heimskringla-第136节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The earl replies； 〃Not from thee； thou dog。〃
The king： 〃Wilt thou； then； if thy relation Magnus gives thee quarter？〃
Magnus； King Harald's son； was then steering the ship。
The earl replies； 〃Can the whelp rule over life and quarter？〃
The king laughed； as if he found amusement in vexing him。 〃Wilt thou accept thy life； then； from thy she…relation Thorer？〃
The earl： 〃Is she here？〃
〃She is here；〃 said the king。
Then Earl Fin broke out with the ugly expressions which since have been preserved； as a proof that he was so mad with rage that he could not govern his tongue：
〃No wonder thou hast bit so strongly； if the mare was with thee。〃
Earl Fin got life and quarter and the king kept him a while about him。 But Fin was rather melancholy and obstinate in conversation； and King Harald said； 〃I see； Fin； that thou dost not live willingly in company with me and thy relations； now I will give thee leave to go to thy friend King Svein。〃
The earl said； 〃I accept of the offer willingly； and the more gratefully the sooner I get away from hence。〃
The king afterwards let Earl Fin be landed and the traders going to Halland received him well。 King Harald sailed from thence to Norway with his fleet； and went first to Oslo； where he gave all his people leave to go home who wished to do so。
69。 OF KING SVEIN。
King Svein； it is told； sat in Denmark all that winter； and had his kingdom as formerly。 In winter he sent men north to Halland for Karl the bonde and his wife。 When Karl came the king called him to him and asked him if he knew him； or thought he had ever seen him before。
Karl replies； 〃I know thee； sire； and knew thee before； the moment I saw thee； and God be praised if the small help I could give was of any use to thee。〃
The king replies； 〃I have to reward thee for all the days I have to live。 And now； in the first place； I will give thee any farm in Seeland thou wouldst desire to have； and； in the next place； will make thee a great man； if thou knowest how to conduct thyself。〃
Karl thanked the king for his promise； and said he had now but one thing to ask。
The king asked what that was。
Karl said that he would ask to take his wife with him。
The king said； 〃I will not let thee do that； but I will provide thee a far better and more sensible wife。 But thy wife can keep the bonde…farm ye had before and she will have her living from it。〃
The king gave Karl a great and valuable farm； and provided him a good marriage； and he became a considerable man。 This was reported far and wide and much praised； and thus it came to be told in Norway。
70。 OF THE TALK OF THE COURT…MEN。
King Harald stayed in Oslo the winter after the battle at Nis… river （A。D。 1063）。 In autumn； when the men came from the south； there was much talk and many stories about the battle which they had fought at Nis…river； and every one who had been there thought he could tell something about it。 Once some of them sat in a cellar and drank； and were very merry and talkative。 They talked about the Nis…river battle； and who had earne'd the greatest praise and renown。 They all agreed that no man there had been at all equal to Earl Hakon。 He was the boldest in arms； the quickest； and the most lucky； what he did was of the greatest help； and he won the battle。 King Harald； in the meantime； was out in the yard； and spoke with some people。 He went then to the room…door； and said； 〃Every one here would willingly be called Hakon；〃 and then went his way。
71。 OF THE ATTEMPT TO TAKE EARL HAKON。
Earl Hakon went in winter to the Uplands； and was all winter in his domains。 He was much beloved by all the Uplanders。 It happened； towards spring； that some men were sitting drinking in the town； and the conversation turned； as usual； on the Nis…river battle； and some praised Earl Hakon； and some thought others as deserving of praise as he。 When they had thus disputed a while； one of them said； 〃It is possible that others fought as bravely as the earl at Nis…river； but none； I think； has had such luck with him as he。〃
The others replied； that his best luck was his driving so many Danes to flight along with other men。
The same man replied； 〃It was greater luck that he gave King Svein quarter。〃
One of the company said to him； 〃Thou dost not know what thou art saying。〃
He replied； 〃I know it for certain； for the man told me himself who brought the king to the land。〃
It went； according to the old proverb； that the king has many ears。 This was told the king； and he immediately ordered horses to be gathered； and rode away directly with 900 men。 He rode all that night and the following day。 Then some men met them who were riding to the town with mead and malt。 In the king's retinue was a man called Gamal； who rode to one of these bondes who was an acquaintance of his； and spoke to him privately。 〃I will pay thee；〃 said he； 〃to ride with the greatest speed； by the shortest private paths that thou knowest； to Earl Hakon； and tell him the king will kill him； for the king has got to the knowledge that Earl Hakon set King Svein on shore at Nis…river。〃 They agreed on the payment。 The bonde rode； and came to the earl just as he was sitting drinking； and had not yet gone to bed。 When the bonde told his errand； the earl immediately stood up with all his men； had all his loose property removed from the farm to the forest； and all the people left the house in the night。 When the king came he halted there all night； but Hakon rode away； and came east to Svithjod to King Steinkel and stayed with him all summer。 King Harald returned to the town； travelled northwards to Throndhjem district； and remained there all summer； but in autumn he returned eastwards to Viken。
72。 OF EARL HAKON。
As soon as Earl Hakon heard the king had gone north he returned immediately in summer to the Uplands （A。D。 1063）； and remained there until the king had returned from the north。 Then the earl went east into Vermaland； where he remained during the winter； and where the king； Steinkel； gave him fiefs。 For a short time in winter he went west to Raumarike with a great troop of men from Gautland and Vermaland； and received the scat and duties from the Upland people which belonged to him； and then returned to Glutland； and remained there till spring。 King Harald had his seat in Oslo all winter （A。D。 1064）； and sent his men to the Uplands to demand the scat； together with the king's land dues； and the mulcts of court； but the Uplanders said they would pay all the scat and dues which they had to pay； to Earl Hakon as long as he was in life； and had forfeited his life or his fief； and the king got no dues that winter。
73。 AGREEMENT BETWEEN KING HARALD AND KING SVEIN。
This winter messengers and ambassadors went between Norway and Denmark； whose errand was that both Northmen and Danes should make peace； and a league with each other。 and to ask the kings to agree to it。 These messages gave favourable hopes of a peace； and the matter proceeded so far that a meeting for peace was appointed at the Gaut river between King Harald and King Svein。 When spring approached； both kings assembled many ships and people for this meeting。 So says a skald in a poem on this expedition of the kings； which begins thus：
〃The king； who from the northern sound His land with war…ships girds around； The raven…feeder； filled the coast With his proud ships； a gallant host！ The gold…tipped stems dash through the foam That shakes the seamen's planked home； The high wave breaks up to the mast； As west of Halland on they passed；
〃Harald whose word is fixed and sure； Whose ships his land from foes secure； And Svein； whose isles maintain is fleet； Hasten as friends again to meet； And every creek with vessels teems； All Denmark men and shipping seems； And all rejoice that strife will cease； And men meet now but to make peace。〃
Here it is told that the two kings held the meeting that was agreed upon between them； and both came to the frontiers of their kingdoms。 So says the skald：
〃To meet （since peace the Dane now craves） On to the south upon the waves Sailed forth our gallant northern king； Peace to the Danes with him to bring。 Svein northward to his frontier hies To get the peace his people prize； And meet King Harald； whom he finds On land hard used by stormy winds。〃
When the kings found each other； people began at once to talk of their being reconciled。 But as soon as peace was proposed； many began to complain of the damage they had sustained by harrying； robbing and killing men； and for a long time it did not look very like peace。 It is here related：
〃Before this meeting of the kings Each bende his own losses brings； And loudly claims some recompense From his king's foes； at their expense。 It is not easy to make peace； Where noise and talking never cease： The bondes' warmth may quickly spread； And kings be by the people led。
〃When kings are moved； no peace is sure； For that peace only is secure Which they who make it fairly make； To each side giv
