Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/180

 168 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XII. delightful and joyful countenance. He went to our brother King Olaf, took him by the hand, and said cheerfully to him, ' Come with me, friend.' On which he appeared to stand up and go into the church. Soon after King Olaf the Saint came out of the church, but not so gay and brilliant as before. Now he went to thee, brother, and said to thee that thou shouldst go with him ; on which he led thee with him, and ye went into the church. Then I thought, and waited for it, that he Avould come to me, and meet me ; but it was not so. Then I was seized with great sorrow, and great dread and anxiety fell upon me, so that I was altogether without strength; and then I awoke." King Ey stein replies, " Thus I interpret your dream, sire, — That the bench betokens the kingdom we brothers have ; and as you thought King Olaf came with so glad a countenance to our brother King Olaf, he will likely live the shortest time of us brothers, and have all good to expect hereafter ; for he is ami- able, young in years, and has gone but little into ex- cess, and King Olaf the Saint must help him. But as you thought he came towards me, but not with so much joy, I may possibly live a few years longer, but not become old, and I trust his providence will stand over me ; but that he did not come to me with the same splendour and glory as to our brother Olaf, that will be because, in many ways, I have sinned and trangressed his command. If he delayed coming to thee, I think that in no way betokens thy death, but rather a long life: but it may be that some heavy accident may occur to thee, as there was an unac- coimtable dread overpowering thee; but I foretel that thou wilt be the oldest of us, and wilt rule the kingdom longest." Then said Sigurd, " This is well and intelhgibly interpreted, and it is likely it will be so." And now the king began to be cheerful ac^ain.