第210章

After this event King Harald held a Thing of his men-at-arms, and told them his intention to go with the army to Viborg Thing, and make himself be proclaimed king over the whole Danish dominions, to which, he said, he had hereditary right after his relation Magnus, as well as to Norway.He therefore asked his men for their aid, and said he thought the Norway man should show himself always superior to the Dane.Then Einar Tambaskelfer replies that he considered it a greater duty to bring his foster-son King Magnus's corpse to the grave, and lay it beside his father, King Olaf's, north in Throndhjem town, than to be fighting abroad and taking another king's dominions and property.He ended his speech with saying that he would rather follow King Magnus dead than any other king alive.Thereupon he had the body adorned in the most careful way, so that most magnificent preparations were made in the king's ship.Then all the Throndhjem people and all the Northmen made themselves ready to return home with the king's body, and so the army was broken up.King Harald saw then that it was better for him to return to Norway to secure that kingdom first, and to assemble men anew; and so King Harald returned to Norway with all his army.As soon as he came to Norway he held a Thing with the people of the country, and had himself proclaimed king everywhere.He proceeded thus from the East through Viken, and in every district in Norway he was named king.Einar Tambaskelfer, and with him all the Throndhjem troops, went with King Magnus's body and transported it to the town of Nidaros, where it was buried in St.Clement's church, where also was the shrine of King Olaf the Saint.King Magnus was of middle size, of long and clear-complexioned countenance, and light hair, spoke well and hastily, was brisk in his actions, and extremely generous.He was a great warrior, and remarkably bold in arms.

He was the most popular of kings, prized even by enemies as well as friends.

30.OF SVEIN ULFSON.

Svein Ulfson remained that autumn in Scania (A.D.1047), and was making ready to travel eastward to Sweden, with the intention of renouncing the title of king he had assumed in Denmark; but just as he was mounting his horse some men came riding to him with the first news that King Magnus was dead, and all the Northmen had left Denmark.Svein answered in haste, "I call God to witness that I shall never again fly from the Danish dominions as long as I live." Then he got on his horse and rode south into Scania, where immediately many people crowded to him.That winter he brought under his power all the Danish dominions, and all the Danes took him for their king.Thorer, King Magnus's brother, came to Svein in autumn with the message of King Magnus, as before related, and was well received; and Thorer remained long with Svein and was well taken care of.

31.OF KING HARALD SIGURDSON.

King Harald Sigurdson took the royal power over all Norway after the death of King Magnus Olafson; and when he had reigned over Norway one winter and spring was come (A.D.1048), he ordered a levy through all the land of one-half of all men and ships and went south to Jutland.He herried and burned all summer wide around in the land and came into Godnarfjord, where King Harald made these verses: --"While wives of husbands fondly dream, Here let us anchor in the stream, In Godnarfjord; we'll safely moor Our sea-homes, and sleep quite secure."Then he spoke to Thiodolf, the skald, and asked him to add to it what it wanted, and he sang: --"In the next summer, I foresee, Our anchorage in the South will be;To hold our sea-homes on the ground, More cold-tongued anchors will be found."To this Bolverk alludes in his song also, that Harald went to Denmark the summer after King Magnus's death.Bolverk sings thus: --"Next summer thou the levy raised, And seawards all the people gazed, Where thy sea-steeds in sunshine glancing Over the waves were gaily prancing;While the deep ships that plunder bore Seemed black specks from the distant shore.

The Danes, from banks or hillocks green, Looked with dismay upon the scene."32.OF THORKEL GEYSA'S DAUGHTERS.

Then they burned the house of Thorkel Geysa, who was a great lord, and his daughters they carried off bound to their ships.

They had made a great mockery the winter before of King Harald's coming with war-ships against Denmark; and they cut their cheese into the shape of anchors, and said such anchors might hold all the ships of the Norway king.Then this was composed: --"The Island-girls, we were told, Made anchors all our fleet to hold:

Their Danish jest cut out in cheese Did not our stern king's fancy please.

Now many a maiden fair, may be, Sees iron anchors splash the sea, Who will not wake a maid next morn To laugh at Norway's ships in scorn."It is said that a spy who had seen the fleet of King Harald said to Thorkel Geysa's daughters, "Ye said, Geysa's daughters, that King Harald dared not come to Denmark." Dotta, Thorkel's daughter, replied, "That was yesterday." Thorkel had to ransom his daughters with a great sum.So says Grane: --"The gold-adorned girl's eye Through Hornskeg wood was never dry, As down towards the sandy shore The men their lovely prizes bore.

The Norway leader kept at bay The foe who would contest the way, And Dotta's father had to bring Treasure to satisfy the king."King Harald plundered in Denmark all that summer, and made immense booty; but he had not any footing in the land that summer in Denmark.He went to Norway again in autumn and remained there all winter (A.D.1049).

33.MARRIAGES AND CHILDREN OF HARALD HARDRADE.

The winter after King Magnus the Good died, King Harald took Thora, daughter of Thorberg Arnason, and they had two sons; the oldest called Magnus, and the other Olaf.King Harald and Queen Ellisif had two daughters; the one Maria, the other Ingegerd.

The spring after the foray which has just been related King Harald ordered the people out and went with them to Denmark (A.D.