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206 Thou art a warrior, and not a lover of court dames, and so this same strong maiden may conquer thee. Hast never heard the saying of the ancient Greeks, that the greater a hero, so surely his wife or his maiden held him in bondage? See now! The strong man uses his strength only in war and in the matters of state; and little by little the woman weaves a chain for him he has never seen, until it is too well knit to be broken. It were well, indeed, if marriage with thy enemy’s daughter would make thy throne more sure, but if, instead of getting rid of thy enemies, thou shouldst bring their hatred to thy own hearth, it were a dangerous matter, my King.”

“Thou wouldst say, Father Reachta,” Olaf’s voice began to ring, “that if I wedded this maid, I could not conquer her hate? Why, priest! the sight of my viking ships at sea hath scattered every fleet of the Northland. And tellest me that a little maid that I could crush out of life with a blow, can be stronger than I? It were a poor day for Olaf Tryggevesson when Ironbeard’s little maid can defy and conquer him. Not that I would be harsh with the maid,” he added in a gentler tone, “but it angers me that all say the same words. It makes me grow merry to see the women, and the warriors even, afraid of a poor little wench.”

“Not afraid of the maid, my King,” Father Reachta said quietly, “but they fear the blood that she cannot help from being traitorous, seeing it comes down to her from many false forefathers. The warrior does