le-field, or to delay till all the forces
Harold might expect (and which he had ordered to be levied, in his rapid
march from York) could swell his host?

"If we retire before the enemy," said Gurth, "leaving him in a strange
land, winter approaching, his forage will fail. He will scarce dare to
march upon London: if he does, we shall be better prepared to encounter
him. My voice is against resting all on a single battle."

"Is that thy choice?" said Vebba, indignantly. "Not so, I am sure, would
have chosen thy father; not so think the Saxons of Kent. The Norman is
laying waste all the lands of thy subjects, Lord Harold; living on
plunder, as a robber, in the realm of King Alfred. Dost thou think that
men will get better heart to fight for their country by hearing that
their King shrinks from the danger?"

"Thou speakest well and wisely," said Haco; and all eyes turned to the
young son of Sweyn, as to one who best knew the character of the hostile
army and the skill of its chief. "We have now with us a force flushed
with conquest over a foe hitherto deemed invincible. Men who have
conquered the Norwegian will not shrink from the Norman. Victory depends
upon ardour more than numbers. Every hour of delay damps the ardour.
Are we sure that it will swell the numbers? What I dread most is not the
sword of the Norman Duke, it is his craft. Rely upon it, that if we meet
him not soon, he will march straight to London. He will proclaim by the
way that he comes not to seize the throne, but to punish Harold, and
abide by the Witan, or, perchance, by the word of the Roman pontiff. The
terror of his armament, unresisted, will spread like a panic through the
land. Many will be decoyed by his false pretexts, many awed by a force
that the King dare not meet. If he come in sight of the city, think you
that merchants and cheapmen will not be daunted by the thought of pillage
and sack? They will be the first to capitulate at the first house which
is fired. The city is weak to guard against siege; its walls long
neglected; and in sieges the Normans are famous. Are we so united (the
King's rule thus fresh) but what no cabals, no dissensions will break out
amongst ourselves? If the Duke come, as come he will, in the name of the
Church, may not the Churchmen set up some new pretender to the
crown--perchance the child Edgar? And, divided against ourselves, how
ingloriously should we fall! Besides, this land, though never b