HKB
thy song." The man who spoke to him was called Arne Fioruskeif. Then they went into the room; and when Thorarin came before the king's seat he recited these verses:--
"Throndhjem's warrior-king has said The skald should be by gifts repaid, If he before this meeting gave The king's friend Serk a passing stave. The generous king has let me know My stave, to please, must be framed so That my poor verse extol the fame Of one called Hakon Lump by name."
Then said the king, "I never said so, and somebody has been making a mock of thee. Hakon himself shall determine what punishment thou shalt have. Go into his suite." Hakon said, "He shall be welcome among us, for I can see where the joke came from;" and he placed the Icelander at his side next to himself, and they were very merry. The day was drawing to a close, and the liquor began to get into their heads, when Hakon said, "Dost thou not think, Icelander, that thou owest me some penalty? and dost thou not see that some trick has been played upon thee?"
Thorarin replies, "It is true, indeed, that I owe thee some compensation."
Hakon says, "Then we shall be quits, if thou wilt make me another stave about Arne."
He said he was ready to do so; and they crossed over to the side of the room where Arne was sitting, and Thorarin gave these verses:--
"Fioruskeif has often spread, With evil heart and idle head, The eagle's voidings round the land, Lampoons and lies, with ready hand. Yet this landlouper we all know, In Africa scarce fed a crow, Of all his arms used in the field, Those in most use were helm and shield."
Arne sprang up instantly, drew his sword, and was going to fall upon him; but Hakon told him to let it alone and be quiet, and bade him remember that if it came to a quarrel he would come off the worst himself. Thorarin afterwards went up to the king, and said he had composed a poem which he wished the king to hear. The king consented, and the song is known by the name of the Stutfeld poem. The king asked Thorarin what he intended to do. He replied, it was his intention to go to Rome. Then the king gave him much money for his pilgrimage, and told him to visit him on his return, and promised to provide for him.
ENDNOTES: (1) Morstrut is a short, fat, punchy fellow.--L.