the master of them all.

Panzer sees a deeper meaning, than evidently is intended, in the
statement that, as Bjarki was about to attack the dragon, his sword
stuck fast in the scabbard.[104] There is no reason, however, for
regarding it as anything more than a melodramatic incident
characteristic of medieval romances. It reminds one of the following
statement by Wilbur L. Cross, which, with the omission of the reference
to "giants" and "Merlin," characterizes the _Hrólfssaga_ quite
accurately and shows how it harmonizes with the spirit of medieval
literature of its kind, "It is true that they [i.e., the Arthurian
romances] sought to interest, and did interest, by a free employment of
the marvellous, fierce encounters of knights, fights with giants and
dragons, swords that would not out of their scabbards, and the
enchantments of Merlin".[105]

_The Stories in the_ BJARKARÍMUR _of Bjarki's Slaying the Wolf and
Hjalti's Slaying the Bear._


But what is the relation of this story to the corresponding stories in
the _Bjarkarímur_? The stories in the _rímur_ are as follows:--

"Flestir ọmuðu Hetti heldr,
hann var ekki í máli sneldr,
einn dag fóru þeir út af họll,
svó ekki vissi hirðin ọll.

Hjalti talar er felmtinn fær,
'fọrum við ekki skógi nær,