Act I - Page 2

our broad Earl. [Pointing to HAROLD, who enters.

HAROLD (seeing GAMEL). Hail, Gamel, son of Orm! Albeit no rolling stone, my good friend Gamel, Thou hast rounded since we met. Thy life at home Is easier than mine here. Look! am I not Work-wan, flesh-fallen?

GAMEL. Art thou sick, good Earl?

HAROLD. Sick as an autumn swallow for a voyage, Sick for an idle week of hawk and hound Beyond the seas--a change! When camest thou hither?

GAMEL. To-day, good Earl.

HAROLD. Is the North quiet, Gamel?

GAMEL. Nay, there be murmurs, for thy brother breaks us With over-taxing--quiet, ay, as yet-- Nothing as yet.

HAROLD. Stand by him, mine old friend, Thou art a great voice in Northumberland! Advise him: speak him sweetly, he will hear thee. He is passionate but honest. Stand thou by him! More talk of this to-morrow, if yon weird sign Not blast us in our dreams.--Well, father Stigand-- [To STIGAND, who advances to him.

STIGAND (pointing to the comet). War there, my son? is that the doom of England?

HAROLD. Why not the doom of all the world as well? For all the world sees it as well as England. These meteors came and went before our day, Not harming any: it threatens us no more Than French or Norman. War? the worst that follows Things that seem jerk'd out of the common rut Of Nature is the hot religious fool, Who, seeing war in heaven, for heaven's credit Makes it on earth: but look, where Edward draws A faint foot hither, leaning upon Tostig. He hath learnt to love our Tostig much of late.

LEOFWIN. And he hath learnt, despite the tiger in him, To sleek and supple himself to the king's hand.

GURTH. I trust the kingly touch that cures the evil May serve to charm the tiger out of him.

LEOFWIN. He hath as much of cat as tiger in him. Our Tostig loves the hand and not the man.

HAROLD. Nay! Better die than lie!

Enter KING, QUEEN, and TOSTIG.

EDWARD. In heaven signs! Signs upon earth! signs everywhere! your Priests Gross, worldly, simoniacal, unlearn'd! They scarce can read their Psalter; and your churches Uncouth, unhandsome, while in Normanland God speaks thro' abler voices, as He dwells In statelier shrines. I say not this, as being Half Norman-blooded, nor as some have held, Because I love the Norman better--no, But dreading God's revenge upon this realm For narrowness and coldness: and I say it For the last time perchance, before I go To find the sweet refreshment of the Saints. I have lived a life of utter purity: I have builded the great church of Holy Peter: I have wrought miracles--to God the glory-- And miracles will in my name be wrought Hereafter.--I have fought the fight and go-- I see the flashing of the gates of pearl-- And it is well with me, tho' some of you Have scorn'd me--ay--but after I am gone Woe, woe to England! I have had a vision; The seven sleepers in the cave at Ephesus Have