heimskringla-第83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 he did not conceal his expectation that the people of Norway would again return to their fealty to him。 〃I think；〃 says he； 〃that Earl Hakon will have Norway but a short time under his power； which many will not think an extraordinary expectation； as Earl Hakon has had but little luck against me； but probably few people will trust to my prophecy； that Canute the Great will in the course of a few years die； and his kingdoms vanish； and there will he no risings in favour of his race。〃 When the king had ended his speech； his men prepared themselves for their departure。 The king； with the troop that followed him； turned east to Eid forest。 And there were along with him the Queen Astrid； their daughter Ulfhild； Magnus； King Olaf's son； Ragnvald Brusason； the three sons of Arne； Thorberg； Fin； and Arne； with many lendermen； and the king's attendants consisted of many chosen men。 Bjorn the marshal got leave to go home； and he went to his farm； and many others of the king's friends returned home with his permission to their farms。 The king begged them to let him know the events which might happen in the country； and which it might be important for him to know； and now the king proceeded on his way。
191。 KING OLAF PROCEEDS TO RUSSIA。
It is to be related of King Olaf's journey； that he went first from Norway eastward through Eid forest to Vermaland； then to Vatnsby； and through the forests in which there are roads； until he came out in Nerike district。 There dwelt a rich and powerful man in that part called Sigtryg； who had a son； Ivar； who afterwards became a distinguished person。 Olaf stayed with Sigtryg all spring （A。D。 1029）； and when summer came he made ready for a journey； procured a ship for himself； and without stopping went on to Russia to King Jarisleif and his queen Ingegerd； but his own queen Astrid； and their daughter Ulfhild； remained behind in Svithjod； and the king took his son Magnus eastward with him。 King Jarisleif received King Olaf in the kindest manner； and made him the offer to remain with him； and to have so much land as was necessary for defraying the expense of the entertainment of his followers。 King Olaf accepted this offer thankfully； and remained there。 It is related that King Olaf was distinguished all his life for pious habits； and zeal in his prayers to God。 But afterwards； when he saw his own power diminished； and that of his adversaries augmented； he turned all his mind to God's service； for he was not distracted by other thoughts； or by the labour he formerly had upon his hands； for during all the time he sat upon the throne he was endeavouring to promote what was most useful： and first to free and protect the country from foreign chiefs' oppressions； then to convert the people to the right faith； and also to establish law and the rights of the country； which he did by letting justice have its way； and punishing evil…doers。
192。 CAUSES OF THE REVOLT AGAINST KING OLAF。
It had been an old custom in Norway that the sons of lendermen； or other great men； went out in war…ships to gather property； and they marauded both in the country and out of the country。 But after King Olaf came to the sovereignty he protected the country； so that he abolished all plundering there； and even if they were the sons of powerful men who committed any depredation； or did what the king considered against law； he did not spare them at all； but they must suffer in life or limbs； and no man's entreaties； and no offer of money…penalties； could help them。 So says Sigvat：
〃They who on viking cruises drove With gifts of red gold often strove To buy their safety but our chief Had no compassion for the thief。 He made the bravest lose his head Who robbed at sea； and pirates led； And his just sword gave peace to all； Sparing no robber； great or small。〃
And he also says：
〃Great king！ whose sword on many a field Food to the wandering wolf did yield； And then the thief and pirate band Swept wholly off by sea and land Good king！ who for the people's sake Set hands and feet upon a stake； When plunderers of great name and bold Harried the country as of old。 The country's guardian showed his might When oft he made his just sword bite Through many a viking's neck and hair； And never would the guilty spare。 King Magnus' father； I must say； Did many a good deed in his day。 Olaf the Thick was stern and stout； Much good his victories brought out。〃
He punished great and small with equal severity； which appeared to the chief people of the country too severe； and animosity rose to the highest when they lost relatives by the king's just sentence； although they were in reality guilty。 This was the origin of the hostility of the great men of the country to King Olaf； that they could not bear his just judgments。 He again would rather renounce his dignity than omit righteous judgment。 The accusation against him； of being stingy with his money； was not just； for he was a most generous man towards his friends； but that alone was the cause of the discontent raised against him； that he appeared hard and severe in his retributions。 Besides； King Canute offered great sums of money； and the great chiefs were corrupted by this； and by his offering them greater dignities than they had possessed before。 The inclinations of the people； also； were all in favour of Earl Hakon； who was much beloved by the country folks when he ruled the country before。
193。 OF JOKUL BARDSON。
Earl Hakon had sailed with his fleet from Throndhjem； and gone south to More against King Olaf； as before related。 Now when the king bore away； and ran into the fjord； the earl followed him thither； and then Kalf Arnason came to meet him； with many of the men who had deserted King Olaf。 Kalf was well received。 The earl steered in through Todar fjord to Valdal； where the king had laid up his ships on the strand。 He took the ships which belonged to the king； had them put upon the water and rigged； and cast lots； and put commanders in charge of them according to the lots。 There was a man called Jokul； who was an Icelander； a son of Bard Jokulson of Vatnsdal； the lot fell upon Jokul to command the Bison； which King Olaf himself had commanded。 Jokul made these verses upon it：
〃Mine is the lot to take the helm Which Olaf owned； who owned the realm； From Sult King Olaf's ship to steer （Ill luck I dread on his reindeer）。 My girl will never hear the tidings； Till o'er the wild wave I come riding In Olaf's ship； who loved his gold； And lost his ships with wealth untold。〃
We may here shortly tell what happened a long time after。 that this Jokul fell in with King Olaf's men in the island of Gotland； and the king ordered him to be taken out to be beheaded。 A willow twig accordingly was plaited in with his hair； and a man held him fast by it。 Jokul sat down upon a bank； and a man swung the axe to execute him； but Jokul hearing the sound； raised his head； and the blow struck him in the head； and made a dreadful wound。 As the king saw it would be his death…wound； he ordered them to let him lie with it。 Jokul raised himself up； and he sang：
〃My hard fate I mourn； Alas！ my wounds burn； My red wounds are gaping； My life…blood escaping。 My wounds burn sore； But I suffer still more From the king's angry word； Than his sharp…biting sword。〃
194。 OF KALF ARNASON。
Kalf Arnason went with Earl Hakon north to Throndhjem； and the earl invited him to enter into his service。 Kalf said he would first go home to his farm at Eggja； and afterwards make his determination； and Kalf did so。 When he came home he found his wife Sigrid much irritated； and she reckoned up all the sorrow inflicted on her； as she insisted； by King Olaf。 First； he had ordered her first husband Olver to be killed。 〃And now since；〃 says she； 〃my two sons； and thou thyself； Kalf； wert present when they were cut off； and which I little expected from thee。〃 Kalf says； it was much against his will that Thorer was killed。 〃I offered money…penalty for him；〃 says he； 〃and when Grjotgard was killed I lost my brother Arnbjorn at the same time。〃 She replies； 〃It is well thou hast suffered this from the king； for thou mayest perhaps avenge him； although thou wilt not avenge my injuries。 Thou sawest how thy foster…son Thorer was killed； with all the regard of the king for thee。〃 She frequently brought out such vexatious speeches to Kalf； to which he often answered angrily； but yet he allowed himself to be persuaded by her to enter into the earl's service； on condition of renewing his fiefs to him。 Sigrid sent word to the earl how far she had brought the matter with Kalf。 As soon as the earl heard of it； he sent a message to Kalf that he should come to the town to him。 Kalf did not decline the invitation； but came directly to Nidaros； and waited on the earl； who received him kindly。 In their conversation it was fully agreed upon that Kalf should go into the earl's service； and should receive great fiefs。 After this Kalf returned home； and had the greater part of the interior of the Throndhjem country under him。 As soon as it was spring Kalf rigged out a ship that belonged to him； and when she was ready he put to sea； and sailed west to England； for he had heard that in spring King Canute was to sail from Denmark to England； and that King Canute had given Harald； a son of Thorkel the High； an earldom in Denmark。 Kalf Arnason went to King Canute as soon as he arrived in England。 Bjarne Gullbrarskald tells of this：
〃King Olaf eastward o'er the sea To Russia's monarch had to flee； Our Harald's brother ploughed the main； And furrowed white its dark…blue plain。 Whilst thou the truth I still will say； Nor fear nor favour can me sway Thou to King Canute hastened fast； As soon as Olaf's luck was past。〃
Now when Kalf came to King Canute the king received him particularly well； and had many conversations with him。 Among other things； King Canute； in a conference； asked Kalf to bind himself to raise a warfare against King Olaf； if ever he should return to the country。 〃And for which；〃 says the king； 〃I will give thee the earldom； and place thee to rule over Norway； and my relation Hakon shall come to me； which will suit him better； for he is so honourable and trustworthy that I believe he would not even throw a spear against the person of King Olaf if he came back to the country。〃 Kalf lent his ear to what the king proposed； for he had a great desire to attain this high dignity； and this conclusion was settled upon between King Canute and Kalf。 Kalf then prepared to return home； and on his departure he received splendid presents from King Canute。 Bjarne the skald tells of these circumstances：
〃Sprung from old earls！ to England's lord Thou owest many a thankful word For many a gift： if all be true； Thy interest has been kept in view； For when thy course was bent for home； （Although that luck is not yet come；） ‘That Norway should be thine；' 'tis said； The London king a promise made。〃
Kalf thereaft
