Eighteen cousins, lads of little luck:

A message came to them from the King, bidding them

To go forth and fight in the far-off land of the Franks:

“Thy blessing, mother, that we may go forth!”

“May ye go forth nine brothers and come back eight;

May John the youngest never return!”

They set forth, and as they crossed the vast plain,

They lived forty days without bread,

Forty-five more without water,

And then they found a dear little fount; but it was a spirit-haunted well: