When Harald drew near to the prison King Olaf the Saint stood before him
and said he would assist him. On that spot of the street a chapel has
since been built and consecrated to Saint Olaf and which chapel has
stood there ever since. The prison was so constructed that there was a
high tower open above, but a door below to go into it from the street.
Through it Harald was thrust in, along with Haldor and Ulf. Next night
a lady of distinction with two servants came, by the help of ladders,
to the top of the tower, let down a rope into the prison and hauled them
up. Saint Olaf had formerly cured this lady of a sickness and he had
appeared to her in a vision and told her to deliver his brother. Harald
went immediately to the Varings, who all rose from their seats when he
came in and received him with joy. The men armed themselves forthwith
and went to where the emperor slept. They took the emperor prisoner and
put out both the eyes of him. So says Thorarin Skeggjason in his poem:--
"Of glowing gold that decks the hand
The king got plenty in this land;
But it's great emperor in the strife
Was made stone-blind for all his life."