第106章

The summer that Thorarin went with Hrorek to Iceland, Hjalte Skeggjason went also to Iceland, and King Olaf gave him many friendly gifts with him when they parted.The same summer Eyvind Urarhorn went on an expedition to the west sea, and came in autumn to Ireland, to the Irish king Konofogor (1).In autumn Einar earl of Orkney and this Irish king met in Ulfreks-fjord, and there was a great battle, in which Konofogor gained the victory, having many more people.The earl fled with a single ship and came back about autumn to Orkney, after losing most of his men and all the booty they had made.The earl was much displeased with his expedition, and threw the blame upon the Northmen, who had been in the battle on the side of the Irish king, for making him lose the victory.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Konofogor's Irish name was Connor.

88.OLAF PREPARES FOR HIS BRIDAL JOURNEY.

Now we begin again our story where we let it slip -- at King Olaf's travelling to his bridal, to receive his betrothed Ingegerd the king's daughter.The king had a great body of men with him, and so chosen a body that all the great people he could lay hold of followed him; and every man of consequence had a chosen band of men with him distinguished by birth or other qualifications.The whole were well appointed, and equipped in ships, weapons, and clothes.They steered the fleet eastwards to Konungahella; but when they arrived there they heard nothing of the Swedish king and none of his men had come there.King Olaf remained a long time in summer (A.D.1018) at Konungahella, and endeavored carefully to make out what people said of the Swedish king's movements, or what were his designs; but no person could tell him anything for certain about it.Then he sent men up to Gautland to Earl Ragnvald, to ask him if he knew how it came to pass that the Swedish king did not come to the meeting agreed on.

The earl replies, that he did not know."But as soon," said he, "as I hear, I shall send some of my men to King Olaf, to let him know if there be any other cause for the delay than the multitude of affairs; as it often happens that the Swedish king's movements are delayed by this more than he could have expected."89.OF THE SWEDISH KING'S CHILDREN.

This Swedish king, Olaf Eirikson, had first a concubine who was called Edla, a daughter of an earl of Vindland, who had been captured in war, and therefore was called the king's slave-girl.

Their children were Emund, Astrid, Holmfrid....They had, besides, a son, who was born the day before St.Jacob's-day.

When the boy was to be christened the bishop called him Jacob, which the Swedes did not like, as there never had been a Swedish king called Jacob.All King Olaf's children were handsome in appearance, and clever from childhood.The queen was proud, and did not behave well towards her step-children; therefore the king sent his son Emund to Vindland, to be fostered by his mother's relations, where he for a long time neglected his Christianity.

The king's daughter, Astrid, was brought up in West Gautland, in the house of a worthy man called Egil.She was a very lovely girl: her words came well into her conversation; she was merry, but modest, and very generous.When she was grown up she was often in her father's house, and every man thought well of her.

King Olaf was haughty and harsh in his speech.He took very ill the uproar and clamour the country people had raised against him at the Upsala Thing, as they had threatened him with violence, for which he laid the chief blame on Earl Ragnvald.He made no preparation for the bridal, according to the agreement to marry his daughter Ingegerd to Olaf the king of Norway, and to meet him on the borders for that purpose.As the summer advanced many of his men were anxious to know what the kings intentions were;whether to keep to the agreement with King Olaf, or break his word, and with it the peace of the country.But no one was so bold as to ask the king, although they complained of it to Ingegerd, and besought her to find out what the king intended.

She replied "I have no inclination to speak to the king again about the matters between him and King Olaf; for he answered me ill enough once before when I brought forward Olaf's name." In the meantime Ingegerd, the king's daughter, took it to heart, became melancholy and sorrowful and yet very curious to know what the king intended.She had much suspicion that he would not keep his word and promise to King Olaf; for he appeared quite enraged whenever Olaf the Thick's name was in any way mentioned.

90.OF THE SWEDISH KING OLAF'S HUNTING.

One morning early the king rode out with his dogs and falcons, and his men around him.When they let slip the falcons the king's falcon killed two black-cocks in one flight, and three in another.The dogs ran and brought the birds when they had fallen to the ground.The king ran after them, took the game from them himself, was delighted with his sport, and said, "It will be long before the most of you have such success." They agreed in this;adding, that in their opinion no king had such luck in hunting as he had.Then the king rode home with his followers in high spirits.Ingegerd, the king's daughter, was just going out of her lodging when the king came riding into the yard, and she turned round and saluted him.He saluted her in return, laughing; produced the birds, and told her the success of his chase.