Meanwhile the King of the Huns, when he heard that his daughter had been put away, allied himself with Olmar, King of the Easterlings, and in two years equipped an armament against the Danes.  So Frode levied an army not only of native Danes, but also of Norwegians and Sclavs.  Erik, whom he had sent to spy out the array of the enemy, found Olmar, who had received the command of the fleet, not far from Russia; while the King of the Huns led the land forces.  He addressed Olmar thus: 

“What means, prithee, this strong equipment of war?  Or whither dost thou speed, King Olmar, mighty in thy fleet?”

Olmar.  “We are minded to attack the son of Fridleif.  And who art thou, whose bold lips ask such questions?”

Erik.  “Vain hope of conquering the unconquered hath filled thy heart; over Frode no man can prevail.”

Olmar.  “Whatsoever befalls, must once happen for the first time; and often enough the unexpected comes to pass.”

By this saying he let him know that no man must put too much trust in fortune.  Then Erik rode up to inspect the army of the Huns.  As it passed by him, and he in turn by it, it showed its vanguard to the rising and its rear to the setting sun.  So he asked those whom he met, who had the command of all those thousands.  Hun, the King of the Huns, happened to see him, and heard that he had undertaken to reconnoitre, and asked what was the name of the questioner.  Erik said he was the man who came everywhere and was found nowhere.  Then the king, when an interpreter was brought, asked what work Frode was about.  Erik replied, “Frode never waits at home for a hostile army, nor tarries in his house for his foe.  For he who covets the pinnacle of another’s power must watch and wake all night.  No man has ever won a victory by snoring, and no wolf has ever found a carcase by lying asleep.”

The king, perceiving that he was a cunning speaker of choice maxims, said:  “Here, perchance, is that Erik who, as I have heard, accused my daughter falsely.”

But Erik, when they were bidden to seize him instantly, said that it was unseemly for one man to be dragged off by really; and by this saying he not only appeased the mind of the king, but even inclined him to be willing to pardon him.  But it was clear that this impunity came more from cunning than kindness; for the chief reason why he was let go was that he might terrify Frode by the report of their vast numbers.  When he returned, Frode bad him relate what he had discovered, and he said that he had seen six kings each with his fleet; and that each of these fleets contained five thousand ships, each ship being known to hold three hundred rowers.  Each millenary of the whole total he said consisted of four wings; now, since the full number of a wing is three hundred, he meant that a millenary should be understood to contain twelve hundred men.  When Frode wavered in doubt what he could do against so many, and looked