Norse Legends. Snorri Sturluson

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      31. FALL OF SKREYJA AND ASKMAN.

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      King Hakon was very conspicuous among other men, and also when the sun shone his helmet glanced, and thereby many weapons were directed at him. Then Eyvind Finson took a hat and put it over the king's helmet. Now Eyvind Skreyja called out, "Does the king of the Norsemen hide himself, or has he fled? Where is now the golden helmet?" Then Eyvind, and his brother Alf with him, pushed on like fools or madmen. King Hakon shouted to Eyvind, "Come on as thou art coming, and thou shalt find the king of the Norsemen." So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller:—

      "The raiser of the storm of shields,

       The conqueror in battle fields,—

       Hakon the brave, the warrior's friend,

       Who scatters gold with liberal hand,

       Heard Skreyja's taunt, and saw him rush,

       Amidst the sharp spears' thickest push,

       And loudly shouted in reply—

       'If thou wilt for the victory try,

       The Norseman's king thou soon shall find!

       Hold onwards, friend! Hast thou a mind!"

      It was also but a short space of time before Eyvind did come up swinging his sword, and made a cut at the king; but Thoralf thrust his shield so hard against Eyvind that he tottered with the shock. Now the king takes his sword Kvernbit with both hands, and hewed Eyvind through helm and head, and clove him down to the shoulders. Thoralf also slew Alf Askman. So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller:—

      "With both his hands the gallant king

       Swung round his sword, and to the chin

       Clove Eyvind down: his faithless mail

       Against it could no more avail,

       Than the thin plank against the shock

       When the ship's side beats on the rock.

       By his bright sword with golden haft

       Thro' helm, and head, and hair, was cleft

       The Danish champion; and amain,

       With terror smitten, fled his men."

      After this fall of the two brothers, King Hakon pressed on so hard that all men gave way before his assault. Now fear came over the army of Eirik's sons, and the men began to fly; and King Hakon, who was at the head of his men, pressed on the flying, and hewed down oft and hard. Then flew an arrow, one of the kind called "flein", into Hakon's arm, into the muscles below the shoulder; and it is said by many people that Gunhild's shoe-boy, whose name was Kisping, ran out and forwards amidst the confusion of arms, called out "Make room for the king-killer," and shot King Hakon with the flein. Others again say that nobody could tell who shot the king, which is indeed the most likely; for spears, arrows, and all kinds of missiles flew as thick as a snow-drift. Many of the people of Eirik's sons were killed, both on the field of battle and on the way to the ships, and also on the strand, and many threw themselves into the water. Many also, among whom were Eirik's sons, got on board their ships, and rowed away as fast as they could, and Hakon's men after them. So says Thord Sjarekson:—

      "The wolf, the murderer, and the thief,

       Fled from before the people's chief:

       Few breakers of the peace grew old

       Under the Northmen's king so bold.

       When gallant Hakon lost his life

       Black was the day, and dire the strife.

       It was bad work for Gunhild's sons,

       Leading their pack of Hungry Danes

       From out the south, to have to fly,

       And many a bonde leave to die,

       Leaning his heavy wounded head

       On the oar-bench for feather-bed.

       Thoralf was nearest to the side

       Of gallant Hakon in the tide

       Of battle; his the sword that best

       Carved out the raven's bloody feast:

       Amidst the heaps of foemen slain

       He was named bravest on the plain."