The king had stationed his men on a certain hillock, and they rushed from above onto the army of the farmers, and made such a furious assault that they gave way, so that the front of the king’s battle line came to stand where those in command of the farmers’ army had been stationed before, and many among them were about to flee. But the landed-men and their house-carls stood their ground and then there developed a violent struggle. As says Sigvat:
(148.)
337. Widely o’er fields fared on
foot—of peace was surcease—
byrnied men to baleful
battle—the earth resounded,
in early morning hour when
arrow-senders, helm-clad—
steel-storm raged at Stiklar
Stead—rushed down upon them.
The landed-men urged their troops on and goaded them to advance. Sigvat makes mention of this:
(149.)
338. Abreast strode, their banner
bearing, in middle line, stout
Thronders there, with halberds
thrusting. Now they rue it!1
Then the army of the farmers attacked on all sides. Those who stood foremost slashed with their swords, those standing next behind them thrust with their spears, whilst all those in the rear let fly both with javelins or arrows or threw stones or hand-axes or shafts with pointed stones. Soon the battle grew murderous, with many falling on either side. In the first onset fell Arnljót Gellini, Gauka-Thórir, and Afra-Fasti, together with all their company, but only after each of them had slain one or two men, and some, several. Then the lines before the banner of the king grew thin. So the king bade Thórth to advance the standard, and the king himself followed it with the body of men he had selected to be about him in battle. These were the most dexterous in the use of their weapons and the best armed among his troops. This is mentioned by Sigvat:
(150.)
339. Closest heard I, kept my
king beside his standard,
hastening headlong with it—
hard the fight—’gainst foemen.
When King Óláf issued from the shield castle and went into the front ranks and the farmers beheld his countenance, they were filled with dread and their hands failed them. This is mentioned by Sigvat:
(151.)
340. Dreadful was it, I deem, for
dragon-hoard-dispenders2
to look in the eyes of Óláf,
eager for fight and knife-sharp.
Nor dared the doughty Thronders—
dread of the hersars’ lord o’er-
awed them—in fray e’er his
asp-keen eyes encounter.
Then the battle grew most violent. The king himself advanced in hand to hand combat. As Sigvat says:
(152.)
341. Red grew in raging sword-fight,
wrathfully as fought fierce
warriors our worthy folk-lord,
weapons and hands with wound-dew.
And in the game-of-iron,
Óláf, battle-eager,
cleft many a man’s head in
middle with sharp falchion.
Chapter 227. There Is an Eclipse of the Sun During the Battle
King Óláf fought then most valiantly. He slashed across the face of Thor-geir of Kviststathir, the landed-man mentioned above, cutting in two the nose guard of his helmet and cleaving his head below the eyes, so that it was almost sundered. When he fell, the king said, “Is it not true what I told you, Thorgeir, that when we met you would not be the victor?”
Right then, Thórth rammed down the standard shaft so hard that it stood in the ground. He had received a mortal wound and fell beneath the standard. With him fell also Thorfinn Mouth and Gizur Goldbrow. He had been attacked by two men, but killed one of them and wounded the other before he fell. As says Hofgartha-Ref:
(153.)
342. One bold spear-Ygg,1 without
wavering, started Hild’s-play—
his sword sang out—against two
savage trees-of-combat.2
Dealt the dart-thrower bold his
death-blow—he steel reddened—
to one war-worker, another
wounded he grievously.
Then occurred this, as was stated above, that in a clear sky the sun disappeared and it became dark. This is mentioned by Sigvat:
(154.)
343. No small wonder, say the
sailship-steerers, was it,
when from cloudless heaven
hardly warmth gave the sun-orb.
An awful omen—from the
English3 I learned the portent—
for the king that fast did
fail daylight in battle!
Just at that time Dag Hringsson arrived with his force, and he began to put his troops in battle formation and set up his standard. However, because of the great darkness they delayed in delivering their attack, for they did not know for sure who confronted them. Yet they turned against the wing where stood the men from Rogaland and Horthaland. Many of these events occurred at the time or else shortly before or after.
Chapter 228. Thorstein, Thórir, and Kálf Deal King Óláf Fatal Blows
Two kinsmen of Kálf Árnason bore the name of Kálf and Óláf. They stood on one side of him. They were large and bold men. Kálf was the son of Árnfinn Armóthsson, a nephew of Árni Armóthsson. On the other side of Kálf Árnason stood Thórir the Hound. King Óláf slashed across Thórir the Hound’s shoulder. The blow took no effect, and it seemed as if dust flew up out of the reindeer skin. Sigvat makes mention of this:
(155.)
344. The free-handed king found out
full clearly himself, how
the mighty magic of Finns from
maim protected Thórir,
when with slaughterous sword he
slashed across the shoulders
of the Hound, but blunted,
bit not gold-dight Hneitir.
Thórir struck at the king, and then they exchanged some blows; and the king’s sword took no effect where Thórir’s reindeer skin protected him, yet he received a wound on his hand. Sigvat says still further about this:
(156.)
345. Who would call in question—
courage lacked not Thórir—
the Hound’s hardihood when
having it out with Óláf?
The stalwart storm-of-arrows-
starter basely dared ’gainst
the king himself in cruel
combat to lift his broadsword.
The king said to Bjorn, his marshal, “Strike down the dog on whom steel takes no effect!”
Bjorn turned his battle-axe and hit him with the hammer of it. The blow fell on Thórir’s shoulder. It was a mighty one, and Thórir tottered. At the same moment the king turned on Kálf and his kinsmen and dealt Óláf, Kálf’s kinsman, his deathblow. Then Thórir the Hound thrust with his spear at Bjorn the Marshal and pierced him in the middle and that was his death.
Then Thórir said, “Thus beat we the bears.”1
Thorstein Shipbuilder hewed at King Óláf with his battle-axe, and the blow struck his left leg above the knee. Finn Árnason instantly killed Thorstein. Receiving that wound the king leaned against a boulder. He threw down his sword and prayed God to help him. Then Thórir the Hound thrust at him with his spear. It pierced him from below his coat of mail and through the belly. Then Kálf slashed at the king, and the blow struck his neck on the left side. Men disagree as to which Kálf [Kálf Árnason or Kálf Árnfinnsson] wounded the king. These three wounds caused King Óláf’s death. After his fall most of the company which had advanced with him fell too. Bjarni Gullbrárskáld composed this verse about Kálf Árnason:
(157.)
346. Warlike prince, with weapons you
warded Norway ’gainst Óláf.
You fought with noblest folklord
fearlessly. I heard said
that, stout of heart, at Stiklar-
stath you wen
t before the
flag and fought until that
fallen lay the liege-lord.
The skald Sigvat composed this verse about Bjorn the Marshal:
(158.)
347. Also heard I how erstwhile—
onward he strode—Bjorn taught
marshals, manly-wise, their
masters to help in battle:
fell he with faithful king’s men,
fighting for his liege-lord,
by the head of high-souled
hero. Glorious that death is.
Chapter 229. Dag Hringsson Renews the Battle
Thereupon Dag Hringsson kept the battle going, making such a strong first attack that the farmers yielded ground and some turned to flee. Then fell a great number of farmers, and also these landed-men: Erlend of Gerthi and Áslák of Finney. The standard they had followed was cut down then. The battle then raged most violently. It has been called Dag’s Onslaught. Against Dag made head Kálf Árnason, Hárek of Thjótta, Thórir the Hound, together with the troops under their command. Then Dag was overborne by the odds against him, and he turned to flight, as did all that remained of the army. There is a certain valley through which fled the main body of it, and there many were cut down. Then men fled two ways, many severely wounded, and some so spent that they were fit for nothing. The farmers did not pursue them for any length of time because their leaders soon returned to the battlefield, for many were bound to look there for their friends and kinsmen.
Chapter 230. King Óláf’s Sanctity Is Revealed to Thórir the Hound
Thórir the Hound went to the spot where lay the corpse of King Óláf, and prepared it for burial, laying it flat on the ground, straightening it, and covering it with a garment. And when he wiped the blood from the king’s face, he related afterwards, his countenance was beautiful, in that his cheeks were ruddy as though he were asleep, and much more radiant than before when he was alive. The king’s blood came on Thórir’s hand and flowed between his fingers where he had been wounded before, and from that moment the wound healed so quickly that it required no dressing. Thórir himself bore witness to this occurrence before all men at the time the sanctity of King Óláf became known. Thórir the Hound came to be the first among the men of influence who had been the king’s opponents to witness to his sanctity.
Chapter 231. The Farmers’ Army Disbands
Kálf sought for his brothers who had fallen there. He found Thorberg and Finn, and we are told that Finn hurled a sword at him and wanted to kill him. He spoke harsh words to him, calling him a truce breaker and a betrayer of his king. Kálf paid no attention to him and had him borne from the battlefield together with Thorberg. Their wounds were investigated and none of them found mortal. They had fallen because of the shower of missiles and from sheer exhaustion. Then Kálf proceeded to have his brothers brought to his ship and departed with them himself.
Now as soon as he had gone, all the farmers who had their homesteads nearby left too, excepting those who were busy with their friends and kinsmen who were wounded or who attended to the bodies of those who had fallen. The wounded were brought in to the farms, so that every house was full of them; but over some, tents were erected outside. But however remarkably many had gathered to form the army of farmers, it was thought even more remarkable how quickly this gathering of forces broke up, once it began to do so; and the reason for that was chiefly that the greatest number had come together there from the [surrounding] country and that they were very eager to return to their homes.
Chapter 232. Thórir the Hound Gives Pursuit
The farmers who lived in the Vera Valley went to meet the chieftains Hárek and Thórir and complained about their difficulties. They said, “These fugitives who have escaped from battle are likely to make their way through Vera Valley and are likely to deal roughly with our homes, and we dare not return home while they are in the valley here. Be so good to pursue them with your troops and let no living soul get away; because that is what they would have done to us if they had been victorious in the battle, and so they are likely to do still if there is an encounter when they have greater numbers than we. Possibly they will linger in the valley if they consider they have nothing to be afraid of. And in that case they are likely right away to deal roughly with our habitations.” The farmers said a great deal about this and urged the chieftains with great impatience to proceed and kill the men who had fled. And when the chieftains discussed this matter between them they thought the farmers had much justification for what they said; so they agreed to send Thórir the Hound to accompany the Vera Valley farmers with the six hundred [720] men who had stood under his leadership, and they started on their way.
Night began to fall then. Thórir did not stop till at nightfall he arrived at Súl. There he learned that Dag Hringsson and many other of Óláf’s troops had been there and stopped for eating their supper, but had then continued over the mountains. Then Thórir said he would not pursue them over the mountains. So he returned down the valley, and they managed to cut down only a few [of the stragglers]. Thereupon the farmers returned to their homes; and the day after, Thórir and his men boarded their ships. But the king’s men who could do so saved their lives by hiding in the forests. Some were helped by people [living near by].
Chapter 233. Of the Skald Thormóth and Kimbi
Thormóth the Skald of Coalbrows, had fought in the battle beneath the king’s standard. And when the king had fallen and the battle raged at its fiercest, the king’s bodyguard fell, one after the other, and those who still stood up were mostly wounded. Thormóth had been severely wounded. Then he, like the others, retreated from where they thought was the greatest danger, and some fled running. Then started the battle which men call Dag’s Onslaught. All of the king’s troops still capable of fighting joined it, but Thormóth did not fight in that battle, for he was unable to on account of exhaustion and his wounds, and he merely stood up near his companions though he could do nothing else. Then he was struck by an arrow in his left side. He broke off the shaft of the arrow, then left the battle, and went up to a farmstead and came to a barn. That was a large building. Thormóth had a bare sword in his hand. And when he went inside, a man met him.
He said, “There is a most miserable noise in here with wailing and lamenting. Great shame that brave men should not be able to bear their wounds. It may be that the king’s men acquitted themselves well in the fight, but they bear their wounds mighty poorly.”
Thormóth answered, “What is your name?” He gave his name as Kimbi [Scoffer]. Thormóth asked, “Were you in the battle?”
“I stood with the farmers,” he said, “which was the better part [to take].”
“Are you wounded at all?” asked Thormóth.
“A little,” said Kimbi; “and you, were you in the battle?”
Thormóth replied, “I was, and on the side of those who had the better cause.”
Kimbi saw that Thormóth had a gold ring on his arm. He said, “You are likely to be a king’s man. Give me your gold ring, and I will hide you. The farmers will kill you if they find you.”
Thormóth said, “Take the ring if you can. I have now lost what is most valuable.” Kimbi reached out and wanted to grab the ring. Thormóth swung his sword, cutting off his hand; and we are told that Kimbi bore the pain of his wound in no wise better than those he had found fault with. Kimbi went his way, and Thormóth sat down in the barn and stayed there for a while listening to what people said. They talked most about what they had seen in the battle and discussed how the combatants had fought. Some praised most highly King Óláf’s valor, but others praised other men no less. Then Thormóth spoke this verse:
(159.)
348. Oaken-hearted Óláf
onward strode—gore-covered
steel bit deep at Stiklar-
Stath—and urged his men on.
Shields did shelter all from
shower-of-arrows—tried was
many a warrior’s mettle in
me
dley—but the leader.
Chapter 234. Thormóth’s Last Hours
Thormóth then went to a small detached building and entered it. Inside it there were already many severely wounded men. A certain woman was busy there bandaging these men. There was a fire on the floor, and she heated water for cleansing their wounds. Thormóth sat down near the door. People went in and out, attending to the wounded men. One of them turned and looked at Thormóth and then said, “Why are you so pale? Are you wounded, and if so why don’t you ask to be helped by the healer?” Thormóth then spoke a verse:
(160.)
349. Not ruddy am I; red cheeks,
ring-dight slender woman,
has your husband. No one
heeds my grievous wounds, though.
Pale I am with pangs of
pain, scatterer-thou-of-
gold, from deep wounds deadly
Danish arrows gave me.
Thereupon Thormóth got up to stand before the fire, and remained there for a while. Then the healer woman said to him, “You man, go outside and bring me the firewood that lies outside the door.” He went outside, brought in an armful of firewood, and threw it down on the floor. Then the healer woman looked at his face and said, “Terribly pale this man is. Why are you so pale?” Then Thormóth spoke this verse:
(161.)
350. Wonders the woman, why so
wan the tree-of-combat.1
Few from wounds grow fair-hued:
Found me the flight of arrows.
The ice-cold iron, linen-
elm,2 flew through my middle.
Hard by my heart, think I,
hit me the baleful weapon.
Then the healer woman said, “Let me see your wounds and bandage them.” Then he sat down and cast off his clothes. And when she inspected his wounds she looked closely at the wound he had in his side. She noticed that there was an iron in it, but did not know which path it had taken. She had made a concoction in a stone kettle in which she had mashed leeks and other herbs and boiled them together, and that she gave the wounded men to eat. In that manner she tried to find out if they had wounds in vital parts, because she could smell the leek through a wound which went into the body cavity. She brought some of it to Thormóth and told him to eat it.
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