SONG.
In the hall of Leodwulf was made good cheer;
On the board was a bowl, by the wall was a spear;
The spear and the bowl looked each at each,
And the thoughts that rose in them wrought to speech.
Bowl.
Thou in the corner so grim and spare,
Who sent thee hither? What dost thou there?
Spear.
I came of the ash-tree Ygdrasil,
And do her bidding for woe or weal.
Bowl.
For whom the weal, for whom the woe?
Spear.
Say who thou art, and thou shalt know.
Bowl.
Broach the cask and fill me full—
I am the bold Logbrogdad's skull.
Spear.
Thou liest, or else thou leak'st; for once
I pierced the bold Logbrogdad's sconce.
Bowl.
I neither lie nor leak. Behold!
The hole is here and pieced with gold.
Spear.
I pray thee grace. 'Twas through that hole
Passed out the bold Logbrogdad's soul.
Bowl.
Then answer make that all may know,
For whom the weal, for whom the woe?
Spear.
The weal is their's who do no wrong,
And crown with gifts the sons of song.
The woe is theirs who fain would flood
Their father's land with brethren's blood.
Their deeds the eagle and the kite
Shall judge, and God shall guard the right.
[
Re-enter
Grith
and
Offa.]
Great Chamberlain.
How now?
Offa.
My Lords, his Highness greets you well.
He bids us say that he has calls elsewhere,
And loves not too much quaffing, which is wont
To leave you with less reason than the beasts,
Rolling upon the floor. Wherefore, my Lords,
He prays you with all love and courtesy
To hold his Grace excused, for he is young,
And loves not quaffing.
Odo.
Will ye suffer this?
If rated thus for nothing, what's your fate
When standing for your liberties ye check him?
If thus affronted at the festive board,
What in the Witenagemót awaits you?
Tosty.
He loves not quaffing!
Harcather.
Rolling on the floor!
Athulf.
Sirs, for his Highness's too hasty message,
I grant it ill-advised; but, Sirs, his youth,
If ye will temperately consider . . .
Harcather.
Youth!
Hath youth a privilege to maltreat the old?
Ecfrid.
He loves not quaffing! Ah, my good Lord Athulf,
But what else loves he? There are sins beside.
Say he had left us for a lady's bower—
There is a revelling he impugns not.
Dunstan.
Ha!
Ecfrid.
What lady she may be, my good Lord Athulf,
Concerns not us.
Odo.
Ho! some of you go forth
And seek the King, and say to him from me
That he, or willingly or not, perforce
Must instantly return; and see ye bring him.
Athulf.
Whoso shall take that errand from this hall,
Let him take that therewith.
[
Throws his glove on the floor. Three or four
Earls
start up in their seats. In the mean
time
Gurmo
has entered, and spoken apart to
Dunstan.
Dunstan
(rising).
My Lords, sit still. I'll bring the boy myself.
Here, varlets, sweep this litter from the floor.
[Spurns the glove with his foot as he passes and exit.
Athulf.
(his hand on his sword).
Which of you here that wears not frock nor hood
Will this vile Abbot's vilest act avouch?
Several Earls of the Monachal party lay their hands on their swords and spring upon the
floor. The company rises in disorder.
Seneschal.
Peace, ho! My Lords, bethink ye where ye are;
He that within the palace draws his sword
Doth forfeit an Earl's were. Peace, peace, be still!
Keep the King's peace!
Harcather.
Not I, for one.
Tosty.
Nor I.
Others.
Nor I; nor I.
Seneschal.
Then who will keep it not
Let him withdraw, and not pollute with blood
The precincts of the palace.
Eadbald.
Then withdraw.
Many voices.
Withdraw! withdraw!
Harcather.
Keep the King's peace? If longer than three minutes
I keep it, may I die in my bed like a cow!
