heimskringla-第61章

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ouse　on　it；　and　a　great　neighbourhood　all　around　it；　and　it　is　the　great　delight　of　the　people　to　drink　many　together　in　company。〃　　The　king　said　little　in　reply；　but　looked　angry；　as　he　thought　he　knew　the　truth　of　the　matter　better　than　it　was　now　represented。　　He　ordered　the　bondes　to　return　home。　　〃I　shall　some　time　or　other；〃　said　he；　〃come　to　the　truth　of　what　you　are　now　concealing；　and　in　such　a　way　that　ye　shall　not　be　able　to　contradict　it。　　But；　however；　that　may　be；　do　not　try　such　things　again。〃　　The　bondes　returned　home；　and　told　the　result　of　their　journey；　and　that　the　king　was　altogether　enraged。



115。　MURDER　OF　OLVER　OF　EGGJA。

At　Easter　（A。D。　1021）　the　king　held　a　feast；　to　which　he　had　invited　many　of　the　townspeople　as　well　as　bondes。　　After　Easter　he　ordered　his　ships　to　be　launched　into　the　water；　oars　and　tackle　to　be　put　on　board；　decks　to　be　laid　in　the　ships；　and　tilts　（1）　and　rigging　to　be　set　up；　and　to　be　laid　ready　for　sea　at　the　piers。　　Immediately　after　Easter　he　sent　men　into　Veradal。　There　was　a　man　called　Thoralde；　who　was　the　king's　bailiff；　and　who　managed　the　king's　farm　there　at　Haug；　and　to　him　the　king　sent　a　message　to　come　to　him　as　quickly　as　possible。　　Thoralde　did　not　decline　the　journey；　but　went　immediately　to　the　town　with　the　messenger。　　The　king　called　him　in　and　in　a　private　conversation　asked　him　what　truth　there　was　in　what　had　been　told　him　of　the　principles　and　living　of　the　people　of　the　interior　of　Throndhjem；　and　if　it　really　was　so　that　they　practised　sacrifices　to　heathen　gods。　　〃I　will；〃　says　the　king；　〃that　thou　declare　to　me　the　things　as　they　are；　and　as　thou　knowest　to　be　true；　for　it　is　thy　duty　to　tell　me　the　truth；　as　thou　art　my　man。〃

Thoralde　replies；　〃Sire；　I　will　first　tell　you　that　I　have　brought　here　to　the　town　my　two　children；　my　wife；　and　all　my　loose　property　that　I　could　take　with　me；　and　if　thou　desirest　to　know　the　truth　it　shall　be　told　according　to　thy　command；　but　if　I　declare　it；　thou　must　take　care　of　me　and　mine。〃

The　king　replies；　〃Say　only　what　is　true　on　what　I　ask　thee；　and　I　will　take　care　that　no　evil　befall　thee。〃

Then　said　Thoralde；　〃If　I　must　say　the　truth；　king；　as　it　is；　I　must　declare　that　in　the　interior　of　the　Throndhjem　land　almost　all　the　people　are　heathen　in　faith；　although　some　of　them　are　baptized。　　It　is　their　custom　to　offer　sacrifice　in　autumn　for　a　good　winter；　a　second　at　mid…winter；　and　a　third　in　summer。　　In　this　the　people　of　Eyna；　Sparby；　Veradal；　and　Skaun　partake。　There　are　twelve　men　who　preside　over　these　sacrifice…feasts；　and　in　spring　it　is　Olver　who　has　to　get　the　feast　in　order；　and　he　is　now　busy　transporting　to　Maerin　everything　needful　for　it。〃　Now　when　the　king　had　got　to　the　truth　with　a　certainty；　he　ordered　the　signal　to　be　sounded　for　his　men　to　assemble；　and　for　the　men…at…arms　to　go　on　board　ship。　　He　appointed　men　to　steer　the　ships；　and　leaders　for　the　people；　and　ordered　how　the　people　should　be　divided　among　the　vessels。　　All　was　got　ready　in　haste；　and　with　five　ships　and　300　men　he　steered　up　the　fjord。　　The　wind　was　favourable；　the　ships　sailed　briskly　before　it；　and　nobody　could　have　thought　that　the　king　would　be　so　soon　there。　The　king　came　in　the　night　time　to　Maerin；　and　immediately　surrounded　the　house　with　a　ring　of　armed　men。　　Olver　was　taken；　and　the　king　ordered　him　to　be　put　to　death；　and　many　other　men　besides。　　Then　the　king　took　all　the　provision　for　the　feast；　and　had　it　brought　to　his　ships；　and　also　all　the　goods；　both　furniture；　clothes；　and　valuables；　which　the　people　had　brought　there；　and　divided　the　booty　among　his　men。　　The　king　also　let　all　the　bondes　he　thought　had　the　greatest　part　in　the　business　be　plundered　by　his　men…at…arms。　　Some　were　taken　prisoners　and　laid　in　irons；　some　ran　away；　and　many　were　robbed　of　their　goods。　　Thereafter　the　bondes　were　summoned　to　a　Thing；　but　because　he　had　taken　many　powerful　men　prisoners；　and　held　them　in　his　power；　their　friends　and　relations　resolved　to　promise　obedience　to　the　king；　so　that　there　was　no　insurrection　against　the　king　on　this　occasion。　　He　thus　brought　the　whole　people　back　to　the　right　faith；　gave　them　teachers；　and　built　and　consecrated　churches。　　The　king　let　Olver　lie　without　fine　paid　for　his　bloodshed；　and　all　that　he　possessed　was　adjudged　to　the　king；　and　of　the　men　he　judged　the　most　guilty；　some　he　ordered　to　be　executed；　some　he　maimed；　some　he　drove　out　of　the　country；　and　took　fines　from　others。　　The　king　then　returned　to　Nidaros。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　The　ships　appear　to　have　been　decked　fore　and　aft　only；　and　　　　　　in　the　middle；　where　the　rowers　sat；　to　have　had　tilts　or　　　　　　tents　set　up　at　night　to　sleep　under。　　L。



116。　OF　THE　SONS　OF　ARNE。

There　was　a　man　called　Arne　Arnmodson；　who　was　married　to　Thora；　Thorstein　Galge's　daughter。　　Their　children　were　Kalf；　Fin；　Thorberg；　Amunde；　Kolbjorn；　Arnbjorn；　and　Arne。　　Their　daughter；　who　was　called　Ragnhild；　was　married　to　Harek　of　Thjotta。　　Arne　was　a　lenderman；　powerful；　and　of　ability；　and　a　great　friend　of　King　Olaf。　　At　that　time　his　sons　Kalf　and　Fin　were　with　the　king；　and　in　great　favour。　　The　wife　whom　Olver　of　Eggja　had　left　was　young　and　handsome；　of　great　family；　and　rich；　so　that　he　who　got　her　might　be　considered　to　have　made　an　excellent　marriage；　and　her　land　was　in　the　gift　of　the　king。　　She　and　Olver　had　two　sons；　who　were　still　in　infancy。　　Kalf　Arneson　begged　of　the　king　that　he　would　give　him　to　wife　the　widow　of　Olver；　and　out　of　friendship　the　king　agreed　to　it；　and　with　her　he　got　all　the　property　Olver　had　possessed。　　The　king　at　the　same　time　made　him　his　lenderman；　and　gave　him　an　office　in　the　interior　of　the　Throndhjem　country。　　Kalf　became　a　great　chief；　and　was　a　man　of　very　great　understanding。



117。　KING　OLAF'S　JOURNEY　TO　THE　UPLANDS。

When　King　Olaf　had　been　seven　years　（A。D。　1015…1021）　in　Norway　the　earls　Thorfin　and　Bruse　came　to　him；　as　before　related；　in　the　summer；　from　Orkney；　and　he　became　master　of　their　land。　　The　same　summer　Olaf　went　to　North　and　South　More；　and　in　autumn　to　Raumsdal。　　He　left　his　ships　there；　and　came　to　the　Uplands；　and　to　Lesjar。　　Here　he　laid　hold　of　all　the　best　men；　and　forced　them；　both　at　Lesjar　and　Dovre；　either　to　receive　Christianity　or　suffer　death；　if　they　were　not　so　lucky　as　to　escape。　　After　they　received　Christianity；　the　king　took　their　sons　in　his　hands　as　hostages　for　their　fidelity。　　The　king　stayed　several　nights　at　a　farm　in　Lesjar　called　Boar；　where　he　placed　priests。　　Then　he　proceeded　over　Orkadal　and　Lorodal；　and　came　down　from　the　Uplands　at　a　place　called　Stafabrekka。　　There　a　river　runs　along　the　valley；　called　the　Otta；　and　a　beautiful　hamlet；　by　name　Loar；　lies　on　both　sides　of　the　river；　and　the　king　could　see　far　down　over　the　whole　neighbourhood。　　〃A　pity　it　is；〃　said　the　king；　〃so　beautiful　a　hamlet　should　be　burnt。〃　　And　he　proceeded　down　the　valley　with　his　people；　and　was　all　night　on　a　farm　called　Nes。　　The　king　took　his　lodging　in　a　loft；　where　he　slept　himself；　and　it　stands　to　the　present　day；　without　anything　in　it　having　been　altered　since。　　The　king　was　five　days　there；　and　summoned　by　message…token　the　people　to　a　Thing；　both　for　the　districts　of　Vagar；　Lear；　and　Hedal；　and　gave　out　the　message　along　with　the　token；　that　they　must　either　receive　Christianity　and　give　their　sons　as　hostages；　or　see　their　habitations　burnt。　They　came　before　the　king；　and　submitted　to　his　pleasure；　but　some　fled　south　down　the　valley。



118。　THE　STORY　OF　DALE…GUDBRAND。

There　was　a　man　called　Dale…Gudbrand；　who　was　like　a　king　in　the　valley　（Gudbrandsdal）；　but　was　only　herse　in　title。　　Sigvat　the　skald　compared　him　for　wealth　and　landed　property　to　Erling　Skjalgson。　　Sigvat　sang　thus　concerning　Erling：　

　　　　　〃I　know　but　one　who　can　compare　　　　　　With　Erling　for　broad　lands　and　gear　　　　　　　Gudbrand　is　he；　whose　wide　domains　　　　　　Are　most　like　where　some　small　king　reigns。　　　　　　These　two　great　bondes；　I　would　say；　　　　　　Equal　each　other　every　way。　　　　　　He　lies　who　says　that　he　can　find　　　　　　One　by　the　other　left　behind。〃

Gudbrand　had　a　son；　who　is　here　spoken　of。　　Now　when　Gudbrand　received　the　tidings　that　King　Olaf　was　come　to　Lear；　and　obliged　people　to　accept　Christianity；　he　sent　out　a　message…token；　and　summoned　all　the　men　in　the　valley　to　meet　him　at　a　farm　called　Hundthorp。　　All　came；　so　that　the　number　could　not　be　told；　for　there　is　a　lake　in　the　neighbourhood　called　Laugen；　so　that　people　could　come　to　the　place　both　by　land　and　by　water。　　There　Gudbrand　held　a　Thing　with　them；　and　said；　〃A　man　is　come　to　Loar　who　is　called　Olaf；　and　will　force　upon　us　another　faith　than　what　we　had　before；　and　will　break　in　pieces　all　our　gods。　　He　says　that　he　has　a　much　greater　and　more　powerful　god；　and　it　is　wonderful　that　the　earth　does　not　burst　asunder　under　him；　or　that　our　god　lets　him　go　about　unpunished　when　he　dares　to　talk　such　things。　　I　know　this　for　certain；　that　if　we　carry　Thor；　who　has　always　stood　by　us；　out　of　our　temple　that　is　standing　upon　this　farm；　Olaf's　god　will　melt　away；　and　he　and　his　men　be　made　nothing　so　soon　as　Thor　looks　upon　them。〃　　Then　the　bondes　all　shouted　as　one　person　that　Olaf　should　never　get　away　with　life　if　he　came　to　them；　and　they　thought　he　would　never　dare　to　come　farther　south　through　the　valley。　　They　chose　out　700　men　to　go　northwards　to　Breida；　to　watch　his　movements。　　The　leader　of　this　band　was　Gudbrand's　son；　eighteen　years　of　age；　and　with　him　were　many　other　men　of　importance。　　When　they　came　to　a　farm　called　Hof　they　heard　of　the　king；　and　they　remained　three　nights　there。　People　streamed　to　them　from　all　parts；　from　Lesjar；　Loar；　and　Vagar；　who　did　not　wish　to　receive　Christianity。　　The　king　and　Bishop　Sigurd　fixed　teachers　in　Loaf　and　in　Vagar。　　From　thence　they　went　round　Vagarost；　and　came　down　into　the　valley　at　Sil；　where　they　stayed　all　night；　and　heard　the　news　that　a　great　force　of　men　were　assembled　against　them。　　The　bondes　who　were　in　Breida　heard　also　of　the　king's　arrival；　and　prepared　for　battle。　As　soon　as　the　king　arose　in　the　morning　he　put　on　his　armour；　and　went　southwards　over　the　Sil　plains；　and　did　not　halt　until　he　came　to　Breida；　where　he　saw　a　great　army　ready　for　battle。　Then　the　king　drew　up　his　troops；　rode　himself　at　the　head　of　them；　and　began　a　speech　to　the　bondes；　in　which　he　invited　them　to　adopt　Christianity。　　They　replied；　〃We　shall　give　thee　something　else　to　do　to…day　than　to　be　mocking　us；〃　and　raised　a　general　shout；　striking　also　upon　their　shields　with　their　weapons。　　Then　the　king's　men　ran　forward　and　threw　their　spears；　but　the　bondes　turned　round　instantly　and　fled；　so　that　only　few　men　remained　behind。　　Gudbrand's　son　was　taken　prisoner；　but　the　king　gave　him　his　life；　and　took　him　with　him。　　The　king　was　four　days　here。　　Then　the　king　said　to　Gudbrand's　son；　〃Go　home　now　to　thy　father；　and　tell　him　I　expect　to　be　with　him　soon。〃

He　went　accordingly；　and　told　his　father　the　news；　that　they　had　fallen　in　with　the　king；　and　fought　with　him；　but　that　their　whole　army；　in　the　very　beginning；　took　flight。　　〃I　was　taken　prisoner；〃　said　he；　〃but　the　king　gave　me　my　life　and　liberty；　and　told　me　to　say　to　thee　that　he　will　soon　be　here。