"Trygve comes from the northern coast, King Svein turns round with all his host; To meet and fight, they both prepare, And where they met grim death was there. From the sharp strife I was not far, -- I heard the din and the clang of war; And the Hordaland men at last gave way, And their leader fell, and they lost the day."

This battle is also told of in the ballad about King Svein, thus: --

"My girl! it was a Sunday morn, And many a man ne'er saw its eve, Though ale and leeks by old wives borne The bruised and wounded did relieve. 'Twas Sunday morn, when Svein calls out, `Stem to stem your vessels bind;' The raven a mid-day feast smells out, And he comes croaking up the wind."

After this battle King Svein ruled the country for some time, and there was peace in the land. The winter after it (A.D. 1034) he passed in the south parts of the country.

264. OF THE COUNSELS OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON.

Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Arnason had this winter meetings and consultations between themselves in the merchant town (1). Then there came a messenger from King Canute to Kalf Arnason, with a message to send him three dozen axes, which must be chosen and good. Kalf replies, "I will send no axes to King Canute. Tell him I will bring his son Svein so many, that he shall not think he is in want of any."

ENDNOTES: (1) Nidaros, or Throndhjem, is usually called merely the merchant town. -- L.

265. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON'S JOURNEY.