king, in whatever way he may answer it. Although the Swedish king's anger should be incurred, and our power and property be at stake, yet will I rather run the risk, than that it should be said the message of King Olaf was neglected from fear of the Swedish king. Thou hast that birth, strength of relations, and other means, that here in the Swedish land it is free to thee to tell thy mind, if it be right and worthy of being heard, whether it be listened to by few or many, great or little people, or by the king himself."

The earl replies, "It is known to every one how thou urgest me: it may be, according to thy counsel, that I should promise the king's men to follow them, so that they may get their errand laid before the Swedish king, whether he take it ill or take it well. But I will have my own counsel followed, and will not run hastily into Biorn's or any other man's measures, in such a highly important matter. It is my will that ye all remain here with me, so long as I think it necessary for the purpose of rightly forwarding this mission." Now as the earl had thus given them to understand that he would support them in the business, Biorn thanked him most kindly, and with the assurance that his advice should rule them altogether. Thereafter Biorn and his fellowtravellers remained very long in the earl's house.

CHAPTER LXIX.-Of the Conversation of Biorn and Ingibjorg, Trygve's Daughter.

Ingibjorg was particularly kind to them; and Biorn often spoke with her about the matter, and was

VOL. II.

Y

ill at ease that their journey was so long delayed. Hialte and the others often spoke together also about the matter; and Hialte said, "I will go to the king if ye like; for I am not a man of Norway, and the Swedes can have nothing to say to me. I have heard that there are Iceland men in the king's house who are my acquaintances, and are well treated; namely, the skalds Gissur Black and Ottar Black.* From them I shall get out what I can about the Swedish king; and if the business will really be so difficult as it now appears, or if there be any other way of promoting it, I can easily devise some errand that may appear suitable for me."

This counsel appeared to Biorn and Ingibjorg to be the wisest, and they resolved upon it among themselves. Ingibjorg put Hialte in a position to travel; gave him two Gautland men with him, and ordered them to follow him, and assist him with their service, and also to go wherever he might have occasion to send them. Besides, Ingibjorg gave him twenty marks of weighed silver money for travelling expenses, and sent word and token by him to the Swedish king Olaf's daughter, Ingigerd, that she should give all her assistance to Hialte's business, whenever he should find himself under the necessity of craving her help. Hialte set off as soon as he was ready. When he came to King Olaf he soon

* Ottar Black was the son of Sigvat skald's sister. He stayed a long time with the Swedish king Olaf, after whose death he came to King Olaf the Saint. He also served as skald at the court of King Canute the Great. He has been quoted in the preceding pages, and his drapa upon King Canute is quoted in chap. 160 of this saga.

found the skalds Gissur and Ottar, and they were very glad at his coming. Without delay they went to the king, and told him that a man was come who was their countryman, and one of the most considerable in their native land, and requested the king to receive him well. The king told them to take Hialte and his fellow-travellers into their company and quarters. Now when Hialte had resided there a short time, and got acquainted with people, he was much respected by everybody. The skalds were often in the king's house, for they were well-spoken men ; and often in the daytime they sat in front of the king's high-seat, and Hialte, to whom they paid the highest respect in all things, by their side. He became thus known to the king, who willingly entered into conversation with him, and heard from him news about Iceland.

CHAPTER LXX.-Of Sigvat the Skald.

It happened that before Biorn set out from home he asked Sigvat the skald, who at that time was with King Olaf, to accompany him on his journey. It was a journey for which people had no great inclination. There was, however, great friendship between Biorn and Sigvat. Then Sigvat sang :—

"With the king's marshals all have I,

In days gone by,

Lived joyously,

With all who on the king attend,

And knee before him humbly bend,

Biorn, thou oft hast ta'en my part-
Pleaded with art,

And touched the heart,

Biorn! brave stainer of the sword,

Thou art my friend-I trust thy word."

While they were riding up to Gautland, Sigvat made these verses :—

"Down the Fiord sweep wind and rain,

Our stout ship's sails and tackle strain ;
Wet to the skin,

We're sound within,

And gaily o'er the waves are dancing,

Our sea-steed o'er the waves high prancing!

Through Lister sea

Flying all free;

Off from the wind with swelling sail,

We merrily scud before the gale,

And reach the sound

Where we were bound.

And now our ship, so gay and grand,
Glides past the green and lovely land,

And at the isle

Moors for a while.

Our horse-hoofs now leave hasty print;
We ride-of ease there's scanty stint-
In heat and haste

O'er Gautland's waste:

Though in a hurry to be married,

The king can't say that we have tarried."

One evening late they were riding through Gautland, and Sigvat made these verses :

"The weary horse will at nightfall
Gallop right well to reach his stall;
When night meets day, with hasty hoof
He plies the road to reach a roof.
Far from the Danes, we now may ride
Safely by stream or mountain-side;
But, in this twilight, in some ditch
The horse and rider both may pitch."

They rode through the merchant town of Skarar,* and down the street to the earl's house. He sang :

*Skarar is the present town Skara, in Skaning barony, formerly the chief town and the oldest in West Gautland, and the seat of the earls in former times.-L.

"The shy sweet girls, from window high,
In wonder peep at the sparks that fly
From our horses' heels, as down the street
Of the earl's town we ride so fleet.

Spur on that every pretty lass

May hear our horse-hoofs as we pass

Clatter upon the stones so hard,

And echo round the paved court-yard."

CHAPTER LXXI.-Of Hialte Skeggiason while he was
in Svithiod.

One day Hialte, and the skalds with him, went before the king, and he began thus :-"It has so happened, king, as is known to you, that I have come here after a long and difficult journey; but when I had once crossed the ocean and heard of your greatness, it appeared to me unwise to go back without having seen you in your splendour and glory. Now it is a law between Iceland and Norway, that Iceland men pay landing dues when they come into Norway, but while I was coming across the sea I took myself all the landing dues from my ship's people; but knowing that you have the greatest right to all the power in Norway, I hastened hither to deliver to you the landing dues." With this he showed the silver to the king, and laid ten marks of silver in Gissur Black's lap.

*

The king replies, "Few have brought us any such dues from Norway for some time; and now, Hialte, I will return you my warmest thanks for having given yourself so much trouble to bring us the landing dues, rather than pay them to our ene* See chap. 41.