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with the men they had； or go on board ship and sail away northwards along the land。 〃For it is easy to see；〃 said he； 〃that we must now fight against a much greater force than we ever had against us before； although we thought just the same the last time we fought against Gunhild's sons。〃 No one was in a hurry to give an answer to the king； but at last Eyvind replied to the king's speech：
〃Thou who in the battle…plain Hast often poured the sharp spear…rain！ Ill it beseems our warriors brave To fly upon the ocean wave： To fly upon the blue wave north； When Harald from the south comes forth； With many a ship riding in pride Upon the foaming ocean…tide； With many a ship and southern viking； Let us take shield in hand； brave king！〃
The king replied； 〃Thy counsel； Eyvind； is manly； and after my own heart； but I will hear the opinion of others upon this matter。〃 Now as the king's men thought they discerned what way the king was inclined to take； they answered that they would rather fall bravely and like men； than fly before the Danes； adding； that they had often gained the victory against greater odds of numbers。 The king thanked them for their resolution； and bade them arm themselves； and all the men did so。 The king put on his armour； and girded on his sword Kvernbit； and put a gilt helmet upon his head； and took a spear （Kesja） in his hand； and a shield by his side。 He then drew up his courtmen and the bondes in one body； and set up his banner。
29。 THE ARMAMENT OF EIRIK'S SONS。
After Gamle's death King Harald； Eirik's son； was the chief of the brothers； and he had a great army with him from Denmark。 In their army were also their mother's brothers； Eyvind Skreyja； and Alf Askman； both strong and able men； and great man slayers。 The sons of Eirik brought up with their ships off the island； and it is said that their force was not less than six to one； so much stronger in men were Eirik's sons。
30。 KING HAKON'S BATTLE ARRAY。
When King Hakon had drawn up his men； it is told of him that he threw off his armour before the battle began。 So sings Eyvind Skaldaspiller； in Hakmarmal：
〃They found Blorn's brother bold Under his banner as of old； Ready for battle。 Foes advance； The front rank raise the shining lance： And now begins the bloody fray！ Now！ now begins Hild's wild play！ Our noble king； whose name strikes fear Into each Danish heart； whose spear Has single…handed spilt the blood Of many a Danish noble； stood Beneath his helmet's eagle wing Amidst his guards； but the brave king Scorned to wear armour； while his men Bared naked breasts against the rain Of spear and arrow； his breast…plate rung Against the stones； and； blithe and gay； He rushed into the thickest fray。 With golden helm； and naked breast； Brave Hakon played at slaughter's feast。〃
King Hakon selected willingly such men for his guard or court…men as were distinguished for their strength and bravery； as his father King Harald also used to do； and among these was Thoralf Skolmson the Strong； who went on one side of the king。 He had helmet and shield； spear and sword； and his sword was called by the name of Footbreadth。 It was said that Thoralf and King Hakon were equal in strength。 Thord Sjarekson speaks of it in the poem he composed concerning Thoralf：
〃The king's men went with merry words To the sharp clash of shields and flame swords； When these wild rovers of the sea At Fitlar fought。 Stout Thoralf he Next to the Northmen's hero came； Scattering wide round the battle flame For in the storm of shields not one Ventured like him with brave Hakon。〃
When both lines met there was a hard combat； and much bloodshed。 The combatants threw their spears and then drew their swords。 Then King Hakon； and Thoralf with him； went in advance of the banner； cutting down on both sides of them。 So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller：
〃The body…coats of naked steel； The woven iron coats of mail； Like water fly before the swing Of Hakon's sword the champion…king。 About each Gotland war…man's head Helm splits； like ice beneath the tread； Cloven by the axe or sharp swordblade； The brave king； foremost in the fight； Dyes crimson…red the spotless white Of his bright shield with foemen's gore。 Amidst the battle's wild uproar； Wild pealing round from shore to shore。〃
31。 FALL OF SKREYJA AND ASKMAN。
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。〃
32。 HAKON'S DEATH。
When King Hakon came out to his ship he had his wound bound up； but the blood ran from it so much and so constantly； that it could not be stopped； and when the day was drawing to an end his strength began to leave him。 Then he told his men that he wanted to go northwards to his house at Alreksstader； but when he came north； as far as Hakonarhella Hill； they put in towards the land； for by this time the king was almost lifeless。 Then he called his friends around him； and told them what he wished to be done with regard to his kingdom。 He had only one child； a daughter； called Thora； and had no son。 Now he told them to send a message to Eirik's sons； that they should be kings over the country； but asked them to hold his friends in respect and honour。 〃And if fate；〃 added he； 〃should prolong my life； I will； at any rate； leave the country； and go to a Christian land； and do penance for what I have done against God； but should I die in heathen land； give me any burial you think fit。〃 Shortly afterwards Hakon expired； at the