194 SEA B ATT LEX. 



their places. Then the battle was both hard and sharp and 

 many of King Olaf's men fell. 



" At last all Olaf's ships had been cleared except the Long 

 Serpent, which carried all the men who were able to fight. 

 Eirik Jarl then attacked the Serpent with five large ships. 

 He laid the Jarnbardi alongside the Serpent, and then ensued 

 the fiercest fight and the most terrible hand-to-hand struggle 

 that could be. ... 



" Eirik Jarl was in the foreroom of his ship, where a shield- 

 burgh was drawn up. There was both hand-to-hand fight and 

 spear-throwing and every kind of weapon was thrown, and what- 

 ever could be seized by the hand. Some shot with bows or with 

 their hands, and such a shower of weapons was poured upon the 

 Serpent that the men could hardly protect themselves against 

 it. Then spears and arrows flew thickly, for on all sides of the 

 Serpent lay warships. King Olaf's men now became so furious 

 that they jumped upon the gunwales in order to reach their 

 foes with their swords and kill them, but many did not lay 

 their ships so close to the Serpent as to get into the hand-to- 

 haiid fight, most of them thought it hard to deal with Olaf's 

 champions 



" The Northmen thought of nothing but continually going 

 forward to slay their foes, and many went straight overboard ; 

 for out of eagerness and daring they forgot that they were not 

 fighting on dry ground, and many sank down with their 

 weapons between the ships. . . . 



"King Olaf Try ggvason stood on the lyptingof the Serpent, 

 and chiefly used during the day his bow and javelins ; and 

 always two javelins at a time. It was agreed by all, both 

 friends and foes, who were present, and those who have heard 

 these tidings told with the greatest truth, that they have 

 known no man fight more valiantly than King Olaf Trygg- 

 vason. King Olaf surpassed most other kings, in that he 

 made himself so easily known in the battle that men knew no 

 example of any king having shown himself so openly to his 

 foes, especially as he had to fight against such an overwhelm- 

 ing force. The king showed the bravery of his mind, and the 

 pride of his heart, so that all men might see that he shunned 

 no danger. The better he was seen and the greater lack of 

 fear he showed in the battle, the greater fear and terror he 

 inspired. 



" King Olaf saw that his men on the fore part of the 

 ship frequently raised their swords to strike, and that the 

 swords cut badly. He cried out : ' Why do you raise your 

 swords so slowly ? I see they do not bite ? ' A man replied : 

 ' Our swords are both dull and broken, lord.' The king then 



