Aldwyth monologue (Act 6) — Queen Mary; and, Harold

The kiss that charms thine eyelids into sleep, Will hold mine waking. Hate him? I could love him More, tenfold, than this fearful child can do; Griffyth I hated: why not hate the foe Of England? Griffyth when I saw him flee, Chased deer-like up his mountains, all the blood That should have only pulsed for Griffyth, beat For his pursuer. I love him or think I love him. If he were King of England, I his queen, I might be sure of it. Nay, I do love him.-- She must be cloister'd somehow, lest the king Should yield his ward to Harold's will. What harm? She hath but blood enough to live, not love.-- When Harold goes and Tostig, shall I play The craftier Tostig with him? fawn upon him? Chime in with all? 'O thou more saint than king!' And that were true enough. 'O blessed relics!' 'O Holy Peter!' If he found me thus, Harold might hate me; he is broad and honest, Breathing an easy gladness ... not like Aldwyth ... For which I strangely love him. Should not England Love Aldwyth, if she stay the feuds that part The sons of Godwin from the sons of Alfgar By such a marrying? Courage, noble Aldwyth! Let all thy people bless thee! Our wild Tostig, Edward hath made him Earl: he would be king:-- The dog that snapt the shadow, dropt the bone.-- I trust he may do well, this Gamel, whom I play upon, that he may play the note Whereat the dog shall howl and run, and Harold Hear the king's music, all alone with him, Pronounced his heir of England. I see the goal and half the way to it.-- Peace-lover is our Harold for the sake Of England's wholeness--so--to shake the North With earthquake and disruption--some division-- Then fling mine own fair person in the gap A sacrifice to Harold, a peace-offering, A scape-goat marriage--all the sins of both The houses on mine head--then a fair life And bless the Queen of England.