Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/30

 18 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA IX. also, for many great men were connected with him by relationship. So says Thiodolf : — " Cross the East sea the vessel flew, — Her oak-keel a white furrow drew From Russia's coast to Swedish land. Where Harald can great help command. The heavy vessel's leeward side Was hid beneath the rushing tide; While the broad sail and gold-tipped mast Swung to an(.l fro in the hard blast." Chapter Then HaraM and Swend fitted out ships, and ga- j^j^J"^* thered together a great force ; and when the troops Haraid's werc ready they sailed from the East towards Den- ^^^^' mark. So says Valgard ; — " Brave Yngve ! to the land decreed To thee by fate, with tempest speed The winds fly with thee o'er the sea — To thy own udal land with thee. As past the Scanian plains they fly^ The gay ships glance 'twixt sea and sky. And Scanian brides look out, and fear Some ill to those they hold most dear." They landed first in Sealand Avith their men, and herried* and burned in the land far and wide. Then they went to Fyen, where they also landed and , wasted. So says Valgard : — " Harald ! thou hast the isle laid waste, I'he Sealand men away hast chased. And the wild wolf by daylight roams Through their deserted silent homes. Fiona too could not withstand The fury of thy wasting hand. Helms burst, shields broke, — Fiona's bounds Were filled with death's terrific sounds. The clear flame sweeping broad and high. From fair Roskilde's lofty towers, On lowly huts its fire-rain pours; plunder out, — revived by Sir Walter Scott, is derived from the Icelandic Heria, as many of the old words, and still more of the phrases and con- struction of the old Scotch, are.
 * ^ Red flashing in the southern sky.
 * Heriodo. The old North-country word, " to berry," — to waste or