Sæl Patricia!
My impression is that the king simply gave Audun "time" to
take a bath. I cannot imagine a king who personally
orders/commands every little detail in his household.
I think he leaves many decisions to the care
of his household. But I am not sure such a king
lived like an oriental potentate; conditions may have been
more humble. A couple of years ago, there was a movie
about "The White Viking", where some of the conditions
under Olav Tryggvason had been reconstructed.
If I recall correctly, they had a large bath there,
where people could almost swim. In a movie about
Charlemagne, they had also included some sort of
indoor swimming pool. But I do not know if these
pools are historically documented.


I think the verb "láta" is like German "lassen",
to "let" things happen, allow, etc. Well, I'll see if
I can find examples. At any rate, N.Å. Nielsen says that
Danish "lade" is etymologically the same as G. "lassen",
O.E., Gothic "letan", etc. To me, it has a kind of relaxed
quality about it. (and very little that freudian stress-
producing state of mind)

Vale,
Xigung.








Patricia wrote:

> We are not dealing here with an English story nor with English

people, things (I believe I'm glad to say) were a trifle different then

> The king ordered a bath for Au�un of course he did, in those days

there were servants scampering about the place, all intent on doing
King Sweinn's bidding, all he had to do was clap his hands and Order

> Kve�ja
> Patricia
> Never mind if you do not believe what I say - ask Alan

of Service.