Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.2003, Síða 164

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Michael Chesnutt
in time of need. It is my wish, I say, that you should meet me, both of us alone,
in a more discreet place where, with no one to hinder us, we can decide on the
matters in hånd.” Knud believed the words of his false brother and replied:
“Dear brother, may He that is the source of all good things bring your good in-
tention to a happy outcome! In true brotherhood there need be no fear of deceit
or dishonesty. Name the place and the time, for I am ready to serve you in all
things.” They entered into an agreement convenient to both of them; and the
duke, all unaware of guile, rejoiced in his brother’s piety while Magnus, hoping
now to accomplish his treachery, rejoiced in his own evil. But you [O Lord, have
mercy on us],
Sixth respond (§ 2b:2:2:2). Having become duke in his own right, he loves
justice and obtains victory defending men’s rights. * He destroys evil men, pro-
tecting the Church from hardships.
He is a father to the poor and a loving shepherd to the needy. * He destroys,
etc.
Seventh lesson of the Passion (§ 2b:2:3:l). When the time had come according
to the custom of the court for the guests to bid their hosts farewell, Magnus went
to Gevnvad and the duke set out for Balstrup. On the day after Epiphany Mag-
nus arose at first light, and - armed with deceit on the inside and iron on the out-
side - ordered a large company to follow him as if ready to do battie. They, at
once proceeding, were compelled by the unjust man to swear that, whomever he
first attacked, they all would rise immediately in arms against him. At length, ar-
riving in the forest where he had decided (to his eternal damnation) to perpetrate
the murder of his kinsman, the author of the crime concealed his armed band in
the thickness of the trees and, walking back and forth alone in the forest, dis-
patched a messenger of deceit to the duke, telling him to fulfil without delay the
faithful promise he had given. Knud had spent that night at Haraldsted with his
kinswoman Cecilia, daughter of [St] Knud the King, and she eamestly urged
him not to meet Magnus alone. But he said to her: “My dearest, to avoid guilt in
this matter I must do what I have given my word to do.” Now the duke was still
fast asleep when the false one’s messenger knocked on the door, but having
heard the message he hastened, not quite fully dressed, to obey the behest of his
treacherous brother. His followers suggested he should arm himself, but he said
to them: “I cannot do that. It looks suspicious if an armed man hastens to meet
another who is unarmed.” But they said: “Master, take your trusty servants with
you! Perhaps there is doubt about the real purpose of the meeting, and it is unfit-
ting that a duke should go alone.” He answered them: “When only one man is
invited to a meeting it is not reasonable for more to come.” What else is to be
said? The holy man followed the traitor’s messenger boy, taking with him only
one of his own attendants. As they went on their way the messenger boy, who