SWEIN GOES TO IRELAND.
ONCE it happened that Swein went out on a spring expedition, taking with
him Hákon, the son of Earl Harald. They had five rowing ships, all
large. They plundered in the Sudreyar. All the inhabitants were so
afraid of him that they hid all their movable property in the ground or
in heaps of loose stones. Swein went all the way south to Man, and
obtained very little booty. Then they went to Ireland and plundered
there, but when they were approaching Dýflin (Dublin) two merchant-ships
came from England, laden with English cloth and other merchandise; they
were going to Dýflin. Swein made for the vessels, and offered them
battle. There was little resistance by the English, and Swein’s party
took every penny in the vessels, leaving to the Englishmen only what
they stood in, and a small quantity of provisions. They sailed away in
the vessels, but Swein’s party went to the Sudreyar, and divided their
booty. They sailed from the west with great pomp. When they were lying
in harbours, they covered their ships with the English cloth, to make a
show; and when they sailed to the Orkneys, they sewed the cloth upon
their sails, and then it looked as if the sails were made entirely of
the fine stuffs. This they named the Skrud-viking.[448]
Swein went home to his estate in Gáreksey. He had taken a large quantity
of wine and English mead from the vessels. When he had been at home a
short time he invited Earl Harald, and prepared a splendid feast for
him. When Earl Harald was at the feast a great deal was said of Swein’s
magnificence. The Earl said: “I wish, Swein, you would now leave off
your marauding expeditions; it is good now to drive home a whole waggon.
You know that your plundering has fed you and your men a long time, but
to most men of violence it happens that they perish in their raiding, if
they do not leave it off in time.”
Swein looked to the Earl and said, smiling: “This is well said, my Lord;
you have spoken like a friend, and it is good to take sound advice from
you; but some complain that you are not an over just man yourself.”
The Earl replied: “I must be responsible for my own acts, but I spoke as
it occurred to me.”
Swein replied: “Your intention is no doubt good, my Lord; and it shall
be so, that I will discontinue my marauding expeditions, for I am
getting old, and my strength is wasting away in the wet work and the
fighting. I am now going to make an autumn expedition, and I wish it to
be not less glorious than the spring one. Then I shall leave off
war-going.”
The Earl replied: “It is difficult to know, comrade, which comes
first—death or lasting fame.”
Then their conversation ceased. When Earl Harald left the feast
honourable gifts were presented to him, and he and Swein parted very
good friends.