Irold then to Wâ-te thus his mind made known:
“Of harm to you these children devil-a-bit have done.
They indeed are blameless, nor hate to our kin were showing;
For the love of God, I beg you, spare the poor babes, some pity now bestowing.”
[1503]
The aged Wâ-te answered: “Thou hast the mind of a child;
Tho’ now in the cradle wailing, say, wouldst thou have willed
That I should leave them living? As soon as they are older,
They never can be trusted; to trust a Saxon wild would be no bolder.”
[1504]