“If the Northumbrians will receive thee again, Northumbria shalt thou have, and the King will bestow his late earldom of Wessex on Morcar; if the Northumbrians reject thee, thou shalt have all the lordships which King Harold hath promised to Gurth.”
“This is well,” answered Tostig; and he seemed to pause as in doubt;—when, made aware of this parley, King Harold Hardrada, on his coal-black steed, with his helm all shining with gold, rode from the lines, and came into hearing.
“Ha!” said Tostig, then turning round, as the giant form of the Norse King threw its vast shadow over the ground.
“And if I take the offer, what will Harold son of Godwin give to my friend and ally Hardrada of Norway?”
The Saxon rider reared his head at these words, and gazed on the large front of Hardrada, as he answered, loud and distinct:
“Seven feet of land for a grave, or, seeing that he is taller than other men, as much more as his corse may demand!”
“Then go back, and tell Harold my brother to get ready for battle; for never shall the Scalds and the warriors of Norway say that Tostig lured their king in his cause, to betray him to his foe. Here did he come, and here came I, to win as the brave win, or die as the brave die!”
A rider of younger and slighter form than the rest, here whispered the Saxon King:
“Delay no more, or thy men’s hearts will fear treason.”
“The tie is rent from my heart, O Haco,” answered the King, “and the heart flies back to our England.”