lived with him. But the Iceland men who directed the ships, and were heathens, tried to sail away as soon as the king came to the town of Nidaros, for they were told the king forced all men to become Christians; but the wind came stiff against them, and drove them back to Nidarholm. They who directed the ships were Thorarin Nefiulfson, the skald Halfred Ottarson,* Brand the Generous, and Thorleik, Brand's son. It was told the king that there were Icelanders with ships there, and all were heathen, and wanted to fly from a meeting with the king. Then the king sent them a message forbidding them to sail, and ordering them to bring their ships up to the town, which they did, but without discharging the cargoes. [They carried on their dealings and held a market at the king's pier. In spring they tried three times to slip away, but never succeeded; so they continued lying at the king's pier. It happened one fine day that many set out to swim for amuse *Of Halfred Ottarson there is a separate saga. He was born about 970, came to Earl Hakon about 988, and composed a song about him. In 996 he came to Norway and heard for the first time of the death of Hakon, and in the fall he composed his Olaf's Drapa, which has been quoted repeatedly in the preceding chapters. After spending the winter 997 with King Olaf he proceeded to Ore Sound, composed a song for Earl Sigvald, visited King Olaf in Sweden, and settled in Gautland, where he married. In 999 he returned to Norway, where, as a penalty for his indifference in regard to Christianity, he was obliged to compose his Uppreistardrapa (song of resurrection). In the year 1010 he went to Iceland, and the next year he heard of Olaf's death. He hastened back to Norway, where he composed his Erfidrapa Olafs in 1002. He also composed songs for Earl Eirik. He seems to have died shortly before Olaf the Saint ascended the throne. + The rest of chapter 88 given here is not found in the original text of Snorre, and is omitted in Unger's edition of Heimskringla; but as it contains facts of importance in regard to Kjartan's visit to Norway, we retain the translation of it in [ ]. The original is found in Codex Frisianus, and a somewhat different version is found in Laxdæla Saga. ment, and among them was a man who distinguished himself above the others in all bodily exercises. Kjartan challenged Halfred Vandredaskald to try himself in swimming against this man, but he declined it. "Then will I make a trial," said Kjartan, casting off his clothes, and springing into the water. Then he set after the man, seizes hold of his foot, and dives with him under water. They come up again, and without speaking a word dive again, and are much longer under water than the first time. They come up again, and without saying a word dive a third time, until Kjartan thought it was time to come up again, which, however, he could in no way accomplish, which showed sufficiently the difference in their strength. They were under water so long that Kjartan was almost drowned. They then came up, and swam to land. This Northman asked what the Icelander's name was. Kjartan tells his name. He says, "Thou art a good swimmer; but art thou expert also in other exercises?" Kjartan replied, that such expertness was of no great value. The Northman asks, “Why dost thou not inquire of me such things as I have asked thee about?" Kjartan replies, "It is all one to me who thou art, or what thy name is." "Then will I," says he, "tell thee: I am Olaf Trygveson." He asked Kjartan much about Iceland, which he answered generally, and wanted to withdraw as hastily as he could; but the king said, "Here is a cloak which I will give thee, Kjartan." And Kjartan took the cloak with many thanks.] CHAPTER LXXXIX.-Of the Baptism of the Icelanders. When Michaelmas came, the king had high mass sung with great splendour. The Icelanders went there, and listened to the fine singing and the sound of the bells; and when they came back to their ships every man told his opinion of the Christian man's worship. Kjartan expressed his pleasure at it, but most of the others scoffed at it; and it went according to the proverb, "the king has many ears," for this was told to the king. He sent immediately that very day a message to Kjartan to come to him. Kjartan went to the king with some men, and the king received him kindly. Kjartan was a very stout and handsome man, and of ready and agreeable speech. After the king and Kjartan had conversed a little, the king asked him to adopt Christianity. Kjartan replies, that he would not say no to that, if he thereby obtained the king's friendship; and as the king promised him the fullest friendship, they were soon agreed. The next day Kjartan was baptized, together with his relation Bolle Thorlakson, and all their fellow-travellers. Kjartan and Bolle were the king's guests as long as they were * September 29. + Bolle Thorlakson (in Munch's translation Thorleikson) was Kjartan's cousin and foster-brother. As Kjartan continues to stay in Norway, Bolle marries his wife Gudrun, and at her instigation he kills Kjartan, 1002. Bolle is himself slain by Kjartan's brothers, 1005. His story is to be found in Laxdæla Saga. in their white baptismal clothes, and the king had much kindness for them. Wherever they came they were looked upon as people of distinction. CHAPTER XC.-Halfred the Skald Baptized. As King Olaf one day was walking in the street some men met him, and he who went the foremost saluted the king. The king asked the man his name, and he called himself Halfred. "Art thou the skald?" said the king. "I can compose poetry," replied he. "Wilt thou then adopt Christianity, and come into my service?" asked the king. "If I am baptized," replies he, "it must be on one condition, that thou thyself art my godfather; for no other will I have." The king replies, "That I will do." And Halfred was baptized, the king holding him during the baptism. Afterwards the king said, "Wilt thou enter into my service?" Halfred replied, "I was formerly in Earl Hakon's court; but now I will neither enter into thine nor into any other service, unless thou promise me it shall never be my lot to be driven away from thee." "It has been reported to me," said the king, "that thou art neither so prudent nor so obedient as to fulfil my commands." "In that case," replied Halfred, "put me to death." "Thou art a skald who composes difficulties," says the king; "but into my service, Halfred, thou shalt be received." Halfred says, "if I am to be named the composer of difficulties, what dost thou give me, king, on my name-day?" The king gave him a sword without a scabbard, and said, "Now compose me a song upon this sword, and let the word sword be in every line of the strophe." Halfred + sang thus: "This sword of swords is my reward. I would I had my good lord's leave For this good sword a sheath to choose: Then the king gave him the scabbard, observing that the word sword was wanting in one line of his strophe. "But there are three swords at least in two other lines," says Halfred. "So it is," replies the king. Out of Halfred's lays we have taken the * Vandredaskald-the despair of skalds, or the troublesome poet.-L. In regard to Halfred Vandredaskald, see Gudbrand Vigfusson's Corpus Poeticum, vol. ii. pp. 87-97. From this dialogue, which we may fairly take as a true represen. tation of the tone of conversation, and very likely of the words, between a king and a man of literature or skald in the tenth century, it may be inferred that there was a considerable taste for the compositions of skalds, and for intellectual effort; but that this taste was gratified by the art of verse-making-by the reproduction of words, letters, metres, in difficult technical circumstances-much more than by the spirit of poetry. It is likely that in all ages, and even among individuals, the taste for the simple and natural in poetry is the last, not the first, developed taste. It is the savage who loves frippery in dress, and in what addresses itself to taste.-L. |