"Listen Harald Sigurdsson,
To the dreams-signs of brother Olaf."
"Your mind bent on power; silence it now;
Or you will tread a foul path."
Pay no heed to Jarl Toste,
Who goads us to fare for England."
"Tord he had an eerie dream,
'Tis by many as ill-omens deciphered."
In Spring of 1066: A journey was appraised.
Power-hungry King in Norway reigned,
And bid the lands' levies raised.
One hundred-and-five and ninety ships;
To the Jarl of Orkney, they sailed West,
And Jarl Torfinn's sons loaded
One hundred more longships.
They reached Jorvik town; and wails of battle were met.
The Earl Muru-Kåre fell and Earl Valtjov - he fled.
Harald and Toste rushed a-forth,
But Earl Valtjov he to them swore,
"The Knight's of the King's table
You will meet at Stamford Bridge!"
Harald and Toste; the next day roamed;
No armor worn, not any.
Then, far off the sun did gleam
On helmets and byrnies many.
"The English King it surely is,
I'll summon the Thing-men to prepare for this,
The Norsemen warriors bewildered are;
They stand by Stamford Bridge."
They discussed; the ruling was; Let all men reassemble.
Whilst Styrkår rode down to the ships
As swiftly as he was able.
But to win themselves more time,
They bid Tjodulfr Strong-One;
That he must hinder the King's men,
Out there on Stamford Bridge.
And long Tjodulfr held his stand
'Gainst the Anglo-Saxon King;
But from underneath with spears they stabbed;
Thus, they overcame.
Then others in the battle into frenzy ran,
While Øystein and Styrkår and every man
From the ships they sprang, to get there in time -
Over to Stamford Bridge.
Harald in front of the shieldwall went
And hewed at both lanes!
When a Greylag feathered arrow flew -
T'was the Norse King's Bane!
Then Øystein and Styrkår they'd come;
Fully clad in mail coats everyone;
And toiled and soared - just almost won -
In the hills by Stamford Bridge.
Then the third slaughter began; the warcry - "Orrerira!";
And the number of fallen was great,
But the Norsemen were forced to flee!
Thus it went that William's men;
From the Frankish Realm; dominion won,
- The Right of Norseman Rule was gone -
Out there on Stamford Bridge... ...