heimskringla-第88章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


it；　they　advanced　but　slowly。　　When　they　came　farther　south　they　steered　outside　the　rocks；　without　the　usual　ships'　channel；　keeping　to　sea　as　much　as　it　was　possible　to　do　so。　　Nothing　is　related　of　his　voyage　before　the　fifth　day　of　Easter　（April　18；　1023）；　when；　about　evening；　they　came　on　the　outside　of　Karmt　Island。　　This　island　is　so　shaped　that　it　is　very　long；　but　not　broad　at　its　widest　part；　and　without　it　lies　the　usual　ships'　channel。　　It　is　thickly　inhabited；　but　where　the　island　is　exposed　to　the　ocean　great　tracts　of　it　are　uncultivated。　　Asbjorn　and　his　men　landed　at　a　place　in　the　island　that　was　uninhabited。　　After　they　had　set　up　their　ship…tents　Asbjorn　said；　〃Now　ye　must　remain　here　and　wait　for　me。　　I　will　go　on　land　in　the　isle；　and　spy　what　news　there　may　be　which　we　know　nothing　of。〃　　Asbjorn　had　on　mean　clothes；　a　broadbrimmed　hat；　a　fork　in　his　hand；　but　had　girt　on　his　sword　under　his　clothes。　　He　went　up　to　the　land；　and　in　through　the　island；　and　when　he　came　upon　a　hillock；　from　which　he　could　see　the　house　on　Augvaldsnes；　and　on　as　far　as　Karmtsund；　he　saw　people　in　all　quarters　flocking　together　by　land　and　by　sea；　and　all　going　up　to　the　house　of　Augvaldsnes。　This　seemed　to　him　extraordinary；　and　therefore　he　went　up　quietly　to　a　house　close　by；　in　which　servants　were　cooking　meat。　From　their　conversation　he　discovered　immediately　that　the　king　Olaf　had　come　there　to　a　feast；　and　that　he　had　just　sat　down　to　table。　　Asbjorn　turned　then　to　the　feasting…room；　and　when　he　came　into　the　ante…room　one　was　going　in　and　another　coming　out；　but　nobody　took　notice　of　him。　　The　hall…door　was　open；　and　he　saw　that　Thorer　Sel　stood　before　the　table　of　the　high…seat。　　It　was　getting　late　in　the　evening；　and　Asbjorn　heard　people　ask　Thorer　what　had　taken　place　between　him　and　Asbjorn；　and　Thorer　had　a　long　story　about　it；　in　which　he　evidently　departed　from　the　truth。　　Among　other　things　he　heard　a　man　say；　〃How　did　Asbjorn　behave　when　you　discharged　his　vessel？〃　　Thorer　replied；　〃When　we　were　taking　out　the　cargo　he　bore　it　tolerably；　but　not　well；　and　when　we　took　the　sail　from　him　he　wept。〃　　When　Asbjorn　heard　this　he　suddenly　drew　his　sword；　rushed　into　the　hall；　and　cut　at　Thorer。　　The　stroke　took　him　in　the　neck；　so　that　the　head　fell　upon　the　table　before　the　king；　and　the　body　at　his　feet；　and　the　table…cloth　was　soiled　with　blood　from　top　to　bottom。　　The　king　ordered　him　to　be　seized　and　taken　out。　　This　was　done。　They　laid　hands　on　Asbjorn；　and　took　him　from　the　hall。　　The　table…furniture　and　table…cloths　were　removed；　and　also　Thorer's　corpse；　and　all　the　blood　wiped　up。　　The　king　was　enraged　to　the　highest；　but　remained　quiet　in　speech；　as　he　always　was　when　in　anger。



125。　OF　SKJALG；　THE　SON　OF　ERLING　SKJALGSON。

Skjalg　Erlingson　stood　up；　went　before　the　king；　and　said；　〃Now　may　it　go；　as　it　often　does；　that　every　case　will　admit　of　alleviation。　　I　will　pay　thee　the　mulct　for　the　bloodshed　on　account　of　this　man；　so　that　he　may　retain　life　and　limbs。　　All　the　rest　determine　and　do；　king；　according　to　thy　pleasure。〃

The　king　replies；　〃Is　it　not　a　matter　of　death；　Skjalg；　that　a　man　break　the　Easter　peace；　and　in　the　next　place　that　he　kills　a　man　in　the　king's　lodging；　and　in　the　third　that　he　makes　my　feet　his　execution…block；　although　that　may　appear　a　small　matter　to　thee　and　thy　father？〃

Skjalg　replies；　〃It　is　ill　done；　king；　in　as　far　as　it　displeases　thee；　but　the　deed　is；　otherwise；　done　excellently　well。　　But　if　the　deed　appear　to　thee　so　important；　and　be　so　contrary　to　thy　will；　yet　may　I　expect　something　for　my　services　from　thee；　and　certainly　there　are　many　who　will　say　that　thou　didst　well。〃

The　king　replies；　〃Although　thou　hast　made　me　greatly　indebted　to　thee；　Skjalg；　for　thy　services；　yet　I　will　not　for　thy　sake　break　the　law；　or　cast　away　my　own　dignity。〃

Then　Skjalg　turned　round；　and　went　out　of　the　hall。　　Twelve　men　who　had　come　with　Skjalg　all　followed　him；　and　many　others　went　out　with　him。　　Skjalg　said　to　Thorarin　Nefiulfson；　〃If　thou　wilt　have　me　for　a　friend；　take　care　that　this　man　be　not　killed　before　Sunday。〃　　Thereupon　Skjalg　and　his　men　set　off；　took　a　rowing　boat　which　he　had；　and　rowed　south　as　fast　as　they　could；　and　came　to　Jadar　with　the　first　glimpse　of　morning。　　They　went　up　instantly　to　the　house；　and　to　the　loft　in　which　Erling　slept。　Skjalg　rushed　so　hard　against　the　door　that　it　burst　asunder　at　the　nails。　　Erling　and　the　others　who　were　within　started　up。　　He　was　in　one　spring　upon　his　legs；　grasped　his　shield　and　sword；　and　rushed　to　the　door；　demanding　who　was　there。　　Skjalg　named　himself；　and　begs　him　to　open　the　door。　　Erling　replies；　〃It　was　most　likely　to　be　thee　who　hast　behaved　so　foolishly；　or　is　there　any　one　who　is　pursuing　thee？〃　　Thereupon　the　door　was　unlocked。　Then　said　Skjalg；　〃Although　it　appears　to　thee　that　I　am　so　hasty；　I　suppose　our　relation　Asbjorn　will　not　think　my　proceedings　too　quick；　for　he　sits　in　chains　there　in　the　north　at　Augvaldsnes；　and　it　would　be　but　manly　to　hasten　back　and　stand　by　him。〃　　The　father　and　son　then　had　a　conversation　together；　and　Skjalg　related　the　whole　circumstances　of　Thorer　Sel's　murder。



126。　OF　THORARIN　NEFIULFSON。

King　Olaf　took　his　seat　again　when　everything　in　the　hall　was　put　in　order；　and　was　enraged　beyond　measure。　　He　asked　how　it　was　with　the　murderer。　　He　was　answered；　that　he　was　sitting　out　upon　the　doorstep　under　guard。

The　king　says；　〃Why　is　he　not　put　to　death？〃

Thorarin　Nefiulfson　replies；　〃Sire；　would　you　not　call　it　murder　to　kill　a　man　in　the　night…time？〃

The　king　answers；　〃Put　him　in　irons　then；　and　kill　him　in　the　morning。〃

Then　Asbjorn　was　laid　in　chains；　and　locked　up　in　a　house　for　the　night。　　The　day　after　the　king　heard　the　morning　mass；　and　then　went　to　the　Thing；　where　he　sat　till　high　mass。　　As　he　was　going　to　mass　he　said　to　Thorarin；　〃Is　not　the　sun　high　enough　now　in　the　heavens　that　your　friend　Asbjorn　may　be　hanged？〃

Thorarin　bowed　before　the　king；　and　said；　〃Sire；　it　was　said　by　Bishop　Sigurd　on　Friday　last；　that　the　King　who　has　all　things　in　his　power　had　to　endure　great　temptation　of　spirit；　and　blessed　is　he　who　rather　imitates　him；　than　those　who　condemned　the　man　to　death；　or　those　who　caused　his　slaughter。　　It　is　not　long　till　tomorrow；　and　that　is　a　working　day。〃

The　king　looked　at　him；　and　said；　〃Thou　must　take　care　then　that　he　is　not　put　to　death　to…day；　but　take　him　under　thy　charge；　and　know　for　certain　that　thy　own　life　shall　answer　for　it　if　he　escape　in　any　way。〃

Then　the　king　went　away。　　Thorarin　went　also　to　where　Asbjorn　lay　in　irons；　took　off　his　chains；　and　brought　him　to　a　small　room；　where　he　had　meat　and　drink　set　before　him；　and　told　him　what　the　king　had　determined　in　case　Asbjorn　ran　away。　　Asbjorn　replies；　that　Thorarin　need　not　be　afraid　of　him。　　Thorarin　sat　a　long　while　with　him　during　the　day；　and　slept　there　all　night。　　On　Saturday　the　king　arose　and　went　to　the　early　mass；　and　from　thence　he　went　to　the　Thing；　where　a　great　many　bondes　were　assembled；　who　had　many　complaints　to　be　determined。　　The　king　sat　there　long　in　the　day；　and　it　was　late　before　the　people　went　to　high　mass。　　Thereafter　the　king　went　to　table。　　When　he　had　got　meat　he　sat　drinking　for　a　while；　so　that　the　tables　were　not　removed。　　Thorarin　went　out　to　the　priest　who　had　the　church　under　his　care；　and　gave　him　two　marks　of　silver　to　ring　in　the　Sabbath　as　soon　as　the　king's　table　was　taken　away。　　When　the　king　had　drunk　as　much　as　he　wished　the　tables　were　removed。　　Then　said　the　king；　that　it　was　now　time　for　the　slaves　to　go　to　the　murderer　and　put　him　to　death。　　In　the　same　moment　the　bell　rang　in　the　Sabbath。

Then　Thorarin　went　before　the　king；　and　said；　〃The　Sabbath…peace　this　man　must　have；　although　he　has　done　evil。〃

The　king　said；　〃Do　thou　take　care；　Thorarin；　that　he　do　not　escape。〃

The　king　then　went　to　the　church；　and　attended　the　vesper　service；　and　Thorarin　sat　the　whole　day　with　Asbjorn。　　On　Sunday　the　bishop　visited　Asbjorn；　confessed　him；　and　gave　him　orders　to　hear　high　mass。　　Thorarin　then　went　to　the　king；　and　asked　him　to　appoint　men　to　guard　the　murderer。　　〃I　will　now；〃　he　said；　〃be　f