eir salvation, accepted the offer; the
infection maddened them, distraught their wits, and blotted out their
recollection: for they are said never to have been in their right mind
after this. If these men had kept themselves within the rightful
bounds of temperance, they would have equalled the glories of Hercules,
surpassed with their spirit the bravery of giants, and been ennobled for
ever by their wondrous services to their country.

Gudmund, stubborn to his purpose, and still spreading his nets, extolled
the delights of his garden, and tried to lure the king thither to gather
fruits, desiring to break down his constant wariness by the lust of the
eye and the baits of the palate. The king, as before, was strengthened
against these treacheries by Thorkill, and rejected this feint of kindly
service; he excused himself from accepting it on the plea that he must
hasten on his journey. Gudmund perceived that Thorkill was shrewder
than he at every point; so, despairing to accomplish his treachery,
he carried them all across the further side of the river, and let them
finish their journey.

They went on; and saw, not far off, a gloomy, neglected town, looking
more like a cloud exhaling vapour. Stakes interspersed among the
battlements showed the severed heads of warriors and dogs of great
ferocity were seen watching before the doors to guard the entrance.
Thorkill threw them a horn smeared with fat to lick, and so, at slight
cost, appeased their most furious rage. High up the gates lay open
to enter, and they climbed to their level with ladders, entering
with difficulty. Inside the town was crowded with murky and misshapen
phantoms, and it was hard to say whether their shrieking figures were
more ghastly to the eye or to the ear; everything was foul, and the
reeking mire afflicted the nostrils of the visitors with its unbearable
stench. Then they found the rocky dwelling which Geirrod was rumoured to
inhabit for his palace. They resolved to visit its narrow and horrible
ledge, but stayed their steps and halted in panic at the very entrance.
Then Thorkill, seeing that they were of two minds, dispelled their
hesitation to enter by manful encouragement, counselling them, to
restrain themselves, and not to touch any piece of gear in the house
they were about to enter, albeit it seemed delightful to have or
pleasant to behold; to keep their hearts as far from all covetousness as
from fear; neither to desire what was pleasant to