rod the Troublous-skald:

'The unsparing young King plundered the Englishmen,
The feeder of spear-showers made murder in Northumbria,
The war-loving feeder of wolves laid waste to Scotia,
The giver of gold fared with up-lifted sword in Man.
The bearer of the elm-bow brought death to the hosts
Of the Isle of Erin, for fame yearned the lord;
Four winters did the King smite the dwellers in Wales,
And Northumbrians hewed he
ere the greed of the chough was appeased.'

|| Four winters did Olaf Tryggvason fare on viking cruises from the time
of his leaving Wendland even until his coming to the Isles of Scilly.

|| Now when Olaf Tryggvason was lying off the Isles of Scilly he heard
tell that there was a soothsayer thereon, and that he foretold the
future and spake of things not yet come to pass, and many folk believed
that things ofttimes happened according as this man had spoken. Now Olaf
being minded to make assay of his cunning sent to him the finest and
fairest of his men, in apparel as brave as might be, bidding him say
that he was the King, for Olaf had become famous in all lands in that he
was comelier and bolder and stronger than all other men. Since he had
left Garda, howsoever, he had used no more of his name than to call
himself Oli, and had told people that he was of the realm of Garda. Now
when the messenger came to the soothsayer and said he was the King, gat
he for answer: 'King art thou not, but my counsel to thee is that thou
be loyal to thy King,' & never a word more deigned the seer to utter.
Then went the messenger back and told Olaf this thing, and the King had
no longer any doubt that this man was verily a soothsayer, and his wish
to meet with him, now that he had heard such an answer, waxed greater
than heretofore. So Olaf went to him & communed with him, & asked him to
prophesy about his future, whether or not he would win himself a kingdom
or other good fortune. Then answered the prophet with saintly prophecy:
'Thou wilt be a glorious King, & do glorious deeds, to faith &
christening wilt thou bring many men, and thou wilt help thereby both
thyself & many others. But to the end that thou shalt not doubt about
this mine answer take this for a token: Hard by thy ships shalt thou
meet with guile & with foemen, & thou shalt do battle; and of thy men
some shall fall and thou thyself shalt be wounded. From that wound wilt
thou be nigh unto death and be borne on a shield to thy shi