heimskringla-第80节
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re the king left them they were all baptized。 One day it happened that the king was riding on his way a singing of psalms； and when he came right opposite some hills he halted and said； 〃Man after man shall relate these my words； that I think it not advisable for any king of Norway to travel hereafter between these hills。〃 And it is a saying among the people that the most kings since that time have avoided it。 The king proceeded to Ostrarfjord； and came to his ships； with which he went north to Sogn； and had his living in guest…quarters there in summer （A。D。 1023）； when autumn approached he turned in towards the Fjord district； and went from thence to Valders； where the people were still heathen。 The king hastened up to the lake in Valders； came unexpectedly on the bondes； seized their vessels； and went on board of them with all his men。 He then sent out message…tokens； and appointed a Thing so near the lake that he could use the vessels if he found he required them。 The bondes resorted to the Thing in a great and well…armed host； and when he commanded them to accept Christianity the bondes shouted against him； told him to be silent； and made a great uproar and clashing of weapons。 But when the king saw that they would not listen to what he would teach them； and also that they had too great a force to contend with； he turned his discourse； and asked if there were people at the Thing who had disputes with each other which they wished him to settle。 It was soon found by the conversation of the bondes that they had many quarrels among themselves； although they had all joined in speaking against Christianity。 When the bondes began to set forth their own cases； each endeavored to get some upon his side to support him； and this lasted the whole day long until evening； when the Thing was concluded。 When the bondes had heard that the king had travelled to Valders； and was come into their neighborhood； they had sent out message…tokens summoning the free and the unfree to meet in arms； and with this force they had advanced against the king； so that the neighbourhood all around was left without people。 When the Thing was concluded the bondes still remained assembled； and when the king observed this he went on board his ships； rowed in the night right across the water； landed in the country there； and began to plunder and burn。 The day after the king's men rowed from one point of land to another； and over all the king ordered the habitations to be set on fire。 Now when the bondes who were assembled saw what the king was doing； namely； plundering and burning； and saw the smoke and flame of their houses； they dispersed； and each hastened to his own home to see if he could find those he had left。 As soon as there came a dispersion among the crowd； the one slipped away after the other； until the whole multitude was dissolved。 Then the king rowed across the lake again； burning also on that side of the country。 Now came the bondes to him begging for mercy； and offering to submit to him。 He gave every man who came to him peace if he desired it； and restored to him his goods； and nobody refused to adopt Christianity。 The king then had the people christened； and took hostages from the bondes。 He ordered churches to be built and consecrated； and placed teachers in them。 He remained a long time here in autumn； and had his ships drawn across the neck of land between the two lakes。 The king did not go far from the sides of the lakes into the country； for he did not much trust the bondes。 When the king thought that frost might be expected； he went further up the country； and came to Thoten。 Arnor； the earl's skald； tells how King Olaf burnt in the Uplands； in the poem he composed concerning the king's brother King Harald：
〃Against the Upland people wroth； Olaf； to most so mild； went forth： The houses burning； All people mourning； Who could not fly Hung on gallows high。 It was； I think； in Olaf's race The Upland people to oppress。〃
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 p
