476 SOME EXPEDITIONS A XI) DEEDS OF GEE AT VIKINGS. 



jarls did not stand long when they saw that their companions 

 fled, but at once took to their heels. Egil then went to where 

 Olaf s array was, and attacked it in the rear, 1 and made a great 

 slaughter. The line began to waver, and was all broken up ; 

 many of Olaf s men fled, and the vikings raised a shout of 

 victory. When /Ethelstan saw 7 that the ranks of Olaf began 

 to break up, he urged his men, and had his standard carried 

 forward. He made such a fierce attack that the force of Olaf 

 recoiled with a heavy loss. Olaf fell there, and the greatest 

 part of his host, for all who were caught in the flight were 

 slain. ^Ethelstan gained a very great victory. 



" ^Ethelstan left the battlefield, while his men pursued the 

 fugitives. He rode back to the burgh, and there spent the 

 night. Egil pursued for a long time, and killed every one 

 he could overtake. When he had slain as many as he 

 wanted, he went back to the battlefield, and found his brother 

 Thorolf there, dead. He took his body, washed it, and pre- 

 pared it as was customary ; they dug a grave and put Thorolf 

 therein, with all his weapons and clothes. Egil fastened a 

 gold ring on each of his arms 2 before he left him. Then they 

 piled stones upon him, and threw earth over. Then Egil sang : 



The slayer of jarls who could not fear The ground will be green near the 



(Thorolf) Vina ( = a ri ver) 



Went valiantly forward ; Over my famous brother ; 



The strong-minded Thorolf fell But we must hide our grief; 



In the great din of Thund ( = Odin) That is death-pain ( = pain of Hel 



( = battle); ( = death)). 



" Egil went with his men to yEthelstan, and at once went 

 before him where he sat drinking in loud merriment. The 

 king saw that Egil had entered, and said that place should be 

 given to them on the lower bench, and that Egil should sit- 

 there in the high-seat opposite to him. Egil sat down, and 

 flung his shield down before his feet. He had a helmet on 

 his head, and placed his sword on his knee He at times drew 

 half of the blade out of the scabbard and then slammed it back 

 again. He sat upright, with his head bent forward. Egil 

 had prominent features, a wide forehead, heavy eyebrows ; his 

 nose was not long, but extremely big, the lips thick and long, 

 the chin and jaws wonderfully broad ; he had a thick neck 

 and large shoulders, exceeding other men's in size. He looked 

 hard and fierce when he was angry. He was well shaped, and 

 taller than other men ; his hair was wolf-grey and abundant. 



1 In open shields, or the hollow of the 

 hiel(]s ; the rear. 



2 Hond=hand or arm. 



