Heimskringla, or the Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Part 70

And now the battle was exceedingly sharp; and in the a.s.sault Svein's s.h.i.+p was cleared of all her forecastle men, upon and on both sides of the forecastle. Then Magnus boarded Svein's s.h.i.+p, followed by his men; and one after the other came up, and made so stout an a.s.sault that Svein's men gave way, and King Magnus first cleared that s.h.i.+p, and then the rest, one after the other. Svein fled, with a great part of his people; but many fell, and many got life and peace. Thiodolf tells of this:--

"Brave Magnus, from the stern springing On to the stem, where swords were ringing From his sea-raven's beak of gold Deals death around--the brave! the bold!

The earl's hous.e.m.e.n now begin To shrink and fall: their ranks grow thin-- The king's luck thrives--their decks are cleared, Of fighting men no more appeared.

The earl's s.h.i.+ps are driven to flight, Before the king would stop the fight: The gold-distributor first then Gave quarters to the vanquished men."

This battle was fought on the last Sunday before Yule. So says Thiodolf:--

"'Twas on a Sunday morning bright, Fell out this great and b.l.o.o.d.y fight, When men were arming, fighting, dying, Or on the red decks wounded lying.

And many a man, foredoomed to die, To save his life o'erboard did fly, But sank; for swimming could not save, And dead men rolled in every wave."

Magnus took seven s.h.i.+ps from Svein's people. So says Thiodolf:--

"Thick Olaf's son seven vessels cleared, And with his fleet the prizes steered.

The Norway girls will not be sad To hear such news--each from her lad."

He also sings:--

"The captured men will grieve the most Svein and their comrades to have lost; For it went ill with those who fled, Their wounded had no easy bed.

A heavy storm that very night O'ertook them flying from the fight; And skulls and bones are tumbling round, Under the sea, on sandy ground."

Svein fled immediately by night to Seeland, with the men who had escaped and were inclined to follow him; but King Magnus brought his s.h.i.+ps to the sh.o.r.e, and sent his men up the country in the night-time, and early in the morning they came flown to the strand with a great booty in cattle. Thiodolf tells about it:--

"But yesterday with heavy stones We crushed their skulls, and broke their bones, And thinned their ranks; and now to-day Up through their land we've ta'en our way, And driven their cattle to the sh.o.r.e, And filled out s.h.i.+ps with food in store.

To save his land from our quick swords, Svein will need something more than words."

32. SVEIN'S FLIGHT.

King Magnus sailed with his fleet from the south after Svein to Seeland; but as soon as the king came there Svein fled up the country with his men, and Magnus followed them, and pursued the fugitives, killing all that were laid hold of. So says Thiodolf:--

"The Seeland girl asks with fear, 'Whose blood-bespattered s.h.i.+eld and spear-- The earl's or king's--up from the sh.o.r.e Moved on with many a warrior more?'

We scoured through all their muddy lanes, Woodlands, and fields, and miry plains.

Their hasty footmarks in the clay Showed that to Ringsted led their way.

"Spattered with mud from heel to head, Our gallant lord his true men led.

Will Lund's earl halt his hasty flight, And try on land another fight?

His banner yesterday was seen, The sand-bills and green trees between, Through moss and mire to the strand, In arrow flight, leaving the land."

Then Svein fled over to Fyen Island, and King Magnus carried fire and sword through Seeland, and burnt all round, because their men had joined Svein's troop in harvest. So says Thiodolf:--

"As Svein in winter had destroyed The royal house, the king employed No little force to guard the land, And the earl's forays to withstand.

An armed band one morn he found, And so beset them round and round, That Canute's nephew quickly fled, Or he would have been captive led.

"Our Throndhjem king in his just ire Laid waste the land with sword and fire, Burst every house, and over all Struck terror into great and small.

To the earl's friends he well repaid Their deadly hate--such wild work made On them and theirs, that from his fury, Flying for life, away they hurry."

33. BURNING IN FYEN.

As soon as King Magnus heard that Svein with his troops had gone across to Fyen, he sailed after them; and when Svein heard this news he went on board s.h.i.+p and sailed to Scania, and from thence to Gautland, and at last to the Swedish King. King Magnus landed in Fyen, and plundered and burned over all; and all of Svein's men who came there fled far enough.

Thiodolf speaks of it thus:--

"Fiona isle, once green and fair, Lies black and reeking through the air: The red fog rises, thick and hot, From burning farm and smouldering cot.

The gaping thralls in terror gaze On the broad upward-spiring blaze, From thatched roofs and oak-built walls, Their murdered masters' stately halls.

"Svein's men, my girl, will not forget That thrice they have the Nors.e.m.e.n met, By sea, by land, with steel, with fire, Thrice have they felt the Norse king's ire.

Fiona's maids are slim and fair, The lovely prizes, lads, we'll share: Some stand to arms in rank and row, Some seize, bring off, and fend with blow."

After this the people of Denmark submitted to King Magnus, and during the rest of the winter, there was peace. King Magnus then appointed some of his men to govern Denmark; and when spring was advanced he sailed northwards with his fleet to Norway, where he remained a great part of the summer.

34. BATTLE AT HELGANES

Now, when Svein heard that King Magnus had gone to Norway he rode straight down, and had many people out of Svithjod with him. The people of Scania received him well, and he again collected an army, with which he first crossed over into Seeland and seized upon it and Fyen, and all the other isles. When King Magnus heard of this he gathered together men and s.h.i.+ps, and sailed to Denmark; and as soon as he knew where Svein was lying with his s.h.i.+ps King Magnus sailed to meet him. They met at a place called Helganes, and the battle began about the fall of day. King Magnus had fewer men, but larger and better equipt vessels. So says Arnor, the earls' skald:--

"At Helganes--so goes the tale-- The brave wolf-feeder, under sail, Made many an ocean-elk (1) his prey, Seized many a s.h.i.+p ere break of day.

When twilight fell he urged the fight, Close combat--man to man all night; Through a long harvest night's dark hours, Down poured the battle's iron showers."

The battle was very hot, and as night advanced the fall of men was great. King Magnus, during the whole night, threw hand-spears. Thiodolf speaks of this:--

"And there at Helganes sunk down, Sore wounded, men of great renown; And Svein's retainers lost all heart, Ducking before the flying dart.

The Nors.e.m.e.n's king let fly his spears, His death-wounds adding to their fears; For each spear-blade was wet all o'er, Up to the shaft in their life-gore."

To make a short tale, King Magnus won the victory in this battle, and Svein fled. His s.h.i.+p was cleared of men from stem to stern; and it went so on board many others of his s.h.i.+ps. So says Thiodolf:--

"Earl Svein fled from the empty deck, His lonely s.h.i.+p an unmann'd wreck; Magnus the Good, the people's friend, Pressed to the death on the false Svein.

Hneiter (2), the sword his father bore, Was edge and point, stained red with gore; Swords sprinkle blood o'er armour bright,

When kings for land and power fight."

And Arnor says:--

"The cutters of Bjorn's own brother Soon changed their owner for another; The king took them and all their gear; The crews, however, got off clear."

A great number of Svein's men fell, and King Magnus and his men had a vast booty to divide. So says Thiodolf:--

"Where the Nors.e.m.e.n the Danish slew, A Gautland s.h.i.+eld and breast-plate true Fell to my share of spoil by lot; And something more i' the south I got: (There all the summer swords were ringing) A helm, gay arms, and gear worth bringing, Home to my quiet lovely one I sent--with news how we had won."

Svein fled up to Scania with all the men who escaped with him; and King Magnus and his people drove the fugitives up through the country without meeting any opposition either from Svein's men or the bondes. So says Thiodolf:--

"Olaf's brave son then gave command, All his s.h.i.+ps' crews should quickly land: King Magnus, marching at their head, A n.o.ble band of warriors led.

A foray through the land he makes; Denmark in every quarter shakes.