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The banquet for the expected guests was being prepared at the house of the Prince. The hostess went with the maidens through the rooms where the kitchen stores were kept. Long rows of hams were hanging there, round sausages, and smoked ox-tongues. She was pleased with the rich provisions, directed that they should be taken to the kitchen, and ordered the maidens to make a mark on the best pieces, in order that the carver might place these on the table of the elder guests. Then she went to the cool cellars, arched with stone, which were situated at a corner of the dwelling where little sunlight came, being protected with earth and turf; there she selected the barrels of strong beer and the jugs of mead, and looked doubtfully at some foreign-looking clay vessels which stood in the corner, half buried in the ground.

"I do not think that my lord will require wine, yet if he calls for it, tell the cupbearer to take the small one, for the others may be kept for a greater feast day. And see to it yourself that the awkward fellows do not break the costly vessel; for what has been brought with great pains, packed with straw, form a foreign land, by horses and men, may, after its long journey, very easily be spoiled by the awkwardness of servants when they are full of mead."

She gave another searching look through the large room. "There are stores enough for a Chieftain's house, and may the mead for many a year rejoice the hearts of our men; may the gods grant that our heroes may all drink cheerfully and honorably. And listen, Frida: one knows well what is usually required by men, but drink defies calculation. Let three bottles of old mead be taken out of the stores, and tell the cupbearer, if the men are peaceable and conversing respectably, this also may be offered them at the end; but if they become angry with each other, and get into discordant wrangle, he must be cautious in helping them, so that no great evil may ensue."

The lady then stepped into the kitchen, where great fires were burning on stone plates. The young men were occupied in front of the house cutting up fat oxen, some large deer, and three wild boars, and attaching the meat to long spits. The maidens sat in a row, plucking fowls, or kneading with their hands spiced wheaten dough into large balls. The village boys awaited with smiling countenances the time when they should turn the spits, that they also might have a savory share from the feast of the heroes.

Meanwhile the Chieftain's men were occupied in the great hall. The grand building stood in the middle of the court, formed of thick pinewood beams; a staircase led to the open door; inside two rows of high wooden columns supported the beams of the roof; from the pillars up to the wall on both sides ran raised benches; in the middle, opposite the door, stood the seats of honor for the host and the most distinguished guests; near them a space beautifully adorned like an arbor, for the ladies of the house, that they might look on at the banquet of the men as long as they liked. The younger men decked the wooden arbor with blooming branches which they had brought from the fields. Outside Wolf was driving up a large wagon, with rushes and reeds to strew on the floor, which he had cut from the banks of the nearest pond.

"It is well to be here, guest," began Wolf, greeting Ingo; "the Princess was gracious to thee; thou hast now a new dress, woven by our women: how does the cloth of the maidens of Thuringia suit thee?"

"What is willingly offered sits comfortably on the receiver," answered the stranger, laughing. "I rejoice to hear thy voice again; thou hast been for days away."

"We herdsmen have been with the dogs to fetch the animals from the wood to be roasted for the feast," replied the man. "Help me, Theodulf!" he cried out to one of his companions; "am I to clear the wagon alone?"

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