Part 24 (1/2)

Yet her--what her? he hinted of some her-- When he was here before-- Something that would displease me. Hath he stray'd From love's clear path into the common bush, And, being scratch'd, returns to his true rose, Who hath not thorn enough to p.r.i.c.k him for it, Ev'n with a word?

MARGERY (_behind scene_).

Bird mustn't tell, Whoop--he can see.

ROSAMUND.

I would not hear him. Nay--there's more--he frown'd 'No mate for her, if it should come to that'-- To that--to what?

MARGERY (_behind scene_).

Whoop--but he knows, Whoop--but he knows.

ROSAMUND.

O G.o.d! some dreadful truth is breaking on me-- Some dreadful thing is coming on me.

[_Enter_ GEOFFREY.

Geoffrey!

GEOFFREY.

What are you crying for, when the sun s.h.i.+nes?

ROSAMUND.

Hath not thy father left us to ourselves?

GEOFFREY.

Ay, but he's taken the rain with him. I hear Margery: I'll go play with her. [_Exit_ GEOFFREY.

ROSAMUND.

Rainbow, stay, Gleam upon gloom, Bright as my dream, Rainbow, stay!

But it pa.s.ses away, Gloom upon gleam, Dark as my doom-- O rainbow stay.

SCENE II.--_Outside the Woods near_ ROSAMUND'S _Bower_.

ELEANOR. FITZURSE.

ELEANOR.

Up from the salt lips of the land we two Have track'd the King to this dark inland wood; And somewhere hereabouts he vanish'd. Here His turtle builds: his exit is our adit: Watch! he will out again, and presently, Seeing he must to Westminster and crown Young Henry there to-morrow.

FITZURSE.

We have watch'd So long in vain, he hath pa.s.s'd out again, And on the other side. [_A great horn winded_.

Hark! Madam!

ELEANOR.

Ay, How ghostly sounds that horn in the black wood!

[_A countryman flying_.

Whither away, man? what are you flying from?

COUNTRYMAN.

The witch! the witch! she sits naked by a great heap of gold in the middle of the wood, and when the horn sounds she comes out as a wolf.