Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/370

 made kin";. 3g2 CHRONICLE OF THE saga viii. came down upon the Drontheim district, where all men welcomed the king with joy. But no sooner did the men of King Swend, the son of Alfifa, hear that King Magnus Olafsson was come to the country, than they fled on all sides and concealed themselves, so that no opposition was made to King Magnus; for Kino > Swend was in the south part of the country. So says Arnor, the earl's scald : — " He who the eagle's talons stains Rushed from the East on Drontheim's plains; The terror of his plumed helm Drove his pale foemen from the realm. The lightning of thy eye so near, Great king ! thy foemen could not bear. Scattered they fled — their only care If thou their wretched lives wilt spare." Chapter Magnus Olafsson advanced to the town (Nidaros), Magnus where he was joyfully received. He then summoned the people to the Ey ra-thing * ; and when the bonders met at the Thing, Magnus was taken to be king over the whole land, as far as his father Olaf had possessed it. Then the king selected a court, and named len- dermen, and placed bailiffs and officers in all domains and offices. Immediately after harvest King Magnus ordered a levy through all Drontheim land, and he collected men readily; and thereafter he proceeded southwards along the coast. King Swend Alnfason was staying in South Horda- King land when he heard this news of war. He imme- flight. S diately sent out war-tokens to four different quarters, summoned the bonders to him, and made it known to all that they should join him with men and ships to defend the country. All the men who were in the the spit of sand, still called an ayr in the north of Scotland, dividing a lake, pond, or river-mouth from the sea. At the Thing held here the kings of Norway were chosen and proclaimed. It was held to be the proper Thing for settling disputes between kings in Norway. Cll A ITER IV.
 * Eyra or Oyra Thing, held on the ayr of the river Nid, that is, on