heimskringla-第52部分

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hould　come　to　an　end。　　There　is　now　a　truce；　agreement；　and　peace　with　the　earl；　and　the　West　Gautland　people　who　are　nearest　to　us；　and　it　appears　to　the　people　it　would　be　best　that　you　sent　messengers　to　the　Swedish　king　to　offer　a　reconciliation　on　your　side；　and；　without　doubt；　many　who　are　about　the　Swedish　king　will　support　the　proposal；　for　it　is　a　common　gain　for　those　who　dwell　in　both　countries；　both　here　and　there。〃　　This　speech　of　Bjorn's　received　great　applause。

Then　the　king　said；　〃It　is　fair；　Bjorn；　that　the　advice　thou　hast　given　should　be　carried　out　by　thyself。　　Thou　shalt　undertake　this　embassy　thyself；　and　enjoy　the　good　of　it；　if　thou　hast　advised　well；　and　if　it　involve　any　man　in　danger；　thou　hast　involved　thyself　in　it。　　Moreover；　it　belongs　to　thy　office　to　declare　to　the　multitude　what　I　wish　to　have　told。〃　　Then　the　king　stood　up；　went　to　the　church；　and　had　high　mass　sung　before　him；　and　thereafter　went　to　table。

The　following　day　Hjalte　said　to　Bjorn；　〃Why　art　thou　so　melancholy；　man？　　Art　thou　sick；　or　art　thou　angry　at　any　one？〃　Bjorn　tells　Hjalte　his　conversation　with　the　king；　and　says　it　is　a　very　dangerous　errand。

Hjalte　says；　〃It　is　their　lot　who　follow　kings　that　they　enjoy　high　honours；　and　are　more　respected　than　other　men；　but　stand　often　in　danger　of　their　lives：　and　they　must　understand　how　to　bear　both　parts　of　their　lot。　　The　king's　luck　is　great；　and　much　honour　will　be　gained　by　this　business；　if　it　succeed。〃

Bjorn　answered；　〃Since　thou　makest　so　light　of　this　business　in　thy　speech；　wilt　thou　go　with　me？　　The　king　has　promised　that　I　shall　have　companions　with　me　on　the　journey。〃

〃Certainly；〃　says　Hjalte；　〃I　will　follow　thee；　if　thou　wilt：　for　never　again　shall　I　fall　in　with　such　a　comrade　if　we　part。〃



68。　JOURNEY　OF　BJORN　THE　MARSHAL。

A　few　days　afterwards。　when　the　king　was　at　a　Thing…meeting；　Bjorn　came　with　eleven　others。　　He　says　to　the　king　that　they　were　now　ready　to　proceed　on　their　mission；　and　that　their　horses　stood　saddled　at　the　door。　　〃And　now；〃　says　he；　〃I　would　know　with　what　errand　I　am　to　go；　or　what　orders　thou　givest　us。〃

The　king　replies；　〃Ye　shall　carry　these　my　words　to　the　Swedish　king　　that　I　will　establish　peace　between　our　countries　up　to　the　frontier　which　Olaf　Trygvason　had　before　me；　and　each　shall　bind　himself　faithfully　not　to　trespass　over　it。　　But　with　regard　to　the　loss　of　people；　no　man　must　mention　it　if　peace　there　is　to　be；　for　the　Swedish　king　cannot　with　money　pay　for　the　men　the　Swedes　have　deprived　us　of。〃　　Thereupon　the　king　rose；　and　went　out　with　Bjorn　and　his　followers；　and　he　took　a　gold…mounted　sword　and　a　gold　ring；　and　said；　in　handing　over　the　sword　to　Bjorn；　〃This　I　give　thee：　it　was　given　to　me　in　summer　by　Earl　Ragnvald。　　To　him　ye　shall　go；　and　bring　him　word　from　me　to　advance　your　errand　with　his　counsel　and　strength。　　This　thy　errand　I　will　think　well　fulfilled　if　thou　hearest　the　Swedish　king's　own　words；　be　they　yea　or　nay：　and　this　gold　ring　thou　shalt　give　Earl　Ragnvald。　　These　are　tokens　（1）　he　must　know　well。〃

Hjalte　went　up　to　the　king；　saluted　him；　and　said；　〃We　need　much；　king；　that　thy　luck　attend　us；〃　and　wished　that　they　might　meet　again　in　good　health。　

The　king　asked　where　Hjalte　was　going。

〃With　Bjorn；〃　said　he。

The　king　said；　〃It　will　assist　much　to　the　good　success　of　the　journey　that　thou　goest　too；　for　thy　good　fortune　has　often　been　proved；　and　be　assured　that　I　shall　wish　that　all　my　luck；　if　that　be　of　any　weight；　may　attend　thee　and　thy　company。〃

Bjorn　and　his　followers　rode　their　way；　and　came　to　Earl　Ragnvald's　court；　where　they　were　well　received。　　Bjorn　was　a　celebrated　and　generally　known　man；　　known　by　sight　and　speech　to　all　who　had　ever　seen　King　Olaf；　for　at　every　Thing；　Bjorn　stood　up　and　told　the　king's　message。　　Ingebjorg；　the　earl's　wife；　went　up　to　Hjalte　and　looked　at　him。　　She　recognized　him；　for　she　was　living　with　her　brother　Olaf　Trygvason　when　Hjalte　was　there：　and　she　knew　how　to　reckon　up　the　relationship　between　King　Olaf　and　Vilborg；　the　wife　of　Hjalte；　for　Eirik　Bjodaskalle　father　of　Astrid；　King　Olaf　Trygvason's　mother；　and　Bodvar　father　of　Olaf；　mother　of　Gissur　White　the　father　of　Vilborg；　were　brother's　sons　of　the　lenderman　Vikingakare　of　Vors。

They　enjoyed　here　good　entertainment。　　One　day　Bjorn　entered　into　conversation　with　the　earl　and　Ingebjorg；　in　which　he　set　forth　his　errand；　and　produced　to　the　earl　his　tokens。

The　earl　replies；　〃What　hast　thou　done；　Bjorn；　that　the　king　wishes　thy　death？　　For；　so　far　from　thy　errand　having　any　success；　I　do　not　think　a　man　can　be　found　who　could　speak　these　words　to　the　Swedish　king　without　incurring　wrath　and　punishment。　King　Olaf；　king　of　Sweden；　is　too　proud　for　any　man　to　speak　to　him　on　anything　he　is　angry　at。〃

Then　Bjorn　says；　〃Nothing　has　happened　to　me　that　King　Olaf　is　offended　at；　but　many　of　his　disposition　act　both　for　themselves　and　others；　in　a　way　that　only　men　who　are　daring　can　succeed　in。　But　as　yet　all　his　plans　have　had　good　success；　and　I　think　this　will　turn　out　well　too；　so　I　assure　you；　earl；　that　I　will　actually　travel　to　the　Swedish　king；　and　not　turn　back　before　I　have　brought　to　his　ears　every　word　that　King　Olaf　told　me　to　say　to　him；　unless　death　prevent　me；　or　that　I　am　in　bonds；　and　cannot　perform　my　errand；　and　this　I　must　do；　whether　you　give　any　aid　or　no　aid　to　me　in　fulfilling　the　king's　wishes。〃

Then　said　IngebJorg；　〃I　will　soon　declare　my　opinion。　　I　think；　earl；　thou　must　turn　all　thy　attention　to　supporting　King　Olaf　the　king　of　Norway's　desire　that　this　message　be　laid　before　the　Swedish　king；　in　whatever　way　he　may　answer　it。　　Although　the　Swedish　king's　anger　should　be　incurred；　and　our　power　and　property　be　at　stake；　yet　will　I　rather　run　the　risk；　than　that　it　should　be　said　the　message　of　King　Olaf　was　neglected　from　fear　of　the　Swedish　king。　　Thou　hast　that　birth；　strength　of　relations；　and　other　means；　that　here　in　the　Swedish　land　it　is　free　to　thee　to　tell　thy　mind；　if　it　be　right　and　worthy　of　being　heard；　whether　it　be　listened　to　by　few　or　many；　great　or　little　people；　or　by　the　king　himself。〃

The　earl　replies；　〃It　is　known　to　every　one　how　thou　urgest　me：　it　may　be；　according　to　thy　counsel；　that　I　should　promise　the　king's　men　to　follow　them；　so　that　they　may　get　their　errand　laid　before　the　Swedish　king；　whether　he　take　it　ill　or　take　it　well。　But　I　will　have　my　own　counsel　followed；　and　will　not　run　hastily　into　Bjorn's　or　any　other　man's　measures；　in　such　a　highly　important　matter。　　It　is　my　will　that　ye　all　remain　here　with　me；　so　long　as　I　think　it　necessary　for　the　purpose　of　rightly　forwarding　this　mission。〃　　Now　as　the　earl　had　thus　given　them　to　understand　that　he　would　support　them　in　the　business；　Bjorn　thanked　him　most　kindly；　and　with　the　assurance　that　his　advice　should　rule　them　altogether。　　Thereafter　Bjorn　and　his　fellow…　travellers　remained　very　long　in　the　earl's　house。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　Before　writing　was　a　common　accomplishment　in　courts；　the　　　　　　only　way　of　accrediting　a　special　messenger　between　kings　　　　　　and　great　men　was　by　giving　the　messenger　a　token；　that　is。　　　　　　some　article　well　known　by　the　person　receiving　the　message　　　　　　to　be　the　property　of　and　valued　by　the　person　sending　it。



69。　CONVERSATION　OF　BJORN　AND　INGEBJORG。

Ingebjorg　was　particularly　kind　to　them；　and　Bjorn　often　spoke　with　her　about　the　matter；　and　was　ill　at　ease　that　their　journey　was　so　long　delayed。　　Hjalte　and　the　others　often　spoke　together　also　about　the　matter；　and　Hjalte　said；　〃I　will　go　to　the　king　if　ye　like；　for　I　am　not　a　man　of　Norway；　and　the　Swedes　can　have　nothing　to　say　to　me。　　I　have　heard　that　there　are　Iceland　men　in　the　king's　house　who　are　my　acquaintances；　and　are　well　treated；　namely；　the　skalds　Gissur　Black　and　Ottar　Black。　　From　them　I　shall　get　out　what　I　can　about　the　Swedish　king；　and　if　the　business　will　really　be　so　difficult　as　it　now　appears；　or　if　there　be　any　other　way　of　promoting　it；　I　can　easily　devise　some　errand　that　may　appear　suitable　for　me。〃

This　counsel　appeared　to　Bjorn　and　Ingebjorg　to　be　the　wisest；　and　they　resolved　upon　it　among　themselves。　　Ingebjorg　put　Hjalte　in　a　position　to　travel；　gave　him　two　Gautland　men　with　him；　and　ordered　them　to　follow　him；　and　assist　him　with　their　service；　and　also　to　go　wherever　he　might　have　occasion　to　send　them。　Besides；　Ingebjorg　gave　him　twenty　marks　of　weighed　silver　money　for　travelling　expenses；　and　sent　word　and　token　by　him　to　the　Swedish　king　Olaf's　daughter；　Ingegerd；　that　she　should　give　all　her　assistance　to　Hjalte's　business；　whenever　he　should　find　himself　under　the　necessity　of　craving　her　help。　　Hjalte　set　off　as　soon　as　he　was　ready。　　When　he　came　to　King　Olaf　he　soon　found　the　skalds　Gissur　and　Ottar；　and　they　were　very　glad　at　his　coming。　　Without　delay　they　went　to　the　king；　and　told　him　that　a　man　was　come　who　was　their　countryman；　and　one　of　the　most　considerable　in　their　native　land；　and　requested　the　king　to　receive　him　well。　　The　king　told　them　to　take　Hjalte　and　his　fellow…travellers　into　their　company　and　quarters。　　Now　when　Hjalte　had　resided　there　a　short　time；　and　got　acquainted　with　people；　he　was　much　respected　by　everybody。　　The　skalds　were　often　in　the　king's　house；　for　they　were　well…spoken　men；　and　often　in　the　daytime　they　sat　in　front　of　the　king's　high…seat；　and　Hjalte；　to　whom　they　paid　the　highest　respect　in　all　things；　by　their　side。　　He　became　thus　known　to　the　king；　who　willingly　entered　into　conversation　with　him；　and　heard　from　him　news　about　Iceland。



70。　OF　SIGVAT　THE　SKALD。

It　happened　that　before　Bjorn　set　out　from　home　he　asked　Sigvat　the　skald；　who　at　that　time　was　with　King　Olaf；　to　accompany　him　on　his　journey。　　It　was　a　journey　for　which　people　had　no　great　inclination。　　There　was；　however；　great　friendship　between　Bjorn　and　Sigvat。　　Then　Sigvat　sang：　

　　　　　〃With　the　king's　marshals　all　have　I；　　　　　　　　　　　In　days　gone　by；　　　　　　　　　　　Lived　joyously；　　　　　　　With　all　who　on　the　king　attend；　　　　　　And　knee　before　him　humbly　bend；　　　　　　Bjorn；　thou　oft　hast　ta'en　my　part　　　　　　　　　　　　Pleaded　with　art；　　　　　　　　　　　And　touched　the　heart。　　　　　　Bjorn！　　brave　stainer　of　the　sword；