now little doth the tale tell of wounds and blows of that affray , save that beren got many hurts therein ' , and many of his shrewdest blows did little harm to naugladur by reason of the [ ? skill ] and magic of his dwarfen mail ; and it is said that three hours they fought and beren 's arms grew weary , but not those of naugladur accustomed to wield his mighty hammer at the forge , and it is more than like that otherwise would the issue have been but for the curse of mim ; for marking how beren grew faint naugladur pressed him ever more nearly , and the arrogance that was of that grievous spell came into his heart , and he thought : `` i will slay this elf , and his folk will flee in fear before me , '' and grasping his sword he dealt a mighty blow and cried : `` take here thy bane , 0 stripling of the woods , '' and in that moment his foot found a jagged stone and he stumbled forward , but beren slipped aside from that blow and catching at his beard his hand found the carcanet of gold , and therewith he swung naugladur suddenly off his feet upon his face : and naugladur 's sword was shaken from his grasp , but beren seized it and slew him therewith , for he said : `` i will not , sully my bright blade with thy dark blood , since there is no need . ''