is could
not reconcile them (for the father obstinately demanded his daughter
back), he decreed that the quarrel should be settled by the sword--it
seemed the only remedy for ending the dispute. The fight began, and
Hedin was grievously wounded; but when he began to lose blood and bodily
strength, he received unexpected mercy from his enemy. For though Hogni
had an easy chance of killing him, yet, pitying youth and beauty, he
constrained his cruelty to give way to clemency. And so, loth to cut off
a stripling who was panting at his last gasp, he refrained his sword.
For of old it was accounted shameful to deprive of his life one who was
ungrown or a weakling; so closely did the antique bravery of champions
take heed of all that could incline them to modesty. So Hedin, with the
help of his men, was taken back to his ship, saved by the kindness of
his foe.

In the seventh year after, these same men began to fight on Hedin's
isle, and wounded each other so that they died. Hogni would have been
lucky if he had shown severity rather than compassion to Hedin when he
had once conquered him. They say that Hilda longed so ardently for her
husband, that she is believed to have conjured up the spirits of the
combatants by her spells in the night in order to renew the war.

At the same time came to pass a savage war between Alrik, king of the
Swedes, and Gestiblind, king of the Goths. The latter, being the weaker,
approached Frode as a suppliant, willing, if he might get his aid, to
surrender his kingdom and himself. He soon received the aid of Skalk,
the Skanian, and Erik, and came back with reinforcements. He had
determined to let loose his attack on Alrik, but Erik thought that he
should first assail his son Gunthion, governor of the men of Wermland
and Solongs, declaring that the storm-weary mariner ought to make
for the nearest shore, and moreover that the rootless trunk seldom
burgeoned. So he made an attack, wherein perished Gunthion, whose tomb
records his name. Alrik, when he heard of the destruction of his
son, hastened to avenge him, and when he had observed his enemies, he
summoned Erik, and, in a secret interview, recounted the leagues of
their fathers, imploring him to refuse to fight for Gestiblind.
This Erik steadfastly declined, and Alrik then asked leave to fight
Gestiblind, thinking that a duel was better than a general engagement.
But Erik said that Gestiblind was unfit for arms by reason of old age,
pleading