and begged that he might be bound and burned with his friends. Daxo
speedily complied with his prayers that craved for death, and by way of
kindness granted him the end that he had chosen. When Ragnar heard of
this, he began to grieve stubbornly even unto death, and not only put on
the garb of mourning, but, in the exceeding sorrow of his soul, took
to his bed and showed his grief by groaning. But his wife, who had more
than a man's courage, chid his weakness, and put heart into him with her
manful admonitions. Drawing his mind off from his woe, she bade him be
zealous in the pursuit of war; declaring that it was better for so brave
a father to avenge the bloodstained ashes of his son with weapons than
with tears. She also told him not to whimper like a woman, and get as
much disgrace by his tears as he had once earned glory by his valour.
Upon these words Ragnar began to fear lest he should destroy his ancient
name for courage by his womanish sorrow; so, shaking off his melancholy
garb and putting away his signs of mourning, he revived his sleeping
valour with hopes of speedy vengeance. Thus do the weak sometimes nerve
the spirits of the strong. So he put his kingdom in charge of Iwar, and
embraced with a father's love Ubbe, who was now restored to his ancient
favour. Then he transported his fleet over to Russia, took Daxo, bound
him in chains, and sent him away to be kept in Utgard. (1)

Ragnar showed on this occasion the most merciful moderation towards the
slayer of his dearest son, since he sufficiently satisfied the vengeance
which he desired, by the exile of the culprit rather than his death.
This compassion shamed the Russians out of any further rage against
such a king, who could not be driven even by the most grievous wrongs
to inflict death upon his prisoners. Ragnar soon took Daxo back into
favour, and restored him to his country, upon his promising that he
would every year pay him his tribute barefoot, like a suppliant,
with twelve elders, also unshod. For he thought it better to punish
a prisoner and a suppliant gently, than to draw the axe of bloodshed;
better to punish that proud neck with constant slavery than to sever it
once and for all. Then he went on and appointed his son Erik, surnamed
Wind-hat, over Sweden. Here, while Fridleif and Siward were serving
under him, he found that the Norwegians and the Scots had wrongfully
conferred the title of king on two other men. So he first overthrew the
usurp