Heimskringla

by Snorri Sturluson

  Thereupon the chieftains [present], the king, the earl, and Thorgný conferred together and concluded peace and came to an agreement, on the part of the Swedish king, on the terms suggested by the king of Norway. At the same assembly it was decided that Ingigerth, the daughter of King Óláf, was to marry King Óláf Haraldsson. The king left it to the earl to arrange for the betrothal, giving him complete charge of the marriage arrangements, and they parted at the assembly after settling matters in such fashion.

  When the earl departed for home, he met with Princess Ingigerth and they talked together about this matter. She sent to King Óláf a gown of costly material much embroidered with gold and having silken ribbons. The earl journeyed back to Gautland, together with Bjorn. Bjorn remained there only a short while before returning to Norway with his company. And when he rejoined King Óláf and told him of the outcome of his mission, the king expressed his great gratitude to him for his undertaking that journey and said that Bjorn indeed had been fortunate to accomplish his mission in such a state of hostilities.

  Chapter 81. Hrœrek Plots to Kill King Óláf

  As spring approached, King Óláf travelled down to the sea, had 1018 his ships made ready, summoned his forces, and at the beginning of spring proceeded along the Vík coast all the way to Cape Lithandisness, and from there to Horthaland. He sent word to his landedmen, calling upon all the most powerful men in the districts to journey with him, and preparing his expedition in the most sumptuous fashion, to meet his betrothed. The celebration of his marriage was to be in fall, and in the east, at the boundary by the Gaut Elf River.

  King Óláf had with him blind King Hrœrek. When his wounds were healed, King Óláf got two men to wait on him and had him sit in the high-seat by his side. He maintained him as to food and clothes in no wise worse than he had maintained himself before. Hrœrek was taciturn and answered gruffly and curtly when spoken to. It was his custom to let his page lead him about every day away from people. He beat the page, and when he ran away from him, he told King Óláf that this youth refused to serve him. Then King Óláf changed the servants, but everything went as before, that no servants would stay with King Hrœrek.

  Then King Óláf got a man called Svein to wait on Hrœrek and watch him. He was a kinsman of King Hrœrek and before had been one of his followers. Hrœrek persisted in his crabbedness and solitary walking. But whenever he and this Svein were by themselves, Hrœrek was cheerful and talkative. At such times he called to mind many things from earlier days and what had happened when he was still king and recalled his earlier life and also, who had changed all that and deprived him of his power and happiness and made him a beggar. “But this seems to me the hardest of all to bear,” said he, “that you and other kinsmen of mine who gave promise to be manly fellows, now are such degenerates as not to care to avenge the disgrace that has been brought on our kin.” And such lamentations he often indulged in. Svein replied that they had to deal with men of very great power, whereas they themselves had but little. Hrœrek said, “What is the use of my living so long, in disgrace and mutilated; except for the possibility that I, a blind man, might avenge myself on those who overcame me when I was asleep. Luck favoring, we may kill Óláf the Stout. He fears not for his life now. I shall devise a plan, and I would not hesitate to put my hands to use if I could; but that I cannot because of my blindness. And for that reason you must fall upon him. But I predict for certain that no sooner is Óláf killed than his kingdom will fall into the hands of his enemies. And then it may be that I become king, and then you shall be my earl.” And so persuasive was he that Svein consented to follow this evil advice.

  The plan was that when the king made ready to attend evening mass, Svein would stand outside in the gallery [of the hall] with a naked short sword under his cloak. But when the king came out of the hall he walked faster than Svein had expected and he looked the king in the face. Then he grew pale as a sheet, and his hands dropped. The king perceived his fright and said, “How now, Svein? Would you betray me?” Svein threw off his cloak, cast away the sword, and fell at the king’s feet and said, “All is in God’s power and yours, sire.”

  The king bade his men seize Svein and put him in irons. Then the king had Hrœrek’s seat moved to the other dais.1 To Svein he gave his life and exiled him. Then the king assigned Hrœrek to other lodgings to sleep in than those he used himself. Many of the king’s retinue slept in the same quarters as he did. He got two of them to be with Hrœrek day and night, men who had followed King Óláf for a long time and of whose fidelity he had proof. We are not told that they were men of high birth. King Hrœrek alternately kept his silence for many days so that no one got a word out of him, and then again he was so merry and of good cheer that these men found entertainment in everything he said. At other times he spoke much but uttered only evil. Also, sometimes he drank everyone under the table so that all near him were helpless; but most often he himself drank but little. King Óláf had given him plenty of money for his subsistence. Often before going to sleep in his lodgings he had several small kegs of mead brought in and treated all the men who slept there, and thus became popular with them.

  Chapter 82. Finn the Little Joins the Men Guarding Hrœrek

  There was a man called Finn the Little, of Uppland origin, though some say he was Finnish. He was of unusually small stature, but extraordinarily fleet so that no horse could overtake him. He was also a fast runner on skis and an excellent shot. He had long been in the service of King Hrœrek and had often gone on errands for him that required fidelity. He knew all paths in Uppland and also was acquainted with many men of influence there. Now when King Hrœrek was put under guard of a few men, Finn joined their company and most often associated himself with valets and men servants; and every time he could, he went to serve King Hrœrek and frequently spoke with him. But the king did not care to talk to him for any length of time in order not to arouse suspicion. But as spring wore on and the king and his men journeyed down to the Vík District, Finn disappeared from the troops for some days. Then he returned again and stayed with them for a while. And so it went often, and no attention was paid to it because there were many hangers-on among the troops.

  Chapter 83. Hrœrek’s Escape is Detected by Sigvat

  King Óláf arrived at Túnsberg before Easter and resided there 1018 a long time during the spring. Many merchant ships came to the town, both Saxons, Danes, and men from Vík in the east and from the northern parts of the land. There was a great multitude there. Harvests had been good that year and there were many drinking bouts.

  One evening King Hrœrek had come to his quarters very late. He had drunk a great deal and so was very merry. Then Finn the Little came there with a keg of mead spiced with herbs and of the strongest kind. Then Hrœrek gave drinks to all who were in the room until all fell asleep in their bunks. Finn had gone his way. A light burned in the place. Then Hrœrek roused the men who used to follow him, saying he wanted to relieve himself. They took a lantern with them as it was pitch dark outside. There was a large privy in the yard built on posts, and there were stairs up to the door. Now when Hrœrek and the men sat there they heard a voice call out, “Cut down the blackguard!” Then they heard a crash and a thump as though something fell.

  King Hrœrek said, “Those fellows must be dead drunk to be fighting each other. Go quickly and separate them.” They hurried and ran out. But when they got on the stairs the one coming down last was cut down first, but both were killed. It was King Hrœrek’s men who were there, led by Sigurth Hít, his standard bearer, with eleven others, and Finn the Little among them. They dragged the bodies up between the houses and took hold of the king and led him along. They jumped into a skiff they had brought with them and rowed away.

  The skald Sigvat slept in the lodgings of King Óláf. He and his page got up in the night and went out to the large privy. But when they were about to return, coming down the stairs, Sigvat slipped and fell on his knee. In so doing he put out his hands and felt something wet
on them. He said, “I am thinking that the king has given us so much to drink this evening that we are unsteady on our legs,” and he laughed. But when they got back to their lodging where there was a light the page asked Sigvat, “Have you skinned yourself, or why are you bloody all over?”

  He replied, “No, I did not skin myself, but this may signify that something has happened here.” Then he roused Thórth Fólason, the king’s banner bearer, who was his bedfellow. Both went out with a lantern, and soon found the blood. They looked further and soon discovered the corpses and recognized them. They also saw a big tree-stump with big gashes in it. Afterwards they understood that this was done as a ruse to lure the slain men out.

  Sigvat and Thórth agreed between them that it was important that the king be informed as soon as possible about this. They sent a page at once to the lodgings occupied by King Hrœrek. There, all men were asleep, but the king was gone. He roused the men in the room and told them what had happened. They got up and right away came down into the yard where the bodies lay. But although they understood the importance of King Óláf’s being at once informed of what had happened, no one dared to wake him.

  Then Sigvat said to Thórth, “Which would you rather, comrade, wake the king or tell him what has happened.”

  Thórth replied, “For no consideration would I dare to wake him, but I shall tell him what happened.”

  Then Sigvat said, “There is much left of the night, and it is well possible that before daybreak Hrœrek has found him a hiding place so that he may not easily be located later. But they are not likely to have gotten far, because the bodies are still warm. Let not that shame befall us that we don’t let the king know about this foul play. You, Thórth, go up into his lodgings and wait for me there.”

  Then Sigvat went to the church, roused the verger, and bade him ring the bell for the souls of the king’s men who had been killed and mentioned their names. The verger did as he was told. But at this tolling the king awoke and sat up. He asked if it was time for matins. Thórth made answer, “The bells toll for something worse. Dreadful things have occurred: King Hrœrek has disappeared, and your two followers have been killed.” The king then inquired into the particulars of what had happened, and Thórth told him all he knew.

  Then the king got up and had the trumpet blown for a gathering of his retinue. And when all were assembled, the king appointed men to go out in every direction from the town and look for Hrœrek on sea or land. Thórir the Long took a skiff and set out with thirty men, and when dawn came they saw two small skiffs in front of them. But when they saw each other they rowed with all their might. King Hrœrek was aboard [one of the skiffs] with thirty men. And when the king’s men caught up with them, Hrœrek’s crew turned in toward land and all jumped ashore except the king. He seated himself in the stern and bade them farewell and well met again! Thereupon Thórir and his crew made for the land. Then Finn the Little shot an arrow, and it struck Thórir in the middle and killed him. Sigurth’s crew escaped into the woods, but Thórir’s men took his body and also King Hrœrek, and brought both back to Túnsberg. Thereafter King Óláf himself guarded King Hrœrek. He had him carefully watched, taking great precautions against any treachery of his. He had men guarding him day and night. King Hrœrek was as merry as could be, so no one could detect that he was not well pleased with everything.

  Chapter 84. Hrœrek Attempts King Óláf’s Life in Church

  On Ascension Day [May 15th] King Óláf went to high mass. 1018 The bishop went in procession around the church, leading the king, and when they re-entered the church, the bishop led the king to his seat on the north side of the choir. Next to him sat King Hrœrek, as he was accustomed to. He held his outer garment in front of his face; and when King Óláf had seated himself, King Hrœrek laid his hand on his shoulder and pressed it. Then he said, “You are wearing a garment of costly material now, kinsman.”

  King Óláf replied, “There is a great festival today to remind us that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven [on this day].”

  King Hrœrek answered, “I do not comprehend, and I cannot make up my mind about what you say of Christ. Much of what you say seems to me rather incredible. Yet many a strange thing has happened in the olden times.”

  Now when the mass began, King Óláf arose and held up his hands over his head, bowing to the altar, when his outer garment slid from his shoulders. Then King Hrœrek started up quickly and briskly and thrust at King Óláf with a dagger of the kind which is called rýting. The blow pierced the upper garment by his shoulders since the king had bent forward. The clothes were slashed a good deal, but the king was not wounded. Now when King Óláf had perceived Hrœrek’s lunge at him, he leapt forward onto the floor. King Hrœrek again thrust at him with his dirk. He missed him and called out, “Flee you now, Óláf the Stout, before me, the blind man?” The king bade his men take him and lead him out of the church, and that was done.

  After this occurrence people urged King Óláf to have Hrœrek killed—“It is,” they said, “altogether too great a trial of your luck, sire, to have him by you and spare him, whatever wickedness he perpetrates; and he is bent upon it day and night to take your life. And if you send him off, we don’t know the man capable of watching him so he won’t escape. But if he does get away, he is bound to raise a force against you and do much harm.”

  The king made this answer, “True it is that many a man has suffered death for fewer misdeeds than Hrœrek; but I am unwilling to ruin the victory I gained over the kings of the Upplands, the time I captured five in one morning and so managed to gain all their kingdoms without having to deprive any one of them of life, because they all were kinsmen of mine. Still, I wonder if Hrœrek will not put me to the necessity of having him killed.” The reason Hrœrek had laid his hand on the shoulder of King Óláf was to find out whether he wore his mail coat.

  Chapter 85. Thórarin Loses His Wager with the King

  There was a certain man called Thórarin Nefjólfsson. He was an Icelander whose kin lived in the northern quarter of the land. He was not of high birth, but he had a keen mind and was ready of speech. He was not afraid to speak frankly to men of princely birth. He had been on long journeys as a merchant and had been abroad for a long time. Thórarin was exceedingly ugly, and particularly his limbs. He had big and misshapen hands, but his feet were uglier even by far. At the time when the occurrences told above took place. Thórarin happened to be in Túnsberg. King Óláf knew him and had spoken to him. He was getting the merchantmen he owned ready for sailing to Iceland in the summer. King Óláf had invited Thórarin to stay with him for a few days and used to converse with him. Thórarin slept in the king’s lodgings.

  One morning early the king awoke while other men were still asleep in the lodgings. The sun had just risen, and the room was in broad daylight. The king observed that Thórarin had stuck one of his feet outside of the bed clothes. He looked at the foot for a while. Just then the other men in the lodging awoke.

  The king said to Thórarin, “I have been awake for a while, and I have seen a sight which seems to me worth seeing, and that is, a man’s foot so ugly that I don’t think there is an uglier one here in this town.” And he called on others to look at it and see whether they thought so too. And all who looked at it agreed that this was the case.

  Thórarin shows the king his ugly feet.

  Thórarin understood what it was they talked about and said, “There are few things so unusual that their likes cannot be found, and that is most likely to be true here too.”

  The king said, “I rather warrant you that there isn’t an equally ugly foot to be found, and I would even be willing to bet on that.”

  Then Thórarin said, “I am ready to wager with you that I can find a foot here in town which is even uglier.”

  The king said, “Then let the one of us who is right ask a favor from the other.”

  “So let it be,” replied Thórarin. He stuck out his other foot from under the bed clothes, and that one was in no wise
prettier than the other. It lacked the big toe. Then Thórarin said, “Look here, sire, at my other foot. That is so much the uglier for lacking a toe. I have won.”

  The king replied, “The first foot is the uglier because there are five hideous toes on it, whilst this one has only four. So it is I who has the right to ask a favor of you.”

  Thórarin said, “Precious are the king’s words. What would you have me do?”

  He answered, “That you take Hrœrek to Greenland and deliver him to Leif Eiríksson.”

  Thórarin answered, “I have never been to Greenland.”

  The king said, “For a sailor such as you—now is the time for you to sail there if you have never been there before.”

  Thórarin was slow at first to answer about this business, but when the king rather insisted, Thórarin did not decline altogether and spoke as follows: “I shall let you, sire, hear the wish I had meant to ask you if I had won the wager. It is that you grant me to be one of your retinue. And if you grant me that, then I would be more bound to be ready to execute what you demand of me.” The king granted him his wish, and so Thórarin became a member of his retinue.

  Thereupon Thórarin got his ship ready, and when about to sail, he was given King Hrœrek in his keeping. At parting from King Óláf, Thórarin said, “Now supposing, sire, that, as is not unlikely and often does happen, we do not manage to make Greenland but are driven to Iceland or other lands—how shall I dispose of this king in a manner not to displease you?”

  The king replied, “If you come to Iceland, you are to put him in the hands of Guthmund Eyólfsson or of Skapti, the lawspeaker, or else some other chieftain who wishes to have my friendship and my tokens, [assuring him of that]. But if you come to other lands nearer to us, then make sure that Hrœrek never gets to Norway alive; but do that only if there is no other possibility.”