Heimskringla
Page 15
And this was the reason that no news went ahead of the approach of the sons of Eirík before they arrived north in Úlfa Sound. There they remained anchored for seven days. Then the news about it was carried north by the inland way over the neck of land1 and spread about Mœr. King Hákon at that time was in South Mœr on the island called Fræthi,2 on his estate called Birkistrand, and had no troops about him except his bodyguard and the farmers who had been guests at his entertainment.
Chapter 23. King Hákon Seeks Egil Ullserk’s Advice
Men bearing the information came to King Hákon, telling him that the sons of Eirík lay with a great force south of Stath. Then he had called to him those men who were reputed wisest in that district and asked their advice whether he should give battle to the sons of Eirík, notwithstanding that the odds were greatly in their favor, or withdraw to the north and collect a greater force.
Among them there was one farmer, called Egil Ullserk [Wool Shirt]. He was very old then, but had been larger and stronger than anyone else and a great warrior. For a long time he had borne the standard of King Harald Fairhair. Egil answered the king’s speech in this fashion:
“I was in some battles with your father, King Harald. Sometimes he fought against a large force, and sometimes against a smaller one; but he always was victorious. Never did I hear him invite the advice of friends to flee. Nor shall we give such advice, sir king; because we think we have a fearless leader. You shall have our trusty support.”
Many others, too, stood by his speech. And the king also said that he too was more inclined to give battle with such forces as he had at hand. So that course of action was taken. Then the king had the war-arrows carried in all directions and assembled as much of a force as he could get. Then Egil Ullserk said, “That have I feared for some time, whilst we had this long peace, that I might die of old age on the straw inside my house; but I would rather die in battle, following my chieftain. Maybe that this will now be the case.”
Chapter 24. The Battle on Rastarkálf Plain
The sons of Eirík sailed north past Cape Stath as soon as they had a favorable breeze. And when they had passed Stath they learned where King Hákon was, and they proceeded against him. King Hákon had nine ships. He was anchored north of Fræthar Hill in Féey Sound, and the sons of Eirík anchored south of the hill. They had more than twenty ships. King Hákon sent a messenger to them, asking them to disembark and [saying] that he had marked off a battlefield for them on Rastarkálf. At that place there is a level plain of large extent, and above it, a long and rather low hill. There the sons of Eirík disembarked and went north over the neck of land below Fræthar Hill and onto the Rastarkálf Plain.
Then Egil spoke to King Hákon, asking him for ten men with ten standards. The king gave them to him. Thereupon Egil with his men went up along the slope. Now King Hákon proceeded to the plain with his troops, set up his standard and drew up his forces in battle array. He said, “We shall have an extended line of battle so they cannot surround us, even though they have more men.” This they did. There ensued a great and very sharp engagement. Then Egil had his ten standards set up, and so arranged it with the men carrying them that they should advance as close as possible to the brink of the hill, but with a long interval between each of them. This they did and advanced as close as possible to the brink of the hill, as though they intended to attack the sons of Eirík in the rear. Those who stood highest in the rank of Eirík’s men observed that many standards were being rushed forward and overtopped the hill, and thought that a great host would be following [the standards] to attack them in the rear and come between them and their ships. Then there was much shouting, one telling the other what was happening, and soon their ranks broke in flight. When the sons of Eirík saw that, they fled, too. King Hákon pursued them vigorously, and there was a great slaughter.
Chapter 25. King Gamli Makes a Last Stand
When Gamli Eiríksson had got on top of the ridge he turned about and saw that no more of a host was pursuing them than the one they had battled before, and that this was a stratagem. Then King Gamli had the trumpets blown, set up his standard, and rearranged his battle line. All the Norwegians in his force flocked about it, but the Danes fled to their ships. So when King Hákon and his troops came up to them, there followed a second bitter fight. By that time King Hákon was superior in numbers, and the outcome was that the sons of Eirík took to flight. They then retreated south over the ridge; but a part of their forces fled south to the hill, pursued by King Hákon. There is a level plain east of the neck of land on the west side of the hill, but steep cliffs descend west from it. Then Gamli’s men retreated to the top of the hill, and King Hákon attacked them fiercely killing some; but others leapt over the cliff on the west side of the hill, and all of them perished. The king did not stop until they had slain every man’s son there.
Chapter 26. Egil Ullserk and King Gamli Fall
Gamli, the son of Eirík, also fled from the ridge down to the plain south of the hill. There, King Gamli turned about once more and renewed the fight, and again some troops joined him. Then also all his brothers joined him with many men. Egil Ullserk was heading Hákon’s men and made a strong onslaught, and he and King Gamli exchanged blows. King Gamli was severely wounded, but Egil fell also, and many with him. Then King Hákon came up with the troops that had followed him, and the battle was renewed. Again King Hákon pressed the enemy hard, cutting down men right and left and felling one after the other. As says Guthorm Sindri:
(71.)
71. Fearful, the host of foemen
fled from the gold-dispender.
Went the warlike leader
well before the standards.
Nor did the shaft-shatterer
shield himself in war-fray,
he who in Hild’s-tempest1
hardiest was ever.
The sons of Eirík saw their men fall on all sides. Then they turned and fled to their ships. But those who before had fled to the ships had launched them into the water. Some of the ships, however, were left aground. Then all the sons of Eirík plunged into the water, together with the men who followed them. There Gamli Eiríksson died, but his brothers reached the ships and sailed away with all who survived and set their course to Denmark.
Chapter 27. King Hákon Buries the Fallen
King Hákon captured the ships belonging to the sons of Eirík that had run aground and had them dragged up on land. He had Egil Ullserk laid upon one of them, together with all those of his company who had fallen in battle, and had earth and stones heaped up around it. Also other ships King Hákon had dragged ashore and put in them the corpses lying on the battlefield; and these mounds can still be seen south of Frætharberg. Eyvind Skáldaspillir composed the following verse, after Glúm Geirason in one of his verses had made much of the fall of King Hákon:
(72.)
72. Before, the king unfleeing, with
Fenrir’s jaw-distender1—
stout-souled men were stirred to
strife—shed Gamli’s life-blood,
when that all of Eirík’s
heirs he drove—his men now,
downcast, mourn the dear one’s
death—into the water.
High stone monuments stand beside the burial mound of Egil Ullserk.
Chapter 28. Eyvind Skáldaspillir Forewarns the King
When King Hákon, foster son of Æthelstān, had been king of 961 Norway for twenty-six years after his brother Eirík had fled the land, it so happened that he was in Horthaland and was entertained with a banquet at Fitjar on the Island of Storth. He had his bodyguard with him, and many farmers were there too. One day, in the forenoon, as the king sat at table, the watchmen outside reported that many ships came sailing from the south and would be at the island before long. Then everyone said that the king should be told that they thought a hostile force was approaching. But no one dared to tell the king that there was danger of hostilities, because he had warned that anyone who did that would be p
unished severely; and yet they thought it would never do to keep the king in ignorance of it. Then one of them went into the room [where the king sat] and asked Eyvind Finnsson [Skáldaspillir] to come out quickly, saying it was most urgent. Eyvind came out and immediately went to the spot where he could see the ships. He saw at once that a very considerable fleet was approaching and forthwith went back into the room before the king and said these words:
73. “Fleeting is time on the foreshore
which to the feaster is long”
[Literally: Short is time for the traveller at sea, but long the time at the meal].
The king looked at him and said, “What’s in the wind?”
Eyvind spoke this verse:
(73.)
74. Valkyrie’s-game,1 avengers—
avails not sitting still now—
wish to awake ’gainst you,
warring for death of Blood-Axe.
Not easy is it—yet thy
honor wish I, sovran—
take we our tools of war!—to
tell of fight approaching.
The king said, “You are so gallant a fellow, Eyvind, that you are not likely to warn of danger approaching unless it is so.” Then the king had the table removed and went outside to look at the ships, and saw they were warships. Then he spoke to his men, asking their opinion, whether they should do battle with such forces as they had, or board their ships and sail away from them heading north. “It is evident,” the king said, “that we shall have to fight against much greater odds than we did before, although we often thought we had to fight against much superior forces, when we had to do battle with the sons of Gunnhild.”
The men were not quick to make their decision. Then Eyvind spoke this verse:
(74.)
75. Nowise beseems it noble,
Njorth-of-roller-horses,2—
flinch not feebly—to lead our
fleet still farther northward,
now that steer their stout sea-
steeds the sons of Eirík—
grip we our gear of warfare—
’gainst us north from Denmark.
The king replied, “These are brave words, and after my own heart; yet I should like to hear the opinion of others about this business.” But when they thought they could gather what the king’s wishes were, many answered and said that they would rather fall honorably than flee from the Danes; also, that often they had fought victoriously when they had fought against greater odds. The king thanked them much for their words and asked them to arm themselves; and so they did. The king sheathed himself in his coat of mail and girded himself with the sword Quernbiter, put on his head a gilt helmet, took a halberd in hand, and had a shield at his side. Then he arranged his bodyguard in one battle array, together with the farmers, and raised his standards.
Chapter 29. The Sons of Eirík Make a Fresh Attack
Harald Eiríksson was at that time head of the sons of Eirík after Gamli had fallen. They had come with a great force north from Denmark. In company with them were their maternal uncles, Eyvind Skreya and Álf Askmathr [Skipper]. They were strong and valiant men and great warriors. The sons of Eirík steered their ships to the island, disembarked, and formed their battle array. And we are told that the odds were six to one in favor of the sons of Eirík.
Chapter 30. The Battle of Storth and the Poem Hákonarmál
By that time King Hákon too had put his men in battle array; and it is said that the king cast off his coat of mail before the battle started. As says Eyvind Skáldaspillir in his Lay of Hákon:1
(75.)
76. They2 found Bjorn’s brother
his byrnie donning,
under standard standing
the stalwart leader—
were darts uplifted
and spearshafts lowered;
up the strife then started.
(76.)
77. Called on Háleygers
as on Holmrygers3
the earls’ banesman
as to battle he fared;
a good host had he
of henchmen from Norway—
the Danes’-terror
donned his gold helm.
(77.)
78. Threw off his war-weeds,
thrust down his mail-coat
the great-hearted lord,
ere began the battle.
Laughed with his liege-men;4
his land would he shield,
the gladsome hero
’neath gold helm standing.
King Hákon chose men for his bodyguard especially for their strength and bravery, as had done King Harald, his father. Among them was Thórálf the Strong, the son of Skólm, and he went by the side of the king. He was armed with helmet and shield, a halberd, and the sword called Fetbreith. It was said that King Hákon and he were of equal strength. Thórth Sjáreksson5 makes mention of this in the drápa he composed about Thórálf:
(78.)
79. There where the hardy roller-
horses’-steerers forth, for
slaughterous sword-play eager,
sallied, on Storth in Fitjar,
the doughty dart-storm’s-urger
dared, helm-clad, sword-girt, and
naught fearing, to fight next to
Norway’s king’s side in combat.
And when the opposing forces met there was a furious and bloody fight. When the men had hurled their spears, they took to their swords. King Hákon, with Thórálf at his side, advanced beyond the standard, cutting down men right and left. As says Eyvind Skáldaspillir:
(79.)
80. Cut then keenly
the king’s broadsword
through foemen’s war-weeds
as though water it parted.
Clashed then spear-blades,
cleft were bucklers,
did ring-adorned war-swords6
rattle on helmets.
(80.)
81. Were targes trodden
by the Týr-of-shields7
with hard-footed hilt-blade,
and heads eke, by Northmen;
battle raged on island,
athelings reddened
shining shield-castles
with shedded life-blood.
King Hákon was easily recognized—more easily than other men. His helmet glittered as the sun shone upon it. He was the target of all. Then Eyvind Finnsson took a hood and drew it over the king’s helmet.
Chapter 31. King Hákon Is Wounded by an Arrow
Eyvind Skreya then called out aloud, “Hides now the king of the Norwegians, or has he fled—else where is the gold helmet now?” Thereupon Eyvind forged ahead, together with Álf, his brother, striking down men on both sides and acting like men possessed.
King Hákon called out aloud to Eyvind, “Keep going as you are headed, if you want to find the king of the Norwegians.” As says Eyvind Skáldaspillir:
King Hákon advances against the Danes.
(81.)
82. Bade the valkyries’-weather-
wooer1 Eyvind Skreya—
good to men, but to gold not—
go forward as headed,
“if, far-famed sea-fighter,
find thou wouldst in battle
the wise and wealth-dispending,
warlike king of Norway.”
Nor was it long before Eyvind got there and raised his sword and swung at the king. Thórálf thrust his shield against him so that Eyvind stumbled. But the king seized his sword, Quernbiter, with both hands and struck Eyvind on his helmet and cleft it and his head down to the shoulders. Then Thórálf slew Álf the Skipper. As says Eyvind Skáldaspillir:
(82.)
83. Saw I the wand-of-wounds2 which
wielded Norway’s ruler,
with both his hands when he
hewed down treacherous Skreya.
Fearless, the foe of Denmark
famous cleft the scalp-hills3
of many mail-clad Danish
mariners with sword
gold-hilted.
After the fall of these two brothers King Hákon forged ahead with such might that all opponents fell back before him. Then terror struck the hearts of the followers of the sons of Eirík and soon they took to flight. But King Hákon was in front of his men, pursuing the fleeing enemies closely and raining sword-blows. Then there flew an arrow, of the kind which is called flein,4 and struck King Hákon in the arm, in the muscle below the shoulder. And many say that Gunnhild’s page, by the name of Kisping, ran forward in the confusion—calling out, “Make room for the king’s slayer”—and shot the arrow at King Hákon. Some say, however, that no one knows who shot the arrow. And that may very well be, because arrows and javelins and all kinds of missiles flew as thick as a fall of snow. A great number of the Eiríkssons’ force fell, both on the battlefield and on their way to the ships and also on the beach, and many leapt into the sea. A good many of these managed to reach the ships, as did all the sons of Eirík, and at once rowed away, with Hákon’s men in pursuit. As says Thórth Sjáreksson:
(83.)
84. Before his men the mainsworns’
murderer5—and thus should—
a long life men wished him—
land be warded—fought there.
Trouble arose, the time that
tight-fisted6—the king7 fell—
Gunnhild’s son, short of gold, his
galleys steered from southward.
(84.)
85. Wearily, wound-sore yeomen
worked on board the long-ships—
many men their death did
meet there—the sweeps pulling.