Harold, Book 12. The Last Of The Saxon Kings

he next, were consumed by both armaments

ome the assailing party; and, moreover, he wished to have full time for his prelates and priests to inflame to the utmost, by their representations of

gglers in the immediate neighborhood arrived, but no aid came from London, no indignant country poured forth a swarming population. In fact, the very fame of Harold, and the good fortune that had hitherto attended his arms, contributed to the stupid lethargy of the people. That he who had just subdued the terrible Nor

reigning King, in his present combat with the Norman pretender; a large number of would-be statesmen thought it best for the country to remain for the present neutral. Grant the worst-grant that Harold were defeated or slain; would it not be wise to reserve their strength to support the Atheling? William mig

rstition which had relaxed the sinews of the old Saxon manhood; in that indifference to things ancient, which contempt for old names and races engendered; that timorous spirit of calculatio

who sits on the throne? the king must be equally bound by our laws." Then too was heard the favourite argument of all slo

r limited at present to the southern coasts; and the vast territory under Mercia was, with more excuse, equally supine; while their two young Earls, too new in their command to have much sway with their subject populations, had they been in their capitals,

under the iron heel, of the Norman Master! Had that spirit put forth all its might for one day with Harold, where had been the centuries of bondage! Oh, shame to the absent-All blessed those present! There was no hope for England out of the scanty lines of the immortal army encamped on the field of Hastings. There, long on earth, and vain vaunts of poor pride,

stars; when,-all prepared, all arrayed,-Harold sat with Haco and Gurth, in his tent; and b

with the men undisco

ink, with debonnair courtesy. Then said he abruptly,-'Spy from Harold, thou hast come to see the strength of the Norman. Thou shalt have thy will-follow me.' Therewith he led me, all startled

test!" said Gu

praying and kneeling; and their heads wer

hen he continued his questions to the spy; and his smile vanished at the accounts, not only of the numbers

been dismissed, the Kin

? The night will be dark anon-our steeds are fleet-and not shod

ne. "I should like much to see the boar in

by the night air. Let us go: I know all the ways of the country; for hither have I com

ung sullen; and the mists were cold and grey on the lower grounds, when

d riders to

varlets of f

d of weapo

d spear, and the sw

he way, and catching glimpses, through the irregular path, of the

by the light of the links and watchfires, to form no inaccurate notion of the formidable foe whom the morrow was to meet. The ground [259] on which they stood was high, and in the

ed; and right in the midst of this Capital of War, the gorgeous pavilion of William himself, with a dragon of gold before it, surmounting the staff, from which blazed the Papal gonfanon. In every division they heard the anvils of the armourers, the measured tread of the sentries, the neigh and snort of innumerable steeds. And along the lines, between hut and tent,

iests, in their robes and aubes, with censer and rood, coming down the various avenues. As the priests paused, the warriors knelt; and there was a low murmur as if of confession, and the sign of lifted hands, as if in absolution and blessing. Suddenly, from the outskirts of the camp, and full in sight, emerged, from one of the cross lanes, Odo of Bayeux himself, in his white surplice, and the cross in his right hand. Yea, even to the meanest and lowliest soldiers of the armament, whether taken from hone

old scorn of the monk broke forth in his bitter smile a

m to contend, and, over those numbers, that dread intensity of zeal, that sublimity of fanaticism, which from one end of that war-town to the other

oldiers in their neighbourhood disappeared within their lodgments, and the torches moved from them to the more distant v

f solemn voices. For the night had now come to the third watch [260], in which, according to the belief of the a

. They rode rapidly, but still in silence, past their sentries; and, ascending the slopes, where the force lay thick, how different were the sounds that smote them! Round the large fires the men grouped in great circles, with the ale-horns and flagons passing merrily from hand to hand; shou

of the shavelings. I vow by St. Alban, that I felt my veins curdling into ice-bolts, when that dirge came through the woodholt. Hollo, Sexwolf, my

carousal, started up at the young Earl's greetings, and look

ld severely; "the hands that draw shafts against us

blows,-and-(sinking his voice into a whisper) the rumour runs that the odds are so against us,

nd cordial was their joyous shout of his name, that he felt his kingly heart leap within him. Dismounting, he entered the circle, and with the august frankness of a noble chief, nobly popular, gave to all chee

cried Vebba, as spokesman for the soldiers.

rs, and freedom's,"

round that standard were both the special body-guard of the King, and the volunteers from London and Middlesex; m

At length, Gurth approached; and, with a reverence rare in the familiar intercourse between the two, knelt at his br

s with slighting reverence, that I lay rough hand on the wound deepest at thy heart. But, however surprised or compelled, sure it is that thou didst make oath to William, and upon the relics of saints; avoid this battle, for I see tha

xclaimed Harold,

e launched on our heads. Our war is just: we but defend our country. Leave us, then, to fight to-morrow; thou retire towards London a

med Harold, in a voice pierc

s guard hasten to London and ravage and lay waste the country as he retreats by the way [261]; so that even if William beat us, all supplies will fail him; he will

d in Rouen for nought," quoth Leofwine. "Hear him, my Harold, and leave us

each of the speakers, and,

, for a thought that had enter

ed the King, an

hole army upon London,

h numbers more

thought," said H

and bring none of the profits of retreat. The ban of the Church would get wind; our priests, awed and alarmed, might wield it against us

e agony of the martyrdom or the glory of the conquest! Gurth, thou art more cruel than the Norman! And I, son of Sweyn, I ravage the land committed to my charge, and despoil the fields which I cannot keep! Oh, Haco, that indeed were to be the traitor and the recreant! No, whatever the sin of my oath, never will I believe that Heaven can punish millions for the error of one man. Let the bones of the dead war against us; in life,

e on the cheek, my Haco. Go now to your tents. Sleep in pea

d a rapid, troubled glance, and then, hurrying to the simple imageless crucifix that stood on its pedestal at the farther end o

pardon, my oath without

lone the doom. Not on

lan