# Once a Week (magazine)/Series 1/Volume 9/The hail-storm; or, The death of Bui

Translation of verses composed by the skald Tindr Hallkelsson about the year 1000; they are known as "Hákonardrápa" and only fragments survive. The subject is the Battle of Hjörungavágr.
THE HAIL-STORM; OR, THE DEATH OF BUI. (TRANSLATED FROM THE ANCIENT NORSE.)
Sigvald Earl of Jomsborg, in Vindland, chieftain of the Jomsvikingar, a band of daring pirates, makes a vow to drive Hakon Earl of Norway out of his dominions, and accordingly sets sail for that country with a numerous fleet. Hakon, hearing of his coming, collects what men and vessels he can, and meets him at Horunga Bay, where a desperate combat ensues. After some time, Hakon, seeing that he is on the point of being vanquished, goes on shore, and invokes the assistance of two female demons, Thorgerdr and Yrpr, to whom he sacrifices his son Erling, a beautiful boy, seven years old. The fiends forthwith raise a storm of hail and lightning against the Jomsvikingar, so dreadful that Sigvald and the greater part of his people take to flight. His two lieutenants, however, Bui hin Digri and Vagn Akason, disdain to fly, and remain with their ships and crews. The ship of Bui is speedily boarded by Eirik, son of Earl Hakon. Bui fights till his hands are chopped off, whereupon he seizes two chests of gold with his bloody stumps, and leaps into the sea, crying, “Overboard now, all Bui’s lads!” The greater part of those of his people who remain alive jump in after him, and are drowned; the rest are slain. Eirik then boards the ship of Vagn, which, after much hard fighting, he captures, taking Vagn and about thirty of his men prisoners, whom he carries ashore.
THE HAIL-STORM; OR, THE DEATH OF BUI.
All eager to sail, Swords, lances, and mail, To the sea’s sounding shore The speedy lads bore.
A boisterous breeze Blew swift o’er the seas; The sea-coursers bound O’er the crabs’ playing-ground; Back, back from the bows The brine which uprose, For strong was the swell, In snowy flakes fell.
The goodly barques brought The brave men, well taught To slay chief and churl, To the coast of the Earl; Wide Norway receiv’d— Ye ravens, long griev’d With famine, feast now— Full many a ship’s prow.
They hoist the war mark— On Hamdis’s sark Comes down horrid hail— The heroes don’t quail; Stones, arrows, and darts Dealt death in all parts; The bucklers were broke Beneath the blade’s stroke.
They’re hewing more hard: Heads, hands overboard Fell down in the gulf, To gorge the grim wolf.
Stout hands the hosts have. How fierce the swords wave! In brains of the brave How busy the glaive! The fine fellows die, From the string arrows fly, From off the shield’s sky The sparkles spring high.
How harsh yell the hordes Of hawks! The sharp swords, Swift swung, sever thighs, Stones slung strike out eyes; The steely plates sing, Asunder helms spring, On foreheads renown’d; No rest the wrists found.
Now forward through foes, Felling fierce, Buei goes; The grim gallows-swan Is glad at what’s done.
A storm!—hail doth sound, Each stone weighs a pound; From bruis’d, battered brows, Blood down the deck flows; What carnage! still wide The war-flag did ride, And plied bill and brand The bold Viking band.
From each finger end, Enrag’d now did send Red shafts, the witch wild, The welkin’s weird child; From stout hero hearts All hope now departs, For who can withstand Witch, whirlwind, and brand?
Adown the ship’s side Sprang into the tide Bold Buei, whose blade Black ravens oft fed, Two big chests he bore, Both fill’d with gold ore; Neath each arm was one: Wight braver was none.
Still Waygn fought amain, But valour was vain; For eager on board Earl Eirik’s crew pour’d: Of him the boy bold, Bestower of gold, With slaughter full stern, The stout ship they earn.
George Borrow.
* ↑ By the sark of Hamdis is meant a hauberk in general; Hamdis was a celebrated pirate.
* ↑ In the poetical language of the old Norse the raven was called the swan of the gallows.