rriving at the Norway shore,
The ocean's end at last was reached.
He sailed his ship within a fjord
And, on a strand, the craft was beached.

Within that fjord there was a band
Preparing for the summer raids.
This bark, just as it made the land,
Was met by four with greedy blades.

They called to Signar with a shout,
"Who drives that dragon's golden mast?
We see no warriors hereabout."
So Signar answered what they'd asked,

"I sailed this ship though I'm but one;
I need no more to work my craft.
My name is Signar Grimhildsson¹."
At this the men began to laugh,

"Have you no father, mother's boy?
Did no one's seed invade her womb?
You'd best hand o'er this lovely toy
Else journey's end will be a tomb."

But Signar would not yield to them.
Instead, he uttered goading words,
"I do not need my mother's hem
Protecting me from taunting curs.

"While I was on my little trip,
I battled wave and storm and beast.
But never, in my worthy ship,
Did I need help. No, not the least.

"I've fought the wolf, harpooned the whale,
I've seen them all and felt no fear.
For over land and under sea,
My equal has not yet appeared.

"You four would think to steal from one?
Well, I'll not have such wrongs exacted.
You'd best prepare to be undone
Unless your threats are all retracted."

Those four responded, "Hold your tongue,
You insolent, obnoxious brat.
'Twould be a shame, for one so young,
To die for one mere ship as that.

"You're only one and we are four,
As you can clearly recognize.
And we are well prepared for war.
You'd fight unarmed? 'Twould be unwise."

"Your mathematics are quite poor
If you don't see the warrior here.
I count as one that counts for more
Than four whose honor's in arrear.

"I, likewise, do not sum like you
If you cannot see arms on me.
I'll number them. There's one. And two!
They'll smart enough, as you'll soon see."

Anon, a lance's sturdy shaft
Was heaved at Signar's beardless face.
But Signar caught the weapon's haft
Without retreating half a pace.

Then Signar spun the weapon 'round
And hurled it back from whence it flew.
Its head was planted in the ground
When it had pierced the man right through.

The other three felt sudden dread
And braced each other 'gainst attack.
They felt they'd best keep him ahead,
Lest they expose their yellowed backs.

But Signar met the warriors' test
By charging hard into the fray.
Another quickly laid to rest!
And then a third, with scant delay.

The last man standing knew his plight.
He hid his face behind his shield
And swung his sword, as though to fight
Mosquitoes from the battlefield.

Though Signar could not reach his foe
He would not back away from him.
He struck the shield a mighty blow
That cracked the boards from boss to rim.

The enemy was knocked a sprawl,
Creating opportunity --
For Signar used his rival's fall
To crush a neck beneath his knee.

Just then the comrades of those four
Came marching up in grim repair.
They saw the bodies on the shore
And wondered at the young man there.

"Those four were men, he's but a boy!
Though strong, he vanquished them unarmed!
What magic did this youth employ
To keep himself from being harmed?"

"He came along and killed these four
Without a sword or axe or mace.
Is he a god? Or son of Thor?
Some demon with a youthful face?"

But then the captain of the band
Asked Signar, "Just what sort are you?
You've only just arrived on land,
And killed these scoundrels. Yes, it's true,

"They were not worthy men-at-arms
But brigands of the lowest kind.
However, this will cause alarm
'Midst sons and fathers left behind."

"The gods have blessed me, I'll allow,"
Responded Signar honestly,
"But flesh alone stands 'fore you now,
Flesh filled with warlike bravery.

"I killed these villains, they'll be mourned.
I did a noble, evil thing.
Such paradoxes leave you torn?
Then bring my case before your king!"