My mother thinketh wrongly that we the war forget, and time are wasting.”

[1098]

He set his hawk a-flying, and thence at once he rode.

Very soon thereafter darkened was his mood;

For when the men he greeted, and they their tale were telling,

He learned that the queen, his mother, ever in tears her loss was aye bewailing.

[1099]

She to the youthful warrior sent her greeting kind:

In her wretched lot, she asked him what might be his mind;

And asked how many followers he could to the war be leading;