16 A LEGEND OF THE HUNS. 



completed, he proceeded to Dunaheden, where he found the 

 Huns already awaiting him ; and although his own people 

 were very numerous, the enemy outnumbered him twofold. 



The battle commenced on the following morning, and 

 lasted throughout the whole day. But on the approach of 

 evening, both parties returned to their respective encamp- 

 ments. 



Thus the fight continued for the space of eight days ; many 

 of the leaders were wounded, but no one knew the number of 

 the slain. Meanwhile, men crowded from all parts to the 

 standard of King Angantyr, so that although his losses were 

 great, he had not fewer people than at the beginning. 



The combat now raged fiercer than ever. The attacks of 

 the Huns became more desperate ; for they saw that unless 

 they dishonoured themselves by suing for peace, their lives 

 depended on their gaining the victory. 



As the day closed, the Goths in their turn became the 

 assailants, and the enemy began to waver and fall back. 

 When this was observed by King Angantyr, he advanced 

 from within his fortress of shields (Skoldborg) at the head of 

 his men, with Tirfing, the enchanted sword, in his hand, and 

 slew both men and horses. 



The warriors who formed King Humle's Skoldborg then 

 fell back, and the brothers exchanged blows with each other. 

 King Humle and Laudur fell, and the ranks of the Huns 

 broke and fled ; and the Goths slaughtered so many that the 

 rivers were choked up with bodies, and overflowed their 

 banks, and the valleys were filled with horses, blood, and 

 dead men. 



The combat ended, Angantyr strode over the field of battle, 

 when, finding Laudur amongst the slain, he chaunted thus : 



