Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/404

 396 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vni. Thereafter Magnus with his fleet proceeded to the isle of Fyen, went on land, plundered, and made great devastation. So says Arnor, the earl's scald : — " To fair Fiona's grassy shore His banner now again he bore: He who the mail-shirt's linked chains Severs, and all its lustre stains, — He will be long remembered there, The warrior in his twentieth year, Whom their black ravens from afar Saluted as he went to war." Chapter King Magnus remainded in Denmark all that win- of King ter, and sat in peace. He had held many battles, and battles!*' 8 na ^ g ame d the victory in all. So says Odd Kikina- scald : — " 'Fore Michaelmas was struck the blow That laid the Vendland vikings low; And people learned with joy to hear The clang of arms, and leaders' cheer. Short before Yule fell out the day, Southward of Aarhus, where the fray, Though not enough the foe to quell, Was of the bloodiest men can tell." And Arnor says : — " Olaf 's avenger who can sing? The scald cannot o'ertake the king, Who makes the war-bird daily drain The corpse-blood of his foemen slain. Four battles won within a year, — Breaker of shields ! with sword and spear, And hand to hand, exalt thy fame Above the kings of greatest name." King Magnus had three battles with Swend Ulfs- son. So says Thiodolf : — ie To our brave Drontheim sovereign's praise The scald may all his scaldcraft raise; For fortune, and for daring deed, His song will not the truth exceed. After three battles to regain What was his own, unjustly ta'en, Unjustly kept, and dues denied, He levied dues in red-blood dyed."