"Here is word play enough for any scald." Then sang Harek, laughing, and ever ready with verses: "The gamecock croweth bravely, And guardeth hawk-scared hen roost; But when the sea swan swimmeth Against the shoreward nestings, There mighty mallard flappeth, And frayeth him from foray; Yet shoreward if he winneth, The gamecock waits to meet him." "That is in my favour," said Odda.

"Mind you the scald's words, I pray you, lord king, and send me to my right place, even with hawk on one side and swan on the other." So a pleasant laugh went round, and then the king went back to his throne, and spoke words of open thanks to us of the fleet who had gained him such victory.

Good words they were, neither too few nor too many, such as would make every man who heard them long to hear the like of himself again.
Now, while he was speaking, men came to the tent door and waited for his words to end; and then one came forward and told a noble, who seemed to be ordering the state which was kept, that Danish lords had come to speak with the king.
It seemed that this was expected, for when he heard it, Alfred bade that they should be brought in.
There were six of them in all, and they were in handsome dresses, but without mail, though not unarmed.

The leader of them was Jarl Osmund, whom I had seen for a moment in Wareham street.

I thought that his handsome face was careworn, as though peace would be welcome to him.