With black of shell-corpse-scales that glimmers
They shaded their eyelids and eyebrows,
That their lives might endure through the trial
And their eyes not be blighted by lightning.
And the nostrils of each they did breathe in,
That their own wind might mingle with man-wind,
Give power to men's voices in battle
And strengthen men's wills with endurance.
Then said they to the drummer and singers:
"Lo, now! Ye shall sing our dread song-line.