444 SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS. 



manner wast thou treated, my famous sister.' Thereupon he 

 looked over his hird, and there were not many. 



He sang 



' Very many were we 

 When we drank the mead ; 

 Now we are fewer 

 When we should be more ; 

 I do not fee one 

 Among my men 



" Gizr the Old said-- 



' I will not 

 Ask for an eyrir l 

 Nor a sounding 

 Piece of gold, 



Who would ride 

 And carry a shield, 

 And go to meet 

 The Huua-host, 

 Though I entreated him 

 And paid him with rings.' 



But will however ride 

 And carry a shield 

 To challenge the Huna-thjod 

 To the fight.' 



" It was the law of King Heidrek, that if a host of foes came 

 into a land, and the king of the land enhazelled a battle-field 

 and appointed the place of the battle, the Vikings should 

 not plunder before the battle was fought. Gizr war-dressed 

 himself and took good weapons ; he mounted his horse as if 

 he were a young man. He said to the king : ' Where shall 

 I tell the Hunar to light ? ' 



" Angantyr sang 



' Tell them on Dylgja, 

 And on Dun-heath, 

 And on all 

 The Jossar-mountains, 



There the Gotar often 

 Carried the spear and fought, 

 And the renowned got 

 A fine victory.' 



'' Gizr rode onwards till he came to the Huna-host ; he rode 

 so near that he could speak to them, and shouted with a loud 

 voice 



; Your king is full of fear, 

 Your king is death-doomed, 

 Your standard floats high, 

 Odin is angry with you. 

 I challenge you at Dylgja, 

 And at Dun-heath, 

 To battle under 



The Jossar-mountains ; 

 May Odin slight you 

 In every fight, 

 And may he let 

 The arrow fly, 2 

 As I foretell.' 



When Hlod heard the words of Gizr, he sang 



; Take Gizr 

 The man of Angantyr 



(Who has) come from Ar- 

 heimar.' 



1 Money. 



2 The custom of throwing a spear <>VIT 



the host to wive it to Odin. 



