Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.2003, Side 162

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Michael Chesnutt
pious disposition, his speech flowered true and kind, and good and efficacious
works bore fruit. So much did he love the beauty of God’s house that he, himself
its chief servant, provided it with coverings and adornments. He would not suf-
fer his clerks (those who had the duty of celebrating the divine mysteries before
him on both feasts and ferial days) to perform their duty unless properly vested.
Thus, devoted and diligent in things sacred, vigorous and courtly in secular af-
fairs, he was duly loved by God and men. Consequently the king’s son Magnus,
utterly blinded with jealousy, conceived resentment in his heart and gave birth to
wickedness; he desired guilefully to wipe the duke off the face of the earth, but
could not because his time had not yet come. For nigh on nine years his brother’s
jealousy remained hidden from Knud. Even though he heard from several
people that Magnus was plotting treachery against him, he, the most faithful of
men, could not suspect so close a friend of bad faith. Meanwhile the duke was
accused before the king, who gave credence to these false insinuations and con-
fronted him with them at a council in Ribe. “Contrary to our country’s customs,”
said he, “you have introduced a new practice against me and my royal authority,
usurping the title of king among the Wends.”
Fourth respond (§ 2a:2:4:2). Already the purpie flower, the righteous one,
spreads scent from its shoot. * At harvest time it bears sweet fruits up on high.
As that boy grew in stature, so also the grace of Christ grew in him. * At har-
vest time, etc.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. * At harvest
time, etc.
Fifth lesson of the Passion (§ 2b:2:l:l). Well-trained orator that he was, the
duke answered this first accusation with much dignity and said: “The custom of
your country up to now has been that no one could hold his property securely,
neither locked up nor under any other form of guard. Nowadays, if it should hap-
pen that any man, rich or poor, knowingly leaves something on the public high-
way or forgets it there, it is removed by no one but awaits its owner’s return.
That is the new custom!” To the second accusation he spoke up and said: “I can-
not be held guilty of usurping a king’s title, for the Wends have never had a king,
nor when their country was committed to me did they call me such. But it has
been their practice to acknowledge a man’s dignity or show him reverence by
calling him knese, which is an ordinary word meaning ‘lord’. Some Danes have
translated this falsely and claimed it meant ‘king’. You also know that I have not
just pacified their territory to your own kingdom’s benefit, but that those who
most often attacked you are now, thanks to me, prepared to take your side in bat-
tie.” When he had heard this speech the king, who was a guileless man and easi-
ly swayed, lost confidence in the duke’s accusers and praised his achievements