Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/92

 84 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. they set out from the land, in still and calm weather. He rowed up the water with 400 men, and came with them to Eingsager before day dawned; and the watchmen were not aware of the army before they were come into the very court. Ketil knew well in what houses the kings slept, and the king had all these houses surrounded and guarded, so that nobody could get out ; and so they stood till day light. The kings had not people enough to make resistance, but were all taken prisoners, and led before the king. Rserek was an able but obstinate man, whose fidelity the king could not trust to if he made peace with him ; therefore he ordered both his eyes to be punched out, and took him in that condition about with him. He ordered Gudrod's tongue to be cut out ; but Ring and two others he banished from Norway, under oath never to return. Of the lendermen and bonders who had actually taken part in the traitorous design, some he drove out of the country, some he mutilated, and with others he made peace. Ottar Black tells of this : — " The giver of rings of gold, The army leader bold, In vengeance springs On the Hedemark kings. Olaf, the bold and great, Repays their foul deceit — In full repays Their treacherous ways. He drives with steel-clad hand The small kings from the land, — Greater by far In deed of war. The king who dwelt most north Tongueless must wander forth: All fly away In great dismay. King Olaf now rules o'er What five kings ruled before — To Eida's bound Extends his ground.