And though Egil has done great wrong against thee, yet
look thou on this, that he has suffered much from thee
and thy kin. King Harold thy father took the life of
Thorolf, a man of renown, Egil's father's brother, for the
slander of bad men, for no crime at all. And thou, O king,
didst break the law in Egil's case for the sake of Bergonund;
nay further thou didst wish to doom his death, and didst
slay his men, and plunder all his goods, and withal didst
make him an outlaw and drive him from the land. And
Egil is one who will stand no teasing. But in every cause
under judgment one must look on the act with its reasons.
I will now have Egil in keeping for the night.'
Then Arinbjorn and Egil went back to the house, and when they came in they two went into a small upper room and talked over this matter. Arinbjorn said: 'The king just now was very wroth, yet methought his mood rather softened before the end, and fortune will now decide what may be the upshot. I know that Gunnhilda will set all her mind on marring your cause. Now I would fain that we take this counsel: that you be awake through the night, and compose a song of praise about king Eric. I should think it had best be a poem of twenty stanzas, and you might recite it to-morrow when we come before the king. Thus did Bragi my kinsman, when he was under the wrath of Bjorn king of Sweden; he composed a poem of praise about him in one night, and for it received his head. Now may we also have the same luck with the king, that you may make your peace with him, if you can offer him the poem of praise.'
Egil said: 'I shall try this counsel that you wish, but 'twas the last thing I ever meant, to sing king Eric's praises.'
Arinbjorn bade him try.
Then Arinbjorn went away, and had food and drink carried to the upper room. Egil was there alone for the night. Arinbjorn went to his men, and they sate over drink till midnight. Then Arinbjorn and his men went to the sleeping chambers, but before undressing he went up to the room to Egil, and asked how he was getting on with the poem.
Egil said that nothing was done. 'Here,' said he, 'has
