"This is madness," cried she, "to come talking with me; for
Thorveig's sons are meant to have thy head."

But he answered: --

(16)
"There wait they within that would snare me;
There whet they their swords for my slaying.
My bane they shall be not, the cowards,
The brood of the churl and the carline.
Let the twain of them find me and fight me
In the field, without shelter to shield them,
And ewes of the sheep should be surer
To shorten the days of the wolf."

So he sat there all day. By that time Thorkel saw that the plan
he had made was come to nothing; and he bade the sons of Thorveig
waylay Cormac in a dale near his garth. "Narfi shall go with ye
two," said he; "but I will stay at home, and bring you help if
need be."

In the evening Cormac set out, and when he came to the dale, he
saw three men, and said in verse: --

(17)
"There sit they in hiding to stay me
From the sight of my queen of the jewels:
But rude will their task be to reave me
From the roof of my bounteous lady.
The fainer the hatred they harbour