O father, mock not at a public fear,
But tell us, is this pendent hell in heaven
A harm to England?
But tell us, is this pendent hell in heaven
A harm to England?
Tennyson
Is there no reason for the wrath of Heaven?
LEOFWIN. Why then the wrath of Heaven hath three tails,
The devil only one.
[_Exit_ BISHOP OF LONDON.
_Enter_ ARCHBISHOP STIGAND.
Ask _our_ Archbishop.
Stigand should know the purposes of Heaven.
STIGAND. Not I. I cannot read the face of heaven;
Perhaps our vines will grow the better for it.
LEOFWIN (_laughing_).
He can but read the king's face on his coins.
STIGAND. Ay, ay, young lord, _there_ the king's face is power.
GURTH.
O father, mock not at a public fear,
But tell us, is this pendent hell in heaven
A harm to England?
STIGAND. Ask it of King Edward!
And he may tell thee, _I_ am a harm to England.
Old uncanonical Stigand--ask of _me_
Who had my pallium from an Antipope!
Not he the man--for in our windy world
What's up is faith, what's down is heresy.
Our friends, the Normans, holp to shake his chair.
I have a Norman fever on me, son,
And cannot answer sanely. . . . What it means?
Ask our broad Earl.
[_Pointing to_ HAROLD, _who enters_.
HAROLD (_seeing_ GAMEL).
Hail, Gamel, son of Orm!