So I went there at the
head of them, with more shouting of people.
There was Wulfhere sitting on the doorsteps of the great door, having a
bag in his hand, and when I got up to him, he thrust it out to me,
saying "largess", and that I was glad enough to understand.
So I put my hand into the bag, and crying, "Here is withal to drink to
Somerset and Dorset shoulder to shoulder," scattered the silver pennies
among them, and so left them without any order among them at all, though
shoulder to shoulder certainly.
"Ho, master!" said Wulfhere, "you looked mighty angry when you were
carried aloft an hour ago."
"Aye," said I, "'tis pity a thane cannot walk abroad quietly on his own
business."
"Well, well, they thought that you were their business, doubtless."
"Whence came all those pennies?" I asked, for we had no store at all to
cast away.
"From Eanulf and Ealhstan," said Wulfhere, laughing. "They came to me,
and saying that they were sore jealous, and minded to have good cause
therefor, gave me this that you might carry off all well to the end."
And that was good of them, for else I know not how I should have left
the men without more speech making.
Just then came the ealdorman into the hall where we were, and laughing,
asked me if I meant to take all that following to Salisbury.
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