Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/118

 HO CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. of troops what course he should adopt. " AVhether shall we go against Gotland, and maraud there with such men as we have got ; or is there any other course that appears to you more advisable?" He spoke both long and well. Thereafter many powerful men spoke, and all were at last agreed in dissuading from hostilities. They argued thus : " Although we are a numerous body of men who are assembled here, yet they are all only people of weight and power; but, for a war expe- dition, young men who are in quest of property and consideration are more suitable. It is also the custom of people of weight and power, when they go into battle or strife, to have many people with them whom they can send out before them for their defence ; for the men do not fight worse who have little property, but even better than those who are brought up in the midst of wealth." After these considerations the king resolved to dismiss this army from any expe- dition, and to give every man leave to return home ; but proclaimed, at the same time, that next summer the people over the whole country would be called out in a general levy, to march immediately against the Swedish king, and punish him for his want of faith. All thought well of this plan. Then the king re- turned northwards to Viken, and took his abode at Sarpsburg in autumn, and ordered all things necessary for winter provision to be collected there ; and he re- mained there all winter with a great retinue. C xc7i a P e °pl e talked variously about Earl Rognvald ; some Sigvat the sai d he was King Olaf 's sincere friend; others did not joumey think this likel 7' and thought it stood in his power to eastwards, warn the Swedish king to keep his word, and the agree- ment concluded on between him and King Olaf. Sig- vat the poet often expressed himself in conversation as Earl Rognvald's great friend, and often spoke of him to King Olaf; and he offered to the king to travel