d, O War-god, in
utmost peril; conquering fear, I thought it comely to fight, shameful to
loiter, and noble to kill and kill again, to be for ever slaughtering!
Oft have I seen the stern kings meet in war, seen shield and helmet
bruised, and the fields redden with blood, and the cuirass broken by the
spear-point, and the corselets all around giving at the thrust of the
steel, and the wild beasts battening on the unburied soldier. Here, as
it chanced, one that attempted a mighty thing, a strong-handed warrior,
fighting against the press of the foe, smote through the mail that
covered my head, pierced my helmet, and plunged his blade into my crest.
This sword also hath often been driven by my right hand in war, and,
once unsheathed, hath cleft the skin and bitten into the skull."

Hather, in answer, sang as follows:

"Whence comest thou, who art used to write the poems of thy land,
leaning thy wavering steps on a frail staff? Or whither dost thou speed,
who art the readiest bard of the Danish muse? All the glory of thy great
strength is faded and lost; the hue is banished from thy face, the joy
is gone out of thy soul; the voice has left thy throat, and is hoarse
and dull; thy body has lost its former stature; the decay of death
begins, and has wasted thy features and thy force. As a ship wearies,
buffeted by continual billows, even so old age, gendered by a long
course of years, brings forth bitter death; and the life falls when its
strength is done, and suffers the loss of its ancient lot. Famous old
man, who has told thee that thou mayst not duly follow the sports of
youth, or fling balls, or bite and eat the nut? I think it were better
for thee now to sell thy sword, and buy a carriage wherein to ride
often, or a horse easy on the bit, or at the same cost to purchase a
light cart. It will be more fitting for beasts of burden to carry weak
old men, when their steps fail them; the wheel, driving round and round,
serves for him whose foot totters feebly. But if perchance thou art loth
to sell the useless steel, thy sword, if it be not for sale, shall be
taken from thee and shall slay thee."

Starkad answered: "Wretch, thy glib lips scatter idle words, unfit for
the ears of the good. Why seek the gifts to reward that guidance, which
thou shouldst have offered for naught? Surely I will walk afoot, and
will not basely give up my sword and buy the help of a stranger; nature
has given me the right of passage, and hath bidde