Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway

5. LISBON TAKEN.

After this King Sigurd sailed with his fleet to Lisbon, which is a great city in Spain, half Christian and half heathen; for there lies the division between Christian Spain and heathen Spain, and all the districts which lie west of the city are occupied by heathens. There King Sigurd had his third battle with the heathens, and gained the victory, and with it a great booty. So says Haldor Skvaldre:—

     "The son of kings on Lisbon's plains
     A third and bloody battle gains.
     He and his Norsemen boldly land,
     Running their stout ships on the strand."

Then King Sigurd sailed westwards along heathen Spain, and brought up at a town called Alkasse; and here he had his fourth battle with the heathens, and took the town, and killed so many people that the town was left empty. They got there also immense booty. So says Haldor Skvaldre:—

     "A fourth great battle, I am told,
     Our Norse king and his people hold
     At Alkasse; and here again
     The victory fell to our Norsemen."

And also this verse:—

     "I heard that through the town he went,
     And heathen widows' wild lament
     Resounded in the empty halls;
     For every townsman flies or falls."