XI. Guest began: "I was brought up at my father's home at a place called Groening. My father was a wealthy man and kept house in great style. At that time wise women used to go about the country. They were called 'spae-wives,' and they foretold people's futures. For this reason people used to invite them to their houses and gave them hospitality and bestowed gifts on them at parting. My father did the same, and they came to him with a great following to foretell my fate. I was lying in my cradle when the time came for them to prophesy about me, and two candles were burning above me. Then they foretold that I should be a favourite of Fortune, and a greater man than any of my kindred or forbears--greater even than the sons of the chief men in the land; and they said that all would come to pass just as it has done. But the youngest Norn thought that she was not receiving enough attention compared with the other two, since they were held in high account yet did not consult her about these prophecies. There was also a great crowd of roughs present, who pushed her off her seat, so that she fell to the ground. She was much vexed at this and called out loudly and angrily, telling them to stop prophesying such good things about me: 'For I ordain that the boy shall live no longer than that candle burns which is alight beside him.' Then the eldest spae-wife took the candle and extinguished it and bade my mother take charge of it and not light it until the last day of my life. After that the spae-wives went away, and my father gave them good gifts at parting. When I was full-grown, my mother gave me the candle to take charge of: I have it with me now." The King said: "Why have you come here to me now?" Guest replied: "The idea that came into my mind was this: I expected that I should get good luck from you, because I have heard you highly praised by good and wise men." The King said: "Will you receive holy baptism now?" Guest replied: "Yes, I will, since you advise it." So it came to pass; and the King took him into his favour and made him one of his retinue. Guest became a very good Christian and loyally followed the King's rules of life. He was also popular with everybody. XII. It happened one day that the King asked Guest: "How much longer would you live if you could choose?" Guest replied: "Only a short time, please God!" The King said: "What will happen if you take your candle now?" Thereupon Guest took his candle out of the frame of his harp. The King ordered it to be lighted, and this was done. And when the candle was lighted it soon began to burn away. Then the King said to Guest: "How old are you?" And Guest replied: "I am now three hundred years old." "You are an old man," observed the King.