Witches. Furies poise themselves on the leap,
and on them huddle the Phantoms, whom Foreboder (Fantua) joined to the
Flatnoses (Satyrs), jostles. The path that the footfarer must tread
brims with horror. It were safer to burden the back of the tall horse."

Thereon Ragnar declared that he was a slave of the king, and gave as
reason of his departure so far from home that, when he had been banished
to the country on his shepherd's business, he had lost the flock of
which he had charge, and despairing to recover it, had chosen rather
to forbear from returning than to incur punishment. Also, loth to say
nothing about the estate of his brother, he further spoke the following
poem:

"Think us men, not monsters; we are slaves who drove our lingering
flocks for pasture through the country. But while we took our pastime in
gentle sports, our flock chanced to stray and went into far-off fields.
And when our hope of finding them, our long quest failed, trouble came
upon the mind of the wretched culprits. And when sure tracks of our kine
were nowhere to be seen, dismal panic filled our guilty hearts. That
is why, dreading the penal stripe of the rod, we thought it doleful
to return to our own roof. We supposed it safer to hold aloof from the
familiar hearth than to bear the hand of punishment. Thus we are fain to
put off the punishment; we loathe going back and our wish is to lie hid
here and escape our master's eye. This will aid us to elude the avenger
of his neglected flock; and this is the one way of escape that remains
safe for us."

Then Swanhwid gazed intently, and surveying his features, which were
very comely, admired them ardently, and said:

"The radiant flashing of thine eyes is eloquent that thou art of kingly
and not of servile stock. Beauty announces blood, and loveliness of soul
glitters in the flash of the eyes. A keen glance betokens lordly birth,
and it is plain that he whom fairness, that sure sign of nobleness,
commends, is of no mean station. The outward alertness of thine eyes
signifies a spirit of radiance within. Face vouches for race; and the
lustre of forefathers is beheld in the brightness of the countenance.
For an aspect so benign and noble could never have issued from base
parentage. The grace of thy blood makes thy brow mantle with a kindred
grace, and the estate of thy birth is reflected in the mirror of thy
countenance. It is no obscure craftsman, therefore, that has finished
the portrait of so