Let us go too, young men: it will pass the time, at all events.' 'Oh, no! no! no! do not! you shall not!' almost shrieked Pelagia.
'Why not, then, pretty one ?' 'She is a witch--she--I will never love you again if you dare to go.
Your only reason is that Agilmund's report of her beauty.' 'So?
You are afraid of my liking her golden locks better than your black ones ?' 'I?
Afraid ?' And she leapt up, panting with pretty rage.

'Come, we will go too--at once--and brave this nun, who fancies herself too wise to speak to a woman, and too pure to love a man! Lookout my jewels! Saddle my white mule! We will go royally.

We will not be ashamed of Cupid's livery, my girls--saffron shawl and all! Come, and let us see whether saucy Aphrodite is not a match after all for Pallas Athene and her owl!' And she darted out of the cloister.
The three younger men burst into a roar of laughter, while Wulf looked with grim approval.
'So you want to go and hear the philosopher, prince ?' said Smid.
'Wheresoever a holy and a wise woman speaks, a warrior need not be ashamed of listening.

Did not Alaric bid us spare the nuns in Rome, comrade?
And though I am no Christian as he was, I thought it no shame for Odin's man to take their blessing; nor will I to take this one's, Smid, son of Troll.'.