Death foretells the cock's dawn-greeting: Many a fey man's fair limbs mangles Soon the sword and spear in meeting. Hot the Northland blood is beating! Low and dull weeps Likabong. The shiv'ring Southron sea-cod angles. _Helga_.--Excellent! That's aimed at Hjalti, the son of the bishop,--the cod-biter! _Haf_.--Peace,--how many a foe will crave her! In Woden's spoor the sward is bloody-- Many a head the swords dissever; Be our host victorious ever! Silent lastly Likabong-- Women weep for men once ruddy. _Botolf_.--Little your skald's song contributes to the honor of the Church as it seems to me, Lady Helga. _Helga_ (_lifts the drinking-horn to her lips; the bishop responds in silence_).--To your health, sir bishop! When at Oddi I listened to the opinions of Snorri Sturluson and of Saemund, my father, about poetics, but I doubt whether they would have thought that Haf had said ought derogatory to the Holy Church, in particularly mentioning in the burthen what Likabong does. _Botolf_.--I shall not discuss the more hidden meanings; but in the last stanza Likabong certainly is silent with shame. _Helga_.--Far from it, sir bishop! Likabong is Moses, who is praying with outstretched arms whilst Josua is giving battle. When the battle is won his hands drop with weariness. _Botolf_ (_to_ KOLBEIN THE YOUNG).--Likabong did not weep when you fled from Broddi and the Holy Church at Holar, which was preparing to resist worldly insolence. _Kolbein_.--No, excepting it shed tears at having to part with its bishop in such headlong haste! _Helga_.--I had heard before that the 'Peace of God' which the bishop let be pealed over the land had saved us from complete rout at the beginning of the feud. But now I hear for the first time that my husband fled before Broddi and the Holy Church of Holar. _Kolbein_.--Never did I flee, but at that occasion I was forced to avoid trouble. (_Advances on the floor and mounts with one foot on the dais on which_ HELGA _is seated_.) Here I place my foot on the beam and make a vow that I shall never flee before Broddi Thorleifsson. (_Returns to his seat_.) _Asbjorn_.--And here I place my foot on the beam and make a vow that if battle there will be I shall exchange blows with Broddi Thorleifsson until one of us fall dead. _Helga_.--Well spoken, Asbjorn! _Haf_ (_comes from the door_).--Brand Kolbeinsson is approaching with an armed band. _Kolbein_.--Is my kinsman beside himself? _Helga_.--To arms! To arms! _Kolbein_ (_laughs_).--Why, it seems as if the people of Oddi want to enter the fray! _Helga_.--You have forgotten, my husband, that my father threw down the glove single-handed to all the burghers of Bergentown, because of the drowning of my brother Paul.