ud of Odin
Give me help in the tempest of targes
--Untrusty, unfaithful art thou.

(39)
"For when I was a stripling I showed me
To the stems of the lightning of battle
Right meet for the mist of the war-maids;
--Ah me! that was said long ago.
But now, and I may not deny it
My neighbours in earth must entomb me,
At the spot I have sought for grave-mound
Where Saurbae lies level and green."

Said Thord, "I have no wish for thy death; but I own it is no sorrow to
see thee down for once."

To which Bersi answered in song:--

(40)
"The friend that I trusted has failed me
In the fight, and my hope is departed:
I speak what I know of; and note it,
Ye nobles,--I tell ye no leasing.
Lo, the raven is ready for carnage,
But rare are the friends who should succour.
Yet still let them scorn me and threaten,
I shrink not, I am not dismayed."

After this, Bersi was taken home to Saurbae, and lay long in his wounds.

But when he was carried into the tent, at that very moment Steinar spoke
thus to Cormac:--

(41)
"Of the reapers in harvest of Hilda
--Thou hast heard of it--four men and eight men
With the edges of Skrymir to aid me
I have urged to their flight from the battle.
Now the singer, the steward of Odin,
Hath smitten at last even Bersi
With the flame of the weapon that feedeth
The flocks of the carrion crows."

"I would have thee keep Skrymir now for thy own, Cormac," said he,
"because I mean this fight to be my last."

After that, they parted in friendly wise: Steinar went home, and Cormac
fared to Mel.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Steingerd Leaves Bersi.

Next it is told of Bersi. His wound healed but slowly. Once on a time a
many folk were met to talk about that meeting and what came of it, and
Bersi made this song:--

(42)
"Thou didst leave me forlorn to the sword-stroke,
Strong lord of the field of the serpent!
And needy and fallen ye find me,
Since my foeman ye shielded from danger.
Thus cunning and counsel are victors,
When the craft of the spear-shaft avails not;
But this, as I think, is the ending,
O Thord, of our friendship for ever!"

A while later Thord came to his bedside and brought back the luck-stone;
and with it he healed Bersi, and they to