Wise was Grim when he chose to stay in
the place where he had chanced to come, if it were not more than chance
that brought him. I suppose that for all time the ships that are from
Grimsby will be free from all dues in the ports that are Havelok's in
the Danish land. Witlaf, the good old thane, bides in his place yet, and
he rejoices ever that he had a hand in bringing Havelok up. Nor does our
king forget that.
Indeed, I think that he forgets naught but ill done toward him. Never is
a man who has done one little thing for him overlooked, if he is met by
our king after many years, and that is a royal gift indeed.
I would that all married folk were as are this royal couple of ours.
Never are they happy apart, and never has a word gone awry between them.
If one speaks of Havelok, one must needs think of Goldberga; and if one
says a word of the queen, one means the king also. Happy in their people
and in their wondrous fair children are they, and that is all that can
be wished for them.
There was one thing wanting for long years, that I and Withelm ever
longed for for Havelok--a thing for which Goldberga prayed ever. I
came to them from Queen Bertha in Kent, when good old David died; and at
that time Havelok was not a Christian, but surely the most Christian
heathen that ever was. I knew that he must come into the faith at some
time; and I, at least, could not find it in my heart to blame him
altogether for holding to the Asir whom his fathers worshipped.
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