Classic Poem

SCENE IV. — A Court in Wold Castle

Duchess OF W OLD

D UCH . The world of dreams, the disarranged world,
With all its huddled rack of fantasies,
And topsy-turvy troubles, cannot show us
Anything stranger than this actual day.
Richard deposed; Hereford all but crowned;
Through all the realm thick crops of jealousies,
Hatred, strife, blood, confusion! Even the Faith
Has lost its hold of men: Pestilent teachers,
Of no succession, and unconsecrate,
Scorning the Church's statutory furrows,
Sow their opinions broadcast o'er the land,
With torment-pointed threatenings harrowing in
The wild strange seed, seed in its after harvest
To fill the Arch-enemy's garners.
What wonder that the sympathetic heavens,
Coping this isle of mischief and of sorrow,
Hood us with prodigies?
Two suns were seen at once; black dews have fallen;
And warning voices have been heard i' the air;
The comet's unblest beard hangs in our skies;
The stars are quenched i' the glare of fiery meteors;
The vestal moon, lawlessly red and fierce,
Reels as if drunk with blood: These signs portend
Worse things to hap; for out of holes o' the earth
Come lean-faced prophets, never seen before,
And read them so, whispering of chance and change,
The fall and death of kings.

Enter M OUNTNORRIS

You've managed to communicate with Chayr?
M OUNT. Himself was here: down i' the trees we met,
West o' the Castle.
D UCH. Well?
M OUNT. Mid-afternoon,
To-morrow, forth we sally, the besiegers
Dreaming of no such move; Chayr hears our trumpets,
Down on them comes he too. We'll beat them off.
D UCH. One thorough rally here may yet re-act
Through all the land for the King. But what's yon stir?
Our foes are out o' their camp: I fear he's challenged
Rash man, to come himself! We'll see them better
From off this turret. O that he were safe!