heimskringla-第57部分

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There　was　a　man　called　Gudleik　Gerske；　who　came　originally　from　Agder。　　He　was　a　great　merchant；　who　went　far　and　wide　by　sea；　was　very　rich；　and　drove　a　trade　with　various　countries。　　He　often　went　east　to　Gardarike　（Russia）；　and　therefore　was　called　Gudleik　Gerske　（the　Russian）。　　This　spring　（A。D。　1017）　Gudleik　fitted　out　his　ship；　and　intended　to　go　east　in　summer　to　Russia。　King　Olaf　sent　a　message　to　him　that　he　wanted　to　speak　to　him；　and　when　Gudleik　came　to　the　king　he　told　him　he　would　go　in　partnership　with　him；　and　told　him　to　purchase　some　costly　articles　which　were　difficult　to　be　had　in　this　country。　　Gudleik　said　that　it　should　be　according　to　the　king's　desire。　　The　king　ordered　as　much　money　to　be　delivered　to　Gudleik　as　he　thought　sufficient；　and　then　Gudleik　set　out　for　the　Baltic。　　They　lay　in　a　sound　in　Gotland；　and　there　it　happened；　as　it　often　does；　that　people　cannot　keep　their　own　secrets；　and　the　people　of　the　country　came　to　know　that　in　this　ship　was　Olaf　the　Thick's　partner。　　Gudleik　went　in　summer　eastwards　to　Novgorod；　where　he　bought　fine　and　costly　clothes；　which　he　intended　for　the　king　as　a　state　dress；　and　also　precious　furs；　and　remarkably　splendid　table　utensils。　　In　autumn　（A。D。　1017）；　as　Gudleik　was　returning　from　the　east；　he　met　a　contrary　wind；　and　lay　for　a　long　time　at　the　island　Eyland。　　There　came　Thorgaut　Skarde；　who　in　autumn　had　heard　of　Gudleik's　course；　in　a　long…ship　against　him；　and　gave　him　battle。　　They　fought　long；　and　Gudleik　and　his　people　defended　themselves　for　a　long　time；　but　the　numbers　against　them　were　great；　and　Gudleik　and　many　of　his　ship's　crew　fell；　and　a　great　many　of　them　were　wounded。　　Thorgaut　took　all　their　goods；　and　King　Olaf's；　and　he　and　his　comrades　divided　the　booty　among　them　equally；　but　he　said　the　Swedish　king　ought　to　have　the　precious　articles　of　King　Olaf；　as　these；　he　said；　should　be　considered　as　part　of　the　scat　due　to　him　from　Norway。　　Thereafter　Thorgaut　proceeded　east　to　Svithjod。　　These　tidings　were　soon　known；　and　as　Eyvind　Urarhorn　came　soon　after　to　Eyland；　he　heard　the　news；　and　sailed　east　after　Thorgaut　and　his　troop；　and　overtook　them　among　the　Swedish　isles　on　the　coast；　and　gave　battle。　　There　Thorgaut　and　the　most　of　his　men　were　killed；　and　the　rest　sprang　overboard。　　Eyvind　took　all　the　goods　and　all　the　costly　articles　of　King　Olaf　which　they　had　captured　from　Gudleik；　and　went　with　these　back　to　Norway　in　autumn；　and　delivered　to　King　Olaf　his　precious　wares。　　The　king　thanked　him　in　the　most　friendly　way　for　his　proceeding；　and　promised　him　anew　his　favour　and　friendship。　　At　this　time　Olaf　had　been　three　years　king　over　Norway　（A。D。　1015…1017）。



65。　MEETING　OF　OLAF　AND　RAGNVALD。

The　same　summer　（A。D。　1017）　King　Olaf　ordered　a　levy；　and　went　out　eastwards　to　the　Gaut　river；　where　he　lay　a　great　part　of　the　summer。　　Messages　were　passing　between　King　Olaf；　Earl　Ragnvald；　and　the　earl's　wife；　Ingebjorg；　the　daughter　of　Trygve。　　She　was　very　zealous　about　giving　King　Olaf　of　Norway　every　kind　of　help；　and　made　it　a　matter　of　her　deepest　interest。　　For　this　there　were　two　causes。　　She　had　a　great　friendship　for　King　Olaf；　and　also　she　could　never　forget　that　the　Swedish　king　had　been　one　at　the　death　of　her　brother；　Olaf　Trygvason；　and　also　that　he；　on　that　account　only；　had　any　presence　to　rule　over　Norway。　　The　earl；　by　her　persuasion；　turned　much　towards　friendship　with　King　Olaf；　and　it　proceeded　so　far　that　the　earl　and　the　king　appointed　a　meeting；　and　met　at　the　Gaut　river。　　They　talked　together　of　many　things；　but　especially　of　the　Norwegian　and　Swedish　kings'　relations　with　each　other；　both　agreeing；　as　was　the　truth　also；　that　it　was　the　greatest　loss；　both　to　the　people　of　Viken　and　of　Gautland；　that　there　was　no　peace　for　trade　between　the　two　countries；　and　at　last　both　agreed　upon　a　peace；　and　still…stand　of　arms　between　them　until　next　summer；　and　they　parted　with　mutual　gifts　and　friendly　speeches。



66。　KING　OLAF　THE　SWEDE。

The　king　thereupon　returned　north　to　Viken；　and　had　all　the　royal　revenues　up　to　the　Gaut　river；　and　all　the　people　of　the　country　there　had　submitted　to　him。　　King　Olaf　the　Swede　had　so　great　a　hatred　of　Olaf　Haraldson；　that　no　man　dared　to　call　him　by　his　right　name　in　the　king's　hearing。　　They　called　him　the　thick　man；　and　never　named　him　without　some　hard　by…name。



67。　ACCOUNT　OF　THEIR　RECONCILIATION。

The　bondes　in　Viken　spoke　with　each　other　about　there　being　nothing　for　it　but　that　the　kings　should　make　peace　and　a　league　with　each　other；　and　insisted　upon　it　that　they　were　badly　used　by　the　kings　going　to　war；　but　nobody　was　so　bold　as　to　bring　these　murmurs　before　the　king。　　At　last　they　begged　Bjorn　the　marshal　to　bring　this　matter　before　the　king；　and　entreat　him　to　send　messengers　to　the　Swedish　king　to　offer　peace　on　his　side。　Bjorn　was　disinclined　to　do　this；　and　put　it　off　from　himself　with　excuses；　but　on　the　entreaties　of　many　of　his　friends；　he　promised　at　last　to　speak　of　it　to　the　king；　but　declared；　at　the　same　time；　that　he　knew　it　would　be　taken　very　ill　by　the　king　to　propose　that　he　should　give　way　in　anything　to　the　Swedish　king。　The　same　summer　（A。D。　1017）　Hjalte　Skeggjason　came　over　to　Norway　from　Iceland；　according　to　the　message　sent　him　by　King　Olaf；　and　went　directly　to　the　king。　　He　was　well　received　by　the　king；　who　told　him　to　lodge　in　his　house；　and　gave　him　a　seat　beside　Bjorn　　the　marshal；　and　Hjalte　became　his　comrade　at　table。　　There　was　good…fellowship　immediately　between　them。

Once；　when　King　Olaf　had　assembled　the　people　and　bondes　to　consult　upon　the　good　of　the　country；　Bjorn　the　marshal　said；　〃What　think　you；　king；　of　the　strife　that　is　between　the　Swedish　king　and　you？　　Many　people　have　fallen　on　both　sides；　without　its　being　at　all　more　determined　than　before　what　each　of　you　shall　have　of　the　kingdom。　　You　have　now　been　sitting　in　Viken　one　winter　and　two　summers；　and　the　whole　country　to　the　north　is　lying　behind　your　back　unseen；　and　the　men　who　have　property　or　udal　rights　in　the　north　are　weary　of　sitting　here。　　Now　it　is　the　wish　of　the　lendermen；　of　your　other　people；　and　of　the　bondes　that　this　should　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　t