THE TWO HAEALDS. 
375 
The Earl replies, “ If I accept this offer, what will 
my brother the King give to Harald Hardrada for 
his trouble ? ” 
“ He will give him,” says the Knight, “ seven feet 
of E7iglish ground, or as much more as he may be 
taller than other men ” 
“ Then,” says the Earl, “ let the English King, my 
brother, make ready for battle, for it never shall be 
said that Earl Toste broke faith with his friends when 
they came with him to fight west here in England.” 
When the knights rode off, King Harald Hardrada 
asked the Earl, “ Who was the man who spoke so 
well?” 
The Earl replied, “ That knight was Harold of 
England.” 
The stern Norwegian King regrets that his enemy 
had escaped from his hands, owing to his ignorance of 
this fact; but even in his first burst of disappointment, 
the noble Norse nature speaks in generous admiration 
of his foe, saying to the people about him, “ That was 
but a little man, yet he sat firmly in his stirrups.” 
The fierce, but unequal combat is soon at an end, 
and when tardy succour arrives from the ships, Harald 
