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The Heimskringla on Guthorm Sindre

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 39. Reconciliation Of The Kings.

attestation: The skald Guthorm Sindre, who had served both father and son, mediated between them by invoking a past promise that they would grant him any request.

"a clever man called Guthorm Sindre, who was then in Halfdan the Black's army, but had been formerly in the service of King Harald, and was a great friend of both."
attestation: Guthorm Sindre had once composed a poem for both father and son, refusing payment in exchange for a future favor they promised to grant.

"Guthorm was a great skald, and had once composed a song both about the father and the son, for which they had offered him a reward. But he would take nothing; but only asked that, some day or other, they should grant him any request he should make"

attribution: The skald Guthorm Sindre composed verses about Hakon pursuing enemies to Jutland's shores and slaughtering warriors who glutted the ravens.

"Furrowing the deep-blue sea with oars, The king pursues to Jutland's shores."

attribution: Guthorm Sindre's verse celebrates Hakon clearing eleven Vindland ships with his blue sword, making his name famous.

"and cleared the decks with his blue sword That rules the fate of war, on board Eleven ships of the Vindland men.-- Famous is Hakon's name since then."

attribution: Guthorm Sindre's verse describes Hakon subduing Sealand, sweeping Scania of Vindland vikings, and making Gautland yield ransom of gold.

"Subdued all Sealand with the sword: From Vindland vikings the sea-bord Of Scania swept; and, with the shield Of Odin clad, made Gautland yield"

attribution: Guthorm composed a verse praising Hakon for setting a brave warrior to guard the land against foreign foes arriving in ships from Ireland.

"King Hakon, whose sharp sword dyes red The bright steel cap on many a head, Has set a warrior brave and stout The foreign foeman to keep out"

attestation: The skald Guthorm Sindre composed a verse celebrating Hakon's victory at Kormt Sound, where he felled Guthorm to the ground.

"By the sea-shore at Kormt Sound, Hakon felled Guthorm to the ground."
attestation: Guthorm Sindre's second verse describes Hakon as the 'sun-god' of bright steel who cleared Eirik's brave sons over the wide ocean, forcing them to hang shields on their ships and flee.

"The sun-god, whose bright rays, that dart Flame-like, are swords that pierce the heart. Well I remember how the King Hakon, the battle's life and spring, O'er the wide ocean cleared away Eirik's brave sons."

attestation: Guthorm Sindre's verse praises Hakon's courage, noting that despite having plenty of gold (Freyja's tears), he spared himself no more than if he had nothing to lose.

"Altho' the king had gained of old Enough of Freyja's tears of gold, He spared himself no more than tho' He'd had no well-filled purse to show."