Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of NorwaySnorri Sturluson
History
Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
Snorri Sturluson
Iceland -- History; Norway -- History; Sagas -- Translations into English; Scandinavia -- History
King Olaf had put all things in order in the best style. There were
all sorts of liquors of the best that could be got, and all other
preparations of the same quality. Many people of consequence were
summoned in from their residences. When the earl arrived with his
retinue the king received him particularly well; and the earl was shown
to a large, good, and remarkably well-furnished house for his lodging;
and serving-men and others were appointed to wait on him; and nothing
was wanting, in any respect, that could grace a feast. Now when the
entertainment had lasted some days, the king, the earl, and Astrid had
a conference together; and the result of it was, that Earl Ragnvald
contracted Astrid, daughter of the Swedish king Olaf, to Olaf king
of Norway, with the same dowry which had before been settled that her
sister Ingegerd should have from home. King Olaf, on his part, should
give Astrid the same bride-gift that had been intended for her sister
Ingegerd. Thereupon an eke was made to the feast, and King Olaf and
Queen Astrid's wedding was drunk in great festivity. Earl Ragnvald then
returned to Gautland, and the king gave the earl many great and good
gifts at parting; and they parted the dearest of friends, which they
continued to be while they lived.
95. THE AGREEMENT BROKEN BY OLAF.
The spring (A.D. 1019) thereafter came ambassadors from King Jarisleif
in Novgorod to Svithjod, to treat more particularly about the promise
given by King Olaf the preceding summer to marry his daughter Ingegerd
to King Jarisleif. King Olaf tallied about the business with Ingegerd,
and told her it was his pleasure that she should marry King Jarisleif.
She replied. "If I marry King Jarisleif, I must have as my bride-gift
the town and earldom of Ladoga." The Russian ambassadors agreed to this,
on the part of their sovereign. Then said Ingegerd, "If I go east to
Russia, I must choose the man in Svithjod whom I think most suitable
to accompany me; and I must stipulate that he shall not have any less
title, or in any respect less dignity, privilege, and consideration
there, than he has, here." This the king and the ambassadors agreed to,
and gave their hands upon it in confirmation of the condition.
"And who," asked the king, "is the man thou wilt take with thee as thy
attendant?"
"That man," she replied, "is my relation Earl Ragnvald."
The king replies, "I have resolved to reward Earl Ragnvald in a
different manner for his treason against his master in going to Norway
with my daughter, and giving her as a concubine to that fellow, who he
knew was my greatest enemy. I shall hang him up this summer."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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