e to avenge his father, or repel the aggressions of his
foes; and so, could he but gratify his gullet, he thought that decency
and self-control need be observed in nothing. By idleness and sloth he
stained his glorious lineage, living a loose and sensual life; and his
soul, so degenerate, so far perverted and astray from the steps of his
fathers, he loved to plunge into most abominable gulfs of foulness.
Fowl-fatteners, scullions, frying-pans, countless cook-houses, different
cooks to roast or spice the banquet--the choosing of these stood to him
for glory. As to arms, soldiering, and wars, he could endure neither
to train himself to them, nor to let others practise them. Thus he cast
away all the ambitions of a man and aspired to those of women; for
his incontinent itching of palate stirred in him love of every
kitchen-stench. Ever breathing of his debauch, and stripped of every rag
of soberness, with his foul breath he belched the undigested filth in
his belly. He was as infamous in wantonness as Frode was illustrious in
war. So utterly had his spirit been enfeebled by the untimely seductions
of gluttony. Starkad was so disgusted at the excess of Ingild, that he
forsook his friendship, and sought the fellowship of Halfdan, the King
of Swedes, preferring work to idleness. Thus he could not bear so
much as to countenance excessive indulgence. Now the sons of Swerting,
fearing that they would have to pay to Ingild the penalty of their
father's crime, were fain to forestall his vengeance by a gift, and gave
him their sister in marriage. Antiquity relates that she bore him sons,
Frode, Fridleif, Ingild, and Olaf (whom some say was the son of Ingild's
sister).

Ingild's sister Helga had been led by amorous wooing to return the
flame of a certain low-born goldsmith, who was apt for soft words, and
furnished with divers of the little gifts which best charm a woman's
wishes. For since the death of the king there had been none to honour
the virtues of the father by attention to the child; she had lacked
protection, and had no guardians. When Starkad had learnt this from the
repeated tales of travellers, he could not bear to let the wantonness of
the smith pass unpunished. For he was always heedful to bear kindness in
mind, and as ready to punish arrogance. So he hastened to chastise
such bold and enormous insolence, wishing to repay the orphan ward the
benefits he had of old received from Frode. Then he travelled through
Sweden