第78章

So he first gathered all the wooers of Gunwar together on the pretence of a banquet, and then lined the customary room of the princess with their heads -- a gruesome spectacle for all the rest.Yet he forfeited none of his favour with Frode, nor abated his old intimacy with him.For he decided that any opportunity of an interview with the king must be paid for, and gave out that no one should have any conversation with him who brought no presents.Access, he announced, to so great a general must be gained by no stale or usual method, but by making interest most zealously.He wished to lighten the scandal of his cruelty by the pretence of affection to his king.The people, thus tormented, vented their complaint of their trouble in silent groans.None had the spirit to lift up his voice in public against this season of misery.No one had become so bold as to complain openly of the affliction that was falling upon them.

Inward resentment vexed the hearts of men, secretly indeed, but all the more bitterly.

When Gotar, the King of Norway, heard this, he assembled his soldiers, and said that the Danes were disgusted with their own king, and longed for another if they could get the opportunity;that he had himself resolved to lead an army thither, and that Denmark would be easy to seize if attacked.Frode's government of his country was as covetous as it was cruel.Then Erik rose up and gainsaid the project with contrary reasons."We remember," he said, "how often coveters of other men's goods lose their own.He who snatches at both has oft lost both.It must be a very strong bird that can wrest the prey from the claws of another.It is idle for thee to be encouraged by the internal jealousies of the country, for these are oft blown away by the approach of an enemy.For though the Danes now seem divided in counsel, yet they will soon be of one mind to meet the foe.The wolves have often made peace between the quarrelling swine.

Every man prefers a leader of his own land to a foreigner, and every province is warmer in loyalty to a native than to a stranger king.For Frode will not await thee at home, but will intercept thee abroad as thou comest.Eagles claw each other with their talons, and fowls fight fronting.Thou thyself knowest that the keen sight of the wise man must leave no cause for repentance.Thou hast an ample guard of nobles.Keep thou quiet as thou art; indeed thou wilt almost be able to find out by means of others what are thy resources for war.Let the soldiers first try the fortunes of their king.Provide in peace for thine own safety, and risk others if thou dost undertake the enterprise: better that the slave should perish than the master.

Let thy servant do for thee what the tongs do for the smith, who by the aid of his iron tool guards his hand from scorching, and saves his fingers from burning.Learn thou also, by using thy men, to spare and take thought for thyself."So spake Erik, and Gotar, who had hitherto held him a man of no parts, now marvelled that he had graced his answer with sentences so choice and weighty, and gave him the name of Shrewd-spoken, thinking that his admirable wisdom deserved some title.For the young man's reputation had been kept in the shade by the exceeding brilliancy of his brother Roller.Erik begged that some substantial gift should be added to the name, declaring that the bestowal of the title ought to be graced by a present besides.The king gave him a ship, and the oarsmen called it "Skroter." Now Erik and Roller were the sons of Ragnar, the champion, and children of one father by different mothers;Roller's mother and Erik's stepmother was named Kraka.

And so, by leave of Gotar, the task of making a raid on the Danes fell to one Hrafn.He was encountered by Odd, who had at that time the greatest prestige among the Danes as a rover, for he was such a skilled magician that he could range over the sea without a ship, and could often raise tempests by his spells, and wreck the vessels of the enemy.Accordingly, that he might not have to condescend to pit his sea-forces against the rovers, he used to ruffle the waters by enchantment, and cause them to shipwreck his foes.To traders this man was ruthless, but to tillers of the soil he was merciful, for he thought less of merchandise than of the plough-handle, but rated the clean business of the country higher than the toil for filthy lucre.When he began to fight with the Northmen he so dulled the sight of the enemy by the power of his spells that they thought the drawn swords of the Danes cast their beams from afar off, and sparkled as if aflame.

Moreover, their vision was so blunted that they could not so much as look upon the sword when it was drawn from the sheath: the dazzle was too much for their eyesight, which could not endure the glittering mirage.So Hrafn and many of his men were slain, and only six vessels slipped back to Norway to teach the king that it was not so easy to crush the Danes.The survivors also spread the news that Frode trusted only in the help of his champions, and reigned against the will of his people, for his rule had become a tyranny.