, [Texts](languages) [Icelandic](germanic-texts.md) [Old Norse](texts-icelandic-old-norse) [Hrafnsmál](hrafnsmal.md) /hrafnsmal-s8 # Hrafnsmál s8 - This stanza, along with [s20](hrafnsmal-s20.md) & [s21](hrafnsmal-s21.md), is the earliest mention of berserkir (ninth century). --- s8 > Hlaðnir oru hǫlða > > ok hvítra skjalda, > > vigra vestrœnna > > ok valskra sverða; > > guðr vas þeim á sinnum, > > emjuðu ulfheðnar > > ok ísǫrn dúdu. > They [ships] were laden with men > > and white shields, > > western spears > > and foreign swords; > > bear-shirts growled, > > battle was in full flow for them, > > wolf-coats howled > > and shook their blades. > > trans. (c-tolley 2009v2p299)