"Advance! advance!
No helmets glance,
But blue swords play
In our array.
Advance! advance!
No mail-coats glance,
But hearts are here
That ne'er knew fear."
His coat of mail was called Emma; and it was so long that it reached
almost to the middle of his leg, and so strong that no weapon ever
pierced it. Then said King Harald Sigurdson, "These verses are but ill
composed; I must try to make better;" and he composed the following:--
"In battle storm we seek no lee,
With skulking head, and bending knee,
Behind the hollow shield.
With eye and hand we fend the head;
Courage and skill stand in the stead
Of panzer, helm, and shield,
In hild's bloody field."