Norse Legends. Snorri Sturluson

Чтение книги онлайн.

      1. MAGNUS OLAFSON'S JOURNEY FROM THE WEST.

       Table of Contents

      After Yule Magnus Olafson began his journey from the East from Novgorod to Ladoga, where he rigged out his ships as soon as the ice was loosened in spring (A.D. 1035). Arnor, the earls' skald, tells of this in the poem on Magnus:—

      "It is no loose report that he,

       Who will command on land and sea,

       In blood will make his foeman feel

       Olaf's sword Hneiter's sharp blue steel.

       This generous youth, who scatters gold,

       Norway's brave son, but ten years old,

       Is rigging ships in Russia's lake,

       His crown, with friend's support, to take."

      In spring Magnus sailed from the East to Svithjod. So says Arnor:—

      "The young sword-stainer called a Thing,

       Where all his men should meet their king:

       Heroes who find the eagle food

       Before their lord in arms stood.

       And now the curved plank of the bow

       Cleaves the blue sea; the ocean-plough

       By grey winds driven across the main,

       Reaches Sigtuna's grassy plain."

      Here it is related that when King Magnus and his fellow-travellers sailed from the East to Svithjod, they brought up at Sigtuna. Emund Olafson was then king in Svithjod. Queen Astrid, who had been married to King Olaf the Saint, was also there. She received very gladly and well her stepson King Magnus, and summoned immediately a numerous Thing of Swedes at a place called Hangtar. At the Thing Queen Astrid spoke these words: "Here is come to us a son of Olaf the Saint, called Magnus, who intends to make an expedition to Norway to seek his father's heritage. It is my great duty to give him aid towards this expedition; for he is my stepson, as is well known to all, both Swedes and Norwegians. Neither shall he want men or money, in so far as I can procure them or have influence, in order that his strength may be as great as possible; and all the men who will support this cause of his shall have my fullest friendship; and I would have it known that I intend myself to go with him on this attempt, that all may see I will spare nothing that is in my power to help him." She spoke long and cleverly in this strain; but when she had ended many replied thus: "The Swedes made no honourable progress in Norway when they followed King Olaf his father, and now no better success is to be expected, as this man is but in years of boyhood; and therefore we have little inclination for this expedition." Astrid replies, "All men who wish to be thought of true courage must not be deterred by such considerations. If any have lost connections at the side of King Olaf, or been themselves wounded, now is the time to show a man's heart and courage, and go to Norway to take vengeance." Astrid succeeded so far with words and encouragement that many men determined to go with her, and follow King Magnus to Norway. Sigvat the skald speaks of this:—

      "Now Astrtd, Olaf's widowed Queen,—

       She who so many a change had seen,—

       Took all the gifts of happier days,

       Jewels and rings, all she could raise,

       And at a Thing at Hangrar, where

       The Swedes were numerous, did declare

       What Olaf's son proposed to do,

       And brought her gifts—their pay—in view.