Save by the apposition of the present.

And truths of olden time, though truths they be, And living through all time eternal truths,

Yet want the seasoning and applying hand

Which Nature sends successive.

Else the need

Of wisdom should wear out and wisdom cease,

Since needless wisdom were not to be wise.

For surely if

LEOLF.

The theme I have to broach

Respects a certain marriage, which for my sake,

Though it will certes take you unprepared,
Yet you must leniently look upon

And auspicate with smiles.

WULFSTAN.

A marriage say you?

My good Lord, I rejoice in your resolve.
To marry wisely is to double wisdom,
And breed a progeny of bright rewards,
Which wisdom single, monachal or lay,
Woefully wants. For think what it must be
To watch in solitude our own decay,
Jealously asking of our observation

G

If ears, or eyes, or brains, or body fail,

And not to see the while new bodies, brains,
New eyes, new ears, about us springing fresh,
And to ourselves more precious than are ours.
And this it is.

LEOLF.

I give you my consent

That a wise marriage is the crowning act

Which queenly Wisdom's sovereignty secures ;
For love is wisdom, when 'tis innocent:

The season comes with you

When love that 's innocent may well be wise.
But not inevitably one with wisdom

Is innocent love at all times and with all.

Love changes with the changing life of man :

In its first youth, sufficient to itself,

Heedless of all beside, it reigns alone,

Revels or storms, and spends itself in passion.

In middle-age,—a garden through whose soil
The roots of neighbouring forest trees have crept,—
It strikes on stringy customs bedded deep,

Perhaps on alien passions; still it grows

And lacks not force nor freshness: but this age
Shall aptly chuse as answering best its own,
A love that clings not, nor is exigent,

Encumbers not the active purposes,

Nor drains their source; but proffers with free grace
Pleasure at pleasure touched, at pleasure waived,
A washing of the weary traveller's feet,

A quenching of his thirst, a sweet repose

Alternate and preparative, in groves

Where loving much the flower that loves the shade, And loving much the shade that that flower loves, He yet is unbewildered, unenslaved,

Thence starting light and pleasantly let go

When serious service calls.

LEOLF.

'Tis all most true.

But of these tidings you misjudge the tenour.

'Tis not of mine, but of your daughter's marriage,

I am to speak.

WULFSTAN.

My daughter, my good Lord!

Must she be married?

LEOLF.

'Twas her will to be;

And upon Wednesday she gave it way.

WULFSTAN.

Was married upon Wednesday? It is strange ! She was a child but yesterday, and now

A woman and a wife! O' Wednesday—

And unto whom, I pray you, was she married?

LEOLF.

To one whose comeliness in woman's eye
Excels the gifts of fortune that he wants;
To one whose innocence in the eye of Heaven
Excels the excellence of an erring wit :

To Ernway.

WULFSTAN.

You astonish me, my Lord.

It is most strange; indeed 'tis singular!

She never mentioned it to me.

LEOLF.

In that

She missed of what was filially owing

To a kind parent, for which lapse through me

She craves forgiveness.

She is my daughter, but no more my child;

And therein is a loss to parents' hearts

Exceeding great.

Enter an OFFICER.

OFFICER.

My Lord, there 's news from Court ;

They seek you at the Castle, whither is come
Oscar, that 's so much trusted of Earl Athulf,
With letters.

LEOLF.

Of what purport, did he say?

Does all go well?

OFFICER.

To take his word, my Lord,

They speak of nothing but prosperity.

My Lord Archbishop, with a loyal will,

Abets the coronation, in whose wake