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It was told that the reptiles, the owls, and the raven, were objects of her enchantment warriors, and the daughters of warriors, transformed by the waving of her wand. Now, when Bethoc could find no rest because of the greatness of her hatred for Agitha, and, moreover, as she herself had communed with impure spirits, she overcame the terror which the name of Elgiva spread. She sought her aid.
As they drew near they heard the sound of merry laughter, and each of them frowned as men might do who were little accustomed to condone the weakness of human flesh. Entering the chamber very unceremoniously, they paused, as if aghast, when they beheld the king in the company of Elgiva, his royal diadem cast upon the ground.
I have made all the arrangements; we shall have such a night at the lady Ethelgiva's." "How is the fair Elgiva?" It was now Edwy's turn to blush and look confused. "I wish I had the power of teasing you, Elfric. But if you have a secret you keep it close. Remember old Dunstan vanishes on the fifteenth, and the same evening, oh, won't it be joyful? But I am tired of work.
"Redwald, my trusty champion," said Edwy, "this is the first campaign thou hast ever returned from unsuccessful. Tell us, how did Dunstan outwit you?" "By the aid of the devil, my liege." "Doubtless; but we had all hoped for a different result, and that thou wouldst either have left the traitor no eyes in his head, or no head on his shoulders. "Said I not rightly, my Elgiva?"
Before condemning Dunstan, we must remember that Elgiva could not stand in the relation of the affianced bride of the king; that Edwy really seemed to set the laws of both Church and State at defiance, those very laws which but that day he had sworn solemnly to maintain; and that but recently he had stood in the relation of pupil to Dunstan, so that in his zeal for Church and State, the abbot forgot the respect due to the king.
The fair Elgiva and the gallant Harold had crossed the western waves in their hour of need. The fame of Edward the Confessor took such deep hold on the Irish mind that, three centuries after his death, his banner was unfurled and the royal leopards laid aside to facilitate the march of an English King, through the fastnesses of Leinster.
Again the voice of the enchantress came forth from the cave, saying "In seven days come unto me again bring with thee the Princess Agitha; and Elgiva, the enchantress, will do towards her as Bethoc, the daughter of the weird thane, hath requested." Thus did the queen, while Ethelfrith, her lord, was making war against a strange king in a far country.
Not an Englishman will acknowledge that your connection is lawful; from Exeter to Canterbury the cry is the same 'Let him renounce Elgiva, and we will obey him; but we will not serve a king who does not obey the voice of the Church or the laws of the land." "Laws of the land! The king is above the laws."
He was responsible for Dunstan's conduct on the occasion of King Edwy's coronation, though it is not known how far he sanctioned the cruelties subsequently practised on Elgiva. Odo reconstructed and enlarged the cathedral. His immediate successor was #Elsi#, Bishop of Winchester, but this archbishop died while on his way to Rome to receive his pall from the Pope.
"Elfgar!" he said; as he strove to raise his friend and subject from the ground "not seriously wounded I hope!" "Dying, and for my king, as is my duty let a dying voice reach you, my dear lord. Save yourself if you would save Elgiva, if you if you " the words came broken and faint " are slain, she will be at the mercy of her deadly foes."
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