human
Skoal to Alfred the king.
gpt
Welcome to King Ranald. I am glad my letter brought you. My counsellor, Godred, feared you might not care to come.
human
The letter turned the scale, lord king, I said.
gpt
Yet I would have you remember what I said yesterday about my kingship.
human
Ay, cousin, I mind it, he answered, laughing.
gpt
Also I mind that a king's son is a king's son, whatever else he may be called.
human
Concerning sails, he said gravely,
gpt
I have many questions to ask you. Is it to the starboard hand that the bolt rope goes, or to the other board?
human
I pray you to forget my foolishness, lord king,
gpt
That I shall not, the king answered, laughing.
human
I owe you thanks for such a jest as I have not played on a man for many a long day. Truly I have been more light hearted for my laugh ever since.
gpt
Ay, lord, you had the laugh of me,
human
This is my master in sea craft, said Odda.
gpt
Verily I fear him as I have feared no man since I was at school. But he cured the seasickness of me.
human
Maybe I forgot the sickness when I sent landsmen to sea in all haste, said the king.
gpt
Nevertheless, Thord, how fought they when blows were going?
human
Well enough, king. And I will say that what I tried to teach them they tried to learn,
gpt
Wherein is hope. You think that I may have good seamen in time, therefore?
human
Ay, lord. It is in the blood of every man of our kin to take to the sea. They are like hen-bred ducklings now, and they do but want a duck to lead them pondwards. Then may hen cackle in vain for them.
gpt
Faith, he said,
human
I--the hen--drove Odda into the pond. He is, according to his own account, a poor duckling.
gpt
Let him splash about a little longer, lord king,
human
Not so, King Alfred, if you love me. Landsman am I, and chicken-hearted at sea. Keep the gamecock to mind the farmyard; there be more birds than ducks needed.
gpt
Make a song hereof, Harek, said the king.
human
Here is word play enough for any scald.
gpt
The gamecock croweth bravely, And guardeth hawk-scared hen roost; But when the sea swan swimmeth Against the shoreward nestings, There mighty mallard flappeth, And frayeth him from foray; Yet shoreward if he winneth, The gamecock waits to meet him.
human
That is in my favour, said Odda.
gpt
Mind you the scald's words, I pray you, lord king, and send me to my right place, even with hawk on one side and swan on the other.