 | Edwin the Fair |  |
Scene V.
—Malpas.—Dunstan surrounded by Ealdermen and Military Leaders of the Monastic Party.Dunstan.
No more of Witenagemóts—no more—
Councils and courts we want not.—Get ye back,
Back to your posts, and pluck me forth your swords,
And let me hear your valiant deeds resound,
And not your empty phrases. Ecfrid, Gorf,
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Whitchurch lies open to the enemy—
Burley and Baddeley have sold themselves—
Wistaston is as naked as Godiva
And not so honest. Eadbald, Ida, Brand,
What seek ye here when honour is in the field?
Forth to your charges!—What! Ceolwulf too!
Enter the Coastwardens, Ceolwulf and Æthelric.
And Æthelric! Why come ye hither, Sirs?
Must ye too have your parley and your prate
And leave your charges in extremity
To join this gossiping Gemót? St. Bride!
Is Somerset not worth your pains, my Lords,
Or hath the Dane, too, from the seaboard slunk
To prattle about peace?
Ceolwulf.
Lord Abbot, hear;
We are not come . . .
Dunstan.
Not come to pule and prate?
What are ye come for? If aught else ye seek,
Ye seek it where it is not. Back to your charge!
Æthelric.
You will not hear, my Lord; we have no charge—
We have no force; our men are slain, ourselves
Escaped by miracle; the Northmen, led
By Sweyne and Olaf, landed yesternight
In Porlock Bay and clipped us round at Stoke,
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An easy prey. Not twenty men are left
To tell the tale.
Dunstan.
In Porlock Bay! At Stoke!
—Have I not bid you to your posts, my Lords,
And must I bid you twice? Get ye hence all.
If news ye came for, ye have heard it.—Stop,
Ceolwulf. Whither go the Northmen next?
Ceolwulf.
To Glastonbury it is thought, my Lord.
Dunstan.
To Glastonbury do they go? Alas!
My mother there lies sick.
| Edwin the Fair | |