over these palace walls while the armed invader pitched his camp in
the heart of England. By delay, William's force, whatever it might
be, cannot grow less; his cause grows more strong in our craven fears.
What his armament may be we rightly know not; the report varies with
every messenger, swelling and lessening with the rumours of every
hour. Have we not around us now our most stalwart veterans--the
flower of our armies--the most eager spirits--the vanquishers of
Hardrada? Thou sayest, Gurth, that all should not be perilled on a
single battle. True. Harold should be perilled, but wherefore
England? Grant that we win the day; the quicker our despatch, the
greater our fame, the more lasting that peace at home and abroad which
rests ever its best foundation on the sense of the power which wrong
cannot provoke unchastised. Grant that we lose; a loss can be made
gain by a king's brave death. Why should not our example rouse and
unite all who survive us? Which the nobler example--the one best
fitted to protect our country--the recreant backs of living chiefs, or
the glorious dead with their fronts to the foe? Come what may, life
or death, at least we will thin the Norman numbers, and heap the
barriers of our corpses on the Norman march. At least, we can show to
the rest of England how men should defend their native land! And if,
as I believe and pray, in every English breast beats a heart like
Harold's, what matters though a king should fall?--Freedom is
immortal."

He spoke; and forth from his baldric he drew his sword. Every blade,
at that signal, leapt from the sheath: and, in that council-hall at
least, in every breast beat the heart of Harold.