“I know those,” quoth Fer rogain:  “Riado, Riamcobur, Riade, Buadon, Buadchar, Buadgnad, Eirr, Ineirr, Argatlam—­nine charioteers in apprenticeship with the three chief charioteers of the king.  A man will perish at the hands of each of them,” etc.

THE ROOM OF THE ENGLISHMEN

“On the northern side of the house I beheld nine men.  Nine very yellow manes were on them.  Nine linen frocks somewhat short were round them:  nine purple plaids over them without brooches therein.  Nine broad spears, nine red curved shields above them.”

“We know them,” quoth he.  “Oswald and his two fosterbrothers, Osbrit Longhand and his two fosterbrothers, Lindas and his two fosterbrothers.  Three crown-princes of England who are with the king.  That set will share victorious prowess,” etc.

THE ROOM OF THE EQUERRIES

“I beheld another trio.  Three cropt heads of hair on them, three frocks they wore, and three mantles wrapt around them.  A whip in the hand of each.”

“I know those,” quoth Fer rogain.  “Echdruim, Echriud, Echruathar, the three horsemen of the king, that is, his three equerries.  Three brothers are they, three sons of Argatron.  Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction, were it only because of that trio.”

THE ROOM OF THE JUDGES

“I beheld another trio in the room by them.  A handsome man who had got his baldness newly.  By him were two young men with manes upon them.  Three mixed plaids they wore.  A pin of silver in the mantle of each of them.  Three suits of armour above them on the wall.  Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!”

“I know those,” quoth he.  “Fergus Ferde, Fergus Fordae and Domaine Mossud, those are the king’s three judges.  Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction were it only because of that trio!  A man will perish by each of them.”

THE ROOM OF THE HARPERS

“To the east of them I beheld another ennead.  Nine branchy, curly manes upon them.  Nine grey, floating mantles about them:  nine pins of gold in their mantles.  Nine rings of crystal round their arms.  A thumb-ring of gold round each man’s thumb:  an ear-tie of gold round each man’s ear:  a torque of silver round each man’s throat.  Nine bags with golden faces above them on the wall.  Nine rods of white silver in their hands.  Liken thou them.”

“I know those,” quoth Fer rogain.  “They are the king’s nine harpers, with their nine harps above them:  Side and Dide, Dulothe and Deichrinne, Caumul and Cellgen, Ol and Olene and Olchoi.  A man will perish by each of them.”

THE ROOM OF THE CONJURORS

“I saw another trio on the dais.  Three bedgowns girt about them.  Four-cornered shields in their hands, with bosses of gold upon them.  Apples of silver they had, and small inlaid spears.”