Читать книгу The Conquerors: The Pageant of England - Thomas B. Costain - Страница 11

Table of Contents

The strongest of the three men had won.

Never in history, perhaps, have the qualities which make a successful dictator been combined more perfectly and completely in one vigorous frame and one keen brain. William was a great warrior as well as an astute general. No other man, according to legend, had the strength to bend his bow. But this perfect fighting machine was topped by a forehead of splendid proportions, and behind that fine brow a brain was at work. He was shrewd, sagacious, farseeing. He planned everything out in advance like a chess champion who figures seven or eight moves ahead. During the years that he reigned as King of England he did many things which verged on genius. His was a stern and thorough rule, but this must be said: he imposed it on his own followers as well as on the conquered Anglo-Saxons.

Like all dictators, he kept the reins in his own hands. He could be just, but he never allowed justice to stand in the way of expediency. Any hint of opposition or double-dealing drove him into tempestuous rages, and when in these fits of anger he was like a mad boar. Revenge was a strong motive with all Normans; with William the Conqueror it was a black urge which drove him to the most horrible cruelties.

When Robert, the first-born son, began to quarrel with William, the Queen was much disturbed and sent to a German hermit who was supposed to have the gift of prophecy, asking advice as to how the dissension could be cured. The hermit replied in part: “The Most High has made known to me in a dream the things you desire to know. I saw in my vision a beautiful pasture, covered with grass and flowers, and a noble charger feeding therein. A numerous herd gathered round about, eager to enter and share the feast, but the fiery charger would not permit them to approach near enough to crop the flowers and herbage. But, alas! The majestic steed, in the midst of his pride and courage, died, his terror departed with him, and a poor silly steer appeared in his place as the guardian of the pasture....”

The hermit had struck the nail squarely on the head. The Conqueror would not share the beautiful pasture which was England with anyone, not even his first-born. He wanted to keep to himself all the responsibilities and the power, and all the glory.

No one can study the life of William without being amazed at his genius and in equal degree appalled by his ruthlessness and cruelty.