At sea, beneath the ice-cold sky, Safely our oars o'er ocean ply;And when at Throndhjem's holy stream Our seventy cars in distance gleam, We seem, while rowing from the sea, An erne with iron wings to be."King Harald sailed south along the land, and called out the levy everywhere of men and ships.When they came east to Viken they got a strong wind against them and the forces lay dispersed about in the harbour; some in the isles outside, and some in the fjords.So says Thiodolf: --"The cutters' sea-bleached bows scarce find A shelter from the furious wind Under the inland forests' side, Where the fjord runs its farthest tide.
In all the isles and creeks around The bondes' ships lie on the ground, And ships with gunwales hung with shields Seek the lee-side of the green fields."In the heavy storm that raged for some time the great ship had need of good ground tackle.So says Thiodolf: --"With lofty bow above the seas, Which curl and fly before the breeze, The gallant vessel rides and reels, And every plunge her cable feels.
The storm that tries the spar and mast Tries the main-anchor at the last:
The storm above, below the rock, Chafe the thick cable with each shock."When the weather became favourable King Harald sailed eastwards to the Gaut river with his fleet and arrived there in the evening.So says Thiodolf: --"The gallant Harald now has come To Gaut, full half way from his home, And on the river frontier stands, To fight with Svein for life and lands.
The night passed o'er, the gallant king Next day at Thumia calls a Thing, Where Svein is challenged to appear --A day which ravens wish were near."63.OF KING HARALD'S FLEET.
When the Danes heard that the Northmen's army was come to the Gaut river they all fled who had opportunity to get away.The Northmen heard that the Danish king had also called out his forces and lay in the south, partly at Fyen and partly about Seeland.When King Harald found that King Svein would not hold a meeting with him, or a fight, according to what had been agreed upon between them, he took the same course as before -- letting the bonde troops return home, but manning 150 ships, with which he sailed southwards along Halland, where he herried all round, and then brought up with his fleet in Lofufjord, and laid waste the country.A little afterwards King Svein came upon them with all the Danish fleet, consisting of 300 ships.When the Northmen saw them King Harald ordered a general meeting of the fleet to be called by sound of trumpet; and many there said it was better to fly, as it was not now advisable to fight.The king replied, "Sooner shall all lie dead one upon another than fly." So says Stein Herdison: --"With falcon eye, and courage bright, Our king saw glory in the fight;To fly, he saw, would ruin bring On them and him -- the folk and king.
`Hands up the arms to one and all!'
Cries out the king; `we'll win or fall!
Sooner than fly, heaped on each other Each man shall fall across his brother!'"Then King Harald drew up his ships to attack, and brought forward his great dragon in the middle of his fleet.So says Thiodolf:
--
"The brave king through his vessels' throng His dragon war-ship moves along;He runs her gaily to the front, To meet the coming battle's brunt."The ship was remarkably well equipt, and fully manned.So says Thiodolf: --"The king had got a chosen crew --He told his brave lads to stand true.
The ring of shields seemed to enclose The ship's deck from the boarding foes.
The dragon, on the Nis-river flood, Beset with men, who thickly stood, Shield touching shield, was something rare, That seemed all force of man to dare."Ulf, the marshal, laid his ship by the side of the king's and ordered his men to bring her well forward.Stein Herdison, who was himself in Ulf's ship, sings of it thus: --"Our oars were stowed, our lances high, As the ship moved swung in the sky.
The marshal Ulf went through our ranks, Drawn up beside the rowers' banks:
The brave friend of our gallant king Told us our ship well on to bring, And fight like Norsemen in the cause --Our Norsemen answered with huzzas."Hakon Ivarson lay outside on the other wing, and had many ships with him, all well equipt.At the extremity of the other side lay the Throndhjem chiefs, who had also a great and strong force.
64.OF KING SVEIN'S ARMAMENT.
Svein, the Danish king, also drew up his fleet, and laid his ship forward in the center against King Harald's ship, and Fin Arnason laid his ship next; and then the Danes laid their ships, according as they were bold or well-equipt.Then, on both sides, they bound the ships together all through the middle of the fleets; but as the fleets were so large, very many ships remained loose, and each laid his ship forward according to his courage, and that was very unequal.Although the difference among the men was great, altogether there was a very great force on both sides.
King Svein had six earls among the people following him.So says Stein Herdison: --"Danger our chief would never shun, With eight score ships he would not run:
The Danish fleet he would abide, And give close battle side by side.
From Leire's coast the Danish king Three hundred ocean steeds could bring, And o'er the sea-weed plain in haste Thought Harald's vessels would be chased."65.BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE OF NIS-RIVER.
As soon as King Harald was ready with his fleet, he orders the war-blast to sound, and the men to row forward to the attack.So says Stein Herdison: --"Harald and Svein first met as foes, Where the Nis in the ocean flows;For Svein would not for peace entreat, But, strong in ships, would Harald meet.
The Norsemen prove, with sword in hand, That numbers cannot skill withstand.
Off Halland's coast the blood of Danes The blue sea's calm smooth surface stains."Soon the battle began, and became very sharp; both kings urging on their men.So says Stein Herdison: --"Our king, his broad shield disregarding, More keen for striking than for warding, Now tells his lads their spears to throw, --Now shows them where to strike a blow.
