Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/392

 384 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vm. nus had so few, that there seemed no chance for him but to flv. The king, however, determined on fight- ing, if there was any possibility of gaining the vic- tory ; but the most dissuaded him from venturing on an engagement, and all, as one man, said that the Vend- land people had undoubtedly a prodigious force. Duke Otto, however, pressed much to go to battle. Then the king ordered the whole army to be gathered by the war trumpets into battle array, and ordered all the men to arm, and to lie down for the night under their shields ; for he was told the enemy's army had come to the neighbourhood. The king was very thoughtful ; for he was vexed that he should be obliged to fly, which fate he had never experienced before. He slept but little all night, and chaunted his prayers. Chapter The following day was Michaelmas eve. Towards of Kino- dawn the king slumbered, and dreamt that his father oiafsmi- Jft n g Olaf the Saint appeared to him, and said, "Art thou so melancholy and afraid, because the Vendland people come against thee with a great army? Be not afraid of heathens, although they be many ; for I shall be with thee in the battle. Prepare, therefore, to give battle to the Yendlanders, when thou nearest my trumpet." When the king awoke he told his dream to his men, and the day was then dawning. At that moment all the people heard a ringing of bells in the air ; and those among King Magnus's men who had been in Nidaros thought that it was the ringing of the bell called Glod, which King Olaf had presented to the church of Saint Clement in the town of Nidaros. Chapter Then King Magnus stood up, and ordered the war XXIX Battle of* trumpets to sound, and at that moment the Vendland heYth k °° s arm y advanced from the south across the river against him ; on which the whole of the king's army stood up, and advanced against the heathens. King Magnus threw off from him his coat of ring-mail, and