heimskringla-第126章

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He　replied；　〃I　cannot　tell　thee　what　it　is。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃I　will　try　to　guess　what　it　is。　　Are　there　any　men　who　displease　thee？〃

To　this　he　replied；　〃No。〃

〃Dost　thou　think　thou　art　held　in　less　esteem　by　me　than　thou　wouldst　like　to　be？〃

To　this　he　also　replied；　〃No。〃

〃Hast　thou　observed　anything　whatever　that　has　made　an　impression　on　thee　at　which　thou　art　ill　pleased？〃

He　replied；　it　was　not　this　either。

The　king：　〃Would　you　like　to　go　to　other　chiefs　or　to　other　men？〃

To　this　he　answered；　〃No。〃

The　king：　〃It　is　difficult　now　to　guess。　　Is　there　any　girl　here；　or　in　any　other　country；　to　whom　thy　affections　are　engaged？〃

He　said　it　was　so。

The　king　said；　〃Do　not　be　melancholy　on　that　account。　　Go　to　Iceland　when　spring　sets　in；　and　I　shall　give　thee　money；　and　presents；　and　with　these　my　letters　and　seal　to　the　men　who　have　the　principal　sway　there；　and　I　know　no　man　there　who　will　not　obey　my　persuasions　or　threats。〃

Ivar　replied；　〃My　fate　is　heavier；　sire；　for　my　own　brother　has　the　girl。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃Throw　it　out　of　thy　mind；　and　I　know　a　counsel　against　this。　　After　Yule　I　will　travel　in　guest…quarters。　　Thou　shalt　come　along　with　me；　and　thou　will　have　an　opportunity　of　seeing　many　beautiful　girls；　and；　provided　they　are　not　of　the　royal　stock；　I　will　get　thee　one　of　them　in　marriage。〃

Ivar　replies；　〃Sire；　my　fate　is　still　the　heavier；　for　as　oft　as　I　see　beautiful　and　excellent　girls　I　only　remember　the　more　that　girl；　and　they　increase　my　misery。〃

The　king：　〃Then　I　will　give　thee　property　to　manage；　and　estates　for　thy　amusement。〃

He　replied；　〃For　that　I　have　no　desire。〃

The　king：　〃Then　I　will　give　thee　money；　that　thou　mayest　travel　in　other　countries。〃

He　said　he　did　not　wish　this。

Then　said　the　king；　〃It　is　difficult　for　me　to　seek　farther；　for　I　have　proposed　everything　that　occurs　to　me。　　There　is　but　one　thing　else；　and　that　is　but　little　compared　to　what　I　have　offered　thee。　　Come　to　me　every　day　after　the　tables　are　removed；　and；　if　I　am　not　sitting　upon　important　business；　I　shall　talk　with　thee　about　the　girl　in　every　way　that　I　can　think　of；　and　I　shall　do　so　at　leisure。　　It　sometimes　happens　that　sorrow　is　lightened　by　being　brought　out　openly；　and　thou　shalt　never　go　away　without　some　gift。〃

He　replied；　〃This　I　will　do；　sire；　and　return　thanks　for　this　inquiry。〃

And　now　they　did　so　constantly；　and　when　the　king　was　not　occupied　with　weightier　affairs　he　talked　with　him；　and　his　sorrow　by　degrees　wore　away；　and　he　was　again　in　good　spirits。



19。　OF　KING　SIGURD。

King　Sigurd　was　a　stout　and　strong　man；　with　brown　hair；　of　a　manly　appearance；　but　not　handsome；　well　grown；　of　little　speech；　and　often　not　friendly；　but　good　to　his　friends；　and　faithful；　not　very　eloquent；　but　moral　and　polite。　　King　Sigurd　was　self…　willed；　and　severe　in　his　revenge；　strict　in　observing　the　law；　was　generous；　and　withal　an　able；　powerful　king。　　His　brother　Olaf　was　a　tall；　thin　man；　handsome　in　countenance；　lively；　modest；　and　popular。　　When　all　these　brothers；　Eystein；　Sigurd　and　Olaf　were　kings　of　Norway；　they　did　away　with　many　burthens　which　the　Danes　had　laid　upon　the　people　in　the　time　that　Svein　Alfifason　ruled　Norway；　and　on　this　account　they　were　much　beloved；　both　by　the　people　and　the　great　men　of　the　country。



20。　OF　KING　SIGURD'S　DREAM。

Once　King　Sigurd　fell　into　low　spirits；　so　that　few　could　get　him　to　converse；　and　he　sat　but　a　short　time　at　the　drinking　table。　This　was　heavy　on　his　counsellors；　friends；　and　court；　and　they　begged　King　Eystein　to　consider　how　they　could　discover　the　cause　why　the　people　who　came　to　the　king　could　get　no　reply　to　what　they　laid　before　him。　　King　Eystein　answered　them；　that　it　was　difficult　to　speak　with　the　king　about　this；　but　at　last；　on　the　entreaty　of　many；　he　promised　to　do　it。　　Once；　when　they　were　both　together；　King　Eystein　brought　the　matter　before　his　brother；　and　asked　the　cause　of　his　melancholy。　　〃It　is　a　great　grief；　sire；　to　many　to　see　thee　so　melancholy；　and　we　would　like　to　know　what　has　occasioned　it；　or　if　perchance　thou　hast　heard　any　news　of　great　weight？〃

King　Sigurd　replies；　that　it　was　not　so。

〃Is　it　then；　brother；〃　says　King　Eystein；　〃that　you　would　like　to　travel　out　of　the　country；　and　augment　your　dominions　as　our　father　did？〃

He　answered；　that　it　was　not　that　either。

〃Is　it；　then；　that　any　man　here　in　the　country　has　offended？〃

To　this　also　the　king　said　〃No。〃

〃Then　I　would　like　to　know　if　you　have　dreamt　anything　that　has　occasioned　this　depression　of　mind？〃

The　king　answered　that　it　was　so。

〃Tell　me；　then；　brother；　thy　dream。〃

King　Sigurd　said；　〃I　will　not　tell　it；　unless　thou　interpret　it　as　it　may　turn　out；　and　I　shall　be　quick　at　perceiving　if　thy　interpretation　be　right　or　not。〃

King　Eystein　replies；　〃This　is　a　very　difficult　matter；　sire；　on　both　sides；　as　I　am　exposed　to　thy　anger　if　I　cannot　interpret　it；　and　to　the　blame　of　the　public　if　I　can　do　nothing　in　the　matter；　but　I　will　rather　fall　under　your　displeasure；　even　if　my　interpretation　should　not　be　agreeable。〃

King　Sigurd　replies；　〃It　appeared　to　me；　in　a　dream；　as　if　we　brothers　were　all　sitting　on　a　bench　in　front　of　Christ　church　in　Throndhjem；　and　it　appeared　to　me　as　if　our　relative；　King　Olaf　the　Saint；　came　out　of　the　church　adorned　with　the　royal　raiment　glancing　and　splendid；　and　with　the　most　delightful　and　joyful　countenance。　　He　went　to　our　brother　King　Olaf；　took　him　by　the　hand；　and　said　cheerfully；　to　him；　‘Come　with　me；　friend。'　　On　which　he　appeared　to　stand　up　and　go　into　the　church。　　Soon　after　King　Olaf　the　Saint　came　out　of　the　church；　but　not　so　gay　and　brilliant　as　before。　　Now　he　went　to　thee；　brother；　and　said　to　thee　that　thou　shouldst　go　with　him；　on　which　he　led　thee　with　him；　and　ye　went　into　the　church。　　Then　I　thought；　and　waited　for　it；　that　he　would　come　to　me；　and　meet　me；　but　it　was　not　so。　Then　I　was　seized　with　great　sorrow；　and　great　dread　and　anxiety　fell　upon　me；　so　that　I　was　altogether　without　strength；　and　then　I　awoke。〃

King　Eystein　replies；　〃Thus　I　interpret　your　dream；　sire；　　That　the　bench　betokens　the　kingdom　we　brothers　have；　and　as　you　thought　King　Olaf　came　with　so　glad　a　countenance　to　our　brother；　King　Olaf；　he　will　likely　live　the　shortest　time　of　us　brothers；　and　have　all　good　to　expect　hereafter；　for　he　is　amiable；　young　in　years；　and　has　gone　but　little　into　excess；　and　King　Olaf　the　Saint　must　help　him。　　But　as　you　thought　he　came　towards　me；　but　not　with　so　much　joy；　I　may　possibly　live　a　few　years　longer；　but　not　become　old；　and　I　trust　his　providence　will　stand　over　me；　but　that　he　did　not　come　to　me　with　the　same　splendour　and　glory　as　to　our　brother　Olaf；　that　will　be　because；　in　many　ways；　I　have　sinned　and　transgressed　his　command。　　If　he　delayed　coming　to　thee；　I　think　that　in　no　way　betokens　thy　death；　but　rather　a　long　life；　but　it　may　be　that　some　heavy　accident　may　occur　to　thee；　as　there　was　an　unaccountable　dread　overpowering　thee；　but　I　foretell　that　thou　will　be　the　oldest　of　us；　and　wilt　rule　the　kingdom　longest。〃

Then　said　Sigurd；　〃This　is　well　and　intelligently　interpreted；　and　it　is　likely　it　will　be　so。〃　　And　now　the　king　began　to　be　cheerful　again。



21。　OF　KING　SIGURD'S　MARRIAGE。

King　Sigurd　married　Malmfrid；　a　daughter　of　King　Harald　Valdemarson；　eastward　in　Novgorod。　　King　Harald　Valdemarson's　mother　was　Queen　Gyda　the　Old；　a　daughter　of　the　Swedish　king；　Inge　Steinkelson。　　Harald　Valdemarson's　other　daughter；　sister　to　Malmfrid；　was　Ingebjorg；　who　was　married　to　Canute　Lavard；　a　son　of　the　Danish　king；　Eirik　the　Good；　and　grandson　of　King　Svein　Ulfson。　　Canute's　and　Ingebjorg's　children　were；　the　Danish　king；　Valdemar；　who　came　to　the　Danish　kingdom　after　Svein　Eirikson；　and　daughters　Margaret；　Christina；　and　Catherine。　　Margaret　was　married　to　Stig　Hvitaled；　and　their　daughter　was　Christina；　married　to　the　Swedish　king；　Karl　Sorkvison；　and　their　son　was　King　Sorkver。



22。　OF　THE　CASES　BEFORE　THE　THING。

The　king's　relative；　Sigurd　Hranason；　came　into　strife　with　King　Sigurd。　　He　had　had　the　Lapland　collectorship　on　the　king's　account；　because　of　their　relationship　and　long　friendship；　and　also　of　the　many　services　Sigurd　Hranason　had　done　to　the　kings；　for　he　was　a　very　distinguished；　popular　man。　　But　it　happened　to　him；　as　it　often　does　to　others；　that　persons　more　wicked　and　jealous　than　upright　slandered　him　to　King　Sigurd；　and　whispered　in　the　king's　ear　that　he　took　more　of　the　Laplander's　tribute　to　himself　than　was　proper。　　They　spoke　so　long　about　this；　that　King　Sigurd　conceived　a　dislike　and　anger　to　him；　and　sent　a　message　to　him。　　When　he　appeared　before　the　king；　the　king　carried　these　feelings　with　him；　and　said；　〃I　did　not　expect　that　thou　shouldst　have　repaid　me　for　thy　great　fiefs　and　other　dignities　by　taking　the　king's　property；　and　abstracting　a　greater　portion　of　it　than　is　allowable。〃

Sigurd　Hranason　replies；　〃It　is　not　true　that　has　been　told　you；　for　I　have　only　taken　such　portion　as　I　had　your　permission　to　take。〃

King　Sigurd　replies；　〃Thou　shalt　not　slip　away　with　this；　but　the　matter　shall　be　seriously　treated　before　it　comes　to　an　end。〃　　With　that　they　parted。

Soon　after；　by　the　advice　of　his　friends；　the　king　laid　an　action　against　Sigurd　Hranason　at　the　Thing…meeting　in　Bergen；　and　would　have　him　made　an　outlaw。　　Now　when　the　business　took　this　turn；　and　appeared　so　dangerous；　Sigurd　Hranason　went　to　King　Eystein；　and　told　him　what　mischief　King　Sigurd　intended　to　do　him；　and　entreated　his　assistance。　　King　Eystein　replied；　〃This　is　a　difficult　matter　that　you　propose　to　me；　to　speak　against　my　brother；　and　there　is　a　great　difference　between　defending　a　cause　and　pursuing　it　in　law；〃　and　added；　that　this　was　a　matter　which　concerned　him　and　Sigurd　equally。　　〃But　for　thy　distress；　and　our　relationship；　I　shall　bring　in　a　word　for　thee。〃

Soon　after　Eystein　visited　King　Sigurd；　and　entreated　him　to　spare　the　man；　reminding　him　of　the　relationship　between　them　and　Sigurd　Hranason；　who　was　married　to　their　aunt；　Skialdvor；　and　said　he　would　pay　the　penalty　for　the　crime　committed　against　the　king；　although　he　could　not　with　truth　impute　any　blame　to　him　in　the　matter。　　Besides；　he　reminded　the　king　of　the　long　friendship　with　Sigurd　Hranason。　　King　Sigurd　replied；　that　it　was　better　government　to　punish　such　acts。　　Then　King　Eystein　replied；　〃If　thou；　brother；　wilt　follow　the　law；　and　punish　such　acts　according　to　the　country's　privileges；　then　it　would　be　most　correct　that　Sigurd　Hranason　produce　his　witnesses；　and　that　the　case　be　judged　at　the　Thing；　but　not　at　a　meeting；　for　the　case　comes　under　the　law　of　the　land；　not　under　Bjarkey　law。〃　　Then　said　Sigurd；　〃It　may　possibly　be　so　that　the　case　belongs　to　it；　as　thou　sayest；　King　Eystein；　and　if　it　be　against　law　what　has　hitherto　been　done　in　this　case；　then　we　shall　bring　it　before　the　Thing。〃　　Then　the　kings　parted；　and　each　seemed　determined　to　take　his　own　way。　　King　Sigurd　summoned　the　parties　in　the　case　before　the　Arnarnes　Thing；　and　intended　to　pursue　it　there。　　King　Eystein　came　also　to　the　Thing…place；　and　when　the　case　was　brought　forward　for　judgment；　King　Eyste