Then befell it on a time, that the king was very blithe, on a
high-day, among his people. Hengest bethought him what he might do,
for he would hold secret discourse with the king; he went before the
king, and gan greet fair. The king up stood, and set him by himself;
they drank, they revelled--bliss was among them. Then quoth Hengest to
the king: "Lord, hearken tidings, and I will tell thee of secret
discourse, if thou wilt well listen to my advice, and not hold in
wrath what I well teach." And the king answered as Hengest would it.
Then said Hengest, fairest of all knights: "Lord, I have many a day
advanced thy honour, and been thy faithful man in thy rich court, and
in each fight the highest of thy knights. And I have often heard
anxious whisperings among thy courtiers; they hate thee exceedingly,
unto the bare death, if they it durst show. Oft they speak stilly, and
discourse with whispers, of two young men, that dwell far hence; the
one hight Uther, the other Ambrosie--the third hight Constance who was
king in this land, and he here was slain through traitorous usage. The
others will now come, and avenge their brother, all consume thy land,
and slay thy people, thyself and thy folk drive out of land. And thus
say thy men, where they sit together, because the twain brothers are
both royally born, of Androein's race, these noble Britons; and thus
thy folk stilly condemn thee. But I will advise thee of thy great
need, that thou procure knights that are good in fight; and give to me
a castle, or a royal burgh, that I may be in, the while that I live.
For I am for thee hated--therefore I ween to be dead, fare wherever I
fare, I am never without care, unless I be fast inclosed in a castle.
If thou wilt do this for me, I will it receive with love, and quickly
I will send after my wife, who is a Saxish woman, of wisdom excellent,
and after my daughter Rowenne, who is most dear to me. When I have my
wife, and my kinsmen, and I am in thy land fully settled, the better I
will serve thee, if thou grantest me this." Then answered Vortiger--of