Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/131

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 123 treated the more difficult cases ; and that was no easy SAGA vn - business, for the king was ill pleased if the judgment was not according to justice, and yet it was of no use to contradict him. In this meeting the king ordered Lagman Emund to be called before them. The messenger returned, and said, " Sire, Lagman Emund rode away yesterday, as soon as he had dined." " Then," said the king, " tell me, ye good chiefs, what may have been the meaning of that law case which Emund laid before us yesterday?" They replied, " You must have considered it your- self, if you think there was any other meaning under it than what he said." The king replied, " By the two noble-born men whom he spoke of, who were at variance, and of whom one was more powerful than the other, and who did each other damage, he must have meant us and Olaf the Thick." They answered, " It is, sire, as you say." The king — " Our case was judged at the Upsal Thing. But what was his meaning when he said that bad payment was made ; namely, a gosling for a goose, a pig for a swine, and clay and dirt for half of the money instead of gold ?" Arnvid the Blind replied, " Sire, red gold and clay are things very unlike ; but the difference is still greater between king and slave. You promised Olaf the Thick your daughter Ingigerd, who, in all branches of her descent, is born of kings, and of the Upland Swedish race of kings, which is the most noble in the North ; for it is traced up to the gods themselves. But now Olaf has got Astrid ; and although she is a king's child, her mother was but a slave- woman, and besides of Vendish race. Great difference, indeed, must there be between these kings, when the one takes thankfully such a match ; and now it is evident, as might be expected, that no North-