To leave you with less reason than the beasts, And loves not quaffing. ODO. Will ye suffer this? If rated thus for nothing, what's your fate When, standing for your liberties, ye check him? If thus affronted at the festive board, What in the Witenagemót awaits you? He loves not quaffing! TOSTY. HARCATHER. Rolling on the floor! ATHULF. Sirs, for His Majesty's too hasty message, HARCATHER. Youth! Hath youth a privilege to maltreat the old ? ECFRID. He loves not quaffing! Ah, my good Lord Athulf, But what else loves he? There are sins beside. Say he had left us for a lady's bower There is a revelling he impugns not. DUNSTAN. Ha! ECFRID. What lady she may be, my good Lord Athulf, Concerns not us. ODO. Ho! some of you go forth, And seek the King, and say to him from me, That he, or willingly or not, perforce Must instantly return; and see ye bring him. ATHULF. Whoso shall take that errand from this hall, Let him take that therewith. (Throws his glove on the floor. Three or four Earls start up in their seats. In the meantime GURMO has entered, and spoken apart to DUNSTAN.) My Lords, sit still. DUNSTAN (rising). I'll bring the boy myself. Here, varlets, sweep this litter from the floor. (Spurns the glove with his foot as he passes, and Exit.) ATHULF (his hand on his sword). Which of you here, that wears not frock nor hood, (Several Earls of the Monachal party lay their hands on their swords, and spring upon the floor. The company rises in disorder.) THE SENESCHAL. Peace, ho! My Lords, bethink ye where ye are; He that within the palace draws his sword Let him withdraw, and not pollute with blood The precincts of the palace. Withdraw! withdraw! EADBALD. Then withdraw. MANY VOICES. HARCATHER. Keep the King's peace ? If longer than three minutes [Exeunt omnes with tumult and confusion. SCENE VII. AN APARTMENT LEADING TO AN ORATORY IN THE ROYAL RESIDENCE AT SHEEN. As the Scene opens, EDWIN and ELGÍVA are discovered before the Altar in the Oratory, and RICOLA, the King's Chaplain, is joining their hands. They all three then advance out of the Oratory to the front. RICOLA. So be ye one from this time forth for ever, In love and peace to live! A hasty rite Hath solemnized your nuptials; not the less Be ye observant of the sacred bonds Wherein ye stand contracted for all time. My sovereign Lord and Lady, ye are young, Helpful, and fullest of comfort, next to God. EDWIN. My honoured friend, We thank you for this service, one of many, Our secret kept, the Queen abides with you. I must return to Kingston; but ere midnight Once more you'll see me here. Farewell till then. [Exit RicoLA. Elgiva! Oh, past expression beautiful and dear, And now my own for ever! Let my soul Be satisfied, for 'tis a joy so great |