Page:The Elder Edda and the Younger Edda - tr. Thorpe - 1907.djvu/263

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THE GROENLAND LAY OF ATLI

we have to make requital. The king will gift us with gleed-red gold. I never fear, though we may hear of terror."

14. "Tottering ye will go, if thitherward ye tend. No kind entertainment there will ye at this time find. Hogni! I have dreamed, I will not conceal it: in an evil hour ye will go, or so at least I fear.

15. "Methought thy coverlet was with fire consumed; that the towering flame rushed through my dwelling."

Hogni.

16. "Here lie linen cloths, which thou hadst little noticed: these will quickly burn where thou the coverlet sawest."

Kostbera.

17. "Methought a bear came in, and broke down the columns; and so his talons shook, that we were terror-stricken; by his mouth held many of us, so that we were helpless: there, too, was a din far from little."

Hogni.

18. "A tempest there will be furious and sudden: the white bear thou sawest will be a storm from the east."

Kostbera.

19. "Methought an eagle flew herein, all through the house: that will largely concern us. He sprinkled all with blood: from his threats I thought it to be the 'ham'[1] of Atli."

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  1. Ham (hamr, fem. hamingia) a guardian angel, an attendant spirit.

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