But he would take nothing; but only asked that, some day or other, they should grant him any request he should make, which they promised to do. Now he presented himself to King Idarald,—brought words of peace between them, and made the request to them both that they should be reconciled. So highly did the king esteem him, that in consequence of his request they were reconciled. Many other able men promoted this business as well as he; and it was so settled that Halfdan should retain the whole of his kingdom as he had it before, and should let his brother Eric sit in peace.
Chapter XL.
Birth of Hakon the Good.
Earl Hakon Griotgardsson of Lade had the whole rule over Drontheim when King Harald was any where away in the country; and Hakon stood higher with the king than any in the country of Drontheim. After Hakon's death his son Sigurd succeeded to his power in Drontheim, and was the earl, and had his mansion at Lade. King Harald's sons, Halfdan the Black, and Sigrod, who had been before in the house of his father Earl Hakon, continued to be brought up in his house. The sons of Harald and Sigurd were about the same age. Earl Sigurd was one of the wisest men of his time, and married Bergliot, a daughter of Earl Thorer the Silent; and her mother was Alof Aarbot, a daughter of Harald Haarfager. When King Harald began to grow old he generally dwelt on some of his great farms in Hordaland; namely, Alrekstad, or Sæim, Eitiar, Utstein, or Augvaldsness in the island Kormt. When Harald was seventy years of age he begat a son with a girl called Thora Mosterstang, because her family came from Moster. She was descended from good people, being connected with LIorda-Kaare; and was moreover a very stout and remarkably handsome girl. She was called the king's servant girl; for at that time many were subject to service to the king who were of good
