er to the power of Norway, and let Biorn have the country for his
own benefit.

Then he summoned Biorn and Erik, ravaged the Orkneys, landed at last
on the territory of the Scots, and in a three-days' battle wearied out
their king Murial, and slew him. But Ragnar's sons, Dunwat and Radbard,
after fighting nobly, were slain by the enemy. So that the victory their
father won was stained with their blood. He returned to Denmark, and
found that his wife Swanloga had in the meantime died of disease.
Straightway he sought medicine for his grief in loneliness, and
patiently confined the grief of his sick soul within the walls of
his house. But this bitter sorrow was driven out of him by the sudden
arrival of Iwar, who had been expelled from the kingdom. For the Gauls
had made him fly, and had wrongfully bestowed royal power on a certain
Ella, the son of Hame. Ragnar took Iwar to guide him, since he was
acquainted with the country, gave orders for a fleet, and approached the
harbour called York. Here he disembarked his forces, and after a battle
which lasted three days, he made Ella, who had trusted in the valour of
the Gauls, desirous to fly. The affair cost much blood to the English
and very little to the Danes. Here Ragnar completed a year of conquest,
and then, summoning his sons to help him, he went to Ireland, slew
its king Melbrik, besieged Dublin, which was filled with wealth of the
barbarians, attacked it, and received its surrender. There he lay in
camp for a year; and then, sailing through the midland sea, he made his
way to the Hellespont. He won signal victories as he crossed all the
intervening countries, and no ill-fortune anywhere checked his steady
and prosperous advance.

Harald, meanwhile, with the adherence of certain Danes who were
cold-hearted servants in the army of Ragnar, disturbed his country with
renewed sedition, and came forward claiming the title of king. He was
met by the arms of Ragnar returning from the Hellespont; but being
unsuccessful, and seeing that his resources of defence at home were
exhausted, he went to ask help of Ludwig, who was then stationed at
Mainz. But Ludwig, filled with the greatest zeal for promoting his
religion, imposed a condition on the Barbarian, promising him help if he
would agree to follow the worship of Christ. For he said there could
be no agreement of hearts between those who embraced discordant creeds.
Anyone, therefore, who asked for help, must first have a fell