king esteem him, that in consequence of his request they
were reconciled. Many other able men promoted this business as well as
he; and it was so settled that Halfdan should retain the whole of his
kingdom as he had it before, and should let his brother Eirik sit in
peace. After this event Jorun, the skald-maid, composed some verses in
"Sendibit" ("The Biting Message"):--

"I know that Harald Fairhair
Knew the dark deed of Halfdan.
To Harald Halfdan seemed
Angry and cruel."

40. BIRTH OF HAKON THE GOOD.

Earl Hakon Grjotgardson of Hlader had the whole rule over Throndhjem
when King Harald was anywhere away in the country; and Hakon stood
higher with the king than any in the country of Throndhjem. After
Hakon's death his son Sigurd succeeded to his power in Throndhjem, and
was the earl, and had his mansion at Hlader. King Harald's sons, Halfdan
the Black and Sigrod, who had been before in the house of his father
Earl Hakon, continued to be brought up in his house. The sons of Harald
and Sigurd were about the same age. Earl Sigurd was one of the wisest
men of his time, and married Bergljot, a daughter of Earl Thorer the
Silent; and her mother was Alof Arbot, a daughter of Harald Harfager.
When King Harald began to grow old he generally dwelt on some of his
great farms in Hordaland; namely, Alreksstader or Saeheim, Fitjar,
Utstein, or Ogvaldsnes in the island Kormt. When Harald was seventy
years of age he begat a son with a girl called Thora Mosterstang,
because her family came from Moster. She was descended from good people,
being connected with Kare (Aslakson) of Hordaland; and was moreover
a very stout and remarkably handsome girl. She was called the king's
servant-girl; for at that time many were subject to service to the king
who were of good birth, both men and women. Then it was the custom, with
people of consideration, to choose with great care the man who should
pour water over their children, and give them a name. Now when the time
came that Thora, who was then at Moster, expected her confinement,
she would to King Harald, who was then living at Saeheim; and she went
northwards in a ship belonging to Earl Sigurd. They lay at night close
to the land; and there Thora brought forth a child upon the land, up
among the rocks, close to the ship's gangway, and it was a man child.
Earl Sigurd poured water over him, and called him Hakon, after his own
father, Hakon earl of Hlader. The boy soo