30 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA IX. Chapter XXXI. Of King Harald Si- gurdsson. where immediately many people crowded to him. That winter he brought under his power all the Danish dominions, and all the Danes took him for their king. Thorer, King Magnus's brother, came to Swend in autumn with the message of King Magnus, as before related, and was well received ; and Thorer remained long with Swend, and was well taken care of. King Harald Sigurdsson took the royal power over all Norway after the death of King Magnus Olafsson ; and when he had reigned over Norway one winter, and spring was come, he ordered a levy through all the land of one half of all men and ships, and went south to Jutland. He berried and burned all summer wide around in the land, and came into Godnar fiord*, where King Harald made these verses : — " While wives of husbands fondly dream, Here let us anchor in the stream. In Godnar fiord ; we'll safely moor Our sea-homes_, and sleep quite secure." Then he spoke to Thiodolf the scald, and asked him to add to it what it wanted ; and he sang, — In the next summer, I foresee, Our anchorage in the South will be ; To hold our sea-homes on the ground. More cold-tongued anchors will be found." To this Bolverk alludes in his song also, that Harald Denmark the summer death. Bolverk sings thus : — went to Denmark the summer after King Magnus's " Next summer thou the levy raised. And seawards all the people gazed. Where thy sea-steeds in sunshine glancing Over the waves were gaily prancing ; While the deep ships that plunder bore Seemed black specks from the distant shore. The Danes, from banks or hillocks green. Looked with dismay upon the scene."
- Godnar fiord is supposed to be the present Randers fiord, in North
Jutland, into which a river runs called Gudin-aa, or Gudnar-aa.
