He said that he had slain a man, and avenged his brother thereby, "But I could not show that by witnesses," said Thorstein, "and therefore have I been cast into ward here, unless some man should redeem me, nor do I hope therefor, for no man have I here akin to me."
"Great loss of thee if thou art slain! and that brother of thine whom thou didst avenge, was he a man so famed, then?"
He said that he was more mighty than he by the half; and so she asked what token there was thereof. Then sang Thorstein this stave—
"Field of rings, eight men, who raise
Din of sword in clattering ways,
Strove the good short-sword in vain
From the strong dead hand to gain;
So they ever strained and strove,
Till at last it did behove,
The feared quickener of the fight,