The liegelord belovèd we could little prevail on,

Kingdom’s keeper, counsel to follow,

Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him

Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling

Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny

Hard to endure: the hoard has been looked at,

Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that[5]

The prince of the people pricked to come thither.

I was therein and all of it looked at,

The building’s equipments, since access was given me,