SCENE IV.

A CHAMBER IN THE PALACE,

Enter Emma and ERNWAY,

EMMA.

Take this to Sheen. Seek Father Ricola out ;
Tell him the King shall follow in an hour,
And then Elgiva.-Ernway, if thou lov'st me,
Be sudden and be secret.

ERNWAY.

Trust me, Emma,

I will be both.

EMMA.

Here is the private stair Which brings thee past the ward, and with this key ... How dark it is! Be careful how you step.

[Ereunt. SCENE V.

ANOTHER CHAMBER IN THE PALACE.

SIGERIC (the Archbishop's Secretary), and BridFERTH

(Dunstan’s Chaplain.)

SIGERIC.

He's sure then she hath fallen ?

BRIDFERTH.

He thinks he's sure.

He says he hath an insight and an art
Which tells it him.

SIGERIC.

My Lord of Canterbury
Is not so well assured ; though still the Abbot
Doth overrule him with his certainties.
But this his Grace desires, that not the less
You watch her every step.

BRIDFERTH.

His Grace is right.
It is the languid, not the lively warmth
That most endangers women. He is right.

SCENE VI.

THE BANQUETING HALL.

Are seated at the board, all the Male Guests who passed through

in the Third Scene. But the King's place is vacant. Goblets are passed from hand to hand. GRIMBALD the Jester stands behind the chair of state.

HARCATHER.

Comes not the King again ?

CEOLWULF.

Surely he will.

TOSTY

He will! Nay, nay, he must.

DUNSTAN.

Content yourselves; It cannot be but he will come again. He cannot mean us such disparagement As thus, and at this high and solemn feast, To quit his guests, the noblest of the land, Without a 'God be with you,' or a word To sheathe the sharp directness and the sting Of such a plain offence.

IDA.

"Twere good, my Lords, We sent our humble duty to the King, Craving his expedite return.

GREAT CHAMBERLAIN.

Grith, Offa,
Go seek the King ; and say his noble guests
Find themselves by his absence overcast
As with a cloud, and pray his swift return.

[Exeunt Grith and Offa.

GRIMBALD.

Betwixt the new ship and the headland old
The dolphins ducked and the waters rolled.
Worse and more of it! the wind went mad-
But the pilot he drank no more than he had.

TOSTY.

I say, my Lords, if I,
Not being sick nor drunk, jump from my seat,
And turn on this illustrious company
My back, that is not comelier, nor more pleasant,
Nor acceptabler than another man's,
Why then, my Lords, let me be who I may,
I
say

I offer to this company,
Not being drunk, a strange discourtesy,
And quite the obverse of a salutation.

ÆTHELRIC.

Bear this, and we shall....

CLARENBALD.

Tut! he'll come again.
Pass round the goblet. Eadric, take the harp,
And sweeten our carouse with minstrelsy.

[Music. After which, re-enter Grith and Offa.

THE GREAT CHAMBERLAIN.

How now?

OFFA.

My Lords, His Gracious Majesty
Bids us to say that he has calls elsewhere,
And loves not too much quaffing, which is wont