erate in enjoying ease.
Wilt thou, who shouldst have been a pillar of courage, show a sign of a
palsied spirit? Born of a brave sire, wilt thou display utter impotence?
Wilt thou fall so far from thy ancestors as to turn softer than women?
Hast thou not yet begun thy prime, and art thou already taken with
weariness of life? Whoever set such an example before? Shall the
grandson of a famous man, and the child of the unvanquished, be too weak
to endure a slight gust of adversity? Thy nature portrays the courage of
thy sires; none has conquered thee, only thine own heedlessness has hurt
thee. We snatched thee from peril, we did not subdue thee; wilt thou
give us hatred for love, and set our friendship down as wrongdoing? Our
service should have appeased thee, and not troubled thee. May the gods
never desire thee to go so far in frenzy, as to persist in branding
thy preserver as a traitor! Shall we be guilty before thee in a matter
wherein we do thee good? Shall we draw anger on us for our service? Wilt
thou account him thy foe whom thou hast to thank for thy life? For thou
wert not free when we took thee, but in distress, and we came in time to
help thee. And, behold, I restore thy treasure, thy wealth, thy goods.
If thou thinkest thy sister was betrothed to me over-hastily, let her
marry the man whom thou commandest; for her chastity remains inviolate.
Moreover, if thou wilt accept me, I wish to fight for thee. Beware lest
thou wrongfully steel thy mind in anger. No loss of power has shattered
thee, none of thy freedom has been forfeited. Thou shalt see that I
am obeying, not commanding thee. I agree to any sentence thou mayst
pronounce against my life. Be assured that thou art as strong here as-in
thy palace; thou hast the same power to rule here as in thy court. Enact
concerning us here whatsoever would have been thy will in the palace: we
are ready to obey." Thus much said Erik.

Now this speech softened the king towards himself as much as towards his
foe. Then, everything being arranged and made friendly, they returned to
the shore. The king ordered that Erik and his sailors should be taken in
carriages. But when they reached the palace he had an assembly summoned,
to which he called Erik, and under the pledge of betrothal gave him
his sister and command over a hundred men. Then he added that the queen
would be a weariness to him, and that the daughter of Gotar had taken
his liking. He must, therefore, have a fresh emb