(2) Byrny (A.S. "byrne"), corslet, cuirass.
(3) "Norns came to him." Nornir are the fates of the northern
mythology. They are three -- "Urd", the past; "Verdandi",
the present; and "Skuld", the future. They sit beside the
fountain of Urd ("Urdarbrienur"), which is below one of the
roots of "Yggdrasil", the world-tree, which tree their
office it is to nourish by sprinkling it with the water of
the fountain.



CHAPTER IX.
How Helgi, the son of Sigmund, won King Hodbrod and his Realm,
and wedded Sigurn.

Now the tale tells that Helgi in his warring met a king hight
Hunding, a mighty king, and lord of many men and many lands; they
fell to battle together, and Helgi went forth mightily, and such
was the end of that fight that Helgi had the victory, but King
Hunding fell and many of his men with him; but Helgi is deemed to
have grown greatly in fame because he had slain so mighty a king.

Then the sons of Hunding draw together a great army to avenge
their father. Hard was the fight betwixt them; but Helgi goes
through the folk of those brothers unto their banner, and there
slays these sons of Hunding, Alf and Eyolf, Herward and Hagbard,
and wins there a great victory.

Now as Helgi fared from the fight he met a many women right fair
and worthy to look on, who rode in exceeding noble array; but one