Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/26

 18 CHRONICLE OF THE sa ga v ii. court. Erling was often out in summer on plunder- ing expeditions, and procured for himself means of living; for he continued his usual way of high and splendid living, although now he had fewer and less convenient fiefs than in the time of his brother-in- law King Olaf Tryggvesson. Erling was one of the handsomest, largest, and strongest men ; a better war- rior than any other ; and in all exercises he was like King Olaf himself. He was, besides, a man of un- derstanding, zealous in every thing he undertook, and a deadly man at arms. Sigvat talks thus of him : — " No earl or baron, young or old. Match with this bonder brave can hold. Mild was brave Erling, all men say, When not engaged in bloody fray; His courage he kept hid until The fight began, then foremost still Erling was seen in war's wild game, And famous still is Erling's name." It was a common saying among the people, that Erling had been the most valiant who ever held lands under a king in Norway. Erling's and Astrid's chil- dren were these — Aslak, Skialg, Sigurd, Lodin, Thorer, and Ragnhild, who was married to Thorberg Arneson. Erling had always with him 90 free-born men or more ; and both winter and summer it was the cus- tom in his house to drink at the mid-day meal accord- ing to a measure*, but at the night meal there was no measure in drinking. When the earl was in the neighbourhood he had 300 men or more. He never went to sea with less than a fully -manned ship, of 20 benches of rowers. Erling had also a ship of 32 benches of rowers, which was besides very large for that size, and which he used in viking cruises, or on an drinking horn or cup; and as it went round each drank till the stud appeared above the liquor. This was drinking by measure.
 * There were silver studs in a row from the rim to the bottom of the