ΕΜΜΑ.

Oh, my Lords, for that,

The spirit within him, when it works to speech,

Fears neither saint nor devil.

LEOFWYN.

That is well.

Yet touch not Dunstan with too rough a hand, But rather against us be seen to bear.

WULFSTAN.

My Lord Archbishop and Lords Suffragans,
I have considered of my speech, and first
The order of the topics have set down

With notes and comments, if it please you, thus:
Exordium with a forecast of the close:

A forecast of the close; for mark, my Lords,

An argument or abstract setting forth

In the beginning of my discourse the end,

With index to the bearings and the junctures,

Shall quicken you to apprehend my drift

And by a foreknown relevancy clench

The links and consequents, that so my speech

May, like the serpent with his tail in his mouth,

Rejoin itself, whilst in its perfect round

Its lithe articulation stands approved.

LEOFWYN.

We doubt not of your skill, but what in chief
Concerns us, is the matter and the purport.

WULFSTAN.

The dangers of division to the realm
I feelingly expose: Next I commend

The golden mean,-that wisdom's triumph true
Which seeks no conquest save by wisdom's ways
And scorns to trust to fortune or to force.

Earl Athulf's dispositions shall I then
Duly develop; him shall I disclose

As one whose courage high and humour gay
Cover a vein of caution, his true heart,
Intrepid though it be, not blind to danger,
But through imagination's optic glass

Discerning, yea and magnifying it may be,

What still he dares. Him in these colours dressed

I shall set forth as prompt for enterprise

By reason of his boldness, and yet apt
For composition, owing to that vein

Of fancy which enhances, prudence which wards

Contingencies of peril. Then from a scroll
Subscribed by him I read the proffered terms,
And in my oratorical conclusion

Draw my speech round to dangers of the realm
Seen in divisions, and the joys of peace.

ODO.

'Tis dexterously devised, and with our aid
Shall win the general suffrage of the Synod.
For certain of your friends the Seculars,
By secret incitation heartened up,

Will give their voices. Till the Synod meets,
Beseech you be not seen abroad. Farewell!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A FORTIFIED CAUSEWAY LEADING TO A CHAPEL
NEAR THE TOWER OF LONDON.

HEIDA is discovered leaning with her harp against a parapet in the back-ground. The bell for Vespers is ringing, and parties pass towards the Chapel. Enter in front a patrol of Two SOLDIERS.

A minstrel, is she?

FIRST SOLDIER.

SECOND SOLDIER.

By her garb, I think,

A fortune-teller.

FIRST SOLDIER.

I have seen the day

When such would travel with a princely train,
Welcome to clerk and layman, thane and churl ;
But when the Monks came uppermost they fell.

SECOND SOLDIER.

Filth of the wicked! dotage of the Gentiles !
Is all they get from them. But Heida still
And Thorbiorga, though their state is fallen,

Hold up their heads. I know not but that yon
Is Heida's self. Pass on this side, I pray.

[Exeunt.

Enter ETHILDA with Attendants who pass on.

ETHILDA.

Forward, my maidens; I will follow you.—
The sunset with a warm and ruddy light
Colours the coldness of these gloomy walls
And glances in the casements; for the day
Makes a good end. Earl Athulf's emissary
By this time should be here. I think she comes.

Maiden, I thank you

Enter EMMA.

for your diligence.

Have you the gold? How light a foot is yours!

But is it the Earl's custom to be served

By women in such things?

EMMA.

Madam, of me

He had assurance from the Heretoch,

Who knows me from my cradle, and avouched

That I was gifted with a woman's wit,

And ready with my tongue; and for

my heart