Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/86

 yg CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. king ; but, on the contrary, he had used threats ; and shelbeg^ed Hialte never to speak of the matter again before the king. As Hialte and Ingigerd spoke together often, Olaf the Thick was often the subject, and he told her about him and his manners; and Hialte praised the king of Norway what he could, but said no more than was the truth, and she could well perceive it. Once, in a conversation, Hialte said to her, " May I be permitted, daughter of the king, to tell thee what lies in my mind?" " Speak freely," says she ; " but so that I alone can hear it." " Then," said Hialte, " what would be thy answer, if the Norway king Olaf sent messengers to thee with the errand to propose marriage to thee?" She blushed, and answered slowly but gently, " I have not made up my mind to answer to that ; but if Olaf be in all respects so perfect as thou tellest me, I could wish for no other husband ; unless, indeed, thou hast gilded him over with thy praise more than sufficiently." Hialte replied, that he had in no respect spoken better of the king than was true. They often spoke together on the same subject. Ingigerd begged Hialte to be cautious not to mention it to any other person, for the king would be enraged against him if it came to his knowledge. Hialte only spoke of it to the scalds Gissur and Ottar, who thought it was the most happy plan, if it could but be carried into effect. Ottar, who was a man of great power of conversation, and much beloved in the court, soon brought up the subject before the king's daughter, and recounted to her, as Hialte had done, all King Olaf's excellent qualities. Often spoke Hialte and the others about him ; and now that Hialte knew the result of his mission, he sent those Gotland men away who had accompanied him, and let them re-