heimskringla-第192章
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rful conversation； and friendly towards his friends； was generous； and allowed other chiefs to give him counsel in governing the country。 He was popular； therefore； with the public； and all this brought the kingdom and the mass of the people on his side。 King Harald Gille's daughter Brigida was first married to the Swedish king Inge Halsteinson； and afterwards to Earl Karl Sonason； and then to the Swedish king Magnus。 She and King Inge Haraldson were cousins by the mother's side。 At last Brigida married Earl Birger Brose； and they had four sons； namely； Earl Philip； Earl Knut； Folke； and Magnus。 Their daughters were Ingegerd； who was married to the Swedish king Sorkver； and their son was King Jon； a second daughter was called Kristin； and a third Margaret。 Harald Gille's second daughter was called Maria； who was married to Simon Skalp； a son of Halkel Huk； and their son was called Nikolas。 King Harald Gille's third daughter was called Margaret； who was married to Jon Halkelson； a brother of Simon。 Now many things occurred between the brothers which occasioned differences and disputes； but I will only relate what appears to me to have produced the more important events。
23。 CARDINAL NIKOLAS COMES TO THE COUNTRY。
In the days of Harald's sons Cardinal Nikolas came from Rome to Norway； being sent there by the pope。 The cardinal had taken offence at the brothers Sigurd and Eystein； and they were obliged to come to a reconciliation with him； but； on the other hand； he stood on the most affectionate terms with King Inge； whom he called his son。 Now when they were all reconciled with him； he moved them to let Jon Birgerson be consecrated archbishop of Throndhjem and gave him a vestment which is called a pallium； and settled moreover that the archbishop's seat should be in Nidaros； in Christ church； where King Olaf the Saint reposes。 Before that time there had only been common bishops in Norway。 The cardinal introduced also the law； that no man should go unpunished who appeared with arms in the merchant…town； excepting the twelve men who were in attendancce on the king。 He improved many of the customs of the Northmen while he was in the country。 There never came a foreigner to Norway whom all men respected so highly； or who could govern the people so well as he did。 After some time he returned to the South with many friendly presents； and declared ever afterwards that he was the greatest friend of the people of Norway。 When he came south to Rome the former pope died suddenly； and all the people of Rome would have Cardinal Nikolas for pope； and he was consecrated under the name of Adrian； and according to the report of men who went to Rome in his days； he had never any business； however important； to settle with other people； but he would break it off to speak with the Northmen who desired to see him。 He was not long pope； and is now considered a saint。
24。 MIRACLE OF KING OLAF。
In the time of Harald Gille's sons； it happened that a man called Haldor fell into the hands of the Vindland people； who took him and mutilated him； cut open his neck； took out the tongue through the opening； and cut out his tongue root。 He afterwards sought out the holy King Olaf； fixed his mind entirely on the holy man； and weeping besought King Olaf to restore his speech and health。 Thereupon he immediately recovered his speech by the good king's compassion； went immediately into his service for all his life； and became an excellent trustworthy man。 This miracle took place a fortnight before the last Olafsmas； upon the day that Cardinal Nikolas set foot on the land of Norway。
25。 MIRACLES OF KING OLAF ON RICHARD。
In the Uplands were two brothers； men of great family； and men of fortune； Einar and Andres； sons of Guthorm Grabard； and brothers of King Sigurd Haraldson's mother； and they had great properties and udal estates in that quarter。 They had a sister who was very handsome； but did not pay sufficient regard to the scandal of evil persons； as it afterwards appeared。 She was on a friendly footing with an English priest called Richard； who had a welcome to the house of her brothers； and on account of their friendship for him she did many things to please him； and often to his advantage； but the end of all this was； that an ugly report flew about concerning this girl。 When this came into the mouth of the public all men threw the blame on the priest。 Her brothers did the same； and expressed publicly； as soon as they observed it； that they laid the blame most on him。 The great friendship that was between the earl and the priest proved a great misfortune to both； which might have been expected； as the brothers were silent about their secret determination； and let nothing be observed。 But one day they called the priest to them； who went； expecting nothing but good from them； enticed him from home with them； saying that they intended to go to another district； where they had some needful business； and inviting him to go with them。 They had with them a farm…servant who knew their purpose。 They went in a boat along the shore of a lake which is called Rands lake； and landed at a ness called Skiptisand； where they went on shore and amused themselves awhile。 Then they went to a retired place； and commanded their servant…man to strike the priest with an axe…hammer。 He struck the priest so hard that he swooned； but when he recovered he said； 〃Why are ye playing so roughly with me？〃 They replied； 〃Although nobody has told thee of it before； thou shalt now find the consequence of what thou hast done。〃 They then upbraided him； but he denied their accusations； and besought God and the holy King Olaf to judge between them。 Then they broke his leg…bones； and dragged him bound to the forest with them； and then they put a string around his head； and put a board under his head and shoulders； and made a knot on the string； and bound his head fast to the board。 Then the elder brother； Einar； took a wedge； and put it on the priest's eye； and the servant who stood beside him struck upon it with an axe； so that the eye flew out； and fell upon the board。 Then he set the pin upon the other eye； and said to the servant； 〃Strike now more softly。〃 He did so； and the wedge sprang from the eye…stone； and tore the eyelid loose。 Then Einar took up the eyelid in his hand； and saw that the eye…stone was still in its place； and he set the wedge on the cheek； and when the servant struck it the eye…stone sprang out upon the cheek…bone。 Thereafter they opened his mouth； took his tongue and cut it off； and then untied his hands and his head。 As soon as he came to himself； he thought of laying the eye…stones in their place under the eyelids； and pressing then with both hands as much as he could。 Then they carried him on board； and went to a farm called Saeheimrud； where they landed。 They sent up to the farm to say that a priest was lying in the boat at the shore。 While the message was going to the farm； they asked the priest if he could talk； and he made a noise and attempted to speak。 Then said Einar to his brother； 〃If he recover and the stump of his tongue grow； I am afraid he will get his speech again。〃 Thereupon they seized the stump with a pair of tongs； drew it out； cut it twice； and the third time to the very roots； and left him lying half dead。 The housewife in the farm was poor； but she hastened to the place with her daughter； and they carried the priest home to their farm in their cloaks。 They then brought a priest； and when he arrived he bound all his wounds； and they attended to his comfort as much as they were able。 And thus lay the wounded priest grievously handled； but trusting always to God's grace； and never doubting； and although he was speechless； he prayed to God in thought with a sorrowful mind； but with the more confidence the worse he was。 He turned his thoughts also to the mild King Olaf the Saint； God's dear favourite； of whose excellent deeds he had heard so much told； and trusted so much more zealously on him with all his heart for help in his necessity。 As he lay there lame； and deprived of all strength； he wept bitterly； moaned； and prayed with a sore heart that the dear King Olaf would help him。 Now wh
