mc.eatersofthedead-第6章
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h bread and water。 No one approached or spoke to him； or visited him the whole time。 No slaves nurtured him； for the Northmen believe that a man must recover from any sickness according to his own strength。 Many among them believed that Wyglif would never return to join them in the camp； but instead would die。
Now； one of their number； a young noble called Buliwyf； was chosen to be their new leader； but he was not accepted while the sick chieftain still lived。 This was the cause of uneasiness； at the time of our arrival。 Yet also there was no aspect of sorrow or weeping among the people encamped on the Volga。
The Northmen place great importance on the duty of the host。 They greet every visitor with warmth and hospitality； much food and clothing； and the earls and nobles pete for the honor of the greatest hospitality。 The party of our caravan was brought before Buliwyf and a great feast was given us。 Over this Buliwyf himself presided； and I saw him to be a tall man； and strong； with skin and hair and beard of pure white。 He had the bearing of a leader。
Recognizing the honor of the feast； our party made a show of eating； yet the food was vile and the manner of the feast contained much throwing of food and drink； and great laughing and merriment。 It was mon in the middle of this rude banquet for an earl to disport with a slave girl in full view of his fellows。
Seeing this； I turned away and said； 〃I beg God's pardon；〃 and the Northmen laughed much at my disfiture。 One of their number translated for me that they believe God looks favorably upon such open pleasures。 He said to me； 〃You Arabs are like old women； you tremble at the sight of life。〃
I said in answer； 〃I am a guest among you； and Allah shall lead me to righteousness。〃
This was reason for further laughter； but I do not know for what cause they should find a joke。
The custom of the Northmen reveres the life of war。 Verily； these huge men fight continually； they are never at peace； neither among themselves nor among different tribes of their kind。 They sing songs of their warfare and bravery； and believe that the death of a warrior is the highest honor。
At the banquet of Buliwyf； a member of their kind sang a song of bravery and battle that was much enjoyed； though little attended。 The strong drink of the Northmen soon renders them as animals and stray asses； in the midst of the song there was ejaculation and also mortal bat over some intoxicated quarrel of two warriors。 The bard did not cease his song through all these events； verily I saw flying blood spatter his face； and yet he wiped it away without a pause in his singing。
This impressed me greatly。
Now it happened that this Buliwyf； who was drunk as the rest； manded that I should sing a song for them。 He was most insistent。 Not wishing to anger him； I recited from the Koran； with the translator repeating my words in their Norse tongue。 I was received no better than their own minstrel； and afterward I asked the forgiveness of Allah for the treatment of His holy words； and also for the translation；4 which I sensed to be thoughtless； for in truth the translator was himself drunk。
We had stayed two days among the Northmen； and on the morning we planned to leave； we were told by the translator that the chieftain Wyglif had died。 I sought to witness what then befell。
First； they laid him in his grave； over which a roof was erected； for the space of ten days；5 until they had pleted the cutting and sewing of his clothes。 They also brought together his goods； and divided them into three parts。 The first of these is for his family； the second is expended for the garments they make； and with the third they purchase strong drink； against the day when a girl resigns herself to death； and is burned with her master。
To the use of wine they abandon themselves in mad fashion； drinking it day and night； as I have already said。 Not seldom does one die with a cup in his hand。
The family of Wyglif asked of all his girls and pages； 〃Which of you will die with him？〃 Then one of them answered； 〃I。〃 From the time she uttered that word； she was no longer free； should she wish to draw back； she is not permitted。
The girl who so spoke was then mitted to two other girls； who were to keep watch over her； acpany her wherever she went； and even； on occasion； wash her feet。 The people occupied themselves with the dead man…cutting out the clothes for him； and preparing whatever else was needful。 During the whole of this period； the girl gave herself over to drinking and singing； and was cheerful and gay。
During this time； Buliwyf； the noble who would next be king or chieftain； found a rival whose name was Thorkel。 Him I did not know； but he was ugly and foul； a dark man among this ruddy fair race。 He plotted to be chieftain himself。 All this I learned from the translator； for there was no outward sign in the funeral preparations that anything was not according to custom。
Buliwyf himself did not direct the preparations； for he was not of the family of Wyglif； and it is the rule that the family prepares for the funeral。 Buliwyf joined the general merriment and celebration； and acted no part of kingly conduct； except during the banquets of the night； when he sat in the high seat that was reserved to the king。
This was the manner of his sitting： when a Northman is truly king； he sits at the head of the table in a large stone chair with stone arms。 Such was the chair of Wyglif； but Buliwyf did not sit in it as a normal man would sit。 Instead he sat upon one arm； a position from which he fell when he drank overmuch； or laughed with great excess。 It was the custom that he could not sit in the chair until Wyglif was buried。
All this time； Thorkel plotted and conferred among the other earls。 I came to know that I was suspected as some sorcerer or witch； which distressed me much。 The translator； who did not believe these tales； told me that Thorkel said I had caused Wyglif to die； and had caused Buliwyf to be the next chief； yet verily I had no part in any of this。
After some days； I sought to leave with my party of ibn…Bastu and Takin and Bars； and yet the Northmen would not permit us to leave； saying that we must stay to the funeral； and threatening us with their daggers； which they always carried。 Thus we stayed。
When the day was e that Wyglif and the girl were to be mitted to the flames； his ship was drawn ashore on the banks of the river。 Four corner blocks of birch and other woods had been positioned around it； also large wooden figures in the semblance of human beings。
In the meantime the people began to walk to and fro； uttering words that I did not understand。 The language of the Northmen is ugly to the ear and difficult to prehend。 The dead chief； meanwhile； lay at a distance in his grave； from which they had not yet removed him。 Next they brought a couch； placed it in the ship； and covered it with Greek cloth of gold； and pillows of the same material。 There then came an old crone； whom they call the angel of death； and she spread the personal articles on the couch。 It was she who attended to the sewing of the garments； and to all the equipment。 It was she； also； who was to slay the girl。 I saw the crone with my own eyes。 She was dark； thickset； with a lowering countenance。
When they came to the grave； they removed the roof and drew out the dead man。 Then I saw that he had turned quite black； by reason of the coldness of that country。 Near him in the grave they had placed strong drink； fruits； and a lute； and these they now took out。 Except for his color； the dead man Wyglif had not changed。
Now I saw Buliwyf and Thorkel standing side by side； making a great show of friendship during the burial ceremony； and yet it was apparent that there was no truth to their appearances。
The dead king Wyglif was now clothed in drawers； leggings； boots； and a caftan of gold cloth； and on his head was placed a cap made of gold cloth； trimmed in sable。 Then he was carried to a tent in the ship； they seated him on a quilted couch； supported him with pillows； and brought strong drink； fruits； and basil； which they placed alongside him。
Then they brought a dog； which they cut in two； and threw into the
