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！
ways shows How much be to Queen Astrid owes。 Such stepmothers as this good queen In truth are very rarely seen； And to this noble woman's praise The skald with joy his song will raise。〃
Thiodolf the skald also says in his song of Magnus：
〃When thy brave ship left the land； The bending yard could scarce withstand The fury of the whistling gale； That split thy many…coloured sail； And many a stout ship； tempest…tost； Was in that howling storm lost That brought them safe to Sigtuna's shore； Far from the sound of ocean's roar。〃
2。 MAGNUS'S EXPEDITION FROM SVITHJOD。
King Magnus set out on his journey from Sigtuna with a great force； which he had gathered in Svithjod。 They proceeded through Svithjod on foot to Helsingjaland。 So says Arnor； the earl's skald：
〃And many a dark…red Swedish shield Marched with thee from the Swedish field。 The country people crowded in； To help Saint Olaf's son to win； And chosen men by thee were led； Men who have stained the wolf's tongue red。 Each milk…white shield and polished spear Came to a splendid gathering there。〃
Magnus Olafson went from the East through Jamtaland over the keel…ridge of the country and came down upon the Throndhjem district； where all men welcomed the king with joy。 But no sooner did the men of King Svein； the son of Alfifa； hear that King Magnus Olafson was come to the country； than they fled on all sides and concealed themselves； so that no opposition was made to King Magnus； for King Svein was in the south part of the country。 So says Arnor； the earls' skald：
〃He who the eagle's talons stains Rushed from the East on Throndhjem's plains； The terror of his plumed helm Drove his pale foemen from the realm。 The lightning of thy eye so near； Great king！ thy foemen could not bear； Scattered they fled their only care If thou their wretched lives wilt spare。〃
3。 MAGNUS MADE KING。
Magnus Olafson advanced to the town （Nidaros）； where he was joyfully received。 He then summoned the people to the Eyra… thing （1）； and when the bondes met at the Thing； Magnus was taken to be king over the whole land； as far as his father Olaf had possessed it。 Then the king selected a court； and named lendermen； and placed bailiffs and officers in all domains and offices。 Immediately after harvest King Magnus ordered a levy through all Throndhjem land； and he collected men readily； and thereafter he proceeded southwards along the coast。
ENDNOTES： （1） Eyra Thing； held on the ayr of the river Nid； that is； on the spit of sand； still called an ayr in the north of Scotland； dividing a lake； pond； or river…mouth from the sea。 At the Thing held here the kings of Norway were chosen and proclaimed。 It was held to be the proper Thing for settling disputes between kings in Norway。 L。
4。 KING SVEIN'S FLIGHT。
King Svein Alfifason was staying in South Hordaland when he heard this news of war。 He immediately sent out war…tokens to four different quarters； summoned the bondes to him； and made it known to all that they should join him with men and ships to defend the country。 All the men who were in the neighbourhood of the king presented themselves； and the king formed a Thing； at which in a speech he set forth his business； and said he would advance against Magnus O1afson and have a battle with him； if the bondes would aid his cause。 The king's speech was not very long； and was not received with much approbation by the bondes。 Afterwards the Danish chiefs who were about the king made long and clever speeches； but the bondes then took up the word； and answered them； and although many said they would follow Svein； and fight on his side； some refused to do so bluntly； some were altogether silent； and some declared they would join King Magnus as soon as they had an opportunity。 Then King Svein says； 〃Methinks very few of the bondes to whom we sent a message have appeared here； and of those who have come； and tell us to our face that they will join King Magnus as soon as they can； we shall have as little benefit as of those who say they will sit at home quietly。 It is the same with those who say nothing at all。 But as to those who promise to help us； there are not more than every other man； and that force will avail us little against King Magnus。 It is my counsel； therefore； that we do not trust to these bondes； but let us rather go to the land where all the people are sure and true to us； and where we will obtain forces to conquer this country again。〃 As soon as the king had made known this resolution all his men followed it； turned their ship's bows； and hoisted sail。 King Svein sailed eastward along the land； and then set right over to Denmark without delay； and Hardaknut received his brother Svein very kindly。 At their first meeting Hardaknut offered King Svein to divide the kingdom of Denmark with him； which offer King Svein accepted。
5。 KING MAGNUS'S JOURNEY TO NORWAY。
In autumn （A。D。 1035） King Magnus proceeded eastward to the end of the country； and was received as king throughout the whole land； and the country people were rejoiced at his arrival。
6。 DEATH OF KING CANUTE THE GREAT AND HIS SON SVEIN。
King Svein； Canute's son； went to Denmark； as before related； and took part in the government with his brother Hardaknut。 In the same autumn King Canute the Great died in England； the 13th November； forty years old； and was buried at Winchester。 He had been king of Denmark for twenty…seven years； and over Denmark and England together twenty…four years； and also over Norway for seven years。 King Canute's son Harald was then made king in England。 The same winter （A。D。 1036） King Svein； Alfifa's son； died in Denmark。 Thiodolf the skald made these lines concerning King Magnus：
〃Through Sweden's dirty roads the throng Followed the king in spearmen strong。 Svein doth fly； in truth afraid； And partly by his men betrayed； Flying to Denmark o'er the sea； He leaves the land quite clear to thee。〃
Bjarne Gullbrarskald composed the following lines concerning Kalf Arnason：
〃By thee the kings got each his own； Magnus by thee got Norway's throne； And Svein in Denmark got a seat； When out of Norway he was beat。 Kalf！ It was you who showed the way To our young king； the battle…lover； From Russia to his father's sway You showed the way； and brought him over。〃
King Magnus ruled over Norway this winter （A。D。 1036）； and Hardaknut over Denmark。
7。 RECONCILIATION BETWEEN HARDAKNUT AND KING MAGNUS。
The following spring （A。D。 1036） the kings on both sides ordered out a levy； and the news was that they would have a battle at the Gaut river； but when the two armies approached each other； the lendermen in the one army sent messengers to their connections and friends in the other； and it came to a proposal for a reconciliation between the two kings； especially as； from both kings being but young and childish； some powerful men； who had been chosen in each of the countries for that purpose； had th