We have to trap them and beat them here." "So then, Wulfhere," I said, "think you that the plan is good ?" "Aye," he answered, "good enough; but not easy.

Moreover, I doubt if the bishop would let his standard bearer part from him." That was likely enough to stop all the plan; but yet I would lay it before Ealhstan, for it seemed to us that such a message might by no means go untold at least.
So we sought him, and asked for speech with him; and at that he laughed, saying that surely his council had the best right to that.

Osric was with him, and the bishop told him how that we three had been his first advisers in this matter.
Then we sat down and I told Ealhstan all, asking nothing.
When I had ended, Osric looked at me, and said that the plan was venturesome; but no doubt possible to be carried out, and if so, by none better than myself, who knew every inch of that country.

Then, thinking over it, as it were, he added that the woods beyond Matelgar's hall would shelter any force that must needs seek cover, so that, even were Combwich hill unsafe, there was yet a refuge whence attack could again be made.
Then Ealhstan, who had listened quietly, said that such messages were rare, but all the less to be despised.

Therefore would he think thereof more fully.
"What," he asked, "is the main difficulty ?" I said that the crossing of Parret was like to be hard in any case; but at night and unobserved yet more so.