k it will happen to you according to the common
saying, `that the striker sometimes has short joy of his stroke', and
`that the hand is seldom long glad of the smiting'."

Erik answered: "The man must not be impeached whose deed justice
excuses. For my work is as far as from that of Grep, as an act of
self-defence is from an attack upon another."

Then the brethren of Grep began to spring up and clamour and swear that
they would either bring avengers upon the whole fleet of Erik, or would
fight him and ten champions with him.

Erik said to them: "Sick men have to devise by craft some provision for
their journey. He whose sword-point is dull should only probe things
that are soft and tender. He who has a blunt knife must search out the
ways to cut joint by joint. Since, therefore, it is best for a man in
distress to delay the evil, and nothing is more fortunate in trouble
than to stave off hard necessity, I ask three days' space to get ready,
provided that I may obtain from the king the skill of a freshly slain
ox."

Frode answered: "He who fell on a hide deserves a hide"; thus openly
taunting the asker with his previous fall. But Erik, when the hide was
given him, made some sandals, which he smeared with a mixture of tar and
sand, in order to plant his steps the more firmly, and fitted them on to
the feet of himself and his people. At last, having meditated what spot
he should choose for the fight--for he said that he was unskilled in
combat by land and in all warfare--he demanded it should be on the
frozen sea. To this both sides agreed. The king granted a truce for
preparations, and bade the sons of Westmar withdraw, saying that it was
amiss that a guest, even if he had deserved ill should be driven
from his lodging. Then he went back to examine into the manner of the
punishment, which he had left to the queen's own choice to exact. For
she forebore to give judgment, and begged pardon for her slip. Erik
added, that woman's errors must often be forgiven, and that punishment
ought not to be inflicted, unless amendment were unable to get rid of
her fault. So the king pardoned Hanund. As twilight drew near, Erik
said: "With Gotar, not only are rooms provided when the soldiers are
coming to feast at the banquet, but each is appointed a separate place
and seat where he is to lie." Then the king gave up for their occupation
the places where his own champions had sat; and next the servants
brought the banquet. But Erik, k