heimskringla-第164章

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uth　each　of　you　deserves　much　more　to　be　hanged。〃　　People　sang　these　verses　about　it：　

　　　　　〃I　hear；　my　girl；　that　Egil　said；　　　　　　When　to　the　gallows　he　was　led；　　　　　　That　the　king's　thralls　far　more　than　he　　　　　　Deserved　to　hang　on　gallows…tree。　　　　　　It　might　be　so；　but；　death　in　view；　　　　　　A　man　should　to　himself　be　true；　　　　　　　End　a　stout　life　by　death　as　stout；　　　　　　Showing　no　fear；　or　care；　or　doubt。〃

King　Magnus　sat　near　while　they　were　being　hanged；　and　was　in　such　a　rage　that　none　of　his　men　was　so　bold　as　to　ask　mercy　for　them。　　The　king　said；　when　Egil　was　spinning　at　the　gallows；　〃Thy　great　friends　help　thee　but　poorly　in　time　of　need。〃　　From　this　people　supposed　that　the　king　only　wanted　to　have　been　entreated　to　have　spared　Egil's　life。　　Bjorn　Krephende　speaks　of　these　things：　

　　　　　〃King　Magnus　in　the　robbers'　gore　　　　　　Dyed　red　his　sword；　and　round　the　shore　　　　　　The　wolves　howled　out　their　wild　delight；　　　　　　At　corpses　swinging　in　their　sight。　　　　　　Have　ye　not　heard　how　the　king's　sword　　　　　　Punished　the　traitors　to　their　lord？　　　　　　How　the　king's　thralls　hung　on　the　gallows　　　　　　Old　Thorer　and　his　traitor…fellows？〃



7。　OF　THE　PUNISHMENT　OF　THE　THRONDHJEM　PEOPLE。

After　this　King　Magnus　sailed　south　to　Throndhjem；　and　brought　up　in　the　fjord；　and　punished　severely　all　who　had　been　guilty　of　treason　towards　him；　killing　some；　and　burning　the　houses　of　others。　　So　says　Bjorn　Krephende：　

　　　　　〃He　who　despises　fence　of　shields　　　　　　Drove　terror　through　the　Throndhjem　fields；　　　　　　When　all　the　land　through　which　he　came　　　　　　Was　swimming　in　a　flood　of　flame。　　　　　　The　raven…feeder；　will　I　know；　　　　　　Cut　off　two　chieftans　at　a　blow；　　　　　　The　wolf　could　scarcely　ravenous　be；　　　　　　The　ernes　flew　round　the　gallows…tree。〃

Svein　Harald　Fletter's　son；　fled　out　to　sea　first；　and　sailed　then　to　Denmark；　and　remained　there；　and　at　last　came　into　great　favour　with　King　Eystein；　the　son　of　King　Magnus；　who　took　so　great　a　liking　to　Svein　that　he　made　him　his　dish…bearer；　and　held　him　in　great　respect。　　King　Magnus　had　now　alone　the　whole　kingdom；　and　he　kept　good　peace　in　the　land；　and　rooted　out　all　vikings　and　lawless　men。　　He　was　a　man　quick；　warlike；　and　able；　and　more　like　in　all　things　to　his　grandfather；　King　Harald；　in　disposition　and　talents　than　to　his　father。



8。　OF　THE　BONDE　SVEINKE；　AND　SIGURD　ULSTRENG。

There　was　a　man　called　Sveinke　Steinarson；　who　was　very　wealthy；　and　dwelt　in　Viken　at　the　Gaut　river。　　He　had　brought　up　Hakon　Magnuson　before　Thorer　of　Steig　took　him。　　Sveinke　had　not　yet　submitted　to　King　Magnus。　　King　Magnus　ordered　Sigurd　Ulstreng　to　be　called；　and　told　him　he　would　send　him　to　Sveinke　with　the　command　that　he　should　quit　the　king's　land　and　domain。　　〃He　has　not　yet　submitted　to　us；　or　shown　us　due　honour。〃　　He　added；　that　there　were　some　lendermen　east　in　Viken；　namely　Svein　Bryggjufot；　Dag　Eilifson；　and　Kolbjorn　Klakke；　who　could　bring　this　matter　into　right　bearing。　　Then　Sigurd　said；　〃I　did　not　know　there　was　the　man　in　Norway　against　whom　three　lendermen　besides　myself　were　needful。〃　　The　king　replied；　〃Thou　needst　not　take　this　help；　unless　it　be　necessary。〃　　Now　Sigurd　made　himself　ready　for　the　journey　with　a　ship；　sailed　east　to　Viken；　and　there　summoned　the　lendermen　to　him。　　Then　a　Thing　was　appointed　to　Viken；　to　which　the　people　were　called　who　dwelt　on　the　Gaut　river；　besides　others；　so　that　it　was　a　numerous　assembly。　　When　the　Thing　was　formed　they　had　to　wait　for　Sveinke。　　They　soon　after　saw　a　troop　of　men　coming　along；　so　well　furnished　with　weapons　that　they　looked　like　pieces　of　shining　ice；　and　now　came　Sveinke　and　his　people　to　the　Thing；　and　set　themselves　down　in　a　circle。　　All　were　clad　in　iron；　with　glowing　arms；　and　500　in　number。　　Then　Sigurd　stood　up；　and　spoke。　　〃My　master；　King　Magnus；　sends　God's　salutation　and　his　own　to　all　friends；　lendermen　and　others；　his　subjects　in　the　kingdom；　also　to　the　powerful　bondes；　and　the　people　in　general；　with　kind　words　and　offers　of　friendship；　and　to　all　who　will　obey　him　he　offers　his　friendship　and　good　will。　Now　the　king　will；　with　all　cheerfulness　and　peace；　show　himself　a　gracious　master　to　all　who　will　submit　to　him；　and　to　all　in　his　dominions。　　He　will　be　the　leader　and　defender　of　all　the　men　of　Norway；　and　it　will　be　good　for　you　to　accept　his　gracious　speech；　and　this　offer。〃

Then　stood　up　a　man　in　the　troop　of　the　Elfgrims；　who　was　of　great　stature　and　grim　countenance；　clad　in　a　leather　cloak；　with　a　halberd　on　his　shoulder；　and　a　great　steel　hat　upon　his　head。　He　looked　sternly；　and　said；　〃Here　is　no　need　of　wheels；　says　the　fox；　when　he　draws　the　trap　over　the　ice。〃　　He　said　nothing　more；　but　sat　down　again。

Soon　after　Sigurd　Ulstreng　stood　up　again；　and　spoke　thus：　〃But　little　concern　or　help　have　we　for　the　king's　affairs　from　you；　Elfgrims；　and　but　little　friendship；　yet　by　such　means　every　man　shows　how　much　he　respects　himself。　　But　now　I　shall　produce　more　clearly　the　king's　errand。〃　　Thereupon　he　demanded　land…dues　and　levy…dues；　together　with　all　other　rights　of　the　king；　from　the　great　bondes。　　He　bade　each　of　them　to　consider　with　himself　how　they　had　conducted　themselves　in　these　matters；　and　that　they　should　now　promote　their　own　honour；　and　do　the　king　justice；　if　they　had　come　short　hitherto　in　doing　so。　　And　then　he　sat　down。

Then　the　same　man　got　up　in　the　troop　of　Elfgrims　who　had　spoken　before；　lifted　his　hat　a　little　up；　and　said；　〃The　lads　run　well；　say　the　Laplanders；　who　have　skates　for　nothing。〃　　Then　he　sat　himself　down　again。

Soon　after　Sigurd　arose；　after　speaking　with　the　lendermen；　and　said　that　so　weighty　a　message　as　the　king's　ought　not　to　be　treated　lightly　as　a　jest。　　He　was　now　somewhat　angry；　and　added；　that　they　ought　not　to　receive　the　king's　message　and　errand　so　scornfully；　for　it　was　not　decent。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　red　or　scarlet　coat；　and　had　a　blue　coat　over　it。　　He　cast　off　his　upper　coat　and　said；　〃Now　it　is　come　so　far　that　every　one　must　look　to　himself；　and　not　loiter　and　jest　with　others；　for　by　so　doing　every　man　will　show　what　he　is。　　We　do　not　require　now　to　be　taught　by　others；　for　now　we　can　see　ourselves　how　much　we　are　regarded。　　But　this　may　be　borne　with；　but　not　that　ye　treat　so　scornfully　the　king's　message。　　Thereby　every　one　shows　how　highly　he　considers　himself。　　There　is　one　man　called　Sveinke　Steinarson；　who　lives　east　at　the　Gaut　river；　and　from　him　the　king　will　have　his　just　land…dues；　together　with　his　own　land；　or　will　banish　him　from　the　country。　　It　is　of　no　use　here　to　seek　excuses；　or　to　answer　with　sharp　words；　for　people　are　to　be　found　who　are　his　equals　in　power；　although　he　now　receives　our　speech　so　unworthily；　and　it　is　better　now　than　afterwards　to　return　to　the　right　way；　and　do　himself　honour；　rather　than　await　disgrace　for　his　obstinancy。〃　　He　then　sat　down。

Sveinke　then　got　up；　threw　back　his　steel…hat；　and　gave　Sigurd　many　scornful　words；　and　said；　〃Tut！　　tut！　　'tis　a　shame　for　the　dogs；　says　the　proverb；　when　the　fox　is　allowed　to　cast　their　excrements　in　the　peasant's　well。　　Here　will　be　a　miracle！　　Thou　useless　fellow！　　with　a　coat　without　arms；　and　a　kirtle　with　skirts；　wilt　thou　drive　me　out　of　the　country？　　Thy　relation；　Sigurd　Woolsack；　was　sent　before　on　this　errand；　and　one　called　Gille　the　Backthief；　and　one　who　had　still　a　worse　name。　　They　were　a　night　in　every　house；　and　stole　wherever　they　came。　　Wilt　thou　drive　me　out　of　the　country？　　Formerly　thou　wast　not　so　mighty；　and　thy　pride　was　less　when　King　Hakon；　my　foster…son；　was　in　life。　　Then　thou　wert　as　frightened　for　him　when　he　met　thee　on　the　road　as　a　mouse　in　a　mouse…trap；　and　hid　thyself　under　a　heap　of　clothes；　like　a　dog　on　board　a　ship。　　Thou　wast　thrust　into　a　leather…bag　like　corn　in　a　sack；　and　driven　from　house　and　farm　like　a　year…old　colt　from　the　mares；　and　dost　thou　dare　to　drive　me　from　the　land？　　Thou　shouldst　rather　think　thyself　lucky　to　escape　from　hence　with　life。　　Let　us　stand　up　and　attack　him。〃

Then　all　his　men　stood　up；　and　made　a　great　clash　with　their　weapons。　　Then　Svein　Bryggjufot　and　the　other　lendermen　saw　there　was　no　other　chance　for　Sigurd　but　to　get　him　on　horseback；　which　was　done