d, and all the Northmen had left Denmark. Svein answered in
haste, "I call God to witness that I shall never again fly from the
Danish dominions as long as I live." Then he got on his horse and rode
south into Scania, 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
Svein in autumn with the message of King Magnus, as before related,
and was well received; and Thorer remained long with Svein and was well
taken care of.

31. OF KING HARALD SIGURDSON.

King Harald Sigurdson took the royal power over all Norway after the
death of King Magnus Olafson; and when he had reigned over Norway one
winter and spring was come (A.D. 1048), he ordered a levy through all
the land of one-half of all men and ships and went south to Jutland.
He herried and burned all summer wide around in the land and came into
Godnarfjord, where King Harald made these verses:--

"While wives of husbands fondly dream,
Here let us anchor in the stream,
In Godnarfjord; we'll safely moor
Our sea-homes, and sleep quite secure."

Then he spoke to Thiodolf, the skald, 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 went to Denmark
the summer after King Magnus's death. Bolverk sings thus:--

"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."

32. OF THORKEL GEYSA'S DAUGHTERS.

Then they burned the house of Thorkel Geysa, who was a great lord, and
his daughters they carried off bound to their ships. They had made a
great mockery the winter before of King Harald's coming with war-ships
against Denmark; and they cut their cheese into the shape of anchors,
and said such anchors might hold all the ships of the Norway king. Then
this was composed:--

"The Island-girls, we were told,
Made anchors all our fleet to hold:
Their Danish jest cut out