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And shadowing of this double thunder-cloud

That lours on England-laughter!

HAROLD.

No, not strange!

This was old human laughter in old Rome

Before a Pope was born, when that which reign'd Call'd itself God.-A kindly rendering

Of "Render unto Cæsar." The Good Shepherd!

Take this, and render that,

...

GURTH.

They have taken York.

HAROLD.

The Lord was God and came as man

-the Pope

Is man and comes as God.-York taken?

GURTH.

Tostig hath taken York!

Yea,

HAROLD.

To York then. Edith,

Hadst thou been braver, I had better braved
All-but I love thee and thou me---and that

Remains beyond all chances and all churches,
And that thou knowest.

EDITH.

Ay, but take back thy ring.

It burns my hand-a curse to thee and me.

I dare not wear it.

[Proffers HAROLD the ring, which he takes.

HAROLD.

But I dare. God with thee!

[Exeunt HAROLD and GURTH,

EDITH.

The King hath cursed him, if he marry me;

The Pope hath cursed him, marry me or no!

God help me! I know nothing-can but pray

For Harold-pray, pray, pray-no help but prayer,

A breath that fleets beyond this iron world,

And touches Him that made it.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-IN NORTHUMBRIA.

ARCHBISHOP ALDRED, MORCAR, EDWIN, and Forces. Enter HAROLD. The standard of the golden Dragon of Wessex preceding him.

HAROLD.

What! are thy people sullen from defeat?

Our Wessex dragon flies beyond the Humber,

No voice to greet it.

EDWIN.

Let not our great king

Believe us sullen-only shamed to the quick
Before the king-as having been so bruised
By Harold, king of Norway; but our help

Is Harold, king of England. Pardon us, thou!

Our silence is our reverence for the king!

HAROLD.

Earl of the Mercians! if the truth be gall,

Cram me not thou with honey, when our good

hive

Needs every sting to save it.

VOICES.

Aldwyth! Aldwyth!

HAROLD.

Why cry thy people on thy sister's name?

MORCAR.

She hath won upon our people thro' her beauty,

And pleasantness among them.

VOICES.

Aldwyth, Aldwyth!

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