Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/181

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 173 there in the north at Augvaldsness, and it would be saga vu. but manly to hasten back and stand by him." The father and son then had a conversation together, and Skialg related the whole circumstances of Thorer Sel's murder. King Olaf took his seat again when every thing in Chapter the hall was put in order, and was enraged beyond G f Tho- measure. He asked how it was with the murderer. r * n " „ Nenolrsson. He was answered, that he was sitting out upon the door-step under guard. The king says, " Why is he not put to death ? " Thorarin Nefiolfsson replies, " Sire, would you not call it murder to kill a man in the night-time?" The king answers, " Put him in irons then, and kill him in the morning." Then Asbiorn was laid in chains, and locked up in a house for the night. The day after the king heard the morning mass, and then went to the Thing, where he sat till high mass. As he was going to mass he said to Thorarin, " Is not the sun high enough now in the heavens that your friend Asbiorn may be hanged?" Thorarin bowed before the king, and said, " Sire, it was said by Bishop Sigurd on Friday last, that the King who has all things in his power had to endure great temptation of spirit ; and blessed is he who rather imitates him, than those who condemned the man to death, or those who caused his slaughter. It is not long till to-morrow, and that is a working day." The king looked at him, and said, " Thou must take care then that he is not put to death to-day ; but take him under thy charge, and know for certain that thy own life shall answer for it if he escape in any way." Then the king went away. Thorarin went also to where Asbiorn lay in irons, took off his chains, and brought him to a small room, where he had meat and drink set before him, and told him what the king