f the Wolfings, and the vengeance
of the Bearings, and the hope renewed of all the kindreds."

Then Thiodolf abode a while with his head down cast; his bosom heaved,
and he set his left hand to his swordless scabbard, and his right to his
throat, as though he were sore troubled with something he might not tell
of: but at last he lifted up his head and spoke to Arinbiorn, but slowly
and painfully, as he had spoken before:

"Chief of the Bearings, go up on to the Hill of Speech, and speak to the
folk out of thy wisdom, and let them know that to-morrow early before the
sun-rising those that may, and are not bound by the Gods against it,
shall do deeds according to their might, and win rest for themselves, and
new days of deeds for the kindreds."

Therewith he ceased, and let his head fall again, and the Hall-Sun looked
at him askance. But Arinbiorn clomb the Speech-Hill and said:

"Men of the kindreds, it is now a few days since we first met the Romans
and fought with them; and whiles we have had the better, and whiles the
worse in our dealings, as oft in war befalleth: for they are men, and we
no less than men. But now look to it what ye will do; for we may no
longer endure these outlanders in our houses, and we must either die or
get our own again: and that is not merely a few wares stored up for use,
nor a few head of neat, nor certain timbers piled up into a dwelling, but
the life we have made in the land we have made. I show you no choice,
for no choice there is. Here are we bare of everything in the wild-wood:
for the most part our children are crying for us at home, our wives are
longing for us in our houses, and if we come not to them in kindness, the
Romans shall come to them in grimness. Down yonder in the plain,
moreover, is our wain-burg slowly drawing near to us, and with it is much
livelihood of ours, which is a little thing, for we may get more; but
also there are our banners of battle and the tokens of the kindred, which
is a great thing. And between all this and us there lieth but little;
nought but a band of valiant men, and a few swords and spears, and a few
wounds, and the hope of death amidst the praise of the people; and this
ye have to set out to wend across within two or three hours. I will not
ask if ye will do so, for I wot that even so ye will; therefore when I
have done, shout not, nor clash sword on shield, for we are no great way
off that house of ours wherein dwells the foe that woul