He who strikes me, strikes Him; forbear, on pain Of endless
Peace! quoth Madoc, and profane not The holy Cross, with those polluted hands
Of midnight sacrilege!.. Peace! I harm thee not, . .
Be wise, and thou art safe....... For thee, thou know'st,
Prior, that if thy treason were divulged,
David would hang thee on thy steeple top,
To feed the steeple daws: Obey and live!
Go, bring fine linen and a coffer meet
To bear these relics; and do ye, meanwhile,
Proceed upon your work.
Raised the stone cover, and display'd the dead,
In royal grave-clothes habited, his arms
Cross'd on the breast, with precious gums and spice
Fragrant, and incorruptibly preserved.
At Madoc's bidding, round the corpse they wrap
The linen web, fold within fold involved;
They laid it in the coffer, and with cloth
At head and foot filled every interval
And prest it down compact; they closed the lid,
And Madoc with his signet seal'd it thrice.
Then said he to his host, Bear thou at dawn
This treasure to the ships. My father's bones
Shall have their resting-place, where mine one day
May moulder by their side. He shall be free
In death, who living did so well
His and his country's freedom.
For your own safety, ye I ween will keep
My secret safe. So saying, he went his way.
Now hath the Lord of Ocean once again
Set foot in Mona. Llaian there receives
Sisterly greeting from the royal maid,
Who, while she tempers to the public eye
Her welcome, safely to the boy indulged
In fond endearments of instinctive love.
When the first flow of joy was overpast,
How went the equipment on, the Prince enquired.
Nay, brother, quoth Goervyl, ask thou that
Of Urien;.. it hath been his sole employ
Daily from cock-crow until even-song,
That he hath laid aside all other thoughts,
Forgetful even of me! She said and smiled
Playful reproach upon the good old man,
Who in such chiding as affection loves,
Dallying with terms of wrong, return'd rebuke.
There, Madoc, pointing to the shore, he cried,
There are they moor'd; six gallant barks, as trim
And worthy of the sea as ever yet
Gave canvass to the gale. The mariners
Flock to thy banner, and the call hath roused
Many a brave spirit. Soon as Spring shall serve,
There need be no delay. I should depart
Without one wish that lingers, could we bear
Ririd from hence, and break poor Rodri's chains,
Thy lion-hearted brother; . . and that boy,
If he were with us, Madoc! that dear boy
Sister, said the Prince at that,
A hard and unrelenting heart hath he.
The gentle Emma told me she had fail'd,
And that was all she told; but in her eye
I could see sorrow struggling. She complains not,
And yet, I know, in bitterness laments
The hour which brought her as a victim here.
Then I will seek the Monarch, Madoc cried; And forth he went. Cold welcome David gave, Such as might chill a suppliant; but the Prince Fearless began. I found at Dinevawr Our brother Ririd, and he made his suit That he might follow me, a banish'd man. He waits thine answer at the court of Rhys. Now I beseech thee, David, say to him His father's hall is open!
Replied, I told thee, Madoc, thy request
Displeased me heretofore; I warn'd thee, too,
To shun the rebel; yet my messenger
Tells me, the guests at Dinevawr who sate
At board with Rhys and drank of his own cup,
Were Madoc and Lord Ririd... Was this well,
This open disobedience to my will,
And my express command?
His rising wrath. If I should tell thee, Sire,
He answered, by what chance it so fell out,
I should of disobedience stand excused,
Even were it here a crime. Yet think again,
David, and let thy better mind prevail !
I am his surety here; he comes alone;
The strength of yonder armament is mine
And when did I deceive thee?.. I did hope,
For natural love and public decency,
That ye would part in friendship . . . let that pass!
He may remain, and join me in the hour
Of embarkation. But for thine own sake,
Cast off these vile suspicions, and the fear
That makes its danger! Call to mind, my brother,
The rampart that we were to Owen's throne!
Are there no moments when the thoughts and loves
Of other days return? Let Rodri loose!
Restore him to his birth-right!.. Why wouldst thou
Hold him in chains, when benefits would bind
His noble spirit?
Leave me cried the King;
Thou know'st the theme is hateful to my ear.
I have the mastery now, and idle words,
Madoc, shall never thrust me from the throne,
Which this right arm in battle hardly won.
There must he lie till nature set him free,
And so deliver both. Trespass no more!
A little yet bear with me, Madoc cried.
I leave this land for ever; let me first
Behold my brother Rodri, lest he think
My summer love be withered, and in wrath
Remember me hereafter.
Leave me, Madoc !
Speedily, ere indulgence grow a fault,
Exclaim'd the Monarch. Do not tempt my wrath;
Aye! the Ocean Prince replied,
I know thee, David, and I pity thee,
Thou poor, suspicious, miserable man!
Friend hast thou none, except thy country's foe,
That hateful Saxon, he whose bloody hand
Pluck'd out thy brethren's eyes; and for thy kin,
Them hast thou made thy perilous enemies.
What if the Lion Rodri were abroad?
What if Llewelyn's banner were display'd?
The sword of England could not save thee then.
Frown not, and menace not! for what am I,
That I should fear thine anger? . . And with that
He turn'd indignant from the wrathful king.
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