[35] Taken from the Churchill Collection, 1732. Written by himself.
_THE FIGHT AT SVOLDER ISLAND_ (A.D. 1000)
OLAF TRYGGVASON, King of Norway, had sailed with a large fleet eastwards
to Wendland, passing through the Danish king's dominion without his
goodwill, and was now returning thence. He sailed with a light breeze
and fair weather for Denmark, the smaller ships going before, and the
larger ships following behind because they needed more wind.
At an island off Wendland were gathered many great chiefs: the island is
called Svolder. In this fleet was Sweyn, King of the Danes, who had many
charges against King Olaf--one being that Olaf had taken to wife Sweyn's
sister without his leave; another that he had established himself in
Norway, a land tributary to Sweyn and subdued by King Harold his father.
Earl Sigvaldi was there with the Danish king because he was his earl.
And in this combined fleet was a mighty chief, Olaf the Swede, King of
the Swedes, who deemed he had to avenge on King Olaf of Norway great
dishonour; for he had broken betrothals with, and smitten with his
glove, Olaf the Swede's mother. This same woman Sigridr Sweyn, the
Danish king, had now to wife, and she was strongly urging on Sweyn to do
King Olaf hurt or dishonour. With this fleet, too, was Earl Eric,
Hacon's son, who deemed he had very great charges against King Olaf and
his men, because they had been present at the slaying of his father,
Earl Hacon, and had driven out of the land all his sons; and Olaf had
established himself in the kingdom afterwards.
These chiefs had an overwhelming host, and lay in a harbour on the inner
side of the island; but King Olaf's ships were sailing past outside, and
the chiefs were on the high ground of the island, and saw where the
fleet was sailing from the east. They saw that the small craft sailed in
front.
Soon they saw a ship large and splendid. Then said King Sweyn: 'Get we
to our ships with all speed; there sails Long Snake from the east.'
Answered Earl Eric: 'Bide we awhile, sire; they have more big ships than
Long Snake alone.'
And so it was. This ship belonged to Styrkar of Gimsa.
Now saw they yet another ship, large and well-equipped, a ship with a
figure-head.
Said King Sweyn: 'Now here will be sailing Long Snake; and take we heed
that we be not too late in meeting them.'
Then answered Earl Eric: 'That will not be Long Snake; few of their big
ships have passed as yet; there are many more to come.'
And it was even as the Earl said.
Now sailed a ship with striped sails, a long-ship built for speed, and
much larger than the others that had gone by. And when King Sweyn saw
that this ship had no figure-head on her, then stood he up and said,
laughing the while: 'Olaf Tryggvason is afraid now; he dares not to sail
with his dragon's head; go we and attack him.'
Answered then Earl Eric: 'That is not Olaf Tryggvason. I know the ship,
for I have often seen it; it belongs to Erling Skjalgsson. And 'tis
better that we go astern of him to this battle. Brave wights are on
board there, as we shall surely know if we meet Olaf Tryggvason. Better
is a gap in the King's fleet than a ship thus well-manned.'
Then said Olaf, the Swedish king, to the Earl: 'We ought not to fear
joining battle with Olaf, though he have many ships. And it is great
shame and disgrace for men to hear in other lands, if we lie by with an
overwhelming host while he sails the high road of the seas outside.'
Earl Eric answered: 'Sire, let this swift long-ship pass if she will. I
can tell you good tidings: that Olaf Tryggvason has not sailed by us,
and this day you will have the chance of fighting with him. There are
here now many chiefs, and I expect of this bout that we shall all have
plenty of work.'
Still they said, when this long-ship and many craft had gone by: 'That
must have been Long Snake. And Earl Eric,' said the Danes, 'will never
fight to avenge his father if he do not so now.'
The Earl answered much in wrath, and said that the Danes would not be
found less loath to fight than himself and his men.
They waited not long ere three ships came sailing, whereof one, by far
the largest, bore a golden dragon's head. Then all said that the Earl
had spoken truth, and there now was Long Snake.
Earl Eric answered: 'That is not Long Snake.' But he bade them attack if
they would.
And at once Sigvaldi took his long-ship and rowed out to the ships,
holding up a white shield; they, on the other hand, lowered their sails
and waited. But that large ship was the Crane, steered by Thorkell
Dydrill, the King's kinsman. They asked of Sigvaldi what tidings he had
to tell them. He declared he could tell them tidings of Sweyn, the
Danish king, which it were right Olaf Tryggvason should know--he was
setting a snare for him if he were not on his guard. Then Thorkell and
his men let their ship float, and waited for the King.
Then saw King Sweyn four ships of great size sailing, and one by far the
largest, and on it a dragon's head conspicuous, all of gold. And they
all at once said: 'A wondrous big ship and a beautiful one is the Long
Snake. There will be no long-ship in the world to match her for beauty,
and much glory is there in causing to be made such a treasure.'
Then said Sweyn, the Danish king, out loud: 'The Long Snake shall bear
me; I shall steer it this evening before set of sun.'
Whereat Earl Eric said, but so that few men heard: 'Though Olaf
Tryggvason had no more ships than may now be seen, never will Danish
king steer this ship if they two and their forces have dealings
together.'
Sigvaldi, when he saw where the ships were sailing, bade Thorkell
Dydrill draw his ship under the island; but Thorkell said the wind sat
better for them to sail out at sea than to keep under the land with
large ships and light breeze. But they gathered them under the island,
these last four, because they saw some of their ships rowing under the
island, and suspected that there might be some new tidings; so they
tacked and stood in close to the island, and lowered their sails and
took to their oars. The large ship of this group was named Short Snake.
And now the chiefs saw three very large ships sailing, and a fourth last
of all. Then said Earl Eric to King Sweyn and to Olaf, the Swedish king:
'Now stand ye up and to your ships; none will now deny that Long Snake
sails by, and there ye may meet Olaf Tryggvason.'
Whereat silence fell on the chiefs, and none spake; and great fear was
on the crews, and many a one there dreaded his bane.
Olaf Tryggvason saw where his men had laid them under the island, and,
feeling sure that they must have heard some tidings, he also turned
these ships inwards to the island, and they lowered sail. Earl Sigvaldi
steered his ship inwards along the island to meet the fleet of the other
kings that was coming out from the harbour inside. Therefore sang
Stefnir about Sigvaldi, the foul traitor who drew Tryggvason into a
trap.
[Illustration: 'None will now deny that "Long Snake" sails by']
Sweyn, the Danish king, and Olaf, the Swedish king, and Earl Eric had
made this agreement between them, that, if they slew Olaf Tryggvason, he
of them who should be nearest at the time should own the ship and all
the share of booty taken in the battle; but of the realm of the Norse
king they should each have a third.
Then saw Olaf Tryggvason and all his men that they were betrayed, for lo
the whole sea about them was covered with ships; but Olaf had a small
force, as his fleet had sailed on before him. And now lay in his place
each one of those three chiefs, Sweyn, King of Danes, with his force;
Olaf, King of Swedes, with his host; while in the third place Earl Eric
set his men in array.
[Illustration: KING OLAF LEAPS OVERBOARD]
Then talked with King Olaf a wise man, Thorkell Dydrill, and said: 'Here
are overwhelming odds to fight against. Hoist we our sails, and sail we
after our fleet out to sea; for in no man is it cowardice to know his
own measure.'
King Olaf answered with loud voice: 'Bind we our ships together with
ropes, and let men don their war apparel and draw their swords; my men
must not think of flight.'
And Olaf Tryggvason asked his men: 'Who is chief over this force that
lies here nearest to us?'
They answered:
'We think it be Sweyn, King of Danes.'
Then said King Olaf: 'We need not fear that force; never did Danes win
victory in battle when fighting on shipboard against Norsemen.'