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But captains nowadays

pluck off their soldiers' shoes, nay sell their lives

to make them rich and gallant to the eye.

[Enter Turkillus and Leofric.]

But soft, what are yon two strangers?

TURKILLUS: We are rebellious traitors to your grace, [They kneel.]

born Englishmen but strangers to ourselves,

who in remorse of conscience, knowing well

we have in taking part with Danish Canutus

deserved death, come of our own free wills ...

either to suffer for our heinous facts [acts ?]

or else embrace our pardons, which we crave

even as hereafter we shall merit it.

EDMUND: Rise up, Turkillus; Leofric, arise.

Give me your hands and with your hands your hearts.

I more esteem the life of one true subject

than the destruction of a thousand foes.

One sheep that was lost I more rejoice to find

than twenty other which I never missed.

A friend of whose return I stood in doubt ...

is more welcome to me than forty other.

Oh that when strangers cannot conquer us,

we should conspire with them against ourselves!

England, if ever war thy face doth spoil,

thank not thy outward foe but inward friend;

for thou shalt never perish till that day

when thy right hand shall make thy heart away.

Go in, brave lords: your sight doth me more joy

than Agamemnon when he conquered Troy. [Exeunt omnes.]

ACT II

Scene II.1

[Drum and trumpets sound. Enter a banquet. Then enter Canutus,

Southampton, Archbishop, Uskataulf and Swetho, Edricus.]

CANUTUS: My lord, my lord, you are too bountiful.

Half this expense would well have satisfied

the homely stomachs of our soldiers

and entertained ourself right royally.

Where is your daughter?

SOUTHAMPTON: ~~~ She shall give attendance

to wait upon your grace at dinner time.

CANUTUS: Nay, good my lord, unless you give

her leave to sit at board and find me table talk,

I shall not think myself a welcome guest. ...

SOUTHAMPTON: May I crave pardon of your majesty.

My daughter, being young in years and manners,

is far unfit to keep a Queen's estate.

CANUTUS: I'faith, my lord, you are too scrupulous,

too unadvised, too fearful without cause,

to stand upon such nice excuses.

I love to see a table furnished,

and sure I will not sit till she comes in.

SOUTHAMPTON: Egina, daughter, come away, sweet girl.

[Enter Egina.]

The king will have thee dine with him today. ...

Be not too coy, nor yet too flexible.

If chance he proffer any courtesy,

behave yourself in honorable sort

and answer him with modesty and mirth.

A means may be to make thee Queen.

CANUTUS: What, is your daughter come? Welcome, fair lady.

Your presence is as welcome as the day

after a long and weary watchful night.

Sit down, fair lady. Sit down, noble lord.

Fill me a cup of wine. Here's to the health ...

where if he lives till you have conquered him,

none after him dares renovate the wars.

CANUTUS: Sweetly and wisely answered, noble queen,

for by that name if heaven and thou consent,

by sunset all the camp shall wish thee health.

My lord, what say you to this motion?

SOUTHAMPTON: As it shall please your royal majesty,

dispose of me and whatsoe'er is mine.

CANUTUS: Madam, pleaseth it you to be a queen? ...

EGINA: What my dread sovereign and my father wills

I dare not, nay I will not, contradict.

CANUTUS: Then for a manual seal receive this kiss,

[He kisseth her.]

the chief dumb utterer of the heart's intent;

and noble father -- now I'll call you so --

if this rash-seeming match do like you well,

deliver me possession presently

of this fair lady, your beloved child,

and we will straight to church and celebrate

the duties which belong to marriages. ...

Bishop of Canterbury, you will marry us

without the sibert-asking, will ye not?

CANTERBURY: I am prepared if every part be pleased.

CANUTUS: Faith, I am pleased.

ARCHBISHOP: ~~~ But what say you?

EGINA: I say a woman's silence is consent.

CANUTUS: Why, here's a match extempore, small ado

about a weighty matter. Some perhaps

would have consumed millions to effect

what