way the swan, as the swan had driven the
snake, and it wheeled high into the air and flew south, and the snake
swam away also through the sea. But the dove drooped and now it was
blind. Then an eagle came from the north, and would have taken the dove,
but it fled round and round, crying, and always the eagle drew nearer
to it. At length, from the south the swan came back, flying heavily, and
about its neck was twined the golden snake, and with it came a raven.
And it saw the eagle and loud it trumpeted, and shook the snake from it
so that it fell like a gleam of gold into the sea. Then the eagle and
the swan met in battle, and the swan drove the eagle down and broke it
with his wings, and, flying to the dove, comforted it. But those in the
house ran out and shot at the swan with bows and drove it away, but now
he, Asmund, was not with them. And once more the dove drooped. Again the
swan came back, and with it the raven, and a great host were gathered
against them, and, among them, all of Asmund's kith and kin, and the men
of his quarter and some of his priesthood, and many whom he did not know
by face. And the swan flew at Bjoern his son, and shot out the sword of
its tongue and slew him, and many a man it slew thus. And the raven,
with a beak and claws of steel, slew also many a man, so that Asmund's
kindred fled and the swan slept by the dove. But as it slept the golden
snake crawled out of the sea, and hissed in the ears of men, and they
rose up to follow it. It came to the swan and twined itself about its
neck. It struck at the dove and slew it. Then the swan awoke and the
raven awoke, and they did battle till all who remained of Asmund's
kindred and people were dead. But still the snake clung about the swan's
neck, and presently snake and swan fell into the sea, and far out on the
sea there burned a flame of fire. And Asmund awoke trembling and left
the Temple.

Now as he went, a woman came running, and weeping as she ran.

"Haste, haste!" she cried; "a daughter is born to thee, and Gudruda thy
wife is dying!"

"Is it so?" said Asmund; "after ill dreams ill tidings."

Now in the bed-closet off the great hall of Middalhof lay Gudruda the
Gentle and she was dying.

"Art thou there, husband?" she said.

"Even so, wife."

"Thou comest in an evil hour, for it is my last. Now hearken. Take thou
the new-born babe within thine arms and kiss it, and pour water over it,
and name it with my name."

This Asmund did.