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！
West； along with her stepson Olaf and her daughter Ingegerd。 There came also with Olaf over the West sea Skule； a son of Earl Toste； and who since has been called the king's foster…son； and his brother Ketil Krok。 Both were gallant men； of high family in England； and both were very intelligent； and the brothers were much beloved by King Olaf。 Ketil Krok went north to Halogaland； where King Olaf procured him a good marriage； and from him are descended many great people。 Skule； the king's foster…son； was a very clever man； and the handsomest man that could be seen。 He was the commander of King Olaf's court…men； spoke at the Things （1） and took part in all the country affairs with the king。 The king offered to give Skule whatever district in Norway he liked； with all the income and duties that belonged to the king in it。 Skule thanked him very much for the offer； but said he would rather have something else from him。 〃For if there came a shift of kings；〃 said he； 〃the gift might come to nothing。 I would rather take some properties lying near to the merchant towns； where you； sire； usually take up your abode； and then I would enjoy your Yule…feasts。〃 The king agreed to this； and conferred on him lands eastward at Konungahella； Oslo； Tunsberg； Sarpsborg； Bergen； and north at Nidaros。 These were nearly the best properties at each place； and have since descended to the family branches which came from Skule。 King Olaf gave Skule his female relative； Gudrun； the daughter of Nefstein； in marriage。 Her mother was Ingerid； a daughter of Sigurd Syr and Asta； King Olaf the Saint's mother。 Ingerid was a sister of King Olaf the Saint and of King Harald。 Skule and Gudrun's son was Asolf of Reine； who married Thora； a daughter of Skopte Ogmundson； Asolf's and Thora's son was Guthorm of Reine； father of Bard； and grandfather of King Inge and of Duke Skule。
ENDNOTES： （1） Another instance of the old Norse or Icelandic tongue having been generally known in a part of England。
103。 OF KING HARALD SIGURDSON。
One year after King Harald's fall his body was transported from England north to Nidaros； and was buried in Mary church； which he had built。 It was a common observation that King Harald distinguished himself above all other men by wisdom and resources of mind； whether he had to take a resolution suddenly for himself and others； or after long deliberation。 He was； also； above all other men； bold； brave； and lucky； until his dying day； as above related； and bravery is half victory。 So says Thiodolf：
〃Harald； who till his dying day Came off the best in many a fray； Had one good rule in battle…plain； In Seeland and elsewhere； to gain That； be his foes' strength more or less； Courage is always half success。〃
King Herald was a handsome man； of noble appearance； his hair and beard yellow。 He had a short beard； and long mustaches。 The one eyebrow was somewhat higher than the other。 He had large hands （1） and feet； but these were well made。 His height was five ells。 He was stern and severe to his enemies； and avenged cruelly all opposition or misdeed。 So says Thiodolf：
〃Severe alike to friends or foes； Who dared his royal will oppose； Severe in discipline to hold His men…at…arms wild and bold； Severe the bondes to repress； Severe to punish all excess； Severe was Harald but we call That just which was alike to all。〃
King Harald was most greedy of power； and of all distinction and honour。 He was bountiful to the friends who suited him。 So says Thiodolf：
〃I got from him； in sea…fight strong； A mark of gold for my ship…song。 Merit in any way He generously would pay。〃
King Harald was fifty years old when he fell。 We have no particular account of his youth before he was fifteen years old； when he was with his brother； King Olaf； at the battle of Stiklestad。 He lived thirty…five years after that； and in all that time was never free from care and war。 King Harald never fled from battle； but often tried cunning ways to escape when he had to do with great superiority of forces。 All the men who followed King Harald in battle or skirmish said that when he stood in great danger； or anything came suddenly upon him； he always took that course which all afterwards saw gave the best hope of a fortunate issue。
ENDNOTES： （1） It is a singular physical circumstance； that in almost all the swords of those ages to be found in the collection of weapons in the Antiquarian Museum at Copenhagen； the handles indicate a size of hand very much smaller than the hands of modern people of any class or rank。 No modern dandy； with the most delicate hands； would find room for his hand to grasp or wield with case some of the swords of these Northmen。 L。
104。 KING HARALD AND KING OLAF COMPARED。
When Haldor； a son of Brynjolf Ulfalde the Old； who was a sensible man and a great chief； heard people talk of how unlike the brothers Saint Olaf and King Harald were in disposition； he used to say； 〃I was in great friendship with both the brothers； and I knew intimately the dispositions of both； and never did I know two men more like in disposition。 Both were of the highest understanding； and bold in arms； and greedy of power and property； of great courage； but not acquainted with the way of winning the favour of the people； zealous in governing； and severe in their revenge。 King Olaf forced the people into Christianity and good customs； and punished cruelly those who disobeyed。 This just and rightful severity the chiefs of the country could not bear； but raised an army against him； and killed him in his own kingdom； and therefore he is held to be a saint。 King Harald； again； marauded to obtain glory and power； forced all the people he could under his power； and died in another king's dominions。 Both brothers； in daily life； were of a worthy and considerate manner of living； they were of great experience； and very laborious； and were known and celebrated far and wide for these qualities。〃
105。 KING MAGNUS'S DEATH。
King Magnus Haraldson ruled over Norway the first winter after King Harald's death （A。D。 1067）； and afterwards two years （A。D。 1068…1069） along with his brother； King Olaf。 Thus there were two kings of Norway at that time； and Magnus had the northern and Olaf the eastern part of the country。 King Magnus had a son called Hakon； who was fostered by Thorer of Steig in Gudbrandsdal； who was a brother of King Magnus by the mother's side； and Hakon was a most agreeable man。
After King Harald Sigurdson's death the Danish king Svein let it be known that the peace between the Northmen and the Danes was at an end； and insisted that the league between Harald and Svein was not for longer time than their lives。 There was a levy in both kingdoms。 Harald's sons called out the whole people in Norway for procuring men and ships； and Svein set out from the south with the Danish army。 Messengers then went between with proposals for a peace； and the Northmen said they would either have the same league as was concluded between King Harald and Svein； or otherwise give battle instantly on the spot。 Verses were made on this occasion； viz。：
〃Ready for war or peace； King Olaf will not cease From foeman's hand To guard his land。〃
So says also Stein Herdison in his song of Olaf：
〃From Throndhjem town； where in repose The holy king defies his foes； Another Olaf will defend His kingdom from the greedy Svein。 King Olaf had both power and right； And the Saint's favour in the fight。 The Saint will ne'er his kin forsake； And let Svein Ulfson Norway take。〃
In this manner friendship was concluded between the kings and peace between the countries。 King Magnus fell ill and died of the ringworm disease； after being ill for some time。 He died and was buried at Nidaros。 He was an amiable king and bewailed by the people。
SAGA OF OLAF KYRRE。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
Snorri's account of Olaf Kyrre corresponds with the statements found in 〃Agrip〃； 〃Fagrskinna〃； and 〃Morkinskinna〃。
There are but few events in Olaf's long reign； and hence he is very appropriately called the Quiet （Kyrre）。 As Hildebrand says； this saga seems to be written simply to fill out the empty space between Harald Hardrade and Magnus Barefoot。
Skalds quoted in this saga are： Stein Herdison and Stuf。
1。 OLAF'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE。
Olaf remained sole king of Norway after the death （A。D。 1069） of his brother King Magnus。 Olaf was a stout man； well grown in limbs； and every one said a handsomer man could not be seen； nor of a nobler appearance。 His hair was yellow as silk； and became him well； his skin was white and fine over all his body； his eyes beautiful； and his limbs well proportioned。 He was rather silent in general； and did not speak much even at Things； but he was merry in drinking parties。 He loved drinking much； and was talkative enough then； but quite peaceful。 He was cheerful in conversation； peacefully inclined during all his reign； and loving gentleness and moderation in all things。 Stein Herdison speaks thus of him：