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Updated: September 25, 2025
Ealhstan was unhurt; for, save that once when he had broken the ring to reach us when we were hemmed in, his men had kept before him.
"Aye," said I, "'tis pity a thane cannot walk abroad quietly on his own business." "Well, well, they thought that you were their business, doubtless." "Whence came all those pennies?" I asked, for we had no store at all to cast away. "From Eanulf and Ealhstan," said Wulfhere, laughing.
Now were we who were left safe, and knew we had done a deed which would he told and sung till other tales of victory blotted out its remembrance if they might. Then Ealhstan bade us sit down, for our horsemen were between us and the foe, and thereon he raised his voice, and with one accord his lay brethren and his own housecarles joined in singing a psalm of victory.
Which, if it were such, it seems to me that great deeds are forced on men at times; for what else I could have done I know not, unless, as Wislac says, I had run away, even as he was minded to do. But I had no time for that, nor do I believe his saying concerning himself. When the Danes were nigh their ships Ealhstan bade us tend our wounded.
He was very wet, and tired, throwing himself down beside us when he saw where we sat. Ealhstan asked him who bade him come, and how he had followed us. "Nearly had I forgotten a dispute I have with Wislac the Thane here. Wherefore I asked no man's leave, but followed you just too late for the crossing. So needs must swim.
"Trapped they are, Sheriff," said Ealhstan, when Osric rode up to him, bearing still a headless spear. "Let them bide till Eanulf comes. None can reach the ships." "He is hard behind me with all the levy," said Osric. "Let us finish this without him." But Ealhstan shook his head, pointing to our men. And when he looked more coolly, he saw that barely half of us were left, and those worn out.
It was, I thought, a strangely peaceful place into which to bring news of war and tumult. Then I thought of Ealhstan the Bishop, as he had seemed to me when he judged me, and that seemed years ago, nor could I think of myself as the same who had stood a prisoner before him. So I wondered if I should seem the same to him.
"Now," said Ealhstan, as he saw our eyes go, as a man's eyes will, straight to these things, "if you thanes are not too proud to accept such as I can give, let me arm you, and tell you where you shall bear these arms." And that was what we longed for, for as yet we had no post in the levy, and we told him as much. "That is well," he answered.
Yet by the king's side, leaning on his chair, was one whom I then noted not, having eyes only for his father Alfred the Atheling, who, to my mind, is both warrior and saint, as though Ethelwulf, his father, and Ealhstan, his teacher, had each taught him the properties of the other, making a perfect king.
Guthlac was down, and Aldhelm, two lay brethren also, and we were all but sped when I was ware of a Saxon shout, and the crash of a great mace on a helmet before me, and then, "Well done, my sons!" cried Ealhstan the Bishop, as he came and ringed us round with his own men, and we might breathe again.
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