;>74 



DUELLING. 



saw this they scowled horribly and gnawed the edges of their 

 shields, and froth gushed out of their mouths. Hervard rose 

 and attacked Odd; the same happened to him, he fell dead. 

 At this the sorrow of the Berserks turned into rage ; they 

 stretched out their tongues and ground their teeth, roaring 

 like mad bulls, so that the rocks resounded. Then Seining 



O 



rushed forth ; he was, next to Angantyr, the best of the eleven. 

 He attacked Odd so fiercely that he could do no more than 

 defend himself. They fought long, so that it could not be 

 seen which would get the victory ; all their armour was cut 

 off, but Odd's shirt protected him so that he was not hurt. 

 Seming received wounds, but nevertheless did not yield till 

 nearly all his flesh was cut off his bones. Odd saw no spot on 

 him which was not bloody. When all his blood had run out 

 of his veins he fell down with great valour, and at once died. 

 One rose after the other, but Odd at last slew them all ; then 

 he was excessively tired, but not wounded. He went to where 

 Angantyr and Hjalmar had fought. Angantyr had fallen, and 

 Hjalmar sat by a hillock, and was as pale as a corpse. Odd 

 went to him and sana; : 



" ' What ails thee, Hjalmar, 

 Thou hast changed colour ? 

 I see that deep wounds 

 Weaken thee ; 



" Hjalmar sang : 



" ' I have sixteen wounds, 

 And a torn coat-of-mail ; 

 It is dark before my eyes ; 

 I cannot see to walk ; 

 The sword of Angantyr 

 Touched my heart. 

 The sharp sword-point 

 Hardened in poison. 



' I owned fully 

 Five beers together, 

 But I never 



Enjoyed that occupation ; 

 Now I must lie 

 Deprived of life. 

 Sundered with sword, 

 In Sanisey. 



' Very high-born men, 

 The Huskarls, drink 



Thy helmet is cut, 



And the mail-coat on thy side ; 



Now I think 



Thy lite is done.' 



Mead in the hall, 



At my father's ; 



The ale weakens 



Many men 



While the cutting of swords 



Pains me on the island. 



' The tale will prove true 

 Which she 1 told me, 

 That I would not 

 Come back. 



' Draw from my hand 

 The red ring, 

 And take it to the young 

 Ingibjorg. 

 It will be to her 

 A lasting sorrow 

 That I do not 

 Come back to Uppsalir. 



1 Ingibjbrg. 



