silent, and grieved at the king's illness.
Before the blessing was pronounced over the meat, a man called Aslak
Hane spoke. He had been a long time with King Sigurd on his journey
abroad, and was not a man of any great family; and was small of stature,
but fiery. When he perceived how it was, and that none dared to accost
the king, he asked, "What is it, sire, that is smoking on the dish
before you?"

The king replies, "What do you mean, Aslak? what do you think it is?"

Aslak: "I think it is flesh-meat; and I would it were not so."

The king: "But if it be so, Aslak?"

He replied, "It would be vexatious to know that a gallant king, who has
gained so much honour in the world, should so forget himself. When you
rose up out of Jordan, after bathing in the same waters as God himself,
with palm-leaves in your hands, and the cross upon your breast, it was
something else you promised, sire, than to eat flesh-meat on a Friday.
If a meaner man were to do so, he would merit a heavy punishment. This
royal hall is not so beset as it should be, when it falls upon me, a
mean man, to challenge such an act."

The king sat silent, and did not partake of the meat; and when the time
for eating was drawing to an end, the king ordered the flesh dishes to
be removed and other food was brought in, such as it is permitted to
use. When the meal-time was almost past, the king began to be cheerful,
and to drink. People advised Aslak to fly, but he said he would not do
so. "I do not see how it could help me; and to tell the truth, it is
as good to die now that I have got my will, and have prevented the king
from committing a sin. It is for him to kill me if he likes."

Towards evening the king called him, and said, "Who set thee on, Aslak
Hane, to speak such free words to me in the hearing of so many people?"

"No one, sire, but myself."

The king: "Thou wouldst like, no doubt, to know what thou art to have
for such boldness; what thinkest thou it deserves."

He replies, "If it be well rewarded, sire, I shall be glad; but should
it be otherwise, then it is your concern."

Then the king said, "Smaller is thy reward than thou hast deserved.
I give thee three farms. It has turned out, what could not have been
expected, that thou hast prevented me from a great crime,--thou, and
not the lendermen, who are indebted to me for so much good." And so it
ended.

33. OF A WOMAN BROUGHT TO THE KING.

One Yule eve the king sat in the hall,