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His death…wounds adding to their fears; For each spear…blade was wet all o'er; Up to the shaft in their life…gore。〃
To make a short tale; King Magnus won the victory in this battle; and Svein fled。 His ship was cleared of men from stem to stern; and it went so on board many others of his ships。 So says Thiodolf:
〃Earl Svein fled from the empty deck; His lonely ship an unmann'd wreck; Magnus the Good; the people's friend; Pressed to the death on the false Svein。 Hneiter (2); the sword his father bore; Was edge and point; stained red with gore; Swords sprinkle blood o'er armour bright;
When kings for land and power fight。〃
And Arnor says :…
〃The cutters of Bjorn's own brother Soon changed their owner for another; The king took them and all their gear; The crews; however; got off clear。〃
A great number of Svein's men fell; and King Magnus and his men had a vast booty to divide。 So says Thiodolf:
〃Where the Norsemen the Danish slew; A Gautland shield and breast…plate true Fell to my share of spoil by lot; And something more i' the south I got: (There all the summer swords were ringing) A helm; gay arms; and gear worth bringing; Home to my quiet lovely one I sent with news how we had won。〃
Svein fled up to Scania with all the men who escaped with him; and King Magnus and his people drove the fugitives up through the country without meeting any opposition either from Svein's men or the bondes。 So says Thiodolf:
〃Olaf's brave son then gave command; All his ships' crews should quickly land: King Magnus; marching at their head; A noble band of warriors led。 A foray through the land he makes; Denmark in every quarter shakes。 Up hill and down the horses scour; Carrying the Danes from Norsemen's power。〃
King Magnus drove with fire and sword through the land。 So says Thiodolf:
〃And now the Norsemen storm along; Following their banner in a throng: King Magnus' banner flames on high; A star to guide our roaming by。 To Lund; o'er Scania's peaceful field; My shoulder bore my useless shield; A fairer land; a better road; As friend or foe; I never trod。〃
They began to burn the habitations all around; and the people fled on every side。 So says Thiodolf:
〃Our ice…cold iron in great store; Our arms; beside the king we bore: The Scanian rogues fly at the view Of men and steel all sharp and true。 Their timbered houses flame on high; Red flashing over half the sky; The blazing town flings forth its light; Lighting the cowards on their flight。〃
And he also sang:
〃The king o'er all the Danish land Roams; with his fire…bringing band: The house; the hut; the farm; the town; All where men dwelt is burned down。 O'er Denmark's plains and corn…fields; Meadows and moors; are seen our shields: Victorious over all; we chase Svein's wounded men from place to place。
〃Across Fiona's moor again; The paths late trodden by our men We tread once more; until quite near; Through morning mist; the foes appear。 Then up our numerous banners flare In the cold early morning air; And they from Magnus' power who fly Cannot this quick war…work deny。〃
Then Svein fled eastwards along Scania; and King Magnus returned to his ships; and steered eastwards also along the Scanian coast; having got ready with the greatest haste to sail。 Thiodolf sings thus about it:
〃No drink but the salt sea On board our ships had we; When; following our king; On board our ships we spring。 Hard work on the salt sea; Off Scania's coast; had we; But we laboured for the king; To his foemen death to bring。〃
Svein fled to Gautland; and then sought refuge with the Swedish king; with whom he remained all winter (A。D。 1046); and was treated with great respect。
ENDNOTES: (1) Ship。 L。 (2) This was the name of Saint Olaf's sword; which Magnus had recovered。 L。
35。 OF KING MAGNUS'S CAMPAIGN。
When King Magnus had subdued Scania he turned about; and first went to Falster; where he landed; plundered; and killed many people who had before submitted to Svein。 Arnor speaks of this:
〃A bloody vengeance for their guile King Magnus takes on Falster Isle; The treacherous Danes his fury feel; And fall before his purpled steel。 The battle…field is covered o'er; With eagle's prey from shore to shore; And the king's courtmen were the first To quench with blood the raven's thirst。〃
Thereafter Magnus with his fleet proceeded to the isle of Fyen; went on land; plundered; and made great devastation。 So says Arnor; the earls' skald:
〃To fair Fiona's grassy shore His banner now again he bore: He who the mail…shirt's linked chains Severs; and all its lustre stains; He will be long remembered there; The warrior in his twentieth year; Whom their black ravens from afar Saluted as he went to war。〃
36。…OF KING MAGNUS~S BATTLES。
King Magnus remained in Denmark all that winter (A。D。 1046); and sat in peace。 He had held many battles; and had gained the victory in all。 So says Od Kikinaskald:
〃'Fore Michaelmas was struck the blow; That laid the Vindland vikings low; And people learned with joy to hear The clang of arms; and leaders' cheer。 Short before Yule fell out the day; Southward of Aros; where the fray; Though not enough the foe to quell; Was of the bloodiest men can tell。〃
And Arnor says:
〃Olaf's avenger who can sing? The skald cannot o'ertake the king; Who makes the war…bird daily drain The corpse…blood of his foemen slain。 Four battles won within a year; Breaker of shields! with swords and spear; And hand to hand; exalt thy fame Above the kings of greatest name。〃
King Magnus had three battles with Svein Ulfson。 So says Thiodolf:
〃To our brave Throndhjem sovereign's praise The skald may all his skaldcraft raise; For fortune; and for daring deed; His song will not the truth exceed。 After three battles to regain What was his own; unjustly ta'en; Unjustly kept; and dues denied; He levied dues in red…blood dyed。〃
37。 OF KING MAGNUS; AND THORFIN AND RAGNVALD; EARLS OF ORKNEY。
While King Magnus the Good; a son of King Olaf the Saint; ruled over Norway; as before related; the Earl Ragnvald Brusason lived with him。 Earl Thorfin Sigurdson; the uncle of Ragnvald; ruled then over Orkney。 King Magnus sent Ragnvald west to Orkney; and ordered that Thorfin should let him have his father's heritage。 Thorfin let Ragnvald have a third part of the land along with him; for so had Erase; the father of Ragnvald; had it at his dying day。 Earl Thorfin was married to Ingebjorg; the earl… mother; who was a daughter of Fin Arnason。 Earl Ragnvald thought he should have two…thirds of the land; as Olaf the Saint had promised to his father Bruse; and as Bruse had enjoyed a