Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/41

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 29 SAGA IX. abroad, and taking another king's dominions and pro- perty. He ended his speech with saying that he would rather follow King Magnus dead than any other king alive. Thereupon he had the body adorned in the most careful way, so that the most magnificent pre- parations were made in the king's ship. Then all the Drontheim people and all the Northmen made them- selves ready to return home with the king's body, and so the army was broken up. King Harald saw then that it was better for him to return to Norway to secure that kingdom first, and to assemble men anew ; and so King Harald returned to Norway with all his army. As soon as he came to Norway he held a Thing with the people of the country, and had him- self proclaimed king every where. He proceeded thus from the East through Yiken, and in every district in Norway he was named king. Einar Tambarskelver, and with him all the Drontheim troops, went with King Magnus's body, and transported it to the town of Nidaros, where it was buried in Saint Clement's church, where also was the shrine of King Olaf the Saint. King Magnus was of the middle size, of long and clear- complexioned countenance, and light hair, spoke well and hastily, was brisk in his actions, and extremely generous. He was a great warrior, and remarkably bold in arms. He was the most popular of kings, prized even by enemies as well as friends. Swend Ulfsson remained that autumn in Scania, and was making ready to travel eastward to Sweden, orsw^d with the intention of renouncing the title of king ^^^^^o" he had assumed in Denmark ; but just as he was mounting his horse, some men came riding to him with the first news that King Magnus was dead, and all the Northmen had left Denmark. Swend answered in haste, '' I call God to witness that I shall never again fly from the Danish dominions as long as I live." Then he got on his horse, and rode south into Scania, Chapter XXX.