rt. For there is folk very much,
more than they would desire; the women go there with child as the wild
deer, every year they bear child there! That is fallen on us, that we
should depart; we might not remain, for life nor for death, nor for
ever anything, for fear of the sovereign. Thus we fared there, and
therefore are we now here, to seek under heaven land and good lord.
Now thou hast heard, lord king, sooth of us through all things." Then
answered Vortiger--of each evil he was ware--"I believe thee, knight,
that thou sayest to me right sooth. And what are your creeds, that ye
in believe, and your dear god, whom ye worship?" Then answered
Hengest, fairest of all knights--in all this kingdom is not a knight
so tall nor so strong:--"We have good gods, whom we love in our mind,
whom we have hope in, and serve them with might. The one hight Phebus;
the second Saturnus; the third hight Woden, who is a mighty god; the
fourth hight Jupiter, of all things he is aware; the fifth hight
Mercurius, who is the highest over us; the sixth hight Appolin, who is
a god brave; the seventh hight Tervagant, a high god in our land. Yet
(in addition) we have a lady, who is high and mighty, high she is and
holy, therefore courtiers love her--she is named Frea--well she them
treateth. But among all our dear gods whom we shall serve, Woden had
the highest law in our elders' days; he was dear to them even as their
life, he was their ruler, and did to them worship; the fourth day in
the week they gave him for his honour. To the Thunder (Jupiter) they
gave Thursday, because that it may help them; to Frea, their lady,
they gave her Friday; to Saturnus they gave Saturday; to the Sun they
gave Sunday; to the Moon they gave Monday; to Tidea they gave
Tuesday." Thus said Hengest, fairest of all knights. Then answered
Vortiger--of each evil he was ware--"Knights, ye are dear to me, but
these tidings are loathsome to me; your creeds are wicked, ye believe
not on Christ, but ye believe on the Worse, whom God himself cursed;
your gods are of nought, in hell they lie beneath. But nevertheless I
will retain you in my power, for northward are the Peohtes, knights
most brave, who oft into my land lead host most strong, and oft do me
much shame, and therefore I have grief. And if ye will me avenge, and
procure me their heads, I will give you land, much silver and gold."
Then answered Hengest, fairest of all knights: "If Saturnus so will
it, and Woden, our lord