Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/173

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 165 his brother in splendour and magnificence. As long sa ga v h. as heathenism prevailed, Sigurd usually had three sacrifices every year : one on winter-night's eve, one on mid-winter's eve, and the third in summer. Although he had adopted Christianity, he continued the same custom with his feasts : he had, namely, a great friendly entertainment at harvest time ; a Yule feast in winter, to which he invited many ; the third feast he had about Easter, to which also he invited many guests. He continued this fashion as long as he lived. Sigurd died on a bed of sickness when Asbiorn was eighteen years old. He was the only heir of his father, and he followed his father's custom of holding three festivals every year. Soon after Asbiorn came to his heritage the course of seasons began to grow worse, and the corn harvests of the people to fail; but Asbiorn held his usual feasts, and helped himself by having old corn, and an old provision laid up of all that was useful. But when one year had passed and another came, and the crops were no better than the year before, Sigrid wished that some if not all of the feasts should be given up. That Asbiorn would not consent to, but went round in harvest among his friends, buying corn where he could get it, and some he received in presents. He thus kept his feasts this winter also ; but the spring after people got but little seed into the ground, for they had to buy the seed-corn. Then Sigrid spoke of diminishing the number of their house- servants. That Asbiorn would not consent to, but held by the old fashion of the house in all things. In summer it appeared again that there would be a bad year for corn ; and to this came the report from the south that King Olaf prohibited all export of corn, malt, or meal, from the southern to the northern parts of the country. Then Asbiorn perceived that it would be difficult to procure what was necessary for a house- m 3