heimskringla-第112节
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t what she liked。 〃It is a good man's gift；〃 said he： 〃King Olaf gave me the ring this morning。〃 Then Thormod took the tongs； and pulled the iron out； but on the iron there was a hook； at which there hung some morsels of flesh from the heart； some white； some red。 When he saw that； he said； 〃The king has fed us well。 I am fat； even at the heart…roots；〃 and so saying he leant back； and was dead。 And with this ends what we have to say about Thormod。
248。 OF SOME CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BATTLE。
King Olaf fell on Wednesday； the 29th of July （A。D。 1030）。 It was near mid…day when the two armies met； and the battle began before half…past one； and before three the king fell。 The darkness continued from about half…past one to three also。 Sigvat the skald speaks thus of the result of the battle：
〃The loss was great to England's foes； When their chief fell beneath the blows By his own thoughtless people given； When the king's shield in two was riven。 The people's sovereign took the field； The people clove the sovereign's shield。 Of all the chiefs that bloody day； Dag only came out of the fray。〃
And he composed these：
〃Such mighty bonde…power； I ween； With chiefs or rulers ne'er was seen。 It was the people's mighty power That struck the king that fatal hour。 When such a king； in such a strife； By his own people lost his life； Full many a gallant man must feel The death…wound from the people's steel。〃
The bondes did not spoil the slain upon the field of battle； for immediately after the battle there came upon many of them who had been against the king a kind of dread as it were； yet they held by their evil inclination； for they resolved among themselves that all who had fallen with the king should not receive the interment which belongs to good men； but reckoned them all robbers and outlaws。 But the men who had power； and had relations on the field； cared little for this； but removed their remains to the churches； and took care of their burial。
249。 A MIRACLE ON A BLIND MAN。
Thorgils Halmason and his son Grim went to the field of battle towards evening when it was dusk； took King Olaf's corpse up； and bore it to a little empty houseman's hut which stood on the other side of their farm。 They had light and water with them。 Then they took the clothes off the body； swathed it in a linen cloth； laid it down in the house； and concealed it under some firewood so that nobody could see it； even if people came into the hut。 Thereafter they went home again to the farmhouse。 A great many beggars and poor people had followed both armies； who begged for meat； and the evening after the battle many remained there； and sought lodging round about in all the houses； great or small。 It is told of a blind man who was poor； that a boy attended him and led him。 They went out around the farm to seek a lodging； and came to the same empty house； of which the door was so low that they had almost to creep in。 Now when the blind man had come in； he fumbled about the floor seeking a place where he could lay himself down。 He had a hat on his head； which fell down over his face when he stooped down。 He felt with his hands that there was moisture on the floor； and he put up his wet hand to raise his hat； and in doing so put his fingers on his eyes。 There came immediately such an itching in his eyelids； that he wiped the water with his fingers from his eyes； and went out of the hut； saying nobody could lie there； it was so wet。 When he came out of the hut he could distinguish his hands； and all that was near him； as far as things can be distinguished by sight in the darkness of light； and he went immediately to the farm…house into the room； and told all the people he had got his sight again； and could see everything； although many knew he had been blind for a long time； for he had been there； before； going about among the houses of the neighbourhood。 He said he first got his sight when he was coming out of a little ruinous hut which was all wet inside。 〃I groped in the water；〃 said he； 〃and rubbed my eyes with my wet hands。〃 He told where the hut stood。 The people who heard him wondered much at this event； and spoke among themselves of what it could be that produced it： but Thorgils the peasant and his son Grim thought they knew how this came to pass； and as they were much afraid the king's enemies might go there and search the hut； they went and took the body out of it； and removed it to a garden； where they concealed it； and then returned to the farm； and slept there all night。
250。 OF THORER HUND。
The fifth day （Thursday）； Thorer Hund came down the valley of Veradal to Stiklestad； and many people； both chiefs and bondes； accompanied him。 The field of battle was still being cleared； and people were carrying away the bodies of their friends and relations； and were giving the necessary help to such of the wounded as they wished to save； but many had died since the battle。 Thorer Hund went to where the king had fallen； and searched for his body； but not finding it； he inquired if any one could tell him what had become of the corpse； but nobody could tell him where it was。 Then he asked the bonde Thorgils； who said； 〃I was not in the battle； and knew little of what took place there； but many reports are abroad； and among others that King Olaf has been seen in the night up at Staf； and a troop of people with him： but if he fell in the battle； your men must have concealed him in some hole； or under some stone…heap。〃 Now although Thorer Hund knew for certain that the king had fallen； many allowed themselves to believe； and to spread abroad the report； that the king had escaped from the battle； and would in a short time come again upon them with an army。 Then Thorer went to his ships； and sailed down the fjord； and the bonde…army dispersed； carrying with them all the wounded men who could bear to be removed。
251。 OF KING OLAF'S BODY。
Thorgils Halmason and his son Grim had King Olaf's body； and were anxious about preserving it from falling into the hands of the king's enemies； and being ill…treated； for they heard the bondes speaking about burning it； or sinking it in the sea。 The father and son had seen a clear light burning at night over the spot on the battlefield where King Olaf's body lay； and since； while they concealed it； they had always seen at night a light burning over the corpse； therefore they were afraid the king's enemies might seek the body where this signal was visible。 They hastened； therefore； to take the body to a place where it would be safe。 Thorgils and his son accordingly made a coffin； which they adorned as well as they could； and laid the king's body in it； and afterwards made another coffin in which they laid stones and straw； about as much as the weight of a man； and carefully closed the coffins。 As soon as the whole bonde…army had left Stiklestad； Thorgils and his son made themselves ready； got a large rowing…boat； and took with them seven or eight men； who were all Thorgil's relations or friends； and privately took the coffin with the king's body down to the boat； and set it under the foot…boards。 They had also with them the coffin containing the stones； and placed it in the boat where all could see it； and then went down the fjord with a good opportunity of wind and weather； and arrived in the dusk of the evening at Nidaros； where they brought up at the king's pier。 Then Thorgils sent some of his men up to the town to Bishop Sigurd； to say that they were come with the king's body。 As soon as the bishop heard this news； he sent his men down to the pier； and they took a small rowing…boat； came alongside of Thorgil's ship； and demanded the king's body。 Thorgils and his people then took the coffin which stood in view； and bore it into the boat； and the bishop's men rowed out into the fjord； and sank the coffin in the sea。 It was now quite dark。 Thorgils and his people now rowed up into the river past the town； and landed at a place called Saurhlid； above the town。 Then they carried the king's body to an empty house standing at a distance from other houses； and watched over it for the night； while Thorgils went down to the town； where he spoke with some of the best friends of King Olaf； and asked them if they would take charge of the king's body； but none of them dared to do so。 Then Thorgils and his men went with the body higher up the river； buried it in a sand…hill on the banks； and levelled all around it so that no one could observe that people had been at work there。 They were ready with all this before break of day； when they returned to their vessel； went immediately out of the river； and proceeded on their way home to Stiklestad。
252。 OF THE BEGINNING OF KING SVEIN ALFIFASON'S GOVERNMENT。
Svein； a son of King Canute； and of Alfifa； a daughter of Earl Alfrin； had been appointed to govern Jomsborg in Vindland。 There came a message to him from his father King Canute； that he should come to Denmark； and likewise that afterwards he should proceed to Norway； and take that kingdom under his charge； and assume； at the same time； the title of king of Norway。 Svein repaired to Denmark； a
