Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/213

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 201 had nothing so earnest in life as to send him back to sa ga x h. the holy place. This miracle was first written down by a man who himself saw the man, and the marks of the chains upon his body. In the last period of King Sigurd's life, his new ^^^^^x and extraordinary resolution was whispered about, — King that he would be divorced from his queen, and would ^'fj."ht take Cecilia, who was a great man's daughter, to Ceciiia. wife. He ordered accordingly a great feast to be prepared, and intended to hold his wedding with her in Bergen. Now when Bishop Magne heard this, he was very sorry ; and one day the bishop goes to the Idng's hall, and with him a priest called Sigurd, who was afterwards bishop of Bergen. When they came to the king's hall, the bishop sent the king a message that he would like to meet him ; and asked the king to come out to him. He did so, and came out with a drawn sword in his hand. He received the bishop kindly, and asked him to go in and sit down to table with him. The bishop replies, " I have other business now. Is it true, sire, what is told me, that thou has the in- tention of marrying, and of driving away thy queen, and taking another wife? " The king said it was true. Then the bishop changed countenance, and angrily replied, " How can it come into your mind, sire, to do such an act in our bishopric as to betray God's word and law, and the holy church? It surprises me that you treat with such contempt our episcopal office, and your own royal office. I will now do what is my duty; and in the name of God, of the holy King Olaf, of Peter the apostle, and of the other saints, forbid thee this wickedness." While he thus spoke he stood straight up, as if stretching out his neck to the blow, and as if ready if the king chose to let the sword fall ; and the priest