Then he sang to his lute: "A hero wise and brave, A lowly, tender youth, Are wandering through the land In steadfast love and truth.
"The hero, by his deeds, Both bliss and fame had won, And still, with heartfelt joy, The faithful child looked on." But Froda took the lute from his hands, and said, "No, Edchen, I will teach you another song; listen--! "'There's a gleam in the hall, and like morning's light Hath shone upon all her presence bright.
Suitors watch as she passes by-- She may gladden their hearts by one glance of her eye: But coldly she gazeth upon the throng, And they that have sought her may seek her long.
She turns her away from the richly clad knight, She heeds not the words of the learned wight; The prince is before her in all his pride, But other the visions around her that glide.
Then tell me, in all the wide world's space, Who may e'er win that lady's grace?
In sorrowful love there sits apart The gentle squire who hath her heart; They all are deceived by fancies vain, And he knows it not who the prize shall gain.'" Edwald thrilled.

"As God wills," said he, softly to himself.

"But I cannot understand how such a thing could be." "As God wills," repeated Froda.

The two friends embraced each other, and soon after fell into a peaceful slumber.
Some days afterwards Froda sat in a secluded bower of the castle garden, and was reading in the ancient book of his lovely mistress Aslauga.

It happened at that very time that Hildegardis passed by.