Gold Harald was now worse off than before; for he had got no kingdom,
and had got the king's anger by proposing it. He went as usual to his
friend Hakon, and complained to him of his fate, and asked for good
advice, and if he could help him to get his share of the kingdom; saying
that he would rather try force, and the chance of war, than give it up.
Hakon advised him not to speak to any man so that this should be known;
"for," said he, "it concerns thy life: and rather consider with thyself
what thou art man enough to undertake; for to accomplish such a purpose
requires a bold and firm man, who will neither stick at good nor evil to
do that which is intended; for to take up great resolutions, and then to
lay them aside, would only end in dishonour."
Gold Harald replies--"I will so carry on what I begin, that I will not
hesitate to kill Harald with my own hands, if I can come thereby to
the kingdom he denies me, and which is mine by right." And so they
separated.
Now King Harald comes also to Earl Hakon, and tells him the demand on
his kingdom which Gold Harald had made, and also his answer, and that
he would upon no account consent to diminish his kingdom. "And if Gold
Harald persists in his demand, I will have no hesitation in having him
killed; for I will not trust him if he does not renounce it."
The earl answered,--"My thoughts are, that Harald has carried his demand
so far that he cannot now let it drop, and I expect nothing but war in
the land; and that he will be able to gather a great force, because his
father was so beloved. And then it would be a great enormity if you were
to kill your relation; for, as things now stand, all men would say that
he was innocent. But I am far from saying, or advising, that you should
make yourself a smaller king than your father Gorm was, who in many ways
enlarged, but never diminished his kingdom."
The king replies,--"What then is your advice,--if I am neither to divide
my kingdom, nor to get rid of my fright and danger?"
"Let us meet again in a few days," said Earl Hakon, "and I will then
have considered the matter well, and will give you my advice upon it."
The king then went away with his people.