w there remains； King Eystein； a way of determining the case which I am more used to； and which I shall now apply。〃
He then retired to his ships； had the tents taken down； laid his whole fleet out at the holm； and held a Thing of his people； and told them that early in the morning they should land at Iluvellir； and give battle to King Eystein。 But in the evening； as King Sigurd sat at his table in his ship taking his repast； before he was aware of it a man cast himself on the floor of the forehold； and at the king's feet。 This was Sigurd Hranason； who begged the king to take what course with regard to him the king himself thought proper。 Then came Bishop Magne and Queen Malmfrid； and many other great personages； and entreated forgiveness for Sigurd Hranason； and at their entreaty the king raised him up； took him by the hand； and placed him among his men； and took him along with himself to the south part of the country。 In autumn the king gave Sigurd Hranason leave to go north to his farm； gave him an employment； and was always afterward his friend。 After this day； however； the brothers were never much together； and there was no cordiality or cheerfulness among them。
ENDNOTES： （1） These law…quirks show a singularly advanced state of law。 and deference to the Law Things； amidst such social disorder and misdeeds。 L。
23。 OF KING OLAF'S DEATH。
King Olaf Magnuson fell into a sickness which ended in his death。 He was buried in Christ church in Nidaros； and many were in great grief at his death。 After Olaf's death； Eystein and Sigurd ruled the country； the three brothers together having been kings of Norway for twelve years （A。D。 1104…1115）； namely； five years after King Sigurd returned home； and seven years before。 King Olaf was seventeen years old when he died； and it happened on the 24th of December。
24。 MAGNUS THE BLIND； HIS BIRTH。
King Eystein had been about a year in the east part of the country at that time； and King Sigurd was then in the north。 King Eystein remained a long time that winter in Sarpsborg。 There was once a powerful and rich bonde called O1af of Dal； who dwelt in Great Dal in Aumord； and had two children； a son called Hakon Fauk； and a daughter called Borghild； who was a very beautiful girl； and prudent； and well skilled in many things。 Olaf and his children were a long time in winter in Sarpsborg； and Borghild conversed very often with King Eystein； so that many reports were spread about their friendship。 The following summer King Eystein went north； and King Sigurd came eastward； where he remained all winter； and was long in Konungahella； which town he greatly enlarged and improved。 He built there a great castle of turf and stone； dug a great ditch around it； and built a church and several houses within the castle。 The holy cross he allowed to remain at Konungahella； and therein did not fulfill the oath he had taken in Palestine； but； on the other hand； he established tithe； and most of the other things to which he had bound himself by oath。 The reason of his keeping the cross east at the frontier of the country was； that he thought it would be a protection to all the land； but it proved the greatest misfortune to place this relic within the power of the heathens； as it afterwards turned out。
When Borghild； Olaf's daughter； heard it whispered that people talked ill of her conversations and intimacy with King Eystein； she went to Sarpsborg； and after suitable fasts she carried the iron as proof of her innocence； and cleared herself thereby fully from all offence。 When King Sigurd heard this； he rode one day as far as usually was two days' travelling； and came to Dal to Olaf； where he remained all night； made Borghild his concubine； and took her away with him。 They had a son； who was called Magnus； and he was sent immediately to Halogaland； to be fostered at Bjarkey by Vidkun Jonson； and he was brought up there。 Magnus grew up to be the handsomest man that could be seen； and was very soon stout and strong。
25。 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO KINGS。
King Eystein and King Sigurd went both in spring to guest…quarters in the Uplands； and each was entertained in a separate house； and the houses were not very distant from each other。 The bondes； however； thought it more convenient that both should be entertained together by turns in each house； and thus they were both at first in the house of King Eystein。 But in the evening； when the people began to drink； the ale was not good； so that the guests were very quiet and still。 Then said King Eystein； 〃Why are the people so silent？ It is more usual in drinking parties that people are merry； so let us fall upon some jest over our ale that will amuse people； for surely； brother Sigurd； all people are well pleased when we talk cheerfully。〃
Sigurd replies； bluntly； 〃Do you talk as much as you please； but give me leave to be silent。〃
Eystein says； 〃It is a common custom over the ale…table to compare one person with another； and now let us do so。〃 Then Sigurd was silent。
〃I see；〃 says King Eystein； 〃that I must begin this amusement。 Now I will take thee； brother； to compare myself with； and will make it appear so as if we had both equal reputation and property； and that there is no difference in our birth and education。〃
Then King Sigurd replies； 〃Do you remember that I was always able to throw you when we wrestled； although you are a year older？〃
Then King Eystein replied； 〃But I remember that you was not so good at the games which require agility。〃
Sigurd： 〃Do you remember that I could drag you under water； when we swam together； as often as I pleased？〃
Eystein： 〃But I could swim as far as you； and could dive as well as you； and I could run upon snow…skates so well that nobody could beat me； and you could no more do it than an ox。〃
Sigurd： 〃Methinks it is a more useful and suitable accomplishment for a chief to be expert at his bow； and I think you could scarcely draw my bow； even if you took your foot to help。〃
Eystein： 〃I am not strong at the bow as you are； but there is less difference between our shooting near； and I can use the skees much better than you； and in former times that was held a great accomplishment。〃
Sigurd： 〃It appears to me much better for a chief who is to be the superior of other men； that he is conspicuous in a crowd； and strong and powerful in weapons above other men； easily seen； and easily known； where there are many together。〃
Eystein： 〃It is not less a distinction and an ornament that a man is of a handsome appearance； so as to be easily known from others on that account； and this appears to me to suit a chief best； because the best ornament is allied to beauty。 I am moreover more knowing in the law than you； and on every subject my words flow more easily than yours。〃
Sigurd： 〃It may be that you know more law…quirks； for I have had something else to do； neither will any deny you a smooth tongue。 But there are many who say that your words are not to be trusted； that what you promise is little to be regarded； and that you talk just according to what those who are about you say； which is not kingly。〃
Eystein： 〃This is because； when people bring their cases before me； I wish first to give every man that satisfaction in his affairs which he desires； but afterwards comes the opposite party； and then there is something to be given or taken away very often； in order to mediate between them； so that both may be satisfied。 It often happens； too； that I promise whatever is desired of me； that all may be joyful about me。 It would be an easy matter for me to do as you do； to promise evil to all； and I never hear any complain of your not keeping this promise to them。〃
Sigurd： 〃It is the conversation of all that the expedition that I made out of the country was a princely expedition； while you in the meantime sat at home like your father's daughter。〃
Eystein： 〃Now you touched the tender spot。 I would not have brought up this conversation if I had not known what to reply on this point。 I can truly say that I equipt you from home like a sister； before you went upon this expedition。〃
Sigurd： 〃You must have heard that on this expedition I was in many a battle in the Saracen's land； and gained the victory in all； and you must have heard of the many valuable articles I acquired； the like of which were never seen before in this country； and I was the most respected wherever the most gallant men were； and； on the other hand； you cannot conceal that you have only a home…bred reputation。〃
Eystein： 〃I have heard that you had several battles abroad； but it was more useful for the country what I was doing in the meantime here at home。 I built five churches from the foundations； and a harbour out at Agdanes； where it before was impossible to land； and where vessels ply north and south along the coast。 I set a warping post and iron ring in the sound of Sinholm； and in Bergen I built a royal hall； while you were killing bluemen for the devil in Serkland。 This； I think； was of but little advantage to our kingdom。〃
King Sigurd said： 〃On this expedition I went all the way to Jordan and swam across the river。 On the edge of the river there is a bush of willows； and there I twisted a knot of willows； and said this knot thou shouldst untie； brother； or take the curse thereto attached。〃
King Eystein said： 〃I shall not go and untie the knot which you tied for me； but if I had been inclined to tie a knot for thee； thou wouldst not have been king of Norway at thy return to this country； when with a single ship you came sailing into my fleet。〃
Thereupon both were silent； and there was anger on both sides。 More things passed between the brothers； from which it appeared that each of them would be greater than the other； however； peace was preserved between them as long as they lived。
26。 OF KING SIGURD'S SICKNESS。
King Sigurd was at a feast in the Upland； and a bath was made ready for him。 When the king came to the bath and the tent was raised over the bathing…tub； the king thought there was a fish in the tub beside him； and a great laughter came upon him； so that he was beside himself； and was out of his mind； and often afterwards these fits returned。
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