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
Olaf remained here for three years (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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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