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Updated: May 27, 2025
Great were the rejoicings. The one in the dress and short hair imitated from the Norman, was our old friend Godrith, whom the reader may remember as the rebuker of Taillefer, and the friend of Mallet de Graville; the other, in a plain linen Saxon tunic, and the gonna worn on state occasions, to which he seemed unfamiliar, but with heavy gold bracelets on his arms, long haired and bearded, was Vebba, the Kentish thegn, who had served as nuncius from Godwin to Edward.
Each thegn then put his hand into Harold's, and called himself Harold's man. "Now, more than ever," said the wise old thegn who had before spoken, "will it be needful to heal all dissension in the kingdom to reconcile with us Mercia and Northumbria, and make the kingdom one against the foe.
This done the ships sail back to their haven; the thegn seeks his homestead and the ceorl returns to the plough; for with Godwin are no strangers; and his force is but the love of his countrymen." "Hast thou said?" quoth the King. "I have said." "Retire, and await our answer."
The prelate shook his head, and the group gained again the ante-hall. "Fit leader of bearded men! fit king for the Saxon land!" cried a thegn. "No more of your Atheling, Alred my father!" "No more of him, indeed!" said the prelate, mournfully. "It is but the fault of his nurture and rearing, a neglected childhood, a Norman tutor, German hirelings. We may remould yet the pliant clay," said Harold.
With the dawn I depart to our port at Sandwich , to muster our fleets. Thou with me, Gurth." "These preparations need much treasure," said an old thegn, "and thou hast lessened the taxes at the hour of need." "Not yet is it the hour of need. When it comes, our people will the more readily meet it with their gold as with their iron.
Dark was the scowl on the brow of every thegn, and a muttered "No, no: never the Norman!" was heard distinctly. Harold's face flushed, and his hand was on the hilt of his ateghar. But no other sign gave he of his interest in the question. The King lay for some moments silent, but evidently striving to re- collect his thoughts.
"So have I heard," said the Saxon, chuckling; "I have heard, indeed, that ye thegns, or great men, are free enow, and plainspoken. But what of the commons the sixhaendmen and the ceorls, master Norman? Dare they speak as we speak of king and of law, of thegn and of captain?"
A fiery young thegn who knew the Romance tongue, started forth and crossed swords with the poet; but by what seemed rather a juggler's sleight of hand than a knight's fair fence, Taillefer, again throwing up and catching his sword with incredible rapidity, shore the unhappy Saxon from the helm to the chine, and riding over his corpse, shouting and laughing, he again renewed his challenge.
"And it please you, my lord," said De Graville, "I know this gentle thegn, and will beg of you the grace to see to his entertainment, and sustain his spirits." "Thou shalt, but later; so noble a guest none but my chief seneschal should be the first to honour." As the Saxon sullenly withdrew, and as the door closed on him, William rose and strode to and fro the room exultingly. "I have him!
"Leave Hilda in peace, to give her charms to the young; age defies Wigh and Wicca. Now hearken to me. I feel that my thread is nigh spent, and, as Hilda would say, my Fylgia forewarns me that we are about to part. Silence, I say, and hear me. I have done proud things in my day; I have made kings and built thrones, and I stand higher in England than ever thegn or earl stood before.
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