Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/77

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 69 Hialte ; for Eric Bioclaskalla father of Astrid, King sa gav il Olaf Tryggvesson's mother, and Bodvar father of Olafa, mother of Gissur White the father of Vilborg, were brother's sons of the lenderman Viking-Kare of Yors. They enjoyed here good entertainment. One day Biorn entered into conversation with the earl and Ingeborg, in which he set forth his errand, and pro- duced to the earl his tokens. The earl replies, " What hast thou done, Biorn, that the king wishes thy death ? For, so far from thy errand having any success, I do not think a man can be found who could speak these words to the Swedish king without incurring wrath and punishment. King Olaf, king of Sweden, is too proud for any man to speak to him on any thing he is angry at." Then Biorn says, " Nothing has happened to me that King Olaf is offended at ; but many of his dispo- sition act, both for themselves and others, in a way that only men who are daring can succeed in. But as yet all his plans have had good success, and I think this will turn out well too ; so I assure you, earl, that I will really travel to the Swedish king, and not turn back before I have brought to his ears every word that King Olaf told me to say to him, unless death prevent me, or that I am in bonds, and cannot perform my errand ; and this I must do, whe- ther you give any aid or no aid to me in fulfilling the king's wishes." Then said Ingeborg, " I will soon declare my opi- nion. I think, earl, thou must turn all thy attention to supporting King Olaf the king of Norway's desire that this message be laid before the Swedish king, in whatever way he may answer it. Although the Swedish king's anger should be incurred, and our power and property be at stake, yet will I rather run the risk, than that it should be said the message of f 3