Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/173

 caressing the folk returned, and everything they said or did was a wonder.

At last the feast was arrayed, and the hall was thronged as much as might be, and folk fell to meat, and now they were all exceeding merry; and when they had done eating, the boards were drawn to make more room, and they fell to the drink, and after the first cup to Christ, and the second to Allhallows, the third was drunk to the home-comers from the war. Yet were not the stay-at-homes to be put off with so little, and they called a cup for Osberne the captain of the warriors; and when it had been drunk, then all folk looked toward the captain to see what he would do; but he rose up and stood in his place, his cheek flushed and his eyes sparkling: and the word came into his mouth, and he sang:

The War-god's gale Drave down the Dale And thrust us out To the battle-shout. We wended far To the wall of war, And trod the way Where the edges lay; The rain of the string rattled rough on the field Where the haysel was hoarded with sword-edge and shield.

Long lived the sun When the play was begun, And little but white Was the moon all night; But the days drew in And work was to win,