r hue,
but rather the complexion for the mind.

"This man is not prized for beauty, but for brave daring and war-won
honour.

"While the other is commended by his comely head and radiant countenance
and crest of lustrous locks.

"Vile is the empty grace of beauty, self-confounded the deceptive pride
of comeliness.

"Valour and looks are swayed by different inclinations: one lasts on,
the other perishes.

"Empty red and white brings in vice, and is frittered away little by
little by the lightly gliding years;

"But courage plants firmer the hearts devoted to it, and does not slip
and straightway fall.

"The voice of the multitude is beguiled by outward good, and forsakes
the rule of right;

"But I praise virtue at a higher rate, and scorn the grace of
comeliness."

This utterance fell on the ears of the bystanders in such a way, that
they thought she praised Hagbard under the name of Hakon. And Hildigisl,
vexed that she preferred Hagbard to himself, bribed a certain blind man,
Bolwis, to bring the sons of Sigar and the sons of Hamund to turn their
friendship into hatred. For King Sigar had been used to transact almost
all affairs by the advice of two old men, one of whom was Bolwis. The
temper of these two men was so different, that one used to reconcile
folk who were at feud, while the other loved to sunder in hatred those
who were bound by friendship, and by estranging folk to fan pestilent
quarrels.

So Bolwis began by reviling the sons of Hamund to the sons of Sigar, in
lying slanders, declaring that they never used to preserve the bonds of
fellowship loyally, and that they must be restrained by war rather than
by league. Thus the alliance of the young men was broken through; and
while Hagbard was far away, the sons of Sigar, Alf and Alger, made an
attack, and Helwin and Hamund were destroyed by the harbour which is
called Hamund's Bay. Hagbard then came up with fresh forces to avenge
his brothers, and destroyed them in battle. Hildigisl slunk off with a
spear through both buttocks, which was the occasion for a jeer at the
Teutons, since the ugliness of the blow did not fail to brand it with
disgrace.

Afterwards Hagbard dressed himself in woman's attire, and, as though he
had not wronged Sigar's daughter by slaying her brothers, went back to
her alone, trusting in the promise he had from her, and feeling more
safe in her loyalty than alarmed by reason of his own misdeed. Thus does
lust despise peril