THE TRIBUTE OF NOMENÖE.
(Drouk-kinnig Neumenoiou), A.D. 841.
Cut is the gold-herb.[161] Lo, the misty rain
Forthwith in steam-like clouds drives o’er the plain.
Argad! To war!
I.
Spake the great chief: “From the heights of the mountains of Arez,
Mildew and mist for the space of three weeks have passed o’er us,
Mildew and mist from the land that lies over the mountains:
“Still from the land of the Franks, more and more, thickly driving,
So that in no wise my eyes can behold him returning,
Karo, my son, for whose coming from thence I am watching.”
“Tell me, good merchant, who travellest all the land over,
Hast thou no tidings to tell me of him, my son Karo?”
“May be so, Father of Arez, but where and what does he?”
“He, wise of head, strong of heart, with the chariots departed,
Drawn by three horses abreast, into Rennes with the tribute,
Bearing among them the toll in full weight of the Bretons.”
“Chief, if your son bore the tribute, in vain you expect him:
Each hundred pounds’ weight of silver was found to be lacking,
Lacking by three when they weighed it: whereon the Intendant