halt give
thy sister, Astrid, in marriage to our kinsman Erling Skialgson, whom we
now account the likeliest young man of Norway.'

The King said that to his mind this was a fair request and that it would
be a good marriage seeing that Erling was of a great family, and withal
goodly to look upon, but nevertheless said he, must Astrid herself have
a word in the matter. Thereafter did the King speak with his sister on
the subject, and she answered and said, 'little it availeth me that I am
a King's daughter and a King's sister if I am to wed a man without a
princely name, rather will I tarry a few winters for another suitor,'
and therewith ended their talking for the time being.

|| Now after these things King Olaf caused the feathers to be plucked
from off a hawk appertaining to Astrid his sister, and thereafter he
sent the bird to her. Then said Astrid, 'Wrathful is my brother now,'
& going to her brother, who bade her welcome, she spake unto him that
he the King should give her in marriage as it seemeth best to him.
'Methought,' said Olaf, 'that I had power enough in this land to make
whatsoever man I would a man of title and dignity.'

So then the King summoned Olmod and Erling and all their kinsmen to him
to talk with them anent this matter, and in such wise did their talking
end that Astrid was betrothed to Erling. Thereafter the King called
together a Thing, & offered the peasants Christianity, and though all
their kinsfolk were with them in this matter yet were Olmod & Erling the
most zealous of all men in forwarding the King's cause.

No one had any longer the courage to raise his voice against the wish of
the King, and thereupon were the people all baptized and became
Christian. Now the marriage of Erling Skialgson took place in the summer
and many folks came together to be witness of it; thither likewise came
King Olaf. On this occasion did the King offer to give Erling an
earldom, but Erling spake & said: '"Hersirs" have my kinsmen been and no
higher title will I have than they; but this will I take from thy hands,
King, namely that thou makest me to be the greatest in the land of that
name.' So in accord with this did the King give him his promise, and
when they parted bestowed on his brother-in-law Erling that land which
is north of the Sogn-sea and lies eastward as far as Lidandisnes,Sec. on
the same pact as Harald Fair-hair had given land to his sons, of which
an account has been afore writ in fair sc