Page:The Story of Egil Skallagrimsson.djvu/198



Lord Arinbjorn was with Harold Eric's son, and was made his counsellor, and had of him great honours. He was commander of his forces and defender of the land. A great warrior was Arinbjorn, and a victorious. He was governor of the Firth folk. Egil Skallagrimsson heard these tidings of the change of kings in Norway, and therewith how Arinbjorn had returned to his estates in Norway, and was there in great honour. Then Egil composed a poem about Arinbjorn, whereof this is the beginning:

&lt;strong&gt;ARINBJORN'S EPIC, OR A PART THEREOF.&lt;/strong&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;1.&lt;/strong&gt;

'For generous prince Swift praise I find, But stint my words To stingy churl. Openly sing I	Of king's true deeds, But silence keep On slander's lies.

&lt;strong&gt;2.&lt;/strong&gt;

'For fabling braggarts Full am I of scorn, But willing speak I	Of worthy friends: Courts I of monarchs A many have sought, A gallant minstrel Of guileless mood.

&lt;strong&gt;3.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Erewhile the anger Of Yngling's son I bore, prince royal Of race divine. With hood of daring O'er dark locks drawn A lord right noble I rode to seek.

&lt;strong&gt;4.&lt;/strong&gt;

'There sate in might The monarch strong, With helm of terror High-throned and dread; A king unbending With bloody blade Within York city Wielded he power.

&lt;strong&gt;5.&lt;/strong&gt;

'That moon-like brightness Might none behold, Nor brook undaunted Great Eric's brow: As fiery serpent His flashing eyes Shot starry radiance Stern and keen.

&lt;strong&gt;6.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Yet I to this ruler Of fishful seas My bolster-mate's ransom Made bold to bear, Of Odin's goblet O'erflowing dew Each listening ear-mouth Eagerly drank.

&lt;strong&gt;7.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Not beauteous in seeming My bardic fee To ranks of heroes In royal hall: When I my hood-knoll Wolf-gray of hue For mead of Odin From monarch gat.

&lt;strong&gt;8.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Thankful I took it, And therewithal The pit-holes black Of my beetling brows; Yea and that mouth That for me bare The poem of praise To princely knees.