Scant2 was the time allowed the men of Horlingdal for refreshment3 and rest after the battle of the Springs, for the assembling of Thingsmen armed to the teeth, as well as the news that King Harald threatened a descent on them, rendered it necessary that a District Thing or Council should be held without delay.
Accordingly, after brief repose4, Haldor the Fierce, who had returned with Erling to his own house up the dale, arose and ordered the horn to be sounded for a Thing.
Several hundreds of men had by that time assembled, and when they all came together they formed an imposing5 band of warriors7, whom any wise king would have deemed it advisable to hold converse8 with, if possible, on friendly terms.
When the Thing was seated Haldor rose, and, amid profound silence, said:
“Men of Horlingdal, King Harald Haarfager has sent round the message-token for a Thing to be held at the Springs. The token sent was one of peace. The token of war was sent round instead, as ye know. Whether this was wise or not does not much concern us now, as ye have seen with your own eyes that there was good fortune in the change; for we knew not, when the token was forwarded, of the urgent need that should arise at the Springs for our weapons. But, now that the Danes have been sent home—excepting that goodly number who have gone to Valhalla’s halls to keep company with Odin and departed warriors—it seems to me that we should meet the King in the manner which he desires until he shall give us occasion to assume arms in defence of our laws. And I would here remind you that Harald is our rightful King, udal-born to the Kingdom of Norway, his title having been stated and proved at all the District Things, beginning with the Ore Thing of Drontheim, and having been approved by all the people of Norway. I therefore counsel pacific measures, and that we should go to the Springs unarmed.”
When Haldor sat down there was a slight murmur9 of assent10, but most of those present remained silent, wishing to hear more.
“I agree not with Haldor,” he said sternly. “Who does not know that Harald is rightful King of Norway; that he is descended12 in a direct line from the godars who came over from the east with Odin, and has been fairly elected King of Norway? But who does not know also, that our laws are above our King, that Harald is at this time trampling13 on these laws, and is everywhere setting at defiance14 the small kings, who are as truly udal-born to their rights and titles as himself?”
At this point Ulf’s indignation became so great that he found he could not talk connectedly, so he concluded by counselling that they should go to the Springs fully15 armed, and ready to brave the worst. There was a loud shout of approval, and then Erling started up. His manner and tone were subdued16, but his face was flushed; and men could see, as he went on, that he was keeping down his wrath17 and his energy.
“I like it ill,” he said, “to disagree on this point with my father; but Ulf is right. We all know that Harald is King of Norway by law, and we do not meet here to dispute his title; but we also know that kings are not gods. Men create a law and place it over their own heads, so that the lawmakers as well as those for whom it is made must bow before it; but when it is found that the law works unfairly, the lawmaker may repeal18 it, and cast it aside as useless or unworthy. So kings were created for the sole purpose of guiding nations and administering laws, in order that national welfare might be advanced. The moment they cease to act their part, that moment they cease to be worthy19 kings, and become useless. But if, in addition to this, they dare to ignore and break the laws of the land, then do they become criminal; they deserve not only to be cast aside, but punished. If, in defence of our rights, we find it necessary to dethrone the King, we cannot be charged with disloyalty, because the King has already dethroned himself!”
Erling paused a moment at this point, and a murmur of approval ran through the circle of his auditors20.
“When Harald Haarfager’s father,” he resumed, “Halfdan the Black, ruled over Norway, he made laws which were approved by the people. He obeyed them himself, and obliged others to observe them; and, that violence should not come in the place of the laws, he himself fixed21 the number of criminal acts in law, and the compensations, mulcts, or penalties, for each case, according to everyone’s birth and dignity, from the King downwards22; so that when disputes were settled at the Things the utmost fair play prevailed—death for death, wound for wound; or, if the parties chose, matters could be adjusted by payments in money—each injury being valued at a fixed scale; or matters might be settled and put right by single combat. All this, ye know full well, Halfdan the Black compassed and settled in a legal manner, and the good that has flowed from his wise and legal measures (for I hold that a king is not entitled to pass even wise laws illegally) has been apparent to us ever since. But now all this is to be overturned—with or without the consent of the Things—because a foolish woman, forsooth, has the power to stir up the vanity of a foolish king! Shall this be so? Is our manhood to be thus riven from us, and shall we stand aloof23 and see it done, or, worse still, be consenting unto it? Let death be our portion first! It has been rumoured24 that the people of southern lands have done this—that they have sold themselves to their kings, so that one man’s voice is law, and paid troops of military slaves are kept up in order that this one man may have his full swing, while his favourites and his soldier-slaves bask25 in his sunshine and fatten26 on the people of the land! It is impossible for us of Norway to understand the feelings or ideas of the men who have thus sold themselves—for we have never known such tyranny—having, as the scalds tell us, enjoyed our privileges, held our Things, and governed ourselves by means of the collective wisdom of the people ever since our forefathers27 came from the East; but I warn ye that if this man, Harald Haarfager, is allowed to have his will, our institutions shall be swept away, our privileges will depart, our rights will be crushed, and the time will come when it shall be said of Norsemen that they have utterly28 forgotten that they once were free! Again I ask, shall we tamely stand aside and suffer this to be? Shall our children ever have it in their power to say, ‘There was a time when our mean-spirited forefathers might have easily stopped the leak that caused the flood by which we are now borne irresistibly29 downward?’ I repeat, let us rather perish! Let us go armed to the Springs and tell the King that he—equally with ourselves—is subject to the laws of the land!”
Erling delivered the last sentence in a voice of thunder, and with a fierce wave of the hand, that drew forth30 shouts of enthusiastic applause.
Instantly Glumm started up, forgetful, in the heat of the moment, of the jealousy31 that had so recently sprung up between him and his friend.
“I am not a speaker,” he shouted gruffly, “but poor is the man who cannot back up and egg on his friend. Erling speaks the truth; and all I have to suggest is that he should be sent by us to tell all this to King Harald Haarfager’s face!”
Glumm sat down with the prompt decision of a man who has thoroughly32 delivered himself of all that he intends to say; and many in the assembly testified their approval of his sentiments.
At this point Ivor the Old arose and gave it as his opinion that the sooner the King should be brought off his high horse the better; whereupon Finn the One-eyed suggested, with a laugh, that the old hermit33 should be sent with his bow and arrow to teach him due submission34 to the laws. Then there was a good deal of confused, and not a little passionate35 discussion, which waxed louder and more vehement36 until Guttorm Stoutheart stood up, and, although not a dalesman, requested the attention of the assembly for a few minutes.
“It is obvious,” he said in the hearty37 tones of a man who knows that he is sure of carrying a large portion of his audience along with him—“it is obvious that you are all pretty much of one mind as to the principle on which we should act at this time; and my good friend Haldor the Fierce (who seems of late to have changed his nature, and should, methinks, in future, be styled Haldor the Mild) is evidently on the losing side. The only thing that concerns us, it seems to me, is the manner in which we shall convey our opinion to the King—how we shall best, as the scald says:—
“Now, to the quick-witted among you various methods will doubtless have already been suggested; and I am perchance only echoing the sentiments of many here, when I say that it would be worthy of the men of Horlingdal that they should fight the King at once, and put a stop to the burnings, hangings, torturings, jarl-makings, and subduings of which he has been so guilty of late, and which I confess is so unlike his free, generous, manly40 character, that I have found it hard to believe the reports which have reached my ears, and which, after all, can only be accounted for by the fact that he is at present led by the nose by that worst of all creatures, a proud imperious girl, who has the passions of a warrior6 and the brains of a bairn! Another method, which would signify at least our contempt for Harald’s principles, would be the sending of a thrall41 to him with a reaping-hook, and a request that he would cut off his own head and give it to us in token that, having ceased to be a king, he is resolved no longer to continue to be a dishonoured42 man! And that reminds me of one of Ulf’s thralls43 named Kettle Flatnose, who could assist Harald nobly in the work of beheading himself, for last night, when he and I fought side by side against the Danes, he used a hook of his own making, with such effect, that I was fain to pause and laugh, while myself in the very act of splitting an iron headpiece. But perchance that is not a suitable method of compassing our ends, besides it would cost the thrall his life, and I should be sorry to aid in bringing about the death of Kettle Flatnose, whose island is a happy one if it counts many such clear-headed and able-bodied warriors.
“But another plan was proposed by Glumm the Gruff, which seemed to me to have the approval of many present, and assuredly it has mine, that we should send King Erling at once to Harald, to tell him our opinions to his face, to sound him as to his intentions, and to bring back the news as fast as possible, so that we may go armed or unarmed to the Springs, as prudence44 may direct. Moreover, as it would be unfair to send a man alone on such a dangerous errand, I would suggest that he should have a comrade to keep him company and share his fortunes, and that for this end none better could be found than Glumm the Gruff himself.”
This speech settled the mind of the meeting. After a little more talk it was finally arranged that Erling and Glumm should go at once to meet King Harald, who could not yet, it was thought, have arrived at the Springs, and endeavour to find out his temper of mind in regard to the men of Horlingdal. After that the Thing broke up, and the members dispersed45 to partake of “midag-mad”, or dinner, in the dwellings46 of their various friends.
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1
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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2
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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3
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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4
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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5
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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6
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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7
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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8
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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9
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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10
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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11
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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13
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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14
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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15
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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16
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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17
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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18
repeal
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| n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消 | |
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19
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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20
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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21
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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22
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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23
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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24
rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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25
bask
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| vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于 | |
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26
fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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27
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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28
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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29
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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30
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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31
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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32
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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33
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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34
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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35
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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36
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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37
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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38
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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39
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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40
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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41
thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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42
dishonoured
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| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
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43
thralls
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| n.奴隶( thrall的名词复数 )；奴役；奴隶制；奴隶般受支配的人 | |
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44
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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45
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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46
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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