S DEATH.

Harald Grenske, as before related, was king in Vestfold, and was married
to Asta, a daughter of Gudbrand Kula. One summer (A.D. 994) Harald
Grenske made an expedition to the Baltic to gather property, and he
came to Svithjod. Olaf the Swede was king there, a son of Eirik the
Victorious, and Sigrid, a daughter of Skoglartoste. Sigrid was then a
widow, and had many and great estates in Svithjod. When she heard that
her foster-brother was come to the country a short distance from her,
she sent men to him to invite him to a feast. He did not neglect the
invitation, but came to her with a great attendance of his followers,
and was received in the most friendly way. He and the queen sat in the
high-seat, and drank together towards the evening, and all his men were
entertained in the most hospitable manner. At night, when the king went
to rest, a bed was put up for him with a hanging of fine linen around
it, and with costly bedclothes; but in the lodging-house there were few
men. When the king was undressed, and had gone to bed, the queen came
to him, filled a bowl herself for him to drink, and was very gay, and
pressed to drink. The king was drunk above measure, and, indeed, so were
they both. Then he slept, and the queen went away, and laid herself down
also. Sigrid was a woman of the greatest understanding, and clever
in many things. In the morning there was also the most excellent
entertainment; but then it went on as usual when people have drunk too
much, that next day they take care not to exceed. The queen was very
gay, and she and the king talked of many things with each other; among
other things she valued her property, and the dominions she had in
Svithjod, as nothing less than his property in Norway. With that
observation the king was nowise pleased, and he found no pleasure in
anything after that, but made himself ready for his journey in an ill
humor. On the other hand, the queen was remarkably gay, and made him
many presents, and followed him out to the road. Now Harald returned
about harvest to Norway, and was at home all winter; but was very silent
and cast down. In summer he went once more to the Baltic with his ships,
and steered to Svithjod. He sent a message to Queen Sigrid that he
wished to have a meeting with her and she rode down to meet him. They
talked together and he soon brought out the proposal that she should
marry him. She replied, that this was foolish talk for him, who was so
well marr