Norse Legends. Snorri Sturluson

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       Who rule o'er Norway's realm like foes,

       In mother earth's old bosom hide

       The wealth which Hakon far and wide

       Scattered with generous hand: the sun

       Shone in the days of that great one,

       On the gold band of Fulla's brow,

       On gold-ringed hands that bend the bow,

       On the skald's hand; but of the ray

       Of bright gold, glancing like the spray

       Of sun-lit waves, no skald now sings—

       Buried are golden chains and rings."

      Now when King Harald heard this song, he sent a message to Eyvind to come to him, and when Eyvind came made a charge against him of being unfaithful. "And it ill becomes thee," said the king, "to be my enemy, as thou hast entered into my service." Eyvind then made these verses:—

      "One lord I had before thee, Harald!

       One dear-loved lord! Now am I old,

       And do not wish to change again,—

       To that loved lord, through strife and pain,

       Faithful I stood; still true to Hakon,—

       To my good king, and him alone.

       But now I'm old and useless grown,

       My hands are empty, wealth is flown;

       I am but fir for a short space

       In thy court-hall to fill a place."

      But King Harald forced Eyvind to submit himself to his clemency. Eyvind had a great gold ring, which was called Molde, that had been dug up out of the earth long since. This ring the King said he must have as the mulet for the offence; and there was no help for it. Then Eyvind sang:—

      "I go across the ocean-foam,

       Swift skating to my Iceland home

       Upon the ocean-skates, fast driven

       By gales by Thurse's witch fire given.

       For from the falcon-bearing hand

       Harald has plucked the gold snake band

       My father wore—by lawless might

       Has taken what is mine by right."

      Eyvind went home; but it is not told that he ever came near the king again.