Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
Who little thought that there
A foeman was so near.
The best and fairest youth
Earl Hakon was in truth,
That speaks the Danish tongue,
And of the race of great Hakon."
29. HAKON'S DEPARTURE FROM NORWAY.
After this (A.D. 1014) the earl made ready as fast as possible to leave
the country and sail over to England. He met King Canute, his mother's
brother, there, and told him all that had taken place between him and
King Olaf. King Canute received him remarkably well, placed him in his
court in his own house, and gave him great power in his kingdom. Earl
Hakon dwelt a long time with King Canute. During the time Svein and
Hakon ruled over Norway, a reconciliation with Erling Skialgson was
effected, and secured by Aslak, Erling's son, marrying Gunhild, Earl
Svein's daughter; and the father and son, Erling and Aslak, retained
all the fiefs which King Olaf Trygvason had given to Erling. Thus Erling
became a firm friend of the earl's, and their mutual friendship was
confirmed by oath.
30. ASTA RECEIVES HER SON OLAF.
King Olaf went now eastward along the land, holding Things with the
bondes all over the country. Many went willingly with him; but some,
who were Earl Svein's friends or relations, spoke against him. Therefore
King Olaf sailed in all haste eastward to Viken; went in there with his
ships; set them on the land; and proceeded up the country, in order
to meet his stepfather, Sigurd Syr. When he came to Vestfold he was
received in a friendly way by many who had been his father's friends or
acquaintances; and also there and in Folden were many of his family. In
autumn (A.D. 1014) he proceeded up the country to his stepfather King
Sigurd's, and came there one day very early. As Olaf was coming near to
the house, some of the servants ran beforehand to the house, and into
the room. Olaf's mother, Asta, was sitting in the room, and around her
some of her girls. When the servants told her of King Olaf's approach,
and that he might soon be expected, Asta stood up directly, and ordered
the men and girls to put everything in the best order. She ordered four
girls to bring out all that belonged to the decoration of the room and
put it in order with hangings and benches. Two fellows brought straw
for the floor, two brought forward four-cornered tables and the
drinking-jugs, two bore out victuals and placed the meat on the table,
two she sent away from the house to procure in the greatest haste all
that was needed, and two carried in the ale; and all the other serving
men and girls went outside of the house. Messengers went to seek King
Sigurd wherever he might be, and brought to him his dress-clothes, and
his horse with gilt saddle, and his bridle, which was gilt and set
with precious stones. Four men she sent off to the four quarters of the
country to invite all the great people to a feast, which she prepared as
a rejoicing for her son's return. All who were before in the house she
made to dress themselves with the best they had, and lent clothes to
those who had none suitable.
31. KING SIGURD'S DRESS.
King Sigurd Syr was standing in his corn-field when the messengers came
to him and brought him the news, and also told him all that Asta was
doing at home in the house. He had many people on his farm. Some
were then shearing corn, some bound it together, some drove it to the
building, some unloaded it and put it in stack or barn; but the king,
and two men with him, went sometimes into the field, sometimes to the
place where the corn was put into the barn. His dress, it is told, was
this:--he had a blue kirtle and blue breeches; shoes which were laced
about the legs; a grey cloak, and a grey wide-brimmed hat; a veil before
his face; a staff in his hand with a gilt-silver head on it and a silver
ring around it. Of Sigurd's living and disposition it is related that
he was a very gain-making man who attended carefully to his cattle and
husbandry, and managed his housekeeping himself. He was nowise given
to pomp, and was rather taciturn. But he was a man of the best
understanding in Norway, and also excessively wealthy in movable
property. Peaceful he was, and nowise haughty. His wife Asta was
generous and high-minded. Their children were, Guthorm, the eldest; then
Gunhild; the next Halfdan, Ingerid, and Harald. The messengers said to
Sigurd, "Asta told us to bring thee word how much it lay at her heart
that thou shouldst on this occasion comport thyself in the fashion of
great men, and show a disposition more akin to Harald Harfager's race
than to thy mother's father's, Hrane Thin-nose, or Earl Nereid the Old,
although they too were very wise men." The king replies, "The news ye
bring me is weighty, and ye bring it forward in great heat. Already
before now Asta has been taken up much with people who were not so near
to her; and I see she is still of the same disposition. She takes this
up with great warmth; but can she lead her son out of the business with
the same splendour she is leading him into it? If it is to proceed so
methinks they who mix themselves up in it regard little property or
life. For this man, King Olaf, goes against a great superiority of
power; and the wrath of the Danish and Swedish kings lies at the foot of
his determination, if he ventures to go against them."
32. OF THE FEAST.
When the king had said this he sat down, and made them take off his
shoes, and put corduvan boots on, to which he bound his gold spurs.
Then he put off his cloak and coat, and dressed himself in his finest
clothes, with a scarlet cloak over all; girded on his sword, set
a gilded helmet upon his head, and mounted his horse. He sent his
labouring people out to the neighbourhood, and gathered to him thirty
well-clothed men, and rode home with them. As they rode up to the house,
and were near the room, they saw on the other side of the house the
banners of Olaf coming waving; and there was he himself, with about
100 men all well equipped. People were gathered over all upon the
house-tops. King Sigurd immediately saluted his stepson from horseback
in a friendly way, and invited him and his men to come in and drink a
cup with him. Asta, on the contrary, went up and kissed her son, and
invited him to stay with her; and land, and people, and all the good she
could do for him stood at his service. King Olaf thanked her kindly for
her invitation. Then she took him by the hand, and led him into the room
to the high-seat. King Sigurd got men to take charge of their clothes,
and give their horses corn; and then he himself went to his high-seat,
and the feast was made with the greatest splendour.
33. CONVERSATION OF OLAF AND SIGURD.
King Olaf had not been long here before he one day called his stepfather
King Sigurd, his mother Asta, and his foster-father Hrane to a
conference and consultation. Olaf began thus: "It has so happened," said
he, "as is well known to you, that I have returned to this country after
a very long sojourn in foreign parts, during all which time I and my men
have had nothing for our support but what we captured in war, for which
we have often hazarded both life and soul: for many an innocent man have
we deprived of his property, and some of their lives; and foreigners are
now sitting in the possessions which my father, his father, and their
forefathers for a long series of generations owned, and to which I have
udal right. They have not been content with this, but have taken to
themselves also the properties of all our relations who are descended
from Harald Harfager. To some they have left little, to others nothing
at all. Now I will disclose to you what I have long concealed in my own
mind, that I intend to take the heritage of my forefathers; but I will
not wait upon the Danish or Swedish king to supplicate the least thing
from them, although they for the time call that their property which was
Harald Harfager's heritage. To say the truth, I intend rather to seek
my patrimony with battle-axe and sword, and that with the help of all
my friends and relations, and of those who in this business will take my
side. And in this matter I will so lay hand to the work that one of two
things shall happen,--either I shall lay all this kingdom under my rule
which they got into their hands by the slaughter of my kinsman Olaf
Trygvason, or I shall fall here upon my inheritance in the land of my
fathers. Now I expect of thee, Sigurd, my stepfather, as well as
other men here in the country who have udal right of succession to the
kingdom, according to the law made by King Harald Harfager, that nothing
shall be of such importance to you as to prevent you from throwing off
the disgrace from our family of being slow at supporting the man who
comes forward to raise up again our race. But whether ye show any
manhood in this affair or not, I know the inclination of the people
well,--that all want to be free from the slavery of foreign masters,
and will give aid and strength to the attempt. I have not proposed
this matter to any before thee, because I know thou art a man of
understanding, and can best judge how this my purpose shall be brought
forward in the beginning, and whether we shall, in all quietness, talk
about it to a few persons, or instantly declare it to the people at
large. I have already shown my teeth by taking prisoner the Earl Hakon,
who has now left the country, and given me, under oath, the part of the
kingdom which he had before; and I think it will be easier to have
Earl Svein alone to deal with, than if both were defending the country
against us."
King Sigurd answers, "It is no small affair, King Olaf, thou hast in thy
mind; and thy purpose comes more, methinks, from hasty pride than from
prudence. But it may be there is a wide difference between my humble
ways and the high thoughts thou hast; for whilst yet in thy childhood
thou wast full always of ambition and desire of command, and now thou
art experienced in battles, and hast formed thyself upon the manner of
foreign chiefs. I know therefore well, that as thou hast taken this into
thy head, it is useless to dissuade thee from it; and also it is not
to be denied that it goes to the heart of all who have courage in them,
that the whole Harfager race and kingdom should go to the ground. But
I will not bind myself by any promise, before I know the views and
intentions of other Upland kings; but thou hast done well in letting
me know thy purpose, before declaring it publicly to the people. I will
promise thee, however, my interest with the kings, and other chiefs, and
country people; and also, King Olaf, all my property stands to thy
aid, and to strengthen thee. But we will only produce the matter to the
community so soon as we see some progress, and expect some strength to
this undertaking; for thou canst easily perceive that it is a daring
measure to enter into strife with Olaf the Swedish king, and Canute, who
is king both of Denmark and England; and thou requirest great support
under thee, if it is to succeed. It is not unlikely, in my opinion, that
thou wilt get good support from the people, as the commonalty always
loves what is new; and it went so before, when Olaf Trygvason came here
to the country, that all rejoiced at it, although he did not long enjoy
the kingdom."
When the consultation had proceeded so far, Asta took up the word. "For
my part, my son, I am rejoiced at thy arrival, but much more at thy
advancing thy honour. I will spare nothing for that purpose that stands
in my power, although it be but little help that can be expected from
me. But if a choice could be made, I would rather that thou shouldst be
the supreme king of Norway, even if thou shouldst not sit longer in
thy kingdom than Olaf Trygvason did, than that thou shouldst not be a