In the meantime arrived hither Hengest’s wife with her ships; she had for companions fifteen hundred riders; with her came, to wit, mickle good ships; therein came much of Hengest’s kin, and Rowenne, his daughter, who was to him most dear.  It was after a while, that that time came, that the burgh was completed with the best of all.  And Hengest came to the king, and asked him to a banquet, and said that he had prepared an inn against him (his coming) and bade that he should come thereto, and he should be fairly received.  And the king granted him as Hengest it would.

It came to the time that the king gan forth proceed, with the dearest men of all his folk; forth he gan proceed until he came to the burgh.  He beheld the wall up and down over all; all it liked him well, that he on looked.  He went into the hall, and all his knights with him; trumps they blew, games men gan to call, boards they ordered to be spread, knights sate thereat, they ate, they drank, joy was in the burgh!—­when the folk had eaten, then was the better befallen to them.

Hengest went into the inn, where Rowenne dwelt; he caused her to be clad with excessive pride; all the clothes that she had on, they were most excellent, they were good with the best, embroidered with gold.  She bare in her hand a golden bowl, filled with wine, that was one wondrous good.  High-born men led her into the hall before the king, fairest of all things!  Rouwenne sate on her knee, and called to the king, and thus first she said in English land:  “Lord king, wassail! for thy coming I am glad.”  The king this heard, and knew not what she said, the King Vortiger asked his knights soon, what were the speech that the maid spake.  Then answered Keredic, a knight most admirable; he was the best interpreter that ere came here:  “Listen to me now, my lord king, and I will make known to thee what Rowenne saith, fairest of all women.  It is the custom in Saxland, wheresoever any people make merry in drink, that friend sayeth to his friend, with fair comely looks, ’Dear friend, wassail!’—­the other sayeth, ‘Drinchail!’ The same that holds the cup, he drinketh it up; another full cup men thither bring, and give to his comrade.  When the full cup is come, then kiss they thrice.  These are the good customs in Saxland, and in Alemaine they are accounted noble!”

Vortiger heard this—­of each evil he was ware—­and said it in British, for he knew no English:  “Maiden Rouwenne, drink then blithely!” The maid drank up the wine, and let do (put) other wine therein, and gave to the king, and thrice him kissed.  And through the same people the custom came to this land of Wassail and Drinchail—­many a man thereof is glad’ Rouwenne the fair sate by the king; the king beheld her longingly, she was dear to him in heart, oft he kissed her, oft he embraced her; all his mind and his might inclined towards the maiden.