Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/182

 170 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XII. a dislike and anger to him, and sent a message to him. When he appeared before the king, the king carried these feelings with him, and said, " I did not expect that thou shouldst have repaid me for thy great fiefs and other dignities by taking the king's property, and abstracting a greater portion of it than is allowable." Sigurd Hranesson replies, "It is not true that has been told you ; for I have only taken such portion as I had your permission to take." King Sigurd replies, " Thou shalt not slip away with this ; but the matter shall be seriously treated before it comes to an end." With that they parted. Soon after, by the advice of his friends, the king laid an action against Sigurd Hranesson at the Thing- meeting in Bergen, and would have him made an outlaw. IN^ow when the business took this turn, and appeared so dangerous, Sigurd Hranesson went to King Eystein, and told him what mischief King Sigurd intended to do him, and entreated his assistance. King Eystein replied, " This is a difficult matter that you propose to me, to speak against my brother ; and there is a great difference between defending a cause and pursuing it in law : " and added, that this was a matter which concerned him and Sigurd equally. " But for thy distress, and our relationship, I shall bring in a word for thee." Soon after Eystein visited King Sigurd, and en- treated him to spare the man, reminding him of the relationship between them and Sigurd Hranesson, who was married to their aunt Skialdvor ; and said he would pay the penalty for the crime committed agahist the king, although he could not with truth impute any blame to him in the matter. Besides, he reminded the king of the long friendship with Sigurd Hranesson. King Sigurd repHed, that it was better government to punish such acts. Then King Eystein