re willing than I am to
give the bondes a blow; so I shall go with my comrades." It is said that
Harald made these lines:--

"Our army's wing, where I shall stand,
I will hold good with heart and hand;
My mother's eye shall joy to see
A battered, blood-stained shield from me.
The brisk young skald should gaily go
Into the fray, give blow for blow,
Cheer on his men, gain inch by inch,
And from the spear-point never flinch."

Harald got his will, and was allowed to be in the battle.

ENDNOTES: (1) Hrut means a young ram.--L.

222. OF THORGILS HALMASON.

A bonde, by name Thorgils Halmason, father to Grim the Good, dwelt in
Stiklestad farm. Thorgils offered the king his assistance, and was ready
to go into battle with him. The king thanked him for the offer. "I would
rather," says the king, "thou shouldst not be in the fight. Do us rather
the service to take care of the people who are wounded, and to bury
those who may fall, when the battle is over. Should it happen, bonde,
that I fall in this battle, bestow the care on my body that may be
necessary, if that be not forbidden thee." Thorgils promised the king
what he desired.

223. OLAF'S SPEECH.

Now when King Olaf had drawn up his army in battle array he made a
speech, in which he told the people to raise their spirit, and go boldly
forward, if it came to a battle. "We have," says he, "many men, and
good; and although the bondes may have a somewhat larger force than
we, it is fate that rules over victory. This I will make known to you
solemnly, that I shall not fly from this battle, but shall either be
victorious over the bondes, or fall in the fight. I will pray to
God that the lot of the two may befall me which will be most to my
advantage. With this we may encourage ourselves, that we have a more
just cause than the bondes; and likewise that God must either protect
us and our cause in this battle, or give us a far higher recompense for
what we may lose here in the world than what we ourselves could ask.
Should it be my lot to have anything to say after the battle, then shall
I reward each of you according to his service, and to the bravery he
displays in the battle; and if we gain the victory, there must be land
and movables enough to divide among you, and which are now in the hands
of your enemies. Let us at the first make the hardest onset, for then
the consequences are soon seen. There being a great