Then preparations were made, as soon as possible, for the embarkation of the horses. The dun-coloured charger of the sea-monarch willingly entered upon that element to which he was so well accustomed; but Sir Otto’s light-brown steed reared and kicked as if he were mad; so that had not his master come up, and called out, “Gib dich ruhig du Bursch,” some of the gigantic Normans must have lost their lives before they could have brought him on board. CHAPTER VII. How the Knights discoursed on their sea-voyage. It was now a very beautiful evening; the breezes were mild and favourable, as the fleet of Sir Arinbiorn sailed along through the North Sea. The land had quite vanished away, and Sir Otto sat on the deck with a harp in his hand, watching the last golden rays of the setting sun. At last, while the sea-monarch, seemingly lost in thought, stood near him, leaning on the mast, the Knight of Trautwangen began to sing a romantic ballad, addressed to the beloved Blanchefleur, whose image rose on his imagination, sitting in her bower in the blooming vale of Gascony, twining wreaths of “_forget-me-not_” in honour of him who was now far remote. During his song, the sea-monarch had sat down beside him, leaning his head on his hand. As the last notes had softly died away he stretched himself on the deck, with his eyes dim with tears and fixed on the calm azure sky. “I shall now relate to you some events,” said Sir Arinbiorn, “which your song has just awoke in my remembrance. But let me begin and end my story, as I am now resting here; for, with one’s eyes fixed on the deep, changeless vault of heaven, the mind is calmed, and full of hope and trust.”--“Truly I have felt thus too,” replied Sir Otto, “when I have gazed on the blue depths above us.”--“So much the better,” said Sir Arinbiorn; “and you will allow also, that when we are thus sailing on the wide waters, that contemplation is more especially delightful; for here indeed it seems as if we had the same azure depths both below and above. Listen then attentively with thine heart as well as with thine ears, that my words may find a friendly echo in thy bosom.