heimskringla-第66章
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Afterwards King Olaf went north through the valleys to Dovrefield； and did not halt until he reached the Throndhjem district and arrived at Nidaros； where he had ordered winter provision to be collected； and remained all winter （A。D。 1024）。 This was the tenth year of his reign。
130。 OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER。
The summer before Einar Tambaskelfer left the country； and went westward to England （A。D。 1023）。 There he met his relative Earl Hakon； and stayed some time with him。 He then visited King Canute； from whom he received great presents。 Einar then went south all the way to Rome； and came back the following summer （A。D。 1024）； and returned to his house and land。 King Olaf and Einar did not meet this time。
131。 THE BIRTH OF KING MAGNUS。
There was a girl whose name was Alfhild； and who was usually called the king's slave…woman； although she was of good descent。 She was a remarkably handsome girl； and lived in King Olaf's court。 It was reported this spring that Alfhild was with child； and the king's confidential friends knew that he was father of the child。 It happened one night that Alfhild was taken ill； and only few people were at hand； namely； some women； priests； Sigvat the skald； and a few others。 Alfhild was so ill that she was nearly dead； and when she was delivered of a man…child； it was some time before they could discover whether the child was in life。 But when the infant drew breath； although very weak； the priest told Sigvat to hasten to the king； and tell him of the event。
He replies； 〃I dare not on any account waken the king； for he has forbid that any man should break his sleep until he awakens of himself。〃
The priest replies； 〃It is of necessity that this child be immediately baptized； for it appears to me there is but little life in it。〃
Sigvat said； 〃I would rather venture to take upon me to let thee baptize the child； than to awaken the king； and I will take it upon myself if anything be amiss； and will give the child a name。〃
They did so； and the child was baptized； and got the name of Magnus。 The next morning； when the king awoke and had dressed himself； the circumstance was told him。 He ordered Sigvat to be called； and said。 〃How camest thou to be so bold as to have my child baptized before I knew anything about it？〃
Sigvat replies； 〃Because I would rather give two men to God than one to the devil。〃
The king 〃What meanest thou？〃
Sigvat 〃The child was near death； and must have been the devil's if it had died as a heathen； and now it is God's。 And I knew besides that if thou shouldst be so angry on this account that it affected my life； I would be God's also。〃
The king asked； 〃But why didst thou call him Magnus； which is not a name of our race？〃
Sigvat 〃I called him after King Carl Magnus； who； I knew； had been the best man in the world。〃
Then said the king； 〃Thou art a very lucky man； Sigvat； but it is not wonderful that luck should accompany understanding。 It is only wonderful how it sometimes happens that luck attends ignorant men； and that foolish counsel turns out lucky。〃 The king was overjoyed at the circumstance。 The boy grew up； and gave good promise as he advanced in age。
132。 THE MURDER OF ASBJORN SELSBANE。
The same spring （A。D。 1024） the king gave into the hands of Asmund Grankelson the half of the sheriffdom of the district of Halogaland； which Harek of Thjotta had formerly held； partly in fief； partly for defraying the king's entertainment in guest… quarters。 Asmund had a ship manned with nearly thirty well…armed men。 When Asmund came north he met Harek； and told him what the king had determined with regard to the district； and produced to him the tokens of the king's full powers。 Harek said； 〃The king had the right to give the sheriffdom to whom he pleased； but the former sovereigns had not been in use to diminish our rights who are entitled by birth to hold powers from the king； and to give them into the hands of the peasants who never before held such offices。〃 But although it was evident that it was against Harek's inclination； he allowed Asmund to take the sheriffdom according to the king's order。 Then Asmund proceeded home to his father； stayed there a short time； and then went north to Halogaland to his sheriffdom； and he came north to Langey Island； where there dwelt two brothers called Gunstein and Karle； both very rich and respectable men。 Gunstein； the eldest of the brothers； was a good husbandman。 Karle was a handsome man in appearance； and splendid in his dress； and both were； in many respects； expert in all feats。 Asmund was well received by them； remained with them a while； and collected such revenues of his sheriffdom as he could get。 Karle spoke with Asmund of his wish to go south with him and take service in the court of King Olaf； to which Asmund encouraged him much； promising his influence with the king for obtaining for Karle such a situation as he desired； and Karle accordingly accompanied Asmund。 Asmund heard that Asbjorn； who had killed Thorer Sel； had gone to the market… meeting of Vagar with a large ship of burden manned with nearly twenty men； and that he was now expected from the south。 Asmund and his retinue proceeded on their way southwards along the coast with a contrary wind； but there was little of it。 They saw some of the fleet for Vagar sailing towards them； and they privately inquired of them about Asbjorn； and were told he was upon the way coming from the south。 Asmund and Karle were bedfellows； and excellent friends。 One day； as Asmund and his people were rowing through a sound； a ship of burden came sailing towards them。 The ship was easily known； having high bulwarks； was painted with white and red colours； and coloured cloth was woven in the sail。 Karle said to Asmund； 〃Thou hast often said thou wast curious to see Asbjorn who killed Thorer Sel； and if I know one ship from another； that is his which is coming sailing along。〃
Asmund replies； 〃Be so good； comrade； and tell me which is he when thou seest him。〃
When the ships came alongside of each other； 〃That is Asbjorn；〃 said Karle； 〃the man sitting at the helm in a blue cloak。〃
Asmund replies； 〃I shall make his blue cloak red；〃 threw a spear at Asbjorn； and hit him in the middle of the body； so that it flew through and through him； and stuck fast in the upper part of the stern…post； and Asbjorn fell down dead from the helm。 Then each vessel sailed on its course； and Asbjorn's body was carried north to Thrandarnes。 Then Sigrid sent a message to Bjarkey Isle to Thorer Hund； who came to her while they were； in the usual way； dressing the corpse of Asbjorn。 When he returned Sigrid gave presents to all her friends； and followed Thorer to his ship； but before they parted she said； 〃It has so fallen out； Thorer； that my son has suffered by thy friendly counsel； but he did not retain life to reward thee for it； but although I have not his ability yet will I show my good will。 Here is a gift I give thee； which I expect thou wilt use。 Here is the spear which went through Asbjorn my son； and there is still blood upon it； to remind thee that it fits the wound thou hast seen on the corpse of thy brother's son Asbjorn。 It would be a manly deed； if thou shouldst throw this spear from thy hand so that it stood in Olaf's breast； and this I can tell thee； that thou wilt be named coward in every man's mouth； if thou dost not avenge Asbjorn。〃 Thereupon she turned about； and went her way。
Thorer was so enraged at her words that he could not speak。 He neither thought of casting the spear from him； nor took notice of the gangway； so that he would have fallen into the sea； if his men had not laid hold of him as he was going on board his ship。 It was a feathered spear； not large； but the handle was gold… mounted。 Now Thorer rowed away with his people； and went home to Bjarkey Isle。 Asmund and his companions also proceeded on their way until they came south to Throndhjem； where they waited on King Olaf； and Asmund related to the king all that had happened on the voyage。 Karle became one of the king's court…men； and the friendship continued between him and Asmund。 They did not keep secret the words that had passed between Asmund and Karle before Asbjorn was killed； for they even told them to the king。 But then it happened； according to the proverb； that every one has a friend in the midst of his enemies。 There were some present who took notice of the words； and they reached Thorer Hund's ears。
133。 OF KING OLAF。
When spring （A。D。 1024） was advanced King Olaf rigged out his ships； and sailed southwards in summer along the land。 He held Things with the bondes on the way； settled the law business of the people； put to rights the faith of the country； and collected the king's taxes wherever he came。 In autumn he proceeded south to the frontier of the country； and King Olaf had now made the people Christians in all the great districts； and everywhere； by laws； had introduced order into the country。 He had also； as before related； brought the Orkney Islands under his power； and by messages had made many friends in Iceland； Greenland； and the Farey Islands。 King Olaf had sent timber for building a church to Iceland； of which a church was built upon the Thing…field where the General Thing is held； and had sent a bell for it； which is still there。 This was after the Iceland people had altered their laws； and introduced Christianity； according to the word King Olaf had sent them。 After that time； many considerable persons came from Iceland； and entered into King Olaf's service； as Thorkel Eyjolfson； and Thorleif Bollason； Thord Kolbeinson； Thord Barkarson； Thorgeir Havarson； Thormod Kalbrunar…skald。 King Olaf had sent many friendly presents to chief people in Iceland； and they in return sent him such things as they had which they thought most acceptable。 Under this show of friendship which the king gave Iceland were concealed many things which afterwards appeared。
134。 KING OLAF'S MESSAGE TO ICELAND； AND THE COUNSELS OF THE ICELANDERS。
King Olaf this summer （A。D。 1024） sent Thorarin Nefiulfson to Iceland on his errands； and Thorarin went out of Throndhjem fjord along with the king； and followed him south to More。 From thence Thorarin went out to sea； and got such a favourable breeze that after four days sail he landed at the Westman Isles； in Iceland。 He proceeded immediately to the Althing； and came just as the people were upon the Lawhillock； to which he repaired。 When the cases of the people before the Thing had been determined according to law； Thorarin Nefiulfson took up the word as follows： 〃We parted four days ago from King Olaf Haraldson； who sends God Almighty's and his own salutation to all the chiefs and principal men of the land； as also to all the people in general； men and women； young and old； rich and poor。 He also lets you know that he will be your sovereign if ye will become his subjects； so that he and you will be friends； assisting each other in all that is good。〃
The people replied in a friendly way； that they would gladly be the king's friends； if he would be a friend of the people of their country。
Then Thorarin again took up the word： 〃This follows in addition to the king's message
