Athelstane had this quality at least; and though he had few mental accomplishments or talents to recommend him as a leader, he had still a goodly person, was no coward, had been accustomed to martial exercises, and seemed willing to defer to the advice of counsellors more wise than himself.
Ami a szász királyi vért illeti, ez az egy legalább megvolt Athelstane-ben, ha szellemi képességei nem is tették alkalmassá a vezérségre. De voltak jó tulajdonságai is.