to him for ever!"

"Drink-hael to William the Norman!" shouted the revellers; and each
man, with mocking formality, took off his cap, kissed his hand, and
bowed [253]. "Drink-hael to William the Norman!" and the shout rolled
from floor to roof--when, in the midst of the uproar, a man all
bedabbled with dust and mire, rushed into the hall, rushed through the
rows of the banqueters, rushed to the throne-chair of Harold, and
cried aloud, "William the Norman is encamped on the shores of Sussex;
and with the mightiest armament ever yet seen in England, is ravaging
the land far and near!"