WILLIAM RUFUS. Father.

WILLIAM. Well, boy.

WILLIAM RUFUS. They have taken away the toy thou gavest me, The Norman knight.

WILLIAM. Why, boy?

WILLIAM RUFUS. Because I broke The horse's leg--it was mine own to break; I like to have my toys, and break them too.

WILLIAM. Well, thou shalt have another Norman knight!

WILLIAM RUFUS. And may I break his legs?

WILLIAM. Yea,--get thee gone!

WILLIAM RUFUS. I'll tell them I have had my way with thee.

[_Exit_.

MALET. I never knew thee check thy will for ought Save for the prattling of thy little ones.

WILLIAM. Who shall be kings of England. I am heir Of England by the promise of her king.

MALET. But there the great a.s.sembly choose their king, The choice of England is the voice of England.

WILLIAM. I will be king of England by the laws, The choice, and voice of England.

MALET. Can that be?

WILLIAM. The voice of any people is the sword That guards them, or the sword that beats them down.

Here comes the would-be what I will be ... king-like ...

Tho' scarce at ease; for, save our meshes break, More kinglike he than like to prove a king.

_Enter_ HAROLD, _musing, with his eyes on the ground_.

He sees me not--and yet he dreams of me.

Earl, wilt thou fly my falcons this fair day?

They are of the best, strong-wing'd against the wind.

HAROLD (_looking up suddenly, having caught but the last word_).

_Which_ way does it blow?

WILLIAM. Blowing for England, ha?

Not yet. Thou hast not learnt thy quarters here.

The winds so cross and jostle among these towers.

HAROLD. Count of the Normans, thou hast ransom'd us, Maintain'd, and entertain'd us royally!

WILLIAM. And thou for us hast fought as loyally, Which binds us friendship-fast for ever!

HAROLD. Good!

But lest we turn the scale of courtesy By too much pressure on it, I would fain, Since thou hast promised Wulfnoth home with us, Be home again with Wulfnoth.

WILLIAM. Stay--as yet Thou hast but seen how Norman hands can strike, But walk'd our Norman field, scarce touch'd or tasted The splendours of our Court.

HAROLD. I am in no mood: I should be as the shadow of a cloud Crossing your light.

WILLIAM. Nay, rest a week or two, And we will fill thee full of Norman sun, And send thee back among thine island mists With laughter.

HAROLD. Count, I thank thee, but had rather Breathe the free wind from off our Saxon downs, Tho' charged with all the wet of all the west.

WILLIAM. Why if thou wilt, so let it be--thou shalt.

That were a graceless hospitality To chain the free guest to the banquet-board; To-morrow we will ride with thee to Harfleur, And see thee shipt, and pray in thy behalf For happier homeward winds than that which crack'd Thy bark at Ponthieu,--yet to us, in faith, A happy one--whereby we came to know Thy valour and thy value, n.o.ble earl.

Ay, and perchance a happy one for thee, Provided--I will go with thee to-morrow-- Nay--but there be conditions, easy ones, So thou, fair friend, will take them easily.

_Enter_ PAGE.

PAGE. My lord, there is a post from over seas With news for thee. [_Exit_ PAGE.

WILLIAM. Come, Malet, let us hear!

[_Exeunt_ COUNT WILLIAM _and_ MALET.

HAROLD. Conditions? What conditions? pay him back His ransom? 'easy '--that were easy--nay-- No money-lover he! What said the King?

'I pray you do not go to Normandy.'

And fate hath blown me hither, bound me too With bitter obligation to the Count-- Have I not fought it out? What did he mean?

There lodged a gleaming grimness in his eyes, Gave his shorn smile the lie. The walls oppress me, And yon huge keep that hinders half the heaven.

Free air! free field!

[_Moves to go out. A_ MAN-AT-ARMS _follows him_.

HAROLD (_to the_ MAN-AT-ARMS).

I need thee not. Why dost thou follow me?

MAN-AT-ARMS. I have the Count's commands to follow thee.

HAROLD. What then? Am I in danger in this court?

MAN-AT-ARMS. I cannot tell. I have the Count's commands.

HAROLD. Stand out of earshot then, and keep me still In eyeshot.

MAN-AT-ARMS. Yea, lord Harold. [_Withdraws_.

HAROLD. And arm'd men Ever keep watch beside my chamber door, And if I walk within the lonely wood, There is an arm'd man ever glides behind!

_Enter_ MALET.

Why am I follow'd, haunted, hara.s.s'd, watch'd?

See yonder! [_Pointing to the_ MAN-AT-ARMS.