Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/82

 70 CHEONICLE OF THE SAGA IX, Chapter LXXIV. Kitig Harald's quarrel with Earl Hakon. " When kings are moved, no peace is sure ; For that peace only is secure Which they who make it fairly make, — To each side give, from each side take. The kings will often rule but ill Who listen to the people's will: The people often have no view But their own interests to pursue." At last the best men, and those who were the ^visest, came between the kings, and settled the peace thus : — that Harald should have Norway, and Swend Den- mark, according to the boundaries of old established between Denmark and Norway ; neither of them should pay to the other for any damage sustained ; the war should cease as it now stood, each retaining what he had got ; and this peace should endure as long as they were kings. This peace was confirmed by oath. Then the kings parted having, given each other hos- tages, as is here related : — ''■ And I have heard that to set fast The peace God brought about at last, Swend and stern Harald pledges sent. Who witnessed to their sworn intent ; And much I wish that they and all In no such perjury may fall That this peace ever should be broken, And oaths should fail before God spoken." King Harald with his people sailed northwards to Norway, and King Swend southwards to Denmark. King Harald was in Yiken in the summer, and he sent his men to the Uplands after the scatt and duty which belonged to him ; but the bonders paid no at- tention to the demand, but said they would hold all for Earl Hakon until he came for it. Earl Hakon was then up in Gotland with a large armed force. When summer was past King Harald went south to Konghelle. Then he took all the light-sailing vessels he could get hold of, and steered up the river. He had the vessels drawn past all the waterfalls, and brought them thus into the Wener lake. Then he