Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/101

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 89 of them, and likewise their horses, were clothed in saga ix. armour. troop of the One of the horsemen said, " Is Earl Toste in this "°^^"*y- army ? " The earl answered, "It is not to be denied that ye will find him here." The horseman says, " Thy brother King Harald sends thee salutation, with the message that thou shalt have the whole of Northumberland ; and rather than thou shouldst not submit to him, he will give thee the third part of his kingdom to rule over along with himself." The earl replies, " This is something different from the enmity and scorn he offered last winter; and if this had been offered then it would have saved many a man's life who now is dead, and it would have been better for the kingdom of England. But if I accept of this offer, what will he give King Harald Sigurdsson for his trouble?" The horseman replied, " He has also spoken of this; and "svill give him seven feet of English ground, or as much more as he may be taller than other men." " Then," said the earl, " go now and tell King Harald to get ready for battle ; for never shall the Northmen say with truth that Earl Toste left King Harald Sigurdsson to join his enemy's troops, when he came to fight west here in England. We shall rather all take the resolution to die Avith honour, or to gain England by a victory." Then the horsemen rode back. King Harald Sigurdsson said to the earl, " Who was the man who spoke so well ?" The earl replied, " That was King Harald Godmns- son." Then said King Harald Sigurdsson, " That was by far too long concealed from me ; for they had come so near to our army, that this Harald should never have carried back the tidings of our men's slaughter."