Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The poetical works of Alfred Tennyson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material is part of the Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale collection. The original may be consulted at University of California Libraries.
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![Becket. And so I did. They have but to submit. The Four Knights. The King com- mands you. We are all King's men. Becket. King's men at least should know That their own King closed with me last July That I should pass the censures of the Church On those that crown'd young Henry in this realm, And trampled on the rights of Canter- bury. Fitziirse. What ! dare you charge the King with treachery ? JRe sanction thee to excommunicate The prelates whom he chose to crown his son ! Becket. I spake no word of treachery, Reginald. But for the truth of this I make appeal To all the archbishops, bishops, prelates, barons, Monks, knights, five hundred, that were there and heard. Nay, you yourself were there: you heard yourself. Fitzurse. I was not there. Becket. I saw you there. Fitzurse. I was not. Becket. You were. I never forget anything. Fitzurse. He makes the King a trai- tor, me a liar. How long shall we forbear him ? John of Salisburi/ {drawing Becket asi'de). O my good lord, Speak with them privately on this here- after. You see they have been revelling, and I fear Are braced and brazen'd up with Christ- mas wines For any murderous brawl. Becket. And yet they prate Of mine, my brawls, when those, that name themselves Of the King's pan, have broken down our barns, Wasted our diocese, outraged our ten- ants. Lifted our produce, driven our clerics out — Why ihey, your friends, those ruffians, the De Brocs, They stood on Dover beach to murdei me. They slew my stags in mine own manoi' here. Mutilated, poor brute, my sumpter-mule, Plunder'd the vessel full of Gascon wine, Tlij old King's present, carried off the casks, KiU'd half the crew, dungeon'd the other half In Pevensey Castle — De Morville. Why not rather thenj If this be so, complain to your young King, Not punish of your own authority ? Becket. Mine enemies barr'd all access to the boy. They knew he loved me. Hugh, Hugh, how proudly you exalt your head i Nay, when they seek to overturn our rights, I ask no leave of king, or mortal man. To set them straight again. Alone I do it. Give to the King the things that are the King's, And those of God to God. Fitzurse. Threats! threats ! ye hear him. What! will he excommunicate all the world ■? [The Knights come round Becket. De Tracy. He shall not. De Brito. Well, as yet — I should be grateful — He hath not excommunicated me. Becket. Because thou wast born excom- municate. I never spied in thee one gleam of grace. De Brito. Your Christian's Christian charity ! Becket. By S t. Denis — De Brito. Ay, by St. Denis, now wil] he flame out, And lose his head as old St. Denis did. Becket. Ye think to scare me from my loyalty To God and to the Holy Father. No! Tho' all the swords in England flashed above me Ready to fall at Henry's word or yours — Tho' all the loud-lung'd trumpets upon earth Blared from tlie heights of all the thrones of her kings.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20452597_0786.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
