From east thou went’st To the door of a house To see the hall; Thou earnest thereto Where the king of webs[289] Wove a web from its bowels. _Gest._ What wonder is it I saw outside Before the doors of Delling? It turns its head On the way to Hel And its feet to the sun. _Heidrek._ The head of the leek turns Towards the bosom of the earth And its leaves into the air. _Gest._ What wonder is it I saw outside Before the doors of Delling? Harder than horn, Blacker than raven, Brighter than shield, Straighter than shaft. _Heidrek._ Now thy riddle-making Begins to slacken; Why should a ready man tarry? Thou lookedst on the roads, There lay raven-flint, Glittering in a sunbeam. _Gest._ Two bondwomen, Light-haired maidens, Carried ale To the skemma;[290] It was not touched with hand, Nor with hammer shaped; The wave-breasting one who made it Was outside the islands.[291] _Heidrek._ White-feathered skin Have the swans Which by islands Sit on the sea; Nests they built, Had no hands, With other swans Eggs begat.[292] * * * * * _Gest._ What beast is that Which defends the Danes? It has a bloody back And shelters men, Meets the weapons, Exposes its life, Man lays his body Against its palm. _Heidrek._ The shields shine In the battles, And protect those who wield them. _Gest._ Who are the play sisters That pass over lands And play much at will? They wear a white shield In winter, But a dark one In summer. _Heidrek._ Ptarmigans call The sons of men Feather-wearing birds; Their feathers become black In summer-time, But white during the bear’s night.[293] _Gest._ Who are the maidens That sorrowful go To seek their father? To many they have Harm done, Passing their life therein. _Heidrek._ The evil-minded Maidens of Eldir[294] Slay many men. _Gest._