"For," said he, "it is ill recalling hardships until the feast is
over. Then may one enjoy the telling."

Presently the gleemen sang to us; and after that the harp went
round, that those who could might sing, and all the talk in hall
was hushed to hear Eadmund himself, the men setting down ale cups
and knives to listen, for he had a wondrously sweet voice, and sang
from the ancient songs of Caedmon {iv}. Then I sang of the
sea--some song I had made and was proud of, and it pleased all. And
at length we looked at Lodbrok, wondering if he could take his
turn.

"Fain would I try to please my host," he said, looking a little
wistfully at my father; "but a man swept far from home against his
will is no singer."

Then Eadmund pitied him, as did we all, and rose up.

"Feasting is over, thanes," he said. "Let us sit awhile in the
other chamber and hear Lodbrok's story."

For he would ever leave the hall as at this time, so that the
housecarles and lesser guests might have greater freedom of talk
when we were gone.

So we rose up, and as we did so I saw Beorn, the falconer, look
sourly at Lodbrok; and it misliked me that he should harbour any
ill will even yet against the Dane who had done him no wrong.

Round the fire we sat; some ten of us in all, for Bishop Humbert