# ■ 7 The Church

In the spring of 1936，Mrs Simpson wrote a letter to her husband．

Dear Ernest，'she wrote．'You have been very kind to me．You are a good and strong man．But I must tell you that our marriage is finished．I am in love with the King and I want a divorce．Don't be angry．There is nothing you can do．I'll never forget you， but I have to be free．'

Ernest replied immediately：'Your letter arrived this morning． I will do what you ask， but I'll never stop loving you．And if you need me，I'll always be here．'

That night the King and Wallis met at a small restaurant in Piccadilly． Edward read Ernest's letter again and again．'That's wonderful news，'he said．'Nothing can stop us now！'

The next day， when Edward came down to breakfast，Gordon Lang， the Archbishop of Canterbury，was waiting for him．

Good morning， Gordon，'the King said．'How nice to see you again． And what can I do for you？'

For a minute the Archbishop said nothing． Then he opened a small black bag and took out three newspapers．'I have come to see you about Mrs Wallis Simpsonn，'he began．'The newspapers say that you want to marry her． Are these stories true，Sir？'

Yes，Gordon， Wallis is going to be my wife．'

But that's not possible，'the Archbishop replied．'You know what the Church thinks about marriage and divorce． Di－vorce is wrong in the eyes of God！'

Edward smiled and then said：'Can I ask you some ques－tions about God， Mr Lang？'

Yes， of course， Sir．'

Is God happy when two people fall in love？'

Yes， Sir， but…'

And is God happy when two people fall in love and get married？'

Yes，Sir，but…'

And is God happy when two people fall in love，get mar－ried， and live happily together？'

Yes，Sir，but…'

Then，Archbishop， Wallis and I will make God very happy．We are in love， we'll get married， and we'll live to－gether happily！'

But you don't understand，Sir，'Mr Lang replied．'The Church says that divorce is wrong． Mrs Simpson cannot leave Mr Simpson and then marry you．You must forget about her and find another woman． Please，Sir， I must ask you to think again．'

That is not possible，'Edward said softly．'When Wallis is free，I shall marry her．'

There was a long silence．The Archbishop looked down at the floor and shook his head． 'You're making a big mistake，Sir，'he said． 'The Church is very strong，and we will not have this woman as our Queen！'

Suddenly Edward stood up， his face red and angry．'Thank you for coming，'he said．'But I have nothing more to say．And I want to be alone．'

The Archbishop stood up to go， but then turned and touched the King's arm．'Please，Sir， think again． The Church will be against you．'

I don't care，'Edward replied．'I have God on my side，and that is all I need．Goodbye， Mr Lang．'

■ 7 教會

1936年春天，辛普森夫人給她丈夫寫了一封信。

“親愛的歐內斯特，”她寫道，“你一直待我很好。你心地善良，性格堅強。但我不得不告訴你，我們的婚姻結束了。我愛上了國王，我想和你離婚。請不要生氣。你無能為力了。我永遠不會忘記你，但我必須得到自由。”

歐內斯特立刻回了信：“你的信是今早到的。我答應你的要求，但我永遠不會停止對你的愛。如果你需要我，我隨時都會幫忙。”

那天晚上，國王和沃利斯在皮卡迪裡的一家小餐館見了面。愛德華一遍又一遍地讀歐內斯特的信。“這消息太好了，”他說，“現在沒有什麼能夠阻礙我們了。”

第二天，愛德華下樓吃早飯的時候，發現坎特伯雷大主教戈登·朗正在等他。

“早上好，戈登，”國王說，“又見到您真好。我能為您做些什麼？”

大主教沉默了片刻，然後打開一個小黑包，取出3份報紙。“我來見您是為了沃利斯·辛普森夫人的事，”他開口說，“報上說您要娶她為妻。這是真的嗎，陛下？”

“是的，戈登，沃利斯將成為我的妻子。”

“但那是不可能的，”大主教說，“您知道教會對婚姻和離婚的看法。在上帝眼裡，離婚是錯誤的！”

愛德華笑了，然後說：“我能問您一些有關上帝的問題嗎，朗先生？”

“當然可以，陛下。”

“當兩個人相愛時，上帝高興嗎？”

“高興，陛下，但是……”

“兩個人相愛並結婚，上帝高興嗎？”

“高興，陛下，但是……”

“兩個人相愛、結婚、在一起幸福地生活，上帝高興嗎？”

“高興，陛下，但是……”

“那麼，大主教，沃利斯和我會讓上帝十分高興的。我們相愛，我們要結婚，我們在一起生活會很幸福！”

“但您不明白，陛下，”朗先生說，“教會認為離婚是錯誤的。辛普森夫人不能離開辛普森先生，然後和您結婚。您必須忘記她，去找另一個女子。陛下，我請求您三思。”

“這是不可能的，”愛德華輕輕地說，“沃利斯一離婚，我就娶她。”

沉默了許久，大主教低頭看著地板，搖了搖頭。“您正在犯一個很大的錯誤，陛下，”他說，“教會是強有力的，我們不會讓這個女人做我們的王后！”

愛德華刷地站起身，臉色通紅，怒容滿面。“謝謝您的來訪，”他說，“但我沒什麼可說的了。我想一個人待著。”

大主教站起身要走，但又回過頭來，拍拍國王的手臂。“陛下，請您再想想。教會會反對您的。”

“我不在乎，”愛德華回答，“上帝會站在我這邊，除此之外我不需要別的。再見，朗先生。”