y;--witness the spot, which was consumed by the
bowels that left me, and brings not forth the grain anew on its scorched
sod. And soon, when Ker the captain made ready a war by sea, with a
noble army we beat his serried ships. Then I put Waske to death, and
punished the insolent smith by slashing his hinder parts; and with the
sword I slew Wisin, who from the snowy rocks blunted the spears. Then
I slew the four sons of Ler, and the champions of Permland; and then
having taken the chief of the Irish race, I rifled the wealth of Dublin;
and our courage shall ever remain manifest by the trophies of Bravalla.
Why do I linger? Countless are the deeds of my bravery, and when I
review the works of my hands I fail to number them to the full. The
whole is greater than I can tell. My work is too great for fame, and
speech serves not for my doings."

So sang Starkad. At last, when he found by their talk that Hather was
the son of Hlenne, and saw that the youth was of illustrious birth,
he offered him his throat to smite, bidding him not to shrink from
punishing the slayer of his father. He promised him that if he did so he
should possess the gold which he had himself received from Hlenne. And
to enrage his heart more vehemently against him, he is said to have
harangued him as follows:

"Moreover, Hather, I robbed thee of thy father Hlenne; requite me this,
I pray, and strike down the old man who longs to die; aim at my throat
with the avenging steel. For my soul chooses the service of a noble
smiter, and shrinks to ask its doom at a coward's hand. Righteously may
a man choose to forstall the ordinance of doom. What cannot be escaped
it will be lawful also to anticipate. The fresh tree must be fostered,
the old one hewn down. He is nature's instrument who destroys what is
near its doom and strikes down what cannot stand. Death is best when
it is sought: and when the end is loved, life is wearisome. Let not the
troubles of age prolong a miserable lot."

So saying, he took money from his pouch and gave it him. But Hather,
desiring as much to enjoy the gold as to accomplish vengeance for his
father, promised that he would comply with his prayer, and would not
refuse the reward. Starkad eagerly handed him the sword, and at once
stooped his neck beneath it, counselling him not to do the smiter's work
timidly, or use the sword like a woman; and telling him that if, when
he had killed him, he could spring between the head and the trunk