Armod struck the girl,
and bade her hold her tongue:
'You are always,'
said he,
'saying what least suits.'
The girl went away;
but Egil threw down the curd-bowl,
which was now nearly empty.
The bowls were then removed from them.
And now the household took their seats,
and tables were set all round the hall,
and food served;
dishes of meat were brought in and
set before Egil and the rest.
After this ale was borne in,
beer of the strongest.
Soon they began to drink bumpers,
each man was to drink off the horn;
and especial care was taken that Egil
and his companions should drink hard.
Egil drank without shirking
a drop for a long while,
but when his companions
were become helpless,
then he drank for them
what they could not.
So matters went on till
the tables were removed,
and by then all in the room
were well drunk.
But before each cup that he drank
Armod said:
'I drink to you, Egil,'