第36章

When Gunhild, the mother of the kings, heard that Astrid and her son Olaf were in the kingdom of Svithjod, she again sent Hakon, with a good attendance, eastward, to Eirik king of Sweden, with presents and messages of friendship.The ambassadors were well received and well treated.Hakon, after a time, disclosed his errand to the king, saying that Gunhild had sent him with the request that the king would assist him in getting hold of Olaf Trygvason, to conduct him to Norway, where Gunhild would bring him up.The king gave Hakon people with him, and he rode with them to Hakon the Old, where Hakon desired, with many friendly expressions, that Olaf should go with him.Hakon the Old returned a friendly answer, saying that it depended entirely upon Olaf's mother.But Astrid would on no account listen to the proposal; and the messengers had to return as they came, and to tell King Eirik how the matter stood.The ambassadors then prepared to return home, and asked the king for some assistance to take the boy, whether Hakon the Old would or not.The king gave them again some attendants; and when they came to Hakon the Old, they again asked for the boy, and on his refusal to deliver him they used high words and threatened violence.But one of the slaves, Buste by name, attacked Hakon, and was going to kill him;and they barely escaped from the thralls without a cudgelling, and proceeded home to Norway to tell Gunhild their ill success, and that they had only seen Olaf.

5.OF SIGURD EIRIKSON.

Astrid had a brother called Sigurd, a son of Eirik Bjodaskalle, who had long been abroad in Gardarike (Russia) with King Valdemar, and was there in great consideration.Astrid had now a great inclination to travel to her brother there.Hakon the Old gave her good attendants, and what was needful for the journey, and she set out with some merchants.She had then been two years (A.D.965-966) with Hakon the Old, and Olaf was three years of age.As they sailed out into the Baltic, they were captured by vikings of Eistland, who made booty both of the people and goods, killing some, and dividing others as slaves.Olaf was separated from his mother, and an Eistland man called Klerkon got him as his share along with Thorolf and Thorgils.Klerkon thought that Thorolf was too old for a slave, and that there was not much work to be got out of him, so he killed him; but took the boys with him, and sold them to a man called Klerk for a stout and good ram.A third man, called Reas, bought Olaf for a good cloak.

Reas had a wife called Rekon, and a son by her whose name was Rekone.Olaf was long with them, was treated well, and was much beloved by the people.Olaf was six years in Eistland in this banishment (A.D.987-972).

6.OLAF IS SET FREE IN EISTLAND.

Sigurd, the son of Eirik (Astrid's brother), came into Eistland from Novgorod, on King Valdemar's business to collect the king's taxes and rents.Sigurd came as a man of consequence, with many followers and great magnificence.In the market-place he happened to observe a remarkably handsome boy; and as he could distinguish that he was a foreigner, he asked him his name and family.He answered him, that his name was Olaf; that he was a son of Trygve Olafson; and Astrid, a daughter of Eirik Bjodaskalle, was his mother.Then Sigurd knew that the boy was his sister's son, and asked him how he came there.Olaf told him minutely all his adventures, and Sigurd told him to follow him to the peasant Reas.When he came there he bought both the boys, Olaf and Thorgils, and took them with him to Holmgard.But, for the first, he made nothing known of Olaf's relationship to him, but treated him well.

7.KLERKON KILLED BY OLAF.

Olaf Trygvason was one day in the market-place, where there was a great number of people.He recognized Klerkon again, who had killed his foster-father Thorolf Lusarskeg.Olaf had a little axe in his hand, and with it he clove Klerkon's skull down to the brain, and ran home to his lodging, and told his friend Sigurd what he had done.Sigurd immediately took Olaf to Queen Allogia's house, told her what had happened, and begged her to protect the boy.She replied, that the boy appeared far too comely to allow him to be slain; and she ordered her people to be drawn out fully armed.In Holmgard the sacredness of peace is so respected, that it is law there to slay whoever puts a man to death except by judgment of law; and, according to this law and usage, the whole people stormed and sought after the boy.It was reported that he was in the Queen's house, and that there was a number of armed men there.When this was told to the king, he went there with his people, but would allow no bloodshed.It was settled at last in peace, that the king should name the fine for the murder; and the queen paid it.Olaf remained afterwards with the queen, and was much beloved.It is a law at Holmgard, that no man of royal descent shall stay there without the king's permission.Sigurd therefore told the queen of what family Olaf was, and for what reason he had come to Russia; namely, that he could not remain with safety in his own country: and begged her to speak to the king about it.She did so, and begged the king to help a king's son whose fate had been so hard; and in consequence of her entreaty the king promised to assist him, and accordingly he received Olaf into his court, and treated him nobly, and as a king's son.Olaf was nine years old when he came to Russia, and he remained nine years more (A.D.978-981) with King Valdemar.Olaf was the handsomest of men, very stout and strong, and in all bodily exercises he excelled every Northman that ever was heard of.

8.OF HAKON EARL OF HLADER.