heimskringla-第79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！



Her　son　Eystein　Orre　then　stood　forward；　and　said　he　would　not　stay　behind　if　Ragnhild　goes。

Thorberg　said　that　they　showed　themselves　very　stiff　and　obstinate　in　this　matter。　　〃And　it　appears　that　ye　must　have　your　way　in　it；　since　ye　take　it　so　near　to　heart；　but　thou　art　reckoning　too　much；　Ragnhild；　upon　thy　descent；　in　paying　so　little　regard　to　King　Olaf's　word。〃

Ragnhild　replied；　〃If　thou　art　so　much　afraid　to　keep　Stein　with　thee　here；　go　with　him　to　my　father　Erling；　or　give　him　attendants；　so　that　he　may　get　there　in　safety。〃　　Thorberg　said　he　would　not　send　Stein　there；　〃for　there　are　enough　of　things　besides　to　enrage　the　king　against　Erling。〃　　Stein　thus　remained　there　all　winter　（A。D。　1027）。

After　Yule　a　king's　messenger　came　to　Thorberg；　with　the　order　that　Thorberg　should　come　to　him　before　midsummer；　and　the　order　was　serious　and　severe。　　Thorberg　laid　it　before　his　friends；　and　asked　their　advice　if　he　should　venture　to　go　to　the　king　after　what　had　taken　place。　　The　greater　number　dissuaded　him；　and　thought　it　more　advisable　to　let　Stein　slip　out　of　his　hands　than　to　venture　within　the　king's　power：　but　Thorberg　himself　had　rather　more　inclination　not　to　decline　the　journey。　　Soon　after　Thorberg　went　to　his　brother　Fin；　told　him　the　circumstances；　and　asked　him　to　accompany　him。　　Fin　replied；　that　he　thought　it　foolish　to　be　so　completely　under　woman's　influence　that　he　dared　not；　on　account　of　his　wife；　keep　the　fealty　and　law　of　his　sovereign。

〃Thou　art　free；〃　replied　Thorberg；　〃to　go　with　me　or　not；　but　I　believe　it　is　more　fear　of　the　king　than　love　to　him　that　keeps　thee　back。〃　　And　so　they　parted　in　anger。

Then　Thorberg　went　to　his　brother　Arne　Arnason；　and　asked　him　to　go　with　him　to　the　king。　　Arne　says；　〃It　appears　to　me　wonderful　that　such　a　sensible；　prudent　man；　should　fall　into　such　a　misfortune；　without　necessity；　as　to　incur　the　king's　indignation。　　It　might　be　excused　if　it　were　thy　relation　or　foster…brother　whom　thou　hadst　thus　sheltered；　but　not　at　all　that　thou　shouldst　take　up　an　Iceland　man；　and　harbour　the　king's　outlaw；　to　the　injury　of　thyself　and　all　thy　relations。〃

Thorberg　replies；　〃It　stands　good；　according　to　the　proverb；　　a　rotten　branch　will　be　found　in　every　tree。　　My　father's　greatest　misfortune　evidently　was　that　he　had　such　ill　luck　in　producing　sons　that　at　last　he　produced　one　incapable　of　acting；　and　without　any　resemblance　to　our　race；　and　whom　in　truth　I　never　would　have　called　brother；　if　it　were　not　that　it　would　have　been　to　my　mother's　shame　to　have　refused。〃

Thorberg　turned　away　in　a　gloomy　temper；　and　went　home。　Thereafter　he　sent　a　message　to　his　brother　Kalf　in　the　Throndhjem　district；　and　begged　him　to　meet　him　at　Agdanes；　and　when　the　messengers　found　Kalf　he　promised；　without　more　ado；　to　make　the　journey。　　Ragnhild　sent　men　east　to　Jadar　to　her　father　Erling；　and　begged　him　to　send　people。　　Erling's　sons；　Sigurd　and　Thord；　came　out；　each　with　a　ship　of　twenty　benches　of　rowers　and　ninety　men。　　When　they　came　north　Thorberg　received　them　joyfully；　entertained　them　well；　and　prepared　for　the　voyage　with　them。　　Thorberg　had　also　a　vessel　with　twenty　benches；　and　they　steered　their　course　northwards。　　When　they　came　to　the　mouth　of　the　Throndhjem　fjord　Thorberg's　two　brothers；　Fin　and　Arne；　were　there　already；　with　two　ships　each　of　twenty　benches。　　Thorberg　met　his　brothers　with　joy；　and　observed　that　his　whetstone　had　taken　effect；　and　Fin　replied　he　seldom　needed　sharpening　for　such　work。　　Then　they　proceeded　north　with　all　their　forces　to　Throndhjem；　and　Stein　was　along　with　them。　　When　they　came　to　Agdanes；　Kaff　Arnason　was　there　before　them；　and　he　also　had　a　wellmanned　ship　of　twenty　benches。　　With　this　war…force　they　sailed　up　to　Nidaros；　where　they　lay　all　night。　　The　morning　after　they　had　a　consultation　with　each　other。　　Kalf　and　Erling's　sons　were　for　attacking　the　town　with　all　their　forces；　and　leaving　the　event　to　fate；　but　Thorberg　wished　that　they　should　first　proceed　with　moderation；　and　make　an　offer；　in　which　opinion　Fin　and　Arne　also　concurred。　　It　was　accordingly　resolved　that　Fin　and　Arne；　with　a　few　men；　should　first　wait　upon　the　king。　　The　king　had　previously　heard　that　they　had　come　so　strong　in　men；　and　was　therefore　very　sharp　in　his　speech。　　Fin　offered　to　pay　mulct　for　Thorberg；　and　also　for　Stein；　and　bade　the　king　to　fix　what　the　penalties　should　be；　however　large；　stipulating　only　for　Thorberg　safety　and　his　fiefs；　and　for　Stein　life　and　limb。

The　king　replies；　〃It　appears　to　me　that　ye　come　from　home　so　equipped　that　ye　can　determine　half　as　much　as　I　can　myself；　or　more；　but　this　I　expected　least　of　all　from　you　brothers；　that　ye　should　come　against　me　with　an　army；　and　this　counsel；　I　can　observe；　has　its　origin　from　the　people　of　Jadar；　but　ye　have　no　occasion　to　offer　me　money　in　mulct。〃

Fin　replies；　〃We　brothers　have　collected　men；　not　to　offer　hostility　to　you；　sire；　but　to　offer　rather　our　services；　but　if　you　will　bear　down　Thorberg　altogether；　we　must　all　go　to　King　Canute　the　Great　with　such　forces　as　we　have。〃

Then　the　king　looked　at　him；　and　said；　〃If　ye　brothers　will　give　your　oaths　that　ye　will　follow　me　in　the　country　and　out　of　the　country；　and　not　part　from　me　without　my　leave　and　permission；　and　shall　not　conceal　from　me　any　treasonable　design　that　may　come　to　your　knowledge　against　me；　then　will　I　agree　to　a　peace　with　you　brothers。〃

Then　Fin　returned　to　his　forces；　and　told　the　conditions　which　the　king　had　proposed　to　them。　　Now　they　held　a　council　upon　it；　and　Thorberg；　for　his　part；　said　he　would　accept　the　terms　offered。　　〃I　have　no　wish；〃　says　he；　〃to　fly　from　my　property；　and　seek　foreign　masters；　but；　on　the　contrary；　will　always　consider　it　an　honour　to　follow　King　Olaf；　and　be　where　he　is。〃　Then　says　Kalf；　〃I　will　make　no　oath　to　King　Olaf；　but　will　be　with　him　always；　so　long　as　I　retain　my　fiefs　and　dignities；　and　so　long　as　the　king　will　be　my　friend；　and　my　opinion　is　that　we　should　all　do　the　same。〃　　Fin　says；　〃we　will　venture　to　let　King　Olaf　himself　determine　in　this　matter。〃　　Arne　Arnason　says；　〃I　was　resolved　to　follow　thee；　brother　Thorberg；　even　if　thou　hadst　given　battle　to　King　Olaf；　and　I　shall　certainly　not　leave　thee　for　listening　to　better　counsel；　so　I　intend　to　follow　thee　and　Fin；　and　accept　the　conditions　ye　have　taken。〃

Thereupon　the　brothers　Thorberg；　Fin；　and　Arne；　went　on　board　a　vessel；　rowed　into　the　fjord；　and　waited　upon　the　king。　　The　agreement　went　accordingly　into　fulfillment；　so　that　the　brothers　gave　their　oaths　to　the　king。　　Then　Thorberg　endeavored　to　make　peace　for　Stein　with　the　king；　but　the　king　replied　that　Stein　might　for　him　depart　in　safety；　and　go　where　he　pleased；　but　〃in　my　house　he　can　never　be　again。〃　　Then　Thorberg　and　his　brothers　went　back　to　their　men。　　Kalf　went　to　Eggja；　and　Fin　to　the　king；　and　Thorberg；　with　the　other　men；　went　south　to　their　homes。　Stein　went　with　Erling's　sons；　but　early　in　the　spring　（A。D。　1027）　he　went　west　to　England　into　the　service　of　Canute　the　Great；　and　was　long　with　him；　and　was　treated　with　great　distinction。



149。　FIN　ARNASON〃S　EXPEDITION　TO　HALOGALAND。

Now　when　Fin　Arnason　had　been　a　short　time　with　King　Olaf；　the　king　called　him　to　a　conference；　along　with　some　other　persons　he　usually　held　consultation　with；　and　in　this　conference　the　king　spoke　to　this　effect：　　〃The　decision　remains　fixed　in　my　mind　that　in　spring　I　should　raise　the　whole　country　to　a　levy　both　of　men　and　ships；　and　then　proceed；　with　all　the　force　I　can　muster；　against　King　Canute　the　Great：　for　I　know　for　certain　that　he　does　not　intend　to　treat　as　a　jest　the　claim　he　has　awakened　upon　my　kingdom。　　Now　I　let　thee　know　my　will；　Fin　Arnason；　that　thou　proceed　on　my　errand　to　Halogaland；　and　raise　the　people　there　to　an　expedition；　men　and　ships；　and　summon　that　force　to　meet　me　at　Agdanes。〃　　Then　the　king　named　other　men　whom　he　sent　to　Throndhjem；　and　some　southwards　in　the　country；　and　he　commanded　that　this　order　should　be　circulated　through　the　whole　land。　　Of　Fin's　voyage　we　have　to　relate　that　he　had　with　him　a　ship　with　about　thirty　men；　and　when　he　was　ready　for　sea　he　prosecuted　his　journey　until　he　came　to　Halogaland。　　There　he　summoned　the　bondes　to　a　Thing；　laid　before　them　his　errand；　and　craved　a　levy。　　The　bondes　in　that　district　had　large　vessels；　suited　to　a　levy　expedition；　and　they　obeyed　the　king's　message；　and　rigged　their　ships。　　Now　when　Fin　came　farther　north　in　Halogaland　he　held　a　Thing　again；　and　sent　some　of　his　men　from　him　to　crave　a　levy　where　he　thought　it　necessary。　　He　sent　also　men　to　Bjarkey　Island　to　Thorer　Hund；　and　there；　as　elsewhere；　craved　the　quota　to　the　levy。　　When　the　message　came　to　Thorer　he　made　himself　ready；　and　manned　with　his　house…servants　the　same　vessel　he　had　sailed　with　on　his　cruise　to　Bjarmaland；　and　which　he　equipped　at　his　own　expense。　　Fin　summoned　all　the　people　of　Halogaland　who　were　to　the　north　to　meet　at　Vagar。　　There　came　a　great　fleet　together　in　spring；　and　they　waited　there　until　Fin　returned　from　the　North。　　Thorer　Hund　had　also　come　there。　　When　Fin　arrived　he　ordered　the　signal　to　sound　for　all　the　people　of　the　levy　to　attend　a　House…Thing；　and　at　it　all　the　men　produced　their　weapons；　and　also　the　fighting　men　from　each　ship…district　were　mustered。　　When　that　was　all　finished　Fin　said；　〃I　have　also　to　bring　thee　a　salutation；　Thorer　Hund；　from　King　Olaf；　and　to　ask　thee　what　thou　wilt　offer　him　for　the　murder　of　his　court…man　Karle；　or　for　the　robbery　in　taking　the　king's　goods　north　in　Lengjuvik。　　I　have　the　king's　orders　to　settle　that　business；　and　I　wait　thy　answer　to　it。〃

Thorer　looked　about　him；　and　saw　standing　on　both　sides　many　fully　armed　men；　among　whom　were　Gunstein　and　others　of　Karle's　kindred。　　Then　said　Thorer；　〃My　proposal　is　soon　made。　　I　will　refer　altogether　to　the　king's　pleasure　the　matter　he　thinks　he　has　against　me。〃

Fin　replies；　〃Thou　must　put　up　with　a　less　honour；　for　thou　must　refer　the　matter　altogether　to　my　decision；　if　any　agreement　is　to　take　place。〃

Thorer　replies；　〃And　even　then　I　think　it　will　stand　well　with　my　case；　and　therefore　I　will　not　decline　referring　it　to　thee。〃　

Thereupon　Thor