Erling the Bold

by R. M. Ballantyne

As both were arrayed much in the same way, it will be sufficient to describe the arrangements made by Haldor the Fierce, who had been elected commander-in-chief of the small kings’ fleet.

When Haldor saw the King’s banner displayed, he unfurled his own in the centre of the fleet, and arranged his force for attack right against it. Alongside of him on the right was Ulf of Romsdal with thirty ships, and on his left was old Guttorm Stoutheart with twenty-five ships. These composed the centre of the line. Kettle Flatnose commanded the men on the forecastle in Ulf’s longship, and Thorer the Thick was over those in Haldor’s vessel.

The right wing was commanded by Solve Klofe, under whom were Eric of Hordaland with fifteen ships; Sulke of Rogaland and his brother Sote with thirty ships, as well as Kiotve of Agder, and some others with many ships—all of large size.

The left wing was led by King Hakon of Drontheim, under whom were Roald Ryg and Hadd the Hard, and Thor Haklang, with a good many ships. Solve Klofe laid his ships against King Harald’s left wing, which was under Eindrid, son of Mörnef, and Hakon laid his against King Sigurd of Royer, who led Harald’s right wing. All the chiefs on either side laid their ships according as they were bold or well equipped. When all was ready, they bound the ships together by the stems, and advanced towards each other at the sound of the war-trumpet. But as the fleets were so large, many of the smaller vessels remained loose, and, as it were, went about skirmishing independently. These were laid forward in the fight, according to the courage of their commanders, which was very unequal.

Among these roving warriors were our heroes Erling and Glumm, each in one of his own small cutters, with about forty men.

As soon as the war-blast sounded the men rode forward to the attack, and soon narrowed the small space that lay between the hostile fleets. Then Haldor and the other commanders went down to the sides of their ships, where the men stood so thick that their shields touched all round, and encouraged them to fight well for the freedom of old Norway—to which they replied with loud huzzas. Immediately after the air was darkened with a cloud of arrows, and the fight began.

There were scalds in both fleets at that fight, these afterwards wrote a poem descriptive of it, part of which we now quote:

“With falcon eye and courage bright,
Haldor the Fierce prepared for fight;
‘Hand up the arms to one and all!’
He cries. ‘My men, we’ll win or fall!
Sooner than fly, heaped on each other,
Each man will fall across his brother!’
Thus spake, and through his vessels’ throng
His mighty warship moved along.
He ran her gaily to the front,
To meet the coming battle’s brunt—
Then gave the word the ships to bind
And shake his banner to the wind.
Our oars were stowed, our lances high
Swung to and fro athwart the sky.
Haldor the Fierce went through the ranks,
Drawn up beside the rowers’ banks,
Where rows of shields seemed to enclose
The ship’s deck from the boarding foes,
Encouraging his chosen crew,
He tells his brave lads to stand true,
And rows against—while arrows sing—
The Dragon of the tyrant King.
With glowing hearts and loud huzzas,
His men lay on in freedom’s cause.
The sea-steeds foam; they plunge and rock:
The warriors meet in battle shock;
The ring-linked coats of strongest mail
Could not withstand the iron hail.
The fire of battle raged around;
Odin’s steel shirts flew all unbound.
The pelting shower of stone and steel,
Caused many a Norseman stout to reel,
The red blood poured like summer rain;
The foam was scarlet on the main;
But, all unmoved like oak in wood,
Silent and grim fierce Haldor stood,
Until his axe could reach the foe—
Then—swift he thundered blow on blow.
And ever, as his axe came down,
It cleft or crushed another crown.
Elsewhere the chiefs on either side
Fought gallantly above the tide.
King Hakon pressed King Sigurd sore,
And Ulf made Hake the berserk roar,
And Kettle Flatnose dared to spring
On board the ship of Norway’s King.
Old Guttorm Stoutheart’s mighty shout
Above the din was heard throughout,
And Solve Klofe, ’gainst Mörnef’s son,
Slew right and left till day was done.
While, all around the loose ships rowed—
Where’er they went the red stream flowed.
Chief among these was Erling bold
And Glumm the Gruff, of whom ’tis told
They rushed in thickest of the fray—
Whatever part the line gave way—
And twice, and thrice, retrieved the day.
But heart, and strength, and courage true,
Could not avail where one fought two.
King Harald, foremost in the fight,
With flashing sword, resistless might,
Pushed on and slew, and dyed with red
The bright steel cap on many a head.
Against the hero’s shield in vain,
The arrow-storm sends forth its rain.
The javelins and spear-thrusts fail
To pierce his coat of ringèd mail.
The King stands on the blood-stained deck;
Trampling on many a foeman’s neck;
And high above the dinning stound
Of helm and axe, and ringing sound
Of blade, and shield, and raven’s cry
Is heard the shout of—‘Victory!’”

In this poem the scald gives only an outline of the great fight. Let us follow more closely the action of those in whom we are peculiarly interested.

For more than two hours the battle raged with unabated fury—victory inclining to neither side; but as the day advanced, the energy with which Solve Klofe pushed the right wing began to tell, and the King’s men gave way a little at that part. Harald, however, was on the alert. He sent some of his loose ships to reinforce them, and so regained his position. A short time after that, some of Solve’s ships were boarded, but at that moment Erling and Glumm chanced to pass in their cutters—for they kept always close together—and they gave such a shout, while they turned and pulled to the rescue, that the men, who were wavering, took heart again and drove the foe overboard. Just then the ship on the right of Solve Klofe’s vessel was also boarded by the enemy. Seeing this, Erling called to Glumm that there was need of succour there, and they rowed swiftly to the spot.