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84
THE LAW OP THE WE8TG0TH8.
That is all treapass. That shall be paid for by sworn oath, that it was not
better, and besides this three sixteenörtugs.
10.
A wild beast takes cattle from the herdsman, gets he not remnants from
it, let him lose as much of his hire, as he should have for that animal. If he
gets remnants, then he is not at fault. An animal lies in the mire dead, then
shall the herdsman stick his staff by it, place his hat under its head, or his
cloak, or break brush and place under it. They shall testify, that carelessness
has not been the cause.
11.
Legal meetingdays are two: Easter and Michælsmass. A man engages a
manservant, if this one does not come to his table, then it is his right to prove
with twelfthoath and two men’s testimony, that "I did not hire myself out
to thee, and made no agreement with thee." Dares he not swear thus, pay as
large a fine as was promised to him. He goes to his table, eats supper and
breakfast, then he cannot free himself by oath. Pay as large a fine as was
promised to him, and pay as fine besides three sixteenörtugs. Whoever keeps
his manservant after the freeholder has entered legal complaint, shall pay a
fine of three sixteenörtugs.
2. The freeholder shall lose just as much, if he drives a manservant from
his home and table.
Let the all-detestable-one make himself angry, l)
i) Gæri hvemlepær sik vrepæn: Make the all-destestable-one himself angry.
This last statement is difficult to translate and much has been said about it.
It seems clear, however, that it is not a part of the last paragraph, but rather
a closing sentence, a general summary. Otman translates: Göre den
hvarjom-lede sig vred, and J. S. Carlson suggests a somewhat free translation: Detta
är lagen och se’n göre satan som han behagar. I. e. this is the law whether it
pleases the devil or not. This threat closes the law proper, what follows is of
a later date. Other laws close with prayer, this one ends by a defiant and
scornful challenge to the evil one, showing a’ strong belief in the power of
good, and a firm conviction that right and justice will finally triumph.
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