Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/166

 154 CIIEONICLE OF THE Chapter VII. Of the battles at Ivitsa and Minorca. SAGA XII. And also Thorarin Stuttfeld says : — '' The king's men up the mountain's side Drag two boats from the ocean's tide: The two boats lay. Like hill-wolves gray. Now o'er the rock in ropes they're swinging, Well manned, and death to bluemen bringing : They hang before The robbers' door." Thereafter King Sigurd proceeded on his expedition, and came to an island called Ivitsa (Ivica), and had there his seventh battle, and gained a victory. So says Halldor Skualldre : — '^ His ships at Ivica now ride, The king's, whose fame spreads far and wide ; And here the bearers of the shield Their arms again in battle wield." Thereafter King Sigurd came to an island called Minorca, and held there his eighth battle, with hea- then men, and gained the victory. So says Halldor Skualldre: — " On green Minorca's plains The eighth battle now he gains: Again the heathen foe Falls at the Norse king's blow." Chapter In Spring King Sigurd came to Sicily, and remained Earl Roger ^ long tlmc thcrc. There was then a Duke Eoger in niade a Sicily, who rcccivcd the king kindly, and invited him to a feast. King Sigurd came to it with a great retinue, and was splendidly entertained. Every day Duke Itoger stood at the company's table, doing service to the king ; but the seventh day of the feast, when the people had come to table, and had wiped their hands. King Sigurd took the Duke by the hand, led him up to the high seat, and saluted him with the title of king ; and gave the right that there should be always a king over the dominion of Sicily, although before there had only been earls or dukes over that country.* It appears to have been the feudal idea of the times that a title, or