for thy coming I am glad." The king this heard, and knew not what she
said, the King Vortiger asked his knights soon, what were the speech
that the maid spake. Then answered Keredic, a knight most admirable;
he was the best interpreter that ere came here: "Listen to me now, my
lord king, and I will make known to thee what Rowenne saith, fairest
of all women. It is the custom in Saxland, wheresoever any people make
merry in drink, that friend sayeth to his friend, with fair comely
looks, 'Dear friend, wassail!'--the other sayeth, 'Drinchail!' The
same that holds the cup, he drinketh it up; another full cup men
thither bring, and give to his comrade. When the full cup is come,
then kiss they thrice. These are the good customs in Saxland, and in
Alemaine they are accounted noble!"

Vortiger heard this—-of each evil he was ware--and said it in British,
for he knew no English: "Maiden Rouwenne, drink then blithely!" The
maid drank up the wine, and let do (put) other wine therein, and gave
to the king, and thrice him kissed. And through the same people the
custom came to this land of Wassail and Drinchail—-many a man thereof
is glad' Rouwenne the fair sate by the king; the king beheld her
longingly, she was dear to him in heart, oft he kissed her, oft he
embraced her; all his mind and his might inclined towards the maiden.

The Worse was there full nigh, who in each game is full cruel; the
Worse who never did good, he troubled the king's mood; he mourned full
much, to have the maiden for wife. That was a most loathly thing, that
the Christian king should love the heathen maid, to the harm of his
people! The maiden was dear to the king, even as his own life; he
prayed to Hengest, his chieftain, that he should give him the
maid-child. Hengest found in his counsel to do what the king asked
him; he gave him Rouwenne, the woman most fair. To the king it was