Earl Eirik sailed back to Sweden in autumn, and staid there all winter
(A.D. 997); but in the spring fitted out his war force again, and sailed
up the Baltic. When he came to Valdemar's dominions he began to plunder
and kill the inhabitants, and burn the dwellings everywhere as he
came along, and to lay waste the country. He came to Aldeigiuburg, and
besieged it until he took the castle; and he killed many people, broke
down and burned the castle, and then carried destruction all around far
and wide in Gardarike. So it is told in the "Banda-drapa":--
"The generous earl, brave and bold,
Who scatters his bright shining gold,
Eirik with fire-scattering hand,
Wasted the Russian monarch's land,--
With arrow-shower, and storm of war,
Wasted the land of Valdemar.
Aldeiga burns, and Eirik's might
Scours through all Russia by its light."
Earl Eirik was five years in all on this foray; and when he returned
from Gardarike he ravaged all Adalsysla and Eysysla, and took there four
viking ships from the Danes and killed every man on board. So it is told
in the "Banda-drapa":--
"Among the isles flies round the word,
That Eirik's blood-devouring sword
Has flashed like fire in the sound,
And wasted all the land around.
And Eirik too, the bold in fight,
Has broken down the robber-might
Of four great vikings, and has slain
All of the crew--nor spared one Dane.
In Gautland he has seized the town,
In Syssels harried up and down;
And all the people in dismay
Fled to the forests far away.
By land or sea, in field or wave,
What can withstand this earl brave?
All fly before his fiery hand--
God save the earl, and keep the land."
When Eirik had been a year in Sweden he went over to Denmark (A.D. 996)
to King Svein Tjuguskeg, the Danish king, and courted his daughter Gyda.
The proposal was accepted, and Earl Eirik married Gyda; and a year after
(A.D. 997) they had a son, who was called Hakon. Earl Eirik was in
the winter in Denmark, or sometimes in Sweden; but in summer he went
a-cruising.