University of Virginia Library

Scene VI.

—A Chamber in the Tower.
Dunstan
(alone).
If miracles were wrought in the olden time
More needful are they now. 'Tis He! 'tis He!
'Tis God that speaks; His will, His word, His voice.
But erring men, because their eyes behold
The channel, undiscerning of the source,
Misdeem His voice for mine. Through sight they err;
Through seeing what is fleshly they are deaf
In spirit, nor can know the voice of God.
Oh, that the grace were given me to tear off
These mummeries and maskings of the flesh,
That so their souls, delivered and discharged
From vain bewilderments of sense, redeemed
From human 'scapes and diabolic wiles,
Should know 'tis verily God's voice they hear!
Then what if in the Synod . . . what if there . . . Enter Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, and Ethelwald, Bishop of Winchester.

Whom have we now? So, so! what cheer, my Lords?
Or, let me say, what tiding? For our cheer,
If God be gracious to us, flies not round
With every gust.

Oswald.
The Synod is assembling
With seculars commixed. We hear that still
Earl Athulf hangs at Tonbridge; but his force
Daily increaseth. It is good we go.
This hour we meet the Synod in good heart,
What cometh with the next we know not.

Dunstan.
Nay,
Who trusteth knoweth. To the Synod then;
But let us be expected for a season
Before we show ourselves.