e might soon be expected, Asta stood up directly, and ordered
the men and girls to put everything in the best order. She ordered four
girls to bring out all that belonged to the decoration of the room and
put it in order with hangings and benches. Two fellows brought straw
for the floor, two brought forward four-cornered tables and the
drinking-jugs, two bore out victuals and placed the meat on the table,
two she sent away from the house to procure in the greatest haste all
that was needed, and two carried in the ale; and all the other serving
men and girls went outside of the house. Messengers went to seek King
Sigurd wherever he might be, and brought to him his dress-clothes, and
his horse with gilt saddle, and his bridle, which was gilt and set
with precious stones. Four men she sent off to the four quarters of the
country to invite all the great people to a feast, which she prepared as
a rejoicing for her son's return. All who were before in the house she
made to dress themselves with the best they had, and lent clothes to
those who had none suitable.

31. KING SIGURD'S DRESS.

King Sigurd Syr was standing in his corn-field when the messengers came
to him and brought him the news, and also told him all that Asta was
doing at home in the house. He had many people on his farm. Some
were then shearing corn, some bound it together, some drove it to the
building, some unloaded it and put it in stack or barn; but the king,
and two men with him, went sometimes into the field, sometimes to the
place where the corn was put into the barn. His dress, it is told, was
this:--he had a blue kirtle and blue breeches; shoes which were laced
about the legs; a grey cloak, and a grey wide-brimmed hat; a veil before
his face; a staff in his hand with a gilt-silver head on it and a silver
ring around it. Of Sigurd's living and disposition it is related that
he was a very gain-making man who attended carefully to his cattle and
husbandry, and managed his housekeeping himself. He was nowise given
to pomp, and was rather taciturn. But he was a man of the best
understanding in Norway, and also excessively wealthy in movable
property. Peaceful he was, and nowise haughty. His wife Asta was
generous and high-minded. Their children were, Guthorm, the eldest; then
Gunhild; the next Halfdan, Ingerid, and Harald. The messengers said to
Sigurd, "Asta told us to bring thee word how much it lay at her heart
that thou shouldst on this occasion c