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第29章

heimskringla-第29章

小说: heimskringla 字数: 每页3500字

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 had all the neighborhood ransacked after such people; and called them all before him; and when they were brought to the Thing there was a man among them called Eyvind Kelda; a grandson of Ragnvald Rettilbeine; Harald Harfager's son。  Eyvind was a sorcerer; and particularly knowing in witchcraft。  The king let all these men be seated in one room; which was well adorned; and made a great feast for them; and gave them strong drink in plenty。  Now when they were all very drunk; he ordered the house be set on fire; and it and all the people within it were consumed; all but Eyvind Kelda; who contrived to escape by the smoke…hole in the roof。  And when he had got a long way off; he met some people on the road going to the king; and he told them to tell the king that Eyvind Kelda had slipped away from the fire; and would never come again in King Olaf's power; but would carry on his arts of witchcraft as much as ever。  When the people came to the king with such a message from Eyvind; the king was ill pleased that Eyvind had escaped death。



70。 EYVIND KELDA'S DEATH。

When spring (A。D。 998) came King Olaf went out to Viken; and was on visits to his great farms。  He sent notice over all Viken that he would call out an army in summer; and proceed to the north parts of the country。  Then he went north to Agder; and when Easter was approaching he took the road to Rogaland with 300 (=360) men; and came on Easter evening north to Ogvaldsnes; in Kormt Island; where an Easter feast was prepared for him。  That same night came Eyvind Kelda to the island with a well…manned long…ship; of which the whole crew consisted of sorcerers and other dealers with evil spirits。  Eyvind went from his ship to the land with his followers; and there they played many of their pranks of witchcraft。  Eyvind clothed them with caps of darkness; and so thick a mist that the king and his men could see nothing of them; but when they came near to the house at Ogvaldsnes; it became clear day。  Then it went differently from what Eyvind had intended: for now there came just such a darkness over him and his comrades in witchcraft as they had made before; so that they could see no more from their eyes than from the back of their heads but went round and round in a circle upon the island。  When the king's watchman saw them going about; without knowing what people these were; they told the king。  Thereupon he rose up with his people; put on his clothes; and when he saw Eyvind with his men wandering about he ordered his men to arm; and examine what folk these were。  The king's men discovered it was Eyvind; took him and all his company prisoners; and brought them to the king。 Eyvind now told all he had done on his journey。  Then the king ordered these all to be taken out to a skerry which was under water in flood tide; and there to be left bound。  Eyvind and all with him left their lives on this rock; and the skerry is still called Skrattasker。



71。 OLAF AND ODIN'S APPARITION。

It is related that once on a time King Olaf was at a feast at this Ogvaldsnes; and one eventide there came to him an old man very gifted in words; and with a broad…brimmed hat upon his head。 He was one…eyed; and had something to tell of every land。  He entered into conversation with the king; and as the king found much pleasure in the guest's speech; he asked him concerning many things; to which the guest gave good answers: and the king sat up late in the evening。  Among other things; the king asked him if he knew who the Ogvald had been who had given his name both to the ness and to the house。  The guest replied; that this Ogvald was a king; and a very valiant man; and that he made great sacrifices to a cow which he had with him wherever he went; and considered it good for his health to drink her milk。  This same King Ogvald had a battle with a king called Varin; in which battle Ogvald fell。  He was buried under a mound close to the house; 〃and there stands his stone over him; and close to it his cow also is laid。〃  Such and many other things; and ancient events; the king inquired after。  Now; when the king had sat late into the night; the bishop reminded him that it was time to go to bed; and the king did so。  But after the king was undressed; and had laid himself in bed; the guest sat upon the foot…stool before the bed; and still spoke long with the king; for after one tale was ended; he still wanted a new one。  Then the bishop observed to the king; it was time to go to sleep; and the king did so; and the guest went out。  Soon after the king awoke; asked for the guest; and ordered him to be called; but the guest was not to be found。  The morning after; the king ordered his cook and cellar… master to be called; and asked if any strange person had been with them。  They said; that as they were making ready the meat a man came to them; and observed that they were cooking very poor meat for the king's table; whereupon he gave them two thick and fat pieces of beef; which they boiled with the rest of the meat。 Then the king ordered that all the meat should be thrown away; and said this man can be no other than the Odin whom the heathens have so long worshipped; and added; 〃but Odin shall not deceive us。〃



72。 THE THING IN THRONDHJEM。

King Olaf collected a great army in the east of the country towards summer; and sailed with it north to Nidaros in the Throndhjem country。  From thence he sent a message…token over all the fjord; calling the people of eight different districts to a Thing; but the bondes changed the Thing…token into a war…token; and called together all men; free and unfree; in all the Throndhjem land。  Now when the king met the Thing; the whole people came fully armed。  After the Thing was seated; the king spoke; and invited them to adopt Christianity; but he had only spoken a short time when the bondes called out to him to be silent; or they would attack him and drive him away。  〃We did so;〃 said they; 〃with Hakon foster…son of Athelstan; when he brought us the same message; and we held him in quite as much respect as we hold thee。〃  When King Olaf saw how incensed the bondes were; and that they had such a war force that he could make no resistance; he turned his speech as if he would give way to the bondes; and said; 〃I wish only to be in a good understanding with you as of old; and I will come to where ye hold your greatest sacrifice…festival; and see your customs; and thereafter we shall consider which to hold by。〃  And in this all agreed; and as the king spoke mildly and friendly with the bondes; their answer was appeased; and their conference with the king went off peacefully。  At the close of it a midsummer sacrifice was fixed to take place in Maeren; and all chiefs and great bondes to attend it as usual。  The king was to be at it。



73。 JARNSKEGGE OR IRON BEARD。

There was a great bonde called Skegge; and sometimes Jarnskegge; or Iron Beard; who dwelt in Uphaug in Yrjar。  He spoke first at the Thing to Olaf; and was the foremost man of the bondes in speaking against Christianity。  The Thing was concluded in this way for that time;  the bondes returned home; and the king went to Hlader。


74。 THE FEAST AT HLADER。

King Olaf lay with his ships in the river Nid; and had thirty vessels; which were manned with many brave people; but the king himself was often at Hlader; with his court attendants。  As the time now was approaching at which the sacrifices should be made at Maeren; the king prepared a great feast at Hlader; and sent a message to the districts of Strind; Gaulardal; and out to Orkadal; to invite the chiefs and other great bondes。  When the feast was ready; and the chiefs assembled; there was a handsome entertainment the first evening; at which plenty of liquor went round。 and the guests were made very drunk。  The night after they all slept in peace。  The following morning; when the king was dressed; he had the early mass sung before him; and when the mass was over; ordered to sound the trumpets for a House Thing: upon which all his men left the ships to come up to the Thing。  When the Thing was seated; the king stood up; and spoke thus: 〃We held a Thing at Frosta; and there I invited the bondes to allow themselves to be baptized; but they; on the other hand; invited me to offer sacrifice to their gods; as King Hakon; Athelstan's foster…son; had done; and thereafter it was agreed upon between us that we should meet at Maerin; and there make a great sacrifice。  Now if I; along with you; shall turn again to making sacrifice; then will I make the greatest of sacrifices that are in use; and I will sacrifice men。  But I will not select slaves or malefactors for this; but will take the greatest men only to be offered to the gods; and for this I select Orm Lygra of Medalhus; Styrkar of Gimsar; Kar of Gryting; Asbjorn Thorbergson of Varnes; Orm of Lyxa; Haldor of Skerdingsstedja;〃 and besides these he named five others of the principal men。  All these; he said; he would offer in sacrifice to the gods for peace and a fruitful season; and ordered them to be laid hold of immediately。 Now when the bondes saw that they were not strong enough to make head against the king; they asked for peace; and submitted wholly to the king's pleasure。  So it was settled that all the bondes who had come there should be baptized; and should take an oath to the king to hold by the right faith; and to renounce sacrifice to the gods。  The king then kept all these men as hostages who came to his feast; until they sent him their sons; brothers; or other near relations。


75。 OF THE THING IN THRONDHJEM。

King Olaf went in with all his forces into the Throndhjem country; and when he came to Maeren all among the chiefs of the Throndhjem people who were most opposed to Christianity were assembled; and had with them all the great bondes who had before made sacrifice at that place。  There was thus a greater multitude of bondes than there had been at the Frosta…Thing。  Now the king let the people be summoned to the Thing; where both parties met armed; and when the Thing was seated the king made a speech; in which he told the people to go over to Christianity。  Jarnskegge replies on the part of the bondes; and says that the will of the bondes is now; as formerly; that the king should not break their laws。  〃We want; king;〃 said he; 〃that thou shouldst offer sacrifice; as other kings before thee have done。〃  All the bondes applauded his speech with a loud shout; and said they would have all things according to what Skegge said。  Then the king said he would go into the temple of their gods with them; and see what the practices were when they sacrificed。  The bondes thought well of this proceeding; and both parties went to the temple。



76。 THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE BAPTIZED。

Now King Olaf entered into the temple with some few of his men and a few bondes; and when the king came to where their gods were; Thor; as the most considered among their gods; sat there adorned with gold and silver。  The king lifted up his gold…inlaid axe which he carried in his hands; and struck Thor so that the image rolled down from its seat。  Then the king's men turned to and threw down all the gods from their seats; and while the king was in the temple; Jarnskegge was killed outside of the temple doors; and the king's men did i

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