Around the towers of the King's castle raged the primeval strife of the winter giants against the good gods who protect the increase on man's earth. The hard powers raised a gray roof of clouds between the light of heaven and the earth; they oppressed also the Hero Ingo with dark thoughts and anxious cares for the welfare of her who was dear to him. The storm-spirits drove the snowflakes through the crevices of the building, upon the bed-coverlet of the guest; even the warrior, who wore his bearskin, felt the sharp tooth of the frost, and pressed close, during the day, to the hearth-fire in the hall of the host, and sang sorrowfully, "The time of snow is suffering to the traveling hero; then his best friend is the pine log. The ungracious enemies of life separate the stream from the free air by a heavy covering of ice, and angrily does the Nixy, who makes her home in the deep, strike and hammer from underneath against the crystal burden." But what stirred under the icy covering which concealed the thoughts of the Queen no one knew; she alone sat quiet among the quarreling men; unvaried was her cold friendliness to the strangers: only the King imagined that Gisela spoke less haughtily than formerly. When the north wind howled its death-song round the King's towers, then Bisino sometimes murmured against his guests; but his liking for the stranger always again overcame his vexation; and whenever a ray of sun gave a rosy color to the covering of snow, he exclaimed, "I approve of this winter; for I hear good words on my royal bench and in the room." In addition to the hunting excursions, which were arranged by the King for the Hero, there was also a warlike expedition against a district of Saxony. In this the Vandals rode with the King's men; and when the heroes returned home victorious, and laden with booty, the King loudly extolled Ingo's good sword, and then the boys sat patiently with the strangers.

The snow melted under the spring sun; fresh green sprouted up on the earth; the brown catkins hung on the birch and hazel trees; in the souls of men also stirred the hopes of a new life, and a wish for a ride out in the country from the winter roof. The first wandering birds flew back from the south, and with them the minstrel Volkmar. He told in the King's hall of the past fights of gods and heroes, and sang low in Ingo's ear of the sorrow and longing of a forest bird. Then he related that in the forest arbor discord and hard speeches disturbed the minds of the wise men. Theodulf was still ailing in the house of the Prince; Sintram's kindred were powerful there; and Answald ruled ill-temperedly over his companions, and had asked the minstrel to the marriage of his daughter in the month of May. But also from the King's castle confidential greetings passed to the forest. Wolf received leave of absence to his home; before his journey he spoke secretly with his lord and Berthar, rested on the road at the houses of Rothari and Bero, and rode with Bero along little-frequented forest paths southward to the Main. When he returned, there were glad looks in the dwelling of the guests.

At last the ice covering of the stream gave way, and the flood poured with great force over the young green of the meadows; its rapidly swollen waters roared, and men observed with fear its ungovernable power. But the east wind rose against it with a strong blast; it subdued the flood, and dried the ground on the borders of the forest hills. The falconer had reared for the King's son two young buzzards, for the chase of little birds, and Hermin one morning begged permission of his father to go on a riding excursion, in order to try the skill of the feathered hunters.

The King's horse was already saddled for the hawking, when suddenly a messenger galloped into the court, bearing tidings which brought a dark shadow over the brow of the King. He ordered his horse to be led back, and sent his son, with the Queen and the Hero Ingo, up to the hills. The sun shone bright and warm, and Ingo rode for the first time next the Queen, without her retinue, in the open country. The falconer loosened the hood of the buzzard; the young King hunted with the Hero Balda and his attendants, shouting under the bird. The Queen followed more slowly, with glowing cheeks; she made her fiery horse prance, and smiled on her attendant, who was pleased with the beautiful woman by his side, and watched with anxiety the leaps of her horse. Once, when he caught her bridle with a helping hand, the Queen stopped, and said:

"I think of the days when thou didst the same service to me as a child, when we rode together, far from here, over the bright flowers; then I sat in terror, but I would not let thee remark it."

"Thy face was rounder that day, my royal cousin," said Ingo, merrily, "and the locks shorter which curled round thy head. But when I met thee here in the hall, and the King reminded me so kindly of old times, then I recognized the proud mien and the face of the little maiden; and I saw well that I had to thank thee that favor was shown me in the King's castle."

The Queen laughed, and again made her horse prance wildly about, till the horsemen in front of her disappeared behind an undulation of the ground; then she stopped again, and said cordially:

"Thank me always, Ingo, for I like to hear that thou valuest me. We have both been scared away from our homes into foreign countries, since the hatred of my family divided us. But I have never forgotten thee, and have inquired after thee whenever a wanderer came from the south to the castle. Thou becamest to me like a brother in misfortune, and I learned with pride how nobly thou didst bear thyself under a hard fate. Since thou hast at last penetrated to us, I have been happier than formerly." She looked at him so kindly that, carried away by the magic of her look, he caught at her hand; she stretched it out, and, turning her face toward him, rode thus for a time close to him.

Then she haughtily drew her hand back, galloped her horse, wildly bounding over the field, and looked back to see whether he was following her. Again she said, laughing, "Another would think of keeping thee, like a hunting falcon, under the hood, but I well see that the eagle soars freely on high, and takes its own path in the sunlight. For thou, cousin, art not born to be the servant of another; and he who would hold thee fast should look to it that thy talons do not wound him."

When the Queen began her confidential talk, the Hero thought of saying something to her about the forest arbor, which always occupied his heart, but the words and the eyes of the Queen prevented him. At last she said, with changed tone:

"And yet once the noble falcon rested with bound wings in the house of the peasant. I praise the folly of the father for having broken the inglorious tie; for it befits thee to desire what is highest. Only some bold deed of violence can raise thee above the heads of others: think thereof, Ingo. Let us join my son; I rejoice that the child confides in thee; I can not wish him any better teacher than thee for all hero-work."

Again she galloped on before him; her royal mantle and her locks floated in the wind; she threw the small short spear that she held in her hand up before her in the air, and caught it in its course; but Ingo now remained behind her, till both of them joined the hunting party, and shouted to the struggling buzzard, which sank down with a water-hen in its claws.

When the hunting party returned to the King's castle, they found an unusual disturbance there: horsemen came and went; the servants were carrying carpets and cushions into the stone house, which was appointed for distinguished guests; from the King's hall resounded the clang of weapons and clattering of the feet of many horses. Ingo sprang from his horse, and went with the young King's son to the Vandals' sleeping apartment; Berthar hastened toward him.

"Whilst thou hast been out looking after the hawk, another bird of prey has descended into the King's court. Caesar has sent a new message; and who dost thou think came as messenger? The wildest fellow out of the Roman army, the Frank Harietto, whom they call the army destroyer --- he who in one night, in the forest, cut off the heads of the plundering Saxons and carried them to the town like cabbage-heads. Even before he came the King was pacing gloomily through the court; he answered my greeting with embarrassment, and the King's boys looked with contempt at us, and avoided our companionship. A chamberlain of the King came to our dwelling just now and stammeringly announced that he was to bring thy repast here, that thou mightest not meet the Roman at the King's table."

"If not at the meal, let it be in the court," replied Ingo; "we do not conceal our faces from the monster; if I am the object of his errand, it is good that we should learn it early. Come, cousin," he exclaimed to the King's son, "let us see how the strangers ride, and how the King greets the Roman messengers."

The child went with him through the court into the large space in front of the King's hall. There stood the strangers with their horses, while the King presented the most distinguished of his retinue to the ambassador, who stepped from man to man, bestowing upon them a warrior's greeting, and occasional words. The Roman Frank towered almost by a head above the tallest of the King's boys. He stood like a giant there, with broad shoulders and powerful limbs, his arms covered with circlets, and with a gold figure of the Emperor on the front of his coat-of-mail; his bushy eyebrows bristled from under his helmet, his look sullen, his courtly smile scarcely perceptible.

As Bisino made a turn with his guest, he suddenly met Ingo, who silently greeted the King, and led the boy toward him. The King seized quickly the hand of his son. But the look of the stranger was riveted on Ingo, and involuntarily his hand moved to his sword, as if he were thinking of slaying the enemy of his lord at once. Yet Ingo approached him with a greeting, and began:

"When we last saw each other, Hero Harietto, it was on a hot day: thy look was more honorable when thou didst brandish thy sword against me on the bloody battlefield, than here, where the will of a foreign lord restrains thy hand from greeting."

"I would gladly say, Hero Ingo, that I would be pleased to meet thee, but I stand here as the messenger of the great Roman Emperor; and his views toward thee are not friendly."

"I can not think well of the message," answered Ingo, "which prevents a valiant man from greeting, under the King's protection, a war-comrade with whom he once exchanged honorable blows."

"The angry Gods have cast thee and me from our homes into hostile battle-ranks; we both follow the oath that binds us," said the Frank.

"Thou followest the banner of the stranger; I the call of our countrymen."

"In the camp of the Romans the minstrel sings the same song as here in the country," retorted Harietto.

"The songs I heard as a boy taught me to avoid the sway of strangers," replied Ingo.

"Let all come to Caesar's banner; then we are all Romans."

"Thou callest all who stand here, Harietto; only one I think thou dost not invite; and therefore be not angry if I consider it unsuitable to bend my neck before the tribunal of Caesar."

Both inclined their heads proudly, and stepped apart. But the King's men had thronged near, murmuring assent as they interchanged speeches --- stronger when Harietto spoke; yet Ingo's words met also with approbation, and he saw that at his last speech the King himself nodded his head.

The ambassador walked with the King to the hall, where his attendant displayed the presents of Caesar. The King beheld with joy the vases and goblet, with their wonderful work of inlaid jewels, and assured the messenger he was a friend of Caesar's, and ready to do him much good service. Then Harietto desired to have secret converse with the King; and when all listeners were sent away, the Frank demanded the delivery of Ingo.

Bisino was startled; he sat long reflecting, and replied at last, that the demand was too hard for him, and he needed time to give an answer; meanwhile, the ambassador would, he hoped, be pleased to stay as guest at his court. But Harietto pressed for a rapid decision; he offered still higher presents, and threatened. This roused the King's pride, and he exclaimed angrily that what he had refused to a friendly request he would certainly not grant to a threat. Thus he left the stranger, who established himself, with his followers, among the King's boys, drank with them, and distributed gifts.

But King Bisino continued much disturbed; at last he went to his treasure-room, seated himself on a stool, inspected once more, with a heavy heart, the new presents; then counted over his strings of golden armlets, his large dishes and tankards, his golden goblets, and drinking-horns. With some trouble he raised a silver dish, and viewed his face in it, and spoke sorrowfully to himself: