heimskringla-第129部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


d　lists　down　the　sides；　and　arms　five　ells　long；　and　so　narrow　that　they　must　be　drawn　up　with　ties；　and　lay　in　folds　all　the　way　up　to　the　shoulders。　　The　shoes　were　high；　and　all　edged　with　silk；　or　even　with　gold。　　Many　other　kinds　of　wonderful　ornaments　were　used　at　that　time。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　We　may　understand　the　arrangement　by　supposing　the　fire　in　　　　　　the　middle　of　the　room；　the　smoke　escaping　by　a　hole　in　the　　　　　　roof；　and　a　long　bench　on　each　side　of　the　fire；　one　bench　　　　　　occupied　by　the　high…seat　of　the　king　and　great　guests；　the　　　　　　other　by　the　rest　of　the　guests；　and　the　cup　handed　across　　　　　　the　fire；　which　appears　to　have　had　a　religious　meaning　　　　　　previous　to　the　introduction　of　Christianity。　　L。



3。　FASHION　OF　KING　OLAF'S　COURT。

King　Olaf　used　the　fashion；　which　was　introduced　from　the　courts　of　foreign　kings；　of　letting　his　grand…butler　stand　at　the　end　of　the　table；　and　fill　the　table…cups　for　himself　and　the　other　distinguished　guests　who　sat　at　the　table。　　He　had　also　torch…　bearers；　who　held　as　many　candles　at　the　table　as　there　were　guests　of　distinction　present。　　There　was　also　a　marshal's　bench　outside　of　the　table…circle；　where　the　marshal　and　other　persons　of　distinction　sat　with　their　faces　towards　the　high…seat。　　King　Harald；　and　the　kings　before　him；　used　to　drink　out　of　deer…horn；　and　the　ale　was　handed　from　the　high…seat　to　the　otherside　over　the　fire；　and　he　drank　to　the　memory　of　any　one　he　thought　of。　　So　says　Stuf　the　skald：　

　　　　　〃He　who　in　battle　is　the　first；　　　　　　And　now　in　peace　is　best　to　trust；　　　　　　A　welcome；　hearty　and　sincere；　　　　　　Gave　to　me　on　my　coming　here。　　　　　　He　whom　the　ravens　watch　with　care；　　　　　　He　who　the　gold　rings　does　not　spare；　　　　　　A　golden　horn　full　to　the　brink　　　　　　Gave　me　himself　at　Haug　to　drink。〃



4。　ARRANGEMENT　OF　KING　OLAF'S　COURT。

King　Olaf　had　120　courtmen…at…arms；　and　60　pursuivants；　besides　60　house…servants；　who　provided　what　was　wanted　for　the　king's　house　wherever　it　might　be；　or　did　other　work　required　for　the　king。　　When　the　bondes　asked　why　he　kept　a　greater　retinue　than　the　law　allowed；　or　former　kings　kept　when　they　went　in　guest…　quarters　or　feasts　which　the　bondes　had　to　provide　for　them；　the　king　answered；　〃It　does　not　happen　that　I　rule　the　kingdom　better；　or　produce　greater　respect　for　me　than　ye　had　for　my　father；　although　I　have　one…half　more　people　than　he　had。　　I　do　not　by　any　means　do　it　merely　to　plague　you；　or　to　make　your　condition　harder　than　formerly。〃



5。　KING　SVEIN　ULFSON'S　DEATH。

King　Svein　Ulfson　died　ten　years　after　the　fall　of　both　the　Haralds　（A。D。　1076）。　　After　him　his　son；　Harald　Hein；　was　king　for　three　years　（A。D。　1077…1080）；　then　Canute　the　Holy　for　seven　years　（A。D。　1081…1087）；　afterwards　Olaf；　King　Svein's　third　son；　for　eight　years　（A。D。　1088…1095）。　　Then　Eirik　the　Good；　Svein's　fourth　son；　for　eight　winters　（A。D。　1096…1103）。　　Olaf；　the　king　of　Norway；　was　married　to　Ingerid；　a　daughter　of　Svein；　the　Danish　king；　and　Olaf；　the　Danish　King　Svein's　son；　married　Ingegerd；　a　daughter　of　King　Harald；　and　sister　of　King　Olaf　of　Norway。　　King　Olaf　Haraldson；　who　was　called　by　some　Olaf　Kyrre；　but　by　many　Olaf　the　Bonde；　had　a　son　by　Thora；　Joan's　daughter；　who　was　called　Magnus；　and　was　one　of　the　handsomest　lads　that　could　be　seen；　and　was　promising　in　every　respect。　　He　was　brought　up　in　the　king's　court。



6。　MIRACLES　OF　KING　OLAF　THE　SAINT。

King　Olaf　had　a　church　of　stone　built　in　Nidaros；　on　the　spot　where　King　Olaf's　body　had　first　been　buried；　and　the　altar　was　placed　directly　over　the　spot　where　the　king's　grave　had　been。　This　church　was　consecrated　and　called　Christ　Church；　and　King　Olaf's　shrine　was　removed　to　it；　and　was　placed　before　the　altar；　and　many　miracles　took　place　there。　　The　following　summer；　on　the　　same　day　of　the　year　as　the　church　was　consecrated；　which　was　the　day　before　Olafsmas；　there　was　a　great　assemblage　of　people；　and　then　a　blind　man　was　restored　to　sight。　　And　on　the　mass…day　itself；　when　the　shrine　and　the　holy　relics　were　taken　out　and　carried；　and　the　shrine　itself；　according　to　custom；　was　taken　and　set　down　in　the　churchyard；　a　man　who　had　long　been　dumb　recovered　his　speech　again；　and　sang　with　flowing　tongue　praise…　hymns　to　God；　and　to　the　honour　of　King　Olaf　the　Saint。　　The　third　miracle　was　of　a　woman　who　had　come　from　Svithjod；　and　had　suffered　much　distress　on　this　pilgrimage　from　her　blindness；　but　trusting　in　God's　mercy；　had　come　travelling　to　this　solemnity。　She　was　led　blind　into　the　church　to　hear　mass　this　day；　but　before　the　service　was　ended　she　saw　with　both　eyes；　and　got　her　sight　fully　and　clearly；　although　she　had　been　blind　fourteen　years。　　She　returned　with　great　joy；　praising　God　and　King　Olaf　　the　Saint。



7。　OF　THE　SHRINE　OF　KING　OLAF　THE　SAINT。

There　happened　a　circumstance　in　Nidaros；　when　King　Olaf's　coffin　was　being　carried　about　through　the　streets；　that　it　became　so　heavy　that　people　could　not　lift　it　from　the　spot。　　Now　when　the　coffin　was　set　down；　the　street　was　broken　up　to　see　what　was　under　it　at　that　spot；　and　the　body　of　a　child　was　found　which　had　been　murdered　and　concealed　there。　　The　body　was　carried　away；　the　street　put　in　order　again　as　it　had　been　before；　and　the　shrine　carried　on　according　to　custom。



8。　KING　OLAF　WAS　BLESSED　WITH　PEACE。

In　the　days　of　King　O1af　there　were　bountiful　harvests　in　Norway　and　many　good　things。　　In　no　man's　life　had　times　been　so　good　in　Norway　since　the　days　of　Harald　Harfager。　　King　O1af　modified　for　the　better　many　a　matter　that　his　father　had　inaugurated　and　maintained　with　severity。　　He　was　generous；　but　a　strict　ruler；　for　he　was　a　wise　man；　and　well　understood　what　was　of　advantage　to　the　kingdom。　　There　are　many　stories　of　his　good　works。　　How　much　he　loved　and　how　kind　he　was　to　the　people　may　be　seen　from　the　following　words；　which　he　once　spoke　at　a　large　banquet。　　He　was　happy　and　in　the　best　of　spirits；　when　one　of　his　men　said；　〃It　pleases　us；　sire；　to　see　you　so　happy。〃　　He　answered：　〃I　have　reason　to　be　glad　when　I　see　my　subjects　sitting　happy　and　free　in　a　guild　consecrated　to　my　uncle；　the　sainted　King　Olaf。　　In　the　days　of　my　father　these　people　were　subjected　to　much　terror　and　fear；　the　most　of　them　concealed　their　gold　and　their　precious　things；　but　now　I　see　glittering　on　his　person　what　each　one　owns；　and　your　freedom　is　my　gladness。　　In　his　reign　there　was　no　strife；　and　he　protected　himself　and　his　realm　against　enemies　abroad；　and　his　nearest　neighbours　stood　in　great　awe　of　him；　although　he　was　a　most　gentle　man；　as　is　confirmed　by　the　skald。



9。　MEETING　OF　OLAF　KYRRE　AND　CANUTE　THE　SAINT。

King　Olaf　Kyrre　was　a　great　friend　of　his　brother…in…law；　the　Danish　king；　Canute　the　holy。　　They　appointed　a　meeting　and　met　at　the　Gaut　river　at　Konungahella；　where　the　kings　used　to　have　their　meetings。　　There　King　Canute　made　the　proposal　that　they　should　send　an　army　westward　to　England　on　account　of　the　revenge　they　had　to　take　there；　first　and　foremost　King　Olaf　himself；　and　also　the　Danish　king。　　〃Do　one　of　two　things；〃　said　King　Canute；　　〃either　take　sixty　ships；　which　I　will　furnish　thee　with；　and　be　thou　the　leader；　or　give　me　sixty　ships；　and　I　shall　be　the　leader。〃　　Then　said　King　Olaf；　〃This　speech　of　thine；　King　Canute；　is　altogether　according　to　my　mind；　but　there　is　this　great　difference　between　us；　your　family　has　had　more　luck　in　conquering　England　with　great　glory；　and；　among　others；　King　Canute　the　Great；　and　it　is　likely　that　this　good　fortune　follows　your　race。　　On　the　other　hand；　when　King　Harald；　my　father；　went　westward　to　England；　he　got　his　death　there；　and　at　that　time　the　best　men　in　Norway　followed　him。　　But　Norway　was　so　emptied　then　of　chosen　men；　that　such　men　have　not　since　been　to　find　in　the　country；　for　that　expedition　there　was　the　most　excellent　outfit；　and　you　know　what　was　the　end　of　it。　　Now　I　know　my　own　capacity；　and　how　little　I　am　suited　to　be　the　leader；　so　I　would　rather　you　should　go；　with　my　help　and　assistance。〃

So　King　Olaf　gave　Canute　sixty　large　ships；　with　excellent　equipment　and　faithful　men；　and　set　his　lendermen　as　chiefs　over　them；　and　all　must　allow　that　this　armament　was　admirably　equipt。　It　is　also　told　in　the　saga　about　Canute；　that　the　Northmen　alone　did　not　break　the　levy　when　the　army　was　assembled；　but　the　Danes　would　not　obey　their　king's　orders。　　This　king　Canute　acknowledged；　and　gave　them　leave　to　trade　in　merchandise　where　they　pleased　through　his　country；　and　at　the　same　time　sent　the　king　of　Norway　costly　presents　for　his　assistance。　　On　the　other　hand　he　was　enraged　against　the　Danes；　and　laid　heavy　fines　upon　them。



10。　A　BONDE　WHO　UNDERSTOOD　THE　LANGUAGE　OF　BIRDS。

One　summer；　when　King　Olaf's　men　had　gone　round　the　country　collecting　his　income　and　land　dues；　it　happened　that　the　king；　on　their　return　home　asked　them　where　on　their　expedition　they　had　been　best　entertained。　　They　said　it　was　in　the　house　of　a　bonde　in　one　of　the　king's　districts。　　〃There　is　an　old　bonde　there　who　knows　many　things　before　they　happen。　　We　asked　him　about　many　things；　which　he　explained　to　us；　nay；　we　even　believe　that　he　understands　perfectly　the　language　of　birds。〃　　The　king　replies；　〃How　can　ye　believe　such　nonsense？〃　and　insisted　that　it　was　wrong　to　put　confidence　in　such　things。　　It　happened　soon　after　that　the　king　was　sailing　along　the　coast；　and　as　they　sailed　through　a　Sound　the　king　said；　〃What　is　that　township　up　in　the　country？〃

They　replied；　〃That　is　the　district；　sire；　where　we　told　you　we　were　best　entertained。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃What　house　is　that　which　stands　up　there；　not　far　from　the　Sound？〃

They　replied；　〃That　house　belongs　to　the　wise　old　bonde　we　told　you　of；　sire。〃

They　saw　now　a　horse　standing　close　to　the　house。　　Then　said　the　king；　〃Go　there；　and　take　that　horse；　and　kill　him。〃

They　replied；　〃We　would　not　like　to　do　him　such　harm。〃

The　king：　〃I　will　command。　　Cut　off　the　horse's　head；　but　take　care　of　yourselves　that　ye　let　no　blood　come　to　the　ground；　and　bear　the　horse　out　to　my　ship。　　Go　then　and　bring　to　me　the　old　man；　but　tell　him　nothing　of　what　has　happened；　as　ye　shall　answer　for　it　with　your　lives。〃

They　d