Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/396

 388 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vin. being all ready for battle." Thereupon the men put on their weapons, each man making himself and his place ready ; and then they stretched themselves to their oars. When they saw the earl's ships they rowed towards them, and made ready to attack. When Swend's men saw the forces they armed them- selves, bound their ships together, and then began one of the sharpest of battles. So says Thiodolf the scald : — " Shield against shield, the earl and king Made shields and swords together ring. The gold-decked heroes made a play Which Hilda's iron-shirt men say They never saw before or since On battle-deck : the brave might wince, As spear and arrow whistling flew, Point blank, death-bringing, quick and true." They fought at the bows, so that the men only on the bows could strike ; the men on the forecastle thrust with spears ; and all who were farther off shot with light spears or javelins, or war-arrows. Some fought with stones, or short stakes ; and those who were aft of the mast shot with the bow. So says Thiodolf: — " Steel-pointed spear, and sharpened stake, Made the broad shield on arm shake: The eagle, hovering in the air, Screamed o'er the prey preparing there. And stones and arrows thickly flew, And many a warrior bold they slew. The bowman never twanged his bow And drew his shaft so oft as now ; And Drontheim's bowmen on that day Were not first tired of this play : Arrows and darts so quickly fly, You could not follow with the eye." Here it appears how hot the battle was with cast- ing weapons. King Magnus stood in the beginning of the battle within a shield-rampart ; but as it ap- peared to him that matters were going on too slowly, he leaped over the shields, and rushed forward in the