olf, thy
great ones have fallen, thy holy line is vanishing. No dim and lowly
race, no low-born dead, no base souls are Pluto's prey, but he weaves
the dooms of the mighty, and fills Phlegethon with noble shapes.

"I do not remember any combat wherein swords were crossed in turn and
blow dealt out for blow more speedily. I take three for each I give;
thus do the Goths requite the wounds I deal them, and thus doth the
stronger hand of the enemy avenge with heaped interest the punishment
that they receive. Yet singly in battle I have given over the bodies of
so many men to the pyre of destruction, that a mound like a hill could
grow up and be raised out of their lopped limbs, and the piles of
carcases would look like a burial-barrow. And now what doeth he, who but
now bade me come forth, vaunting himself with mighty praise, and chafing
others with his arrogant words, and scattering harsh taunts, as though
in his one body he enclosed twelve lives?"

Hjalte answered: "Though I have but scant help, I am not far off. Even
here, where I stand, there is need of aid, and nowhere is a force or a
chosen band of warriors ready for battle wanted more. Already the hard
edges and the spear-points have cleft my shield in splinters, and the
ravening steel has rent and devoured its portions bit by bit in the
battle. The first of these things testifies to and avows itself. Seeing
is better than telling, eyesight faithfuller than hearing. For of the
broken shield only the fastenings remain, and the boss, pierced and
broken in its circle, is all left me. And now, Bjarke, thou art strong,
though thou hast come forth more tardily than was right, and thou
retrievest by bravery the loss caused by thy loitering."

But Bjarke said: "Art thou not yet weary of girding at me and goading me
with taunts? Many things often cause delay. The reason why I tarried was
the sword in my path, which the Swedish foe whirled against my breast
with mighty effort. Nor did the guider of the hilt drive home the sword
with little might; for though the body was armed he smote it as far as
one may when it is bare or defenceless; he pierced the armour of hard
steel like yielding waters; nor could the rough, heavy breastplate give
me any help.

"But where now is he that is commonly called Odin, the mighty in battle,
content ever with a single eye? If thou see him anywhere, Rute, tell
me."

Rute replied: "Bring thine eye closer and look under my arm akimbo:
thou mus