Long ago, in a college classroom far, far away, a Norse literature professor described a battle in passing. Having remembered it recently, I've been trying to track down the actual source, but I've been unsuccessful thus far. Hoping for some help in tracking it down.

Here's the description, clouded by intervening years and booze residue:

An invading force has landed on a peninsula that is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. They outnumber the defenders, but the defenders are able to prevent them from passing through the narrow isthmus onto open ground.

There is a pause in the battle, and the attackers tell the defenders that it is dishonorable for them to fight this way, and claim that the honorable thing to do is for the defenders to let them onto open ground so they can have a fair fight.

The defenders converse among themselves, saying that they cannot do this because, outnumbered as they are, it would be suicide for them. However, their leader argues that they should do the honorable thing because though they will probably be slaughtered, their bravery and honor would be sung about forever.

And so they let the attackers onto open ground and are killed, but the story lives on and is told in my half-forgotten class.

This ring any bells for anyone? Keep in mind, I could be getting some major details wrong, and my professor may have been exaggerating to prove a point. Thanks all.