Harald Hardradi had a large ship launched into the river Nid, and then had the dragon heads put on. Then sang Thjódólf the scald:
Fair maiden, a skeid I saw
Forward pushed into the river;
See where lies near the shore
The long side of the proud dragon.
The hair of the shining serpent
Glows o’er the crew,
Since it was pushed from the rollers;
The ornamented beaks carried gold.
(Harald Hardradi’s Saga, c. 62.)