HKB
King caused the feast to be well kept and a solemn Mass was said. Thereat were the Icelanders witnesses and hearkened to the fair singing and the ringing of bells.
When they were come back to their ships each of them said what he had thought of the Christian men's ways & Kiartan praised them, but most of the others mocked at them, & it befell that the King heard of this, for as the saying goes, 'many are the King's ears.' Then forthwith that self-same day sent he an emissary to Kiartan, and bade him come unto him, & Kiartan went unto him with but few men, and the King bade him welcome. Now Kiartan was one of the biggest and fairest of men, with a great gift of speech. When they had parleyed a while did the King make proffer to Kiartan that he should embrace the true Faith, and Kiartan made answer unto him that he would not say nay to this if he might thus gain the friendship of the King, whereupon swore the King to him & pledged him his hearty friendship, & after this fashion was a compact struck between them. On the morrow was Kiartan baptized, and with him Bolli Thorleikson his kinsman, and all their fellows.
Kiartan and Bolli were the guests of the King as long as they went in white weeds,Sec. and the King was of kindly countenance toward them.
|| It befell one day that King Olaf was walking in the street when some men came toward him, and he who was walking foremost greeted the King.
The King asked of the man his name, and the latter said he was hight Hallfrod.
Then said the King, 'Art thou a skald?' 'I can make verses,' said he. Then the King answered: 'Thou wilt accept baptism as I trow and thereafter be my man?'
Quoth Hallfrod: 'There must be a bargain on that matter if I am to suffer myself to be baptized, to wit, that thou, King, holdest me thyself at the font, for from no man else will I take it.' 'So be it,' said the King, & so Hallfrod was baptized and the King held him himself at the font. Thereafter the King asked Hallfrod: 'Wilt thou be my man?' & Hallfrod made answer: 'I was of Earl Hakon's body-guard; and now will I not be the liege-man of thee or of any other chief unless thou givest me thy word that such a thing shall never befall as that thou shouldst drive me away from thee.'
'From all that is told me of thee, Hallfrod,' said the King, 'thou art neither so wise nor so meek but that thou mightest not do a thing which I could in no wise suffer.'
'Slay me then,' said Hallfrod. The King said, 'Thou art a troublesome skald, but my man shalt thou be all the same.' Hallfrod answered: 'What wilt thou give me, King, as a name-gift if I am to be called "Troublous-Skald"?' Then did the King give him a sword, but it had no scabbard; and the King said, 'Make now a stave about the sword, & let "sword" be in every line.' Hallfrod sang:
'One sword alone of all swords Hath made me now sword-wealthy; For the swinger of swords Will there now be swords in plenty. No lack of swords will there be, --Worthy of three swords am I-- Lord of the land were but The sheath of that sword to be mine.'
'There is not sword in every line,' quoth the King. Then answered Hallfrod: 'But there are three in one line.' 'So be it,' said the King. Then did the King give him the scabbard. Now from that which is told in the lays of Hallfrod have we much knowledge & testimony concerning King Olaf Tryggvason.