to minister to his wounds. On being asked who
he was, he said his father was a labourer, and added that he was used
to the labours of a peasant. Starkad praised his origin, and pronounced
that his calling was also most worthy of honour; for, he said, such men
sought a livelihood by honourable traffic in their labour, inasmuch as
they knew not of any gain, save what they had earned by the sweat
of their brow. He also thought that a country life was justly to be
preferred even to the most splendid riches; for the most wholesome
fruits of it seemed to be born and reared in the shelter of a middle
estate, halfway between magnificence and squalor. But he did not wish
to pass the kindness of the youth unrequited, and rewarded the esteem
he had shown him with the mantle he had cast among the thorns. So the
peasant's son approached, replaced the parts of his belly that had been
torn away, and bound up with a plait of withies the mass of intestines
that had fallen out. Then he took the old man to his car, and with the
most zealous respect carried him away to the palace.

Meantime Helga, in language betokening the greatest wariness, began to
instruct her husband, saying that she knew that Starkad, as soon as
he came back from conquering the champions, would punish him for his
absence, thinking that he had inclined more to sloth and lust than to
his promise to fight as appointed. Therefore he must withstand Starkad
boldly, because he always spared the brave but loathed the coward. Helge
respected equally her prophecy and her counsel, and braced his soul
and body with a glow of valorous enterprise. Starkad, when he had been
driven to the palace, heedless of the pain of his wounds, leaped swiftly
out of the cart, and just like a man who was well from top to toe, burst
into the bridal-chamber, shattering the doors with his fist. Then Helge
leapt from his bed, and, as he had been taught by the counsel of his
wife, plunged his blade full at Starkad's forehead. And since he seemed
to be meditating a second blow, and to be about to make another thrust
with his sword, Helga flew quickly from the couch, caught up a shield,
and, by interposing it, saved the old man from impending destruction;
for, notwithstanding, Helge with a stronger stroke of his blade smote
the shield right through to the boss. Thus the praiseworthy wit of the
woman aided her friend, and her hand saved him whom her counsel had
injured; for she protected the old man by h