heimskringla-第7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！
and in Viken and the Uplands； when King Harald was absent。
22。 KING HARALD'S VOYAGE TO THE WEST。
King Harald heard that the vikings； who were in the West sea in winter； plundered far and wide in the middle part of Norway； and therefore every summer he made an expedition to search the isles and out…skerries （1） on the coast。 Wheresoever the vikings heard of him they all took to flight； and most of them out into the open ocean。 At last the king grew weary of this work； and therefore one summer he sailed with his fleet right out into the West sea。 First he came to Hjaltland （Shetland）； and he slew all the vikings who could not save themselves by flight。 Then King Harald sailed southwards； to the Orkney Islands； and cleared them all of vikings。 Thereafter he proceeded to the Sudreys （Hebrides）； plundered there； and slew many vikings who formerly had had men…at…arms under them。 Many a battle was fought； and King Harald was always victorious。 He then plundered far and wide in Scotland itself； and had a battle there。 When he was come westward as far as the Isle of Man； the report of his exploits on the land had gone before him； for all the inhabitants had fled over to Scotland； and the island was left entirely bare both of people and goods； so that King Harald and his men made no booty when they landed。 So says Hornklofe：
〃The wise； the noble king； great Whose hand so freely scatters gold； Led many a northern shield to war Against the town upon the shore。 The wolves soon gathered on the sand Of that sea…shore； for Harald's hand The Scottish army drove away； And on the coast left wolves a prey。〃
In this war fell Ivar； a son of Ragnvald； Earl of More； and King Harald gave Ragnvald； as a compensation for the loss； the Orkney and Shetland isles； when he sailed from the West； but Ragnvald immediately gave both these countries to his brother Sigurd； who remained behind them； and King Harald； before sailing eastward； gave Sigurd the earldom of them。 Thorstein the Red； a son of Olaf the White and of Aud the Wealthy； entered into partnership with him； and after plundering in Scotland； they subdued Caithness and Sutherland； as far as Ekkjalsbakke。 Earl Sigurd killed Melbridge Tooth； a Scotch earl； and hung his head to his stirrup…leather； but the calf of his leg were scratched by the teeth； which were sticking out from the head； and the wound caused inflammation in his leg； of which the earl died； and he was laid in a mound at Ekkjalsbakke。 His son Guthorm ruled over these countries for about a year thereafter； and died without children。 Many vikings； both Danes and Northmen； set themselves down then in those countries。
ENDNOTES： （1） Skerries are the uninhabited dry or halt…tide rocks of a coast。 L。
23。 HARALD HAS HIS HAIR CLIPPED。
After King Harald had subdued the whole land； he was one day at a feast in More； given by Earl Ragnvald。 Then King Harald went into a bath； and had his hair dressed。 Earl Ragnvald now cut his hair； which had been uncut and uncombed for ten years； and therefore the king had been called Lufa （i。e。； with rough matted hair）。 But then Earl Ragnvald gave him the distinguishing name Harald Harfager （i。e。； fair hair）； and all who saw him agreed that there was the greatest truth in the surname； for he had the most beautiful and abundant head of hair。
24。 ROLF GANGER DRIVEN INTO BANISHMENT。
Earl Ragnvald was King Harald's dearest friend； and the king had the greatest regard for him。 He was married to Hild； a daughter of Rolf Nefia； and their sons were Rolf and Thorer。 Earl Ragnvald had also three sons by concubines； the one called Hallad； the second Einar； the third Hrollaug； and all three were grown men when their brothers born in marriage were still children Rolf became a great viking； and was of so stout a growth that no horse could carry him； and wheresoever he went he must go on foot； and therefore he was called Rolf Ganger。 He plundered much in the East sea。 One summer； as he was coming from the eastward on a viking's expedition to the coast of Viken； he landed there and made a cattle foray。 As King Harald happened； just at that time； to be in Viken； he heard of it； and was in a great rage； for he had forbid； by the greatest punishment； the plundering within the bounds of the country。 The king assembled a Thing； and had Rolf declared an outlaw over all Norway。 When Rolf's mother； Hild heard of it she hastened to the king； and entreated peace for Rolf； but the king was so enraged that here entreaty was of no avail。 Then Hild spake these lines：
〃Think'st thou； King Harald； in thy anger； To drive away my brave Rolf Ganger Like a mad wolf； from out the land？ Why； Harald； raise thy mighty hand？ Why banish Nefia's gallant name…son； The brother of brave udal…men？ Why is thy cruelty so fell？ Bethink thee； monarch； it is ill With such a wolf at wolf to play； Who； driven to the wild woods away May make the king's best deer his prey。〃
Rolf Ganger went afterwards over sea to the West to the Hebrides； or Sudreys； and at last farther west to Valland； where he plundered and subdued for himself a great earldom； which he peopled with Northmen； from which that land is called Normandy。 Rolf Ganger's son was William； father to Richard； and grandfather to another Richard； who was the father of Robert Longspear； and grandfather of William the Bastard； from whom all the following English kings are descended。 From Rolf Ganger also are descended the earls in Normandy。 Queen Ragnhild the Mighty lived three years after she came to Norway； and； after her death； her son and King Harald's was taken to the herse Thorer Hroaldson； and Eirik was fostered by him。
25。 OF THE FIN SVASE AND KING HARALD。
King Harald； one winter； went about in guest…quarters in the Uplands； and had ordered a Christmas feast to be prepared for him at the farm Thoptar。 On Christmas eve came Svase to the door； just as the king went to table； and sent a message to the king to ask if he would go out with him。 The king was angry at such a message； and the man who had brought it in took out with him a reply of the king's displeasure。 But Svase； notwithstanding； desired that his message should be delivered a second time； adding to it； that he was the Fin whose hut the king had promised to visit； and which stood on the other side of the ridge。 Now the king went out； and promised to go with him； and went over the ridge to his hut； although some of his men dissuaded him。 There stood Snaefrid； the daughter of Svase； a most beautiful girl； and she filled a cup of mead for the king。 But he took hold both of the cup and of her hand。 Immediately it was as if a hot fire went through his body； and he wanted that very night to take her to his bed。 But Svase said that should not be unless by main force； if he did not first make her his lawful wife。 Now King Harald made Snaefrid his lawful wife； and loved her so passionately that he forgot his kingdom； and all that belonged to his high dignity。 They had four sons： the one was Sigurd Hrise； the others Halfdan Haleg； Gudrod Ljome and Ragnvald Rettilbeine。 Thereafter Snaefrid died； but her corpse never changed； but was as fresh and red as when she lived。 The king sat always beside her； and thought she would come to life again。 And so it went on for three years that he was sorrowing over her death； and the people over his delusion。 At last Thorleif the Wise succeeded； by his prudence； in curing him of his delusion by accosting him thus： 〃It is nowise wonderful； king； that thou grievest over so beautiful and noble a wife； and bestowest costly coverlets and beds of down on her corpse； as she desired； but these honours fall short of what is due； as she still lies in the same clothes。 It would be more suitable to raise her； and change her dress。〃 As soon as the body was raised in the bed all sorts of corruption and foul smells came from it； and it was necessary in all haste to gather a pile of wood and burn it； but before this could be done the body turned blue； and worms； toads； newts； paddocks； and all sorts of ugly reptiles came out of it； and it sank into ashes。 Now the king came to his understanding again； threw the madness out of his mind； and after that day ruled his kingdom as before。 He was strengthened and made joyful by his subjects； and his subjects by him and the country by both。
26。 OF THJODOLF OF HVIN； THE SKALD。
After King Harald had experienced the cunning of the Fin woman； he was so angry that he drove from him the sons he had with her； and would not suffer them before his eyes。 But one of them； Gudrod Ljome； went to his foster…father Thjodolf of Hvin； and asked him to go to the king； who was then in the Uplands； for Thjodolf was a great friend of the king。 And so they went； and came to the king's house late in the evening； and sat down together unnoticed near the door。 The king walked up and down the floor casting his eye along the benches； for he had a feast in the house； and the mead was just mixed。 The king then murmured out these lines：
〃Tell me； ye aged gray…haired heroes； Who have come here to seek repose；
