show what he is。 We do not require now to be taught by others； for now we can see ourselves how much we are regarded。 But this may be borne with； but not that ye treat so scornfully the king's message。 Thereby every one shows how highly he considers himself。 There is one man called Sveinke Steinarson； who lives east at the Gaut river； and from him the king will have his just land…dues； together with his own land； or will banish him from the country。 It is of no use here to seek excuses； or to answer with sharp words； for people are to be found who are his equals in power； although he now receives our speech so unworthily； and it is better now than afterwards to return to the right way； and do himself honour； rather than await disgrace for his obstinancy。〃 He then sat down。
Sveinke then got up； threw back his steel…hat； and gave Sigurd many scornful words； and said； 〃Tut！ tut！ 'tis a shame for the dogs； says the proverb； when the fox is allowed to cast their excrements in the peasant's well。 Here will be a miracle！ Thou useless fellow！ with a coat without arms； and a kirtle with skirts； wilt thou drive me out of the country？ Thy relation； Sigurd Woolsack； was sent before on this errand； and one called Gille the Backthief； and one who had still a worse name。 They were a night in every house； and stole wherever they came。 Wilt thou drive me out of the country？ Formerly thou wast not so mighty； and thy pride was less when King Hakon； my foster…son； was in life。 Then thou wert as frightened for him when he met thee on the road as a mouse in a mouse…trap； and hid thyself under a heap of clothes； like a dog on board a ship。 Thou wast thrust into a leather…bag like corn in a sack； and driven from house and farm like a year…old colt from the mares； and dost thou dare to drive me from the land？ Thou shouldst rather think thyself lucky to escape from hence with life。 Let us stand up and attack him。〃
Then all his men stood up； and made a great clash with their weapons。 Then Svein Bryggjufot and the other lendermen saw there was no other chance for Sigurd but to get him on horseback； which was done； and he rode off into the forest。 The end was that Sveinke returned home to his farm； and Sigurd Ulstreng came； with great difficulty； by land north to Throndhjem to King Magnus； and told the result of his errand。 〃Did I not say；〃 said the king； 〃that the help of my lendermen would be needed？〃 Sigurd was ill pleased with his journey； insisted that he would be revenged； cost what it will； and urged the king much。 The king ordered five ships to be fitted out； and as soon as they were ready for sea he sailed south along the land； and then east to Viken； where he was entertained in excellent guest…quarters by his lendermen。 The king told them he would seek out Sveinke。 〃For I will not conceal my suspicion that he thinks to make himself king of Norway。〃 They said that Sveinke was both a powerful and an ungovernable man。 Now the king went from Viken until he came to Sveinke's farm。 Then the lendermen desired that they might be put on shore to see how matters stood； and when they came to the land they saw that Sveinke had already come down from the farm； and was on the road with a number of well…armed men。 The lendermen held up a white shield in the air； as a peace…token； and when Sveinke saw it he halted his men； and they approached each other。 Then said Kolbjorn Klakke； 〃King Magnus sends thee God's salutation and his own； and bids thee consider what becomes thee； and do him obedience； and not prepare thyself to give him battle。〃 Kolbjorn offered to mediate peace between them； if he could； and told him to halt his troops。
Sveinke said he would wait for them where he was。 〃We came out to meet you；〃 he said； 〃that ye might not tread down our corn… fields。〃
The lendermen returned to the king； and told him all was now at his pleasure。
The king said； 〃My doom is soon delivered。 He shall fly the country； and never come back to Norway as long as the kingdom is mine； and he shall leave all his goods behind。〃
〃But will it not be more for thy honour；〃 said Kolbjorn； 〃and give thee a higher reputation among other kings； if； in banishing him from the country； thou shouldst allow him to keep his property； and show himself among other people？ And we shall take care that he never comes back while we live。 Consider of this； sire； by yourself； and have respect for our assurance。〃
The king replied； 〃Let him then go forth immediately。〃
They went back； therefore； to Sveinke； and told him the king's words； and also that the king had ordered him out of the country； and he should show his obedience； since he had forgotten himself towards the king。 〃It is for the honour of both that thou shouldst show obedience to the king。〃
Then Sveinke said； 〃There must be some great change if the king speaks agreeably to me； but why should I fly the country and my properties？ Listen now to what I say。 It appears to me better to die upon my property than to fly from my udal estates。 Tell the king that I will not stir from them even an arrow…flight。〃
Kolbjorn replied； 〃This is scarcely prudent； or right； for it is better for one's own honour to give way to the best chief； than to make opposition to one's own loss。 A gallant man succeeds wheresoever he goes； and thou wilt be the more respected wheresoever thou art； with men of power； just because thou hast made head so boldly against so powerful a chief。 Hear our promises； and pay some attention to our errand。 We offer thee to manage thy estates； and take them faithfully under our protection； and also never； against thy will； to pay scat for thy land until thou comest back。 We will pledge our lives and properties upon this。 Do not throw away good counsel from thee； and avoid thus the ill fortune of other good men。〃
Then Sveinke was silent for a short time； and said at last； 〃Your endeavours are wise； but I have my suspicions that ye are changing a little the king's message。 In consideration； however； of the great good…will that ye show me； I will hold your advice in such respect that I will go out of the country for the whole winter； if； according to your promises； I can then retain my estates in peace。 Tell the king； also； these my words； that I do this on your account； not on his。〃
Thereupon they returned to the king； and said； that Sveinke left all in the king's hands。 〃But entreats you to have respect to his honour。 He will be away for three years； and then come back； if it be the king's pleasure。 Do this； let all things be done according to what is suitable for the royal dignity and according to our entreaty； now that the matter is entirely in thy power； and we shall do all we can to prevent his returning against thy will。〃
The king replied； 〃Ye treat this matter like men； and； for your sakes； shall all things be as ye desire。 Tell him so。〃
They thanked the king； and then went to Sveinke； and told him the king's gracious intentions。 〃We will be glad；〃 said they； 〃if ye can be reconciled。 The king requires； indeed that thy absence shall be for three years； but； if we know the truth rightly； we expect that before that time he will find he cannot do without thee in this part of the country。 It will be to thy own future honour； therefore； to agree to this。〃
Sveinke replies； 〃What condition is better than this？ Tell the king that I shall not vex him longer with my presence here； and accept of my goods and estates on this condition。〃
Thereupon he went home with his men； and set off directly； for he had prepared everything beforehand。 Kolbjorn remains behind； and makes ready a feast for King Magnus； which also was thought of and prepared。 Sveinke； on the other hand； rides up to Gautland with all the men he thought proper to take with him。 The king let himself be entertained in guest…quarters at his house； returned to Viken； and Sveinke's estates were nominally the king's； but Kolbjorn had them under his charge。 The king received guest…quarters in Viken； proceeded from thence northwards； and there was peace for a while； but now that the Elfgrims were without a chief； marauding gangs infested them； and the king saw this eastern part of the kingdom would be laid waste。 It appeared to him； therefore； most suitable and advisable to make Sveinke himself oppose the stream； and twice he sent messages to him。 But he did not stir until King Magnus himself was south in Denmark； when Sveinke and the king met； and made a full reconciliation； on which Sveinke returned home to his house and estates； and was afterwards King Magnus's best and trustiest friend； who strengthened his kingdom on the eastern border； and their friendship continued as long as they lived。
9。 KING MAGNUS MAKES WAR ON THE SOUTHERN HEBUDES。
King Magnus undertook an expedition out of the country； with many fine men and a good assortment of shipping。 With this armament he sailed out into the West sea； and first came to the Orkney Islands。 There he took the two earls； Paul and Erlend； prisoners； and sent them east to Norway； and placed his son Sigurd as chief over the islands； leaving some counsellors to assist him。 From thence King Magnus； with his followers； proceeded to the Southern Hebudes； and when he came there began to burn and lay waste the inhabited places； killing the people and plundering wherever he came with his men； and the country people fled in all directions； some into Scotland…fjord； others south to Cantire； or out to Ireland； some obtained life and safety by entering into his service。 So says Bjorn Krephende： 〃In Lewis Isle with fearful blaze The house…destroying fire plays； To hills and rocks the people fly； Fearing all shelter but the sky。 In Uist the king deep crimson made The lightning of his glancing blade； The peasant lost his land and life Who dared to bide the Norseman's strife。 The hunger battle…birds were filled In Skye with blood of foemen killed； And wolves on Tyree's lonely shore Dyed red their hairy jaws in gore。 The men of Mull were tired of flight； The Scottish foemen would not fight； And many an island…girl's wail Was heard as through the isles we strife sail。〃