登陆注册
5617200000145

第145章

Now when Fin Arnason had been a short time with King Olaf, the king called him to a conference, along with some other persons he usually held consultation with; and in this conference the king spoke to this effect: -- "The decision remains fixed in my mind that in spring I should raise the whole country to a levy both of men and ships, and then proceed, with all the force I can muster, against King Canute the Great: for I know for certain that he does not intend to treat as a jest the claim he has awakened upon my kingdom.Now I let thee know my will, Fin Arnason, that thou proceed on my errand to Halogaland, and raise the people there to an expedition, men and ships, and summon that force to meet me at Agdanes." Then the king named other men whom he sent to Throndhjem, and some southwards in the country, and he commanded that this order should be circulated through the whole land.Of Fin's voyage we have to relate that he had with him a ship with about thirty men, and when he was ready for sea he prosecuted his journey until he came to Halogaland.There he summoned the bondes to a Thing, laid before them his errand, and craved a levy.The bondes in that district had large vessels, suited to a levy expedition, and they obeyed the king's message, and rigged their ships.Now when Fin came farther north in Halogaland he held a Thing again, and sent some of his men from him to crave a levy where he thought it necessary.He sent also men to Bjarkey Island to Thorer Hund, and there, as elsewhere, craved the quota to the levy.When the message came to Thorer he made himself ready, and manned with his house-servants the same vessel he had sailed with on his cruise to Bjarmaland, and which he equipped at his own expense.Fin summoned all the people of Halogaland who were to the north to meet at Vagar.There came a great fleet together in spring, and they waited there until Fin returned from the North.Thorer Hund had also come there.When Fin arrived he ordered the signal to sound for all the people of the levy to attend a House-Thing; and at it all the men produced their weapons, and also the fighting men from each ship-district were mustered.When that was all finished Fin said, "I have also to bring thee a salutation, Thorer Hund, from King Olaf, and to ask thee what thou wilt offer him for the murder of his court-man Karle, or for the robbery in taking the king's goods north in Lengjuvik.I have the king's orders to settle that business, and I wait thy answer to it."Thorer looked about him, and saw standing on both sides many fully armed men, among whom were Gunstein and others of Karle's kindred.Then said Thorer, "My proposal is soon made.I will refer altogether to the king's pleasure the matter he thinks he has against me."Fin replies, "Thou must put up with a less honour; for thou must refer the matter altogether to my decision, if any agreement is to take place."Thorer replies, "And even then I think it will stand well with my case, and therefore I will not decline referring it to thee."Thereupon Thorer came forward, and confirmed what he said by giving his hand upon it; and Fin repeated first all the words he should say.

Fin now pronounced his decision upon the agreement, -- that Thorer should pay to the king ten marks of gold, and to Gunstein and the other kindred ten marks, and for the robbery and loss of goods ten marks more; and all which should be paid immediately.

Thorer says, "This is a heavy money mulct.""Without it," replies Fin, "there will be no agreement."Thorer says, there must time be allowed to gather so much in loan from his followers; but Fin told him to pay immediately on the spot; and besides, Thorer should lay down the great ornament which he took from Karle when he was dead.Thorer asserted that he had not got the ornament.Then Gunstein pressed forward, and said that Karle had the ornament around his neck when they parted, but it was gone when they took up his corpse.Thorer said he had not observed any ornament; but if there was any such thing, it must be lying at home in Bjarkey.Then Fin put the point of his spear to Thorer's breast, and said that he must instantly produce the ornament; on which Thorer took the ornament from his neck and gave it to Fin.Thereafter Thorer turned away, and went on board his ship.Fin, with many other men, followed him, went through the whole vessel, and took up the hatches.At the mast they saw two very large casks; and Fin asked, "What are these puncheons?"Thorer replies, "It is my liquor."Fin says, "Why don't you give us something to drink then, comrade, since you have so much liquor?"Thorer ordered his men to run off a bowlfull from the puncheons, from which Fin and his people got liquor of the best quality.

Now Fin ordered Thorer to pay the mulcts.Thorer went backwards and forwards through the ship, speaking now to the one, now to the other, and Fin calling out to produce the pence.Thorer begged him to go to the shore, and said he would bring the money there, and Fin with his men went on shore.Then Thorer came and paid silver; of which, from one purse, there were weighed ten marks.Thereafter Thorer brought many knotted nightcaps; and in some was one mark, in others half a mark, and in others some small money."This is money my friends and other good people have lent me," said he; "for I think all my travelling money is gone." Then Thorer went back again to his ship, and returned, and paid the silver by little and little; and this lasted so long that the day was drawing towards evening.When the Thing had closed the people had gone to their vessels, and made ready to depart; and as fast as they were ready they hoisted sail and set out, so that most of them were under sail.When Fin saw that they were most of them under sail, he ordered his men to get ready too; but as yet little more than a third part of the mulct had been paid.Then Fin said, "This goes on very slowly, Thorer, with the payment.I see it costs thee a great deal to pay money.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 王晋康科幻小说精选3:终极爆炸

    王晋康科幻小说精选3:终极爆炸

    与刘慈欣齐名的当代科幻名家。12次斩获中国科幻最高奖——银河奖。1997年国际科幻大会银河奖得主。2010年世界华人科幻星云奖长篇小说奖得主。迄今为止最全版本——王晋康最经典科幻小说精选集!
  • 枭欢

    枭欢

    他;世界顶尖的赏金猎人,权欲,人性,皆在他慵懒至极间玩弄鼓掌。她;如猫一般,优雅,野性,一颦一笑桀骜动人。一场欲望与阴谋的较量,一场枭宠之欢。
  • 浮世长安歌

    浮世长安歌

    他等了她一世,等她重新回到他身旁时间万物皆有其因果,这一世他不过一个看客
  • 玉堂丛语

    玉堂丛语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 他来时迷了我的眼

    他来时迷了我的眼

    “我也曾爱过一个人,所以我去了他在的城市,读了他想去的大学,吃了他喜欢吃的东西,看了他看过的电影,讨厌了,他喜欢的人。”每个人都有那么一段不及而终的感情,见面的人都问你你对他可还有感觉,你笑笑,道没有了,然后瞒着全世界爱着他。杣心就是这样,她以为她不会再和他相遇,没想,最后他们还是相守。文案㈠“心心,你对他,还有感觉吗?”“心心,他今天也来参加聚会了。”杣心看着和老师们交谈的他,内心不可能没有涟漪,和他的目光相撞时,狼狈的挪开的眼睛。文案㈡“杣心,明天去把你的姓氏改掉吧。”“为什么?”“君杣心,不好听吗?跟我姓啊。”
  • 重生之金牌农女

    重生之金牌农女

    本是官家千金,却沦为草芥,上有面慈心狠嚣张姨娘,下有病弱年幼亲弟,还有被逼为奴的软弱娘亲……水意一朝穿越,等着她的不是幸福重生,而是一瓢滚烫的汤水。“想喝米汤是吧,让你们喝个够,瞧你那副饿死鬼投胎的样!”滚烫的热汤朝着母子四人泼来。瞧着恶毒的庶妹,颠倒黑白的姨娘,狗腿的渣爹似乎还嫌不够热闹,势要将她们孤儿寡母扫地出门……水意冷冷一笑,此处不留人自有留人处,总有一日,她要将这些人狠狠的踩在脚下!从此恶女当道,白手起家,拖家带口奔小康……求婚小剧透:绿树青山下,清涧小流边,男子身影挺拔修长,女子婀娜袅窕“俗话说,冤家宜结不宜解。”男子望着身边的女子,冷淡清越的声音响起。“你还知道我们的恩怨解不了?”女子挑眉,水眸之中隐含怒意。“此结非彼解,结,可以是结缘,结识,结亲,结合,结果……”男子忽然温柔地望着女子蕴含生气的眸子,淡笑着回答。“啊!”女子当场呆愣,这是传说中的求婚?
  • 北大历史课

    北大历史课

    北大已经走过了一百多年的历程,一批又一批的北大人见证了时代的变革;回首历史,也看穿了过去的风云变幻。本书将中国历史与世界历史娓娓道来,从远古传说到近代文明,从华夏大地到世界舞台,内容涵盖古今,贯通中外,让我们以史为鉴,立足当下,放眼未来。
  • 校草是女生系列

    校草是女生系列

    她,世界顶级家族夜家继承人,因为一场赌约,女扮男装,与他相遇。他,冷家继承人,是个万年冰山脸,没有人知道他的痛苦。他与她早已相遇,却因为一场车祸,让两人都忘了。校园?娱乐圈?家族?男强女更强?爽文打脸?女主马甲超多
  • 下雨时蔷薇会开

    下雨时蔷薇会开

    单纯的少女珠雨田似乎在一夜之间拥有了人生全部的幸运:突然出现的生父,竟然是有名的地产商;偶遇的漂亮姐姐,是名牌大学前途无量的女博士;连生日宴会上见到的富豪都与她一见钟情,和她一同走入甜蜜的热恋,然而在这“天降幸运”的背后,是否有人为操作的痕迹?当珠雨田察觉到反常,试图寻找答案时,她发现自己早已陷入一个有人厮杀、有人拯救的旋涡。
  • 重生之唐家病小姐

    重生之唐家病小姐

    尸横遍地,父兄惨死,万箭穿心,所谓的夫君掐着自己的脖子,逼死了新即位的国君。她是一颗棋子,微不足道的摆设。站在尸体间冷笑不止,心如死灰。她当真是红颜祸水,颠覆了天下,害了苍生。一朝重生,一心求死。唐家病小姐不寻常的求死之路。国色倾城,祸水红颜,玩转了天下,换了君王!