heimskringla-第133节
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！
hey soon came on their way to the field of battle； where they found Kalf's body； and bore it down to the ships。 But the king penetrated into the country； killing many people and destroying much。 So says Arnor：
〃His shining sword with blood he stains； Upon Fyona's grassy plains； And in the midst of fire and smoke； The king Fyona's forces broke。〃
55。 FIN ARNASON'S EXPEDITION OUT OF THE COUNTRY。
After this Fin Arnason thought he had cause to be an enemy of the king upon account of his brother Kalf's death； and said the king had betrayed Kalf to his fall； and had also deceived him by making him entice his brother Kalf to come over from the West and trust to King Harald's faith。 When these speeches came out among people； many said that it was very foolish in Fin to have ever supposed that Kalf could obtain the king's sincere friendship and favour； for they thought the king was the man to seek revenge for smaller offences than Kalf had committed against the king。 The king let every one say what he chose； and he himself neither said yes or no about the affair； but people perceived that the king was very well pleased with what had happened。 King Harald once made these verses：
〃I have； in all； the death…stroke given To foes of mine at least eleven； Two more； perhaps； if I remember； May yet be added to this number； I prize myself upon these deeds； My people such examples needs。 Bright gold itself they would despise； Or healing leek…herb underprize； If not still brought before their eyes。〃
Fin Arnason took the business so much to heart that he left the country and went to Denmark to King Svein； where he met a friendly reception。 They spoke together in private for a long time； and the end of the business was that Fin went into King Svein's service； and became his man。 King Svein then gave Fin an earldom； and placed him in Halland； where he was long earl and defended the country against the Northmen。
56。 OF GUTHORM GUNHILDSON。
Ketil Kalf and Gunhild of Ringanes had a son called Guthorm； and he was a sister's son to King Olaf and Harald Sigurdson。 Guthorm was a gallant man； early advanced to manhood。 He was often with King Harald； who loved him much； and asked his advice； for he was of good understanding； and very popular。 Guthorm had also been engaged early in forays； and had marauded much in the Western countries with a large force。 Ireland was for him a land of peace； and he had his winter quarters often in Dublin； and was in great friendship with King Margad。
57。 GUTHORM'S JUNCTION WITH THE IRISH KING MARGAD。
The summer after King Margad； and Guthorm with him； went out on an expedition against Bretland； where they made immense booty。 But when the king saw the quantity of silver which was gathered he wanted to have the whole booty； and regarded little his friendship for Guthorm。 Guthorm was ill pleased that he and his men should be robbed of their share； but the king said； 〃Thou must choose one of two things； either to be content with what we determine； or to fight； and they shall have the booty who gain the victory； and likewise thou must give up thy ships； for them I will have。〃 Guthorm thought there were great difficulties on both sides； for it was disgraceful to give up ships and goods without a stroke； and yet it was highly dangerous to fight the king and his force； the king having sixteen ships and Guthorm only five。 Then Guthorm desired three days' time to consider the matter with his people； thinking in that time to pacify the king； and come to a better understanding with him through the mediation of others； but he could not obtain from the king what he desired。 This was the day before St。 Olaf's day。 Guthorm chose the condition that they would rather die or conquer like men； than suffer disgrace； contempt and scorn； by submitting to so great a loss。 He called upon God； and his uncle Saint Olaf； and entreated their help and aid； promising to give to the holy man's house the tenth of all the booty that fell to their share； if they gained the victory。 Then he arranged his men； placed them in battle order against the great force； prepared for battle； and gave the assault。 By the help of God； and the holy Saint Olaf； Guthorm won the battle。 King Margad fell； and every man； old and young； who followed him； and after that great victor； Guthorm and all his people returned home joyfully with all the booty they had gained by the battle。 Every tenth penny of the booty they had made was taken； according to the vow； to King Olaf the Saint's shrine； and there was so much silver that Guthorm had an image made of it； with rays round the head； which was the size of his own； or of his forecastle…man's head； and the image was seven feet high。 The image thus produced was given by Guthorm to King Olaf of the Saint's temple； where it has since remained as a memorial of Guthorm's victory and King Olaf the Saint's miracle。
58。 MIRACLE OF KING OLAF IN DENMARK。
There was a wicked； evil…minded count in Denmark who had a Norwegian servant…girl whose family belonged to Throndhjem district。 She worshipped King Olaf the Saint； and believed firmly in his sanctity。 But the above mentioned count doubted all that was told of the holy man's miracles； insisted that it was nothing but nonsense and idle talk； and made a joke and scorn of the esteem and honour which all the country people showed the good king。 Now when his holyday came； on which the mild monarch ended his life； and which all Northmen kept sacred； this unreasonable count would not observe it； but ordered his servant… girl to bake and put fire in the oven that day。 She knew well the count's mad passion； and that he would revenge himself severely on her if she refused doing as he ordered。 She went； therefore； of necessity； and baked in the oven； but wept much at her work； and she threatened King Olaf that she never would believe in him； if he did not avenge this misdeed by some mischance or other。 And now shall ye come to hear a well… deserved vengeance； and a true miracle。 It happened； namely； in the same hour that the count became blind of both eyes； and the bread which she had shoved into the oven was turned into stone！ Of these stones some are now in St。 Olaf's temple； and in other places； and since that time O1afsmas has been always held holy in Denmark。
59。 KING OLAF'S MIRACLE ON A CRIPPLE。
West in Valland； a man had such bad health that he became a cripple； and went on his knees and elbows。 One day he was upon the road； and had fallen asleep。 He dreamt that a gallant man came up to him and asked him where he was going。 When he named the neighbouring town； the man said to him； 〃Go to Saint Olaf's church that stands in London； and there thou shalt be cured。〃 There…upon he awoke； and went straightway to inquire the road to Olaf's church in London。 At last he came to London Bridge； and asked the men of the castle if they could tell him where Olaf's church was； but they replied； there were so many churches that they could not tell to whom each of them was consecrated。 Soon after a man came up and asked him where he wanted to go； and he answered to Olaf's church。 Then said the man； 〃We shall both go together to Olaf's church； for I know the way to it。〃 Thereupon they went over the bridge to the shrine where Olaf's church was； and when they came to the gates of the churchyard the man mounted over the half…door that was in the gate； but the cripple rolled himself in； and rose up immediately sound and strong： when he looked about him his conductor had vanished。
60。 KING HARALD'S FORAY IN DENMARK。
King Harald had built a merchant town in the East at Oslo； where he often resided； for there was good supply from the extensive cultivated district wide around。 There also he had a convenient station to defend the country against the Danes； or to make an attack upon Denmark； which he was in the custom of doing often； although he kept no great force on foot。 One summer King Harald went from thence with a few light ships and a few men。 He steered southwards out from Viken； and； when the wind served； stood over to Jutland； and marauded； but the country people collected and defended the country。 Then King Harald steered to Limfjord； and went into the fjord。 Limfjord is so formed that its entrance is like a narrow river； but when one gets farther into the fjord it spreads out into a wide sea。 King Harald marauded on both sides of the land； and when the Danes gathered together on every side to oppose him； he lay at a small island which was uncultivated。 They wanted drink on board his ships； and went up into the island to seek water； but finding none； they reported it to the king。 He ordered them to look for some long earthworms on the island； and when they found one they brought it to the king。 He ordered the people to bring the worm to a fire； and bake it before it； so that it should be thirsty。 Then he ordered a thread to be tied round the tail of the worm； and to let it loose。 The worm crept away immediately； while thread wound off from the clew as the worm took it away； and the people followed the worm until it sought downwards in the earth。 Ther
