n grew handsome, large in size,
and very like his father King Harald. King Harald let him follow his
mother, and they were both in the king's house as long as he was an
infant.

41. KING ATHELSTAN'S MESSAGE

At this time a king called Aethelstan had taken the Kingdom of England.
He was called victorious and faithful. He sent men to Norway to King
Harald, with the errand that the messengers should present him with a
sword, with the hilt and handle gilt, and also the whole sheath adorned
with gold and silver, and set with precious jewels. The ambassador
presented the sword-hilt to the king, saying, "Here is a sword which
King Athelstan sends thee, with the request that thou wilt accept it."
The king took the sword by the handle; whereupon the ambassador said,
"Now thou hast taken the sword according to our king's desire, and
therefore art thou his subject as thou hast taken his sword." King
Harald saw now that this was an insult, for he would be subject to no
man. But he remembered it was his rule, whenever anything raised his
anger, to collect himself, and let his passion run off, and then take
the matter into consideration coolly. Now he did so, and consulted his
friends, who all gave him the advice to let the ambassadors, in the
first place, go home in safety.

42. HAUK'S JOURNEY TO ENGLAND.

The following summer King Harald sent a ship westward to England, and
gave the command of it to Hauk Habrok. He was a great warrior, and very
dear to the king. Into his hands he gave his son Hakon. Hank proceeded
westward in England, and found King Athelstan in London, where there was
just at the time a great feast and entertainment. When they came to the
hall, Hauk told his men how they should conduct themselves; namely, that
he who went first in should go last out, and all should stand in a row
at the table, at equal distance from each other; and each should have
his sword at his left side, but should fasten his cloak so that his
sword should not be seen. Then they went into the hall, thirty in
number. Hauk went up to the king and saluted him, and the king bade him
welcome. Then Hauk took the child Hakon, and set it on the king's knee.
The king looks at the boy, and asks Hauk what the meaning of this is.
Hauk replies, "Herald the king bids thee foster his servant-girl's
child." The king was in great anger, and seized a sword which lay beside
him, and drew it, as if he was going to kill the child. Hauk says, "Thou