Wailing! not warring? Boy, thou hast forgotten
That thou art English.
WULFNOTH. Then our modest women--
I know the Norman license--thine own Edith--
HAROLD. No more! I will not hear thee--William comes.
WULFNOTH. I dare not well be seen in talk with thee.
Make thou not mention that I spake with thee.
[_Moves away to the back of the stage_.
_Enter_ WILLIAM, MALET, _and_ OFFICER.
OFFICER. We have the man that rail'd against thy birth.
WILLIAM. Tear out his tongue.
OFFICER. He shall not rail again.
He said that he should see confusion fall
On thee and on thine house.
WILLIAM. Tear out his eyes, And plunge him into prison.
OFFICER. It shall be done.
[_Exit_ OFFICER.
WILLIAM. Look not amazed, fair earl! Better leave undone
Than do by halves--tongueless and eyeless, prison'd--
HAROLD. Better methinks have slain the man at once!
WILLIAM. We have respect for man's immortal soul,
We seldom take man's life, except in war;
It frights the traitor more to maim and blind.
HAROLD. In mine own land I should have scorn'd the man,
Or lash'd his rascal back, and let him go.
WILLIAM. And let him go? To slander thee again!
Yet in thine own land in thy father's day
They blinded my young kinsman, Alfred--ay,
Some said it was thy father's deed.
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