He had long hair as fine as silk, bound about his head with a gold ornament.

When he sat down in the forehold the king said to him: _King._ "'It is not false, what is said of your family, that ye are handsome people to look at; but now your luck has deserted you.' _Hakon._ "'It has always been the case that success is changeable; and there is no luck in the matter.

It has gone with your family as with mine to have by turns the better lot.

I am little beyond childhood in years; and at any rate we could not have defended ourselves, as we did not expect any attack on the way.

It may turn out better with us another time.' _King._ "'Dost thou not apprehend that thou art in such a condition that, hereafter, there can be neither victory nor defeat for thee ?' _Hakon._ "'That is what only thou canst determine, King, according to thy pleasure.' _King._ "'What wilt thou give me, Jarl, if, for this time, I let thee go, whole and unhurt ?' _Hakon._ "'What wilt thou take, King ?' _King._ "'Nothing, except that thou shalt leave the country; give up thy kingdom; and take an oath that thou wilt never go into battle against me.'" [12] Jarl Hakon accepted the generous terms; went to England and King Knut, and kept his bargain for a good few years; though he was at last driven, by pressure of King Knut, to violate it,--little to his profit, as we shall see.