Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/88

 78 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. father Harald Gormson was " (vulgarly called Blue- tooth), " compared with some that are now kings ! For no King Svein in the world would Harald Gormson have given up his own or his wife's just rights ! " Whereupon Tryggveson started up, ex- claiming in some heat, "Of thy hrother Svein I never was afraid ; if Svein and I meet in contest, it will not be Svein, I believe, that conquers ; '* and went off in a towering fume. Consented, however, at last, had to consent, to get his fine fleet equipped and armed, and decide to sail with it to Wendland to have speech and settlement with King Burislav. Tryggveson had already ships and navies that were the wonder of the North. Especially in building war ships, — the Crane, the Serpent, last of all the Long Ser- pent,* — he had, for size, for outward beauty, and in- ward perfection of equipment, transcended all example. This new sea expedition became an object of attention to all neighbours ; especially Queen Sigrid the Proud and Svein Double-Beard, her now king, were attentive to it. of forty.five gims.—Laing.
 * His Long Serpent, judged by some to be of the size of a frigate