Page:The Story of Egil Skallagrimsson.djvu/200



'To him, high scion Of Hroald's tree, Fulness of riches Flowing hath come; And friends ride thither In thronging crowd By all wide ways 'Neath windy heaven.

&lt;strong&gt;20.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Above his ears Around his brow A coronal fair, As a king, he wore. Beloved of gods, Beloved of men, The warrior's friend, The weakling's aid.

&lt;strong&gt;21.&lt;/strong&gt;

'That mark he hitteth That most men miss; Though money they gather, This many lack: For few be the bounteous And far between, Nor easily shafted Are all men's spears.

&lt;strong&gt;22.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Out of the mansion Of Arinbjorn, When guested and rested In generous wise, None with hard jest, None with rude jeer, None with his axe-hand Ungifted hie.

&lt;strong&gt;23.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Hater of money Is he of the Firths, A foe to the gold-drops Of Draupnir born. . . . ..

&lt;strong&gt;24.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Rings he scatters, Riches he squanders, Of avarice thievish An enemy still. . . . ..

&lt;strong&gt;25.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Long course of life His lot hath been, By battles broken, Bereft of peace. . . . ..

&lt;strong&gt;26.&lt;/strong&gt;

'Early waked I,	Word I gathered, Toiled each morning With speech-moulding tongue. A proud pile built I	Of praise long-lasting To stand unbroken In Bragi's town.'

Chapter 83 - Of Einar Helgi's son and Egil.

There was a man named Einar. He was the son of Helgi, the son of Ottar, the song of Bjorn Easterling, who took land in Broad-firth. Einar was brother of Osvif the seer. Einar at an early age was tall and strong, and most doughty. He began to compose poetry when quite young, and was eager for learning. One summer at the Thing Einar went to the booth of Egil Skallagrimsson,