The Heimskringla on Arnor

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 99. History Of The Earls Of Orkney.

• attribution: Arnor the earls' skald praised young Thorfin as having the bravest hand in battle despite his youth.

  "Under the rim of heaven no other, So Young in years as Einar's brother, In battle had a braver hand"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 109. Of The Earls Thorfin And Bruse.

• attribution: Arnor the earls' skald described Thorfin's dominion as stretching from Thurso-skerry to Dublin.

  "From Thurso-skerry to Dublin, All people hold with good Thorfin"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 19. Of King Magnus Olafson.

• attribution: The skald Arnor composed a verse declaring Magnus would win Denmark with his sword or leave his corpse to ravens

  "With his good sword he'll Denmark gain, Or fall upon a bloody plain; And rather than give up his cause, Will leave his corpse to raven's claws."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 20. King Magnus'S Armament.

• attribution: Arnor composed verses celebrating the Bison rounding Stavanger-point and crossing to Denmark

  "Around Stavanger-point careering, Through the wild sea's white flames steering, Tackle loud singing to the strain, The storm-horse flies to Denmark's plain."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 25. King Magnus'S Foray.

• attribution: Arnor described the Vindland defenders trapped between death and fire, with heathens calling on false gods as Jomsborg's towers burned

  "The robbers, hemmed 'twixt death and fire, Knew not how to escape thy ire; O'er Jomsborg castle's highest towers Thy wrath the whirlwind-fire pours. The heathen on his false gods calls, And trembles even in their halls"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 29. Battle Of Hlyrskog Heath.

• attribution: Arnor the earls' skald composed a verse about Magnus wielding the axe Hel with both hands at the battle

  "So says Arnor, the earls' skald:--

  "His armour on the ground he flung His broad axe round his head he swung"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 34. Battle At Helganes

• attribution: Arnor the earls' skald composed verses about Magnus seizing many ships at the battle of Helganes

  "And Arnor says:--

  "The cutters of Bjorn's own brother Soon changed their owner for another; The king took them and all their gear"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 35. Of King Magnus'S Campaign.

• attribution: Arnor described Magnus as a warrior in his twentieth year during the campaign in Fyen

  "He will be long remembered there, The warrior in his twentieth year"

• attribution: Arnor composed verses about Magnus taking bloody vengeance on Falster Isle for the treacherous Danes' guile

  "A bloody vengeance for their guile King Magnus takes on Falster Isle; The treacherous Danes his fury feel, And fall before his purpled steel."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 36. Of King Magnus'S Battles.

• attribution: Arnor the skald said Magnus won four battles within a year, praising him above kings of greatest name

  "Four battles won within a year,-- Breaker of shields! with swords and spear, And hand to hand, exalt thy fame Above the kings of greatest name."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 54. Fall Of Kalf Arnason.

• attribution: The skald Arnor composed a verse about Harald staining his sword with blood on Fyen's plains and breaking Fyen's forces amid fire and smoke.

  "So says Arnor:--

  "His shining sword with blood he stains, Upon Fyona's grassy plains; And in the midst of fire and smoke, The king Fyona's forces broke.""

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 65. Beginning Of The Battle Of Nis-River.

• attribution: Arnor the earls' skald composed verses about Svein fleeing over the dead bodies of his courtmen into the sea after his ship was taken.

  "O'er dead courtmen into the sea The Jutland king had now to flee."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 95. Of The Beginning Of The Battle.

• attribution: Arnor the earls' skald described Harald standing bare of armor, swinging his deadly sword while his Norsemen rushed to share the danger.

  "Where battle-storm was ringing, Where arrow-cloud was singing, Harald stood there, Of armour bare, His deadly sword still swinging."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 96. Fall Of King Harald.

• attribution: Arnor's verse described Harald's death from the gold-tipped arrow, his men forming a corpse-ring around his body rather than accepting quarter.

  "The gallant men who saw him fall Would take no quarter; one and all Resolved to die with their loved king, Around his corpse in a corpse-ring."