A LEGEND OF THE HUNS. 13 



Sink to the earth ; 



The Huns slaughtered 



Her and many of thy heroes." 



And furthermore : 



" Far gayer to battle 

 She went than to the dance, 

 Far gayer to the battle-field 

 Than to the banquet 

 Or bridal feast." 



When King Angantyr heard the sad intelligence, he in his 

 overwhelming grief plucked out his beard, and for a while 

 remained silent ; but at length he exclaimed : " Unbrotherlike 

 wast thou treated, my never-to-be-forgotten sister." And 

 then looking around him in his hall, and seeing but few of 

 his warriors present, he thus in anger " qvad " or sung : 



" Many were we 

 When mead we quaffed, 

 Now are we few 

 When numbers are needed. 



" None do I see, 

 Among my champions, 

 Though I would offer 

 Golden treasures 



" To him that will ride forth, 

 And bear the shield 

 To the Hunnish armies 

 With the message of war." 



This appeal was thus responded to by Gissor, then an old 

 man, but who in his day had been a famous warrior, and 

 who was then residing at the court of King Angantyr : 



