WILLIAM. Who be these women? And what body is this?
EDITH. Harold, thy better!
WILLIAM. Ay, and what art thou?
EDITH. His wife!
MALET. Not true, my girl, here is the Queen!
[_Pointing out_ ALDWYTH.
WILLIAM (_to_ ALDWYTH).
Wast thou his Queen?
ALDWYTH. I was the Queen of Wales.
WILLIAM. Why then of England. Madam, fear us not.
(_To_ MALET.) Knowest thou this other?
MALET. When I visited England,
Some held she was his wife in secret--some--
Well--some believed she was his paramour.
EDITH. Norman, thou liest! liars all of you,
Your Saints and all! I am his wife! and she--
For look, our marriage ring!
[_She draws it off the finger of_ HAROLD.
I lost it somehow--
I lost it, playing with it when I was wild.
_That_ bred the doubt! but I am wiser now ...
I am too wise.... Will none among you all
Bear me true witness--only for this once--
That I have found it here again? [_She puts it on_.
And thou,
Thy wife am I for ever and evermore.
[_Falls on the body and dies_.
WILLIAM. Death!--and enough of death for this one day,
The day of St.
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