Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/140

 128 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XI. these my words, — that I do this on your account, not on his." Thereupon they returned to the king, and said that S Weinke left all in the king's hands. " But entreats you to have respect to his honour. He will be away for three years, and then come back, if it be the king's pleasure. Do this ; let all things be done according to what is suitable for the royal dignity, and accord- ing to our entreaty, now that the matter is entirely in thy power, and we shall do all we can to prevent his returning against thy will." The king replied, " Ye treat this matter like men, and, for your sakes, shall all things be as ye desire. Tell him so." They thanked the king, and then went to Sweinke, and told him the king's gracious intentions. " We will be glad," said they, ''if ye can be reconciled. The king requires, indeed, that thy absence shall be for three years; but, if we know the truth rightly, we expect that before that time he will find he cannot do without thee in this part of the country. It will be to thy own future honour, therefore, to agree to this." Sweinke replies, " What condition is better than this ? Tell the king that I shall not vex him longer with my presence here, and accept of my goods and estates on this condition." Thereupon he went home Avith his men, and set off directly ; for he had prepared every thing beforehand. Kolbiorn remains behind, and makes ready a feast for King Magnus, which also was thought of and pre- pared. Sweinke, on the other hand, rides up to Got- land with all the men he thought proper to take with liim. The king let himself be entertained in guest- quarters at his house, returned to Viken, and Sweinke's estates were nominally the king's, but Kolbiorn had them under his charge. The king received guest-