eric brighteyes-第46部分

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of　a　cloven　shield。



So　Gizur　bound　the　Hell…shoes　on　his　father；　and　swore　that　he　would

neither　rest　nor　stay　till　Eric　Brighteyes　was　dead　and　dead　was

Skallagrim　Lambstail。　Then　he　gathered　a　great　force　of　men　and　rode

south　to　Coldback；　to　the　slaying　of　Eric；　and　with　him　went　Swanhild。







Gudruda　sat　alone　in　the　haunted　hall　of　Middalhof　and　brooded　on　her

love　and　on　her　fate。　Eric；　too；　sat　in　Mosfell　cave　and　brooded　on

his　evil　chance。　His　heart　was　sick　with　sorrow；　and　there　was　little

that　he　could　do　except　think　about　the　past。　He　would　not　go　to

foray；　after　the　fashion　of　outlaws；　and　there　was　no　need　of　this。

For　the　talk　of　his　mighty　deeds　spread　through　the　land；　so　that　the

people　spoke　of　little　else。　And　the　men　of　his　quarter　were　so　proud

of　these　deeds　of　Eric's　that；　though　some　of　their　kind　had　fallen　at

his　hands　in　the　great　fight　of　Middalhof　and　some　at　the　hands　of

Skallagrim；　yet　they　spoke　of　him　as　men　speak　of　a　God。　Moreover　they

brought　him　gifts　of　food　and　clothing　and　arms；　as　many　as　his　people

could　carry　away；　and　laid　them　in　a　booth　that　is　on　the　plain　near

the　foot　of　Mosfell；　which　thenceforth　was　named　Ericsfell。　Further；

they　bade　his　thralls　tell　him　that；　if　he　wished　it；　they　would　find

him　a　good　ship　of　war　to　take　him　from　Icelanday；　and　man　it　with

loyal　men　and　true。



Eric　thanked　them　through　Jon　his　thrall；　but　answered　that　he　wished

to　die　here　in　Iceland。







Now；　when　Eric　had　sat　two　months　and　more　in　Mosfell　cave　and　autumn

was　coming；　he　learned　that　Gizur　and　Swanhild　had　moved　down　to

Coldback；　and　with　them　a　great　company　of　men　who　were　sworn　to　slay

him。　He　asked　if　Gudruda　the　Fair　had　also　gathered　men　for　his

slaying。　They　told　him　no；　that　Gudruda　stayed　with　her　thralls　and

women　at　Middalhof；　mourning　for　Bj？rn　her　brother。　From　these　tidings

Eric　took　some　heart　of　hope：　at　the　least　Gudruda　laid　no　blood…feud

against　him。　For　he　waited；　thinking；　if　indeed　she　yet　loved　him；

that　Gudruda　would　send　him　some　word　or　token　of　her　love。　But　no

word　came；　since　between　them　ran　the　blood　of　Bj？rn。　On　the　morrow　of

these　tidings　Skallagrim　spoke　to　Eric。



〃This　is　my　counsel；　lord；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　ride　out　by　night　and

fall　on　the　folk　of　Gizur　at　Coldback；　and　burn　the　stead　over　them；

putting　them　to　the　sword。　I　am　weary　of　sitting　here　like　an　eagle　in

a　cage。〃



〃Such　is　no　counsel　of　mine；　Skallagrim；〃　answered　Brighteyes。　〃I　am

weary　of　sitting　here；　indeed；　but　I　am　yet　more　weary　of　bringing　men

to　their　death。　I　will　shed　no　more　blood；　unless　it　is　to　save　my　own

head。　When　the　people　of　Gizur　came　to　seek　me　on　Mosfell；　they　shall

find　me　here；　but　I　will　not　go　to　them。〃



〃Thy　heart　is　out　of　thee；　lord；〃　said　Skallagrim；　〃thou　wast　not　wont

to　speak　thus。〃



〃Ay；　Skallagrim；〃　said　Eric；　〃the　heart　is　out　of　me。　Yet　I　ride　from

Mosfell　to…day。〃



〃Whither；　lord？〃



〃To　Middalhof；　to　have　speech　with　Gudruda　the　Fair。〃



〃Like　enough；　then；　thou　wilt　be　silent　thereafter。〃



〃It　well　may　be；〃　said　Eric。　〃Yet　I　will　ride。　I　can　bear　this　doubt

no　longer。〃



〃Then　I　shall　come　with　thee；〃　said　Skallagrim。



〃As　thou　wilt；〃　answered　Eric。



So　at　midday　Eric　and　Skallagrim　rode　away　from　Mosfell　in　a　storm　of

rain。　The　rain　was　so　heavy　that　those　of　Gizur's　spies　who　watched

the　mountain　did　not　see　them。　All　that　day　they　rode　and　all　the

night；　till　by　morning　they　came　to　Middalhof。　Eric　told　Skallagrim　to

stay　with　the　horses　and　let　them　feed；　while　he　went　on　foot　to　see

if　by　chance　he　might　get　speech　with　Gudruda。　This　the　Baresark　did；

though　he　grumbled　at　the　task；　fearing　lest　Eric　should　be　done　to

death；　and　he　not　there　to　die　with　him。



Now　Eric　walked　to　within　two　bowshots　of　the　house；　then　sat　down　in

a　dell　by　the　river；　from　the　edge　of　which　he　could　see　those　who

passed　in　and　out。　Presently　his　heart　gave　a　leap；　for　there　came　out

from　the　woman's　door　a　lady　tall　and　beautiful　to　see；　and　with

golden　hair　that　flowed　about　her　breast。　It　was　Gudruda；　and　he　saw

that　she　bore　a　napkin　in　her　hand。　Then　Eric　knew；　according　to　her

custom　on　the　warm　mornings；　that　she　came　alone　to　bathe　in　the

river；　as　she　had　always　done　from　a　child。　It　was　her　habit　to　bathe

here　in　this　place：　for　at　the　bottom　of　the　dell　was　a　spot　where

reeds　and　bushes　grew　thick；　and　the　water　lay　in　a　basin　of　rock　and

was　clear　and　still。　For　at　this　spot　a　hot　spring　ran　into　the　river。



Eric　went　down　the　dell；　hid　himself　close　in　the　bushes　and　waited；

for　he　feared　to　speak　with　Gudruda　in　the　open　field。　A　while　passed；

and　presently　the　shadow　of　the　lady　crept　over　the　edge　of　the　dell；

then　she　came　herself　in　that　beauty　which　since　her　day　has　not　been

known　in　Iceland。　Her　face　was　sad　and　sweet；　her　dark　and　lovely　eyes

were　sad。　On　she　came；　till　she　stood　within　a　spear's　length　of　where

Eric　lay；　crouched　in　the　bush；　and　looking　at　her　through　the　hedge

of　reeds。　Here　a　flat　rock　overhung　the　water；　and　Gudruda　sat　herself

on　this　rock；　and；　shaking　off　her　shoes；　dipped　her　white　feet　in　the

water。　Then　suddenly　she　threw　aside　her　cloak；　baring　her　arms；　and；

gazing　upon　the　shadow　of　her　beauty　in　the　mirror　of　the　water；

sighed　and　sighed　again；　while　Eric　looked　at　her　with　a　bursting

heart；　for　as　yet　he　could　find　no　words　to　say。



Now　she　spoke　aloud。　〃Of　what　use　to　be　so　fair？〃　she　said。　〃Oh；

wherefore　was　I　born　so　fair　to　bring　death　to　many　and　sorrow　on

myself　and　him　I　love？〃　And　she　shook　her　golden　hair　about　her　arms

of　snow；　and；　holding　the　napkin　to　her　eyes；　wept　softly。　But　it

seemed　to　Eric　that　between　her　sobs　she　called　upon　his　name。



Now　Eric　could　no　longer　bear　the　sight　of　Gudruda　weeping。　While　she

wept；　hiding　her　eyes；　he　rose　from　behind　the　screen　of　reeds　and

stood　beside　her　in　such　fashion　that　his　shadow　fell　upon　her。　She

felt　the　sunlight　pass　and　looked　up。　Lo！　it　was　no　cloud；　but　the

shape　of　Eric；　and　the　sun　glittered　on　his　golden　helm　and　hair。



〃Eric！〃　Gudruda　cried；　〃Eric！〃　Then；　remembering　how　she　was　attired；

snatching　her　cloak；　she　threw　it　about　her　arms　and　thrust　her　wet

feet　into　her　shoes。　〃Out　upon　thee！〃　she　said；　〃is　it　not　enough；

then；　that　thou　shouldst　break　thy　troth　for　Swanhild's　sake；　that

thou　shouldst　slay　my　brother　and　turn　my　hall　to　shambles？　Wouldst

now　steal　upon　me　thus！〃



〃Methought　that　thou　didst　weep　and　call　upon　my　name；　Gudruda；〃　he

said　humbly。



〃By　what　right　art　thou　here　to　hearken　to　my　words？〃　she　answered。

〃Is　it；　then；　strange　that　I　should　speak　the　name　of　him　who　slew　my

brother？　Is　it　strange　that　I　should　weep　over　that　brother　whom　thou

didst　slay？　Get　thee　gone；　Brighteyes；　before　I　call　my　folk　to　kill

thee！〃



〃Call　on；　Gudruda。　I　set　little　price　upon　my　life。　I　laid　it　in　the

hands　of　chance　when　I　came　from　Mosfell　to　speak　with　thee；　and　now　I

will　pay　it　down　if　so　it　pleases　thee。　Fear　not；　thy　thralls　shall

have　an　easy　task：　for　I　shall　scarcely　care　to　hold　my　own。　Say；

shall　I　call　for　thee？〃



〃Hush！　Speak　not　so　loud！　Folk　may　hear　thee；　Eric；　and　then　thou　wilt

be　in　dangerI　would　say　that；　then　shall　ill　things　be　told　of　me；

because　I　am　found　with　him　who　slew　my　brother？〃



〃I　slew　Ospakar　too；　Gudruda。　Surely　the　death　of　him　by　whose　side

thou　didst　sit　as　wife　is　more　to　thee　than　the　death　of　Bj？rn？〃



〃The　bride…cup　was　not　yet　drunk；　Eric；　therefore　I　have　no　blood…feud

for　Ospakar。〃



〃Is　it；　then；　thy　will　that　I　should　go；　lady？〃



〃Yes；　go！go！　Never　let　me　see　thy　face　again！〃



Brighteyes　turned　without　a　word。　He　took　three　paces　and　Gudruda

watched　him　as　he　went。



〃Eric！〃　she　called。　〃Eric！　thou　mayest　not　go　yet：　for　at　this　hour

the　thralls　bring　down　the　kine　to　milk；　and　they　will　see　thee。　Liest

thou　hid　here。　II　will　go。　For　though；　indeed；　thou　dost　deserve　to

die；　I　am　not　willing　to　bring　thee　to　thy　endbecause　of　old

friendship　I　am　not　willing！〃



〃If　thou　goest；　I　will　go　also；〃　said　Eric。　〃Thralls　or　no　thralls；　I

will　go；　Gudruda。〃



〃Thou　art　cruel　to　drive　me　to　such　a　choice；　and　I　have　a　mind　to

give　thee　to　thy　fate。〃



〃As　thou　wilt；〃　said　Eric；　but　she　made　as　though　she　did　not　hear　his

words。



〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃if　we　must　stay　here；　it　is　better　that　we　hide

where　thou　didst　hide；　lest　some　come　upon　thee。〃　And　she　passed

through　the　screen　of　rushes　and　sat　down　in　a　grassy　place　beyond；

and　spoke　again。



〃Nay；　sit　not　near　me；　sit　yonder。　I　would　not　touch　thee；　nor　look

upon　thee；　who　wast　Swanhild's　love；　and　didst　slay　Bj？rn　my　brother。〃



〃Say；　Gudruda；〃　said　Eric；　〃did　I　not　tell　thee　of　the　magic　arts　of

Swanhild？　Did　I　not　tell　thee　before　all　men　yonder　in　the　hall；　and

didst　thou　not　say　that　thou　didst　believe　my　words？　Speak。〃



〃That　is　true；〃　said　Gudruda。



〃Wherefore；　then；　dost　thou　taunt　me　with　being　Swanhild's　lovewith

being　the　love　of　her　whom　of　all　alive　I　hate　the　mostand　whose

wicked　guile　has　brought　these　sorrows　on　us？〃



But　Gudruda　did　not　answer。



〃And　for　this　matter　of　the　death　of　Bj？rn　at　my　hands；　think；

Gudruda：　was　I　to　blame　in　it？　Did　not　Bj？rn　thrust　the　cloven　shield

before　my　feet；　and　thus　give　me　into　the　hand　of　Ospakar？　Did　he　not

afterwards　smite　at　me　from　behind；　and　would　he　not　have　slain　me　if

Skallagrim　had　not　caught　the　blow？　Was　I；　then；　to　blame　if　I　smote

back　and　if　the　sword　flew　home？　Wilt　thou　let　the　needful　deed　rise

up　against　our　love？　Speak；　Gudruda！〃



〃Talk　no　more　of　love　to　me；　Eric；〃　she　answered；　〃the　blood　of　Bj？rn

has　blotted　out　our　love：　it　cries　to　me　for　vengeance。　How　may　I

speak　of　love　with　him　who　slew　my　brother？　Listen！〃　she　went　on；

looking　on　him　sidelong；　as　one　who　wished　to　look　and　yet　not　seem