midnight
Harold promises him life , and will plead for his pardon . And though the peace of this realm , and the fortune of war , forbid Harold to say , ` Thou shalt yet be a king ; ' yet thy crown , son of Llewellyn , shall at least be assured in the line of thy fathers , and the race of Cadwallader shall still reign in Cymry . '' The monk paused , and hope and joy were in the faces of the famished chiefs ; while two of the Traitor Three suddenly left their post , and sped to tell the message to the spearmen and multitudes above . Modred , the third conspirator , laid his hand on his hilt , and stole near to see the face of the King ; -- the face of the King was dark and angry , as a midnight of storm . Then , raising the cross on high , Evan resumed . `` And I , though of the people of Gwentland , which the arms of Gryffyth have wasted , and whose prince fell beneath Gryffyth 's sword on the hearth of his hall -- I , as God 's servant , the brother of all I behold , and , as son of the soil , mourning over the slaughter of its latest defenders -- I , by this symbol of love and command , which I raise to the heaven , adjure thee , O King , to give ear to the mission of peace , -- to cast down the grim pride of earth . And instead of the crown of a day , fix thy hopes on the crown everlasting .