To send her from me angry! Tush! to-morrow—

Had she but said, Good night!

Enter CLARENbald.

CLARENBALD.

My Lord, well met !

If I be late, let them that are to come

Plead for me.

ATHULF.

Nay, you do but prove it true

That ever are the busiest the most punctual.

CLARENBALD.

Sir, they have leisure. Only frugal men

Are truly liberal, and for like cause

Will he that husbands time have time to spare.

Enter THE KING, with EARLS LEOLF, SIDROC, ALWINE,
THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, and two or three other
Lords of the Council.

EDWIN.

My Lords, we meet you here to be advised

Touching our coronation. My Lord Chancellor

Will set this thing before you.

CLARENBALD.

My good Lords,

What, if I err not, each of us with each

Hath weighed in several conference, The King's Grace
Commands me that I finally propound

For your collective sanction. From the West
Come tidings that the Monks of Glastonbury
(Doubtless apt implements of their Abbot they!)
Have practised with Prince Edgar in such sort
As hardly may decline the name of treason.
Whilst they this child's simplicity seduce,
Their brethren in the ignorant multitude
Work a persuasion that the King not crowned
Lacks half the warrant of his sovereignty,

Which till the Pope thro' them shall please bestow,
The kingdom is disposable. This creed

Spreads day by day, and till the King be crowned
Will daily breed new dangers. From the hands

Of

my

Lord Primate, neither crown nor chrism
By any instance can the King obtain :

Wherefore, my Lords, our counsel to his Grace
Methinks should be, that scattering like the sun
All clouds of hindrance and delay, at once

He should rise crowned, and on a summer's morn
Shine in the feeble faces of the monks

A consummated Monarch.

EDWIN.

And his aid

Will this true servant of the Church and State

Afford us [turning to the BISHOP OF ROCHESTER]
From whose pure and holy hands

Much rather than from that disloyal Odo's

Would we receive the Crown.

THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER.

Most Royal Sir,

Much honoured were the See of Rochester,

More honoured still were these unworthy hands,

Should they perform the office.

EDWIN.

Sirs, your votes.

You, my Lord Heretoch, speak first.

LEOLF.

The time

Forces conclusions, and Necessity

Sits in the seat of Counsel. Dunstan gains
By every hour's delay, and with my will
Uncrowned your Majesty shall not remain
Beyond St. Austin's eve.

ATHULF.

All hail that eve!

Dunstan would rather Beelzebub were crowned.

SIDROC.

And Odo when he washed the Devil's feet

(Shame to him for his pains!) felt not his nose
So sorely troubled as his ears will be

To hear of this. Enough-St. Austin's eve
We're all agreed on.

THE REST. All.

LEOLF.

Then must all join

Their speediest with their wariest endeavour

To bring up forces.

CLARENBALD.

To this end, my Lords,

His Majesty will give you means to meet
In cover of the chase your chiefest friends,
And Wednesday he appoints a day of sport
For hunting of the boar. He then with us
Will lose himself, bewildered in the wood,
And others that shall likewise lose themselves
Shall find him, and in sylvan convocation

Shall all consult together and concert

The parts that each shall play.

EDWIN.

Agreed.

THE REST. Agreed.

EDWIN.

Then for this present, trusted friends, we part.

SCENE V.

ANOTHER CHAMBER IN THE PALACE.

ELGIVA AND ETHILDA.

ELGIVA.

How is it I find favour in the sight

Of the Queen Mother, and so suddenly ?
When I was last at Court no word she spake
Of welcome by herself, the King, or thee.
Whence is the change?

ETHILDA.

[Exeunt

I know not; but I know

That but one change in thee would work in us

All love that thou couldst wish. Oh, sweet Elgiva,