Chapter 55 - Egil buries Thorolf.
While his men still pursued the fugitives, king Athelstan left the battle-field, and rode back to the
town, nor stayed he for the night before he came thither. But Egil pursued the flying foe, and followed
them far, slaying every man whom he overtook. At length, sated with pursuit, he with his followers
turned back, and came where the battle had been, and found there the dead body of his brother
Thorolf. He took it up, washed it, and performed such other offices as were the wont of the time. They
dug a grave there, and laid Thorolf therein with all his weapons and raiment. Then Egil clasped a gold
bracelet on either wrist before he parted from him; this done they heaped on stones and cast in mould.
Then Egil sang a stave:

’Dauntless the doughty champion

Dashed on, the earl’s bold slayer:

In stormy stress of battle

Stout-hearted Thorolf fell.

Green grows on soil of Vin-heath

Grass o’er my noble brother:

But we our woe - a sorrow

Worse than death-pang must bear.’

And again he further sang:

’With warriors slain round standard

The western field I burdened;

Adils with my blue Adder

Assailed mid snow of war.

Olaf, young prince, encountered

England in battle thunder:

Hring stood not stour of weapons,

Starved not the ravens’ maw.’

Then went Egil and those about him to seek king Athelstan, and at once went before the king, where
he sat at the drinking. There was much noise of merriment. And when the king saw that Egil was come
in, he bade the lower bench be cleared for them, and that Egil should sit in the high-seat facing the
king. Egil sat down there, and cast his shield before his feet. He had his helm on his head, and laid his
sword across his knees; and now and again he half drew it, then clashed it back into the sheath. He sat
upright, but with head bent forward.