heimskringla-第77节

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hough　there　are　many　men　there　who　consider　themselves　born　to　udal　rights；　and　have　their　privileges　like　others　born　as　they　are。　　Now；　here　is　your　relation　Aslak；　who　appears　to　have　suffered　great　inconvenience　from　your　conduct；　and　I　do　not　know　whether　he　himself　is　in　fault；　or　whether　he　suffers　because　I　have　placed　him　to　defend　what　is　mine；　and　although　I　name　him；　there　are　many　others　who　have　brought　the　same　complaint　before　us；　both　among　those　who　are　placed　in　office　in　our　districts；　and　among　the　bailiffs　who　have　our　farms　to　manage；　and　are　obliged　to　entertain　me　and　my　people。〃

Erling　replies　to　this；　〃I　will　answer　at　once。　　I　deny　altogether　that　I　have　ever　injured　Aslak；　or　any　one　else；　for　being　in　your　service；　but　this　I　will　not　deny；　that　it　is　now；　as　it　has　long　been；　that　each　of　us　relations　will　willingly　be　greater　than　the　other：　and；　moreover；　I　freely　acknowledge　that　I　am　ready　to　bow　my　neck　to　thee；　King　Olaf；　but　it　is　more　difficult　for　me　to　stoop　before　one　who　is　of　slave　descent　in　all　his　generation；　although　he　is　now　your　bailiff；　or　before　others　who　are　but　equal　to　him　in　descent；　although　you　bestow　honours　on　them。〃

Now　the　friends　of　both　interfered；　and　entreated　that　they　would　be　reconciled；　saying；　that　the　king　never　could　have　such　powerful　aid　as　from　Erling；　〃if　he　was　your　friend　entirely。〃　　On　the　other　hand；　they　represent　to　Erling　that　he　should　give　up　to　the　king；　for　if　he　was　in　friendship　with　the　king；　it　would　be　easy　to　do　with　all　the　others　what　he　pleased。　　The　meeting　accordingly　ended　so　that　Erling　should　retain　the　fiefs　he　formerly　had；　and　every　complaint　the　king　had　against　Erling　should　be　dropped；　but　Skjalg；　Erling's　son；　should　come　to　the　king；　and　remain　in　his　power。　　Then　Aslak　returned　to　his　dominions；　and　the　two　were　in　some　sort　reconciled。　　Erling　returned　home　also　to　his　domains；　and　followed　his　own　way　of　ruling　them。



123。　HERE　BEGINS　THE　STORY　OF　ASBJORN　SELSBANE。

There　was　a　man　named　Sigurd　Thoreson；　a　brother　of　Thorer　Hund　of　Bjarkey　Island。　　Sigurd　was　married　to　Sigrid　Skjalg's　daughter；　a　sister　of　Erling。　　Their　son；　called　Asbjorn；　became　as　he　grew　up　a　very　able　man。　　Sigurd　dwelt　at　Omd　in　Thrandarnes；　and　was　a　very　rich　and　respected　man。　　He　had　not　gone　into　the　king's　service；　and　Thorer　in　so　far　had　attained　higher　dignity　than　his　brother；　that　he　was　the　king's　lenderman。　　But　at　home；　on　his　farm；　Sigurd　stood　in　no　respect　behind　his　brother　in　splendour　and　magnificence。　　As　long　as　heathenism　prevailed；　Sigurd　usually　had　three　sacrifices　every　year：　one　on　winter…night's　eve；　one　on　mid…winter's　eve；　and　the　third　in　summer。　　Although　he　had　adopted　Christianity；　he　continued　the　same　custom　with　his　feasts：　he　had；　namely；　a　great　friendly　entertainment　at　harvest　time；　a　Yule　feast　in　winter；　to　which　he　invited　many；　the　third　feast　he　had　about　Easter；　to　which　also　he　invited　many　guests。　　He　continued　this　fashion　as　long　as　he　lived。　　Sigurd　died　on　a　bed　of　sickness　when　Asbjorn　was　eighteen　years　old。　　He　was　the　only　heir　of　his　father；　and　he　followed　his　father's　custom　of　holding　three　festivals　every　year。　　Soon　after　Asbjorn　came　to　his　heritage　the　course　of　seasons　began　to　grow　worse；　and　the　corn　harvests　of　the　people　to　fail；　but　Asbjorn　held　his　usual　feasts；　and　helped　himself　by　having　old　corn；　and　an　old　provision　laid　up　of　all　that　was　useful。　　But　when　one　year　had　passed　and　another　came；　and　the　crops　were　no　better　than　the　year　before；　Sigrid　wished　that　some　if　not　all　of　the　feasts　should　be　given　up。　That　Asbjorn　would　not　consent　to；　but　went　round　in　harvest　among　his　friends；　buying　corn　where　he　could　get　it；　and　some　he　received　in　presents。　　He　thus　kept　his　feasts　this　winter　also；　but　the　spring　after　people　got　but　little　seed　into　the　ground；　for　they　had　to　buy　the　seed…corn。　　Then　Sigurd　spoke　of　diminishing　the　number　of　their　house…servants。　　That　Asbjorn　would　not　consent　to；　but　held　by　the　old　fashion　of　the　house　in　all　things。　　In　summer　（A。D。　1022）　it　appeared　again　that　there　would　be　a　bad　year　for　corn；　and　to　this　came　the　report　from　the　south　that　King　Olaf　prohibited　all　export　of　corn；　malt；　or　meal　from　the　southern　to　the　northern　parts　of　the　country。　　Then　Asbjorn　perceived　that　it　would　be　difficult　to　procure　what　was　necessary　for　a　house…keeping；　and　resolved　to　put　into　the　water　a　vessel　for　carrying　goods　which　he　had；　and　which　was　large　enough　to　go　to　sea　with。　　The　ship　was　good；　all　that　belonged　to　her　was　of　the　best；　and　in　the　sails　were　stripes　of　cloth　of　various　colours。　　Asbjorn　made　himself　ready　for　a　voyage；　and　put　to　sea　with　twenty　men。　　They　sailed　from　the　north　in　summer；　and　nothing　is　told　of　their　voyage　until　one　day；　about　the　time　the　days　begin　to　shorten；　they　came　to　Karmtsund；　and　landed　at　Augvaldsnes。　　Up　in　the　island　Karmt　there　is　a　large　farm；　not　far　from　the　sea；　and　a　large　house　upon　it　called　Augvaldsnes；　which　was　a　king's　house；　with　an　excellent　farm；　which　Thorer　Sel；　who　was　the　king's　bailiff；　had　under　his　management。　　Thorer　was　a　man　of　low　birth；　but　had　swung　himself　up　in　the　world　as　an　active　man；　and　he　was　polite　in　speech；　showy　in　clothes；　and　fond　of　distinction；　and　not　apt　to　give　way　to　others；　in　which　he　was　supported　by　the　favour　of　the　king。　　He　was　besides　quick　in　speech；　straightforward；　and　free　in　conversation。　　Asbjorn；　with　his　company；　brought　up　there　for　the　night；　and　in　the　morning；　when　it　was　light；　Thorer　went　down　to　the　vessel　with　some　men；　and　inquired　who　commanded　the　splendid　ship。　　Asbjorn　named　his　own　and　his　father's　name。　　Thorer　asks　where　the　voyage　was　intended　for；　and　what　was　the　errand。

Asbjorn　replies；　that　he　wanted　to　buy　corn　and　malt；　saying；　as　was　true；　that　it　was　a　very　dear　time　north　in　the　country。　　〃But　we　are　told　that　here　the　seasons　are　good；　and　wilt　thou；　farmer；　sell　us　corn？　　I　see　that　here　are　great　corn　stacks；　and　it　would　be　very　convenient　if　we　had　not　to　travel　farther。〃

Thorer　replies；　〃I　will　give　thee　the　information　that　thou　needst　not　go　farther　to　buy　corn；　or　travel　about　here　in　Rogaland；　for　I　can　tell　thee　that　thou　must　turn　about；　and　not　travel　farther；　for　the　king　forbids　carrying　corn　out　of　this　to　the　north　of　the　country。　　Sail　back　again；　Halogalander；　for　that　will　be　thy　safest　course。〃

Asbjorn　replies；　〃If　it　be　so；　bonde；　as　thou　sayest；　that　we　can　get　no　corn　here　to　buy；　I　will；　notwithstanding；　go　forward　upon　my　errand；　and　visit　my　family　in　Sole；　and　see　my　relation　Erling's　habitation。〃

Thorer：　〃How　near　is　thy　relationship　to　Erling？〃

Asbjorn：　〃My　mother　is　his　sister。〃

Thorer：　〃It　may　be　that　I　have　spoken　heedlessly；　if　so　be　that　thou　art　sister's　son　of　Erling。〃

Thereupon　Asbjorn　and　his　crew　struck　their　tents；　and　turned　the　ship　to　sea。　　Thorer　called　after　them。　〃A　good　voyage；　and　come　here　again　on　your　way　back。〃　　Asbjorn　promised　to　do　so；　sailed　away；　and　came　in　the　evening　to　Jadar。　　Asbjorn　went　on　shore　with　ten　men；　the　other　ten　men　watched　the　ship。　　When　Asbjorn　came　to　the　house　he　was　very　well　received；　and　Erling　was　very　glad　to　see　him；　placed　him　beside　himself；　and　asked　him　all　the　news　in　the　north　of　the　country。　　Asbjorn　concealed　nothing　of　his　business　from　him；　and　Erling　said　it　happened　unfortunately　that　the　king　had　just　forbid　the　sale　of　corn。　　〃And　I　know　no　man　here。〃　says　he；　〃who　has　courage　to　break　the　king's　order；　and　I　find　it　difficult　to　keep　well　with　the　king；　so　many　are　trying　to　break　our　friendship。〃

Asbjorn　replies；　〃It　is　late　before　we　learn　the　truth。　　In　my　childhood　I　was　taught　that　my　mother　was　freeborn　throughout　her　whole　descent；　and　that　Erling　of　Sole　was　her　boldest　relation；　and　now　I　hear　thee　say　that　thou　hast　not　the　freedom；　for　the　king's　slaves　here　in　Jadar；　to　do　with　thy　own　corn　what　thou　pleasest。〃

Erling　looked　at　him；　smiled　through　his　teeth；　and　said；　〃Ye　Halogalanders　know　less　of　the　king's　power　than　we　do　here；　but　a　bold　man　thou　mayst　be　at　home　in　thy　conversation。　　Let　us　now　drink；　my　friend；　and　we　shall　see　tomorrow　what　can　be　done　in　thy　business。〃

They　did　so；　and　were　very　merry　all　the　evening。　　The　following　day　Erling　and　Asbjorn　talked　over　the　matter　again；　and　Erling　said。　〃I　have　found　out　a　way　for　you　to　purchase　corn；　Asbjorn。　It　is　the　same　thing　to　you　whoever　is　the　seller。〃　　He　answered　that　he　did　not　care　of　whom　he　bought　the　corn；　if　he　got　a　good　right　to　his　purchase。　　Erling　said。　〃It　appears　to　me　probable　that　my　slaves　have　quite　as　much　corn　as　you　require　to　buy；　and　they　are　not　subject　to　law；　or　land　regulation；　like　other　men。〃　Asbjorn　agreed　to　the　proposal。　　The　slaves　were　now　spoken　to　about　the　purchase；　and　they　brought　forward　corn　and　malt；　which　they　sold　to　Asbjorn；　so　that　he　loaded　his　vessel　with　what　he　wanted。　　When　he　was　ready　for　sea　Erling　followed　him　on　the　road；　made　him　presents　of　friendship；　and　they　took　a　kind　farewell　of　each　other。　　Asbjorn　got　a　good　breeze；　landed　in　the　evening　at　Karmtsund；　near　to　Augvaldsnes；　and　remained　there　for　the　night。　　Thorer