Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/109

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 101 around the church, and conducted the king ; and saga vu when they came back to the church the bishop led the king to his seat on the north side of the choir. There Rgerek sat next to the king, and concealed his countenance in his upper cloak. When Olaf had seated himself Raerek laid his hand on the king's shoulder, and felt it. 7 ' " Thou hast fine clothes on, cousin, to-day," says he. King Olaf replies, "It is a festival to-day, in re- membrance that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven from earth." King Rserek says, " I understand nothing about it, so as to hold in my mind what ye tell me about Christ. Much of what ye tell me appears to me in- credible, although many wonderful things may have come to pass in old times." When the mass was finished Olaf stood up, held his hands up over his head, and bowed down before the altar, so that his cloak hung down behind his shoulders. Then King Rgerek started up hastily and sharply, and struck at the king with a long knife of the kind called ryting ; but the blow was received in the upper cloak at the shoulder, because the king was bending himself forwards. The clothes were much cut, but the king was not wounded. When the king perceived the attack he sprang upon the floor ; and Raarek struck at him again with the knife, but did not reach him, and said, " Art thou flying, Olaf, from me, a blind man?" The king ordered his men to seize him, and lead him out of the church, which was done. After this attempt many hastened to King Olaf, and advised that King Raarek should be killed. " It is," said they, " tempting your luck in the highest degree, king, to keep him with you, and protect him, whatever mischief he may undertake ; for night and day he thinks upon taking your life. And if you send h 3