Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/251

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 243 The doors were shut — all full within ; saga vii. The udaller could not get in. " But Gorm's great son did condescend To his own chamber me to send. And grant my prayer — although I'm one Whose arms the fetters' weight have known." When Sigvat became aware that King Canute was equipping an armament against King Olaf, and knew what a mighty force King Canute had, he made these lines : — " The mighty Knut, and Earl Hakon, Have leagued themselves, and counsel taken Against King Olaf 's life, And are ready for the strife. In spite of king and earl, I say, ' I love him well — may he get away : ' On the Fielde, wild and dreary, With him I'd live, and ne'er be weary." Sigvat made many other songs concerning this expedition of Canute and Hakon. He made this among others : — - Ci 'Twas not the earl's intention then 'Twixt Olaf and the udalmen Peace to establish, and the land Upright to hold with Northman's hand ; But ever with deceit and lies Eric's descendant, Hakon, tries To make ill-will and discontent, Till all the udalmen are bent Against King Olaf 's rule to rise." Canute the Great was at last ready with his fleet, Chapter CI VII and left the land ; and a vast number of men he had, of King ' and ships frightfully large. He himself had a dra- JjJ 1 "^ 8 gon-ship so large that it had sixty banks of rowers, Dragon, and the head was gilt all over. Earl Hakon had another dragon of forty banks, and it also had a gilt figure-head. The sails of both were in stripes of blue, red, and green, and the vessels were painted all above the water-stroke ; and all that belonged to their equipment was most splendid. They had also many other huge ships remarkably well fitted out, and r 2