The Wounded King Harold is Killed by
the Normans
"And now the
Normans had pressed on so far that at last they had reached
the standard. There Harold had remained, defending himself to
the utmost; but he was sorely wounded in his eye by the arrow,
and suffered grievous pain from the blow. An armed man came in
the throng of the battle, and struck him on the ventail* of
his helmet, and beat him to the ground; and as he sought to
recover himself a knight beat him down again, striking him on
the thick of his thigh, down to the bone.
Gurth saw the English falling around, and that there was no
remedy. He saw his race hastening to ruin, and despaired of
any aid; he would have fled, but could not, for the throng
continually increased. And the Duke pushed on till he reached
him, and struck him with great force. Whether he died of that
blow I know not, but it was said that he fell under it and
rose no more.
"The standard was beaten down, the golden standard was taken,
and Harold and the rest of his friends were slain; but there
was so much eagerness, and throng of so many around, seeking
to kill him, that I know not who it was that slew him."
* Ventail - The
lower, movable part of the front of a medieval helmet, fitting
over the mouth or neck
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