dence
of her wooer, and wishing to be safer from outrage, went into a
fortified building. Thirty attendants were given to her, to keep guard
and constant watch over her person.

Now the comrades of Frode, sadly lacking the help of women in the matter
of the wear of their garments, inasmuch as they had no means of patching
or of repairing rents, advised and urged the king to marry. At first
he alleged his tender years as an excuse, but in the end yielded to the
persistent requests of his people. And when he carefully inquired of his
advisers who would be a fit wife for him, they all praised the daughter
of the King of the Huns beyond the rest. When the question was pushed,
what reason Frode had for objecting to her, he replied that he had heard
from his father that it was not expedient for kings to seek alliance far
afield, or to demand love save from neighbours. When Gotwar heard this
she knew that the king's resistance to his friends was wily. Wishing
to establish his wavering spirit, and strengthen the courage of his
weakling soul, she said: "Bridals are for young men, but the tomb awaits
the old. The steps of youth go forward in desires and in fortune; but
old age declines helpless to the sepulchre. Hope attends youth; age is
bowed with hopeless decay. The fortune of young men increases; it will
never leave unfinished what it begins." Respecting her words, he begged
her to undertake the management of the suit. But she refused, pleading
her age as her pretext, and declaring herself too stricken in years to
bear so difficult a commission. The king saw that a bribe was wanted,
and, proffering a golden necklace, promised it as the reward of her
embassy. For the necklace had links consisting of studs, and figures of
kings interspersed in bas-relief, which could be now separated and now
drawn together by pulling a thread inside; a gewgaw devised more for
luxury than use. Frode also ordered that Westmar and Koll, with their
sons, should be summoned to go on the same embassy, thinking that their
cunning would avoid the shame of a rebuff.

They went with Gotwar, and were entertained by the King of the Huns at a
three days' banquet, ere they uttered the purpose of their embassy. For
it was customary of old thus to welcome guests. When the feast had been
prolonged three days, the princess came forth to make herself pleasant
to the envoys with a most courteous address, and her blithe presence
added not a little to the festal de