296 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XV. Chapter XX. Of King Olaf s mi- racle in favour of the VcErin- gers of Con- stantinople. It happened once in the Greek country, when Kyrialax* was emperor there, that he made an ex- pedition against Blokkamannaland.f When he came to the Petzina plains J, a heathen king came against him with an innumerable host. He brought with him many horsemen, and many large waggons, in which were large loop-holes for shooting through. When they prepared for their night quarters they drew up their waggons, one by the side of the other, Avithout their tents, and dug a great ditch without; and all which made a defence as strong as a castle. The heathen king was blind. .Now when the Greek king came, the heathens drew up their array on the plains before their waggon- fortification. The Greeks drew up their array opposite, and they rode on both sides to fight with each other ; but it went on so ill and so unfortunately, that the Greeks were compelled to fly after suffering a great defeat, and the heathens gained a victory. Then the king drew up an array of Franks and Flemings, who rode against the hea- thens, and fought with them ; but it went with them as with the others, that many were killed, and all who escaped took to flight. Then the Greek king was greatly incensed at his men-at-arms ; and they rephed, that he should now take his wine-bags, the V8eringers.§ The king says that he would not throw away his jewels, and allow so few men, however bold they might be, to attack so vast an army. Then Thorer Helsing, who at that time was leader of the Yseringers,
- Kyrialax is the contracted pronunciation of the Greek Kurios
Alexios — the lord Alexius; and the emperor Alexius Comnenus I. is the Alexius here meant. ■j" Blokkamannaland is not Ethiopia, with which Alexius I. had no wars ; but Blachars, or Vallachars, was the name of the people of Valla- chia^ contracted by the northern Vseringers into Bloku-menn. t Pezina-voUo — the plains on the river Bezina. § The Frakkar and Flemingear — Franks and Flemings — appear not to have been in the corps of Vseringers^ the body guard^ but only Northmen.
