heimskringla-第144节

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；〃　said　King　Canute；　　〃either　take　sixty　ships；　which　I　will　furnish　thee　with；　and　be　thou　the　leader；　or　give　me　sixty　ships；　and　I　shall　be　the　leader。〃　　Then　said　King　Olaf；　〃This　speech　of　thine；　King　Canute；　is　altogether　according　to　my　mind；　but　there　is　this　great　difference　between　us；　your　family　has　had　more　luck　in　conquering　England　with　great　glory；　and；　among　others；　King　Canute　the　Great；　and　it　is　likely　that　this　good　fortune　follows　your　race。　　On　the　other　hand；　when　King　Harald；　my　father；　went　westward　to　England；　he　got　his　death　there；　and　at　that　time　the　best　men　in　Norway　followed　him。　　But　Norway　was　so　emptied　then　of　chosen　men；　that　such　men　have　not　since　been　to　find　in　the　country；　for　that　expedition　there　was　the　most　excellent　outfit；　and　you　know　what　was　the　end　of　it。　　Now　I　know　my　own　capacity；　and　how　little　I　am　suited　to　be　the　leader；　so　I　would　rather　you　should　go；　with　my　help　and　assistance。〃

So　King　Olaf　gave　Canute　sixty　large　ships；　with　excellent　equipment　and　faithful　men；　and　set　his　lendermen　as　chiefs　over　them；　and　all　must　allow　that　this　armament　was　admirably　equipt。　It　is　also　told　in　the　saga　about　Canute；　that　the　Northmen　alone　did　not　break　the　levy　when　the　army　was　assembled；　but　the　Danes　would　not　obey　their　king's　orders。　　This　king　Canute　acknowledged；　and　gave　them　leave　to　trade　in　merchandise　where　they　pleased　through　his　country；　and　at　the　same　time　sent　the　king　of　Norway　costly　presents　for　his　assistance。　　On　the　other　hand　he　was　enraged　against　the　Danes；　and　laid　heavy　fines　upon　them。



10。　A　BONDE　WHO　UNDERSTOOD　THE　LANGUAGE　OF　BIRDS。

One　summer；　when　King　Olaf's　men　had　gone　round　the　country　collecting　his　income　and　land　dues；　it　happened　that　the　king；　on　their　return　home　asked　them　where　on　their　expedition　they　had　been　best　entertained。　　They　said　it　was　in　the　house　of　a　bonde　in　one　of　the　king's　districts。　　〃There　is　an　old　bonde　there　who　knows　many　things　before　they　happen。　　We　asked　him　about　many　things；　which　he　explained　to　us；　nay；　we　even　believe　that　he　understands　perfectly　the　language　of　birds。〃　　The　king　replies；　〃How　can　ye　believe　such　nonsense？〃　and　insisted　that　it　was　wrong　to　put　confidence　in　such　things。　　It　happened　soon　after　that　the　king　was　sailing　along　the　coast；　and　as　they　sailed　through　a　Sound　the　king　said；　〃What　is　that　township　up　in　the　country？〃

They　replied；　〃That　is　the　district；　sire；　where　we　told　you　we　were　best　entertained。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃What　house　is　that　which　stands　up　there；　not　far　from　the　Sound？〃

They　replied；　〃That　house　belongs　to　the　wise　old　bonde　we　told　you　of；　sire。〃

They　saw　now　a　horse　standing　close　to　the　house。　　Then　said　the　king；　〃Go　there；　and　take　that　horse；　and　kill　him。〃

They　replied；　〃We　would　not　like　to　do　him　such　harm。〃

The　king：　〃I　will　command。　　Cut　off　the　horse's　head；　but　take　care　of　yourselves　that　ye　let　no　blood　come　to　the　ground；　and　bear　the　horse　out　to　my　ship。　　Go　then　and　bring　to　me　the　old　man；　but　tell　him　nothing　of　what　has　happened；　as　ye　shall　answer　for　it　with　your　lives。〃

They　did　as　they　were　ordered；　and　then　came　to　the　old　man；　and　told　him　the　king's　message。　　When　he　came　before　the　king；　the　king　asked　him；　〃Who　owns　the　house　thou　art　dwelling　in？〃

He　replies；　〃Sire；　you　own　it；　and　take　rent　for　it。〃

The　king：　〃Show　us　the　way　round　the　ness；　for　here　thou　must　be　a　good　pilot。〃

The　old　man　went　into　his　boat　and　rowed　before　the　king's　ship；　and　when　he　had　rowed　a　little　way　a　crow　came　flying　over　the　ship；　and　croaking　hideously。　　The　peasant　listens　to　the　crow。　The　king　said；　〃Do　you　think；　bonde；　that　betokens　anything？〃

〃Sire；　that　is　certain；〃　said　he。

Then　another　crow　flies　over　the　ship；　and　screeches　dreadfully。　The　bonde　was　so　ill　hearing　this　that　he　could　not　row；　and　the　oars　hung　loose　in　his　hands。

Then　said　the　king；　〃Thy　mind　is　turned　much　to　these　crows；　bonde；　and　to　what　they　say。〃

The　bonde　replies；　〃Now　I　suspect　it　is　true　what　they　say。〃

The　third　time　the　crow　came　flying　screeching　at　its　very　worst；　and　almost　settling　on　the　ship。　　Now　the　bonde　threw　down　his　oars；　regarded　them　no　more；　and　stood　up　before　the　king。

Then　the　king　said；　〃Thou　art　taking　this　much　to　heart；　bonde；　what　is　it　they　say？〃

The　peasant　　〃It　is　likely　that　either　they　or　I　have　misunderstood　　〃

〃Say　on；〃　replied　the　king。

The　bonde　replied　in　a　song：　

　　　　　〃The　‘one…year　old'　　　　　　Mere　nonsense　told；　　　　　　The　‘two…years'　chatter　　　　　　Seemed　senseless　matter；　　　　　　The　three…years'　croak　　　　　　Of　wonders　spoke。　　　　　　The　foul　bird　said　　　　　　My　old　mare's　head　　　　　　I　row　along；　　　　　　And；　in　her　song；　　　　　　She　said　the　thief　　　　　　Was　the　land's　chief。〃

The　king　said；　〃What　is　this；　bonde！　　Wilt　thou　call　me　a　thief？〃

Then　the　king　gave　him　good　presents；　and　remitted　all　the　land…　rent　of　the　place　he　lived　on。　　So　says　Stein：　

　　　　　〃The　pillar　of　our　royal　race　　　　　　Stands　forth　adorned　with　every　grace。　　　　　　What　king　before　e'er　took　such　pride　　　　　　To　scatter　bounty　far　and　wide？　　　　　　Hung　round　with　shields　that　gleam　afar；　　　　　　The　merchant　ship　on　one　bestows；　　　　　　With　painted　streaks　in　glowing　rows。

　　　　　〃The　man…at…arms　a　golden　ring　　　　　　Boasts　as　the　present　of　his　king；　　　　　　At　the　king's　table　sits　the　guest；　　　　　　By　the　king's　bounty　richly　drest。　　　　　　King　Olaf；　Norway's　royal　son；　　　　　　Who　from　the　English　glory　won；　　　　　　Pours　out　with　ready…giving　hand　　　　　　His　wealth　on　children　of　the　land。

　　　　　〃Brave　clothes　to　servants　he　awards；　　　　　　Helms　and　ring…mail　coats　grace　his　guards；　　　　　　Or　axe　and　sword　Har's　warriors　gain；　　　　　　And　heavy　armour　for　the　plain。　　　　　　Gold；　too；　for　service　duly　paid；　　　　　　Red　gold　all　pure；　and　duly　weighed；　　　　　　King　Olaf　gives　　be　loves　to　pay　　　　　　All　service　in　a　royal　way。〃



11。　OF　KING　OLAF　KYRRE'S　DEATH。

King　Olaf　lived　principally　in　his　domains　on　his　large　farms。　Once　when　he　was　east　in　Ranrike；　on　his　estate　of　Haukby；　he　took　the　disease　which　ended　in　his　death。　　He　had　then　been　king　of　Norway　for　twenty…six　years　（A。D。　1068…1093）；　for　he　was　made　king　of　Norway　the　year　after　King　Harald's　death。　　King　Olaf's　body　was　taken　north　to　Nidaros；　and　buried　in　Christ　church；　which　he　himself　had　built　there。　　He　was　the　most　amiable　king　of　his　time；　and　Norway　was　much　improved　in　riches　and　cultivation　during　his　reign。



MAGNUS　BAREFOOT'S　SAGA。


PRELIMINARY　REMARKS。

The　greater　part　of　the　contents　of　this　saga　is　also　found　in　〃Agrip〃；　〃Fagrskinna〃；　and　〃Morkinskinna〃。

Magnus　and　his　cousin　Hakon　became　kings　in　1093；　but　Hakon　ruled　only　two　years　and　died　in　1095。　　King　Magnus　fell　in　the　year　1103。

Skalds　quoted　are：　Bjorn　Krephende；　Thorkel　Hamarskald；　and　Eldjarn。



1。　BEGINNING　OF　THE　REIGN　OF　KING　MAGNUS　AND　HIS　COUSIN　HAKON。

Magnus；　King　Olaf's　son；　was；　immediately　after　King　Olaf's　death；　proclaimed　at　Viken　king　of　all　Norway；　but　the　Upland　people；　on　hearing　of　King　Olaf's　death；　chose　Hakon；　Thorer's　foster…son；　a　cousin　of　King　Magnus；　as　king。　　Thereupon　Hakon　and　Thorer　went　north　to　the　Throndhjem　country；　and　when　they　came　to　Nidaros　they　summoned　the　Eyrathing；　and　at　that　Thing　Hakon　desired　the　bondes　to　give　him　the　kingly　title；　which　was　agreed　to；　and　the　Throndhjem　people　proclaimed　him　king　of　half　of　Norway；　as　his　father；　King　Magnus；　had　been　before。　　Hakon　relieved　the　Throndhjem　people　of　all　harbour　duties；　and　gave　them　many　other　privileges。　　He　did　away　with　Yule…gifts；　and　gained　by　this　the　good…will　of　all　the　Throndhjem　people。　Thereafter　Hakon　formed　a　court；　and　then　proceeded　to　the　Uplands；　where　he　gave　the　Upland　people　the　same　privileges　as　the　Throndhjem　people；　so　that　they　also　were　perfectly　well　affected　to　him；　and　were　his　friends。　　The　people　in　Throndhjem　sang　this　ballad　about　him：　

　　　　　〃Young　Hakon　was　the　Norseman's　pride；　　　　　　And　Steig…Thorer　was　on　his　side。　　　　　　Young　Hakon　from　the　Upland　came；　　　　　　With　royal　birth；　and　blood；　and　name。　　　　　　Young　Hakon　from　the　king　demands　　　　　　His　royal　birthright；　half　the　lands；　　　　　　Magnus　will　not　the　kingdom　break；　　　　　　　The　whole　or　nothing　he　will　take。〃



2。　HAKON'S　DEATH。

King　Magnus　proceeded　north　to　the　merchant　town　（Nidaros）；　and　on　his　arrival　went　straight　to　the　king's　house；　and　there　took　up　his　abode。　　He　remained　here　the　first　part　of　the　winter　（A。D。　1094）；　and　kept　seven　longships　in　the　open　water　of　the　river　Nid；　abreast　of　the　king's　house。　　Now　when　King　Hakon　heard　that　King　Magnus　was　come　to　Throndhjem；　he　came　from　the　East　over　the　Dovrefield；　and　thence　down　from　Throndhjem　to　the　merchant　town；　where　he　took　up　his　abode　in　the　house　of　Skule；　opposite　to　Clement's　church；　which　had　formerly　been　the　king's　house。　　King　Magnus　was　ill　pleased　with　the　great　gifts　which　Hakon　had　given　to　the　bondes　to　gain　their　favour；　and　thought　it　was　so　much　given　out　of　his　own　property。　　This　irritated　his　mind；　and　he　thought　he　had　suffered　injustice　from　his　relative　in　this　respect；　that　he　must　now　put　up　with　less　income　than　his　father　and　his　predecessors　before　him　had　enjoyed；　and　he