Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of NorwaySnorri Sturluson
History
Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
Snorri Sturluson
Iceland -- History; Norway -- History; Sagas -- Translations into English; Scandinavia -- History
upon the Gaul (the river of Gaulardal), and the earl drove his horse
upon it, and left his coat lying upon the ice. They then went to a hole,
since called Jarlshella (the Earl's Hole), where they slept. When Kark
awoke he told his dream,--that a black threatening mad had come into the
hole, and was angry that people should have entered it; and that the
man had said, "Ulle is dead." The earl said that his son Erlend must be
killed. Kark slept again and was again disturbed in his sleep; and when
he awoke he told his dream,--that the same man had again appeared to
him, and bade him tell the earl that all the sounds were closed. From
this dream the earl began to suspect that it betokened a short life to
him. They stood up, and went to the house of Rimul. The earl now sends
Kark to Thora, and begs of her to come secretly to him. She did so and
received the earl kindly and he begged her to conceal him for a few
nights until the army of the bondes had dispersed. "Here about my
house," said she, "you will be hunted after, both inside and outside;
for many know that I would willingly help you if I can. There is but one
place about the house where they could never expect to find such a man
as you, and that is the swine-stye." When they came there the earl said,
"Well, let it be made ready for us; as to save our life is the first and
foremost concern." The slave dug a great hole in it, bore away the earth
that he dug out, and laid wood over it. Thora brought the tidings to
the earl that Olaf Trygvason had come from sea into the fjord, and had
killed his son Erlend. Then the earl and Kark both went into the hole.
Thora covered it with wood, and threw earth and dung over it, and drove
the swine upon the top of it. The swine-style was under a great stone.
54. ERLEND'S DEATH.
Olaf Trygvason came from sea into the fjord with five long-ships,
and Erlend, Hakon's son, rowed towards him with three ships. When the
vessels came near to each other, Erlend suspected they might be enemies,
and turned towards the land. When Olaf and his followers saw long-ships
coming in haste out of the fjord, and rowing towards them, they thought
Earl Hakon must be here; and they put out all oars to follow them.
As soon as Erlend and his ships got near the land they rowed aground
instantly, jumped overboard, and took to the land; but at the same
instant Olaf's ship came up with them. Olaf saw a remarkably handsome
man swimming in the water, and laid hold of a tiller and threw it at
him. The tiller struck Erlend, the son of Hakon the earl, on the head,
and clove it to the brain; and there left Erlend his life. Olaf and his
people killed many; but some escaped, and some were made prisoners, and
got life and freedom that they might go and tell what had happened. They
learned then that the bondes had driven away Earl Hakon, and that he had
fled, and his troops were all dispersed.
55. EARL HAKON'S DEATH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account