Said the huntress: 'Hold thy peace, Wood-wise, and let thy tongue
help thy teeth to deal with thy meat; for this is not the talking
hour.'

'Nay, Bow-may,' said another of the swains, 'since here is a new man,
now is the time to talk to him.'

Said the huntress: ''Tis thine hands that talk best, Wood-wont; it
is not they that shall bring thee to shame.'

Spake the third: 'What have we to do with shame here, far away from
dooms and doomers, and elders, and wardens, and guarded castles? If
the new man listeth to speak, let him speak; or to fight, then let
him; it shall ever be man to man.'

Then spake the old woman: 'Son Wood-wicked, hold thy peace, and
forget the steel that ever eggeth thee on to draw.'

Therewith she set the last matters on the board, while the three
swains sat and eyed Gold-mane somewhat fiercely, now that words had
stirred them, and he had sat there saying nothing, as one who was
better than they, and contemned them; but now spake Wild-wearer:

'Whoso hungreth let him eat! Whoso would slumber, let him to bed.
But he who would bicker, it must needs be with me. Here is a man of
the Dale, who hath sought the wood in peace, and hath found us. His
hand is ready and his heart is guileless: if ye fear him, run away
to the wood, and come back when he is gone; but none shall mock him
while I sit by: now, lads, be merry and blithe with the guest.'