Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/400

 392 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VIII. Chapter XXXIV. Battle at Helganess. The gaping thralls in terror gaze On the broad upward spiring blaze, From thatched roofs and oak-built walls, Their murdered masters' stately halls. u Swend's men, my girl, will not forget That thrice they have the Norsemen met, — By sea, by land, with steel, with fire, Thrice have they felt the Norse king's ire. Fiona's maids are slim and fair, The lovely prizes, lads, we'll share: Some stand to arms in rank and row, Some seize, bring off, and fend w T ith blow." After this the people of Denmark submitted to King Magnus, and during the rest of the winter there was peace. King Magnus then appointed some of his men to govern Denmark; and when spring was ad- vanced he sailed northwards with his fleet to Norway, where he remained a great part of the summer. Now when Swend heard that King Magnus had gone to Norway he rode straight down, and had many people out of Sweden with him. The people of Scania received him well, and he again collected an army, with which he first crossed over into Sealand, and seized upon it and Fyen, and all the other isles. When King Magnus heard of this he gathered toge- ther men and ships, and sailed to Denmark ; and as soon as he knew where Swend was lying with his ships, King Magnus sailed to meet him. They met at a place called Helganess*, and the battle began about the fall of day. King Magnus had fewer men, but larger and better equipt vessels. So says Arnor, the earl's scald : — "At Helganess — so goes the tale — The brave wolf-feeder, under sail, Made many an ocean-elk * his prey, Seized many a ship ere break of day. the parish of Helganess, barony of Mots, t Ship.
 * Helganess is eastward of the town Aarhuus, in North Jutland, in