heimskringla-第48章
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en kings and great men was by giving the messenger a token； that is。 some article well known by the person receiving the message to be the property of and valued by the person sending it。
69。 CONVERSATION OF BJORN AND INGEBJORG。
Ingebjorg was particularly kind to them； and Bjorn often spoke with her about the matter； and was ill at ease that their journey was so long delayed。 Hjalte and the others often spoke together also about the matter； and Hjalte said； 〃I will go to the king if ye like； for I am not a man of Norway； and the Swedes can have nothing to say to me。 I have heard that there are Iceland men in the king's house who are my acquaintances； and are well treated； namely； the skalds Gissur Black and Ottar Black。 From them I shall get out what I can about the Swedish king； and if the business will really be so difficult as it now appears； or if there be any other way of promoting it； I can easily devise some errand that may appear suitable for me。〃
This counsel appeared to Bjorn and Ingebjorg to be the wisest； and they resolved upon it among themselves。 Ingebjorg put Hjalte in a position to travel； gave him two Gautland men with him； and ordered them to follow him； and assist him with their service； and also to go wherever he might have occasion to send them。 Besides； Ingebjorg gave him twenty marks of weighed silver money for travelling expenses； and sent word and token by him to the Swedish king Olaf's daughter； Ingegerd； that she should give all her assistance to Hjalte's business； whenever he should find himself under the necessity of craving her help。 Hjalte set off as soon as he was ready。 When he came to King Olaf he soon found the skalds Gissur and Ottar； and they were very glad at his coming。 Without delay they went to the king； and told him that a man was come who was their countryman； and one of the most considerable in their native land； and requested the king to receive him well。 The king told them to take Hjalte and his fellow…travellers into their company and quarters。 Now when Hjalte had resided there a short time； and got acquainted with people； he was much respected by everybody。 The skalds were often in the king's house； for they were well…spoken men； and often in the daytime they sat in front of the king's high…seat； and Hjalte； to whom they paid the highest respect in all things； by their side。 He became thus known to the king； who willingly entered into conversation with him； and heard from him news about Iceland。
70。 OF SIGVAT THE SKALD。
It happened that before Bjorn set out from home he asked Sigvat the skald； who at that time was with King Olaf； to accompany him on his journey。 It was a journey for which people had no great inclination。 There was； however； great friendship between Bjorn and Sigvat。 Then Sigvat sang：
〃With the king's marshals all have I； In days gone by； Lived joyously； With all who on the king attend； And knee before him humbly bend； Bjorn； thou oft hast ta'en my part Pleaded with art； And touched the heart。 Bjorn！ brave stainer of the sword； Thou art my friend I trust thy word。〃
While they were riding up to Gautland； Sigvat made these verses：
〃Down the Fjord sweep wind and rain； Our stout ship's sails and tackle strain； Wet to the skin。 We're sound within； And gaily o'er the waves are dancing； Our sea…steed o'er the waves high prancing！ Through Lister sea Flying all free； Off from the wind with swelling sail； We merrily scud before the gale； And reach the sound Where we were bound。 And now our ship； so gay and grand； Glides past the green and lovely land； And at the isle Moors for a while。 Our horse…hoofs now leave hasty print； We ride of ease there's scanty stint In heat and haste O'er Gautland's waste： Though in a hurry to be married； The king can't say that we have tarried。〃
One evening late they were riding through Gautland； and Sigvat made these verses：
〃The weary horse will at nightfall Gallop right well to reach his stall； When night meets day； with hasty hoof He plies the road to reach a roof。 Far from the Danes； we now may ride Safely by stream or mountain…side； But； in this twilight； in some ditch The horse and rider both may pitch。〃
They rode through the merchant town of Skara； and down the street to the earl's house。 He sang：
〃The shy sweet girls； from window high In wonder peep at the sparks that fly From our horses heels； as down the street Of the earl's town we ride so fleet。 Spur on！ that every pretty lass May hear our horse…hoofs as we pass Clatter upon the stones so hard； And echo round the paved court…yard。〃
71。 HJALTE SKEGGJASON WHILE HE WAS IN SVITHIOD。
One day Hjalte； and the skalds with him； went before the king； and he began thus： 〃It has so happened； king； as is known to you； that I have come here after a long and difficult journey； but when I had once crossed the ocean and heard of your greatness； it appeared to me unwise to go back without having seen you in your splendour and glory。 Now it is a law between Iceland and Norway； that Iceland men pay landing due when they come into Norway； but while I was coming across the sea I took myself all the landing dues from my ship's people； but knowing that thou have the greatest right to all the power in Norway； I hastened hither to deliver to you the landing dues。〃 With this he showed the silver to the king； and laid ten marks of silver in Gissur Black's lap。
The king replies； 〃Few have brought us any such dues from Norway for some time； and now； Hjalte； I will return you my warmest thanks for having given yourself so much trouble to bring us the landing dues； rather than pay them to our enemies。 But I will that thou shouldst take this money from me as a gift； and with it my friendship。〃
Hjalte thanked the king with many words； and from that day set himself in great favour with the king； and often spoke with him； for the king thought； what was true； that he was a man of much understanding and eloquence。 Now Hjalte told Gissur and Ottar that he was sent with tokens to the king's daughter Ingegerd； to obtain her protection and friendship； and he begged of them to procure him some opportunity to speak with her。 They answered； that this was an easy thing to do； and went one day to her house； where she sat at the drinking table with many men。 She received the skalds in a friendly manner； for they were known to her。 Hjalte brought her a salutation from the earl's wife； Ingebjorg； and said she had sent him here to obtain friendly help and succour from her； and in proof whereof produced his tokens。 The king's daughter received him also kindly； and said he should be welcome to her friendship。 They sat there till late in the day drinking。 The king's daughter made Hjalte tell her much news； and invited him to come often and converse with her。 He did so： came there often； and spoke with the king's daughter； and at last entrusted her with the purpose of Bjorn's and his comrade's journey； and asked her how she thought the Swedish king would receive the proposal that there should be a reconciliation between the kings。 The king's daughter replied； that； in her opinion； it would be a useless attempt to propose to the king any reconciliation with Olaf the Thick； for the king was so enraged against him； that he would not suffer his name to be mentioned before him。 It happened one day that Hjalte was sitting with the king and talking to him； and the king was very merry and drunk。 Then Hjalte said； 〃Manifold splendour and grandeur have I seen here； and I have now witnessed with my eyes what I have often heard of； that no monarch in the north is so magnificent： but it is very vexatious that we who come so far to visit it have a road so long and troublesome； both on account of the great ocean； but more especially because it is not safe to travel through Norway for those who are coming here in a friendly disposition。 But why is there no one to bring proposals for a peace between you and King Olaf the Thick？ I heard much in Norway； and in west Gautland； of the general desire that this peace should have taken place； and it has been told me for truth； as the Norway king's words； that he earnestly desires to be reconciled to you； and the reason I know is； that he feels how much less his power is than yours。 It is even said that he intends to pay his court to your daughter Ingegerd； and that would lead to a useful peace； for I have heard from people of credit that he is a remarkably distinguished man。〃
The king answers。 〃Thou must not speak thus； Hjalte； but for this time I will not take it amiss of thee； as thou dost not know what people have to avoid here。 That fat fellow shall not be called king in my court； and there is by no means the stuff in him that people talk of： and thou must see thyself that such a connection is not suitable； for I am the tenth king in Upsala who； relation after relation； has been sole monarch over the Swedish； and many other great lands； and all have been the superior kings over other kings in the northern countries。 But Norway is little inhabited； and the inhabitants are scattered。 There have only been small kings there； and although Harald Harfager was the greatest king in that country； and strove against the small kings； and subdued them； yet he knew so well his position that he did not covet the Swedish dominions； and therefore the Swedish kings let him sit in peace； especially as there was relationship between them。 Thereafter； while Hakon Athelstan's foster…son was in Norway he sat in peace； until he began to maraud in Gautland and Denmark； on which a war…force came upon him； and took from him both life and land。 Gunhild's sons also were cut off when they became disobedient to the Danish kings； and Harald Gormson joined Norway to his own dominions； and made it subject to scat to him。 And we reckon Harald Gormson to be of less power and consideration than the Upsala kings； for our relation Styrbjorn subdued him； and Harald became his man； and yet Eirik the Victorious； my father； rose over Styrbjorn's head when it came to a trial between them。 When Olaf Trygvason came to Norway and proclaimed himself king； we would not permit it； but we went with King Svein； and cut him off； and thus we have appropriated Norway； as thou hast not heard； and with no less right than if I had gained it in battle； and by conquering the kings who ruled it before。 Now thou canst well suppose； as a man of sense； that I will not let slip the kingdom of Norway for this thick fellow。 It is wonderful he does not remember how narrowly he made his escape； when we had penned him in in the Malar lake。 Although he slipped away with life from thence； he ought； methinks； to have something else in his mind than to hold out against us Swedes。 Now； Hjalte； thou must never again open thy mouth in my presence on such a subject。〃
Hjalte saw sufficiently that there was no hope of the king's listening to any proposal of a peace； an
