Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/286



enmity for this deed that I would need all your protection and favour."

The king replied that he should have it. Thereafter the king ordered every man to return to his ship, and make ready for battle as fast as he could; and scarcely was this done before the other vessels ran in from the south into the sound. It went with the bonder army as is often seen, that the men, although many in numbers, know not what to do when they have experienced a check, have lost their chief, and are without leaders. None of Erling's sons were there, and the bonders therefore made no attack, and the king sailed on his way northwards. But the bonders took Erling's corpse, adorned it, and carried it with them home to Sole, and also the bodies of all who had fallen. There was great lamentation over Erling ; and it has been a common observation among people, that Erling Skialgsson was the greatest and worthiest man in Norway of those who had no high title. Sigvat made these verses upon the occasion:—

Sigvat also says that Aslak had very unthinkingly committed this murder of his own kinsman :

Of Erling's sons some at that time were north in Drontheim, some in Hordaland, and some in the