Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/300

 292 CHRONICLE OF THE Chapter CXCVI. Of Biorn the mar- shal. saga vii. England that autumn, so that Norway that winter was without a head. Biorn the marshal sat at home on his farm after his parting from King Olaf. Biorn was a celebrated man ; therefore it was soon reported far and wide that he had set himself down in quietness. Earl Hakon and the other chiefs of the country heard this also, and sent persons with a verbal message to Biorn. When the messengers arrived Biorn received them well ; and afterwards Biorn called them to him to a conference, and asked their business. He who was their foreman presented to Biorn the salutations of King Canute, Earl Hakon, and of several chiefs. " King Canute," says he, " has heard much of thee, and that thou hast been long a follower of King Olaf the Thick, and hast been a great enemy of King Canute ; and this he thinks not right, for he will be thy friend, and the friend of all worthy men, if thou wilt turn from thy friend- ship to King Olaf and become his enemy. And the only thing now thou canst do is to seek friendship and protection there where it is most readily to be found, and which all men in this northern world think it most honourable to be favoured with. Ye who have followed Olaf the Thick should consider how he is now separated from you ; and that now ye have no aid against King Canute and his men, whose lands ye plundered last summer, and whose friends ye mur- dered. Therefore ye ought to accept, Avith thanks, the friendship which the king offers you ; and it would become you better if you offered money even in mulct to obtain it." When he had ended his speech Biorn replies, " I wish now to sit quietly at home, and not to enter into the service of any chief." The messenger answers, " Such men as thou art are just the right men to serve the king ; and now I can tell thee there are just two things for thee to