Also, trusting that, now one champion had fallen, he had shattered the strength of the whole army, he thought that naught would be hard to achieve upon which his later endeavours were bent.

For nothing pampers arrogance more than success, or prompts to pride more surely than prosperity.
So Rorik was vexed that the general courage should be sapped by the impudence of one man; and that the Danes, with their roll of victories, should be met presumptuously by those whom they had beaten of old; nay, should be ignominiously spurned; further, that in all that host not one man should be found so quick of spirit or so vigorous of arm, that he longed to sacrifice his life for his country.

It was the high-hearted Ubbe who first wiped off this infamous reproach upon the hesitating Danes.

For he was of great bodily strength and powerful in incantations.
He also purposely asked the prize of the combat, and the king promised him the bracelets.

Then said he: "How can I trust the promise when thou keepest the pledge in thine own hands, and dost not deposit the gift in the charge of another?
Let there be some one to whom thou canst entrust the pledge, that thou mayst not be able to take thy promise back.