Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/18

 10 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vn. the ships' sides. Under this screen he set pillars so high and stout, that there both was room for swing- ing their swords, and the roofs were strong enough to withstand the stones cast down upon them. Now when the fleet and men were ready, they rowed up along the river ; but when they came near the bridge, there were cast down upon them so many stones and missile weapons, such as arrows and spears, that neither helmet nor shield could hold out against it ; and the ships themselves were so greatly damaged, that many retreated out of it. But King Olaf, and the Northmen's fleet with him, rowed quite up under the bridge, laid their cables around the piles which supported it, and then rowed off with all the ships as hard as they could down the stream. The piles were thus shaken in the bottom, and were loosened under the bridge. Now as the armed troops stood thick of men upon the bridge, and there were likewise many heaps of stones and other weapons upon it, and the piles under it being loosened and broken, the bridge gave way; and a great part of the men upon it fell into the river, and all the others fled, some into the castle, some into Southwark. Thereafter Southwark was stormed and taken. Now when the people in the castle saw that the river Thames was mastered, and that they could not hinder the passage of ships up into the country, they became afraid, surrendered the tower, and took Ethelred to be their king. So says Ottar Swarte : — " London Bridge is broken down,— Gold is won, and bright renown. Shields resounding, War-horns sounding, Hildur shouting in the din! Arrows singing, Mail- coats ringing — Odin makes our Olaf win!" And he also composed these : —