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'Whereas I hear this about all that turn their backs
upon him and pay him not homage with friendship,
that they all become men of nought, some flee abroad,
some are made hirelings. It seems wonderful to me,
father, in a man so wise and ambitious as thou art,
that thou wouldst not thankfully take the dignity
which the king offered thee. But if thou thinkest
that thou hast prophetic foresight of this, that we
shall get misfortune from this king, and that he will
be our enemy, then why didst thou not go to battle
against him with that king in whose service
thou wert before? Now, methinks it is most
unreasonable neither to be his friend nor his enemy.'

'It went,' said Kveldulf, 'just as my mind foreboded,
that they marched not to victory who went northwards
to fight with Harold Shockhead in Mæra; and equally
true will this be, that Harold will work much scathe
on my kin. But thou, Thorolf, wilt take thine own
counsel in thine own business; nor do I fear,
though thou enter into the company of Harold's guards,
that thou wilt not be thought capable and equal to the
foremost in all proofs of manhood. Only beware of this,
keep within bounds, nor rival thy betters; thou wilt not,
I am sure, yield to others overmuch.'
But when Thorolf made him ready to go,
Kveldulf accompanied him down to the ship
and embraced him, with wishes for his happy journey
and their next merry meeting.