For he was never factious nor inflamed

Against us, and 'tis just that he be heard.

(Acclamations from the Seculars.)

WULFSTAN.

I am not factious, Brethren, nor inflamed;

Fie upon thee, Pagan !

Oh, but I know thee and thy place full well.

WULFSTAN.

On Mount Olympus with the Muses nine

I ever dwelt . . . .

MONKS.

He doth confess it! Lo!

He doth confess it! Faggots and a stake!
He is a Heathen-shall a Heathen speak?

MORCAR.

I hear a voice that saith, 'Make lime of his bones.'

SIDROC.

Sirs, ye mistake him; he is a pious priest,
And what he means to say is merely this:

Against your orders and your monasteries

He speaks not; but he deems that holiest men,
If they would flourish in this warlike world,
Must feed within a fence of secular swords;
And better were it for you to engulf
But half the kingdom's treasure, so begirt,
Than to be left defenceless with the whole,
And thus be fattened but to feed the Dane.
He bids you know, that in this land this day

He finds more fat than bones, more monks than soldiers.
He bids you to the seabord look, where now
A fleet of Northmen, fifty-six tall ships,
Hang in St. George's Channel, waiting there
Till half the land shall cut each other's throats
And leave the other half a spoil to them.
Bethink you, then; escape ye hardly may
From the two puissant and prudent Earls,
Athulf and Leolf; but this granted you,

Ye do but fall a weak and present prey

To Sweyne and Olaf: wherefore make your choice,

And thrive in peace, or brave a twofold ruin.

Well said!

PRIEST.

Who's this?

MONK.

ANOTHER.

A lambskin man he is;

A fellow that puts his legs in lambskin hose.

MORCAR.

The Lord shall smite him with the botch of Egypt.

SEVERAL SECULAR PRIESTS, joined by some of the Monks, (amidst clamour and confusion).

We will have peace; we are not men of blood;
Are we not Christians all? The Dane-the Dane!

Are we not servants of the Prince of Peace?

The Northmen are upon us-Olaf and Sweyne!

[DUNSTAN throws himself on his knees, and bows his head to the ground.

SIDROC (aside to WULFSTAN).

He bends before the storm.

WULFSTAN.

Will he not speak ?

SIDROC.

I know not-yes-he is in act to hatch
A brood of pestilent words, if I mistake not.
He stirs, he moves-few moments are enough.

WULFSTAN.

They say a louse that's but three minutes old

May be a grandsire; with no less a speed

Do foul thoughts gender.

SIDROC.

Ha! we'll see anon

Faith of my body! up he goes-sit—sit.

I groan in spirit.

DUNSTAN (rising slowly).

Brethren, seek not in me

Support or counsel. The whole head is sick,
The whole heart faint; and trouble and rebuke
Come round about me, thrusting at my soul.

But, Brethren, if long years of penance sore,

For

your sake suffered, be remembered now, Deem me not utterly of God forsaken,

Deem not yourselves forsaken. Lift up your hearts.
See where ye stand on earth; see how in heaven
Ye are regarded. Ye are the sons of God,

The Order of Melchisedeck, the Law,

The visible structure of the world of spirit,
Which was, and is, and must be; all things else

Are casual, and monarchs come and go,

And warriors for a season walk the earth,

By accident; for these are accidental,

But ye eternal; ye are the soul of the world,

Ye are the course of nature consecrate,

Ye are the Church! one spirit is throughout you,

And Christendom is with you in all lands.

Who comes against you? 'Scaped from Hell's confine
A wandering rebel, fleeting past the sun,
Darkens the visage of the Spouse of Christ.
But 'tis but for a moment; he consumed
Shall vanish like a vapour, she divulged
Break out in glory that transcends herself.

The thrones and principalities of earth,
When stood they that they stood not with the aid
Of us and them before us? Azarias,

Azias, Amaziah, Saul himself,

Fell they not headlong when they fell from us?

And Oza, he that did but touch the ark?
Oh then what sin for me, what sin for you,
For me victorious in a thousand fights
Against this foe, for you as oft redeemed,
That now we falter ! Do we falter ? No!
Thou God that art within me when I conquer,
I feel thee fill me now! Angelic Host,