heimskringla-第28节
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s。 Many men wilt thou bring to faith and baptism； and both to thy own and others' good； and that thou mayst have no doubt of the truth of this answer； listen to these tokens： When thou comest to thy ships many of thy people will conspire against thee； and then a battle will follow in which many of thy men will fall； and thou wilt be wounded almost to death； and carried upon a shield to thy ship； yet after seven days thou shalt be well of thy wounds； and immediately thou shalt let thyself be baptized。〃 Soon after Olaf went down to his ships； where he met some mutineers and people who would destroy him and his men。 A fight took place； and the result was what the hermit had predicted； that Olaf was wounded； and carried upon a shield to his ship； and that his wound was healed in seven days。 Then Olaf perceived that the man had spoken truth； that he was a true fortune…teller； and had the gift of prophecy。 Olaf went once more to the hermit； and asked particularly how he came to have such wisdom in foreseeing things to be。 The hermit replied； that the Christian God himself let him know all that he desired； and he brought before Olaf many great proofs of the power of the Almighty。 In consequence of this encouragement Olaf agreed to let himself be baptized； and he and all his followers were baptized forthwith。 He remained here a long time； took the true faith； and got with him priests and other learned men。
33。 OLAF MARRIES GYDA。
In autumn （A。D。 988） Olaf sailed from Scilly to England； where he put into a harbour； but proceeded in a friendly way； for England was Christian； and he himself had become Christian。 At this time a summons to a Thing went through the country； that all men should come to hold a Thing。 Now when the Thing was assembled a queen called Gyda came to it； a sister of Olaf Kvaran； who was king of Dublin in Ireland。 She had been married to a great earl in England； and after his death she was at the head of his dominions。 In her territory there was a man called Alfvine； who was a great champion and single…combat man。 He had paid his addresses to her； but she gave for answer； that she herself would choose whom of the men in her dominions she would take in marriage； and on that account the Thing was assembled； that she might choose a husband。 Alfvine came there dressed out in his best clothes； and there were many well…dressed men at the meeting。 Olaf had come there also； but had on his bad…weather clothes； and a coarse over…garment； and stood with his people apart from the rest of the crowd。 Gyda went round and looked at each； to see if any appeared to her a suitable man。 Now when she came to where Olaf stood she looked at him straight in the face； and asked 〃what sort of man he was？〃
He said； 〃I am called Ole； and I am a stranger here。〃
Gyda replies； 〃Wilt thou have me if I choose thee？〃
〃I will not say no to that；〃 answered he； and he asked what her name was； and her family； and descent。
〃I am called Gyda；〃 said she； 〃and am daughter of the king of Ireland； and was married in this country to an earl who ruled over this territory。 Since his death I have ruled over it； and many have courted me； but none to whom I would choose to be married。〃
She was a young and handsome woman。 They afterwards talked over the matter together； and agreed； and Olaf and Gyda were betrothed。
34。 KING OLAF AND ALFVINE'S DUEL。
Alfvine was very ill pleased with this。 It was the custom then in England； if two strove for anything； to settle the matter by single combat （1）； and now Alfvine challenges Olaf Trygvason to fight about this business。 The time and place for the combat were settled； and that each should have twelve men with him。 When they met； Olaf told his men to do exactly as they saw him do。 He had a large axe； and when Alfvine was going to cut at him with his sword he hewed away the sword out of his hand； and with the next blow struck down Alfvine himself。 He then bound him fast。 It went in the same way with all Alfvine's men。 They were beaten down； bound； and carried to Olaf's lodging。 Thereupon he ordered Alfvine to quit the country； and never appear in it again； and Olaf took all his property。 Olaf in this way got Gyda in marriage； and lived sometimes in England； and sometimes in Ireland。
ENDNOTES： （1） Holm…gang： so called because the combatants went to a holm or uninhabited isle to fight in Norway。 L。
35。 KING OLAF GETS HIS DOG VIGE。
While Olaf was in Ireland he was once on an expedition which went by sea。 As they required to make a foray for provisions on the coast； some of his men landed； and drove down a large herd of cattle to the strand。 Now a peasant came up； and entreated Olaf to give him back the cows that belonged to him。 Olaf told him to take his cows； if he could distinguish them； 〃but don't delay our march。〃 The peasant had with him a large house…dog； which he put in among the herd of cattle； in which many hundred head of beasts were driven together。 The dog ran into the herd； and drove out exactly the number which the peasant had said he wanted； and all were marked with the same mark； which showed that the dog knew the right beasts； and was very sagacious。 Olaf then asked the peasant if he would sell him the dog。 〃I would rather give him to you；〃 said the peasant。 Olaf immediately presented him with a gold ring in return； and promised him his friendship in future。 This dog was called Vige； and was the very best of dogs； and Olaf owned him long afterwards。
36。 HARALD GORMSON SAILS AGAINST ICELAND。
The Danish king； Harald Gormson； heard that Earl Hakon had thrown off Christianity； and had plundered far and wide in the Danish land。 The Danish king levied an army； with which he went to Norway； and when he came to the country which Earl Hakon had to rule over he laid waste the whole land； and came with his fleet to some islands called Solunder。 Only five houses were left standing in Laeradal； but all the people fled up to the mountains； and into the forest； taking with them all the moveable goods they could carry with them。 Then the Danish king proposed to sail with his fleet to Iceland； to avenge the mockery and scorn all the Icelanders had shown towards him； for they had made a law in Iceland； that they should make as many lampoons against the Danish king as there were headlands in his country； and the reason was； because a vessel which belonged to certain Icelanders was stranded in Denmark； and the Danes took all the property； and called it wreck。 One of the king's bailiffs called Birger was to blame for this； but the lampoons were made against both。 In the lampoons were the following lines：
〃The gallant Harald in the field Between his legs lets drop his shield； Into a pony he was changed。 And kicked his shield； and safely ranged。 And Birger； he who dwells in halls For safety built with four stone walls； That these might be a worthy pair； Was changed into a pony mare。〃
37。 HARALD SENDS A WARLOCK TO ICELAND。
King Harald told a warlock to hie to Iceland in some altered shape； and to try what he could learn there to tell him： and he set out in the shape of a whale。 And when he came near to the land he went to the west side of Iceland； north around the land； where he saw all the mountains and hills full of guardian… spirits； some great； some small。 When he came to Vapnafjord he went in towards the land； intending to go on shore； but a huge dragon rushed down the dale against him with a train of serpents； paddocks； and toads； that blew poison towards him。 Then he turned to go westward around the land as far as Eyjafjord； and he went into the fjord。 Then a bird flew against him； which was so great that its wings stretched over the mountains on either side of the fjord； and many birds； great and small； with it。 Then he swam farther west； and then south into Breidafjord。 When he came into the fjord a large grey bull ran against him； wading into the sea； and bellowing fearfully； and he was followed by a crowd of land…spirits。 From thence he went round by Reykjanes； and wanted to land at Vikarsskeid； but there came down a hill…giant against him with an iron staff in his hands。 He was a head higher than the mountains； and many other giants followed him。 He then swam eastward along the land； and there was nothing to see； he said； but sand and vast deserts； and； without the skerries； high… breaking surf； and the ocean between the countries was so wide that a long…ship could not cross it。 At that time Brodhelge dwelt in Vapnafjord； Eyjolf Valgerdson in Eyjafjord； Thord Geller in Breidafjord； and Thorod Gode in Olfus。 Then the Danish king turned about with his fleet； and sailed back to Denmark。
Hakon the earl settled habitations again in the country that had been laid waste； and paid no scat as long as he lived to Denmark。
38。 HARALD GORMSON'S DEATH。
Svein； King Harald's son； who afterwards was called Tjuguskeg （forked beard）； asked his father King Harald for a part of his kingdom； but now； as before； Harald would not listen to dividing the Danish dominions； and giving him a kingdom。 Svein collected ships of war； and gave out that he was going on a viking cruise； b
