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"Is my brother to be driven from us and his home like a thrall caught in theft because a traitor and a false woman have put him to shame?" he said. "I say that I ask Athalbrand's blood to wash away that stain, not his gold, and that if need be I will seek it alone and die upon his spears. Also I say that if Olaf, my brother, turns his back upon this vengeance, I name him niddering."
Then put him in a boat and drive him hence." Now Eric grew red as the red light of sunset, for his manhood might not bear this. "Take shield," he said, "and, Earl, on thine own head be thy blood, for none shall live to call Eric niddering and coward." Atli laughed in his folly and his rage. He took a shield, and, once more springing on Brighteyes, struck a great blow.
"Siward can give no niddering counsel to his King; to save the blood of his subjects is never a king's disgrace. Yield thou to mercy, Godwin to the law!" "Oh for the cowl and cell!" exclaimed the Prince, wringing his hands. "Oh Norman home, why did I leave thee?" He took the cross from his breast, contemplated it fixedly, prayed silently but with fervour, and his face again became tranquil.
Such youths as infringed this rule, incurred the dishonourable epithet of niddering, or worthless, an epithet of a nature so insulting, that men were known to have slain themselves, rather than endure life under such opprobrium.
"Hearken, comrades!" said Gizur: "great shame is come upon me because of a deed that I have done unwittingly, for I aimed at the eagle Eric and I have slain the swan Gudruda." Then a certain old viking in the company, named Ketel, whom Gizur had hired for the slaying of Eric, spoke: "Man or woman, it is a niddering deed to kill folk in their sleep, Gizur!
I go forth at the call of duty, and thou couldst not bid me to stay at home that men may call me 'niddering." "Nay, nay, my lord, forgive thy wife's weakness; but why take Wilfred too?" "He will be in no danger; he shall tarry with old Guthlac by the stuff.
Were they on the river, and our countrymen, Dane or Saxon, alone in this hall, small doubt of the King's choice, and niddering were the man who spoke of peace; but when Norman advises the dwellers of England to go forth and slay each other, no sword of mine shall be drawn at his hest. Who shall say that Siward of the Strong Arm, the grandson of the Berserker, ever turned from a foe?
The serious Margaret then rose quietly, and went to her brother, and said, in good Saxon: "Fie! if you behave thus, I shall call you NIDDERING!" At the threat of that word, the vilest in the language that word which the lowest ceorl would forfeit life rather than endure a threat applied to the Atheling of England, the descendant of Saxon heroes the three thegns drew close, and watched the boy, hoping to see that he would start to his feet with wrath and in shame.
He snatched sword and shield, and, like a bear from a cave, like a wolf from his lair, rushed roaring from his seat. On he came, and the ground shook beneath his bulk. "At last, Niddering!" cried Eric, and sprang to meet him. "Back! all men, back!" shouted Skallagrim, "now we shall see blows." As he spoke the great swords flashed aloft and clanged upon the iron shields.
Don't you remember what happened when your father called him 'niddering' last year because Olaf said it was not just to attack the ship of those British men who had been driven to our coast by weather, meaning us no harm?" "Aye," answered Ragnar. "He leapt among them all alone as soon as our boat touched her side, and felled the steersman.
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