HAROLD. Thank the Saints, no! But thou hast drain'd them shallow by thy tolls, And thou art ever here about the King: Thine absence well may seem a want of care. Cling to their love; for, now the sons of Godwin Sit topmost in the field of England, envy, Like the rough bear beneath the tree, good brother, Waits till the man let go. TOSTIG. Good counsel truly! I heard from my Northumbria yesterday. HAROLD. How goes it then with thy Northumbria? Well? TOSTIG. And wouldst thou that it went aught else than well? HAROLD. I would it went as well as with mine earldom, Leofwin's and Gurth's. TOSTIG. Ye govern milder men. GURTH. We have made them milder by just government. TOSTIG. Ay, ever give yourselves your own good word. LEOFWIN. An honest gift, by all the Saints, if giver And taker be but honest! but they bribe Each other, and so often, an honest world Will not believe them. HAROLD. I may tell thee, Tostig, I heard from thy Northumberland to-day. TOSTIG. From spies of thine to spy my nakedness In my poor North! HAROLD. There is a movement there, A blind one--nothing yet. TOSTIG. Crush it at once With all the power I have!--I must--I will!-- Crush it half-born! Fool still? or wisdom there, My wise head-shaking Harold? HAROLD. Make not thou The nothing something. Wisdom when in power And wisest, should not frown as Power, but smile As kindness, watching all, till the true _must_ Shall make her strike as Power: but when to strike-- O Tostig, O dear brother--If they prance, Rein in, not lash them, lest they rear and run And break both neck and axle. TOSTIG. Good again! Good counsel tho' scarce needed. Pour not water In the full vessel running out at top To swamp the house. LEOFWIN. Nor thou be a wild thing Out of the waste, to turn and bite the hand Would help thee from the trap. TOSTIG. Thou playest in tune. LEOFWIN. To the deaf adder thee, that wilt not dance However wisely charm'd. TOSTIG. No more, no more! GURTH. I likewise cry 'no more.' Unwholesome talk For Godwin's house! Leofwin, thou hast a tongue! Tostig, thou look'st as thou wouldst spring upon him. St. Olaf, not while I am by! Come, come, Join hands, let brethren dwell in unity; Let kith and kin stand close as our shield-wall, Who breaks us then? I say, thou hast a tongue, And Tostig is not stout enough to bear it. Vex him not, Leofwin. TOSTIG. No, I am not vext,-- Altho' ye seek to vex me, one and all. I have to make report of my good earldom To the good king who gave it--not to you-- Not any of you.--I am not vext at all. HAROLD. The king? the king is ever at his prayers; In all that handles matter of the state I am the king. TOSTIG. That shall thou never be If I can thwart thee. HAROLD. Brother, brother!