e, and slung stones against the enemy
from afar. Thus most of the Sclavs were killed, and forty taken, who
afterwards under stress of bonds and famine, and in strait of divers
torments, gave up the ghost.

Meantime Frode, in order to cross on an expedition into Sclavia, had
mustered a mighty fleet from the Danes, as well as from neighbouring
peoples. The smallest boat of this fleet could carry twelve sailors, and
be rowed by as many oars. Then Erik, bidding his men await him patiently
went to tell Frode the tidings of the defeat he had inflicted. As he
sailed along he happened to see a pirate ship aground on some shallows;
and being wont to utter weighty words upon chance occurrences, he said,
"Obscure is the lot of the base-born, and mean is the fortune of the
lowly." Then he brought his ship up close and destroyed the pirates, who
were trying to get off their own vessel with poles, and busily engrossed
in saving her. This accomplished, he made his way back to the king's
fleet; and wishing to cheer Frode with a greeting that heralded his
victory, he said, "Hail to the maker of a most prosperous peace!" The
king prayed that his word might come true, and declared that the spirit
of the wise man was prophetic. Erik answered that he spoke truly, and
that the petty victory brought an omen of a greater one; declaring that
a presage of great matters could often be got from trifles. Then the
king counselled him to scatter his force, and ordered the horsemen of
Jutland to go by the land way, while the rest of the army went by
the short sea-passage. But the sea was covered with such a throng of
vessels, that there were not enough harbours to take them in, nor shores
for them to encamp on, nor money for their provisions; while the land
army is said to have been so great that, in order to shorten the way, it
levelled mountains, made marshes passable, filled up pits with material,
and the hugest chasms by casting in great boulders.

Meanwhile Strunik the King of the Sclavs sent envoys to ask for a truce;
but Frode refused him time to equip himself, saying that an enemy ought
not to be furnished with a truce. Moreover, he said, he had hitherto
passed his life without experience of war, and now he ought not to delay
its beginning by waiting in doubt; for the man that conducted his first
campaign successfully might hope for as good fortune in the rest. For
each side would take the augury afforded by the first engagements as a
presage