WILLIAM. Nay, by the splendour of God, no guest of mine. He came not to see me, had past me by To hunt and hawk elsewhere, save for the fate Which hunted _him_ when that un-Saxon blast, And bolts of thunder moulded in high heaven To serve the Norman purpose, drave and crack'd His boat on Ponthieu beach; where our friend Guy Had wrung his ransom from him by the rack, But that I slept between and purchased him, Translating his captivity from Guy To mine own hearth at Bayeux, where he sits My ransom'd prisoner. MALET. Well, if not with gold, With golden deeds and iron strokes that brought Thy war with Brittany to a goodlier close Than else had been, he paid his ransom back. WILLIAM. So that henceforth they are not like to league With Harold against _me_. MALET. A marvel, how He from the liquid sands of Coesnon Haled thy shore-swallow'd, armour'd Normans up To fight for thee again! WILLIAM. Perchance against Their saver, save thou save him from himself. MALET. But I should let him home again, my lord. WILLIAM. Simple! let fly the bird within the hand, To catch the bird again within the bush! No. Smooth thou my way, before he clash with me; I want his voice in England for the crown, I want thy voice with him to bring him round; And being brave he must be subtly cow'd, And being truthful wrought upon to swear Vows that he dare not break. England our own Thro' Harold's help, he shall be my dear friend As well as thine, and thou thyself shalt have Large lordship there of lands and territory. MALET. I knew thy purpose; he and Wulfnoth never Have met, except in public; shall they meet In private? I have often talk'd with Wulfnoth, And stuff'd the boy with fears that these may act On Harold when they meet. WILLIAM. Then let them meet! MALET. I can but love this noble, honest Harold. WILLIAM. Love him! why not? thine is a loving office, I have commission'd thee to save the man: Help the good ship, showing the sunken rock, Or he is wreckt for ever. _Enter_ WILLIAM RUFUS. WILLIAM RUFUS. Father. WILLIAM. Well, boy. WILLIAM RUFUS. They have taken away the toy thou gavest me, The Norman knight. WILLIAM. Why, boy? WILLIAM RUFUS. Because I broke The horse's leg--it was mine own to break; I like to have my toys, and break them too. WILLIAM. Well, thou shalt have another Norman knight! WILLIAM RUFUS. And may I break his legs? WILLIAM. Yea,--get thee gone! WILLIAM RUFUS. I'll tell them I have had my way with thee. [_Exit_. MALET. I never knew thee check thy will for ought Save for the prattling of thy little ones. WILLIAM. Who shall be kings of England. I am heir Of England by the promise of her king. MALET. But there the great Assembly choose their king, The choice of England is the voice of England.