Harold

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Excerpt from book:
HAROLD. ACT I. SCENE I. —LONDON. THE KING'S PALACE. (A comet seen through the open window.) Aldwyth, Gamel, Courtiers (talking together). First Courtier. Lo ! there once more — this is the seventh night ! Yon grimly-glaring, treble-brandish'd scourge Of England! Second Courtier. Horrible! First Courtier. Look you, there's a star That dances in it as mad with agony ! chapter{Section 4Third Courtier. Ay, like a spirit in hell who skips and flies To right and left, and cannot scape the flame. Second Courtier. Steam'd upward from the undescendible Abysm. First Courtier. Or floated downward from the throne Of God Almighty. Aldwyth. Gamel, son of Orm, What thinkest thou this means ? Gamel, War, my dear lady ! Aldwyth. Doth this affright thee ? Gamel. Mightily, my dear lady! Aldwyth. Stand by me then, and look upon my face, Tot on the comet. Enter Morcar. Brother! why so pale ? Morcar. It glares in heaven, it flares upon the Thames, The people are as thick as bees below, They hum like bees, —they cannot speak — for awe ; Look to the skies, then to the river, strike Their hearts, and hold their babies up to it. I think that they would Molochize them too, To have the heavens clear. Aldwyth. They fright not me. Enter Leofwin, after him Gurth. Ask thou Lord Leofwin what he thinks of thisl Morcar. Lord Leofwin, dost thou believe, that these Three rods of blood-red fire up yonder mean The doom of England and the wrath of Heaven ? Bishop Of London (fassing). Did ye not cast with bestialviolence Our holy Norman bishops down from all Their thrones in England ? I alone remain. Why should not Heaven be wroth ? Leofwin. With us, or thee ? Bishop Of London. Did...