But now I'm old and useless grown,

My hands are empty, wealth is flown;
I am but fit for a short space

In thy court-hall to fill a place."

But King Harald forced Eyvind to submit himself to his clemency. Eyvind had a great gold ring, which was called Molde, that had been dug up out of the earth long since. This ring the king said he must have as the mulct for the offence; and there was no help for it. Then Eyvind sang:

"I go across the ocean-foam,

Swift skating to my Iceland home
Upon the ocean-skates,* fast driven
By gales by Thurse's witch-wife given.
For from the falcon-bearing hand

Harald has plucked the gold snake band
My father wore-by lawless might

Has taken what is mine by right."

Eyvind went home; but it is not told that he ever came near the king again.†

CHAPTER II. Of the Christianity of Gunhild's Sons. Gunhild's sons embraced Christianity in England, as told before; but when they came to rule over Norway they made no progress in spreading Christianity, -only they pulled down the temples of the idols, and cast away the sacrifices where they had it in their power, and raised great animosity by doing so. The good crops of the country were soon wasted in their days, because there were many kings, and each had

* Ocean's skates,—an expression for ships.-L.

+ This conflict between Harald and Eyvind is told somewhat differently in Fagrskinna.

his court about him. They had therefore great expenses, and were very greedy. Besides, they only observed those laws of King Hakon which suited themselves. They were, however, all of them remarkably handsome men-stout, strong, and expert in all exercises. So says Glum Geirason, in the verses he composed about Harald, Gunhild's son :

"The foeman's terror, Harald bold,

Had gained enough of yellow gold;

*

Had Heimdal's teeth enough in store,

And understood twelve arts or more."

The brothers sometimes went out on expeditions together, and sometimes each on his own account. They were fierce, but brave and active; and great warriors, and very successful.

CHAPTER III.-Of the Councils held by Gunhild and her

Sons.

Gunhild the King-mother, and her sons, often met, and talked together upon the government of the country. Once Gunhild asked her sons what they intended to do with their kingdom of Throndhjem. "Ye have the title of king, as your forefathers had before you; but you have little land or people, and there are many to divide with. In the East, at Viken, there are Trygve and Gudrod; and they have some right, from relationship, to their

*Heimdal was one of the gods, whose horse was called Gold-top; and the horse's teeth were of gold. Heimdal's teeth is a figurative expression of the skald for gold. In the translation these figurative expressions are retained when they can be explained briefly, as they show the nature of the poetic language of the original.-L.

governments. There is besides Earl Sigurd ruling over the whole Throndhjem country; and no reason can I see why ye let so large a kingdom be ruled by an earl, and not by yourselves. It appears wonderful to me that ye go every summer upon viking cruises against other lands, and allow an earl within the country to take your father's heritage from you. Your grandfather, whose name you bear, King Harald, thought it but a small matter to take an earl's life and land when he subdued all Norway, and held it under him to old age."

Harald replied, "It is not so easy, mother, to cut off Earl Sigurd as to slay a kid or a calf. Earl Sigurd is of high birth, powerful in relations, popular, and prudent; and I think if the Throndhjem people knew for certain there was enmity between us, they would all take his side, and we could expect only evil from them. I don't think it would be safe for any of us brothers to fall into the hands of the Throndhjem people."

Then said Gunhild, "We shall go to work another way, and not put ourselves forward. Harald and Erling shall come in harvest to North More, and there I shall meet you, and we shall consult together what is to be done." This was done.

CHAPTER IV.-The Plans of Gunhild's Sons and
Griotgard.

Earl Sigurd had a brother called Griotgard, who was much younger, and much less respected; in

fact, was held in no title of honour. He had many people, however, about him, and in summer went on viking cruises, and gathered to himself property. Now King Harald sent messengers to Throndhjem with offers of friendship, and with presents. The messengers declared that King Harald was willing to be on the same friendly terms with the earl that King Hakon had been adding, that they wished the earl to come to King Harald, that their friendship might be put on a firm footing. The Earl Sigurd received well the king's messengers and friendly message, but said that on account of his many affairs. he could not come to the king. He sent many friendly gifts, and many glad and grateful words to the king, in return for his friendship. With this reply the messengers set off, and went to Griotgard, for whom they had the same message, and brought him good presents, and offered him King Harald's friendship, and invited him to visit the king. Griotgard promised to come; and at the appointed time he paid a visit to King Harald and Gunhild, and was received in the most friendly manner. They treated him on the most intimate footing, so that Griotgard had access to their private consultations and secret councils. At last the conversation, by an understanding between the king and queen, was turned upon Earl Sigurd; and they spoke to Griotgard about the earl having kept him so long in obscurity, and asked him if he would not join the king's brothers in an attack on the earl. If he would join with them, the king promised Griotgard that he

should be his earl, and have the same government that Sigurd had. It came so far that a secret agreement was made between them, that Griotgard should spy out the most favourable opportunity of attacking by surprise Earl Sigurd, and should give King Harald notice of it. After this agreement Griotgard returned home with many good presents from the king.

CHAPTER V.-Earl Sigurd burnt in a House in Stjoradal.

Earl Sigurd went in harvest into Stjoradal to guestquarters, and from thence went to Oglo to a feast. The earl usually had many people about him, for he did not trust the king; but now, after friendly messages had passed between the king and him, he had no great following of people with him. Then Griotgard sent word to the king that he could never expect a better opportunity to fall upon Earl Sigurd; and immediately, that very evening, Harald and Erling sailed into Throndhjem fiord with several ships and many people. They sailed all night by starlight, and Griotgard came out to meet them. Late in the night they came to Oglo,* where Earl Sigurd was at the feast, and set fire to the house; and burnt the house, the earl, and all his men. As soon as it was daylight they set out through the fiord, and south to More, where they remained a long time.

The site of Oglo is not well ascertained by the Norwegian antiquaries. It is supposed to be in Skatvold, in the present Stjordal.-L.