EDWIN (kneeling). Oh God! I pray Thee that Thou shorten not my days, That was my mother! ELGIVA. Never was she that: A mother vacant of a mother's heart Is in the sight of Nature none. DUNSTAN. Thou darest! And seest thou in what presence? Be thou warned! Thy witcheries that inflame this carnal King The channel as of mercies, so of wrath. EDWIN. Heed them not, Elgiva. ELGIVA. Content thee! never were they heeded less By God or by his Angels than by me. EDWIN. Insolent Churchmen! You renounce the World! All in it that is loving, or can be loved, You'll teach yourselves and others to renounce, Because cold vanities with meagre heats Alternate, have consumed you to the core, And given your hearts the dry-rot. Meddlesome Monks! The love it is not in you, or to feel For women, or from womankind to win, You ostentatiously deny yourselves As atrophy denies itself to fatten. ELGIVA. What worth are you to us, that set no store By you or by your threats? I tell thee, Priest, I do make no account of thee. DUNSTAN. Fly hence, Pale Prostitute! Avaunt, rebellious Fiend, Which speakest through her! Thy lawful wife! How lawful? By what law? Incest and fornication! DUNSTAN. Who art thou? I see thee, and I know thee-yea, I smell thee! And rotten member, was this mockery, That was no marriage, made to seem a marriage? Lord Abbot, by no RICOLA. DUNSTAN. What then, was it thou? The Church doth cut thee off and pluck thee out! A Synod shall be summoned! Chains for both! I Chains for that harlot, and for this dog-priest! Oh wall of Jezreel ! EDWIN. Villains, stand ye back! Stand from the Queen . . . . Oh, had I but a sword! Loose me or I will . . . . ODO. Sir, be calm, and know 'Tis for your own behoof and for your Crown's. ELGIVA. Be of good comfort, Edwin; we shall meet I will not put you to that shame to force me. ODO. [She is taken out. Thou Queen! Go, get thee gone! A crown for thee! No, nor a head to put it on to-morrow. THE QUEEN-MOTHER. Alack! the law is sharp. But Gurmo, run, See she have Christian burial; speed thee, Gurmo. DUNSTAN. Madam, your pardon. Gurmo, wait on me. EDWIN. Elgiva, oh Elgiva! Oh, my wife! I'll find thee friends, though now.... Oh, traitors! slaves! When I have raised my force, I'll bring you bound That made thy hateful womb my habitation Ere DUNSTAN. Lord Primate, thou hast crowned a baby's brow. [Exit. [Exit ODO. Friends, quit not my Lord Primate. Follow all. [Exeunt all but HARCATHER, who stays behind on a sign from DUNSTAN. Harcather, haste; convey Elgiva hence With speed to Chester, and in strictest ward [Exit HARCATHER. So shall we brandish o'er the enamoured King I 2 [Exit. |