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第122章

heimskringla-第122章

小说: heimskringla 字数: 每页4000字

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this King Olaf in all the folly he could invent; so their friendship ended according to their deserts; by this king mutilating some of them; taking their kingdoms himself; and ruining every man in the country who had an honourable name。  Ye know yourselves how he has treated the lendermen; of whom many of the worthlest have been murdered; and many obliged to fly from their country; and how he has roamed far and wide through the land with robber…bands; burning and plundering houses; and killing people。  Who is the man among us here of any consideration who has not some great injury from him to avenge?  Now he has come hither with a foreign troop; consisting mostly of forest…men; vagabonds; and such marauders。 Do ye think he will now be more merciful to you; when he is roaming about with such a bad crew; after committing devastations which all who followed him dissuaded him from?  Therefore it is now my advice; that ye remember King Canute's words when he told you; if King Olaf attempted to return to the country ye should defend the liberty King Canute had promised you; and should oppose and drive away such a vile pack。  Now the only thing to be done is to advance against them; and cast forth these malefactors to the wolves and eagles; leaving their corpses on the spot they cover; unless ye drag them aside to out…of…the…way corners in the woods or rocks。  No man would be so imprudent as to remove them to churches; for they are all robbers and evil…doers。〃  When he had ended his speech it was hailed with the loudest applause; and all unanimously agreed to act according to his recommendation。



231。 OF THE LENDERMEN。

The lendermen who had come together appointed meetings with each other; and consulted together how they should draw up their troops; and who should be their leader。  Kalf Arnason said that Harek of Thjotta was best fitted to be the chief of this army; for he was descended from Harald Harfager's race。  〃The king also is particularly enraged against him on account of the murder of Grankel; and therefore he would be exposed to the severest fate if Olaf recovered the kingdom; and Harek withal is a man experienced in battles; and a man who does much for honour alone。〃

Harek replies; that the men are best suited for this who are in the flower of their age。  〃I am now;〃 says he; 〃an old and decaying man; not able to do much in battle: besides; there is near relationship between me and King Olaf; and although he seems not to put great value upon that tie; it would not beseem me to go as leader of the hostilities against him; before any other in this meeting。  On the other hand; thou; Thorer; art well suited to be our chief in this battle against King Olaf; and thou hast distinct grounds for being so; both because thou hast to avenge the death of thy relation; and also hast been driven by him as an outlaw from thy property。  Thou hast also promised King Canute; as well as thy connections; to avenge the murder of thy relative Asbjorn; and dost thou suppose there ever will be a better opportunity than this of taking vengeance on Olaf for all these insults and injuries?〃

Thorer replies thus to his speech: 〃I do not confide in myself so much as to raise the banner against King Olaf; or; as chief; to lead on this army; for the people of Throndhjem have the greatest part in this armament; and I know well their haughty spirit; and that they would not obey me; or any other Halogaland man; although I need not be reminded of my injuries to be roused to vengeance on King Olaf。  I remember well my heavy loss when King Olaf slew four men; all distinguished both by birth and personal qualities; namely; my brother's son Asbjorn; my sister's sons Thorer and Grjotgard; and their father Olver; and it is my duty to take vengeance for each man of them。  I will not conceal that I have selected eleven of my house…servants for that purpose; and of those who are the most daring; and I do not think we shall be behind others in exchanging blows with King Olaf; should opportunity be given。〃



232。 KALF ARNASON'S SPEECH。

Then Kalf Arnason desired to speak。  〃It is highly necessary;〃 says he; 〃that this business we have on hand do not turn out a mockery and child…work; now that an army is collected。  Something else is needful; if we are to stand battle with King Olaf; than that each should shove the danger from himself; for we must recollect that although King Olaf has not many people compared to this army of ours; the leader of them is intrepid; and the whole body of them will be true to him; and obedient in the battle。  But if we who should be the leaders of this army show any fear; and will not encourage the army and go at the head of it; it must happen that with the great body of our people the spirit will leave their hearts; and the next thing will be that each will seek his own safety。  Although we have now a great force assembled; we shall find our destruction certain; when we meet King Olaf and his troops; if we; the chiefs of the people; are not confident in our cause; and have not the whole army confidently and bravely going along with us。  If it cannot be so; we had better not risk a battle; and then it is easy to see that nothing would be left us but to shelter ourselves under King Olaf's mercy; however hard it might be; as then we would be less guilty than we now may appear to him to be。  Yet I know there are men in his ranks who would secure my life and peace if I would seek it。  Will ye now adopt my proposal  then shalt thou; friend Thorer; and thou; Harek; go under the banner which we will all of us raise up; and then follow。  Let us all be speedy and determined in the resolution we have taken; and put ourselves so at the head of the bondes' army that they see no distrust in us; for then will the common man advance with spirit when we go merrily to work in placing the army in battle…order; and in encouraging the people to the strife。〃

When Kalf had ended they all concurred in what he proposed; and all would do what Kalf thought of advantage。  All desired Kalf to be the leader of the army; and to give each what place in it he chose。



233。 HOW THE LENDERMEN SET UP THEIR BANNERS。

Kalf Arnason then raised his banner; and drew up his house… servants along with Harek of Thjotta and his men。  Thorer Hund; with his troop; was at the head of the order of battle in front of the banner; and on both sides of Thorer was a chosen body of bondes; all of them the most active and best armed in the forces。 This part of the array was long and thick; and in it were drawn up the Throndhjem people and the Halogalanders。  On the right wing was another array; and on the left of the main array were drawn up the men from Rogaland; Hordaland; the Fjord districts; and Scgn; and they had the third banner。



234。 OF THORSTEIN KNARRARSMID。

There was a man called Thorstein Knarrarsmid; who was a merchant and master ship…carpenter; stout and strong; very passionate; and a great manslayer。  He had been in enmity against King Olaf; who had taken from him a new and large merchant…vessel he had built; on account of some manslaughter…mulct; incurred in the course of his misdeeds; which he owed to the king。  Thorstein; who was with the bondes' army; went forward in front of the line in which Thorer Hund stood; and said; 〃Here I will be; Thorer; in your ranks; for I think; if I and King Olaf meet; to be the first to strive a weapon at him; if I can get so near; to repay him for the robbery of the ship he took from me; which was the best that ever went on merchant voyage。〃  Thorer and his men received Thorstein; and he went into their ranks。



235。 OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE BONDES。

When the bondes' men and array were drawn up the lendermen addressed the men; and ordered them to take notice of the place to which each man belonged; under which banner each should be; who there were in front of the banner; who were his side…men; and that they should be brisk and quick in taking up their places in the array; for the army had still to go a long way; and the array might be broken in the course of march。  Then they encouraged the people; and Kalf invited all the men who had any injury to avenge on King Olaf to place themselves under the banner w

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