Thorgnyr the Lawman 2 1 5 



earl disclosed his errand. . . . When the earl had done 

 speaking, Thorgnyr sat silent for a while, and then took 

 up the word. " Ye have curious dispositions, who are 

 so ambitious of honour and renown, and have no 

 prudence or counsel in you when ye get into any 

 mischief. Why did you not consider, before you gave 

 your promise to this adventure, that you had no power 

 to stand against King Olaf ? In my opinion it is not a 

 less honourable position to be in the number of bonders, 

 and have one's words free, and be able to say what one 

 will, even if the king be present. But I must go to the 

 Upsal Thing, and give thee such help that, without fear, 

 thou canst speak before the king what thou findest 

 good." ' 



And when the Thing was opened Thorgnyr showed 

 how aptly this description fitted his case. 



There was a great assemblage of people at the Thing, 

 and Olaf was there with his court. The king took his 

 seat upon one chair, and his court stood round him; and 

 on the opposite seat sat together Earl Rognvald and 

 Thorgnyr on one seat. And first rose Bjoin, setting 

 forth how he had been sent there by his own king, the 

 Norse Olaf, who offered to the Swedish king peace, and 

 ' the frontiers which, in old time, were fixed between 

 Norway and Sweden.' Earl Rognvald supported the 

 l>roposal of peace ; but when he had spoken, King Olaf 

 the Swede rose up and spoke violently against any 

 thought of reconciliation, reproaching the earl bitterly 

 for making friendship with Olaf the Thick, which he 

 deemed treason against himself. The king spoke long 

 and bitterly. ' When he sat down not a sound was to 

 be heard at first. Then Thorgnyr stood up ; and when 



