Thorsteinn said he was half as good a man again as himself.

She asked what token there was of that.  Then Thorsteinn spoke this verse: 

“Goddess of rings!  No eight could meet him, or gain the sword from his vanquished hand.  Brave was Grettir; his foemen doughty severed the hand of the ruler of ships.”

Those who understood the song declared that it told of great nobility.  When she heard that she asked: 

“Will you receive your life at my hands if the choice is offered you?”

“Indeed I will,” he said, “if this companion of mine sitting here is released along with me.  If not, we must both remain sitting here together.”

She answered:  “I think you are more worth paying for than he is.”

“However that may be,” he said, “either we both of us come out from here together or neither of us comes out.”

So she went to the Varangians’ quarters and asked for the release of Thorsteinn, offering money.  They agreed.  With her interest and her wealth she brought it about that both of them were released.  Directly Thorsteinn came out of the dungeon he went to pay his respects to the lady Spes.  She welcomed him and kept him there secretly.  From time to time he went campaigning with the Varangians, and was distinguished for his courage in all their engagements.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII

ADVENTURES OF THORSTEINN AND SPES

At that time Harald the son of Sigurd (1) was in Constantinople, and Thorsteinn became friendly with him.  Thorsteinn was now a very great personage, for Spes kept him well supplied with money, and they became very much attached to one another.  She was a great admirer of his skill.  Her expenses were very great because she tried to keep up many friends.  Her husband noticed a great change in her character and her behaviour, and especially that she had become very extravagant.  Treasures of gold and other property which were in her keeping disappeared.  One day her husband Sigurd spoke with her and said that he was much surprised at her conduct.  “You pay no attention to our affairs,” he said, “and squander money in many ways.  You seem as if you were in a dream, and never wish to be where I am.  I am certain that something is going on.”

She replied:  “I told you as I told my kinsmen when we married that I meant to be my own mistress in all matters which concern myself; that is why I do not spare your money.  Or is there anything more than this that you wish to speak about with me?  Do you accuse me of anything shameful?”

He said:  “I am not without my suspicions that you are keeping some man whom you prefer to me.”

“I do not know,” she said, “that there would be very much in that; and yet of a surety there is no truth in what you say.  I will not speak with you alone if you bring such improper accusations against me.”