their own shame,
Their king and country to betray.
With those who give it's not the same,
From them we have no faith to claim:
'Tis we are wrong, if we give way."

172. OF KING OLAF'S PRESENTS AT YULE.

King Olaf gave a great feast at Yule, and many great people had come to
him. It was the seventh day of Yule, that the king, with a few persons,
among whom was Sigvat, who attended him day and night, went to a house
in which the king's most precious valuables were kept. He had, according
to his custom, collected there with great care the valuable presents he
was to make on New Year's eve. There was in the house no small number of
gold-mounted swords; and Sigvat sang:--

"The swords stand there,
All bright and fair,--
Those oars that dip in blood:
If I in favour stood,
I too might have a share.
A sword the skald would gladly take,
And use it for his master's sake:
In favour once he stood,
And a sword has stained in blood."

The king took a sword of which the handle was twisted round with gold,
and the guard was gold-mounted, and gave it to him. It was a valuable
article; but the gift was not seen without envy, as will appear
hereafter.

Immediately after Yule (1028) the king began his journey to the Uplands;
for he had a great many people about him, but had received no income
that autumn from the North country, for there had been an armament in
summer, and the king had laid out all the revenues he could command;
and also he had no vessels with which he and his people could go to the
North. At the same time he had news from the North, from which he could
see that there would be no safety for him in that quarter, unless he
went with a great force. For these reasons he determined to proceed
through the Uplands, although it was not so long a time since he had
been there in guest-quarters as the law prescribes, and as the kings
usually had the custom of observing in their visits. When he came to
the Uplands the lendermen and the richest bondes invited him to be their
guest, and thus lightened his expenses.

173. OF BJORN THE BAILIFF.

There was a man called Bjorn who was of Gautland family, and a friend
and acquaintance of Queen Astrid, and in some way related to her. She
had given him farm-management and other offices in the upper part of
Hedemark. He had also the management of Osterdal district. Bjorn was
not in esteem with the king, n