174. OF RAUD'S SONS.

There was a man called Raud who dwelt in Osterdal. His wife was called

Ragnhild; and his sons, Dag and Sigurd, were men of great talent. They

were present at the Thing, made a reply in defence of the Osterdal

people, and removed the accusation from them. Bjorn thought they were

too pert in their answer, and too fine in their clothes and weapons; and

therefore turned his speech against these brothers, and said it was not

unlikely they may have committed these thefts. They denied it, and

the Thing closed. Soon after King Olaf, with his retinue, came to

guest-quarters in the house of bailiff Bjorn. The matter which had been

before the Thing was then complained of to the king; and Bjorn said that

Raud's sons appeared to him to have committed these thefts. A messenger

was sent for Raud's sons; and when they appeared before the king he

said they had not at all the appearance of thieves, and acquitted them.

Thereupon they invited the king, with all his retinue, to a three days'

entertainment at their father's; and although Bjorn dissuaded him from

it, the king went. At Raud's there was a very excellent feast. The king

asked Raud what people he and his wife were. Raud answered that he was

originally a Swedish man, rich and of high birth; "but I ran away

with the wife I have ever since had, and she is a sister of King Hring

Dagson." The king then remembered both their families. He found that

father and sons were men of understanding, and asked them what they

could do. Sigurd said he could interpret dreams, and determine the time

of the day although no heavenly bodies could be seen. The king made

trial of his art, and found it was as Sigurd had said. Dag stated, as

his accomplishment, that he could see the misdeeds and vices of every

man who came under his eye, when he chose to observe him closely. The

king told him to declare what faults of disposition he saw in the king

himself. Dag mentioned a fault which the king was sensible he really

had. Then the king asked what fault the bailiff Bjorn had. Dag said

Bjorn was a thief; and told also where Bjorn had concealed on his farm

the bones, horns, and hides of the cattle he had stolen in autumn; "for

he committed," said Dag, "all the thefts in autumn which he accuses

other people of." Dag also told the king the places where the king

should go after leaving them. When the king departed from Raud's house

he was accompanied on the way, and presented with friendly gifts; and

Raud's sons remained with the king. The king went first to Bjorn's,

and found there that all Dag had told him was true. Upon which he

drove Bjorn out of the country; and he had to thank the queen that he

preserved life and limbs.

Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway · 第 468 / 1013 题