urrowed up with prows, and the canvas unfurled upon
the masts cut off the view over the ocean. The Danes had so far been
distressed with bad weather; but the Swedish fleet had a fair voyage,
and had reached the scene of battle earlier. Here Ring disembarked his
forces from his fleet, and then massed and prepared to draw up in line
both these and the army he had himself conducted overland. When these
forces were at first loosely drawn up over the open country, it was
found that one wing reached all the way to Werund. The multitude was
confused in its places and ranks; but the king rode round it, and posted
in the van all the smartest and most excellently-armed men, led by Ole,
Regnald, and Wivil; then he massed the rest of the army on the two wings
in a kind of curve. Ung, with the sons of Alrek, and Trig, he ordered
to protect the right wing, while the left was put under the command
of Laesi. Moreover, the wings and the masses were composed mainly of a
close squadron of Kurlanders and of Esthonians. Last stood the line of
slingers.

Meantime the Danish fleet, favoured by kindly winds, sailed, without
stopping, for twelve days, and came to the town (stead) of Kalmar.
The wind-blown sails covering the waters were a marvel; and the canvas
stretched upon the yards blotted out the sight of the heavens. For the
fleet was augmented by the Sclavs and the Livonians and 7,000 Saxons.
But the Skanians, knowing the country, were appointed as guides and
scouts to those who were going over the dry land. So when the Danish
army came upon the Swedes, who stood awaiting them, Ring told his men to
stand quietly until Harald had drawn up his line of battle; bidding them
not to sound the signal before they saw the king settled in his chariot
beside the standards; for he said he should hope that an army would
soon come to grief which trusted in the leading of a blind man. Harald,
moreover, he said, had been seized in extreme age with the desire of
foreign empire, and was as witless as he was sightless; wealth could
not satisfy a man who, if he looked to his years, ought to be well-nigh
contented with a grave. The Swedes therefore were bound to fight for
their freedom, their country, and their children, while the enemy had
undertaken the war in rashness and arrogance. Moreover, on the other
side, there were very few Danes, but a mass of Saxons and other unmanly
peoples stood arrayed. Swedes and Norwegians should therefore consider,
how far t