“Great bitterness was mine for many days:

Then one day in the cheerful, fire-lit hall,

When Merow and his company had come

Home from the chase, and feasted joyfully

While his hounds couched beside the glowing fire,

Merow, who had been sitting watching me,

Called for his horn, ringed several times with gold,

And filled it with the warm, spiced, foaming ale

From the great bowl; and filled a golden cup

Which Praetextatus out of Italy