第218章

West in Valland, a man had such bad health that he became a cripple, and went on his knees and elbows.One day he was upon the road, and had fallen asleep.He dreamt that a gallant man came up to him and asked him where he was going.When he named the neighbouring town, the man said to him, "Go to Saint Olaf's church that stands in London, and there thou shalt be cured."There-upon he awoke, and went straightway to inquire the road to Olaf's church in London.At last he came to London Bridge, and asked the men of the castle if they could tell him where Olaf's church was; but they replied, there were so many churches that they could not tell to whom each of them was consecrated.Soon after a man came up and asked him where he wanted to go, and he answered to Olaf's church.Then said the man, "We shall both go together to Olaf's church, for I know the way to it." Thereupon they went over the bridge to the shrine where Olaf's church was;and when they came to the gates of the churchyard the man mounted over the half-door that was in the gate, but the cripple rolled himself in, and rose up immediately sound and strong: when he looked about him his conductor had vanished.

60.KING HARALD'S FORAY IN DENMARK.

King Harald had built a merchant town in the East at Oslo, where he often resided; for there was good supply from the extensive cultivated district wide around.There also he had a convenient station to defend the country against the Danes, or to make an attack upon Denmark, which he was in the custom of doing often, although he kept no great force on foot.One summer King Harald went from thence with a few light ships and a few men.He steered southwards out from Viken, and, when the wind served, stood over to Jutland, and marauded; but the country people collected and defended the country.Then King Harald steered to Limfjord, and went into the fjord.Limfjord is so formed that its entrance is like a narrow river; but when one gets farther into the fjord it spreads out into a wide sea.King Harald marauded on both sides of the land; and when the Danes gathered together on every side to oppose him, he lay at a small island which was uncultivated.They wanted drink on board his ships, and went up into the island to seek water; but finding none, they reported it to the king.He ordered them to look for some long earthworms on the island, and when they found one they brought it to the king.He ordered the people to bring the worm to a fire, and bake it before it, so that it should be thirsty.Then he ordered a thread to be tied round the tail of the worm, and to let it loose.The worm crept away immediately, while thread wound off from the clew as the worm took it away; and the people followed the worm until it sought downwards in the earth.There the king ordered them to dig for water, which they did, and found so much water that they had no want of it.King Harald now heard from his spies that King Svein was come with a large armament to the mouth of the fjord; but that it was too late for him to come into it, as only one ship at a time can come in.King Harald then steered with his fleet in through the fjord to where it was broadest to a place called Lusbreid.In the inmost bight, there is but a narrow neck of land dividing the fjord from the West sea.Thither King Harald rowed with his men towards evening; and at night when it was dark he unloaded his ships, drew them over the neck of land into the West sea, loaded them again, and was ready with all this before day.He then steered northwards along the Jutland coast.People then said that Harald had escaped from the hands of the Danes.Harald said that he would come to Denmark next time with more people and larger vessels.King Harald then proceeded north to Throndhjem.

61.KING HARALD HAD A SHIP BUILT.

King Harald remained all winter at Nidaros (A.D.1062) and had a vessel built out upon the strand, and it was a buss.The ship was built of the same size as the Long Serpent, and every part of her was finished with the greatest care.On the stem was a dragon-head, and on the stern a dragon-tail, and the sides of the bows of the ship were gilt.The vessel was of thirty-five rowers benches, and was large for that size, and was remarkably handsome; for the king had everything belonging to the ship's equipment of the best, both sails and rigging, anchors and cables.King Harald sent a message in winter south to Denmark to King Svein, that he should come northwards in spring; that they should meet at the Gaut river and fight, and so settle the division of the countries that the one who gained the victory should have both kingdoms.

62.KING HARALD'S CHALLENGE.

King Harald during this winter called out a general levy of all the people of Norway, and assembled a great force towards spring.

Then Harald had his great ship drawn down and put into the river Nid, and set up the dragon's head on her.Thiodolf, the skald, sang about it thus: --"My lovely girl! the sight was grand When the great war-ships down the strand Into the river gently slid, And all below her sides was hid.

Come, lovely girl, and see the show! --

Her sides that on the water glow, Her serpent-head with golden mane, All shining back from the Nid again."Then King Harald rigged out his ship, got ready for sea, and when he had all in order went out of the river.His men rowed very skilfully and beautifully.So says Thiodolf: --"It was upon a Saturday, Ship-tilts were struck and stowed away, And past the town our dragon glides, That girls might see our glancing sides.

Out from the Nid brave Harald steers;

Westward at first the dragon veers;

Our lads together down with oars, The splash is echoed round the shores.

"Their oars our king's men handle well, One stroke is all the eye can tell:

All level o'er the water rise;

The girls look on in sweet surprise.

Such things, they think, can ne'er give way;The little know the battle day.

The Danish girls, who dread our shout, Might wish our ship-gear not so stout.

"'Tis in the fight, not on the wave, That oars may break and fail the brave.