his queen. Earl Sigvalde loses
no time, but goes to King Svein of Denmark, explains to him the case;
and brings it so far by his persuasion, that the king delivered his
sister Thyre into his hands. With her went some female attendants, and
her foster-father, by name Ozur Agason, a man of great power, and some
other people. In the agreement between the king and the earl, it was
settled that Thyre should have in property the possessions which Queen
Gunhild had enjoyed in Vindland, besides other great properties as
bride-gifts. Thyre wept sorely, and went very unwillingly. When the
earl came to Vindland, Burizleif held his wedding with Queen Thyre,
and received her in marriage; bus as long as she was among heathens she
would neither eat nor drink with them, and this lasted for seven days.
100. OLAF GETS THYRE IN MARRIAGE.
It happened one night that Queen Thyre and Ozur ran away in the dark,
and into the woods, and, to be short in our story, came at last to
Denmark. But here Thyre did not dare to remain, knowing that if her
brother King Svein heard of her, he would send her back directly to
Vindland. She went on, therefore, secretly to Norway, and never stayed
her journey until she fell in with King Olaf, by whom she was kindly
received. Thyre related to the king her sorrows, and entreated
his advice in her need, and protection in his kingdom. Thyre was a
well-spoken woman, and the king had pleasure in her conversation. He saw
she was a handsome woman, and it came into his mind that she would be a
good match; so he turns the conversation that way, and asks if she will
marry him. Now, as she saw that her situation was such that she could
not help herself, and considered what a luck it was for her to marry so
celebrated a man, she bade him to dispose himself of her hand and fate;
and, after nearer conversation, King Olaf took Thyre in marriage. This
wedding was held in harvest after the king returned from Halogaland
(A.D. 999), and King Olaf and Queen Thyre remained all winter (A.D.
1000) at Nidaros.
The following spring Queen Thyre complained often to King Olaf, and wept
bitterly over it, that she who had so great property in Vindland had no
goods or possessions here in the country that were suitable for a queen;
and sometimes she would entreat the king with fine words to get her
property restored to her, and saying that King Burizleif was so great
a friend of King Olaf that he would not deny King Olaf anything if
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