another is like the descent of the sceptre in Homer, 'Iliad,' β. 102. The sceptre passes from Hephæstus to Zeus, Hermes, Pelops, Atreus, Thyestes, Agamemnon; the sword from Kettle Hæing to Grim, Thorolf, Skallagrim, Thorolf, Arinbjorn, Egil. As to the meaning of Dragvandil, the Arna-Magnæan editor gives two in Latin, vibrari consuetus and periculum afferens, 'wont to be drawn' and 'bringing danger.' Whether either is satisfactory, seems doubtful. There are many compounds of vöndr 'wand' used for sword: might not the last half of Dragvandil be this? 'Draw-wand would be as natural a kenning for sword as many of the compounds with 'wand.'
Ch. LXV.—foresight] Something more than mere wisdom is meant by this expression; something like the 'second sight' of the Scotch.
to London] Now coming into prominence apparently as a royal seat. Alfred repairs it in 886: Edward occupies it in 911 (Freeman).
wheat and honey] The same kind of freight is brought from England in ch. xvii.
Ch. LXVI.—cast a stone] A proverbial way of expressing rivalry with a stronger power, against which in the generation before Kveldulf had warned Thorolf.
gaps] The same phrase is used by Egil in Sona-torrek, st. 6, sonar-skard 'gap of a son.'
Ch. LXVII.—my bounden duty] Egil well requites hospitality: this was also for Arinbjorn's sake.
sang a stave] Jónsson doubts the genuineness of this stave and the two next.
boundary-stones] Ljot appears to break this rule presently. Perhaps, however, some time limit was set to a 'round,' after which a combatant might go outside the boundary.
a foreigner] Ljot was a foreigner: so Egil did not get the land. But as the land was unjustly taken by Ljot from natives, it would seem rather hard that neither they nor Egil should reap benefit. The case seems to have been arguable: Arinbjorn, as will appear in ch. lxxi., thought Egil had some law on his side, but that he would not succeed.
little mourned] Everyone was against Berserks. There is a curious case in the 'Ere-dwellers' of Berserks being utilized to build a causeway, then unscrupulously put to death. Giants and the like seem looked on as makers of causeways; of bridges and dykes sometimes even the devil is (in popular legend) the maker.
Ch. LXVIII.—the oath of twelve men] This apparently would have made Atli's case good, but for the appeal to arms. Before, against Bergonund, there were twelve to swear on Egil's side, through the help of Arinbjorn; but Arinbjorn was now in England.
He was experienced] This appears to have been the hardest fight against one opponent that Egil ever had. The resource by which Egil secures the victory was almost exactly reproduced in a combat between a Cameron of Lochiel and an officer in General Monk's army. They fell, the Englishman uppermost, who, while making a violent effort to extricate himself from Lochiel's grip, in order to stab him, gave his foe a chance, 'who swift as a tiger seized his prey by the throat, tearing away the piece with his mouth, the sweetest mouthful, as he used to relate, that he had ever had in his lifetime' (Black's 'Scotland,' p. 523).
Ch. LXIX.—years not a few] Twelve, from 938 950. All the children are mentioned first in this chapter. But very likely one of the daughters was born between 927 and 932 when Egil was at home before. Thorgerdr
