Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/34

 26 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. Therefore King Olaf sailed in all haste eastward to Viken ; went in there with his ships ; set them on the land ; and proceeded up the country, in order to meet his stepfather, Sigurd Syr. When he came to West- fold he was received in a friendly way by many who had been his father's friends or acquaintances; and also there and in Folden were many of his family. In autumn he proceeded up the country to his step- father King Sigurd's, and came there one day very early. As Olaf was coming near to the house, some of the servants ran beforehand to the house, and into the room. Olaf 's mother, Aasta, was sitting in the room, and around her some of her girls. When the servants told her of King Olaf 's approach, and that he might soon be expected, Aasta stood up directly, and ordered the men and girls to put every thing in the best order. She ordered four girls to bring out all that belonged to the decoration of the room, and put it in order with hangings and benches. Two fellows brought straw for the floor, two brought forward four-cornered tables and the drinking jugs, two bore out victuals and placed the meat on the table, two she sent away from the house to procure in the greatest haste all that was needed, and two car- ried in the ale ; and all the other serving men and and girls went outside of the house. Messengers went to seek King Sigurd wherever he might be, and brought to him his dress-clothes, and his horse with gilt saddle, and his bridle which was gilt and set with precious stones. Four men she sent off to the four quarters of the country to invite all the great people to a feast, which she prepared as a rejoicing for her son's return. All who were before in the house she made to dress themselves with the best they had, and lent clothes to those who had none suitable. xxxl King Sigurd Syr was standing in his corn-field King when the messengers came to him and brought him Sigurd s ° ° dress.