Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/355

 easy to see," said he, "that we must now fight against a much greater force than we ever had against us before; although we thought just the same the last time we fought against Gunhild's sons."! No one was in a hurry to give an answer to the king; but at last Eyvind replied to the king's speech:—

The king replied, "Thy counsel, Eyvind, is manly, and after my own heart; but I will hear the opinion of others upon this matter." Now as the king's men thought they discerned what way the king was inclined to take, they answered that they would rather fall bravely and like men, than fly before the Danes; adding, that they had often gained the victory against greater odds of numbers. The king thanked them for their resolution, and bade them arm themselves; and all the men did so. The king put on his armour, and girded on his sword Quernbiter, and put a gilt helmet upon his head, and took a spear in his hand, and a shield by his side. He then drew up his courtmen and the bonders in one body, and set up his banner.

After Gamle's death King Harald, Eric's son, was the chief of the brothers, and he had a great army with him from Denmark. In their army were also their mother's brothers,—Eyvind Skreya, and AlfAskmand, both strong and able men, and great man-slayers. The sons of Eric brought up with their ships off the island, and it is said that their force was