Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/73

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 61 Harald's fleet was giving way, and many of their s aga i x. people had fallen. Then the earl rowed thither, and gave so severe an assault that the Danes had to retreat before him. The earl went on in this way all the night, coming forward where he was most wanted, and wheresoever he came none could stand against him. Hakon rowed outside around the battle. To- wards the end of the night the greatest part of the Danish fleet broke into flight, for then King Harald with his men boarded the vessel of King Swend ; and it was so completely cleared that all the crew fell in the ship, except those who sprang overboard. So says Arnor, the earl's scald ; — ^' Brave Swend did not his vessel leave Without good cause, as I believe: Oft on his casque the sword-blade rang, Before into the sea he sprang. Upon the wave his vessel drives; All his brave crew had lost their lives. O'er dead courtmen into the sea The Jutland king had now to flee." And when King Swend' s banner was cut down, and his ship cleared of its crew, all his forces took to flight, and some were killed. The ships which were bound together could not be cast loose, so the people Avho were in them sprang overboard, and some got to the other ships that were loose ; and all King Swend' s men who could get ofl* rowed away, but a great many of them were slain. Where the king himself fought the ships were mostly bound together, and there were more than seventy left behind of King Swend's vessels. So says Thiodolf : — " Swend's ships rode proudly o'er the deep, When^ by a single sudden sweep. Full seventy sail, as we are told, Were seized by Norway's monarch bold." King Harald rowed after the Danes, and pursued them ; but that was not easy, for the ships lay so thick together that they scarcely could move. Earl Finn