NowastheridersoftheGothscameoveragainstthedwellingsoftheWithings，theysawpeople，mostlywomen，drivingupthebeastsfromthemeadowtowardsthegarth；butuponthetoftsabouttheirdwellingsweregatheredmanyfolk，whohadtheireyesturnedtowardthetokenofravagethathungintheskyabovethefairplain；butwhenthesebeheldtheridingofthehost，theytosseduptheirarmstothemandwhatevertheyboreinthem，andthesoundoftheirshrillcryfortheywereallwomenandyoungladscamedownthewindtotheearsoftheriders。Butdownbytheriveronaswellofthegroundweresomeswainsandafewthralls，andamongthemsomemenarmedanda-horseback；andthese，whentheyperceivedthehostcomingonturnedandrodetomeetthem；andastheydrewneartheyshoutedasmenoverjoyedtomeettheirkindred；andindeedthefighting-menoftheirownHousewereridinginthehost。Andthearmedmenwerethreeoldmen，andoneveryoldwithmarvellouslongwhitehair，andfourlongladsofsomefifteenwinters，andfourstoutcarlesofthethrallsbearingbowsandbucklers，andtheserodebehindtheswains；
sotheyfoundtheirownkindredandrodeamongstthem。
Butwhentheywerealljinglingandclashingontogether，thedustarisingfromthesun-driedturf，theearthshakingwiththethunderofthehorse-hoofs，thentheheartofthelong-hoaryonestirredwithinhimashebethoughthimofthedaysofhisyouth，andtohisoldnostrilscamethesmellofthehorsesandthesavourofthesweatofwarriorsridingclosetogetherkneetokneeadownthemeadow。Sohelifteduphisvoiceandsang:
\"RidethlovelyalongThestrongbythestrong；
SoftunderhisbreathSingethswordinthesheath，AndshieldbabblethoftUntohelm-crestaloft；