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31。 KING SIGURD'S DRESS。
King Sigurd Syr was standing in his corn…field when the messengers came to him and brought him the news； and also told him all that Asta was doing at home in the house。 He had many people on his farm。 Some were then shearing corn； some bound it together； some drove it to the building； some unloaded it and put it in stack or barn； but the king； and two men with him； went sometimes into the field； sometimes to the place where the corn was put into the barn。 His dress； it is told； was this： he had a blue kirtle and blue breeches； shoes which were laced about the legs； a grey cloak； and a grey wide…brimmed hat； a veil before his face； a staff in his hand with a gilt…silver head on it and a silver ring around it。 Of Sigurd's living and disposition it is related that he was a very gain…making man who attended carefully to his cattle and husbandry； and managed his housekeeping himself。 He was nowise given to pomp； and was rather taciturn。 But he was a man of the best understanding in Norway； and also excessively wealthy in movable property。 Peaceful he was； and nowise haughty。 His wife Asta was generous and high…minded。 Their children were； Guthorm； the eldest； then Gunhild； the next Halfdan； Ingerid； and Harald。 The messengers said to Sigurd； 〃Asta told us to bring thee word how much it lay at her heart that thou shouldst on this occasion comport thyself in the fashion of great men； and show a disposition more akin to Harald Harfager's race than to thy mother's father's； Hrane Thin… nose； or Earl Nereid the Old； although they too were very wise men。〃 The king replies； 〃The news ye bring me is weighty； and ye bring it forward in great heat。 Already before now Asta has been taken up much with people who were not so near to her； and I see she is still of the same disposition。 She takes this up with great warmth； but can she lead her son out of the business with the same splendour she is leading him into it？ If it is to proceed so methinks they who mix themselves up in it regard little property or life。 For this man； King Olaf； goes against a great superiority of power； and the wrath of the Danish and Swedish kings lies at the foot of his determination； if he ventures to go against them。〃
32。 OF THE FEAST。
When the king had said this he sat down； and made them take off his shoes； and put corduvan boots on； to which he bound his gold spurs。 Then he put off his cloak and coat； and dressed himself in his finest clothes； with a scarlet cloak over all； girded on his sword； set a gilded helmet upon his head； and mounted his horse。 He sent his labouring people out to the neighbourhood； and gathered to him thirty well…clothed men； and rode home with them。 As they rode up to the house； and were near the room； they saw on the other side of the house the banners of Olaf coming waving； and there was he himself； with about 100 men all well equipped。 People were gathered over all upon the house…tops。 King Sigurd immediately saluted his stepson from horseback in a friendly way； and invited him and his men to come in and drink a cup with him。 Asta； on the contrary； went up and kissed her son； and invited him to stay with her； and land； and people； and all the good she could do for him stood at his service。 King Olaf thanked her kindly for her invitation。 Then she took him by the hand； and led him into the room to the high…seat。 King Sigurd got men to take charge of their clothes； and give their horses corn； and then he himself went to his high…seat； and the feast was made with the greatest splendour。
33。 CONVERSATION OF OLAF AND SIGURD。
King Olaf had not been long here before he one day called his stepfather King Sigurd； his mother Asta； and his foster…father Hrane to a conference and consultation。 Olaf began thus： 〃It has so happened；〃 said he； 〃as is well known to you； that I have returned to this country after a very long sojourn in foreign parts； during all which time I and my men have had nothing for our support but what we captured in war； for which we have often hazarded both life and soul： for many an innocent man have we deprived of his property； and some of their lives； and foreigners are now sitting in the possessions which my father； his father； and their forefathers for a long series of generations owned； and to which I have udal right。 They have not been content with this； but have taken to themselves also the properties of all our relations who are descended from Harald Harfager。 To some they have left little； to others nothing at all。 Now I will disclose to you what I have long concealed in my own mind； that I intend to take the heritage of my forefathers； but I will not wait upon the Danish or Swedish king to supplicate the least thing from them； although they for the time call that their property which was Harald Harfager's heritage。 To say the truth； I intend rather to seek my patrimony with battle…axe and sword； and that with the help of all my friends and relations； and of those who in this business will take my side。 And in this matter I will so lay hand to the work that one of two things shall happen； either I shall lay all this kingdom under my rule which they got into their hands by the slaughter of my kinsman Olaf Trygvason； or I shall fall here upon my inheritance in the land of my fathers。 Now I expect of thee； Sigurd； my stepfather； as well as other men here in the country who have udal right of succession to the kingdom； according to the law made by King Harald Harfager； that nothing shall be of such importance to you as to prevent you from throwing off the disgrace from our family of being slow at supporting the man who comes forward to raise up again our race。 But whether ye show any manhood in this affair or not； I know the inclination of the people well； that all want to be free from the slavery of foreign masters； and will give aid and strength to the attempt。 I have not proposed this matter to any before thee； because I know thou art a man of understanding； and can best judge how this my purpose shall be brought forward in the beginning； and whether we shall； in all quietness； talk about it to a few persons； or instantly declare it to the people at large。 I have already shown my teeth by taking prisoner the Earl Hakon； who has now left the country； and given me； under oath； the part of the kingdom which he had before； and I think it will be easier to have Earl Svein alone to deal with； than if both were defending the country against us。〃
King Sigurd answers； 〃It is no small affair； King Olaf； thou hast in thy mind； and thy purpose comes more； methinks； from hasty pride than from prudence。 But it may be there is a wide difference between my humble ways and the high thoughts thou hast； for whilst yet in thy childhood thou wast full always of ambition and desire of command； and now thou art experienced in battles； and hast formed thyself upon the manner of foreign chiefs。 I know therefore well； that as thou hast taken this into thy head； it is useless to dissuade thee from it； and also it is not to be denied that it goes to the heart of all who have courage in them； that the whole Harfager race and kingdom should go to the ground。 But I will not bind myself by any promise； before I know the views and intentions of other Upland kings； but thou hast done well in letting me know thy purpose； before declaring it publicly to the people。 I will promise thee； however； my interest with the kings； and other chiefs； and country people； and also； King Olaf； all my property stands to thy aid； and to strengthen thee。 But we will only produce the matter to the community so soon as we see some progress； and expect some strength to this undertaking； for thou canst easily perceive that it is a daring measure to enter into strife with Olaf the Swedish king； and Canute； who is king both of Denmark and England； and thou requirest great support under thee； if it is to succeed。 It is not unlikely； in my opinion； that thou wilt get good support from the people； as the commonalty always loves what is new； and it went so before； when Olaf Trygvason came here to the country； that all rejoiced at it； although he did not long enjoy the kingdom。〃
When the consultation had proceeded so far； Asta took up the word。 〃For my part； my son； I am rejoiced at thy arrival； but much more at thy advancing thy honour。 I will spare nothing for that purpose that stands in my power； although it be but little help that can be expected from me。 But if a choice could be made； I would rather that thou shouldst be the supreme king of Norway； even if thou shouldst not sit longer in thy kingdom than Olaf Trygvason did； than that thou shouldst not be a greater king than Sigurd Syr is； and die the death of old age。〃 With this the conference closed。 King Olaf remained here a while with all his men。 King Sigurd entertained them； day about； the one day with fish and milk； the other day with flesh…meat and ale。
34。 KINGS IN THE UPLAND DISTRICTS。
At that time there were many kings in the Uplands who had districts to rule over； and the most of them were descended from Harald Harfager。 In Hedemark two brothers ruled Hrorek and Ring； in Gudbrandsdal； Gudrod； and there was als