[“Lessener of the flame of sea]
[Grettir.]
“Lessener of the flame of sea,
My strong hope was true to me,
When I deemed that treasure lay
In the barrow; from to-day
Folk shall know that I was right;
The begetters of the fight
Small joy now shall have therein,
Seeking dragon's-lair to win.”
Thorfinn answered, “Blood will seldom seem blood to
thine eyes; no man before thee has had will to break open the
barrow; but, because I know that what wealth soever is hid
in earth or borne into barrow is wrongly placed, I shall not
hold thee blameworthy for thy deed as thou hast brought it
all to me; yea, or whence didst thou get the good sword?”
Grettir answered and sang:
“Lessener of waves flashing flame,
To my lucky hand this came
In the barrow where that thing
Through the dark fell clattering;
If that helm-fire I should gain,
Made so fair to be the bane
Of the breakers of the bow,
Ne'er from my hand should it go.”
