VI. KING OLAF TRYGVESON'S SAGA.* INTRODUCTORY. HITHERTO the narrative has been more or less fragmentary. With Olaf Trygveson's Saga reliable history begins, and the narration is full and connected. The story of Hakon the earl is incorporated in this saga. Accounts of Olaf Trygveson may be found in Od the Monk's legendary saga, in parts of Agrip, Historia Norvegiæ, and in Thjodrek. Icelandic works on this epoch are: Egla, Eyrbyggja, Finboga, Floamanna, Færeyinga, Hallfredar Saga, Havardar Saga, Are's Islendinga-bok, Kristni Saga, Laxdæla, Ljosvetinga, Njala, Orkneyinga, Viga Glums Saga, and Viga Styrs Saga. The skalds are :-Eyvind Finson, Einar Skalaglam, Tind Halkelson, Skafte Thorodson, Eyjolf Dadaskald, Thorfin Mun, Eilif Gudrunson, Hallarstein, Vigfus Viga-Glumson, Thorleif Hakonskald, Hvam Kalf, Halfred Vandredaskald, Bjarne Gulbraskald, Gissur Gulbraskald, Sigvat Thordsonskald, and Thord Kolbeinson. CHAPTER I.-Olaf Trygveson's Birth. King Trygve Olafson had married a wife who was called Astrid. She was a daughter of Eirik Biodaskalle, a great man, who dwelt at Ofrustad. But after Trygve's death [963] Astrid fled, and privately took with her all the loose property she could. Her foster-father, Thorolf Lusarskeg, followed her, and * Olaf Trygveson reigned from about the year 995 to the year 1000.-L. were. never left her; and others of her faithful followers spied about to discover her enemies, and where they Astrid was pregnant with a child of King Trygve, and she went to a lake, and concealed herself in a holm or small island in it with a few men. Here her child was born, and it was a boy; and water was poured over it, and it was called Olaf after the grandfather.* Astrid remained all summer here in concealment; but when the nights became dark, and the day began to shorten and the weather to be cold, she was obliged to take to the land, along with Thorolf and a few other men. few other men. They did not seek for houses unless in the night-time, when they came to them secretly; and they spoke to nobody. One evening, towards dark, they came to Ofrustad, where Astrid's father Eirik dwelt, and privately sent a man to Eirik to tell him; and Eirik took them to an out-house, and spread a table for them with the best of food. When Astrid had been here a short time her travelling attendants left her, and none remained behind with her but two servant girls, her child Olaf, Thorolf Lusarskeg, and his son Thorgils, who was six years old; and they remained all winter [964]. CHAPTER II.-Of Gunhild's Sons. After Trygve Olafson's murder, Harald Grayskin and his brother Gudrod went to the farm which he * King Olaf, it will be remembered, was one of Harald Harfager's sons; King Trygve Olafson was the son of this Olaf, and this Olaf Trygveson the son of Trygve.--L. * owned; but Astrid was gone, and they could learn no tidings of her. A loose report came to their ears that she was pregnant to King Trygve; but they went away northwards, as before related. As soon as they met their mother Gunhild, they told her all that had taken place. She inquired particularly about Astrid, and they told her the report they had heard; but as Gunhild's sons the same harvest and winter after had bickerings with Earl Hakon, as before related, they did not seek after Astrid and her son that winter. CHAPTER III.-Astrid's Journey. The spring after Gunhild sent spies to the Uplands, and all the way down to Viken, to spy what they could about Astrid; and her men came back, and could only tell her that Astrid must be with her father Eirik, and it was probable was bringing up her infant, the son of Trygve. Then Gunhild, without delay, sent off men well furnished with arms and horses, and in all a troop of thirty; and as their leader she sent a particular friend of her own, a powerful man called Hakon. Her orders were to go to Ofrustad to Eirik, and take King Trygve's son from thence, and bring the child to her; and with these orders the men went out. Now when they were come to the neighbourhood of Ofrustad, some of Eirik's friends observed the troop of travellers, and * In Harald Grayskin's Saga, chapter 12. + According to the authority of Od the Monk and Thjodrek, this was none other than Earl Hakon. But he had, as we read above, been bickering with Gunhild's sons: this is hardly probable. about the close of the day brought him word of their approach. Eirik immediately, in the night, made preparation for Astrid's flight, gave her good guides, and sent her away eastward to Svithiod, to his good friend Hakon Gamle, who was a powerful man there. Long before day they departed, and towards evening they reached a domain called Skaun. Here they saw large mansion, towards which they went, and begged a night's lodging. For the sake of concealment they were clad in mean clothing. There dwelt here a bonde called Biorn Eiterkveisa, who was very rich, but very inhospitable. He drove them away; and therefore, towards dark, they went to another domain close by that was called Vidar. Thorstein was the name of the bonde; and he gave them lodging, and took good care of them, so that they slept well, and were well entertained. Early that morning Gunhild's men had come to Ofrustad, and inquired for Astrid and her son. As Eirik told them she was not there, they searched the whole house, and remained till late in the day before they got any news of Astrid. Then they rode after her the way she had taken, and late at night they came to Biorn Eiterkveisa in Skaun, and took up their quarters there. Hakon asked Biorn if he knew anything about Astrid, and he said some people had been there in the evening wanting lodgings; "but I drove them away, and I suppose they have gone to some of the neighbouring houses." Thorstein's labourer was coming from the forest, having left his work at nightfall, and called in at Biorn's house because it was in his way; and finding there were guests come to the house, and learning their business, he comes to Thorstein and tells him of it. As about a third part of the night was still remaining, Thorstein wakens his guests and orders them in an angry voice to go about their business; but as soon as they were out of the house upon the road, Thorstein tells them that Gunhild's messengers were at Biorn's house, and are upon the trace of them. They entreat of him to help them, and he gave them a guide and some provisions. He conducted them through a forest to a lake, in which there was an islet overgrown with reeds. They waded out to the islet, and hid themselves among the reeds. Early in the morning Hakon rode away from Biorn's into the township, and wherever he came he asked after Astrid; and when he came to Thorstein's he asked if she had been there. He said that some people had been there; but as soon as it was daylight they had set off again, eastwards, to the forest. Hakon made Thorstein go along with them, as he knew all the roads and hiding-places. Thorstein went with them; but when they were come into the woods, he led them right across the way Astrid had taken. They went about and about the whole day to no purpose, as they could find no trace of her; so they turned back to tell Gunhild the end of their travel. Astrid and her friends proceeded on their journey, and came to Svithiod, to Hakon Gamle (the Old), where she and her son remained a long time, and had friendly welcome.* According to Historia Norvegia Olaf was born on the Orkneys, but |