Unto Thorfinn, ravens’ feeder, Armies had to yield obedience From Thussasker[279] right on to Dublin. Truth I tell, as is recorded. Earl Thorfinn was five winters old when Malcolm[280] the King of Scots, his mother’s father, gave him the title of Earl, and after that he was Earl for seventy winters. He died towards the end of Harald Sigurdson’s reign.[281] He is buried at Christ’s Kirk in Birgishérad (Birsay), which he had built. He was much lamented in his hereditary dominions; but in those parts which he had conquered by force of arms many considered it very hard to be under his rule, and [after his death] many provinces which he had subdued turned away and sought help from the chiefs who were odal-born to the government of them.[282] Then it soon became apparent how great a loss Thorfinn’s death was to his dominions. The following stanzas were made about the battle between Earl Rögnvald, Brùsi’s son, and Earl Thorfinn:— Since the Earls have broken friendship Peace I can enjoy no longer. Feasts of corpses to the ravens Each has in his turn provided. Off the Islands were the blue tents By the mighty rent asunder, Dabbled were the foul birds’ feathers In red blood ’neath lofty branches. Have ye heard how Kalfr followed Finnr’s son-in-law in battle? Quickly didst thou push thy vessels ’Gainst the Earl’s ships on the water. To destroy the son of Brúsi, Thou, courageous ship’s commander Wast unwilling, but of hatred Mindful, didst thou help Thorfinn. When the Earls had joined in battle Misery there was unbounded. Thick and fast the men were falling In the struggle; sad the hour when Nearer went the daring Eastmen To the unexampled fire-rain. In that battle off the Red Biorg Many a noble man was wounded. Swarthy shall become the bright sun, In the black sea shall the earth sink, Finished shall be Austri’s labour, And the wild sea hide the mountains, Ere there be in those fair Islands Born a chief to rule the people— May our God both help and keep them— Greater than the lost Earl Thorfinn. CHAPTER XXIII OF THE EARLS PAUL AND ERLEND, AND GENEALOGIES. NOW the sons of Earl Thorfinn succeeded him. Paul was the elder of the two, and he ruled for both of them. They did not divide their possessions, yet they almost always agreed in their dealings.