Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/236

 224 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XIII. The king said, " You come to us just now at a bad time; for the tables are just removed, and there is nothing at hand suitable to present to you. What is there to give the bishop V The treasurer replies, '' Sire, as far I know, all articles of any value are given away." The king : " Here is a drinking goblet remaining ; take this, bishop, it is not without value." The bishop expressed his thanks for the honour shown him. Then said the queen, " Farewell, bishop ! and a happy voyage." Tlic king said to her, " When did you ever hear a noble lady say so to a bishop without giving him something ?" She replies, " Sire, what have I to give him ?" The king : " Thou hast the cushion under thee." Thereupon this, which was covered with costly cloth, and was a valuable article, was given to the bishop. AVhen the bishop was going away the king took the cushion from under himself and gave it him, saying, " They have long been together." When the bishop arrived in Iceland to his bishop's see, it was talked over what should be done with the goblet that ^v^ould be serviceable for the king ; and when the bishop asked the opinion of other people, many thought it should be sold, and the value bestowed on the poor. Then said the bishop, " I will take another plan. I will have a chalice made of it for this church, and consecrate it, so .that all the saints of whom there are relics in this church shall let the kin 2: have some 2:ood lor his gift every time a mass is sung over it." This clialice has since belonged to the bishopric of Skalholt ; and of the costly cloth with which the cushions given him by the king were covered, were made the choris- ters' cloaks which are now in Skalholt. From this the generous spirit of King Harald may be seen, as