heimskringla-第90部分

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！



　　　　　〃Norway's　brave　defender's　dead！　　　　　　Aslak　has　heaped　on　his　own　head　　　　　　The　guilt　of　murdering　his　own　kin：　　　　　　May　few　be　guilty　of　such　sin！　　　　　　His　kinsman's　murder　on　him　lies　　　　　　　Our　forefathers；　in　sayings　wise；　　　　　　Have　said；　what　is　unknown　to　few；　　　　　　‘Kinsmen　to　kinsmen　should　be　true。'〃



187。　OF　THE　INSURRECTION　OF　AGDER　DISTRICT。

Of　Erling's　sons　some　at　that　time　were　north　in　Throndhjem；　some　in　Hordaland；　and　some　in　the　Fjord　district；　for　the　purpose　of　collecting　men。　　When　Erling's　death　was　reported；　the　news　came　also　that　there　was　a　levy　raising　in　Agder；　Hordaland；　and　Rogaland。　　Forces　were　raised　and　a　great　army　assembled；　under　Erling's　sons；　to　pursue　King　Olaf。

When　King　Olaf　retired　from　the　battle　with　Erling　he　went　northward　through　the　sounds；　and　it　was　late　in　the　day。　　It　is　related　that　the　king　then　made　the　following　verses：　

　　　　　〃This　night；　with　battle　sounds　wild　ringing；　　　　　　Small　joy　to　the　fair　youth　is　bringing　　　　　　Who　sits　in　Jadar；　little　dreaming　　　　　　O'er　what　this　night　the　raven's　screaming。　　　　　　The　far…descended　Erling's　life　　　　　　Too　soon　has　fallen；　but；　in　the　strife　　　　　　He　met　the　luck　they　well　deserve　　　　　　Who　from　their　faith　and　fealty　swerve。〃

Afterwards　the　king　sailed　with　his　fleet　along　the　land　northwards；　and　got　certain　tidings　of　the　bondes　assembling　an　army。　　There　were　many　chiefs　and　lendermen　at　this　time　with　King　Olaf；　and　all　the　sons　of　Arne。　　Of　this　Bjarne　Gullbrarskald　speaks　in　the　poem　he　composed　about　Kalf　Arnason：　

　　　　　〃Kalf！　　thou　hast　fought　at　Bokn　well；　　　　　　Of　thy　brave　doings　all　men　tell：　　　　　　When　Harald's　son　his　men　urged　on　　　　　　To　the　hard　strife；　thy　courage　shone。　　　　　　Thou　soon　hadst　made　a　good　Yule　feast　　　　　　For　greedy　wolf　there　in　the　East：　　　　　　Where　stone　and　spear　were　flying　round；　　　　　　There　thou　wast　still　the　foremost　found。　　　　　　The　people　suffered　in　the　strife　　　　　　When　noble　Erling　lost　his　life；　　　　　　And　north　of　Utstein　many　a　speck　　　　　　Of　blood　lay　black　upon　the　deck。　　　　　　The　king；　'tis　clear；　has　been　deceived；　　　　　　By　treason　of　his　land　bereaved；　　　　　　And　Agder　now；　whose　force　is　great。　　　　　　Will　rule　o'er　all　parts　of　the　state。〃


King　O1af　continued　his　voyage　until　he　came　north　of　Stad；　and　brought　up　at　the　Herey　Isles。　　Here　he　heard　the　news　that　Earl　Hakon　had　a　great　war…force　in　Throndhjem；　and　thereupon　the　king　held　a　council　with　his　people。　　Kalf　Arnason　urged　much　to　advance　to　Throndhjem；　and　fight　Earl　Hakon；　notwithstanding　the　difference　of　numbers。　　Many　others　supported　this　advice；　but　others　dissuaded　from　it；　and　the　matter　was　left　to　the　king's　judgment。



188。　DEATH　OF　ASLAK　FITIASKALLE。

Afterwards　the　king　went　into　Steinavag；　and　remained　there　all　night；　but　Aslak　Fitiaskalle　ran　into　Borgund；　where　he　remained　the　night；　and　where　Vigleik　Arnason　was　before　him。　　In　the　morning；　when　Aslak　was　about　returning　on　board；　Vigleik　assaulted　him；　and　sought　to　avenge　Erling's　murder。　　Aslak　fell　there。　　Some　of　the　king's　court…men；　who　had　been　home　all　summer；　joined　the　king　here。　　They　came　from　Frekeysund；　and　brought　the　king　tidings　that　Earl　Hakon；　and　many　lendermen　with　him；　had　come　in　the　morning　to　Frekeysund　with　a　large　force；　〃and　they　will　end　thy　days；　sire；　if　they　have　strength　enough。〃　Now　the　king　sent　his　men　up　to　a　hill　that　was　near；　and　when　they　came　to　the　top；　and　looked　northwards　to　Bjarney　Island；　they　perceived　that　a　great　armament　of　many　ships　was　coming　from　the　north；　and　they　hastened　back　to　the　king　with　this　intelligence。　　The　king；　who　was　lying　there　with　only　twelve　ships；　ordered　the　war…horn　to　sound；　the　tents　to　be　taken　down　on　his　ships；　and　they　took　to　their　oars。　　When　they　were　quite　ready；　and　were　leaving　the　harbour；　the　bonde　army　sailed　north　around　Thiotande　with　twenty…five　ships。　　The　king　then　steered　inside　of　Nyrfe　Island；　and　inside　of　Hundsver。　　Now　when　King　Olaf　came　right　abreast　of　Borgund；　the　ship　which　Aslak　had　steered　came　out　to　meet　him；　and　when　they　found　the　king　they　told　him　the　tidings；　　that　Vigleik　Arnason　had　killed　Aslak　Fitiaskalle；　because　he　had　killed　Erling　Skjalgson。　　The　king　took　this　news　very　angrily；　but　could　not　delay　his　voyage　on　account　of　the　enemy　and　he　sailed　in　by　Vegsund　and　Skor。　　There　some　of　his　people　left　him；　among　others；　Kalf　Arnason；　with　many　other　lendermen　and　ship　commanders；　who　all　went　to　meet　Earl　Hakon。　　King　Olaf；　however；　proceeded　on　his　way　without　stopping　until　he　came　to　Todar　fjord；　where　he　brought　up　at　Valdal；　and　landed　from　his　ship。　　He　had　then　five　ships　with　him；　which　he　drew　up　upon　the　shore；　and　took　care　of　their　sails　and　materials。　　Then　he　set　up　his　land…tent　upon　a　point　of　land　called　Sult；　where　there　are　pretty　flat　fields；　and　set　up　a　cross　near　to　the　point　of　land。　　A　bonde；　by　name　Bruse；　who　dwelt　there　in　More；　and　was　chief　over　the　valley；　came　down　to　King　Olaf；　together　with　many　other　bondes；　and　received　him　well；　and　according　to　his　dignity；　and　he　was　friendly；　and　pleased　with　their　reception　of　him。　　Then　the　king　asked　if　there　was　a　passable　road　up　in　the　country　from　the　valley　to　Lesjar；　and　Bruse　replied；　that　there　was　an　urd　in　the　valley　called　Skerfsurd　not　passable　for　man　or　beast。　　King　Olaf　answers；　〃That　we　must　try；　bonde；　and　it　will　go　as　God　pleases。　Come　here　in　the　morning　with　your　yoke；　and　come　yourself　with　it；　and　let　us　then　see。　　When　we　come　to　the　sloping　precipice；　what　chance　there　may　be；　and　if　we　cannot　devise　some　means　of　coming　over　it　with　horses　and　people。〃



189。　CLEARING　OF　THE　URD。

Now　when　day　broke　the　bondes　drove　down　with　their　yokes；　as　the　king　had　told　them。　　The　clothes　and　weapons　were　packed　upon　horses；　but　the　king　and　all　the　people　went　on　foot。　　He　went　thus　until　he　came　to　a　place　called　Krosbrekka；　and　when　he　came　up　upon　the　hill　he　rested　himself；　sat　down　there　a　while；　looked　down　over　the　fjord；　and　said；　〃A　difficult　expedition　ye　have　thrown　upon　my　hands；　ye　lendermen；　who　have　now　changed　your　fealty；　although　but　a　little　while　ago　ye　were　my　friends　and　faithful　to　me。〃　　There　are　now　two　crosses　erected　upon　the　bank　on　which　the　king　sat。　　Then　the　king　mounted　a　horse；　and　rode　without　stopping　up　the　valley；　until　he　came　to　the　precipice。　　Then　the　king　asked　Bruse　if　there　was　no　summer　hut　of　cattle…herds　in　the　neighbourhood；　where　they　could　remain。　　He　said　there　was。　　The　king　ordered　his　land…tent　to　be　set　up；　and　remained　there　all　night。　　In　the　morning　the　king　ordered　them　to　drive　to　the　urd；　and　try　if　they　could　get　across　it　with　the　waggons。　　They　drove　there；　and　the　king　remained　in　the　meantime　in　his　tent。　　Towards　evening　the　king's　court…men　and　the　bondes　came　back；　and　told　how　they　had　had　a　very　fatiguing　labour；　without　making　any　progress；　and　that　there　never　could　be　a　road　made　that　they　could　get　across：　so　they　continued　there　the　second　night；　during　which；　for　the　whole　night；　the　king　was　occupied　in　prayer。　　As　soon　as　he　observed　day　dawning　he　ordered　his　men　to　drive　again　to　the　urd；　and　try　once　more　if　they　could　get　across　it　with　the　waggons；　but　they　went　very　unwillingly；　saying　nothing　could　be　gained　by　it。　　When　they　were　gone　the　man　who　had　charge　of　the　king's　kitchen　came；　and　said　there　were　only　two　carcasses　of　young　cattle　remaining　of　provision：　〃Although　you；　sire；　have　400　men；　and　there　are　100　bondes　besides。〃　　Then　the　king　ordered　that　he　should　set　all　the　kettles　on　the　fire；　and　put　a　little　bit　of　meat　in　each　kettle；　which　was　done。　　Then　the　king　went　there；　and　made　the　sign　of　the　cross　over　each　kettle；　and　told　them　to　make　ready　the　meat。　　The　king　then　went　to　the　urd　called　Skerfsurd；　where　a　road　should　be　cleared。　　When　the　king　came　all　his　people　were　sitting　down；　quite　worn　out　with　the　hard　labour。　　Bruse　said；　〃I　told　you；　sire；　but　you　would　not　believe　me；　that　we　could　make　nothing　of　this　urd。〃　　The　king　laid　aside　his　cloak；　and　told　them　to　go　to　work　once　more　at　the　urd。　　They　did　so；　and　now　twenty　men　could　handle　stones　which　before　100　men　could　not　move　from　the　place；　and　thus　before　midday　the　road　was　cleared　so　well　that　it　was　as　passable　for　men；　and　for　horses　with　packs；　as　a　road　in　the　plain　fields。　　The　king；　after　this；　went　down　again　to　where　the　meat　was；　which　place　is　called　Olaf's　Rock。　　Near　the　rock　is　a　spring；　at　which　Olaf　washed　himself；　and　therefore　at　the　present　day；　when　the　cattle　in　the　valley　are　sick；　their　illness　is　made　better　by　their　drinking　at　this　well。　　Thereafter　the　king　sat　down　to　table　with　all　the　others；　and　when　he　was　satisfied　he　asked　if　there　was　any　other　sheeling　on　the　other　side　of　the　urd；　and　near　the　mountains；　where　they　could　pass　the　night。　　Bruse　said　there　was　such　a　sheeling；　called　Groningar；　but　that　nobody　could　pass　the　night　there　on　account　of　witchcraft；　and　evil　beings　who　were　in　the　sheeling。　　Then　the　king　said　they　must　get　ready　for　their　journey；　as　he　wanted　to　be　at　the　sheeling　for　the　night。　　Then　came　the　kitchen…master　to　the　king；　and　tells　that　there　was　come　an　extraordinary　supply　of　provisions；　and　he　did　not　know　where　it　had　come　from；　or　how。　　The　king　thanked　God　for　this　blessing；　and　gave　the　bondes　who　drove　down　again　to　their　valley　some　rations　of　food；　but　remained　himself　all　night　in　the　sheeling。　　In　the　middle　of　the　night；　while　the　people　were　asleep；　there　was　heard　in　the　cattle…fold　a　dreadful　cry；　and　these　words：　〃Now　Olaf's　prayers　are　burning　me；〃　says　the　spirit；　〃so　that　I　can　no　longer　be　in　my　habitation；　now　must　I　fly；　and　never　more　come　to　this　fold。〃　　When　the　king's　people　awoke　in　the　morning　the　king　proceeded　to　the　mountains；　and　said　to　Bruse；　〃Here　shall　now　a　farm　be　settled；　and　the　bonde　who　dwells　here　shall　never　want　what　is　needful　for　the　support　of　life；　and　never　shall　his　crop　be　destroyed　by　frost；　although　the　crops　be　frozen　on　the　farms　both　above　it　and　below　it。〃　Then　the　king　proceeded　over　the　mountains；　and　came　to　a　farm　called　Einby；　where　he　remained　for　the　night。　　King　Olaf　had　then　been　fifteen　years　king　of　Norway　（A。D