The Heimskringla on Thormod Kolbrunarskald
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 218. Of King Olaf'S Skalds.
attestation: The skalds present were Thormod Kolbrunarskald, Gissur Gulbraskald (foster-son of Hofgardaref), and Thorfin Mun; Sigvat was notably absent.
"There were Thormod Kolbrunarskald, Gissur Gulbraskald, a foster-son of Hofgardaref, and Thorfin Mun."
attestation: Thormod mocked Sigvat's absence by asking Gissur to leave room for Sigvat before the king; Olaf defended Sigvat, saying he was praying for them and they greatly needed it.
""Ye need not sneer at Sigvat, because he is not here. Often has he followed me well, and now he is praying for us, and that we greatly need.""
attestation: Thormod retorted that the king might need prayers most, but it would be thin around the banner-staff if all court-men were on pilgrimage to Rome like Sigvat.
""It may be, sire, that ye now require prayers most; but it would be thin around the banner-staff if all thy court-men were now on the way to Rome.""
attestation: The skalds agreed it would be well to compose songs of remembrance about the coming battle, and the songs were immediately learned by the army.
"These songs were immediately got by heart by the army."
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 220. Of Thormod Kolbrunarskald.
attribution: The Bjarkamal called on the sons of Adil, Hrolf of the bow, and Har of the blow to wake for 'Hild's game' (battle), referencing the war-goddess Hild.
"Ye sons of Adil, cast off sleep, Wake up! wake up! Nor wassail cup, Nor maiden's jeer, Awaits you here. Hrolf of the bow! Har of the blow!"
attestation: The troops called the song 'the house-carle's whet' because it was suitable for rousing men to battle; King Olaf rewarded Thormod with a gold ring weighing half a mark.
"it pleased many, as it was suitable to the time and occasion, and they called it the house-carle's whet. The king thanked him for the pleasure, and took a gold ring that weighed half a mark and gave it him."
attestation: Thormod pledged never to be parted from King Olaf in life or death; the king replied they would all go together as long as he ruled and they followed.
""It is my prayer, sire, that thou shouldst never part from me either in life or death." The king replies, "We shall all go together so long as I rule, and as ye will follow me.""
attribution: Thormod composed a verse pledging loyalty to King Olaf, saying his skald would never be a craven and that he viewed the warrior's fate unmoved, with a barb at the absent Sigvat and his gold-hilted sword.
"To thee, my king, I'll still be true, Until another skald I view, Here in the field with golden sword, As in thy hall, with flattering word."
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 246. Of Thormod Kolbrunarskald.
attestation: Thormod Kolbrunarskald fought under King Olaf's banner at Stiklestad and was severely wounded.
"Thormod Kolbrunarskald was under King Olaf's banner in the battle; but when the king had fallen, the battle was raging so that of the king's men the one fell by the side of the other"
attestation: Thormod was too wounded and weary to join Dag's storm, standing by his comrades but unable to fight.
"Thormod did not come into that combat, being unable to fight, both from his wound and from weariness, but he stood by the side of his comrade in the ranks"
attestation: An arrow struck Thormod in the left side; he broke off the shaft and went to a barn near the battlefield.
"There he was struck by an arrow in the left side; but he broke off the shaft of the arrow, went out of the battle, and up towards the houses, where he came to a barn"
attestation: Thormod encountered a bonde named Kimbe who mocked the wounded king's men for screaming, claiming to have fought on the bondes' side.
"I was with the bondes, which was the best side," says he."
attestation: Kimbe tried to take Thormod's gold ring; Thormod cut off his hand with a sword swing.
"Kimbe stretched out his hand, and wanted to take the ring; but Thormod, swinging his sword, cut off his hand"
attribution: Thormod composed verses praising Olaf's unmatched bravery at Stiklestad, noting some men spared themselves in the fight.
"Olaf was brave beyond all doubt,-- At Stiklestad was none so stout; Spattered with blood, the king, unsparing, Cheered on his men with deed and daring."
attestation: Thormod told Kimbe 'Take the ring if thou canst get it: I have lost that which is more worth,' referring to King Olaf.
"Take the ring if thou canst get it: I have lost that which is more worth."
attestation: Thormod sat in the barn listening to people discuss who had shown the most valor in battle, with some praising Olaf most.
"The conversation was mostly about what each had seen in the battle, and about the valour of the combatants. Some praised most King Olaf's courage"
attestation: Thormod replied to those in the barn that he had fought with 'them who had the best' -- meaning King Olaf's side.
"Thormod replied, "I was with them who had the best.""
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 247. Thormod'S Death.
attestation: Thormod entered a chamber full of wounded men tended by a woman who bound wounds and used a fire to warm water for cleaning them.
"Thormod went out, and entered into a chamber apart, in which there were many wounded men, and with them a woman binding their wounds. There was fire upon the floor, at which she warmed water to wash and clean their wounds."
attribution: Thormod was deathly pale; he composed verses about being unloved by fair girls and afflicted by Danish steel.
"I am not blooming, and the fair And slender girl loves to care For blooming youths--few care for me; With Fenja's meal I cannot fee."
attribution: The nurse-girl repeatedly asked about Thormod's pallor; he composed a second verse about an arrow sitting too near his heart.
"The arrow-drift o'ertook me, girl,-- A fine-ground arrow in the whirl Went through me, and I feel the dart Sits, lovely girl, too near my heart."
attestation: Thormod refused the leek broth, saying he had no appetite for his broth.
"He replied, "Take it away, I have no appetite for my broth.""
attestation: Thormod directed the nurse to cut deep to reach the arrowhead, then pulled it out himself with tongs; the iron had a hook with morsels of heart flesh attached.
"Then Thormod took the tongs, and pulled the iron out; but on the iron there was a hook, at which there hung some morsels of flesh from the heart,--some white, some red."
attestation: Thormod gave his gold ring to the nurse-woman, saying it was a good man's gift that King Olaf had given him that morning.
"Then Thormod took a gold ring from his hand, gave it to the nurse-woman, and told her to do with it what she liked. "It is a good man's gift," said he: "King Olaf gave me the ring this morning.""
attestation: Seeing the heart-flesh on the arrowhead, Thormod said 'The king has fed us well. I am fat, even at the heart-roots,' then leaned back and died.
"When he saw that, he said, "The king has fed us well. I am fat, even at the heart-roots;" and so saying he leant back, and was dead."
attestation: Thormod's last words linked his physical nourishment by the king to a deeper loyalty unto death.
"The king has fed us well. I am fat, even at the heart-roots"
attestation: The white and red morsels of flesh hanging from the arrowhead confirmed the arrow had pierced Thormod's heart.
"on the iron there was a hook, at which there hung some morsels of flesh from the heart,--some white, some red."