Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/36

 24 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA IX. ox-hide spread out, and turned the gold out of the caskets upon it. Then scales and weights were taken, and the gold separated, and divided by weight into equal parts ; and all people wondered exceedingly that so much gold should have come together in one place in the northern countries. But it was understood that it was the Greek emperor's property and wealth ; for, as all people say, there are whole houses there full of red gold. The kings were now very merry. Then there appeared an ingot among the rest as big as a man's hand. Harald took it in his hands, and said, " Where is the gold, friend Magnus, that thou canst show against this piece ? " King Magnus replied, " So many disturbances and levies have been in the country, that almost all the gold and silver I could lay up is gone. I have no more gold in my possession than this ring." And he took the ring off his hand, and gave it to Harald. Harald looked at it, and said, " That is but little gold, friend, for the king who owns two kingdoms ; and yet some may doubt whether thou art rightful owner of even this ring." Then King Magnus replied, after a little reflection, "If I be not rightful owner of this ring, then I know not what I have got any right to ; for my father King Olaf the Saint gave me this ring at our last parting." Then said King Harald, laughing, '' It is true. King Magnus, what thou sayest. Thy father gave thee this ring, but he took the ring from my father for some trifling cause ; and in truth it was not a good time for small kings in Norway when thy father was in full power." King Harald gave Thorer of Steig at that feast a bowl of mountain birch, that was encircled with a silver ring and had a silver handle, both which parts were gilt; and the bowl was filled with money of pure silver. With that came also two gold rings,