Part 39 (1/2)

And thus, Lady Abbess, it came to pa.s.s That my father vow'd his vow; Must his daughter espouse the Church? Alas!

Is she better or wiser now?

For some are feeble and others strong, And feeble am I and frail.

Mother! 'tis not that I love the wrong, 'Tis not that I loathe the veil, But with heart still ready to go astray, If a.s.sail'd by a fresh temptation, I could sin again as I sinned that day, For a girl's infatuation.

See! Harold, the Dane, thou say'st is dead, Yet I weep NOT BITTERLY; As I fled with the Dane, so I might have fled With Hugo of Normandy.

Ursula: My child, I advise no hasty vows, Yet I pray that in life's brief span Thou may'st learn that our Church is a fairer spouse Than fickle and erring man; Though fenced for a time by the Church's pale, When that time expires thou'rt free; And we cannot force thee to take the veil, Nay, we scarce can counsel thee.

Enter the ABBOT hastily.

Basil (the Abbot): I am sorely stricken with shame and grief, It has come by the self-same sign, A summons brief from the outlaw'd chief, Count Rudolph of Rothenstein.

Lady Abbess, ere worse things come to pa.s.s, I would speak with thee alone; Alack and alas! for by the rood and ma.s.s I fear we are all undone.

SCENE--A Farm-house Near the Convent.

A Chamber furnished with writing materials. HUGO, ERIC, and THURSTON on one side; on the other OSRIC, RUDOLPH, and DAGOBERT.

Osric: We have granted too much, ye ask for more; I am not skill'd in your clerkly lore, I scorn your logic; I had rather die Than live like Hugo of Normandy: I am a Norseman, frank and plain; Ye must read the parchment over again.

Eric: Jarl Osric, twice we have read this scroll.

Osric: Thou hast read a part.

Eric: I have read the whole.

Osric: Aye, since I attached my signature!

Eric: Before and since!

Rudolph: Nay, of this be sure, Thou hast signed; in fairness now let it rest.

Osric: I had rather have sign'd upon Hugo's crest; He has argued the question mouth to mouth With the wordy lore of the subtle south; Let him or any one of his band Come and argue the question hand to hand.

With the aid of my battle-axe I will show That a score of words are not worth one blow.

Thurston: To the devil with thee and thy battle-axe; I would send the pair of ye back in your tracks, With an answer that even to thy boorish brain Would scarce need repet.i.tion again.

Osric: Thou Saxon slave to a milksop knight, I will give thy body to raven and kite.

Thurston: Thou liest; I am a freeborn man, And thy huge carcase--in cubit and span Like the giant's of Gath--'neath Saxon steel, Shall furnish the kites with a fatter meal.

Osric: Now, by Odin!

Rudolph: Jarl Osric, curb thy wrath; Our names are sign'd, our words have gone forth.

Hugo: I blame thee, Thurston.

Thurston: And I, too, blame Myself, since I follow a knight so tame!

[Thurston goes out.]