Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/370

 In Oglo's hall, amidst the feast,

When howls went round and ale flow'd fast,

He perished: Harald lit the fire

Which burnt to death the son of Tyr."

Earl Hakon, with the help of his friends, maintained himself in the Drontheim country for three years; and during that time Gunhild's sons got no revenues from it. Hakon had many a battle with Gunhild's sons, and many a man lost his life on both sides. Of this Einar Skalaglam speaks in his lay, called "Velleklo," which he composed about Earl Hakon:—

And he also says:—

And Einar tells also how Earl Hakon avenged his father's murder:—

I praise the man, my hero he,

Who in his good ship roves the sea,

Like bird of prey, intent to win

Red vengeance for his slaughtered kin.

From his blue sword the iron rain

That freezes life poured down amain

On him who took his father's life,

On him and his men in the strife.