Said we were coming here; by treaty were we sent.
He answered: ‘Prate not to me. Treaty such as this
No value has. I’m king. He a usurper is.
Thy paltry king and thee I’ll quickly rend in two,
If thou and thy companion will not with me go.’290
I craved of him permission, him to leave awhile,
Till I could come and tell thee of his claim and guile.
He granted leave; but kept my fellow as a pledge;
Saying otherwise he’d kill me, as his privilege.
We strove to coax and pacify the sturdy brute.