heimskringla-第128章

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those　who　are　about　you　say；　which　is　not　kingly。〃

Eystein：　〃This　is　because；　when　people　bring　their　cases　before　me；　I　wish　first　to　give　every　man　that　satisfaction　in　his　affairs　which　he　desires；　but　afterwards　comes　the　opposite　party；　and　then　there　is　something　to　be　given　or　taken　away　very　often；　in　order　to　mediate　between　them；　so　that　both　may　be　satisfied。　　It　often　happens；　too；　that　I　promise　whatever　is　desired　of　me；　that　all　may　be　joyful　about　me。　　It　would　be　an　easy　matter　for　me　to　do　as　you　do；　　to　promise　evil　to　all；　and　I　never　hear　any　complain　of　your　not　keeping　this　promise　to　them。〃

Sigurd：　〃It　is　the　conversation　of　all　that　the　expedition　that　I　made　out　of　the　country　was　a　princely　expedition；　while　you　in　the　meantime　sat　at　home　like　your　father's　daughter。〃

Eystein：　〃Now　you　touched　the　tender　spot。　　I　would　not　have　brought　up　this　conversation　if　I　had　not　known　what　to　reply　on　this　point。　　I　can　truly　say　that　I　equipt　you　from　home　like　a　sister；　before　you　went　upon　this　expedition。〃

Sigurd：　〃You　must　have　heard　that　on　this　expedition　I　was　in　many　a　battle　in　the　Saracen's　land；　and　gained　the　victory　in　all；　and　you　must　have　heard　of　the　many　valuable　articles　I　acquired；　the　like　of　which　were　never　seen　before　in　this　country；　and　I　was　the　most　respected　wherever　the　most　gallant　men　were；　and；　on　the　other　hand；　you　cannot　conceal　that　you　have　only　a　home…bred　reputation。〃

Eystein：　〃I　have　heard　that　you　had　several　battles　abroad；　but　it　was　more　useful　for　the　country　what　I　was　doing　in　the　meantime　here　at　home。　　I　built　five　churches　from　the　foundations；　and　a　harbour　out　at　Agdanes；　where　it　before　was　impossible　to　land；　and　where　vessels　ply　north　and　south　along　the　coast。　　I　set　a　warping　post　and　iron　ring　in　the　sound　of　Sinholm；　and　in　Bergen　I　built　a　royal　hall；　while　you　were　killing　bluemen　for　the　devil　in　Serkland。　　This；　I　think；　was　of　but　little　advantage　to　our　kingdom。〃

King　Sigurd　said：　〃On　this　expedition　I　went　all　the　way　to　Jordan　and　swam　across　the　river。　　On　the　edge　of　the　river　there　is　a　bush　of　willows；　and　there　I　twisted　a　knot　of　willows；　and　said　this　knot　thou　shouldst　untie；　brother；　or　take　the　curse　thereto　attached。〃

King　Eystein　said：　〃I　shall　not　go　and　untie　the　knot　which　you　tied　for　me；　but　if　I　had　been　inclined　to　tie　a　knot　for　thee；　thou　wouldst　not　have　been　king　of　Norway　at　thy　return　to　this　country；　when　with　a　single　ship　you　came　sailing　into　my　fleet。〃

Thereupon　both　were　silent；　and　there　was　anger　on　both　sides。　More　things　passed　between　the　brothers；　from　which　it　appeared　that　each　of　them　would　be　greater　than　the　other；　however；　peace　was　preserved　between　them　as　long　as　they　lived。



26。　OF　KING　SIGURD'S　SICKNESS。

King　Sigurd　was　at　a　feast　in　the　Upland；　and　a　bath　was　made　ready　for　him。　　When　the　king　came　to　the　bath　and　the　tent　was　raised　over　the　bathing…tub；　the　king　thought　there　was　a　fish　in　the　tub　beside　him；　and　a　great　laughter　came　upon　him；　so　that　he　was　beside　himself；　and　was　out　of　his　mind；　and　often　afterwards　these　fits　returned。

Magnus　Barefoot's　daughter；　Ragnhild；　was　married　by　her　brothers　to　Harald　Kesia；　a　son　of　the　Danish　king；　Eirik　the　Good；　and　their　sons　were　Magnus；　Olaf；　Knut　and　Harald。



27。　OF　KING　EYSTEIN'S　DEATH。

King　Eystein　built　a　large　ship　at　Nidaros；　which；　in　size　and　shape；　was　like　the　Long　Serpent　which　King　Olaf　Trygvason　had　built。　　At　the　stem　there　was　a　dragon's　head；　and　at　the　stern　a　crooked　tail；　and　both　were　gilded　over。　　The　ship　was　high…　sided；　but　the　fore　and　aft　parts　appeared　less　than　they　should　be。　　He　also　made　in　Nidaros　many　and　large　dry…docks　of　the　best　material；　and　well　timbered。

Six　years　after　King　Olaf's　death；　it　happened　that　King　Eystein；　at　a　feast　at　Hustadir　in　Stim；　was　seized　with　an　illness　which　soon　carried　him　off。　　He　died　the　29th　of　August；　1123；　and　his　body　was　carried　north　to　Nidaros；　and　buried　in　Christ　church；　and　it　is　generally　said　that　so　many　mourners　never　stood　over　any　man's　grave　in　Norway　as　over　King　Eystein's；　at　least　since　the　time　Magnus　the　Good；　Saint　Olaf's　son；　died。　　Eystein　had　been　twenty　years　（A。D。　1104…1123）　king　of　Norway；　and　after　his　decease　his　brother；　King　Sigurd；　was　the　sole　king　of　Norway　as　long　as　he　lived。



28。　BAPTIZING　THE　PEOPLE　OF　SMALAND。

The　Danish　king；　Nikolas；　a　son　of　Svein　Ulfson；　married　afterwards　the　Queen　Margaret；　a　daughter　of　King　Inge；　who　had　before　been　married　to　King　Magnus　Barefoot；　and　their　sons　were　Nikolas　and　Magnus　the　Strong。　　King　Nikolas　sent　a　message　to　King　Sigurd　the　Crusader；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　go　with　him　with　all　his　might　and　help　him　to　the　east　of　the　Swedish　dominion；　Smaland；　to　baptize　the　inhabitants；　for　the　people　who　dwelt　there　had　no　regard　for　Christianity；　although　some　of　them　had　allowed　themselves　to　be　baptized。　　At　that　time　there　were　many　people　all　around　in　the　Swedish　dominions　who　were　heathens；　and　many　were　bad　Christians；　for　there　were　some　of　the　kings　who　renounced　Christianity；　and　continued　heathen　sacrifices；　as　Blotsvein；　and　afterwards　Eirik　Arsale；　had　done。　King　Sigurd　promised　to　undertake　this　journey；　and　the　kings　appointed　their　meeting　at　Eyrarsund。　　King　Sigurd　then　summoned　all　people　in　Norway　to　a　levy；　both　of　men　and　ships；　and　when　the　fleet　was　assembled　he　had　about　300　ships。　　King　Nikolas　came　very　early　to　the　meeting…place；　and　stayed　there　a　long　time；　and　the　bondes　murmured　much；　and　said　the　Northmen　did　not　intend　to　come。　　Thereupon　the　Danish　army　dispersed；　and　the　king　went　away　with　all　his　fleet。　　King　Sigurd　came　there　soon　afterwards；　and　was　ill　pleased；　but　sailed　east　to　Svimraros；　and　held　a　House…thing；　at　which　Sigurd　spoke　about　King　Nikolas's　breach　of　faith；　and　the　Northmen；　on　this　account；　determined　to　go　marauding　in　his　country。　　They　first　plundered　a　village　called　Tumathorp；　which　is　not　far　from　Lund；　and　then　sailed　east　to　the　merchant…town　of　Calmar；　where　they　plundered；　as　well　as　in　Smaland；　and　imposed　on　the　country　a　tribute　of　1500　cattle　for　ship　provision；　and　the　people　of　Smaland　received　Christianity。　　After　this　King　Sigurd　turned　about　with　his　fleet；　and　came　back　to　his　kingdom　with　many　valuable　articles　and　great　booty；　which　he　had　gathered　on　this　expedition；　and　this　levy　was　called　the　Calmar　levy。　　This　was　the　summer　before　the　eclipse。　　This　was　the　only　levy　King　Sigurd　carried　out　as　long　as　he　was　king。



29。　OF　THORARIN　STUTFELD。

It　happened　once　when　King　Sigurd　was　going　from　the　drinking…　table　to　vespers；　that　his　men　were　very　drunk　and　merry；　and　many　of　them　sat　outside　the　church　singing　the　evening　song；　but　their　singing　was　very　irregular。　　Then　the　king　said；　〃Who　is　that　fellow　I　see　standing　at　the　church　with　a　skin　jacket　on？〃　They　answered；　that　they　did　not　know。　　Then　the　king　said：　　

　　　　　〃This　skin…clad　man；　in　sorry　plight；　　　　　　Puts　all　our　wisdom　here　to　flight。〃

Then　the　fellow　came　forward　and　said：　

　　　　　〃I　thought　that　here　I　might　be　known；　　　　　　Although　my　dress　is　scanty　grown。　　　　　　'Tis　poor；　but　I　must　be　content：　　　　　　Unless；　great　king；　it's　thy　intent　　　　　　To　give　me　better；　for　I　have　seen　　　　　　When　I　and　rags　had　strangers　been。〃

The　king　answered；　〃Come　to　me　to…morrow　when　I　am　at　the　drink…　table。〃　　The　night　passed　away；　and　the　morning　after　the　Icelander；　who　was　afterwards　called　Thorarin　Stutfetd；　went　into　the　drinking…room。　　A　man　stood　outside　of　the　door　of　the　room　with　a　horn　in　his　hand；　and　said；　〃Icelander！　　the　king　says　that　if　thou　wilt　deserve　any　gift　from　him　thou　shalt　compose　a　song　before　going　in；　and　make　it　about　a　man　whose　name　is　Hakon　Serkson；　and　who　is　called　Morstrut　（1）；　and　speak　about　that　surname　in　thy　song。〃　　The　man　who　spoke　to　him　was　called　Arne　Fioruskeif。　　Then　they　went　into　the　room；　and　when　Thorarin　came　before　the　king's　seat　he　recited　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃Throndhjem's　warrior…king　has　said　　　　　　The　skald　should　be　by　gifts　repaid；　　　　　　If　he　before　this　meeting　gave　　　　　　The　king's　friend　Serk　a　passing　stave。　　　　　　The　generous　king　has　let　me　know　　　　　　My　stave；　to　please；　must　be　framed　so　　　　　　That　my　poor　verse　extol　the　fame　　　　　　Of　one　called　Hakon　Lump　by　name。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃I　never　said　so；　and　somebody　has　been　making　a　mock　of　thee。　　Hakon　himself　shall　determine　what　punishment　thou　shalt　have。　　Go　into　his　suite。〃　　Hakon　said；　〃He　shall　be　welcome　among　us；　for　I　can　see　where　the　joke　came　from；〃　and　he　placed　the　Icelander　at　his　side　next　to　himself；　and　they　were　very　merry。　　The　day　was　drawing　to　a　close；　and　the　liquor　began　to　get　into　their　heads；　when　Hakon　said；　〃Dost　thou　not　think；　Icelander；　that　thou　owest　me　some　penalty？　　and　dost　thou　not　see　that　some　trick　has　been　played　upon　thee？〃

Thorarin　replies；　〃It　is　true；　indeed；　that　I　owe　thee　some　compensation。〃

Hakon　says；　〃Then　we　shall　be　quits；　if　thou　wilt　make　me　another　stave　about　Arne。〃

He　said　he　was　ready　to　do　so；　and　they　crossed　over　to　the　side　of　the　room　where　Arne　was　sitting；　and　Thorarin　gave　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃Fioruskeif　has　often　spread；　　　　　　With　evil　heart　and　idle　head；　　　　　　The　eagle's　voidings　round　the　land；　　　　　　Lampoons　and　lies；　with　ready　hand。　　　　　　Yet　this　landlouper　we　all　know；　　　　　　In　Africa　scarce　fed　a　crow；　　　　　　Of　all　his　arms　used　in　the　field；　　　　　　Those　in　most　use　were　helm　and　shield。〃

Arne　sprang　up　instantly；　drew　his　sword；　and　was　going　to　fall　upon　him；　but　Hakon　told　him　to　let　it　alone　and　be　quiet；　and　bade　him　remember　that　if　it　came　to　a　quarrel　he　would　come　off　the　worst　himself。　　Thorarin　afterwards　went　up　to　the　king；　and　said　he　had　composed　a　poem　which　he　wished　the　king　to　hear。　　The　king　consented；　and　the　song　is　known　by　the　name　of　the　Stutfeld　poem。　　The　king　asked　Thorarin　what　he　intended　to　do。　　He　replied；　it　was　his　intention　to　go　to　Rome。　　Then　the　king　gave　him　much　money　for　his　pilgrimage；　and　told　him　to　visit　him　on　his　return；　and　promised　to　provide　for　him。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　Morstrut　is　a　short；　fat；　punchy　fellow。　　L。



30。　OF　SIGURD　AND　OTTAR　BIRTING。

It　is　told　that　King　Sigurd；　one　Whitsunday；　sat　at　table　with　many　people；　among　whom　were　many　of　his　friends；　and　when　he　came　to　his　high…seat；　people　saw　that　his　countenance　was　very　wild；　and　as　if　he　had　been　weeping；　so　that　people　were　afraid　of　what　might　follow。　　The　king　rolled　his　eyes；　and　looked　at　those　who　were　seated　on　the　benches。　　Then　he　seized　the　holy　book　which　he　had　brought　with　him　from　abroad；　and　which　was　written　all　over　with　gilded　letters；　so　that　never　had　such　a　costly　book　come　to　Norway。　　His　queen　sat　by　his　side。　　Then　said　King　Sigurd；　〃Many　are　the　changes　which　may　take　place　during　a　man's　lifetime。　　I　had　two　things　which　were　dear　to　me　above　all　when　I　came　from　abroad；　and　these　were　this　book　and　the　queen；　and　now　I　think　the　one　is　only　worse　and　more　loathsome　than　the　other；　and　nothing　I　have　belonging　to　me　that　I　more　detest。　　The　queen　does　not　know　herself　how　hideous　she　is；　for　a　goat's　horn　is　standing　out　on　her　head；　and　the　better　I　li