Further, this proof is told of Rolf Stake's daring.
There ruled over Upsala a king named Adils, who had to wife Yrsa, Rolf
Stake's mother. He was at war with Ali, the king who then ruled Norway.
They appointed to meet in battle upon the ice of the lake called Venir.
King Adils sent a message to Rolf Stake, his stepson, that he should
come to help him, and promised pay to all his force so long as they
should be on the campaign, but the King himself was to receive for his
own three costly things from Sweden, whatsoever he should choose. King
Rolf could not go himself by reason of a war that he had against the
Saxons; but he sent to Adils his twelve Berserks, of whom were Bodvar
Bjarki, Hjalti Stoutheart, Whiteserk Bold, Vott, Vidseti, and the
brothers Svipdag and Beigud.
In the battle then fought fell King Ali and a great part of his host.
And King Adils took from the dead prince the helmet Battleboar and his
horse Raven. Then the Berserks of Rolf Stake asked for their wage, three
pounds of gold apiece; and further they asked to carry to Rolf Stake
those costly things which they in his behalf should choose. These were
the helmet Battleboar, and the corslet Finnsleif, which no weapon could
pierce, and the gold ring called Sviagriss, an heirloom from Adils'
forefathers. But the King denied them all the costly things, nor did he
even pay their wage.
[Illustration: 'But now here sits in the high seat a thin stake']
The Berserks went away ill-content with their lot, and told Rolf Stake
what had been done.
At once he started for Upsala, and when he came with his ships into the
river Fyri he then rode to Upsala, and with him his twelve Berserks,
without any truce guaranteed. Yrsa, his mother, welcomed him, and led
him, not to the King's hall, but to a lodging. There fires were lighted
for them and ale given them to drink.
[Illustration:
'He fleeth not the flame
Who leapeth o'er the same']
Then some men of King Adils came in and threw billets of wood on the
fire, and made such a blaze that it scorched the clothes of Rolf's
company. And they said: 'Is it true that Rolf Stake and his Berserks
flee neither fire nor iron?' Then up leapt Rolf and all his twelve, and
he crying,
'Heap we yet higher
Adils' house-fire,'
took his shield and cast it on the fire, and leapt thereover, crying yet
again,
'He fleeth not the flame
Who leapeth o'er the same.'
Likewise one after the other did all his men. Then they seized those who
had heaped up the fire, and cast them thereon.
And now came Yrsa and gave to Rolf Stake a deer's horn filled with gold,
and therewith the ring Sviagriss, and bade them ride away to their
fleet. They leapt on their horses and rode down to Fyris-field. Soon
they saw that King Adils rode after them with his force fully armed,
purposing to slay them. Whereupon Rolf Stake, plunging his right hand
into the horn, took of the gold and sowed it all over the path. But when
the Swedes saw that, they leapt from their saddles and gathered each
what he could get; but King Adils bade them ride on, and himself rode at
speed. Slungnir his horse was named, of all horses the fleetest.
Then Rolf Stake, when he saw that King Adils rode near him, took the
ring Sviagriss and threw it to him, and bade him accept the gift. King
Adils rode to the ring, and lifting it on his lowered spear-point slid
it up along the shaft. Then did Rolf Stake turn him back, and, seeing
how he louted low, cried: 'Now have I made Sweden's greatest grovel
swine-wise.'
So they parted.
For this reason gold is by poets called 'the seed of Stake' or 'of
Fyris-field.'