If thou refuse thy daughter, consent to fight: thou must needs grant one thing or the other.

We wish either to die or to have our prayers beard.
Something--sorrow if not joy--we will get from thee.

Frode will be better pleased to hear of our slaughter than of our repulse." Without another word, he threatened to aim a blow at the king's throat with his sword.

The king replied that it was unseemly for the royal majesty to meet an inferior in rank in level combat, and unfit that those of unequal station should fight as equals.

But when Westmar persisted in urging him to fight, he at last bade him find out what the real mind of the maiden was; for in old time men gave women who were to marry, free choice of a husband.