Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/99

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 91 father, that I do not trust to myself in this matter ; saga vie but am come on a visit to thee to get good counsel and help from thee in the matter." Now when the earl had done speaking Thorgnyr sat silent for a while, and then took up the word. " Ye have curious dispositions who are so ambitious of honour and renown, and yet have no prudence or counsel in you when you get into any mischief. Why did you not consider, before you gave your promise to this adventure, that you had no power to stand against King Olaf ? In my opinion it is not a less honourable condition to be in the number of bonders, and have one's words free, and be able to say what one will, even if the king be present. But I must go to the Upsal Thing, and give thee such help that without fear thou canst speak before the king what thou findest good." The earl thanked him for the promise, remained with Thorgnyr, and rode with him to the Upsal Thing. There was a great assemblage of people at the Thing, and King Olaf was there with his court. The first day the Thing sat, King Olaf was seated Chapter on a stool, and his court stood in a circle around him. of the Right opposite to him sat Earl Rognvald and Thorgnyr ^Jp?* 1 in the Thing upon one stool, and before them the earl's court and Thorgnyr's house-people. Behind their stool stood the bonder community, all in a circle around them. Some stood upon hillocks and heights, in order to hear the better. Now when the king's messages, which are usually handled in the Things, were produced and settled, the marshal Biorn rose beside the earl's stool, and said aloud, - " King Olaf sends me here with the message that he will offer to the Swedish king peace, and the frontiers that in old times were fixed between Norway and Sweden." He spoke so loud that the Swedish king could distinctly hear him ; but at first, when he heard King Olaf 's