Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/33

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 25 leave the country, give up thy kingdom, and take an sa ga v h. oath that thou shalt never go into battle against me." The earl answered, that he would do so. And now Earl Hakon took the oath that he would never fight against Olaf, or seek to defend Norway against him, or attack him; and King Olaf thereupon gave him and all his men life and peace. The earl got back the ship which had brought him there, and he and his men rowed their way. Thus says Sigvat of him : — " In old Sandunga sound The king Earl Hakon found, Who little thought that there A foeman was so near. The best and fairest youth Earl Hakon was in truth, That speaks the Danish tongue, And of the race of great Hakon." After this the earl made readv as fast as possible Chapter XXIX to leave the country and sail over to England. He Eari Ha.' met Kins: Canute, his mother's brother, there, and kon ' s de * 7 7 m ' parture told him all that had taken place between him and from Nor- King Olaf. King Canute received him remarkably way * well, placed him in his court in his own house, and gave him great power in his kingdom. Earl Hakon dwelt a long time with King Canute. During the time Swend and Hakon ruled over Norway, a recon- ciliation with Erling Skialgsson was effected, and se- cured by Aslak, Erling's son, marrying Gunhild, Earl Swend' s daughter ; and the father and son, Erling and Aslak, retained all the fiefs which King Olaf Tryggvesson had given to Erling. Thus Erling be- came a firm friend of the earl's, and their mutual friendship was confirmed by oath. King Olaf went now eastward along the land, hold- C ™ R ing Things with the bonders all over the country. Aasta'spre- Many went willingly with him ; but some, who were rec^e^er 5 Earl Swend's friends or relations, spoke against him. son olaf -