Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/83

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 75 long and troublesome, both on account of the great sagavii. ocean, but more especially because it is not safe to travel through Norway for those who are coming here in a friendly disposition. But why is there no one to bring proposals for a peace between you and King Olaf the Thick? I heard much in Norway, and in West Gotland, of the general desire that this peace should have taken place ; and it has been told me for truth, as the Norway king's words, that he earnestly desires to be reconciled to you ; and the reason I know is, that he feels how much less his power is than yours. It is even said that he intends to pay his court to your daughter Ingigerd ; and that would lead to a useful peace, for I have heard from people of credit that he is a remarkably distinguished man." The king answers, " Thou must not speak thus, Hialte ; but for this time I will not take it amiss of thee, as thou dost not know what people have to avoid here. That fat fellow shall not be called king in my court, and there is by no means the stuff in him that people talk of: and thou must see thyself that such a connection is not suitable ; for I am the tenth king in Upsal who, relation after relation, has been sole monarch over the Swedish, and many other great lands, and all have been the superior kings over other kings in the northern countries. But Norway is little inhabited, and the inhabitants are scattered. There have only been small kings there ; and although Harald Haarfager was the greatest king in that coun- try, and strove against the small kings, and subdued them, yet he knew so well his position that he did not covet the Swedish dominions, and therefore the Swedish kings let him sit in peace, especially as there was relationship between them. Thereafter, while Hakon Athels tan's foster-son was in Norway he sat in peace, until he began to maraud in Gotland and Denmark; on which a war-force came upon him, and