Heimskringla

by Snorri Sturluson

  After the king had addressed them they drew themselves up in battle array, arranging themselves as he had indicated. Thereupon the king conferred with the captains of the detachments. By that time some men had arrived whom the king had sent out into the district to ask for the farmers’ support. They had this to tell about the settlements they had visited, that far about there was a great dearth of fighting men—they had all gone to join the army of the farmers; and where they did find men, few cared to follow them. But most of them gave this as their answer that they remained at home because they did not want to join either side, and neither fight against the king nor against their kinsmen. So the messengers had got but a few to join them.

  Then the king asked his men for advice as to what seemed to them most expedient. Finn [Árnason] answered the king as follows. “I shall tell you,” he said, “what would be done if I had my way. We would harry all districts with fire and sword, rob the farmers of all their possessions and burn down all settlements so completely that there would not be left a hut standing, and thus repay the farmers for betraying their king. I should think that many a one of them would leave their ranks if he saw smoke and flames rise from his houses at home and they did not know for sure what was happening to their children and wives and old folks, their fathers and mothers and other kinsfolk. I expect,” he added, “that if any of them take to breaking ranks, their lines will soon thin out; because it is the way of farmers that they like the newest way of doing things best.”

  When Finn had finished speaking, many voiced their approval. Some liked the idea of making booty, and all thought the farmers deserved to suffer damage and also, as Finn had said, that many of them would break ranks. Then Thormóth Kolbrúnarskáld spoke this verse:

  (137.)

  326. Burn all buildings with the

  birches-sorrow,1 and people,

  since with sword the farmers

  seem to guard their homesteads;

  let fire fall in brambles,

  flames consume the homes—if

  I had ought to say—of

  all rebellious Thronders.2

  Now when King Óláf perceived the violence with which his army was bent [on following Finn’s advice], he asked for silence and then spoke as follows:

  “[Indeed] have the farmers deserved that we treat them as you wish. They know that I have done such things as to burn down their homes and have punished them severely in other ways. I did that when they had abandoned the true faith and resumed making heathen sacrifice and would not stop doing so though I warned them. At that time we had to vindicate God’s right. Now this treachery against me, their king, deserves a lesser punishment, even though they are faithless to me and even though this is unseemly in people who pride themselves on being men of honor. So now I am rather more entitled to show forgiveness when they misbehave against me than when they transgressed against God. Therefore it is my will that you proceed peacefully and refrain from plundering. First I wish to have a meeting with the farmers. And if we come to an agreement, it is well; but if they go to battle against us, then we face two possibilities: if we fall in battle, then it is best we do not proceed to the field of battle with plundered goods in our hands; but if we are victorious, then the goods of those who fought against us will fall to our share. Because then some of them will fall and some will flee, and in either case will have forfeited all their possessions. Then it will be fine to go to the great estates and grand farm houses; but they will be of no use to anyone once they are burned down. Likewise more plundered goods are ruined than put to use. Let us now proceed in separate groups through the settlements and take along with us all the men capable of bearing arms we can get. The troops may also butcher cattle and lay their hands on other foods which they require, but let them do no other damage. I should like to see the spies of the farmers’ army killed if you can get hold of them. Dag and his force are to take the northern route down along the valley, but I shall proceed on the main-travelled road. Then let us meet in the evening and let us all camp together during the night.”

  Chapter 206. The King’s Skalds Are Placed within the Shield-Castle

  We are told that when King Óláf drew up his men in battle array, he formed some into a shield-castle to protect him in battle, and for that purpose chose the strongest and most valiant. Then he called up his skalds and ordered them to enter the shield castle. “You are to be here,” he said, “and witness all that will happen here. Then you will not need to be told, but can tell of it yourselves and compose verses about it later on.” Thormóth Kolbrúnarskáld was there, also Gizur, the foster father of Hofgartha-Ref, and the third was Thorfinn Mouth.1 Then Thormóth said to Gizur, “Don’t stand so close, comrade, that skald Sigvat won’t find room when he comes. He will want to stand before the king, nor will the king like to have it otherwise.”

  The king overheard that and answered, “You don’t need to taunt Sigvat for not being here. Often he has fought bravely along with me. He is likely to pray for us right now, and we may yet have great need of that.”

  Thormóth said, “It may well be, sire, that you stand in great need of prayers, right now; but thin would the lines be around your standard if all your bodyguard were now on pilgrimage to Rome. And true it is that we complained about no one having a chance to speak to you because of Sigvat.”

  Afterwards the three discussed matters between them and said it would be a good thing to compose some memorial verses about the events which were likely to happen soon. Then Gizur spoke this verse:

  (138.)

  327. Farmers’ daughters shan’t find me

  faint of heart, as we king’s men

  busk us now for baleful

  battle—shall that be told of—

  wise warriors though do

  warn of Hethin’s-leman.2

  Steadfast let us stand with

  stalwart king in the east3 here.

  Then Thorfinn Mouth spoke another verse:

  (139.)

  328. Dark it grows as draws near

  deadly storm-of-arrows.

  Vow the vengeful folk of

  Vera Dale death to Óláf.

  Guard we our gallant ruler!

  Gorge we the hungry wolf-brood!

  Fell we Thronders in Thund’s-fierce-

  thing4—we urge that—of-arrows!

  Then Thormóth spoke this verse:

  (140.)

  329. Draweth nigh the dreaded

  dart-storm, arrow-sender!

  Quake nor cringe, ye dauntless

  king’s-men—waxeth sword-din:

  whether now we hence do

  hie us, giving ravens—

  fore-ordained our fate is—

  food, or lie on battlefield.

  These verses were promptly committed to memory by the [king’s] men.

  Chapter 207. The King and His Forces Sleep in the Open

  Thereafter the king set out, going down along the valley. He selected a place for passing the night, and there all his troops gathered and slept out in the open during the night under their shields. As soon as day broke, the king mustered his troops, and they proceeded down the valley. Then a great many farmers came to the king, joining his colors; and all reported the same thing—that the landed-men had gathered an overwhelming host and intended to do battle with the king.

  Then the king took [a purse containing] many marks of silver and handed it to a farmer, saying, “This money you are to safeguard, and parcel out later, donating some of it to the churches, some to priests, and some to the poor, for the lives and souls of those who will fall in battle fighting against us.”

  The farmer said, “Is this money to be given for the salvation of the souls of your men, sire?”

  The king replied, “This money is to be given for the souls of those men who stand on the side of the farmers and will fall by the weapons of our men. But as to those who are on our side in the battle, we shall be saved, all of us.”

  Chapter 208. The Skald Thormóth Recites th
e Lay of Bjarki

  During the aforesaid night, when King Óláf lay in the midst of his troops, he stayed awake for a long time, praying to God for himself and his men, and slept but a short while. Toward morning sleep overcame him, and when he awoke, day broke. The king thought it was rather early to wake the army. Then he asked where the skald Thormóth was. He happened to be near and asked what the king wanted of him. The king said, “I would have you recite some lay for us.” Thormóth arose and spoke in a very loud voice so that all the army could hear him. He chanted the “Old Lay of Bjarki,”1 of which this is the beginning:

  (141.)

  330. Day has come,

  the cock shakes his wings.

  ’tis time for thralls

  to take to their tasks.

  Awake, ye friends,

  be wakeful ever,

  all ye best men

  in Athils’2 court.

  (142.)

  331. Hár the hard-gripping,

  Hrólf the bowman,

  men of noble line

  who never flee:

  I wake you not to wine

  nor to women’s converse,

  but rather to Hild’s

  hard game of war.

  Then the troops awoke. And when he had finished the men thanked him for it and were exceedingly pleased with it. They thought it well-chosen and called the poem the “Housecarls’ Exhortation.” The king thanked him for his entertainment. Then he gave him a gold [arm] ring weighing half a mark. Thormóth thanked the king for his gift and said, “A good king we have; but it is not easy to see now how long he will live. It is my prayer, sire, that we may not be parted, whether dead or alive.”

  The king replied, “We shall all go the same way, so long as I prevail, if you wish not to part with me.”

  Then Thormóth said, “I expect, sire, whether now there be peace or war, to stand close by you while I have the chance, and whatever we learn of the whereabouts of Sigvat with his sword Golden Hilt.” Then he spoke this verse:

  (143.)

  332. Stay would I still with thee,

  steerer-of-ships, till other

  skalds thou hast—but when dost

  hope they come?—and fend thee:

  gladly would I, gallant—

  greedy wolves we batten—

  wielder-of-the-wound-snake,3

  with thee live and die eke!

  Chapter 209. Harald, the King’s Half-Brother Insists on Staying for the Battle

  King Óláf moved his army down along the valley. Dag with his company went by another way. The king did not stop on his march till he arrived at Stiklarstathir. Then they saw the array of the farmers. Their ranks were scattered and their numbers were so great that all paths were crowded with men, and in many places large detachments moved together. They [the king’s troops] caught sight of a company of men descending the Vera Dale. They had been reconnoitering and approached closely to the army of the king and were not aware of it before they were so close that they could recognize one another. That was Hrút of Vigg, with thirty men. Then the king ordered his bodyguard to fall upon Hrút and kill him. The men were quick to do this. Then the king said to the Icelanders in his flock, “I have heard it said that it is a custom in Iceland for farmers to have to give their man servants a sheep to slaughter in fall. Now I will give you a ram to slaughter.”1 The Icelanders were not slow to accept the challenge and, with other men, at once fell upon Hrút. Both he and all those with him were slain.

  When the king arrived at Stiklarstath he took up a position and halted his army. He ordered his men to dismount and prepare for battle, and they did as they were told. Then they were placed into formation and the standards were set up. By that time Dag and his troops had not arrived yet, so his wing did not materialize.

  Then the king ordered the men from Uppland to come up and advance the banners.

  “It seems advisable to me,” said the king, “that my brother Harald be not in this battle as he is still only a child.”

  Harald answered, “By all means I shall take part in it, and if I am so weak as not to be able to wield a sword, then I know what to do: let my hand be tied to the haft. No one is more minded than I to strike a blow against those farmers. I mean to be with my comrades,” We are told that Harald on this occasion spoke this verse:

  (144.)

  333. Ward I shall the wing—and

  worthy will my mother

  hold that—which I stand on,

  hardily reddening targes.

  Fearful is not of foemen

  farmers’ spear-thrusts youthful

  warrior where will wage men

  weapon-thing2 most murderous.

  And Harald had his will to be in the battle.

  Chapter 210. Thorgils Hálmuson Promises to See to the King’s Burial

  There was a certain man called Thorgils Hálmuson, a farmer who lived at Stiklarstathir. He was the father of Grím the Good. Thorgils offered the king his help to be in the battle with him. The king thanked him for his offer, “But I wish, [friend] farmer,” said the king, “that you be not in the battle. I would rather you helped our men after the battle to bind their wounds and give burial to those who fall in it; so that, [friend] farmer, if so happen that I fall in this battle, you perform the last rites for my body, unless you be forbidden to do that.” Thorgils promised the king to do as he was bidden.

  Chapter 211. The King Exhorts His Troops

  Now when King Óláf had drawn up his troops in battle array he spoke to them, saying that they should take heart and advance boldly. “If it comes to battle,” he said, “we have a stout and large army; so that, even if the farmers do have a somewhat larger force, fate will decide the outcome. I want you to know that I shall not flee out of this battle. I shall either be victorious or else fall in it. I pray to God that that will come to pass which He deems is best for me. Therefore let us put our trust in this that we have a more righteous cause than the farmers and also that God will restore us to our possessions after this battle, or else reward us with a much greater recompense for the loss we suffer here than we can ourselves wish for. But if I be granted to address you after the battle, then I shall enrich everyone of you according to his deserts and according to how he comports himself in the battle. Then, if we are victorious, there will be a plenty, both of land and chattels, to divide between you of the possessions now in the hands of our enemies. Let us attack most briskly at the very start, because then there will be a quick decision if the odds are against us. Victory will be ours if we rush at them swiftly, but fortune will not be with us if we fight till we are tired so that we are unstrung because of weariness. We are likely to have fewer reserves than they for pushing forward while the others [merely] defend themselves or rest. But if we rush at them so hard that those in the front ranks turn, then one will tumble on top of the other, and their defeat will be greater the more there are of them,” Now when the king ceased speaking, there was a great acclaim of his harangue, and one fired the other.

  Chapter 212. Thórth Fólason Bears the King’s Standard

  Thórth Fólason carried King Óláf’s standard. So says Skald Sigvat in the memorial drápa1 he composed about King Óláf and provided with a burden from the Story of Creation:

  (145.)

  334. That time, heard I, Thórth did—

  thickened the storm-of-arrows—

  stanch hearts stood there together—

  stalwartly fight with Óláf.

  High he held the standard—

  help he did not grudge—for

  keen-eyed king; nor failed in

  combat Ogmund’s brother.2

  Chapter 213. King Óláf’s Accouterment

  King Óláf was armed thus: on his head he had a gilded helmet, and his shield was white, inlaid with the holy cross in gold. In his hand he had the halberd which now stands by the altar in Christ Church.1 He was girt with the sword called Hneitir, an exceedingly keen weapon whose haft was wound with gold. He wore a coat of chain mail.
Skald Sigvat makes mention of this:

  (146.)

  335. Foemen many felled the

  fearless king, the Stout hight,

  in burnished byrnie as to

  battle he strode, much daring;

  whilst warlike Swedes waded—

  waxed the sword-din—sent from

  the east, with bold lord banded—

  blood-streams. Truth I tell you.

  Chapter 214. King Óláf’s Dream

  Now when King Óláf had drawn up his troops in battle array, the army of the farmers was still far away. So the king told the men to sit down and take a rest. And he himself sat down, together with all his troops, and they sat at a comfortable distance one from the other. He leaned down and laid his head on Finn Árnason’s lap. Then sleep overcame him, and he slept for a while. Then they saw the farmers’ army approaching. They were moving toward the king’s troops and had raised their banners. It was a huge host of men. Finn waked the king and told him that the farmers were advancing towards them.