pure cheeks, and embrace the head sprinkled with
embers, taking it to thy bright arms?

"I remember how smiths differ from one another, for once they smote me.
All share alike the name of their calling, but the hearts beneath are
different in temper. I judge those best who weld warriors' swords and
spears for the battle, whose temper shows their courage, who betoken
their hearts by the sternness of their calling, whose work declares
their prowess. There are also some to whom the hollow mould yields
bronze, as they make the likeness of divers things in molten gold, who
smelt the veins and recast the metal. But Nature has fashioned these of
a softer temper, and has crushed with cowardice the hands which she
has gifted with rare skill. Often such men, while the heat of the blast
melts the bronze that is poured in the mould, craftily filch flakes of
gold from the lumps, when the vessel thirsts after the metal they have
stolen."

So speaking, Starkad got as much pleasure from his words as from his
works, and went back to Halfdan, embracing his service with the closest
friendship, and never ceasing from the exercise of war; so that he
weaned his mind from delights, and vexed it with incessant application
to arms.

Now Ingild had two sisters, Helga and Asa; Helga was of full age to
marry, while Asa was younger and unripe for wedlock. Then Helge the
Norwegian was moved with desire to ask for Helga for his wife, and
embarked. Now he had equipped his vessel so luxuriously that he had
lordly sails decked with gold, held up also on gilded masts, and tied
with crimson ropes. When he arrived Ingild promised to grant him his
wish if, to test his reputation publicly, he would first venture to meet
in battle the champions pitted against him. Helge did not flinch at the
terms; he answered that he would most gladly abide by the compact.
And so the troth-plight of the future marriage was most ceremoniously
solemnized.

A story is remembered that there had grown up at the same time, on the
Isle of Zealand, the nine sons of a certain prince, all highly gifted
with strength and valour, the eldest of whom was Anganty. This last was
a rival suitor for the same maiden; and when he saw that the match
which he had been denied was promised to Helge, he challenged him to
a struggle, wishing to fight away his vexation. Helge agreed to the
proposed combat. The hour of the fight was appointed for the wedding-day
by the common wish of both. For an