Then turned Osberne to Stephen and said: "Thou, Stephen, art more in the heart of my redes than any man else, and thou art both a wise man as I deem, and a proven champion: so if I leave thee here in my skin, wilt thou do the best for me, and be debonnaire with Master Nicholas here and with my grandam, and kind to all the folk?" Said Stephen: "I will do my best thereto, and will pray this of the folk, that they will not hate me because I am not thou." At that word all they gave him a welcome cheer, whereas their hearts burned within them for love of Osberne and for praise of his words and for sorrow of losing him and hope of his return; so that at that point of time themseemed they might promise anything. But Osberne said: "Stephen, my friend and fellow, reach out thine hand that I give thee hansel before all of these of what mastership there is in me." Even so did Stephen, and they clasped hands thereon. After this Osberne looked about him and said: "Lo friends, how the dusk has been creeping in on us amidst all this talk. So now do ye women dight the board and light the candles within the hall, that we may eat and drink together this last time for a long while." Even so it was done, and all folk sat to meat, and thereafter was the drink brought in, and they drank all a cup to Osberne, and he to them; and then was the cup filled for Wethermel, and then again for the Dale; and the last cup was for Osberne's luck. Then came a word into his mouth, and he stood up and sang: From the Wethermel reek I set me to seek The world-ways unkenned And the first of the end. For when out there I be Each way unto me Shall seem nought save it lead Back to Wethermel's need, And many a twilight twixt dawning and day Shall the feet of the waker dream wending the way. When the war-gale speeds Point-bitter reeds, And the edges flash O'er the war-board's clash, Through the battle's rent Shall I see the bent, And the gable's peace Midst the Dale's increase, And the victory-whooping shall seem to me oft As the Dale shepherd's cry where the reek wends aloft. When to right and left The ranks are cleft, And the edges wan Mate master and man, It shall be as the fall Of a hindering wall Twixt my blade and me And the garth on the lea; So shall day unto day tell the hope of the year, And season on season shall draw the Dale near. This they deemed kindly sung and well; and now so high rose their hearts, that it was to them as if they saw the day of his returning and the gladness of fellowship renewed. Chapter XXXVIII. Osberne Parts from Stephen the Eater