Heimskringla. Snorri Sturluson

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СКАЧАТЬ the south land that the people of Hordaland and Rogaland, Agder and Thelemark, were gathering, and bringing together ships and weapons, and a great body of men. The leaders of this were Eirik king of Hordaland; Sulke king of Rogaland, and his brother Earl Sote: Kjotve the Rich, king of Agder, and his son Thor Haklang; and from Thelemark two brothers, Hroald Hryg and Had the Hard. Now when Harald got certain news of this, he assembled his forces, set his ships on the water, made himself ready with his men, and set out southwards along the coast, gathering many people from every district. King Eirik heard of this when he same south of Stad; and having assembled all the men he could expect, he proceeded southwards to meet the force which he knew was coming to his help from the east. The whole met together north of Jadar, and went into Hafersfjord, where King Harald was waiting with his forces. A great battle began, which was both hard and long; but at last King Harald gained the day. There King Eirik fell, and King Sulke, with his brother Earl Sote. Thor Haklang, who was a great berserk, had laid his ship against King Harald's, and there was above all measure a desperate attack, until Thor Haklang fell, and his whole ship was cleared of men. Then King Kjotve fled to a little isle outside, on which there was a good place of strength. Thereafter all his men fled, some to their ships, some up to the land; and the latter ran southwards over the country of Jadar. So says Hornklofe, viz.:—

      "Has the news reached you?—have you heard

       Of the great fight at Hafersfjord,

       Between our noble king brave Harald

       And King Kjotve rich in gold?

       The foeman came from out the East,

       Keen for the fray as for a feast.

       A gallant sight it was to see

       Their fleet sweep o'er the dark-blue sea:

       Each war-ship, with its threatening throat

       Of dragon fierce or ravenous brute

       Grim gaping from the prow; its wales

       Glittering with burnished shields, like scales

       Its crew of udal men of war,

       Whose snow-white targets shone from far

       And many a mailed spearman stout

       From the West countries round about,

       English and Scotch, a foreign host,

       And swordamen from the far French coast.

       And as the foemen's ships drew near,

       The dreadful din you well might hear

       Savage berserks roaring mad,

       And champions fierce in wolf-skins clad,

       Howling like wolves; and clanking jar

       Of many a mail-clad man of war.

       Thus the foe came; but our brave king

       Taught them to fly as fast again.

       For when he saw their force come o'er,

       He launched his war-ships from the shore.

       On the deep sea he launched his fleet

       And boldly rowed the foe to meet.

       Fierce was the shock, and loud the clang

       Of shields, until the fierce Haklang,

       The foeman's famous berserk, fell.

       Then from our men burst forth the yell

       Of victory, and the King of Gold

       Could not withstand our Harald bold,

       But fled before his flaky locks

       For shelter to the island rocks.

       All in the bottom of the ships

       The wounded lay, in ghastly heaps;

       Backs up and faces down they lay

       Under the row-seats stowed away;

       And many a warrior's shield, I ween

       Might on the warrior's back be seen,

       To shield him as he fled amain

       From the fierce stone-storm's pelting rain.

       The mountain-folk, as I've heard say,

       Ne'er stopped as they ran from the fray,

       Till they had crossed the Jadar sea,

       And reached their homes—so keen each soul

       To drown his fright in the mead bowl."

      20. HARALD SUPREME SOVEREIGN IN NORWAY.

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      After this battle King Harald met no opposition in Norway, for all his opponents and greatest enemies were cut off. But some, and they were a great multitude, fled out of the country, and thereby great districts were peopled. Jemtaland and Helsingjaland were peopled then, although some Norwegians had already set up their habitation there. In the discontent that King Harald seized on the lands of Norway, the out-countries of Iceland and the Farey Isles were discovered and peopled. The Northmen had also a great resort to Hjaltland (Shetland Isles) and many men left Norway, flying the country on account of King Harald, and went on viking cruises into the West sea. In winter they were in the Orkney Islands and Hebrides; but marauded in summer in Norway, and did great damage. Many, however, were the mighty men who took service under King Harald, and became his men, and dwelt in the land with him.

      21. HARALD'S MARRIAGE AND HIS CHILDREN.

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      When King Harald had now become sole king over all Norway, he remembered what that proud girl had said to him; so he sent men to her, and had her brought to him, and took her to his bed. And these were their children: Alof—she was the eldest; then was their son Hrorek; then Sigtryg, Frode, and Thorgils. King Harald had many wives and many children. Among them he had one wife, who was called Ragnhild the Mighty, a daughter of King Eirik, from Jutland; and by her he had a son, Eirik Blood-axe. He was also married to Svanhild, a daughter of Earl Eystein; and their sons were Olaf Geirstadaalf, Bjorn and Ragnar Rykkil. Lastly, King Harald married Ashild, a daughter of Hring Dagson, up in Ringerike; and their children were, Dag, Hring, Gudrod Skiria, and Ingigerd. It is told that King Harald put away nine wives when he married Ragnhild the Mighty. So says Hornklofe:—

      "Harald, of noblest race the head,

       A Danish wife took to his bed;

       And out of doors nine wives he thrust,—

       The mothers of the princes first.

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