Now the battle began. The Englishmen made a hot assault upon the
Northmen, who sustained it bravely. It was no easy matter for the
English to ride against the Northmen on account of their spears;
therefore they rode in a circle around them. And the fight at first was
but loose and light, as long as the Northmen kept their order of battle;
for although the English rode hard against the Northmen, they gave way
again immediately, as they could do nothing against them. Now when the
Northmen thought they perceived that the enemy were making but weak
assaults, they set after them, and would drive them into flight; but
when they had broken their shield-rampart the Englishmen rode up from
all sides, and threw arrows and spears on them. Now when King Harald
Sigurdson saw this, he went into the fray where the greatest crash of
weapons was, and there was a sharp conflict, in which many people fell
on both sides. King Harald then was in a rage, and ran out in front of
the array, and hewed down with both hands; so that neither helmet nor
armour could withstand him, and all who were nearest gave way before
him. It was then very near with the English that they had taken to
flight. So says Arnor, the earls' skald:--
"Where battle-storm was ringing,
Where arrow-cloud was singing,
Harald stood there,
Of armour bare,
His deadly sword still swinging.
The foeman feel its bite;
His Norsemen rush to fight,
Danger to share,
With Harald there,
Where steel on steel was ringing."