heimskringla-第65部分

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the　earls；　since　that　time；　have　constantly　held　the　country　as　a　fief；　not　as　their　udal　property。　　〃As　a　sufficient　proof　of　which；〃　said　he；　〃when　Eirik　Blood…axe　and　his　sons　were　in　Orkney　the　earls　were　subject　to　them；　and　also　when　my　relation　Olaf　Trygvason　came　there　thy　father；　Earl　Sigurd；　became　his　man。　　Now　I　have　taken　heritage　after　King　Olaf；　and　I　will　give　thee　the　condition　to　become　my　man　and　then　I　will　give　thee　the　islands　as　a　fief；　and　we　shall　try　if　I　cannot　give　thee　aid　that　will　he　more　to　the　purpose　than　Thorfin　can　get　from　the　Scottish　king。　　If　thou　wilt　not　accept　of　these　terms；　then　will　I　win　back　my　udal　property　there　in　the　West；　as　our　forefathers　and　relations　of　old　possessed　it。〃

The　earl　carefully　considered　this　speech；　laid　it　before　his　friends；　and　demanded　their　advice　if　he　should　agree　to　it；　and　enter　into　such　terms　with　King　Olaf　and　become　his　vassal。　　〃But　I　do　not　see　what　my　lot　will　be　at　my　departure　if　I　say　no；　for　the　king　has　clearly　enough　declared　his　claim　upon　Orkney；　and　from　his　great　power；　and　our　being　in　his　hands；　it　is　easy　for　him　to　make　our　destiny　what　he　pleases。〃

Although　the　earl　saw　that　there　was　much　to　be　considered　for　and　against　it　he　chose　the　condition　to　deliver　himself　and　his　dominion　into　the　king's　power。　　Thereupon　the　king　took　the　earl's　power；　and　the　government　over　all　the　earl's　lands；　and　the　earl　became　his　vassal　under　oath　of　fealty。



106。　THE　EARL'S　AGREEMENT　TO　THE　KING'S　TERMS。

Thorfin　the　earl　heard　that　his　brother　Bruse　had　gone　east　to　King　Olaf　to　seek　support　from　him；　but　as　Thorfin　had　been　on　a　visit　to　King　Olaf　before；　and　had　concluded　a　friendship　with　him；　he　thought　his　case　would　stand　well　with　the　king；　and　that　many　would　support　it；　but　he　believed　that　many　more　would　do　so　if　he　went　there　himself。　　Earl　Thorfin　resolved；　therefore；　to　go　east　himself　without　delay；　and　he　thought　there　would　be　so　little　difference　between　the　time　of　his　arrival　and　Bruse's；　that　Bruse's　errand　could　not　be　accomplished　before　he　came　to　King　Olaf。　　But　it　went　otherwise　than　Earl　Thorfin　had　expected；　for　when　he　came　to　the　king　the　agreement　between　the　king　and　Bruse　was　already　concluded　and　settled；　and　Earl　Thorfin　did　not　know　a　word　about　Bruse's　having　surrendered　his　udal　domains　until　he　came　to　King　Olaf。　　As　soon　as　Earl　Thorfin　and　King　Olaf　met；　the　king　made　the　same　demand　upon　the　kingdom　of　Orkney　that　he　had　done　to　Earl　Bruse；　and　required　that　Thorfin　should　voluntarily　deliver　over　to　the　king　that　part　of　the　country　which　he　had　possessed　hitherto。　　The　earl　answered　in　a　friendly　and　respectful　way；　that　the　king's　friendship　lay　near　to　his　heart：　〃And　if　you　think；　sire；　that　my　help　against　other　chiefs　can　be　of　use；　you　have　already　every　claim　to　it；　but　I　cannot　be　your　vessel　for　service；　as　I　am　an　earl　of　the　Scottish　king；　and　owe　fealty　to　him。〃

As　the　king　found　that　the　earl；　by　his　answer；　declined　fulfilling　the　demand　he　had　made；　he　said；　〃Earl；　if　thou　wilt　not　become　my　vassal；　there　is　another　condition；　namely；　that　I　will　place　over　the　Orkney　Islands　the　man　I　please；　and　require　thy　oath　that　thou　wilt　make　no　claim　upon　these　lands；　but　allow　whoever　I　place　over　them　to　sit　in　peace。　　If　thou　wilt　not　accept　of　either　of　these　conditions；　he　who　is　to　rule　over　these　lands　may　expect　hostility　from　thee；　and　thou　must　not　think　it　strange　if　like　meet　like　in　this　business。〃

The　earl　begged　of　the　king　some　time　to　consider　the　matter。　　The　king　did　so；　and　gave　the　earl　time　to　take　the　counsel　of　his　friends　on　the　choosing　one　or　other　of　these　conditions。　Then　the　earl　requested　a　delay　until　next　summer；　that　he　might　go　over　the　sea　to　the　west；　for　his　proper　counsellors　were　all　at　home；　and　he　himself　was　but　a　child　in　respect　of　age；　but　the　king　required　that　he　should　now　make　his　election　of　one　or　other　of　the　conditions。　　Thorkel　Fosterer　was　then　with　the　king；　and　he　privately　sent　a　person　to　Earl　Thorfin；　and　told　him；　whatever　his　intentions　might　be；　not　to　think　of　leaving　Olaf　without　being　reconciled　with　him；　as　he　stood　entirely　in　Olaf's　power。　　From　such　hints　the　earl　saw　there　was　no　other　way　than　to　let　the　king　have　his　own　will。　　It　was　no　doubt　a　hard　condition　to　have　no　hope　of　ever　regaining　his　paternal　heritage；　and　moreover　to　bind　himself　by　oath　to　allow　those　to　enjoy　in　peace　his　domain　who　had　no　hereditary　right　to　it；　but　seeing　it　was　uncertain　how　he　could　get　away；　he　resolved　to　submit　to　the　king　and　become　his　vassal；　as　Bruse　had　done。　　The　king　observed　that　Thorfin　was　more　high…minded；　and　less　disposed　to　suffer　subjection　than　Bruse；　and　therefore　he　trusted　less　to　Thorfin　than　to　Bruse；　and　he　considered　also　that　Thorfin　would　trust　to　the　aid　of　the　Scottish　king；　if　he　broke　the　agreement。　　The　king　also　had　discernment　enough　to　perceive　that　Bruse；　although　slow　to　enter　into　an　agreement；　would　promise　nothing　but　what　he　intended　to　keep；　but　as　to　Thorfin　when　he　had　once　made　up　his　mind　he　went　readily　into　every　proposal　and　made　no　attempt　to　obtain　any　alteration　of　the　king's　first　conditions：　therefore　the　king　had　his　suspicions　that　the　earl　would　infringe　the　agreement。



107。　EARL　THORFIN'S　DEPARTURE；　AND　RECONCILIATION　WITH　THORKEL。

When　the　king　had　carefully　considered　the　whole　matter　by　himself；　he　ordered　the　signal　to　sound　for　a　General　Thing；　to　which　he　called　in　the　earls。　　Then　said　the　king；　〃I　will　now　make　known　to　the　public　our　agreement　with　the　Orkney　earls。　They　have　now　acknowledged　my　right　of　property　to　Orkney　and　Shetland；　and　have　both　become　my　vassals；　all　which　they　have　confirmed　by　oath；　and　now　I　will　invest　them　with　these　lands　as　a　fief：　namely；　Bruse　with　one　third　part　and　Thorfin　with　one　third；　as　they　formerly　enjoyed　them；　but　the　other　third　which　Einar　Rangmund　had；　I　adjudge　as　fallen　to　my　domain；　because　he　killed　Eyvind　Urarhorn；　my　court…man；　partner；　and　dear　friend；　and　that　part　of　the　land　I　will　manage　as　I　think　proper。　　I　have　also　my　earls；　to　tell　you　it　is　my　pleasure　that　ye　enter　into　an　agreement　with　Thorkel　Amundason　for　the　murder　of　your　brother　Einar；　for　I　will　take　that　business；　if　ye　agree　thereto；　within　my　own　jurisdiction。〃　　The　earls　agreed　to　this；　as　to　everything　else　that　the　king　proposed。　　Thorkel　came　forward；　and　surrendered　to　the　king's　judgment　of　the　case；　and　the　Thing　concluded。　　King　Olaf　awarded　as　great　a　penalty　for　Earl　Einar's　murder　as　for　three　lendermen；　but　as　Einar　himself　was　the　cause　of　the　act；　one　third　of　the　mulct　fell　to　the　ground。　　Thereafter　Earl　Thorfin　asked　the　king's　leave　to　depart；　and　as　soon　as　he　obtained　it　made　ready　for　sea　with　all　speed。　　It　happened　one　day；　when　all　was　ready　for　the　voyage；　the　earl　sat　in　his　ship　drinking；　and　Thorkel　Amundason　came　unexpectedly　to　him；　laid　his　head　upon　the　earl's　knee；　and　bade　him　do　with　him　what　he　pleased。　　The　earl　asked　why　he　did　so。　〃We　are；　you　know；　reconciled　men；　according　to　the　king's　decision；　so　stand　up；　Thorkel。〃　

Thorkel　replied；　〃The　agreement　which　the　king　made　as　between　me　and　Bruse　stands　good；　but　what　regards　the　agreement　with　thee　thou　alone　must　determine。　　Although　the　king　made　conditions　for　my　property　and　safe　residence　in　Orkney；　yet　I　know　so　well　thy　disposition　that　there　is　no　going　to　the　islands　for　me；　unless　I　go　there　in　peace　with　thee；　Earl　Thorfin；　and　therefore　I　am　willing　to　promise　never　to　return　to　Orkney；　whatever　the　king　may　desire。〃

The　earl　remained　silent；　and　first；　after　a　long　pause；　he　said；　〃If　thou　wilt　rather；　Thorkel；　that　I　shall　judge　between　us　than　trust　to　the　king's　judgment；　then　let　the　beginning　of　our　reconciliation　be；　that　you　go　with　me　to　the　Orkney　Islands；　live　with　me；　and　never　leave　me　but　with　my　will；　and　be　bound　to　defend　my　land；　and　execute　all　that　I　want　done；　as　long　as　we　both　are　in　life。〃

Thorkel　replies；　〃This　shall　be　entirely　at　thy　pleasure；　earl；　as　well　as　everything　else　in　my　power。〃　　Then　Thorkel　went　on；　and　solemnly　ratified　this　agreement。　　The　earl　said　he　would　talk　afterwards　about　the　mulct　of　money；　but　took　Thorkel's　oath　upon　the　conditions。　　Thorkel　immediately　made　ready　to　accompany　the　earl　on　his　voyage。　　The　earl　set　off　as　soon　as　all　was　ready；　and　never　again　were　King　Olaf　and　Thorfin　together。



108。　EARL　BRUSE'S　DEPARTURE。

Earl　Bruse　remained　behind；　and　took　his　time　to　get　ready。　Before　his　departure　the　king　sent　for　him；　and　said；　〃It　appears　to　me；　earl；　that　in　thee　I　have　a　man　on　the　west　side　of　the　sea　on　whose　fidelity　I　can　depend；　therefore　I　intend　to　give　thee　the　two　parts　of　the　country　which　thou　formerly　hadst　to　rule　over；　for　I　will　not　that　thou　shouldst　be　a　less　powerful　man　after　entering　into　my　service　than　before：　but　I　will　secure　thy　fidelity　by　keeping　thy　son　Ragnvald　with　me。　　I　see　well　enough　that　with　two　parts　of　the　country　and　my　help；　thou　wilt　be　able　to　defend　what　is　thy　own　against　thy　brother　Thorfin。〃　Bruse　was　thankful　for　getting　two　thirds　instead　of　one　third　of　the　country；　and　soon　after　he　set　out；　and　came　about　autumn　to　Orkney；　but　Ragnvald；　Bruse's　son；　remained　behind　in　the　East　with　King　Olaf。　　Ragnvald　was　one　of　the　handsomest　men　that　could　be　seen；　　his　hair　long；　and　yellow　as　silk；　and　he　soon　grew　up；　stout　and　tall；　and　he　was　a　very　able　and　superb　man；　both　of　great　understanding　and　polite　manners。　　He　was　long　with　King　Olaf。　　Otter　Svarte　speaks　of　these　affairs　in　the　poem　he　composed　about　King　Olaf：　

　　　　　〃From　Shetland；　far　off　in　the　cold　North　Sea；　　　　　　Come　chiefs　who　desire　to　be　subject　to　thee：　　　　　　No　king　so　well　known　for　his　will；　and　his　might；　　　　　　To　defend　his　own　people　from　scaith　or　unright。　　　　　　These　isles　of　the　West　midst　the　ocean's　wild　roar；　　　　　　Scarcely　heard　the　voice　of　their　sovereign　before；　　　　　　Our　bravest　of　sovereigns　before　could　scarce　bring　　　　　　These　islesmen　so　proud　to　acknowledge　their　king。〃



109。　OF　THE　EARLS　THORFIN　AND　BRUSE。

The　brothers　Thorfin　and　Bruse　came　west　to　Orkney；　and　Bruse　took　the　two　parts　of　the　country