Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/135

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 123 east to Yiken, and there summoned the lendermen to sa ga x i. him. Then a Thing was appomted in Yiken, to which the people were called who dwelt on the East river, besides others ; so that it was a numerous assembly. When the Thing was formed they had to wait for S Weinke. They soon after saw a troop of men coming along, so well furnished with weapons that they looked like pieces of shining ice ; and now came Sweinke and his people to the Thing, and set themselves down in a circle. All were clad in iron, with glowing arms, and 500 in number. Then Sigurd stood up, and spoke. "My master. King Magnus, sends God's salutation and his own to all friends, lendermen and others, his subjects in the kingdom ; also to the powerful bonders, and the people in general, with kind words and offers of friend- ship ; and to all who will obey him he offers his friend- ship and good- will. Now the king will, with all cheer- fulness and peace, show himself a gracious master to all who will submit to him, and to all in his dominions. He will be the leader and defender of all the men of Norway ; and it will be good for you to accept his gracious speech, and this offer." Then stood up a man in the troop of the river- borderers, who was of great stature and grim coun- tenance, clad in a leather cloak, with a halberd on his shoulder, and a great steel hat upon his head. He looked sternly, and said, " Here is no need of wheels, says the fox, when he draws the trap over the ice." He said nothing more, but sat down again. Soon after Sigurd Ullstring stood up again, and spoke thus : " But little concern or help have we for the king's affairs from you river-borderers, and but little friendship ; yet by such means every man shows how much he respects himself. But now I shall pro- duce more clearly the king's errand." Thereupon he demanded land- dues and levy- dues, together with all other rights of the king, from the great bonders. He