"Go thou into the buttery then," said the old carle, "and there shalt
thou find on the cupboard cakes and curds and cheese: eat thy fill,
and when thou hast done, look in the ingle, and thou shalt see a cask
of mead exceeding good, and a stoup thereby, and two silver cups;
fill the stoup and bring it hither with the cups; and then may we
talk amidst of drinking, which is good for an old carle. Hasten
thou! or I shall deem thee a double fool who will not fare to fetch
his meat, though he be hungry."

Then Hallblithe laughed, and went down the hall into the buttery and
found the meat, and ate his fill, and came away with the drink back
to the Long-hoary man, who chuckled as he came and said: "Fill up
now for thee and for me, and call a health to me and wish me
somewhat."

"I wish thee luck," said Hallblithe, and drank. Said the elder:
"And I wish thee more wits; is luck all that thou mayst wish me?
What luck may an outworn elder have?"

"Well then," quoth Hallblithe, "what shall I wish thee? Wouldst thou
have me wish thee youth?"

"Yea, certes," said the Long-hoary, "that and nought else."

"Youth then I wish thee, if it may avail thee aught," said
Hallblithe, and he drank again therewith.

"Nay, nay," said the old carle peevishly, "take a third cup, and wish
me youth with no idle words tacked thereto."