Proud swelled our warriors' hearts when he With all their Gautland host: but now Our warriors weep-Hakon lies low!" High standing stones* mark Egil Ulserk's grave. CHAPTER XXVIII.-News of War comes to King Hakon. When King Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, had been king for twenty-six years after his brother Eirik had left the country, it happened that he was at a feast in Hordaland in the house at Fitjar on the island Stord, and he had with him at the feast his court and many of the peasants. And just as the king was seated at the supper-table, his watchmen who were outside observed many ships coming sailing along from the south, and not very far from the island. Now, said the one to the other, they should inform the king that they thought an armed force was coming against them; but none thought it advisable to be the bearer of an alarm of war to the king, as he had set heavy penalties on those who raised such. alarms falsely, yet they thought it unsuitable that the king should remain in ignorance of what they saw.† * The stones set on end in the ground, and ten or twelve feet high or more, are called standing stones in the Orkney Isles, and other places held by the Scandinavians; and the oblong tumuli found on the coast have very probably been cast over small ships turned bottom up over the bodies of the slain, as described in this chapter, and are called ship mounds, to distinguish them from other mounds, by the Norwegian antiquaries.-L. 3 Je + A curious instance of the discipline and deference for the king of these Northmen, and which accounts for their success against the people they invaded, and is also singularly in contrast with what follows-th reference by the king to his men for approving his plan of giving battie le, and not retreating. This strict discipline and freedom united accoun for the success of their predatory expeditions. ts Then one of them went into the room and asked Eyvind Finson to come out as fast as possible, for it was very needful. Eyvind immediately came out and went to where he could see the ships, and saw directly that a great army was on the way; and he returned in all haste into the room, and, placing himself before the king, said, "Short is the hour for acting, and long the hour for feasting." The king cast his eyes upon him, and said, "What now is in the way?" Eyvind said— "Up, king! the avengers are at hand! The Then said the king, "Thou art too brave a fellow, Eyvind, to bring us any false alarm of war." others all said it was a true report. The king ordered the tables to be removed, and then he went out to look at the ships; and when it could be clearly seen that these were ships of war, the king asked his men what resolution they should take-whether to give battle with the men they had, or go on board ship and sail away northwards along the land. "For it is easy to see," said he, "that we must now fight against a much greater force than we ever had against us. before; although we thought just the same the last time we fought against Gunhild's sons." No one was in a hurry to give an answer to the king; but at last Eyvind replied to the king's speech : "Thou who in the battle-plain Hast often poured the sharp spear-rain! Ill it beseems our warriors brave To fly upon the ocean wave: To fly upon the blue wave north, - When Harald from the south comes forth, With many a ship and southern viking,- The king replied, "Thy counsel, Eyvind, is manly, and after my own heart; but I will hear the opinion of others upon this matter." Now as the king's men thought they discerned what way the king was inclined to take, they answered that they would rather fall bravely and like men, than fly before the Danes ; adding, that they had often gained the victory against greater odds of numbers. The king thanked them for their resolution, and bade them arm themselves; and all the men did so. The king put on his armour, and girded on his sword Kvernbit, and put a gilt helmet upon his head, and took a spear in his hand, and a shield by his side. He then drew up his courtmen and the bondes in one body, and set up his banner. CHAPTER XXIX.-The Armament of Eirik's Sons. After Gamle's death King Harald, Eirik's son, was the chief of the brothers, and he had a great army with him from Denmark. In their army were also their mother's brothers, Eyvind Skreyja, and Alf Askmand, both strong and able men, and great manslayers. The sons of Eirik brought up with their ships off the island, and it is said that their force was not less than six to one,-so much stronger in men were Eirik's sons. CHAPTER XXX.-King Hakon's Battle Array. When King Hakon had drawn up his men, it is told of him that he threw off his armour before the battle began. So sings Eyvind Skaldaspiller : "They found Biorn's brother* bold Under his banner as of old, Ready for battle. Foes advance,— Amidst his guards; but the brave king Brave Hakon played at slaughter's feast." King Hakon selected willingly such men for his guard or court-men as were distinguished for their strength and bravery, as his father King Harald also King Hakon.-L. + Hild's play was battle.-L. The helm was adorned with eagle's feathers, or with the figure of an eagle.-L. used to do; and among these was Thoralf Skolmson the Strong,* who went on one side of the king. He had helmet and shield, spear and sword; and his sword was called by the name of Footbreadth. It was said that Thoralf and King Hakon were equal in strength. Thiord Siarekson speaks of it in the poem he composed concerning Thoralf: "The king's men went with merry words When both lines met there was a hard combat, and much bloodshed. The combatants threw their spears, and then drew their swords. Then King Hakon, and Thoralf with him, went in advance of the banner, cutting down on both sides of them. So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller : "The body-coats of linked steel, The woven iron coats of mail, Wild pealing round from shore to shore." * Thoralf Skolmson is often mentioned for his strength; for example, in Grettis Saga, chapter 58. He was born in 942, and consequently he was not more than eighteen years old when he took part in this Fitjar battle. |