[43]. “On the mountain sleeps | a battle-maid,

And about her plays | the bane of the wood;

Ygg with the thorn | hath smitten her thus,

For she felled the fighter | he fain would save.

[44]. “There mayst thou behold | the maiden helmed,

Who forth on Vingskornir | rode from the fight;

The victory-bringer | her sleep shall break not,

Thou heroes’ son, | so the Norns have set.”

[[385]]

Sigurth rode along Fafnir’s trail to his lair, and found it open. The gate-posts were of iron, and the gates; of iron, too, were all the beams in the house, which was dug down into the earth. There Sigurth found a mighty store of gold, and he filled two chests full thereof; he took the fear-helm and a golden mail-coat and the sword Hrotti, and many other precious things, and loaded Grani with them, but the horse would not go forward until Sigurth mounted on his back. [[370]]