eric brighteyes-第40部分

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Brighteyes　for　the　slaying　of　Earl　Atli；　my　husband。〃



〃Thou　couldst　have　come　to　no　man　who　is　more　willing；〃　said　Ospakar；

〃for；　if　thou　hast　something　against　Eric；　I　have　yet　more。〃



〃I　would　ask　this；　too；　Ospakar：　that　thy　son　Gizur　should　take　up　my

suit　and　plead　it；　for　I　know　well　that　he　is　the　most　skilful　of　all

lawmen。〃



〃I　will　do　that；〃　said　Gizur；　his　eyes　yet　fixed　upon　her　face。



〃I　looked　for　no　less　from　thee；〃　said　Swanhild；　〃and　be　sure　of　this；

that　thou　shalt　not　plead　for　nothing；〃　and　she　glanced　at　him

meaningly。　Then　she　set　out　her　case　with　a　lying　tongue；　and

afterwards　went　back　to　her　booth；　glad　at　heart。　For　now　she　learned

that　Hall　had　not　failed　in　his　errand；　seeing　that　Gudruda　was　about

to　wed　Ospakar。



Gizur　gave　warning　of　the　blood…suit；　and　the　end　of　it　was　that；

though　he　had　no　notice　and　was　not　there　to　answer　to　the　charge；

against　all　right　and　custom　Eric　was　declared　outlaw　and　his　lands

were　given；　half　to　Swanhild　and　half　to　the　men　of　his　quarter。　For

now　all　held　that　Swanhild's　was　a　true　tale；　and　Eric　the　most

shameful　of　men；　and　therefore　they　were　willing　to　stretch　the　law

against　him。　Also；　being　absent；　he　had　few　friends；　and　those　men　of

small　account；　whereas　Ospakar；　who　backed　Swanhild's　suit；　was　the

most　powerful　of　the　northern　chiefs；　as　Gizur　was　the　most　skilled

lawman　in　Iceland。　Moreover；　Bj？rn　the　Priest；　Asmund's　son；　was　among

the　judges；　and；　though　Swanhild's　tale　seemed　strange　to　him　after

that　which　he　had　heard　from　Hall　of　Lithdale；　he　loved　Eric　little。

He　feared　also　that　if　Eric　came　a　free　man　to　Iceland　before　Gudruda

was　wed　to　Ospakar；　her　love　would　conquer　her　anger；　for　he　could　see

well　that　she　still　loved　Brighteyes。　Therefore　he　strove　with　might

and　main　that　Eric　should　be　brought　in　guilty；　nor　did　he　fail　in

this。



So　the　end　of　it　was　that　Eric　Brighteyes　was　outlawed；　his　lands

declared　forfeit；　and　his　head　a　wolf's　head；　to　be　taken　by　him　who

might；　should　he　set　foot　in　Iceland。



Thereafter；　the　Althing　being　ended；　Bj？rn；　Gizur；　and　Ospakar；　with

all　their　company；　rode　away　to　Middalhof　to　sit　at　the　marriage…

feast。　But　Swanhild　and　her　folk　went　by　sea　in　the　long　war…ship　to

Westmans。　For　this　was　her　plan：　to　seize　on　Coldback　and　to　sit　there

for　a　while；　till　she　saw　if　Eric　came　out　to　Iceland。　Also　she

desired　to　see　the　wedding　of　Ospakar　and　Gudruda；　for　she　had　been

bidden　to　it　by　Bj？rn；　her　half…brother。



Now　Ospakar　came　to　Middalhof；　and　found　Gudruda　waiting　his　coming。



She　stood　in　the　great　hall；　pale　and　cold　as　April　snow；　and　greeted

him　courteously。　But　when　he　would　have　kissed　her；　she　shrank　from

him；　for　now　he　was　more　hideous　in　her　sight　than　he　had　ever　been；

and　she　loathed　him　in　her　heart。



That　night　there　was　feasting　in　the　hall；　and　at　the　feast　Gudruda

heard　that　Eric　had　been　made　outlaw。　Then　she　spoke：



〃This　is　an　ill　deed；　thus　to　judge　an　absent　man。〃



〃Say；　Gudruda；〃　said　Bj？rn　in　her　ear；　〃hast　thou　not　also　judged　Eric

who　is　absent？〃



She　turned　her　head　and　spoke　no　more　of　Eric；　but　Bj？rn's　words　fixed

themselves　in　her　heart　like　arrows。　The　tale　was　strange　to　her；　for

it　seemed　that　Eric　had　been　made　outlaw　at　Swanhild's　suit；　and　yet

Eric　was　Swanhild's　love：　for　Swanhild's　self　had　sent　the　lock　of

Brighteyes'　hair　by　Hall；　saying　that　he　was　her　love　and　soon　would

wed　her。　How；　then；　did　Swanhild　bring　a　suit　against　him　who　should

be　her　husband？　Moreover；　she　heard　that　Swanhild　sailed　down　to

Coldback；　and　was　bidden　to　the　marriage…feast；　that　should　be　on　the

third　day　from　now。　Could　it　be；　then；　when　all　was　said　and　done；

that　Eric　was　less　faithless　than　she　deemed？　Gudruda's　heart　stood

still　and　the　blood　rushed　to　her　brow　when　she　thought　on　it。　Also；

even　if　it　were　so；　it　was　now　too　late。　And　surely　it　was　not　so；　for

had　not　Eric　been　made　outlaw？　Men　were　not　made　outlaw　for　a　little

thing。　Nay；　she　would　meet　her　fate；　and　ask　no　more　of　Eric　and　his

doings。



On　the　morrow；　as　Gudruda　sat　in　her　chamber；　it　was　told　her　that

Saevuna；　Thorgrimur's　widow　and　Eric's　mother；　had　come　from　Coldback

to　speak　with　her。　For；　after　the　death　of　Asmund　and　of　Unna；　Saevuna

had　moved　back　to　Coldback　on　the　Marsh。



〃Nay；　how　can　this　be？〃　said　Gudruda　astonished；　for　she　knew　well

that　Saevuna　was　now　both　blind　and　bed…ridden。



〃She　has　been　borne　here　in　a　chair；〃　said　the　woman　who　told　her；

〃and　that　is　a　strange　sight　to　see。〃



At　first　Gudruda　was　minded　to　say　her　nay；　but　her　heart　softened；

and　she　bade　them　bring　Saevuna　in。　Presently　she　came；　being　set　in　a

chair　upon　the　shoulders　of　four　men。　She　was　white　to　see；　for

sickness　had　aged　her　much；　and　she　stared　about　her　with　sightless

eyes。　But　she　was　still　tall　and　straight；　and　her　face　was　stern　to

look　on。　To　Gudruda　it　seemed　like　that　of　Eric　when　he　was　angered。



〃Am　I　nigh　to　Gudruda　the　Fair；　Asmund's　daughter？〃　asked　Saevuna。

〃Methinks　I　hear　her　breathe。〃



〃I　am　here；　mother；〃　said　Gudruda。　〃What　is　thy　will　with　me？〃



〃Set　down；　carles；　and　begone！〃　quoth　Saevuna；　〃that　which　I　have　to

say　I　would　say　alone。　When　I　summon　you；　come。〃



The　carles　set　down　the　chair　upon　the　floor　and　went。



〃Gudruda；〃　said　the　dame；　〃I　am　risen　from　my　deathbed；　and　I　have

caused　myself　to　be　borne　on　my　last　journey　here　across　the　meads；

that　I　may　speak　with　thee　and　warn　thee。　I　hear　that　thou　hast　put

away　my　son；　Eric　Brighteyes；　to　whom　thou　art　sworn　in　marriage；　and

art　about　to　give　thyself　to　Ospakar　Blacktooth。　I　hear　also　that　thou

hast　done　this　deed　because　a　certain　man；　Hall　of　Lithdalewhom　from

his　youth　up　I　have　known　for　a　liar　and　a　knave；　and　whom　thou

thyself　didst　mistrust　in　years　gone　byhas　come　hither　to　Iceland

from　Orkneys；　bearing　a　tale　of　Eric's　dealings　with　thy　half…sister

Swanhild。　This　I　hear；　further：　that　Swanhild；　Atli's　widow；　hath　come

out　to　Iceland　and　laid　a　suit　against　Eric　for　the　slaying　of　Atli

the　Earl；　her　husband；　and　that　Eric　has　been　outlawed　and　his　lands

at　Coldback　are　forfeit。　Tell　me　now；　Gudruda；　Asmund's　daughter；　if

these　tales　be　true？〃



〃The　tales　are　true；　mother；〃　said　Gudruda。



〃Then　hearken　to　me；　girl。　Eric　sprang　from　my　womb；　who　of　all　living

men　is　the　best　and　first；　as　he　is　the　bravest　and　most　strong。　I

have　reared　this　Eric　from　a　babe　and　I　know　his　heart　well。　Now　I

tell　thee　this；　that；　whatever　Eric　has　done　or　left　undone；　naught　of

dishonour　is　on　his　hands。　Mayhap　Swanhild　has　deceived　himthou　art

a　woman；　and　thou　knowest　well　the　arts　which　women　have；　and　the

strength　that　Freya　gives　them。　Well　thou　knowest；　also；　of　what　breed

this　Swanhild　came；　and　perchance　thou　canst　remember　how　she　dealt

with　thee；　and　with　what　mind　she　looked　on　Eric。　Perchance　thou　canst

remember　how　she　plotted　against　thee　and　Ericay；　how　she　thrust

thee　from　Goldfoss　brink。　Say；　then；　wilt　thou　take　her　word？　Wilt

thou　take　the　word　of　this　witch…daughter　of　a　witch？　Wilt　thou　not

think　on　Groa；　her　mother；　and　of　Groa's　dealings　with　thy　father；　and

with　Unna　my　kinswoman？　As　the　mother　is；　so　shall　the　daughter　be。

Wilt　thou　cast　Eric　aside；　and　that　unheard？〃



〃There　is　no　more　room　for　doubt；　mother；〃　said　Gudruda。　〃I　have　proof

of　this：　that　Eric　has　forsaken　me。〃



〃So　thou　thinkest；　child；　but　I　tell　thee　that　thou　art　wrong！　Eric

loves　thee　now　as　he　loved　thee　aforetime；　and　will　love　thee　always。〃



〃Would　that　I　could　believe　it！〃　said　Gudruda。　〃If　I　could　believe

that　Eric　still　loved　meay；　even　though　he　had　been　faithless　to　me

I　would　die　ere　I　wed　Ospakar！〃



〃Thou　art　foolish；　Gudruda；　and　thou　shalt　rue　thy　folly　bitterly。　I

am　outworn；　and　death　draws　near　to　mefar　from　me　now　are　hates　and

loves；　hopes　and　fears；　but　I　know　this：　that　woman　is　mad　who；　loving

a　man；　weds　where　she　loves　not。　Shame　shall　be　her　portion　and

bitterness　her　bread。　Unhappy　shall　she　live；　and　when　she　comes　to

die；　but　as　a　wildernessbut　as　the　desolate　winter　snow；　shall　be

the　record　of　her　days！〃



Now　Gudruda　wept　aloud。　〃What　is　done　is　done；〃　she　cried；　〃the

bridegroom　sits　within　the　hallthe　bride　awaits　him　in　the　bower。

What　is　done　is　doneI　may　hope　no　more　to　be　saved　from　Ospakar。〃



〃What　is　done　is　done；　yet　it　can　be　brought　to　nothing；　but　soon　that

shall　be　done　which　may　never　be　undone！　Gudruda；　fare　thee　well！

Never　shall　I　listen　to　thy　voice　again。　I　hold　thee　shameless；　thou

unfaithful　woman；　who　in　thy　foolish　jealousy　art　ready　to　sell

thyself　to　the　arms　of　one　thou　hatest！　Ho！　carles；　come　hither。　Bear

me　hence！〃



Now　the　men　came　in　and　took　up　Saevuna's　chair。　Gudruda　watched　them

bear　her　forth。　Then　suddenly　she　sprang　from　her　seat　and　ran　after

her　into　the　hall；　weeping　bitterly。



Now　as　Saevuna；　Eric's　mother；　was　carried　out　she　was　met　by　Ospakar

and　Bj？rn。



〃Stay；〃　said　Bj？rn。　〃What　does　this　carline　here？and　why　weeps

Gudruda；　my　sister？〃



The　men　halted。　〃Who　calls　me　'carline'？〃　said　Saevuna。　〃Is　the　voice

I　hear　the　voice　of　Bj？rn；　Asmund's　son？〃



〃It　is　my　voice；　truly；〃　said　Bj？rn；　〃and　I　would　know　thisand　this

would　Ospakar；　who　stands　at　my　side；　know　alsowhy　thou　comest　here；

carline？　and　why　Gudruda　weeps？〃



〃Gudruda　weeps　because　she　has　good　cause　to　weep；　Bj？rn。　She　weeps

because　she　has　betrayed　her　love；　Eric　Brighteyes；　my　son；　and　is

about　to　be　sold　in　marriageto　be　sold　to　thee；　Ospakar　Blacktooth；

like　a　heifer　at　a　fair。〃



Then　Bj？rn　grew　angry　and　cursed　Saevuna；　nor　did　Ospakar　spare　to　add

his　ill　words。　But　the　old　dame　sat　in　her　chair；　listening　silently

till　all　their　curses　were　spent。



〃Ye　are　evil；　the　twain　of　you；〃　she　said；　〃and　ye　have　told　lies　of

Eric；　my　son；　and　ye　have　taken　his　bride