heimskringla-第85章
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ry face。 Then the king took a piece of bread； laid it in the figure of the cross upon the palm of his hand； and put it into the boy's mouth。 He swallowed it down； and from that time all the soreness left his neck； and in a few days he was quite well； to the great joy of his mother and all his relations。 Then first came Olaf into the repute of having as much healing power in his hands as is ascribed to men who have been gifted by nature with healing by the touch； and afterwards when his miracles were universally acknowledged； this also was considered one of his miracles。
201。 KING OLAF BURNS THE WOOD SHAVINGS ON HIS HAND FOR HIS SABBATH BREACH。
It happened one Sunday that the king sat in his highseat at the dinner table； and had fallen into such deep thought that he did not observe how time went。 In one hand he had a knife； and in the other a piece of fir…wood from which he cut splinters from time to time。 The table…servant stood before him with a bowl in his hands； and seeing what the king was about； and that he was involved in thought； he said； 〃It is Monday； sire； to…morrow。〃 The king looked at him when he heard this； and then it came into his mind what he was doing on the Sunday。 Then the king ordered a lighted candle to be brought him； swept together all the shavings he had made； set them on fire； and let them burn upon his naked hand； showing thereby that he would hold fast by God's law and commandment； and not trespass without punishment on what he knew to be right。
202。 OF KING OLAF。
When King Olaf had resolved on his return home； he made known his intention to King Jarisleif and Queen Ingegerd。 They dissuaded him from this expedition； and said he should receive as much power in their dominions as he thought desirable； but begged him not to put himself within the reach of his enemies with so few men as he had。 Then King Olaf told them of his dream； adding； that he believed it to be God's will and providence that it should be so。 Now when they found he was determined on travelling to Norway； they offered him all the assistance to his journey that he would accept from them。 The king thanked them in many fine words for their good will； and said that he accepted from them； with no ordinary pleasure； what might be necessary for his undertaking。
203。 OF KING OLAF'S JOURNEY FROM RUSSIA。
Immediately after Yule （A。D。 1080）； King Olaf made himself ready； and had about 200 of his men with him。 King Jarisleif gave him all the horses； and whatever else he required； and when he was ready he set off。 King Jarisleif and Queen Ingegerd parted from him with all honour； and he left his son Magnus behind with the king。 The first part of his journey； down to the sea…coast； King Olaf and his men made on the ice； but as spring approached； and the ice broke up； they rigged their vessels； and when they were ready and got a wind they set out to sea； and had a good voyage。 When Olaf came to the island of Gotland with his ships he heard the news which was told as truth； both in Svithjod； Denmark； and over all Norway that Earl Hakon was missing； and Norway without a head。 This gave the king and his men good hope of the issue of their journey。 From thence they sailed； when the wind suited； to Svithjod； and went into the Maelar lake； to Aros； and sent men to the Swedish King Onund appointing a meeting。 King Onund received his brother…in…law's message in the kindest manner； and went to him according to his invitation。 Astrid also came to King Olaf； with the men who had attended her； and great was the joy on all sides at this meeting。 The Swedish king also received his brother…in…law King Olaf with great joy when they met。
204。 OF THE LENDERMEN IN NORWAY。
Now we must relate what； in the meantime； was going on in Norway。 Thorer Hund； in these two winters （A。D。 1029…1030）； had made a Lapland journey； and each winter had been a long time on the mountains； and had gathered to himself great wealth by trading in various wares with the Laplanders。 He had twelve large coats of reindeer…skin made for him； with so much Lapland witchcraft that no weapon could cut or pierce them any more than if they were armour of ring…mail； nor so much。 The spring thereafter Thorer rigged a long…ship which belonged to him； and manned it with his house…servants。 He summoned the bondes； demanded a levy from the most northern Thing district； collected in this way a great many people； and proceeded with this force southwards。 Harek of Thjotta had also collected a great number of people； and in this expedition many people of consequence took a part； although these two were the most distinguished。 They made it known publicly that with this war…force they were going against King Olaf； to defend the country against him； in case he should come from the eastward。
205。 OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER。
Einar Tambaskelfer had most influence in the outer part of the Throndhjem country after Earl Hakon's death was no longer doubtful； for he and his son Eindride appeared to be the nearest heirs to the movable property the earl had possessed。 Then Einar remembered the promises and offers of friendship which King Canute had made him at parting； and he ordered a good vessel which belonged to him to be got ready； and embarked with a great retinue； and when he was ready sailed southwards along the coast； then set out to sea westwards； and sailed without stopping until he came to England。 He immediately waited on King Canute； who received him well and joyfully。 Then Einar opened his business to the king； and said he was come there to see the fulfillment of the promises the king had made him； namely； that he； Einar； should have the highest title of honour in Norway if Earl Hakon were no more。 King Canute replies； that now the circumstances were altered。 〃I have now；〃 said he； 〃sent men and tokens to my son Svein in Denmark； and promised him the kingdom of Norway； but thou shalt retain my friendship； and get the dignity and title which thou art entitled by birth to hold。 Thou shalt be lenderman with great fiefs； and be so much more raised above other lendermen as thou art more able than they。〃 Einar saw sufficiently how matters stood with regard to his business； and got ready to return home； but as he now knew the king's intentions； and thought it probable if King Olaf came from the East the country would not be very peaceable； it came into his mind that it would be better to proceed slowly； and not to be hastening his voyage； in order to fight against King Olaf； without his being advanced by it to any higher dignity than he had before。 Einar accordingly went to sea when he was ready； but only came to Norway after the events were ended which took place there during that summer。
206。 OF THE CHIEF PEOPLE IN NORWAY。
The chiefs in Norway had their spies east in Svithjod； and south in Denmark； to find out if King Olaf had come from Russia。 As soon as these men could get across the country； they heard the news that King Olaf was arrived in Svithjod； and as soon as full certainty of this was obtained； the war message…token went round the land。 The whole people were called out to a levy； and a great army was collected。 The lendermen who were from Agder； Rogaland； and Hordaland； divided themselves； so that some went towards the north； and some towards the east； for they thought they required people on both sides。 Erling's sons from Jadar went eastward； with all the men who lived east of them； and over whom they were chiefs； Aslak of Finey； and Erlend of Gerde； with the lendermen north of them； went towards the north。 All those now named had sworn an oath to King Canute to deprive Olaf of life； if opportunity should offer。
207。 OF HARALD SIGURDSON'S PROCEEDINGS。
Now when it was reported in Norway that King Olaf was come from the East to Svithjod； his friends gathered together to give him aid。 The most distinguished man in this flock was Harald Sigurdson； a brother of King Olaf； who then was fifteen years of age； very stout； and manly of growth as if he were full…grown。 Many other brave men were there also； and there were in all 600 men when they proceeded from the uplands； and went eastward with their force through Eid forest to Vermaland。 From thence they went eastward through the forests to Svithjod and made inquiry about King Olaf's proceedings。
208。 OF KING OLAF'S PROCEEDINGS IN SVITHJOD。
King Olaf was in Svithjod in spring （A。D。 1030）； and had sent spies from thence to Norway。 All accounts from that quarter agreed that there was no safety for him if he went there； and the people who came from the north dissuaded him much from penetrating into the country。 But he had firmly resolved within himself； as before stated； to go into Norway； and he asked King Onund what strength King Onund would give him to conquer his kingdom。 King Onund replied； that the Swedes were little inclined to make an expedition against Norway。 〃We know；〃 says he； 〃that the Northmen are rough and warlike； and it is dangerous to carry hostility to their doors； but I will not be slow in telling thee what aid I can give。 I will give thee 400 chosen men from my court…men； active and warlike； and well equipt for battle； and moreover will give thee leave to go through my country； and gather to thyself as many men as thou canst get to follow thee。〃 King Olaf accepted this offer； and got ready for his march。 Queen Astrid； and Ulfhild the king's daughter； remained behind in Svithjod。
209。 KING OLAF ADVANCES TO JARNBERALAND。
Just as King Olaf began his journey the men came to him whom the Swedish king had given； in all 400 men； and the king took the road the Swedes showed him。 He advanced upwards in the country to the forests； and came to a district called Jarnberaland。 Here the people joined him who had come out of Norway to meet him； as before related； and he met here his brother Harald； and many other of his relations； and it was a joyful meeting。 They made out together 1200 men。
210。 OF DAG HRINGSON。
There was a man called Dag； who is said to have been a son of King Hring； who fled the country from King Olaf。 This Hring； it is said further； had been a son of Dag； and grandson of Hring； Harald Harfager's son。 Thus was Dag King Olaf's relative。 Both Hring the father； and Dag the son； had settled themselves in Svithjod； and got land to rule over。 In spring； when Olaf came from the East to Svithjod； he sent a message to his relation Dag； that he should join him in this expedition with all the force he could collect； and if they gained the country of Norway again； Dag should have no smaller part of the kingdom under him than his forefathers had enjoyed。 When this message came to Dag it suited his inclination well； for he had a great desire to go to Norway and get the dominion his family had ruled over。 He was not slow； therefore； to reply； and promised to come。 Dag was a quick… speaking； quick…resolving man； mixing himself up in everything； eager； but of little understanding。 He collected a force of almost 1200 men； with which he joined King Olaf。
211。 OF KING OLAF'S JOURNEY。
King Olaf sent a message before him to all the inhabited places he passed through； that the men who wished to get goods and money； and s
