"I go across the ocean-foam,
Swift skating to my Iceland home
Upon the ocean-skates[1] fast driven
By gales hy Thurse's witch-wife given.
For from the falcon-hearing 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 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 HeimdaTs teeth[2] enough in store,
And understood twelve aits 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.
- ↑ Ocean's skates—an expression for ships.
- ↑ Heimdal was one of the gods_, whose horse was called Gold Head; and the horse's teeth were of gold. Heimdal's teeth is a figurative expression of the scald 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.
