“I counsel that we should make the battle of our last hour glorious with dauntless deeds, that none may say that a combat has anywhere been bravelier waged or harder fought;

“And that our wild strife while we bore arms may, when our weary flesh has found rest in the tomb, win us the wage of immortal fame.

“Let our first stroke crush the shoulder-blades of the foe, let our steel cut off both his hands; so that, when Stygian Pluto has taken us, a like doom may fall on Ole also, and a common death tremble over three, and one urn cover the ashes of three.”

Here Grim ended.  But his father, rivalling his indomitable spirit, and wishing to give some exhortation in answer to his son’s valiant speech, thus began: 

“What though our veins be wholly bloodless, and in our frail body the life be brief, yet our last fight be so strong and strenuous that it suffer not the praise of us to be brief also.

“Therefore aim the javelin first at the shoulders and arms of the foe, so that the work of his hands may be weakened; and thus when we are gone three shall receive a common sepulchre, and one urn alike for three shall cover our united dust.”

When he had said this, both of them, resting on their knees (for the approach of death had drained their strength), made a desperate effort to fight Ole hand to hand, in order that, before they perished, they might slay their enemy also; counting death as nothing if only they might envelope their slayer in a common fall.  Ole slew one of them with his sword, the other with his hound.  But even he gained no bloodless victory; for though he had been hitherto unscathed, now at last he received a wound in front.  His dog diligently licked him over, and he regained his bodily strength:  and soon, to publish sure news of his victory, he hung the bodies of the robbers upon gibbets in wide view.  Moreover, he took the stronghold, and put in secret keeping all the booty he found there, in reserve for future use.

At this time the arrogant wantonness of the brothers Skate and Hiale waxed so high that they would take virgins of notable beauty from their parents and ravish them.  Hence it came about that they formed the purpose of seizing Esa, the daughter of Olaf, prince of the Werms; and bade her father, if he would not have her serve the passion of a stranger, fight either in person, or by some deputy, in defence of his child.  When Ole had news of this, he rejoiced in the chance of a battle, and borrowing the attire of a peasant, went to the dwelling of Olaf.  He received one of the lowest places at table; and when he saw the household of the king in sorrow, he called the king’s son closer to him, and asked why they all wore so lamentable a face.  The other answered, that unless someone quickly interposed to protect them, his sister’s chastity would soon be outraged by some ferocious champions.  Ole next asked him what reward would be received by the man who devoted his life for the maiden.  Olaf, on his son asking him about this matter, said that his daughter should go to the man who fought for her:  and these words, more than anything, made Ole long to encounter the danger.