Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/52

 44 CHRONICLE OF THE Chapter XLVII. Of the battle at Nessie. saga^vh. hind, when I row out of the harbour : for we cannot tell if we shall find the earl where he was lying, or if he has come out to meet us. When we do meet, and the battle begins, let people be alert to bring all our ships in close order, and ready to bind them together. Let us spare ourselves in the beginning, and take care of our weapons, that we do not cast them into the sea, or shoot them away in the air to no purpose. But when the fight becomes hot, and the ships are bound together, then let each man show what is in him of manly spirit." King Olaf had in his ship 100 men armed in coats of ring-mail, and in foreign helmets. The most of his men had white shields, on which the holy cross was gilt; but some had painted it in blue or red. He had also had the cross painted in front on all the helmets, in a pale colour. He had a white banner, on which was a serpent figured. He ordered a mass to be read before him, went on board ship, and ordered his people to refresh themselves with meat and drink. He then ordered the war-horns to sound to battle, to leave the harbour, and row off to seek the earl. Now when they came to the harbour where the earl had lain, the earl's men were armed, and beginning to row out of the harbour ; but when they saw the king's fleet coming they began to bind the ships together, to set up their banners, and to make ready for the fight. When King Olaf saw this he hastened the rowing, laid his ship alongside the earl's, and the battle began. So says Sigvat the scald : — " Boldly the king did then pursue Earl Swend, nor let him out of view. The blood ran down the reindeer's flank* Of each sea-king — his vessel's plank. Nor did the earl's stout warriors spare In battle-brunt the sword and spear.
 * The ships are called the reindeer of the sea-kings by the scalds.