Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/249

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 241 country people were severely treated ; some were sa ga vn. killed, some bound and dragged to the ships. All who could do so took to flight, and made no oppo- sition. King Olaf committed there the greatest ra- vages. While Olaf was in Sealand, the news came that King Onund Olafsson of Sweden had raised a levy, and fallen upon Scania, and was ravaging there ; and then it became known what the resolution had been that the two kings had taken at the Gotha river, where they had concluded a union and friendship, and had bound themselves to oppose King Canute. King Onund continued his march until he met his brother-in-law King Olaf. When they met they made proclamation, both to their own people and to the people of the country, that they intended to con- quer Denmark; and asked the support of the people of the country for this purpose. And it happened, as we find examples of every where, that if hostilities are brought upon the people of a country not strong enough to withstand, the greatest number will submit to the conditions by which peace can be purchased at any rate. So it happened here that many men went into the service of the kings, and agreed to submit to them. Wheresoever they went they laid the country all round in subjection to them, and otherwise laid waste all with fire and sword. Of this foray Sigvat the scald speaks, in a ballad he composed concerning King Canute the Great : — " ( Canute is on the sea ! ' The news is told, And the Norsemen bold Repeat it with great glee. And it runs from mouth to mouth — We came away From Drontheim to the south.' Across the cold East sea, The Swedish king His host did bring, To gain great victory. VOL. II. R
 * On a lucky day