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like hungry tigers upon silly kids,

sparing not ancient men for reverence,

nor women for [their] imbecility,

nor guiltless babes for their unspotted life, ...

nor holy men, their madness is so rife.

EDMUND: A sunshine day is quickly overcast.

A springing bud is killed with a blast.

I see my state is fickle and unsure;

there is nothing in this world can firmly dure.

Yet courage, lords, we were and are the same;

our hearts are sound, our bodies are not lame;

then let not fear dismay your warlike might.

God fights for us, God will defend the right.

Base Edricus, thou wert the fatal crow ...

that by thy horrid voice this news did show

thou cam'st to gain with cursed treachery

the surname of vild nickname -- 'Policy'.

Right did I think whenas the fox did preach,

he meant to get a goose within his reach;

right did I guess, when with thy oily speech,

thou did'st my pardon and my grace beseech,

some mischief was abroach. But God above

doth always at a pinch my patron prove,

and we have now learned, though to our bale, ...

not to believe each smooth-face forged tale.

EDRICUS: Now, my most gracious lord, as God shall help me,

my coming was only for this intent:

to unfold Canutus' coming and bewray

matters of secret to your majesty,

counsels of great avail, rare stratagems

plotted by Canutus, which now shall die with me

if you seem any whit suspicious.

EDMUND: I prithee hark, let me hear some of them.

[Edricus talketh with Edmund secretly. Alfric pulls him back.]

ALFRIC: Traitor, darst thou presume ...

to speak unto thy sovereign? Good my lord,

as God shall help me, you will be entrapped.

EDRICUS: Traitor? Remember this: malice hath a perfect memory.

EDMUND: Alfric, you are to blame: you do forget yourself.

Age makes ye dote, know I not what to do

without your telling? Go to, hold your peace.

AYLWARD: Alfric, your comb is cut, yet will I speak.

King, I am sworn to counsel thee aright;

and though I die, I will not hold my tongue.

Remember he hath often broke his faith ...

and fled away from you; remember too

he comes from Canutus, thy utter enemy;

remember he is a traitorous flatterer,

a villain, and a damned hypocrite.

EDMUND: Peace, Aylward, hold your tongue:

my youth in some things overruns your age;

'tis policy to grant him audience,

nay further, grace, may further, if he craves

perhaps the leading [of] our army too.

For thus I think it stands: he hath promised Canutus, ...

having the leading of our forces

to yield to him, seeming as though compelled,

having first given an onset on the foe

for color's sake. But we will over-match him,

for whilst the force of Canute, on policy

retires by Edric's drift, then we will take

the opportunity and rush with speed

upon his troops, who unprepared to fight

and trusting upon Edric's policy, ...

shall all come prey unto our soldiers.

How like you this?

ALFRIC: ~~~ It cannot hap amiss.

EDMUND: Come hither, Edricus. [They whisper. Edmund saith]

~~~~~~ I'faith, you lie. [They whisper again.]

Tut, tut, it cannot be. [They whisper again.]

If this be true, I pardon thee for all

and will reward thee with deserved grace.

I will not doubt it, faith, I think 'tis true

though it were not, in hope thou wilt amend.

Go, let us in and let all quarrels end, ...

for now I mean indeed to credit thee

by being captain-general of my army.

EDRICUS: Duty and thanks I give, 'tis all I have.

[Aside.] See what dissimulation brings to pass,

how quickly I can make the king an ass. [Exeunt.]

Scene IV.2

[Enter Emma, her two sons Alfred and Edward in each hand,

Gunthranus going before.]

EMMA: Sweet boys, born to be crossed before your time,

oh let me kiss you ere you go away.

Cursed be the cause of your departing thus,

the persecution of these bloody Danes,

whose unrelenting eyes delight to see

the full conclusion of our tragedy.

ALFRED: Good mother, sorrow not though we depart:

we shall be welcome to our uncle Richard

and safer there than in this troubled isle,

which like the reeling sea is tossed with