Puslapio vaizdai
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Look down the valley. If the day be won,
A white flag flying in a horseman's hand
Shall fan you from afar, and kindle joy

In all your hearts.

EMMA.

No, never more in mine.

SIDROC.

If it be lost, perchance you shall descry

Some remnant that may fight their way to Wales,
In shelter of the mountains to abide

Till better times.

ETHILDA.

Commend me to the King,

And tell Earl Athulf I am strong in hope,
Rejoicing alway in his absolution,

And trusting we shall meet to part no more.

R

[Exeunt.

SCENE XI.

THE WALLS OF MALPAS.

DUNSTAN. HARCATHER. A MESSENGER.

DUNSTAN.

The Dane! The Dane!' Why pesterest thou mine ears

With that perpetual cry?

How face the Dane,

Not knowing yet if Edwin be for peace?

For

HARCATHER.

peace, Lord Abbot nay, he cannot chuse.

DUNSTAN.

Let me know that, I say; let me know that.

See ye the Herald coming?

MESSENGER.

Ay, my Lord.

At Herald's pace.

HARCATHER.

These fellows dream and prance,

Ever as in a pageant and procession.

DUNSTAN.

I bade him,-when in sight of Edwin's camp.

HARCATHER.

If he be now in sight thereof, that camp

Is nearer than we thought. It may be so.

MESSENGER.

But lo! he pricks his prancing to a gallop;

And see, my Lord, from forth the valley's gorge

Issues a cloud of dust.

HARCATHER.

By Egbert's bones,

It is the dust of Edwin's army. Stay

A gleam comes through it-Run thou to my son,
And bid him lead the forces out forthwith.

Send me my horse.

DUNSTAN.

What think'st thou ?

Is it war?

HARCATHER.

Else wherefore this advance ? To horse to horse!

DUNSTAN.

Stop; be not hasty; now the Herald comes ;

Hear we his tale.

HERALD enters.

Well, Sir, what saith the King?

HERALD.

He saith, my Lord, what I should but blaspheme

Should I recite it.

DUNSTAN.

What! thine office, Herald !

Speak me the very words.

HERALD.

My Lord, he saith

That with a bloody and a barbarous hand

You have torn out the very sweetest life

That ever sanctified humanity.

He saith that should he covenant to make peace
With the revolted Angels, yet with you

He would not, for he deems you more accursed,
And deeper in perdition. And he saith

Not she that died at Gibeah, whose twelve parts
Sent several through the borders and the coasts
Raised Israel, was avenged more bloodily
Than shall Elgiva be, the murdered Queen.
Wherefore he bids you come to battle forth,
And add another crime or answer this.

DUNSTAN.

Harcather, hear'st thou ? To the field-away!

The gates of Hell stand wider than their wont

To let this Infidel and his army pass.

[Exeunt.

SCENE XII.

BEFORE THE WALLS OF MALPAS.

The left of the field. Alarums and skirmishing. Enter ATHULF and SIDROC with forces.

ATHULF.

Three minutes till the rearward force is up

Halt for three minutes-Sidroc, look, oh, look!
The King is plunging madly forward still.

Either an ambush he will find or else

They'll lure him through the gates. Go to him, Sidroc.

SIDROC.

No need of ambush for that headlong boy—

A town is not so manifest a trap

But it shall catch him.

ATHULF.

Fly, then, to his side,

And bring him back.

There yet is time,—I think.

But now the rearward gathers up behind,

And lo! Harcather comes against us. Charge!

[Exeunt.

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