mc.eatersofthedead-第13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！

and　the　long　houses　about　it；　the　ground　sloped　to　a　long　flat　green　plain；　here　and　there　a　farmhouse；　and　then；　beyond；　the　hills　and　the　edge　of　a　forest。
　I　inquired　of　Herger　whose　long　houses　were　these；　and　he　said　to　me；　〃Some　belong　to　the　King；　and　others　are　for　his　royal　family；　and　others　for　his　nobles；　and　also　for　the　servants　and　lower　members　of　his　court。〃　He　said　also　that　it　was　a　difficult　place；　though　I　did　not　prehend　his　meaning　in　this。
　Then　we　were　allowed　entry　into　the　great　hall　of　King　Rothgar；　which　verily　I　say　is　to　be　counted　one　of　the　marvels　of　all　the　world；　and　all　the　more　for　its　presence　in　the　crude　North　country。　This　hall　is　called；　among　the　Rothgar　peoples；　by　the　name　of　Hurot；　for　the　Northmen　give　the　names　of　people　to　the　things　of　their　life；　to　the　buildings　and　boats　and　especially　to　the　weapons。　Now　I　say：　this　Hurot；　the　great　hall　of　Rothgar；　was　as　large　as　the　Caliph's　main　palace；　and　richly　inlaid　with　silver　and　even　some　gold；　which　is　most　rare　in　the　North。　On　all　sides　were　designs　and　ornaments　of　the　greatest　splendor　and　richness　of　artistry。　It　was　truly　a　monument　to　the　power　and　majesty　of　King　Rothgar。
　This　King　Rothgar　sat　at　the　distant　end　of　Hurot　Hall；　a　space　so　vast　that　he　was　so　far　we　could　hardly　discern　him。　Standing　behind　his　right　shoulder　was　the　same　herald　who　had　halted　us。　The　herald　made　a　speech；　which　Herger　told　me　was　thus：　〃Here；　O　King；　is　a　band　of　warriors　from　the　kingdom　of　Yatlam。　They　are　newly　arrived　from　the　sea；　and　their　leader　is　a　man　of　the　name　Buliwyf。　They　beg　leave　to　tell　you　of　their　errand；　O　King。　Do　not　forbid　them　entry；　they　have　the　manner　of　earls；　and　from　his　bearing　their　chieftain　is　a　mighty　warrior。　Greet　them　as　earls；　O　King　Rothgar。〃
　Thus　we　were　bid　approach　the　King　Rothgar。
　King　Rothgar　appeared　a　man　near　death。　He　was　not　young；　his　hair　was　white；　his　skin　was　very　pale；　and　his　face　was　grooved　with；　sorrow　and　fear。　He　regarded　us　with　suspicion；　wrinkling　his　eyes；　or　perhaps　he　was　near　blind；　I　do　not　know。　Finally　he　broke　into　speech；　which　Herger　says　was　thus：　〃I　know　of　this　man；　for　I　have　sent　for　him　on　a　hero's　mission。　He　is　Buliwyf；　and　I　knew　him　as　a　child；　when　I　traveled　across　the　waters　to　the　kingdom　of　Yatlam。　He　is　the　son　of　Higlac；　who　was　my　gracious　host；　and　now　this　son　es　to　me　in　my　time　of　need　and　sorrow。〃
　Rothgar　then　called　for　the　warriors　to　be　summoned　to　the　great　hall；　and　gifts　brought；　and　celebrations　made。
　Buliwyf　then　spoke；　a　long　speech　that　Herger　did　not　translate　for　me；　since　to　speak　when　Buliwyf　spoke　would　be　a　disrespect。　However；　the　meaning　was　this：　that　Buliwyf　had　heard　of　the　troubles　of　Rothgar；　that　he　was　sorry　for　these　troubles；　and　that　his　own　father's　kingdom　had　been　destroyed　by　these　same　troubles；　and　that　he　had　e　to　save　the　kingdom　of　Rothgar　from　the　evils　that　had　beset　them。
　Still；　I　did　not　know　what　the　Northmen　called　these　evils；　or　how　they　thought　of　them；　though　I　had　viewed　the　handiwork　of　the　beasts　that　tore　men　to　pieces。
　King　Rothgar　spoke　again；　in　some　haste。　I　took　from　the　manner　of　his　speaking　that　he　wished　to　say　some　words　before　all　his　warriors　and　earls　arrived。　He　said　thus　（from　Herger）：　〃O　Buliwyf；　I　knew　your　father　when　I　was　myself　a　young　man；　new　to　my　throne。　Now　I　am　old　and　heartsick。　My　head　bows。　My　eyes　weep　with　shame　to　acknowledge　my　weakness。　As　you　see；　my　throne　is　almost　a　barren　spot。　My　lands　are　being　a　wild　place。　What　the　fiends　have　wrought　to　my　kingdom　I　cannot　say。　Often　at　night；　my　warriors；　brave　with　drink；　swear　to　topple　the　fiends。　And　then　when　the　bleak　light　of　dawn　creeps　over　the　misty　fields；　we　see　bloody　bodies　everywhere。　Thus　is　the　sorrow　of　my　life；　and　I　shall　speak　no　more　of　it。〃
　Now　a　bench　was　brought　out　and　a　meal　set　before　us；　and　I　inquired　of　Herger　what　was　the　meaning　of　the　〃fiends〃　of　which　the　King　spoke。　Herger　was　angry；　and　said　I　was　never　to　ask　again。
　That　evening　there　was　a　great　celebration；　and　King　Rothgar　and　his　Queen　Weilew；　in　a　garment　dripping　gemstones　and　gold；　presided　over　the　nobles　and　warriors　and　earls　of　the　kingdom　of　Rothgar。　These　nobles　were　a　paltry　lot；　they　were　old　men　and　drank　overmuch　and　many　were　crippled　or　wounded。　In　the　eyes　of　all　of　them　was　the　hollow　stare　of　fear；　and　there　was　hollowness　in　their　merriment；　too。
　Also　there　was　the　son　named　Wiglif；　of　whom　I　have　earlier　spoken；　the　son　of　Rothgar　who　murdered　three　of　his　brothers。　This　man　was　young　and　slender　with　a　blond　beard　and　with　eyes　that　never　settled　on　anything；　but　moved　about　here　and　there　constantly；　also　he　never　met　the　gaze　of　another。　Herger　saw　him　and　said；　〃He　is　a　fox。〃　By　this　he　meant　that　he　was　a　slippery　and　changeable　person　of　false　demeanor；　for　the　North　people　believe　the　fox　is　an　animal　that　can　assume　any　form　it　pleases。
　Now；　in　the　middle　portion　of　the　festivities；　Rothgar　sent　his　herald　to　the　doors　of　Hurot　Hall；　and　this　herald　reported　that　the　mist　would　not　descend　that　night。　There　was　much　happiness　and　celebration　over　this　announcement　that　the　night　was　clear；　all　were　pleased　save　Wiglif。
　At　a　particular　time；　the　son　Wiglif　rose　to　his　feet　and　said；　〃I　drink　honor　to　our　guests；　and　especially　Buliwyf；　a　brave　and　true　warrior　who　has　e　to　aid　us　in　our　plight…although　it　may　prove　too　great　an　obstacle　for　him　to　overe。〃　Herger　whispered　these　words　to　me；　and　I　caught　that　it　was　praise　and　insult　in　one　breath。
　All　eyes　turned　to　Buliwyf　for　his　response。　Buliwyf　stood；　and　looked　to　Wiglif；　and　then　said；　〃I　have　no　fear　of　anything；　even　the　callow　fiend　that　creeps　at　night　to　murder　men　in　their　sleep。　This　I　took　to　refer　to　the　〃wendol；〃　but　Wiglif　turned　pale　and　gripped　the　chair　in　which　he　sat。
　〃Do　you　speak　of　me？〃　Wiglif　said；　in　a　trembling　tongue。
　Buliwyf　made　this　response：　〃No；　but　I　do　not　fear　you　any　more　than　the　monsters　of　the　mist。〃
　The　young　man　Wiglif　persisted；　although　Rothgar　the　King　called　for　him　to　be　seated。　Wiglif　said　to　all　the　assembled　nobles：　〃This　Buliwyf；　arrived　from　foreign　shores；　has　by　appearance　great　pride　and　great　strength。　Yet　have　I　arranged　to　test　his　mettle；　for　pride　may　cover　any　man's　eyes。〃
　Now　I　saw　this　thing　happen：　a　strong　warrior；　seated　at　a　table　near　the　door；　behind　Buliwyf；　rose　with　speed；　plucked　up　a　spear；　and　charged　at　the　back　of　Buliwyf。　All　this　happened　in　less　time　than　it　takes　a　man　to　suck　in　his　breath。19　Yet　also　Buliwyf　turned；　plucked　up　a　spear；　and　with　this　he　caught　the　warrior　full　into　the　chest；　and　lifted　him　by　the　shaft　of　the　spear　high　over　his　head　and　flung　him　against　a　wall。　Thus　was　this　warrior　skewered　on　the　spear；　his　feet　dangling　above　the　floor；　kicking；　the　shaft　of　the　spear　was　buried　into　the　wall　of　the　hall　of　Hurot。　The　warrior　died　with　a　sound。
　Now　there　came　much　motion；　and　Buliwyf　turned　to　face　Wiglif；　and　said；　〃So　shall　I　dispatch　any　menace；〃　and　then　with　great　immediacy　Herger　spoke；　in　an　overloud　voice；　and　made　many　gestures　toward　my　person。　I　was　much　confused　by　these　events；　and　in　truth　my　eyes　were　stuck　upon　this　dead　warrior　pinned　to　the　wall。
　Then　Herger　turned　to　me；　and　said　in　Latin；　〃You　shall　sing　a　song　for　the　court　of　King　Rothgar。　All　desire　it。〃
　I　asked　of　him；　〃What　shall　I　sing？　I　know　no　song。〃　He　made　this　reply：　〃You　will　sing　something　that　entertains　the　heart。〃　And　he　added；　〃Do　not　speak　of　your　one　God。　No　one　cares　for　such　nonsense。〃
　In　truth；　I　did　not　know　what　to　sing；　for　I　am　no　minstrel。　A　time　passed　while　all　stared　toward　me；　and　there　was　silence　in　the　hall。　Then　Herger　said　to　me；　〃Sing　a　song　of　kings　and　valor　in　battle。〃
　I　said　that　I　knew　no　such　songs；　but　that　I　could　tell　them　a　fable；　which　in　my　country　was　accounted　funny　and　entertaining。　To　this　he　said　that　I　had　made　a　wise　choice。　Then　I　told　them…King　Rothgar；　his　Queen　Weilew；　his　son　Wiglif；　and　all　the　assembled　earls　and　warriors…the　story　of　Abu　Kassim's　slippers；　which　all　know。　I　spoke　lightly；　and　smiled　all　the　while；　and　in　the　first　instance　the　Northmen　were　pleased；　and　laughed　and　slapped　their　bellies。
　But　now　this　strange　event　occurred。　As　I　continued　in　my　telling；　the　Northmen　ceased　to　laugh；　and　turned　gloomy　by　degrees；　ever　more　so；　and　when　I　had　finished　the　tale；　there　was　no　laughter；　but　dire　silence。
　Herger　said　to　me；　〃You　could　not　know；　but　that　is　no　tale　for　laughter；　and　now　I　must　make　amends；〃　and　thereupon　he　said　some　speech　that　I　took　to　be　a　joke　at　my　own　expense；　and　there　was　general　laughter；　and　at　length　the　celebration　remenced。
　
　The　story　of　Abu　Kassim's　slippers　is　ancient　in　Arabic　culture；　and　was　well　known　to　Ibn　Fadlan　and　his　fellow　Bagdad　citizens。
　The　story　exists　in　many　versions；　and　can　be　told　briefly　or　elaborately；　depending　upon　the　enthusiasm　of　the　teller。　Briefly；　Abu　Kassim　is　a　rich　merchant　and　a　miser　who　wishes　to　hide　the　fact　of　his　wealth；　in　order　to　strike　better　bargains　in　his　trade。　To　give　the　appearance　of　poverty；　he　wears　a　pair　of　particularly　tawdry；　miserabl