eric brighteyes-第21部分

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of　them。　Why　art　thou　so　glum　then？〃



〃There　is　something　that　must　yet　be　told　of　Swanhild；〃　said　Asmund。

〃She　is　called　the　Fatherless；　but；　if　thou　wilt　have　the　truth；　why

here　it　is　for　theeshe　is　my　daughter；　born　out　of　wedlock；　and　I

know　not　how　that　will　please　thee。〃



Atli　laughed　aloud；　and　his　bright　eyes　shone　in　his　wrinkled　face。

〃It　pleases　me　well；　Asmund；　for　then　the　maid　is　sprung　from　a　sound

stock。　The　name　of　the　Priest　of　Middalhof　is　famous　far　south　of

Iceland；　and　never　that　Iceland　bred　a　comelier　girl。　Is　that　all？〃



〃One　more　thing；　Earl。　This　I　charge　thee：　watch　thy　wife；　and　hold

her　back　from　witchcraft　and　from　dealings　with　evil　things　and　trolls

of　darkness。　She　is　of　Finnish　blood　and　the　women　of　the　Finns　are

much　given　to　such　wicked　work。〃



〃I　set　little　store　by　witchwork；　goblins　and　their　kin；〃　said　Atli。

〃I　doubt　me　much　of　their　power；　and　I　shall　soon　wean　Swanhild　from

such　ways；　if　indeed　she　practise　them。〃



Then　they　fell　to　talking　of　Swanhild's　dower；　and　that　was　not　small。

Afterwards　Asmund　sought　Eric　and　Gudruda；　and　told　them　what　had　come

to　pass；　and　they　were　glad　at　the　news；　though　they　grieved　for　Atli

the　Earl。　And　when　Swanhild　met　Gudruda；　she　came　to　her　humbly；　and

humbly　kissed　her　hand；　and　with　tears　craved　pardon　of　her　evil

doing；　saying　that　she　had　been　mad；　nor　did　Gudruda　withhold　it；　for

of　all　women　she　was　the　gentlest　and　most　forgiving。　But　to　Eric；

Swanhild　said　nothing。



The　wedding…feast　must　be　held　on　the　third　day　from　this；　for　Atli

would　sail　on　that　same　day；　since　his　people　wearied　of　waiting　and

his　ship　might　lie　bound　no　longer。　Blithe　was　Atli　the　Earl；　and

Swanhild　was　all　changed；　for　now　she　seemed　the　gentlest　of　maids；

and；　as　befitted　one　about　to　be　made　a　wife；　moved　through　the　house

with　soft　words　and　downcast　eyes。　But　Skallagrim；　watching　her；

bethought　him　of　the　grey　wolf　that　he　had　seen　by　Goldfoss；　and　this

seemed　not　well　to　him。



〃It　would　be　bad　now；〃　he　said　to　Eric；　as　they　rode　to　Coldback；　〃to

stand　in　yon　old　earl's　shoes。　This　woman's　weather　has　changed　too

fast；　and　after　such　a　calm　there'll　come　a　storm　indeed。　I　am　now

minded　of　Thorunna；　for　she　went　just　so　the　day　before　she　gave

herself　to　Ospakar；　and　me　to　shame　and　bonds。〃



〃Talk　not　of　the　raven　till　you　hear　his　croak；〃　said　Eric。



〃He　is　on　the　wing；　lord；〃　answered　Skallagrim。



Now　Eric　came　to　Coldback　in　the　Marsh；　and　Saevuna　his　mother　and

Unna；　Thorod's　daughter；　the　betrothed　of　Asmund；　were　glad　to　welcome

him；　for　the　tidings　of　his　mighty　deeds　and　of　the　overthrow　of

Ospakar　and　the　slaying　of　Mord　were　noised　far　and　wide。　But　at

Skallagrim　Lambstail　they　looked　askance。　Still；　when　they　heard　of

those　things　that　he　had　wrought　on　Horse…Head　Heights；　they　welcomed

him　for　his　deed's　sake。



Eric　sat　two　nights　at　Coldback；　and　on　the　second　day　Saevuna　his

mother　and　Unna　rode　thence　with　their　servants　to　the　wedding…feast

of　Swanhild　the　Fatherless。　But　Eric　stopped　at　Coldback　that　night；

saying　that　he　would　be　at　Middalhof　within　two　hours　of　sunrise；　for

he　must　talk　with　a　shepherd　who　came　from　the　fells。



Saevuna　and　her　company　came　to　Middalhof　and　was　asked；　first　by

Gudruda；　then　by　Swanhild；　why　Brighteyes　tarried。　She　answered　that

he　would　be　there　early　on　the　morrow。　Next　morning；　before　it　was

light；　Eric　girded　on　Whitefire；　took　horse　and　rode　from　Coldback

alone；　for　he　would　not　bring　Skallagrim；　fearing　lest　he　should　get

drunk　at　the　feast　and　shed　some　man's　blood。



It　was　Swanhild's　wedding…day；　but　she　greeted　it　with　little

lightsomeness　of　heart；　and　her　eyes　knew　no　sleep　that　night；　though

they　were　heavy　with　tears。



At　the　first　light　she　rose；　and；　gliding　from　the　house；　walked

through　the　heavy　dew　down　the　path　by　which　Eric　must　draw　near；　for

she　desired　to　speak　with　him。　Gudruda　also　rose　a　while　after；　though

she　did　not　know　this；　and　followed　on　the　same　path；　for　she　would

greet　her　lover　at　his　coming。



Now　three　furlongs　or　more　from　the　stead　stood　a　vetch　stack；　and

Swanhild　waited　on　the　further　side　of　this　stack。　Presently　she　heard

a　sound　of　singing　come　from　behind　the　shoulder　of　the　fell　and　of

the　tramp　of　a　horse's　hoofs。　Then　she　saw　the　golden　wings　of　Eric's

helm　all　ablaze　with　the　sunlight　as　he　rode　merrily　along；　and　great

bitterness　laid　hold　of　her　that　Eric　could　be　of　such　a　joyous　mood

on　the　day　when　she　who　loved　him　must　be　made　the　wife　of　another

man。



Presently　he　was　before　her；　and　Swanhild　stepped　from　the　shadow　of

the　stack　and　laid　her　hand　upon　his　horse's　bridle。



〃Eric；〃　she　said　humbly　and　with　bowed　head；　〃Gudruda　sleeps　yet。

Canst　thou；　then；　find　time　to　hearken　to　my　words？〃



He　frowned　and　said：　〃Methinks；　Swanhild；　it　would　be　better　if　thou

gavest　thy　words　to　him　who　is　thy　lord。〃



She　let　the　bridle…rein　drop　from　her　hands。　〃I　am　answered；〃　she

said；　〃ride　on。〃



Now　pity　stirred　in　Eric's　heart；　for　Swanhild's　mien　was　most　heavy；

and　he　leaped　down　from　his　horse。　〃Nay；〃　he　said；　〃speak　on；　if　thou

hast　anything　to　tell　me。〃



〃I　have　this　to　tell　thee；　Eric；　that　now；　before　we　part　for　ever；　I

am　come　to　ask　thy　pardon　for　my　ill…doingay；　and　to　wish　all　joy　to

thee　and　thy　fair　love；〃　and　she　sobbed　and　choked。



〃Speak　no　more　of　it；　Swanhild；〃　he　said；　〃but　let　thy　good　deeds

cover　up　the　ill；　which　are　not　small；　so　thou　shalt　be　happy。〃



She　looked　at　him　strangely；　and　her　face　was　white　with　pain。



〃How　then　are　we　so　differently　fashioned　that　thou；　Eric；　canst　prate

to　me　of　happiness　when　my　heart　is　racked　with　grief？　Oh；　Eric；　I

blame　thee　not；　for　thou　hast　not　wrought　this　evil　on　me　willingly；

but　I　say　this：　that　my　heart　is　dead；　as　I　would　that　I　were　dead。

See　those　flowers：　they　smell　sweetfor　me　they　have　no　odour。　Look

on　the　light　leaping　from　Coldback　to　the　sea；　from　the　sea　to　Westman

Isles；　and　from　the　Westman　crown　of　rocks　far　into　the　wide　heavens

above。　It　is　beautiful；　is　it　not？　Yet　I　tell　thee；　Eric；　that　now　to

my　eyes　howling　winter　darkness　is　every　whit　as　fair。　Joy　is　dead

within　me；　music's　but　a　jangled　madness　in　my　ears；　food　hath　no

savour　on　my　tongue；　my　youth　is　sped　ere　my　dawn　is　day。　Nothing　is

left　to　me；　Eric；　save　this　fair　body　that　thou　didst　scorn；　and　the

dreams　which　I　may　gather　from　my　hours　of　scanty　sleep；　and　such

shame　as　befalls　a　loveless　bride。〃



〃Speak　not　so；　Swanhild；〃　he　said；　and　clasped　her　by　the　hand；　for；

though　he　loathed　her　wickedness；　being　soft…hearted　and　but　young；　it

grieved　him　to　hear　her　words　and　see　the　anguish　of　her　mind。　For　it

is　so　with　men；　that　they　are　easily　moved　by　the　pleading　of　a　fair

woman　who　loves　them；　even　though　they　love　her　not。



〃Yea；　I　will　speak　out　all　my　mind　before　I　seal　it　up　for　ever。　See；

Eric；　this　is　my　state　and　thou　hast　set　this　crown　of　sorrow　on　my

brows：　and　thou　comest　singing　down　the　fell；　and　I　go　weeping　o'er

the　sea！　I　am　not　all　so　ill　at　heart。　It　was　love　of　thee　that　drove

me　down　to　sin；　as　love　of　thee　might　otherwise　have　lifted　me　to

holiness。　But；　loving　thee　as　thou　seest；　this　day　I　wed　a　dotard；　and

go　his　chattel　and　his　bride　across　the　sea；　and　leave　thee　singing　on

the　fell；　and　by　thy　side　her　who　is　my　foe。　Thou　hast　done　great

deeds；　Brighteyes；　and　still　greater　shalt　thou　do；　yet　but　as　echoes

they　shall　reach　my　ears。　Thou　wilt　be　to　me　as　one　dead；　for　it　is

Gudruda's　to　bind　the　byrnie　on　thy　breast　when　thou　goest　forth　to

war；　and　hers　to　loose　the　winged　helm　from　thy　brow　when　thou

returnest；　battle…worn　and　conquering。〃



Now　Swanhild　ceased；　and　choked　with　grief；　then　spoke　again：



〃So　now　farewell；　doubtless　I　weary　thee；　andGudruda　waits。　Nay；

look　not　on　my　foolish　tears：　they　are　the　heritage　of　woman；　of

naught　else　is　she　sure！　While　I　live；　Eric；　morn　by　morn　the　thought

of　thee　shall　come　to　wake　me　as　the　sun　wakes　yon　snowy　peak；　and

night　by　night　thy　memory　shall　pass　as　at　eve　he　passes　from　the

valleys；　but　to　dawn　again　in　dreams。　For；　Eric；　'tis　thee　I　wed

to…dayat　heart　I　am　thy　bride；　thine　and　thine　only；　and　when　shalt

thou　find　a　wife　who　holds　thee　so　dear　as　that　Swanhild　whom　once

thou　knewest？　So　now　farewell！　Yes；　this　time　thou　shalt　kiss　away　my

tears；　then　let　them　stream　for　ever。　Thus；　Eric！　and　thus！　and　thus！

do　I　take　farewell　of　thee。〃



And　now　she　clung　about　his　neck；　gazing　on　him　with　great　dewy　eyes

till　things　grew　strange　and　dim；　and　he　must　kiss　her　if　only　for　her

love　and　tender　beauty's　sake。　And　so　he　kissed；　and　it　chanced　that

as　they　clung　thus；　Gudruda；　passing　by　this　path　to　give　her

betrothed　greeting；　came　upon　them　and　stood　astonished。　Then　she

turned　and；　putting　her　hands　to　her　head；　fled　back　swiftly　to　the

stead；　and　waited　there；　great　anger　burning　in　her　heart；　for　Gudruda

had　this　fault；　that　she　was　very　jealous。



Now　Eric　and　Swanhild　did　not　see　her；　and　presently　they　parted；　and

Swanhild　wiped　her　eyes　and　glided　thence。



As　she　drew　near　the　stead　she　found　Gudruda　watching。



〃Where　hast　thou　been；　Swanhild？〃　she　said。



〃To　bid　farewell　to　Brighteyes；　Gudruda。〃



〃Then　thou　art　foolish；　for　doubtless　he　thrust　thee　from　him。〃



〃Nay；　Gudruda；　he　drew　me　to　him。　Hearken；　I　say；　thou　sister。　Vex　me

not；　for　I　go　my　ways　and　thou　goest　thine。　Thou　art　strong　and　fair；

and　hitherto　thou　hast　overcome　me。　But　I　am　also　fair；　and；　if　I　find

space　to　strike　in；　I　also　have　a　show　of　strength。　Pray　thou　that　I

find　not　space；　Gudruda。　Now　is　Eric　thine。　Perchance　one　day　he　may

be　mine。　It　lies　in　the　lap　of　the　Norns。〃



〃Fair　words　from　Atli's　bride；〃　mocked　Gudruda。



〃Ay；　Atli's　bride；　but　never　Atli's　love！〃　said　Swanhild；　and　swept

on。



A　w