Part 54 (1/2)
Now Eric'sthat they would die with hiriain: ”Hear o, my blood will be on your heads, for I will ride out alone, and ”
Then one by one they crept away to seek their horses in the dell And each man as he went ca Jon was the last to go, except Skallagrim only, and he was so moved that he could not speak at all
It was this Jon who, in after years, when he was grown very old, wandered frohteyes, and always finding a welcoth, as he journeyed, he was overtaken by a snowstorift: he had a skald's tongue Men have always held that it was to the honour of Jon that he told the tale thus, hiding nothing, seeing that soone, Eric looked at Skallagrioest thou not, drunkard?” he said ”Surely thou wilt find ale and mead in the vales or oversea Here there is none Hasten! I would be alone!”
Now the great body of Skallagririef and shame, and the red blood poured up beneath his dark sin Then he spoke in a thick voice:
”I did not think to live to hear such words frohteyes They are well earned, yet it is unmanly of thee, lord, thus to taunt one who loves thee I would sooner die as Swanhild said yonder thrall should die than live to listen to such words I have sinned against thee, indeed, and because of my sin my heart is broken Hast thou, then, never sinned that thou wouldst tear it living froles tear a foundered horse? Think on thine own sins, Eric, and pity o once e of yonder gulf thou didst overcoht, and there I swore fealty to thee, Eric Brighteyes Many a year have andered side by side, and, standing back to back, have struck many a blow I aht that draws on and to die there with thee I have loved no other man save thee, and I am too old to seek new lords Yet, if still thou biddest o thus Where I swore my oath to thee, there I will end it For I will lay ulf, as once I lay when thy hand was at my throat, and call out that thou art no more my lord and I am no more thy thrall Then I will roll into the depths beneath, and by this death of shahteyes”
Eric looked at the great rim Lambstail, thou hast a true heart I too have sinned, and now I put away thy sin, although Gudruda is dead through thee and I must die because of thee Stay by ri before him, took his hands and kissed them
”Now I am once more a reat death that it will be well to have lived to die it!” and he arose and shouted:
”A! hai! A! hai! I see foes pass in pride!
A! hai! A! hai! Valkyries ride the wind!
Hear the song of the sword!
Whitefire is aloft--aloft!
Bare is the axe of the Baresark!
Croak, ye nesting ravens; Flap your wings, ye eagles, For bright is Mosfell's cave with blood!
Lap! lap! thou Grey Wolf, Laugh aloud, Odin!
”Laugh till shake the golden doors; Heroes' feet are set on Bifrost, Open, ye hundred gates!
A! hai! A! hai! red runs the fray!
A! hai! A! hai! Valkyries ride the wind!”
Then Skallagriolden helm of Eric
Now at Coldback Gizur spoke with Swanhild
”Thou hast brought the greatest shame uponwoman Knowest thou that my own men will scarcely speak with h love of thee, that I have slain a sleeping woman!”