But waiting is long.
[Enter the FIRST PRIEST with a banner of St. Stephen borne before him. The lines sung are in italics.]
FIRST PRIEST. Since Christmas a day: and the day of St. Stephen, First
Martyr.
Princes moreover did sit, and did witness falsely against me.
A day that was always most dear to the Archbishop Thomas.
And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice:
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
Princes moreover did sit.
[Introit of St. Stephen is heard]
[Enter the SECOND PRIEST, with a banner of St. John the Apostle borne before him.]
SECOND PRIEST. Since St. Stephen a day: and the day of St. John the
Apostle.
In the midst of the congregation he opened his mouth.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
Which we have seen with our eyes, and our hands have handled
Of the word of life; that which we have seen and heard
Declare we unto you.
In the midst of the congregation.
[Introit of St. John is heard]
[Enter the THIRD PRIEST, with a banner of the Holy Innocents borne before him.]
THIRD PRIEST. Since St. John the Apostle a day: and the day of the
Holy Innocents.
Out of the mouth of very babes, O God.
As the voice of many waters, of thunder, of harps,
They sang as it were a new song.
The blood of thy saints have they shed like water,
And there was no man to bury them. Avenge, O Lord,
The blood of thy saints. In Rama, a voice heard, weeping.
Out of the mouth of very babes, O God!
[THE PRIESTS stand together with the banners behind them]
FIRST PRIEST. Since the Holy Innocents a day: the fourth day from
Christmas.
THE THREE PRIESTS. Rejoice we all, keeping holy day.
FIRST PRIEST. As for the people, so also for himself, he offereth
for sins.
He lays down his life for the sheep.
THE THREE PRIESTS. Rejoice we all, keeping holy day.
FIRST PRIEST. To-day?
SECOND PRIEST. To-day, what is to-day? For the day is half gone.
FIRST PRIEST. To-day, what is to-day? but another day, the dusk of
the year.
SECOND PRIEST. To-day, what is to-day? Another night, and another
dawn.
THIRD PRIEST. What day is the day that we know that we hope for or
fear for?
Every day is the day we should fear from or hope from. One
moment
Weighs like another. Only in retrospection, selection,
We say, that was the day. The critical moment
That is always now, and here. Even now, in sordid particulars
The eternal design may appear.
[Enter the FOUR KNIGHTS. The banners disappear]
FIRST KNIGHT. Servants of the King.
FIRST PRIEST. And known to us.
You are welcome. Have you ridden far?
FIRST KNIGHT. Not far to-day, but matters urgent
Have brought us from France. We rode hard,
Took ship yesterday, landed last night,
Having business with the Archbishop.
SECOND KNIGHT. Urgent business.
THIRD KNIGHT. From the King.
SECOND KNIGHT. By the King’s order.
FIRST KNIGHT. Our men are outside.
FIRST PRIEST. You know the Archbishop’s hospitality.
We are about to go to dinner.
The good Archbishop would be vexed
If we did not offer you entertainment
Before your business. Please dine with us.
Your men shall be looked after also.
Dinner before business. Do you like roast pork?
FIRST KNIGHT. Business before dinner. We will roast your pork
First, and dine upon it after.
SECOND KNIGHT. We must see the Archbishop.
THIRD KNIGHT. Go, tell the Archbishop
We have no need of his hospitality.
We will find our own dinner.
FIRST PRIEST [to attendant]. Go, tell His Lordship.
FOURTH KNIGHT. How much longer will you keep us waiting?
[Enter THOMAS]
THOMAS [to PRIESTS]. However certain our expectation
The moment foreseen may be unexpected
When it arrives. It comes when we are
Engrossed with matters of other urgency.
On my table you will find
The papers in order, and the documents signed.
[To KNIGHTS]. You are welcome, whatever your business may be.
You say, from the King?
FIRST KNIGHT. Most surely from the King.
We must speak with you alone.
THOMAS [to PRIESTS] Leave us then alone.
Now what is the matter?
FIRST KNIGHT. This is the matter.
THE THREE KNIGHTS. You are the Archbishop in revolt against the
King; in rebellion to the King and the law of the land;
You are the Archbishop who was made by the King; whom he set
in your place to carry out his command.
You are his servant, his tool, and his jack,
You wore his favours on your back,
You had your honours all from his hand; from him you had the
power, the seal and the ring.
This is the man who was the tradesman’s son: the backstairs brat
who was born in Cheapside;
This is the creature that crawled upon the King; swollen with
blood and swollen with pride.
Creeping out of the London dirt,
Crawling up like a louse on your shirt,
The man who cheated, swindled, lied; broke his oath and betrayed
his King.
THOMAS. This is not true.
Both before and after I received the ring
I have been a loyal subject to the King.
Saving my order, I am at his command,
As his most faithful vassal in the land.
FIRST KNIGHT. Saving your order! let your order save you —
As I do not think it is like to do.
Saving your ambition is what you mean,
Saving your pride, envy and spleen.
SECOND KNIGHT. Saving your insolence and greed.
Won’t you ask us to pray to God for you, in your need?
THIRD KNIGHT. Yes, we’ll pray for you!
FIRST KNIGHT. Yes, we’ll pray for you!
THE THREE KNIGHTS. Yes, we’ll pray that God may help you!
THOMAS. But, gentlemen, your business
Which you said so urgent, is it only
Scolding and blaspheming?
FIRST KNIGHT. That was only
Our indignation, as loyal subjects.
THOMAS. Loyal? to whom?
FIRST KNIGHT. To the King!
SECOND KNIGHT. The King!
THIRD KNIGHT. The King!
THE THREE KNIGHTS. God bless him!
THOMAS. Then let your new coat of loyalty be worn
Carefully, so it get not soiled or torn.
Have you something to say?
FIRST KNIGHT. By the King’s command.
Shall we say it now?
SECOND KNIGHT. Without delay,
Before the old fox is off and away.
THOMAS. What you have to say
By the King’s command — if it be the King’s command —
Should be said in public. If you make charges,
Then in public I will refute them.
FIRST KNIGHT. No! here and now!
[They make to attack him, but the priests and attendants return and quietly interpose themselves.]
THOMAS. Now and here!
FIRST KNIGHT. Of your ear
lier misdeeds I shall make no mention.
They are too well known. But after dissension
Had ended, in France, and you were endued
With your former privilege, how did you show your gratitude?
You had fled from England, not exiled
Or threatened, mind you; but in the hope
Of stirring up trouble in the French dominions.
You sowed strife abroad, you reviled
The King to the King of France, to the Pope,
Raising up against him false opinions.
SECOND KNIGHT. Yet the King, out of his charity.
And urged by your friends, offered clemency.
Made a pact of peace, and all dispute ended
Sent you back to your See as you demanded.
THIRD KNIGHT. And burying the memory of your transgressions
Restored your honours and your possessions.
All was granted for which you sued:
Yet how, I repeat, did you show your gratitude?
FIRST KNIGHT. Suspending those who had crowned the young prince,
Denying the legality of his coronation.
SECOND KNIGHT. Binding with the chains of anathema.
THIRD KNIGHT. Using every means in your power to evince
The King’s faithful servants, every one who transacts
His business in his absence, the business of the nation.
FIRST KNIGHT. These are the facts.
Say therefore if you will be content
To answer in the King’s presence. Therefore were we sent.
THOMAS. Never was it my wish
To uncrown the King’s son, or to diminish
His honour and power. Why should he wish
To deprive my people of me and keep me from my own
And bid me sit in Canterbury, alone?
I would wish him three crowns rather than one,
And as for the bishops, it is not my yoke
That is laid upon them, or mine to revoke.
Let them go to the Pope. It was he who condemned them.
FIRST KNIGHT. Through you they were suspended.
SECOND KNIGHT. By you be this amended.
THIRD KNIGHT. Absolve them.
FIRST KNIGHT. Absolve them.
THOMAS. I do not deny
That this was done through me. But it is not I
Who can loose whom the Pope has bound.
Let them go to him, upon whom redounds
Their contempt towards me, their contempt towards the Church
shown.
FIRST KNIGHT. Be that as it may, here is the King’s command:
That you and your servants depart from this land.
THOMAS. If that is the King’s command, I will be bold
To say: seven years were my people without
My presence; seven years of misery and pain.
Seven years a mendicant on foreign charity
I lingered abroad: seven years is no brevity.
I shall not get those seven years back again.
Never again, you must make no doubt,
Shall the sea run between the shepherd and his fold.
FIRST KNIGHT. The King’s justice, the King’s majesty,
You insult with gross indignity;
Insolent madman, whom nothing deters
From attainting his servants and ministers.
THOMAS. It is not I who insult the King,
And there is higher than I or the King.
It is not I, Becket from Cheapside,
It is not against me, Becket, that you strive.
It is not Becket who pronounces doom,
But the Law of Christ’s Church, the judgement of Rome.
FIRST KNIGHT. Priest, you have spoken in peril of your life.
SECOND KNIGHT. Priest, you have spoken in danger of the knife.
THIRD KNIGHT. Priest, you have spoken treachery and treason.
THE THREE KNIGHTS. Priest! traitor, confirmed in malfeasance.
THOMAS. I submit my cause to the judgement of Rome.
But if you kill me, I shall rise from my tomb
To submit my cause before God’s throne.
[Exit]
FOURTH KNIGHT. Priest! monk! and servant! take, hold, detain,
Restrain this man, in the King’s name.
FIRST KNIGHT. Or answer with your bodies.
SECOND KNIGHT. Enough of words.
THE FOUR KNIGHTS. We come for the King’s justice, we come with
swords.
[Exeunt]
CHORUS. I have smelt them, the death-bringers, senses are quickened
By subtile forebodings; I have heard
Fluting in the night-time, fluting and owls, have seen at noon
Scaly wings slanting over, huge and ridiculous. I have tasted
The savour of putrid flesh in the spoon. I have felt
The heaving of earth at nightfall, restless, absurd. I have heard
Laughter in the noises of beasts that make strange noises: jackal,
jackass, jackdaw; the scurrying noise of mouse and jerboa; the
laugh of the loon, the lunatic bird. I have seen
Grey necks twisting, rat tails twining, in the thick light of dawn. I
have eaten
Smooth creatures still living, with the strong salt taste of living
things under the sea; I have tasted
The living lobster, the crab, the oyster, the whelk and the prawn;
and they live and spawn in my bowels, and my bowels dissolve
in the light of dawn. I have smelt
Death in the rose, death in the hollyhock, sweet pea, hyacinth,
primrose and cowslip. I have seen
Trunk and horn, tusk and hoof, in odd places;
I have lain on the floor of the sea and breathed with the breathing
of the sea-anemone, swallowed with ingurgitation of the
sponge. I have lain in the soil and criticised the worm. In the
air
Flirted with the passage of the kite, I have plunged with the kite
and cowered with the wren. I have felt
The horn of the beetle, the scale of the viper, the mobile hard
insensitive skin of the elephant, the evasive flank of the fish.
I have smelt
Corruption in the dish, incense in the latrine, the sewer in the
incense, the smell of sweet soap in the woodpath, a hellish
sweet scent in the woodpath, while the ground heaved. I have
seen
Rings of light coiling downwards, descending
To the horror of the ape. Have I not known, not known
What was coming to be? It was here, in the kitchen, in the passage,
In the mews in the barn in the byre in the market-place
In our veins our bowels our skulls as well
As well as in the plottings of potentates
As well as in the consultations of powers.
What is woven on the loom of fate
What is woven in the councils of princes
Is woven also in our veins, our brains,
Is woven like a pattern of living worms
In the guts of the women of Canterbury.
I have smelt them, the death-bringers; now is too late
For action, too soon for contrition.
Nothing is possible but the shamed swoon
Of those consenting to the last humiliation.
I have consented, Lord Archbishop, have consented.
Am torn away, subdued, violated,
United to the spiritual flesh of nature,
Mastered by the animal powers of spirit,
Dominated by the lust of self-demolition,
By the final utter uttermost death of spirit,
By the final ecstasy of waste and shame,
O Lord Archbishop, O Thomas Archbishop, forgive us, forgive us,
pray for us that we may pray for you, out of our shame.