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And the bishop seemed to enjoy his wonderment, but was in no mind to enlighten him. Presently the bishop bade Wislac sit down, and then he took up Osric's ring that I had given him, and also another which lay beside it on the table silver also, with some device on it, like that I had worn. "See, thanes," he said, "have you three a mind to stay with me for a while and be my council in this matter?
And Wislac, grasping it, answered that it was a lucky foolishness that had brought so stout a comrade to his side, for had it not been for Aldhelm putting his thick head betwixt him and an axe, slain he would have been. "Aye, brother," he said, "deny it not, for I saw you thrust yourself forward and save me by yourself, which doubtless is your way of settling a grudge, brother, and a good one."
Wulfhere is right, and for the land's sake we must give these Danes a lesson to bide at home. Wislac is right, and this defeat must be wiped out. Now say if you will help me to raise the levy afresh?" "Aye, we will," said the thanes, but there was not that heartiness in their tones that one might have looked for.
"Gold for trust," he said, "and for the man who shall be honoured." "That is well also," said Wulfhere, and Wislac nodded gravely. "Now," said the bishop, "I will put Heregar out of my council for a minute, so that he may not speak nor hear. Tell me, Thanes both, if it will be well to give Heregar the place whereto men shall rally in need?" "Aye, surely," they said.
And that kept, there need be no question as to who had done best. Then Wislac nodded, after his wont, and said that if Aldhelm was content so was he. Whereupon Aldhelm held out his hand, and said that Wislac was wise and he foolish.
"Then," said Wislac, "let me tell you, Heregar the Thane, that one of the saints, and I think a valiant one, is mightily like you. Whereby you are the more fortunate." Now for all the mistake I could not find a word to say, and was fain to thank him for the good word on my looks. Yet he went on looking at me now and then in a puzzled sort of way.
So I spoke to Wulfhere, saying: "We must charge before they. Let us break into that circle." "Aye!" said the veteran, and "Aye!" shouted Wislac; and so I pointed the banner forward and shouted for my shield men to charge. And that, with a great roar, they did; and down before the brawny arms of those foremost three lay brethren went three of the heathen, and we were pressing into the circle.
And thence we went at last to victory again, and now once more the land has rest. Yet Wislac is with us in Wulfhere's place, for his own land is in Danish hands, and we know not what wars may be yet with them, though we have stood by the king's side when the greatest victory of all was won, and Guthrum the heathen became Athelstan the Christian, and peaceful division of the land was made.
If it is asked when this beginning might be, I would say, for an Englishman who knows not the names of Danish kings, that it was before the first days of the greatness of Ethelbert of Kent, the overlord of all England, the Bretwalda, and therefore, as Father Wislac counts, about the year of grace 580.
So that when he ended the king's eyes flashed, and Ceorle's face was red and good to look at with a war light on it, and Wislac shouted, as I had nearly done. But at that sound, strange in the king's presence, we all started, and Wislac seemed abashed. "Truly, Lord King," he said humbly, "I could not help it." "Almost had I done as you did," said the kindly king. "Alfred must bear the blame.
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