Becket And Other Plays Part 27

This is the second grain of good counsel I ever proffered thee, and so cannot suffer by the rule of frequency. Have I sown it in salt? I trust not, for before G.o.d I promise you the King hath many more wolves than he can tame in his woods of England, and if it suit their purpose to howl for the King, and you still move against him, you may have no less than to die for it; but G.o.d and his free wind grant your lords.h.i.+p a happy home-return and the King's kiss of peace in Kent. Farewell! I must follow the King.

[_Exit_.

HERBERT.

Ay, and I warrant the customs. Did the King Speak of the customs?

BECKET.

No!--To die for it-- I live to die for it, I die to live for it.

The State will die, the Church can never die.

The King's not like to die for that which dies; But I must die for that which never dies.

It will be so--my visions in the Lord: It must be so, my friend! the wolves of England Must murder her one shepherd, that the sheep May feed in peace. False figure, Map would say.

Earth's falses are heaven's truths. And when my voice Is martyr'd mute, and this man disappears, That perfect trust may come again between us, And there, there, there, not here I shall rejoice To find my stray sheep back within the fold.

The crowd are scattering, let us move away!

And thence to England.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.--_The Outskirts of the Bower_.

GEOFFREY (_coming out of the wood_).

Light again! light again! Margery? no, that's a finer thing there. How it glitters!

ELEANOR (_entering_).

Come to me, little one. How camest thou hither?

GEOFFREY.

On my legs.

ELEANOR.

And mighty pretty legs too. Thou art the prettiest child I ever saw.

Wilt thou love me?

GEOFFREY.

No; I only love mother.

ELEANOR.

Ay; and who is thy mother?

GEOFFREY.

They call her--But she lives secret, you see.

ELEANOR.

Why?

GEOFFREY.

Don't know why.

ELEANOR.

Ay, but some one comes to see her now and then. Who is he?

GEOFFREY.

Can't tell.

ELEANOR.

What does she call him?

GEOFFREY.

My liege.

ELEANOR.

Pretty one, how camest thou?

GEOFFREY.

There was a bit of yellow silk here and there, and it looked pretty like a glowworm, and I thought if I followed it I should find the fairies.

ELEANOR.

I am the fairy, pretty one, a good fairy to thy mother. Take me to her.

GEOFFREY.

There are good fairies and bad fairies, and sometimes she cries, and can't sleep sound o' nights because of the bad fairies.

ELEANOR.

She shall cry no more; she shall sleep sound enough if thou wilt take me to her. I am her good fairy.

GEOFFREY.

But you don't look like a good fairy. Mother does. You are not pretty, like mother.

ELEANOR.

We can't all of us be as pretty as thou art--(_aside_) little b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Come, here is a golden chain I will give thee if thou wilt lead me to thy mother.

GEOFFREY.

No--no gold. Mother says gold spoils all. Love is the only gold.

ELEANOR.

I love thy mother, my pretty boy. Show me where thou camest out of the wood.

GEOFFREY.

By this tree; but I don't know if I can find the way back again.

ELEANOR.

Where's the warder?