'Then the Svea-King sprang off his horse in great fury, and advanced towards the Princess with clenched hands.
'"What troll hath bewitched thee?" he asked. "What herb hath poisoned thee? How hath thy mind been turned to this man?"
'Ingegerd did not answer; she drew back, frightened. Then the King became quieter.
'"Fair daughter," he said to her, "dost thou not know how dear thou art to me? How should I, then, give thee to one whom I cannot endure? I should like my best wishes to go with thee on thy journey. I should like to sit as guest in thy hall. I tell thee thou must turn thy mind to the Kings of other lands, for Norway's King shall never own thee."
'At these words the Princess became so confused that she could find no other words than these with which to answer the King:
'"I did not ask thee; it was the will of the people."
'The King then asked her if she thought that the Svea-King was a slave, who could not dispose of his own offspring, or if there were a master over him who had the right to give away his daughters.
'"Will the Svea-King be content to hear himself called a breaker of oaths?" asked the Princess.
'Then the Svea-King laughed aloud.
'"Do not let that trouble thee. No one shall call me that. Why dost thou question about this, thou who art a woman? There are still men in my Council; they will find a way out of it."