugly；　and　as　soon　as　he　was　a　grown　man　it　was　easy　to　see　that　he　was　a　severe　and　cruel　but　a　very　clever　man。　　So　says　Arnor；　the　earls'　skald：　

　　　　　〃Under　the　rim　of　heaven　no　other；　　　　　　So　young　in　years　as　Einar's　brother；　　　　　　In　battle　had　a　braver　hand；　　　　　　Or　stouter；　to　defend　the　land。〃



ENDNOTES：　（1）　　Hausakljufer　　the　splitter　of　skulls。　　L。　（2）　　Brian's　battle　is　supposed　to　have　taken　place　on　the　23rd　　　　　　April　1014；　at　Clontart；　near　Dublin；　and　is　known　in　Irish　　　　　　history　as　the　battle　of　Clontarf；　and　was　one　of　the　　　　　　bloodiest　of　the　age。　　It　was　fought　between　a　viking　called　　　　　　Sigtryg　and　Brian　king　of　Munster；　who　gained　the　victory；　　　　　　but　lost　his　life。　　L