Belief in them still lingers in parts of Europe
where wolves are to be found. Herodotus tells of the Neuri,
who assumed once a year the shape of wolves; Pliny says that
one of the family of Antaeus, chosen by lot annually, became
a wolf, and so remained for nine years; Giraldus Cambrensis
will have it that Irishmen may become wolves; and Nennius
asserts point-blank that "the descendants of wolves are
still in Ossory;" they retransform themselves into wolves
when they bite. Apuleius, Petronius, and Lucian have
similar stories. The Emperor Sigismund convoked a council
of theologians in the fifteenth century who decided that
wer-wolves did exist.
(2) Byrny (A.S. "byrne"), corslet, cuirass.
(3) "Norns came to him." Nornir are the fates of the northern
mythology. They are three--"Urd", the past; "Verdandi",
the present; and "Skuld", the future. They sit beside the
fountain of Urd ("Urdarbrunur"), which is below one of the
roots of "Yggdrasil", the world-tree, which tree their
office it is to nourish by sprinkling it with the waters of
the fountain.

CHAPTER IX. How Helgi, the son of Sigmund, won King Hodbrod and his
Realm, and wedded Sigrun.

Now the tale tells that Helgi in his warring met a king hight Hunding,
a mighty king, and lord of many men and many lands; they fell to battle
together, and Helgi went forth mightily, and such was the end of that
fight that Helgi had the victory, but King Hunding fell and many of his
men with him; but Helgi is deemed to have grown greatly in fame because
he had slain so mighty a king.

Then the sons of Hunding draw together a great army to avenge their
father. Hard was the fight betwixt them; but Helgi goes through the
folk of those brothers unto their banner, and there slays these sons
of Hunding, Alf and Eyolf, Herward and Hagbard, and wins there a great
victory.

Now as Helgi fared from the fight, he met a many women right fair and
worthy to look on, who rode in exceeding noble array; but one far
excelled them all; then Helgi asked them the name of that their lady and
queen, and she named herself Sigrun, and said she was daughter of King
Hogni.

Then said Helgi, "Fare home with us: good welcome shall ye have!"

Then said the king's daughter, "Other work lies before us than to drink
with thee."

"Yea, and what work, king's daughter?" said He