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nd。 And the Danish king did place This youth of noble race Where； shield and sword in hand； He would aye defend his land。〃
Eirik became afterwards a great chief。
21。 OLAF TRYGVASON'S JOURNEY FROM RUSSIA。
All this time Olaf Trygvason was in Gardarike （Russia）； and highly esteemed by King Valdemar； and beloved by the queen。 King Valdemar made him chief over the men…at…arms whom he sent out to defend the land。 So says Hallarsteid…
〃The hater of the niggard band； The chief who loves the Northman's land； Was only twelve years old when he His Russian war…ships put to sea。 The wain that ploughs the sea was then Loaded with war…gear by his men With swords； and spears； and helms： and deep Out to the sea his good ships sweep。〃
Olaf had several battles； and was lucky as a leader of troops。 He himself kept a great many men…at…arms at his own expense out of the pay the king gave him。 Olaf was very generous to his men； and therefore very popular。 But then it came to pass； what so often happens when a foreigner is raised to higher power and dignity than men of the country； that many envied him because he was so favoured by the king； and also not less so by the queen。 They hinted to the king that he should take care not to make Olaf too powerful； 〃for such a man may be dangerous to you； if he were to allow himself to be used for the purpose of doing you or your kingdom harm； for he is extremely expert in all exercises and feats； and very popular。 We do not； indeed； know what it is he can have to talk of so often with the queen。〃 It was then the custom among great monarchs that the queen should have half of the court attendants； and she supported them at her own expense out of the scat and revenue provided for her for that purpose。 It was so also at the court of King Valdemar that the queen had an attendance as large as the king； and they vied with each other about the finest men； each wanting to have such in their own service。 It so fell out that the king listened to such speeches； and became somewhat silent and blunt towards Olaf。 When Olaf observed this； he told it to the queen； and also that he had a great desire to travel to the Northern land； where his family formerly had power and kingdoms； and where it was most likely he would advance himself。 The queen wished him a prosperous journey； and said he would be found a brave man wherever he might be。 Olaf then made ready； went on board； and set out to sea in the Baltic。
As he was coming from the east he made the island of Borgundarholm （Bornholm）； where he landed and plundered。 The country people hastened down to the strand； and gave him battle； but Olaf gained the victory； and a large booty。
22。 OLAF TRYGVASON'S MARRIAGE。
While Olaf lay at Borgundarholm there came on bad weather； storm； and a heavy sea； so that his ships could not lie there； and he sailed southwards under Vindland； where they found a good harbour。 They conducted themselves very peacefully； and remained some time。 In Vindland there was then a king called Burizleif； who had three daughters； Geira； Gunhild； and Astrid。 The king's daughter Geira had the power and government in that part where Olaf and his people landed； and Dixen was the name of the man who most usually advised Queen Geira。 Now when they heard that unknown people were came to the country； who were of distinguished appearance； and conducted themselves peaceably； Dixen repaired to them with a message from Queen Geira； inviting the strangers to take up their winter abode with her； for the summer was almost spent； and the weather was severe and stormy。 Now when Dixen came to the place he soon saw that the leader was a distinguished man； both from family and personal appearance； and he told Olaf the queen's invitation with the most kindly message。 Olaf willingly accepted the invitation； and went in harvest （A。D。 982） to Queen Geira。 They liked each other exceedingly； and Olaf courted Queen Geira； and it was so settled that Olaf married her the same winter； and was ruler； along with Queen Geira； over her dominions。 Halfred Vandredaskald tells of these matters in the lay he composed about King Olaf：
〃Why should the deeds the hero did In Bornholm and the East he hid？ His deadly weapon Olaf bold Dyed red： why should not this be told？〃
23。 EARL HAKON PAYS NO SCAT。
Earl Hakon ruled over Norway； and paid no scat； because the Danish king gave him all the scat revenue that belonged to the king in Norway； for the expense and trouble he had in defending the country against Gunhild's sons。
24。 HARALD OPPOSES CHRISTIANITY。
The Emperor Otta （Otto） was at that time in the Saxon country； and sent a message to King Harald； the Danish king； that he must take on the true faith and be baptized； he and all his people whom he ruled； 〃otherwise；〃 says the emperor； 〃we will march against him with an army。〃 The Danish king ordered the land defence to be fitted out； Danavirke （1） （the Danish wall） to be well fortified； and his ships of war rigged out。 He sent a message also to Earl Hakon in Norway to come to him early in spring； and with as many men as he could possibly raise。 In spring （A。D。 975） Earl Hakon levied an army over the whole country which was very numerous； and with it he sailed to meet the Danish king。 The king received him in the most honourable manner。 Many other chiefs also joined the Danish king with their men； so that he had gathered a very large army。
ENDNOTES： （1） Danavirke。 The Danish work was a wall of earth； stones； and wood； with a deep ditch in front； and a castle at every hundred fathoms； between the rivers Eider and Slien； constructed by Harald Blatand （Bluetooth） to oppose the progress of Charlemagne。 Some traces of it still exist。 L。
25。 OLAF TRYGVASON'S WAR EXPEDITION。
Olaf Trygvason had been all winter （A。D。 980） in Vindland； as before related； and went the same winter to the baronies in Vindland which had formerly been under Queen Geira； but had withdrawn themselves from obedience and payment of taxes。 There Olaf made war； killed many people； burnt out others； took much property； and laid all of them under subjection to him； and then went back to his castle。 Early in spring Olaf rigged out his ships and set off to sea。 He sailed to Skane and made a landing。 The people of the country assembled； and gave him battle； but King Olaf conquered； and made a great booty。 He then sailed eastward to the island of Gotland； where he captured a merchant vessel belonging to the people of Jamtaland。 They made a brave defence； but the end of it was that Olaf cleared the deck； killed many of the men； and took all the goods。 He had a third battle in Gotland； in which he also gained the victory； and made a great booty。 So says Halfred Vandredaskald：
〃The king； so fierce in battle…fray； First made the Vindland men give way： The Gotlanders must tremble next； And Scania's shores are sorely vexed By the sharp pelting arrow shower The hero and his warriors pour； And then the Jamtaland men must fly； Scared by his well…known battle…cry。〃
26。 OTTA AND HAKON IN BATTLE。
The Emperor Otta assembled a great army from Saxland； Frakland； Frisland； and Vindland。 King Burizleif followed him with a large army； and in it was his son…in…law； Olaf Trygvason。 The emperor had a great body of horsemen； and still greater of foot people； and a great army from Holstein。 Harald； the Danish king； sent Earl Hakon with the army of Northmen that followed him southwards to Danavirke； to defend his kingdom on that side。 So it is told in the 〃Vellekla〃：
〃Over the foaming salt sea spray The Norse sea…horses took their way； Racing across the ocean…plain Southwards to Denmark's green domain。 The gallant chief of Hordaland Sat at the helm with steady hand； In casque and shield； his men to bring From Dovre to his friend the king。 He steered his war…ships o'er the wave To help the Danish king to save Mordalf； who； with a gallant band Was hastening from the Jutes' wild land； Across the forest frontier rude； With toil and pain through the thick wood。 Glad was the Danish king； I trow； When he saw Hakon's galley's prow。 The monarch straightway gave command To Hakon； with a steel…clad band； To man the Dane…work's rampart stout； And keep the foreign foemen out。〃
The Emperor Otta came with his army from the south to Danavirke； but Earl Hakon defended the rampart with his men。 The Dane…work （Danavirke） was constructed in this way： Two fjords run into the land； one on each side； and in the farthest bight of these fjords the Danes had made a great wall of stone； turf； and timber； and dug a deep and broad ditch in front of it； and had also built a castle over each gate of it。 There was a hard battle there； of which the 〃Vellekla〃 speaks：
〃Thick the storm of arrows flew； Loud was the din； black was the view Of close array of shield and spear Of Vind； and Frank； and Saxon there。 But little recked our gallant men； And loud the cry mig