e 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 with him； and his sorrow by degrees wore away； and he was again in good spirits。
19。 OF KING SIGURD。
King Sigurd was a stout and strong man； with brown hair； of a manly appearance； but not handsome； well grown； of little speech； and often not friendly； but good to his friends； and faithful； not very eloquent； but moral and polite。 King Sigurd was self… willed； and severe in his revenge； strict in observing the law； was generous； and withal an able； powerful king。 His brother Olaf was a tall； thin man； handsome 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 Svein Alfifason ruled Norway； and on this account they were much beloved； both by the people and the great men of the country。
20。 OF KING SIGURD'S DREAM。
Once King Sigurd fell into low spirits； so that few could get him to converse； and he sat but a short time at the drinking table。 This was heavy on his counsellors； friends； and court； and they begged King Eystein to consider how they could discover the cause why the people who came to the king could get no reply to what they laid before him。 King Eystein answered them； that it was difficult to speak with the king about this； but at last； on the entreaty of many； he promised to do it。 Once； when they were both together； King Eystein brought the matter before his brother； and asked the cause of his melancholy。 〃It is a great grief； sire； to many to see thee so melancholy； and we would like to know what has occasioned it； or if perchance thou hast heard any news of great weight？〃
King Sigurd replies； that it was not so。
〃Is it then； brother；〃 says King Eystein； 〃that you would like to travel out of the country； and augment your dominions as our father did？〃
He answered； that it was not that either。
〃Is it； then； that any man here in the country has offended？〃
To this also the king said 〃No。〃
〃Then I would like to know if you have dreamt anything that has occasioned this depression of mind？〃
The king answered that it was so。
〃Tell me； then； brother； thy dream。〃
King Sigurd said； 〃I will not tell it； unless thou interpret it as it may turn out； and I shall be quick at perceiving if thy interpretation be right or not。〃
King Eystein replies； 〃This is a very difficult matter； sire； on both sides； as I am exposed to thy anger if I cannot interpret it； and to the blame of the public if I can do nothing in the matter； but I will rather fall under your displeasure； even if my interpretation should not be agreeable。〃
King Sigurd replies； 〃It appeared to me； in a dream； as if we brothers were all sitting on a bench in front of Christ church in Throndhjem； and it appeared to me as if our relative； King Olaf the Saint； came out of the church adorned with the royal raiment glancing and splendid； and with the most delightful and joyful countenance。 He went to our brother King Olaf； took him by the hand； and said cheerfully； to him； ‘Come with me； friend。' On which he appeared to stand up and go into the church。 Soon after King Olaf the Saint came out of the church； but not so gay and brilliant as before。 Now he went to thee； brother； and said to thee that thou shouldst go with him； on which he led thee with him； and ye went into the church。 Then I thought； and waited for it； that he would come to me； and meet me； but it was not so。 Then I was seized with great sorrow； and great dread and anxiety fell upon me； so that I was altogether without strength； and then I awoke。〃
King Eystein replies； 〃Thus I interpret your dream； sire； That the bench betokens the kingdom we brothers have； and as you thought King Olaf came with so glad a countenance to our brother； King Olaf； he will likely live the shortest time of us brothers； and have all good to expect hereafter； for he is amiable； young in years； and has gone but little into excess； and King Olaf the Saint must help him。 But as you thought he came towards me； but not with so much joy； I may possibly live a few years longer； but not become old； and I trust his providence will stand over me； but that he did not come to me with the same splendour and glory as to our brother Olaf； that will be because； in many ways； I have sinned and transgressed his command。 If he delayed coming to thee； I think that in no way betokens thy death； but rather a long life； but it may be that some heavy accident may occur to thee； as there was an unaccountable dread overpowering thee； but I foretell that thou will be the oldest of us； and wilt rule the kingdom longest。〃
Then said Sigurd； 〃This is well and intelligently interpreted； and it is likely it will be so。〃 And now the king began to be cheerful again。
21。 OF KING SIGURD'S MARRIAGE。
King Sigurd married Malmfrid； a daughter of King Harald Valdemarson； eastward in Novgorod。 King Harald Valdemarson's mother was Queen Gyda the Old； a daughter of the Swedish king； Inge Steinkelson。 Harald Valdemarson's other daughter； sister to Malmfrid； was Ingebjorg； who was married to Canute Lavard； a son of the Danish king； Eirik the Good； and grandson of King Svein Ulfson。 Canute's and Ingebjorg's children were； the Danish king； Valdemar； who came to the Danish kingdom after Svein Eirikson； and daughters Margaret； Christina； and Catherine。 Margaret was married to Stig Hvitaled； and their daughter was Christina； married to the Swedish king； Karl Sorkvison； and their son was King Sorkver。
22。 OF THE CASES BEFORE THE THING。
The king's relative； Sigurd Hranason； came into strife with King Sigurd。 He had had the Lapland collectorship on the king's account； because of their relationship and long friendship； and also of the many services Sigurd Hranason had done to the kings； for he was a very distinguished； popular man。 But it happened to him； as it often does to others； that persons more wicked and jealous than upright slandered him to King Sigurd； and whispered in the king's ear that he took more of the Laplander's tribute to himself than was proper。 They spoke so long about this； that King Sigurd conceived a dislike and anger to him； and sent a message to him。 When he appeared before the king； the king carried these feelings with him； and said； 〃I did not expect that thou shouldst have repaid me for thy great fiefs and other dignities by taking the king's property； and abstracting a greater portion of it than is allowable。〃
Sigurd Hranason replies； 〃It is not true that has been told you； for I have only taken such portion as I had your permission to take。〃
King Sigurd replies； 〃Thou shalt not slip away with this； but the matter shall be seriously treated before it comes to an end。〃 With that they parted。
Soon after； by the advice of his friends； the king laid an action against Sigurd Hranason at the Thing…meeting in Bergen； and would have him made an outlaw。 Now when the business took this turn； and appeared so dangerous； Sigurd Hranason went to King Eystein； and told him what mischief King Sigurd intended to do him； and entreated his assistance。 King Eystein replied； 〃This is a difficult matter that you propose to me； to speak against my brother； and there is a great difference between defending a cause and pursuing it in law；〃 and added； that this was a matter which concerned him and Sigurd equally。 〃But for thy distress； and our relationship； I shall bring in a word for thee。〃
Soon after Eystein visited King Sigurd； and entreated him to spare the man； reminding him of the relationship between them and Sigurd Hranason； who was married to their aunt； Skialdvor； and said he would pay the penalty for the crime committed against the king； although he could not with truth impute any blame to him in the matter。 Besides； he reminded the king of the long friendship with Sigurd Hranason。 King Sigurd replied； that it was better government to punish such acts。 Then King Eystein replied； 〃If thou； brother； wilt follow the law； and punish such acts according to the country's privileges； then it would be most correct that Sigurd Hranason produce his witnesses； and that the case be judged at the Thing； but not at a meeting； for the case comes under the law of the land； not under Bjarkey law。〃 Then said Sigurd； 〃It may possibly be so that the case belongs to it； as thou sayest； King Eystein； and if it be against law what has hitherto been done in this case； then we shall bring it before the Thing。〃 Then the kings parted； and each seemed determined to take his own way。 King Sigurd summoned the parties in the case before the Arnarnes Thing； and intended to pursue it there。 King Eystein came also to the Thing…place； and when the case was brought forward for judgment； King Eystein went to the Thing before judgment was given upon Sigurd Hranason。 Now King Sigurd t