Becket And Other Plays Part 24

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.

Get you hence! a man pa.s.sed in there to-day: I holla'd to him, but he didn't hear me: he'll never out again, the witch has got him. I daren't stay--I daren't stay!

ELEANOR.

Kind of the witch to give thee warning tho'.

[_Man flies_.

Is not this wood-witch of the rustic's fear Our woodland Circe that hath witch'd the King?

[_Horn sounded. Another flying_.

FITZURSE.

Again! stay, fool, and tell me why thou fliest.

COUNTRYMAN.

Fly thou too. The King keeps his forest head of game here, and when that horn sounds, a score of wolf-dogs are let loose that will tear thee piecemeal. Linger not till the third horn. Fly!

[_Exit_.

ELEANOR.

This is the likelier tale. We have hit the place.

Now let the King's fine game look to itself. [_Horn_.

FITZURSE.

Again!-- And far on in the dark heart of the wood I hear the yelping of the hounds of h.e.l.l.

ELEANOR.

I have my dagger here to still their throats.

FITZURSE.

Nay, Madam, not to-night--the night is falling.

What can be done to-night?

ELEANOR.

Well--well--away.

SCENE III.--_Traitor's Meadow at Freteval. Pavilions and Tents of the English and French Baronage_. BECKET _and_ HERBERT OF BOSHAM.

BECKET.

See here!

HERBERT.

What's here?

BECKET.

A notice from the priest, To whom our John of Salisbury committed The secret of the bower, that our wolf-Queen Is prowling round the fold. I should be back In England ev'n for this.

HERBERT.