Читать книгу Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway - Snorri Sturluson - Страница 147

"Thick the storm of arrows flew,

Loud was the din, black was the view

Of close array of shield and spear

Of Vind, and Frank, and Saxon there.

But little recked our gallant men;

And loud the cry might be heard then

Of Norway's brave sea-roving son—

'On 'gainst the foe! On! Lead us on!"

Earl Hakon drew up his people in ranks upon all the gate-towers of the wall, but the greater part of them he kept marching along the wall to make a defence wheresoever an attack was threatened. Many of the emperor's people fell without making any impression on the fortification, so the emperor turned back without farther attempt at an assault on it. So it is said in the "Vellekla":—

"They who the eagle's feast provide

In ranked line fought side by side,

'Gainst lines of war-men under shields\

Close packed together on the fields,

Earl Hakon drive by daring deeds

The Saxons to their ocean-steeds;

And the young hero saves from fall

The Danavirke—the people's wall."

After this battle Earl Hakon went back to his ships, and intended to sail home to Norway; but he did not get a favourable wind, and lay for some time outside at Limafjord.