The kings now laid out their oars, and prepared to attack (A.D. 1000).
King Svein laid his ship against the Long Serpent. Outside of him Olaf
the Swede laid himself, and set his ship's stern against the outermost
ship of King Olaf's line; and on the other side lay Earl Eirik. Then a
hard combat began. Earl Sigvalde held back with the oars on his ships,
and did not join the fray. So says Skule Thorsteinson, who at that time
was with Earl Eirik:--
"I followed Sigvalde in my youth,
And gallant Eirik, and in truth
The' now I am grown stiff and old,
In the spear-song I once was bold.
Where arrows whistled on the shore
Of Svold fjord my shield I bore,
And stood amidst the loudest clash
When swords on shields made fearful crash."