14.  He of another mother answered:  so he said aid he would to his kin afford, as one foot to the other[121] [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,[122] 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 his beard, asked not for his corslet; with wine he struggled, shook his dark locks, on his white shield looked, and in his hand swung the golden cup.

22.  “Happy should I seem, if I could see Hamdir and Sorli within my hall.  I would them then with bowstrings bind, the good sons of Giuki on the gallows hang.”

23.  Then said Hrodrglod, on the high steps standing; “Prince” said she to her son—­for that was threatened which ought not to happen—­“shall two men alone bind or slay ten hundred Goths in this lofty burgh?”

24.  Tumult was in the mansion, the beer-cups flew in shivers, men lay in blood from the Goths’ breasts flowing.

25.  Then said Hamdir, the great of heart:  “Jormunrek! thou didst desire our coming, brothers of one mother, into thy burgh:[123] now seest thou thy feet, seest thy hands Jormunrek! cast into the glowing fire.”

26.  Then roared forth a godlike[124] mail-clad warrior, as a bear roars:  “On the men hurl stones, since spears bite not, nor edge of sword, nor point, the sons of Jonakr.”

27.  Then said Hamdir, the great of heart:  “Harm didst thou, brother! when thou that mouth didst ope.  Oft from that mouth bad counsel comes.”

28.  “Courage hast thou, Hamdir! if only thou hadst sense:  that man lacks much who wisdom lacks.

29.  “Off would the head now be, had but Erp lived, our brother bold in fight, whom on the way we slew, that warrior brave—­me the Disir instigated—­that man sacred to us, whom we resolved to slay.

30.  “I ween not that ours should be the wolves’ example, that with ourselves we should contend, like the Norns’ dogs, that voracious are in the desert nurtured.”

31.  “Well have we fought, on slaughtered Goths we stand, on those fallen by the sword, like eagles on a branch.  Great glory we have gained, though now or to-morrow we shall die.  No one lives till eve against the Norns’ decree.”