Page:Northern Antiquities 2.djvu/293

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THE ODE OF

HARALD THE VALIANT.


MY ships have made the tour of Sicily: then were we all magnificent and splendid. My brown vessel, full of mariners, rapidly rowed to the utmost of my wishes. Wholly taken up with war, I thought my course would never slacken, and yet a Russian maiden scorns me.


“In my youth I fought with the people of Drontheim. Their troops exceeded ours in number. It was a terrible conflict: I left their young king dead in the field: and yet a Russian maiden scorns me.


“One day we were but sixteen in a vessel: a storm arose and swelled the sea: it filled the loaded ship, but we diligently cleared it out. Thence I formed