heimskringla-第87章

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in　all　things。　　In　summer　（A。D。　1022）　it　appeared　again　that　there　would　be　a　bad　year　for　corn；　and　to　this　came　the　report　from　the　south　that　King　Olaf　prohibited　all　export　of　corn；　malt；　or　meal　from　the　southern　to　the　northern　parts　of　the　country。　　Then　Asbjorn　perceived　that　it　would　be　difficult　to　procure　what　was　necessary　for　a　house…keeping；　and　resolved　to　put　into　the　water　a　vessel　for　carrying　goods　which　he　had；　and　which　was　large　enough　to　go　to　sea　with。　　The　ship　was　good；　all　that　belonged　to　her　was　of　the　best；　and　in　the　sails　were　stripes　of　cloth　of　various　colours。　　Asbjorn　made　himself　ready　for　a　voyage；　and　put　to　sea　with　twenty　men。　　They　sailed　from　the　north　in　summer；　and　nothing　is　told　of　their　voyage　until　one　day；　about　the　time　the　days　begin　to　shorten；　they　came　to　Karmtsund；　and　landed　at　Augvaldsnes。　　Up　in　the　island　Karmt　there　is　a　large　farm；　not　far　from　the　sea；　and　a　large　house　upon　it　called　Augvaldsnes；　which　was　a　king's　house；　with　an　excellent　farm；　which　Thorer　Sel；　who　was　the　king's　bailiff；　had　under　his　management。　　Thorer　was　a　man　of　low　birth；　but　had　swung　himself　up　in　the　world　as　an　active　man；　and　he　was　polite　in　speech；　showy　in　clothes；　and　fond　of　distinction；　and　not　apt　to　give　way　to　others；　in　which　he　was　supported　by　the　favour　of　the　king。　　He　was　besides　quick　in　speech；　straightforward；　and　free　in　conversation。　　Asbjorn；　with　his　company；　brought　up　there　for　the　night；　and　in　the　morning；　when　it　was　light；　Thorer　went　down　to　the　vessel　with　some　men；　and　inquired　who　commanded　the　splendid　ship。　　Asbjorn　named　his　own　and　his　father's　name。　　Thorer　asks　where　the　voyage　was　intended　for；　and　what　was　the　errand。

Asbjorn　replies；　that　he　wanted　to　buy　corn　and　malt；　saying；　as　was　true；　that　it　was　a　very　dear　time　north　in　the　country。　　〃But　we　are　told　that　here　the　seasons　are　good；　and　wilt　thou；　farmer；　sell　us　corn？　　I　see　that　here　are　great　corn　stacks；　and　it　would　be　very　convenient　if　we　had　not　to　travel　farther。〃

Thorer　replies；　〃I　will　give　thee　the　information　that　thou　needst　not　go　farther　to　buy　corn；　or　travel　about　here　in　Rogaland；　for　I　can　tell　thee　that　thou　must　turn　about；　and　not　travel　farther；　for　the　king　forbids　carrying　corn　out　of　this　to　the　north　of　the　country。　　Sail　back　again；　Halogalander；　for　that　will　be　thy　safest　course。〃

Asbjorn　replies；　〃If　it　be　so；　bonde；　as　thou　sayest；　that　we　can　get　no　corn　here　to　buy；　I　will；　notwithstanding；　go　forward　upon　my　errand；　and　visit　my　family　in　Sole；　and　see　my　relation　Erling's　habitation。〃

Thorer：　〃How　near　is　thy　relationship　to　Erling？〃

Asbjorn：　〃My　mother　is　his　sister。〃

Thorer：　〃It　may　be　that　I　have　spoken　heedlessly；　if　so　be　that　thou　art　sister's　son　of　Erling。〃

Thereupon　Asbjorn　and　his　crew　struck　their　tents；　and　turned　the　ship　to　sea。　　Thorer　called　after　them。　〃A　good　voyage；　and　come　here　again　on　your　way　back。〃　　Asbjorn　promised　to　do　so；　sailed　away；　and　came　in　the　evening　to　Jadar。　　Asbjorn　went　on　shore　with　ten　men；　the　other　ten　men　watched　the　ship。　　When　Asbjorn　came　to　the　house　he　was　very　well　received；　and　Erling　was　very　glad　to　see　him；　placed　him　beside　himself；　and　asked　him　all　the　news　in　the　north　of　the　country。　　Asbjorn　concealed　nothing　of　his　business　from　him；　and　Erling　said　it　happened　unfortunately　that　the　king　had　just　forbid　the　sale　of　corn。　　〃And　I　know　no　man　here。〃　says　he；　〃who　has　courage　to　break　the　king's　order；　and　I　find　it　difficult　to　keep　well　with　the　king；　so　many　are　trying　to　break　our　friendship。〃

Asbjorn　replies；　〃It　is　late　before　we　learn　the　truth。　　In　my　childhood　I　was　taught　that　my　mother　was　freeborn　throughout　her　whole　descent；　and　that　Erling　of　Sole　was　her　boldest　relation；　and　now　I　hear　thee　say　that　thou　hast　not　the　freedom；　for　the　king's　slaves　here　in　Jadar；　to　do　with　thy　own　corn　what　thou　pleasest。〃

Erling　looked　at　him；　smiled　through　his　teeth；　and　said；　〃Ye　Halogalanders　know　less　of　the　king's　power　than　we　do　here；　but　a　bold　man　thou　mayst　be　at　home　in　thy　conversation。　　Let　us　now　drink；　my　friend；　and　we　shall　see　tomorrow　what　can　be　done　in　thy　business。〃

They　did　so；　and　were　very　merry　all　the　evening。　　The　following　day　Erling　and　Asbjorn　talked　over　the　matter　again；　and　Erling　said。　〃I　have　found　out　a　way　for　you　to　purchase　corn；　Asbjorn。　It　is　the　same　thing　to　you　whoever　is　the　seller。〃　　He　answered　that　he　did　not　care　of　whom　he　bought　the　corn；　if　he　got　a　good　right　to　his　purchase。　　Erling　said。　〃It　appears　to　me　probable　that　my　slaves　have　quite　as　much　corn　as　you　require　to　buy；　and　they　are　not　subject　to　law；　or　land　regulation；　like　other　men。〃　Asbjorn　agreed　to　the　proposal。　　The　slaves　were　now　spoken　to　about　the　purchase；　and　they　brought　forward　corn　and　malt；　which　they　sold　to　Asbjorn；　so　that　he　loaded　his　vessel　with　what　he　wanted。　　When　he　was　ready　for　sea　Erling　followed　him　on　the　road；　made　him　presents　of　friendship；　and　they　took　a　kind　farewell　of　each　other。　　Asbjorn　got　a　good　breeze；　landed　in　the　evening　at　Karmtsund；　near　to　Augvaldsnes；　and　remained　there　for　the　night。　　Thorer　Sel　had　heard　of　Asbjorn's　voyage；　and　also　that　his　vessel　was　deeply　laden。　　Thorer　summoned　people　to　him　in　the　night；　so　that　before　daylight　he　had　sixty　men；　and　with　these　he　went　against　Asbjorn　as　soon　as　it　was　light；　and　went　out　to　the　ship　just　as　Asbjorn　and　his　men　were　putting　on　their　clothes。　　Asbjorn　saluted　Thorer；　and　Thorer　asked　what　kind　of　goods　Asbjorn　had　in　the　vessel。

He　replied；　〃Corn　and　malt。〃

Thorer　said；　〃Then　Erling　is　doing　as　he　usually　does；　and　despising　the　king's　orders；　and　is　unwearied　in　opposing　him　in　all　things；　insomuch　that　it　is　wonderful　the　king　suffers　it。〃

Thorer　went　on　scolding　in　this　way；　and　when　he　was　silent　Asbjorn　said　that　Erling's　slaves　had　owned　the　corn。

Thorer　replied　hastily；　that　he　did　not　regard　Erling's　tricks。　〃And　now；　Asbjorn；　there　is　no　help　for　it；　ye　must　either　go　on　shore；　or　we　will　throw　you　overboard；　for　we　will　not　be　troubled　with　you　while　we　are　discharging　the　cargo。〃

Asbjorn　saw　that　he　had　not　men　enough　to　resist　Thorer；　therefore　he　and　his　people　landed；　and　Thorer　took　the　whole　cargo　out　of　the　vessel。　　When　the　vessel　was　discharged　Thorer　went　through　the　ship；　and　observed。　〃Ye　Halogalanders　have　good　sails：　take　the　old　sail　of　our　vessel　and　give　it　them；　it　is　good　enough　for　those　who　are　sailing　in　a　light　vessel。〃　　Thus　the　sails　were　exchanged。　　When　this　was　done　Asbjorn　and　his　comrades　sailed　away　north　along　the　coast；　and　did　not　stop　until　they　reached　home　early　in　whiter。　　This　expedition　was　talked　of　far　and　wide；　and　Asbjorn　had　no　trouble　that　winter　in　making　feasts　at　home。　　Thorer　Hund　invited　Asbjorn　and　his　mother；　and　also　all　whom　they　pleased　to　take　along　with　him；　to　a　Yule　feast；　but　Asbjorn　sat　at　home；　and　would　not　travel；　and　it　was　to　be　seen　that　Thorer　thought　Asbjorn　despised　his　invitation；　since　he　would　not　come。　　Thorer　scoffed　much　at　Asbjorn's　voyage。　　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　evident　that　Asbjorn　makes　a　great　difference　in　his　respect　towards　his　relations；　for　in　summer　he　took　the　greatest　trouble　to　visit　his　relation　Erling　in　Jadar；　and　now　will　not　take　the　trouble　to　come　to　me　in　the　next　house。　　I　don't　know　if　he　thinks　there　may　be　a　Thorer　Sel　in　his　way　upon　every　holm。〃　　Such　words；　and　the　like　sarcasms；　Asbjorn　heard　of；　and　very　ill　satisfied　he　was　with　his　voyage；　which　had　thus　made　him　a　laughing…stock　to　the　country；　and　he　remained　at　home　all　winter；　and　went　to　no　feasts。



124。　MURDER　OF　THORER　SEL。

Asbjorn　had　a　long…ship　standing　in　the　noust　（shipshed）；　and　it　was　a　snekke　（cutter）　of　twenty　benches；　and　after　Candlemas　（February　2；　1023）；　he　had　the　vessel　put　in　the　water；　brought　out　all　his　furniture；　and　rigged　her　out。　　He　then　summoned　to　him　his　friends　and　people；　so　that　he　had　nearly　ninety　men　all　well　armed。　　When　he　was　ready　for　sea；　and　got　a　wind；　he　sailed　south　along　the　coast；　but　as　the　wind　did　not　suit；　they　advanced　but　slowly。　　When　they　came　farther　south　they　steered　outside　the　rocks；　without