After a little hesitation the oath was taken by all.
Then said Grettir, "You have done well, only beware of breaking your oath. I am ready to do my part, without delay, to fulfil your wishes."
Thereupon he flung aside his hood and garments, and the assembled bonders looked at each other, and were disconcerted, for they saw that they had in their midst Grettir Asmund's son. They were silent, and thought that they had taken the oath somewhat unadvisedly, and they whispered the one into another, to find if there were not some loophole by which they might evade the obligation to observe the oath.
"Come now," said Grettir, "let me know your purpose, for I shall not long stand stripped. It will be worse for you than for me if you break your oath, for it will go down in story to the end of time that the men of Heron-ness swore and were perjured."
He received no answer. The chiefs moved away; some wanted to break the truce, and argued that an oath taken to an outlaw was not legally binding; others insisted that the oath must be observed. Then Grettir sang:
"Many trees-of-wealth (men) this morn,
Failed the well-known well to know,
Two ways turn the sea-flame-branches (men),
When a trick on them is tried;
Falter folk in oath fulfilling,
Hafr's talking lips are dumb."
Then Tongue-stone said, "You think so, do you, Grettir? Well, I will say this of you, you are a man of dauntless courage. Look how the chiefs are deep in discussion how to deal with you."
Then Grettir sang:
"Shield-lifters (men) rubbing of noses,
Shield-tempest-senders (men) shake beards,
Fierce-hearted serpent's-lair-scatterers (men),
Lay their heads one 'gainst another,
Now that they know, are regretting
The peace they have sworn to to-day."
In these staves a number of periphrases for men or warriors are used—and the use of these periphrases constitute the charm of these verses.