rd to the
peasants that they should bury them; thereafter caused he the plunder to
be divided, and abode for a while there at that spot. And there learnt
he the tidings that King Svein was come to Zealand, and that all of his
host which had not been routed in battle had rejoined him, and to him
likewise were come many other men, and that to him therefore was
assembled a mighty large host.

|| Now as ye have heard tell afore, was Earl Fin Arnason captured in the
battle, and before the King was he led. King Harald was then exceeding
joyful, and said he, 'Here meet we twain, Fin, though lastwhiles in
Norway; scarce hath the Danish court stood by thee! An ill piece of work
will the Norwegians have to drag thee, blind man, after them, and keep
thee alive.'

Then answered back the Earl: 'Many ill things have the Norwegians now to
do, & the worst of these is thy bidding.'

Then said King Harald: 'Wilt thou have grace, though grace deservest
thou not?' The Earl answered: 'Not from thee, hound!' The King said:
'Dost desire that thy kinsman Magnus should give thee grace?' Magnus,
the son of King Harald, was captain of a ship at that time. Then said
the Earl: 'What hath that whelp to do with the meting out of grace?'
Thereat laughed the King, for he deemed it good sport to bait him, and
said he: 'Wilt thou accept thy life from the hand of Thora, thy
kinswoman?'

Then the Earl said: 'Is she here?' 'She is here,' said the King.

Then did Fin utter the scurvy words which were remembered long
thereafter, and all were witness of how wroth he was since he could not
still his words: 'It is not to be wondered at that thou hast bitten well
since the mare is with thee.'

To Earl Fin was given quarter, and King Harald kept him with him for a
time, but Fin was somewhat unjoyful, and unmeek in his words. Then King
Harald said: 'I see thou wilt not be friends with me nor with my
kindred, so I will give thee leave to fare to Svein, thy King.' The Earl
answered: 'That will I accept, and the sooner I fare hence the more
grateful I shall be.' Thereafter the King let Fin be taken even to the
land, where was he made welcome by the Hallanders.

Thence sailed King Harald north with his host to Norway, faring first to
Oslo, and in that place gave leave to all his men who desired it to go
even to their own homes.

|| It is said that King Svein abode that winter in Denmark, and held his
state as before.

And in the winter sent he men north