University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

The Saxon Camp. A Sentinel behind. Moonlight.
Enter Anlaf: he looks cautiously round, cuts a sod from the earth, and buries under it the gifts he has received from Ethelstan: then departs. After a time, enter Ethelstan and Haco.
Ethelstan.
How peacefully yon Moon enjoys her reign,
No rival mooting it, till she descends
Of her own will, and yields her studded throne
To her heaven-sanction'd heritor!—How smooth
And green is this fresh sward, which by to-morrow
Will be dug rough with hoofs, and plough'd with spears,
And stain'd with rueful purple! O War, war,
Thou stern amusement of ambitious minds!
Have I loved thee too well, and not the cause
That hallows thee,—succeeding honour and peace?—
(To the Sentinel.)
How goes it, soldier? All seems quiet here?

Sentinel.
Yes, sire, and will remain so, since our enemies
Come to our camp, and mix with us as friends!

Haco.
What means the churl to speak so blunt to kings?

Sentinel.
I mean that Anlaf Dane hath been among us,
Taking his note of where and how we lie,
Fox, wolf, and lurcher,—all in one!

Ethelstan.
King Anlaf?

Sentinel.
That same, my liege; he pass'd but now by me.

Haco.
Rare cowardice! this fellow's fear creates
A shadowy foe, of moonshine!

Ethelstan.
Patience, Haco!—
Why shouldst thou make thyself suspected, friend,
By such a proofless story and improbable?

Sentinel.
Here is my proof—
[Dashing his battle-axe into the earth, money and jewels fly up.
Doth that look probable?

Ethelstan.
They are my very gifts to that false Harper!

Sentinel.
He came, and as he would shake reptiles off
That clung to him with odious love, he tosses
These precious things to earth—spurns them—and tramples them—
Then scores me up the turf, and treads them into it!—
Looks not this like King Anlaf?—Nay, I knew him!

Ethelstan.
Thou shouldst have seized him then: where was thy loyalty?

Sentinel.
That oath I've ta'en to thee I took to Anlaf
When he was king of Dane-law; had I now
Betray'd him, I might do as much by thee!

Ethelstan.
Answer'd!—Have these for part-reward.

[Pointing to the gifts.
Sentinel.
If churls
Dare speak thus with a king, I would advise him
To shift his tent into some other quarter.

Haco.
'Twere well, your grace!—The Dane hath mark'd it, sure,
For some fierce onslaught.

Ethelstan.
No—no—let it stand.—
(To the Sentinel.)
I'll not forget thee and thy twofold faith:
Good night!—Keep steady watch until relieved.—
(To himself.)
We'll let the tent stand, with the Dragon over it:
Yon Prior, Edmund tells me of, his friend,
And friend of every mal-content i' the kingdom,
Yon bishop-elect of Shirebourne, hath a friendship
With Maiden Ellisif too—'twas she elected him!—
Which thickens more the dark, foul cloud around her:
His sanctity has just arrived, it seems,
In the rear of all his men, to slip off sideways
When battle joins; he shall have my pavilion,
So will be royally lodged! and should the Danes
Sack it, why he's the sooner with his friends!—
Come, goshawk!

[Exeunt Ethelstan and Haco.