第47章

41.EXPEDITION OF THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.

The Jomsborg vikings assembled their fleet in Limafjord, from whence they went to sea with sixty sail of vessels.When they came under the coast of Agder, they steered northwards to Rogaland with their fleet, and began to plunder when they came into the earl's territory; and so they sailed north along the coast, plundering and burning.A man, by name Geirmund, sailed in a light boat with a few men northwards to More, and there he fell in with Earl Hakon, stood before his dinner table, and told the earl the tidings of an army from Denmark having come to the south end of the land.The earl asked if he had any certainty of it.Then Geirmund stretched forth one arm, from which the hand was cut off, and said, "Here is the token that the enemy is in the land." Then the earl questioned him particularly about this army.Geirmund says it consists of Jomsborg vikings, who have killed many people, and plundered all around."And hastily and hotly they pushed on," says he "and I expect it will not be long before they are upon you." On this the earl rode into every fjord, going in along the one side of the land and out at the other, collecting men; and thus he drove along night and day.He sent spies out upon the upper ridges, and also southwards into the Fjords; and he proceeded north to meet Eirik with his men.

This appears from Eirik's lay: --

"The earl, well skilled in war to speed O'er the wild wave the viking-steed, Now launched the high stems from the shore, Which death to Sigvalde's vikings bore.

Rollers beneath the ships' keels crash, Oar-blades loud in the grey sea splash, And they who give the ravens food Row fearless through the curling flood."Eirik hastened southwards with his forces the shortest way he could.

42.OF THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.

Earl Sigvalde steered with his fleet northwards around Stad, and came to the land at the Herey Isles.Although the vikings fell in with the country people, the people never told the truth about what the earl was doing; and the vikings went on pillaging and laying waste.They laid to their vessels at the outer end of Hod Island, landed, plundered, and drove both men and cattle down to the ships, killing all the men able to bear arms.

As they were going back to their ships, came a bonde, walking near to Bue's troop, who said to them, "Ye are not doing like true warriors, to be driving cows and calves down to the strand, while ye should be giving chase to the bear, since ye are coming near to the bear's den.""What says the old man?" asked some."Can he tell us anything about Earl Hakon?"The peasant replies, "The earl went yesterday into the Hjorundarfjord with one or two ships, certainly not more than three, and then he had no news about you."Bue ran now with his people in all haste down to the ships, leaving all the booty behind.Bue said, "Let us avail ourselves now of this news we have got of the earl, and be the first to the victory." When they came to their ships they rode off from the land.Earl Sigvalde called to them, and asked what they were about.They replied, "The earl is in the fjord;" on which Earl Sigvalde with the whole fleet set off, and rowed north about the island Hod.

43.BATTLE WITH THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.

The earls Hakon and Eirik lay in Halkelsvik, where all their forces were assembled.They had 150 ships, and they had heard that the Jomsborg vikings had come in from sea, and lay at the island Hod; and they, in consequence, rowed out to seek them.

When they reached a place called Hjorungavag they met each other, and both sides drew up their ships in line for an attack.Earl Sigvalde's banner was displayed in the midst of his army, and right against it Earl Hakon arranged his force for attack.Earl Sigvalde himself had 20 ships, but Earl Hakon had 60.In Earl's army were these chiefs, -- Thorer Hjort from Halogaland, and Styrkar from Gimsar.In the wing of the opposite array of the Jomsborg vikings was Bue the Thick, and his brother Sigurd, with 20 ships.Against him Earl Eirik laid himself with 60 ships; and with him were these chiefs, -- Gudbrand Hvite from the Uplands, and Thorkel Leira from Viken.In the other wing of the Jomsborg vikings' array was Vagn Akason with 20 ships; and against him stood Svein the son of Hakon, in whose division was Skegge of Yrjar at Uphaug, and Rognvald of Aervik at Stad, with 60 ships.

It is told in the Eirik's lay thus: --

"The bonde's ships along the coast Sailed on to meet the foemen's host;The stout earl's ships, with eagle flight, Rushed on the Danes in bloody fight.

The Danish ships, of court-men full, Were cleared of men, -- and many a hull Was driving empty on the main, With the warm corpses of the slain."Eyvind Skaldaspiller says also in the "Haleygja-tal": --"Twas at the peep of day, --Our brave earl led the way;

His ocean horses bounding --

His war-horns loudly sounding!

No joyful morn arose For Yngve Frey's base foes These Christian island-men Wished themselves home again."Then the fleets came together, and one of the sharpest of conflicts began.Many fell on both sides, but the most by far on Hakon's side; for the Jomsborg vikings fought desperately, sharply, and murderously, and shot right through the shields.So many spears were thrown against Earl Hakon that his armour was altogether split asunder, and he threw it off.So says Tind Halkelson: --"The ring-linked coat of strongest mail Could not withstand the iron hail, Though sewed with care and elbow bent, By Norn (1), on its strength intent.

The fire of battle raged around, --

Odin's steel shirt flew all unbound!

The earl his ring-mail from him flung, Its steel rings on the wet deck rung;Part of it fell into the sea, --A part was kept, a proof to be How sharp and thick the arrow-flight Among the sea-steeds in this fight."ENDNOTES: