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Heimskringla
or
The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway

King Olaf Trygvason's Saga: Part III

Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #15b

87. OF RAUD'S BEING TORTURED.

Bishop Sigurd took all his mass robes and went forward to the bow

of the king's ship; ordered tapers to be lighted, and incense to

be brought out.  Then he set the crucifix upon the stem of the

vessel, read the Evangelist and many prayers, besprinkled the

whole ship with holy water, and then ordered the ship-tent to be

stowed away, and to row into the fjord.  The king ordered all the

other ships to follow him.  Now when all was ready on board the

Crane to row, she went into the fjord without the rowers finding

any wind; and the sea was curled about their keel track like as

in a calm, so quiet and still was the water; yet on each side of

them the waves were lashing up so high that they hid the sight of

the mountains.  And so the one ship followed the other in the

smooth sea track; and they proceeded this way the whole day and

night, until they reached Godey.  Now when they came to Raud's

house his great ship, the dragon, was afloat close to the land.

King Olaf went up to the house immediately with his people; made

an attack on the loft in which Raud was sleeping, and broke it

open.  The men rushed in: Raud was taken and bound, and of the

people with him some were killed and some made prisoners.  Then

the king's men went to a lodging in which Raud's house servants

slept, and killed some, bound others, and beat others.  Then the

king ordered Raud to be brought before him, and offered him

baptism.  "And," says the king, "I will not take thy property

from thee, but rather be thy friend, if thou wilt make thyself

worthy to be so."  Raud exclaimed with all his might against the

proposal, saying he would never believe in Christ, and making his

scoff of God.  Then the king was wroth, and said Raud should die

the worst of deaths.  And the king ordered him to be bound to a

beam of wood, with his face uppermost, and a round pin of wood

set between his teeth to force his mouth open.  Then the king

ordered an adder to be stuck into the mouth of him; but the

serpent would not go into his mouth, but shrunk back when Raud

breathed against it.  Now the king ordered a hollow branch of an

angelica root to be stuck into Raud's mouth; others say the king

put his horn into his mouth, and forced the serpent to go in by

holding a red-hot iron before the opening.  So the serpent crept

into the mouth of Raud and down his throat, and gnawed its way

out of his side; and thus Raud perished.  King Olaf took here

much gold and silver, and other property of weapons, and many

sorts of precious effects; and all the men who were with Raud he

either had baptized, or if they refused had them killed or

tortured.  Then the king took the dragonship which Raud had

owned, and steered it himself; for it was a much larger and

handsomer vessel than the Crane.  In front it had a dragon's

head, and aft a crook, which turned up, and ended with the figure

of the dragon's tail.  The carved work on each side of the stem

and stern was gilded.  This ship the king called the Serpent.

When the sails were hoisted they represented, as it were, the

dragon's wings; and the ship was the handsomest in all Norway.

The islands on which Raud dwelt were called Gylling and Haering;

but the whole islands together were called Godey Isles, and the

current between the isles and the mainland the Godey Stream.

King Olaf baptized the whole people of the fjord, and then sailed

southwards along the land; and on this voyage happened much and

various things, which are set down in tales and sagas, -- namely,

how witches and evil spirits tormented his men, and sometimes

himself; but we will rather write about what occurred when King

Olaf made Norway Christian, or in the other countries in which he

advanced Christianity.  The same autumn Olaf with his fleet

returned to Throndhjem, and landed at Nidaros, where he took up

his winter abode.  What I am now going to write about concerns

the Icelanders.

88. OF THE ICELANDERS.

Kjartan Olafson, a son's son of Hoskuld, and a daughter's son of

Egil Skallagrimson, came the same autumn (A.D. 999) from Iceland

to Nidaros, and he was considered to be the most agreeable and

hopeful man of any born in Iceland.  There was also Haldor, a son

of Gudmund of Modruveller; and Kolbein, a son of Thord, Frey's

gode, and a brother's son of Brennuflose; together with Sverting,

a son of the gode Runolf.  All these were heathens; and besides

them there were many more, -- some men of power, others common

men of no property.  There came also from Iceland considerable

people, who, by Thangbrand's help, had been made Christians;

namely, Gissur the white, a son of Teit Ketilbjornson; and his

mother was Alof, daughter of herse Bodvar, who was the son of

Vikingakare.  Bodvar's brother was Sigurd, father of Eirik

Bjodaskalle, whose daughter Astrid was King Olaf's mother.

Hjalte Skeggjason was the name of another Iceland man, who was

married to Vilborg, Gissur the White's daughter.  Hjalte was also

a Christian; and King Olaf was very friendly to his relations

Gissur and Hjalte, who live with him.  But the Iceland men who

directed the ships, and were heathens, tried to sail away as soon

as the king came to the town of Nidaros, for they were told the

king forced all men to become Christians; but the wind came stiff

against them, and drove them back to Nidarholm.  They who

directed the ships were Thorarin Nefjulson, the skald Halfred

Ottarson, Brand the Generous, and Thorleik, Brand's son.  It was

told the king that there were Icelanders with ships there, and

all were heathen, and wanted to fly from a meeting with the king.

Then the king sent them a message forbidding them to sail, and

ordering them to bring their ships up to the town, which they

did, but without discharging the cargoes.  (They carried on their

dealings and held a market at the king's pier.  In spring they

tried three times to slip away, but never succeeded; so they

continued lying at the king's pier.  It happened one fine day

that many set out to swim for amusement, and among them was a man

who distinguished himself above the others in all bodily

exercises.  Kjartan challenged Halfred Vandredaskald to try

himself in swimming against this man, but he declined it.  "Then

will I make a trial," said Kjartan, casting off his clothes, and

springing into the water.  Then he set after the man, seizes hold

of his foot, and dives with him under water.  They come up again,

and without speaking a word dive again, and are much longer under

water than the first time.  They come up again, and without

saying a word dive a third time, until Kjartan thought it was

time to come up again, which, however, he could in no way

accomplish, which showed sufficiently the difference in their

strength.  They were under water so long that Kjartan was almost

drowned.  They then came up, and swam to land.  This Northman

asked what the Icelander's name was.  Kjartan tells his name.

He says, "Thou art a good swimmer; but art thou expert also in

other exercises?"

Kjartan replied, that such expertness was of no great value.

The Northman asks, "Why dost thou not inquire of me such things

as I have asked thee about?"

Kjartan replies, "It is all one to me who thou art, or what thy

name is."

"Then will I," says he, "tell thee: I am Olaf Trygvason."

He asked Kjartan much about Iceland, which he answered generally,

and wanted to withdraw as hastily as he could; but the king said,

"Here is a cloak which I will give thee, Kjartan."  And Kjartan

took the cloak with many thanks.)" (1)

ENDNOTES:

(1)  The part included in parenthesis is not found in the

     original text of "Heimskringla", but taken from "Codex

     Frisianus".

89. BAPTISM OF THE ICELANDERS.

When Michaelmas came, the king had high mass sung with great

splendour.  The Icelanders went there, listening to the fine

singing and the sound of the bells; and when they came back to

their ships every man told his opinion of the Christian man's

worship.  Kjartan expressed his pleasure at it, but most of the

others scoffed at it; and it went according to the proverb, "the

king had many ears," for this was told to the king.  He sent

immediately that very day a message to Kjartan to come to him.

Kjartan went with some men, and the king received him kindly.

Kjartan was a very stout and handsome man, and of ready and

agreeable speech.  After the king and Kjartan had conversed a

little, the king asked him to adopt Christianity.  Kjartan

replies, that he would not say no to that, if he thereby obtained

the king's friendship; and as the king promised him the fullest

friendship, they were soon agreed.  The next day Kjartan was

baptized, together with his relation Bolle Thorlakson, and all

their fellow-travelers.  Kjartan and Bolle were the king's guests

as long as they were in their white baptismal clothes, and the

king had much kindness for them.  Wherever they came they were

looked upon as people of distinction.

90. HALFRED VANDREDASKALD BAPTIZED.

As King Olaf one day was walking in the street some men met him,

and he who went the foremost saluted the king.  The king asked

the man his name, and he called himself Halfred.

"Art thou the skald?" said the king.

"I can compose poetry," replied he.

"Wilt thou then adopt Christianity, and come into my service?"

asked the king.

"If I am baptized," replies he, "it must be on one condition, --

that thou thyself art my godfather; for no other will I have."

The king replies, "That I will do."  And Halfred was baptized,

the king holding him during the baptism.

Afterwards the king said, "Wilt thou enter into my service?"

Halfred replied, "I was formerly in Earl Hakon's court; but now I

will neither enter into thine nor into any other service, unless

thou promise me it shall never be my lot to be driven away from

thee."

"It has been reported to me," said the king, "that thou are

neither so prudent nor so obedient as to fulfil my commands."

"In that case," replied Halfred, "put me to death."

"Thou art a skald who composes difficulties," says the king; "but

into my service, Halfred, thou shalt be received."

Halfred says, "if I am to be named the composer of difficulties,

what cost thou give me, king, on my name-day?"

The king gave him a sword without a scabbard, and said, "Now

compose me a song upon this sword, and let the word sword be in

every line of the strophe." Halfred sang thus:

     "This sword of swords is my reward.

     For him who knows to wield a sword,

     And with his sword to serve his lord,

     Yet wants a sword, his lot is hard.

     I would I had my good lord's leave

     For this good sword a sheath to choose:

     I'm worth three swords when men use,

     But for the sword-sheath now I grieve."

Then the king gave him the scabbard, observing that the word

sword was wanting in one line of his strophe.  "But there instead

are three swords in one of the lines," says Halfred.  "That is

true," replies the king. -- Out of Halfred's lays we have taken

the most of the true and faithful accounts that are here related

about Olaf Trygvason.

91. THANGBRAND RETURNS FROM ICELAND.

The same harvest (A.D. 999) Thangbrand the priest came back from

Iceland to King Olaf, and told the ill success of his journey;

namely, that the Icelanders had made lampoons about him; and that

some even sought to kill him, and there was little hope of that

country ever being made Christian.  King Olaf was so enraged at

this, that he ordered all the Icelanders to be assembled by sound

of horn, and was going to kill all who were in the town, but

Kjartan, Gissur, and Hjalte, with the other Icelanders who had

become Christians, went to him, and said, "King, thou must not

fail from thy word -- that however much any man may irritate

thee, thou wilt forgive him if he turn from heathenism and become

Christian.  All the Icelanders here are willing to be baptized;

and through them we may find means to bring Christianity into

Iceland: for there are many amongst them, sons of considerable

people in Iceland, whose friends can advance the cause; but the

priest Thangbrand proceeded there as he did here in the court,

with violence and manslaughter, and such conduct the people there

would not submit to."  The king harkened to those remonstrances;

and all the Iceland men who were there were baptized.

92. OF KING OLAF'S FEATS.

King Olaf was more expert in all exercises than any man in Norway

whose memory is preserved to us in sagas; and he was stronger and

more agile than most men, and many stories are written down about

it.  One is that he ascended the Smalsarhorn, and fixed his

shield upon the very peak.  Another is, that one of his followers

had climbed up the peak after him, until he came to where he

could neither get up nor down; but the king came to his help,

climbed up to him, took him under his arm, and bore him to the

flat ground.  King Olaf could run across the oars outside of the

vessel while his men were rowing the Serpent.  He could play with

three daggers, so that one was always in the air, and he took the

one falling by the handle.  He could walk all round upon the

ship's rails, could strike and cut equally well with both hands,

and could cast two spears at once.  King Olaf was a very merry

frolicsome man; gay and social; was very violent in all respects;

was very generous; was very finical in his dress, but in battle

he exceeded all in bravery.  He was distinguished for cruelty

when he was enraged, and tortured many of his enemies.  Some he

burnt in fire; some he had torn in pieces by mad dogs; some he

had mutilated, or cast down from high precipices.  On this

account his friends were attached to him warmly, and his enemies

feared him greatly; and thus he made such a fortunate advance in

his undertakings, for some obeyed his will out of the friendliest

zeal, and others out of dread.

93. BAPTISM OF LEIF EIRIKSON.

Leif, a son of Eirik the Red, who first settled in Greenland,

came this summer (A.D. 999) from Greenland to Norway; and as he

met King Olaf he adopted Christianity, and passed the winter

(A.D. 1000) with the king.

94. FALL OF KING GUDROD.

Gudrod, a son of Eirik Bloodaxe and Gunhild, had been ravaging in

the west countries ever since he fled from Norway before the Earl

Hakon.  But the summer before mentioned (A.D. 999), where King

Olaf Trygvason had ruled four years over Norway, Gudrod came to

the country, and had many ships of war with him.  He had sailed

from England; and when he thought himself near to the Norway

coast, he steered south along the land, to the quarter where it

was least likely King Olaf would be.  Gudrod sailed in this way

south to Viken; and as soon as he came to the land he began to

plunder, to subject the people to him, and to demand that they

should accept of him as king.  Now as the country people saw that

a great army was come upon them, they desired peace and terms.

They offered King Gudrod to send a Thing-message over all the

country, and to accept of him at the Thing as king, rather than

suffer from his army; but they desired delay until a fixed day,

while the token of the Thing's assembling was going round through

the land.  The king demanded maintenance during the time this

delay lasted.  The bondes preferred entertaining the king as a

guest, by turns, as long as he required it; and the king accepted

of the proposal to go about with some of his men as a guest from

place to place in the land, while others of his men remained to

guard the ships.  When King Olaf's relations, Hyrning and

Thorgeir, heard of this, they gathered men, fitted out ships, and

went northwards to Viken.  They came in the night with their men

to a place at which King Gudrod was living as a guest, and

attacked him with fire and weapons; and there King Gudrod fell,

and most of his followers.  Of those who were with his ships some

were killed, some slipped away and fled to great distances; and

now were all the sons of Eirik and Gunhild dead.

95. BUILDING OF THE SHIP LONG SERPENT.

The winter after, King Olaf came from Halogaland (A.D. 1000), he

had a great vessel built at Hladhamrar, which was larger than any

ship in the country, and of which the beam-knees are still to be

seen.  The length of keel that rested upon the grass was seventy-

four ells.  Thorberg Skafhog was the man's name who was the

master-builder of the ship; but there were many others besides,

-- some to fell wood, some to shape it, some to make nails, some

to carry timber; and all that was used was of the best.  The ship

was both long and broad and high-sided, and strongly timbered.

While they were planking the ship, it happened that Thorberg had

to go home to his farm upon some urgent business; and as he

remained there a long time, the ship was planked up on both sides

when he came back.  In the evening the king went out, and

Thorberg with him, to see how the vessel looked, and everybody

said that never was seen so large and so beautiful a ship of

war.  Then the king returned to the town.  Early next morning the

king returns again to the ship, and Thorberg with him.  The

carpenters were there before them, but all were standing idle

with their arms across.  The king asked, "what was the matter?"

They said the ship was destroyed; for somebody had gone from,

stem to stern, and cut one deep notch after the other down the

one side of the planking.  When the king came nearer he saw it

was so, and said, with an oath, "The man shall die who has thus

destroyed the vessel out of envy, if he can be discovered, and I

shall bestow a great reward on whoever finds him out."

"I can tell you, king," said Thorberg, "who has done this piece

of work." --

"I don't think," replies the king, "that any one is so likely to

find it out as thou art."

Thorberg says, "I will tell you, king, who did it.  I did it

myself."

The king says, "Thou must restore it all to the same condition as

before, or thy life shall pay for it."

Then Thorberg went and chipped the planks until the deep notches

were all smoothed and made even with the rest; and the king and

all present declared that the ship was much handsomer on the side

of the hull which Thorberg, had chipped, and bade him shape the

other side in the same way; and gave him great thanks for the

improvement.  Afterwards Thorberg was the master builder of the

ship until she was entirely finished.  The ship was a dragon,

built after the one the king had captured in Halogaland; but this

ship was far larger, and more carefully put together in all her

parts.  The king called this ship Serpent the Long, and the

other Serpent the Short.  The long Serpent had thirty-four

benches for rowers.  The head and the arched tail were both gilt,

and the bulwarks were as high as in sea-going ships.  This ship

was the best and most costly ship ever made in Norway.

96. EARL EIRIK, THE SON OF HAKON.

Earl Eirik, the son of Earl Hakon, and his brothers, with many

other valiant men their relations, had left the country after

Earl Hakon's fall.  Earl Eirik went eastwards to Svithjod, to

Olaf, the Swedish king, and he and his people were well received.

King Olaf gave the earl peace and freedom in the land, and great

fiefs; so that he could support himself and his men well.  Thord

Kolbeinson speaks of this in the verses before given.  Many

people who fled from the country on account of King Olaf

Trygvason came out of Norway to Earl Eirik; and the earl resolved

to fit out ships and go a-cruising, in order to get property for

himself and his people.  First he steered to Gotland, and lay

there long in summer watching for merchant vessels sailing

towards the land, or for vikings.  Sometimes he landed and

ravaged all round upon the sea-coasts.  So it is told in the

"Banda-drapa": --

     "Eirik, as we have lately heard,

     Has waked the song of shield and sword --

     Has waked the slumbering storm of shields

     Upon the vikings' water-fields:

     From Gotland's lonely shore has gone

     Far up the land, and battles won:

     And o'er the sea his name is spread,

     To friends a shield, to foes a dread."

Afterwards Earl Eirik sailed south to Vindland, and at Stauren

found some viking ships, and gave them battle.  Eirik gained the

victory, and slew the vikings.  So it is told in the "Banda-

drapa": --

     "Earl Eirik, he who stoutly wields

     The battle-axe in storm of shields,

     With his long ships surprised the foe

     At Stauren, and their strength laid low

     Many a corpse floats round the shore;

     The strand with dead is studded o'er:

     The raven tears their sea-bleached skins --

     The land thrives well when Eirik wins."

97. EIRIK'S FORAY ON THE BALTIC COASTS.

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.

98. KING SVEIN'S MARRIAGE.

The Danish king, Svein Tjuguskeg, was married to Gunhild, a

daughter of Burizleif, king of the Vinds.  But in the times we

have just been speaking of it happened that Queen Gunhild fell

sick and died.  Soon after King Svein married Sigrid the Haughty,

a daughter of Skoglartoste, and mother of the Swedish king Olaf;

and by means of this relationship there was great friendship

between the kings and Earl Eirik, Hakon's son.

99. KING BURIZLEIF'S MARRIAGE.

Burizleif, the king of the Vinds, complained to his relation Earl

Sigvalde, that the agreement was broken which Sigvalde had made

between King Svein and King Burizleif, by which Burizleif was to

get in marriage Thyre, Harald's daughter, a sister of King Svein:

but that marriage had not proceeded, for Thyre had given positive

no to the proposal to marry her to an old and heathen king.

"Now," said King Burizleif to Earl Sigvalde, "I must have the

promise fulfilled."  And he told Earl Sigvalde to go to Denmark,

and bring him Thyre as his queen.  Earl Sigvalde loses no time,

but goes to King Svein of Denmark, explains to him the case; and

brings it so far by his persuasion, that the king delivered his

sister Thyre into his hands.  With her went some female

attendants, and her foster-father, by name Ozur Agason, a man of

great power, and some other people.  In the agreement between the

king and the earl, it was settled that Thyre should have in

property the possessions which Queen Gunhild had enjoyed in

Vindland, besides other great properties as bride-gifts.  Thyre

wept sorely, and went very unwillingly.  When the earl came to

Vindland, Burizleif held his wedding with Queen Thyre, and

received her in marriage; bus as long as she was among heathens

she would neither eat nor drink with them, and this lasted for

seven days.

100. OLAF GETS THYRE IN MARRIAGE.

It happened one night that Queen Thyre and Ozur ran away in the

dark, and into the woods, and, to be short in our story, came at

last to Denmark.  But here Thyre did not dare to remain, knowing

that if her brother King Svein heard of her, he would send her

back directly to Vindland.  She went on, therefore, secretly to

Norway, and never stayed her journey until she fell in with King

Olaf, by whom she was kindly received.  Thyre related to the king

her sorrows, and entreated his advice in her need, and protection

in his kingdom.  Thyre was a well-spoken woman, and the king had

pleasure in her conversation.  He saw she was a handsome woman,

and it came into his mind that she would be a good match; so he

turns the conversation that way, and asks if she will marry him.

Now, as she saw that her situation was such that she could not

help herself, and considered what a luck it was for her to marry

so celebrated a man, she bade him to dispose himself of her hand

and fate; and, after nearer conversation, King Olaf took Thyre in

marriage.  This wedding was held in harvest after the king

returned from Halogaland (A.D. 999), and King Olaf and Queen

Thyre remained all winter (A.D. 1000) at Nidaros.

The following spring Queen Thyre complained often to King Olaf,

and wept bitterly over it, that she who had so great property in

Vindland had no goods or possessions here in the country that

were suitable for a queen; and sometimes she would entreat the

king with fine words to get her property restored to her, and

saying that King Burizleif was so great a friend of King Olaf

that he would not deny King Olaf anything if they were to meet.

But when King Olaf's friends heard of such speeches, they

dissuaded him from any such expedition.  It is related at the

king one day early in spring was walking in the street, and met a

man in the market with many, and, for that early season,

remarkably large angelica roots.  The king took a great stalk of

the angelica in his hand, and went home to Queen Thyre's lodging.

Thyre sat in her room weeping as the king came in.  The king

said, "Set here, queen, is a great angelica stalk, which I give

thee."  She threw it away, and said, "A greater present Harald

Gormson gave to my mother; and he was not afraid to go out of the

land and take his own.  That was shown when he came here to

Norway, and laid waste the greater part of the land, and seized

on all the scat and revenues; and thou darest not go across the

Danish dominions for this brother of mine, King Svein."  As she

spoke thus, King Olaf sprang up, and answered with loud oath,

"Never did I fear thy brother King Svein; and if we meet he shall

give way before me!"

101. OLAF'S LEVY FOR WAR.

Soon after the king convoked a Thing in the town, and proclaimed

to all the public, that in summer would go abroad upon an

expedition out of the country, and would raise both ships and men

from every district; and at the same time fixed how many ships

would have from the whole Throndhjem fjord.  Then he sent his

message-token south and north, both along the sea-coast and up in

the interior of the country, to let an army be gathered.  The

king ordered the Long Serpent to be put into the water, along

with all his other ships both small and great.  He himself

steered the Long Serpent.  When the crews were taken out for the

ships, they were so carefully selected that no man on board the

Long Serpent was older than sixty or younger than twenty years,

and all were men distinguished for strength and courage.  Those

who were Olaf's bodyguard were in particular chosen men, both of

the natives and of foreigners, and the boldest and strongest.

102. CREW ON BOARD OF THE LONG SERPENT.

Ulf the Red was the name of the man who bore King Olaf's banner,

and was in the forecastle of the Long Serpent; and with him was

Kolbjorn the marshal, Thorstein Uxafot, and Vikar of Tiundaland,

a brother of Arnliot Gelline.  By the bulkhead next the

forecastle were Vak Raumason from Gaut River, Berse the Strong,

An Skyte from Jamtaland, Thrand the Strong from Thelamork, and

his brother Uthyrmer.  Besides these were, of Halogaland men,

Thrand Skjalge and Ogmund Sande, Hlodver Lange from Saltvik, and

Harek Hvasse; together with these Throndhjem men -- Ketil the

High, Thorfin Eisle, Havard and his brothers from Orkadal.  The

following were in the fore-hold: Bjorn from Studla, Bork from the

fjords.  Thorgrim Thjodolfson from Hvin, Asbjorn and Orm, Thord

from Njardarlog, Thorstein the White from Oprustadar, Arnor from

More, Halstein and Hauk from the Fjord district, Eyvind Snak,

Bergthor Bestil, Halkel from Fialer, Olaf Dreng, Arnfin from

Sogn, Sigurd Bild, Einar from Hordaland, and Fin, and Ketil from

Rogaland and Grjotgard the Brisk.  The following were in the hold

next the mast: Einar Tambaskelfer, who was not reckoned as fully

experienced, being only eighteen years old; Thorstein Hlifarson,

Thorolf, Ivar Smetta, and Orm Skogarnef.  Many other valiant men

were in the Serpent, although we cannot tell all their names.  In

every half division of the hold were eight men, and each and all

chosen men; and in the fore-hold were thirty men.  It was a

common saying among people, that the Long Serpent's crew was as

distinguished for bravery, strength, and daring, among other men,

as the Long Serpent was distinguished among other ships.  Thorkel

Nefja, the king's brother, commanded the Short Serpent; and

Thorkel Dydril and Jostein, the king's mother's brothers, had the

Crane; and both these ships were well manned.  King Olaf had

eleven large ships from Throndhjem, besides vessels with twenty

rowers' benches, smaller vessels, and provision-vessels.

103. ICELAND BAPTIZED.

When King Olaf had nearly rigged out his fleet in Nidaros, he

appointed men over the Throndhjem country in all districts and

communities.  He also sent to Iceland Gissur the White and Hjalte

Skeggjason, to proclaim Christianity there; and sent with them a

priest called Thormod, along with several men in holy orders.

But he retained with him, as hostages, four Icelanders whom he

thought the most important; namely, Kjartan Olafson, Haldor

Gudmundson, Kolbein Thordson, and Sverting Runolfson.  Of Gissur

and Hjalte's progress, it is related that they came to Iceland

before the Althing, and went to the Thing; and in that Thing

Christianity was introduced by law into Iceland, and in the

course of the summer all the people were baptized (A.D. 1000).

104. GREENLAND BAPTIZED

The same spring King Olaf also sent Leif Eirikson (A.D. 1000) to

Greenland to proclaim Christianity there, and Leif went there

that summer.  In the ocean he took up the crew of a ship which

had been lost, and who were clinging to the wreck.  He also found

Vinland the Good; arrived about harvest in Greenland; and had

with him for it a priest and other teachers, with whom he went to

Brattahild to lodge with his father Eirik.  People called him

afterwards Leif the Lucky: but his father Eirik said that his

luck and ill luck balanced each other; for if Leif had saved a

wreck in the ocean, he had brought a hurtful person with him to

Greenland, and that was the priest.

105. RAGNVALD SENDS MESSENGERS TO OLAF.

The winter after King Olaf had baptized Halogaland, he and Queen

Thyre were in Nidaros; and the summer before Queen Thyre had

brought King Olaf a boy child, which was both stout and

promising, and was called Harald, after its mother's father.  The

king and queen loved the infant exceedingly, and rejoiced in the

hope that it would grow up and inherit after its father; but it

lived barely a year after its birth, which both took much to

heart.  In that winter were many Icelanders and other clever men

in King Olaf's house, as before related.  His sister Ingebjorg,

Trygve's daughter, King Olaf's sister, was also at the court at

that time.  She was beautiful in  appearance, modest and frank

with the people, had a steady manly judgment, and was beloved of

all.  She was very fond of the Icelanders who were there, but

most of Kjartan Olafson, for he had been longer than the others

in the king's house; and he found it always amusing to converse

with her, for she had both understanding and cleverness in talk.

The king was always gay and full of mirth in his intercourse with

people; and often asked about the manners of the great men and

chiefs in the neighbouring countries, when strangers from Denmark

or Sweden came to see him.  The summer before Halfred

Vandredaskald had come from Gautland, where he had been with Earl

Ragnvald, Ulf's son, who had lately come to the government of

West Gautland.  Ulf, Ragnvald's father, was a brother of Sigurd

the Haughty; so that King Olaf the Swede and Earl Ragnvald were

brother's and sister's children.  Halfred told Olaf many things

about the earl: he said he was an able chief, excellently fitted

for governing, generous with money, brave and steady in

friendship.  Halfred said also the earl desired much the

friendship of King Olaf, and had spoken of making court

Ingebjorg, Trygve's daughter.  The same winter came ambassadors

from Gautland, and fell in with King Olaf in the north, in

Nidaros, and brought the message which Halfred had spoken of, --

that the earl desired to be King Olaf's entire friend, and wished

to become his brother-in-law by obtaining his sister Ingebjorg in

marriage.  Therewith the ambassadors laid before the king

sufficient tokens in proof that in reality they came from the

earl on this errand.  The king listened with approbation to their

speech; but said that Ingebjorg must determine on his assent to

the marriage.  The king then talked to his sister about the

matter, and asked her opinion about it.  She answered to this

effect, -- "I have been with you for some time, and you have

shown brotherly care and tender respect for me ever since you

came to the country.  I will agree therefore to your proposal

about my marriage, provided that you do not marry me to a heathen

man." The king said it should be as she wished.  The king then

spoke to the ambassadors; and it was settled before they

departed that in summer Earl Ragnvald should meet the king in the

east parts of the country, to enter into the fullest friendship

with each other, and when they met they would settle about the

marriage.  With this reply the earl's messengers went westward,

and King Olaf remained all winter in Nidaros in great splendour,

and with many people about him.

106. OLAF SENDS EXPEDITION TO VINDLAND.

King Olaf proceeded in summer with his ships and men southwards

along the land (and past Stad.  With him were Queen Thyre and

Ingebjorg, Trygveis daughter, the king's sister).  Many of his

friends also joined him, and other persons of consequence who had

prepared themselves to travel with the king.  The first man among

these was his brother-in-law, Erling Skjalgson, who had with him

a large ship of thirty benches of rowers, and which was in every

respect well equipt.  His brothers-in-law Hyrning and Thorgeir

also joined him, each of whom for himself steered a large vessel;

and many other powerful men besides followed him.  (With all this

war-force he sailed southwards along the land; but when he came

south as far as Rogaland he stopped there, for Erling Skjalgson

had prepared for him a splendid feast at Sole.  There Earl

Ragnvald, Ulf's son, from Gautland, came to meet the king, and to

settle the business which had been proposed ;n winter in the

messages between them, namely, the marriage with Ingebjorg the

king's sister.  Olaf received him kindly; and when the matter

came to be spoken of, the king said he would keep his word, and

marry his sister Ingebjorg to him, provided he would accept the

true faith, and make all his subjects he ruled over in his land

be baptized; The earl agreed to this, and he and all his

followers were baptized.  Now was the feast enlarged that Erling

had prepared, for the earl held his wedding there with Ingebjorg

the king's sister.  King Olaf had now married off all his

sisters.  The earl, with Ingebjorg, set out on his way home; and

the king sent learned men with him to baptize the people in

Gautland, and to teach them the right faith and morals.  The king

and the earl parted in the greatest friendship.)

107. OLAF'S EXPEDITION VINDLAND.

(After his sister Ingebjorg's wedding, the king made ready in all

haste to leave the country with his army, which was both great

and made up of fine men.)  When he left the land and sailed

southwards he had sixty ships of war, with which he sailed past

Denmark, and in through the Sound, and on to Vindland.  He

appointed a meeting with King Burizleif; and when the kings met,

they spoke about the property which King Olaf demanded, and the

conference went off peaceably, as a good account was given of the

properties which King Olaf thought himself entitled to there.  He

passed here much of the summer, and found many of his old

friends.

108. CONSPIRACY AGAINST KING OLAF.

The Danish king, Svein Tjuguskeg, was married, as before related,

to Sigrid the Haughty.  Sigrid was King Olaf Trygvason's greatest

enemy; the cause of which, as before said, was that King Olaf had

broken off with her, and had struck her in the face.  She urged

King Svein much to give battle to King Olaf Trygvason; saying

that he had reason enough, as Olaf had married his sister Thyre

without his leave, "and that your predecessors would not have

submitted to."  Such persuasions Sigrid had often in her mouth;

and at last she brought it so far that Svein resolved firmly on

doing so.  Early in spring King Svein sent messengers eastward

into Svithjod, to his son-in-law Olaf, the Swedish king, and to

Earl Eirik; and informed them that King Olaf of Norway was

levying men for an expedition, and intended in summer to go to

Vindland.  To this news the Danish king added an invitation to

the Swedish king and Earl Eirik to meet King Svein with an army,

so that all together they might make an attack; on King Olaf

Trygvason.  The Swedish king and Earl Eirik were ready enough for

this, and immediately assembled a great fleet and an army through

all Svithjod, with which they sailed southwards to Denmark, and

arrived there after King Olaf Trygvason had sailed to the

eastward.  Haldor the Unchristian tells of this in his lay on

Earl Eirik: --

     "The king-subduer raised a host

     Of warriors on the Swedish coast.

     The brave went southwards to the fight,

     Who love the sword-storm's gleaming light;

     The brave, who fill the wild wolf's mouth,

     Followed bold Eirik to the south;

     The brave, who sport in blood -- each one

     With the bold earl to sea is gone."

The Swedish king and Earl Eirik sailed to meet the Danish king,

and they had all, when together, an immense force.

109. EARL SIGVALDE'S TREACHEROUS PLANS.

At the same time that king Svein sent a message to Svithjod for

an army, he sent Earl Sigvalde to Vindland to spy out King Olaf

Trygvason's proceedings, and to bring it about by cunning devices

that King Svein and King Olaf should fall in with each other.  So

Sigvalde sets out to go to Vindland.  First, he came to Jomsborg,

and then he sought out King Olaf Trygvason.  There was much

friendship in their conversation, and the earl got himself into

great favour with the king.  Astrid, the Earl's wife, King

Burizleif's daughter, was a great friend of King Olaf Trygvason,

particularly on account of the connection which had been between

them when Olaf was married to her sister Geira.  Earl Sigvalde

was a prudent, ready-minded man; and as he had got a voice in

King Olaf's council, he put him off much from sailing homewards,

finding various reasons for delay.  Olaf's people were in the

highest degree dissatisfied with this; for the men were anxious

to get home, and they lay ready to sail, waiting only for a wind.

At last Earl Sigvalde got a secret message from Denmark that the

Swedish king's army was arrived from the east, and that Earl

Eirik's also was ready; and that all these chiefs had resolved to

sail eastwards to Vindland, and wait for King Olaf at an island

which is called Svold.  They also desired the earl to contrive

matters so that they should meet King Olaf there.

110. KING OLAF'S VOYAGE FROM VINDLAND.

There came first a flying report to Vindland that the Danish

king, Svein, had fitted out an army; and it was soon whispered

that he intended to attack King Olaf.  But Earl Sigvalde says to

King Olaf, "It never can be King Svein's intention to venture

with the Danish force alone, to give battle to thee with such a

powerful army; but if thou hast any suspicion that evil is on

foot, I will follow thee with my force (at that time it was

considered a great matter to have Jomsborg vikings with an army),

and I will give thee eleven well-manned ships."  The king

accepted this offer; and as the light breeze of wind that came

was favourable, he ordered the ships to get under weigh, and the

war-horns to sound the departure.  The sails were hoisted and all

the small vessels, sailing fastest, got out to sea before the

others.  The earl, who sailed nearest to the king's ship, called

to those on board to tell the king to sail in his keel-track:

"For I know where the water is deepest between the islands and in

the sounds, and these large ships require the deepest."  Then the

earl sailed first with his eleven ships, and the king followed

with his large ships, also eleven in number; but the whole of the

rest of the fleet sailed out to sea.  Now when Earl Sigvalde came

sailing close under the island Svold, a skiff rowed out to inform

the earl that the Danish king's army was lying in the harbour

before them.  Then the earl ordered the sails of his vessels to

be struck, and they rowed in under the island.  Haldor the

Unchristian says: --

     "From out the south bold Trygve's son

     With one-and-seventy ships came on,

     To dye his sword in bloody fight,

     Against the Danish foeman's might.

     But the false earl the king betrayed;

     And treacherous Sigvalde, it is said,

     Deserted from King Olaf's fleet,

     And basely fled, the Danes to meet."

It is said here that King Olaf and Earl Sigvalde had seventy sail

of vessels: and one more, when they sailed from the south.

111. CONSULTATION OF THE KINGS.

The Danish King Svein, the Swedish King Olaf, and Earl Eirik,

were there with all their forces (1000).  The weather being fine

and clear sunshine, all these chiefs, with a great suite, went

out on the isle to see the vessels sailing out at sea, and many

of them crowded together; and they saw among them one large and

glancing ship.  The two kings said, "That is a large and very

beautiful vessel: that will be the Long Serpent."

Earl Eirik replied, "That is not the Long Serpent."  And he was

right; for it was the ship belonging to Eindride of Gimsar.

Soon after they saw another vessel coming sailing along much

larger than the first; then says King Svein, "Olaf Trygvason must

be afraid, for he does not venture to sail with the figure-head

of the dragon upon his ship."

Says Earl Eirik, "That is not the king's ship yet; for I know

that ship by the coloured stripes of cloth in her sail.  That is

Erling Skialgson's.  Let him sail; for it is the better for us

that the ship is away from Olaf's fleet, so well equipt as she

is."

Soon after they saw and knew Earl Sigvalde's ships, which turned

in and laid themselves under the island.  Then they saw three

ships coming along under sail, and one of them very large.  King

Svein ordered his men to go to their ships, "for there comes the

Long Serpent."

Earl Eirik says, "Many other great and stately vessels have they

besides the Long Serpent.  Let us wait a little."

Then said many, "Earl Eirik will not fight and avenge his father;

and it is a great shame that it should be told that we lay here

with so great a force, and allowed King Olaf to sail out to sea

before our eyes."

But when they had spoken thus for a short time, they saw four

ships coming sailing along, of which one had a large dragon-head

richly gilt.  Then King Svein stood up and said, "That dragon

shall carry me this evening high, for I shall steer it."

Then said many, "The Long Serpent is indeed a wonderfully large

and beautiful vessel, and it shows a great mind to have built

such a ship."

Earl Eirik said so loud that several persons heard him, "If King

Olaf had no ether vessels but only that one, King Svein would

never take it from him with the Danish force alone."

Thereafter all the people rushed on board their ships, took down

the tents, and in all haste made ready for battle.

While the chiefs were speaking among themselves as above related,

they saw three very large ships coming sailing along, and at last

after them a fourth, and that was the Long Serpent.  Of the large

ships which had gone before, and which they had taken for the

Long Serpent, the first was the Crane; the one after that was the

Short Serpent; and when they really, saw the Long Serpent, all

knew, and nobody had a word to say against it, that it must be

Olaf Trygvason who was sailing in such a vessel; and they went to

their ships to arm for the fight.

An agreement had been concluded among the chiefs, King Svein,

King Olaf the Swede, and Earl Eirik, that they should divide

Norway among them in three parts, in case they succeeded against

Olaf Trygvason; but that he of the chiefs who should first board

the Serpent should have her, and all the booty found in her, and

each should have the ships he cleared for himself.  Earl Eirik

had a large ship of war which he used upon his viking

expeditions; and there was an iron beard or comb above on both

sides of the stem, and below it a thick iron plate as broad as

the combs, which went down quite to the gunnel.

112. OF KING OLAF'S PEOPLE.

When Earl Sigvalde with his vessels rowed in under the island,

Thorkel Dydril of the Crane, and the other ship commanders who

sailed with him, saw that he turned his ships towards the isle,

and thereupon let fall the sails, and rowed after him, calling

out, and asking why he sailed that way.  The Earl answered, that

he was waiting for king Olaf, as he feared there were enemies in

the water.  They lay upon their oars until Thorkel Nefia came up

with the Short Serpent and the three ships which followed him.

When they told them the same they too struck sail, and let the

ships drive, waiting for king Olaf.  But when the king sailed in

towards the isle, the whole enemies' fleet came rowing within

them out to the Sound.  When they saw this they begged the king

to hold on his way, and not risk battle with so great a force.

The king replied, high on the quarter-deck where he stood,

"Strike the sails; never shall men of mine think of flight.  I

never fled from battle.  Let God dispose of my life, but flight I

shall never take."  It was done as the king commanded.  Halfred

tells of it thus: --

     "And far and wide the saying bold

     Of the brave warrior shall be told.

     The king, in many a fray well tried,

     To his brave champions round him cried,

     `My men shall never learn from me

     From the dark weapon-cloud to flee.'

     Nor were the brave words spoken then

     Forgotten by his faithful men."

113. OLAF'S SHIPS PREPARED FOR BATTLE.

King Olaf ordered the war-horns to sound for all his ships to

close up to each other.  The king's ship lay in the middle of the

line, and on one side lay the Little Serpent, and on the other

the Crane; and as they made fast the stems together (1), the Long

Serpent's stem and the short Serpent's were made fast together;

but when the king saw it he called out to his men, and ordered

them to lay the larger ship more in advance, so that its stern

should not lie so far behind in the fleet.

Then says Ulf the Red, "If the Long Serpent is to lie as much

more ahead of the other ships as she is longer than them, we

shall have hard work of it here on the forecastle."

The king replies, "I did not think I had a forecastle man afraid

as well as red."

Says Ulf, "Defend thou the quarterdeck as I shall the

forecastle."

The king had a bow in his hands, and laid an arrow on the string,

and aimed at Ulf.

Ulf said, "Shoot another way, king, where it is more needful: my

work is thy gain."

ENDNOTES:

(1)  The mode of fighting in sea battles appears, from this and

     many other descriptions, to have been for each party to bind

     together the stems and sterns of their own ships, forming

     them thus into a compact body as soon aa the fleets came

     within fighting distance, or within spears' throw.  They

     appear to have fought principally from the forecastles; and

     to have used grappling irons for dragging a vessel out of

     the line, or within boarding distance. -- L.

114. OF KING OLAF.

King Olaf stood on the Serpent's quarterdeck, high over the

others.  He had a gilt shield, and a helmet inlaid with gold;

over his armour he had a short red coat, and was easy to be

distinguished from other men.  When King Olaf saw that the

scattered forces of the enemy gathered themselves together under

the banners of their ships, he asked, "Who is the chief of the

force right opposite to us?"

He was answered, that it was King Svein with the Danish army.

The king replies, "We are not afraid of these soft Danes, for

there is no bravery in them; but who are the troops on the right

of the Danes?"

He was answered, that it was King Olaf with the Swedish forces.

"Better it were," says King Olaf, "for these Swedes to be sitting

at home killing their sacrifices, than to be venturing under our

weapons from the Long Serpent.  But who owns the large ships on

the larboard side of the Danes?"

"That is Earl Eirik Hakonson," say they.

The king replies, "He, methinks, has good reason for meeting us;

and we may expect the sharpest conflict with these men, for they

are Norsemen like ourselves."

115. THE BATTLE BEGINS.

The kings now laid out their oars, and prepared to attack (A.D.

1000).  King Svein laid his ship against the Long Serpent.

Outside of him Olaf the Swede laid himself, and set his ship's

stern against the outermost ship of King Olaf's line; and on the

other side lay Earl Eirik.  Then a hard combat began.  Earl

Sigvalde held back with the oars on his ships, and did not join

the fray.  So says Skule Thorsteinson, who at that time was with

Earl Eirik: --

     "I followed Sigvalde in my youth,

     And gallant Eirik, and in truth

     The' now I am grown stiff and old,

     In the spear-song I once was bold.

     Where arrows whistled on the shore

     Of Svold fjord my shield I bore,

     And stood amidst the loudest clash

     When swords on shields made fearful crash."

And Halfred also sings thus: --

     "In truth I think the gallant king,

     Midst such a foemen's gathering,

     Would be the better of some score

     Of his tight Throndhjem lads, or more;

     For many a chief has run away,

     And left our brave king in the fray,

     Two great kings' power to withstand,

     And one great earl's, with his small band,

     The king who dares such mighty deed

     A hero for his skald would need."

116. FLIGHT OF SVEIN AND OLAF THE SWEDE.

This battle was one of the severest told of, and many were the

people slain.  The forecastle men of the Long Serpent, the Little

Serpent, and the Crane, threw grapplings and stem chains into

King Svein's ship, and used their weapons well against the people

standing below them, for they cleared the decks of all the ships

they could lay fast hold of; and King Svein, and all the men who

escaped, fled to other vessels, and laid themselves out of

bow-shot.  It went with this force just as King Olaf Trygvason

had foreseen.  Then King Olaf the Swede laid himself in their

place; but when he came near the great ships it went with him as

with them, for he lost many men and some ships, and was obliged

to get away.  But Earl Eirik laid his ship side by side with the

outermost of King Olaf's ships, thinned it of men, cut the

cables, and let it drive.  Then he laid alongside of the next,

and fought until he had cleared it of men also.  Now all the

people who were in the smaller ships began to run into the

larger, and the earl cut them loose as fast as he cleared them of

men.  The Danes and Swedes laid themselves now out of shooting

distance all around Olaf's ship; but Earl Eirik lay always close

alongside of the ships, and used hid swords and battle-axes, and

as fast as people fell in his vessel others, Danes and Swedes,

came in their place.  So says Haldor, the Unchristian: --

     "Sharp was the clang of shield and sword,

     And shrill the song of spears on board,

     And whistling arrows thickly flew

     Against the Serpent's gallant crew.

     And still fresh foemen, it is said,

     Earl Eirik to her long side led;

     Whole armies of his Danes and Swedes,

     Wielding on high their blue sword-blades."

Then the fight became most severe, and many people fell.  But at

last it came to this, that all King Olaf Trygvason's ships were

cleared of men except the Long Serpent, on board of which all who

could still carry their arms were gathered.  Then Earl Eirik lay

with his ship by the side of the Serpent, and the fight went on

with battle-axe and sword.  So says Haldor: --

     "Hard pressed on every side by foes,

     The Serpent reels beneath the blows;

     Crash go the shields around the bow!

     Breast-plates and breasts pierced thro' and thro!

     In the sword-storm the Holm beside,

     The earl's ship lay alongside

     The king's Long Serpent of the sea --

     Fate gave the earl the victory."

117. OF EARL EIRIK.

Earl Eirik was in the forehold of his ship, where a cover of

shields (1) had been set up.  In the fight, both hewing weapons,

sword, and axe, and the thrust of spears had been used; and all

that could be used as weapon for casting was cast.  Some used

bows, some threw spears with the hand.  So many weapons were cast

into the Serpent, and so thick flew spears and arrows, that the

shields could scarcely receive them, for on all sides the Serpent

was surrounded by war-ships.  Then King Olaf's men became so mad

with rage, that they ran on board of the enemies ships, to get at

the people with stroke of sword and kill them; but many did not

lay themselves so near the Serpent, in order to escape the close

encounter with battle-axe or sword; and thus the most of Olaf's

men went overboard and sank under their weapons, thinking they

were fighting on plain ground.  So says Halfred: --

     "The daring lads shrink not from death; --

     O'erboard they leap, and sink beneath

     The Serpent's keel: all armed they leap,

     And down they sink five fathoms deep.

     The foe was daunted at the cheers;

     The king, who still the Serpent steers,

     In such a strait -- beset with foes --

     Wanted but some more lads like those."

ENDNOTES:

(1)  Both in land and sea fights the commanders appear to have

     been protected from missile weapons, -- stones, arrows,

     spears, -- by a shieldburg: that is, by a party of men

     bearing shields surrounding them in such a way that the

     shields were a parapet, covering those within the circle.

     The Romans had a similar military arrangement of shields in

     sieges -- the testudo. -- L.

118. OF EINAR TAMBARSKELVER.

Einar Tambarskelver, one of the sharpest of bowshooters, stood by

the mast, and shot with his bow.  Einar shot an arrow at Earl

Eirik, which hit the tiller end just above the earl's head so

hard that it entered the wood up to the arrow-shaft.  The earl

looked that way, and asked if they knew who had shot; and at the

same moment another arrow flew between his hand and his side, and

into the stuffing of the chief's stool, so that the barb stood

far out on the other side.  Then said the earl to a man called

Fin, -- but some say he was of Fin (Laplander) race, and was a

superior archer, -- "Shoot that tall man by the mast."  Fin shot;

and the arrow hit the middle of Einar's bow just at the moment

that Einar was drawing it, and the bow was split in two parts.

"What is that."cried King Olaf, "that broke with such a noise?"

"Norway, king, from thy hands," cried Einar.

"No!  not quite so much as that," says the king; "take my bow,

and shoot," flinging the bow to him.

Einar took the bow, and drew it over the head of the arrow.  "Too

weak, too weak," said he, "for the bow of a mighty king!" and,

throwing the bow aside, he took sword and shield, and fought

Valiantly.

119. OLAF GIVES HIS MEN SHARP SWORDS.

The king stood on the gangways of the Long Serpent. and shot the

greater part of the day; sometimes with the bow, sometimes with

the spear, and always throwing two spears at once.  He looked

down over the ship's sides, and saw that his men struck briskly

with their swords, and yet wounded but seldom.  Then he called

aloud, "Why do ye strike so gently that ye seldom cut?"  One

among the people answered, "The swords are blunt and full of

notches."  Then the king went down into the forehold, opened the

chest under the throne, and took out many sharp swords, which he

handed to his men; but as he stretched down his right hand with

them, some observed that blood was running down under his steel

glove, but no one knew where he was wounded.

120. THE SERPENT BOARDED.

Desperate was the defence in the Serpent, and there was the

heaviest destruction of men done by the forecastle crew, and

those of the forehold, for in both places the men were chosen

men, and the ship was highest, but in the middle of the ship the

people were thinned.  Now when Earl Eirik saw there were but few

people remaining beside the ship's mast, he determined to board;

and he entered the Serpent with four others.  Then came Hyrning,

the king's brother-in-law, and some others against him, and there

was the most severe combat; and at last the earl was forced to

leap back on board his own ship again, and some who had

accompanied him were killed, and others wounded.  Thord

Kolbeinson alludes to this: --

     "On Odin's deck, all wet with blood,

     The helm-adorned hero stood;

     And gallant Hyrning honour gained,

     Clearing all round with sword deep stained.

     The high mountain peaks shall fall,

     Ere men forget this to recall."

Now the fight became hot indeed, and many men fell on board the

Serpent; and the men on board of her began to be thinned off, and

the defence to be weaker.  The earl resolved to board the Serpent

again, and again he met with a warm reception.  When the

forecastle men of the Serpent saw what he was doing, they went

aft and made a desperate fight; but so many men of the Serpent

had fallen, that the ship's sides were in many places quite bare

of defenders; and the earl's men poured in all around into the

vessel, and all the men who were still able to defend the ship

crowded aft to the king, and arrayed themselves for his defence.

So says Haldor the Unchristian: --

     "Eirik cheers on his men, --

     `On to the charge again!'

     The gallant few

     Of Olaf's crew

     Must refuge take

     On the quarter-deck.

     Around the king

     They stand in ring;

     Their shields enclose

     The king from foes,

     And the few who still remain

     Fight madly, but in vain.

     Eirik cheers on his men --

     `On to the charge again!'"

121. THE SERPENT'S DECKS CLEARED.

Kolbjorn the marshal, who had on clothes and arms like the kings,

and was a remarkably stout and handsome man, went up to king on

the quarter-deck.  The battle was still going on fiercely even in

the forehold (1).  But as many of the earl's men had now got into

the Serpent as could find room, and his ships lay all round her,

and few were the people left in the Serpent for defence against

so great a force; and in a short time most of the Serpent's men

fell, brave and stout though they were.  King Olaf and Kolbjorn

the marshal both sprang overboard, each on his own side of the

ship; but the earl's men had laid out boats around the Serpent,

and killed those who leaped overboard.  Now when the king had

sprung overboard, they tried to seize him with their hands, and

bring him to Earl Eirik; but King Olaf threw his shield over his

head, and sank beneath the waters.  Kolbjorn held his shield

behind him to protect himself from the spears cast at him from

the ships which lay round the Serpent, and he fell so upon his

shield that it came under him, so that he could not sink so

quickly.  He was thus taken and brought into a boat, and they

supposed he was the king.  He was brought before the earl; and

when the earl saw it was Kolbjorn, and not the king, he gave him

his life.  At the same moment all of King Olaf's men who were in

life sprang overboard from the Serpent; and Thorkel Nefia, the

king's brother, was the last of all the men who sprang overboard.

It is thus told concerning the king by Halfred: --

     "The Serpent and the Crane

     Lay wrecks upon the main.

     On his sword he cast a glance, --

     With it he saw no chance.

     To his marshal, who of yore

     Many a war-chance had come o'er,

     He spoke a word -- then drew in breath,

     And sprang to his deep-sea death."

ENDNOTES:

(1)  From the occasional descriptions of vessels in this and

     other battles, it may be inferred that even the Long

     Serpent, described in the 95tb chapter as of 150 feet of

     keel was only docked fore and aft; the thirty-four benches

     for rowers occupying the open area in the middle, and

     probably gangways running along the side for communicating

     from the quarter-deck to the forcastle. -- L.

122. REPORT AMONG THE PEOPLE.

Earl Sigvalde. as before related, came from Vindland, in company

with King Olaf, with ten ships; but the eleventh ship was manned

with the men of Astrid, the king's daughter, the wife of Earl

Sigvalde.  Now when King Olaf sprang overboard, the whole army

raised a shout of victory; and then Earl Sigvalde and his men put

their oars in the water and rowed towards the battle.  Haldor the

Unchristian tells of it thus: --

     "Then first the Vindland vessels came

     Into the fight with little fame;

     The fight still lingered on the wave,

     Tho' hope was gone with Olaf brave.

     War, like a full-fed ravenous beast,

     Still oped her grim jaws for the feast.

     The few who stood now quickly fled,

     When the shout told -- `Olaf is dead!'"

But the Vindland cutter, in which Astrid's men were, rowed back

to Vindland; and the report went immediately abroad and was told

by many, that King Olaf had cast off his coat-of-mail under

water, and had swum, diving under the longships, until he came to

the Vindland cutter, and that Astrid's men had conveyed him to

Vindland: and many tales have been made since about the

adventures of Olaf the king.  Halfred speaks thus about it: --

     "Does Olaf live? or is he dead?

     Has he the hungry ravens fed?

     I scarcely know what I should say,

     For many tell the tale each way.

     This I can say, nor fear to lie,

     That he was wounded grievously --

     So wounded in this bloody strife,

     He scarce could come away with life."

But however this may have been, King Olaf Trygvason never came

back again to his kingdom of Norway.  Halfred Vandredaskald

speaks also thus about it:

     "The witness who reports this thing

     Of Trygvason, our gallant king,

     Once served the king, and truth should tell,

     For Olaf hated lies like hell.

     If Olaf 'scaped from this sword-thing,

     Worse fate, I fear, befel our king

     Than people guess, or e'er can know,

     For he was hemm'd in by the foe.

     From the far east some news is rife

     Of king sore wounded saving life;

     His death, too sure, leaves me no care

     For cobweb rumours in the air.

     It never was the will of fate

     That Olaf from such perilous strait

     Should 'scape with life!  this truth may grieve --

     `What people wish they soon believe.'"

123. OF EARL EIRIK, THE SON OF HAKON.

By this victory Earl Eirik Hakonson became owner of the Long

Serpent, and made a great booty besides; and he steered the

Serpent from the battle.  So says Haldor: --

     "Olaf, with glittering helmet crowned,

     Had steered the Serpent through the Sound;

     And people dressed their boats, and cheered

     As Olaf's fleet in splendour steered.

     But the descendent of great Heming,

     Whose race tells many a gallant sea-king,

     His blue sword in red life-blood stained,

     And bravely Olaf's long ship gained."

Svein, a son of Earl Hakon, and Earl Eirik's brother, was engaged

at this time to marry Holmfrid, a daughter of King Olaf the

Swedish king.  Now when Svein the Danish king, Olaf the Swedish

king, and Earl Eirik divided the kingdom of Norway between them,

King Olaf got four districts in the Throndhjem country, and also

the districts of More and Raumsdal; and in the east part of the

land he got Ranrike, from the Gaut river to Svinasund.  Olaf gave

these dominions into Earl Svein's hands, on the same conditions

as the sub kings or earls had held them formerly from the upper-

king of the country.  Earl Eirik got four districts in the

Throndhjem country, and Halogaland, Naumudal, the Fjord

districts, Sogn, Hordaland, Rogaland, and North Agder, all the

way to the Naze.  So says Thord Kolbeinson: --

     "All chiefs within our land

     On Eirik's side now stand:

     Erling alone, I know

     Remains Earl Eirik's foe.

     All praise our generous earl, --

     He gives, and is no churl:

     All men are well content

     Fate such a chief has sent.

     From Veiga to Agder they,

     Well pleased, the earl obey;

     And all will by him stand,

     To guard the Norsemen's land.

     And now the news is spread

     That mighty Svein is dead,

     And luck is gone from those

     Who were the Norsemen's foes."

The Danish king Svein retained Viken as he had held it before,

but he gave Raumarike and Hedemark to Earl Eirik.  Svein Hakonson

got the title of earl from Olaf the Swedish king.  Svein was one

of the handsomest men ever seen.  The earls Eirik and Svein both

allowed themselves to be baptized, and took up the true faith;

but as long as they ruled in Norway they allowed every one to do

as he pleased in holding by his Christianity.  But, on the other

hand, they held fast by the old laws, and all the old rights and

customs of the land, and were excellent men and good rulers.

Earl Eirik had most to say of the two brothers in all matters of

government.

Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #15b

Olaf Haraldson the Saint's Saga is the longest, the most important, and the most finished of all the sagas in "Heimskringla". The life of Olaf will be found treated more or less freely in "Agrip", in "Historia Norvegiae", in "Thjodrek the Monk", in the legendary saga, and in "Fagrskinna". Other old Norse literature relating to this epoch:

Are's "Islendingabok", "Landnama", "Kristni Saga", "Biskupa- sogur", "Njala", "Gunlaugs Saga", "Ormstungu", "Bjarnar Saga Hitdaelakappa", "Hallfredar Thattr Vandraedaskalde", "Eyrbyggia", "Viga Styrs Saga", "Laxdaela", "Fostbraedra", "Gretla", "Liosvetninga", "Faereyinga", "Orkneyinga".

Olaf Haraldson was born 995, went as a viking at the age of twelve, 1007; visited England, one summer and three winters, 1009-1012; in France two summers and one winter, 1012-1013; spent the winter in Normandy, 1014; returned to Norway and was recognized as King, April 3, 1015; fled from Norway the winter of 1028-1029; fell at Stiklestad, July 29 (or August 31), 1030.

Skalds quoted in this saga are: -- Ottar Svarte, Sigvat Skald, Thord Kolbeinson, Berse Torfason, Brynjolf, Arnor Jarlaskald, Thord Siarekson, Harek, Thorarin Loftunga, Halvard Hareksblese, Bjarne Gulbraskald, Jokul Bardson, Thormod Kolbrunarskald, Gissur, Thorfin Mun, Hofgardaref.

ENDNOTES: (1) King Olaf the Saint reigned from about the year 1015 to 1030. The death of King Olaf Trygvason was in the year 1000: and Earl Eirik held the government for the Danish and Swedish kings about fifteen years. -- L

1. OF SAINT OLAF'S BRINGING UP.

Olaf, Harald Grenske's son, was brought up by his stepfather

Sigurd Syr and his mother Asta.  Hrane the Far-travelled lived in

the house of Asta, and fostered this Olaf Haraldson.  Olaf came

early to manhood, was handsome in countenance, middle-sized in

growth, and was even when very young of good understanding and

ready speech.  Sigurd his stepfather was a careful householder,

who kept his people closely to their work, and often went about

himself to inspect his corn-rigs and meadowland, the cattle, and

also the smith-work, or whatsoever his people had on hand to do.

2. OF OLAF AND KING SIGURD SYR.

It happened one day that King Sigurd wanted to ride from home,

but there was nobody about the house; so he told his stepson Olaf

to saddle his horse.  Olaf went to the goats' pen, took out the

he-goat that was the largest, led him forth, and put the king's

saddle on him, and then went in and told King Sigurd he had

saddled his riding horse.  Now when King Sigurd came out and saw

what Olaf had done, he said "It is easy to see that thou wilt

little regard my orders; and thy mother will think it right that

I order thee to do nothing that is against thy own inclination.

I see well enough that we are of different dispositions, and that

thou art far more proud than I am."  Olaf answered little, but

went his way laughing.

3. OF RING OLAF'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

When Olaf Haraldson grew up he was not tall, but middle-sized in

height, although very thick, and of good strength.  He had light

brown hair, and a broad face, which was white and red.  He had

particularly fine eyes, which were beautiful and piercing, so

that one was afraid to look him in the face when he was angry.

Olaf was very expert in all bodily exercises, understood well to

handle his bow, and was distinguished particularly in throwing

his spear by hand: he was a great swimmer, and very handy, and

very exact and knowing in all kinds of smithwork, whether he

himself or others made the thing.  He was distinct and acute in

conversation, and was soon perfect in understanding and strength.

He was beloved by his friends and acquaintances, eager in his

amusements, and one who always liked to be the first, as it was

suitable he should be from his birth and dignity.  He was called

Olaf the Great.

4. KING OLAF'S WAR EXPEDITION.

Olaf Haraldson was twelve years old when he, for the first time,

went on board a ship of war (A.D. 1007).  His mother Asta got

Hrane, who was called the foster-father of kings, to command a

ship of war and take Olaf under his charge; for Hrane had often

been on war expeditions.  When Olaf in this way got a ship and

men, the crew gave him the title of king; for it was the custom

that those commanders of troops who were of kingly descent, on

going out upon a viking cruise, received the title of king

immediately although they had no land or kingdom.  Hrane sat at

the helm; and some say that Olaf himself was but a common rower,

although he was king of the men-at-arms.  They steered east along

the land, and came first to Denmark.  So says Ottar Svarte, in

his lay which he made about King Olaf: --

     "Young was the king when from his home

     He first began in ships to roam,

     His ocean-steed to ride

     To Denmark o'er the tide.

     Well exercised art thou in truth --

     In manhood's earnest work, brave youth!

     Out from the distant north

     Mighty hast thou come forth."

Towards autumn he sailed eastward to the Swedish dominions, and

there harried and burnt all the country round; for he thought he

had good cause of hostility against the Swedes, as they killed

his father Harald.  Ottar Svarte says distinctly that he came

from the east, out by way of Denmark: --

     "Thy ship from shore to shore,

     With many a well-plied car,

     Across the Baltic foam is dancing. --

     Shields, and spears, and helms glancing!

     Hoist high the swelling sail

     To catch the freshening gale!

     There's food for the raven-flight

     Where thy sail-winged ship shall light;

          Thy landing-tread

          The people dread;

     And the wolf howls for a feast

     On the shore-side in the east."

5. OLAF'S FIRST BATTLE.

The same autumn Olaf had his first battle at Sotasker, which lies

in the Swedish skerry circle.  He fought there with some vikings,

whose leader was Sote.  Olaf had much fewer men, but his ships

were larger, and he had his ships between some blind rocks, which

made it difficult for the vikings to get alongside; and Olaf's

men threw grappling irons into the ships which came nearest, drew

them up to their own vessels, and cleared them of men.  The

vikings took to flight after losing many men.  Sigvat the skald

tells of this fight in the lay in which he reckons up King Olaf's

battles: --

     "They launch his ship where waves are foaming --

          To the sea shore

          Both mast and oar,

     And sent his o'er the seas a-roaming.

     Where did the sea-king first draw blood?

          In the battle shock

          At Sote's rock;

     The wolves howl over their fresh food."

6. FORAY IN SVITHJOD.

King Olaf steered thereafter eastwards to Svithjod, and into the

Lag (the Maelar lake), and ravaged the land on both sides.  He

sailed all the way up to Sigtuna, and laid his ships close to the

old Sigtuna.  The Swedes say the stone-heaps are still to be seen

which Olaf had laid under the ends of the gangways from the shore

to the ships.  When autumn was advanced, Olaf Haraldson heard

that Olaf the Swedish king was assembling an army, and also that

he had laid iron chains across Stoksund (the channel between the

Maelar lake and the sea), and had laid troops there; for the

Swedish king thought that Olaf Haraldson would be kept in there

till frost came, and he thought little of Olaf's force knowing he

had but few people.  Now when King Olaf Haraldson came to

Stoksund he could not get through, as there was a castle west of

the sound, and men-at-arms lay on the south; and he heard that

the Swedish king was come there with a great army and many ships.

He therefore dug a canal across the flat land Agnafit out to the

sea.  Over all Svithjod all the running waters fall into the

Maelar lake; but the only outlet of it to the sea is so small

that many rivers are wider, and when much rain or snow falls the

water rushes in a great cataract out by Stoksund, and the lake

rises high and floods the land.  It fell heavy rain just at this

time; and as the canal was dug out to the sea, the water and

stream rushed into it.  Then Olaf had all the rudders unshipped

and hoisted all sail aloft.  It was blowing a strong breeze

astern, and they steered with their oars, and the ships came in a

rush over all the shallows, and got into the sea without any

damage.  Now went the Swedes to their king, Olaf, and told him

that Olaf the Great had slipped out to sea; on which the king was

enraged against those who should have watched that Olaf did not

get away.  This passage has since been called King's Sound; but

large vessels cannot pass through it, unless the waters are very

high.  Some relate that the Swedes were aware that Olaf had cut

across the tongue of land, and that the water was falling out

that way; and they flocked to it with the intention to hinder

Olaf from getting away, but the water undermined the banks on

each side so that they fell in with the people, and many were

drowned: but the Swedes contradict this as a false report, and

deny the loss of people.  The king sailed to Gotland in harvest,

and prepared to plunder; but the Gotlanders assembled, and sent

men to the king, offering him a scat.  The king found this would

suit him, and he received the scat, and remained there all

winter.  So says Ottar Svarte: --

     "Thou seaman-prince! thy men are paid:

     The scat on Gotlanders is laid;

          Young man or old

          To our seamen bold

          Must pay, to save his head:

          The Yngling princes fled,

          Eysvssel people bled;

     Who can't defend the wealth they have

     Must die, or share with the rover brave."

7. THE SECOND BATTLE.

It is related here that King Olaf, when spring set in, sailed

east to Eysyssel, and landed and plundered; the Eysyssel men came

down to the strand and grave him battle.  King Olaf gained the

victory, pursued those who fled, and laid waste the land with

fire and sword.  It is told that when King Olaf first came to

Eysvssel they offered him scat, and when the scat was to be

brought down to the strand the king came to meet it with an armed

force, and that was not what the bondes there expected; for they

had brought no scat, but only their weapons with which they

fought against the king, as before related.  So says Sigvat the

skald: --

     "With much deceit and bustle

     To the heath of Eysyssel

     The bondes brought the king,

     To get scat at their weapon-thing.

     But Olaf was too wise

     To be taken by surprise;

     Their legs scarce bore them off

     O'er the common test enough."

8. THE THIRD BATTLE.

After this they sailed to Finland and plundered there, and went

up the country.  All the people fled to the forest, and they had

emptied their houses of all household goods.  The king went far

up the country, and through some woods, and came to some

dwellings in a valley called Herdaler, -- where, however, they

made but small booty, and saw no people; and as it was getting

late in the day, the king turned back to his ships.  Now when

they came into the woods again people rushed upon them from all

quarters, and made a severe attack.  The king told his men to

cover themselves with their shields, but before they got out of

the woods he lost many people, and many were wounded; but at

last, late in the evening, he got to the ships.  The Finlanders

conjured up in the night, by their witchcraft, a dreadful storm

and bad weather on the sea; but the king ordered the anchors to

be weighed and sail hoisted, and beat off all night to the

outside of the land.  The king's luck prevailed more than the

Finlanders' witchcraft; for he had the luck to beat round the

Balagard's side in the night. and so got out to sea.  But the

Finnish army proceeded on land, making the same progress as the

king made with his ships.  So says Sigvat: --

     "The third fight was at Herdaler, where

     The men of Finland met in war

     The hero of the royal race,

     With ringing sword-blades face to face.

     Off Balagard's shore the waves

     Ran hollow; but the sea-king saves

     His hard-pressed ship, and gains the lee

     Of the east coast through the wild sea."

9. THE FOURTH BATTLE IN SUDERVIK.

King Olaf sailed from thence to Denmark, where he met Thorkel the

Tall, brother of Earl Sigvalde, and went into partnership with

him; for he was just ready to set out on a cruise.  They sailed

southwards to the Jutland coast, to a place called Sudervik,

where they overcame many viking ships.  The vikings, who usually

have many people to command, give themselves the title of kings,

although they have no lands to rule over.  King Olaf went into

battle with them, and it was severe; but King Olaf gained the

victory, and a great booty.  So says Sigvat: --

     "Hark!  hark!  The war-shout

          Through Sudervik rings,

     And the vikings bring out

          To fight the two kings.

     Great honour, I'm told,

     Won these vikings so bold:

     But their bold fight was vain,

     For the two brave kings gain."

10. THE FIFTH BATTLE IN FRIESLAND.

King Olaf sailed from thence south to Friesland, and lay under

the strand of Kinlima in dreadful weather.  The king landed with

his men; but the people of the country rode down to the strand

against them, and he fought them.  So says Sigvat: --

     "Under Kinlima's cliff,

     This battle is the fifth.

     The brave sea-rovers stand

     All on the glittering sand;

     And down the horsemen ride

     To the edge of the rippling tide:

     But Olaf taught the peasant band

     To know the weight of a viking's hand."

11. DEATH OF KING SVEIN FORKED BEARD.

The king sailed from thence westward to England.  It was then the

case that the Danish king, Svein Forked Beard, was at that time

in England with a Danish army, and had been fixed there for some

time, and had seized upon King Ethelred's kingdom.  The Danes had

spread themselves so widely over England, that it was come so far

that King Ethelred had departed from the country, and had gone

south to Valland.  The same autumn that King Olaf came to

England, it happened that King Svein died suddenly in the night

in his bed; and it is said by Englishmen that Edmund the Saint

killed him, in the same way that the holy Mercurius had killed

the apostate Julian.  When Ethelred, the king of the English,

heard this in Flanders, he returned directly to England; and no

sooner was he come back, than he sent an invitation to all the

men who would enter into his pay, to join him in recovering the

country.  Then many people flocked to him; and among others, came

King Olaf with a great troop of Northmen to his aid.  They

steered first to London, and sailed into the Thames with their

fleet; but the Danes had a castle within.  On the other side of

the river is a great trading place, which is called Sudvirke.

There the Danes had raised a great work, dug large ditches, and

within had built a bulwark of stone, timber, and turf, where they

had stationed a strong army.  King Ethelred ordered a great

assault; but the Danes defended themselves bravely, and King

Ethelred could make nothing of it.  Between the castle and

Southwark (Sudvirke) there was a bridge, so broad that two

wagons could pass each other upon it.  On the bridge were raised

barricades, both towers and wooden parapets, in the direction of

the river, which were nearly breast high; and under the bridge

were piles driven into the bottom of the river.  Now when the

attack was made the troops stood on the bridge everywhere, and

defended themselves.  King Ethelred was very anxious to get

possession of the bridge, and he called together all the chiefs

to consult how they should get the bridge broken down.  Then said

King Olaf he would attempt to lay his fleet alongside of it, if

the other ships would do the same.  It was then determined in

this council that they should lay their war forces under the

bridge; and each made himself ready with ships and men.

12. THE SIXTH BATTLE.

King Olaf ordered great platforms of floating wood to be tied

together with hazel bands, and for this he took down old houses;

and with these, as a roof, he covered over his ships so widely,

that it reached over the ships' sides.  Under this screen he set

pillars so high and stout, that there both was room for swinging

their swords, and the roofs were strong enough to withstand the

stones cast down upon them.  Now when the fleet and men were

ready, they rode up along the river; but when they came near the

bridge, there were cast down upon them so many stones and missile

weapons, such as arrows and spears, that neither helmet nor

shield could hold out against it; and the ships themselves were

so greatly damaged, that many retreated out of it.  But King

Olaf, and the Northmen's fleet with him, rowed quite up under the

bridge, laid their cables around the piles which supported it,

and then rowed off with all the ships as hard as they could down

the stream.  The piles were thus shaken in the bottom, and were

loosened under the bridge.  Now as the armed troops stood thick

of men upon the bridge, and there were likewise many heaps of

stones and other weapons upon it, and the piles under it being

loosened and broken, the bridge gave way; and a great part of the

men upon it fell into the river, and all the ethers fled, some

into the castle, some into Southwark.  Thereafter Southwark was

stormed and taken.  Now when the people in the castle saw that

the river Thames was mastered, and that they could not hinder the

passage of ships up into the country, they became afraid,

surrendered the tower, and took Ethelred to be their king.  So

says Ottar Svarte: --

     "London Bridge is broken down. --

     Gold is won, and bright renown.

          Shields resounding,

          War-horns sounding,

     Hild is shouting in the din!

          Arrows singing,

          Mail-coats ringing --

     Odin makes our Olaf win!"

And he also composed these: --

     "King Ethelred has found a friend:

     Brave Olaf will his throne defend --

          In bloody fight

          Maintain his right,

          Win back his land

          With blood-red hand,

     And Edmund's son upon his throne replace --

     Edmund, the star of every royal race!"

Sigvat also relates as follows: --

     "At London Bridge stout Olaf gave

     Odin's law to his war-men brave --

          `To win or die!'

          And their foemen fly.

     Some by the dyke-side refuge gain --

     Some in their tents on Southwark plain!

          The sixth attack

          Brought victory back."

13. THE SEVENTH BATTLE.

King Olaf passed all the winter with King Ethelred, and had a

great battle at Hringmara Heath in Ulfkel's land, the domain

which Ulfkel Snilling at that time held; and here again the king

was victorious.  So says Sigvat the skald: --

     "To Ulfkel's land came Olaf bold,

     A seventh sword-thing he would hold.

     The race of Ella filled the plain --

     Few of them slept at home again!

     Hringmara heath

     Was a bed of death:

     Harfager's heir

     Dealt slaughter there."

And Ottar sings of this battle thus: --

     "From Hringmara field

          The chime of war,

     Sword striking shield,

          Rings from afar.

     The living fly;

     The dead piled high

     The moor enrich;

     Red runs the ditch."

The country far around was then brought in subjection to King

Ethelred: but the Thingmen (1) and the Danes held many castles,

besides a great part of the country.

ENDNOTES:

(1)  Thing-men were hired men-at-arms; called Thing-men probably

     from being men above the class of thralls or unfree men, and

     entitled to appear at Things, as being udal-born to land at

     home.

14. EIGHTH AND NINTH BATTLES OF OLAF.

King Olaf was commander of all the forces when they went against

Canterbury; and they fought there until they took the town,

killing many people and burning the castle.  So says Ottar

Svarte: --

     "All in the grey of morn

          Broad Canterbury's forced.

     Black smoke from house-roofs borne

          Hides fire that does its worst;

     And many a man laid low

     By the battle-axe's blow,

     Waked by the Norsemen's cries,

     Scarce had time to rub his eyes."

Sigvat reckons this King Olaf's eighth battle: --

     "Of this eighth battle I can tell

     How it was fought, and what befell,

          The castle tower

          With all his power

          He could not take,

          Nor would forsake.

          The Perthmen fought,

          Nor quarter sought;

          By death or flight

          They left the fight.

     Olaf could not this earl stout

     From Canterbury quite drive out."

At this time King Olaf was entrusted with the whole land defence

of England, and he sailed round the land with his ships of War.

He laid his ships at land at Nyjamoda, where the troops of the

Thingmen were, and gave them battle and gained the victory.  So

says Sigvat the skald: --

     "The youthful king stained red the hair

     Of Angeln men, and dyed his spear

     At Newport in their hearts' dark blood:

     And where the Danes the thickest stood --

     Where the shrill storm round Olaf's head

     Of spear and arrow thickest fled.

     There thickest lay the Thingmen dead!

     Nine battles now of Olaf bold,

     Battle by battle, I have told."

King Olaf then scoured all over the country, taking scat of the

people and plundering where it was refused.  So says Ottar: --

     "The English race could not resist thee,

     With money thou madest them assist thee;

     Unsparingly thou madest them pay

     A scat to thee in every way;

     Money, if money could be got --

     Goods, cattle, household gear, if not.

     Thy gathered spoil, borne to the strand,

     Was the best wealth of English land."

Olaf remained here for three years (A.D. 1010-1012).

15. THE TENTH BATTLE.

The third year King Ethelred died, and his sons Edmund and Edward

took the government (A.D. 1012).  Then Olaf sailed southwards out

to sea, and had a battle at Hringsfjord, and took a castle

situated at Holar, where vikings resorted, and burnt the castle.

So says Sigvat the skald: --

     "Of the tenth battle now I tell,

     Where it was fought, and what befell.

     Up on the hill in Hringsfjord fair

     A robber nest hung in the air:

     The people followed our brave chief,

     And razed the tower of the viking thief.

     Such rock and tower, such roosting-place,

     Was ne'er since held by the roving race."

16. ELEVENTH, TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH BATTLES.

Then King Olaf proceeded westwards to Grislupollar, and fought

there with vikings at Williamsby; and there also King Olaf gained

the victory.  So says Sigvat: --

     "The eleventh battle now I tell,

     Where it was fought, and what befell.

     At Grislupol our young fir's name

     O'ertopped the forest trees in fame:

     Brave Olaf's name -- nought else was heard

     But Olaf's name, and arm, and sword.

     Of three great earls, I have heard say,

     His sword crushed helm and head that day."

Next he fought westward on Fetlafjord, as Sigvat tells: --

     "The twelfth fight was at Fetlafjord,

     Where Olaf's honour-seeking sword

     Gave the wild wolf's devouring teeth

     A feast of warriors doomed to death."

From thence King Olaf sailed southwards to Seljupollar, where he

had a battle.  He took there a castle called Gunvaldsborg, which

was very large and old.  He also made prisoner the earl who ruled

over the castle and who was called Geirfin.  After a conference

with the men of the castle, he laid a scat upon the town and

earl, as ransom, of twelve thousand gold shillings: which was

also paid by those on whom it was imposed.  So says Sigvat: --

     "The thirteenth battle now I tell,

     Where it was fought, and what befell.

     In Seljupol was fought the fray,

     And many did not survive the day.

     The king went early to the shore,

     To Gunvaldsborg's old castle-tower;

     And a rich earl was taken there,

     Whose name was Geridin, I am sure."

17. FOURTEENTH BATTLE AND OLAF'S DREAM.

Thereafter King Olaf steered with his fleet westward to Karlsar,

and tarried there and had a fight.  And while King Olaf was lying

in Karlsa river waiting a wind, and intending to sail up to

Norvasund, and then on to the land of Jerusalem, he dreamt a

remarkable dream -- that there came to him a great and important

man, but of a terrible appearance withal, who spoke to him, and

told him to give up his purpose of proceeding to that land.

"Return back to thy udal, for thou shalt be king over Norway for

ever."  He interpreted this dream to mean that he should be king

over the country, and his posterity after him for a long time.

18. FIFTEENTH BATTLE.

After this appearance to him he turned about, and came to Poitou,

where he plundered and burnt a merchant town called Varrande.  Of

this Ottar speaks: --

     "Our young king, blythe and gay,

     Is foremost in the fray:

     Poitou he plunders, Tuskland burns, --

     He fights and wins where'er he turns."

And also Sigvat says: --

     "The Norsemen's king is on his cruise,

          His blue steel staining,

          Rich booty gaining,

     And all men trembling at the news.

     The Norsemen's kings up on the Loire:

          Rich Partheney

          In ashes lay;

     Far inland reached the Norsemen's spear."

19. OF THE EARLS OF ROUEN.

King Olaf had been two summers and one winter in the west in

Valland on this cruise; and thirteen years had now passed since

the fall of King Olaf Trygvason.  During this time earls had

ruled over Norway; first Hakon's sons Eirik and Svein, and

afterwards Eirik's sons Hakon and Svein.  Hakon was a sister's

son of King Canute, the son of Svein.  During this time there

were two earls in Valland, William and Robert; their father was

Richard earl of Rouen.  They ruled over Normandy.  Their sister

was Queen Emma, whom the English king Ethelred had married; and

their sons were Edmund, Edward the Good, Edwy, and Edgar.

Richard the earl of Rouen was a son of Richard the son of William

Long Spear, who was the son of Rolf Ganger, the earl who first

conquered Normandy; and he again was a son of Ragnvald the

Mighty, earl of More, as before related.  From Rolf Ganger are

descended the earls of Rouen, who have long reckoned themselves

of kin to the chiefs in Norway, and hold them in such respect

that they always were the greatest friends of the Northmen; and

every Northman found a friendly country in Normandy, if he

required it.  To Normandy King Olaf came in autumn (A.D. 1013),

and remained all winter (A.D. 1014) in the river Seine in good

peace and quiet.

20. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER.

After Olaf Trygvason's fall, Earl Eirik gave peace to Einar

Tambaskelfer, the son of Eindride Styrkarson; and Einar went

north with the earl to Norway.  It is said that Einar was the

strongest man and the best archer that ever was in Norway.  His

shooting was sharp beyond all others; for with a blunt arrow he

shot through a raw, soft ox-hide, hanging over a beam.  He was

better than any man at running on snow-shoes, was a great man

at all exercises, was of high family, and rich.  The earls Eirik

and Svein married their sister Bergliot to Einar.  Their son was

named Eindride.  The earls gave Einar great fiefs in Orkadal, so

that he was one of the most powerful and able men in the

Throndhjem country, and was also a great friend of the earls, and

a great support and aid to them.

21. OF ERLING SKIALGSON.

When Olaf Trygvason ruled over Norway, he gave his brother-in-law

Erling half of the land scat, and royal revenues between the Naze

and Sogn.  His other sister he married to the Earl Ragnvald

Ulfson, who long ruled over West Gautland.  Ragnvald's father,

Ulf, was a brother of Sigrid the Haughty, the mother of Olaf the

Swedish king.  Earl Eirik was ill pleased that Erling Skialgson

had so large a dominion, and he took to himself all the king's

estates, which King Olaf had given to Erling.  But Erling levied,

as before, all the land scat in Rogaland; and thus the

inhabitants had often to pay him the land scat, otherwise he laid

waste their land.  The earl made little of the business, for no

bailiff of his could live there, and the earl could only come

there in guest-quarters, when he had a great many people with

him.  So says Sigvat: --

     "Olaf the king

     Thought the bonde Erling

     A man who would grace

     His own royal race.

     One sister the king

     Gave the bonde Erling;

     And one to an earl,

     And she saved him in peril."

Earl Eirik did not venture to fight with Erling, because he had

very powerful and very many friends, and was himself rich and

popular, and kept always as many retainers about him as if he

held a king's court.  Erling vas often out in summer on

plundering expeditions, and procured for himself means of living;

for he continued his usual way of high and splendid living,

although now he had fewer and less convenient fiefs than in the

time of his brother-in-law King Olaf Trygvason.  Erling was one

of the handsomest, largest, and strongest men; a better warrior

than any other; and in all exercises he was like King Olaf

himself.  He was, besides, a man of understanding, jealous in

everything he undertook, and a deadly man at arms.  Sigvat talks

thus of him: --

     "No earl or baron, young or old,

     Match with this bonde brave can hold.

     Mild was brave Erling, all men say,

     When not engaged in bloody fray:

     His courage he kept hid until

     The fight began, then foremost still

     Erling was seen in war's wild game,

     And famous still is Erling's name."

It was a common saying among the people, that Erling had been the

most valiant who ever held lands under a king in Norway.  Erlings

and Astrid s children were these -- Aslak, Skialg, Sigurd, Lodin,

Thorer, and Ragnhild, who was married to Thorberg Arnason.

Erling had always with him ninety free-born men or more, and both

winter and summer it was the custom in his house to drink at the

mid-day meal according to a measure (1), but at the night meal

there was no measure in drinking.  When the earl was in the

neighbourhood he had 200 (2) men or more.  He never went to sea

with less than a fully-manned ship of twenty benches of rowers.

Erling had also a ship of thirty-two benches of rowers, which was

besides, very large for that size. and which he used in viking

cruises, or on an expedition; and in it there were 200 men at the

very least.

ENDNOTES:

(1)  There were silver-studs in a row from the rim to the bottom

     of the drinking born or cup; and as it went round each drank

     till the stud appeared above the liquor.  This was drinking

     by measure. -- L.

(2)  I.e., 240.

22. OF THE HERSE ERLING SKIALGSON.

Erling had always at home on his farm thirty slaves, besides

other serving-people.  He gave his slaves a certain day's work;

but after it he gave them leisure, and leave that each should

work in the twilight and at night for himself, and as he pleased.

He gave them arable land to sow corn in, and let them apply their

crops to their own use.  He laid upon each a certain quantity of

labour to work themselves free by doing it; and there were many

who bought their freedom in this way in one year, or in the

second year, and all who had any luck could make themselves free

within three years.  With this money he bought other slaves: and

to some of his freed people he showed how to work in the herring-

fishery, to others he showed some useful handicraft; and some

cleared his outfields and set up houses.  He helped all to

prosperity.

23. OF EARL EIRIK.

When Earl Eirik had ruled over Norway for twelve years. there

came a message to him from his brother-in-law King Canute, the

Danish king, that he should go with him on an expedition westward

to England; for Eirik was very celebrated for his campaigns, as

he had gained the victory in the two hardest engagements which

had ever been fought in the north countries.  The one was that in

which the Earls Hakon and Eirik fought with the Jomsborg vikings;

the other that in which Earl Eirik fought with King Olaf

Trygvason.  Thord Kolbeinson speaks of this: --

     "A song of praise

     Again I raise.

     To the earl bold

     The word is told,

     That Knut the Brave

     His aid would crave;

     The earl, I knew,

     To friend stands true."

The earl would not sleep upon the message of the king, but sailed

immediately out of the country, leaving behind his son Earl Hakon

to take care of Norway; and, as he was but seventeen years of

age, Einar Tambaskelfer was to be at his hand to rule the country

for him.

Eirik met King Canute in England, and was with him when he took

the castle of London.  Earl Eirik had a battle also to the

westward of the castle of London, and killed Ulfkel Snilling.  So

says Thord Kolbeinson: --

     "West of London town we passed,

     And our ocean-steeds made fast,

     And a bloody fight begin,

     Eng1and's lands to lose or win.

     Blue sword and shining spear

     Laid Ulfkel's dead corpse there,

     Our Thingmen hear the war-shower sounding

     Our grey arrows from their shields rebounding."

Earl Eirik was a winter in England, and had many battles there.

The following autumn he intended to make a pilgrimage to Rome,

but he died in England of a bloody flux.

24. THE MURDER OF EDMUND.

King Canute came to England the summer that King Ethelred died,

and had many battles with Ethelred's sons, in which the victory

was sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other.  Then King

Canute took Queen Emma in marriage; and their children were

Harald, Hardacanute, and Gunhild.  King Canute then made an

agreement with King Edmund, that each of them should have a half

of England.  In the same month Henry Strion murdered King Edmund.

King Canute then drove all Ethelred's sons out of England.  So

says Sigvat: --

     "Now all the sons of Ethelred

     Were either fallen, or had fled:

     Some slain by Canute, -- some they say,

     To save their lives had run away."

25. OLAF AND ETHELRED'S SONS.

King Ethelred's sons came to Rouen in Valland from England, to

their mother's brother, the same summer that King Olaf Haraldson

came from the west from his viking cruise, and they were all

during the winter in Normandy together.  They made an agreement

with each other that King Olaf should have Northumberland, if

they could succeed in taking England from the Danes.  Therefore

about harvest, Olaf sent his foster-father Hrane to England to

collect men-at-arms; and Ethelred's sons sent tokens to their

friends and relations with him.  King Olaf, besides, gave him

much money with him to attract people to them.  Hrane was all

winter in England, and got promises from many powerful men of

fidelity, as the people of the country would rather have native

kings over them; but the Danish power had become so great in

England, that all the people were brought under their dominion.

26. BATTLE OF KING OLAF.

In spring (A.D. 1014) King Olaf and King Ethelred's sons set out

together to the west, and came to a place in England called

Jungufurda, where they landed with their army and moved forward

against the castle.  Many men were there who had promised them

their aid.  They took the castle; and killed many people.  Now

when King Canute's men heard of this they assembled an army, and

were soon in such force that Ethelred's sons could not stand

against it; and they saw no other way left but to return to

Rouen.  Then King Olaf separated from them, and would not go back

to Valland, but sailed northwards along England, all the way to

Northumberland, where he put into a haven at a place called

Valde; and in a battle there with the townspeople and merchants

he gained the victory, and a great booty.

27. OLAF'S EXPEDITION TO NORWAY.

King Olaf left his long-ships there behind, but made ready two

ships of burden; and had with him 220 men in them, well-armed,

and chosen people.  He sailed out to sea northwards in harvest,

but encountered a tremendous storm and they were in danger of

being lost; but as they had a chosen crew, and the king s luck

with them, all went on well.  So says Ottar: --

     "Olaf, great stem of kings, is brave --

     Bold in the fight, bold on the wave.

          No thought of fear

          Thy heart comes near.

     Undaunted, 'midst the roaring flood,

     Firm at his post each shipman stood;

          And thy two ships stout

          The gale stood out."

And further he says: --

     "Thou able chief!  with thy fearless crew

     Thou meetest, with skill and courage true,

          The wild sea's wrath

          On thy ocean path.

     Though waves mast-high were breaking round.

     Thou findest the middle of Norway's ground,

          With helm in hand

          On Saela's strand."

It is related here that King Olaf came from the sea to the very

middle of Norway; and the isle is called Saela where they landed,

and is outside of Stad.  King Olaf said he thought it must be a

lucky day for them, since they had landed at Saela in Norway; and

observed it was a good omen that it so happened.  As they were

going up in the isle, the king slipped with one foot in a place

where there was clay, but supported himself with the other foot.

Then said he "The king falls."  "Nay," replies Hrane, "thou didst

not fall, king, but set fast foot in the soil."  The king laughed

thereat, and said, "It may be so if God will."  They went down

again thereafter to their ships, and sailed to Ulfasund, where

they heard that Earl Hakon was south in Sogn, and was expected

north as soon as wind allowed with a single ship.

28. HAKON TAKEN PRISONER BY OLAF.

King Olaf steered his ships within the ordinary ships' course

when he came abreast of Fjaler district, and ran into

Saudungssund.  There he laid his two vessels one on each side of

the sound. with a thick cable between them.  At the same moment

Hakon, Earl Eirik's son, came rowing into the sound with a manned

ship; and as they thought these were but two merchant-vessels

that were lying in the sound, they rowed between them.  Then Olaf

and his men draw the cable up right under Hakon's ship's keel and

wind it up with the capstan.  As soon as the vessel's course was

stopped her stern was lifted up, and her bow plunged down; so

that the water came in at her fore-end and over both sides, and

she upset.  King Olaf's people took Earl Hakon and all his men

whom they could get hold of out of the water, and made them

prisoners; but some they killed with stones and other weapons,

and some were drowned.  So says Ottar: --

     "The black ravens wade

     In the blood from thy blade.

     Young Hakon so gay,

     With his ship, is thy prey:

     His ship, with its gear,

     Thou hast ta'en; and art here,

     Thy forefather's land

     From the earl to demand."

Earl Hakon was led up to the king's ship.  He was the handsomest

man that could be seen.  He had long hair, as fine as silk, bound

about his bead with a gold ornament.

When he sat down in the fore-hold, the king said to him, "It is

not false what is said of your family, that ye are handsome

people to look at; but now your luck has deserted you."

Hakon the earl replied, "It has always been the case that success

is changeable; and there is no luck in the matter.  It has gone

with your family as with mine, to have by turns the better lot.

I am little beyond childhood in years; and at any rate we could

not have defended ourselves, as we did not expect any attack on

the way.  It may turn out better with us another time."

Then said King Olaf, "Dost thou not apprehend that thou art in

that condition that, hereafter, there can be neither victory nor

defeat for thee?"

The earl replies, "That is what thou only canst determine, king,

according to thy pleasure."

Olaf says, "What wilt thou give me, earl, if for this time I let

thee go, whole and unhurt?"

The earl asks what he would take.

"Nothing," says the king, "except that thou shalt leave the

country, give up thy kingdom, and take an oath that thou shalt

never go into battle against me."

The earl answered, that he would do so.  And now Earl Hakon took

the oath that he would never fight against Olaf, or seek to

defend Norway against him, or attack him; and King Olaf thereupon

gave him and all his men life and peace.  The earl got back the

ship which had brought him there, and he and his men rowed their

way.  Thus says Sigvat of him: --

     "In old Saudungs sound

     The king Earl Hakon found,

     Who little thought that there

     A foeman was so near.

     The best and fairest youth

     Earl Hakon was in truth,

     That speaks the Danish tongue,

     And of the race of great Hakon."

29. HAKON'S DEPARTURE FROM NORWAY.

After this (A.D. 1014) the earl made ready as fast as possible to

leave the country and sail over to England.  He met King Canute,

his mother's brother, there, and told him all that had taken

place between him and King Olaf.  King Canute received him

remarkably well, placed him in his court in his own house, and

gave him great power in his kingdom.  Earl Hakon dwelt a long

time with King Canute.  During the time Svein and Hakon ruled

over Norway, a reconciliation with Erling Skialgson was effected,

and secured by Aslak, Erling's son, marrying Gunhild, Earl

Svein's daughter; and the father and son, Erling and Aslak,

retained all the fiefs which King Olaf Trygvason had given to

Erling.  Thus Erling became a firm friend of the earl's, and

their mutual friendship was confirmed by oath.

30. ASTA RECEIVES HER SON OLAF.

King Olaf went now eastward along the land, holding Things with

the bondes all over the country.  Many went willingly with him;

but some, who were Earl Svein's friends or relations, spoke

against him.  Therefore King Olaf sailed in all haste eastward to

Viken; went in there with his ships; set them on the land; and

proceeded up the country, in order to meet his stepfather, Sigurd

Syr.  When he came to Vestfold he was received in a friendly way

by many who had been his father's friends or acquaintances; and

also there and in Folden were many of his family.  In autumn

(A.D. 1014) he proceeded up the country to his stepfather King

Sigurd's, and came there one day very early.  As Olaf was coming

near to the house, some of the servants ran beforehand to the

house, and into the room.  Olaf's mother, Asta, was sitting in

the room, and around her some of her girls.  When the servants

told her of King Olaf's approach, and that he might soon be

expected, Asta stood up directly, and ordered the men and girls

to put everything in the best order.  She ordered four girls to

bring out all that belonged to the decoration of the room and put

it in order with hangings and benches.  Two fellows brought straw

for the floor, two brought forward four-cornered tables and the

drinking-jugs, two bore out victuals and placed the meat on the

table, two she sent away from the house to procure in the

greatest haste all that was needed, and two carried in the ale;

and all the other serving men and girls went outside of the

house.  Messengers went to seek King Sigurd wherever he might be,

and brought to him his dress-clothes, and his horse with gilt

saddle, and his bridle, which was gilt and set with precious

stones.  Four men she sent off to the four quarters of the

country to invite all the great people to a feast, which she

prepared as a rejoicing for her son's return.  All who were

before in the house she made to dress themselves with the best

they had, and lent clothes to those who had none suitable.

31. KING SIGURD'S DRESS.

King Sigurd Syr was standing in his corn-field when the

messengers came to him and brought him the news, and also told

him all that Asta was doing at home in the house.  He had many

people on his farm.  Some were then shearing corn, some bound it

together, some drove it to the building, some unloaded it and put

it in stack or barn; but the king, and two men with him, went

sometimes into the field, sometimes to the place where the corn

was put into the barn.  His dress, it is told, was this: -- he

had a blue kirtle and blue breeches; shoes which were laced about

the legs; a grey cloak, and a grey wide-brimmed hat; a veil

before his face; a staff in his hand with a gilt-silver head on

it and a silver ring around it.  Of Sigurd's living and

disposition it is related that he was a very gain-making man who

attended carefully to his cattle and husbandry, and managed his

housekeeping himself.  He was nowise given to pomp, and was

rather taciturn.  But he was a man of the best understanding in

Norway, and also excessively wealthy in movable property.

Peaceful he was, and nowise haughty.  His wife Asta was generous

and high-minded.  Their children were, Guthorm, the eldest; then

Gunhild; the next Halfdan, Ingerid, and Harald.  The messengers

said to Sigurd, "Asta told us to bring thee word how much it lay

at her heart that thou shouldst on this occasion comport thyself

in the fashion of great men, and show a disposition more akin to

Harald Harfager's race than to thy mother's father's, Hrane Thin-

nose, or Earl Nereid the Old, although they too were very wise

men."  The king replies, "The news ye bring me is weighty, and ye

bring it forward in great heat.  Already before now Asta has been

taken up much with people who were not so near to her; and I see

she is still of the same disposition.  She takes this up with

great warmth; but can she lead her son out of the business with

the same splendour she is leading him into it?  If it is to

proceed so methinks they who mix themselves up in it regard

little property or life.  For this man, King Olaf, goes against a

great superiority of power; and the wrath of the Danish and

Swedish kings lies at the foot of his determination, if he

ventures to go against them."

32. OF THE FEAST.

When the king had said this he sat down, and made them take off

his shoes, and put corduvan boots on, to which he bound his gold

spurs.  Then he put off his cloak and coat, and dressed himself

in his finest clothes, with a scarlet cloak over all; girded on

his sword, set a gilded helmet upon his head, and mounted his

horse.  He sent his labouring people out to the neighbourhood,

and gathered to him thirty well-clothed men, and rode home with

them.  As they rode up to the house, and were near the room, they

saw on the other side of the house the banners of Olaf coming

waving; and there was he himself, with about 100 men all well

equipped.  People were gathered over all upon the house-tops.

King Sigurd immediately saluted his stepson from horseback in a

friendly way, and invited him and his men to come in and drink a

cup with him.  Asta, on the contrary, went up and kissed her son,

and invited him to stay with her; and land, and people, and all

the good she could do for him stood at his service.  King Olaf

thanked her kindly for her invitation.  Then she took him by the

hand, and led him into the room to the high-seat.  King Sigurd

got men to take charge of their clothes, and give their horses

corn; and then he himself went to his high-seat, and the feast

was made with the greatest splendour.

33. CONVERSATION OF OLAF AND SIGURD.

King Olaf had not been long here before he one day called his

stepfather King Sigurd, his mother Asta, and his foster-father

Hrane to a conference and consultation.  Olaf began thus: "It has

so happened," said he, "as is well known to you, that I have

returned to this country after a very long sojourn in foreign

parts, during all which time I and my men have had nothing for

our support but what we captured in war, for which we have often

hazarded both life and soul: for many an innocent man have we

deprived of his property, and some of their lives; and foreigners

are now sitting in the possessions which my father, his father,

and their forefathers for a long series of generations owned, and

to which I have udal right.  They have not been content with

this, but have taken to themselves also the properties of all our

relations who are descended from Harald Harfager.  To some they

have left little, to others nothing at all.  Now I will disclose

to you what I have long concealed in my own mind, that I intend

to take the heritage of my forefathers; but I will not wait upon

the Danish or Swedish king to supplicate the least thing from

them, although they for the time call that their property which

was Harald Harfager's heritage.  To say the truth, I intend

rather to seek my patrimony with battle-axe and sword, and that

with the help of all my friends and relations, and of those who

in this business will take my side.  And in this matter I will so

lay hand to the work that one of two things shall happen, --

either I shall lay all this kingdom under my rule which they got

into their hands by the slaughter of my kinsman Olaf Trygvason,

or I shall fall here upon my inheritance in the land of my

fathers.  Now I expect of thee, Sigurd, my stepfather, as well as

other men here in the country who have udal right of succession

to the kingdom, according to the law made by King Harald

Harfager, that nothing shall be of such importance to you as to

prevent you from throwing off the disgrace from our family of

being slow at supporting the man who comes forward to raise up

again our race.  But whether ye show any manhood in this affair

or not, I know the inclination of the people well, -- that all

want to be free from the slavery of foreign masters, and will

give aid and strength to the attempt.  I have not proposed this

matter to any before thee, because I know thou art a man of

understanding, and can best judge how this my purpose shall be

brought forward in the beginning, and whether we shall, in all

quietness, talk about it to a few persons, or instantly declare

it to the people at large.  I have already shown my teeth by

taking prisoner the Earl Hakon, who has now left the country, and

given me, under oath, the part of the kingdom which he had

before; and I think it will be easier to have Earl Svein alone to

deal with, than if both were defending the country against us."

King Sigurd answers, "It is no small affair, King Olaf, thou hast

in thy mind; and thy purpose comes more, methinks, from hasty

pride than from prudence.  But it may be there is a wide

difference between my humble ways and the high thoughts thou

hast; for whilst yet in thy childhood thou wast full always of

ambition and desire of command, and now thou art experienced in

battles, and hast formed thyself upon the manner of foreign

chiefs.  I know therefore well, that as thou hast taken this into

thy head, it is useless to dissuade thee from it; and also it is

not to be denied that it goes to the heart of all who have

courage in them, that the whole Harfager race and kingdom should

go to the ground.  But I will not bind myself by any promise,

before I know the views and intentions of other Upland kings; but

thou hast done well in letting me know thy purpose, before

declaring it publicly to the people.  I will promise thee,

however, my interest with the kings, and other chiefs, and

country people; and also, King Olaf, all my property stands to

thy aid, and to strengthen thee.  But we will only produce the

matter to the community so soon as we see some progress, and

expect some strength to this undertaking; for thou canst easily

perceive that it is a daring measure to enter into strife with

Olaf the Swedish king, and Canute, who is king both of Denmark

and England; and thou requirest great support under thee, if it

is to succeed.  It is not unlikely, in my opinion, that thou wilt

get good support from the people, as the commonalty always loves

what is new; and it went so before, when Olaf Trygvason came here

to the country, that all rejoiced at it, although he did not long

enjoy the kingdom."

When the consultation had proceeded so far, Asta took up the

word.  "For my part, my son, I am rejoiced at thy arrival, but

much more at thy advancing thy honour.  I will spare nothing for

that purpose that stands in my power, although it be but little

help that can be expected from me.  But if a choice could be

made, I would rather that thou shouldst be the supreme king of

Norway, even if thou shouldst not sit longer in thy kingdom than

Olaf Trygvason did, than that thou shouldst not be a greater king

than Sigurd Syr is, and die the death of old age."  With this the

conference closed.  King Olaf remained here a while with all his

men.  King Sigurd entertained them, day about, the one day with

fish and milk, the other day with flesh-meat and ale.

34. KINGS IN THE UPLAND DISTRICTS.

At that time there were many kings in the Uplands who had

districts to rule over, and the most of them were descended from

Harald Harfager.  In Hedemark two brothers ruled -- Hrorek and

Ring; in Gudbrandsdal, Gudrod; and there was also a king in

Raumarike; and one had Hadaland and Thoten; and in Valders also

there was a king.  With these district-kings Sigurd had a meeting

up in Hadaland, and Olaf Haraldson also met with them.  To these

district-kings whom Sigurd had assembled he set forth his stepson

Olaf's purpose, and asked their aid, both of men and in counsel

and consent; and represented to them how necessary it was to cast

off the yoke which the Danes and Swedes had laid upon them.  He

said that there was now a man before them who could head such an

enterprise; and he recounted the many brave actions which Olaf

had achieved upon his war-expeditions.

Then King Hrorek says, "True it is that Harald Harfager's kingdom

has gone to decay, none of his race being supreme king over

Norway.  But the people here in the country have experienced many

things.  When King Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, was king, all

were content; but when Gunhild's sons ruled over the country, all

were so weary of their tyranny and injustice that they would

rather have foreign men as kings, and be themselves more their

own rulers; for the foreign kings were usually abroad and cared

little about the customs of the people if the scat they laid on

the country was paid.  When enmity arose between the Danish king

Harald and Earl Hakon, the Jomsborg vikings made an expedition

against Norway; then the whole people arose, and threw the

hostilities from themselves; and thereafter the people encouraged

Earl Hakon to keep the country, and defend it with sword and

spear against the Danish king.  But when he had set himself fast

in the kingdom with the help of the people, he became so hard and

overbearing towards the country-folks, that they would no longer

suffer him.  The Throndhjem people killed him, and raised to the

kingly power Olaf Trygvason, who was of the udal succession to

the kingdom, and in all respects well fitted to be a chief.  The

whole country's desire was to make him supreme king, and raise

again the kingdom which Harald Harfager had made for himself.

But when King Olaf thought himself quite firmly seated in his

kingdom, no man could rule his own concerns for him.  With us

small kings he was so unreasonable, as to take to himself not

only all the scat and duties which Harald Harfager had levied

from us, but a great deal more.  The people at last had so little

freedom under him, that it was not allowed to every man to

believe in what god he pleased.  Now since he has been taken away

we have kept friendly with the Danish king; have received great

help from him when we have had any occasion for it; and have been

allowed to rule ourselves, and live in peace and quiet in the

inland country, and without any overburden.  I am therefore

content that things be as they are, for I do not see what better

rights I am to enjoy by one of my relations ruling over the

country; and if I am to be no better off, I will take no part in

the affair."

Then said King Ring, his brother, "I will also declare my opinion

that it is better for me, if I hold the same power and property

as now, that my relative is king over Norway, rather than a

foreign chief, so that our family may again raise its head in the

land.  It is, besides, my opinion about this man Olaf, that his

fate and luck must determine whether he is to obtain the kingdom

or not; and if he succeed in making himself supreme king, then he

will be the best off who has best deserved his friendship.  At

present he has in no respect greater power than any of us; nay,

indeed, he has less; as we have lands and kingdoms to rule over,

and he has nothing, and we are equally entitled by the udal right

to the kingdom as he is himself.  Now, if we will be his men,

give him our aid, allow him to take the highest dignity in the

country, and stand by him with our strength, how should he not

reward us well, and hold it in remembrance to our great

advantage, if he be the honourable man I believe him to be, and

all say he is?  Therefore let us join the adventure, say I, and

bind ourselves in friendship with him."

Then the others, one after the other, stood up and spoke; and the

conclusion was, that the most of them determined to enter into a

league with King Olaf.  He promised them his perfect friendship,

and that he would hold by and improve the country's laws and

rights, if he became supreme king of Norway.  This league was

confirmed by oath.

35. OLAF GETS THE TITLE OF KING FROM THE THING.

Thereafter the kings summoned a Thing, and there King Olaf set

forth this determination to all the people, and his demand on the

kingly power.  He desires that the bondes should receive him as

king; and promises, on the other hand, to allow them to retain

their ancient laws, and to defend the land from foreign masters

and chiefs.  On this point he spoke well, and long; and he got

great praise for his speech.  Then the kings rose and spoke, the

one after the other, and supported his cause, and this message to

the people.  At last it came to this, that King Olaf was

proclaimed king over the whole country, and the kingdom adjudged

to him according to law in the Uplands (A.D. 1014).

36. KING OLAF TRAVELS IN THE UPLANDS.

King Olaf began immediately his progress through the country,

appointing feasts before him wherever there were royal farms.

First he travelled round in Hadaland, and then he proceeded north

to Gudbrandsdal.  And now it went as King Sigurd Syr had

foretold, that people streamed to him from all quarters; and he

did not appear to have need for half of them, for he had nearly

300 men.  But the entertainments bespoken did not half serve; for

it had been the custom that kings went about in guest-quarters in

the Uplands with 60 or 70 men only, and never with more than 100

men.  The king therefore hastened over the country, only stopping

one night at the same place.  When he came north to Dovrefield,

he arranged his journey so that he came over the mountain and

down upon the north side of it, and then came to Opdal, where he

remained all night.  Afterwards he proceeded through Opdal

forest, and came out at Medaldal, where he proclaimed a Thing,

and summoned the bondes to meet him at it.  The king made a

speech to the Thing, and asked the bondes to accept him as king;

and promised, on his part, the laws and rights which King Olaf

Trygvason had offered them.  The bondes had no strength to make

opposition to the king; so the result was that they received him

as king, and confirmed it by oath: but they sent word to Orkadal

and Skaun of all that they knew concerning Olaf's proceedings.

37. LEVY AGAINST OLAF IN THRONDHJEM.

Einar Tambaskelfer had a farm and house at Husaby in Skaun; and

now when he got news of Olaf's proceedings, he immediately split

up a war-arrow, and sent it out as a token to the four quarters

-- north, south, east, west, -- to call together all free and

unfree men in full equipment of war: therewith the message, that

they were to defend the land against King Olaf.  The message-

stick went to Orkadal, and thence to Gaulardal, where the whole

war-force was to assemble.

38. OLAF'S PROGRESS IN THRONDHJEM.

King Olaf proceeded with his men down into Orkadal, and advanced

in peace and with all gentleness; but when he came to Griotar he

met the assembled bondes, amounting to more than 700 men.  Then

the king arrayed his army, for he thought the bondes were to give

battle.  When the bondes saw this, they also began to put their

men in order; but it went on very slowly, for they had not agreed

beforehand who among them should be commander.  Now when King

Olaf saw there was confusion among the bondes, he sent to them

Thorer Gudbrandson; and when he came he told them King Olaf did

not want to fight them, but named twelve of the ablest men in

their flock of people, who were desired to come to King Olaf.

The bondes agreed to this; and the twelve men went over a rising

ground which is there, and came to the place where the king's

army stood in array.  The king said to them, "Ye bondes have done

well to give me an opportunity to speak with you, for now I will

explain to you my errand here to the Throndhjem country.  First I

must tell you, what ye already must have heard, that Earl Hakon

and I met in summer; and the issue of our meeting was, that he

gave me the whole kingdom he possessed in the Throndhjem country,

which, as ye know, consists of Orkadal, Gaulardal, Strind, and

Eyna district.  As a proof of this, I have here with me the very

men who were present, and saw the earl's and my own hands given

upon it, and heard the word and oath, and witnessed the agreement

the earl made with me.  Now I offer you peace and law, the same

as King Olaf Trygvason offered before me."

The king spoke well, and long; and ended by proposing to the

bondes two conditions -- either to go into his service and be

subject to him, or to fight him.  Thereupon the twelve bondes

went back to their people, and told the issue of their errand,

and considered with the people what they should resolve upon.

Although they discussed the matter backwards and forwards for a

while, they preferred at last to submit to the king; and it was

confirmed by the oath of the bondes.  The king now proceeded on

his journey, and the bondes made feasts for him.  The king then

proceeded to the sea-coast, and got ships; and among others he

got a long-ship of twenty benches of rowers from Gunnar of

Gelmin; another ship of twenty benches he got from Loden of

Viggia; and three ships of twenty benches from the farm of Angrar

on the ness which farm Earl Hakon had possessed, but a steward

managed it for him, by name Bard White.  The king had, besides,

four or five boats; and with these vessels he went in all haste

into the fjord of Throndhjem.

39. OF EARL SVEIN'S PROCEEDINGS.

Earl Svein was at that time far up in the Throndhjem fjord at

Steinker, which at that time was a merchant town, and was there

preparing for the yule festival (A.D. 1015).  When Einar

Tambaskelfer heard that the Orkadal people had submitted to King

Olaf, he sent men to Earl Svein to bring him the tidings.  They

went first to Nidaros, and took a rowing-boat which belonged to

Einar, with which they went out into the fjord, and came one day

late in the evening to Steinker, where they brought to the earl

the news about all King Olaf's proceedings.  The earl owned a

long-ship, which was lying afloat and rigged just outside the

town: and immediately, in the evening, he ordered all his movable

goods, his people's clothes, and also meat and drink, as much as

the vessel could carry, to be put on board, rowed immediately out

in the night-time, and came with daybreak to Skarnsund.  There he

saw King Olaf rowing in with his fleet into the fjord.  The earl

turned towards the land within Masarvik, where there was a thick

wood, and lay so near the rocks that the leaves and branches hung

over the vessel.  They cut down some large trees, which they laid

over the quarter on the sea-side, so that the ship could not be

seen for leaves, especially as it was scarcely clear daylight

when the king came rowing past them.  The weather was calm, and

the king rowed in among the islands; and when the king's fleet

was out of sight the earl rowed out of the fjord, and on to

Frosta, where his kingdom lay, and there he landed.

40. EARL SVEIN'S AND EINAR'S CONSULTATIONS.

Earl Svein sent men out to Gaulardal to his brother-in-law, Einar

Tambaskelfer; and when Einar came the earl told him how it had

been with him and King Olaf, and that now he would assemble men

to go out against King Olaf, and fight him.

Einar answers, "We should go to work cautiously, and find out

what King Olaf intends doing; and not let him hear anything

concerning us but that we are quiet.  It may happen that if he

hears nothing about our assembling people, he may sit quietly

where he is in Steinker all the Yule; for there is plenty

prepared for him for the Yule feast: but if he hears we are

assembling men, he will set right out of the fjord with his

vessels, and we shall not get hold of him."  Einar's advice was

taken; and the earl went to Stjoradal, into guest-quarters among

the bondes.

When King Olaf came to Steinker he collected all the meat

prepared for the Yule feast, and made it be put on board,

procured some transport vessels, took meat and drink with him,

and got ready to sail as fast as possible, and went out all the

way to Nidaros.  Here King Olaf Trygvason had laid the foundation

of a merchant town, and had built a king's house: but before that

Nidaros was only a single house, as before related.  When Earl

Eirik came to the country, he applied all his attention to his

house of Lade, where his father had had his main residence, and

he neglected the houses which Olaf had erected at the Nid; so

that some were fallen down, and those which stood were scarcely

habitable.  King Olaf went now with his ships up the Nid, made

all the houses to be put in order directly that were still

standing, and built anew those that had fallen down, and employed

in this work a great many people.  Then he had all the meat and

drink brought on shore to the houses, and prepared to hold Yule

there; so Earl Svein and Einar had to fall upon some other plan.

41. OF SIGVAT THE SKALD.

There was an Iceland man called Thord Sigvaldaskald, who had been

long with Earl Sigvalde, and afterwards with the earl's brother,

Thorkel the Tall; but after the earl's death Thord had become a

merchant.  He met King Olaf on his viking cruise in the west, and

entered into his service, and followed him afterwards.  He was

with the king when the incidents above related took place.  Thord

had a son called Sigvat fostered in the house of Thorkel at

Apavatn, in Iceland.  When he was nearly a grown man he went out

of the country with some merchants; and the ship came in autumn

to the Throndhjem country, and the crew lodged in the hered

(district).  The same winter King Olaf came to Throndhjem, as

just now related by us.  Now when Sigvat heard that his father

Thord was with the king, he went to him, and stayed a while with

him.  Sigvat was a good skald at an early age.  He made a lay in

honour of King Olaf, and asked the king to listen to it.  The

king said he did not want poems composed about him, and said he

did not understand the skald's craft.  Then Sigvat sang: --

     "Rider of dark-blue ocean's steeds!

     Allow one skald to sing thy deeds;

     And listen to the song of one

     Who can sing well, if any can.

     For should the king despise all others,

     And show no favour to my brothers,

     Yet I may all men's favour claim,

     Who sing, still of our great king's fame."

King Olaf gave Sigvat as a reward for his verse a gold ring that

weighed half a mark, and Sigvat was made one of King Olaf's

court-men.  Then Sigvat sang: --

     "I willingly receive this sword --

     By land or sea, on shore, on board,

     I trust that I shall ever be

     Worthy the sword received from thee.

     A faithful follower thou hast bound --

     A generous master I have found;

     Master and servant both have made

     Just what best suits them by this trade."

Earl Svein had, according to custom, taken one half of the

harbour-dues from the Iceland ship-traders about autumn (A.D.

1014); for the Earls Eirik and Hakon had always taken one half of

these and all other revenues in the Throndhjem country.  Now when

King Olaf came there, he sent his men to demand that half of the

tax from the Iceland traders; and they went up to the king's

house and asked Sigvat to help them.  He went to the king, and

sang: --

     "My prayer, I trust, will not be vain --

     No gold by it have I to gain:

     All that the king himself here wins

     Is not red gold, but a few skins.

     it is not right that these poor men

     Their harbour-dues should pay again.

     That they paid once I know is true;

     Remit, great king, what scarce is due."

42. OF EARL SVEIN.

Earl Svein and Einar Tambaskelfer gathered a large armed force,

with which they came by the upper road into Gaulardal, and so

down to Nidaros, with nearly 2000 men.  King Olaf's men were out

upon the Gaular ridge, and had a guard on horseback.  They became

aware that a force was coming down the Gaulardal, and they

brought word of it to the king about midnight.  The king got up

immediately, ordered the people to be wakened, and they went on

board of the ships, bearing all their clothes and arms on board,

and all that they could take with them, and then rowed out of the

river.  Then came the earl's men to the town at the same moment,

took all the Christmas provision, and set fire to the houses.

King Olaf went out of the fjord down to Orkadal, and there landed

the men from their ships.  From Orkadal they went up to the

mountains, and over the mountains eastwards into Gudbrandsdal.

In the lines composed about Kleng Brusason, it is said that Earl

Eirik burned the town of Nidaros: --

     "The king's half-finished hall,

     Rafters, root, and all,

     Is burned down by the river's side;

     The flame spreads o'er the city wide."

43. OF KING OLAF.

King Olaf went southwards through Gudbrandsdal, and thence out to

Hedemark.  In the depth of winter (A.D. 1015) he went about in

guest-quarters; but when spring returned he collected men, and

went to Viken.  He had with him many people from Hedemark, whom

the kings had given him; and also many powerful people from among

the bondes joined him, among whom Ketil Kalf from Ringanes.  He

had also people from Raumarike.  His stepfather, Sigurd Syr, gave

him the help also of a great body of men.  They went down from

thence to the coast, and made ready to put to sea from Viken.

The fleet, which was manned with many fine fellows, went out then

to Tunsberg.

44. OF EARL SVEIN'S FORCES.

After Yule (A.D. 1015) Earl Svein gathers all the men of the

Throndhjem country, proclaims a levy for an expedition, and fits

out ships.  At that time there were in the Throndhjem country a

great number of lendermen; and many of them were so powerful and

well-born, that they descended from earls, or even from the royal

race, which in a short course of generations reckoned to Harald

Harfager, and they were also very rich.  These lendermen were of

great help to the kings or earls who ruled the land; for it was

as if the lenderman had the bonde-people of each district in his

power.  Earl Svein being a good friend of the lendermen, it was

easy for him to collect people.  His brother-in-law, Einar

Tambaskelfer, was on his side, and with him many other lendermen;

and among them many, both lendermen and bondes, who the winter

before had taken the oath of fidelity to King Olaf.  When they

were ready for sea they went directly out of the fjord, steering

south along the land, and drawing men from every district.  When

they came farther south, abreast of Rogaland, Erling Skialgson

came to meet them, with many people and many lendermen with him.

Now they steered eastward with their whole fleet to Viken, and

Earl Svein ran in there towards the end of Easter.  The earl

steered his fleet to Grenmar, and ran into Nesjar (A.D. 1015).

45. KING OLAF S FORCES.

King Olaf steered his fleet out from Viken, until the two fleets

were not far from each other, and they got news of each other the

Saturday before Palm Sunday.  King Olaf himself had a ship called

the Carl's Head, on the bow of which a king's head was carved

out, and he himself had carved it.  This head was used long after

in Norway on ships which kings steered themselves.

46. KING OLAF'S SPEECH.

As soon as day dawned on Sunday morning, King Olaf got up, put on

his clothes, went to the land, and ordered to sound the signal

for the whole army to come on shore.  Then he made a speech to

the troops, and told the whole assembly that he had heard there

was but a short distance between them and Earl Svein.  "Now,"

said he, "we shall make ready; for it can be but a short time

until we meet.  Let the people arm, and every man be at the post

that has been appointed him, so that all may be ready when I

order the signal to sound for casting off from the land.  Then

let us row off at once; and so that none go on before the rest of

the ships, and none lag behind when I row out of the harbour: for

we cannot tell if we shall find the earl where he was lying, or

if he has come out to meet us.  When we do meet, and the battle

begins, let people be alert to bring all our ships in close

order, and ready to bind them together.  Let us spare ourselves

in the beginning, and take care of our weapons, that we do not

cast them into the sea, or shoot them away in the air to no

purpose.  But when the fight becomes hot and the ships are bound

together, then let each man show what is in him of manly spirit."

47. OF THE BATTLE AT NESJAR.

King Olaf had in his ship 100 men armed in coats of ring-mail,

and in foreign helmets.  The most of his men had white shields,

on which the holy cross was gilt; but some had painted it in blue

or red.  He had also had the cross painted in front on all the

helmets, in a pale colour.  He had a white banner on which was a

serpent figured.  He ordered a mass to be read before him, went

on board ship, and ordered his people to refresh themselves with

meat and drink.  He then ordered the war-horns to sound to

battle, to leave the harbour, and row off to seek the earl.  Now

when they came to the harbour where the earl had lain, the earl's

men were armed, and beginning to row out of the harbour; but when

they saw the king's fleet coming they began to bind the ships

together, to set up their banners, and to make ready for the

fight.  When King Olaf saw this he hastened the rowing, laid his

ship alongside the earl's, and the battle began.  So says Sigvat

the skald: --

     "Boldly the king did then pursue

     Earl Svein, nor let him out of view.

     The blood ran down the reindeer's flank

     Of each sea-king -- his vessel's plank.

     Nor did the earl's stout warriors spare

     In battle-brunt the sword and spear.

     Earl Svein his ships of war pushed on,

     And lashed their stout stems one to one."

It is said that King Olaf brought his ships into battle while

Svein was still lying in the harbour.  Sigvat the skald was

himself in the fight; and in summer, just after the battle, he

composed a lay, which is called the "Nesjar Song", in which he

tells particularly the circumstances: --

     "In the fierce fight 'tis known how near

     The scorner of the ice-cold spear

     Laid the Charles' head the earl on board,

     All eastward of the Agder fjord."

Then was the conflict exceedingly sharp, and it was long before

it could be seen how it was to go in the end.  Many fell on both

sides, and many were the wounded.  So says Sigvat: --

     "No urging did the earl require,

     Midst spear and sword -- the battle's fire;

     No urging did the brave king need

     The ravens in this shield-storm to feed.

     Of limb-lopping enough was there,

     And ghastly wounds of sword and spear.

     Never, I think, was rougher play

     Than both the armies had that day."

The earl had most men, but the king had a chosen crew in his

ship, who had followed him in all his wars; and, besides, they

were so excellently equipped, as before related, that each man

had a coat of ring-mail, so that he could not be wounded.  So

says Sigvat: --

     "Our lads, broad-shouldered, tall, and hale,

     Drew on their cold shirts of ring-mail.

     Soon sword on sword was shrilly ringing,

     And in the air the spears were singing.

     Under our helms we hid our hair,

     For thick flew arrows through the air.

     Right glad was I our gallant crew,

     Steel-clad from head to foot, to view."

48. EARL SVEIN'S FLIGHT.

When the men began to fall on board the earl's ships, and many

appeared wounded, so that the sides of the vessels were but

thinly beset with men, the crew of King Olaf prepared to board.

Their banner was brought up to the ship that was nearest the

earl's, and the king himself followed the banner.  So says

Sigvat: --

     "`On with the king!' his banners waving:

     `On with the king!' the spears he's braving!

     `On, steel-clad men! and storm the deck,

     Slippery with blood and strewed with wreck.

     A different work ye have to share,

     His banner in war-storm to bear,

     From your fair girl's, who round the hall

     Brings the full mead-bowl to us all.'"

Now was the severest fighting.  Many of Svein's men fell, and

some sprang overboard.  So says Sigvat: --

     "Into the ship our brave lads spring, --

     On shield and helm their red blades ring;

     The air resounds with stroke on stroke, --

     The shields are cleft, the helms are broke.

     The wounded bonde o'er the side

     Falls shrieking in the blood-stained tide --

     The deck is cleared with wild uproar --

     The dead crew float about the shore."

And also these lines: --

     "The shields we brought from home were white,

     Now they are red-stained in the fight:

     This work was fit for those who wore

     Ringed coats-of-mail their breasts before.

     Where for the foe blunted the best sword

     I saw our young king climb on board.

     He stormed the first; we followed him --

     The war-birds now in blood may swim."

Now defeat began to come down upon the earl's men.  The king's

men pressed upon the earl's ship and entered it; but when the

earl saw how it was going, he called out to his forecastle-men to

cut the cables and cast the ship loose, which they did.  Then the

king's men threw grapplings over the timber heads of the ship,

and so held her fast to their own; but the earl ordered the

timber heads to be cut away, which was done.  So says Sigvat: --

     "The earl, his noble ship to save,

     To cut the posts loud order gave.

     The ship escaped: our greedy eyes

     Had looked on her as a clear prize.

     The earl escaped; but ere he fled

     We feasted Odin's fowls with dead: --

     With many a goodly corpse that floated

     Round our ship's stern his birds were bloated."

Einar Tambaskelfer had laid his ship right alongside the earl's.

They threw an anchor over the bows of the earl's ship, and thus

towed her away, and they slipped out of the fjord together.

Thereafter the whole of the earl's fleet took to flight, and

rowed out of the fjord.  The skald Berse Torfason was on the

forecastle of the earl's ship; and as it was gliding past the

king's fleet, King Olaf called out to him -- for he knew Berse,

who was distinguished as a remarkably handsome man, always well

equipped in clothes and arms -- "Farewell, Berse!"  He replied,

"Farewell, king!"  So says Berse himself, in a poem he composed

when he fell into King Olaf's power, and was laid in prison and

in fetters on board a ship: --

     "Olaf the Brave

     A `farewell' gave,

     (No time was there to parley long,)

     To me who knows the art of song.

          The skald was fain

          `Farewell' again

     In the same terms back to send --

     The rule in arms to foe or friend.

          Earl Svein's distress

          I well can guess,

     When flight he was compelled to take:

     His fortunes I will ne'er forsake,

          Though I lie here

     In chains a year,

     In thy great vessel all forlorn,

     To crouch to thee I still will scorn:

          I still will say,

          No milder sway

     Than from thy foe this land e'er knew:

     To him, my early friend, I'm true."

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Heimskringla/haraldson1.html

Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway

King Olaf Trygvason's Saga: Part III

Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #15b

Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #15b

Heimskringla
or
The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway