Borne hither from afar; our high-prowed ship
Carried us o'er the whale's road with the flood,
Our sea-horse fleet, all girt about with speed,
Until we reached the country of this folk,
Sea-beaten, as the wind did drive us on."

Then Andrew humbly answered him again:-- 270
"I fain would beg thee, though but little store
Of jewels or of treasure I can give,
That thou wouldst bring us in thy lofty ship,
Over the ocean[1] on thy high-beaked boat,
Unto that people; thou shalt meed receive
From God, if kindness thou but show to us
Upon our journey."

[Footnote 1: Lit. "whale's home."]

The Defense of kings,
Maker of angels, answered from His ship:--
"Wide-faring foreigners can never dwell
There in that country, nor enjoy the land; 280
But in that city they must suffer death
Who thither bring their lives from distant shores.
And dost thou wish to traverse the wide main,
That thou mayst spill thy life in bitter war?"

To him did Andrew answer give again:--
"Our hearts' strong hope and yearning drives us forth
To seek that country and that far-famed town,
If thou, most noble sir, wilt show to us