heimskringla-第115章

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ing　arms　were　to　the　sight　like　glancing　ice。



91。　OF　EARL　TOSTE'S　COUNSEL。

Then　said　King　Harald；　〃Let　us　now　fall　upon　some　good　sensible　counsel；　for　it　is　not　to　be　concealed　that　this　is　an　hostile　army　and　the　king　himself　without　doubt　is　here。〃

Then　said　the　earl；　〃The　first　counsel　is　to　turn　about　as　fast　as　we　can　to　our　ships　to　get　our　men　and　our　weapons；　and　then　we　will　make　a　defence　according　to　our　ability；　or　otherwise　let　our　ships　defend　us；　for　there　these　horsemen　have　no　power　over　us。〃

Then　King　Harald　said；　〃I　have　another　counsel。　　Put　three　of　our　best　horses　under　three　of　our　briskest　lads　and　let　them　ride　with　all　speed　to　tell　our　people　to　come　　quickly　to　our　relief。　The　Englishmen　shall　have　a　hard　fray　of　it　before　we　give　ourselves　up　for　lost。〃

The　earl　said　the　king　must　order　in　this；　as　in　all　things；　as　he　thought　best；　adding；　at　the　same　time；　it　was　by　no　means　his　wish　to　fly。　　Then　King　Harald　ordered　his　banner　Land…ravager　to　be　set　up；　and　Frirek　was　the　name　of　him　who　bore　the　banner。



92。　OF　KING　HARALD'S　ARMY。

Then　King　Harald　arranged　his　army；　and　made　the　line　of　battle　long；　but　not　deep。　　He　bent　both　wings　of　it　back；　so　that　they　met　together；　and　formed　a　wide　ring　equally　thick　all　round；　shield　to　shield；　both　in　the　front　and　rear　ranks。　　The　king　himself　and　his　retinue　were　within　the　circle；　and　there　was　the　banner；　and　a　body　of　chosen　men。　　Earl　Toste；　with　his　retinue；　was　at　another　place；　and　had　a　different　banner。　　The　army　was　arranged　in　this　way；　because　the　king　knew　that　horsemen　were　accustomed　to　ride　forwards　with　great　vigour；　but　to　turn　back　immediately。　　Now　the　king　ordered　that　his　own　and　the　earl's　attendants　should　ride　forwards　where　it　was　most　required。　　〃And　our　bowmen；〃　said　he；　〃shall　be　near　to　us；　and　they　who　stand　in　the　first　rank　shall　set　the　spear…shaft　on　the　ground；　and　the　spear…point　against　the　horseman's　breast；　if　he　rides　at　them；　and　those　who　stand　in　the　second　rank　shall　set　the　spear…point　against　the　horse's　breast。〃



93。　OF　KING　HARALD　GODWINSON。

King　Harald　Godwinson　had　come　with　an　immense　army；　both　of　cavalry　and　infantry。　　Now　King　Harald　Sigurdson　rode　around　his　array；　to　see　how　every　part　was　drawn　up。　　He　was　upon　a　black　horse；　and　the　horse　stumbled　under　him；　so　that　the　king　fell　off。　　He　got　up　in　haste　and　said；　〃A　fall　is　lucky　for　a　traveller。〃

The　English　king　Harald　said　to　the　Northmen　who　were　with　him；　〃Do　ye　know　the　stout　man　who　fell　from　his　horse；　with　the　blue　kirtle　and　the　beautiful　helmet？〃

〃That　is　the　king　himself。〃　said　they。

The　English　king　said；　〃A　great　man；　and　of　stately　appearance　is　he；　but　I　think　his　luck　has　left　him。〃



94。　OF　THE　TROOP　OF　THE　NOBILITY。

Twenty　horsemen　rode　forward　from　the　Thing…men's　troops　against　the　Northmen's　array；　and　all　of　them；　and　likewise　their　horses；　were　clothed　in　armour。

One　of　the　horsemen　said；　〃Is　Earl　Toste　in　this　army？〃

The　earl　answered；　〃It　is　not　to　be　denied　that　ye　will　find　him　here。〃

The　horseman　says；　〃Thy　brother；　King　Harald；　sends　thee　salutation；　with　the　message　that　thou　shalt　have　the　whole　of　Northumberland；　and　rather　than　thou　shouldst　not　submit　to　him；　he　will　give　thee　the　third　part　of　his　kingdom　to　rule　over　along　with　himself。〃

The　earl　replies；　〃This　is　something　different　from　the　enmity　and　scorn　he　offered　last　winter；　and　if　this　had　been　offered　then　it　would　have　saved　many　a　man's　life　who　now　is　dead；　and　it　would　have　been　better　for　the　kingdom　of　England。　　But　if　I　accept　of　this　offer；　what　will　he　give　King　Harald　Sigurdson　for　his　trouble？〃

The　horseman　replied；　〃He　has　also　spoken　of　this；　and　will　give　him　seven　feet　of　English　ground；　or　as　much　more　as　he　may　be　taller　than　other　men。〃

〃Then；〃　said　the　earl；　〃go　now　and　tell　King　Harald　to　get　ready　for　battle；　for　never　shall　the　Northmen　say　with　truth　that　Earl　Toste　left　King　Harald　Sigurdson　to　join　his　enemy's　troops；　when　he　came　to　fight　west　here　in　England。　　We　shall　rather　all　take　the　resolution　to　die　with　honour；　or　to　gain　England　by　a　victory。〃

Then　the　horseman　rode　back。

King　Harald　Sigurdson　said　to　the　earl；　〃Who　was　the　man　who　spoke　so　well？〃

The　earl　replied；　〃That　was　King　Harald　Godwinson。〃

Then；　said　King　Harald　Sigurdson；　〃That　was　by　far　too　long　concealed　from　me；　for　they　had　come　so　near　to　our　army；　that　this　Harald　should　never　have　carried　back　the　tidings　of　our　men's　slaughter。〃

Then　said　the　earl；　〃It　was　certainly　imprudent　for　such　chiefs；　and　it　may　be　as　you　say；　but　I　saw　he　was　going　to　offer　me　peace　and　a　great　dominion；　and　that；　on　the　other　hand；　I　would　be　his　murderer　if　I　betrayed　him；　and　I　would　rather　he　should　be　my　murderer　than　I　his；　if　one　of　two　be　to　die。〃

King　Harald　Sigurdson　observed　to　his　men；　〃That　was　but　a　little　man；　yet　he　sat　firmly　in　his　stirrups。〃

It　is　said　that　Harald　made　these　verses　at　this　time：　

　　　　　〃Advance！　　advance！　　　　　　No　helmets　glance；　　　　　　But　blue　swords　play　　　　　　In　our　array。　　　　　　Advance！　　advance！　　　　　　No　mail…coats　glance；　　　　　　But　hearts　are　here　　　　　　That　ne'er　knew　fear。〃

His　coat　of　mail　was　called　Emma；　and　it　was　so　long　that　it　reached　almost　to　the　middle　of　his　leg；　and　so　strong　that　no　weapon　ever　pierced　it。　　Then　said　King　Harald　Sigurdson；　〃These　verses　are　but　ill　composed；　I　must　try　to　make　better；〃　and　he　composed　the　following：　

　　　　　〃In　battle　storm　we　seek　no　lee；　　　　　　With　skulking　head；　and　bending　knee；　　　　　　Behind　the　hollow　shield。　　　　　　With　eye　and　hand　we　fend　the　head；　　　　　　Courage　and　skill　stand　in　the　stead　　　　　　Of　panzer；　helm；　and　shield；　　　　　　In　hild's　bloody　field。〃

Thereupon　Thiodolf　sang：　

　　　　　〃And　should　our　king　in　battle　fall；　　　　　　　A　fate　that　God　may　give　to　all；　　　　　　　His　sons　will　vengeance　take；　　　　　　And　never　shone　the　sun　upon　　　　　　Two　nobler　eaglet；　in　his　run；　　　　　　And　them　we'll　never　forsake。〃



95。　OF　THE　BEGINNING　OF　THE　BATTLE。

Now　the　battle　began。　　The　Englishmen　made　a　hot　assault　upon　the　Northmen；　who　sustained　it　bravely。　　It　was　no　easy　matter　for　the　English　to　ride　against　the　Northmen　on　account　of　their　spears；　therefore　they　rode　in　a　circle　around　them。　　And　the　fight　at　first　was　but　loose　and　light；　as　long　as　the　Northmen　kept　their　order　of　battle；　for　although　the　English　rode　hard　against　the　Northmen；　they　gave　way　again　immediately；　as　they　could　do　nothing　against　them。　　Now　when　the　Northmen　thought　they　perceived　that　the　enemy　were　making　but　weak　assaults；　they　set　after　them；　and　would　drive　them　into　flight；　but　when　they　had　broken　their　shield…rampart　the　Englishmen　rode　up　from　all　sides；　and　threw　arrows　and　spears　on　them。　　Now　when　King　Harald　Sigurdson　saw　this；　he　went　into　the　fray　where　the　greatest　crash　of　weapons　was；　and　there　was　a　sharp　conflict；　in　which　many　people　fell　on　both　sides。　　King　Harald　then　was　in　a　rage；　and　ran　out　in　front　of　the　array；　and　hewed　down　with　both　hands；　so　that　neither　helmet　nor　armour　could　withstand　him；　and　all　who　were　nearest　gave　way　before　him。　　It　was　then　very　near　with　the　English　that　they　had　taken　to　flight。　　So　says　Arnor；　the　earls'　skald：　

　　　　　〃Where　battle…storm　was　ringing；　　　　　　Where　arrow…cloud　was　singing；　　　　　　　　　　　Harald　stood　there；　　　　　　　　　　　Of　armour　bare；　　　　　　His　deadly　sword　still　swinging。　　　　　　The　foeman　feel　its　bite；　　　　　　His　Norsemen　rush　to　fight；　　　　　　　　　　　Danger　to　share；　　　　　　　　　　　With　Harald　there；　　　　　　Where　steel　on　steel　was　ringing。〃



96。　FALL　OF　KING　HARALD。

King　Harald　Sigurdson　was　hit　by　an　arrow　in　the　windpipe；　and　that　was　his　death…wound。　　He　fell；　and　all　who　had　advanced　with　him；　except　those　who　retired　with　the　banner。　　There　was　afterwards　the　warmest　conflict；　and　Earl　Toste　had　taken　charge　of　the　king's　banner。　　They　began　on　both　sides　to　form　their　array　again；　and　for　a　long　time　there　was　a　pause　in　fighting。　Then　Thiodolf　sang　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃The　army　stands　in　hushed　dismay；　　　　　　Stilled　is　the　clamour　of　the　fray。　　　　　　Harald　is　dead；　and　with　him　goes　　　　　　The　spirit　to　withstand　our　foes。　　　　　　A　bloody　scat　the　folk　must　pay　　　　　　For　their　king's　folly　on　this　day。　　　　　　He　fell；　and　now；　without　disguise；　　　　　　We　say　this　business　was　not　wise。〃

But　before　the　battle　began　again　Harald　Godwinson　offered　his　brother；　Earl　Toste；　peace；　and　also　quarter　to　the　Northmen　who　were　still　alive；　but　the　Northmen　called　out；　all　of　them　together；　that　they　would　rather　fall；　one　across　the　other；　than　accept　of　quarter　from　the　Englishmen。　　Then　each　side　set　up　a　war…shout；　and　the　battle　began　again。　　So　says　Arnor；　the　earls'　skald：　

　　　　　〃The　king；　whose　name　would　ill…doers　scare；　　　　　　The　gold…tipped　arrow　would　not　spare。　　　　　　Unhelmed；　unpanzered；　without　shield；　　　　　　He　fell　among　us　in　the　field。　　　　　　The　gallant　men　who　saw　him　fall　　　　　　Would　take　no　quarter；　one　and　all　　　　　　Resolved　to　die　with　their　loved　king；　　　　　　Around　his　corpse　in　a　corpse…ring。〃



97。　SKIRMISH　OF　ORRE。

Eystein　Orre　came　up　at　this　moment　from　the　ships　with　the　men　who　followed　him；　and　all　were　clad　in　armour。　　Then　Eystein　got　King　Harald's　banner　Land…ravager；　and　now　was；　for　the　third　time；　one　of　the　sharpest　of　conflicts；　in　which　many　Englishmen　fell；　and　they　were　near　to　taking　flight。　　This　conflict　is　called　Orre's　storm。　　Eystein　and　his　men　had　hastened　so　fast　from　the　ships　that　they　were　quite　exhausted；　and　scarcely　fit　to　fight　before　they　came　into　the　battle；　but　afterwards　they　became　so　furious；　that　they　did　not　guard　themselves　with　their　shields　as　long　as　they　could　stand　upright。　　At　last　they　threw　off　their　coats　of　ringmail；　and　then　the　Englishmen　could　easily　lay　their　blows　at　them；　and　many　fell　from　weariness；　and　died　without　a　wound。　　Thus　almost　all　the　chief　men　fell　among　the　Norway　people。　　This　happened　towards　evening；　and　then　it　went；　as　one　might　expect；　that　all　had　not　the　same　fate；　for　many　fled；　and　were　lucky　enough　to　escape　in　various　ways；　and　darkness　fell　before　the　slaughter　was　altogether　ended。



98。　OF　STYRKAR　THE　MARSHAL。

Styrkar；　King　Harald　Sigurdson's　marshal；　a　gallant　man；　escaped　upon　a　horse；　on　which　he　rode　away　in　the　evening。　　It　was　blowing　a　cold　wind；　and　Styrkar　had　not　much　other　clothing　upon　him　but　his　shirt；　and　had　a　helmet　on　his　head；　and　a　drawn　sword　in　his　hand。　　As　soon　as　his　weariness　was　over；　he　began　to　feel　cold。　　A　waggoner　met　him　in　a　lined　skin…coat。　　Styrkar　asks　him；　〃Wilt　thou　sell　thy　coat；　friend？〃

〃Not　to　thee；〃　says　the　peasant：　〃thou　art　a　Northman；　that　I　can　hear　by　thy　tongue。〃

Styrkar　replies；　〃If　I　were　a　Northman；　what　wouldst　thou　do？〃

〃I　would　kill　thee；〃　replied　the　peasant；　〃but　as　ill　luck　would　have　it；　I　have　no　weapon　just　now　by　me　that　would　do　it。〃

Then　Styrkar　says；　〃As　you　can't　kill　me；　friend；　I　shall　try　if　I　can't　kill　you。〃　　And　with　that　he　swung　his　sword；　and　struck　him　on　the　neck；　so　that　his　head　came　off。　　He　then　took　the　skin…coat；　sprang　on　his　horse；　and　rode　down　to　the　strand。　　

Olaf　Haraldson　had　not　gone　on　land　with　the　others；　and　when　he　heard　of　his　fat