第172章

There was a man called Dag, who is said to have been a son of King Hring, who fled the country from King Olaf.This Hring, it is said further, had been a son of Dag, and grandson of Hring, Harald Harfager's son.Thus was Dag King Olaf's relative.Both Hring the father, and Dag the son, had settled themselves in Svithjod, and got land to rule over.In spring, when Olaf came from the East to Svithjod, he sent a message to his relation Dag, that he should join him in this expedition with all the force he could collect; and if they gained the country of Norway again, Dag should have no smaller part of the kingdom under him than his forefathers had enjoyed.When this message came to Dag it suited his inclination well, for he had a great desire to go to Norway and get the dominion his family had ruled over.He was not slow, therefore, to reply, and promised to come.Dag was a quick-speaking, quick-resolving man, mixing himself up in everything;eager, but of little understanding.He collected a force of almost 1200 men, with which he joined King Olaf.

211.OF KING OLAF'S JOURNEY.

King Olaf sent a message before him to all the inhabited places he passed through, that the men who wished to get goods and money, and share of booty, and the lands besides which now were in the hands of his enemies, should come to him, and follow him.

Thereafter King Olaf led his army through forests, often over desert moors, and often over large lakes; and they dragged, or carried the boats, from lake to lake.On the way a great many followers joined the king, partly forest settlers, partly vagabonds.The places at which he halted for the night are since called Olaf's Booths.He proceeded without any break upon his journey until he came to Jamtaland, from which he marched north over the keel or ridge of the land.The men spread themselves over the hamlets, and proceeded, much scattered, so long as no enemy was expected; but always, when so dispersed, the Northmen accompanied the king.Dag proceeded with his men on another line of march, and the Swedes on a third with their troop.

212.OF VAGABOND-MEN.

There were two men, the one called Gauka-Thorer, the other Afrafaste, who were vagabonds and great robbers, and had a company of thirty men such as themselves.These two men were larger and stronger than other men, and they wanted neither courage nor impudence.These men heard speak of the army that was crossing the country, and said among themselves it would be a clever counsel to go to the king, follow him to his country, and go with him into a regular battle, and try themselves in this work; for they had never been in any battle in which people were regularly drawn up in line, and they were curious to see the king's order of battle.This counsel was approved of by their comrades, and accordingly they went to the road on which King Olaf was to pass.When they came there they presented themselves to the king, with their followers, fully armed.They saluted him, and he asked what people they were.They told their names, and said they were natives of the place; and told their errand, and that they wished to go with the king.The king said, it appeared to him there was good help in such folks."And I have a great inclination," said he, "to take such; but are ye Christian men?"Gauka-Thorer replies, that he is neither Christian nor heathen.

"I and my comrades have no faith but on ourselves, our strength, and the luck of victory; and with this faith we slip through sufficiently well."The king replies, "A great pity it is that such brave slaughtering fellows did not believe in Christ their Creator."Thorer replies, "Is there any Christian man, king, in thy following, who stands so high in the air as we two brothers?"The king told them to let themselves be baptized, and to accept the true faith."Follow me then, and I will advance you to great dignities; but if ye will not do so, return to your former vocation."Afrafaste said he would not take on Christianity, and he turned away.

Then said Gauka-Thorer, "It is a great shame that the king drives us thus away from his army, and I never before came where I was not received into the company of other people, and I shall never return back on this account." They joined accordingly the rear with other forest-men, and followed the troops.Thereafter the king proceeded west up to the keel-ridge of the country.

213.OF KING OLAF'S VISION.

Now when King Olaf, coming from the east, went over the keel-ridge and descended on the west side of the mountain, where it declines towards the sea, he could see from thence far over the country.Many people rode before the king and many after, and he himself rode so that there was a free space around him.He was silent, and nobody spoke to him, and thus he rode a great part of the day without looking much about him.Then the bishop rode up to him, asked him why he was so silent, and what he was thinking of; for, in general, he was very cheerful, and very talkative on a journey to his men, so that all who were near him were merry.

The king replied, full of thought, "Wonderful things have come into my mind a while ago.As I just now looked over Norway, out to the west from the mountains, it came into my mind how many happy days I have had in that land.It appeared to me at first as if I saw over all the Throndhjem country, and then over all Norway; and the longer this vision was before my eyes the farther, methought, I saw, until I looked over the whole wide world, both land and sea.Well I know the places at which I have been in former days; some even which I have only heard speak of, and some I saw of which I had never heard, both inhabited and uninhabited, in this wide world." The bishop replied that this was a holy vision, and very remarkable.

214.OF THE MIRACLE ON THE CORN LAND.