heimskringla-第149节
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16。 BATTLE OF FOXERNE。
The spring after； as soon as the ice broke up； King Magnus； with a great army； sailed eastwards to the Gaut river； and went up the eastern arm of it； laying waste all that belonged to the Swedish dominions。 When they came to Foxerne they landed from their vessels； but as they came over a river on their way an army of Gautland people came against them； and there was immediately a great battle； in which the Northmen were overwhelmed by numbers； driven to flight； and many of them killed near to a waterfall。 King Magnus fled； and the Gautlanders pursued； and killed those they could get near。 King Magnus was easily known。 He was a very stout man； and had a red short cloak over him； and bright yellow hair like silk that fell over his shoulders。 Ogmund Skoptason； who was a tall and handsome man； rode on one side of the king。 He said； 〃Sire； give me that cloak。〃
The king said； 〃What would you do with it？〃
〃I would like to have it；〃 said Ogmund； 〃and you have given me greater gifts； sire。〃
The road was such that there were great and wide plains； so that the Gautlanders and Northmen were always in sight of each other； unless where clumps of wood and bushes concealed them from each other now and then。 The king gave Ogmund the cloak and he put it on。 When they came out again upon the plain ground； Ogmund and his people rode off right across the road。 The Gautlanders； supposing this must be the king； rode all after him； and the king proceeded to the ships。 Ogmund escaped with great difficulty； however； he reached the ships at last in safety。 King Magnus then sailed down the river； and proceeded north to Viken。
17。 MEETING OF THE KINGS AT THE GAUT RIVER。
The following summer a meeting of the kings was agreed upon at Konghelle on the Gaut river； and King Magnus； the Swedish king； Inge； and the Danish king； Eirik Sveinson； all met there； after giving each other safe conduct to the meeting。 Now when the Thing had sat down the kings went forward upon the plain； apart from the rest of the people； and they talked with each other a little while。 Then they returned to their people； and a treaty was brought about； by which each should possess the dominions his forefathers had held before him； but each should make good to his own men the waste and manslaughter suffered by them； and then they should agree between themselves about settling this with each other。 King Magnus should marry King Inge's daughter Margaret； who afterwards was called Peace…offering。 This was proclaimed to the people； and thus； within a little hour； the greatest enemies were made the best of friends。
It was observed by the people that none had ever seen men with more of the air of chiefs than these had。 King Inge was the largest and stoutest； and； from his age； of the most dignified appearance。 King Magnus appeared the most gallant and brisk； and King Eirik the most handsome。 But they were all handsome men； stout； gallant； and ready in speech。 After this was settled they parted。
18。 KING MAGNUS'S MARRIAGE。
King Magnus got Margaret； King Inge's daughter； as above related； and she was sent from Svithjod to Norway with an honourable retinue。 King Magnus had some children before； whose names shall here be given。 The one of his sons who was of a mean mother was called Eystein； the other； who was a year younger； was called Sigurd； and his mother's name was Thora。 Olaf was the name of a third son； who was much younger than the two first mentioned； and whose mother was Sigrid； a daughter of Saxe of Vik； who was a respectable man in the Throndhjem country； she was the king's concubine。 People say that when King Magnus came home from his viking cruise to the Western countries； he and many of his people brought with them a great deal of the habits and fashion of clothing of those western parts。 They went about on the streets with bare legs； and had short kirtles and over…cloaks； and therefore his men called him Magnus Barefoot or Bareleg。 Some called him Magnus the Tall； others Magnus the Strife…lover。 He was distinguished among other men by his tall stature。 The mark of his height is put down in Mary church； in the merchant town of Nidaros； which King Harald built。 In the northern door there were cut into the wall three crosses； one for Harald's stature； one for Olaf's； and one for Magnus's； and which crosses each of them could with the greatest ease kiss。 The upper was Harald's cross； the lowest was Magnus's； and Olaf's was in the middle； about equally distant from both。
It is said that Magnus composed the following verses about the emperor's daughter：
〃The ring of arms where blue swords gleam； The battle…shout； the eagle's scream； The Joy of war； no more can please： Matilda is far o'er the seas。 My sword may break； my shield be cleft； Of land or life I may be reft； Yet I could sleep； but for one care； One； o'er the seas； with light…brown hair。〃
He also composed the following：
〃The time that breeds delay feels long； The skald feels weary of his song； What sweetens； brightens； eases life？ 'Tis a sweet…smiling lovely wife。 My time feels long in Thing affairs； In Things my loved one ne'er appears。 The folk full…dressed； while I am sad； Talk and oppose can I be glad？〃
When King Magnus heard the friendly words the emperor's daughter had spoken about him that she had said such a man as King Magnus was appeared to her an excellent man； he composed the following：
〃The lover hears； across the sea； A favouring word was breathed to me。 The lovely one with light…brown hair May trust her thoughts to senseless air； Her thoughts will find like thoughts in me； And though my love I cannot see； Affection's thoughts fly in the wind； And meet each other； true and kind。〃
19。 OF THE QUARREL OF KING MAGNUS AND SKOPTE。
Skopte Ogmundson came into variance with King Magnus； and they quarrelled about the inheritance of a deceased person which Skopte retained； but the king demanded it with so much earnestness； that it had a dangerous appearance。 Many meetings were held about the affair； and Skopte took the resolution that he and his son should never put themselves into the king's power at the same time； and besides there was no necessity to do so。 When Skopte was with the king he represented to him that there was relationship between the king and him； and also that he； Skopte； had always been the king's friend； and his father's likewise； and that their friendship had never been shaken。 He added； 〃People might know that I have sense enough not to hold a strife； sire； with you； if I was wrong in what I asked； but it is inherited from my ancestors to defend my rights against any man； without distinction of persons。〃 The king was just the same on this point； and his resolution was by no means softened by such a speech。 Then Skopte went home。
20。 FIN SKOPTASON'S PROCEEDINGS。
Then Fin Skoptason went to the king； spoke with him； and entreated him to render justice to the father and son in this business。 The king answers angrily and sharply。 Then said Fin； 〃I expected something else； sire； from you； than that you would use the law's vexations against me when I took my seat in Kvaldinsey Island； which few of your other friends would do； as they said； what was true； that those who were left there were deserted and doomed to death； if King Inge had not shown greater generosity to us than you did； although many consider that we brought shame and disgrace only from thence。〃 The king was not to be moved by this speech； and Fin returned home。
21。 OGMUND SKOPTASON'S PROCEEDINGS。
Then came Ogmund Skoptason to the king； and when he came before him he produced his errand； and begged the king to do what was right and proper towards him and his father。 The king insisted that the right was on his side； and said they were 〃particularly impudent。〃
Then said Ogmund； 〃It is a very easy thing for thee； having the power； to do me and my father injustice； and I must say the old proverb is true； that one whose life you save gives none； or a very bad return。 This I shall add； that never again shall I come into thy service； nor my father； if I can help it。〃 Then Ogmund went home； and they never saw each other again。
22。 SKOPTE OGMUNDSON'S VOYAGE ABROAD。
The spring after； Skopte Ogmundson made ready to travel out of the country。 They had five long…ships all well equipped。 His sons； Ogmund； Fin； and Thord； accompanied him on this journey。 It was very late before they were ready； and in autumn they went over to Flanders； and wintered there。 Early in spring they sailed westward to Valland； and stayed there all summer。 Then they sailed further； and through Norvasund； and came in autumn to Rome； where Skopte died。 All； both father and sons； died on this journey。 Thord； who died in Sicily； lived the longest。 It is a common saying among the people that Skopte was the first Northman who sailed through Norvasund； and this voyage was much celebrated。
23。 MIRACLE OF KING OLAF THE SAINT AT A FIRE。
It happened once in the merchant town （Nidaros） where King Olaf reposes；
