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!
Eirik's bold sons approach the land!
The judgment of the sword they crave
Against their foe. Thy wrath I brave;
Tho' well I know 'tis no light thing
To bring war-tidings to the king,
And tell him 'tis no time to rest.
Up! gird your armour to your
breast:
Thy honour's dearer than my life;
Therefore I say, up to the strife!"

Then said the king, "Thou art too brave a fellow, Eyvind, to bring us any false alarm of war." The 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 riding in pride
Upon the foaming ocean-tide;

With many a ship and southern viking,—
Let us take shield in hand, brave king!"

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,

The front rank raise the shining lance ;

And now begins the bloody fray!
Now! now begins Hild's wild play !+
Our noble king, whose name strikes fear
Into each Danish heart,-whose spear
Has single-handed spilt the blood
Of many a Danish noble,—stood
Beneath his helmet's eagle wing

Amidst his guards; but the brave king
Scorned to wear armour, while his men
Bared naked breasts against the rain
Of spear and arrow. Off he flung
His coat of mail, his breast-plate rung
Against the stones; and, blithe and gay,
He rushed into the thickest fray.
With golden helm, and naked breast,

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.

He

used to do; and among these was Thoralf Skolmson the Strong,* who went on one side of the king. 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

To the sharp clash of shields and swords,
When these wild rovers of the sea
At Fitjar fought. Stout Thoralf he
Next to the Northmen's hero came,
Scattering wide round the battle flame,
For in the storm of shields not one

Ventured like him with brave Hakon."

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,
Like water fly before the swing
Of Hakon's sword-the champion-king.
About each Gotland war-man's head
Helm splits, like ice beneath the tread,
Cloven by the axe or sharp sword-blade.
The brave king, foremost in the fight,
Dyes crimson-red the spotless white
Of his bright shield with foemen's gore,—
Amidst the battle wild uproar,

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.

CHAPTER XXXI.-The Fall of Eyvind Skreyja and of Alf Askmand.

King Hakon was very conspicuous among other men, and also when the sun shone his helmet glanced, and thereby many weapons were directed at him. Then Eyvind Finson took a hat and put it over the king's helmet. Now Eyvind Skreyja called out, "Does the king of the Norsemen hide himself, or has he fled? Where is now the golden helmet?" Then Eyvind, and his brother Alf with him, pushed on like fools or madmen. The king said, "Come on as ye are coming, and ye will find the king of the Norsemen." So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller :

"The raiser of the storm of shields,
The conqueror in battle fields,-

Hakon the brave, the warrior's friend,
Who scatters gold with liberal hand,
Heard Skreyja's taunt, and saw him rush
Amidst the sharp spears' thickest push,
And loudly shouted in reply--

'If thou wilt for the victory try,

The Norseman's king thou soon shalt find !

Hold onwards, friend! Hast thou a mind?'"

It was also but a short space of time before Eyvind did come up swinging his sword, and made a cut at the king; but Thoralf thrust his shield so hard against Eyvind that he tottered with the shock. Now the king takes his sword Kvernbit with both hands, and hewed Eyvind through helm and head, and clove him down to the shoulders. Thoralf also slew Alf Askmand. So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller :"With both his hands the gallant king Swung round his sword, and to the chin