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But heaven and our good saint will bring to nought Their wicked machinations.

Off. Th' assembled Thanes my Lord, attend without.

Ethw. Well, let them enter.(Exit Off, Our stool beneath us will not shake, I trust, Her. (stretching out his hand with respectful dignity.) Our king and sire, in true and humble duty We come before you, earnestly intreating Your royal ear to our united voice.

Ethw. Mine ear is ever open to the voice Of faithful duty.

Her. We are all men who, in th' embattled field, Have by your side the front of danger braved, With greater lack of prudence than of daring; And have opposed our rough and scarred breasts To the fell push of war, with liberality Not yielding to the bravest of your Thanes, The sons of warlike sires. But we are men Who, in our cheerful halls, have also been Lords of the daily feast; where, round our boards, The hoary headed warriour, from the toil Of arms releas'd, with the cheer'd stranger smiled: