The King of Vali council takes,
And a sad mistake made he;
A name had he gained for courtesy and valour,
But he never donned byrnie.

24. Less trusty warrior in the field
I never look to find;--
False he was and treacherous,--
Full of deceit his mind.

25. The Prince's troop, the Niflung men,
Along Norway's coast did sail,
Until they came to the Skerries of the Elf,--
Nor did their courage fail.

26. The troop had prepared for a mighty battle,
And against a promontory
Olaf's men in their warships there
Lay at anchor in the bay.

27. "Over the Island do ye go,"--
Thus to Kari spoke he,--
"To see if ye come on the vikings' ships,
And if they are like to fight fiercely."

28. Kari and Ornulf, clothed and armed,
With shield and polished blade
Examine the coast, and hastily
A search through the island made.

29. Six tall warships soon they see,
Under the sea-cliffs lay they;
And a '_Dragon_' carved in wondrous wise
Beside the warships lay.

INTRODUCTION TO THE FAROESE BALLAD OF NORNAGEST

The _Ballad of Nornagest_ was published for the first time by Lyngbye
in 1822 in _Faeroeiske Kvaeder om Sigurd Fofnersbane_ etc. In his visit
to the Faroes in 1847-8, Hammershaimb took down the ballad from oral
recitation at Sumbo. He afterwards collated his version carefully
with those of Svabo, Schroter and Lyngbye, and published the result
in _Faeroeiske Kvaeder_, Vol. I, Copenhagen, 1851. This is the version of
the ballad translated below.

Lyngbye points out that Nornagest has become a well-known character
in modern Faroese legend. We certainly note his popularity in the
ballads, which is no doubt due to his association with Sigurth in the
original story. In some ballads he appears as a companion in arms of
the latter and even as a great warrior himself. He it is who rides
with Sigurth and Virgar to meet the giant in Holmgarth (cf. _Risin i
Holmgarethum_, v. 33), and in _Ragnarlikkja_ (cf. v. 39 ff.) "the fierce
Nornagest" sails with Sigurth, Brand, and Virgar to slay the King of
Girtland; and so too in other stories.

It will be observed that the framework of the story differs
considerably from that of the Saga, notably in the opening and closing
scenes. The beginning of another story, dealing likewise with an old
man, has been substituted for the original opening. The mention of
the boat in verse 40 is perhaps reminiscent o