the dragon and the raven-第7章

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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　but　little　leisure　for　the　studies　I
love　so　well。〃

〃There　are　the　lands；〃　the　king　said；　〃of　Eabald；
Ealdorman　of　Sherborne；　in　Dorset。　He　died　but　last　week
and　has　left　no　children。　These　lands　I　will　grant　to　Edmund
in　return　for　liege　and　true　service。〃　The　lad　knelt　before
the　king；　and；　kissing　his　hand；　swore　to　be　his　true　and
faithful　thane；　and　to　spend　land；　goods；　and　life　in
his　service。

〃And　now；〃　the　king　said；　〃since　the　audience　is　over；
and　none　other　comes　before　us　with　petitions；　we　will　retire
to　our　private　apartments；　and　there　my　brother　Alfred　will
present　you　to　the　fair　Elswitha；　his　wife。〃

The　room　into　which　Egbert　and　Edmund　followed　the
king　and　his　brother　was　spacious　and　lofty。　The　walls　were
covered　with　hangings　of　red　cloth；　and　a　thick　brown　baize
covered　the　floor。　The　ceiling　was　painted　a　dark　brown
with　much　gilding。　Round　the　sides　of　the　room　stood　several
dressers　of　carved　oak；　upon　which　stood　gold　and　silver　cups。

On　a　table　were　several　illuminated　vellums。　At　Croyland
Edmund　had　seen　a　civilization　far　in　advance　of　that　to　which
he　had　been　accustomed　in　his　father's　abode；　but　he　saw
here　a　degree　of　luxury　and　splendour　which　surprised　him。
Alfred　had；　during　his　two　visits　to　Rome；　learned　to
appreciate　the　high　degree　of　civilization　which　reigned　there；
and　many　of　the　articles　of　furniture　and　other　objects　which
met　Edmund's　eye　he　had　brought　with　him　on　his　return
with　his　father　from　that　city。

Across　the　upper　end　of　the　room　was　a　long　table　laid
with　a　white　cloth。　Elswitha　was　sitting　in　a　large　gilded　chair
by　the　great　fire　which　was　blazing　on　the　hearth。

Prince　Alfred　presented　Edmund　and　Egbert　to　her。
Elswitha　was　well　acquainted　with　the　Ealdorman　Eldred；　as
his　lands　lay　on　the　very　border　of　her　native　Mercia；　and　she
received　the　lad　and　his　kinsman　with　great　kindness。　In　a
short　time　they　took　their　places　at　table。　First　the
attendance　brought　in　bowls　containing　broth；　which　they
presented；　kneeling；　to　each　of　those　at　table。　The　broth　was
drunk　from　the　bowl　itself；　then　a　silver　goblet　was　placed　by
each　diner；　and　was　filled　with　wine。　Fish　was　next　served。
Plates　were　placed　before　each；　but　instead　of　their　cutting
food　with　their　own　daggers；　as　Edmund　had　been　accustomed
to　see　in　his　father's　house；　knives　were　handed　round。
After　the　fish　came　venison；　followed　by　wild　boar；　chickens；
and　other　meats。　After　these　confections；　composed　chiefly
of　honey；　were　placed　on　the　table。　The　king　and　Prince
Alfred　pledged　their　guests　when　they　drank。　No　forks　were
used；　the　meat　as　cut　being　taken　up　by　pieces　of　bread　to
the　mouth。　During　the　meal　a　harper　played　and　sung。

Edmund　observed　the　decorum　with　which　his　royal
hosts　fed；　and　the　care　which　they　took　to　avoid　dipping　their
fingers　into　their　saucers　or　their　plates。　He　was　also　struck
with　the　small　amount　of　wine　which　they　took；　for　the　Saxons
in　general　were　large　feeders；　and　drank　heavily　at
their　meals。

When　the　dinner　was　over　a　page　brought　round　a　basin　of
warm　water；　in　which　lavender　had　been　crushed；　and
each　dipped　his　fingers　in　this　and　then　dried　them　on　the
cloth。　Then　at　Prince　Alfred's　request　Egbert　again　related
in　full　the　details　of　the　two　days'　desperate　struggle　at
Kesteven；　giving　the　most　minute　particulars　of　the　Danes'
method　of　fighting。　Egbert　and　Edmund　then　retired　to　the
royal　guest…house　adjoining　the　palace；　where　apartments
were　assigned　to　them。

After　remaining　for　a　week　at　Reading　they　took　leave
of　the　king　and　started　for　the　lands　which　he　had　assigned
to　Edmund。　They　were　accompanied　by　an　officer　of　the
royal　household；　who　was　to　inform　the　freemen　and　serfs　of
the　estate　that　by　the　king's　pleasure　Edmund　had　been
appointed　ealdorman　of　the　lands。　They　found　on　arrival　that
the　house　had　been　newly　built；　and　was　large　and　comfortable。
The　thanes　of　the　district　speedily　came　in　to　pay　their
respects　to　their　new　ealdorman；　and　although　surprised　to
find　him　so　young；　they　were　pleased　with　his　bearing　and
manner；　and　knowing　that　he　came　of　good　fighting　blood
doubted　not　that　in　time　he　would　make　a　valiant　leader。　All
who　came　were　hospitably　entertained；　and　for　many　days
there　was　high　feasting。　So　far　removed　was　this　part　of
England　from　the　district　which　the　Danes　had　invaded；
that　at　present　but　slight　alarm　had　been　caused　by　them；
but　Edmund　and　his　kinsman　lost　no　time　in　impressing　upon
them　the　greatness　of　the　coming　danger。

〃You　may　be　sure；〃　he　said；　〃that　ere　long　we　shall　see
their　galleys　on　the　coast。　When　they　have　eaten　up　Mercia
and　Anglia　they　will　assuredly　come　hither；　and　we　shall　have
to　fight　for　our　lives；　and　unless　we　are　prepared　it　will　go
hard　with　us。〃

After　he　had　been　at　his　new　residence　for　a　month
Edmund　sent　out　messengers　to　all　the　thanes　in　his　district
requesting　them　to　assemble　at　a　council；　and　then　formally
laid　the　matter　before　them。

〃It　is；　above　all　things；〃　he　said；　〃necessary　that　we　should
have　some　place　where　w