Part 14 (1/2)
”He is a fool,” said Gurth, ”who believes in luck, which no brave man ought to do. No brave man should trust to luck. Every one has his day of death; you say you were born on a Sat.u.r.day, and on that day also you may be killed.”
Meanwhile, a fresh company came in sight, covering all the plain; and in the midst of them was raised the gonfanon that came from Rome. Near it was the duke, and the best men and greatest strength of the army were there. The good knights, the good va.s.sals and brave warriors were there; and there were gathered together the gentle barons, the good archers, and the lancemen, whose duty it was to guard the duke, and range themselves around him. The youths and common herd of the camp, whose business was not to join in the battle, but to take care of the harness and stores, moved off towards a rising ground. The priests and the clerks also ascended a hill, there to offer up prayers to G.o.d, and watch the event of the battle.
Harold saw William come, and beheld the field covered with arms, and how the Normans divided into three companies, in order to attack at three places. I know not of which he was most afraid; but his trouble was so great that he could scarcely say, ”We are fallen on an evil lot, and I fear much lest we come to shame. The count of Flanders hath betrayed me: I trusted to him, and was a fool for so doing; when he sent me word by letter, and a.s.sured me by messages that William could never collect so great a chivalry. On the faith of his report I delayed my preparations, and now I rue the delay.”
Then his brother Gurth drew near, and they placed themselves by the standard; each praying G.o.d to protect them. Around them were their kinsmen, and those barons who were their nearest friends; and they besought all to do their best, seeing that none could now avoid the conflict. Each man had his hauberk on, with his sword girt and his s.h.i.+eld at his neck. Great hatchets were also slung at their necks, with which they expected to strike heavy blows. They were on foot in close ranks, and carried themselves right boldly; yet if they had foretold the issue, well might they have bewailed the evil fate--cruel and hard of a truth--that was approaching. OLICROSSE[1] they often cried, and many times repeated G.o.dEMITE[2]. 'Olicrosse' is in English what 'Sainte Croix' is in French, and 'G.o.demite' the same as 'Dex tot poissant' in French.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
The Normans brought on the three divisions of their army to attack at different places. They set out in three companies, and in three companies did they fight. The first and second had come up, and then advanced the third, which was the greatest; with that came the duke with his own men, and all moved boldly forward.
As soon as the two armies were in full view of each other, great noise and tumult arose. You might hear the sound of many trumpets, of bugles and of horns; and then you might see men ranging themselves in line, lifting their s.h.i.+elds, raising their lances, bending their bows, handling their arrows, ready for a.s.sault and for defence. The English stood steady to their post, the Normans still moving on; and when they drew near, the English were to be seen stirring to and fro; men going and coming; troops ranging themselves in order; some with their colour rising, others turning pale; some making ready their arms, others raising their s.h.i.+elds; the brave man rousing himself to the fight, the coward trembling at the approaching danger.
[Footnote 1: Holy cross. M. de la Rue's MS. reads 'Alicrot.']
[Footnote 2: G.o.d Almighty.]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER XX.
HOW TAILLEFER SANG, AND THE BATTLE BEGAN.
Then Taillefer[1] who sang right well, rode mounted on a swift horse before the duke, singing of Karlemaine, and of Rollant, of Oliver and the va.s.sals who died in Renchevals[2]. And when they drew nigh to the English, ”A boon, sire!” cried Taillefer; ”I have long served you, and you owe me for all such service. To-day, so please you, you shall repay it. I ask as my guerdon, and beseech you for it earnestly, that you will allow me to strike the first blow in the battle!”
And the duke answered, ”I grant it.” Then Taillefer put his horse to a gallop, charging before all the rest, and struck an Englishman dead, driving his lance below the breast into his body, and stretching him upon the ground[3]. Then he drew his sword, and struck another, crying out ”Come on! come on! What do ye, sirs? lay on! lay on!” At the second blow he struck, the English pushed forward and surrounded him[4].
Forthwith arose the noise and cry of war, and on either side the people put themselves in motion. The Normans moved on to the a.s.sault, and the English defended themselves well. Some were striking, others urging onwards; all were bold, and cast aside fear.
AND NOW, BEHOLD! THAT BATTLE WAS GATHERED WHEREOF THE FAME IS YET MIGHTY.
Loud and far resounded the bray of the horns; and the shocks of the lances; the mighty strokes of clubs, and the quick clas.h.i.+ng of swords.
One while the Englishmen rushed on, another while they fell back; one while the men from over sea charged onwards, and again at other times retreated. The Normans shouted DEX AIE, the English people UT[5]. Then came the cunning manuvres, the rude shocks and strokes of the lance and blows of the sword, among the Serjeants and soldiers, both English and Norman. When the English fall, the Normans shout. Each side taunts and defies the other, yet neither knoweth what the other saith; and the Normans say the English bark, because they understand not their speech.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Some wax strong, others weak; the brave exult, but the cowards tremble, as men who are sore dismayed. The Normans press on the a.s.sault, and the English defend their post well; they pierce the hauberks, and cleave the s.h.i.+elds; receive and return mighty blows. Again some press forwards; others yield, and thus in various ways the struggle proceeds.
In the plain was a fosse[6], which the Normans had now behind them, having pa.s.sed it in the fight without regarding it. But the English charged and drove the Normans before them, till they made them fall back upon this fosse, overthrowing into it horses and men. Many were to be seen falling therein, rolling one over the other, with their faces to the earth, and unable to rise. Many of the English also, whom the Normans drew down along with them, died there. At no time during the day's battle did so many Normans die, as perished in that fosse. So those said who saw the dead.
The varlets who were set to guard the harness began to abandon it, as they saw the loss of the Frenchmen, when thrown back upon the fosse without power to recover themselves. Being greatly alarmed at seeing the difficulty in restoring order, they began to quit the harness, and sought around, not knowing where to find shelter. Then Odo, the good priest, the bishop of Bayeux, galloped up, and said to them, ”Stand fast! stand fast! be quiet and move not! fear nothing, for if G.o.d please, we shall conquer yet.” So they took courage, and rested where they were; and Odo returned galloping back to where the battle was most fierce, and was of great service on that day. He had put a hauberk on, over a white aube; wide in the body, with the sleeve tight; and sat on a white horse, so that all might recognise him. In his hand he held a mace, and wherever he saw most need, he led up and stationed the knights, and often urged them on to a.s.sault and strike the enemy.
[Footnote 1: Bishop Guy, in his _Carmen de bello Hastingensi_, thus describes Taillefer,
'INCISOR FERRI mimus cognomine dictus.'