Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
opportunity of seeing Greenland, if thou hast never been there before."
At first Thorarin did not say much about it; but as the king insisted
on his wish he did not entirely decline, but said, "I will let you hear,
king, what my desire would have been had I gained the wager. It would
have been to be received into your body of court-men; and if you
will grant me that, I will be the more zealous now in fulfilling your
pleasure." The king gave his consent, and Thorarin was made one of the
court-men. Then Thorarin rigged out his vessel, and when he was ready
he took on board King Hrorek. When Thorarin took leave of King Olaf,
he said, "Should it now turn out, king, as is not improbable, and often
happens, that we cannot effect the voyage to Greenland, but must run for
Iceland or other countries, how shall I get rid of this king in a way
that will be satisfactory to you?"
The king--"If thou comest to Iceland, deliver him into the hands of
Gudmund Eyolfson, or of Skapte, the lagman, or of some other chief who
will receive my tokens and message of friendship. But if thou comest to
other countries nearer to this, do so with him that thou canst know with
certainty that King Hrorek never again shall appear in Norway; but do so
only when thou seest no other way of doing whatsoever."
When Thorarin was ready for sea, and got a wind, he sailed outside of
all the rocks and islands, and when he was to the north of the Naze set
right out into the ocean. He did not immediately get a good wind, but
he avoided coming near the land. He sailed until he made land which he
knew, in the south part of Iceland, and sailed west around the land out
into the Greenland ocean.
There he encountered heavy storms, and drove long about upon the ocean;
but when summer was coming to an end he landed again in Iceland in
Breidafjord. Thorgils Arason (1) was the first man of any consequence
who came to him. Thorarin brings him the king's salutation, message,
and tokens, with which was the desire about King Hrorek's reception.
Thorgils received these in a friendly way, and invited King Hrorek to
his house, where he stayed all winter. But he did not like being there,
and begged that Thorgils would let him go to Gudmund; saying he had
heard some time or other that there in Gudmund's house, was the most
sumptuous way of living in Iceland, and that it was intended he should
be in Gudmund's hands. Thorgils let him have his desire, and conducted
him with some men to Gudmund at Modruveller. Gudmund received Hrorek
kindly on account of the king's message, and he stayed there the next
winter. He did not like being there either; and then Gudmund gave him a
habitation upon a small farm called Kalfskin, where there were but few
neighbours. There Hrorek passed the third winter, and said that since he
had laid down his kingdom he thought himself most comfortably situated
here; for here he was most respected by all. The summer after Hrorek
fell sick, and died; and it is said he is the only king whose bones
rest in Iceland. Thorarin Nefiulfson was afterwards for a long time upon
voyages; but sometimes he was with King Olaf.
ENDNOTES: (1) Thorgils was the son of Are Marson, who visited America
(Vindland). Thorgils, who was still alive in the year 1024,
was noted for his kindness toward all persecuted persons.
87. BATTLE IN ULFREKS-FJORD.
The summer that Thorarin went with Hrorek to Iceland, Hjalte Skeggjason
went also to Iceland, and King Olaf gave him many friendly gifts
with him when they parted. The same summer Eyvind Urarhorn went on an
expedition to the west sea, and came in autumn to Ireland, to the Irish
king Konofogor (1). In autumn Einar earl of Orkney and this Irish king
met in Ulfreks-fjord, and there was a great battle, in which Konofogor
gained the victory, having many more people. The earl fled with a single
ship and came back about autumn to Orkney, after losing most of his men
and all the booty they had made. The earl was much displeased with his
expedition, and threw the blame upon the Northmen, who had been in the
battle on the side of the Irish king, for making him lose the victory.
ENDNOTES: (1) Konofogor's Irish name was Connor.
88. OLAF PREPARES FOR HIS BRIDAL JOURNEY.
Now we begin again our story where we let it slip--at King Olaf's
travelling to his bridal, to receive his betrothed Ingegerd the king's
daughter. The king had a great body of men with him, and so chosen a
body that all the great people he could lay hold of followed him; and
every man of consequence had a chosen band of men with him distinguished
by birth or other qualifications. The whole were well appointed,
and equipped in ships, weapons, and clothes. They steered the fleet
eastwards to Konungahella; but when they arrived there they heard
nothing of the Swedish king and none of his men had come there. King
Olaf remained a long time in summer (A.D. 1018) at Konungahella, and
endeavored carefully to make out what people said of the Swedish king's
movements, or what were his designs; but no person could tell him
anything for certain about it. Then he sent men up to Gautland to Earl
Ragnvald, to ask him if he knew how it came to pass that the Swedish
king did not come to the meeting agreed on. The earl replies, that he
did not know. "But as soon," said he, "as I hear, I shall send some of
my men to King Olaf, to let him know if there be any other cause for
the delay than the multitude of affairs; as it often happens that the
Swedish king's movements are delayed by this more than he could have
expected."
89. OF THE SWEDISH KING'S CHILDREN.
This Swedish king, Olaf Eirikson, had first a concubine who was called
Edla, a daughter of an earl of Vindland, who had been captured in war,
and therefore was called the king's slave-girl. Their children were
Emund, Astrid, Holmfrid.... They had, besides, a son, who was born the
day before St. Jacob's-day. When the boy was to be christened the bishop
called him Jacob, which the Swedes did not like, as there never had been
a Swedish king called Jacob. All King Olaf's children were handsome in
appearance, and clever from childhood. The queen was proud, and did not
behave well towards her step-children; therefore the king sent his son
Emund to Vindland, to be fostered by his mother's relations, where he
for a long time neglected his Christianity. The king's daughter, Astrid,
was brought up in West Gautland, in the house of a worthy man called
Egil. She was a very lovely girl: her words came well into her
conversation; she was merry, but modest, and very generous. When she was
grown up she was often in her father's house, and every man thought well
of her. King Olaf was haughty and harsh in his speech. He took very ill
the uproar and clamour the country people had raised against him at the
Upsala Thing, as they had threatened him with violence, for which he
laid the chief blame on Earl Ragnvald. He made no preparation for the
bridal, according to the agreement to marry his daughter Ingegerd
to Olaf the king of Norway, and to meet him on the borders for that
purpose. As the summer advanced many of his men were anxious to know
what the kings intentions were; whether to keep to the agreement with
King Olaf, or break his word, and with it the peace of the country. But
no one was so bold as to ask the king, although they complained of it
to Ingegerd, and besought her to find out what the king intended. She
replied "I have no inclination to speak to the king again about the
matters between him and King Olaf; for he answered me ill enough once
before when I brought forward Olaf's name." In the meantime Ingegerd,
the king's daughter, took it to heart, became melancholy and sorrowful
and yet very curious to know what the king intended. She had much
suspicion that he would not keep his word and promise to King Olaf; for
he appeared quite enraged whenever Olaf the Thick's name was in any way
mentioned.
90. OF THE SWEDISH KING OLAF'S HUNTING.
One morning early the king rode out with his dogs and falcons, and his
men around him. When they let slip the falcons the king's falcon killed
two black-cocks in one flight, and three in another. The dogs ran and
brought the birds when they had fallen to the ground. The king ran after
them, took the game from them himself, was delighted with his sport, and
said, "It will be long before the most of you have such success." They
agreed in this; adding, that in their opinion no king had such luck in
hunting as he had. Then the king rode home with his followers in high
spirits. Ingegerd, the king's daughter, was just going out of her
lodging when the king came riding into the yard, and she turned round
and saluted him. He saluted her in return, laughing; produced the birds,
and told her the success of his chase.
"Dost thou know of any king," said he, "who made so great a capture in
so short a time?"
"It is indeed," replied she, "a good morning's hunting, to have got five
black-cocks; but it was a still better when, in one morning, the king of
Norway, Olaf, took five kings, and subdued all their kingdoms."
When the king heard this he sprang from his horse, turned to Ingegerd,
and said, "Thou shalt know, Ingegerd, that however great thy love may
be for this man, thou shalt never get him, nor he get thee. I will marry
thee to some chief with whom I can be in friendship; but never can I be
a friend of the man who has robbed me of my kingdom, and done me great
mischief by marauding and killing through the land." With that their
conversation broke off, and each went away.
91. OLAF THE NORWAY KING'S COUNSELS.
Ingegerd, the king's daughter, had now full certainty of King Olaf's
intention, and immediately sent men to West Gautland to Earl Ragnvald,
and let him know how it stood with the Swedish king, and that the
agreement made with the king of Norway was broken; and advising the earl
and people of West Gautland to be upon their guard, as no peace from the
people of Norway was to be expected. When the earl got this news he sent
a message through all his kingdom, and told the people to be cautious,
and prepared in case of war or pillage from the side of Norway. He also
sent men to King Olaf the Thick, and let him know the message he had
received, and likewise that he wished for himself to hold peace and
friendship with King Olaf; and therefore he begged him not to pillage in
his kingdom. When this message came to King Olaf it made him both angry
and sorry; and for some days nobody got a word from him. He then held
a House-Thing with his men, and in it Bjorn arose, and first took the
word. He began his speech by telling that he had proceeded eastward last
winter to establish a peace, and he told how kindly Earl Ragnvald
had received him; and, on the other hand, how crossly and heavily the
Swedish king had accepted the proposal. "And the agreement," said he,
"which was made, was made more by means of the strength of the people,
the power of Thorgny, and the aid of the earl, than by the king's
good-will. Now, on these grounds, we know for certain that it is the
king who has caused the breach of the agreement; therefore we ought
by no means to make the earl suffer, for it is proved that he is King
Olaf's firm friend." The king wished now to hear from the chiefs and
other leaders of troops what course he should adopt. "Whether shall we
go against Gautland, and maraud there with such men as we have got; or
is there any other course that appears to you more advisable?" He spoke
both long and well.
Thereafter many powerful men spoke, and all were at last agreed in
dissuading from hostilities. They argued thus:--"Although we are a
numerous body of men who are assembled here, yet they are all only