'Add we to the fire took his shield and cast it onto the fire, and leapt over the flames, while the shield burnt; and he spake again: 'He flees not the flames Who o'er the fire leapeth!' Even so did his men, one after another; and they laid hands on those fellows who had heaped up the fire, and cast them into the flames. Then Yrsa came and gave Hrólfr Kraki a deer's horn full of gold, the ring Pig of the Swedes being with the gold; and she bade them ride away to the host. They vaulted onto their horses and rode down into the Plain of the Fýri; and soon they saw King Adils riding after them with his host all in armor, hoping to slay them. Then Hrólfr Kraki plunged his right hand down into the horn, grasped the gold, and strewed it all about the road. When the Swedes saw that, they leapt down out of their saddles, and each took up as much as he could lay hold of; but King Adils bade them ride on, and himself rode furiously. His horse was called Slöngvir, swiftest of all horses. Then Hrólfr Kraki saw that King Adils was drawing close up to him, took the ring, Pig of the Swedes, and threw it toward him, and bade him receive it as a gift. King Adils rode at the ring and thrust at it with his spear-point, and let it slide down over the shaft-socket. Then Hrólfr Kraki turned back and saw how he bent down, and spake: 'Now I have made him who is mightiest of Swedes stoop as a swine stoops.' Thus they parted. For this cause gold is called Seed of Kraki or of Fýri's Plain. Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler: God of the blade of battle, We bear through Hákon's life-days On our arms, where sits the falcon. Even as Thjódólfr sang: The king sows the bright seed-corn XLIV. "It is said that the king called Hölgi, from whom Hálogaland is named, was the father of Thorgerdr Hölgabrúdr; sacrifice was made to both of them, and a cairn was raised over Hölgi: one layer of gold or silver (that was the sacrificial money), and another layer of mould and stones. Thus sang Skúli Thorsteinsson: When I reddened Reifnir's Roof-Bane, In the ancient Bjarkamál many terms for gold are told: it says there: The king most gift-gracious With Fenja's Labor, The free-handed Lord gave, The heroes accepted, Ice of the bow-force, Otter-gild unwilling, Idi's fine Speeches. The warrior rejoiced; We walked in fair garments, The people's host-countless, XLV. "Gold is metaphorically termed Fire of the Hand, or of the Limb, or of the Leg, because it is red; but silver is called Snow, or Ice, or Hoar-Frost, because it is white. In like manner, gold or silver may be periphrased in metaphors of purse, or crucible, or lather, and both silver and gold may be called Hand-Stone, or Necklace, of any man who was wont to have a necklace. Necklaces and rings are both silver and gold, if no other distinction is raised. As Thorleikr the Fair sang: The kindly Prince the Load casts And as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang: The land-strong King of Lund Thus sang Einarr Skúlason: And as he The Purse-Snow and the Sea-Fire sang further: The Sea-Glow each day standeth Ne'er can one melt the silver Of the Eel's Stream-Road; the Feller Here gold is called Fire of the Eel's Stream-Road; and silver, Snow of Flagons. Thus sang Thórdr Mæri's Skald: The glad Giver of the Hand-Waste Of the Gold-Minisher perceiveth That the Hermódr of the Snake's Lair Hath had a lordly father. XLVI. “Man is called Breaker of Gold, even as Óttarr the Swarthy sang: I needs must use the Breaker Of the Wise King assembled. Or Gold-Sender, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang: The Sender of Gold permitteth The silent earth to hearken To song; his gifts I gather: The prince his young men gladdens. Gold-Caster, as Thorleikr sang: Gold-Caster makes loyal to him Gold's Adversary, as sang Thorvaldr Blending-Skald: The gold's foe Hot Coals casteth |