454 SOME EXPEDITIONS AXJ> DEEDS OF GREAT VIKIXGS. 



speedily commence their revenge by killing the messengers of 

 King Ella. Ivar said : ' That shall not be ; they shall go in 

 peace wherever they like, and if they lack anything they may 

 tell me, and I will give it to them.' When they had per- 

 formed their errand they went out of the hall to their ship, 

 and with a fair wind sailed out to sea, and returned in safety 

 to Ella. 



" When the messengers of Ella had gone, the brothers met 

 to talk over how they should avenge their father. Ivar said: 

 ' I will not take part in or gather men for that, because Ragnar 

 met with the fate I anticipated. His cause was bad ; he had 

 no reason to fight against King Ella, and it has often happened 

 that when a man wanted to be overbearing and wrong others 

 it has been the worse for him ; I will take wergild from King 

 Ella if he will give it.' When his brothers heard this they 

 became very angry, and said they would never so disgrace 

 themselves, even on his recommendation. ' People will say 

 that our prowess is departed if we do not avenge our father. 

 We have been all over the world on warfare, and slain many 

 innocent men. That shall not be ; we will fit out every sea- 

 worthy ship in Denmark ; every man who is able to carry a 

 shield against Ella shall go with us.' Ivar said he and the 

 ships he commanded, except his own ship, should remain 

 behind. When people heard that Ivar was not going, the 

 brothers obtained fewer men, but nevertheless went. As soon 

 jis they landed in England Ella heard of it, and had his horn 

 blown, and bade all who were willing to follow him; he got so 

 many men that no man could number them, and went against 

 them. They met, and Ivar was not in that battle, the 

 end of which was that Ragnar's sons fled, and Ella got the 

 victory. During the flight Ivar said : ' I will not go back ; 

 I will try whether King Ella will give me some honour or 

 not ; I will rather take wergild from him than be again 

 defeated like this.' Hvitserk said they could not prevent 

 him from doing what he liked, but they would never take 

 wergild. Ivar said he would leave them, and asked them to 

 rule over their realm and send him as much movable property 

 as he wanted. When he had said this he took leave of them 

 and went to Ella, and when he came before him he saluted 

 him, and said : ' I have come to you and want to be reconciled 

 to you, and get as much honour as you will give me ; I see 

 that I cannot defeat you, and will rather get from you such 

 honour as you will give me than lose more men or my own 

 life.' Ella answered : ' Some say thou art not to be trusted, 

 and that thou often speakest fair when thou thinkest foul, and 

 it is not easy to be a match for thee and thv brothers.' Ivar 



