87. These tidings came to the ears of earl Rognvald and Sweyn Hroald's son;
Sweyn begged the earl for help that he might set this matter straight; many
men backed this prayer with Sweyn. So it came about that earl Rognvald bestirred
himself and fared over to the Ness, and these chiefs with him; Thorbjorn, Haflidi
Thorkel's son, Duffnjal Havard's son, and Richard, and they were the worst in
their counsel against Sweyn. They fared to Duncansby, and Sweyn was then away.
It was said that he had fared south to Wick, and they fared thither. But when
they came there they heard that Sweyn was in Lambburg. Then the earl and his
men fared thither. And when they came to the burg, then Sweyn asks who ruled
over the band. He was told that Earl Rognvald ruled over it. Sweyn greeted him
well and asked the earl after his errand. The earl answers that he wills that
he should hand over Margad into their power. Sweyn asks whether he shall have
peace. The earl said he would not promise that. Then Sweyn said: “I cannot
find it in my heart to give Margad up to the power of Sweyn Hroald's son and
his band, or any other of my foes, those I mean who are with you, but willingly
would I be atoned with you, lord.” Then Thorbjorn clerk answers: “Hear
now what the lord's traitor says, that he will willingly be atoned; but he has
already robbed his land, and lain out like a thief. Ill repayest thou the earl
the many honours which he has done to thee, as thou wilt [repay] all those over
whom thou mayest be able to come.” Sweyn answers: “Thou hast no need
Thorbjorn, to throw in so much talk here, for it will not be done after thy
words. But that is my foreboding that thou wilt repay him in the worst way the
honour that he has done thee ere ye two part, for that none will ever reap luck
from thee who have aught to do with thee.” Then earl Rognvald bade that
men should not rail at one another. After that they sat themselves down round
the burg, and forbade all ingoings of food, and so it went on for a long time
that they could do nothing in the way of attack. And when their food was wellnigh
spent, then Sweyn called his men together and sought counsel of them, but all
men spoke with one mouth that they would have his guidance and foresight while
they had the choice of it. Then Sweyn took to words, and said: “It seems
to me most unworthy to starve here, but after all to fall into the power of
one's foes. And this too has gone, as was likely, [and proves] that we lack
both wit and luck when matched with earl Rognvald. And here now it was tried
to bring about peace and atonement, but neither could be got for Margad my companion;
but though I know that all other men here will have a choice of peace, yet I
cannot find it in my heart to hand him over [to fall] under the axe. Now it
is not right that so many should pay for his perplexity, though I dare not part
from him even yet.” And after this Sweyn took that counsel to knit together
those ropes that they had. But at night then they let Sweyn and Margad slip
down out of the burg into the sea. And after that they took to swimming, and
struck out along the rocks till the cliffs broke off. After that they stepped
on land, and fared up into Sutherland, and so to Murray, and thence to Dufeyri.
There they found some Orkneymen in a ship of burden; the man's name was Hallvard
who was their chief, but the second's name was Thorkell; they were ten in all.
Sweyn and Margad went on board ship with them, and they twelve together fared
in the ship of burden south off Scotland till they came to the isle of May.
There was then a monastery. Baldwin was the abbot's name who ruled over it.
There Sweyn and his men were seven nights weather-bound, and said that they
were sent to find the Scot-king from earl Rognvald. The monks doubted their
story, and thought they were robbers, and sent to the land for men. But when
Sweyn and his men were ware of that, then they sprang on shipboard and plundered
the place of much goods. They fared away and in up Murkfirth.
(9) They found in Edinburgh David the Scot-king; he gave
Sweyn a hearty welcome, and bade them stay with him. Sweyn told the king the
whole story of his coming thither, and how things had gone between him and earl
Rognvald ere they parted, and so also that they had robbed in the isle of May.
Sweyn and his men were there for a while with the Scot-king in good cheer. King
David sent men to those men who had lost goods at Sweyn's hands in his voyage,
and let them put their own worth on their scathe, but made good with his own
money to each his loss. King David offered Sweyn to send and fetch his wife
from the Orkneys, but to give him such honour in Scotland as he might well be
pleased with. Sweyn laid bare his will before the king, and spoke thus that
his wish was that Margad should be there behind with the king, but that he should
send word to earl Rognvald that he should take an atonement at his hand, but
Sweyn says that he was ready to lay all his suit in earl Rognvald's power; he
said he would ever be well-pleased if they were good friends, but ill-pleased
if they were foes. King David answers: “It is now clear both that this
earl must be worthy, and besides that ye think that only worth having which
looks towards him; for now thou riskest all on his good faith, but givest up
that which we offer thee.” Sweyn says he will never give up his friendship,
but still says that he must beg the king to grant him this. The king said so
it should be. King David sent men north into the Orkneys with gifts, and this
message, that the earl should take atonement from Sweyn. Then Sweyn too fared
north into the isles, but Margad stayed behind with the king. King David's messengers
fared to find earl Rognvald. He gave them a hearty welcome, took the gifts too
which the king sent him, and gave his word as to the atonement. He took Sweyn
after that into his peace and full friendship, and then he [Sweyn] fared back
to his house.
88. When Sweyn and Margad were away out of Lambburg, those who were in the burg
took that counsel to give up the place into earl Rognvald's power. He asked
what was the last they knew of Sweyn and Margad; but they told him all about
it. And when the earl heard that, he said: “Sooth it is to say that no
man is Sweyn's match of all those men of whom we have a choice here with us;
such deeds are both manly and hardy. But I will not be a dastard towards you,
though ye have been woven up in this difficulty with Sweyn; each of you shall
fare away in peace from before me.” The earl fared home thence to the Orkneys,
but sent Thorbjorn clerk with forty men on board a ship south to Broadfirth
to look after Sweyn and Margad, and naught could be heard of him. Then Thorbjorn
speaks out and tells them that they are going on wondrously: “Here we are
driving along ever so far at Sweyn's heels, but we have heard that earl Waltheof
my father's bane-man is but a short way hence with a small following of men.
And now if ye will fare with me against him, then will I give you my word that
I shall not behave as Sweyn, that I should make you robbed of your share if
war-spoil falls into our hands; for those goods which we shall get ye shall
have, but allot me that only which ye please, for methinks fame is better than
fee.” After that they fared to where earl Waltheof was at a feast, and
took the house over their heads, and set fire to it at once. Waltheof and his
men ran to the doors, and asked who was master of that fire. Thorbjorn said
who he was. Waltheof offered atonement for the slaying of Thorstein, but Thorbjorn
said there was no need to seek for a settlement. Waltheof and his men defended
themselves well for a while. But when the fire pressed them hard, they sprang
out, and then their defence lasted but a short while, for they were much worn
out by the fire. There fell earl Waltheof and thirty men with him. There Thorbjorn
and his men got much goods, and he kept all his promise manfully by his men;
they fared after that out to the Orkneys to find earl Rognvald, and he showed
that he was well pleased at their errand. Then it was quiet in the isles, and
there was good peace.
In that time dwelt at Wyre, in the Orkneys, Kolbein the burly, a man from Norway,
and he was a very mighty man; he built him a good stone-castle there; that was
a safe stronghold. Kolbein had to wife Herbjorg, a sister of Hacon bairn, but
their mother was Sigrid a daughter of Herborg, Paul's daughter. These were their
children: Kolbein carle, Bjarni skald, Summerled, Aslak, Frida. They were all
of might and mark.
89. In that time the sons of Harold Gilli ruled over Norway. Ingi and Sigurd
were children in years. Then liegemen were chosen as councillors to those brothers.
Eystein was the eldest of them. But Ingi was lawfully begotten, and the liegemen
paid most honour to him; he let them have their own way in everything as they
chose. In that time these liegemen had most to do with his counsel, Ogmund and
Erling, the sons of Kyrping-Worm. They took that counsel with king Ingi, that
he should send word to earl Rognvald, and give him a seemly bidding to come
and see him. They said, as was true, that the earl had been a great friend of
his father, and they bade him to behave as lovingly as he could to the earl,
so that he might be more his friend than his brothers', whatever might arise
between them. The earl was a kinsman of those brothers, (10)
and one of their greatest friends. But when these words came to earl Rognvald,
he listened to them quickly, and busks him for his voyage, for he was eager
to fare to Norway to see his kinsfolk and friends. On this voyage earl Harold
begged to go for the sake of curiosity and pastime; he was then fourteen or
fifteen years old. And when the earls were “boun,” they fared from
the west with chapmen, and had a proper following, and came in the spring early
to Norway. They found king Ingi in Bergen, and king Ingi gave them a very hearty
welcome; there earl Rognvald found many of his kinsfolk and friends; he stayed
there very long that summer. That summer came from abroad, from Micklegarth,
(11) Eindrid the young; he had been there long in [the
Emperor's] service; he was able to tell them many tidings thence, and men thought
it a pastime to ask him about things that had happened abroad out in the world.
The earl often talked with him. And once on a time when they were talking, then
Eindrid said: “Methinks it is wonderful, earl, that thou wilt not fare
out to Jewry, and not have stories alone as to the tidings which are to be told
thence. That is the fittest place for such men as thou for the sake of your
skill; thou wilt be best honoured there when thou fallest in with men of rank.”
And when Eindrid had said that, many others backed it with him, and egged the
earl on that he should become the leader of this voyage. Erling threw in many
words in favour of it, and said that he would make up his mind to join the voyage,
if the earl would become their leader. And so, when so many men of rank and
birth were eager, then the earl gave his word to go on the voyage. And when
the earl and Erling made up their minds to this, then many great men chose to
go on this voyage. These liegemen: Eindrid the young shall tell them the way,
John Peter's son, Aslak Erlend's son, and Gudorm Mjola-pate of Helgeland. It
was agreed that none of them should have a larger ship than one but the earl
should have a carved or painted or gilded ship. That should be done so that
no man might envy another for that one had fitted out his ship or his crew better
than another; John limp-leg shall get a ship made for the earl to sail abroad
in, and take the greatest pains with it.
Earl Rognvald fared home west in the autumn, and meant to sit two winters in
his realm. King Ingi gave the earl two long-ships, rather small but very handsome,
and made most for rowing, and they were the fastest of all ships. Earl Rognvald
gave one ship to earl Harold; that was named “Arrow,” but the other
was named “Help.” In these ships the earls held on west across the
sea. Earl Rognvald had also taken great gifts from his friends. It was on Tuesday
evening that the earl's put to sea, and they sailed with a very good wind that
night; and the wind began to get high. Midweek-day (Wednesday) there was a mighty
storm, but on Thursday night they were ware of land. It was then very dark.
They saw the surf of breakers on every side about them. They had sailed in company
up to this. Then there was no other choice than to sail on and dash both ships
to pieces, and so they did. There were rocks a-head, and a little strip of foreshore,
but all the rest above cliffs. There all the men were saved, but they lost much
goods; some of it was thrown ashore in the night. Earl Rognvald behaved himself
then still best of all men, as he ever did. He was so merry, that he played
with his fingers and made verses nearly at every word. He drew his finger-ring
off his finger with his lips and sang a song:
“Here I hang with hammer bentAnd when they had got together their baggage, they fared up into the country to look for dwellings, for they thought they knew that they must have come to Shetland. They found homesteads speedily, and then the men were shared out amongst the houses of the district. Men were fain to see the earl where he came, and the mistress asked about his voyage. The earl sang a song:
The hanger of the falcon's seat, (12)
On the gallows of the hawk's bridge (13)
Golden ring to Odin's draught; (14)
Cave-dwellers of giant voice
Me so glad your pine hath made,
That I play now with my fingers,
Perch of hawk that harries geese.”
“There was a crash when ocean billowThe housewife bore a cloak of skin to the earl instead of a cloak; he took it laughingly, and reached out his hands towards her and sang:
Crushed to pieces, Help and Arrow;
To those wives the storm brought sorrow,
Wild waves threatened men with scathe;
I see this voyage of ready-witted
Earls, will long be had in mind;
Hard work surely had the seamen
To withstand the watery shock.”
“Here I shake a wrinkled skin-cloak,Then great fires were made for them, and they roasted themselves at the fires. Asa was the name of the waiting-maid. She went out for water, and another woman with her. But when they came to the water Asa stumbled into the well in the fog; but she ran home much chilled and spoke between her shiverings, and men could not make out what she said. The earl says he knows her tongue, and sang:
Strangely scanty is my dress;
That ship-plain that stands o'er our
Plaids and mantles rises high;
Still perhaps attired more bravely
From the eel-mead's briny horse (15)
We may go; against the rocks
Dashed the surf the yardarm's steed.”
“Be quiet, now, alas! but AsaThe earl sends twelve of his men to Einar in Gullberwick, but he said he would not take them in unless the earl came himself. And when earl Rognvald hears that, then he sang:
Atatata! in water lieth;
Hutututu! where by the fire
Shall I sit? I'm very cold.”
“Einar says that he will nourishThis even happened one day south in Dynröstvoe in Shetland, that an old and poor householder waited long for his mate, but all the boats rowed out, each as it was manned. Then came a man to the old householder in a white cowl; and asked why he did not row out a-fishing like other men. The householder says that his mate was not come. “Master,” says the cowl-man wilt “thou that I row with thee?” “That I will” says the householder, “but still I must have the lot which falls to my boat; for I have many bairns at home, and I work for them as well as I can.” After that they rowed out off Dynrösthead and inside the Hundholms. There was a strong current there where they lay and great eddies; they had to lie in the eddy and fish in the race. The cowl-man sat in the bow and paddled against the tide; but the householder was to fish. The householder bade him mind that they were not borne into the race; for then he said they would run great risks. The cowl-man did not behave as he bade him, and cared not though the householder came into a little danger. A little after they were borne into the race, and the householder was very scared and said “Wretch that I was for my ill-luck when I took you today to row; for here I must die; but my folk at home have no one to help them, and will all come to beggary if I am lost.” And the householder was so afraid that he wept, and he dreaded that his death was nigh. The cowl-man answers, “Be cheerful master, and do not weep; for he will pull us two out of the race who let us fall into it.” After that the cowl-man rowed out of the race, and the householder was very glad at that. Then they rowed to land, and put up the boat. And the householder bade the cowl-man to go with him and share the fish. But the cowl-man told the householder to share them as he liked; he says he will not have more than his third. There was much folk come down to the strand, both men and women, and many needy folk. The cowl-man gave the poor all the fish which had fallen to his lot that day; and then he made ready to go away. There was a steep slope to walk up, and many woman sat on the slope. But as he went up the slope his foot slipped, for it was slippery after rain, and he fell down from the slope. A woman was the first to see that and laughed loud at him, and after her other folk. But when the cowl-man heard that he sang:
None of Rognvald's trusty men
Save the earl himself; now Odin's
Ocean (16) rises in my throat;
Well I know the stout of heart
Ne'er yet broke his word to men;
Late at even in I went
Where the fires brightly blazed.”
“The nymph of silk with eyes of fire,After that the cowl-man went away; and men became aware later that this cowl-man had been earl Rognvald. It became also known afterwards to many men that there had been many such feats of his which were both helpful in the sight of God, and pleasant in the eyes of men. Men reckoned (to him) also as a proverb what stood in the verse that “Few can tell an earl in fisher's weeds.”
Louder laughs the lovely may,
Than she aught at my array:
Few can tell an earl indeed,
Thus disguised in fisher's weed,
Yet through billows danger scorning,
I drew the boat this early morning.”
The earl stayed very long in Shetland, and fared in the autumn south to the Orkneys, and sat in his realm. That autumn two Iceland men came to him, the one's name was Armod, and he was a skald; the other's Oddi the little Glum's son, a man from Broadfirth, and he too made good verses. The earl took to them both and gave them board and lodging in his train. The earl had a great Yule feast, and bade men to it and gave gifts. He reached out a spear inlaid with gold to Armod skald, and shook it as he did that, and bade him make a song in return. [Armod sang]:
“The best of chiefs, of Odin's stormIt fell out one day about Yule that men were looking at the hangings; then the earl said to Oddi the little: “Make thou a song about the behaviour of that man who is there on the hanging, and have thou thy song sung when I have ended my song; and mind and have none of those words in thy song that I have in my song.” The earl sang:
The rouser, does not trust his gifts
To other men to bring to me,
The poet who will sound his praise;
The noble warder of the land,
The first of kings, to Armod bore
This best blood-taper (17) bright with gold,
And placed the weapon in his hand.”
“The ring lord of the falcon's seatOddi sang:
Who, old in years, stands on the hanging
Down from his shoulder by his side;
Bandy-legs will not move forward,
Through the grove of Ocean's brightness
Waxes wrath with him who loves
The icicle of battle-hour.”
“Sword-god here with stooping shouldersIt happened one day that a mad man got loose from his bonds, and rushed at earl Rognvald; and clutched him so fast that the earl all but tottered to his fall. Then the earl sang a song:
Stands, and thinks to hew with sword
His rival in a woman's love
At the door of yonder tent;
He will do the men a mischief
With his sword; and now 'tis time
For the loaders of the sea-skates
To make friends ere wounds are given.”
“At the mantle of the monarchThe earl had also bishop William at his feast that Yule, and many of his chieftains. Then he laid bare his plans how he meant to go away from the land and out to Jewry; he begged the bishop to go with him on his voyage. The bishop was a Paris clerk, and the earl wished above all things that he should be their spokesman. The bishop promised to go with him.
The sturdy beggar caught and clutched,
The carle was on the eve of hurling
Hard to earth the liberal lord;
Still the tree of steel stood upright,
Though men said they saw him stagger;
Might enow the sword-edge scatterer
Careful keeps to hold his own.”
Notes:
9. Murk-firth] The Firth of Forth. [Back]
10. i.e. of Ogmund and Erling. [Back]
11. Constantinople. [Back]
12. A periphrasis for ring which hangs on the hand, the falcon's seat. [Back]
13. Another periphrasis for the hand. [Back]
14. A periphrasis for “poetry.” [Back]
15. This and “the yard-arm's steed” are periphrasis for “a ship.” [Back]
16. A periphrasis for “song.” [Back]
17. A periphrasis for a sword. [Back]
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