Hard withstanding made he; Harald asked not for peace.
The King’s sword-swinging lads forward off Halland rowed,
And yonder on the sea caused wounds with blood to stream.’
¶ Then did either side join combat, and the struggle waxed very fierce. Either King lustily cheered on his men, as saith Stein Herdason:
‘Eager for war the good shield-bearers bade their lads
To shoot and hew (but short the space was ’twixt the hosts).
Both stones & arrows streamed when the sword shook from it,
The light blood, depriving of life the men of either host.’
¶ It was late in the day when battle was joined and the combatants fought the whole night; King Harald himself shot for long with his bow. Thiodolf saith thus:
‘Elm-bow did the Upland