Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/184

 176 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. now as if thou wouldst offer terms for him. I think thou hast drawn together these forces because thou art determined to settle what is between us." Erling replies, " Thou only, king, shalt determine, and determine so that we shall be reconciled." The king : " Thinkest thou, Erling, to make me afraid ? and art thou come here in such force with that expectation ? No, that shall not be ; and if that be thy thought, I must in no way turn and fly." Erling replies, " Thou hast no occasion to remind me how often I have come to meet thee with fewer men than thou hadst. But now I shall not conceal what lies in my mind, namely, that it is my will that we now enter into a reconciliation ; for otherwise I ex- pect we shall never meet again." Erling was then as red as blood in the face. Now Bishop Sigurd came forward to the king and said, " Sire, I entreat you on God Almighty's account to be reconciled with Erling according to his offer, that the man shall retain life and limb, but that thou shalt determine according to thy pleasure all the other conditions." The king replies, " You will determine." Then said the bishop, " Erling, do thou give secu- rity for Asbiorn, such as the king thinks sufficient, and then leave the conditions to the mercy of the king, and leave all in his power." Erling gave a surety to the king on his part, which he accepted. Thereupon Asbiorn received his life and safety, and delivered himself into the king's power, and kissed his hand. Erling then withdrew with his forces, without ex- changing salutation with the king ; and the king went into the hall, followed by Asbiorn. The king there- after made known the terms of reconciliation to be these :-- " In the first place, Asbiorn, thou must submit