he as a man striving to be courteous and blithe; but of the others
Bow-may was the greatest speaker.

Wild-wearer called healths to the Sun, and the Moon, and the Hosts of
Heaven; to the Gods of the Earth; to the Woodwights; and to the
Guest. Other healths also he called, the meaning of which was dark
to Gold-mane; to wit, the Jaws of the Wolf; the Silver Arm; the Red
Hand; the Golden Bushel; and the Ragged Sword. But when he asked the
Friend concerning these names what they might signify, she shook her
head and answered not.

At last Wild-wearer cried out: 'Now, lads, the night weareth and the
guest is weary: therefore whoso of you hath in him any minstrelsy,
now let him make it, for later on it shall be over-late.'

Then arose Wood-wont and went to his shut-bed and groped therein, and
took from out of it a fiddle in its case; and he opened the case and
drew from it a very goodly fiddle, and he stood on the floor amidst
of the hall and Bow-may his cousin with him; and he laid his bow on
the fiddle and woke up song in it, and when it was well awake she
fell a-singing, and he to answering her song, and at the last all
they of the house sang together; and this is the meaning of the words
which they sang:


She singeth.

Now is the rain upon the day,
And every water's wide;
Why busk ye then to wear the way,