eric brighteyes-第5部分

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laying　her　snow…cold　lips　on　his　lips。　〃Oh；　Eric；　awake！　awake！　See；

the　snow　is　done。〃



He　stumbled　to　his　feet　and　looked　forth。　Lo！　out　across　the　sky

flared　the　wild　Northern　fires；　throwing　light　upon　the　darkness。



〃Now　it　seems　that　I　know　the　land；〃　said　Eric。　〃Look：　yonder　are

Golden　Falls；　though　we　did　not　hear　them　because　of　the　snow；　and

there；　out　at　sea；　loom　the　Westmans；　and　that　dark　thing　is　the

Temple　Hof；　and　behind　it　stands　the　stead。　We　are　saved；　Gudruda；　and

thus　far　indeed　thou　wast　fey。　Now　rise；　ere　thy　limbs　stiffen；　and　I

will　set　thee　on　the　horse；　if　he　still　can　run；　and　lead　thee　down　to

Middalhof　before　the　witchlights　fail　us。〃



〃So　it　shall　be；　Eric。〃



Now　he　led　Gudruda　to　the　horsethat；　seeing　its　master；　snorted　and

shook　the　snow　from　its　coat；　for　it　was　not　frozenand　set　her　on

the　saddle；　and　put　his　arm　about　her　waist；　and　they　passed　slowly

through　the　deep　snow。　And　Swanhild；　too；　crept　from　her　place；　for

her　burning　rage　had　kept　the　life　in　her；　and　followed　after　them。

Many　times　she　fell；　and　once　she　was　nearly　swallowed　in　a　drift　of

snow　and　cried　out　in　her　fear。



〃Who　called　aloud？〃　said　Eric；　turning；　〃I　thought　I　heard　a　voice。〃



〃Nay；〃　answers　Gudruda；　〃it　was　but　a　night…hawk　screaming。〃



Now　Swanhild　lay　quiet　in　the　drift；　but　she　said　in　her　heart：



〃Ay；　a　night…hawk　that　shall　tear　out　those　dark　eyes　of　thine；　mine

enemy！〃



The　two　go　on　and　at　length　they　come　to　the　banked　roadway　that　runs

past　the　Temple　to　Asmund's　hall。　Here　Swanhild　leaves　them；　and；

climbing　over　the　turf…wall　into　the　home　meadow；　passes　round　the

hall　by　the　outbuildings　and　so　comes　to　the　west　end　of　the　house；

and　enters　by　the　men's　door　unnoticed　of　any。　For　all　the　people；

seeing　a　horse　coming　and　a　woman　seated　on　it；　were　gathered　in　front

of　the　hall。　But　Swanhild　ran　to　that　shut　bed　where　she　slept；　and；

closing　the　curtain；　threw　off　her　garments；　shook　the　snow　from　her

hair；　and　put　on　a　linen　kirtle。　Then　she　rested　a　while；　for　she　was

weary；　and；　going　to　the　kitchen；　warmed　herself　at　the　fire。



Meanwhile　Eric　and　Gudruda　came　to　the　house　and　there　Asmund　greeted

them　well；　for　he　was　troubled　in　his　heart　about　his　daughter；　and

very　glad　to　know　her　living；　seeing　that　men　had　but　now　begun　to

search　for　her；　because　of　the　snow　and　the　darkness。



Now　Gudruda　told　her　tale；　but　not　all　of　it；　and　Asmund　bade　Eric　to

the　house。　Then　one　asked　about　Swanhild；　and　Eric　said　that　he　had

seen　nothing　of　her；　and　Asmund　was　sad　at　this；　for　he　loved

Swanhild。　But　as　he　told　all　men　to　go　and　search；　an　old　wife　came

and　said　that　Swanhild　was　in　the　kitchen；　and　while　the　carline　spoke

she　came　into　the　hall；　dressed　in　white；　very　pale；　and　with　shining

eyes　and　fair　to　see。



〃Where　hast　thou　been；　Swanhild？〃　said　Asmund。　〃I　thought　certainly

thou　wast　perishing　with　Gudruda　in　the　snow；　and　now　all　men　go　to

seek　thee　while　the　witchlights　burn。〃



〃Nay；　foster…father；　I　have　been　to　the　Temple；〃　she　answered；　lying。

〃So　Gudruda　has　but　narrowly　escaped　the　snow；　thanks　be　to　Brighteyes

yonder！　Surely　I　am　glad　of　it；　for　we　could　ill　spare　our　sweet

sister；〃　and；　going　up　to　her；　she　kissed　her。　But　Gudruda　saw　that

her　eyes　burned　like　fire　and　felt　that　her　lips　were　cold　as　ice；　and

shrank　back　wondering。







III



HOW　ASMUND　BADE　ERIC　TO　HIS　YULE…FEAST



Now　it　was　supper…time　and　men　sat　at　meat　while　the　women　waited　upon

them。　But　as　she　went　to　and　fro；　Gudruda　always　looked　at　Eric；　and

Swanhild　watched　them　both。　Supper　being　over；　people　gathered　round

the　hearth；　and；　having　finished　her　service；　Gudruda　came　and　sat　by

Eric；　so　that　her　sleeve　might　touch　his。　They　spoke　no　word；　but

there　they　sat　and　were　happy。　Swanhild　saw　and　bit　her　lip。　Now；　she

was　seated　by　Asmund　and　Bj？rn　his　son。



〃Look；　foster…father；〃　she　said；　〃yonder　sit　a　pretty　pair！〃



〃That　cannot　be　denied；〃　answered　Asmund。　〃One　may　ride　many　days　to

see　such　another　man　as　Eric　Brighteyes；　and　no　such　maid　as　Gudruda

flowers　between　Middalhof　and　London　town；　unless　it　be　thou；

Swanhild。　Well；　so　her　mother　said　that　it　should　be；　and　without

doubt　she　was　foresighted　at　her　death。〃



〃Nay；　name　me　not　with　Gudruda；　foster…father；　I　am　but　a　grey　goose

by　thy　white　swan。　But　these　shall　be　well　wed　and　that　will　be　a　good

match　for　Eric。〃



〃Let　not　thy　tongue　run　on　so　fast；〃　said　Asmund　sharply。　〃Who　told

thee　that　Eric　should　have　Gudruda？〃



〃None　told　me；　but　in　truth；　having　eyes　and　ears；　I　grew　certain　of

it；〃　said　Swanhild。　〃Look　at　them　now：　surely　lovers　wear　such　faces。〃



Now　it　chanced　that　Gudruda　had　rested　her　chin　on　her　hand；　and　was

gazing　into　Eric's　eyes　beneath　the　shadow　of　her　hair。



〃Methinks　my　sister　will　look　higher　than　to　wed　a　simple　yeoman；

though　he　is　large　as　two　other　men；〃　said　Bj？rn　with　a　sneer。　Now

Bj？rn　was　jealous　of　Eric's　strength　and　beauty；　and　did　not　love　him。



〃Trust　nothing　that　thou　seest　and　little　that　thou　hearest；　girl；〃

said　Asmund；　raising　himself　from　thought：　〃so　shall　thy　guesses　be

good。　Eric；　come　here　and　tell　us　how　thou　didst　chance　on　Gudruda　in

the　snow。〃



〃I　was　not　so　ill　seated　but　that　I　could　bear　to　stay；〃　grumbled　Eric

beneath　his　breath；　but　Gudruda　said　〃Go。〃



So　he　went　and　told　his　tale；　but　not　all　of　it；　for　he　intended　to

ask　Gudruda　in　marriage　on　the　morrow；　though　his　heart　prophesied　no

luck　in　the　matter；　and　therefore　he　was　not　overswift　with　it。



〃In　this　thing　thou　hast　done　me　and　mine　good　service；〃　said　Asmund

coldly；　searching　Eric's　face　with　his　blue　eyes。　〃It　had　been　said　if

my　fair　daughter　had　perished　in　the　snow；　for；　know　this：　I　would　set

her　high　in　marriage；　for　her　honour　and　the　honour　of　my　house；　and

so　some　rich　and　noble　man　had　lost　great　joy。　But　take　thou　this　gift

in　memory　of　the　deed；　and　Gudruda's　husband　shall　give　thee　another

such　upon　the　day　that　he　makes　her　wife；〃　and　he　drew　a　gold　ring　off

his　arm。



Now　Eric's　knees　trembled　as　he　heard；　and　his　heart　grew　faint　as

though　with　fear。　But　he　answered　clear　and　straight：



〃Thy　gift　had　been　better　without　thy　words；　ring…giver；　but　I　pray

thee　to　take　it　back；　for　I　have　done　nothing　to　win　it；　though

perhaps　the　time　will　come　when　I　shall　ask　thee　for　a　richer。〃



〃My　gifts　have　never　been　put　away　before；〃　said　Asmund；　growing

angry。



〃This　wealthy　farmer　holds　the　good　gold　of　little　worth。　It　is

foolish　to　take　fish　to　the　sea；　my　father；〃　sneered　Bj？rn。



〃Nay；　Bj？rn；　not　so；〃　Eric　answered：　〃but；　as　thou　sayest；　I　am　but　a

farmer；　and　since　my　father；　Thorgrimur　Iron…Toe；　died　things　have　not

gone　too　well　on　Ran　River。　But　at　the　least　I　am　a　free　man；　and　I

will　take　no　gifts　that　I　cannot　repay　worth　for　worth。　Therefore　I

will　not　have　the　ring。〃



〃As　thou　wilt；〃　said　Asmund。　〃Pride　is　a　good　horse　if　thou　ridest

wisely；〃　and　he　thrust　the　ring　back　upon　his　arm。



Then　people　go　to　rest；　but　Swanhild　seeks　her　mother；　and　tells　her

all　that　has　befallen　her；　nor　does　Groa　fail　to　listen。



〃Now　I　will　make　a　plan；〃　she　says；　〃for　these　things　have　chanced

well　and　Asmund　is　in　a　ripe　humour。　Eric　shall　come　no　more　to

Middalhof　till　Gudruda　is　gone　hence；　led　by　Ospakar　Blacktooth。〃



〃And　if　Eric　does　not　come　here；　how　shall　I　see　his　face？　for；

mother；　I　long　for　the　sight　of　it。〃



〃That　is　thy　matter；　thou　lovesick　fool。　Know　this：　that　if　Eric　comes

hither　and　gets　speech　with　Gudruda；　there　is　an　end　of　thy　hopes；

for；　fair　as　thou　art；　she　is　too　fair　for　thee；　and；　strong　as　thou

art；　in　a　way　she　is　too　strong。　Thou　hast　heard　how　these　two　love；

and　such　loves　mock　at　the　will　of　fathers。　Eric　will　win　his　desire

or　die　beneath　the　swords　of　Asmund　and　Bj？rn；　if　such　men　can　prevail

against　his　might。　Nay；　the　wolf　Eric　must　be　fenced　from　the　lamb

till　he　grows　hungry。　Then　let　him　search　the　fold　and　make　spoil　of

thee；　for；　when　the　best　is　gone；　he　will　desire　the　good。〃



〃So　be　it；　mother。　As　I　sat　crouched　behind　Gudruda　in　the　snow　at

Coldback；　I　had　half　a　mind　to　end　her　love…words　with　this　knife；　for

so　I　should　have　been　free　of　her。〃



〃Yes；　and　fast　in　the　doom…ring；　thou　wildcat。　The　gods　help　this

Eric；　if　thou　winnest　him。　Nay；　choose　thy　time　and；　if　thou　must

strike；　strike　secretly　and　home。　Remember　also　that　cunning　is

mightier　than　strength；　that　lies　pierce　further　than　swords；　and　that

witchcraft　wins　where　honesty　must　fail。　Now　I　will　go　to　Asmund；　and

he　shall　be　an　angry　man　before　to…morrow　comes。〃



Then　Groa　went　to　the　shut　bed　where　Asmund　the　Priest　slept。　He　was

sitting　on　the　bed　and　asked　her　why　she　came。



〃For　love　of　thee；　Asmund；　and　thy　house；　though　thou　dost　treat　me

ill；　who　hast　profited　so　much　by　me　and　my　foresight。　Say　now：　wilt

thou　that　this　daughter　of　thine；　Gudruda　the　Fair；　should　be　the

light　May　of　yonder　long…legged　yeoman？〃



〃That　is　not　in　my　mind；〃　said　Asmund；　stroking　his　beard。



〃Knowest　thou；　then；　that　this　very　day　your　white　Gudruda　sat　on

Eric's　lap　in　the　snow；　while　he　fondled　her　to　his　heart's　content？〃



〃Most　likely　it　was　for　warmth。　Men　do　not　dream　on　love　in　the　hour

of　death。　Who　saw　this？〃



〃Swanhild；　who　was　behind；　and　hid　herself　for　shame；　and　therefore

she　held　that　these　two　must　soon　be　wed！　Ah；　thou　art　foolish　now；

Asmund。　Young　blood　makes　light　of　cold　or　death。　Art　thou　blind；　or

dost　thou　not　see　that　these　two　turn　on　each　other　like　birds　at

nesting…time？〃



〃They　might　do　worse；〃　said　Asmund；　〃for　they　are　a　proper　pair；　and

it　seems　to　me　that　each　was　born　for　each。〃



〃Then　all　goes　well。　Still；　it　is　a　pity　to　see　so　fair　a　maid　cast

like　rotten　bait　upon　the　waters　to　hook　this　troutlet　of　a　yeoman。

Th