Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
and they also thought it probable, what Fin said, that many would in
this way be brought to forsake the assembled army of the bondes.
Now when the king heard the warm expressions of his people he told
them to listen to him, and said, "The bondes have well deserved that it
should be done to them as ye desire. They also know that I have formerly
done so, burning their habitations, and punishing them severely in many
ways; but then I proceeded against them with fire and sword because they
rejected the true faith, betook themselves to sacrifices, and would not
obey my commands. We had then God's honour to defend. But this treason
against their sovereign is a much less grievous crime, although it does
not become men who have any manhood in them to break the faith and vows
they have sworn to me. Now, however, it is more in my power to spare
those who have dealt ill with me, than those whom God hated. I will,
therefore, that my people proceed gently, and commit no ravage. First,
I will proceed to meet the bondes; if we can then come to a
reconciliation, it is well; but if they will fight with us, then there
are two things before us; either we fail in the battle, and then it will
be well advised not to have to retire encumbered with spoil and cattle;
or we gain the victory, and then ye will be the heirs of all who fight
now against us; for some will fall, and others will fly, but both will
have forfeited their goods and properties, and then it will be good to
enter into full houses and well-stocked farms; but what is burnt is of
use to no man, and with pillage and force more is wasted than what turns
to use. Now we will spread out far through the inhabited places, and
take with us all the men we can find able to carry arms. Then men will
also capture cattle for slaughter, or whatever else of provision
that can serve for food; but not do any other ravage. But I will see
willingly that ye kill any spies of the bonde army ye may fall in with.
Dag and his people shall go by the north side down along the valley,
and I will go on along the country road, and so we shall meet in the
evening, and all have one night quarter."
218. OF KING OLAF'S SKALDS.
It is related that when King Olaf drew up his men in battle order, he
made a shield rampart with his troop that should defend him in battle,
for which he selected the strongest and boldest. Thereafter he called
his skalds, and ordered them to go in within the shield defence. "Ye
shall." says the king, "remain here, and see the circumstances which may
take place, and then ye will not have to follow the reports of others
in what ye afterwards tell or sing concerning it." There were Thormod
Kolbrunarskald, Gissur Gulbraskald, a foster-son of Hofgardaref, and
Thorfin Mun. Then said Thormod to Gissur, "Let us not stand so close
together, brother, that Sigvat the skald should not find room when he
comes. He must stand before the king, and the king will not have it
otherwise." The king heard this, and said, "Ye need not sneer at Sigvat,
because he is not here. Often has he followed me well, and now he is
praying for us, and that we greatly need." Thormod replies, "It may be,
sire, that ye now require prayers most; but it would be thin around the
banner-staff if all thy court-men were now on the way to Rome. True it
was what we spoke about, that no man who would speak with you could find
room for Sigvat."
Thereafter the skalds talked among themselves that it would be well to
compose a few songs of remembrance about the events which would soon be
taking place.
Then Gissur sang:--
"From me shall bende girl never hear
A thought of sorrow, care, or fear:
I wish my girl knew how gay
We arm us for our viking fray.
Many and brave they are, we know,
Who come against us there below;
But, life or death, we, one and all,
By Norway's king will stand or fall."
And Thorfin Mun made another song, viz.:--
"Dark is the cloud of men and shields,
Slow moving up through Verdal's fields:
These Verdal folks presume to bring
Their armed force against their king.
On! let us feed the carrion crow,--
Give her a feast in every blow;
And, above all, let Throndhjem's hordes
Feel the sharp edge of true men's swords."
And Thorrood sang:--
"The whistling arrows pipe to battle,
Sword and shield their war-call rattle.
Up! brave men, up! the faint heart here
Finds courage when the danger's near.
Up! brave men, up! with Olaf on!
With heart and hand a field is won.
One viking cheer!--then, stead of words,
We'll speak with our death-dealing swords."
These songs were immediately got by heart by the army.
219. OF KING OLAF'S GIFTS FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO SHOULD BE SLAIN.
Thereafter the king made himself ready, and marched down through the
valley. His whole forces took up their night-quarter in one place, and
lay down all night under their shields; but as soon as day broke the
king again put his army in order, and that being done they proceeded
down through the valley. Many bondes then came to the king, of whom the
most joined his army; and all, as one man, told the same tale,--that the
lendermen had collected an enormous army, with which they intended to
give battle to the king.
The king took many marks of silver, and delivered them into the hands
of a bonde, and said, "This money thou shalt conceal, and afterwards lay
out, some to churches, some to priests, some to alms-men,--as gifts
for the life and souls of those who fight against us, and may fall in
battle."
The bonde replies, "Should you not rather give this money for the
soul-mulct of your own men?"
The king says, "This money shall be given for the souls of those who
stand against us in the ranks of the bondes' army, and fall by the
weapons of our own men. The men who follow us to battle, and fall
therein, will all be saved together with ourself."
220. OF THORMOD KOLBRUNARSKALD.
This night the king lay with his army around him on the field, as before
related, and lay long awake in prayer to God, and slept but little.
Towards morning a slumber fell on him, and when he awoke daylight was
shooting up. The king thought it too early to awaken the army, and asked
where Thormod the skald was. Thormod was at hand, and asked what was the
king's pleasure. "Sing us a song," said the king. Thormod raised himself
up, and sang so loud that the whole army could hear him. He began to
sing the old "Bjarkamal", of which these are the first verses:--
"The day is breaking,--
The house cock, shaking
His rustling wings,
While priest-bell rings,
Crows up the morn,
And touting horn
Wakes thralls to work and weep;
Ye sons of Adil, cast off sleep,
Wake up! wake up!
Nor wassail cup,
Nor maiden's jeer,
Awaits you here.
Hrolf of the bow!
Har of the blow!
Up in your might! the day is breaking;
'Tis Hild's game (1) that bides your waking."
Then the troops awoke, and when the song was ended the people thanked
him for it; and it pleased many, as it was suitable to the time and
occasion, and they called it the house-carle's whet. The king thanked
him for the pleasure, and took a gold ring that weighed half a mark and
gave it him. Thormod thanked the king for the gift, and said, "We have a
good king; but it is not easy to say how long the king's life may be. It
is my prayer, sire, that thou shouldst never part from me either in
life or death." The king replies, "We shall all go together so long as I
rule, and as ye will follow me."
Thormod says, "I hope, sire, that whether in safety or danger I may
stand near you as long as I can stand, whatever we may hear of Sigvat
travelling with his gold-hilted sword." Then Thormod made these lines:--
"To thee, my king, I'll still be true,
Until another skald I view,
Here in the field with golden sword,
As in thy hall, with flattering word.
Thy skald shall never be a craven,
Though he may feast the croaking raven,
The warrior's fate unmoved I view,--
To thee, my king, I'll still be true."
ENDNOTES: (1) Hild's game is the battle, from the name of the
war-goddess Hild.--L.
221. KING OLAF COMES TO STIKLESTAD.
King Olaf led his army farther down through the valley, and Dag and
his men went another way, and the king did not halt until he came to
Stiklestad. There he saw the bonde army spread out all around; and there
were so great numbers that people were going on every footpath, and
great crowds were collected far and near. They also saw there a troop
which came down from Veradal, and had been out to spy. They came so
close to the king's people that they knew each other. It was Hrut of
Viggia, with thirty men. The king ordered his pursuivants to go out
against Hrut, and make an end of him, to which his men were instantly
ready. The king said to the Icelanders, "It is told me that in Iceland
it is the custom that the bondes give their house-servants a sheep to
slaughter; now I give you a ram to slaughter." (1) The Icelanders were
easily invited to this, and went out immediately with a few men against
Hrut, and killed him and the troop that followed him. When the king
came to Stiklestad he made a halt, and made the army stop, and told his
people to alight from their horses and get ready for battle; and the
people did as the king ordered. Then he placed his army in battle array,
and raised his banner. Dag was not yet arrived with his men, so that his
wing of the battle array was wanting. Then the king said the Upland
men should go forward in their place, and raise their banner there. "It
appears to me advisable," says the king, "that Harald my brother should
not be in the battle, for he is still in the years of childhood only."
Harald replies, "Certainly I shall be in the battle, for I am not so
weak that I cannot handle the sword; and as to that, I have a notion
of tying the sword-handle to my hand. None is more willing than I am to
give the bondes a blow; so I shall go with my comrades." It is said that
Harald made these lines:--
"Our army's wing, where I shall stand,
I will hold good with heart and hand;
My mother's eye shall joy to see
A battered, blood-stained shield from me.
The brisk young skald should gaily go
Into the fray, give blow for blow,
Cheer on his men, gain inch by inch,
And from the spear-point never flinch."
Harald got his will, and was allowed to be in the battle.
ENDNOTES: (1) Hrut means a young ram.--L.
222. OF THORGILS HALMASON.
A bonde, by name Thorgils Halmason, father to Grim the Good, dwelt in
Stiklestad farm. Thorgils offered the king his assistance, and was ready
to go into battle with him. The king thanked him for the offer. "I would
rather," says the king, "thou shouldst not be in the fight. Do us rather
the service to take care of the people who are wounded, and to bury
those who may fall, when the battle is over. Should it happen, bonde,
that I fall in this battle, bestow the care on my body that may be
necessary, if that be not forbidden thee." Thorgils promised the king
what he desired.
223. OLAF'S SPEECH.
Now when King Olaf had drawn up his army in battle array he made a
speech, in which he told the people to raise their spirit, and go boldly
forward, if it came to a battle. "We have," says he, "many men, and
good; and although the bondes may have a somewhat larger force than
we, it is fate that rules over victory. This I will make known to you
solemnly, that I shall not fly from this battle, but shall either be
victorious over the bondes, or fall in the fight. I will pray to