He needs to have judgment. Then
will he know better than to leave his men like sheep without a leader. The old
proverb has it right, 'When the chief fails, the host quails.' It was when
they had become frightened about him that they began to give way, and after
that it was easy for any oaf to jump out of the bushes and put them to
flight."
This time the Etheling's smile was rather unwilling. "Oh! If you think fit to
set at naught a brave deed because nothing arose from it! After his father's
cowardice, such energy and dauntlessness alone--"
"Dauntlessness!" the old cniht snorted again. "It is the dauntlessness of the
man in Father Ingulph's story, who was so much wiser than his advisers that he
must try to drive the sun a new way, till it came so nigh as it nighest may to
setting the world afire." So hot was his scorn that he was obliged to cool it
in his ale, coming to the surface slightly mollified. "However, Lord Sebert,
you have cast your colt's-teeth, and I have no desire to tread upon the toes
of your dignity. If I have been over-free, excuse it in your father's old
servant and comrade who has guarded and guided you since--since you have had
teeth to cast."
The young man laughed good-humoredly as he straightened himself for action.
"Too often has my dignity bent under your rod, Morcard, to hold itself very
stiff against you now.
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