eric brighteyes-第60部分

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Then　Swanhild　drew　her　long　dragon　of　war；　in　which　she　had　come　from

Orkneys；　from　its　shed　over　against　Westman　Isles；　and　in　the　centre

of　the　ship；　she　piled　the　bodies　of　the　slain　in　the　shape　of　a　bed；

and　lashed　them　fast。　And　on　this　bed　she　laid　the　corpse　of　Eric

Brighteyes；　and　the　breast　of　black　Skallagrim　the　Baresark　was　his

pillow；　and　the　breast　of　Gizur；　Ospakar's　son；　was　his　foot…rest。



Then　she　caused　the　sails　to　be　hoisted；　and　went　alone　aboard　the

long　ship；　the　rails　of　which　were　hung　with　the　shields　of　the　dead

men。



And　when　at　evening　the　breeze　freshened　to　a　gale　that　blew　from　the

land；　she　cut　the　cable　with　her　own　hand；　and　the　ship　leapt　forward

like　a　thing　alive；　and　rushed　out　in　the　red　light　of　the　sunset

towards　the　open　sea。



Now　ever　the　gale　freshened　and　folk；　standing　on　Westman　Heights；　saw

the　long　ship　plunge　past；　dipping　her　prow　beneath　the　waves　and

sending　the　water　in　a　rain　of　spray　over　the　living　Swanhild；　over

the　dead　Eric　and　those　he　lay　upon。



And　by　the　head　of　Eric　Brighteyes；　her　hair　streaming　on　the　wind；

stood　Swanhild　the　Witch；　clad　in　her　purple　cloak；　and　with　rings　of

gold　about　her　throat　and　arms。　She　stood　by　Eric's　head；　swaying　with

the　rush　of　the　ship；　and　singing　so　sweet　and　wild　a　song　that　men

grew　weak　who　heard　it。



Now；　as　the　people　watched；　two　white　swans　came　down　from　the　clouds

and　sped　on　wide　wings　side　by　side　over　the　vessel's　mast。



The　ship　rushed　on　through　the　glow　of　sunset　into　the　gathering

night。　On　sped　the　ship；　but　still　Swanhild　sung；　and　still　the　swans

flew　over　her。



The　gale　grew　fierce；　and　fiercer　yet。　The　darkness　gathered　deep　upon

the　raging　sea。



Now　that　ship　was　seen　no　more；　and　the　death…song　of　Swanhild　as　she

passed　to　doom　was　never　heard　again。



For　swans　and　ship；　and　Swanhild；　and　dead　Eric　and　his　dead　foes；

were　lost　in　the　wind　and　the　night。



But　far　out　on　the　sea　a　great　flame　of　fire　leapt　up　towards　the　sky。







Now　this　is　the　tale　of　Eric　Brighteyes；　Thorgrimur's　son；　of　Gudruda

the　Fair；　Asmund's　daughter；　of　Swanhild　the　Fatherless；　Atli's　wife；

and　of　Ounound；　named　Skallagrim　Lambstail；　the　Baresark；　Eric's

thrall；　all　of　whom　lived　and　died　before　Thangbrand；　Wilibald's　son；

preached　the　White　Christ　in　Iceland。











End