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！
hips； and steered to Svithjod。 He sent a message to Queen Sigrid that he wished to have a meeting with her and she rode down to meet him。 They talked together and he soon brought out the proposal that she should marry him。 She replied； that this was foolish talk for him； who was so well married already that he might think himself well off。 Harald says； 〃Asta is a good and clever woman； but she is not so well born as I am。〃 Sigrid replies； 〃It may be that thou art of higher birth； but I think she is now pregnant with both your fortunes。〃 They exchanged but few words more before the queen rode away。 King Harald was now depressed in mind； and prepared himself again to ride up the country to meet Queen Sigrid。 Many of his people dissuaded him； but nevertheless he set off with a great attendance； and came to the house in which the queen dwelt。 The same evening came another king； called Vissavald； from Gardarike （Russia）； likewise to pay his addresses to Queen Sigrid。 Lodging was given to both the kings； and to all their people； in a great old room of an out…building； and all the furniture was of the same character； but there was no want of drink in the evening； and that so strong that all were drunk； and the watch； both inside and outside； fell fast asleep。 Then Queen Sigrid ordered an attack on them in the night； both with fire and sword。 The house was burnt； with all who were in it and those who slipped out were put to the sword。 Sigrid said that she would make these small kings tired of coming to court her。 She was afterwards called Sigrid the Haughty （Storrada）。
49。 BIRTH OF OLAF； SON OF HARALD GRENSKE。
This happened the winter after the battle of the Jomsborg vikings at Hjorungavag。 When Harald went up the country after Sigrid； he left Hrane behind with the ships to look after the men。 Now when Hrane heard that Harald was cut off； he returned to Norway the shortest way he could； and told the news。 He repaired first to Asta； and related to her all that had happened on the journey； and also on what errand Harald had visited Queen Sigrid。 When Asta got these tidings she set off directly to her father in the Uplands； who received her well； but both were enraged at the design which had been laid in Svithjod； and that King Harald had intended to set her in a single condition。 In summer （A。D。 995） Asta； Gudbrand's daughter； was confined； and had a boy child； who had water poured over him； and was called Olaf。 Hrane himself poured water over him； and the child was brought up at first in the house of Gudbrand and his mother Asta。
50。 ABOUT EARL HAKON。
Earl Hakon ruled over the whole outer part of Norway that lies on the sea； and had thus sixteen districts under his sway。 The arrangement introduced by Harald Harfager； that there should be an earl in each district； was afterward continued for a long time； and thus Earl Hakon had sixteen earls under him。 So says the 〃Vellekla〃：
〃Who before has ever known Sixteen earls subdued by one？ Who has seen all Norway's land Conquered by one brave hero's hand？ It will be long in memory held； How Hakon ruled by sword and shield。 When tales at the viking's mast go round； His praise will every mouth resound。〃
While Earl Hakon ruled over Norway there were good crops in the land； and peace was well preserved in the country among the bondes。 The Earl； for the greater part of his lifetime； was therefore much beloved by the bondes； but it happened； in the longer course of time； that the earl became very intemperate in his intercourse with women； and even carried it so far that he made the daughters of people of consideration be carried away and brought home to him； and after keeping them a week or two as concubines； he sent them home。 He drew upon himself the indignation of me relations of these girls； and the bondes began to murmur loudly； as the Throndhjem people have the custom of doing when anything goes against their judgment。
51。 THORER KLAKKA'S JOURNEY。
Earl Hakon； in the mean time； hears some whisper that to the westward； over the Nor h sea； was a man called Ole； who was looked upon as a king。 From the conversation of some people； he fell upon the suspicion that he must be of the royal race of Norway。 It was； indeed； said that this Ole was from Russia； but the earl had heard that Trygve Olafson had had a son called Olaf； who in his infancy had gone east to Gardarike； and had been brought up by King Valdemar。 The earl had carefully inquired about this man； and had his suspicion that he must be the same person who had now come to these western countries。 The earl had a very good friend called Thorer Klakka； who had been long upon viking expeditions； sometimes also upon merchant voyages； so that he was well acquainted all around。 This Thorer Earl Hakon sends over the North sea； and told him to make a merchant voyage to Dublin； many were in the habit of doing； and carefully to discover who this Ole was。 Provided he got any certainty that he was Olaf Trygvason； or any other of the Norwegian royal race； then Thorer should endeavor to ensnare him by some deceit； and bring him into the earl's power。
52。 OLAF TRYGVASON COMES TO NORWAY。
On this Thorer sails westward to Ireland； and hears that Ole is in Dublin with his wife's father King Olaf Kvaran。 Thorer； who was a plausible man； immediately got acquainted with Ole； and as they often met； and had long conversations together； Ole began to inquire about news from Norway； and above all of the Upland kings and great people； which of them were in life； and what dominations they now had。 He asked also about Earl Hakon； and if he was much liked in the country。 Thorer replies； that the earl is such a powerful man that no one dares to speak otherwise than he would like； but that comes from there being nobody else in the country to look to。 〃Yet； to say the truth； I know it to be the mind of many brave men； and of whole communities； that they would much rather see a king of Harald Harfager's race come to the kingdom。 But we know of no one suited for this； especially now that it is proved how vain every attack on Earl Hakon must be。〃 As they often talked together in the same strain； Olaf disclosed to Thorer his name and family； and asked him his opinion； and whether he thought the bondes would take him for their king if he were to appear in Norway。 Thorer encouraged him very eagerly to the enterprise； and praised him and his talents highly。 Then Olaf's inclination to go to the heritage of his ancestors became strong。 Olaf sailed accordingly； accompanied by Thorer； with five ships； first to the Hebrides； and from thence to the Orkneys。 At that time Earl Sigurd； Hlodver's son； lay in Osmundswall； in the island South Ronaldsa； with a ship of war； on his way to Caithness。 Just at the same time Olaf was sailing with his fleet from the westward to the islands； and ran into the same harbour； because Pentland Firth was not to be passed at that tide。 When the king was informed that the earl was there； he made him be called； and when the earl came on board to speak with the king； after a few words only had passed between them； the king says the earl must