Soon she was the fortunate mother of Kanute and Harald.

When these princes had attained man's estate, they put forth a fleet and quelled the reckless insolence of the Sclavs.

Neither did they leave England free from an attack of the same kind.

Ethelred was delighted with their spirit, and rejoiced at the violence his nephews offered him; accepting an abominable wrong as though it were the richest of benefits.

For he saw far more merit in their bravery than in piety.
Thus he thought it nobler to be attacked by foes than courted by cowards, and felt that he saw in their valiant promise a sample of their future manhood.
For he could not doubt that they would some day attack foreign realms, since they so boldly claimed those of their mother.