Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/31

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 19 King Magnus Chapter XX. King Magnus's levy. And shows the housemates' silent train saga ix. In terror scouring o'er the plain, Seeking the forest's deepest glen, To house with wolves, and 'scape from men. For, sorrow-worn, the people fell: The only captives from the fray Were lovely maidens led away. And in wild terror to the strand, Down to the ships, the linked band Of fair-haired girls is roughly driven, Their soft skins by the irons riven." Olafsson sailed north to Norway after the battle at Helganess. There he hears the news that Harald Sigurdsson, his relation, was come to Sweden ; and moreover that Swend Ulfsson and Harald had entered into a friendly bond with each other, and gathered together a great force, intending first to subdue Denmark, and then Norway. King Magnus then ordered a general levy over all Norway, and he soon collected a great army. He hears then that Harald and Swend were come to Denmark, and were burning and laying waste the land, and that the country people were every where submitting to them. It was also told that King Harald was stronger and stouter than other men, and so wise withal that nothing was impossible to him, and he had always the victory when he fought a battle ; and he was also so rich in gold that no man could compare with him in wealth. Thiodolf speaks thus of it : — " Norsemen, who stand the sword of foe Like forest-stems, unmoved by blow ! My hopes are fled, no peace is near, — People fly here and there in fear. On either side of Sealand's coast A fleet appears — a white- winged host: Magnus from Norway takes his course, Harald from Sweden leads his force." Those of Harald's men who were in his counsel said that it would be a great misfortune if relations Treaty like Harald and Magnus should fight, and throw a nara^|i".^nd Chapter XXI. c 2 Maa;mis.
 * ' Few were they of escape to tell.