"I trust you are not the bearer of other than
good tidings; but will you first refresh yourself, since it is ill
talking between the full and the fasting?"
"With gladness do I accept your bounty; for I have ridden since early
dawn, and rider and horse are both exhausted."
"There is corn for your horse, and food and wine for his master.
"Uhred, take charge of the steed.
"Alfred, my son, place that best joint of beef before the stranger, and
those wheaten cakes.
"I drink to you, fair sir."
The messenger seemed in no hurry to open his tale until he had eaten and
drunk, and it was with the greatest patience that the thane, who was one
of nature's gentlemen, awaited his leisure.
At length the messenger looked up, and pushed his wooden platter aside.
"I have come to be the bearer of good tidings to you, noble thane. Edwy,
your king, with a small troop of horse, his royal retinue, proposes
honouring your roof with his presence, and asks bed and board of his
loyal subject, Ella of Aescendune."
"The king's will is my law; and since it pleases the son of my late
beloved master, King Edmund, to visit me, he shall find no lack of
hospitality. But may I ask what sudden event has brought him into the
heart of our country?"
"He comes to chastise rebellion. A large force of several thousand men
crosses the river a few miles higher this evening, and, not to incommode
you with numbers, King Edwy comes apart from his followers.
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