Or my eyes play me false; for it has oft befallen bold warriors to skulk behind the skin of a beast." Then began Bess: "Maiden, seated on the shoulders of the steed, tell me, pouring forth in thy turn words of answer, what is thy name, and of what line art thou born ?" Groa replied: "Groa is my name; my sire is a king, glorious in blood, gleaming in armour.

Disclose to us, thou also, who thou art, or whence sprung!" To whom Bess: "I am Bess, brave in battle, ruthless to foes, a terror to nations, and oft drenching my right hand in the blood of foes." Then said Groa: "Who, prithee, commands your lines?
Under what captain raise ye the war-standards?
What prince controls the battle?
Under whose guidance is the war made ready ?" Bess in answer: "Gram, the blest in battle, rules the array: force nor fear can swerve him; flaming pyre and cruel sword and ocean billow have never made him afraid.

Led by him, maiden, we raise the golden standards of war." Groa once more: "Turn your feet and go back hence, lest Sigtryg vanquish you all with his own array, and fasten you to a cruel stake, your throats haltered with the cord, and doom your carcases to the stiff noose, and, glaring evilly, thrust out your corpses to the hungry raven." Bess again: "Gram, ere he shall shut his own eyes in death, shall first make him a ghost, and, smiting him on the crest, shall send him to Tartarus.

We fear no camp of the Swedes.

Why threaten us with ghastly dooms, maiden ?" Groa answered him: "Behold, I will ride thence to see again the roof of my father which I know, that I may not rashly set eyes on the array of my brother who is coming.