‘Falster was wasted, and to its folk
Mischance befell (so I heard).
The raven his fill ate,
But rapine feared the Danes each year.’
¶ Ever since the death of King Magnus had King Svein ruled the whole of the Danish realm; remained he at peace during the winters, but by summer went he out with his host & did threaten to journey north with the Danish host, and there do no less harm than Harald had done in Denmark. In the winter King Svein offered to meet King Harald in the River, and there fight together to the last, or else come to agreement; and thereafter, during that winter, were both one and other of them busied arming their ships, so that in the summer to come might one half of the general host be abroad. ¤ It was in that summer that there came from Iceland Thorleik Svein Ulfson; he had heard to wit, when he was north in Norway, that King Harald had fared south to the River against King Svein. Then did Thorleik chant this:
‘’Tis awaited that in spear-storm
On the sea-king’s path
The doughty men of inner Throndhjem
Will meet the hardy King.
God only can bring it to pass