Wisely then spake Wâ-te, the warrior old and good

Wisely then spake Wâ-te, the warrior old and good: “Lady, we should be felling trees in the western wood. Since we to fight have chosen, our hopes upon it staking, The men of every princedom should forty well-built ships for us be making.”

“I too will bid,” quoth Hilda, “that near the deep sea-flood Twenty ships be builded, strong, and firm, and good; And have them fully ready —my hest shall well be heeded— To bear my friends and kindred to where they for the fight will soon be needed.”

Siegfried, lord of Moorland, while their leave they took, With kind and seemly bearing, thus to the women spoke: “You have to tell me only when our time to wait is ending; To sail shall I be ready, nor need you then for me be further sending.”

Then to the sorrowing women, before they spread the sail, The friendly guests, now leaving, bade a kind farewell. The hearts of knights and maidens deep in woe were sinking; Yet warlike deeds they plotted of which their Norman foes were never thinking.

When they at length had ridden back again to their land, Sadly they mourned their losses: then to the Wulpensand, For the sake of the dead, did Hilda bid that food be taken To the priests for them there praying. The queen was wise, the dead were not forsaken.