Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/138

 12G CHRONICLE OF THE sAGA^xi. a YoY I will not conceal my suspicion that he thinks to make himself king of Norway." They said that Sweinke was both a powerful and an ungovernable man. Now the king went from Yiken until he came to Sweinke's farm. Then the lendermen desired that they might be put on shore to see how matters stood ; and when they came to the land they saw that Sweinke had already come doAvn from the farm, and Avas on the road with a number of well-armed men. The lendermen held up a white shield in the air, as a peace-token ; and when Sweinke saw it he halted his men, and they approached each other. Then said Kolbiorn Klakka, '' King Magnus sends thee God's salutation and his o^vn, and bids thee consider what becomes thee, and do him obedience, and not prepare thyself to give him battle." Kolbiorn offered to me- diate peace between them, if he could, and told him to halt his troops. Sweinke said he would wait for them Avhere he was. " We came out to meet you," he said, " that ye might not tread down our corn-fields." The lendermen returned to the king, and told him all was now at his pleasure. The king said, " My doom is soon delivered. He shall fly the country, and never come back to Norway as long as the kingdom is mine ; and he shall leave all his goods behind." "But will it not be more for thy honour," said Kolbiorn, " and give thee a higher reputation among other kings, if, in banishing him from the country, thou shouldst allow him to keep his property, and show himself among other people ? And we shall take care that he never come back while we live. Consider of this, sire, by yourself, and have respect for our assurance." The king replied, " Let him then go forth imme- diately."