eric brighteyes-第11部分

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for　Ospakar　had　the　lower　hold。



〃Now　there　is　an　end　of　Eric；〃　said　Swanhild。



〃The　arrow　is　yet　on　the　bow；〃　answered　Gudruda。



Blacktooth　put　out　his　might　and　reeled　round　and　round　the　ring；

dragging　Eric　with　him。　This　way　and　that　he　twisted；　and　time　on　time

Eric's　leg　was　lifted　from　the　ground；　but　so　he　might　not　be　thrown。

Now　they　stood　almost　still；　while　men　shouted　madly；　for　no　such

wrestling　had　been　known　in　the　southlands。　Grimly　they　hugged　and

strove：　forsooth　it　was　a　mighty　sight　to　see。　Grimly　they　hugged；　and

their　muscles　strained　and　cracked；　but　they　could　stir　each　other　no

inch。



Ospakar　grew　fearful；　for　he　could　make　no　play　with　this　youngling。

Black　rage　swelled　in　his　heart。　He　ground　his　fangs；　and　thought　on

guile。　By　his　foot　gleamed　the　naked　foot　of　Eric。　Suddenly　he　stamped

on　it　so　fiercely　that　the　skin　burst。



〃Ill　done！　ill　done！〃　folk　cried；　but　in　his　pain　Eric　moved　his　foot。



Lo！　he　was　down；　but　not　altogether　down；　for　he　did　but　sit　upon　his

haunches；　and　still　he　clung　to　Blacktooth's　thighs；　and　twined　his

legs　about　his　ankles。　Now　with　all　his　strength　Ospakar　strove　to

force　the　head　of　Brighteyes　to　the　ground；　but　still　he　could　not；

for　Eric　clung　to　him　like　a　creeper　to　a　tree。



〃A　losing　game　for　Eric；〃　said　Asmund；　and　as　he　spoke　Brighteyes　was

pressed　back　till　his　yellow　hair　almost　swept　the　sand。



Then　the　folk　of　Ospakar　shouted　in　triumph；　but　Gudruda　cried　aloud：



〃Be　not　overthrown；　Eric；　loose　thee　and　spring　aside。〃



Eric　heard；　and　of　a　sudden　loosed　all　his　grip。　He　fell　on　his

outspread　hand；　then；　with　a　swing　sideways　and　a　bound；　once　more　he

stood　upon　his　feet。　Ospakar　came　at　him　like　a　bull　made　mad　with

goading；　but　he　could　no　longer　roar　aloud。　They　closed　and　this　time

Eric　had　the　better　hold。　For　a　while　they　struggled　round　and　round

till　their　feet　tore　the　frozen　turf；　then　once　more　they　stood　face

to　face。　Now　the　two　were　almost　spent；　yet　Blacktooth　gathered　up　his

strength　and　swung　Eric　from　his　feet；　but　he　found　them　again。　He

grew　mad　with　rage；　and　hugged　him　till　Brighteyes　was　nearly　pressed

to　death；　and　black　bruises　sprang　upon　the　whiteness　of　his　flesh。

Ospakar　grew　mad；　and　madder　yet；　till　at　length　in　his　fury　he　fixed

his　fangs　in　Eric's　shoulder　and　bit　till　the　blood　spurted。



〃Ill　kissed；　thou　rat！〃　gasped　Eric；　and　with　the　pain　and　rush　of

blood；　his　strength　came　back　to　him。　He　shifted　his　grip　swiftly；　now

his　right　hand　was　beneath　the　fork　of　Blacktooth's　thigh　and　his　left

on　the　hollow　of　Blacktooth's　back。　Twice　he　liftedtwice　the　bulk　of

Ospakar　rose　from　the　grounda　third　mighty　liftso　mighty　that　the

wrapping　on　Eric's　forehead　burst；　and　the　blood　streamed　down　his

faceand　lo！　great　Blacktooth　flew　in　air。　Up　he　flew；　and　backward

he　fell　into　the　bank　of　snow；　and　was　buried　there　almost　to　the

knees。







VI



HOW　ASMUND　THE　PRIEST　WAS　BETROTHED　TO　UNNA



For　a　moment　there　was　silence；　for　all　that　company　was　wonderstruck

at　the　greatness　of　the　deed。　Then　they　cheered　and　cheered　again；　and

to　Eric　it　seemed　that　he　slept；　and　the　sound　of　shouting　reached　him

but　faintly；　as　though　he　heard　through　snow。　Suddenly　he　woke　and　saw

a　man　rush　at　him　with　axe　aloft。　It　was　Mord；　Ospakar's　son；　mad　at

his　father's　overthrow。　Eric　sprang　aside；　or　the　blow　had　been　his

bane；　and；　as　he　sprang；　smote　with　his　fist；　and　it　struck　heavily　on

the　head　of　Mord　above　the　ear；　so　that　the　axe　flew　from　his　hand；

and　he　fell　senseless　on　his　father　in　the　snow。



Now　swords　flashed　out；　and　men　ringed　round　Eric　to　guard　him；　and　it

came　near　to　the　spilling　of　blood；　for　the　people　of　Ospakar　gnashed

their　teeth　to　see　so　great　a　hero　overthrown　by　a　youngling；　while

the　southern　folk　of　Middalhof　and　Ran　River　rejoiced　loudly；　for　Eric

was　dear　to　their　hearts。



〃Down　swords；〃　cried　Asmund　the　priest；　〃and　haul　yon　carcass　from　the

snow。〃



This　then　they　did；　and　Ospakar　sat　up；　breathing　in　great　gasps；　the

blood　running　from　his　mouth　and　ears；　and　he　was　an　evil　sight　to

see；　for　what　with　blood　and　snow　and　rage　his　face　was　like　the　face

of　the　Swinefell　Goblin。



But　Swanhild　spoke　in　the　ear　of　Gudruda：



〃Here；〃　she　said；　looking　at　Eric；　〃we　two　have　a　man　worth　loving；

foster…sister。〃



〃Ay；〃　answered　Gudruda；　〃worth　and　well　worth！〃



Now　Asmund　drew　near　and　before　all　men　kissed　Eric　Brighteyes　on　the

brow。



〃In　sooth；〃　he　said；　〃thou　art　a　mighty　man；　Eric；　and　the　glory　of

the　south。　This　I　prophesy　of　thee：　that　thou　shalt　do　deeds　such　as

have　not　been　done　in　Iceland。　Thou　hast　ill　been　served；　for　a　knave

unknown　greased　thy　shoes。　Yon　swarthy　Ospakar；　the　most　mighty　of　all

men　in　Iceland；　could　not　overthrow　thee；　though；　like　a　wolf；　he

fastened　his　fangs　in　thee；　and；　like　a　coward；　stamped　upon　thy　naked

foot。　Take　thou　the　great　sword　that　thou　hast　won　and　wear　it

worthily。〃



Now　Eric　took　snow　and　wiped　the　blood　from　his　brow。　Then　he　grasped

Whitefire　and　drew　it　from　the　scabbard；　and　high　aloft　flashed　the

war…blade。　Thrice　he　wheeled　it　round　his　head；　then　sang　aloud：



　〃Fast；　yestermorn；　down　Golden　Falls；

　　Fared　young　Eric　to　thy　feast；

　　Asmund；　father　of　Gudruda

　　Maid　whom　much　he　longs　to　clasp。

　　But　to…day　on　Giant　Blacktooth

　　Hath　he　done　a　needful　deed：

　　Hurling　him　in　heaped…up　snowdrift；

　　Winning　Whitefire　for　his　wage。〃



And　again　he　sang：



　〃Lord；　if　in　very　truth　thou　thinkest

　　Brighteyes　is　a　man　midst　men；

　　Swear　to　him；　the　stalwart　suitor；

　　Handsel　of　thy　sweet　maid's　hand：

　　Whom；　long　loved；　to　win；　down　Goldfoss

　　Swift　he　sped　through　frost　and　foam；

　　Whom；　to　win；　to　troll…like　Ogre；

　　He；　'gainst　Whitefire；　waged　his　eye。〃



Men　thought　this　well　sung；　and　turned　to　hear　Asmund's　answer；　nor

must　they　wait　long。



〃Eric；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　promise　thee　this；　that　if　thou　goest　on　as

thou　hast　begun；　I　will　give　Gudruda　in　marriage　to　no　other　man。〃



〃That　is　good　tidings；　lord；〃　said　Eric。



〃This　I　say　further：　in　a　year　I　will　give　thee　full　answer　according

as　to　how　thou　dost　bear　thyself　between　now　and　then；　for　this　is　no

light　gift　thou　askest；　also　that；　if　ye　will　it；　you　twain　may　now

plight　troth；　for　the　blame　shall　be　yours　if　it　is　broken；　and　not

mine；　and　I　give　thee　my　hand　on　it。〃



Eric　took　his　hand；　and　Gudruda　heard　her　father's　words　and　happiness

shone　in　her　dark　eyes；　and　she　grew　faint　for　very　joy。　And　now　Eric

turned　to　her；　all　torn　and　bloody　from　the　fray；　the　great　sword　in

his　hand；　and　he　spoke　thus：



〃Thou　hast　heard　thy　father's　words；　Gudruda？　Now　it　seems　that　there

is　no　great　need　of　troth…plighting　between　us　two。　Still；　here　before

all　men　I　ask　thee；　if　thou　dost　love　me　and　art　willing　to　take　me　to

husband？〃



Gudruda　looked　up　into　his　face；　and　answered　in　a　sweet；　clear　voice

that　could　be　heard　by　all：



〃Eric；　I　say　to　thee　now；　what　I　have　said　before；　that　I　love　thee

alone　of　all　men；　and；　if　it　be　my　father's　wish；　I　will　wed　no　other

whilst　thou　dost　remain　true　to　me　and　hold　me　dear。〃



〃Those　are　good　words；〃　said　Eric。　〃Now；　in　pledge　of　them；　swear　this

troth　of　thine　upon　my　sword　that　I　have　won。〃



Gudruda　smiled；　and；　taking　great　Whitefire　in　her　hand；　she　said　the

words　again；　and；　in　pledge　of　them；　kissed　the　bright　blade。



Then　Eric　took　back　the　war…sword　and　spoke　thus：　〃I　swear　that　I　will

love　thee；　and　thee　only；　Gudruda　the　Fair；　Asmund's　daughter；　whom　I

have　desired　all　my　days；　and；　if　I　fail　of　this　my　oath；　then　our

troth　is　at　an　end；　and　thou　mayst　wed　whom　thou　wilt；〃　and　in　turn　he

put　his　lips　upon　the　sword；　while　Swanhild　watched　them　do　the　oath。



Now　Ospakar　was　recovered　from　the　fight；　and　he　sat　there　upon　the

snow；　with　bowed　head；　for　he　knew　well　that　he　had　won　the　greatest

shame；　and　had　lost　both　wife　and　sword。　Black　rage　filled　his　heart

as　he　listened；　and　he　sprang　to　his　feet。



〃I　came　hither；　Asmund；〃　he　said；　〃to　ask　this　maid　of　thine　in

marriage；　and　methinks　that　had　been　a　good　match　for　her　and　thee。

But　I　have　been　overthrown　by　witchcraft　of　this　man　in　a　wrestling…

bout；　and　thereby　lost　my　good　sword；　and　now　I　must　seem　to　hear　him

betrothed　to　the　maid　before　me。〃



〃Thou　hast　heard　aright；　Ospakar；〃　said　Asmund；　〃and　thy　wooing　is

soon　sped。　Get　thee　back　whence　thou　camest　and　seek　a　wife　in　thine

own　quarter；　for　thou　art　unfit　in　age　and　aspect　to　have　so　sweet　a

maid。　Moreover；　here　in　the　south　we　hold　men　of　small　account；

however　great　and　rich　they　be；　who　do　not　shame　to　seek　to　overcome　a

foe　by　foul　means。　With　my　own　eyes　I　saw　thee　stamp　on　the　naked　foot

of　Eric；　Thorgrimur's　son；　with　my　own　eyes　I　saw　thee；　like　a　wolf；

fasten　that　black　fang　of　thine　upon　himthere　is　the　mark　of　it；

and；　as　for　the　matter　of　the　greased　shoes；　thou　knowest　best　what

hand　thou　hadst　in　it。〃



〃I　had　no　hand。　If　any　did　this　thing；　it　was　Groa　the　Witch；　thy

Finnish　bedmate。　For　the　rest；　I　was　mad　and　know　not　what　I　did。　But

hearken；　Asmund：　ill　shall　befall　thee　and　thy　house；　and　I　will　ever

be　thy　foe。　Moreover；　I　will　yet　wed　this　maid　of　thine。　And　now；　thou

Eric；　hearken　also：　I　will　have　another　game　with　thee。　This　one　was

but　the　sport　of　boys；　when　we　meet　againand　the　time　shall　not　be

longswords　shall　be　aloft；　and　thou　shalt　learn　the　play　of　men。　I

tell　thee　that　I　will　slay　thee；　and　tear　Gudruda；　shrieking；　from　thy

arms　to　be　my　wife！　I　tell　thee　that；　with　yonder　good　sword

Whitefire；　I　will　yet　hew　off　thy　head！〃and　he　choked　and　stopped。



〃Thou　art　much　foam　and　little　water；〃　said　Eric。　〃These　things　are

easily　put　to　proof。　If　thou　willest　it；　to…morrow　I　will　come　with

thee　to　a　holmgang；　and　there　we　may　set　the　twi