comeliness; he keeps a guard round him like a king; he
has wealth in plenty, even though he had but what is truly
his, but besides that he holds others' property equally at
his disposal with his own. Thou, too, hast bestowed on him
large grants, and he had now made all ready to repay them
with ill. For this is the truth that I tell thee: when it was
learnt that thou wert coming north to Halogaland with no
more force than three hundred men, the counsel of people
here was that an army should assemble and take thy life,
O king, and the lives of all thy force. And Thorolf was
head of these counsels, and it was offered him that he
should be king over the Halogalanders and Naumdalesmen.
Then he went in and out of each firth and round all the
islands, and got together every man he could find and every
weapon, and it was no secret that this army was to muster
for battle against king Harold. But the truth is, O king, that
though thou hadst somewhat less force than those who met
thee, yet the farmer folk took fright when they saw thy fleet.
Then this counsel was adopted, to meet thee with friendly
show and bid thee to a banquet: but it was intended, when
thou wert well drunk and lying asleep, to attack thee with
fire and weapon. And here is a proof whether I am rightly
informed; ye were led into a granary because Thorolf was
loth to burn up his new and beautiful hall; and a further
proof is that every room was full of weapons and armour.
But when all their devices against thee miscarried, then
they chose the best course they could; they hushed up
their former purpose. And I doubt not that all may deny
'this counsel, because few, methinks, know themselves guiltless, were the truth to come out. Now this is my counsel,
O king, that thou keep Thorolf near thee, and let him be
in thy guard, and bear thy standard, and be in the fore-
castle of thy ship; for this duty no man is fitter. Or if
thou wilt have him to be a baron, then give him a grant
southwards in the Firths, where are all his family: thou
mayest then keep an eye on him, that he make not himself
too great for thee. But the business here in Halogaland
put thou into the hands of men who are moderate and will
serve thee faithfully, and have kinsfolk here, men whose
relatives have had the same work here before. We two
brothers are ready and willing for such service as thou wilt
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STORY OF EGIL SKALLAGRIMSSON