Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/248

 240 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vrr. Olaf has raised a bison's head, Which proudly seems the waves to tread, While o'er its golden forehead dashing The waves its glittering horns are washing : May God dispose A luckier close." The king went on to Hordaland : there he heard the news that Erling Skialgsson had left the country with a great force, and four or five ships. He him- self had a large war-ship, and his sons had three of twenty rowing banks each ; and they had sailed west- ward to England to Canute the Great. Then King Olaf sailed eastward along the land with a mighty war-force, and he inquired every where if any thing was known of Canute's proceedings ; and all agreed in saying he was in England, but added that he was fitting out a levy, and intended coming to Norway. As Olaf had a large fleet, and could not discover with certainty where he should go to meet King Canute, and as his people were dissatisfied with lying quiet in one place with so large an armament, he resolved to sail with his fleet south to Denmark, and took with him all the men who were best appointed aud most warlike; and he gave leave to the others to return home. And it is told in the song, — " The Bison's oars, in sunshine glancing, Wake the slumb'ring deep, As they southwards sweep To find King Canute's fleet advancing." Now the people whom he thought of little use having gone home, King Olaf had many excellent and stout men-at-arms besides those who, as before re- lated, had fled the country, or sat quietly at home ; and most of the chief men and lendermen of Norway were along with him. C clv r When King Olaf sailed to Denmark, he set his of King course for Sealand ; and when he came there he made Olat and. . ' Kmg incursions on the land, and began to plunder. The