Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/100

 88 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA IX Chapter XCIl. Of King Harald's array. Chaptkr XCIl I. Of King Harald Godwins- son. Chaftkr XCIV. Of the ordered his banner Land-ravager to be set up ; and Frirek was the name of him who bore the banner. Then King Harald arranged his army, and made the line of battle long, but not deep. He bent both wings of it back, so that they met together ; and formed a wide ring equally thick all round, shield to shield, both in the front and rear ranks. The king himself and his retinue were within the circle ; and there was the banner, and a body of chosen men. Earl Teste, with his retinue, was at another place, and had a dif- ferent banner. The army was arranged in this way, because the king knew that horsemen were accustomed to ride forwards with great vigour, but to turn back immediately. Now the king ordered that his own and the earl's attendants should ride forwards where it was most required. " And our bowmen," said he, ^' shall be near to us ; and they who stand in the first rank shall set the spear- shaft on the ground, and the spear-point against the horseman's breast, if he rides at them: and those who stand in the second rank shall set the spear-point against the horse's breast." King Harald Godmnsson had come with an immense army, both of cavalry and infantry. Now King Harald Sigurdsson rode around his array, to see how every part was drawn up. He was upon a black horse, and the horse stumbled under him, so that the king fell off. He got up in haste, and said, " A fall is lucky for a traveller." The English king Harald said to the Northmen who were with him, " Do ye know the stout man who fell from his horse, with the blue kirtle and the beau- tiful helmet?" " That is the king himself," said they. The English king said, "A great man, and of stately appearance is he; but I think his luck has left him." Twenty horsemen rode forward from the Thing- men's troops against the Northmen's array ; and all