Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway

6. DEATH OF KING CANUTE THE GREAT AND HIS SON SVEIN.

King Svein, Canute's son, went to Denmark, as before related, and took part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn King Canute the Great died in England, the 13th November, forty years old, and was buried at Winchester. He had been king of Denmark for twenty-seven years, and over Denmark and England together twenty-four years, and also over Norway for seven years. King Canute's son Harald was then made king in England. The same winter (A.D. 1036) King Svein, Alfifa's son, died in Denmark. Thiodolf the skald made these lines concerning King Magnus:—

     "Through Sweden's dirty roads the throng
     Followed the king in spearmen strong.
     Svein doth fly, in truth afraid,
     And partly by his men betrayed;
     Flying to Denmark o'er the sea,
     He leaves the land quite clear to thee."

Bjarne Gullbrarskald composed the following lines concerning Kalf Arnason:—

     "By thee the kings got each his own,—
     Magnus by thee got Norway's throne;
     And Svein in Denmark got a seat,
     When out of Norway he was beat.
     Kalf!  It was you who showed the way
     To our young king, the battle-lover,—
     From Russia to his father's sway
     You showed the way, and brought him over."

King Magnus ruled over Norway this winter (A.D. 1036), and Hardaknut over Denmark.