"
And Torfrida told him all she knew of the great fight on Heathfield
Down--which men call Senlac--and the Battle of Hastings. And as she told
it in her wild, eloquent fashion, Hereward's face reddened, and his eyes
kindled. And when she told of the last struggle round the Dragon
[Footnote: I have dared to differ from the excellent authorities who say
that the standard was that of "A Fighting Man"; because the Bayeux
Tapestry represents the last struggle as in front of a Dragon standard,
which must be--as is to be expected--the old standard of Wessex, the
standard of English Royalty. That Harold had also a "Fighting Man"
standard, and that it was sent by William to the Pope, there is no reason
to doubt. But if the Bayeux Tapestry be correct, the fury of the fight for
the standard would be explained. It would be a fight for the very symbol
of King Edward's dynasty.] standard; of Harold's mighty figure in the
front of all, hewing with his great double-headed axe, and then rolling in
gore and agony, an arrow in his eye; of the last rally of the men of Kent;
of Gurth, the last defender of the standard, falling by William's sword,
the standard hurled to the ground, and the Popish Gonfanon planted in its
place,--then Hereward's eyes, for the first and last time for many a year,
were flushed with noble tears; and springing up he cried: "Honor to the
Godwinssons! Honor to the Southern men! Honor to all true English hearts!
Why was I not there to go with them to Valhalla?"
Torfrida caught him round the neck.
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