"Is there no fighting to be read from Holy Writ that you must take these pagan vanities from where you ought not?
Go to! Yet, by reason of your care for the bishop's thane, your penance shall be light now and not heavy hereafter.

Brother Guthlac shall read aloud in refectory today the story of David and Goliath, and you brother," pointing to one, "that of Ahab at Ramoth, and you, of Joshua at Jericho," and so he went on till each had a chapter of war assigned him, and I thought it an easy penance.
"But," he added, "and until all these are read, your meals shall be untasted before you." Then the brothers looked at one another, for it was certain that all this reading would last till the meal must be left for vespers.
Then the sub-prior bade the reader take back the book and go to his own cell, and beckoning me, we passed out and left the brothers in much dismay, not knowing what should befall them from the abbot when he heard.
So I ventured to tell the sub-prior how this came about, and he smiled, saying that he should not tell Tatwine the Abbot, for the brothers were seldom in much fault, and that maybe it was laudable to search even pagan books for the manners of fiends, seeing that forewarned was forearmed.
Then he said that surely he wished (but this I need tell none else) that he had been there in my place to hear Guthlac read it.

Also that he was minded to make the old rhyme more Christian-like, if he could, writing parts of it afresh.

And this he has done since, so that any man may read it; but it is not so good as the old one [ix].
Now we came to the bishop's chamber, and he went in, calling me after him in a minute or so.

I could hear Ealhstan's voice and that of another as I waited outside.
The other was Eanulf the Ealdorman, and as I entered he rose up and faced me.
"So, Heregar," he said, "you are bishop's man now, and out of my power.
I am glad of it," and so saying he reached me out his hand and wrung mine, and looked very friendly as he did so.
"I have heard of your doings," he said, "and thank you for them.