University of Virginia Library

SCENE XII.

St. Benedict's Chapel in the Cathedral.
Becket before the Altar. John of Salisbury, Bosham, Gryme.
Becket.
Who closed that door?—Open it, I command!
What! will ye make a Castle of a Church?

The Conspirators rush in.
De Traci.
Where is the traitor?

Brito.
Where is the Archbishop?

Becket.
Here am I, an Archbishop, but no traitor!

De Morville.
Will you absolve the Prelates?

Becket.
No!

Brito.
Will you to Winchester,
And beg the young King's grace, for your attempt
Most traitorous to discrown him?

Becket.
I made none,
And will beg grace of none, save God on high!

De Traci.
You are my prisoner;—come along, proud traitor!

Becket.
Take off that impious hand, which dares profane
My stole immaculate; or I will shake thee,
Vile reptile, off, and trample thee in the dust!
Bosham, let be!—I have an arm as stout
As any stalking Norman of them all!—
Away!

[He casts De Traci from him, who draws.
De Traci.
(Aiming at Becket, strikes off the arm of Richard Gryme.)
Get thee a wooden one, thou false confessor,
To bless thee with! thou supple, whispering knave!

Becket and his friends are assaulted by the Conspirators, many of whom Becket overthrows.
Fitz-Urse.
Here strikes King Harry!

[Cleaving Becket down.
Becket.
Execrabilis esto!

[Dies.
Scene closes.