Here Thorkill again warned the men, and forbade them to stretch forth their covetous hands rashly to the forbidden things.  Going on through the breach in the crag, they beheld an old man with his body pierced through, sitting not far off, on a lofty seat facing the side of the rock that had been rent away.  Moreover, three women, whose bodies were covered with tumours, and who seemed to have lost the strength of their back-bones, filled adjoining seats.  Thorkill’s companions were very curious; and he, who well knew the reason of the matter, told them that long ago the god Thor had been provoked by the insolence of the giants to drive red-hot irons through the vitals of Geirrod, who strove with him, and that the iron had slid further, torn up the mountain, and battered through its side; while the women had been stricken by the might of his thunderbolts, and had been punished (so he declared) for their attempt on the same deity, by having their bodies broken.

As the men were about to depart thence, there were disclosed to them seven butts hooped round with belts of gold; and from these hung circlets of silver entwined with them in manifold links.  Near these was found the tusk of a strange beast, tipped at both ends with gold.  Close by was a vast stag-horn, laboriously decked with choice and flashing gems, and this also did not lack chasing.  Hard by was to be seen a very heavy bracelet.  One man was kindled with an inordinate desire for this bracelet, and laid covetous hands upon the gold, not knowing that the glorious metal covered deadly mischief, and that a fatal bane lay hid under the shining spoil.  A second also, unable to restrain his covetousness, reached out his quivering hands to the horn.  A third, matching the confidence of the others, and having no control over his fingers, ventured to shoulder the tusk.  The spoil seemed alike lovely to look upon and desirable to enjoy, for all that met the eye was fair and tempting to behold.  But the bracelet suddenly took the form of a snake, and attacked him who was carrying it with its poisoned tooth; the horn lengthened out into a serpent, and took the life of the man who bore it; the tusk wrought itself into a sword, and plunged into the vitals of its bearer.

The rest dreaded the fate of perishing with their friends, and thought that the guiltless would be destroyed like the guilty; they durst not hope that even innocence would be safe.  Then the side-door of another room showed them a narrow alcove:  and a privy chamber with a yet richer treasure was revealed, wherein arms were laid out too great for those of human stature.  Among these were seen a royal mantle, a handsome hat, and a belt marvellously wrought.  Thorkill, struck with amazement at these things, gave rein to his covetousness, and cast off all his purposed self-restraint.  He who so oft had trained others could not so much as conquer his own cravings.  For he laid his hand upon the mantle, and his rash example tempted