Now on this matter I heard Wislac speak to Aldhelm, who sat facing him,
and holding his aching head with both hands.
"So, friend," quoth Wislac, "as touching that matter of dispute we had.
How stands the account?"
"I know not, nor care," said Aldhelm. "All I wot is that my head is like
to split."
"Nay, that will it not, having stood such a stout blow," said Wislac,
laughing. "Cheer up, and count our score of heads."
"I can count but one head, and that my own. Let it bide."
"So, that is better," said Wislac. "I should surely have been slain five
times by my own count, but it seems I am wrong. Wherefore I must have
escaped somehow. And that is all I know about it."
Then he turned to me, and asked if I had noted any doings at all.
And when I thought, all I could remember plainly were the fall of the
tall chief I slew, and the coming of Ealhstan, and the attack of the
berserk, and no more; all the rest was confused, and like a dream. So I
said that it seemed to me that we had had no time to do more than mind
ourselves, but that withal my shield wall had kept the standard. And
that kept, there need be no question as to who had done best.
Then Wislac nodded, after his wont, and said that if Aldhelm was content
so was he.
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