k all the fiefs he formerly had possessed while the earls
ruled the country. King Canute gave Einar great gifts, and bound him by
great kindness to his interests; and promised that Einar should be the
greatest and most important man in Norway, among those who did not hold
the highest dignity, as long as he had power over the country. He added
to this, that Einar appeared to him the most suitable man to hold the
highest title of honour in Norway if no earls remained, and his son
Eindride also, on account of his high birth. Einar placed a great value
on these promises, and, in return, promised the greatest fidelity.
Einar's chiefship began anew with this.

182. OF THORARIN LOFTUNGA.

There was a man by name Thorarin Loftunga, an Icelander by birth, and a
great skald, who had been much with the kings and other great chiefs. He
was now with King Canute the Great, and had composed a flock, or short
poem, in his praise. When the king heard of this he was very angry, and
ordered him to bring the next day a drapa, or long poem, by the time he
went to table; and if he failed to do so, said the king, "he shall
be hanged for his impudence in composing such a small poem about King
Canute." Thorarin then composed a stave as a refrain, which he inserted
in the poem, and also augmented it with several other strophes or
verses. This was the refrain:--

"Canute protects his realm, as Jove,
Guardian of Greece, his realm above."

King Canute rewarded him for the poem with fifty marks of silver. The
poem was called the "Headransom" ("Hofudlausn"). Thorarin composed
another poem about King Canute, which was called the "Campaign Poem"
("Togdrapa"); and therein he tells King Canute's expedition when he
sailed from Denmark to Norway; and the following are strophes from one
of the parts of this poem:--

"Canute with all his men is out,
Under the heavens in war-ships stout,--
'Out on the sea, from Limfjord's green,
My good, my brave friend's fleet is seen.
The men of Adger on the coast
Tremble to see this mighty host:
The guilty tremble as they spy
The victor's fleet beneath the sky.

"The sight surpasses far the tale,
As glacing in the sun they sail;
The king's ship glittering all with gold,
And splendour there not to be told.
Round Lister many a coal-black mast
Of Canute's fleet is gliding past.
And now through Eger sound they ride,
Upo