pouring forth in thy turn words of answer, what is thy name, and of what
line art thou born?"

Groa replied: "Groa is my name; my sire is a king, glorious in blood,
gleaming in armour. Disclose to us, thou also, who thou art, or whence
sprung!"

To whom Bess: "I am Bess, brave in battle, ruthless to foes, a terror to
nations, and oft drenching my right hand in the blood of foes."

Then said Groa: "Who, prithee, commands your lines? Under what captain
raise ye the war-standards? What prince controls the battle? Under whose
guidance is the war made ready?"

Bess in answer: "Gram, the blest in battle, rules the array: force nor
fear can swerve him; flaming pyre and cruel sword and ocean billow have
never made him afraid. Led by him, maiden, we raise the golden standards
of war."

Groa once more: "Turn your feet and go back hence, lest Sigtryg vanquish
you all with his own array, and fasten you to a cruel stake, your
throats haltered with the cord, and doom your carcases to the stiff
noose, and, glaring evilly, thrust out your corpses to the hungry
raven."

Bess again: "Gram, ere he shall shut his own eyes in death, shall first
make him a ghost, and, smiting him on the crest, shall send him to
Tartarus. We fear no camp of the Swedes. Why threaten us with ghastly
dooms, maiden?"