king Harald said to the Northmen who were with him, "Do ye
know the stout man who fell from his horse, with the blue kirtle and the
beautiful helmet?"

"That is the king himself." said they.

The English king said, "A great man, and of stately appearance is he;
but I think his luck has left him."

94. OF THE TROOP OF THE NOBILITY.

Twenty horsemen rode forward from the Thing-men's troops against the
Northmen's array; and all of them, and likewise their horses, were
clothed in armour.

One of the horsemen said, "Is Earl Toste in this army?"

The earl answered, "It is not to be denied that ye will find him here."

The horseman says, "Thy brother, King Harald, sends thee salutation,
with the message that thou shalt have the whole of Northumberland; and
rather than thou shouldst not submit to him, he will give thee the third
part of his kingdom to rule over along with himself."

The earl replies, "This is something different from the enmity and scorn
he offered last winter; and if this had been offered then it would have
saved many a man's life who now is dead, and it would have been better
for the kingdom of England. But if I accept of this offer, what will he
give King Harald Sigurdson for his trouble?"

The horseman replied, "He has also spoken of this; and will give him
seven feet of English ground, or as much more as he may be taller than
other men."

"Then," said the earl, "go now and tell King Harald to get ready for
battle; for never shall the Northmen say with truth that Earl Toste left
King Harald Sigurdson to join his enemy's troops, when he came to fight
west here in England. We shall rather all take the resolution to die
with honour, or to gain England by a victory."

Then the horseman rode back.

King Harald Sigurdson said to the earl, "Who was the man who spoke so
well?"

The earl replied, "That was King Harald Godwinson."

Then, said King Harald Sigurdson, "That was by far too long concealed
from me; for they had come so near to our army, that this Harald should
never have carried back the tidings of our men's slaughter."

Then said the earl, "It was certainly imprudent for such chiefs, and it
may be as you say; but I saw he was going to offer me peace and a great
dominion, and that, on the other hand, I would be his murderer if I
betrayed him; and I would rather he should be my murderer than I his, if
one of two be to die."

King Harald Sigurdson observed to his men, "That was but