Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/114

 104 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. try whether he could not assert the place and career that belonged to him there. Jarl Eric had vanished with all his war forces towards England, leaving only a boy, Hakon, as successor, and Svein, his own brother, — a quiet man, who had always avoided war. Olaf landed in Norway without obstacle ; but decided to be quiet till he had himself examined and consulted friends. His reception by his mother Aasta was of the kindest and proudest, and is lovingly described by Snorro. A pretty idyllic or epic piece, of Norse Homeric type: How Aasta, hearing of her son's advent, set all her maids and menials to work at the top of their speed ; despatched a runner to the harvest- field, where her husband Sigurd was, to warn him to come home and dress. How Sigurd was standing among his harvest folk, reapers and binders ; and what he had on, — ^broad slouch hat, with veil (against the midges), blue kirtle, hose of I forget what colour, with laced boots ; and in his hand a stick with silver head and ditto ring upon it; — a personable old gentleman, of the eleventh century, in those parts. ^ Sigurd was cautious, prudentially cunctatory, though