heimskringla-第143章
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owned it。
Svein replies; 〃I will begin to believe there is such virtue in the banner when thou hast held three battles with thy relation Magnus; and hast gained them all。〃
Then answered Harald with an angry voice; 〃I know my relationship to King Magnus; without thy reminding me of it; and although we are now going in arms against him; our meeting may be of a better sort。〃
Svein changed colour; and said; 〃There are people; Harald; who say that thou hast done as much before as only to hold that part of an agreement which appears to suit thy own interest best。〃
Harald answers; 〃It becomes thee ill to say that I have not stood by an agreement; when I know what King Magnus could tell of thy proceedings with him。〃
Thereupon each went his own way。 At night; when Harald went to sleep within the bulwarks of his vessel; he said to his footboy; 〃I will not sleep in my bed to…night; for I suspect there may be treachery abroad。 I observed this evening that my friend Svein was very angry at my free discourse。 Thou shalt keep watch; therefore; in case anything happen in the night。〃 Harald then went away to sleep somewhere else; and laid a billet of wood in his place。 At midnight a boat rowed alongside to the ship's bulwark; a man went on board; lifted up the cloth of the tent of the bulwarks; went up; and struck in Harald's bed with a great ax; so that it stood fast in the lump of wood。 The man instantly ran back to his boat again; and rowed away in the dark night; for the moon was set; but the axe remained sticking in the piece of wood as an evidence。 Thereupon Harald waked his men and let them know the treachery intended。 〃We can now see sufficiently;〃 said he; 〃that we could never match Svein if he practises such deliberate treachery against us; so it will be best for us to get away from this place while we can。 Let us cast loose our vessel and row away as quietly as possible。〃 They did so; and rowed during the night northwards along the land; and then proceeded night and day until they came to King Magnus; where he lay with his army。 Harald went to his relation Magnus; and there was a joyful meeting betwixt them。 So says Thiodolf:
〃The far…known king the order gave; In silence o'er the swelling wave; With noiseless oars; his vessels gay From Denmark west to row away; And Olaf's son; with justice rare; Offers with him the realm to share。 People; no doubt; rejoiced to find The kings had met in peaceful mind。〃
Afterwards the two relatives conversed with each other and all was settled by peaceful agreement。
23。 KING MAGNUS GIVES HARALD HALF OF NORWAY。
King Magnus lay at the shore and had set up tents upon the land。 There he invited his relation; King Harald; to be his guest at table; and Harald went to the entertainment with sixty of his men and was feasted excellently。 Towards the end of the day King Magnus went into the tent where Harald sat and with him went men carrying parcels consisting of clothes and arms。 Then the king went to the man who sat lowest and gave him a good sword; to the next a shield; to the next a kirtle; and so on; clothes; or weapons; or gold; to all he gave one or the other valuable gift; and the more costly to the more distinguished men among them。 Then he placed himself before his relation Harald; holding two sticks in his hand; and said; 〃Which of these two sticks wilt thou have; my friend?〃
Harald replies; 〃The one nearest me。〃
〃Then;〃 said King Magnus; 〃with this stick I give thee half of the Norwegian power; with all the scat and duties; and all the domains thereunto belonging; with the condition that everywhere thou shalt be as lawful king in Norway as I am myself; but when we are both together in one place; I shall be the first man in seat; service and salutation; and if there be three of us together of equal dignity; that I shall sit in the middle; and shall have the royal tent…ground and the royal landing…place。 Thou shalt strengthen and advance our kingdom; in return for making thee that man in Norway whom we never expected any man should be so long as our head was above ground。〃 Then Harald stood up; and thanked him for the high title and dignity。 Thereupon they both sat down; and were very merry together。 The same evening Harald and his men returned to their ships。
24。 HARALD GIVES MAGNUS THE HALF OF HIS TREASURES。
The following morning King Magnus ordered the trumpets to sound to a General Thing of the people; and when it was seated; he made known to the whole army the gift he had given to his relation Harald。 Thorer of Steig gave Harald the title of King there at the Thing; and the same day King Harald invited King Magnus to table with him; and he went with sixty men to King Harald's land…tent; where he had prepared a feast。 The two kings sat together on a high…seat; and the feast was splendid; everything went on with magnificence; and the kings' were merry and glad。 Towards the close of the day King Harald ordered many caskets to be brought into the tent; and in like manner people bore in weapons; clothes and other sorts of valuables; and all these King Harald divided among King Magnus's men who were at the feast。 Then he had the caskets opened and said to King Magnus; 〃Yesterday you gave us a large kingdom; which your hand won from your and our enemies; and took us in partnership with you; which was well done; and this has cost you much。 Now we on our side have been in foreign parts; and oft in peril of life; to gather together the gold which you here see。 Now; King Magnus; I will divide this with you。 We shall both own this movable property; and each have his equal share of it; as each has his equal half share of Norway。 I know that our dispositions are different; as thou art more liberal than I am; therefore let us divide this property equally between us; so that each may have his share free to do with as he will。〃 Then Harald had a large ox…hide spread out; and turned the gold out of the caskets upon it。 Then scales and weights were taken and the gold separated and divided by weight into equal parts; and all people wondered exceedingly that so much gold should have come together in one place in the northern countries。 But it was understood that it was the Greek emperor's property and wealth; for; as all people say; there are whole houses there full of red gold。 The kings were now very merry。 Then there appeared an ingot among the rest as big as a man's hand。 Harald took it in his hands and said; 〃Where is the gold; friend Magnus; that thou canst show against this piece?〃
King Magnus replied; 〃So many disturbances and levies have been in the country that almost all the gold and silver I could lay up is gone。 I have no more gold in my possession than this ring。〃 And he took the ring off his hand and gave it to Harald。
Harald looked at it; and said; 〃That is but little gold; friend。 for the king who owns two kingdoms; and yet some may doubt whether thou art rightful owner of even this ring。〃
Then King Magnus replied; after a little reflection; 〃If I be not rightful owner of this ring; then I know not what I have got right to; for my father; King Olaf the Saint; gave me this ring at our last parting。〃
Then said King Harald; laughing; 〃It is true; King Magnus; what thou sayest。 Thy father gave thee this ring; but he took the ring from my father for some trifling cause; and in truth it was not a good time for small kings in Norway when thy father was in full power。〃
King Harald gave Thorer of Steig at that feast a bowl of mountain birch; that was encircled with a silver ring and had a silver handle; both which parts were gilt; and the bowl was filled with money of pure silver。 With that came also two gold rings; which together stood for a mark。 He gave him also his cloak of dark purple lined with white skins within; and promised him besides his friendship and great dignity。 Thorgils Snorrason; an intelligent man; says he has seen an altar…cloth that was made of this cloak; and Gudrid; a daughter of Guthorm; the son of Thorer of Steig; said; according to Thorgil's account; that she had seen this bowl in her father Guthorm's possession。 Bolverk also tells of these matters: