Heimskringla. Snorri Sturluson

up swinging his sword, and made a cut at the king; but Thoralf thrust his shield so hard against Eyvind that he tottered with the shock. Now the king takes his sword Kvernbit with both hands, and hewed Eyvind through helm and head, and clove him down to the shoulders. Thoralf also slew Alf Askman. So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller:—

      "With both his hands the gallant king

       Swung round his sword, and to the chin

       Clove Eyvind down: his faithless mail

       Against it could no more avail,

       Than the thin plank against the shock

       When the ship's side beats on the rock.

       By his bright sword with golden haft

       Thro' helm, and head, and hair, was cleft

       The Danish champion; and amain,

       With terror smitten, fled his men."

      After this fall of the two brothers, King Hakon pressed on so hard that all men gave way before his assault. Now fear came over the army of Eirik's sons, and the men began to fly; and King Hakon, who was at the head of his men, pressed on the flying, and hewed down oft and hard. Then flew an arrow, one of the kind called "flein", into Hakon's arm, into the muscles below the shoulder; and it is said by many people that Gunhild's shoe-boy, whose name was Kisping, ran out and forwards amidst the confusion of arms, called out "Make room for the king-killer," and shot King Hakon with the flein. Others again say that nobody could tell who shot the king, which is indeed the most likely; for spears, arrows, and all kinds of missiles flew as thick as a snow-drift. Many of the people of Eirik's sons were killed, both on the field of battle and on the way to the ships, and also on the strand, and many threw themselves into the water. Many also, among whom were Eirik's sons, got on board their ships, and rowed away as fast as they could, and Hakon's men after them. So says Thord Sjarekson:—

      "The wolf, the murderer, and the thief,

       Fled from before the people's chief:

       Few breakers of the peace grew old

       Under the Northmen's king so bold.

       When gallant Hakon lost his life

       Black was the day, and dire the strife.

       It was bad work for Gunhild's sons,

       Leading their pack of Hungry Danes

       From out the south, to have to fly,

       And many a bonde leave to die,

       Leaning his heavy wounded head

       On the oar-bench for feather-bed.

       Thoralf was nearest to the side

       Of gallant Hakon in the tide

       Of battle; his the sword that best

       Carved out the raven's bloody feast:

       Amidst the heaps of foemen slain

       He was named bravest on the plain."

      32. HAKON'S DEATH.

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      When King Hakon came out to his ship he had his wound bound up; but the blood ran from it so much and so constantly, that it could not be stopped; and when the day was drawing to an end his strength began to leave him. Then he told his men that he wanted to go northwards to his house at Alreksstader; but when he came north, as far as Hakonarhella Hill, they put in towards the land, for by this time the king was almost lifeless. Then he called his friends around him, and told them what he wished to be done with regard to his kingdom. He had only one child, a daughter, called Thora, and had no son. Now he told them to send a message to Eirik's sons, that they should be kings over the country; but asked them to hold his friends in respect and honour. "And if fate," added he, "should prolong my life, I will, at any rate, leave the country, and go to a Christian land, and do penance for what I have done against God; but should I die in heathen land, give me any burial you think fit." Shortly afterwards Hakon expired, at the little hill on the shore-side at which he was born. So great was the sorrow over Hakon's death, that he was lamented both by friends and enemies; and they said that never again would Norway see such a king. His friends removed his body to Saeheim, in North Hordaland, and made a great mound, in which they laid the king in full armour and in his best clothes, but with no other goods. They spoke over his grave, as heathen people are used to do, and wished him in Valhal. Eyvind Skaldaspiller composed a poem on the death of King Hakon, and on how well he was received in Valhal. The poem is called "Hakonarmal":—

      "In Odin's hall an empty place

       Stands for a king of Yngve's race;

       'Go, my valkyries,' Odin said,

       'Go forth, my angels of the dead,

       Gondul and Skogul, to the plain

       Drenched with the battle's bloody rain,

       And to the dying Hakon tell,

       Here in Valhal shall he dwell.'

      "At Stord, so late a lonely shore,

       Was heard the battle's wild uproar;

       The lightning of the flashing sword

       Burned fiercely at the shore of Stord.

       From levelled halberd and spearhead

       Life-blood was dropping fast and red;

       And the keen arrows' biting sleet

       Upon the shore at Stord fast beat.

      "Upon the thundering cloud of shield

       Flashed bright the sword-storm o'er the field;

       And on the plate-mail rattled loud

       The arrow-shower's rushing cloud,

       In Odin's tempest-weather, there

       Swift whistling through the angry air;

       And the spear-torrents swept away

       Ranks of brave men from light of day.

      "With batter'd shield, and blood-smear'd sword

       Slits one beside the shore of Stord,

       With armour crushed and gashed sits he,

       A grim and ghastly sight to see;

       And round about in sorrow stand

       The warriors of his gallant band:

       Because the king of Dags' old race

       In Odin's hall must fill a place.

      "Then up spake Gondul, standing near

       Resting upon her long ash spear,—

       'Hakon! the gods' cause prospers well,

       And thou in Odin's halls shalt dwell!'

       The king beside the shore of Stord

       The speech of the valkyrie heard,

       Who sat there on his coal-black steed,

       With shield on arm and helm on head.

      "Thoughtful, said Hakon, 'Tell me why

       Ruler of battles, victory

       Is so dealt out on Stord's red plain?

       Have we not well deserved to gain?'

       'And is it not as well dealt out?'

       Said Gondul. 'Hearest thou not the shout?

       The field is cleared—the foemen run—

       The day is ours—the battle won!'

      "Then Skogul said, 'My coal-black steed,

       Home to the gods I now must speed,

       To their green home, to tell the tiding

       That Hakon's self is thither riding.'

       To Hermod and to Brage then

       Said Odin, 'Here, the