第143章

Soon after she brought forth a female child, which appeared to be rather weak.Then the priest baptized the infant, and Stein held it at the baptism, at which it got the name of Thora; and Stein gave it a gold ring.Ragnhild promised Stein her perfect friendship, and bade him come to her whenever he thought he required her help.Stein replied that he would hold no other female child at baptism, and then they parted.Now it was come to the time when Stein required this kind promise of Ragnhild to be fulfilled, and he told her what had happened, and that the king's wrath had fallen upon him.She answered, that all the aid she could give should stand at his service; but bade him wait for Thorberg's arrival.She then showed him to a seat beside her son Eystein Orre, who was then twelve years old.Stein presented gifts to Ragnhild and Eystein.Thorberg had already heard how Stein had conducted himself before he got home, and was rather vexed at it.Ragnhild went to him, and told him how matters stood with Stein, and begged Thorberg to receive him, and take care of him.

Thorberg replies, "I have heard that the king, after sending out a message-token, held a Thing concerning the murder of Thorgeir, and has condemned Stein as having fled the country, and likewise that the king is highly incensed: and I have too much sense to take the cause of a foreigner in hand, and draw upon myself the king's wrath.Let Stein, therefore, withdraw from hence as quickly as thou canst."Ragnhild replied, that they should either both go or both stay.

Thorberg told her to go where she pleased."For I expect," said he, "that wherever thou goest thou wilt soon come back, for here is thy importance greatest."Her son Eystein Orre then stood forward, and said he would not stay behind if Ragnhild goes.

Thorberg said that they showed themselves very stiff and obstinate in this matter."And it appears that ye must have your way in it, since ye take it so near to heart; but thou art reckoning too much, Ragnhild, upon thy descent, in paying so little regard to King Olaf's word."Ragnhild replied, "If thou art so much afraid to keep Stein with thee here, go with him to my father Erling, or give him attendants, so that he may get there in safety." Thorberg said he would not send Stein there; "for there are enough of things besides to enrage the king against Erling." Stein thus remained there all winter (A.D.1027).

After Yule a king's messenger came to Thorberg, with the order that Thorberg should come to him before midsummer; and the order was serious and severe.Thorberg laid it before his friends, and asked their advice if he should venture to go to the king after what had taken place.The greater number dissuaded him, and thought it more advisable to let Stein slip out of his hands than to venture within the king's power: but Thorberg himself had rather more inclination not to decline the journey.Soon after Thorberg went to his brother Fin, told him the circumstances, and asked him to accompany him.Fin replied, that he thought it foolish to be so completely under woman's influence that he dared not, on account of his wife, keep the fealty and law of his sovereign.

"Thou art free," replied Thorberg, "to go with me or not; but Ibelieve it is more fear of the king than love to him that keeps thee back." And so they parted in anger.

Then Thorberg went to his brother Arne Arnason, and asked him to go with him to the king.Arne says, "It appears to me wonderful that such a sensible, prudent man, should fall into such a misfortune, without necessity, as to incur the king's indignation.It might be excused if it were thy relation or foster-brother whom thou hadst thus sheltered; but not at all that thou shouldst take up an Iceland man, and harbour the king's outlaw, to the injury of thyself and all thy relations."Thorberg replies, "It stands good, according to the proverb, -- a rotten branch will be found in every tree.My father's greatest misfortune evidently was that he had such ill luck in producing sons that at last he produced one incapable of acting, and without any resemblance to our race, and whom in truth I never would have called brother, if it were not that it would have been to my mother's shame to have refused."Thorberg turned away in a gloomy temper, and went home.