When a wind came with which he thought he could get clear out to sea, he put all the learned men on shore again, and set off to the ocean; but as the wind came round to the south-west, and at last to west, he sailed eastward, out through Eyrarsund, ravaging the land on both sides.He then sailed eastward along Skane, plundering the country wherever he came.When he got east to the skerries of East Gautland, he ran in and landed, and made a great blood-sacrifice.There came two ravens flying which croaked loudly; and now, thought the earl, the blood-offering has been accepted by Odin, and he thought good luck would be with him any day he liked to go to battle.Then he set fire to his ships, landed his men, and went over all the country with armed hand.
Earl Ottar, who ruled over Gautland, came against him, and they held a great battle with each other; but Earl Hakon gained the day, and Earl Ottar and a great part of his men were killed.
Earl Hakon now drove with fire and sword over both the Gautlands, until he came into Norway; and then he proceeded by land all the way north to Throndhjem.The "Vellekla" tells about this: --"On the silent battle-field, In viking garb, with axe and shield, The warrior, striding o'er the slain, Asks of the gods `What days will gain?'
Two ravens, flying from the east, Come croaking to the bloody feast:
The warrior knows what they foreshow --
The days when Gautland blood will flow.
A viking-feast Earl Hakon kept, The land with viking fury swept, Harrying the land far from the shore Where foray ne'er was known before.
Leaving the barren cold coast side, He raged through Gautland far and wide, --Led many a gold-decked viking shield O'er many a peaceful inland field.
Bodies on bodies Odin found Heaped high upon each battle ground:
The moor, as if by witchcraft's power, Grows green, enriched by bloody shower.
No wonder that the gods delight To give such luck in every fight To Hakon's men -- for he restores Their temples on our Norway shores."29.THE EMPEROR OTTA RETURNS HOME.
The Emperor Otta went back to his kingdom in the Saxon land, and parted in friendship with the Danish king.It is said that the Emperor Otta stood godfather to Svein, King Harald's son, and gave him his name; so that he was baptized Otta Svein.King Harald held fast by his Christianity to his dying day.
King Burizleif went to Vindland, and his son-in-law King Olaf went with him.This battle is related also by Halfred Vandredaskald in his song on Olaf: --"He who through the foaming surges His white-winged ocean-coursers urges, Hewed from the Danes, in armour dressed, The iron bark off mail-clad breast."30.OLAF'S JOURNEY FROM VINDLAND.
Olaf Trygvason was three years in Vindland (A.D.982-984) when Geira his queen fell sick, and she died of her illness.Olaf felt his loss so great that he had no pleasure in Vindland after it.He provided himself, therefore, with warships, and went out again a plundering, and plundered first in Frisland, next in Saxland, and then all the way to Flaemingjaland (Flanders).So says Halfred Vandredaskald: --"Olaf's broad axe of shining steel For the shy wolf left many a meal.
The ill-shaped Saxon corpses lay Heaped up, the witch-wife's horses' (1) prey.
She rides by night: at pools of blood.
Where Frisland men in daylight stood, Her horses slake their thirst, and fly On to the field where Flemings lie.
The raven-friend in Odin's dress --
Olaf, who foes can well repress, Left Flemish flesh for many a meal With his broad axe of shining steel."ENDNOTES:
(1) Ravens were the witches' horses.-- L.
31.KING OLAF'S FORAYS.
Thereafter Olaf Trygvason sailed to England, and ravaged wide around in the land.He sailed all the way north to Northumberland, where he plundered; and thence to Scotland, where he marauded far and wide.Then he went to the Hebrides, where he fought some battles; and then southwards to Man, where he also fought.He ravaged far around in Ireland, and thence steered to Bretland, which he laid waste with fire and sword, and all the district called Cumberland.He sailed westward from thence to Valland, and marauded there.When he left the west, intending to sail to England, he came to the islands called the Scilly Isles, lying westward from England in the ocean.Thus tells Halfred Vandraskald of these events: --The brave young king, who ne'er retreats, The Englishman in England beats.
Death through Northumberland is spread From battleaxe and broad spearhead.
Through Scotland with his spears he rides;To Man his glancing ships he guides:
Feeding the wolves where'er he came, The young king drove a bloody game.
The gallant bowmen in the isles Slew foemen, who lay heaped in piles.
The Irish fled at Olaf's name --
Fled from a young king seeking fame.
In Bretland, and in Cumberland, People against him could not stand:
Thick on the fields their corpses lay, To ravens and howling wolves a prey."Olaf Trygvason had been four years on this cruise (A.D.985-988), from the time he left Vindland till he came to the Scilly Islands.
32.KING OLAF IS BAPTIZED.
