oks, they thought of
death and not of dalliance. Now I will cease to wander, and will go back
to my theme.

In the early spring, Alf and Alger, who had gone back to sea-roving,
were exploring the sea in various directions, when they lighted with
a hundred ships upon Helwin, Hagbard, and Hamund, sons of the kinglet
Hamund. These they attacked and only the twilight stayed their
blood-wearied hands; and in the night the soldiers were ordered to keep
truce. On the morrow this was ratified for good by a mutual oath; for
such loss had been suffered on both sides in the battle of the day
before that they had no force left to fight again. Thus, exhausted bye
quality of valour, they were driven perforce to make peace. About the
same time Hildigisl, a Teuton Of noble birth, relying on his looks and
his rank, sued for Signe, the daughter of Sigar. But she scorned him,
chiefly for his insignificance, inasmuch as he was not brave, but wished
to adorn his fortunes with the courage of other people. But this woman
was inclined to love Hakon, chiefly for the high renown of his great
deeds. For she thought more of the brave than the feeble; she admired
notable deeds more than looks, knowing that every allurement of beauty
is mere dross when reckoned against simple valour, and cannot weigh
equal with it in the balance. For there are maids that are more charmed
by the fame than by the face of their lovers; who go not by the looks,
but by the mind, and whom naught but regard for a man's spirit can
kindle to pledge their own troth. Now Hagbard, going to Denmark with the
sons of Sigar, gained speech of their sister without their knowledge,
and in the end induced her to pledge her word to him that she would
secretly become his mistress. Afterwards, when the waiting-women
happened to be comparing the honourable deeds of the nobles, she
preferred Hakon to Hildigisl, declaring that the latter had nothing to
praise but his looks, while in the case of the other a wrinkled visage
was outweighed by a choice spirit. Not content with this plain kind of
praise, she is said to have sung as follows:

"This man lacks fairness, but shines with foremost courage, measuring
his features by his force.

"For the lofty soul redeems the shortcoming of harsh looks, and conquers
the body's blemish.

"His look flashes with spirit, his face, notable in its very harshness,
delights in fierceness.

"He who strictly judges character praises not the mind for the fai