heimskringla-第138部分

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into　the　emperor's　pay。　　Then　King　Sigurd　traveled　from　Bulgaria；　and　through　Hungary；　Pannonia。　Suabia；　and　Bavaria；　where　he　met　the　Roman　emperor；　Lotharius；　who　received　him　in　the　most　friendly　way；　gave　him　guides　through　his　dominions；　and　had　markets　established　for　him　at　which　he　could　purchase　all　he　required。　　When　King　Sigurd　came　to　Slesvik　in　Denmark；　Earl　Eilif　made　a　sumptuous　feast　for　him；　and　it　was　then　midsummer。　In　Heidaby　he　met　the　Danish　king；　Nikolas；　who　received　him　in　the　most　friendly　way；　made　a　great　entertainment　for　him；　accompanied　him　north　to　Jutland；　and　gave　him　a　ship　provided　with　everything　needful。　　From　thence　the　king　returned　to　Norway；　and　was　joyfully　welcomed　on　his　return　to　his　kingdom　（A。D。　1110）。　　It　was　the　common　talk　among　the　people；　that　none　had　ever　made　so　honourable　a　journey　from　Norway　as　this　of　King　Sigurd。　　He　was　twenty　years　of　age；　and　had　been　three　years　on　these　travels。　　His　brother　Olaf　was　then　twelve　years　old。



15。　EYSTEIN'S　DOINGS　IN　THE　MEANTIME。

King　Eystein　had　also　effected　much　in　the　country　that　was　useful　while　King　Sigurd　was　on　his　journey。　　He　established　a　monastery　at　Nordnes　in　Bergen；　and　endowed　it　with　much　property。　　He　also　built　Michael's　church；　which　is　a　very　splendid　stone　temple。　　In　the　king's　house　there　he　also　built　the　Church　of　the　Apostles；　and　the　great　hall；　which　is　the　most　magnificent　wooden　structure　that　was　ever　built　in　Norway。　　He　also　built　a　church　at　Agdanes　with　a　parapet；　and　a　harbour；　where　formerly　there　had　been　a　barren　spot　only。　　In　Nidaros　he　built　in　the　king's　street　the　church　of　Saint　Nikolas；　which　was　particularly　ornamented　with　carved　work；　and　all　in　wood。　　He　also　built　a　church　north　in　Vagar　in　Halogaland；　and　endowed　it　with　property　and　revenues。



16。　OF　KING　EYSTEIN。

King　Eystein　sent　a　verbal　message　to　the　most　intelligent　and　powerful　of　the　men　of　Jamtaland；　and　invited　them　to　him；　received　them　all　as　they　came　with　great　kindness；　accompanied　them　part　of　the　way　home；　and　gave　them　presents；　and　thus　enticed　them　into　a　friendship　with　him。　　Now　as　many　of　them　became　accustomed　to　visit　him　and　receive　gifts　from　him；　and　he　also　sent　gifts　to　some　who　did　not　come　themselves；　he　soon　gained　the　favour　of　all　the　people　who　had　most　influence　in　the　country。　　Then　he　spoke　to　the　Jamtaland　people；　and　told　them　they　had　done　ill　in　turning　away　from　the　kings　of　Norway；　and　withdrawing　from　them　their　taxes　and　allegiance。　　He　began　by　saying　how　the　Jamtaland　people　had　submitted　to　the　reign　of　Hakon；　the　foster…son　of　Athelstane；　and　had　long　afterwards　been　subjected　to　the　kings　of　Norway；　and　he　represented　to　them　how　many　useful　things　they　could　get　from　Norway；　and　how　inconvenient　it　was　for　them　to　apply　to　the　Swedish　king　for　what　they　needed。　　By　these　speeches　he　brought　matters　so　far　that　the　Jamtaland　people　of　their　own　accord　offered　to　be　subject　to　him；　which　they　said　was　useful　and　necessary　for　them；　and　thus；　on　both　sides；　it　was　agreed　that　the　Jamtalanders　should　put　their　whole　country　under　King　Eystein。　The　first　beginning　was　with　the　men　of　consequence；　who　persuaded　the　people　to　take　an　oath　of　fidelity　to　King　Eystein；　and　then　they　went　to　King　Eystein　and　confirmed　the　country　to　him　by　oath；　and　this　arrangement　has　since　continued　for　a　long　time。　　King　Eystein　thus　conquered　Jamtaland　by　his　wisdom；　and　not　by　hostile　inroads；　as　some　of　his　forefathers　had　done。



17。　OF　KING　EYSTEIN'S　PERFECTIONS。

King　Eystein　was　the　handsomest　man　that　could　be　seen。　　He　had　blue　open　eyes；　his　hair　yellow　and　curling；　his　stature　not　tall；　but　of　the　middle　size。　　He　was　wise；　intelligent；　and　acquainted　with　the　laws　and　history。　　He　had　much　knowledge　of　mankind；　was　quick　in　counsel；　prudent　in　words；　and　very　eloquent　and　very　generous。　　He　was　very　merry；　yet　modest；　and　was　liked　and　beloved；　indeed；　by　all　the　people。　　He　was　married　to　Ingebjorg；　a　daughter　of　Guthorm；　son　of　Thorer　of　Steig；　and　their　daughter　was　Maria；　who　afterwards　married　Gudbrand　Skafhogson。



18。　OF　IVAR　INGIMUNDSON。

King　Eystein　had　in　many　ways　improved　the　laws　and　priveleges　of　the　country　people；　and　kept　strictly　to　the　laws；　and　he　made　himself　acquainted　with　all　the　laws　of　Norway；　and　showed　in　everything　great　prudence　and　understanding。　　What　a　valuable　man　King　Eystein　was；　how　full　of　friendship；　and　how　much　he　turned　his　mind　to　examining　and　avoiding　everything　that　could　be　of　disadvantage　to　his　friends；　may　be　seen　from　his　friendship　to　an　Iceland　man　called　Ivar　Ingimundson。　　The　man　was　witty；　of　great　family；　and　also　a　poet。　　The　king　saw　that　Ivar　was　out　of　spirits；　and　asked　him　why　he　was　so　melancholy。　　〃Before；　when　thou　wast　with　us；　we　had　much　amusement　with　thy　conversation。　　I　know　thou　art　a　man　of　too　good　an　understanding　to　believe　that　I　would　do　anything　against　thee。　　Tell　me　then　what　it　is。〃

He　replied；　〃I　cannot　tell　thee　what　it　is。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃I　will　try　to　guess　what　it　is。　　Are　there　any　men　who　displease　thee？〃

To　this　he　replied；　〃No。〃

〃Dost　thou　think　thou　art　held　in　less　esteem　by　me　than　thou　wouldst　like　to　be？〃

To　this　he　also　replied；　〃No。〃

〃Hast　thou　observed　anything　whatever　that　has　made　an　impression　on　thee　at　which　thou　art　ill　pleased？〃

He　replied；　it　was　not　this　either。

The　king：　〃Would　you　like　to　go　to　other　chiefs　or　to　other　men？〃

To　this　he　answered；　〃No。〃

The　king：　〃It　is　difficult　now　to　guess。　　Is　there　any　girl　here；　or　in　any　other　country；　to　whom　thy　affections　are　engaged？〃

He　said　it　was　so。

The　king　said；　〃Do　not　be　melancholy　on　that　account。　　Go　to　Iceland　when　spring　sets　in；　and　I　shall　give　thee　money；　and　presents；　and　with　these　my　letters　and　seal　to　the　men　who　have　the　principal　sway　there；　and　I　know　no　man　there　who　will　not　obey　my　persuasions　or　threats。〃

Ivar　replied；　〃My　fate　is　heavier；　sire；　for　my　own　brother　has　the　girl。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃Throw　it　out　of　thy　mind；　and　I　know　a　counsel　against　this。　　After　Yule　I　will　travel　in　guest…quarters。　　Thou　shalt　come　along　with　me；　and　thou　will　have　an　opportunity　of　seeing　many　beautiful　girls；　and；　provided　they　are　not　of　the　royal　stock；　I　will　get　thee　one　of　them　in　marriage。〃

Ivar　replies；　〃Sire；　my　fate　is　still　the　heavier；　for　as　oft　as　I　see　beautiful　and　excellent　girls　I　only　remember　the　more　that　girl；　and　they　increase　my　misery。〃

The　king：　〃Then　I　will　give　thee　property　to　manage；　and　estates　for　thy　amusement。〃

He　replied；　〃For　that　I　have　no　desire。〃

The　king：　〃Then　I　will　give　thee　money；　that　thou　mayest　travel　in　other　countries。〃

He　said　he　did　not　wish　this。

Then　said　the　king；　〃It　is　difficult　for　me　to　seek　farther；　for　I　have　proposed　everything　that　occurs　to　me。　　There　is　but　one　thing　else；　and　that　is　but　little　compared　to　what　I　have　offered　thee。　　Come　to　me　every　day　after　the　tables　are　removed；　and；　if　I　am　not　sitting　upon　important　business；　I　shall　talk　with　thee　about　the　girl　in　every　way　that　I　can　think　of；　and　I　shall　do　so　at　leisure。　　It　sometimes　happens　that　sorrow　is　lightened　by　being　brought　out　openly；　and　thou　shalt　never　go　away　without　some　gift。〃

He　replied；　〃This　I　will　do；　sire；　and　return　thanks　for　this　inquiry。〃

And　now　they　did　so　constantly；　and　when　the　king　was　not　occupied　with　weightier　affairs　he　talked　with　him；　and　his　sorrow　by　degrees　wore　away；　and　he　was　again　in　good　spirits。



19。　OF　KING　SIGURD。

King　Sigurd　was　a　stout　and　strong　man；　with　brown　hair；　of　a　manly　appearance；　but　not　handsome；　well　grown；　of　little　speech；　and　often　not　friendly；　but　good　to　his　friends；　and　faithful；　not　very　eloquent；　but　moral　and　polite。　　King　Sigurd　was　self…　willed；　and　severe　in　his　revenge；　strict　in　observing　the　law；　was　generous；　and　withal　an　able；　powerful　king。　　His　brother　Olaf　was　a　tall；　thin　man；　handsome　in　countenance；　lively；　modest；　and　popular。　　When　all　these　brothers；　Eystein；　Sigurd　and　Olaf　were　kings　of　Norway；　they　did　away　with　many　burthens　which　the　Danes　had　laid　upon　the　people　in　the　time　that　Svein　Alfifason　ruled　Norway；　and　on　this　account　they　were　much　beloved；　both　by　the　people　and　the　great　men　of　the　country。



20。　OF　KING　SIGURD'S　DREAM。

Once　King　Sigurd　fell　into　low　spirits；　so　that　few　could　get　him　to　converse；　and　he　sat　but　a　short　time　at　the　drinking　table。　This　was　heavy　on　his　counsellors；　friends；　and　court；　and　they　begged　King　Eystein　to　consider　how　they　could　discover　the　cause　why　the　people　who　came　to　the　king　could　get　no　reply　to　what　they　laid　before　him。　　King　Eystein　answered　them；　that　it　was　difficult　to　speak　with　the　king　about　this；　but　at　last；　on　the　entreaty　of　many；　he　promised　to　do　it。　　Once；　when　they　were　both　together；　King　Eystein　brought　the　matter　before　his　brother；　and　asked　the　cause　of　his　melancholy。　　〃It　is　a　great　grief；　sire；　to　many　to　see　thee　so　melancholy；　and　we　would　like　to　know　what　has　occasioned　it；　or　if　perchance　thou　hast　heard　any　news　of　great　weight？〃

King　Sigurd　replies；　that　it　was　not　so。

〃Is　it　then；　brother；〃　says　King　Eystein；　〃that　you　would　like　to　travel　out　of　the　country；　and　augment　your　dominions　as　our　father　did？〃

He　answered；　that　it　was　not　that　either。

〃Is　it；　then；　that　any　man　here　in　the　country　has　offended？〃

To　this　also　the　king　said　〃No。〃

〃Then　I　would　like　to　know　if　you　have　dreamt　anything　that　has　occasioned　this　depression　of　mind？〃

The　king　answered　that　it　was　so。

〃Tell　me；　then；　brother；　thy　dream。〃

King　Sigurd　said；　〃I　will　not　tell　it；　unless　thou　interpret　it　as　it　may　turn　out；　and　I　shall　be　quick　at　perceiving　if　thy　interpretation　be　right　or　not。〃

King　Eystein　replies；　〃This　is　a　very　difficult　matter；　sire；　on　both　sides；　as　I　am　exposed　to　thy　anger　if　I　cannot　interpret　it；　and　to　the　blame　of　the　public　if　I　can　do　nothing　in　the　matter；　but　I　will　rather　fall　under　your　displeasure；　even　if　my　interpretation　should　not　be　agreeable。〃

King　Sigurd　replies；　〃It　appeared　to　me；　in　a　dream；　as　if　we　brothers　were　all　sitting　on　a　bench　in　front　of　Christ　church