heimskringla-第141节
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95。 OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE。
Now the battle began。 The Englishmen made a hot assault upon the Northmen； who sustained it bravely。 It was no easy matter for the English to ride against the Northmen on account of their spears； therefore they rode in a circle around them。 And the fight at first was but loose and light； as long as the Northmen kept their order of battle； for although the English rode hard against the Northmen； they gave way again immediately； as they could do nothing against them。 Now when the Northmen thought they perceived that the enemy were making but weak assaults； they set after them； and would drive them into flight； but when they had broken their shield…rampart the Englishmen rode up from all sides； and threw arrows and spears on them。 Now when King Harald Sigurdson saw this； he went into the fray where the greatest crash of weapons was； and there was a sharp conflict； in which many people fell on both sides。 King Harald then was in a rage； and ran out in front of the array； and hewed down with both hands； so that neither helmet nor armour could withstand him； and all who were nearest gave way before him。 It was then very near with the English that they had taken to flight。 So says Arnor； the earls' skald：
〃Where battle…storm was ringing； Where arrow…cloud was singing； Harald stood there； Of armour bare； His deadly sword still swinging。 The foeman feel its bite； His Norsemen rush to fight； Danger to share； With Harald there； Where steel on steel was ringing。〃
96。 FALL OF KING HARALD。
King Harald Sigurdson was hit by an arrow in the windpipe； and that was his death…wound。 He fell； and all who had advanced with him； except those who retired with the banner。 There was afterwards the warmest conflict； and Earl Toste had taken charge of the king's banner。 They began on both sides to form their array again； and for a long time there was a pause in fighting。 Then Thiodolf sang these verses：
〃The army stands in hushed dismay； Stilled is the clamour of the fray。 Harald is dead； and with him goes The spirit to withstand our foes。 A bloody scat the folk must pay For their king's folly on this day。 He fell； and now； without disguise； We say this business was not wise。〃
But before the battle began again Harald Godwinson offered his brother； Earl Toste； peace； and also quarter to the Northmen who were still alive； but the Northmen called out； all of them together； that they would rather fall； one across the other； than accept of quarter from the Englishmen。 Then each side set up a war…shout； and the battle began again。 So says Arnor； the earls' skald：
〃The king； whose name would ill…doers scare； The gold…tipped arrow would not spare。 Unhelmed； unpanzered； without shield； He fell among us in the field。 The gallant men who saw him fall Would take no quarter； one and all Resolved to die with their loved king； Around his corpse in a corpse…ring。〃
97。 SKIRMISH OF ORRE。
Eystein Orre came up at this moment from the ships with the men who followed him； and all were clad in armour。 Then Eystein got King Harald's banner Land…ravager； and now was； for the third time； one of the sharpest of conflicts； in which many Englishmen fell； and they were near to taking flight。 This conflict is called Orre's storm。 Eystein and his men had hastened so fast from the ships that they were quite exhausted； and scarcely fit to fight before they came into the battle； but afterwards they became so furious； that they did not guard themselves with their shields as long as they could stand upright。 At last they threw off their coats of ringmail； and then the Englishmen could easily lay their blows at them； and many fell from weariness； and died without a wound。 Thus almost all the chief men fell among the Norway people。 This happened towards evening； and then it went； as one might expect； that all had not the same fate； for many fled； and were lucky enough to escape in various ways； and darkness fell before the slaughter was altogether ended。
98。 OF STYRKAR THE MARSHAL。
Styrkar； King Harald Sigurdson's marshal； a gallant man； escaped upon a horse； on which he rode away in the evening。 It was blowing a cold wind； and Styrkar had not much other clothing upon him but his shirt； and had a helmet on his head； and a drawn sword in his hand。 As soon as his weariness was over； he began to feel cold。 A waggoner met him in a lined skin…coat。 Styrkar asks him； 〃Wilt thou sell thy coat； friend？〃
〃Not to thee；〃 says the peasant： 〃thou art a Northman； that I can hear by thy tongue。〃
Styrkar replies； 〃If I were a Northman； what wouldst thou do？〃
〃I would kill thee；〃 replied the peasant； 〃but as ill luck would have it； I have no weapon just now by me that would do it。〃
Then Styrkar says； 〃As you can't kill me； friend； I shall try if I can't kill you。〃 And with that he swung his sword； and struck him on the neck； so that his head came off。 He then took the skin…coat； sprang on his horse； and rode down to the strand。
Olaf Haraldson had not gone on land with the others； and when he heard of his father's fall he made ready to sail away with the men who remained。
99。 OF WILLIAM THE BASTARD。
When the Earl of Rouen； William the Bastard； heard of his relation； King Edward's； death； and also that Harald Godwinson was chosen； crowned； and consecrated king of England； it appeared to him that he had a better right to the kingdom of England than Harald； by reason of the relationship between him and King Edward。 He thought； also； that he had grounds for avenging the affront that Harald had put upon him with respect to his daughter。 From all these grounds William gathered together a great army in Normandy； and had many men； and sufficient transport…shipping。 The day that he rode out of the castle to his ships； and had mounted his horse； his wife came to him； and wanted to speak with him； but when he saw her he struck at her with his heel； and set his spurs so deep into her breast that she fell down dead； and the earl rode on to his ships； and went with his ships over to England。 His brother； Archbishop Otto； was with him； and when the earl came to England he began to plunder； and take possession of the land as he came along。 Earl William was stouter and stronger than other men； a great horseman and warrior； but somewhat stern； and a very sensible man； but not considered a man to be relied on。
100。 FALL OF KING HARALD GODWINSON。
King Harald Godwinson gave King Harald Sigurdson's son Olaf leave to go away； with the men who had followed him and had not fallen in battle； but he himself turned round with his army to go south； for he had heard that William the Bastard was overwhelming the south of England with a vast army； and was subduing the country for himself。 With King Harald went his brothers Svein and Gyrd； and Earl Valthiof。 King Harald and Earl William met each other south in England at Helsingja…port （Hastings）。 There was a great battle in which King Harald and his brother Earl Gyrd and a great part of his men fell。 This was the nineteenth day after the fall of King Harald Sigurdson。 Harald's brother； Earl Valthiof； escaped by flight； and towards evening fell in with a division of William's people； consisting of 100 men； and when they saw Earl Valthiof's troop they fled to a wood。 Earl Valthiof set fire to the wood； and they were all burnt。 So says Thorkel Skallason in Valthiof's ballad：
〃Earl Valthiof the brave His foes a warming gave： Within the blazing grove A hundred men he drove。 The wolf will soon return； And the witch's horse will burn Her sharp claws in the ash； To taste the Frenchman's flesh。〃
101。 EARL VALTHIOF'S DEATH。
William was proclaimed king of England。 He sent a message to Earl Valthiof that they should be reconciled； and gave him assurance of safety to come to the place of meeting。 The earl set out with a few men； but when he came to a heath north of Kastala…bryggia； there met him two officers of King William； with many followers； who took him prisoner； put him in fetters； and afterwards he was beheaded； and the English call him a saint。 Thorkel tells of this：
〃William came o'er the sea； With bloody sword came he： Cold heart and bloody hand Now rule the English land。 Earl Valthiof he slew； Valthiof the brave and true。 Cold heart and bloody hand Now rule the English land。〃
William was after this king of England for twenty…one years； and his descendants have been so ever since。
102。 OF OLAF HARALDSON'S EXPEDITION TO NORWAY。
Olaf； the son of King Harald Sigurdson； sailed with his fleet from England from Hrafnseyr； and came in autumn to the Orkney Isles； where the event had happened that Maria； a daughter of Harald Sigurdson； died a sudden death the very day and hour her father； King Harald； fell。 Olaf remained there all winter； but the summer after he proceeded east to Norway； where he was proclaimed king along with his brother Magnus。 Queen Ellisif came from the West； along with he
