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Updated: May 26, 2025
"Think you that the hill will be unguarded?" asked I, glad that Wulfhere did not put away the plan at once. "Why should they guard it? There are Danes at the ships though few, I expect, for we have been well beaten. And more in plenty from Parret to Quantocks, and no Saxon left between the two forces." "Why not burn the ships then?" asked Wislac.
So it is left to me, Wislac the priest, who have written for him, to finish. He says that everyone knows the rest, and so they do just now. But in the years to come, when this story is read, men will want to know more. So it is fit that I should end the story, telling things that I myself know to be true also.
Soon Wislac, also, grew tired of the court, and said that he longed for the deep meadows and lofty trees, and green downs along the clear river in this June time, and must seek his own home again. But it seemed that Alfred over-persuaded him, for reasons which he told me not, and he stayed. We went to the great meeting of the Witan, taking our seats there when our rights were confirmed to us.
Then Wislac must ask him if there were any more of his sort in the abbey, and seeing that we meant no harm, and looking on me as an ally in that matter of the reading, he said there were five more, "whom Heregar the Thane knew, if he would remember, reading certain Scriptures at supper time."
For I am here without a fighting man of my own to speak with." Now this was what I would most wish, and I said so, eagerly and with thanks. And Wislac said that he was surely in good company, and having nought to call him home would gladly stay also.
But he seemed long in finding aught to meet that case, while we talked of one thing or another concerning it among ourselves. At last he shut the book and said, very gravely: "I would that I could swim." "I also, Father," said Wislac, "and why I cannot, save for sheer cowardice, I know not, having been brought up on Thames side, and never daring to go out of depth."
Whereupon the king laughed, saying that kings knew more than men gave them credit for, and so Wislac did homage, and sat down. Then Ethelwulf looked at Wulfhere, and said; "Wulfhere, my old warrior, I know not rightly what to do with you, for you are a lonely man, and I think that a place in my court would not suit you. Nor would you care to hold a manor in a strange place.
And at the same time some of the men heard the sound, and started up to see who came. But they were the steps of one man only, walking carelessly. Into the light of the fire stepped one, at the sight of whom the men stared, though Wislac laughed quietly. It was that young thane who had wanted to fight my friend Wislac on the day of the council.
"Not I," said Wislac, smiling peacefully, "seeing that you have done naught to deserve that foul name; but being a beaten man, as I said, I need a chance to prove that I am not 'nidring' myself, so please you."
And at first I was for going round, but by this thane Wislac had waked, and had been listening to us: and he said that if I would let him wake the men he could do it without alarm or undue noise. Only I must raise the standard and bid them be silent. At that the bishop smiled and nodded, and I raised the standard, and waited.
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