his head on a bough of the ash.

The whole top of the peak around the tree was inclosed and girdled by
"cords and staves"; that is, by hazel wands and spears, which--the
latter with the iron points uppermost--stood thrust into the earth at
distances of seven feet apart, and were bound together by linen bands
almost a hand's breadth wide, knotted around the middle of the staffs,
the red hue of the bands proclaiming that the popular assembly was to
judge matters of life and death.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

After the surging to and fro of the men pressing forward into the
circle, the loud voices, and the clank of weapons had somewhat died
away, the Duke raised his spear and struck with it three solemn strokes
on the bronze shield. Instantly deep silence reigned. "The assembly is
opened!" said Hariowald, and slowly took his seat, crossing one foot
over the other.

Throwing back the long, full, dark-blue mantle, fastened by a clasp on
the left shoulder, he rested his spear like a staff on his right
shoulder, and raising his left hand with the fingers extended, said
slowly:

"I, the Judge, I ask you for the law!
I ask you, ye free men:
Is this the hour and the place,
To have and to hold
A judgment righteous
Upon noble Alemanni,
The sons of victory--
House and estate.
Cattle and chattels,
Money and lands,
Peace and liberty,
Body and life?
Point out, ye men of knowledge,
The law to the Judge."

Two elderly men stepped forward, drew their swords, raised them toward
heaven, and said with long pauses, the words of one always blending
with those of the other:

"We will point out, as we know it,
To thee, Judge, the law:
This is the hour and the place
For judgment righteous:
On the conquered and inherited
Ancient soil of the Alemanni,
By the all-conquering sun's
Clear, shining, ascending,
Radiant light,
Beneath the ancient
Ash of our fathers,
In Odin's temple,
On cattle and chattels,
Money and lands,
Peace and liberty,
Body and life,
Justly we judge
And find, we free men,
Sentence righteous."

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