the dragon and the raven-第9章

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men　on　that　day；　but　they　are　better　organized；　their　king
is　energetic　and　determined；　and　when　the　Danes　invade　Wessex
they　will　find　themselves　opposed　by　the　whole　people　instead
of　merely　a　hastily　raised　assemblage　gathered　in　the
neighbourhood。〃

They　presently　approached　Reading；　where　there　was　a
royal　fortress；　in　which　King　Ethelred　and　his　brother　Alfred
were　residing。

〃It　is　truly　a　fine　city；〃　Edmund　said　as　he　approached　it；
〃its　walls　are　strong　and　high；　and　the　royal　palace；　which
rises　above　them；　is　indeed　a　stately　building。〃

They　crossed　the　river　and　entered　the　gates　of　the　town。
There　was　great　bustle　and　traffic　in　the　streets；　cynings；　or
nobles；　passed　along　accompanied　by　parties　of　thanes；　serfs
laden　with　fuel　or　provisions　made　their　way　in　from　the
surrounding　country；　while　freemen；　with　their　shields　flung
across　their　shoulders　and　their　swords　by　their　sides；　stalked
with　an　independent　air　down　the　streets。

The　travellers　approached　the　royal　residence。　The　gates
were　open；　and　none　hindered　their　entrance；　for　all　who
had　business　were　free　to　enter　the　royal　presence　and　to　lay
their　complaints　or　petitions　before　the　king。

Entering　they　found　themselves　in　a　large　hall。　The　lower
end　of　this　was　occupied　by　many　people；　who　conversed
together　in　little　groups　or　awaited　the　summons　of　the　king。
Across　the　upper　end　of　the　room　was　a　raised　dais；　and　in
the　centre　of　this　was　a　wide　chair　capable　of　holding　three
persons。　The　back　and　sides　were　high　and　richly　carved。　A
table　supported　by　four　carved　and　gilded　legs　stood　before
it。　Two　persons　were　seated　in　the　chair。

One　was　a　man　of　three　or　four　and　twenty；　the　other
was　his　junior　by　some　two　years。　Both　wore　light　crowns　of
gold　somewhat　different　in　their　fashion。　Before　the　younger
was　a　parchment；　an　inkhorn；　and　pens。　King　Ethelred　was
a　man　of　a　pleasant　face；　but　marked　by　care　and　by　long
vigils　and　rigorous　fastings。　Alfred　was　a　singularly　handsome
young　prince；　with　an　earnest　and　intellectual　face。　Both
had　their　faces　shaven　smooth。　Ethelred　wore　his　hair　parted
in　the　middle；　and　falling　low　on　each　side　of　the　face；　but
Alfred's　was　closely　cut。　On　the　table　near　the　younger
brother　stood　a　silver　harp。

Edmund　looked　with　great　curiosity　and　interest　on　the
young　prince；　who　was　famous　throughout　England　for　his
great　learning；　his　wisdom；　and　sweetness　of　temper。　Although
the　youngest　of　the　king's　brothers；　he　had　always
been　regarded　as　the　future　King　of　England；　and　had　his
father　survived　until　he　reached　the　age　of　manhood；　he
would　probably　have　succeeded　directly　to　the　throne。　The
law　of　primogeniture　was　by　no　means　strictly　observed
among　the　Saxons；　a　younger　brother　of　marked　ability　or　of
distinguished　prowess　in　war　being　often　chosen　by　a　father
to　succeed　him　in　place　of　his　elder　brothers。

Alfred　had　been　his　father's　favourite　son。　He　had　when
a　child　been　consecrated　by　the　pope　as　future　King　of
England；　and　his　two　journeys　to　Rome；　and　his　residence　at
the　court　of　the　Frankish　king　had；　with　his　own　great　learning
and　study；　given　him　a　high　prestige　and　reputation　among
his　people　as　one　learned　in　the　ways　of　the　world。　Although
but　a　prince；　his　authority　in　the　kingdom　nearly　equalled
that　of　his　brother；　and　it　was　he　rather　than　Ethelred　whom
men　regarded　as　the　prop　and　stay　of　the　Saxons　in　the　perils
which　were　now　threatening　them。

One　after　another；　persons　advanced　to　the　table　and
laid　their　complaints　before　the　king；　in　cases　of　dispute
both　parties　were　present　and　were　often　accompanied　by
witnesses。　Ethelred　and　Alfred　listened　attentively　to　all　that
was　said　on　both　sides；　and　then　gave　their　judgment。　An
hour　passed；　and　then　seeing　that　no　one　else　approached
the　table；　Egbert；　taking　Edmund　by　the　hand；　led　him　forward
and　knelt　before　the　royal　table。

〃Whom　have　we　here？〃　the　king　said。　〃This　youth　is　by
his　attire　one　of　noble　race；　but　I　know　not　his　face。〃

〃We　have　come；　sir　king；〃　Egbert　said；　〃as　fugitives　and
suppliants　to　you。　This　is　Edmund；　the　son　of　Ealdorman
Eldred；　a　valiant　cyning　of　East　Anglia；　who；　after　fighting
bravely　against　the　Danes　near　Thetford；　joined　Earl　Algar；
and　died　by　his　side　on　the　fatal　field　of　Kesteven。　He　had
himself　purposed　to　come　hither　to　you　and　to　ask　you　to
accept　him　as　your　thane；　and　on　the　morn　of　the　battle　he
charged　me　if　he　fell　to　bring　hither　his　son　to　you；　and　we
pray　you　to　accept；　in　token　of　our　homage　to　you；　these
vessels。〃

And　here　he　placed　two　handsome　goblets　of　silver　gilt
upon　the　table。

〃I　pray　you　rise；〃　the　king　said。　〃I　have　assuredly　heard
of　the　brave　Eldred；　and　will　gladly　receive　his　son　as　my
thane。　I　had　not　heard　of　Eldred's　death；　though　two　days
since　the　rumour　of　a　heavy　defeat　of　the　East　Angles　at
Kesteven；　and　the　sacrilegious　destruction　of　the　holy　houses
of　Bardenay；　Croyland；　and　Medeshamsted　reached　our　ears。
Were　you　present　at　the　battle？〃

〃I　was；　sir　king；〃　Egbert　said；　〃and　fought　beside　Earl
Algar　and　my　kinsman　the　Ealdorman　Eldred　until　both　were
slain　by　the　Danes；　and　I　with　difficulty　cut　my　way　through
them　and　escaped　to　carry　out　my　kinsman's　orders　regarding
his　son。〃

〃You　are　a　stout　champion　yourself；〃　the　king　said；
regarding　with　admiration　Egbert's　huge　proportions；　〃but　tell
us　the　story　of　this　battle；　of　which　at　present　but　vague
rumours　have　reached　us。〃　Egbert　related　the　incidents　of
the　battle　of　Kesteven。　〃It　was　bravely　fought；〃　the　king　said
when　he　had　concluded；　〃right　well　and　bravely；　and　better
fortune　should　have　attended　such　valour。　Truly　the　brave
Algar　has　shown　that　we　Saxons　have　not　lost　the　bravery
which　distinguished　our　ancestors；　and　that；　man　for　man；
we　are　equal　to　these　heathen　Danes。〃

〃But　methinks；〃　Prince　Alfred　said；　〃that　the　brave　Algar
and　his　valiant　companions　did　wrong　to　throwaway　their
lives　when　all　was　lost。　So　long　as　there　is　the　remotest　chance
of　victory　it　is　the　duty　of　a　leader　to　set　an　example　of　valour
to　his　followers；　but　when　all　is　lost　he　should　think　of　his
country。　What　though　the　brave　thanes　slew　each　a　score　of
Danes　before　they　died；　their　death　has　left　their　countrymen
without　a　leader；　and　by　that　one　battle　the　Danes　have
made　themselves　masters　of　the　north　of　East　Anglia。　Better
far　had　they；　when　the　day　was　lost；　retreated；　to　gather　the
people　together　when　a　better　opportunity　presented　itself；
and　again　to　make　head　against　the　invaders。　It　is　heathen
rather　than　Christian　warfare　thus　to　throwaway　their　lives
rather　than　to　retreat　and　wait　for　God's　time　to　come　again。
To　stake　all　on　one　throw；　which　if　lost　loses　a　whole　people；
seems　to　me　the　act　of　a　gamester。　I　trust　that；　should　the
time　ever　come；　as　it　is　too　much　to　be　feared　it　will　ere　long；
that　the　Danes　invade　my　brother's　kingdom　of　Wessex；　I
shall　not　be　found　wanting　in　courage；　but　assuredly　when
defeated　in　battle　I　would　not　throwaway　my　life；　for　that
belongs　to　our　people　rather　than　to　myself；　but　would　retire
to　some　refuge　until　I　could　again　gather　the　Saxons　around
me　and　attack　the　invaders。　I　like　the　face　of　the　young
ealdorman；　and　doubt　not　that　he　will　prove　a　valiant　warrior
like　his　father。　My　brother　will　doubtless　assign　him
lands　for　his　maintenance　and　yours；　but　if　he　will　let　me　I
will　attach　him　to　my　person；　and　will　be　at　once　a　master
and　a　friend　to　him。　Wouldst　thou　like　this；　young　Edmund？〃

The　lad；　greatly　pleased　at　the　young　prince's　kindness
of　speech　and　manner；　replied　enthusiastically　that　he　would
follow　him　to　the　death　if　he　would　accept　him　as　his　faithful
thane。

〃Had　the　times　been　more　peaceful；　Edmund；〃　Alfred
said；　〃I　would　fain　have　imparted　to　you　some　of　the　little
knowledge　that　I　have　gained；　for　I　see　an　intelligence　in　your
face　which　tells　me　that　you　would　have　proved　an　apt　and
eager　pupil；　but；　alas；　in　the　days　that　are　coming　it　is　the
sword　rather　than　the　book　which　will　prevail；　and　the　cares
of　state；　and　the　defence　of　the　country；　will　shortly　engross
all　my　time　and　leave　me　bu