Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/219

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 207 King Magnus obtained the consent of many powerful saga xm. men. The same spring Harald went to the Uplands, and by the upper road eastward to Viken ; and when he heard what King Magnus was doing, he also drew together men on his side. Wheresoever the two parties went they killed the cattle, or even the people, upon the farms of the adverse party. King Magnus had by far most people, for the main strength of the coun- try lay open to him for collecting men from it. King Harald was in Yiken on the east side of the fiord, and collected men, while they were doing each other damage in property and life. King Harald had with him Kristrod, his brother by the mother's side, and many other lendermen ; but King Magnus had many more. King Harald was with his forces at a place called Fors in Ranrige, and went from thence towards the sea. The evening before Saint Laurence-day they had their supper at a place called Fyrileif, while the guard kept a watch on horseback all around the house. The watchmen observed King Magnus's army hasten- ing towards the house, and consisting of full 6000 men, while King Harald had but 1500. Now come the watchmen who had to bring the news to King Harald of what was going on, and say that King Magnus's army was now very near the house. The king says, '' What will my relation King Mag- nus Sigurdsson have? He wants not surely to fight me." Thiostolf Alesson replies, " You must certainly, sire, make preparation for that, both for yourself and your men. King Magnus has been drawing together an army all the summer for the purpose of giving you battle when he meets you." Then King Harald stood up, and ordered his men to take their arms. " We shall fight, if our relative King Magnus wants to fight us." Then the war-horns sounded, and all Harald's men