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Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I

(The heroes the red  of dawn beheld;)
And on the masts  the gallant men
Made fast the sails  in Varinsfjord.

28.[1] There was beat of oars  and clash of iron,
Shield smote shield  as the ships'-folk rowed;
Swiftly went  the warrior-laden
Fleet of the ruler  forth from the land.

29.[2] So did it sound,  when together the sisters
Of Kolga struck  with the keels full long,
As if cliffs were broken  with beating surf,
..............

30.[3] Helgi bade higher  hoist the sails,
Nor did the ships'-folk  shun the waves,
Though dreadfully  did Ægir's daughters
Seek the steeds  of the sea to sink.

31.[4] But from above  did Sigrun brave
Aid the men  and all their faring;

  1. ↑ The manuscript indicates line 3 as the beginning of a new stanza, and some editions follow this arrangement, making lines 1-2 a separate stanza.
  2. ↑ The manuscript indicates no gap, and some editions combine the stanza with lines 3-4 of stanza 28. Sisters of Kolga: the waves, Kolga ("The Gold") being one of the daughters of the sea-god, Ægir. As the Volsungasaga says, "Now there was a great storm."
  3. ↑ Helgi demonstrates his courage, whatever one may think of his seamanship. Ægir's daughters: the waves, cf. stanza 29 and note.
  4. ↑

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