by E R Eddison
King Olaf saith yea to that, and sendeth men of his own to King Athelstane. Ride then the messengers all together and find King Athelstane in that burg that was nighest to the heath on the south side. The messengers of King Olaf bear up their errand before King Athelstane, and their peace-offer. King Athelstane’s men said too with what offers they had fared to King Olaf, and this withal, that that was by the rede of wise men, to delay so the battle while the King was not come.
But King Athelstane gave swift ruling in this matter, and said unto the messengers as thus: “Bear these words of mine unto King Olaf, that I will give him leave for this, to fare home to Scotland with his folk: and let him pay back all that fee that he took up with wrongfulness here in the land. Set we here thenceforth peace between our lands, and let neither harry other. That shall follow too, that King Olaf shall become my man, and hold Scotland from me, and be under-king of mine. Fare ye now”, saith he, “back again, and say to him that so it standeth”.
The messengers turned back on their way forthwith that evening, and came to King Olaf near middle night. Waked they up the King then, and said to him straightway the words of King Athelstane.
The King let straightway call to him the earls and other captains: let then the messengers come to him and say out loud their errand’s ending and the words of King Athelstane. But when these things were made known to the men of his host, then was there but one thing in the speech of all of them, that that would lie next to do, to make ready for battle. The messengers said this withal, that Athelstane had a throng of folk, and that he had on that same day come to the burg when the messengers came there.
Then spake Earl Adils: “Now cometh it to light, King, even as I said, that you would find what tricksters these English be.4 Here have we sat long whiles, and waited till they have drawn to them all their force; and their King will have been nowhere near then, when we came hither. They will now have gathered great forces since we were sat down. Now this is my rede, King, that we two brethren ride forth straightway in the night with our host. That may be, that they have now no fear for themselves, sith they have learnt that their King is nigh with a great host of war. We two shall then give them an onfall; and when they are put to a rout, then will they lose their folk, and be unbolder after that for setting on against us”.
This rede seemed to the King well thought on: “We will make ready our war-host soon as it is light, and fare to meet you”.
They determined of this rede, and so brake up their meeting.
CHAPTER LIII. THE BATTLE ON WINAHEATH.
EARL HRING and Adils his brother made ready their war-host and fared straightway in the night south to the heath; and when it was light, then Thorolf’s watchmen saw where that war-host fared. Then was blown the war-blast, and men clad them for war: took then to drawing up their folk for battle, and had two battles. Earl Alfgeir commanded one battle, and there was a banner borne before him. There was in that battle those people which had followed him, so too those people which had gathered there out of the countryside. That was a much greater host than that which followed Thorolf and his brother.
Thorolf was so arrayed that he had a shield wide and thick, a helm on his head exceeding strong; girt with that sword that he called Long,1 a great weapon and a good. A halberd had he in his hand; the feather2 was two ells long, and forged in the frontward with a four-edged spike; but upwards was the feather broad, the socket both long and stout; the shaft was not so tall but that the hand might reach to the socket, and wondrous stout; an iron bolt was in the socket, and the shaft was all lapped with iron. Those spears were called byrny-twisters.3 Egil had the same array as Thorolf. He was girt with that sword that he called Nadder. That sword had he gotten in Kurland: that was the best of weapons. Neither of them had a byrny.4 They set up their banner and Thorfid the Strong bare it. All their folk had Norse shields and all Norse war-gear. In their battle were all the Norsemen, those that were there.
Thorolf and his drew up their battle near the wood, but the battle of Alfgeir fared beside the river.
Earl Adils and his brother saw this, that they would not come upon Thorolf and his folk at unawares. Then took they to drawing up of their host for battle. They, likewise, made two battles, and had two banners. Adils drew up his battle against Earl Alfgeir, but Hring against the vikings.
And now began the battle there. They went forth well of either side. Earl Adils set on hard before him, till Alfgeir began to fall back and give way, but Adils’s men set on then twice as boldly. And no long time it was then, before Alfgeir fled. And there is that to be said of him, that he rode away south over the heath and a band of men with him. He rode so far till he was come near to that burg where the King sat. Then spake the Earl: “I mean not that we should fare to the burg. We found great clatter of words about us, when last we came to the King, then when we had fared without victory from before King Olaf; and nowise will he think we have bettered our estate by this journey. No need now to think on redress where he is”. Therewith rode he south through the land, and it is to be said of his journey that he rode day and night till they came west to Earlsness. There the Earl found him passage south over the sea and came away to Valland. There had he his kinsfolk of one side. Never from that time forth came he to England.
Adils first drave the flight, but not long ere he turned back thither where the battle was and there made onset. But when Thorolf saw that, turned he to meet the Earl and bade thither bear the banner: bade his men follow up well and stand close: “Move we toward the wood,” he said, “and let that cover our back, so that they may not go at us on all sides”. They did so: drew up along the wood side. Then was the battle hard. Set on Egil against Adils, and hard dealings they had betwixt them. The odds of strength was exceeding great, and yet fell more folk on the side of Adils.
Thorolf began then to be so wood-wroth5 that he cast his shield over his back and took his spear in two hands: leapt he then forth and hewed or thrust on either hand. Sprang men back from him then either way, but he slew many. Cleared he so a path forward to the banner of Earl Hring, and then was no holding against him. He slew that man that bare Earl Hring’s banner, and hewed down the banner-pole. And now laid he his spear through the Earl’s chest, through byrny and body, so as out it went betwixt the shoulders, and heaved him up on the halberd over his head and shot down the tail of the spear into the earth. But the Earl perished on the spear; and that in the sight of all, both his own men and his unfriends likewise.
And now Thorolf drew his sword, and hewed he then on either hand. Then withal set on his men there. Fell then much folk, Welsh and Scots, but some turned to flight. But when Earl Adils saw his brother’s fall, and great man-fall in his host, and some fled, and he thought a hard thing was come upon him, then turned he to flight and ran to the wood. He fled into the wood, and his company with him. Took then to fleeing all that host that had followed them. There befell then great man-fall among the men that fled, and the flight drifted then wide about the heath. Earl Adils had flung down his banner, and none knew then whether ’twas he that fared there or other men.
It began soon now to darken toward night, and Thorolf and Egil and their men turned back to their war-booths, and in that same hour came there King Athelstane with all his war-host and set up then their land-tents6 and put them in order. A little later came King Olaf with his host of war. They pitched their tents and put them in order, there where their men had pitched. It was then said unto King Olaf that fallen were both those Earls of his, Hring and Adils,7 and a great multitude besides of his men.
CHAPTER LIV. THE SECOND DAY’S BATTLE ON WINA-HEATH: WITH THE FALL OF THOROLF SKALLAGRIMSON.
KING ATHELSTANE had been the night before in that burg which was aforesaid, and there heard he that there had been fighting on the heath: made ready then straightway, and all his war-host, and set forth north to the heath: learned then plainly of all that had betided, what way that battle had gone.
Came then to see the King those brethren, Thoro
lf and Egil. He thanked them well for their forwardness and for that victory which they had won: promised them his friendship full and perfect. Tarried they there all together for that night.
King Athelstane waked up his war-host straightway in the morning at point of day. He held talk with his captains and said what ordering there should be of his host. He ordered first his own battle, and then set he in the front of that battle those companies that were the keenest in fight. Then spake he, that over that host should be Egil; “But Thorolf”, said he, “shall be with his own host and that other host that I set there. That shall be the second battle of our host, that he shall be captain over, because the Scots be ever loose in battle-array: leap they to and fro, and come forth in this place and in that. Oft can they give good scratches, if men be not wary of them, but they scatter on the field if face be made against them”.
Egil answered the King: “I will not that we two, I and Thorolf, be parted in the fight. But well do I think it, if we be posted there where most need seemeth and hardest work toward”.
Thorolf spake: “Let the King have his way,1 where he will post us two. Let us do for him as he shall like. I will be, if thou hadst rather, there where thou art posted”.
Egil saith: “You will have your way now. But of this ordering belike I’ll oft repent me”.
Went men then into their battle-array, even as the King had ordered, and the banners were set up. The King’s battle stood on the open country reaching to the river, but Thorolf’s battle fared the upper way along the wood.
King Olaf took then to drawing up of his host, when he saw that King Athelstane had drawn up his. He, too, made two battles, and he let fare his banner, and that battle that he himself had command of, against King Athelstane and his battle. They had then of either party a war-host so great that there was no odds betwixt them, which had the greater throng of men; but the other battle of King Olaf fared near the wood, against that host that Thorolf had command over. The captains there were Scottish earls. That was Scots for the most part, and that was a great host of men.
And now go their battle-arrays together, and there soon befell there a great battle. Thorolf set on hard and let bear his banner forward beside the wood, and was minded there to go so far forward as he might come at the King’s battle at open shields.2 They had their shields before them, but the wood was on their right: they let it cover them on that side. Thorolf went forth so far that few men of his were before him; and when he was least on his guard, then leap there out of the wood Earl Adils and that company that followed him. Turned there straightway many halberds at once against Thorolf, and he fell there by the wood-side; but Thorfid, who bare the banner, sprang back there where the host stood thicker, but Adils set on then against them, and there was then a great battle. The Scots whooped then the whoop of victory, since they had felled the captain.
But when Egil heard that whoop, and saw that Thorolf’s banner turned heel, then he thought he knew that Thorolf himself would not be following it. And now leapt he thither, forth betwixt the battle-lines. He was quickly ware of those tidings that were there befallen, soon as he found his men. Then egged he on the host much to the onset. He was first in the battle-front. He had the sword Nadder in his hand. He set on there and hewed on either hand and felled many men. Thorfid bare the banner close after him, but the rest of the host followed the banner: the battle was there of the sharpest. Egil went forth till he was met with Earl Adils. They had few blows betwixt them before Earl Adils fell, and a mort of men about him; but after his fall, then fled that host that had followed him, but Egil and his host followed them and slew all they caught, for no need there was then to bid for quarter.
But those Scottish earls stood then no long time, soon as they saw that the others, their fellows, fled; took straight to running away. But Egil and his held on then to where was the King’s battle, and came upon them at open shields, and wrought there swiftly great man-fall. Then was their battle-line riddled and all loosed asunder. Fled then many of Olaf’s men, but the vikings whooped then the whoop of victory. Now when King Athelstane thought he found that the battle of King Olaf began to break, then egged he on his host and let bear forward the banners: made then a hard onset so that the host of Olaf rocked before it, and there befell there exceeding great man-fall. There fell King Olaf3 and the most part of that host that Olaf had had, because they who turned to flight were all slain that were caught.
King Athelstane gat there an exceeding great victory.
CHAPTER LV. EGIL IN KING ATHELSTANE’S HALL.
KING ATHELSTANE turned from the battle, but his men drave the flight. He rode back to the burg and stayed not for night-quarters until he was in the burg; but Egil drave the flight, and followed them long, and slew every man that he could catch.
And now he turned back with the men of his company and fared thither where the battle had been, and there came upon Thorolf his brother, dead. He took up his corpse and washed it; and then did with it like as it was fit to do. Dug they there a grave, and set Thorolf therein with all his weapons and his clothes. After that, Egil clasped a gold ring1 on either arm of him before he parted with him. And now piled they stones over him, and sprinkled earth. Then quoth Egil a stave:2
He that ne’er quail’d for terrors,
The earl-man’s bane, went forth there:
High-hearted, in the Thunder-God’s
Huge clash fell Thorolf.
Earth greens beside the Wina,
For me, but this remaineth:
To hide—(Hell’s sorrow is that!)—
Grief for my noble brother.
And again he quoth:3
West, with pil’d slain I loaded
Field before the banners.
’Twas biting sleet I storm’d there
’Gainst Adils with my blue Nadder.
With th’ Englanders young Olaf
Thunder-crash of steel rais’d.
Hring (so ravens starv’d not)
Out-stay’d the Thing of Weapons.
And now fared Egil with his company to find King Athelstane, and went straightway before the King where he sate a-drinking. There was great noise and cheer there. And when the King saw that Egil was come in, then spake he that room should be made for them on the lower bench, and spake, that Egil should sit there in the high-seat over against the King.
Evil4 sat him down there, and shot down his shield before his feet. He had helm on head, and laid his sword across his knees, and whiles he drew it halfway, and whiles he slammed it back into the scabbard. He sat upright, but his head was much bent. Egil was great of face, broad of forehead, with great eye-brows: the nose not long, but marvellous thick: that place wide and long where the moustachios grow: the chin wonderfully broad, and so all about the jaw: thick-necked and great-shouldered beyond the measure of other men: hard-looking and grim-like whensoever he was wroth. He was of goodly growth and taller than any man else: his hair wolf-grey and close of growth, and become early bald.
Now while he sat as is afore-writ, he kept a-twitching now one now another of his eye-brows down toward the cheek, and the other up toward the hair-roots. Egil was black-eyed and his eyebrows joined in the middle.5 Nought would he drink, though drink were borne to him, but twitched his eye-brows, now one now the other, down and up.
King Athelstane sat in the high seat. He laid his sword too across his knees: and when they had sat so for a while, then drew the King his sword from its scabbard and took a gold ring from his arm, great and good, and drew it over the sword’s point: stood up and went upon the floor and reached it over the fire to Egil. Egil stood up and drew his sword and went upon the floor. He stuck the sword in the bend of the ring and drew it to him: went back to his place. The King sat him down in his high-seat. But when Egil sat him down, he drew the ring on to his arm, and then went his eye-brows into their right line. Laid he down then sword and helm, and took the beast’s horn that was borne to him, and drank it off. Then quoth he:6
The byrny’s god hath
granted
Gleaming thong of paw-tongs
To hang for me on hawk-trod
Hanging-tree of Vingi.
On spear-storm fish’s gallows
The snare of red gold mount I:
The feeder of the battle-fowl
To fresh lauds aredes me.
Thenceforth Egil drank his share, and spake with other men.
After that, the King let bear in two chests. Two men bare each. They were both full of silver. The King spake: “These chests, Egil, shalt thou have; and if thou come to Iceland, thou shalt bring this fee to thy father: as atonement for a son I send it him. But some of the fee shalt thou share with the kinsmen of thee and Thorolf, them that thou thinkest noblest. But thou shalt take here atonement for thy brother at mine hand, land or loose goods, whatsoever thou wilt rather. And if thou wilt tarry with me any long time then shall I here find thee worship and honours, even such as thou thyself canst think on to tell me of”.
Egil took the fee, and thanked the King for his gifts and speech of friendship. Egil began from that time forth to be glad of himself,7 and then quoth he:8
The craggéd eaves, for grief sake,
Of mine eye-brows droopéd.
Now find I him who forehead’s
Unsmooth places righteth.
My girdling rocks from face-ground
The great Prince hath lifted—
(Those scowls have left mine eyes now)—
With pulling of an arm-string.
And now were those men healed who were wounded and there was yet hope of life for. Egil tarried with King Athelstane that next winter after the fall of Thorolf, and he had exceeding great honours from the King. There was then with him all that people that before had followed both those brethren and had come safe out of the battle. Then wrought Egil a drapa9 on King Athelstane, and this is in it:10
Now hath he that rouseth
