Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/86

 74 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA IX. some, killed others, and robbed many of all their pro- perty. They who could do it fled from him. He burned every thing in the districts, and laid them altogether waste. So says Thiodolf : — "He who the island-people drove. When they against his power strove. Now bridles Raumarike's men, Marching his forces through their glen. To punish them the fire he lights That shines afar off in dark nights From house and yard, and, as he says. Will warn the man who disobeys." Thereafter the king went up to Hedemark, burnt the dwellings, and made no less waste and havoc there than in Raumarike. From thence he went to Hade- land and Eingarike, burning and ravaging all the land. So says Thiodolf : — " The bonder's household goods are seen Before his door upon the green, Smoking and singed; and sparks red hot Glow in the thatched roof of his cot. In Hedemark the bonders pray The king his crushing hand to stay ; In Ringarike and Hadeland, None 'gainst his fiery wrath can stand." Then the bonders left all to the king's mercy. After the death of King Magnus fifteen years had passed when the battle at Nisaa took place, and after- wards two years elapsed before Harald and Swend made peace. So says Thiodolf: — " The Hordland king under the land At anchor lay close to the strand, At Hvarf, prepared with shield and spear; But peace was settled the third year." After this peace the disturbances with the people of the Upland districts lasted a year and a half. So says Thiodolf: — ^' No easy task it is to say How the king brought beneath his sway The Upland bonders, and would give Nought but their ploughs from which to live.