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into the hands of bloodthirsty Danes.

ULFKETTLE: Surely, my lord, you are highly favored

of God, who sees each human action,

that he hath given you warning with small loss

of the contagious mind of Edricus.

[Enter Edricus with his hand in a scarf, halting, with him Stitch.]

STITCH: Master, I would not wish you halt.

EDRICUS: Why so?

STITCH: Marry, sir, you know Alfric is a cripple and

the proverb is 'tis ill halting before a cripple.

He'll perceive it. ...

EDRICUS: Had he as many [eyes] as Juno's bird,

or could pierce millstones with his searching sight,

he (by his leave) should not my halting find.

I halt not in the thigh but in the mind.

-- All hail unto my gracious sovereign!

STITCH: Master, you'll bewray yourself, do you say

'all hail' and yet bear your arm in a scarf? That's hale indeed.

EDRICUS: All hail unto my gracious sovereign!

EDMUND: Judas, thy next part is to kiss my cheek

and then commit me unto Caiaphas. ...

EDRICUS: I understand not what your highness means.

EDMUND: Oh heavens, oh impudent, ungodly wretch!

EDRICUS: I hope your grace doth not exclaim on me.

EDMUND: On thee? Hence, graceless wretch, grace me no more.

Is there none here that will lay hold on him?

His sight, his breath, his fell infectious tongue

is venomer than is the Basilisk's.

EDRICUS: Is this a guerdon for my scars and hurts,

for all my bruises and my broken joints?

Is this a hire for my hardiness ...

and valiant onset on the enemies?

Are these my wages which I won with blood,

blood of myself and proudest Dane that fought?

Doth Edmund thus reward his followers

that pawn their lives for him and in his cause?

Then bootless have I skirmished so long

and sent so many Danes unto their graves;

in vain have I lift up my wasting arm

and brandished my falchion o'er thy foes;

in vain this curtle-axe was reared aloft, ...

which made a lane throughout thy foemen's troops;

in vain my lance did overthrow and spoil;

in vain I live, to be requited thus.

STITCH: In vain -- what a vain vein my master is in!

EDMUND: Did'st thou not fly, vild traitor, to my foe?

EDRICUS: Who, I?

EDMUND: Even thou.

EDRICUS: Thus forward friends are quitted with suspect;

thus envy blasts the well-deserving wight;

thus the unskillful blames the warrior; ...

thus, thus, detraction hinders virtuous course.

Fled I, my lord? Canutus can report

'twas he that should have fled had succor come.

Fled I, my lord? Your eyes were witnesses

how far my heart was free from dastard flight;

but this it is to be a man-at-arms

when his desert is recompensed with hate

and resolution wronged with ignorance.

For shame, my lords, spurn not against the truth;

thirst not to drink the blood of innocents. ...

EDMUND: Why, Edricus, can'st thou deny thy flight?

EDRICUS: No, gracious lord, I must confess I fled,

forced from Canutus, not to him, for aid;

and that 'tis true, I by your grace's leave

will prove on him that dares affirm a no.

EDMUND: I saw thee flee myself with these my eyes.

ULFKETTLE: And I, my lord, am witness to the same.

GODWIN: And I, my lord, will prove it, by your favor.

EDRICUS: I would the king would give me leave to speak.

STITCH: And you will prove them blind, I hold my life. ...

EDMUND: I give thee leave: speak for thyself and spare not.

EDRICUS: Seeing your grace so forward to the fight,

viewing the Dane to march so bravely on,

pricked forth with shame, I as the foremost man

(not suffering the Dane to set on us

or to approach your grace without a blow)

stepped forth intending to encounter them

and to assail the rearward with my band

till you upon the forefront held them play;

but see how good intents are ever thwarted. ...

Ere I could get the wind to compass them,

your drums' retreat did cause your forces flee;

yet fled not I a foot until such time

as quite bereft of hope I was compelled.

Witness this arm, this serviceable arm,

that in despite of death did save my life:

witness these scars, which if your grace will see,

they'll