I have seen richer gifts given, and heard more words said; but what he gave seemed always that which was wanted, and the word he spoke was always the best that could have been.

And I have wondered at the mighty churches which Carl the Great had reared and was still rearing, but in some wise it seemed to me that the way of Ethelbert was of more worth.
Now, seeing that we had started with our minds full of portents, it is not by any means wonderful that we found more on the road.

For a time, if a horse did but cast a shoe, the thane it belonged to shook his head and wished that naught ill might come of the little delay.

And once, when we stumbled into a fog among the river country of the midlands, where one would expect to meet with it, there was nigh a panic in the company, so that the thanes crowded round Ethelbert and begged him to return.

Whereon he laughed at them gaily.
"Thanes, thanes!" he cried, "one can no more see to return than to go forward! I might take it as a warning not to go back, just as well.