Page:The Antiquities of Hastings and the Battlefield.pdf/130

fights his way and reaches him -- and with great force pierced his breast. They laid the standard low and slew King Harold and the best of his friends. They took the golden banner. Such eagerness was there to kill Harold that I know not who slew him . The English felt great sorrow for that they had lost king Harold , and that the Duke had vanquished and that the standard was beaten down : still for long they fought, for long defended themselves : so that at the last the day turned to its decline: and then they saw too well that the standard was fallen and the news came and spread that Harold in very sooth was dead, They look for no further succour; from the battle they depart. Those fly who can . Harold was found dead among the dead. William fought well, engaged in many a melee, many a blow he gave,many received, and by his hand many died . Two horses were slain under him . . . . . . The Duke William in his pride, where the standard had stood , ordered his banner to be brought and there he had it raised on high. This was the sign that he had vanquished . . . . . His barons, knights and squires, all said , never did Baron ride or fight so well or do such feats of arms. Since Rowland and since Oliver such a knight had not been in the land.