University of Virginia Library

Scene IV.

—A fortified causeway leading to a chapel near the Tower of London.—Thorbiorga is discovered leaning with her harp against a parapet in the background. The bell for vespers is ringing, and parties pass towards the chapel. Enter in front a patrol of two Soldiers.
1st Soldier.
A minstrel, is she?

2nd Soldier.
By her garb, I think,
A fortune-teller.

1st Soldier.
I have seen the day
When such would travel with a princely train,
Welcome to clerk and layman, thane and churl;
But they may trudge afoot and lack a meal
Now that the monks are uppermost, God wot!

2nd Soldier.
Filth of the wicked! dotage of the Gentiles!
Is all they get from them. But Heida still
And Thorbiorga, though their state is fallen,
Hold up their heads. I know not but that yon
Is Thorbiorga's self. Pass on this side.

[Exeunt.
Enter Ethilda with Attendants, who pass on.
Ethilda.
Forward, my maidens; I will follow soon.
The sunset with a warm and ruddy light
Colours the coldness of these gloomy walls
And glances in the casements; for the day
Makes a good end. Earl Athulf's emissary
By this time should be here. I think she comes.
Enter Emma.
Maiden, I thank you for your diligence.
Have you the gold? How light a foot is yours!
But is it the Earl's custom to be served
By women in such things?

Emma.
Madam, of me
He had assurance from the Heretoch,
Who knows me from my cradle, and avouched
That I was gifted with a woman's wit
And ready with my tongue; and for my heart,
It had its own fidelity, he said,
And true to him would be if not to truth.

Ethilda.
Yes, so you serve the Heretoch, not Athulf.

Emma.
Earl Athulf at the Heretoch's behest;
And they are so entwined that serving one
Is serving both.

Ethilda.
No, no, you serve not both;
You serve Earl Leolf only.

Emma.
If it please you.
Here is the gold; with this, he said, your way
Would soon be opened to the King, whose heart
Should then be comforted and fortified,
And through his prison doors should see the light,
Expecting his deliverance.

Ethilda.
His heart
Is carefuller for the Queen's than for his own:
Is nothing known of her?

Emma.
Nor yet of her,
Nor of the Heretoch, had tiding reached
Earl Athulf's camp: but I had hope to meet
The sorceress Thorbiorga; by her art,
Or by forerunning of intelligence,
What happens to the Heretoch is hers
So soon as it befalls if not before.
But I have sought her fruitlessly. What's here?
I think I see her now.

Ethilda.
If this be she,
Her errand is to us.

Emma.
Regard her not,
For she is freest of her utterance
When least observed or importuned. Talk on.

Ethilda.
I think I asked you—yes—how looked the Earl
When last you saw him?

Emma.
Wasted much. His hair,
Which was not till this year so much as grizzled,
Is almost grey.

Ethilda.
Earl Athulf grey?

Emma.
No, no,
Earl Leolf, Madam.

Ethilda.
Oh! your pardon. Well,
How looked Earl Athulf?

[Thorbiorga, who has been advancing and touching her harp fitfully, now plays a low prelude.
Emma.
Madam, I may say
Like yonder archway, one half in the shade,
The other in the sun; for hope shines through him.

Thorbiorga
(sings).
By sun and moon,
By fire and flood,
By well and stone,
And ashen wood,
By lot and torch,
By dreams and thunder,
Comes that above
That would be under.

Emma.
She will draw nearer, if you mark her not;
She's cunning and holds off from questioning,
But she will drop you what she has to tell.

Thorbiorga
(sings again).

Ethilda.
She cannot tell us of a victory past
But she must dash the triumph of our joy
With bodings of the future. Be it so;
'Twixt telling and foretelling, one is sure,
The other not.

Emma.
Hush! Madam; she can hear.

Ethilda.
Well, Thorbiorga, hast thou aught to say?

Thorbiorga.
Princess, I may not tarry. To the King
Earl Leolf sends his duty, and therewith
This writing. Fare you well.

[Exit.
Ethilda.
Stay, Thorbiorga.
She's gone; but this shall tell us. Can you read?

Emma
(reads).

“Your Highness shall know that a battle hath been fought
and won. Ella the younger led Prince Edgar's power,
which ran and left him on the field. I have entered into
Staffordshire. Further forward I cannot, and back I
will not. The Queen (whom God preserve!) is in life,
but in durance: wherein she will remain till your
Highness or Earl Athulf can help me. For her safety,
I am assured thereof at present, holding in pawn the
lives of three revolted Earls, which have fallen into my
hands. For her deliverance, should I attempt it of myself,
I should but put her to more hazard. Meantime fear
not that aught can approach you from the West.
“Yours in all duty and fealty,

“The Earl Leolf.”

Ethilda.
This, if I could but to the King convey it,
Would much sustain his spirit.

Emma.
Please you, Madam,
To use the gold I brought you—it is done.

[Trumpets sound at a distance.
Ethilda.
Hark! the patrol comes round; pass to the chapel.