Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/365

 Sown by him as he fled away,

The avenger Adds' speed to stay.

The gold crop grows upon the plain;

But Frode's girls so gay in vain

Grind out the golden meal, while those

Who rule o'er Norway's realm like foes,

In mother earth's old bosom hide

The wealth which Hakon far and wide

Scattered with generous hand: the sun

Shone in the days of that great one,

On the gold band of Fulla's brow

On gold-ringed hands that bend the bow.

On the scald's hand; but of the ray

Of bright gold, glancing like the spray

Of sun-lit waves, no scald now sings—

Buried are golden chains and rings."

Now when King Harald heard this song, he sent a message to Eyvind to come to him, and when Eyvind came made a charge against him of being unfaithful. "And it ill becomes thee," said the king, " to be my enemy, as thou hast entered into my service." Eyvind then made these verses: —

But King Harald forced Eyvind to submit himself to his clemency. Eyvind had a great gold ring, which was called Molde, that had been dug up out of the earth long since. This ring the king said he must have as the mulct for the offence; and there was no help for it. Then Eyvind sang:—