The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)

The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason
and of Harald
by Snorri
Sturluson

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The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade), by Snorri Sturluson This eBook is for
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Title: The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald
Haardraade)
Author: Snorri Sturluson
Illustrator: Halfdan Egedius; Christian Krogh; Gerhard Munthe;
Hjalmar Eilif Emanuel Peterssen; Erik Theodor Werenskiold; Wilhelm
Laurits Wetlesen
Translator: Ethel Harriet Hearn and Gustav Storm
Release Date: July 17, 2007 [EBook #22093]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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[Transcriber's Note:
The printed book's only clue about authorship is in the Notes. All other
information comes from the Norwegian edition.
Original author: Snorri Sturluson (generally spelled Snorre Sturlason in
Norwegian). Modern (1899) Norwegian translation: Gustav Storm.
English translation (based on modern Norwegian, not on original):
Ethel Harriet Hearn.
The html version of this e-text includes illustrations, also taken from
the Norwegian edition.]

The Sagas of OLAF TRYGGVASON and of HARALD THE
TYRANT (Harald Haardraade)

London Williams and Norgate MCMXI

The places of notes in the text are indicated thus §. The relative matter
will be found at the end of the book in due order as to page and line.
[Footnote markers shown in brackets [§] were missing from the printed
text and have been supplied by the transcriber.]

THE SAGA OF OLAF TRYGGVASON, CMLXVIII-M
Now it befell in the days of King Tryggvi Olafson that the woman he
had wedded was Astrid & she was the daughter of Eirik Biodaskalli, a
wealthy man who dwelt at Oprostad.
When the downfall of Tryggvi had been accomplished, Astrid fled
away bearing with her what chattels she might. And with her went her
foster-father Thorolf Louse-Beard, who never left her, whereas other
trusty men, loyal to her, fared hither and thither to gather tidings of her
foes or to spy out where they might lurk. Now Astrid being great with
child of King Tryggvi caused herself to be transported to an islet on a
lake & there took shelter with but few of her company.
In due time she bare a man-child, and at his baptism he was called Olaf
after his father's father. All that summer did she abide there in hiding.
But when the nights grew as long as they were dark and the weather
waxed cold, she set forth once more and with her fared Thorolf and the
others of her train. Only by night could they venture in those parts of
the country that were inhabited being in fear lest they should be seen of
men or meet with them. In time, at even, came they to the homestead of
Eirik of Oprostad. And since they were journeying by stealth, Astrid
sent a messenger to the goodman of the house, who bade them to be led
to an outhouse & there had set before them the best of cheer. Thence,
when Astrid had abided for a while, her followers went unto their
homes, but she remained there & with her to bear her company were
two women, her babe Olaf, Thorolf Louse-Beard and his son Thorgills
who was six winters old. They rested in that place until the winter was
done.
¶ After they had made an end to slaying Tryggvi Olafson, Harald
Grey-Cloak and Gudrod his brother hied them to the homesteads that
had been his. But ere they came thither Astrid had fled & of her learned
they no tidings save a rumour that she was with child of King Tryggvi.
In the autumn fared they to the north, as has been related beforetime,
and when they were face to face with their mother Gunnhild, told they
her all that had befallen them on their journey. Closely did she question

them concerning Astrid, and they imparted to her what they had heard.
But because the sons of Gunnhild were that same autumn and the next
winter at strife with Earl Hakon, as hath already ere now been set forth,
made they no search for Astrid and her son.
¶ When the spring was come, Gunnhild despatched spies to the
Uplands, and even as far as Vik, to get news of Astrid. And when the
spies returned it was with the tidings that she was with her father Eirik
& there most like was she rearing the son that she had borne to King
Tryggvi that was