Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/178

1(]6 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XII. farther, for I have proposed every thing that occurs to me. There is but one thing else ; and that is but little compared to what I have offered thee. Come to me every day after the tables are removed, and, if I am not sitting upon important business, I shall talk with thee about the girl in every way that I can think of; and I shall do so at leisure. It sometimes happens that sorrow is lightened by being brought out openly ; and thou shalt never go away without some gift.'^ He replied, " This I will do, sire, and return thanks for this inquiry." And now they did so constantly ; and when the king was not occupied with weightier affairs he talked Avith him, and his sorrow by degrees wore away, and he was again in good spirits. Chapter King Sigurd was a stout and strong man, with Of King bro^vn hair; of a manly appearance, but not handsome ; Sigurd. ^^^g]j grown; of little speech, and often not friendly, but good to his friends, and faithful ; not very elo- quent, but moral and polite. King Sigurd was self- willed, and severe in his revenge ; strict in observing the law; was generous; and mthal an able, powerful king. His brother Olaf was a tall, thin man; hand- some in countenance ; lively, modest, and popular. When all these brothers, Eystein, Sigurd, and Olaf, were kings of Norway, they did away with many burthens which the Danes had laid upon the people in the time that Swend Alfifason ruled Norway ; and on this account they were much beloved, both by the people and the great men of the country. Once King Sigurd fell into low spirits, so that few (H^King could get him to converse, and he sat but a short drerm/ tiuic at the drinking table. This was heavy on his counsellors, friends, and court; and they begged King Eystein to consider hoAv they could discover the cause why the people who came to the king could get no reply to wliat they laid before him. King Eystein Chaptek, XIX