FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161  
162   163   164   165   >>  
g answered: 'Little have the Danes to plume themselves on above us Norwegians, for many a hole have we burnt in those kinsmen of thine.' Then said the Earl: 'Though thou wilt not tell me yet can I, nevertheless, tell thee how it was King Magnus took possession of Denmark, to wit, was it because the lords of the land there helped him, but thou gat it not because all the people of the land were against thee. King Magnus fought not to gain England because all the people desired to have Edward for their King. If thou wishest to conquer England then can I bring it about that many of the lords there will be thy friends and supporters, for nothing lack I against my brother Harald save the name of King. All men know that there has never been born in the northlands a warrior such as thou art. Astonished am I that thou who foughtest fifteen winters for Denmark will not take England which is lying at thy hand.' King Harald pondered with care over what the Earl had said to him, and well wot he that in great measure had he said sooth; and added thereto conceived he the wish to conquer that kingdom. Thereafter the King and the Earl talked long & oft together, & in the end covenanted they an agreement that come the summer they would fare to England and conquer the country. King Harald sent round the whole of Norway calling out a levy, one half of the general war-muster. Now all this was much spoken of by men, and many were the guesses as to how things would go on the faring. Some reckoned & counted up all deeds of valour, swearing how naught would be impossible of King Harald, but said others that England would be difficult to conquer inasmuch as the people were exceeding numerous, & those warriors who were called the Thingmanna-hostSec. so doughty that one of them was better than two of Harald's best men. Thus answered Ulf the Marshal: 'Never would the marshals Of the King (uncompelling Ever gat I riches) Turn them to the King's stern-hold Noble woman, an twain should be pressed back by One Thingman (other than That when young I learned me).' || That spring Ulf the Marshal died, & Harald when he stood by his grave said ere he quitted it: 'Here lies he that was ever the most faithful & the most dutiful to his lord.' To Flanders also sailed Earl Tosti in springtide so that he should meet the men the which had followed him from England, with those others also who were to join him from England and likew
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161  
162   163   164   165   >>  



Top keywords:
England
 

Harald

 

conquer

 

people

 
Marshal
 

answered

 
Magnus
 

Denmark

 
called
 
warriors

numerous

 

doughty

 

Thingmanna

 

general

 

hostSec

 
muster
 
impossible
 

reckoned

 

counted

 
faring

things

 

guesses

 

difficult

 

spoken

 

naught

 

valour

 

swearing

 

exceeding

 
faithful
 
quitted

dutiful

 
springtide
 

Flanders

 

sailed

 

spring

 

learned

 

uncompelling

 
riches
 

marshals

 
Thingman

pressed

 

thereto

 

friends

 
supporters
 
Edward
 

wishest

 

brother

 

desired

 

Little

 

kinsmen