heimskringla-第141部分

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that　he　was　beside　himself；　and　was　out　of　his　mind；　and　often　afterwards　these　fits　returned。

Magnus　Barefoot's　daughter；　Ragnhild；　was　married　by　her　brothers　to　Harald　Kesia；　a　son　of　the　Danish　king；　Eirik　the　Good；　and　their　sons　were　Magnus；　Olaf；　Knut　and　Harald。



27。　OF　KING　EYSTEIN'S　DEATH。

King　Eystein　built　a　large　ship　at　Nidaros；　which；　in　size　and　shape；　was　like　the　Long　Serpent　which　King　Olaf　Trygvason　had　built。　　At　the　stem　there　was　a　dragon's　head；　and　at　the　stern　a　crooked　tail；　and　both　were　gilded　over。　　The　ship　was　high…　sided；　but　the　fore　and　aft　parts　appeared　less　than　they　should　be。　　He　also　made　in　Nidaros　many　and　large　dry…docks　of　the　best　material；　and　well　timbered。

Six　years　after　King　Olaf's　death；　it　happened　that　King　Eystein；　at　a　feast　at　Hustadir　in　Stim；　was　seized　with　an　illness　which　soon　carried　him　off。　　He　died　the　29th　of　August；　1123；　and　his　body　was　carried　north　to　Nidaros；　and　buried　in　Christ　church；　and　it　is　generally　said　that　so　many　mourners　never　stood　over　any　man's　grave　in　Norway　as　over　King　Eystein's；　at　least　since　the　time　Magnus　the　Good；　Saint　Olaf's　son；　died。　　Eystein　had　been　twenty　years　（A。D。　1104…1123）　king　of　Norway；　and　after　his　decease　his　brother；　King　Sigurd；　was　the　sole　king　of　Norway　as　long　as　he　lived。



28。　BAPTIZING　THE　PEOPLE　OF　SMALAND。

The　Danish　king；　Nikolas；　a　son　of　Svein　Ulfson；　married　afterwards　the　Queen　Margaret；　a　daughter　of　King　Inge；　who　had　before　been　married　to　King　Magnus　Barefoot；　and　their　sons　were　Nikolas　and　Magnus　the　Strong。　　King　Nikolas　sent　a　message　to　King　Sigurd　the　Crusader；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　go　with　him　with　all　his　might　and　help　him　to　the　east　of　the　Swedish　dominion；　Smaland；　to　baptize　the　inhabitants；　for　the　people　who　dwelt　there　had　no　regard　for　Christianity；　although　some　of　them　had　allowed　themselves　to　be　baptized。　　At　that　time　there　were　many　people　all　around　in　the　Swedish　dominions　who　were　heathens；　and　many　were　bad　Christians；　for　there　were　some　of　the　kings　who　renounced　Christianity；　and　continued　heathen　sacrifices；　as　Blotsvein；　and　afterwards　Eirik　Arsale；　had　done。　King　Sigurd　promised　to　undertake　this　journey；　and　the　kings　appointed　their　meeting　at　Eyrarsund。　　King　Sigurd　then　summoned　all　people　in　Norway　to　a　levy；　both　of　men　and　ships；　and　when　the　fleet　was　assembled　he　had　about　300　ships。　　King　Nikolas　came　very　early　to　the　meeting…place；　and　stayed　there　a　long　time；　and　the　bondes　murmured　much；　and　said　the　Northmen　did　not　intend　to　come。　　Thereupon　the　Danish　army　dispersed；　and　the　king　went　away　with　all　his　fleet。　　King　Sigurd　came　there　soon　afterwards；　and　was　ill　pleased；　but　sailed　east　to　Svimraros；　and　held　a　House…thing；　at　which　Sigurd　spoke　about　King　Nikolas's　breach　of　faith；　and　the　Northmen；　on　this　account；　determined　to　go　marauding　in　his　country。　　They　first　plundered　a　village　called　Tumathorp；　which　is　not　far　from　Lund；　and　then　sailed　east　to　the　merchant…town　of　Calmar；　where　they　plundered；　as　well　as　in　Smaland；　and　imposed　on　the　country　a　tribute　of　1500　cattle　for　ship　provision；　and　the　people　of　Smaland　received　Christianity。　　After　this　King　Sigurd　turned　about　with　his　fleet；　and　came　back　to　his　kingdom　with　many　valuable　articles　and　great　booty；　which　he　had　gathered　on　this　expedition；　and　this　levy　was　called　the　Calmar　levy。　　This　was　the　summer　before　the　eclipse。　　This　was　the　only　levy　King　Sigurd　carried　out　as　long　as　he　was　king。



29。　OF　THORARIN　STUTFELD。

It　happened　once　when　King　Sigurd　was　going　from　the　drinking…　table　to　vespers；　that　his　men　were　very　drunk　and　merry；　and　many　of　them　sat　outside　the　church　singing　the　evening　song；　but　their　singing　was　very　irregular。　　Then　the　king　said；　〃Who　is　that　fellow　I　see　standing　at　the　church　with　a　skin　jacket　on？〃　They　answered；　that　they　did　not　know。　　Then　the　king　said：　　

　　　　　〃This　skin…clad　man；　in　sorry　plight；　　　　　　Puts　all　our　wisdom　here　to　flight。〃

Then　the　fellow　came　forward　and　said：　

　　　　　〃I　thought　that　here　I　might　be　known；　　　　　　Although　my　dress　is　scanty　grown。　　　　　　'Tis　poor；　but　I　must　be　content：　　　　　　Unless；　great　king；　it's　thy　intent　　　　　　To　give　me　better；　for　I　have　seen　　　　　　When　I　and　rags　had　strangers　been。〃

The　king　answered；　〃Come　to　me　to…morrow　when　I　am　at　the　drink…　table。〃　　The　night　passed　away；　and　the　morning　after　the　Icelander；　who　was　afterwards　called　Thorarin　Stutfetd；　went　into　the　drinking…room。　　A　man　stood　outside　of　the　door　of　the　room　with　a　horn　in　his　hand；　and　said；　〃Icelander！　　the　king　says　that　if　thou　wilt　deserve　any　gift　from　him　thou　shalt　compose　a　song　before　going　in；　and　make　it　about　a　man　whose　name　is　Hakon　Serkson；　and　who　is　called　Morstrut　（1）；　and　speak　about　that　surname　in　thy　song。〃　　The　man　who　spoke　to　him　was　called　Arne　Fioruskeif。　　Then　they　went　into　the　room；　and　when　Thorarin　came　before　the　king's　seat　he　recited　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃Throndhjem's　warrior…king　has　said　　　　　　The　skald　should　be　by　gifts　repaid；　　　　　　If　he　before　this　meeting　gave　　　　　　The　king's　friend　Serk　a　passing　stave。　　　　　　The　generous　king　has　let　me　know　　　　　　My　stave；　to　please；　must　be　framed　so　　　　　　That　my　poor　verse　extol　the　fame　　　　　　Of　one　called　Hakon　Lump　by　name。〃

Then　said　the　king；　〃I　never　said　so；　and　somebody　has　been　making　a　mock　of　thee。　　Hakon　himself　shall　determine　what　punishment　thou　shalt　have。　　Go　into　his　suite。〃　　Hakon　said；　〃He　shall　be　welcome　among　us；　for　I　can　see　where　the　joke　came　from；〃　and　he　placed　the　Icelander　at　his　side　next　to　himself；　and　they　were　very　merry。　　The　day　was　drawing　to　a　close；　and　the　liquor　began　to　get　into　their　heads；　when　Hakon　said；　〃Dost　thou　not　think；　Icelander；　that　thou　owest　me　some　penalty？　　and　dost　thou　not　see　that　some　trick　has　been　played　upon　thee？〃

Thorarin　replies；　〃It　is　true；　indeed；　that　I　owe　thee　some　compensation。〃

Hakon　says；　〃Then　we　shall　be　quits；　if　thou　wilt　make　me　another　stave　about　Arne。〃

He　said　he　was　ready　to　do　so；　and　they　crossed　over　to　the　side　of　the　room　where　Arne　was　sitting；　and　Thorarin　gave　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃Fioruskeif　has　often　spread；　　　　　　With　evil　heart　and　idle　head；　　　　　　The　eagle's　voidings　round　the　land；　　　　　　Lampoons　and　lies；　with　ready　hand。　　　　　　Yet　this　landlouper　we　all　know；　　　　　　In　Africa　scarce　fed　a　crow；　　　　　　Of　all　his　arms　used　in　the　field；　　　　　　Those　in　most　use　were　helm　and　shield。〃

Arne　sprang　up　instantly；　drew　his　sword；　and　was　going　to　fall　upon　him；　but　Hakon　told　him　to　let　it　alone　and　be　quiet；　and　bade　him　remember　that　if　it　came　to　a　quarrel　he　would　come　off　the　worst　himself。　　Thorarin　afterwards　went　up　to　the　king；　and　said　he　had　composed　a　poem　which　he　wished　the　king　to　hear。　　The　king　consented；　and　the　song　is　known　by　the　name　of　the　Stutfeld　poem。　　The　king　asked　Thorarin　what　he　intended　to　do。　　He　replied；　it　was　his　intention　to　go　to　Rome。　　Then　the　king　gave　him　much　money　for　his　pilgrimage；　and　told　him　to　visit　him　on　his　return；　and　promised　to　provide　for　him。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　Morstrut　is　a　short；　fat；　punchy　fellow。　　L。



30。　OF　SIGURD　AND　OTTAR　BIRTING。

It　is　told　that　King　Sigurd；　one　Whitsunday；　sat　at　table　with　many　people；　among　whom　were　many　of　his　friends；　and　when　he　came　to　his　high…seat；　people　saw　that　his　countenance　was　very　wild；　and　as　if　he　had　been　weeping；　so　that　people　were　afraid　of　what　might　follow。　　The　king　rolled　his　eyes；　and　looked　at　those　who　were　seated　on　the　benches。　　Then　he　seized　the　holy　book　which　he　had　brought　with　him　from　abroad；　and　which　was　written　all　over　with　gilded　letters；　so　that　never　had　such　a　costly　book　come　to　Norway。　　His　queen　sat　by　his　side。　　Then　said　King　Sigurd；　〃Many　are　the　changes　which　may　take　place　during　a　man's　lifetime。　　I　had　two　things　which　were　dear　to　me　above　all　when　I　came　from　abroad；　and　these　were　this　book　and　the　queen；　and　now　I　think　the　one　is　only　worse　and　more　loathsome　than　the　other；　and　nothing　I　have　belonging　to　me　that　I　more　detest。　　The　queen　does　not　know　herself　how　hideous　she　is；　for　a　goat's　horn　is　standing　out　on　her　head；　and　the　better　I　liked　her　before　the　worse　I　like　her　now。〃　　Thereupon　he　cast　the　book　on　the　fire　which　was　burning　on　the　hall…floor；　and　gave　the　queen　a　blow　with　his　fist　between　the　eyes。　　The　queen　wept；　but　more　at　the　king's'　illness　than　at　the　blow；　or　the　affront　she　had　suffered。

Then　a　man　stood　up　before　the　king；　his　name　was　Ottar　Birting；　and　he　was　one　of　the　torch…bearers；　although　a　bonde's　son；　and　was　on　service　that　day。　　He　was　of　small　stature；　but　of　agreeable　appearance；　lively；　bold；　and　full　of　fun；　black　haired；　and　of　a　dark　skin。　　He　ran　and　snatched　the　book　which　the　king　had　cast　into　the　fire；　held　it　out；　and　said；　〃Different　were　the　days；　sire；　when　you　came　with　great　state　and　splendour　to　Norway；　and　with　great　fame　and　honour；　for　then　all　your　friends　came　to　meet　you　with　joy；　and　were　glad　at　your　coming。　　All　as　one　man　would　have　you　for　king；　and　have　you　in　the　highest　regard　and　honour。　　But　now　days　of　sorrow　are　come　over　us；　for　on　this　holy　festival　many　of　your　friends　have　come　to　you；　and　cannot　be　cheerful　on　account　of　your　melancholy　and　ill　health。　　It　is　much　to　be　desired　that　you　would　be　merry　with　them；　and　do；　good　king；　take　this　saving　advice；　make　peace　first　with　the　queen；　and　make　her　joyful　whom　you　have　so　highly　affronted；　with　a　friendly　word；　and　then　all　your　chiefs；　friends；　and　servants；　that　is　my　advice。〃

Then　said　King　Sigurd；　〃Dost　thou　dare　to　give　me　advice；　thou　great　lump　of　a　houseman's　lad！〃　　And　he　sprang　up；　drew　his　sword；　and　swung　it　with　both　hands　as　if　going　to　cut　him　down。

But　Ottar　stood　quiet　and　upright；　did　not　stir　from　the　spot；　nor　show　the　slightest　sign　of　fear；　and　the　king　turned　round　the　sword…blade　which　he　had　waved　over　Ottar's　head；　and　gently　touched　him　on　the　shoulder　with　it。　　Then　he　sat　down　in　silence　on　his　high…seat。

All　were　silent　who　were　in　the　hall；　for　nobody　dared　to　say　a　word。　　Now　the　king　looked　around　him；　milder　than　before；　and　said；　〃It　is　difficult　to　know　what　there　is　in　pe