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！
49。 EARL SVEIN LEAVES THE COUNTRY。
Now some of the earl's men fled up the country； some surrendered at discretion； but Svein and his followers rowed out of the fjord； and the chiefs laid their vessels together to talk with each other； for the earl wanted counsel from his lendermen。 Erling Skialgson advised that they should sail north； collect people； and fight King Olaf again； but as they had lost many people； the most were of opinion that the earl should leave the country； and repair to his brother…in…law the Swedish King； and strengthen himself there with men。 Einar Tambaskelfer approved also of that advice； as they had no power to hold battle against Olaf。 So they discharged their fleet。 The earl sailed across Folden； and with him Einar Tambaskelfer。 Erling Skialgson again； and likewise many other lendermen who would not abandon their udal possessions； went north to their homes； and Erling had many people that summer about him。
50。 OLAF'S AND SIGURD'S CONSULTATION。
When King Olaf and his men saw that the earl had gathered his ships together； Sigurd Syr was in haste for pursuing the earl； and letting steel decide their cause。 But King Olaf replies； that he would first see what the earl intended doing whether he would keep his force together or discharge his fleet。 Sigurd Syr said； 〃It is for thee； king； to command； but；〃 he adds； 〃I fear； from thy disposition and wilfulness； that thou wilt some day be betrayed by trusting to those great people； for they are accustomed of old to bid defiance to their sovereigns。〃 There was no attack made； for it was soon seen that the earl's fleet was dispersing。 Then King Olaf ransacked the slain； and remained there some days to divide the booty。 At that time Sigvat made these verses：
〃The tale I tell is true To their homes returned but few Of Svein's men who came to meet King Olaf's gallant fleet。 From the North these warmen came To try the bloody game； On the waves their corpses borne Show the game that Sunday morn。 The Throndhjem girls so fair Their jeers； I think； will spare； For the king's force was but small That emptied Throndhjem's hall。 But if they will have their jeer； They may ask their sweethearts dear； Why they have returned shorn Who went to shear that Sunday morn。〃
And also these：
〃Now will the king's power rise； For the Upland men still prize The king who o'er the sea Steers to bloody victory。 Earl Svein！ thou now wilt know That our lads can make blood flow That the Hedemarkers hale Can do more than tap good ale。〃
King Olaf gave his stepfather King Sigurd Syr； and the other chiefs who had assisted him； handsome presents at parting。 He gave Ketil of Ringanes a yacht of fifteen benches of rowers； which Ketil brought up the Raum river and into the Mjosen lake。
51。 OF KING OLAF。
King Olaf sent spies out to trace the earl's doings （A。D。 1015）； and when he found that the earl had left the country he sailed out west； and to Viken； where many people came to him。 At the Thing there he was taken as king； and so he proceeded all the way to the Naze； and when he heard that Erling Skialgson had gathered a large force； he did not tarry in North Agder； but sailed with a steady fair wind to the Throndhjem country； for there it appeared to him was the greatest strength of the land； if he could subdue it for himself while the earl was abroad。 When Olaf came to Throndhjem there was no opposition； and he was elected there to be king。 In harvest （A。D。 1015） he took his seat in the town of Nidaros； and collected the needful winter provision （A。D。 1016）。 He built a king's house； and raised Clement's church on the spot on which it now stands。 He parcelled out building ground； which he gave to bondes； merchants； or others who he thought would build。 There he sat down with many men…at…arms around him； for he put no great confidence in the Throndhjem people； if the earl should return to the country。 The people of the interior of the Throndhjem country showed this clearly； for he got no land…scat from them。
52。 PLAN OF SVEIN AND THE SWEDISH KING。
Earl Svein went first to Svithjod to his brother…in…law Olaf the Swedish king； told him all that had happened between him and Olaf the Thick； and asked his advice about what he should now undertake。 The king said that the earl should stay with him if he liked； and get such a portion of his kingdom to rule over as should seem to him sufficient； 〃or otherwise；〃 says he； 〃I will give thee help of forces to conquer the country again from Olaf。〃 The earl chose the latter； for all those among his men who had great possessions in Norway； which was the case with many who were with him； were anxious to get back； and in the council they held about this； it was resolved that in winter they should take the land…way over Helsingjaland and Jamtaland； and so down into the Throndhjem land； for the earl reckoned most upon the faithful help and strength of the Throndhjem people of the interior as soon as he should appear there。 In the meantime； however； it was determined to take a cruise in summer in the Baltic to gather property。
53。 EARL SVEIN'S DEATH。
Earl Svein went eastward with his forces to Russia； and passed the summer （A。D。 1015） in marauding there； but on the approach of autumn returned with his ships to Svithjod。 There he fell into a sickness； which proved fatal。 After the earl's death some of the people who had followed him remained in Svithjod； others went to Helsingjaland； thence to Jamtaland； and so from the east over the dividing ridge of the country to the Throndhjem district； where they told all that had happened upon their journey： and thus the truth of Earl Svein's death was known （A。D。 1016）。
54。 OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE。
Einar Tambaskelfer； and the people who had followed him went in winter to the Swedish king； and were received in a friendly manner。 There were also among them many who had followed the earl。 The Swedish king took it much amiss that Olaf the Thick had set himself down in his scat…lands； and driven the earl out of them； and therefore he threatened the king with his heaviest vengeance when opportunity offered。 He said that Olaf ought not to have had the presumption to take the dominions which the earl had held of him； and all the Swedish king's men agreed with him。 But the Throndhjem people； when they heard for certain that the earl was dead。 and could not be expected back to Norway； turned all to obedience to King Olaf。 Many came from the interior of the Throndhjem country； and became King Olaf's men； others sent word and tokens that they would service him。 Then； in autumn； he went into the interior of Throndhjem； and held Things with the bondes； and was received as king in each district。 He returned to Nidaros； and brought there all the king's scat and revenue； and had his winter…seat provided there （A。D。 1016）。
55。 OF KING OLAF'S HOUSEHOLD。
King Olaf built a king's house in Nidaros； and in it was a large room for his court； with doors at both ends。 The king's high… seat was in the middle of the room； and within sat his court… bishop； Grimkel； and next him his other priests； without them sat his counsellors； and in the other high…seat opposite to the king sat his marshal； Bjorn； and next to him his pursuivants。 When people of importance came to him； they also had a seat of honour。 The ale was drunk by the fire…light。 He divided the service among his men after the fashion of other kings。 He had in his house sixty court…men and thirty pursuivants； and to them he gave pay and certain regulations。 He had also thirty house…servants to do the needful work about the house； and procure what was required。 He had； besides； many slaves。 At the house were many outbuildings； in which the court…men slept。 There was also a large room； in which the king held his court…meetings。
56。 OF KING OLAF'S HABITS。
It was King Olaf's custom to rise betimes in the morning； put on his clothes； wash his hands； and then go to the church and hear the matins and morning mass。 Thereafter he went to the Thing… meeting； to bring people to agreement with each other； or to talk of one or the other matter that appeared to him necessary。 He invited to him great and small who were known to be men of understanding。 He often made them recite to him the laws which Hakon Athelstan's foster…son had made for Throndhjem； and after considering them with those men of understanding； he ordered laws adding to or taking from those established before。 But Christian privileges he settled according to the advice of Bishop Grimbel and other learned priests； and bent his whole mind to uprooting heathenism； and old customs which he thought contrary to Christianity。 And he succeeded so far that the bondes accepted of the laws which the king proposed。 So says Sigvat：
〃The king； who at the helm guides His warlike ship through clashing tides； Now gives one law for all the land A heavenly law； which long will stand。〃
King Olaf was a good and very gentle man； of little speech； and open…handed although greedy of money。 Sigvat the skald；