The old oak is not to be transplanted, and the old man keeps the ground where his youth took root." The Duke, who with some difficulty comprehended the general meaning of Siward's speech, bit his lip, but replied courteously: "The youths of all nations may learn from renowned age.

Much doth it shame me that I cannot commune with thee in the ancestral tongue; but the angels at least know the language of the Norman Christian, and I pray them and the saints for a calm end to thy brave career." "Pray not to angel or saint for Siward son of Beorn," said the old man hastily; "let me not have a cow's death, but a warrior's; die in my mail of proof, axe in hand, and helm on head.

And such may be my death, if Edward the King reads my rede and grants my prayer." "I have influence with the King," said William; "name thy wish, that I may back it." "The fiend forfend," said the grim Earl, "that a foreign prince should sway England's King, or that thegn and earl should ask other backing than leal service and just cause.

If Edward be the saint men call him, he will loose me on the hell-wolf, without other cry than his own conscience." The Duke turned inquiringly to Rolf; who, thus appealed to, said: "Siward urges my uncle to espouse the cause of Malcolm of Cumbria against the bloody tyrant Macbeth; and but for the disputes with the traitor Godwin, the King had long since turned his arms to Scotland." "Call not traitors, young man," said the Earl, in high disdain, "those who, with all their faults and crimes, have placed thy kinsman on the throne of Canute." "Hush, Rolf," said the Duke, observing the fierce young Norman about to reply hastily.

"But methought, though my knowledge of English troubles is but scant, that Siward was the sworn foe to Godwin ?" "Foe to him in his power, friend to him in his wrongs," answered Siward.
"And if England needs defenders when I and Godwin are in our shrouds, there is but one man worthy of the days of old, and his name is Harold, the outlaw." William's face changed remarkably, despite all his dissimulation; and, with a slight inclination of his head, he strode on moody and irritated.
"This Harold! this Harold!" he muttered to himself, "all brave men speak to me of this Harold! Even my Norman knights name him with reluctant reverence, and even his foes do him honour;--verily his shadow is cast from exile over all the land." Thus murmuring, he passed the throng with less than his wonted affable grace, and pushing back the officers who wished to precede him, entered, without ceremony, Edward's private chamber.
The King was alone, but talking loudly to himself, gesticulating vehemently, and altogether so changed from his ordinary placid apathy of mien, that William drew back in alarm and awe.