Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/395

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KINGS OF NORWAY.
381

Lodver, Arnvid, Liod, and Skule[1], the sons of Thorfin Hausakliffer.

Earl Hakon now brought all the country under him, and remained all winter in Drontheim. Einar Skalaglam speaks of his conquests in Vellekla:—

"Norway's great watchman, Harald, now
May bind the silk snood on his brow—
Seven provinces he seized. The realm
Prospers with Hakon at the helm."

As Hakon the earl proceeded this summer along the coast subjecting all the people to him, he ordered that over all his dominions the temples and sacrifices should be restored, and continued as of old. So it is said in the Vellekla:—

"Hakon the earl, so good and wise,
Let all the ancient temples rise;—
Thor's temples raised with fostering hand,
That had been ruined through the land.
His valiant champions, who were slain
On battle-fields across the main,
To Thor, the thunder-god, may tell
How for the gods all turns out well.
The hardy warrior now once more
Offers the sacrifice of gore;
The shield-bearer in Loke's game[2]
Invokes once more great Asa's name;[3]
The green earth gladly yields her store,
As she was wont in days of yore,
Since the brave breaker of the spears
The holy shrines again uprears.
The earl has conquered with strong hand
All that lies north of Viken land:
In battle storm, and iron rain,
Hakon spreads wide his sword's domain."

The first winter that Hakon ruled over Norway the herrings set in every where through the fiords to the land, and the seasons ripened to a good crop all that had been sown. The people, therefore, laid in seed

  1. The ancient family of Scollay in Orkney may probably derive their name from this chief.
  2. Loke's game is war.
  3. The name of Odin.