THE LAY OF HAMDIR
point out the ways." They said the bastard[1] was over bold.
13. On their way they had found the wily jester. "How will the swarthy dwarf afford us aid?"
14. He of another mother answered: so he said aid he would to his kin afford, as one foot to the other[2] [or, grown to the body, one hand the other].
15. "What can a foot to a foot give; or, grown to the body, one hand the other?"
16. From the sheath they drew the iron blade, the falchion's edges, for Hel's delight. They their strength diminished by a third part, they their young kinsman caused to earth to sink.
17. Their mantles then they shook, their weapons grasped; the high-born were clad in sumptuous raiment.
18. Forward lay the ways, a woeful path they found, and their sister's son wounded on a gibbet, wind-cold outlaw-trees,[3] on the town's west. Ever vibrated the ravens' whet: there to tarry was not good.
19. Uproar was in the hall, men were with drink excited, so that the horses' tramp no one heard, until a mindful man winded his horn.
20. To announce they went to Jormunrek that were seen helm-decked warriors. 'Take ye counsel, potent ones are come; before mighty men ye have on a damsel trampled."
21. Then laughed Jormunrek, with his hand stroked
- ↑ In this and the four following strophes the person alluded to is their half-brother Erp, of whose story nothing more is known. He, it appears, had preceded or outridden the others.
- ↑ Malmesbury relates a similar story of King Æthelstan and his cupbearer.
- ↑ Lit. wolf-trees; a fugitive criminal being called vargr wolf.
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