FIFTEENTH SONG THE NIGHT AFTER It was midnight, Tore Hund Sat on a rock by the King's body; Even then the limbs he had straightened. The King's blood Burned his hand. The King's blood his wounded hand Groaned at times With remorse. Round about the field were lights; Wives and mothers their own were seeking; Here were the sobs and groans of the wounded, Yonder a dog's Long lament. Lines of the battle were clearly marked, In the dark lay heaps of corpses. The friend was plucked from among the strangers; Tender hands Bore him home. On the farmsteads round about, Lights were gleaming from barns and houses. Wherever the wounded had crept for shelter, Women's hands Succored them. Among the men who the corpses scanned Was Kalv Arnesson; his brothers Found he alive. But they would not Aid accept From his hand. Kalv came up where Tore sat. Lingering stood there, nothing saying. "Here the King lies," whispered Tore; "The King's blood Healed my wound." Held he his hand up in sight of Kalv. Kalv said naught, away from him turning. Then saw he Arnljot, stretched out before him, The King's body Lay on his. "Great is the honor thou dost the King Thus to rest him upon a robber.” Tore uprose Yet in faith then: "Was he a robber? He served the King." Careful the twain laid hands on the King; Long and stiff. But when Arnljot was turned face up, Vision he saw. "The robber laughs," Kalv remarked. Said Tore, the King on his arm supporting: "Perchance on the right side he sees himself now."... Silent departed Kalv as he came. NOTES The extracts given from the Saga of Olaf the Holy in these Notes are from the translation by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson in Volume Four of The Saga Library." PAGE 3. THE Ski-Journey. The historical basis of this story is provided by Chapter 151 of the Saga of Olaf the Holy, in the Heimskringla of Snorri Sturluson. Iamtland (Jæmtland) is a province of Sweden lying just east of the Norwegian mountain-wall in about the latitude of Throndhjem. The Saga reads: "Ketil Iamti hight a man, the son of Earl Onund of Spareby in Thrandheim. He had fled before King Eystein the Evil-minded east over the Keel. He cleared the woods and built there whereas it is now called Iamtland." The Iamtlanders for a time recognized the King of Norway as their liege, and paid him tribute, being themselves of Norwegian descent. But at the date of The Ski-Journey (1027?), "they had made up their mind that they would yield obedience to the King of Sweden." King Olaf of Norway, however, still claimed the right to tax the Iamtlanders, and sent twelve messengers to make the collection. When these messengers arrived in Iamtland, a Thing was summoned. The people "were all of one mind on this, that they would not pay scat to the King of Norway. The messengers some would have hanged, and others would have them for blood-offering. But it was settled that they should be held there until the bailiffs of the Swede-king should be coming, and these should determine concerning them what they would, by the counsel of the folk of the country; but that they should make a show of this, that the messengers being well-holden, they were tarried for their abiding the scat, and they should part them and quarter them two and two together." Thorod, their leader, with another of the messengers, was quartered with Thorar, the Law-man, and one evening, when "the ale spake in the Iamts," these captives learned for what purpose they were being held, and soon thereafter made their escape. One night they sought shelter in “a little homestead," were hospitably welcomed, and "laid them down to sleep." The rest of the story, as related in the Saga, is as follows: "That while the fire was yet aflame. Thorod then saw that from another chamber came forth a man, and never had he seen a man like big. That man had on raiment of gold-broidered scarlet, and was of |