Norse Legends. Snorri Sturluson

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      20. DEATH OF SKOPTE.

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      One summer that Earl Hakon was on a cruise, there was a ship with him of which Thorleif Spake (the Wise) was steersman. In it was also Eirik, Earl Hakon's son, then about ten or eleven years old. Now in the evenings, as they came into harbour, Eirik would not allow any ship but his to lie nearest to the earl's. But when they came to the south, to More, they met Skopte the earl's brother-in-law, with a well-manned ship; and as they rowed towards the fleet, Skopte called out that Thorleif should move out of the harbour to make room for him, and should go to the roadstead. Eirik in haste took up the matter, and ordered Skopte to go himself to the roadstead. When Earl Hakon heard that his son thought himself too great to give place to Skopte, he called to them immediately that they should haul out from their berth, threatening them with chastisement if they did not. When Thorleif heard this, he ordered his men to slip their land-cable, and they did so; and Skopte laid his vessel next to the earl's as he used to do. When they came together, Skopte brought the earl all the news he had gathered, and the earl communicated to Skopte all the news he had heard; and Skopte was therefore called Tidindaskopte (the Newsman Skopte). The winter after (A.D. 973) Eirik was with his foster-father Thorleif, and early in spring he gathered a crew of followers, and Thorleif gave him a boat of fifteen benches of rowers, with ship furniture, tents, and ship provisions; and Eirik set out from the fjord, and southwards to More. Tidindaskopte happened also to be going with a fully manned boat of fifteen rowers' benches from one of his farms to another, and Eirik went against him to have a battle. Skopte was slain, but Eirik granted life to those of his men who were still on their legs. So says Eyjolf Dadaskald in the "Banda Lay":—

      "At eve the youth went out

       To meet the warrior stout—

       To meet stout Skopte—he

       Whose war-ship roves the sea

       Like force was on each side,

       But in the whirling tide

       The young wolf Eirik slew

       Skopte, and all his crew

       And he was a gallant one,

       Dear to the Earl Hakon.

       Up, youth of steel-hard breast—

       No time hast thou to rest!

       Thy ocean wings spread wide—

       Speed o'er the foaming tide!

       Speed on—speed on thy way!

       For here thou canst not stay."

      Eirik sailed along the land and came to Denmark, and went to King Harald Gormson, and staid with him all winter (A.D. 974). In spring the Danish king sent him north to Norway, and gave him an earldom, and the government of Vingulmark and Raumarike, on the same terms as the small scat-paying kings had formerly held these domains. So says Eyjolf Dadaskald:—

      "South through ocean's spray

       His dragon flew away

       To Gormson's hall renowned.

       Where the bowl goes bravely round.

       And the Danish king did place

       This youth of noble race

       Where, shield and sword in hand,

       He would aye defend his land."

      Eirik became afterwards a great chief.