So then was Hallfreðr christened, and the King himself held him at the font.
Then the King asked of Hallfreðr: “Wilt thou now become my man?”
Hallfreðr said: “Erst was I of the body-guard of Earl Hakon; nor will I now be the liege man of thee nor of any other lord, but if thou give me thy word that for no deed I may happen to do thou wilt drive me away from thee.”
“From all that is told me,” said the King, “thou art neither so wise nor so meek but it seemeth like enough to me that thou mayest do some deed or other which I may nowise put up with.”
“Slay me then,” said Hallfreðr.
The King said: “Thou art a Troublous-Skald; but my man shalt thou be now.”
Answereth Hallfreðr: “What wilt thou give me for a name gift, King, if I am to be called Troublous-Scald?”
The King gave him a sword, but no scabbard therewith; and the King said: “Make us now a stave about the sword, and let the sword come into every line.”
Hallfreðr sang:—
“One only sword of all swords