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n the young sun； he makes us play The game of the bright sun…god Frey。 But the soft Swede loves well the fire The well…stuffed couch； the doway glove； And from the hearth…seat will not move。〃
The Gautlanders gathered people together all over the country。
17。 THE BATTLE IN GAUTLAND。
In spring； when the ice was breaking up； the Gautlanders drove stakes into the Gaut river to hinder King Harald with his ships from coming to the land。 But King Harald laid his ships alongside the stakes； and plundered the country； and burnt all around； so says Horn klofe：
〃The king who finds a dainty feast； For battle…bird and prowling beast； Has won in war the southern land That lies along the ocean's strand。 The leader of the helmets； he Who leads his ships o'er the dark sea； Harald； whose high…rigged masts appear Like antlered fronts of the wild deer； Has laid his ships close alongside Of the foe's piles with daring pride。〃
Afterwards the Gautlanders came down to the strand with a great army； and gave battle to King Harald； and great was the fall of men。 But it was King Harald who gained the day。 Thus says Hornklofe：
〃Whistles the battle…axe in its swing O'er head the whizzing javelins sing； Helmet and shield and hauberk ring； The air…song of the lance is loud； The arrows pipe in darkening cloud； Through helm and mail the foemen feel The blue edge of our king's good steel Who can withstand our gallant king？ The Gautland men their flight must wing。〃
18。 HRANE GAUZKE'S DEATH。
King Harald went far and wide through Gautland； and many were the battles he fought there on both sides of the river； and in general he was victorious。 In one of these battles fell Hrane Gauzke； and then the king took his whole land north of the river and west of the Veneren； and also Vermaland。 And after he turned back there…from； he set Duke Guthorm as chief to defend the country； and left a great force with him。 King Harald himself went first to the Uplands； where he remained a while； and then proceeded northwards over the Dovrefjeld to Throndhjem； where he dwelt for a long time。 Harald began to have children。 By Asa he had four sons。 The eldest was Guthorm。 Halfdan the Black and Halfdan the White were twins。 Sigfrod was the fourth。 They were all brought up in Throndhjem with all honour。
19。 BATTLE IN HAFERSFJORD。
News came in from the south land that the people of Hordaland and Rogaland； Agder and Thelemark； were gathering； and bringing together ships and weapons； and a great body of men。 The leaders of this were Eirik king of Hordaland； Sulke king of Rogaland； and his brother Earl Sote： Kjotve the Rich； king of Agder； and his son Thor Haklang； and from Thelemark two brothers； Hroald Hryg and Had the Hard。 Now when Harald got certain news of this； he assembled his forces； set his ships on the water； made himself ready with his men； and set out southwards along the coast； gathering many people from every district。 King Eirik heard of this when he same south of Stad； and having assembled all the men he could expect； he proceeded southwards to meet the force which he knew was coming to his help from the east。 The whole met together north of Jadar； and went into Hafersfjord； where King Harald was waiting with his forces。 A great battle began； which was both hard and long； but at last King Harald gained the day。 There King Eirik fell； and King Sulke； with his brother Earl Sote。 Thor Haklang； who was a great berserk； had laid his ship against King Harald's； and there was above all measure a desperate attack； until Thor Haklang fell； and his whole ship was cleared of men。 Then King Kjotve fled to a little isle outside； on which there was a good place of strength。 Thereafter all his men fled； some to their ships； some up to the land； and the latter ran southwards over the country of Jadar。 So says Hornklofe； viz。：
〃Has the news reached you？ have you heard Of the great fight at Hafersfjord； Between our noble king brave Harald And King Kjotve rich in gold？ The foeman came from out the East； Keen for the fray as for a feast。 A gallant sight it was to see Their fleet sweep o'er the dark…blue sea： Each war…ship； with its threatening throat Of dragon fierce or ravenous brute （1） Grim gaping from the prow； its wales Glittering with burnished shields； （2） like scales Its crew of udal men of war； Whose snow…white targets shone from far And many a mailed spearman stout From the West countries round about； English and Scotch； a foreign host； And swordamen from the far French coast。 And as the foemen's ships drew near； The dreadful din you well might hear Savage berserks roaring mad； And champions fierce in wolf…skins clad； （3） Howling like wolves； and clanking jar Of many a mail…clad man of war。 Thus the foe came； but our brave king Taught them to fly as fast again。 For when he saw their force come o'er； He launched his war…ships from the shore。 On the deep sea he launched his fleet And boldly rowed the foe to meet。 Fierce was the shock； and loud the clang Of shields； until the fierce Haklang； The foeman's famous berserk； fell。 Then from our men burst forth the yell Of victory； and the King of Gold Could not withstand our Harald bold； But fled before his flaky locks For shelter to the island rocks。 All in the bottom of the ships The wounded lay； in ghastly heaps； Backs up and faces down they lay Under the row…seats stowed away； And many a warrior's shield； I ween Might on the warrior's back be seen； To shield him as he fled amain From the fierce stone…storm's pelting rain。 The mountain…folk； as I've heard say； Ne'er stopped as they ran from the fray； Till they had crossed the Jadar sea； And reached their homes so keen each soul To drown his fright in the mead bowl。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） The war…ships were called dragons； from being decorated with the head of a dragon； serpent； or other wild animal； and the word 〃draco〃 was adopted in the Latin of the Middle Ages to denote a ship of war of the larger class。 The snekke was the cutter or smaller war…ship。 L。 （2） The shields were hung over the side…rails of the ships。 L。 （3） The wolf…skin pelts were nearly as good as armour against the sword。
20。 HARALD SUPREME SOVEREIGN IN NORWAY。
After this battle King Harald met no opposition in Norway； for all his opponents and greatest enemies were cut off。 But some； and they were a great multitude； fled out of the country； and thereby great districts were peopled。 Jemtaland and Helsingjaland were peopled then； although some Norwegians had already set up their habitation there。 In the discontent that King Harald seized on the lands of Norway； the out…countries of Iceland and the Farey Isles were discovered and peopled。 The Northmen had also a great resort to Hjaltland （Shetland Isles） and many men left Norway； flying the country on account of King Harald； and went on viking cruises into the West sea。 In winter they were in the Orkney Islands and Hebrides； but marauded in summer in Norway； and did great damage。 Many； however； were the mighty men who took service under King Harald； and became his men； and dwelt in the land with him。
21。 HARALD'S MARRIAGE AND HIS CHILDREN。
When King Harald had now become sole king over all Norway； he remembered what that proud girl had said to him； so he sent men to her； and had her brought to him； and took her to his bed。 And these were their children： Alof she was the eldest； then was their son Hrorek； then Sigtryg； Frode； and Thorgils。 King Harald had many wives and many children。 Among them he had one wife； who was called Ragnhild the Mighty； a daughter of King Eirik； from Jutland； and by her he had a son； Eirik Blood…axe。 He was also married to Svanhild； a daughter of Earl Eystein； and their sons were Olaf Geirstadaalf； Bjorn and Ragnar Rykkil。 Lastly； King Harald married Ashild； a daughter of Hring Dagson； up in Ringerike； and their children were； Dag； Hring； Gudrod Skiria； and Ingigerd。 It is told that King Harald put away nine wives when he married Ragnhild the Mighty。 So says Hornklofe：
〃Harald； of noblest race the head； A Danish wife took to his bed； And out of doors nine wives he thrust； The mothers of the princes first。 Who 'mong Holmrygians hold command； And those who rule in Hordaland。 And then he packed from out the place The children born of Holge's race。〃
King Harald's children were all fostered and brought up by their relations on the mother's side。 Guthorm the Duke had poured water over King Harald's eldest son and had given him his own name。 He set the child upon his knee； and was his foster…father； and took him with himself eastward to Viken； and there he was brought up in the house of Guthorm。 Guthorm ruled the whole land in Viken and the Uplands； when King Harald was absent。
22。 KING HARALD'S VOYAGE TO THE WE