Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/25

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

KINGS OF NORWAY. 13 Harald went with his men to the land of Jerusalem, saga ix. and then up to the city of Jerusalem, and wheresoever CHArxEa he came in the land all the towns and strong-holds Haraid's were given up to him. So says the scald Stuff, who ^^'p^'*'^" had heard the king himself relate these tidings : — tine.

  • ^ He went, the warrior bold and brave,

Jerusalem, the holy grave. And the interior of the land^ To bring under the Greeks' command; And by the terror of his name Under his power the country came. Nor needed wasting fire and sword To yield obedience to his word." Here it is told that this land came without fire and sword under Haraid's command. He then went out to Jordan, and bathed therein, according to the custom of other pilgrims. Harald gave great gifts to our Lord's grave, to the Holy Cross, and other holy relics in the land of Jerusalem. He also cleared the whole road all the way out to Jordan, by killing the robbers and other disturbers of the peace. So says the scald Stuff: —

  • ' The Agder king cleared far and wide

Jordan's fair banks on either side; The robber-bands before him fled, And his great name was widely spread. The wicked people of the land Were punished here by his dread hand. And they hereafter will not miss Much worse from Jesus Christ than this." Thereafter he went back to Constantinople. When Chapter XIII Harald returned to Constantinople from Jerusalem he Haraid put longed to return to the North to his native land ; and ^" p'"^son. when he heard that Magnus Olafsson, his brother's son, had become king both of Norway and Denmark, he gave up his command in the Greek service. And Avhen the empress Zoe heard of this she became angry, and raised an accusation against Harald, that he had misapplied the property of the Greek emperor which he had received in the campaigns in which he was