HERBERT.
Winter sunshine!
Beware of opening out thy bosom to it,
Lest thou, myself, and all thy flock should catch
An after ague-fit of trembling. Look!
He bows, he bares his head, he is coming hither.
Still with a smile.
_Enter_ KING HENRY _and_ WALTER MAP.
HENRY.
We have had so many hours together, Thomas,
So many happy hours alone together,
That I would speak with you once more alone.
BECKET.
My liege, your will and happiness are mine.
[_Exeunt_ KING _and_ BECKET.
HERBERT.
The same smile still.
WALTER MAP.
Do you see that great black cloud that hath come over the sun and cast
us all into shadow?
HERBERT.
And feel it too.
WALTER MAP.
And see you yon side-beam that is forced from under it, and sets the
church-tower over there all a-hell-fire as it were?
HERBERT.
Ay.
WALTER MAP.
It is this black, bell-silencing, anti-marrying, burial-hindering
interdict that hath squeezed out this side-smile upon Canterbury,
whereof may come conflagration. Were I Thomas, I wouldn't trust it.
Sudden change is a house on sand; and tho' I count Henry honest
enough, yet when fear creeps in at the front, honesty steals out at
the back, and the King at last is fairly scared by this cloud--this
interdict.
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