Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/152

 1 44 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. than before : but I will secure thy fidelity by keeping thy son Eognvald with me. I see well enough that with two parts of the country and my help, thou wilt be able to defend what is thy own against thy brother Thorfinn." Bruse was thankful for getting two thirds instead of one third of the country, and soon after he set out, and came about autumn to Orkney ; but Eognvald, Bruse's son, remained behind in the East with King Olaf. Rognvald was one of the hand- somest men that could be seen, — his hair long, and yellow as silk ; and he soon grew up, stout and tall, and he was a very able superb man, both of great understanding and polite manners. He was long with King Olaf. Ottar Swarte speaks of these affairs in the poem he composed about King Olaf: — lC From Shetland, far off in the cold North sea, Come chiefs who desire to be subject to thee : No king so well known for his will, and his might. To defend his own people from scaith or unright. These isles of the West midst the ocean's wild roar. Scarcely heard the voice of their sovereign before : Our bravest of sovereigns before could scarce bring These islesmen so proud to acknowledge their king." Chapter The brothers Thorfinn and Bruse came west to of the * Orkney ; and Bruse took the two parts of the country Earis under his rule, and Thorfinn the third part. Thorfinn and Bruse. was usually in Caithness and elsewhere in Scotland ; but placed men of his own over the islands. It was left to Bruse alone to defend the islands, which at that time were severely scourged by vikings ; for the Northmen and Danes went much on viking cruises in the West sea, and frequently touched at Orkney on the way to or from the West, and plundered, and took provisions and cattle from the coast. Bruse often complained of his brother Thorfinn, that he made no equipment of war for the defence of Orkney and Shetland, yet levied his share of the scatt and duties. Then Thor- finn offered to him to exchange, and that Bruse should