we'll win or fall!
Sooner than fly, heaped on each other,
Each man will fall across his brother!'
Thus spake, and through his vessels' throng
His mighty warship moved along.
He ran her gaily to the front,
To meet the coming battle's brunt--
Then gave the word the ships to bind
And shake his banner to the wind.
Our oars were stowed, our lances high
Swung to and fro athwart the sky.
Haldor the Fierce went through the ranks,
Drawn up beside the rowers' banks,
Where rows of shields seemed to enclose
The ship's deck from the boarding foes,
Encouraging his chosen crew,
He tells his brave lads to stand true,
And rows against--while arrows sing--
The Dragon of the tyrant King.
With glowing hearts and loud huzzas,
His men lay on in freedom's cause.
The sea-steeds foam; they plunge and rock:
The warriors meet in battle shock;
The ring-linked coats of strongest mail
Could not withstand the iron hail.
The fire of battle raged around;
Odin's steel shirts flew all unbound.
The pelting shower of stone and steel,
Caused many a Norseman stout to reel,
The red blood poured like summer rain;
The foam was scarlet on the main;
But, all unmoved like oak in wood,
Silent and grim fierce Haldor stood,
Until his axe could reach the foe--
Then--swift he thundered blow on blow.
And ever, as his axe came down,
It cleft or crushed another crown.
Elsewhere the chiefs on either side
Fought gallantly above the tide.
King Hakon pressed King Sigurd sore,
And Ulf made Hake the berserk roar,
And Kettle Flatnose dared to spring
On board the ship of Norway's King.
Old Guttorm Stoutheart's mighty shout
Above the din was heard throughout,
And Solve Klofe, 'gainst Mornef's son,
Slew right and left till day was done.
While, all around the loose ships rowed--
Where'er they went the red stream flowed.
Chief among these was Erling bold
And Glumm the Gruff, of whom 'tis told
They rushed in thickest of the fray--
Whatever part the line gave way--
And twice, and thrice, retrieved the day.
But heart, and strength, and courage true,
Could not avail where one fought two.
King Harald, foremost in the fight,
With flashing sword, resistless might,
Pushed on and slew, and dyed with red
The bright steel cap on many a head.
Against the hero's shield in vain,
The arrow-storm sends forth its rain.
The javelins and spear-thrusts fai