The Danish History, Books I-IX eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 572 pages of information about The Danish History, Books I-IX.

The Danish History, Books I-IX eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 572 pages of information about The Danish History, Books I-IX.

Atyl at this time had true visions of the Norwegian war in his dreams, and started on his voyage in order to make up for his flight as quickly as possible, and delighted Omund by joining him on the eve of battle.  Trusting in his help, Omund began to fight with equal confidence and success.  For, by fighting himself, he retrieved the victory which he had lost when his servants were engaged.  Ring, wounded to the death, gazed at him with faint eyes, and, beckoning to him with his hand, as well as he could—­for his voice failed him—­he besought him to be his son-in-law, saying that he would gladly meet his end if he left his daughter to such a husband.  Before he could receive an answer he died.  Omund wept for his death, and gave Homod, whose trusty help he had received in the war, in marriage to one of the daughters of Ring, taking the other himself.

At the same time the amazon Rusla, whose prowess in warfare exceeded the spirit of a woman, had many fights in Norway with her brother, Thrond, for the sovereignty.  She could not endure that Omund rule over the Norwegians, and she had declared war against all the subjects of the Danes.  Omund, when he heard of this, commissioned his most active men to suppress the rising.  Rusla conquered them, and, waxing haughty on her triumph, was seized with overweening hopes, and bent her mind upon actually acquiring the sovereignty of Denmark.  She began her attack on the region of Halland, but was met by Homod and Thode, whom the king had sent over.  Beaten, she retreated to her fleet, of which only thirty ships managed to escape, the rest being taken by the enemy.  Thrond encountered his sister as she was eluding the Danes, but was conquered by her and stripped of his entire army; he fled over the Dovrefjeld without a single companion.  Thus she, who had first yielded before the Danes, soon overcame her brother, and turned her flight into a victory.  When Omund heard of this, he went back to Norway with a great fleet, first sending Homod and Thole by a short and secret way to rouse the people of Tellemark against the rule of Rusla.  The end was that she was driven out of her kingdom by the commons, fled to the isles for safety, and turned her back, without a blow, upon the Danes as they came up.  The king pursued her hotly, caught up her fleet on the sea, and utterly destroyed it, the enemy suffered mightily, and he won a bloodless victory and splendid spoils.  But Rusla escaped with a very few ships, and rowed ploughing the waves furiously; but, while she was avoiding the Danes, she met her brother and was killed.  So much more effectual for harm are dangers unsurmised; and chance sometimes makes the less alarming evil worse than that which threatens.  The king gave Thrond a governorship for slaying his sister, put the rest under tribute, and returned home.

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The Danish History, Books I-IX from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.