Earl Hakon had now great reflection, and many opinions to weigh, and he
let only very few be in the house with him. In a few days King Harald
came again to the earl to speak with him, and ask if he had yet
considered fully the matter they had been talking of.
"I have," said the earl, "considered it night and day ever since, and
find it most advisable that you retain and rule over the whole of
your kingdom just as your father left it; but that you obtain for your
relation Harald another kingdom, that he also may enjoy honour and
dignity."
"What kind of kingdom is that," said the king, "which I can give to
Harald, that I may possess Denmark entire?"
"It is Norway," said the earl. "The kings who are there are oppressive
to the people of the country, so that every man is against them who has
tax or service to pay."
The king replies,--"Norway is a large country, and the people fierce,
and not good to attack with a foreign army. We found that sufficiently
when Hakon defended that country; for we lost many people, and gained no
victory. Besides, Harald the son of Eirik is my foster-son, and has sat
on my knee."
The earl answers, "I have long known that you have helped Gunhild's sons
with your force, and a bad return you have got for it; but we shall get
at Norway much more easily than by fighting for it with all the Danish
force. Send a message to your foster-son Harald, Eirik's son, and offer
him the lands and fiefs which Gunhild's sons held before in Denmark.
Appoint him a meeting, and Gold Harald will soon conquer for himself a
kingdom in Norway from Harald Grafeld."
The king replies, that it would be called a bad business to deceive his
own foster-son.
"The Danes," answered the earl, "will rather say that it was better to
kill a Norwegian viking than a Danish, and your own brother's son."
They spoke so long over the matter, that they agreed on it.