To keep that green land safe from war
Which black Night bore to dwarf Onar.[1]
For many a carle whose trade's to wield
The battle-axe, and swing the shield,
On the swan's ocean-scates[2] has come,
In white-winged ships, across the foam,—
Across the sea, from far Ireland,
To war against the Norseman's land."
Chapter X.
Of Gunhild's sons.
King Harald Gormson ruled over Denmark at that time. He took it much amiss that King Hakon had made war in his dominions, and the report went that he would take revenge; but this did not take place so soon. When Gunhild and her sons heard there was enmity between Denmark and Norway, they began to turn their course from the West. They married King Eric's daughter, Ragnhild, to Arnfin, a son of Torfin Hausakliffer; and as soon as Eric's sons went away, Thorfin took the earldom again over the Orkney Islands. Gamle Ericson was somewhat older than the other brothers, but still he was not a grown man. When Gunhild and her sons came from the westward to Denmark, they were well received by King Harald. He gave them great fiefs in his kingdom, so that they could maintain themselves and their men very well. He also took Harald Ericson to be his foster-son, set him on his knee [3], and thereafter he was brought up at the Danish king's court. Some of Eric's sons went out on viking expeditions as soon as they were old enough, and gathered property, ravaging all around in the East sea. They grew up quickly to be handsome men, and far beyond their years in strength and perfection. Glum Geirason tells of one of them in the Graafeld song:—
