aring that living longer might strip him
of his last shred of glory, he hastened to win an honourable death in
battle. For his soul could not forget his calamity, it was fain to cast
off its sickness, and was racked with weariness of life. So much did
he abhor the light of life in his longing to wipe out his shame. So he
mustered his army for battle, and openly declared war with one Simon,
who was governor of Skaane under Gotar. This war he pursued with
stubborn rashness; he slew Simon, and ended his own life amid a great
slaughter of his foes. Yet his country could not be freed from the
burden of the tribute.

Jarmerik, meantime, with his foster-brother of the same age as himself,
Gunn, was living in prison, in charge of Ismar, the King of the Sclavs.
At last he was taken out and put to agriculture, doing the work of a
peasant. So actively did he manage this matter that he was transferred
and made master of the royal slaves. As he likewise did this business
most uprightly, he was enrolled in the band of the king's retainers.
Here he bore himself most pleasantly as courtiers use, and was soon
taken into the number of the king's friends and obtained the first place
in his intimacy; thus, on the strength of a series of great services,
he passed from the lowest estate to the most distinguished height of
honour. Also, loth to live a slack and enfeebled youth, he trained
himself to the pursuits of war, enriching his natural gifts by
diligence. All men loved Jarmerik, and only the queen mistrusted the
young man's temper. A sudden report told them that the king's brother
had died. Ismar, wishing to give his body a splendid funeral, prepared a
banquet of royal bounty to increase the splendour of the obsequies.

But Jarmerik, who used at other times to look after the household
affairs together with the queen, began to cast about for means of
escape; for a chance seemed to be offered by the absence of the king.
For he saw that even in the lap of riches he would be the wretched
thrall of a king, and that he would draw, as it were, his very breath
on sufferance and at the gift of another. Moreover, though he held the
highest offices with the king, he thought that freedom was better than
delights, and burned with a mighty desire to visit his country and learn
his lineage. But, knowing that the queen had provided sufficient guards
to see that no prisoner escaped, he saw that he must approach by craft
where he could not arrive by for