"Odin answers:—'Surely thou speakest foolishly, good Brage, although thou art very wise. It thunders for Eirik the king, that is coming to the hall of Odin.'
"Then turning to his heroes, he cries:—'Sigmund and Sinfjotle, rise in haste and go forth to meet the prince! Bid him in if it be Eirik, for it is he whom I look for.'
"Sigmund answers:—'Why lookest thou more for Eirik, the king, to Odin's hall, than for other kings?'
"Odin answers:—'Because he has reddened his brand, and borne his bloody sword in many a land.'
"Quoth Sigmund:—'Why didst thou rob him, the chosen king of victory then, seeing thou thoughtest him so brave?'
"Odin answered:—'Because it is not surely to be known, when the grey wolf shall come upon the seat of the god.'
SECOND SCENE.—Without Valhal. Sigmund and Sinfjotle go outside the hall and meet Eirik.
"Quoth Sigmund:—'Hail to thee, Eirik, be welcome here, and come into the hall, thou gallant king! Now I will ask thee, what kings are these that follow thee from the clash of the sword edges?'
"Eirik answers:—'They are five kings; I will tell thee all their names; I myself am the sixth (the names followed in the song, whereof the rest is lost.)
"Fagrskinna" says "Hakonarmal" was the model of this poem.