heimskringla-第148章
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Fin took up the conversation briskly； and said； 〃Thou art managing ill in two ways： first； in doing all manner of mischief； and next； in being so afraid that thou knowest not what to do。〃
The king replied； laughing； 〃I will send thee； friend； into the town to bring about a reconciliation with the bondes； and if that will not do； thou must go to the Uplands and bring matters to such an understanding with Hakon Ivarson that he shall not be my opponent。〃
Fin replies； 〃And how wilt thou reward me if I undertake this dangerous errand； for both the people of Throndhjem and the people of Upland are so great enemies to thee that it would not be safe for any of thy messengers to come among them； unless he were one who would be spared for his own sake？〃
The king replies； 〃Go thou on this embassy； for I know thou wilt succeed in it if any man can； and bring about a reconciliation； and then choose whatever favour from us thou wilt。〃
Fin says； 〃Hold thou thy word； king； and I will choose my petition。 I will desire to have peace and safe residence in the country for my brother Kalf； and all his estates restored； and also that he receive all the dignity and power he had when he left the country。〃
The king assented to all that Fin laid down； and it was confirmed by witnesses and shake of hand。
Then said Fin； 〃What shall I offer Hakon； who rules most among his relations in the land； to induce him to agree to a treaty and reconciliation with thee？〃
The king replies； 〃Thou shalt first hear what Hakon on his part requires for making an agreement； then promote my interest as thou art best able； and deny him nothing in the end short of the kingdom。〃
Then King Harald proceeded southwards to More； and drew together men in considerable numbers。
47。 OF FIN ARNASON'S JOURNEY。
Fin Arnason proceeded to the town and had with him his house… servants； nearly eighty men。 When he came into the town he held a Thing with the town's people。 Fin spoke long and ably at the Thing； and told the town's people； and bondes； above all things not to have a hatred against their king； or to drive him away。 He reminded them of how much evil they had suffered by acting thus against King Olaf the Saint； and added； that the king was willing to pay penalty for this murder； according to the judgment of understanding and good men。 The effect of Fin's speech was that the bondes promised to wait quietly until the messengers came back whom Bergliot had sent to the Uplands to her relative； Hakon Ivarson。 Fin then went out to Orkadal with the men who had accompanied him to the town。 From thence he went up to Dovrefield； and eastwards over the mountains。 He went first to his son…in…law； Earl Orm； who was married to Sigrid； Fin's daughter； and told him his business。
48。 OF FIN AND HAKON IVARSON。
Then Fin and Earl Orm appointed a meeting with Hakon Ivarson； and when they met Fin explained his errand to Hakon； and the offer which King Harald made him。 It was soon seen； from Hakon's speech； that he considered it to be his great duty to avenge the death of his relative； Eindride； and added； that word was come to him from Throndhjem； from which he might expect help in making head against the king。 Then Fin represented to Hakon how much better it would be for him to accept of as high a dignity from the king as he himself could desire； rather than to attempt raising a strife against the king to whom he was owing service and duty。 He said if he came out of the conflict without victory； he forfeited life and property： 〃And even if thou hast the victory； thou wilt still be called a traitor to thy sovereign。〃 Earl Orm also supported Fin's speech。 After Hakon had reflected upon this he disclosed what lay on his mind； and said； 〃I will be reconciled with King Harald if he will give me in marriage his relation Ragnhild； King Magnus Olafson's daughter； with such dower as is suitable to her and she will be content with。〃 Fin said he would agree to this on the king's part； and thus it was settled among them。 Fin then returned to Throndhjem； and the disturbance and enmity was quashed； so that the king could retain his kingdom in peace at home； and the league was broken which Eindride's relations had made among themselves for opposing King Harald。
49。 OF THE COURTSHIP OF HAKON IVARSON。
When the day arrived for the meeting at which this agreement with Harald should be finally concluded； Hakon went to King Harald； and in their conference the king said that he； for his part； would adhere to all that was settled in their agreement。 〃Thou Hakon；〃 says he； 〃must thyself settle that which concerns Ragnhild； as to her accepting thee in marriage； for it would not be advisable for thee； or for any one； to marry Ragnhild without her consent。〃 Then Hakon went to Ragnhild； and paid his addresses to her。 She answered him thus： 〃I have often to feel that my father； King Magnus； is dead and gone from me； since I must marry a bonde； although I acknowledge thou art a handsome man； expert in all exercises。 But if King Magnus had lived he would not have married me to any man less than a king； so it is not to be expected that I will take a man who has no dignity or title。〃 Then Hakon went to King Harald and told him his conversation with Ragnhild； and also repeated the agreement which was made between him and Fin； who was with him； together with many others of the persons who had been present at the conversation between him and Fin。 Hakon takes them all to witness that such was the agreement that the king should give Ragnhild the dower she might desire。 〃And now since she will have no man who has not a high dignity； thou must give me such a title of honour； and； according to the opinion of the people； I am of birth； family and other qualifications to be called earl。〃
The king replies； 〃When my brother； King Olaf； and his son； King Magnus； ruled the kingdom； they allowed only one earl at a time to be in the country； and I have done the same since I came to the kingly title； and I will not take away from Orm the title of honour I had before given him。〃
Hakon saw now that his business had not advanced； and was very ill pleased； and Fin was outrageously angry。 They said the king had broken his word； and thus they all separated。
50。 HAKON'S JOURNEY TO DENMARK。
Hakon then went out of the country with a well…manned ship。 When he came to Denmark he went immediately to his relative； King Svein； who received him honourably and gave him great fiefs。 Hakon became King Svein's commander of the coast defence against the vikings； the Vindland people； Kurland people； and others from the East countries； who infested the Danish dominions； and he lay out with his ships of war both winter and summer。
51。 MURDER OF ASMUND。
There was a man called Asmund； who is said to have been King Svein's sister's son； and his foster…son。 This Asmund was distinguished among all by his boldness and was much disliked by the king。 When Asmund came to years； and to age of discretion； he became an ungovernable person given to murder and manslaughter。 The king was ill pleased at this； and sent him away； giving him a good fief； which might keep him and his followers well。 As soon as Asmund had got this property from the king he drew together a large troop of people； and as the estate he had got from the king was not sufficient for his expenses he took as his own much more which belonged to the king。 When the king heard this he summoned Asmund to him； and when they met the king said that Asmund should remain with the court without keeping any retinue of his own； and this took place as the king desired。 But when Asmund had been a little time in the king's court he grew weary of being there； and escaped in the night； returned to his former companions and did more mischief than ever。 Now when the king was riding through the country he came to the neighbourhood where Asmund was； and he sent out men…at… arms to seize him。 The king then had him laid in irons； and kept him so for some time in hope he would reform； but no sooner did Asmund get rid of his chains than he absconded again； gathered together people and men…at…arms and betook himself to plunder； both abroad and
