Who would have thought that upon the proud day when this battle was won, the very gale which waved the Saxon banners in triumph, was filling the Norman sails, and impelling them to the fatal shores of Sussex?--Who would have thought that Harold, within a few brief days, would himself possess no more of his kingdom, than the share which he allotted in his wrath to the Norwegian invader?--Who would have thought that you, noble Athelstane--that you, descended of Harold's blood, and that I, whose father was not the worst defender of the Saxon crown, should be prisoners to a vile Norman, in the very hall in which our ancestors held such high festival?"
Ki gondolta volna, hogy néhány nap múlva Haroldnak sem marad már királyságából több föld, mint amennyit haragjában a norvég betolakodónak ígért? És ki gondolta volna, hogy te, nemes Athelstane, aki Harold véréből származol, és én, akinek ősei mindig megállták helyüket a szász fejedelmek védelmében, egy hitvány normann foglyai leszünk - méghozzá ugyanabban a csarnokban, ahol elődeink oly fényes ünnepségeket ültek?