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！
augar in Karmtsund。 In Haugesund is a church； now standing； and not far from the churchyard； at the north…west side； is King Harald Harfager's mound； but his grave…stone stands west of the church； and is thirteen feet and a half high； and two ells broad。 One stone was set at head and one at the feet； on the top lay the slab； and below on both sides were laid small stones。 The grave； mound； and stone； are there to the present day。 Harald Harfager was； according to the report of men~of knowledge； or remarkably handsome appearance； great and strong； and very generous and affable to his men。 He was a great warrior in his youth； and people think that this was foretold by his mother's dream before his birth； as the lowest part of the tree she dreamt of was red as blood。 The stem again was green and beautiful； which betokened his flourishing kingdom； and that the tree was white at the top showed that he should reach a grey…haired old age。 The branches and twigs showed forth his posterity； spread over the whole land； for of his race； ever since。 Norway has always had kings。
46。 THE DEATH OF OLAF AND OF SIGROD。
King Eirik took all the revenues （A。D。 934）； which the king had in the middle of the country； the next winter after King Harald's decease。 But Olaf took all the revenues eastward in Viken； and their brother Sigrod all that of the Throndhjem country。 Eirik was very ill pleased with this； and the report went that he would attempt with force to get the sole sovereignty over the country； in the same way as his father had given it to him。 Now when Olaf and Sigrod heard this； messengers passed between them； and after appointing a meeting place； Sigrod went eastward in spring to Viken； and he and his brother Olaf met at Tunsberg； and remained there a while。 The same spring （A。D。 934）； King Eirik levied a great force； and ships and steered towards Viken。 He got such a strong steady gale that he sailed night and day； and came faster than the news of him。 When he came to Tunsberg； Olaf and Sigrod； with their forces； went out of the town a little eastward to a ridge； where they drew up their men in battle order； but as Eirik had many more men he won the battle。 Both brothers； Olaf and Sigrod； fell there； and both their grave…mounds are upon the ridge where they fell。 Then King Eirik went through Viken； and subdued it； and remained far into summer。 Gudrod and Trygve fled to the Uplands。 Eirik was a stout handsome man； strong； and very manly； a great and fortunate man of war； but bad…minded； gruff； unfriendly； and silent。 Gunhild； his wife； was the most beautiful of women； clever； with much knowledge； and lively； but a very false person； and very cruel in disposition。 The children of King Eirik and Gunhild were； Gamle； the oldest； then Guthorm； Harald； Ragnfrod； Ragnhild； Erling； Gudrod； and Sigurd Sleva。 All were handsome； and of manly appearance （1）。
ENDNOTES： （1） Of Eirik； his wife； and children； see the following sagas。
HAKON THE GOOD'S SAGA。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
Of Eirik Blood…axe's five years' reign Snorre has no separate saga。 He appears not to have been beloved by the people and his queen Gunhild seems to have had a bad influence on him。
Other accounts of Hakon may be found in 〃Fagrskinna〃 （chaps。 25…34）； 〃Agrip〃； 〃Historia〃； 〃Norvegiae〃； and in 〃Thjodrek〃 （chap。 4）。
The reader is also referred to 〃Saxo〃； 〃Egla〃； 〃Laxdaela〃； 〃Kormaks Saga〃； 〃Gisle Surssons Saga〃； 〃Halfred's Saga〃； 〃Floamanna Saga〃； 〃Viga Glum's Saga〃； and to 〃Landnamabok〃。
Skald mentioned in this Saga are： Glum Geirason； Thord Sjarekson； Guthorm Sindre； Kormak Ogmundson； and Eyvind Skaldaspiller。 In the 〃Egla〃 are found many poems belonging to this epoch by Egil Skallagrimson。
In 〃Fagrskinna〃 is found a poem （not given by Snorre） which Gunhild （his wife） had made on King Eirik after his death； telling how Odin welcomed him to Valhal。 The author or skald who composed it is not known； but it is considered to be one of the gems of old Norse poetry； and we here quote it in Vigfusson's translation in his 〃Corpus Poeticum〃； vol。 i。 pp。 260； 261。 Gudbrand Vigfusson has filled up a few gaps from 〃Hakonarmat〃； the poem at the end of this Saga。 We have changed Vigfusson's orthography of names； and brought them into harmony with the spelling used in this work： Ed。
〃Odin wakes in the morning and cries； as he opens his eyes； with his dream still fresh in his mind： ‘What dreams are these？ I thought I arose before daybreak to make Valhal ready for a host of slain。 I woke up the host of the chosen。 I bade them ride up to strew the benches； and to till up the beer…vats； and I bade valkyries to bear the wine； as if a king were coming。 I look for the coming of some noble chiefs from the earth； wherefore my heart is glad。'
〃Brage； Odin's counsellor； now wakes； as a great din is heard without； and calls out： ‘What is that thundering？ as if a thousand men or some great host were tramping on the walls and the benches are creaking withal as if Balder was coming back to the ball of Odin？'
〃Odin answers： ‘Surely thou speakest foolishly； good Brage； although thou art very wise。 It thunders for Eirik the king； that is coming to the hall of Odin。'
〃Then turning to his heroes； he cries： ‘Sigmund and Sinfjotle； rise in haste and go forth to meet the prince！ Bid him in if it be Eirik； for it is he whom I look for。'
〃Sigmund answers： ‘Why lookest thou more for Eirik； the king； to Odin's hall； than for other kings？'
〃Odin answers： ‘Because he has reddened his brand； and borne his bloody sword in many a land。'
〃Quoth Sigmund： ‘Why didst thou rob him； the chosen king of victory then； seeing thou thoughtest him so brave？'
〃Odin answered： ‘Because it is not surely to be known； when the grey wolf shall come upon the seat of the god。'
SECOND SCENE。 Without Valhal。 Sigmund and Sinfjotle go outside the hall and meet Eirik。
〃Quoth Sigmund： ‘Hail to thee； Eirik； be welcome here； and come into the hall； thou gallant king！ Now I will ask thee； what kings are these that follow thee from the clash of the sword edges？'
〃Eirik answers： ‘They are five kings； I will tell thee all their names； I myself am the sixth （the names followed in the song； whereof the rest is lost。）
〃Fagrskinna〃 says 〃Hakonarmal〃 was the model of this poem。
1。 HAKON CHOSEN KING。
Hakon； Athelstan's foster…son； was in England at the time （A。D。 934） he heard of his father King Harald's death； and he immediately made himself ready to depart。 King Athelstan gave him men； and a choice of good ships； and fitted him out for his journey most excellently。 In harvest time he came to Norway； where he heard of the death of his brothers； and that King Eirik was then in Viken。 Then Hakon sailed northwards to Throndhjem； where he went to Sigurd earl of Hlader who was the ablest man in Norway。 He gave Hakon a good reception； and they made a league with each other； by which Hakon promised great power to Sigurd if he was made king。 They assembled then a numerous Thing； and Sigurd the earl recommended Hakon's cause to the Thing； and proposed him to the bondes as king。 Then Hakon himself stood up and spoke； and the people s