heimskringla-第27节
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Vind； and Frank； and Saxon there。 But little recked our gallant men； And loud the cry might be heard then Of Norway's brave sea…roving son 'On 'gainst the foe！ On！ Lead us on！〃
Earl Hakon drew up his people in ranks upon all the gate…towers of the wall； but the greater part of them he kept marching along the wall to make a defence wheresoever an attack was threatened。 Many of the emperor's people fell without making any impression on the fortification； so the emperor turned back without farther attempt at an assault on it。 So it is said in the 〃Vellekla〃：
〃They who the eagle's feast provide In ranked line fought side by side； 'Gainst lines of war…men under shields Close packed together on the fields； Earl Hakon drive by daring deeds The Saxons to their ocean…steeds； And the young hero saves from fall The Danavirke the people's wall。〃
After this battle Earl Hakon went back to his ships； and intended to sail home to Norway； but he did not get a favourable wind； and lay for some time outside at Limafjord。
27。 HARALD AND HAKON ARE BAPTIZED。
The Emperor Otta turned back with his troops to Slesvik； collected his ships of war； and crossed the fjord of Sle into Jutland。 As soon as the Danish king heard of this he marched his army against him； and there was a battle； in which the emperor at last got the victory。 The Danish king fled to Limafjord and took refuge in the island Marsey。 By the help of mediators who went between the king and the emperor； a truce and a meeting between them were agreed on。 The Emperor Otta and the Danish king met upon Marsey。 There Bishop Poppo instructed King Harald in the holy faith； he bore red hot irons in his hands； and exhibited his unscorched hands to the king。 Thereafter King Harald allowed himself to be baptized； and also the whole Danish army。 King Harald； while he was in Marsey； had sent a message to Hakon that he should come to his succour； and the earl had just reached the island when the king had received baptism。 The king sends word to the earl to come to him； and when they met the king forced the earl to allow himself also to be baptized。 So Earl Hakon and all the men who were with him were baptized； and the king gave them priests and other learned men with them； and ordered that the earl should make all the people in Norway be baptized。 On that they separated； and the earl went out to sea； there to wait for a wind。
28。 HAKON RENOUNCES CHRISTIANITY。
When a wind came with which he thought he could get clear out to sea； he put all the learned men on shore again； and set off to the ocean； but as the wind came round to the south…west； and at last to west； he sailed eastward； out through Eyrarsund； ravaging the land on both sides。 He then sailed eastward along Skane； plundering the country wherever he came。 When he got east to the skerries of East Gautland； he ran in and landed； and made a great blood…sacrifice。 There came two ravens flying which croaked loudly； and now； thought the earl； the blood…offering has been accepted by Odin； and he thought good luck would be with him any day he liked to go to battle。 Then he set fire to his ships； landed his men； and went over all the country with armed hand。 Earl Ottar； who ruled over Gautland； came against him； and they held a great battle with each other； but Earl Hakon gained the day； and Earl Ottar and a great part of his men were killed。 Earl Hakon now drove with fire and sword over both the Gautlands； until he came into Norway； and then he proceeded by land all the way north to Throndhjem。 The 〃Vellekla〃 tells about this：
〃On the silent battle…field； In viking garb； with axe and shield； The warrior； striding o'er the slain； Asks of the gods ‘What days will gain？' Two ravens； flying from the east； Come croaking to the bloody feast： The warrior knows what they foreshow The days when Gautland blood will flow。 A viking…feast Earl Hakon kept； The land with viking fury swept； Harrying the land far from the shore Where foray ne'er was known before。 Leaving the barren cold coast side； He raged through Gautland far and wide； Led many a gold…decked viking shield O'er many a peaceful inland field。 Bodies on bodies Odin found Heaped high upon each battle ground： The moor； as if by witchcraft's power； Grows green； enriched by bloody shower。 No wonder that the gods delight To give such luck in every fight To Hakon's men for he restores Their temples on our Norway shores。〃
29。 THE EMPEROR OTTA RETURNS HOME。
The Emperor Otta went back to his kingdom in the Saxon land； and parted in friendship with the Danish king。 It is said that the Emperor Otta stood godfather to Svein； King Harald's son； and gave him his name； so that he was baptized Otta Svein。 King Harald held fast by his Christianity to his dying day。
King Burizleif went to Vindland； and his son…in…law King Olaf went with him。 This battle is related also by Halfred Vandredaskald in his song on Olaf：
〃He who through the foaming surges His white…winged ocean…coursers urges； Hewed from the Danes； in armour dressed； The iron bark off mail…clad breast。〃
30。 OLAF'S JOURNEY FROM VINDLAND。
Olaf Trygvason was three years in Vindland （A。D。 982…984） when Geira his queen fell sick； and she died of her illness。 Olaf felt his loss so great that he had no pleasure in Vindland after it。 He provided himself； therefore； with warships； and went out again a plundering； and plundered first in Frisland； next in Saxland； and then all the way to Flaemingjaland （Flanders）。 So says Halfred Vandredaskald：
〃Olaf's broad axe of shining steel For the shy wolf left many a meal。 The ill…shaped Saxon corpses lay Heaped up； the witch…wife's horses' （1） prey。 She rides by night： at pools of blood。 Where Frisland men in daylight stood； Her horses slake their thirst； and fly On to the field where Flemings lie。 The raven…friend in Odin's dress Olaf； who foes can well repress； Left Flemish flesh for many a meal With his broad axe of shining steel。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） Ravens were the witches' horses。 L。
31。 KING OLAF'S FORAYS。
Thereafter Olaf Trygvason sailed to England； and ravaged wide around in the land。 He sailed all the way north to Northumberland； where he plundered； and thence to Scotland； where he marauded far and wide。 Then he went to the Hebrides； where he fought some battles； and then southwards to Man； where he also fought。 He ravaged far around in Ireland； and thence steered to Bretland； which he laid waste with fire and sword； and all the district called Cumberland。 He sailed westward from thence to Valland； and marauded there。 When he left the west； intending to sail to England； he came to the islands called the Scilly Isles； lying westward from England in the ocean。 Thus tells Halfred Vandraskald of these events：
The brave young king； who ne'er retreats； The Englishman in England beats。 Death through Northumberland is spread From battleaxe and broad spearhead。 Through Scotland with his spears he rides； To Man his glancing ships he guides： Feeding the wolves where'er he came； The young king drove a bloody game。 The gallant bowmen in the isles Slew foemen； who lay heaped in piles。 The Irish fled at Olaf's name Fled from a young king seeking fame。 In Bretland； and in Cumberland； People against him could not stand： Thick on the fields their corpses lay； To ravens and howling wolves a prey。〃
Olaf Trygvason had been four years on this cruise （A。D。 985…988）； from the time he left Vindland till he came to the Scilly Islands。
32。 KING OLAF IS BAPTIZED。
While Olaf Trygvason lay in the Scilly Isles he heard of a seer； or fortune…teller； on the islands； who could tell beforehand things not yet done； and what he foretold many believed was really fulfilled。 Olaf became curious to try this man's gift of prophecy。 He therefore sent one of his men； who was the handsomest and strongest； clothed him magnificently； and bade him say he was the king； for Olaf was known in all countries as handsomer； stronger； and braver than all others； although； after he had left Russia； he retained no more of his name than that he was called Ole； and was Russian。 Now when the messenger came to the fortune…teller； and gave himself out for the king； he got the answer； 〃Thou art not the king； but I advise thee to be faithful to thy king。〃 And more he would not say to that man。 The man returned； and told Olaf； and his desire to meet the fortune… teller was increased； and now he had no doubt of his being really a fortune…teller。 Olaf repaired himself to him； and； entering into conversation； asked him if he could foresee how it would go with him with regard to his kingdom； or of any other fortune he was to have。 The hermit replies in a holy spirit of prophecy； 〃Thou wilt become a renowned king； and do celebrated deeds。 Many men wilt thou bring to faith and baptism； and both to thy own and others' good； and that th
