e added that this prodigy boded his own death. Hence
the marsh where the shrubs were cut down was styled in common parlance
Deadly Marsh. Therefore, fearing the narrow passages, he left the town,
and went to a level spot which was more open, there to meet the enemy
in battle. Sigar fought unsuccessfully, and was crushed and slain at the
spot that is called in common speech Walbrunna, but in Latin the Spring
of Corpses or Carnage. Then Hakon used his conquest to cruel purpose,
and followed up his good fortune so wickedly, that he lusted for an
indiscriminate massacre, and thought no forbearance should be shown to
rank or sex. Nor did he yield to any regard for compassion or shame,
but stained his sword in the blood of women, and attacked mothers and
children in one general and ruthless slaughter.

SIWALD, the son of Sigar, had thus far stayed under his father's roof.
But when he heard of this, he mustered an army in order to have his
vengeance. So Hakon, alarmed at the gathering of such numbers, went back
with a third of his army to his fleet at Herwig, and planned to depart
by sea. But his colleague, Hakon, surnamed the Proud, thought that he
ought himself to feel more confidence at the late victory than fear at
the absence of Hakon; and, preferring death to flight, tried to defend
the remainder of the army. So he drew back his camp for a little, and
for a long time waited near the town of Axelsted, for the arrival of the
fleet, blaming his friends for their tardy coming. For the fleet that
had been sent into the river had not yet come to anchor in the appointed
harbour. Now the killing of Sigar and the love of Siwald were stirring
the temper of the people one and all, so that both sexes devoted
themselves to war, and you would have thought that the battle did not
lack the aid of women.

On the morrow Hakon and Siwald met in an encounter and fought two whole
days. The combat was most frightful; both generals fell; and victory
graced the remnants of the Danes. But, in the night after the battle,
the fleet, having penetrated the Susa, reached the appointed haven. It
was once possible to row along this river; but its bed is now choked
with solid substances, and is so narrowed by its straits that
few vessels can get in, being prevented by its sluggishness and
contractedness. At daybreak, when the sailors saw the corpses of their
friends, they heaped up, in order to bury the general, a barrow of
notable size, which is famou