Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/85

KINGS OF NORWAY. 77 One day the king's daughter Ingigerd had a con- sa ga v h. versation with her father Olaf ; and as she found her father was in a particularly good humour, she said, "What is now thy intention with regard to the strife with Olaf the Thick ? There are many who complain about it, having lost their property by it; others have lost their relations by the Northmen, and all their peace and quiet; so that none of your men see any harm that can be done to Norway. It would be a bad counsel if thou sought the dominion over Nor- way ; for it is a poor country, difficult to come at, and the people dangerous : for the men there will rather have any other for their king than thee. If I might advise, thou wouldst let go all thoughts about Nor- way, and not desire Olaf 's heritage ; and rather turn thyself to the kingdoms in the East country, which thy forefathers the former Swedish kings had, and which our relation Styrbiorn lately subdued, and let the thick Olaf possess the heritage of his forefathers, and make peace with him." The king replies in a rage, "It is thy counsel, In- gigerd, that I should let slip the kingdom of Norway, and give thee in marriage to this thick Olaf." — No," says he, " something else shall first take place. Ka- ther than that, I shall, at the Upsal Thing in winter, issue a proclamation to all Swedes, that the whole people shall assemble for an expedition, and go to their ships before the ice is off the waters ; and I will proceed to Norway, and lay waste the land with fire and sword, and burn every thing, to punish them for their want of fidelity." The king was so mad with rage that nobody ven- tured to say a word, and she went away. Hialte, who was watching for her, immediately went to her, and asked how her errand to the king had turned out. She answered, it turned out as she had expected ; that none could venture to put in a word with the