96. This found I myself, | when I sat in the reeds,
And long my love awaited;
As my life the maiden | wise I loved,
Yet her I never had.
97. Billing's daughter | I found on her bed,
In slumber bright as the sun;
Empty appeared | an earl's estate
Without that form so fair.
98. "Othin, again | at evening come,
If a woman thou wouldst win;
Evil it were | if others than we
Should know of such a sin."
99. Away I hastened, | hoping for joy,
And careless of counsel wise;
Well I believed | that soon I should win
Measureless joy with the maid.
100. So came I next | when night it was,
The warriors all were awake;
With burning lights | and waving brands
I learned my luckess way.
[96. Here begins the passage (stanzas 96-102) illustrating the falseness of woman by the story of Othin's unsuccessful love affair with
Billing's daughter. Of this person we know nothing beyond what is here told, but the story needs little comment.]
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96. Ţat ek ţá reynda, er ek í reyri sat,
ok vćttak míns munar;
hold ok hjarta var mér in horska mćr;
ţeygi ek hana at heldr hefik.
97. Billings mey ek fann beđjum á
sólhvíta sofa;
jarls ynđi ţótti mér ekki vera
nema viđ ţat lík at lifa.
98. "Auk nćr aftni skaltu, Óđinn, koma,
ef ţú vilt ţér mćla man;
allt eru ósköp, nema einir viti
slíkan löst saman."
99. Aftr ek hvarf ok unna ţóttumk
vísum vilja frá;
hitt ek hugđa, at ek hafa mynda
geđ hennar allt ok gaman.
100. Svá kom ek nćst, at in nýta var
vígdrótt öll of vakin međ brennandum ljósum
ok bornum viđi, svá var mér vílstígr of vitađr.
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