第39章

TheapartmentinwhichtheSaxonchiefswereconfined，fortothemweturnourfirstattention，althoughatpresentusedasasortofguard-room，hadformerlybeenthegreathallofthecastle。Itwasnowabandonedtomeanerpurposes，becausethepresentlord，amongotheradditionstotheconvenience，security，andbeautyofhisbaronialresidence，haderectedanewandnoblehall，whosevaultedroofwassupportedbylighterandmoreelegantpillars，andfittedupwiththathigherdegreeofornament，whichtheNormanshadalreadyintroducedintoarchitecture。

Cedricpacedtheapartment，filledwithindignantreflectionsonthepastandonthepresent，whiletheapathyofhiscompanionserved，insteadofpatienceandphilosophy，todefendhimagainsteverythingsavetheinconvenienceofthepresentmoment；andsolittledidhefeeleventhislast，thathewasonlyfromtimetotimerousedtoareplybyCedric’sanimatedandimpassionedappealtohim。

``Yes，’’saidCedric，halfspeakingtohimself，andhalfaddressinghimselftoAthelstane，``itwasinthisveryhallthatmyfatherfeastedwithTorquilWolfganger，whenheentertainedthevaliantandunfortunateHarold，thenadvancingagainsttheNorwegians，whohadunitedthemselvestotherebelTosti。ItwasinthishallthatHaroldreturnedthemagnanimousanswertotheambassadorofhisrebelbrother。OfthaveIheardmyfatherkindleashetoldthetale。TheenvoyofTostiwasadmitted，whenthisampleroomcouldscarcecontainthecrowdofnobleSaxonleaders，whowerequaffingtheblood-redwinearoundtheirmonarch。’’

``Ihope，’’saidAthelstane，somewhatmovedbythispartofhisfriend’sdiscourse，``theywillnotforgettosendussomewineandrefactionsatnoon——wehadscarceabreathing-spaceallowedtobreakourfast，andIneverhavethebenefitofmyfoodwhenIeatimmediatelyafterdismountingfromhorseback，thoughtheleechesrecommendthatpractice。’’

Cedricwentonwithhisstorywithoutnoticingthisinterjectionalobservationofhisfriend。

``TheenvoyofTosti，’’hesaid，``movedupthehall，undismayedbythefrowningcountenancesofallaroundhim，untilhemadehisobeisancebeforethethroneofKingHarold。

```Whatterms，’hesaid，`LordKing，haththybrotherTostitohope，ifheshouldlaydownhisarms，andcravepeaceatthyhands?’

```Abrother’slove，’criedthegenerousHarold，`andthefairearldomofNorthumberland。’

```ButshouldTostiaccepttheseterms，’continuedtheenvoy，`whatlandsshallbeassignedtohisfaithfulally，Hardrada，KingofNorway?’

```SevenfeetofEnglishground，’answeredHarold，fiercely，’or，asHardradaissaidtobeagiant，perhapswemayallowhimtwelveinchesmore。’

``Thehallrungwithacclamations，andcupandhornwasfilledtotheNorwegian，whoshouldbespeedilyinpossessionofhisEnglishterritory。’’

``Icouldhavepledgedhimwithallmysoul，’’

saidAthelstane，``formytonguecleavestomypalate。’’

``Thebaffledenvoy，’’continuedCedric，pursuingwithanimationhistale，thoughitinterestednotthelistener，``retreated，tocarrytoTostiandhisallytheominousanswerofhisinjuredbrother。ItwasthenthatthedistanttowersofYork，andthebloodystreamsoftheDerwent，*beheldthatdireful*NoteD。BattleofStamford。

conflict，inwhich，afterdisplayingthemostundauntedvalour，theKingofNorway，andTosti，bothfell，withtenthousandoftheirbravestfollowers。

Whowouldhavethoughtthatupontheprouddaywhenthisbattlewaswon，theverygalewhichwavedtheSaxonbannersintriumph，wasfillingtheNormansails，andimpellingthemtothefatalshoresofSussex?——WhowouldhavethoughtthatHarold，withinafewbriefdays，wouldhimselfpossessnomoreofhiskingdom，thanthesharewhichheallottedinhiswrathtotheNorwegianinvader?——

Whowouldhavethoughtthatyou，nobleAthelstane——

thatyou，descendedofHarold’sblood，andthatI，whosefatherwasnottheworstdefenderoftheSaxoncrown，shouldbeprisonerstoavileNorman，intheveryhallinwhichourancesto