n, comb my hair and catch the skipping fleas, and
remove what stings my skin.' Then he sat and spread his arms that
sweated under the gold, lolling on the smooth cushion and leaning back
on his elbow, wishing to flaunt his adornment, just as a barking brute
unfolds the gathered coils of its twisted tail. But she knew me, and
began to check her lover and rebuff his wanton hands; and, declaring
that it was I, she said, `Refrain thy fingers, check thy promptings,
take heed to appease the old man sitting close by the doors. The sport
will turn to sorrow. I think Starkad is here, and his slow gaze scans
thy doings.' The smith answered: `Turn not pale at the peaceful raven
and the ragged old man; never has that mighty one whom thou fearest
stooped to such common and base attire. The strong man loves shining
raiment, and looks for clothes to match his courage.' Then I uncovered
and drew my sword, and as the smith fled I clove his privy parts; his
hams were laid open, cut away from the bone; they showed his entrails.
Presently I rise and crush the girl's mouth with my fist, and draw blood
from her bruised nostril. Then her lips, used to evil laughter, were wet
with tears mingled with blood, and foolish love paid for all the sins
it committed with soft eyes. Over is the sport of the hapless woman who
rushed on, blind with desire, like a maddened mare, and makes her
lust the grave of her beauty. Thou deservest to be sold for a price to
foreign peoples and to grind at the mill, unless blood pressed from thy
breasts prove thee falsely accused, and thy nipple's lack of milk clear
thee of the crime. Howbeit, I think thee free from this fault; yet bear
not tokens of suspicion, nor lay thyself open to lying tongues, nor give
thyself to the chattering populace to gird at. Rumour hurts many, and a
lying slander often harms. A little word deceives the thoughts of common
men. Respect thy grandsires, honour thy fathers, forget not thy parents,
value thy forefathers; let thy flesh and blood keep its fame. What
madness came on thee? And thou, shameless smith, what fate drove thee in
thy lust to attempt a high-born race? Or who sped thee, maiden, worthy
of the lordliest pillows, to loves obscure? Tell me, how durst thou
taste with thy rosy lips a mouth reeking of ashes, or endure on thy
breast hands filthy with charcoal, or bring close to thy side the arms
that turn the live coals over, and put the palms hardened with the use
of the tongs to thy