Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/264

before related, the kingdom came to be divided between brothers. After that time the dominions and kingly powers were spread among the branches of the family as these increased; but some kings cleared great tracts of forest-land, and settled them, and thereby increased their domains. Now when Ingiald took the dominions and the kingdom of his father, there were, as before said, many district-kings. King Ingiald ordered a great feast to be prepared in Upsal, and intended to enter at it on his heritage after King Onund his father. He had a large hall made ready for the occasion,—one not less, nor less sumptuous, than that of Upsal; and this hall was called the Seven Kings Hall, and in it were seven high seats for kings. Then King Ingiald sent men all through Sweden, and invited to his feast kings, earls, and other men of consequence. To this heir-feast came King Algaut, his father-in-law; Yngvar king of Fiadryndaland, with his two sons, Alf and Agnar; King Spossniall of Nerike; King Sighvat of Aattundaland: but Granmar king of Sondermanland did not come. Six kings were placed in the seats in the new hall; but one of the high seats which Ingiald had prepared was empty. All the persons who had come got places in the new hall; but to his own court, and the rest of his people, he had appointed places at Upsal. It was the custom at that time that he who gave an heirship-feast after kings or earls, and entered upon the heritage, should sit upon the footstool in front of the high seat, until the full bowl, which was called the Braga-bowl, was brought in. Then he should stand up, take the braga-bowl, make solemn vows to be afterwards fulfilled, and thereupon empty the bowl. Then he should ascend the high seat which his father had occupied; and thus he came to the full heritage after his father. Now it was done so on this occasion. When the full braga-bowl came in, King Ingiald stood up, grasped a large