Arinbjorn then bade that they should go in twelve in number,
naming for this Egil and ten others.
'Now shall you, Egil, bring the king your head and clasp his foot,
but I will be your spokesman.'
Then they went in. Arinbjorn went before the king and saluted him.
The king received him, and asked what he would have.
Arinbjorn said:
'I lead hither one who has come a long way to seek thee in thy place,
and to be reconciled to thee.
Great is this honour to thee, my lord,
when thine enemies travel of their own free will from other lands,
and deem they cannot endure thy wrath though thou be nowhere near.
Now show thyself princely to this man.
Let him get of thee good terms, seeing that he hath so magnified thine honour,
as thou now mayst see, by braving many seas and dangers to come
hither from his own home.
No compulsion drove him to this journey, nought but goodwill to thee.'
Then the king looked round, and saw over men's heads where Egil stood.
The king knew him at once, and, darting a keen glance at him, said:
'How wert thou so bold, Egil, that thou daredst to come before me?
Thy last parting from me was such that of life thou couldst have from me no hope.'
Then went Egil up to the table, and clasped the foot of the king.
He then sang:

'With cross-winds far cruising
I came on my wave-horse,
Eric England's warder
Eager soon to see.
Now wielder of wound-flash,
Wight dauntless in daring,
That strong strand of Harold's
Stout lineage I meet.'