noon
Not till the air of night came once more on his brow , and the moonlight rested on the roofs and fanes of the land entrusted to his charge , was the man once more the human hero ; not till she was alone in her desolate chamber , and the terrors of the coming battle-field chased the angel from her thoughts was the maid inspired , once more the weeping woman . A little after sunrise the abbess , who was distantly akin to the house of Godwin , sought Edith , so agitated by her own fear , that she did not remark the trouble of her visitor . The supposed miracle of the sacred Image bowing over the kneeling King , had spread dismay through the cloisters of both nunnery and abbey ; and so intense was the disquietude of the two brothers , Osgood and Ailred , in the simple and grateful affection they bore their royal benefactor , that they had obeyed the impulse of their tender credulous hearts , and left the monastery with the dawn , intending to follow the King 's march -LSB- 255 -RSB- , and watch and pray near the awful battle-field . Edith listened , and made no reply ; the terrors of the abbess infected her ; the example of the two monks woke the sole thought which stirred through the nightmare dream that suspended reason itself ; and when , at noon the abbess again sought the chamber , Edith was gone ; -- gone , and alone -- none knew wherefore -- one guessed whither . All the pomp of the English army burst upon Harold 's view , as , in the rising sun , he approached the bridge of the capital . Over that bridge came the stately march , -- battle-axe , and spear , and banner , glittering in the ray . And as he drew aside , and the forces filed before him , the cry of ; `` God save King Harold ! ''