Page:The Prose Edda (1916 translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur).pdf/232

Henchmen and house-carles may be periphrased by calling them House-Guard, or Wage-Band, or Men of Honor: thus sang Sigvatr:

I learned the Warrior's Wage-Band

On the water fought that battle

Newly: 't is not the smallest

Snow-shower of Shields I tell of.

And thus also:

When on the Steed of Cables

The clashing steel was meeting,

'T was not as when a maid bears

The Chief's mead to the Honor-Winners.

The service-fee which headmen give is called wages and gifts; thus sang Óttarr the Swarthy:

I needs must use the Breaker

Of the Battle-Glow of good men;

Here is the watch war-doughty

Of the Wise King assembled.^[1]

Earls and chiefs and henchmen are periphrased by calling them Counsellors or Speech-Friends or Seat-Mates of the King, as Hallfredr sang:

1. See page 176.