o the English main, and come at
autumntide south to London Bridge, where they hauled ashore their ship.

Now at that time King Ethelred, the son of Edgar, ruled over England,
and was a good lord; this winter he sat in London. But in those days
there was the same tongue in England as in Norway and Denmark; but the
tongues changed when William the Bastard won England, for thenceforward
French went current there, for he was of French kin.

Gunnlaug went presently to the king, and greeted him well and worthily,
The king asked him from what land he came, and Gunnlaug told him all as
it was. "But," said he, "I have come to meet thee, lord, for that I have
made a song on thee, and I would that it might please thee to hearken to
that song." The king said it should be so, and Gunnlaug gave forth the
song well and proudly; and this is the burden thereof:--

"As God are all folk fearing
The free lord King of England,
Kin of all kings and all folk,
To Ethelred the head tow."

The king thanked him for the song, and gave him as song-reward a scarlet
cloak lined with the costliest of furs, and golden-broidered down to the
hem; and made him his man; and Gunnlaug was with him all the winter, and
was well accounted of.

One day, in the morning early, Gunnlaug met three men in a certain
street, and Thororm was the name of their leader; he was big and strong,
and right evil to deal with. He said, "Northman, lend me some money."

Gunnlaug answered, "That were ill counselled to lend one's money to
unknown men."

He said, "I will pay it thee back on a named day."

"Then shall it be risked," says Gunnlaug; and he lent him the fee
withal.

But some time afterwards Gunnlaug met the king, and told him of the
money-lending. The king answered, "Now hast thou thriven little, for
this is the greatest robber and reiver; deal with him in no wise, but I
will give thee money as much as thine was."

Gunnlaug said, "Then do we, your men, do after a sorry sort, if,
treading sackless folk under foot, we let such fellows as this deal us
out our lot. Nay, that shall never be."

Soon after he met Thororm and claimed the fee of him. He said he was not
going to pay it.

Then sang Gunnlaug:--

"Evil counselled art thou,
Gold from us withholding;
The reddener of the edges,
Pricking on with tricking.
Wot ye what? they called me,
Worm-tongue, yet a