Then Ottar, whether seized with weariness at the prolonged battle, or with desire of glory, broke, despising death, through the thickest of the foe, cut down Ragnald among the bravest of his soldiers, and won the Danes a sudden victory.

This battle was notable for the cowardice of the greatest nobles.

For the whole mass fell into such a panic, that forty of the bravest of the Swedes are said to have turned and fled.

The chief of these, Starkad, had been used to tremble at no fortune, however cruel, and no danger, however great.

But some strange terror stole upon him, and he chose to follow the flight of his friends rather than to despise it.