"
And therewith they cast him down to earth, and smote him with
their axe-hammers till he died.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Parallel beliefs to those in the preceding chapters, and
elsewhere in this book, as to spells, dreams, drinks, etc.,
among the English people may be found in "Leechdoms,
Wortcunning, and Starcraft of the Anglo-Saxons; being a
collection of Documents illustrating the History of Science
in this Country before the Norman Conquest". Ed: Rev. T. O.
Cockayne, M.A. (3 vols.) Longmans, London, 1864, 8vo.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Battle in the Burg of King Atli.
Then they rode unto the king's hall, and King Atli arrayed his
host for battle, and the ranks were so set forth that a certain
wall there was betwixt them and the brethren.
"Welcome hither," said he. "Deliver unto me that plenteous gold
which is mine of right; even the wealth which Sigurd once owned,
and which is now Gudrun's of right."
Gunnar answered, "Never gettest thou that wealth; and men of
might must thou meet here, or ever we lay by life if thou wilt
deal with us in battle; ah, belike thou settest forth this feast
like a great man, and wouldst not hold thine hand from erne and
wolf!"
"Long ago I had it in my mind," said Atli, to take the lives of
you, and be lord of the gold, and reward you for that deed of
shame, wherein ye beguiled the best of all your affinity; but now
shall I revenge him.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214