Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/133

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 125 of Denmark, or any other, so long as the Swedish sa ga v ii. army will follow yon ; but if the people of the country unanimously turn against you, we, your friends, see no counsel that can be of advantage to you." The king asks, " Who is the chief who dares to betray the country and me ? " Freyvid replies, " All Swedes desire to have the ancient laws, and their full rights. Look but here, sire, how many chiefs are sitting in council with you. I think, in truth, we are but six whom you call your councillors : all the others, so far as I know, have ridden forth through the districts to hold Things with the people ; and we will not conceal it from you, that the message-token has gone forth to assemble a Retri- bution-thing.* All of us brothers have been invited to take part in the decisions of this council, but none of us will bear the name of traitor to the sovereign ; for that our father never was." Then the king said, "What counsel shall we take in this dangerous affair that is on our hands ? Good chiefs, give me counsel, that I may keep my kingdom, and the heritage of my forefathers ; for I cannot enter into strife against the whole Swedish force." Arnvid the Blind replies, " Sire, it is my advice that you ride down to Aaros f with such men as will follow you; take your ship there, and go out into the Maslare lake ; summon all people to meet you ; proceed no longer with haughtiness, but promise every man the law and rights of old established in the coun- try ; keep back in this way the message-token, for it cannot as yet, in so short a time, have travelled far through the land. Send, then, those of your men in whom you have the most confidence to those who crimes and misdemeanors. lake.
 * Refse Thing — a Thing for punishment by penalty or death for
 * " Aaros — the river-mouth ; probably Westeraas, on the Maelare