"What were Njal's sons doing?" she says; "they think themselves men at
any rate."

"Tall men they are in growth," they say, "but as yet they are all
untried; Skarphedinn whetted an axe, Grim fitted a spearhead to the
shaft, Helgi rivetted a hilt on a sword, Hauskuld strengthened the
handle of a shield."

"They must be bent on some great deed," says Hallgerda.

"We do not know that," they say.

"What were Njal's house-carles doing?" she asks.

"We don't know what some of them were doing, but one was carting dung up
the hill-side."

"What good was there in doing that?" she asks.

"He said it made the swathe better there than any where else," they
reply. "Witless now is Njal," says Hallgerda, "though he knows how to
give counsel on every thing."

"How so?" they ask.

"I will only bring forward what is true to prove it," says she; "why
doesn't he make them cart dung over his beard that he may be like other
men? Let us call him 'the beardless carle': but his sons we will call
'dung-beardlings'; and now do pray give some stave about them, Sigmund,
and let us get some good by thy gift of song."

"I am quite ready to do that," says he, and sang these verses--

Lady proud with hawk in hand.
Prithee why should dungbeard boys,
Reft of reason, dare to hammer
Handle fast on battle shield?
For these lads of loathly feature--
Lady scattering swanbath's beams[20]--
Shall not shun this ditty shameful
Which I shape upon them now.

He the beardless carle shall listen
While I lash him with abuse,
Loon at whom our stomachs sicken.
Soon shall hear these words of scorn;
Far too nice for such base fellows
Is the name my bounty gives,
Een my muse her help refuses,
Making mirth of dungbeard boys.

Here I find a nickname fitting
For those noisome dungbeard boys--
Loath am I to break my bargain
Linked with such a noble man--
Knit we all our taunts together--
Known to me is mind of man--
Call we now with outburst common,
Him, that churl, the beardless carle.

"Thou art a jewel indeed," says Hallgerda; "how yielding thou art to
what I ask!"

Just then Gunnar came in. He had been standing outside the door of the
bower, and heard all the words that had passed. They were in a great
fright when they saw him come in, and then all held their peace, but
before there had been bursts of laughter.

Gunnar was very wroth, and said to Sigmund, "thou art a foolish man, and
one th