Rose the din of oars, of iron clashing,
crashed shield 'gainst shield with shock of rowing,
as dashed through the waves the warrior's fleet;

the staunch wave steeds stood out to sea.
It burst on the ears when, buffeting,
the long ship keels met Kolga's sister,
as if surf with cliff did clash in storm.

Then higher Helgi bade hoist the topsails -
the crews shunned not the shock of billows -
when the dreadful daughter of Aegir
would overwhelm the hawser-steeds.

But Sigrun on high hovering above
did shield them stoutly, and their ships also;
the king's brine-hogs out of Ran's clutches
glided safely at Gnipa Grove.

*** From the first lay of Helgi the Hunding-Slayer ***