Norse Legends. Snorri Sturluson

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      19. BATTLE IN HAFERSFJORD.

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      News came in from the south land that the people of Hordaland and Rogaland, Agder and Thelemark, were gathering, and bringing together ships and weapons, and a great body of men. The leaders of this were Eirik king of Hordaland; Sulke king of Rogaland, and his brother Earl Sote: Kjotve the Rich, king of Agder, and his son Thor Haklang; and from Thelemark two brothers, Hroald Hryg and Had the Hard. Now when Harald got certain news of this, he assembled his forces, set his ships on the water, made himself ready with his men, and set out southwards along the coast, gathering many people from every district. King Eirik heard of this when he same south of Stad; and having assembled all the men he could expect, he proceeded southwards to meet the force which he knew was coming to his help from the east. The whole met together north of Jadar, and went into Hafersfjord, where King Harald was waiting with his forces. A great battle began, which was both hard and long; but at last King Harald gained the day. There King Eirik fell, and King Sulke, with his brother Earl Sote. Thor Haklang, who was a great berserk, had laid his ship against King Harald's, and there was above all measure a desperate attack, until Thor Haklang fell, and his whole ship was cleared of men. Then King Kjotve fled to a little isle outside, on which there was a good place of strength. Thereafter all his men fled, some to their ships, some up to the land; and the latter ran southwards over the country of Jadar. So says Hornklofe, viz.:—

      "Has the news reached you?—have you heard

       Of the great fight at Hafersfjord,

       Between our noble king brave Harald

       And King Kjotve rich in gold?

       The foeman came from out the East,

       Keen for the fray as for a feast.

       A gallant sight it was to see

       Their fleet sweep o'er the dark-blue sea:

       Each war-ship, with its threatening throat

       Of dragon fierce or ravenous brute

       Grim gaping from the prow; its wales

       Glittering with burnished shields, like scales

       Its crew of udal men of war,

       Whose snow-white targets shone from far

       And many a mailed spearman stout

       From the West countries round about,

       English and Scotch, a foreign host,

       And swordamen from the far French coast.

       And as the foemen's ships drew near,

       The dreadful din you well might hear

       Savage berserks roaring mad,

       And champions fierce in wolf-skins clad,

       Howling like wolves; and clanking jar

       Of many a mail-clad man of war.

       Thus the foe came; but our brave king

       Taught them to fly as fast again.

       For when he saw their force come o'er,

       He launched his war-ships from the shore.

       On the deep sea he launched his fleet

       And boldly rowed the foe to meet.

       Fierce was the shock, and loud the clang

       Of shields, until the fierce Haklang,

       The foeman's famous berserk, fell.

       Then from our men burst forth the yell

       Of victory, and the King of Gold

       Could not withstand our Harald bold,

       But fled before his flaky locks

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