a matter most weighty what answer you give in
my case." The king then grew silent, and had a converse with his men.
The wise men asked the king what might be the real truth of the story
that this man was telling. The king answered, "This is clearly seen
in this Olaf, that he is high-born man, whether he be a kinsman of
mine or not, as well as this, that of all men he speaks the best of
Irish." [Sidenote: Melkorka's tokens accepted] After that the king
stood up, and said, "Now I will give answer to your speech, in so far
as we grant to you and all your shipmates peace; but on the kinship
you claim with us, we must talk more before I give answer to that."
After that they put out their gangways to the shore, and Olaf and his
followers went on land from the ship; and the Irish now marvel much
how warrior-like these men are. Olaf greeted the king well, taking off
his helmet and bowing to the king, who welcomes Olaf with all
fondness. Thereupon they fall to talking together, Olaf pleading his
case again in a speech long and frank; and at the end of his speech he
said he had a ring on his hand that Melkorka had given him at parting
in Iceland, saying "that you, king, gave it her as a tooth gift." The
king took and looked at the ring, and his face grew wondrous red to
look at; and then the king said, "True enough are the tokens, and
become by no means less notable thereby that you have so many of your
mother's family features, and that even by them you might be easily
recognised; and because of these things I will in sooth acknowledge
your kinship, Olaf, by the witnessing of these men that here are near
and hear my speech. And this shall also follow that I will ask you to
my court, with all your suite, but the honour of you all will depend
thereon of what worth as a man I find you to be when I try you more."
After that the king orders riding-horses to be given to them, and
appoints men to look after their ship, and to guard the goods
belonging to them. The King now rode to Dublin, and men thought this
great tidings, that with the king should be journeying the son of his
daughter, who had been carried off in war long ago when she was only
fifteen winters old. [Sidenote: Melkorka's foster-mother] But most
startled of all at these tidings was the foster-mother of Melkorka,
who was then bed-ridden, both from heavy sickness and old age; yet she
walked with no staff even to support her, to meet Olaf. The king said
to Olaf, "Here is co