King Olaf stood on the Serpent's quarterdeck, high over the others. He
had a gilt shield, and a helmet inlaid with gold; over his armour he had
a short red coat, and was easy to be distinguished from other men. When
King Olaf saw that the scattered forces of the enemy gathered themselves
together under the banners of their ships, he asked, "Who is the chief
of the force right opposite to us?"
He was answered, that it was King Svein with the Danish army.
The king replies, "We are not afraid of these soft Danes, for there is
no bravery in them; but who are the troops on the right of the Danes?"
He was answered, that it was King Olaf with the Swedish forces.
"Better it were," says King Olaf, "for these Swedes to be sitting at
home killing their sacrifices, than to be venturing under our weapons
from the Long Serpent. But who owns the large ships on the larboard side
of the Danes?"
"That is Earl Eirik Hakonson," say they.
The king replies, "He, methinks, has good reason for meeting us; and we
may expect the sharpest conflict with these men, for they are Norsemen
like ourselves."