involve his country in civil wars, putting
patriotism after private inclination. When he perished, his body was put
in a barrow, famous for the name of Olaf, which was built up close by
Leire.

He was succeeded by HEMMING, of whom I have found no deed worthy of
record, save that he made a sworn peace with Kaiser Ludwig; and yet,
perhaps, envious antiquity hides many notable deeds of his time, albeit
they were then famous.

After these men there came to the throne, backed by the Skanians and
Zealanders, SIWARD, surnamed RING. He was the son, born long ago, of the
chief of Norway who bore the same name, by Gotrik's daughter. Now Ring,
cousin of Siward, and also a grandson of Gotrik, was master of Jutland.
Thus the power of the single kingdom was divided; and, as though its two
parts were contemptible for their smallness, foreigners began not only
to despise but to attack it. These Siward assailed with greater hatred
than he did his rival for the throne; and, preferring wars abroad to
wars at home, he stubbornly defended his country against dangers for
five years; for he chose to put up with a trouble at home that he
might the more easily cure one which came from abroad. Wherefore Ring
(desiring his) command, seized the opportunity, tried to transfer the
whole sovereignty to himself, and did not hesitate to injure in his
own land the man who was watching over it without; for he attacked the
provinces in the possession of Siward, which was an ungrateful requital
for the defence of their common country. Therefore, some of the
Zealanders who were more zealous for Siward, in order to show him firmer
loyalty in his absence, proclaimed his son Ragnar as king, when he was
scarcely dragged out of his cradle. Not but what they knew he was too
young to govern; yet they hoped that such a gage would serve to rouse
their sluggish allies against Ring. But, when Ring heard that Siward had
meantime returned from his expedition, he attacked the Zealanders with a
large force, and proclaimed that they should perish by the sword if they
did not surrender; but the Zealanders, who were bidden to choose between
shame and peril, were so few that they distrusted their strength, and
requested a truce to consider the matter. It was granted; but, since it
did not seem open to them to seek the favour of Siward, nor honourable
to embrace that of Ring, they wavered long in perplexity between fear
and shame. In this plight even the old were at a loss fo