Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/23



Fourteenth battle, and King Olaf's dream.

Thereafter King Olaf steered with his fleet westward to Karlsa, and tarried there and had a fight. And while King Olaf was lying in Karlsa river waiting a wind, and intending to sail up to Nörvasund, battle, and and then on to the land of Jerusalem, he dreamt a remarkable dream—that there came to him a great and important man, but of a terrible appearance withal, who spoke to him, and told him to give up his purpose of proceeding to that land. "Return back to thy udal, for thou shalt be king over Norway for ever." He interpreted this dream to mean that he should be king over the country, and his posterity after him, for a long time.

Fifteenth battle.

After this appearance to him he turned about, and came to Poitou, where he plundered and burnt a merchant town called Varrande. Of this Ottar battle speaks:—

And also Sigvald says:—

Of the Earls of Rouen.

King Olaf had been two summers and one winter in the west in Valland on this cruise; and thirteen years had now passed since the fall of King Olaf Tryggvesson. During this time earls had ruled over