Heimskringla [105]
(A.D. 1010-1012).
15. THE TENTH BATTLE.
The third year King Ethelred died, and his sons Edmund and Edward took the government (A.D. 1012). Then Olaf sailed southwards out to sea, and had a battle at Hringsfjord, and took a castle situated at Holar, where vikings resorted, and burnt the castle. So says Sigvat the skald: --
"Of the tenth battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell. Up on the hill in Hringsfjord fair A robber nest hung in the air: The people followed our brave chief, And razed the tower of the viking thief. Such rock and tower, such roosting-place, Was ne'er since held by the roving race."
16. ELEVENTH, TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH BATTLES.
Then King Olaf proceeded westwards to Grislupollar, and fought there with vikings at Williamsby; and there also King Olaf gained the victory. So says Sigvat: --
"The eleventh battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell. At Grislupol our young fir's name O'ertopped the forest trees in fame: Brave Olaf's name -- nought else was heard But Olaf's name, and arm, and sword. Of three great earls, I have heard say, His sword crushed helm and head that day."
Next he fought westward on Fetlafjord, as Sigvat tells: --
"The twelfth fight was at Fetlafjord, Where Olaf's honour-seeking sword Gave the wild wolf's devouring teeth A feast of warriors doomed to death."
From thence King Olaf sailed southwards to Seljupollar, where he had a battle. He took there a castle called Gunvaldsborg, which was very large and old. He also made prisoner the earl who ruled over the castle and who was called Geirfin. After a conference with the men of the castle, he laid a scat upon the town and earl, as ransom, of twelve thousand gold shillings: which was also paid by those on whom it was imposed. So says Sigvat: --
"The thirteenth battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell. In Seljupol was fought the fray, And many did not survive the day. The king went early to the shore, To Gunvaldsborg's old castle-tower; And a rich earl was taken there, Whose name was Geridin, I am sure."
17. FOURTEENTH BATTLE AND OLAF'S DREAM.
Thereafter King Olaf steered with his fleet westward to Karlsar, and tarried there and had a fight. And while King Olaf was lying in Karlsa river waiting a wind, and intending to sail up to Norvasund, and then on to the land of Jerusalem, he dreamt a remarkable dream -- that there came to him a great and important man, but of a terrible appearance withal, who spoke to him, and told him to give up his purpose of proceeding to that land. "Return back to thy udal, for thou shalt be king over Norway for ever." He interpreted this dream to mean that he should be king over the country, and his posterity after him for a long time.
18. FIFTEENTH BATTLE.
After this appearance to him he turned about, and came to Poitou, where he plundered and burnt a merchant town called Varrande. Of this Ottar speaks: --
"Our young king, blythe and gay, Is foremost in the fray: Poitou he plunders, Tuskland burns, -- He fights and wins where'er he turns."
And also Sigvat says: --
"The Norsemen's king is on his cruise, His blue steel staining, Rich booty gaining, And all men trembling at the news. The Norsemen's kings up on the Loire: Rich Partheney In ashes lay; Far inland reached the Norsemen's spear."
19. OF THE EARLS OF ROUEN.
King Olaf had been two summers and one winter in the west in Valland on this cruise; and thirteen years had now passed since the fall of King Olaf Trygvason. During this time earls had ruled over Norway; first Hakon's sons Eirik and Svein, and afterwards Eirik's sons Hakon and Svein. Hakon was a sister's son of King Canute, the son of Svein. During this time there were two earls in Valland, William and Robert; their father was Richard earl of Rouen. They ruled
15. THE TENTH BATTLE.
The third year King Ethelred died, and his sons Edmund and Edward took the government (A.D. 1012). Then Olaf sailed southwards out to sea, and had a battle at Hringsfjord, and took a castle situated at Holar, where vikings resorted, and burnt the castle. So says Sigvat the skald: --
"Of the tenth battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell. Up on the hill in Hringsfjord fair A robber nest hung in the air: The people followed our brave chief, And razed the tower of the viking thief. Such rock and tower, such roosting-place, Was ne'er since held by the roving race."
16. ELEVENTH, TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH BATTLES.
Then King Olaf proceeded westwards to Grislupollar, and fought there with vikings at Williamsby; and there also King Olaf gained the victory. So says Sigvat: --
"The eleventh battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell. At Grislupol our young fir's name O'ertopped the forest trees in fame: Brave Olaf's name -- nought else was heard But Olaf's name, and arm, and sword. Of three great earls, I have heard say, His sword crushed helm and head that day."
Next he fought westward on Fetlafjord, as Sigvat tells: --
"The twelfth fight was at Fetlafjord, Where Olaf's honour-seeking sword Gave the wild wolf's devouring teeth A feast of warriors doomed to death."
From thence King Olaf sailed southwards to Seljupollar, where he had a battle. He took there a castle called Gunvaldsborg, which was very large and old. He also made prisoner the earl who ruled over the castle and who was called Geirfin. After a conference with the men of the castle, he laid a scat upon the town and earl, as ransom, of twelve thousand gold shillings: which was also paid by those on whom it was imposed. So says Sigvat: --
"The thirteenth battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell. In Seljupol was fought the fray, And many did not survive the day. The king went early to the shore, To Gunvaldsborg's old castle-tower; And a rich earl was taken there, Whose name was Geridin, I am sure."
17. FOURTEENTH BATTLE AND OLAF'S DREAM.
Thereafter King Olaf steered with his fleet westward to Karlsar, and tarried there and had a fight. And while King Olaf was lying in Karlsa river waiting a wind, and intending to sail up to Norvasund, and then on to the land of Jerusalem, he dreamt a remarkable dream -- that there came to him a great and important man, but of a terrible appearance withal, who spoke to him, and told him to give up his purpose of proceeding to that land. "Return back to thy udal, for thou shalt be king over Norway for ever." He interpreted this dream to mean that he should be king over the country, and his posterity after him for a long time.
18. FIFTEENTH BATTLE.
After this appearance to him he turned about, and came to Poitou, where he plundered and burnt a merchant town called Varrande. Of this Ottar speaks: --
"Our young king, blythe and gay, Is foremost in the fray: Poitou he plunders, Tuskland burns, -- He fights and wins where'er he turns."
And also Sigvat says: --
"The Norsemen's king is on his cruise, His blue steel staining, Rich booty gaining, And all men trembling at the news. The Norsemen's kings up on the Loire: Rich Partheney In ashes lay; Far inland reached the Norsemen's spear."
19. OF THE EARLS OF ROUEN.
King Olaf had been two summers and one winter in the west in Valland on this cruise; and thirteen years had now passed since the fall of King Olaf Trygvason. During this time earls had ruled over Norway; first Hakon's sons Eirik and Svein, and afterwards Eirik's sons Hakon and Svein. Hakon was a sister's son of King Canute, the son of Svein. During this time there were two earls in Valland, William and Robert; their father was Richard earl of Rouen. They ruled