V. SAGA OF KING HARALD GRAYSKIN, AND OF EARL HAKON SON OF SIGURD.* INTRODUCTORY. THIS saga might be called Gunhild's Saga, as she is the chief person in it. The reign of King Harald and Earl Hakon is more fully described in the next saga, that is, Olaf Trygveson's. Other literature on this epoch : Agrip (chap. 8). Historia Norvegiæ (p. 12). Fareyinga (chaps. 2, 4, 10). Halfred's Saga (chap. 2). Hord Grimkelsons Saga (chaps. 13, 18). Kormak (chaps. 19-27). Laxdæla (chaps. 19–21). The skalds of this saga are:-Glum Geirason, Kormak Agmundson, Eyvind Skaldaspiller, and Einar Helgason Skalaglam. CHAPTER I.-Beginning of the Government of the Sons of Eirik: and about Eyvind Skaldaspiller. When King Hakon was killed, the sons of Eirik took the sovereignty of Norway. Harald, who was the oldest of the living brothers,† was over them in Harald Grayfell or Grayskin reigned from about the year 961 to about the year 969; and Earl Hakon from about 963 to 995.-L. The brothers then living were, according to Snorre, Harald, Gudrod, Sigurd, Ragnfred, and Erling. dignity. Their mother Gunhild, who was called the King-mother, mixed herself much in the affairs of the country. There were many chiefs in the land at that time. There was Trygve Olafson in the Eastland, Gudrod Biornson in Vestfold, Sigurd earl of Lade in the Throndhjem land; but Gunhild's sons held the middle of the country the first winter. There went messages and ambassadors between Gunhild's sons and Trygve and Gudrod, and all was settled upon the footing that they should hold from Gunhild's sons the same part of the country which they formerly had held under King Hakon. A man called Glum Geirason, who was King Harald's skald, and was a very brave man, made this song upon King Hakon's death : "Gamle is avenged by Harald ! Great is thy deed, thou champion bold! In distant lands beyond the sea, How Harald gave King Hakon's blood To Odin's ravens for their food." This song was much favoured. When Eyvind Finson heard of it he composed the song which was given before,† viz. : "Our dauntless king with Gamle's gore Sprinkled his bright sword o'er and o'er," &c. This song also was much favoured, and was spread widely abroad; and when King Harald came to hear of it, he laid a charge against Eyvind affecting his life; but friends made up the quarrel, on the condition that Eyvind should in future be Harald's skald, Chapter 27 of the Saga of Hakon Athelstan's foster-son.-L. as he had formerly been King Hakon's. There was also some relationship between them, as Gunhild, Eyvind's mother, was a daughter of Earl Halfdan, and her mother was Ingibjorg, a daughter of Harald Harfager. Thereafter Eyvind made a song about King Harald: "Guardian of Norway, well we know Thy heart failed not when from the bow Of battle, like the splitting ice; For Harald, wild wolf of the wood, Must drink his fill of foemen's blood." Gunhild's sons resided mostly in the middle of the country, for they did not think it safe for them to dwell among the people of Throndhjem or of Viken, where King Hakon's best friends lived; and also in both places there were many powerful men. Proposals of agreement then passed between Gunhild's sons and Earl Sigurd, for they got no scat from the Throndhjem country; and at last an agreement was concluded between the kings and the earl, and confirmed by oath. Earl Sigurd was to get the same power in the Throndhjem land which he had possessed under King Hakon, and on that they considered themselves at peace. All Gunhild's sons had the character of being penurious; and it was said they hid their money in the ground. Eyvind Skaldaspiller made a song about this: VOL. II. "Main-mast of battle! Harald bold ! D Upon his falcon's seat ;* he wore Now when King Harald heard this song, he sent a message to Eyvind to come to him, and when Eyvind came made a charge against him of being unfaithful. "And it ill becomes thee," said the king, "to be my enemy, as thou hast entered into my service." Eyvind then made these verses : "One lord I had before thee, Harald ! * One of the Edda figures of speech for the hand.—L. + Rolf Krake scattered gold on his flight over the Fyrisvols, to divert the pursuit of Adils' men. The meaning is, the skalds had gold rings on their fingers in Hakon's days.-L. Menia and Fenia were strong girls of the giant race, whom Frode bought in Sweden to grind gold and good luck to him; and their meal means gold.-L. § Fulla was one of Frigg's attendants, who wore a gold band on the forehead; and the figure means gold,-that the sun shone on gold rings on the hands of the skalds in Hakon's days.-L. But now I'm old and useless grown, My hands are empty, wealth is flown; In thy court-hall to fill a place." But King Harald forced Eyvind to submit himself to his clemency. Eyvind had a great gold ring, which was called Molde, that had been dug up out of the earth long since. This ring the king said he must have as the mulct for the offence; and there was no help for it. Then Eyvind sang: Eyvind went home; but it is not told that he ever came near the king again.† CHAPTER II. Of the Christianity of Gunhild's Sons. Gunhild's sons embraced Christianity in England, as told before; but when they came to rule over Norway they made no progress in spreading Christianity, -only they pulled down the temples of the idols, and cast away the sacrifices where they had it in their power, and raised great animosity by doing so. The good crops of the country were soon wasted in their days, because there were many kings, and each had Ocean's skates,-an expression for ships.--L. + This conflict between Harald and Eyvind is told somewhat differently in Fagrskinna. |