In the Prince's courtyard and in the village the harvest wagons rattled; the Chieftain's men forgot in the pressure of work their warrior pride, and helped the hinds; the reapers bound the last sheaves for the great god of the people, and brought a garland of ears of corn, dancing in measure, to the Prince's hall. The barefooted village children swarmed like thrushes about the thicket, collecting berries and nuts in long cornets made of wood shavings. Every one was eager to bring home the fruit which the goddess of the fields bestowed upon the dwellers of the plains. Ingo, by the side of the master of the house, watched the peaceful work, which he had formerly only beheld from the back of his high warhorse. He heard with annoyance his host vexing himself like a peasant about the wolves that had killed one of his young bullocks, but he more often smiled gladly, when he saw Irmgard among the maidens at their work, to whom she was giving orders. The hearts of Ingo and the noble maiden beat with joy when, in the presence of others, in the house and in the field, they exchanged greetings and sometimes a few words. For strict was the rule of the house; the men lived separately, and Ingo feared, since he had taken the oath of guest, to wound the peace of the house by too bold approaches. Almost all gave him friendly looks; only the eyes of the Princess became clouded when she beheld him. She was vexed by the proud feeling that he had, contrary to her advice, conquered one of her kinsfolk in the warlike games, and that her wish to consider him as a foreign traveler had been frustrated by the minstrel. And there was another thing which was annoying to her. She had chosen Theodulf, her blood-relation, to be the husband of her daughter; Answald and her folk had already been in treaty concerning it some years before. Now she observed suspiciously her daughter and the guest.

One day there came a traveling juggler, with his chest, into the field; he played in front of the Prince's courtyard on the bagpipe, till the people of the village came running up; the men also and servants of the Prince came out of the gate of the courtyard. When the circle was closed, the man began in vulgar language his account --- that he concealed in his chest a Roman hero, and if the warriors and beautiful ladies wished to show him their favor, he was ready to exhibit him. He tapped on the chest; the cover rose, and a small hideous monster, with a face like a man's, and a Roman helmet over his ears, raised his head up, and made faces. Many drew back, but the more courageous laughed at the wonder. The man opened the chest, and an ape sprang out, dressed in a coat of mail like a Roman warrior. He moved his lank legs about on the grass, turned a somersault in the air, and danced. At first the country people were alarmed, then there arose loud laughter and cries of approbation, so that Hildebrand ran into the arbor, and exclaimed to the Princess: "A juggler is dancing before the gate of the Court, with a small wild man, whom they call an ape." Thereupon the Prince, with Ingo and the ladies, went out and amused themselves with the frolicsome jumps of the ape. At last the ape took his helmet off, and ran round the circle, while the man cried out:

"Bestow, ye heroes, on my Roman warrior what you have of Roman coin in your purses, small and great; the nobler the hero, the larger will be the bit of money. Let those who have none place sausages and eggs in the chest."

Then the people laughed, and many put their hands to their belts; others brought from the house what would serve for traveling fare for the man. The stranger went up also to the Prince, and he and Theodulf took Roman copper out of their pockets, and Frida heard Theodulf say to the juggler, pointing to Ingo: "The great Hero there will bestow upon thee most bountifully." When the man with his ape approached the Hero Ingo, Frida was anxious to see whether the stranger and his chamberlain Wolf, in the jerkin of the Princess, would be able to find anything that they could give; and in order to save them from shame she quickly pulled off a small silver bell which the Prince's daughter had given her as a neck ornament, and, springing forward, she said:

"This Hero, who knows better than thou the dancing of the Romans, will bestow something on thee when thou answerest him one question: What does thy monster wear when thou cravest gifts among the Romans?"

The man took the silver, looked with fear at Ingo, and answered the maiden insolently: "I know that the greeting of the Vandals is dangerous and rough; but I tell thee that he who will please the Romans in the dance must dance naked. What my ape does there I counsel to thee also."

Frida called out to him, angrily, "I suppose that among foreigners thy dancing cat derides the warriors of my people as he does the foreign ones among us."

Then the men nodded, and turned laughing away from the juggler. But Ingo went up to him, and asked: "How knowest thou that I am a Vandal?"

"Thou bearest it clearly enough on thy head," replied the man, pointing to Ingo's cap, in which were placed three wing-feathers of the wild swan. "Scarcely a week has passed since I suffered sharp chastisement from thy feathers among the Burgundians."

Ingo's countenance changed; he seized the man hastily by the arm, and took him aside. "How many were there who wore this token?"

"More than ten, and less than thirty," replied the man. "They gave me hard words because my little one there danced with goose's feathers, and they threatened me with blows."

"Was he who chid thee an old warrior, with a gray beard, and a scar upon his forehead?"

"Thou describest him as he was; he had also rude manners."

Irmgard saw that the Hero had difficulty in concealing his emotion; he separated himself from the others, and went alone back to the house.

Shortly afterward, Volkmar, as king's messenger, entered the house. Ingo received him as a friend, whom he had anxiously expected; he heard his message, and led him to the Prince; then the three held confidential council.

"The King has invited me," said Ingo, "and he has promised me safety. Whatever the thought of his heart may be, it becomes me to accept his invitation. Only one thing restrains me, and with shame I speak it out: I ought not to enter the court of the King as a needy man; thou knowest, O my lord, how I came to thee."

The Prince replied, embarrassed:

"Horse and dress shall not be wanting to thee, Oh, Hero, and Wolf shall accompany thee as chamberlain; yet I do not advise thee to trust to the words of the King, and venture thyself under the axes of his bodyguard, for thou mightest vanish, without a trace, behind the stone walls. This journey would be an inglorius end for a Hero."

Volkmar also spoke:

"It becomes thee, Hero Ingo, to regard danger little; thou knowest, indeed, that boldness sometimes prospers best with a man. But if thou accept the King's invitation, as thou wilt, thou shouldst never go as a single wanderer. To the King and his retinue thou wouldst be contemptible, and unworthy would be thy treatment, even if the King should not attempt thy life. For at kings' courts it is the style alone that gives distinction to a Hero --- his stately dresses, horses, and retinue. Therefore before thou goest to the King thou must obtain all these. But if these forest men follow thee, thou wilt be hateful to the King."

"Thou speakest well, Volkmar, in all respects," replied Ingo. "If thou wilt venture back under the eyes of the King, tell him that I am thankful for his royal message, and that I will appear before him as soon as I am equipped as his and may honor demand."

"I will bear the answer," answered Volkmar; "and I hope to be able to spring nimbly aside when he throws his drinking-cup at me."

Though Answald gave his assent, he was secretly annoyed at the demand of the King, but manfully concealed his anxiety.

When Ingo and Volkmar were alone, Ingo began:

"He who has given one piece of good advice, may possibly give a second. Thou seest that I am like a child that has been caught out of the water, and placed newly in the world. Here the people are kind-hearted, but they seldom make warlike expeditions. Look about, thou faithful comrade, and find out where there is respectable work for a good sword."

"Wait only a little," answered Volkmar, laughing; "and meanwhile take pleasure in hearing the noble maid, Irmgard, sing my dance before thee, for she is well practised in song and in my instrument. If I hear of any honorable campaign, thou shalt learn it; but thou knowest that in autumn home entices the warrior; the spring is the time for warlike excursions."

"And now hear further," continued Ingo, "a thought that has come across me as I lay sleepless in the night. The leap into the Rhine separated me from my men; the Roman band dispersed in pursuit of me like a rush of water over a country; the Priestess concealed me with care till she sent me northward; at my departure she promised to seek my comrades who had stood by me at the boat. Lately I have heard from a traveling juggler, that some warriors of my people have during this month encamped among the Burgundians; one of them, it seems to me, is Berthar, who thou knowest. "If thou hast a kindly feeling for me, Volkmar, inquire, when thou canst, concerning my trusty friend; for, however well disposed to me many are who here live around me, I can not be happy till I know whether any of my comrades have escaped the weapons of the Romans."

The minstrel nodded, and turned to depart. "The master of this house feels kindly toward thee; but the minds of men are changeable, and may soon become weary of a man who stands alone. Thou hast honored me with thy confidence, as thou before saidst when thou didst raise me out of the water. Therefore I beg of thee a favor. Once thou gavest me this gold ring; take it back now, Oh, my lord, that I may show thee my truth; thou wilt bestow far more on me later, if the gods send thee good fortune. The ring will procure thee a horse and dress, or gain thee a helpful companion."

"I would rather borrow from thee than from any other," replied Ingo; "but thou knowest a warrior does not go to battle without gold. What Berthar handed over to me on that day when I lost him, that I still conceal in my dress, in order that my body should not lie lonely on the heath; for any one finding the gold on me would in gratitude esteem me worthy of honorable burial."

"Then, Hero, think also prudently of the living; and if I may venture to advise thee, give of it to the maiden Frida; for they whisper in the house, that she tore off a silver bell for thee in order to please her mistress; and bestow something on Wolf, thy chamberlain, that he may not be despised by the others because he serves a poor master. Do not be angry that I speak to thee as a trusty friend; but he who is accustomed to receive favor knows well how to win it."

Ingo reached his hand to him, laughing. "It is only to thee that I offer nothing," he said; "for I willingly remain in thy debt."

"And I in thine, so long as I breathe," said Volkmar; then greeting him, respectfully bowed as he left the threshold.

Ingo followed the advice of his trusty friend. As he placed two gold pieces, on which the picture of the great Roman emperor Constantine was to be seen, in the hands of his chamberlain, he observed, by the happy face of the man and his warm thanks, how valuable such a thing was among the forest folk. After the repast, he, in the presence of all, stepped up to Irmgard, and said:

"Thy companion Frida, has, with the silver she gave to the juggler, procured for me good tidings; gladly would I show my gratitude toher, and I beg of thee, noble maiden, to give back by these coins her gift."

Then the foreign gold passed from hand to hand among the women; the Prince and all those who had a kindly feeling for him rejoiced that the guest had comported himself as became his dignity, and Ingo remarked, from the sudden zeal of the men, that their goodwill became more activesince they could hope for something good for themselves.

But Ingo sought for a gift for her who was dear to him. As Irmgard was standing under the elder bush near the court, he stepped hastily toward her; she heard his steps, but did not turn round, so that no one could perceive the joy on her countenance. Thus, turned away from the others, their eyes met; and this time neither of them heard the night songstress, which upon a branch was mournfully telling her children of her departure. Ingo began speaking in a low tone.