choice a chasing. Now therefore turn aside with all
speed, seek constantly to depart out of the road, shun encounters with
monsters, lest ye yield your most gracious bodies to be the prey and
pasture of the vilest hordes."

But Ragnar was seized with great shame for his unsightly attire, which
he thought was the only possible device to disguise his birth. So he
rejoined, "That slaves were not always found to lack manhood; that a
strong hand was often hidden under squalid raiment, and sometimes a
stout arm was muffled trader a dusky cloak; thus the fault of nature
was retrieved by valour, and deficiency in race requited by nobleness of
spirit. He therefore feared the might of no supernatural prowess, save
of the god Thor only, to the greatness of whose force nothing human
or divine could fitly be compared. The hearts of men ought not to
be terrified at phantoms, which were only awful from their ghastly
foulness, and whose semblances, marked by counterfeit ghostliness, were
wont for a moment to borrow materiality from the fluent air. Swanhwid
therefore erred in trying, womanlike, to sap the firm strength of men,
and to melt in unmanly panic that might which knew not defeat."

Swanhwid marvelled at the young man's steadfastness, and cast off the
cloud of mist which overshadowed her, dispelling the darkness which
shrouded her face, till it was clear and cloudless. Then, promising
that she would give him a sword fitted for diver's kinds of battle, she
revealed the marvellous maiden beauty of her lustrous limbs. Thus was
the youth kindled, and she plighted her troth with him, and proffering
the sword, she thus began:

"King, in this sword, which shall expose the monsters to thy blows, take
the first gift of thy betrothed. Show thyself duly deserving hereof; let
hand rival sword, and aspire to add lustre to its weapon. Let the might
of steel strengthen the defenceless point of thy wit, and let spirit
know how to work with hand. Let the bearer match the burden: and that
thy deed may sort with thy blade, let equal weight in each be thine.
What avails the javelin when the breast is weak and faint, and the
quivering hands have dropped the lance? Let steel join soul, and be
both the body's armour! Let the right hand be linked with its hilt in
alliance. These fight famous battles, because they always keep more
force when together; but less when parted. Therefore if it be joy to
thee to win fame by the palm of war, pursue with dar