heimskringla-第92节
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me running and calls with great haste to Leif Ossurson； telling him to come as quickly as possible to Lagman Gille's tent； 〃for；〃 says he； 〃Sirurd Thorlakson ran in just now into the mouth of the tent； and gave one of Gille's men a desperate wound。〃 Leif rose up instantly； and went off to Gille's tent along with his men。 Karl remained sitting； and the Norway people stood around in all corners。 Gaut immediately sprang up； and struck with a hand…axe over the heads of the people； and the stroke came on Karl's head； but the wound was slight。 Thord the Low seized the stick…axe； which lay in the field at his side； and struck the axe…blade right into Karl's skull。 Many people now streamed out of Thrand's tent。 Karl was carried away dead。 Thrand was much grieved at this event； and offered money…mulcts for his relations； but Leif and Gille； who had to prosecute the business； would accept no mulct。 Sigurd was banished the country for having wounded Gille's tent comrade； and Gaut and Thord for the murder of Karl。 The Norway people rigged out the vessel which Karl had with him； and sailed eastward to Olaf； and gave him these tidings。 He was in no pleasant humour at it； and threatened a speedy vengeance； but it was not allotted by fate to King Olaf to revenge himself on Thrand and his relations； because of the hostilities which had begun in Norway； and which are now to be related。 And there is nothing more to be told of what happened after King Olaf sent men to the Farey Islands to take scat of them。 But great strife arose after Karl's death in the Farey Islands between the family of Thrand of Gata and Leif Ossurson； and of which there are great sagas。
154。 KING OLAF'S EXPEDITION WITH HIS LEVY。
Now we must proceed with the relation we began before； that King Olaf set out with his men； and raised a levy over the whole country （A。D。 1027）。 All lendermen in the North followed him excepting Einar Tambaskelfer； who sat quietly at home upon his farm since his return to the country； and did not serve the king。 Einar had great estates and wealth； although he held no fiefs from the king； and he lived splendidly。 King Olaf sailed with his fleet south around Stad； and many people from the districts around joined him。 King Olaf himself had a ship which he had got built the winter before （A。D。 1027）； and which was called the Visund （1）。 It was a very large ship； with a bison's head gilded all over upon the bow。 Sigvat the skald speaks thus of it：
〃Trygvason's Long Serpent bore； Grim gaping o'er the waves before； A dragon's head with open throat； When last the hero was afloat： His cruise was closed； As God disposed。 Olaf has raised a bison's head； Which proudly seems the waves to tread。 While o'er its golden forehead dashing The waves its glittering horns are washing： May God dispose A luckier close。〃
The king went on to Hordaland； there he heard the news that Erling Skjalgson had left the country with a great force； and four or five ships。 He himself had a large war…ship； and his sons had three of twenty rowing…banks each； and they had sailed westward to England to Canute the Great。 Then King Olaf sailed eastward along the land with a mighty war…force； and he inquired everywhere if anything was known of Canute's proceedings； and all agreed in saying he was in England but added that he was fitting out a levy； and intended coming to Norway。 As Olaf had a large fleet； and could not discover with certainty where he should go to meet King Canute； and as his people were dissatisfied with lying quiet in one place with so large an armament； he resolved to sail with his fleet south to Denmark； and took with him all the men who were best appointed and most warlike； and he gave leave to the others to return home。 Now the people whom he thought of little use having gone home； King Olaf had many excellent and stout men…at…arms besides those who； as before related； had fled the country； or sat quietly at home； and most of the chief men and lendermen of Norway were along with him。
ENDNOTES： （1） Visundr is the buffalo； although the modern bison； or American animal of that name； might have been known through the Greenland colonists； who in this reign had visited some parts of America。 L。
155。 OF KING OLAF AND KING ONUND。
When King Olaf sailed to Denmark； he set his course for Seeland； and when he came there he made incursions on the land； and began to plunder。 The country people were severely treated； some were killed； some bound and dragged to the ships。 All who could do so took to flight； and made no opposition。 King Olaf committed there the greatest ravages。 While Olaf was in Seeland； the news came that King Onund Olafson of Sweden had raised a levy； and fallen upon Scania； and was ravaging there； and then it became known what the resolution had been that the two kings had taken at the Gaut river； where they had concluded a union and friendship； and had bound themselves to oppose King Canute。 King Onund continued his march until he met his brother…in…law King Olaf。 When they met they made proclamation both to their own people and to the people of the country； that they intended to conquer Denmark； and asked the support of the people of the country for this purpose。 And it happened； as we find examples of everywhere； that if hostilities are brought upon the people of a country not strong enough to withstand； the greatest number will submit to the conditions by which peace can be purchased at any rate。 So it happened here that many men went into the service of the kings； and agreed to submit to them。 Wheresoever they went they laid the country all round subjection to them； and otherwise laid waste all with fire and sword。
Of this foray Sigvat the skald speaks； in a ballad he composed concerning King Canute the Great：
〃‘Canute is on the sea！' The news is told； And the Norsemen bold Repeat it with great glee。 And it runs from mouth to mouth ‘On a lucky day We came away From Throndhjem to the south。' Across the cold East sea； The Swedish king His host did bring； To gain great victory。 King Onund came to fight； In Seeland's plains； Against the Danes； With his steel…clad men so bright。 Canute is on the land； Side to side His long…ships ride Along the yellow strand。 Where waves wash the green banks； Mast to mast； All bound fast； His great fleet lies in ranks。〃
154。 OF KING CANUTE THE GREAT。
King Canute had heard in England that King Olaf of Norway had called out a levy； and had gone with his forces to Denmark； and was making great ravages in his dominions there。 Canute began to gather people； and he had speedily collected a great army and a numerous fleet。 Earl Hakon was second in command over the whole。
Sigvat the skald came this summer （A。D。 1027） from the West； from Ruda （Rouen） in Valland； and with him was a man called Berg。 They had made a merchant voyage there the summer before。 Sigvat had made a little poem about this journey； called 〃The Western Traveller's Song；〃 which begins thus：
〃Berg！ many a merry morn was pass'd； When our vessel was made fast； And we lay on the glittering tide or Rouen river's western side。〃
When Sigvat came to England he went directly to King Canute； and asked his leave to proceed to Norway； for King Canute had forbidden all merchant vessels to sail until he himself was ready with his fleet。 When Sigvat arrived he went to the house in which the king was lodged； but the doors were locked； and he had to stand a long time outside； but when he got admittance he obtained the permission he desired。 He then sang：
〃The way to Jutland's king I sought； A little patience I was taught。 The doors were shut all full within； The udaller could not get in。 But Gorm's great son did condescend To his own chamber me to send； And grant my prayer although I'm one Whose arms the fetters' weight have known。〃
When Sigvat became aware that King Canute was equipping an armament against King Olaf； and knew what a mighty force King Canute had； he made these lines：
〃The mighty Canute； and Earl Hakon； Have leagued themselves； and counsel taken Against King Olaf's life； And are ready for the strife。 In spite of king and earl； I say； ‘I love him well may he get away：' On the Fields； wild and dreary； With him I'd live； and ne'er be weary。〃
Sigvat made many other songs concerning this expedition of Canute and Hakon。 He made this among others：
〃‘Twas not the earl's intention then 'Twixt Olaf and the udalmen Peace to establish； and the land Upright to hold with Northman's hand； But ever with deceit and lies Eirik's descendant； Hakon； tries To make ill…will and discontent； Till all the udalmen are bent Against King Olaf's rule to rise。〃
157。 OF KING CANUTE'S SHIP THE DRAGON。
Canute the Great was at last ready with his fleet； and left the land； an
