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Tennyson, Alfred Lord, 1809-1892

"Queen Mary and Harold"

She hath wean'd me from it with such bitterness.
I come for mine own Earldom, my Northumbria;
Thou hast given it to the enemy of our house.
HAROLD. Northumbria threw thee off, she will not have thee,
Thou hast misused her: and, O crowning crime!
Hast murder'd thine own guest, the son of Orm,
Gamel, at thine own hearth.
TOSTIG. The slow, fat fool!
He drawl'd and prated so, I smote him suddenly,
I knew not what I did. He held with Morcar.--
I hate myself for all things that I do.
HAROLD. And Morcar holds with us. Come back with him.
Know what thou dost; and we may find for thee,
So thou be chasten'd by thy banishment,
Some easier earldom.
TOSTIG. What for Norway then?
He looks for land among us, he and his.
HAROLD. Seven feet of English land, or something more,
Seeing he is a giant.
TOSTIG. That is noble!
That sounds of Godwin.
HAROLD. Come thou back, and be
Once more a son of Godwin.
TOSTIG (_turns away_). O brother, brother,
O Harold--
HAROLD (_laying his hand on_ TOSTIG'S _shoulder_).
Nay then, come thou back to us!
TOSTIG (_after a pause turning to him_). Never
shall any man say that I, that Tostig
Conjured the mightier Harold from his North
To do the battle for me here in England,
Then left him for the meaner! thee!--
Thou hast no passion for the House of Godwin--
Thou hast but cared to make thyself a king--
Thou hast sold me for a cry.


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