The The Story of Gunnlaug the Worm-Tongue and Raven the Skald on King Ethelred

The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald. > CHAPTER VII. Of Gunnlaug in the East and the West.

• attestation: King Ethelred warned that Thororm's eyes could dull any weapon and gave Gunnlaug a special sword to use in the fight, telling him to show a different blade before the combat.

  ""Now, indeed, have things taken a right hopeless turn; for this man's eyes can dull any weapon. But thou shalt follow my rede; here is a sword I will give thee--with that thou shalt fight, but before the battle show him another.""

• attestation: King Ethelred granted Gunnlaug leave but gave him a ring weighing six ounces and made him promise to return the following autumn, not wishing to lose him due to his prowess.

  ""So be it, then, skald," said the king, and withal he gave him a ring that weighed six ounces; "but," said he, "thou shalt give me thy word to come back next autumn, for I will not let thee go altogether, because of thy great prowess.""

The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald. > CHAPTER XI. Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide away from Iceland.

• attestation: King Ethelred refused Gunnlaug leave to depart, saying it ill-beseemed his man to leave when mighty war threatened; Gunnlaug stayed two more winters.

  ""It ill beseems that thou, my man, shouldst go away now, when all bodes such mighty war in the land.""