heimskringla-第120章

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　the　king；　from　the　great　bondes。　　He　bade　each　of　them　to　consider　with　himself　how　they　had　conducted　themselves　in　these　matters；　and　that　they　should　now　promote　their　own　honour；　and　do　the　king　justice；　if　they　had　come　short　hitherto　in　doing　so。　　And　then　he　sat　down。

Then　the　same　man　got　up　in　the　troop　of　Elfgrims　who　had　spoken　before；　lifted　his　hat　a　little　up；　and　said；　〃The　lads　run　well；　say　the　Laplanders；　who　have　skates　for　nothing。〃　　Then　he　sat　himself　down　again。

Soon　after　Sigurd　arose；　after　speaking　with　the　lendermen；　and　said　that　so　weighty　a　message　as　the　king's　ought　not　to　be　treated　lightly　as　a　jest。　　He　was　now　somewhat　angry；　and　added；　that　they　ought　not　to　receive　the　king's　message　and　errand　so　scornfully；　for　it　was　not　decent。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　red　or　scarlet　coat；　and　had　a　blue　coat　over　it。　　He　cast　off　his　upper　coat　and　said；　〃Now　it　is　come　so　far　that　every　one　must　look　to　himself；　and　not　loiter　and　jest　with　others；　for　by　so　doing　every　man　will　show　what　he　is。　　We　do　not　require　now　to　be　taught　by　others；　for　now　we　can　see　ourselves　how　much　we　are　regarded。　　But　this　may　be　borne　with；　but　not　that　ye　treat　so　scornfully　the　king's　message。　　Thereby　every　one　shows　how　highly　he　considers　himself。　　There　is　one　man　called　Sveinke　Steinarson；　who　lives　east　at　the　Gaut　river；　and　from　him　the　king　will　have　his　just　land…dues；　together　with　his　own　land；　or　will　banish　him　from　the　country。　　It　is　of　no　use　here　to　seek　excuses；　or　to　answer　with　sharp　words；　for　people　are　to　be　found　who　are　his　equals　in　power；　although　he　now　receives　our　speech　so　unworthily；　and　it　is　better　now　than　afterwards　to　return　to　the　right　way；　and　do　himself　honour；　rather　than　await　disgrace　for　his　obstinancy。〃　　He　then　sat　down。

Sveinke　then　got　up；　threw　back　his　steel…hat；　and　gave　Sigurd　many　scornful　words；　and　said；　〃Tut！　　tut！　　'tis　a　shame　for　the　dogs；　says　the　proverb；　when　the　fox　is　allowed　to　cast　their　excrements　in　the　peasant's　well。　　Here　will　be　a　miracle！　　Thou　useless　fellow！　　with　a　coat　without　arms；　and　a　kirtle　with　skirts；　wilt　thou　drive　me　out　of　the　country？　　Thy　relation；　Sigurd　Woolsack；　was　sent　before　on　this　errand；　and　one　called　Gille　the　Backthief；　and　one　who　had　still　a　worse　name。　　They　were　a　night　in　every　house；　and　stole　wherever　they　came。　　Wilt　thou　drive　me　out　of　the　country？　　Formerly　thou　wast　not　so　mighty；　and　thy　pride　was　less　when　King　Hakon；　my　foster…son；　was　in　life。　　Then　thou　wert　as　frightened　for　him　when　he　met　thee　on　the　road　as　a　mouse　in　a　mouse…trap；　and　hid　thyself　under　a　heap　of　clothes；　like　a　dog　on　board　a　ship。　　Thou　wast　thrust　into　a　leather…bag　like　corn　in　a　sack；　and　driven　from　house　and　farm　like　a　year…old　colt　from　the　mares；　and　dost　thou　dare　to　drive　me　from　the　land？　　Thou　shouldst　rather　think　thyself　lucky　to　escape　from　hence　with　life。　　Let　us　stand　up　and　attack　him。〃

Then　all　his　men　stood　up；　and　made　a　great　clash　with　their　weapons。　　Then　Svein　Bryggjufot　and　the　other　lendermen　saw　there　was　no　other　chance　for　Sigurd　but　to　get　him　on　horseback；　which　was　done；　and　he　rode　off　into　the　forest。　　The　end　was　that　Sveinke　returned　home　to　his　farm；　and　Sigurd　Ulstreng　came；　with　great　difficulty；　by　land　north　to　Throndhjem　to　King　Magnus；　and　told　the　result　of　his　errand。　　〃Did　I　not　say；〃　said　the　king；　〃that　the　help　of　my　lendermen　would　be　needed？〃　　Sigurd　was　ill　pleased　with　his　journey；　insisted　that　he　would　be　revenged；　cost　what　it　will；　and　urged　the　king　much。　　The　king　ordered　five　ships　to　be　fitted　out；　and　as　soon　as　they　were　ready　for　sea　he　sailed　south　along　the　land；　and　then　east　to　Viken；　where　he　was　entertained　in　excellent　guest…quarters　by　his　lendermen。　The　king　told　them　he　would　seek　out　Sveinke。　　〃For　I　will　not　conceal　my　suspicion　that　he　thinks　to　make　himself　king　of　Norway。〃　　They　said　that　Sveinke　was　both　a　powerful　and　an　ungovernable　man。　　Now　the　king　went　from　Viken　until　he　came　to　Sveinke's　farm。　　Then　the　lendermen　desired　that　they　might　be　put　on　shore　to　see　how　matters　stood；　and　when　they　came　to　the　land　they　saw　that　Sveinke　had　already　come　down　from　the　farm；　and　was　on　the　road　with　a　number　of　well…armed　men。　　The　lendermen　held　up　a　white　shield　in　the　air；　as　a　peace…token；　and　when　Sveinke　saw　it　he　halted　his　men；　and　they　approached　each　other。　　Then　said　Kolbjorn　Klakke；　〃King　Magnus　sends　thee　God's　salutation　and　his　own；　and　bids　thee　consider　what　becomes　thee；　and　do　him　obedience；　and　not　prepare　thyself　to　give　him　battle。〃　　Kolbjorn　offered　to　mediate　peace　between　them；　if　he　could；　and　told　him　to　halt　his　troops。

Sveinke　said　he　would　wait　for　them　where　he　was。　〃We　came　out　to　meet　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　ye　might　not　tread　down　our　corn…　fields。〃

The　lendermen　returned　to　the　king；　and　told　him　all　was　now　at　his　pleasure。

The　king　said；　〃My　doom　is　soon　delivered。　　He　shall　fly　the　country；　and　never　come　back　to　Norway　as　long　as　the　kingdom　is　mine；　and　he　shall　leave　all　his　goods　behind。〃

〃But　will　it　not　be　more　for　thy　honour；〃　said　Kolbjorn；　〃and　give　thee　a　higher　reputation　among　other　kings；　if；　in　banishing　him　from　the　country；　thou　shouldst　allow　him　to　keep　his　property；　and　show　himself　among　other　people？　　And　we　shall　take　care　that　he　never　comes　back　while　we　live。　　Consider　of　this；　sire；　by　yourself；　and　have　respect　for　our　assurance。〃

The　king　replied；　〃Let　him　then　go　forth　immediately。〃

They　went　back；　therefore；　to　Sveinke；　and　told　him　the　king's　words；　and　also　that　the　king　had　ordered　him　out　of　the　country；　and　he　should　show　his　obedience；　since　he　had　forgotten　himself　towards　the　king。　　〃It　is　for　the　honour　of　both　that　thou　shouldst　show　obedience　to　the　king。〃

Then　Sveinke　said；　〃There　must　be　some　great　change　if　the　king　speaks　agreeably　to　me；　but　why　should　I　fly　the　country　and　my　properties？　　Listen　now　to　what　I　say。　　It　appears　to　me　better　to　die　upon　my　property　than　to　fly　from　my　udal　estates。　　Tell　the　king　that　I　will　not　stir　from　them　even　an　arrow…flight。〃　

Kolbjorn　replied；　〃This　is　scarcely　prudent；　or　right；　for　it　is　better　for　one's　own　honour　to　give　way　to　the　best　chief；　than　to　make　opposition　to　one's　own　loss。　　A　gallant　man　succeeds　wheresoever　he　goes；　and　thou　wilt　be　the　more　respected　wheresoever　thou　art；　with　men　of　power；　just　because　thou　hast　made　head　so　boldly　against　so　powerful　a　chief。　　Hear　our　promises；　and　pay　some　attention　to　our　errand。　　We　offer　thee　to　manage　thy　estates；　and　take　them　faithfully　under　our　protection；　and　also　never；　against　thy　will；　to　pay　scat　for　thy　land　until　thou　comest　back。　　We　will　pledge　our　lives　and　properties　upon　this。　　Do　not　throw　away　good　counsel　from　thee；　and　avoid　thus　the　ill　fortune　of　other　good　men。〃

Then　Sveinke　was　silent　for　a　short　time；　and　said　at　last；　〃Your　endeavours　are　wise；　but　I　have　my　suspicions　that　ye　are　changing　a　little　the　king's　message。　　In　consideration；　however；　of　the　great　good…will　that　ye　show　me；　I　will　hold　your　advice　in　such　respect　that　I　will　go　out　of　the　country　for　the　whole　winter；　if；　according　to　your　promises；　I　can　then　retain　my　estates　in　peace。　　Tell　the　king；　also；　these　my　words；　that　I　do　this　on　your　account；　not　on　his。〃

Thereupon　they　returned　to　the　king；　and　said；　that　Sveinke　left　all　in　the　king's　hands。　　〃But　entreats　you　to　have　respect　to　his　honour。　　He　will　be　away　for　three　years；　and　then　come　back；　if　it　be　the　king's　pleasure。　　Do　this；　let　all　things　be　done　according　to　what　is　suitable　for　the　royal　dignity　and　according　to　our　entreaty；　now　that　the　matter　is　entirely　in　thy　power；　and　we　shall　do　all　we　can　to　prevent　his　returning　against　thy　will。〃

The　king　replied；　〃Ye　treat　this　matter　like　men；　and；　for　your　sakes；　shall　all　things　be　as　ye　desire。　　Tell　him　so。〃

They　thanked　the　king；　and　then　went　to　Sveinke；　and　told　him　the　king's　gracious　intentions。　　〃We　will　be　glad；〃　said　they；　〃if　ye　can　be　reconciled。　　The　king　requires；　indeed　that　thy　absence　shall　be　for　three　years；　but；　if　we　know　the　truth　rightly；　we　expect　that　before　　that　time　he　will　find　he　cannot　do　without　thee　in　this　part　of　the　country。　　It　will　be　to　thy　own　future　honour；　therefore；　to　agree　to　this。〃

Sveinke　replies；　〃What　condition　is　better　than　this？　　Tell　the　king　that　I　shall　not　vex　him　longer　with　my　presence　here；　and　accept　of　my　goods　and　estates　on　this　condition。〃

Thereupon　he　went　home　with　his　men；　and　set　off　directly；　for　he　had　prepared　everything　beforehand。　　Kolbjorn　remains　behind；　and　makes　ready　a　feast　for　King　Magnus；　which　also　was　thought　of　and　prepared。　　Sveinke；　on　the　other　hand；　rides　up　to　Gautland　with　all　the　men　he　thought　proper　to　take　with　him。　　The　king　let　himself　be　entertained　in　guest…quarters　at　his　house；　returned　to　Viken；　and　Sveinke's　estates　were　nominally　the　king's；　but　Kolbjorn　had　them　under　his　charge。　　The　king　received　guest…quarters　in　Viken；　proceeded　from　thence　northwards；　and　there　was　peace　for　a　while；　but　now　that　the　Elfgrims　were　without　a　chief；　marauding　gangs　infested　them；　and　the　king　saw　this　eastern　part　of　the　kingdom　would　be　laid　waste。　　It　appeared　to　him；　therefore；　most　suitable　and　advisable　to　make　Sveinke　himself　oppose　the　stream；　and　twice　he　sent　messages　to　him。　　But　he　did　not　stir　until　King　Magnus　himself　was　south　in　Denmark；　when　Sveinke　and　the　king　met；　and　made　a　full　reconciliation；　on　which　Sveinke　returned　home　to　his　house　and　estates；　and　was　afterwards　King　Magnus's　best　and　trustiest　friend；　who　strengthened　his　kingdom　on　the　eastern　border；　and　their　friendship　continued　as　long　as　they　lived。



9。　KING　MAGNUS　MAKES　WAR　ON　THE　SOUTHERN　HEBUDES。

King　Magnus　undertook　an　expedition　out　of　the　country；　with　many　fine　men　and　a　good　assortment　of　shipping。　　With　this　armament　he　sailed　out　into　the　West　sea；　and　first　came　to　the　Orkney　Islands。　　There　he　took　the　two　earls；　Paul　and　Erlend；　prisoners；　and　sent　them　east　to　Norway；　and　placed　his　son　Sigurd　as　chief　over　the　islands；　leaving　some　counsellors　to　assist　him。　　From　thence　King　Magnus；　with　his　followers；　proceeded　to　the　Southern　Hebudes；　and　when　he　came　there　began　to　burn　and　lay　waste　the　inhabited　places；　killing　the　people　and　plundering　wherever　he　came　with　his　men；　and　the　country　people　fled　in　all　directions；　some　into　Scotland…fjord；　others　south　to　Cantire；　or　out　to　Ireland；　some　obtained　life　and　safety　by　entering　into　his　service。　　So　says　Bjorn　Krephende：　　　　　　　　〃In　Lewis　Isle　with　fearful　blaze　　　　　　The　house…destroying　fire　plays；　　　　　　To　hills　and　rocks　the　people　fly；　　　　　　Fearing　all　shelter　but　the　sky。　　　　　　In　Uist　the　king　deep　crimson　made　　　　　　The　lightning　of　his　glancing　blade；　　　　　　The　peasant　lost　his　land　and　life　　　　　　Who　dared　to　bide　the　Norseman's　strife。　　　　　　The　hunger　battle…birds　were　filled　　　　　　In　Skye　with　blood　of　foemen　killed；　　　　　　And　wolves　on　Tyree's　lonely　shore　　　　　　Dyed　red　their　hairy　jaws　in　gore。　　　　　　The　men　of　Mull　were　tired　of　flight；　　　　　　The　Scottish　foemen　would　not　fight；　　　　　　And　many　an　island…girl's　wail　　　　　　Was　heard　as　through　the　isles　we　strife　sail。〃