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！
Thorkel replies； 〃This shall be entirely at thy pleasure； earl； as well as everything else in my power。〃 Then Thorkel went on； and solemnly ratified this agreement。 The earl said he would talk afterwards about the mulct of money； but took Thorkel's oath upon the conditions。 Thorkel immediately made ready to accompany the earl on his voyage。 The earl set off as soon as all was ready； and never again were King Olaf and Thorfin together。
108。 EARL BRUSE'S DEPARTURE。
Earl Bruse remained behind； and took his time to get ready。 Before his departure the king sent for him； and said； 〃It appears to me； earl； that in thee I have a man on the west side of the sea on whose fidelity I can depend； therefore I intend to give thee the two parts of the country which thou formerly hadst to rule over； for I will not that thou shouldst be a less powerful man after entering into my service than before： but I will secure thy fidelity by keeping thy son Ragnvald with me。 I see well enough that with two parts of the country and my help； thou wilt be able to defend what is thy own against thy brother Thorfin。〃 Bruse was thankful for getting two thirds instead of one third of the country； and soon after he set out； and came about autumn to Orkney； but Ragnvald； Bruse's son； remained behind in the East with King Olaf。 Ragnvald was one of the handsomest men that could be seen； his hair long； and yellow as silk； and he soon grew up； stout and tall； and he was a very able and superb man； both of great understanding and polite manners。 He was long with King Olaf。 Otter Svarte speaks of these affairs in the poem he composed about King Olaf：
〃From Shetland； far off in the cold North Sea； Come chiefs who desire to be subject to thee： No king so well known for his will； and his might； To defend his own people from scaith or unright。 These isles of the West midst the ocean's wild roar； Scarcely heard the voice of their sovereign before； Our bravest of sovereigns before could scarce bring These islesmen so proud to acknowledge their king。〃
109。 OF THE EARLS THORFIN AND BRUSE。
The brothers Thorfin and Bruse came west to Orkney； and Bruse took the two parts of the country under his rule； and Thorfin the third part。 Thorfin was usually in Caithness and elsewhere in Scotland； but placed men of his own over the islands。 It was left to Bruse alone to defend the islands； which at that time were severely scourged by vikings； for the Northmen and Danes went much on viking cruises in the west sea； and frequently touched at Orkney on the way to or from the west； and plundered； and took provisions and cattle from the coast。 Bruse often complained of his brother Thorfin； that he made no equipment of war for the defence of Orkney and Shetland； yet levied his share of the scat and duties。 Then Thorfin offered to him to exchange； and that Bruse should have one third and Thorfin two thirds of the land； but should undertake the defence of the land； for the whole。 Although this exchange did not take place immediately； it is related in the saga of the earls that it was agreed upon at last； and that Thorfin had two parts and Bruse only one； when Canute the Great subdued Norway and King Olaf fled the country。 Earl Thorfin Sigurdson has been the ablest earl of these islands； and has had the greatest dominion of all the Orkney earls； for he had under him Orkney； Shetland； and the Hebudes； besides very great possessions in Scotland and Ireland。 Arnor； the earls' skald； tells of his possessions：
〃From Thurso…skerry to Dublin； All people hold with good Thorfin All people love his sway； And the generous chief obey。〃
Thorfin was a very great warrior。 He came to the earldom at five years of age； ruled more than sixty years； and died in his bed about the last days of Harald Sigurdson。 But Bruse died in the days of Canute the Great； a short time after the fall of Saint Olaf。
110。 OF HAREK OF THJOTTA。
Having now gone through this second story； we shall return to that which we left； at King Olaf Haraldson having concluded peace with King Olaf the Swedish king； and having the same summer gone north to Throndhjem （1019）。 He had then been king in Norway five years （A。D。 1015…1019）。 In harvest time he prepared to take his winter residence at Nidaros； and he remained all winter there （A。D。 1020）。 Thorkel the Fosterer； Amunde's son； as before related； was all that winter with him。 King Olaf inquired very carefully how it stood with Christianity throughout the land； and learnt that it was not observed at all to the north of Halogaland； and was far from being observed as it should be in Naumudal； and the interior of Throndhjem。 There was a man by name Harek； a son of Eyvind Skaldaspiller； who dwelt in an island called Thjotta in Halogaland。 Eyvind had not been a rich man； but was of high family and high mind。 In Thjotta； at first； there dwelt many small bondes； but Harek began with buying a farm not very large and lived on it； and in a few years he had got all the bondes that were there before out of the way； so that he had the whole island； and built a large head…mansion。 He soon became very rich； for he was a very prudent man； and very successful。 He had long been greatly respected by the chiefs； and being related to the kings of Norway； had been raised by them to high dignities。 Harek's father's mother Gunhild was a daughter of Earl Halfdan； and Ingebjorg； Harald Harfager's daughter。 At the time the circumstance happened which we are going to relate he was somewhat advanced in years。 Harek was the most respected man in Halogaland； and for a long time had the Lapland trade； and did the king's business in Lapland； sometimes alone； sometimes with others joined to him。 He had not himself been to wait on King Olaf； but messages had passed between them； and all was on the most friendly footing。 This winter （A。D。 1020） that Olaf was in Nidaros； messengers passed between the king and Harek of Thjotta。 Then the king made it known that he intended going north to Halogaland； and as far north as the land's end； but the people of Halogaland expected no good from this expedition。
111。 OF THE PEOPLE OF HALOGALAND。
Olaf rigged out five ships in spring （A。D。 1020）； and had with him about 300 men。 When he was ready for sea he set northwards along the land； and when he came to Naumudal district he summoned the bondes to a Thing； and at every Thing was accepted as king。 He also made the laws to be read there as elsewhere； by which the people are commanded to observe Christianity； and he threatened every man with loss of life； and limbs； and property who would not subject himself to Christian law。 He inflicted severe punishments on many men； great as well as small； and left no district until the people had consented to adopt the holy faith。 The most of the men of power and of the great bondes made feasts for the king； and so he proceeded all the way north to Halogaland。 Harek of Thjotta also made a feast for the king； at which there was a great multitude of guests； and the feast was very splendid。 Harek was made lenderman； and got the same privileges he had enjoyed under the former chiefs of the country。
112。 OF ASMUND GRANKELSON。
There was a man called Grankel； or Granketil； who was a rich bonde； and at this time rather advanced in age。 In his youth he had been on viking cruises； and had been a powerful fighter； for he possessed great readiness in all sorts of bodily exercises。 His son Asmund was equal to his father in all these； and in some； indeed； he excelled him。 There were many who said that with respect to comeliness； strength； and bodily expertness； he might be considered the third remarkably distinguished for these that Norway had ever produced。 The first was Hakon Athelstan's foster…son； the second； Olaf Trygvason。 Grankel invited King Olaf to a feast； which was very magnificent； and at parting Grankel presented the king with many honourable gifts and tokens of friendship。 The king invited Asmund； with many persuasions； to follow him； and as Asmund could not decline the honours offered him； he got ready to travel with the king； became his man； and stood in high favour with him。 The king remained in Halogaland the greater part of the summer； went to all the Things； and baptized all the people。 Thorer Hund dwelt at that time in the island Bjarkey。 He was the most powerful man in the North； and also became one of Olaf's lendermen。 Many sons of great bondes resolved also to follow King Olaf from Halogaland。 Towards the end of summer King Olaf left the North； and sailed back to Throndhjem； and landed at Nidaros； where he passed the winter （A。D。 1021）。 It was then that Thorkel the Fosterer came from the West from Orkney； after killing Einar Rangmumd； as before related。 This autumn corn was dear in Throndhjem； after a long course of good seasons； and the farther north the dearer was the corn； but there was corn enough in the East country； and in the Uplands； and it was of great help to the people of Throndhjem that many had old corn remaining beside them。
113。 OF THE SACRIFICES OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE。
In autumn the news was brought to King Olaf that