These words were reported to Hákon, together with many that were not said. Then Hákon with his force went to search for Ásmund. They met with their fleets. Hákon at once gave battle, and it was a great one, and hard fought. Hákon boarded Ásmund’s ship and cleared its decks. Finally, he and Ásmund encountered each other and fought. Ásmund fell and Hákon cut off his head. Then he hurriedly sought out the king and found him sitting at table. Hákon advanced to the table and laid Ásmund’s head on it before the king and asked him if he knew it. The king made no answer, but his face grew red as blood. Then Hákon left. A short time afterwards the king sent men to Hákon asking him to leave his service, “Tell him that I do not wish to do him harm; but I cannot take care of all our kinsmen.”
Chapter 50. King Harald Bestows the Earldom on Hákon
Thereupon Hákon left Denmark and returned north to his possessions in Norway. His kinsman Orm had died meanwhile. Both kinsmen and friends received Hákon with open arms; and many excellent men took it upon themselves to reconcile King Harald and Hákon. In the end they agreed upon these terms that Hákon was to have Princess Ragnhild in marriage, and King Harald conferred on Hákon the earldom and power Earl Orm had had. Hákon swore allegiance to King Harald, binding himself to perform all the services he owed the king.
Chapter 51. Kálf Árnason Is Permitted to Return to Norway
Kálf Árnason had been engaged in freebooting expeditions in the western seas ever since he left Norway; but during the winters he stayed in the Orkneys with his kinsman, Earl Thorfinn. Kálf’s brother, Finn Árnason, sent word to Kálf to tell him of the special agreement between King Harald and himself, that Kálf be permitted to return to Norway to his possessions and have the same revenues he had had under King Magnús. When this message was brought to Kálf he made ready at once for the journey. He sailed east to Norway, and first of all he went to meet his brother Finn. Thereupon Finn procured security for Kálf; and they both met together, the king and Kálf, and came to an agreement according to the terms which the king and Finn had before settled on. Kálf then pledged himself to the king that, according to stipulations formerly arrived at with King Magnús, he was in duty bound to do all King Harald wanted him to and which the king held would strengthen his rule. Thereupon Kálf repossessed himself of all the properties and revenues he had had before.
Chapter 52. Kálf Árnason Is Slain on Funen
The summer following, King Harald summoned a levy and sailed south to Denmark, where he harried all summer. When he arrived at the island of Funen in the south, he found a great army arrayed against him. The king had his men disembark and make ready to go up on land. He divided his forces in such fashion that Kálf Árnason was to head a troop which was to disembark first. He told them in which direction they were to proceed and said he would go up on land after them and support them. Accordingly, Kálf and his troop went up on land and were promptly met by the enemy. Kálf engaged him at once; nor did the battle last long, for Kálf was soon overborne by superior force. He and his troop took to flight, pursued by the Danes. Many of the Norwegians fell there, also Kálf Árnason. King Harald went up on land with his force, and they soon came on the field of battle and found Kálf’s body. It was borne down to the ships. The king himself went ashore to harry, and killed a great many there. As Arnór says:
(117.)
484. Reddened then wrathfully—
Ran fire o’er their dwellings—
his flashing blade on Funen
folk; their numbers lessened.
Chapter 53. Finn Árnason Joins King Svein
After this occurrence Finn thought he had good reason for harboring enmity to the king who, he considered, had been the cause of his brother Kálf’s death. He accused the king of having contrived Kálf’s death, and [argued] that it was merely a ruse against him when he enticed his brother Kálf from the west across the sea into his power and on his good faith.
But when people learned of these allegations many said that it was naive for Finn to have believed that Kálf could trust the good faith of King Harald, considering that the king had shown his vindictiveness in the case of smaller offences than those which Kálf had committed against him. The king let everyone talk about this as he pleased, he neither confirmed it nor denied it. Only this was plain that the king was pleased with what had happened. King Harald spoke this verse:
(118.)
485. Done to death now have I—
driven was I to it—
and laid low of my lieges
eleven and two, I remember.
Men must guard them ’gainst the
guileful toils of traitors:
great oaks, say they, out of
acorns little grow up.1
Finn was so infuriated by this deed [of Harald’s] that he left the country and sailed south to Denmark where he joined King Svein and was welcomed by him. They had long conferences in private, and their upshot was that Finn swore allegiance to King Svein. He was given the title of earl by King Svein and the rule of the province of Halland, where he was entrusted with the defence against the incursions of the Norwegians.
Chapter 54. Guthorm Allies Himself with King Margath
There was a man called Guthorm who lived on Hringuness. He was the son of Ketil Kálf and Gunnhild, and thus the nephew of King Óláf and Harald. Guthorm was an accomplished man, early full grown. He often was in the company of King Harald and was a great favorite of his. He counselled the king, because he was a shrewd man, besides being much liked by people. Frequently he was on warlike expeditions and harried much in the lands beyond the North Sea. He had a great force under him. He had a place of retreat and winter quarters in Dublin in Ireland, where he was on terms of close friendship with King Margath [Eachmargach].1
Chapter 55. By Saint Óláf’s Help Guthorm Defeats Margath
The summer following, King Margath and Guthorm went on a viking expedition and harried in Wales. There they took immense booty. Then they sailed to Anglesey Sound [Menai Strait], where they were to divide their spoils. But when the large amount of silver was brought forth and the king saw it, he wanted to have all the treasure himself and counted for little his friendship with Guthorm. The latter was greatly affronted that he and his men should be robbed of their just share. The king said he could choose one of two things, “Either to be content with the way I want it, or else to fight with us and let him have the silver who is victorious—and also this: I want you to surrender your ships, because I want to have them.” To Guthorm both alternatives seemed bad, and he thought he could not in decency give up his ships and the silver, not having given any provocation on his part. On the other hand it was very risky to do battle with the king and the large fleet he had. There was a great difference between their forces, in that the king had sixteen warships against Guthorm’s five. Guthorm asked the king to let him have three nights’ time to confer with his men about this matter. He thought that the king might relent somewhat in that time and that he might obtain better terms with the king through the representatives of his men. But the king refused to consent to this request.
The time was the eve of Saint Óláf’s Day. Then Guthorm chose to die like a man, or else win the victory, rather than suffer the shame and dishonor, and the reproach of cowardice, for having lost so much. Thereupon he called on God and Holy King Óláf, his kinsman, for help and support, and he made the vow to give tithes to the church of that saint of all the spoils they would make if they were victorious. Thereupon he arranged his forces in battle array against the large fleet, advanced and engaged them. But with the help of God and Saint Óláf, Guthorm won the victory. King Margath fell there, and with him, every man who followed him, young and old. And after this glorious victory Guthorm [and his men] returned home happy with all the treasure they had won in the battle. Then was taken every tenth coin of silver they had won and had vowed to give Holy King Óláf; that was a huge amount of silver. Of it, Guthorm had a crucifix made as tall as he himself or his forecastleman.
That image1 is seven ells high, and Guthorm gave the crucifix so fashioned to the Church of Saint Óláf. It has remained there ever since as a memorial to Guthorm’s victory and to this miracle of Holy King Óláf.
Chapter 56. The Evil Count Is Blinded by Saint Óláf
In Denmark there lived a count of evil and envious disposition. He had a Norwegian servant woman from the district of Trondheim. She worshipped Holy King Óláf and firmly believed in his sanctity. But the count I mentioned disbelieved all that was told him of the miracles of this holy man. He said it was nothing but rumor and loose talk, and made mock and sport of the praise and honor which the people of the country gave the good king. Now the holy day approached on which the gentle king had lost his life and which all Norwegians kept. This, that unwise count did not want to keep and ordered his maid to heat the oven and bake bread on that day. She knew the fury of the count and that he would punish her severely if she did not do all he told her. She went to work much against her will and heated the oven for baking, weeping much as she worked, and calling on Holy Óláf and saying that she would never believe in him unless he avenged this enormity by some sign. Now you may here learn of fitting punishment and a true miracle: right quickly, and at the same time, the count became blind in both eyes, and the bread which she had shoved into the oven turned into stone. Some bits of this stone were brought into Saint Óláf’s Church and into many others. From that time on Saint Óláf’s Day has always been kept in Denmark.
Saint Óláf and the cripple walk over London Bridge.
Chapter 57. Saint Óláf Miraculously Heals a Cripple
West in France there lived a man who was in such ill health and so crippled that he had to walk on his knees and knuckles. One day he fell asleep on the road. He dreamed that a courtly man approached him and asked him whither he was going, and he named some town. The courtly man said to him, “Go to the Church of Saint Óláf in London, you will recover your health there.”
Thereupon he awoke and straightway proceeded to find Saint Óláf’s Church. Finally he came to London Bridge and there asked townsmen if they could tell him were Saint Óláf’s Church was. And they answered, saying that there were so many churches there that they didn’t know to whom each one was dedicated. But a little while afterwards a man approached him and asked whither he was going. He told him. Then the man said, “Let us both go to Saint Óláf’s Church, I know the way there.” Then they walked over the Bridge and went up the street leading to Saint Óláf’s Church. And when they came to the gate of the churchyard, this man stepped over the threshold of the gate, but the cripple rolled himself over it, and straightway arose a well man. But when he looked about him, his companion had vanished.
Chapter 58. King Harald Escapes from the Limfjord
King Harald had a market town built in Ósló in the east, and often resided there, because provisions were easy to obtain there and it is an important center. And the location was good also, both to protect the land against an attack of the Danes and to make incursions in Denmark. He often did so, even though he did not have much of a force.
One summer King Harald sailed forth with some light, swift ships and a small crew. He sailed south in Vík, and when there was a favorable wind he crossed over to Jutland and took to harrying there. But the countrymen gathered together to defend their land. Then King Harald sailed to the Limfjord and into it. The nature of the Limfjord is such that at its entrance it is narrow like some river channel, but after one is inside it opens up like a broad sea. Harald harried on both shores, but the Danes had armed forces everywhere. Then King Harald anchored his ships close to an island. It was small and uninhabited, and when they looked for water they found none, and told the king so. He had them look for some snake, and when they found one they brought it to the king. He had it carried to fire, to heat and exhaust it, so that it should become as thirsty as possible. Then they tied a string to its tail and let it go. It escaped quickly, with the string unwinding from the ball. They followed the snake till it burrowed down into the ground. The king bade them dig for water in that place. They did so, and they found an abundance of it there.
King Harald learned from his spies that King Svein had arrived at the mouth of the fjord with a big fleet. He was delayed in entering it as only one ship at a time could navigate the channel. King Harald with his ships continued farther into the fjord. Its broadest expanse is called Lúsbreith, and between one of the innermost arms and the sea there is only a slender neck of land. King Harald and his fleet rowed to that place in the evening; and in the night, when it had become dark, they unloaded their ships and dragged them across the neck of land. Before day broke they had finished doing that, and made their ships ready again and sailed north past Jutland. Then they spoke this ditty:
(119.)
486. Through the hands of the Danes
Harald did slip.
Then the king said that another time he would come to Denmark with a greater fleet and larger ships. Thereupon he sailed north to Trondheim.
Chapter 59. King Harald Challenges King Svein
During the winter King Harald resided in Nitharós and had a ship constructed outside on the point of Eyrar. That was [of the type] called búz,1 and in point of size like the Long Serpent, and great pains were bestowed on it. It had a dragon head on the stem and a tail on the stern, and the neck of the dragon head was gilt. It had thirty-five compartments and was long in proportion and altogether handsome. The king had all of its equipment made of choice materials, both the sail, the hawsers, the anchor, and the anchor ropes. In winter King Harald sent a message south to King Svein of Denmark that he should in spring come north to the Gaut Elf River, there to fight it out and dispose of their lands, so that one of them should have both kingdoms.
Chapter 60. King Harald Is Delayed by a Storm
That winter King Harald summoned a total levy in Norway. And when spring came, a large army collected. Then King Harald ordered the large ship to be launched in the Nith River and had the dragon head erected on it. Then Thjóthólf the Skald spoke this verse:
(120.)
487. Lo! I saw launched, fair one,
lordly ship in the river:
pridefully its panelled
prow rides on the water;
golden shines the shapely
ship since from its moorings
floated, flaming-maned, with
flanks all gilt, the dragon.
Then King Harald got that vessel shipshape and made ready for his expedition. And when all ready he steered the ship out of the river [into the fjord]. Much care was bestowed on the management of the oars. As says Thjóthólf:
(121.)
488. Betimes tosses off the
tent-flaps, on a Saturday,
the leader-in-war, as ladies
look from the town on his sailing:
steers his stag-of-billows
straightway seaward, while the
long oars of his lads do
lash the briny waters.
(122.)
489. Well in time his warriors
wield the slender sweeps as
eyes the maid the oar-blades’
even course with wonder:
ply they will in peace their
pitchblack oars ere that in
shower-of-darts are shivered,
shapely maid, their row-tools.
(123.)
490. Much ill will suffer oaken
oar-locks, ere by rowers
seventy sweeps from stormy
sea be lifted sithen:
onward, Northmen urge the
iron-mailed great dragon,
like as, with outspread wings, an
eagle, on hailstruck sea-stream.
King Harald sailed his fleet south along the land, summoning a levy both of men and ships. But when they advanced east in Vík they encountered strong head-winds, so that the fleet was forced to anchor in many places, both by out-islands and in the bays. As says Thjóthólf:
(124.)
491. Sheltering shores beneath lie
shield-rimmed galleys, storm-tossed.
Girds the levy’s lord the
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