caused many profitable things to be done that winter; he had a church
built and the market-town greatly enlarged. This church was finished
at Christmas. Then Kjartan said they should go so near the church that
they might see the ceremonies of this faith the Christians followed;
and many fell in, saying that would be right good pastime. Kjartan
with his following and Bolli went to the church; in that train was
also Hallfred and many other Icelanders. The king preached the faith
before the people, and spoke both long and tellingly, and the
Christians made good cheer at his speech. [Sidenote: Kjartan's
determination] And when Kjartan and his company went back to their
chambers, a great deal of talk arose as to how they had liked the
looks of the king at this time, which Christians accounted of as the
next greatest festival. "For the king said, so that we might hear,
that this night was born the Lord, in whom we are now to believe, if
we do as the king bids us." Kjartan says: "So greatly was I taken with
the looks of the king when I saw him for the first time, that I knew
at once that he was a man of the highest excellence, and that feeling
has kept steadfast ever since, when I have seen him at folk-meetings,
and that but by much the best, however, I liked the looks of him
to-day; and I cannot help thinking that the turn of our concerns hangs
altogether on our believing Him to be the true God in whom the king
bids us to believe, and the king cannot by any means be more eager in
wishing that I take this faith than I am to let myself be baptized.
The only thing that puts off my going straightway to see the king now
is that the day is far spent, and the king, I take it, is now at
table; but that day will be delayed, on which we, companions, will let
ourselves all be baptized." Bolli took to this kindly, and bade
Kjartan alone look to their affairs. The king had heard of the talk
between Kjartan and his people before the tables were cleared away,
for he had his spies in every chamber of the heathens. The king was