es maintain is fleet,
Hasten as friends again to meet;
And every creek with vessels teems,--
All Denmark men and shipping seems;
And all rejoice that strife will cease,
And men meet now but to make peace."

Here it is told that the two kings held the meeting that was agreed upon
between them, and both came to the frontiers of their kingdoms. So says
the skald:--

"To meet (since peace the Dane now craves)
On to the south upon the waves
Sailed forth our gallant northern king,
Peace to the Danes with him to bring.
Svein northward to his frontier hies
To get the peace his people prize,
And meet King Harald, whom he finds
On land hard used by stormy winds."

When the kings found each other, people began at once to talk of their
being reconciled. But as soon as peace was proposed, many began to
complain of the damage they had sustained by harrying, robbing and
killing men; and for a long time it did not look very like peace. It is
here related:--

"Before this meeting of the kings
Each bende his own losses brings,
And loudly claims some recompense
From his king's foes, at their expense.
It is not easy to make peace,
Where noise and talking never cease:
The bondes' warmth may quickly spread,
And kings be by the people led.

"When kings are moved, no peace is sure;
For that peace only is secure
Which they who make it fairly make,--
To each side give, from each side take.
The kings will often rule but ill
Who listen to the people's will:
The people often have no view
But their own interests to pursue."

At last the best men, and those who were the wisest, came between the
kings, and settled the peace thus:--that Harald should have Norway, and
Svein Denmark, according to the boundaries of old established between
Denmark and Norway; neither of them should pay to the other for any
damage sustained; the war should cease as it now stood, each retaining
what he had got; and this peace should endure as long as they were
kings. This peace was confirmed by oath. Then the kings parted, having
given each other hostages, as is here related:--

"And I have heard that to set fast
The peace God brought about at last,
Svein and stern Harald pledges sent,
Who witnessed to their sworn intent;
And much I wish that they and all
In no such perjury may fall