proud sight of those long lines of valiant men, whose hearts had beat
and whose hands had triumphed in the same cause, all aided to link his
senses with the gladness of the hour.

And now, as night advanced, Leofwine, who was ever a favourite in the
banquet, as Gurth in the council, rose to propose the drink-hael,
which carries the most characteristic of our modern social customs to
an antiquity so remote, and the roar was hushed at the sight of the
young Earl's winsome face. With due decorum, he uncovered his head
[252], composed his countenance, and began:

"Craving forgiveness of my lord the King, and this noble assembly,"
said Leofwine, "in which are so many from whom what I intend to
propose would come with better grace, I would remind you that William,
Count of the Normans, meditates a pleasure excursion, of the same
nature as our late visitor, Harold Hardrada's."

A scornful laugh ran through the hall.

"And as we English are hospitable folk, and give any man, who asks,
meat and board for one night, so one day's welcome, methinks, will be
all that the Count of the Normans will need at our English hands."

Flushed with the joyous insolence of wine, the wassailers roared
applause.

"Wherefore, this drink-hael to William of Rouen! And, to borrow a
saying now in every man's lips, and which, I think, our good scops
will take care that our children's children shall learn by heart,--
since he covets our Saxon soil, 'seven feet of land' in frank pledge