Norse Legends. Snorri Sturluson

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СКАЧАТЬ Till he brings news well worth to tell.

       He wishes to the helmed hero

       Health, and long life, and a tull flow

       Of honour, riches, and success—

       And, parting, ends his song with this.

       The farewell word is spoken now __

       The word that to the heart lies nearest;

       And yet, O king! before I go,

       One word on what I hold the dearest,

       I fain would say, "O! may God save

       To thee the bravest of the brave,

       The land, which is thy right by birth!"

       This is my dearest with on earth."

      Then they proceeded eastwards towards Eid, and had difficulty in crossing the river in a little cobble; but they escaped, though with danger: and Sigvat sang:—

      "On shore the crazy boat I drew,

       Wet to the skin, and frightened too;

       For truly there was danger then;

       The mocking hill elves laughed again.

       To see us in this cobble sailing,

       And all our sea-skill unavailing.

       But better did it end, you see,

       Than any of us could foresee."

      Then they went through the Eid forest, and Sigvat sang:—

      "A hundred miles through Eid's old wood,

       And devil an alehouse, bad or good,—

       A hundred miles, and tree and sky

       Were all that met the weary eye.

       With many a grumble, many a groan.

       A hundred miles we trudged right on;

       And every king's man of us bore

       On each foot-sole a bleeding sore."

      They came then through Gautland, and in the evening reached a farm-house called Hof. The door was bolted so that they could not come in; and the servants told them it was a fast-day, and they could not get admittance. Sigvat sang:—

      "Now up to Hof in haste I hie,

       And round the house and yard I pry.

       Doors are fast locked—but yet within,

       Methinks, I hear some stir and din.

       I peep, with nose close to the ground.

       Below the door, but small cheer found.

       My trouble with few words was paid—

       "'Tis holy time,' the house-folkd said.

       Heathens! to shove me thus away!

       I' the foul fiend's claws may you all lay."

      Then they came to another farm, where the good-wife was standing at the door, and told them not to come in, for they were busy with a sacrifice to the elves. Sigvat sang of it thus:—

      "'My poor lad, enter not, I pray!'

       Thus to me did the old wife say;

       'For all of us are heathens here,

       And I for Odin's wrath do fear.'

       The ugly witch drove me away,

       Like scared wolf sneaking from his prey.

       When she told me that there within

       Was sacrifice to foul Odin."

      Another evening, they came to three bondes, all of them of the name of Olver, who drove them away. Sigvat sang:—

      "Three of one name,

       To their great shame,

       The traveller late

       Drove from their gate!

       Travellers may come

       From our viking-home,

       Unbidden guests

       At these Olvers' feasts."

      They went on farther that evening, and came to a fourth bonde, who was considered the most hospitable man in the country; but he drove them away also. Then Sigvat sang:—

      "Then on I went to seek night's rest

       From one who was said to be the best,

       The kindest host in the land around,

       And there I hoped to have quarters found.

       But, faith,'twas little use to try;

       For not so much as raise an eye

       Would this huge wielder of the spade:

       If he's the hest, it must be said

       Bad is the best, and the skald's praise

       Cannot be given to churls like these.

       I almost wished that Asta's son

       In the Eid forest had been one

       When we, his men, were even put

       Lodging to crave in a heathen's hut.

       I knew not where the earl to find;

       Four times driven off by men unkind,

       I wandered now the whole night o'er,

       Driven like a dog from door to door."

      Now when they came to Earl Ragnvald's the earl said they must have had a severe journey. Then Sigvat sang:—

      "The message-bearers of the king

       From Norway came his words to bring;

       And truly for their master they

       Hard work have done before to-day.

       We did not loiter on the road,

       But on we pushed for thy abode:

       Thy folk, in sooth, were not so kind

       That we cared much to lag hehind.

       But Eid to rest safe we found,

       From robbers free to the eastern bound:

       This СКАЧАТЬ