180 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XII. ^vill be the better governed. I set a warping post and iron ring in the sound of Sinsbolm.* The Jemte- land people are again joined to this kingdom, and more by prudence and kind words than by force and war. Now although all this that I have reckoned up be but small doings, yet I am not sure if the people of the country have not been better served by it than by your killing bluemen for the devil in the land of the Saracens, and sending them to hell. Now if you prize yourself on your good deeds, I think the places I have raised for chaste people of God will serve me not less for my soul's salvation. So if you tied a knot for me, I will not go to untie it; and 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 into my fleet. Now let men of understanding judge what you have above me, and you will discover that here in Norway there are men equal to you.'* Thereupon both were silent, and there was anger on both sides. More things passed between the bro- thers, 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. It is told that once when King Sigurd had taken his seat, and Eystein had not arrived, Ingeborg, Guttorm's daughter, the wife of King Eystein, said to Sigurd, ^' The many great achievements, Sigurd, which you have performed in foreign lands, will long be held in remembrance." He answered her in these verses: — " White was my shield When I took the field, And red when 1 came home : The brave takes all That may befall ; Fate deals out what's to come.
- This locality Is not known. The text refers to a post and rings
for the warping vessels through some narrow sound.
