heimskringla-第56章

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try　very　distant；　and　therefore　let　us　first　send　men　to　the　Swedish　king　to　attempt　to　come　to　some　reconciliation　with　him。　　If　that　fail；　we　can　still　turn　to　the　king　of　Norway。〃　　Then　the　bondes　asked　Emund　to　undertake　this　mission；　to　which　he　agreed；　and　he　proceeded　with　thirty　men　to　East　Gautland；　where　there　were　many　of　his　relations　and　friends；　who　received　him　hospitably。　　He　conversed　there　with　the　most　prudent　men　about　this　difficult　business；　and　they　were　all　unanimous　on　one　point；　　that　the　king's　treatment　of　them　was　against　law　and　reason。　　From　thence　Emund　went　into　Svithjod；　and　conversed　with　many　men　of　consequence；　who　all　expressed　themselves　in　the　same　way。　　Emund　continued　his　journey　thus；　until　one　day；　towards　evening；　he　arrived　at　Upsala；　where　he　and　his　retinue　took　a　good　lodging；　and　stayed　there　all　night。　　The　next　day　Emund　waited　upon　the　king；　who　was　just　then　sitting　in　the　Thing　surrounded　by　many　people。　Emund　went　before　him；　bent　his　knee；　and　saluted　him。　　The　king　looked　at　him；　saluted　him；　and　asked　him　what　news　he　brought。

Emund　replies；　〃There　is　little　news　among　us　Gautlanders；　but　it　appears　to　us　a　piece　of　remarkable　news　that　the　proud；　stupid　Atte；　in　Vermaland；　whom　we　look　upon　as　a　great　sportsman；　went　up　to　the　forest　in　winter　with　his　snow…shoes　and　his　bow。　　After　he　had　got　as　many　furs　in　the　mountains　as　filled　his　hand…sledge　so　full　that　he　could　scarcely　drag　it；　he　returned　home　from　the　woods。　　But　on　the　way　he　saw　a　squirrel　in　the　trees；　and　shot　at　it；　but　did　not　hit；　at　which　he　was　so　angry；　that　he　left　the　sledge　to　run　after　the　squirrel：　but　still　the　squirrel　sprang　where　the　wood　was　thickest；　sometimes　among　the　roots　of　the　trees；　sometimes　in　the　branches；　sometimes　among　the　arms　that　stretch　from　tree　to　tree。　　When　Atte　shot　at　it　the　arrows　flew　too　high　or　too　low；　and　the　squirrel　never　jumped　so　that　Atte　could　get　a　fair　aim　at　him。　　He　was　so　eager　upon　this　chase　that　he　ran　the　whole　day　after　the　squirrel；　and　yet　could　not　get　hold　of　it。　　It　was　now　getting　dark；　so　he　threw　himself　down　upon　the　snow；　as　he　was　wont；　and　lay　there　all　night　in　a　heavy　snow…storm。　　Next　day　Atte　got　up　to　look　after　his　sledge；　but　never　did　he　find　it　again；　and　so　he　returned　home。　　And　this　is　the　only　news；　king；　I　have　to　tell。〃

The　king　says；　〃This　is　news　of　but　little　importance；　if　it　be　all　thou　hast　to　tell。〃

Ernund　replies；　〃Lately　something　happened　which　may　well　be　called　news。　　Gaute　Tofason　went　with　five　warships　out　of　the　Gaut　river；　and　when　he　was　lying　at　the　Eikrey　Isles　there　came　five　large　Danish　merchant…ships　there。　　Gaute　and　his　men　immediately　took　four　of　the　great　vessels；　and　made　a　great　booty　without　the　loss　of　a　man：　but　the　fifth　vessel　slipped　out　to　sea；　and　sailed　away。　　Gaute　gave　chase　with　one　ship；　and　at　first　came　nearer　to　them；　but　as　the　wind　increased；　the　Danes　got　away。　　Then　Gaute　wanted　to　turn　back；　but　a　storm　came　on　so　that　he　lost　his　ship　at　Hlesey；　with　all　the　goods；　and　the　greater　part　of　his　crew。　　In　the　meantime　his　people　were　waiting　for　him　at　the　Eikrey　Isles：　but　the　Danes　came　over　in　fifteen　merchant…ships；　killed　them　all；　and　took　all　the　booty　they　had　made。　　So　but　little　luck　had　they　with　their　greed　of　plunder。〃

The　king　replied。　　〃That　is　great　news；　and　worth　being　told；　but　what　now　is　thy　errand　here？〃

Emund　replies；　〃I　travel；　sire；　to　obtain　your　judgment　in　a　difficult　case；　in　which　our　law　and　the　Upsala　law　do　not　agree。〃

The　king　asks；　〃What　is　thy　appeal　case？〃

Emund　replies；　〃There　were　two　noble…born　men　of　equal　birth；　but　unequal　in　property　and　disposition。　　They　quarrelled　about　some　land；　and　did　each　other　much　damage；　but　most　was　done　to　him　who　was　the　more　powerful　of　the　two。　　This　quarrel；　however；　was　settled；　and　judged　of　at　a　General　Thing；　and　the　judgment　was；　that　the　most　powerful　should　pay　a　compensation。　　But　at　the　first　payment；　instead　of　paying　a　goose；　he　paid　a　gosling；　for　an　old　swine　he　paid　a　sucking　pig；　and　for　a　mark　of　stamped　gold　only　a　half…　mark；　and　for　the　other　half…mark　nothing　but　clay　and　dirt；　and；　moreover；　threatened；　in　the　most　violent　way；　the　people　whom　he　forced　to　receive　such　goods　in　payment。　Now；　sire；　what　is　your　judgment？〃

The　king　replies；　〃He　shall　pay　the　full　equivalent　whom　the　judgment　ordered　to　do　so；　and　that　faithfully；　and　further；　threefold　to　his　king：　and　if　payment　be　not　made　within　a　year　and　a　day；　he　shall　be　cut　off　from　all　his　property；　his　goods　confiscated；　and　half　go　the　king's　house；　and　half　to　the　other　party。〃

Emund　took　witnesses　to　this　judgment　among　the　most　considerable　of　the　men　who　were　present；　according　to　the　laws　which　were　held　in　the　Upsala　Thing。　　He　then　saluted　the　king；　and　went　his　way；　and　other　men　brought　their　cases　before　the　king；　and　he　sat　late　in　the　day　upon　the　cases　of　the　people。　　Now　when　the　king　came　to　table；　he　asked　where　Lagman　Emund　was。　　It　was　answered；　he　was　home　at　his　lodgings。　　〃Then；〃　said　the　king；　〃go　after　him；　and　tell　him　to　be　my　guest　to…day。〃　　Thereafter　the　dishes　were　borne　in；　then　came　the　musicians　with　harps；　fiddles；　and　musical　instruments；　and　lastly；　the　cup…bearers。　The　king　was　particularly　merry；　and　had　many　great　people　at　table　with　him；　so　that　he　thought　little　of　Emund。　　The　king　drank　the　whole　day；　and　slept　all　the　night　after；　but　in　the　morning　the　king　awoke；　and　recollected　what　Emund　had　said　the　day　before：　and　when　he　had　put　on　his　clothes；　he　let　his　wise　men　be　summoned　to　him；　for　he　had　always　twelve　of　the　wisest　men　who　sat　in　judgment　with　him；　and　treated　the　more　difficult　cases；　and　that　was　no　easy　business；　for　the　king　was　ill…　pleased　if　the　judgment　was　not　according　to　justice；　and　yet　it　was　of　no　use　to　contradict　him。　　In　this　meeting　the　king　ordered　Lagman　Emund　to　be　called　before　them。　　The　messenger　returned；　and　said；　〃Sire；　Lagman　Emund　rode　away　yesterday　as　soon　as　he　had　dined。〃　　〃Then；〃　said　the　king；　〃tell　me；　ye　good　chiefs；　what　may　have　been　the　meaning　of　that　law…case　which　Emund　laid　before　us　yesterday？〃

They　replied；　〃You　must　have　considered　it　yourself；　if　you　think　there　was　any　other　meaning　under　it　than　what　he　said。〃

The　king　replied；　〃By　the　two　noble…born　men　whom　he　spoke　of；　who　were　at　variance；　and　of　whom　one　was　more　powerful　than　the　other；　and　who　did　each　other　damage；　he　must　have　meant　us　and　Olaf　the　Thick。〃

They　answered；　〃It　is；　sire；　as　you　say。〃

The　king　　〃Our　case　was　judged　at　the　Upsala　Thing。　　But　what　was　his　meaning　when　he　said　that　bad　payment　was　made；　namely；　a　gosling　for　a　goose；　a　pig　for　a　swine；　and　clay　and　dirt　for　half　of　the　money　instead　of　gold？〃

Arnvid　the　Blind　replied；　〃Sire；　red　gold　and　clay　are　things　very　unlike；　but　the　difference　is　still　greater　between　king　and　slave。　　You　promised　Olaf　the　Thick　your　daughter　Ingegerd；　who；　in　all　branches　of　her　descent；　is　born　of　kings；　and　of　the　Upland　Swedish　race　of　kings；　which　is　the　most　noble　in　the　North；　for　it　is　traced　up　to　the　gods　themselves。　　But　now　Olaf　has　got　Astrid；　and　although　she　is　a　king's　child；　her　mother　was　but　a　slave…woman；　and；　besides；　of　Vindish　race。　　Great　difference；　indeed；　must　there　be　between　these　kings；　when　the　one　takes　thankfully　such　a　match；　and　now　it　is　evident；　as　might　be　expected；　that　no　Northman　is　to　be　placed　by　the　side　of　the　Upsala　kings。　　Let　us　all　give　thanks　that　it　has　so　turned　out；　for　the　gods　have　long　protected　their　descendants；　although　many　now　neglect　this　faith。〃

There　were　three　brothers：　　Arnvid　the　Blind；　who　had　a　great　understanding；　but　was　so　weak…sighted　that　he　was　scarcely　fit　for　war；　the　second　was　Thorvid　the　Stammerer；　who　could　not　utter　two　words　together　at　one　time；　but　was　remarkably　bold　and　courageous；　the　third　was　Freyvid　the　Deaf；　who　was　hard　of　hearing。　　All　these　brothers　were　rich　and　powerful　men；　of　noble　birth；　great　wisdom；　and　all　very　dear　to　the　king。

Then　said　King　Olaf；　〃What　means　that　which　Emund　said　about　Atte　the　Dull？〃

None　made　any　reply；　but　the　one　looked　at　the　other。

〃Speak　freely；〃　said　the　king。

Then　said　Thorvid　the　Stammerer；　〃Atte　　quarrel　　some　　greedy　　jealous　　deceitful　　dull。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃To　whom　are　these　words　of　reproach　and　mockery　applied？〃

Freyvid　the　Deaf　replied；　〃We　will　speak　more　clearly　if　we　have　your　permission。〃

The　king　　〃Speak　freely；　Freyvid；　what　you　will。〃

Freyvid　took　up　the　word；　and　spoke。　　〃My　brother　Thorvid；　who　is　considered　to　be　the　wisest　of　us　brothers；　holds　the　words　‘quarrelsome；　greedy；　jealous；　dull；'　to　be　one　and　the　same　thing；　for　it　applies　to　him　who　is　weary　of　peace；　longs　for　small　things　without　attaining　them；　while　he　lets　great　and　useful　things　pass　away　as　they　came。　　I　am　deaf；　yet　so　loud　have　many　spoken　out；　that　I　can　perceive　that　all　men；　both　great　and　small；　take　it　ill　that　you　have　not　kept　your　promise　to　the　king　of　Norway；　and；　worse　than　that；　that　you　broke　the　decision　of　the　community　as　it　was　delivered　at　Upsala　Thing。　You　need　not　fear　either　the　king　of　Norway；　or　the　king　of　Denmark；　or　any　other；　so　long　as　the　Swedish　army　will　follow　you；　but　if　the　people　of　the　country　unanimously　turn　against　you；　we；　your　friends；　see　no　counsel　that　can　be　of　advantage　to　you。〃

The　king　asks；　〃Who　is　the　chief　who　dares　to　betray　the　country　and　me？〃

Freyvid　replies；　〃All　Swedes　desire　to　have　the　ancient　laws；　and　their　full　rights。　　Look　but　here；　sire；　how　many　chiefs　are　sitting　in　council　with　you。　　I　think；　in　truth；　we　are　but　six　whom　you　call　your　councillors：　all　the　others；　so　far　as　I　know；　have　ridden　forth　through　the　districts　to　hold　Things　with　the　people；　and　we　will　not　conceal　it　from　you；　that　the　message…　token　has　gone　forth　to　assemble　a　Retribution…thing　（1）。　　All　of　us　brothers　have　been　invited　to　take　part　in　the　decisions　of　this　council；　but　none　of　us　will　bear　the　name　of　traitor　to　the　sovereign；　for　that　our　father　never　was。〃

Then　the　king　said；　〃What　council　shall　we　take　in　this　dangerous　affair　that　is　in　our　hands？　　Good　chiefs　give　me　council；　that　I　may　keep　my　kingdom；　and　the　heritage　of　my　forefathers；　for　I　cannot　enter　into　strife　against　the　whole　Swedish　force。〃

Arnvid　the　Blind　replies；　〃Sire；　it　is　my　advice　that　you　ride　down　to　Aros　with　such　men　as　will　follow　you；　take　your　ship　there　and　go　out　into　the　Maeler　lake；　summon　all　people　to　meet　you；　proceed　no　longer　with　haughtiness；　but　promise　every　man　the　law　and　rights　of　old　established　in　the　country；　keep　back　in　this　way　the　message…token；　for　it　cannot　as　yet；　in　so　short　a　time　have　travelled　far　through　the　land。　　Send；　then　those　of　your　men　in　whom　you　have　the　most　confidence　to　those　who　have　this　business　on　hand；　and　try　if　this　uproar　can　be　appeased。〃

The　king　says　that　he　will　adopt　this　advice。　〃I　will；〃　says　he；　〃that　ye　brothers　undertake　this　business；　for　I　trust　to　you　the　most　among　my　men。〃

Thorvid　the　Stammerer　said；　〃I　remain　behind。　　Let　Jacob；　your　son；　go　with　them；　for　that　is　necessary。〃

Then　said　Freyvid；　〃Let　us　do