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！
give way； and to divide the kingdom with Harald into two parts。 The kingdom accordingly was so divided （October 3； 1130） that each of them should have the half part of the kingdom which King Sigurd had possessed； but that King Magnus alone should inherit the fleet of ships； the table service； the valuable articles and the movable effects which had belonged to his father； King Sigurd。 He was notwithstanding the least satisfied with his share。 Although they were of such different dispositions； they ruled the country for some time in peace。 King Harald had a son called Sigurd； by Thora； a daughter of Guthorm Grabarde。 King Harald afterwards married Ingerid； a daughter of Ragnvald； who was a son of the Swedish King Inge Steinkelson。 King Magnus was married to a daughter of Knut Lavard； and she was a sister of the Danish King Valdernar； but King Magnus having no affection for her； sent her back to Denmark； and from that day everything went ill with him； and he brought upon himself the enmity of her family。
ENDNOTES： （1） Hauga…thing means a Thing held at the tumuli or burial mounds。 L。
2。 OF THE FORCES OF HARALD AND MAGNUS。
When the two relations； Harald and Magnus； had been about three years kings of Norway （A。D。 1131…1133）； they both passed the fourth winter （A。D。 1134） in the town of Nidaros； and invited each other as guests； but their people were always ready for a fight。 In spring King Magnus sailed southwards along the land with his fleet； and drew all the men he could obtain out of each district； and sounded his friends if they would strengthen him with their power to take the kingly dignity from Harald； and give him such a portion of the kingdom； as might be suitable； representing to them that King Harald had already renounced the kingdom by oath。 King Magnus obtained the consent of many powerful men。 The same spring Harald went to the Uplands； and by the upper roads eastwards to Viken； and when he heard what King Magnus was doing； he also drew together men on his side。 Wheresoever the two parties went they killed the cattle； or even the people； upon the farms of the adverse party。 King Magnus had by far the most people； for the main strength of the country lay open to him for collecting men from it。 King Harald was in Viken on the east side of the fjord； and collected men； while they were doing each other damage in property and life。 King Harald had with him Kristrod； his brother by his mother's side； and many other lendermen； but King Magnus had many more。 King Harald was with his forces at a place called Fors in Ranrike； and went from thence towards the sea。 The evening before Saint Lawrence day （August 10）； they had their supper at a place called Fyrileif； while the guard kept a watch on horseback all around the house。 The watchmen observed King Magnus's army hastening towards the house； and consisting of full 6000 men； while King Harald had but 1500。 Now come the watchmen who had to bring the news to King Harald of what was going on and say that King Magnus's army was now very near the town。
The king says； 〃What will my relation King Magnus Sigurdson have？ He wants not surely to fight us。〃
Thjostolf Alason replies； 〃You must certainly； sire； make preparation for that； both for yourself and your； men。 King Magnus has been drawing together an army all the summer for the purpose of giving you battle when he meets you。〃
Then King Harald stood up； and ordered his men to take their arms。 〃We shall fight； if our relative King Magnus wants to fight us。〃
Then the war…horns sounded； and all Harald's men went out from the house to an enclosed field； and set up their banners。 King Harald had on two shirts of ring…mail； but his brother Kristrod had no armour on； and a gallant man he was。 When King Magnus and his men saw King Harald's troop they drew up and made their array； and made their line so long that they could surround the whole of King Harald's troop。 So says Haldor Skvaldre：
〃King Magnus on the battle…plain From his long troop…line had great gain； The plain was drenched with warm blood； Which lay a red and reeking flood。〃
3。 BATTLE AT FYRILEIF。
King Magnus had the holy cross carried before him in this battle； and the battle was great and severe。 The king's brother； Kristrod； had penetrated with his troop into the middle of King Magnus's array； and cut down on each side of him； so that people gave way before him everywhere。 But a powerful bonde who was in King Harald's array raised his spear with both hands； and drove it through between Kristrod's shoulders； so that it came out at his breast； and thus fell Kristrod。 Many who were near asked the bonde why he had done so foul a deed。
The bonde replies； 〃He knows the consequences now of slaughtering my cattle in summer； and taking all that was in my house； and forcing me to follow him here。 I determined to give him some return when the opportunity came。〃
After this King Harald's army took to flight； and he fled himself； with all his men。 Many fell； and Ingemar Sveinson of Ask； a great chief and lenderman； got there his death…wound； and nearly sixty of King Harald's court…men also fell。 Harald himself fled eastward to Viken to his ships； and went out of the country to King Eirik Eimune in Denmark； and found him in Seeland and sought aid from him。 King Eirik received him well； and principally because they had sworn to each other to be as brothers （1）； and gave him Halland as a fief to rule over； and gave him seven long…ships； but without equipment。 Thereafter King Harald went northwards through Halland； and many Northmen came to meet him。 After this battle King Magnus subdued the whole country； giving life and safety to all who were wounded； and had them taken care of equally with his own men。 He then called the whole country his own； and had a choice of the best men who were in the country。 When they held a council among themselves afterwards； Sigurd Sigurdson； Thorer Ingeridson； and all the men of most understanding； advised that they should keep their forces together in Viken； and remain there； in case Harald should return from the south； but King Magnus would take his own way； and went north to Bergen。 There he sat all winter （A。D。 1135）； and allowed his men to leave him； on which the lendermen returned home to their own houses。
ENDNOTES： （1） These brotherhoods； by which one man was bound by oath to aid or avenge another； were common in the Middle Ages among all ranks。 〃Sworn brothers〃 is still a common expression with us。 L。
4。 DEATH OF ASBJORN AND OF NEREID。
King Harald came to Konungahella with the men who had followed him from Denmark。 The lendermen and town's burgesses collected a force against him； which they drew up in a thick array above the town。 King Harald landed from his ships； and sent a message to the bondes； desiring that they would not deny him his land； as he wanted no more than what of right belonged to him。 Then mediators went between them； and it came to this； that the bondes dismissed their troops； and submitted to him。 Thereupon he bestowed fiefs and property on the lendermen； that they might stand by him； and paid the bondes who joined him the lawful mulcts for what they had lost。 A great body of men attached themselves； therefore； to King Harald； and he proceeded westwards to Viken； where he gave peace to all men； except to King Magnus's people； whom he plundered and killed wherever he found them。 And when he came west to Sarpsborg he took prisoners two of King Magnus s lendermen； Asbjorn and his brother Nereid； and gave them the choice that one should be hanged； and the other thrown into the Sarpsborg waterfall； and they might choose as they pleased。 Asbjorn chose to be thrown into the cataract； for he was the elder of the two； and this death appeared the most dreadful； and so it was done。 Halder Skvaldre tells of this：
〃Asbjorn； who opposed the king； O'er the wild cataract they fling： Nereid； who opposed the king； Must on Hagbard's high tree swing。 The king given food in many a way To foul…mouthed beasts and birds of prey： The generous men who dare oppose Are treated as the worst of foes。〃
Thereafter King Harald proceeded north to Tunsberg； where he was well received； and a large force gathered to him。
5。 OF THE COUNSELS PROPOSED。
When King Magnus； who was in Bergen； heard these tidings； he called together all the chiefs who were in the town； and asked them their counsel； and what they should now do。 Then Sigurd Sigurdson said； 〃Here I can give a good advice。 Let a ship be manned with good men； and put me； or any other lenderman； to command it； send it to thy relation； King Harald； and offer him peace according to the conditions upright men may determine upon； and offer him the half of the kingdom。 It appears to me probable that King Harald； by the words and counsel of good men； may accept this offer； and thus there may be a peace established between you。〃
Then King Magnus replied； 〃This proposal I will not accept of； for of what advantage would it be； after we have gained the whole kingdom in summer to give away the half of it now？ Give us some other c