Heimskringla. Snorri Sturluson

opportunity of attacking by surprise Earl Sigurd, and should give King Harald notice of it. After this agreement Grjotgard returned home with many good presents from the king.

      5. SIGURD BURNT IN A HOUSE IN STJORADAL

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      Earl Sigurd went in harvest into Stjoradal to guest-quarters, and from thence went to Oglo to a feast. The earl usually had many people about him, for he did not trust the king; but now, after friendly messages had passed between the king and him, he had no great following of people with him. Then Grjotgard sent word to the king that he could never expect a better opportunity to fall upon Earl Sigurd; and immediately, that very evening, Harald and Erling sailed into Throndhjem fjord with several ships and many people. They sailed all night by starlight, and Grjotgard came out to meet them. Late in the night they came to Oglo, where Earl Sigurd was at the feast, and set fire to the house; and burnt the house, the earl, and all his men. As soon as it was daylight, they set out through the fjord, and south to More, where they remained a long time.

      6. HISTORY OF HAKON, SIGURD'S SON.

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      Hakon, the son of Earl Sigurd, was up in the interior of the Throndhjem country when he heard this news. Great was the tumult through all the Throndhjem land, and every vessel that could swim was put into the water; and as soon as the people were gathered together they took Earl Sigurd's son Hakon to be their earl and the leader of the troops, and the whole body steered out of Throndhjem fjord. When Gunhild's sons heard of this, they set off southwards to Raumsdal and South More; and both parties kept eye on each other by their spies. Earl Sigurd was killed two years after the fall of King Hakon (A.D. 962). So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller in the "Haleygjatal":—

      "At Oglo, as I've heard, Earl Sigurd

       Was burnt to death by Norway's lord,—

       Sigurd, who once on Hadding's grave

       A feast to Odin's ravens gave.

       In Oglo's hall, amidst the feast,

       When bowls went round and ale flowed fast,

       He perished: Harald lit the fire

       Which burnt to death the son of Tyr."

      Earl Hakan, with the help of his friends, maintained himself in the Throndhjem country for three years; and during that time (A.D. 963-965) Gunhild's sons got no revenues from it. Hakon had many a battle with Gunhild's sons, and many a man lost his life on both sides. Of this Einar Skalaglam speaks in his lay, called "Vellekla," which he composed about Earl Hakon:—

      "The sharp bow-shooter on the sea

       Spread wide his fleet, for well loved he

       The battle storm: well loved the earl

       His battle-banner to unfurl,

       O'er the well-trampled battle-field

       He raised the red-moon of his shield;

       And often dared King Eirik's son

       To try the fray with the Earl Hakon."

      And he also says:—

      "Who is the man who'll dare to say

       That Sigurd's son avoids the fray?

       He gluts the raven—he ne'er fears

       The arrow's song or flight of spears,

       With thundering sword he storms in war,

       As Odin dreadful; or from far

       He makes the arrow-shower fly

       To swell the sail of victory.

       The victory was dearly bought,

       And many a viking-fight was fought

       Before the swinger of the sword

       Was of the eastern country lord."

      And Einar tells also how Earl Hakon avenged his father's murderer:—

      "I praise the man, my hero he,

       Who in his good ship roves the sea,

       Like bird of prey, intent to win

       Red vengeance for his slaughtered kin.

       From his blue sword the iron rain

       That freezes life poured down amain

       On him who took his father's life,

       On him and his men in the strife.

       To Odin many a soul was driven,—

       To Odin many a rich gift given.

       Loud raged the storm on battle-field—

       Axe rang on helm, and sword on shield."

      The friends on both sides at last laid themselves between, and brought proposals of peace; for the bondes suffered by this strife and war in the land. At last it was brought to this, by the advice of prudent men, that Earl Hakon should have the same power in the Throndhjem land which his father Earl Sigurd had enjoyed; and the kings, on the other hand, should have the same dominion as King Hakon had: and this agreement was settled with the fullest promises of fidelity to it. Afterwards a great friendship arose between Earl Hakon and Gunhild, although they sometimes attempted to deceive each other. And thus matters stood for three years longer (A.D. 966-968), in which time Earl Hakon sat quietly in his dominions.

      7. OF HARALD GRAFELD.

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      King Hakon had generally his seat in Hordaland and Rogaland, and also his brothers; but very often, also, they went to Hardanger. One summer it happened that a vessel came from Iceland belonging to Icelanders, and loaded with skins and peltry. They sailed to Hardanger, where they heard the greatest number of people assembled; but when the folks came to deal with them, nobody would buy their skins. Then the steersman went to King Harald, whom he had been acquainted with before, and complained of his ill luck. The king promised to visit him, and did so. King Harald was very condescending, and full of fun. He came with a fully manned boat, looked at the skins, and then said to the steersman, "Wilt thou give me a present of one of these gray-skins?" "Willingly," said the steersman, "if it were ever so many." On this the king wrapped himself up in a gray-skin, and went back to his boat; but before they rowed away from the ship, every man in his suite bought such another skin as the king wore for himself. In a few days so many people came to buy skins, that not half of them could be served with what they wanted; and thereafter the king was called Harald Grafeld (Grayskin).

      8. EARL EIRIK'S BIRTH.

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      Earl Hakon came one winter to the Uplands to a feast, and it so happened that he had intercourse with a girl of mean birth. Some time after the girl had to prepare for her confinement, and she bore a child, a boy, who had water poured on him, and was named Eirik. The mother carried the boy to Earl Hakon, and said that he was the father. The earl placed him to be brought up with a man called Thorleif the Wise, who dwelt in Medaldal, and was a rich and powerful man, and a great friend of the earl. Eirik gave hopes very early that he would become an able man, was handsome in countenance, and stout and strong for a child; but the earl did not pay much attention to him. The earl himself was one of the handsomest men in countenance,—not tall, but very strong, and well practised in all kinds of exercises; and withal prudent, of good understanding, and a deadly man at arms.

      9. KING TRYGVE OLAFSON'S MURDER.