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te colour。 When we come into battle we shall all have one countersign and field…cry； ‘Forward； forward； Christian men！ cross men！ king's men！' We must draw up our meal in thinner ranks； because we have fewer people； and I do not wish to let them surround us with their men。 Now let the men divide themselves into separate flocks； and then each flock into ranks； then let each man observe well his proper place； and take notice what banner he is drawn up under。 And now we shall remain drawn up in array； and our men shall be fully armed； night and day； until we know where the meeting shall be between us and the bondes。〃 When the king had finished speaking； the army arrayed； and arranged itself according to the king's orders。
217。 KING OLAF'S COUNSEL。
Thereafter the king had a meeting with the chiefs of the different divisions； and then the men had returned whom the king had sent out into the neighbouring districts to demand men from the bondes。 They brought the tidings from the inhabited places they had gone through； that all around the country was stripped of all men able to carry arms； as all the people had joined the bondes' army； and where they did find any they got but few to follow them； for the most of them answered that they stayed at home because they would not follow either party： they would not go out against the king； nor yet against their own relations。 Thus they had got but few people。 Now the king asked his men their counsel； and what they now should do。 Fin Arnason answered thus to the king's question： 〃I will say what should be done； if I may advise。 We should go with armed hand over all the inhabited places； plunder all the goods； and burn all the habitations； and leave not a hut standing； and thus punish the bondes for their treason against their sovereign。 I think many a man will then cast himself loose from the bondes' army； when he sees smoke and flame at home on his farm； and does not know how it is going with children； wives。 or old men； fathers； mothers； and other connections。 I expect also；〃 he added； 〃that if we succeed in breaking the assembled host； their ranks will soon be thinned； for so it is with the bondes； that the counsel which is the newest is always the dearest to them all； and most followed。〃 When Fin had ended his speech it met with general applause； for many thought well of such a good occasion to make booty； and all thought the bondes well deserved to suffer damage； and they also thought it probable； what Fin said； that many would in this way be brought to forsake the assembled army of the bondes。
Now when the king heard the warm expressions of his people he told them to listen to him； and said； 〃The bondes have well deserved that it should be done to them as ye desire。 They also know that I have formerly done so； burning their habitations； and punishing them severely in many ways； but then I proceeded against them with fire and sword because they rejected the true faith； betook themselves to sacrifices； and would not obey my commands。 We had then God's honour to defend。 But this treason against their sovereign is a much less grievous crime； although it does not become men who have any manhood in them to break the faith and vows they have sworn to me。 Now； however； it is more in my power to spare those who have dealt ill with me； than those whom God hated。 I will； therefore； that my people proceed gently； and commit no ravage。 First； I will proceed to meet the bondes； if we can then come to a reconciliation； it is well； but if they will fight with us； then there are two things before us； either we fail in the battle； and then it will be well advised not to have to retire encumbered with spoil and cattle； or we gain the victory； and then ye will be the heirs of all who fight now against us； for some will fall； and others will fly； but both will have forfeited their goods and properties； and then it will be good to enter into full houses and well…stocked farms； but what is burnt is of use to no man； and with pillage and force more is wasted than what turns to use。 Now we will spread out far through the inhabited places； and take with us all the men we can find able to carry arms。 Then men will also capture cattle for slaughter； or whatever else of provision that can serve for food； but not do any other ravage。 But I will see willingly that ye kill any spies of the bonde army ye may fall in with。 Dag and his people shall go by the north side down along the valley； and I will go on along the country road； and so we shall meet in the evening； and all have one night quarter。〃
218。 OF KING OLAF'S SKALDS。
It is related that when King Olaf drew up his men in battle order； he made a shield rampart with his troop that should defend him in battle； for which he selected the strongest and boldest。 Thereafter he called his skalds； and ordered them to go in within the shield defence。 〃Ye shall。〃 says the king； 〃remain here； and see the circumstances which may take place； and then ye will not have to follow the reports of others in what ye afterwards tell or sing concerning it。〃 There were Thormod Kolbrunarskald； Gissur Gulbraskald； a foster…son of Hofgardaref； and Thorfin Mun。 Then said Thormod to Gissur； 〃Let us not stand so close together； brother； that Sigvat the skald should not find room when he comes。 He must stand before the king； and the king will not have it otherwise。〃 The king heard this； and said； 〃Ye need not sneer at Sigvat； because he is not here。 Often has he followed me well； and now he is praying for us； and that we greatly need。〃 Thormod replies； 〃It may be； sire； that ye now require prayers most； but it would be thin around the banner…staff if all thy court…men were now on the way to Rome。 True it was what we spoke about； that no man who would speak with you could find room for Sigvat。〃
Thereafter the skalds talked among themselves that it would be well to compose a few songs of remembrance about the events which would soon be taking place。
Then Gissur sang：
〃From me shall bende girl never hear A thought of sorrow； care； or fear： I wish my girl knew how gay We arm us for our viking fray。 Many and brave they are； we know； Who come against us there below； But； life or death； we； one and all； By Norway's king will stand or fall。〃
And Thorfin Mun made another song； viz。：
〃Dark is the cloud of men and shields； Slow moving up through Verdal's fields： These Verdal folks presume to bring Their armed force against their king。 On！ let us feed the carrion crow； Give her a feast in every blow； And； above all； let Throndhjem's hordes Feel the sharp edge of true men's swords。〃
And Thorrood sang：
〃The whistling arrows pipe to battle； Sword and shield their war…call rattle。 Up！ brave men； up！ the faint heart here Finds courage when the danger's near。 Up！ brave men； up！ with Olaf on！ With heart and hand a field is won。 One viking cheer！ then； stead of words； We'll speak with our death…dealing swords。〃
These songs were immediately got by heart by the army。
219。 OF KING OLAF'S GIFTS FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO SHOULD BE SLAIN。
Thereafter the king made himself ready； and marched down through the valley。 His whole forces took up their night…quarter in one place； and lay down all night under their shields； but as soon as day broke the king again put his army in order； and that being done they proceeded down through the valley。 Many bondes then came to the king； of whom the most joined his army； and all； as one man； told the same tale； that the lendermen had collected an enormous army； with which they intended to give battle to the king。
The king took many marks of silver； and delivered them into the hands of a bonde； and said； 〃This money thou shalt conceal； and afterwards lay out； some to churches； some to priests； some to alms…men； as gifts for the life and souls of those who fight against us； and may fall in battle。〃
The bonde replies； 〃Should you not rather give this money for the soul…mulct of your own men？〃
The king says； 〃This money shall be given for the souls of those who stand against us in the ranks of the bondes' army； and fall by the weapons of our own men。 The men who follow us to battle； and fall therein； will all be saved together with ourself。〃
220。 OF THORMOD KOLBRUNARSKALD。
This night the king lay with his army around him on the field； as before related； and lay long awake in prayer to God； and slept but little。 Towards morning a slumber fell on him； and when he awoke daylight was shooting up。 The king thought it too early to awaken the army； and asked where Thormod the skald was。 Thormod was at hand； and asked what was the king's pleasure。 〃Sing us a song；〃 said the king。 Thormod raised himself up； and sang so loud that the whole army could hear him。 He began to sing the old 〃Bjarkamal〃； of which these are the first verses：
〃The day is breaking； The house cock； shaking His rustling wings； While priest…bell rings； Crows up the morn； And touting horn Wakes thralls to work and weep； Ye sons of Adil； cast off sleep；