Yet she loved one so much I needs must | Enter PAGET, and other LORDS OF THE COUNCIL, SIR RALPH BAGENHALL, etc. Lords. God save Elizabeth, the Queen of England! Bagenhall. God save the Crown: the Papacy is no more. Paget (aside). Are we so sure of that? Acclamation. God save the Queen! HAROLD. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HON. LORD LYTTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA. MY DEAR LORD LYTTON, -After old-world records, - such as the Bayeux tapestry and the Roman de Rou, - Edward Freeman's History of the Norman Conquest, and your father's Historical Romance treating of the same times, have been mainly helpful to me in writing this Drama. Your father dedicated his "Harold " to my father's brother; allow A. TENNYSON. me to dedicate my "Harold" to yourself. SHOW-DAY AT BATTLE ABBEY, 1876. A GARDEN here May breath and bloom of spring- Each stands full face with all he did below. DRAMATIS PERSONE. KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR. STIGAND (created Archbishop of Canterbury by the Antipope Benedict). ALDRED (Archbishop of York). THE NORMAN BISHOP OF LONDON. HAROLD, Earl of Wessex, afterwards King of England TOSTIG, Earl of Northumbria GURTH, Earl of East Anglia LEOFWIN, Earl of Kent and Essex WILLIAM MALET (a Norman Noble). EDWIN, Earl of Mercia (Sons of Godwin). MORCAR, Earl of Northumbria after Tostig} (Sons of Alfgar of Mercia). GAMEL (a Northumbrian Thane). Guy (Count of Ponthieu). ROLF (a Ponthieu Fisherman). HUGH MARGOT (a Norman Monk). OSGOD and ATHELRIC (Canons from Waltham). THE QUEEN (Edward the Confessor's Wife, Daughter of Godwin). ALDWYTH (Daughter of Alfgar and Widow of Griffyth, King of Wales). Courtiers, Earls and Thanes, Men-at-Arms, Canons of Waltham, Fishermen, etc. * Compater Heraldi, quidam partim Normannus et Anglus. - Guy of Amiens. ACT I. Leofwin. Why then the wrath of Heaven hath three tails, SCENE I.-LONDON. THE KING'S The devil only one. Aldwyth. They fright not me. Enter LEOFWIN, after him GURTH. Ask thou Lord Leofwin what he thinks of this! Morcar. Lord Leofwin, dost thou believe, that these Three rods of blood-red fire up yonder mean The doom of England and the wrath of Heaven? Bishop of London (passing). Did ye not cast with bestial violence Our holy Norman bishops down from all Is there no reason for the wrath of Heaven? Tostig. Too hardy with thy king! A life of prayer and fasting well may see Deeper into the mysteries of heaven Than thou, good brother. Aldwyth (aside). Sees he into thine, That thou wouldst have his promise for the crown? Edward. Tostig says true; my son, thou art too hard, Not stagger'd by this ominous earth and heaven : But heaven and earth are threads of the same loom, Play into one another, and weave the web less thou king! But all the powers of the house of Godwin Are not enframed in thee. Harold. Thank the Saints, no! But thou hast drain'd them shallow by thy tolls, And thou art ever here about the King: Thine absence well may seem a want of care. Cling to their love; for, now the sons of Godwin Sit topmost in the field of England, envy, Like the rough bear beneath the tree, good brother, Waits till the man let go. Good counsel truly! I heard from my Northumbria yesterday. Harold. How goes it then with thy Northumbria? Well? |