X-Git-Url: https://git.njae.me.uk/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=szyfrow%2Fsupport%2Fshakespeare.txt;fp=szyfrow%2Fsupport%2Fshakespeare.txt;h=6b50bbfb220212a12910b578abc14b8e1010178b;hb=27c8005f6dea0026887b80a01b5f93a8f1b3c2b2;hp=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000;hpb=a870050db6bc974b1bb0d132001750b6624fb43f;p=szyfrow.git diff --git a/szyfrow/support/shakespeare.txt b/szyfrow/support/shakespeare.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b50bbf --- /dev/null +++ b/szyfrow/support/shakespeare.txt @@ -0,0 +1,129107 @@ +A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM + +Now , fair Hippolyta , our nuptial hour +Draws on apace : four happy days bring in +Another moon ; but O ! methinks how slow +This old moon wanes ; she lingers my desires , +Like to a step dame , or a dowager +Long withering out a young man's revenue . + +Four days will quickly steep themselves in night ; +Four nights will quickly dream away the time ; +And then the moon , like to a silver bow +New-bent in heaven , shall behold the night +Of our solemnities . + +Go , Philostrate , +Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments ; +Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth ; +Turn melancholy forth to funerals ; +The pale companion is not for our pomp . + +Hippolyta , I woo'd thee with my sword , +And won thy love doing thee injuries ; +But I will wed thee in another key , +With pomp , with triumph , and with revelling . + + +Happy be Theseus , our renowned duke ! + +Thanks , good Egeus : what's the news with thee ? + +Full of vexation come I , with complaint +Against my child , my daughter Hermia . +Stand forth , Demetrius . My noble lord , +This man hath my consent to marry her . +Stand forth , Lysander : and , my gracious duke , +This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child : +Thou , thou , Lysander , thou hast given her rimes , +And interchang'd love-tokens with my child ; +Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung , +With feigning voice , verses of feigning love ; +And stol'n the impression of her fantasy +With bracelets of thy hair , rings , gawds , conceits , +Knacks , trifles , nosegays , sweetmeats , messengers +Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth ; +With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart ; +Turn'd her obedience , which is due to me , +To stubborn harshness . And , my gracious duke , +Be it so she will not here before your Grace +Consent to marry with Demetrius , +I beg the ancient privilege of Athens , +As she is mine , I may dispose of her ; +Which shall be either to this gentleman , +Or to her death , according to our law +Immediately provided in that case . + +What say you , Hermia ? be advis'd , fair maid . +To you , your father should be as a god ; +One that compos'd your beauties , yea , and one +To whom you are but as a form in wax +By him imprinted , and within his power +To leave the figure or disfigure it . +Demetrius is a worthy gentleman . + +So is Lysander . + +In himself he is ; +But , in this kind , wanting your father's voice , +The other must be held the worthier . + +I would my father look'd but with my eyes . + +Rather your eyes must with his judgment look . + +I do entreat your Grace to pardon me . +I know not by what power I am made bold , +Nor how it may concern my modesty +In such a presence here to plead my thoughts ; +But I beseech your Grace , that I may know +The worst that may befall me in this case , +If I refuse to wed Demetrius . + +Either to die the death , or to abjure +For ever the society of men . +Therefore , fair Hermia , question your desires ; +Know of your youth , examine well your blood , +Whe'r , if you yield not to your father's choice , +You can endure the livery of a nun , +For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd , +To live a barren sister all your life , +Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon . +Thrice blessed they that master so their blood , +To undergo such maiden pilgrimage ; +But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd , +Than that which withering on the virgin thorn +Grows , lives , and dies , in single blessedness . + +So will I grow , so live , so die , my lord , +Ere I will yield my virgin patent up +Unto his lordship , whose unwished yoke +My soul consents not to give sovereignty . + +Take time to pause ; and , by the next new moon , +The sealing-day betwixt my love and me +For everlasting bond of fellowship , +Upon that day either prepare to die +For disobedience to your father's will , +Or else to wed Demetrius , as he would ; +Or on Diana's altar to protest +For aye austerity and single life . + +Relent , sweet Hermia ; and , Lysander , yield +Thy crazed title to my certain right . + +You have her father's love , Demetrius ; +Let me have Hermia's : do you marry him . + +Scornful Lysander ! true , he hath my love , +And what is mine my love shall render him ; +And she is mine , and all my right of her +I do estate unto Demetrius . + +I am , my lord , as well deriv'd as he , +As well possess'd ; my love is more than his ; +My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd +If not with vantage , as Demetrius' ; +And , which is more than all these boasts can be , +I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia . +Why should not I then prosecute my right ? +Demetrius , I'll avouch it to his head , +Made love to Nedar's daughter , Helena , +And won her soul ; and she , sweet lady , dotes , +Devoutly dotes , dotes in idolatry , +Upon this spotted and inconstant man . + +I must confess that I have heard so much , +And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof ; +But , being over-full of self-affairs , +My mind did lose it . But , Demetrius , come ; +And come , Egeus ; you shall go with me , +I have some private schooling for you both . +For you , fair Hermia , look you arm yourself +To fit your fancies to your father's will , +Or else the law of Athens yields you up , +Which by no means we may extenuate , +To death , or to a vow of single life . +Come , my Hippolyta : what cheer , my love ? +Demetrius and Egeus , go along : +I must employ you in some business +Against our nuptial , and confer with you +Of something nearly that concerns yourselves . + +With duty and desire we follow you . + + +How now , my love ! Why is your cheek so pale ? +How chance the roses there do fade so fast ? + +Belike for want of rain , which I could well +Beteem them from the tempest of mine eyes . + +Ay me ! for aught that ever I could read , +Could ever hear by tale or history , +The course of true love never did run smooth ; +But , either it was different in blood , + +O cross ! too high to be enthrall'd to low . + +Or else misgraffed in respect of years , + +O spite ! too old to be engag'd to young . + +Or else it stood upon the choice of friends , + +O hell ! to choose love by another's eye . + +Or , if there were a sympathy in choice , +War , death , or sickness did lay siege to it , +Making it momentany as a sound , +Swift as a shadow , short as any dream , +Brief as the lightning in the collied night , +That , in a spleen , unfolds both heaven and earth , +And ere a man hath power to say , 'Behold !' +The jaws of darkness do devour it up : +So quick bright things come to confusion . + +If then true lovers have been ever cross'd , +It stands as an edict in destiny : +Then let us teach our trial patience , +Because it is a customary cross , +As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs , +Wishes and tears , poor fancy's followers . + +A good persuasion : therefore , hear me , Hermia . +I have a widow aunt , a dowager +Of great revenue , and she hath no child : +From Athens is her house remote seven leagues ; +And she respects me as her only son . +There , gentle Hermia , may I marry thee , +And to that place the sharp Athenian law +Cannot pursue us . If thou lov'st me then , +Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night , +And in the wood , a league without the town , +Where I did meet thee once with Helena , +To do observance to a morn of May , +There will I stay for thee . + +My good Lysander ! +I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow , +By his best arrow with the golden head , +By the simplicity of Venus' doves , +By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves , +And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen , +When the false Troyan under sail was seen , +By all the vows that ever men have broke , +In number more than ever women spoke , +In that same place thou hast appointed me , +To-morrow truly will I meet with thee . + +Keep promise , love . Look , here comes Helena . + + +God speed fair Helena ! Whither away ? + +Call you me fair ? that fair again unsay . +Demetrius loves your fair : O happy fair ! +Your eyes are lode-stars ! and your tongue's sweet air +More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear , +When wheat is green , when hawthorn buds appear . +Sickness is catching : O ! were favour so , +Yours would I catch , fair Hermia , ere I go ; +My ear should catch your voice , my eye your eye , +My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody . +Were the world mine , Demetrius being bated , +The rest I'd give to be to you translated . +O ! teach me how you look , and with what art +You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart . + +I frown upon him , yet he loves me still . + +O ! that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill . + +I give him curses , yet he gives me love . + +O ! that my prayers could such affection move . + +The more I hate , the more he follows me . + +The more I love , the more he hateth me . + +His folly , Helena , is no fault of mine . + +None , but your beauty : would that fault were mine ! + +Take comfort : he no more shall see my face ; +Lysander and myself will fly this place . +Before the time I did Lysander see , +Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me : +O ! then , what graces in my love do dwell , +That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell . + +Helen , to you our minds we will unfold . +To-morrow night , when Ph be doth behold +Her silver visage in the wat'ry glass , +Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass , +A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal , +Through Athens' gates have we devis'd to steal . + +And in the wood , where often you and I +Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie , +Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet , +There my Lysander and myself shall meet ; +And thence from Athens turn away our eyes , +To seek new friends and stranger companies . +Farewell , sweet playfellow : pray thou for us ; +And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius ! +Keep word , Lysander : we must starve our sight +From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight . + +I will , my Hermia . + +Helena , adieu : +As you on him , Demetrius dote on you ! + + +How happy some o'er other some can be ! +Through Athens I am thought as fair as she ; +But what of that ? Demetrius thinks not so ; +He will not know what all but he do know ; +And as he errs , doting on Hermia's eyes , +So I , admiring of his qualities . +Things base and vile , holding no quantity , +Love can transpose to form and dignity . +Love looks not with the eyes , but with the mind , +And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind . +Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste ; +Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste : +And therefore is Love said to be a child , +Because in choice he is so oft beguil'd . +As waggish boys in game themselves forswear , +So the boy Love is perjur'd every where ; +For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne , +He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine ; +And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt , +So he dissolv'd , and showers of oaths did melt . +I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight : +Then to the wood will he to-morrow night +Pursue her ; and for this intelligence +If I have thanks , it is a dear expense : +But herein mean I to enrich my pain , +To have his sight thither and back again . + + +Is all our company here ? + +You were best to call them generally , man by man , according to the scrip . + +Here is the scroll of every man's name , which is thought fit , through all Athens , to play in our interlude before the duke and the duchess on his wedding-day at night . + +First , good Peter Quince , say what the play treats on ; then read the names of the actors , and so grow to a point . + +Marry , our play is , The most lamentable comedy , and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisby . + +A very good piece of work , I assure you , and a merry . Now , good Peter Quince , call forth your actors by the scroll . Masters , spread yourselves . + +Answer as I call you . Nick Bottom , the weaver . + +Ready . Name what part I am for , and proceed . + +You , Nick Bottom , are set down for Pyramus . + +What is Pyramus ? a lover , or a tyrant ? + +A lover , that kills himself most gallantly for love . + +That will ask some tears in the true performing of it : if I do it , let the audience look to their eyes ; I will move storms , I will condole in some measure . To the rest : yet my chief humour is for a tyrant . I could play Ercles rarely , or a part to tear a cat in , to make all split . + +The raging rocks +And shivering shocks +Shall break the locks +Of prison gates : +And Phibbus' car +Shall shine from far +And make and mar +The foolish Fates . + +This was lofty ! Now name the rest of the players . This is Ercles' vein , a tyrant's vein ; a lover is more condoling . + +Francis Flute , the bellows-mender . + +Here , Peter Quince . + +You must take Thisby on you . + +What is Thisby ? a wandering knight ? + +It is the lady that Pyramus must love . + +Nay , faith , let not me play a woman ; I have a beard coming . + +That's all one : you shall play it in a mask , and you may speak as small as you will . + +An I may hide my face , let me play Thisby too . I'll speak in a monstrous little voice , 'Thisne , Thisne !' 'Ah , Pyramus , my lover dear ; thy Thisby dear , and lady dear !' + +No , no ; you must play Pyramus ; and Flute , you Thisby . + +Well , proceed . + +Robin Starveling , the tailor . + +Here , Peter Quince . + +Robin Starveling , you must play Thisby's mother . Tom Snout , the tinker . + +Here , Peter Quince . + +You , Pyramus's father ; myself , Thisby's father ; Snug , the joiner , you the lion's part : and , I hope , here is a play fitted . + +Have you the lion's part written ? pray you , if it be , give it me , for I am slow of study . + +You may do it extempore , for it is nothing but roaring . + +Let me play the lion too . I will roar , that I will do any man's heart good to hear me ; I will roar , that I will make the duke say , 'Let him roar again , let him roar again .' + +An you should do it too terribly , you would fright the duchess and the ladies , that they would shriek ; and that were enough to hang us all . + +That would hang us , every mother's son . + +I grant you , friends , if that you should fright the ladies out of their wits , they would have no more discretion but to hang us ; but I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove ; I will roar you as 'twere any nightingale . + +You can play no part but Pyramus ; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man ; a proper man , as one shall see in a summer's day ; a most lovely , gentleman-like man ; therefore , you must needs play Pyramus . + +Well , I will undertake it . What beard were I best to play it in ? + +Why , what you will . + +I will discharge it in either your straw-colour beard , your orange-tawny beard , your purple-in-grain beard , or your French-crown colour beard , your perfect yellow . + +Some of your French crowns have no hair at all , and then you will play bare-faced . But masters , here are your parts ; and I am to entreat you , request you , and desire you , to con them by to-morrow night , and meet me in the palace wood , a mile without the town , by moonlight : there will we rehearse ; for if we meet in the city , we shall be dogged with company , and our devices known . In the meantime I will draw a bill of properties , such as our play wants . I pray you , fail me not . + +We will meet ; and there we may rehearse more obscenely and courageously . Take pains ; be perfect ; adieu . + +At the duke's oak we meet . + +Enough ; hold , or cut bow-strings . + +How now , spirit ! whither wander you ? + + +Over hill , over dale , +Thorough bush , thorough brier , +Over park , over pale , +Thorough flood , thorough fire , +I do wander every where , +Swifter than the moone's sphere ; +And I serve the fairy queen , +To dew her orbs upon the green : +The cowslips tall her pensioners be ; +In their gold coats spots you see ; +Those be rubies , fairy favours , +In their freckles live their savours : + +I must go seek some dew-drops here , +And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear . +Farewell , thou lob of spirits : I'll be gone ; +Our queen and all her elves come here anon . + +The king doth keep his revels here to-night . +Take heed the queen come not within his sight ; +For Oberon is passing fell and wrath , +Because that she as her attendant hath +A lovely boy , stol'n from an Indian king ; +She never had so sweet a changeling ; +And jealous Oberon would have the child +Knight of his train , to trace the forests wild ; +But she , perforce , withholds the loved boy , +Crowns him with flowers , and makes him all her joy . +And now they never meet in grove , or green , +By fountain clear , or spangled starlight sheen , +But they do square ; that all their elves , for fear , +Creep into acorn-cups and hide them there . + +Either I mistake your shape and making quite , +Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite +Call'd Robin Goodfellow : are you not he +That frights the maidens of the villagery ; +Skim milk , and sometimes labour in the quern , +And bootless make the breathless housewife churn ; +And sometime make the drink to bear no barm ; +Mislead night-wanderers , laughing at their harm ? +Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck , +You do their work , and they shall have good luck : +Are you not he ? + +Fairy , thou speak'st aright ; +I am that merry wanderer of the night . +I jest to Oberon , and make him smile +When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile , +Neighing in likeness of a filly foal : +And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl , +In very likeness of a roasted crab ; +And , when she drinks , against her lips I bob +And on her wither'd dewlap pour the ale . +The wisest aunt , telling the saddest tale , +Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me ; +Then slip I from her bum , down topples she , +And 'tailor' cries , and falls into a cough ; +And then the whole quire hold their hips and loff ; +And waxen in their mirth , and neeze , and swear +A merrier hour was never wasted there . +But , room , fairy ! here comes Oberon . + +And here my mistress . Would that he were gone ! + + +Ill met by moonlight , proud Titania . + +What ! jealous Oberon . Fairies , skip hence : +I have forsworn his bed and company . + +Tarry , rash wanton ! am not I thy lord ? + +Then , I must be thy lady ; but I know +When thou hast stol'n away from fairy land , +And in the shape of Corin sat all day , +Playing on pipes of corn , and versing love +To amorous Phillida . Why art thou here , +Come from the furthest steppe of India ? +But that , forsooth , the bouncing Amazon , +Your buskin'd mistress and your warrior love , +To Theseus must be wedded , and you come +To give their bed joy and prosperity . + +How canst thou thus for shame , Titania , +Glance at my credit with Hippolyta , +Knowing I know thy love to Theseus ? +Didst thou not lead him through the glimmering night +From Perigouna , whom he ravished ? +And make him with fair gle break his faith , +With Ariadne , and Antiopa ? + +These are the forgeries of jealousy : +And never , since the middle summer's spring , +Met we on hill , in dale , forest , or mead , +By paved fountain , or by rushy brook , +Or in the beached margent of the sea , +To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind , +But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport . +Therefore the winds , piping to us in vain , +As in revenge , have suck'd up from the sea +Contagious fogs ; which , falling in the land , +Have every pelting river made so proud +That they have overborne their continents : +The ox hath therefore stretch'd his yoke in vain , +The ploughman lost his sweat , and the green corn +Hath rotted ere his youth attain'd a beard : +The fold stands empty in the drowned field , +And crows are fatted with the murrion flock ; +The nine men's morris is fill'd up with mud , +And the quaint mazes in the wanton green +For lack of tread are undistinguishable : +The human mortals want their winter here : +No night is now with hymn or carol blest : +Therefore the moon , the governess of floods , +Pale in her anger , washes all the air , +That rheumatic diseases do abound : +And thorough this distemperature we see +The seasons alter : hoary-headed frosts +Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose , +And on old Hiems' thin and icy crown +An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds +Is , as in mockery , set . The spring , the summer , +The childing autumn , angry winter , change +Their wonted liveries , and the mazed world , +By their increase , now knows not which is which . +And this same progeny of evil comes +From our debate , from our dissension : +We are their parents and original . + +Do you amend it then ; it lies in you . +Why should Titania cross her Oberon ? +I do but beg a little changeling boy , +To be my henchman . + +Set your heart at rest ; +The fairy land buys not the child of me . +His mother was a votaress of my order : +And , in the spiced Indian air , by night , +Full often hath she gossip'd by my side , +And sat with me on Neptune's yellow sands , +Marking the embarked traders on the flood ; +When we have laugh'd to see the sails conceive +And grow big-bellied with the wanton wind ; +Which she , with pretty and with swimming gait +Following ,her womb then rich with my young squire , +Would imitate , and sail upon the land , +To fetch me trifles , and return again , +As from a voyage , rich with merchandise . +But she , being mortal , of that boy did die ; +And for her sake I do rear up her boy , +And for her sake I will not part with him . + +How long within this wood intend you stay ? + +Perchance , till after Theseus' weddingday . +If you will patiently dance in our round , +And see our moonlight revels , go with us ; +If not , shun me , and I will spare your haunts . + +Give me that boy , and I will go with thee . + +Not for thy fairy kingdom . Fairies , away ! +We shall chide downright , if I longer stay . + + +Well , go thy way : thou shalt not from this grove +Till I torment thee for this injury . +My gentle Puck , come hither . Thou remember'st +Since once I sat upon a promontory , +And heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back +Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath , +That the rude sea grew civil at her song , +And certain stars shot madly from their spheres +To hear the sea-maid's music . + +I remember . + +That very time I saw , but thou couldst not , +Flying between the cold moon and the earth , +Cupid all arm'd : a certain aim he took +At a fair vestal throned by the west , +And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow , +As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts ; +But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft +Quench'd in the chaste beams of the wat'ry moon , +And the imperial votaress passed on , +In maiden meditation , fancy-free . +Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell : +It fell upon a little western flower , +Before milk-white , now purple with love's wound , +And maidens call it , Love-in-idleness . +Fetch me that flower ; the herb I show'd thee once : +The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid +Will make or man or woman madly dote +Upon the next live creature that it sees . +Fetch me this herb ; and be thou here again +Ere the leviathan can swim a league . + +I'll put a girdle round about the earth +In forty minutes . + + +Having once this juice +I'll watch Titania when she is asleep , +And drop the liquor of it in her eyes : +The next thing then she waking looks upon , +Be it on lion , bear , or wolf , or bull , +On meddling monkey , or on busy ape , +She shall pursue it with the soul of love : +And ere I take this charm off from her sight , +As I can take it with another herb , +I'll make her render up her page to me . +But who comes here ? I am invisible , +And I will overhear their conference . + + +I love thee not , therefore pursue me not . +Where is Lysander and fair Hermia ? +The one I'll slay , the other slayeth me . +Thou told'st me they were stol'n into this wood ; +And here am I , and wood within this wood , +Because I cannot meet my Hermia . +Hence ! get thee gone , and follow me no more . + +You draw me , you hard-hearted adamant : +But yet you draw not iron , for my heart +Is true as steel : leave you your power to draw , +And I shall have no power to follow you . + +Do I entice you ? Do I speak you fair ? +Or , rather , do I not in plainest truth +Tell you I do not nor I cannot love you ? + +And even for that do I love you the more . +I am your spaniel ; and , Demetrius , +The more you beat me , I will fawn on you : +Use me but as your spaniel , spurn me , strike me , +Neglect me , lose me ; only give me leave , +Unworthy as I am , to follow you . +What worser place can I beg in your love , +And yet a place of high respect with me , +Than to be used as you use your dog ? + +Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit , +For I am sick when I do look on you . + +And I am sick when I look not on you . + +You do impeach your modesty too much , +To leave the city , and commit yourself +Into the hands of one that loves you not ; +To trust the opportunity of night +And the ill counsel of a desert place +With the rich worth of your virginity . + +Your virtue is my privilege : for that +It is not night when I do see your face , +Therefore I think I am not in the night ; +Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company , +For you in my respect are all the world : +Then how can it be said I am alone , +When all the world is here to look on me ? + +I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes , +And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts . + +The wildest hath not such a heart as you . +Run when you will , the story shall be chang'd ; +Apollo flies , and Daphne holds the chase ; +The dove pursues the griffin ; the mild hind +Makes speed to catch the tiger : bootless speed , +When cowardice pursues and valour flies . + +I will not stay thy questions : let me go ; +Or , if thou follow me , do not believe +But I shall do thee mischief in the wood . + +Ay , in the temple , in the town , the field , +You do me mischief . Fie , Demetrius ! +Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex . +We cannot fight for love , as men may do ; +We should be woo'd and were not made to woo . + +I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell , +To die upon the hand I love so well . + + +Fare thee well , nymph : ere he do leave this grove , +Thou shalt fly him , and he shall seek thy love . + +Hast thou the flower there ? Welcome , wanderer . + +Ay , there it is . + +I pray thee , give it me . +I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows , +Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows +Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine , +With sweet musk-roses , and with eglantine : +There sleeps Titania some time of the night , +Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight ; +And there the snake throws her enamell'd skin , +Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in : +And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes , +And make her full of hateful fantasies . +Take thou some of it , and seek through this grove : +A sweet Athenian lady is in love +With a disdainful youth : anoint his eyes ; +But do it when the next thing he espies +May be the lady . Thou shalt know the man +By the Athenian garments he hath on . +Effect it with some care , that he may prove +More fond on her than she upon her love . +And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow . + +Fear not , my lord , your servant shall do so . + + +Come , now a roundel and a fairy song ; +Then , for the third of a minute , hence ; +Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds , +Some war with rere-mice for their leathern wings , +To make my small elves coats , and some keep back +The clamorous owl , that nightly hoots , and wonders +At our quaint spirits . Sing me now asleep ; +Then to your offices , and let me rest . + +The Fairies sing . + + +I . + +You spotted snakes with double tongue , +Thorny hedge-hogs , be not seen ; +Newts , and blind-worms , do no wrong ; +Come not near our fairy queen . +Philomel , with melody , +Sing in our sweet lullaby : +Lulla , lulla , lullaby ; lulla , lulla , lullaby : +Never harm , +Nor spell , nor charm , +Come our lovely lady nigh ; +So , good night , with lullaby . + +II . + +Weaving spiders come not here ; +Hence , you long-legg'd spinners , hence ! +Beetles black , approach not near ; +Worm nor snail , do no offence . +Philomel , with melody , &c . + + +Hence , away ! now all is well . +One aloof stand sentinel . + +What thou seest when thou dost wake , +Do it for thy true-love take ; +Love and languish for his sake : +Be it ounce , or cat , or bear , +Pard , or boar with bristled hair , +In thy eye that shall appear +When thou wak'st , it is thy dear . +Wake when some vile thing is near . + +Fair love , you faint with wandering in the wood ; +And to speak troth , I have forgot our way : +We'll rest us , Hermia , if you think it good , +And tarry for the comfort of the day . + +Be it so , Lysander : find you out a bed , +For I upon this bank will rest my head . + +One turf shall serve as pillow for us both ; +One heart , one bed , two bosoms , and one troth . + +Nay , good Lysander ; for my sake , my dear , +Lie further off yet , do not lie so near . + +O ! take the sense , sweet , of my innocence , +Love takes the meaning in love's conference . +I mean that my heart unto yours is knit , +So that but one heart we can make of it ; +Two bosoms interchained with an oath ; +So then two bosoms and a single troth . +Then by your side no bed-room me deny , +For , lying so , Hermia , I do not lie . + +Lysander riddles very prettily : +Now much beshrew my manners and my pride , +If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied . +But , gentle friend , for love and courtesy +Lie further off ; in human modesty , +Such separation as may well be said +Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid , +So far be distant ; and , good night , sweet friend . +Thy love ne'er alter till thy sweet life end ! + +Amen , amen , to that fair prayer , say I ; +And then end life when I end loyalty ! + +Here is my bed : sleep give thee all his rest ! + +With half that wish the wisher's eyes be press'd ! + + +Through the forest have I gone , +But Athenian found I none , +On whose eyes I might approve +This flower's force in stirring love . +Night and silence ! who is here ? +Weeds of Athens he doth wear : +This is he , my master said , +Despised the Athenian maid ; +And here the maiden , sleeping sound , +On the dank and dirty ground . +Pretty soul ! she durst not lie +Near this lack-love , this kill-courtesy . + +Churl , upon thy eyes I throw +All the power this charm doth owe . +When thou wak'st , let love forbid +Sleep his seat on thy eyelid : +So awake when I am gone ; +For I must now to Oberon . + + +Stay , though thou kill me , sweet Demetrius . + +I charge thee , hence , and do not haunt me thus . + +O ! wilt thou darkling leave me ? do not so . + +Stay , on thy peril : I alone will go . + + +O ! I am out of breath in this fond chase . +The more my prayer , the lesser is my grace . +Happy is Hermia , wheresoe'er she lies ; +For she hath blessed and attractive eyes . +How came her eyes so bright ? Not with salt tears : +If so , my eyes are oftener wash'd than hers . +No , no , I am as ugly as a bear ; +For beasts that meet me run away for fear ; +Therefore no marvel though Demetrius +Do , as a monster , fly my presence thus . +What wicked and dissembling glass of mine +Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne ? +But who is here ? Lysander ! on the ground ! +Dead ? or asleep ? I see no blood , no wound . +Lysander , if you live , good sir , awake . + +And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake . +Transparent Helena ! Nature shows art , +That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart . +Where is Demetrius ? O ! how fit a word +Is that vile name to perish on my sword . + +Do not say so , Lysander ; say not so . +What though he love your Hermia ? Lord ! what though ? +Yet Hermia still loves you : then be content . + +Content with Hermia ! No : I do repent +The tedious minutes I with her have spent . +Not Hermia , but Helena I love : +Who will not change a raven for a dove ? +The will of man is by his reason sway'd , +And reason says you are the worthier maid . +Things growing are not ripe until their season ; +So I , being young , till now ripe not to reason ; +And touching now the point of human skill , +Reason becomes the marshal to my will , +And leads me to your eyes ; where I o'erlook +Love's stories written in love's richest book . + +Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born ? +When at your hands did I deserve this scorn ? +Is't not enough , is't not enough , young man , +That I did never , no , nor never can , +Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye , +But you must flout my insufficiency ? +Good troth , you do me wrong , good sooth , you do , +In such disdainful manner me to woo . +But fare you well : perforce I must confess +I thought you lord of more true gentleness . +O ! that a lady of one man refus'd , +Should of another therefore be abus'd . + + +She sees not Hermia . Hermia , sleep thou there ; +And never mayst thou come Lysander near . +For , as a surfeit of the sweetest things +The deepest loathing to the stomach brings ; +Or , as the heresies that men do leave +Are hated most of those they did deceive : +So thou , my surfeit and my heresy , +Of all be hated , but the most of me ! +And , all my powers , address your love and might +To honour Helen , and to be her knight . + + +Help me , Lysander , help me ! do thy best +To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast . +Ay me , for pity ! what a dream was here ! +Lysander , look how I do quake with fear : +Methought a serpent eat my heart away , +And you sat smiling at his cruel prey . +Lysander ! what ! remov'd ?Lysander ! lord ! +What ! out of hearing ? gone ? no sound , no word ? +Alack ! where are you ? speak , an if you hear ; +Speak , of all loves ! I swound almost with fear . +No ! then I well perceive you are not nigh : +Either death or you I'll find immediately . + +Are we all met ? + +Pat , pat ; and here's a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal . This green plot shall be our stage , this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house ; and we will do it in action as we will do it before the duke . + +Peter Quince , + +What sayst thou , bully Bottom ? + +There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisby that will never please . First , Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself , which the ladies cannot abide . How answer you that ? + +By'r lakin , a parlous fear . + +I believe we must leave the killing out , when all is done . + +Not a whit : I have a device to make all well . Write me a prologue ; and let the prologue seem to say , we will do no harm with our swords , and that Pyramus is not killed indeed ; and , for the more better assurance , tell them that I , Pyramus , am not Pyramus , but Bottom the weaver : this will put them out of fear . + +Well , we will have such a prologue , and it shall be written in eight and six . + +No , make it two more : let it be written in eight and eight . + +Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion ? + +I fear it , I promise you . + +Masters , you ought to consider with yourselves : to bring in ,God shield us !a lion among ladies , is a most dreadful thing ; for there is not a more fearful wild-fowl than your lion living , and we ought to look to it . + +Therefore , another prologue must tell he is not a lion . + +Nay , you must name his name , and half his face must be seen through the lion's neck ; and he himself must speak through , saying thus , or to the same defect , 'Ladies ,' or , 'Fair ladies ,' 'I would wish you ,' or , 'I would request you ,' or , 'I would entreat you , not to fear , not to tremble : my life for yours . If you think I come hither as a lion , it were pity of my life : no , I am no such thing : I am a man as other men are ;' and there indeed let him name his name , and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner . + +Well , it shall be so . But there is two hard things , that is , to bring the moonlight into a chamber ; for , you know , Pyramus and Thisby meet by moonlight . + +Doth the moon shine that night we play our play ? + +A calendar , a calendar ! look in the almanack ; find out moonshine , find out moonshine . + +Yes , it doth shine that night . + +Why , then may you leave a casement of the great chamber-window , where we play , open ; and the moon may shine in at the casement . + +Ay ; or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and a lanthorn , and say he comes to disfigure , or to present , the person of Moonshine . Then , there is another thing : we must have a wall in the great chamber ; for Pyramus and Thisby , says the story , did talk through the chink of a wall . + +You can never bring in a wall . What say you , Bottom ? + +Some man or other must present Wall ; and let him have some plaster , or some loam , or some rough-cast about him , to signify wall ; and let him hold his fingers thus , and through that cranny shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper . + +If that may be , than all is well . Come , sit down , every mother's son , and rehearse your parts . Pyramus , you begin : when you have spoken your speech , enter into that brake ; and so every one according to his cue . + + +What hempen home-spuns have we swaggering here , +So near the cradle of the fairy queen ? +What ! a play toward ; I'll be an auditor ; +An actor too perhaps , if I see cause . + +Speak , Pyramus .Thisby , stand forth . + +Thisby , the flowers have odious savours sweet , + +Odorous , odorous . + +odours savours sweet : +So hath thy breath , my dearest Thisby dear . But hark , a voice ! stay thou but here awhile , +And by and by I will to thee appear . + + +A stranger Pyramus than e'er play'd here ! + + +Must I speak now ? + +Ay , marry , must you ; for you must understand , he goes but to see a noise that he heard , and is to come again . + +Most radiant Pyramus , most lily-white of hue , +Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier , +Most brisky juvenal , and eke most lovely Jew , +As true as truest horse that yet would never tire , +I'll meet thee , Pyramus , at Ninny's tomb . + +'Ninus' tomb ,' man . Why , you must not speak that yet ; that you answer to Pyramus : you speak all your part at once , cues and all . Pyramus , enter : your cue is past ; it is 'never tire .' + +O !As true as truest horse , that yet would never tire . + + +If I were , fair Thisby , I were only thine . + +O monstrous ! O strange ! we are haunted . +Pray , masters ! fly , masters !Help ! + + +I'll follow you , I'll lead you about a round , +Through bog , through bush , through brake , through brier : +Sometime a horse I'll be , sometime a hound , +A hog , a headless bear , sometime a fire ; +And neigh , and bark , and grunt , and roar , and burn , +Like horse , hound , hog , bear , fire , at every turn . + + +Why do they run away ? this is a knavery of them to make me afeard . + + +O Bottom , thou art changed ! what do I see on thee ? + +What do you see ? you see an ass-head of your own , do you ? + +Bless thee , Bottom ! bless thee ! thou art translated . + + +I see their knavery : this is to make an ass of me ; to fright me , if they could . But I will not stir from this place , do what they can : I will walk up and down here , and I will sing , that they shall hear I am not afraid . + +The ousel-cock , so black of hue , +With orange-tawny bill , +The throstle with his note so true , +The wren with little quill . + + +What angel wakes me from my flowery bed ? + + +The finch , the sparrow , and the lark , +The plain-song cuckoo gray , +Whose note full many a man doth mark , +And dares not answer , nay ; + +for indeed , who would set his wit to so foolish a bird ? who would give a bird the lie , though he cry 'cuckoo' never so ? + +I pray thee , gentle mortal , sing again : +Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note ; +So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape ; +And thy fair virtue's force , perforce , doth move me , +On the first view , to say , to swear , I love thee . + +Methinks , mistress , you should have little reason for that : and yet , to say the truth , reason and love keep little company together now-a-days . The more the pity , that some honest neighbours will not make them friends . Nay , I can gleek upon occasion . + +Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful . + +Not so , neither ; but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood , I have enough to serve mine own turn . + +Out of this wood do not desire to go : +Thou shalt remain here , whe'r thou wilt or no . +I am a spirit of no common rate ; +The summer still doth tend upon my state ; +And I do love thee : therefore , go with me ; +I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee , +And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep , +And sing , while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep : +And I will purge thy mortal grossness so +That thou shalt like an airy spirit go . +Pease-blossom ! Cobweb ! Moth ! and Mustardseed ! + + +Ready . + +And I . + +And I . + +And I . + +Where shall we go ? + +Be kind and courteous to this gentleman ; +Hop in his walks , and gambol in his eyes ; +Feed him with apricocks and dewberries , +With purple grapes , green figs , and mulberries . +The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees , +And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs , +And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes , +To have my love to bed , and to arise ; +And pluck the wings from painted butterflies +To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes : +Nod to him , elves , and do him courtesies . + +Hail , mortal ! + +Hail ! + +Hail ! + +Hail ! + +I cry your worships mercy , heartily : I beseech your worship's name . + +Cobweb . + +I shall desire you of more acquaintance , good Master Cobweb : if I out my finger , I shall make bold with you . Your name , honest gentleman ? + +Pease-blossom . + +I pray you , commend me to Mistress Squash , your mother , and to Master Peascod , your father . Good Master Pease-blossom , I shall desire you of more acquaintance too . Your name , I beseech you , sir ? + +Mustard-seed . + +Good Master Mustard-seed , I know your patience well : that same cowardly , giant-like ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house . I promise you , your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now . I desire you of more acquaintance , good Master Mustard-seed . + +Come , wait upon him ; lead him to my bower . +The moon methinks , looks with a watery eye ; +And when she weeps , weeps every little flower , +Lamenting some enforced chastity . +Tie up my love's tongue , bring him silently . + + +I wonder if Titania be awak'd ; +Then , what it was that next came in her eye , +Which she must dote on in extremity . +Here comes my messenger . + + +How now , mad spirit ! + +What night-rule now about this haunted grove ? + +My mistress with a monster is in love . +Near to her close and consecrated bower , +While she was in her dull and sleeping hour , +A crew of patches , rude mechanicals , +That work for bread upon Athenian stalls , +Were met together to rehearse a play +Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day . +The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort , +Who Pyramus presented in their sport +Forsook his scene , and enter'd in a brake , +When I did him at this advantage take ; +An ass's nowl I fixed on his head : +Anon his Thisbe must be answered , +And forth my mimick comes . When they him spy , +As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye , +Or russet-pated choughs , many in sort , +Rising and cawing at the gun's report , +Sever themselves , and madly sweep the sky ; +So , at his sight , away his fellows fly , +And , at our stamp , here o'er and o'er one falls ; +He murder cries , and help from Athens calls . +Their sense thus weak , lost with their fears thus strong , +Made senseless things begin to do them wrong ; +For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch ; +Some sleeves , some hats , from yielders all things catch . +I led them on in this distracted fear , +And left sweet Pyramus translated there ; +When in that moment , so it came to pass , +Titania wak'd and straightway lov'd an ass . + +This falls out better than I could devise . +But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes +With the love-juice , as I did bid thee do ? + +I took him sleeping ,that is finish'd too , +And the Athenian woman by his side ; +That , when he wak'd , of force she must be ey'd . + + +Stand close : this is the same Athenian . + +This is the woman ; but not this the man . + +O ! why rebuke you him that loves you so ? +Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe . + +Now I but chide ; but I should use thee worse , +For thou , I fear , hast given me cause to curse . +If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep , +Being o'er shoes in blood , plunge in knee deep , +And kill me too . +The sun was not so true unto the day +As he to me . Would he have stol'n away +From sleeping Hermia ? I'll believe as soon +This whole earth may be bor'd , and that the moon +May through the centre creep , and so displease +Her brother's noontide with the Antipodes . +It cannot be but thou hast murder'd him ; +So should a murderer look , so dead , so grim . + +So should the murder'd look , and so should I , +Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty ; +Yet you , the murderer , look as bright , as clear , +As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere . + +What's this to my Lysander ? where is he ? +Ah ! good Demetrius , wilt thou give him me ? + +I had rather give his carcass to my hounds . + +Out , dog ! out , cur ! thou driv'st me past the bounds +Of maiden's patience . Hast thou slain him then ? +Henceforth be never number'd among men ! +O ! once tell true , tell true , e'en for my sake ; +Durst thou have look'd upon him being awake , +And hast thou kill'd him sleeping ? O brave touch ! +Could not a worm , an adder , do so much ? +An adder did it ; for with doubler tongue +Than thine , thou serpent , never adder stung . + +You spend your passion on a mispris'd mood : +I am not guilty of Lysander's blood , +Nor is he dead , for aught that I can tell . + +I pray thee , tell me then that he is well . + +An if I could , what should I get therefore ? + +A privilege never to see me more . +And from thy hated presence part I so ; +See me no more , whe'r he be dead or no . + + +There is no following her in this fierce vein : +Here therefore for awhile I will remain . +So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow +For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe ; +Which now in some slight measure it will pay , +If for his tender here I make some stay . + + +What hast thou done ? thou hast mistaken quite , +And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight : +Of thy misprision must perforce ensue +Some true-love turn'd , and not a false turn'd true . + +Then fate o'er-rules , that , one man holding troth , +A million fail , confounding oath on oath . + +About the wood go swifter than the wind , +And Helena of Athens look thou find : +All fancy-sick she is , and pale of cheer +With sighs of love , that cost the fresh blood dear . +By some illusion see thou bring her here : +I'll charm his eyes against she do appear . + +I go , I go ; look how I go ; +Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow . + +Flower of this purple dye , +Hit with Cupid's archery , +Sink in apple of his eye . +When his love he doth espy , +Let her shine as gloriously +As the Venus of the sky . +When thou wak'st , if she be by , +Beg of her for remedy . + + +Captain of our fairy band , +Helena is here at hand , +And the youth , mistook by me , +Pleading for a lover's fee . +Shall we their fond pageant see ? +Lord , what fools these mortals be ! + +Stand aside : the noise they make +Will cause Demetrius to awake . + +Then will two at once woo one ; +That must needs be sport alone ; +And those things do best please me +That befall preposterously . + +Why should you think that I should woo in scorn ? +Scorn and derision never come in tears : +Look , when I vow , I weep ; and vows so born , +In their nativity all truth appears . +How can these things in me seem scorn to you , +Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true ? + +You do advance your cunning more and more . +When truth kills truth , O devilish-holy fray ! +These vows are Hermia's : will you give her o'er ? +Weigh oath with oath , and you will nothing weigh : +Your vows , to her and me , put in two scales , +Will even weigh , and both as light as tales . + +I had no judgment when to her I swore . + +Nor none , in my mind , now you give her o'er . + +Demetrius loves her , and he loves not you . + +O Helen ! goddess , nymph , perfect , divine ! +To what , my love , shall I compare thine eyne ? +Crystal is muddy . O ! how ripe in show +Thy lips , those kissing cherries , tempting grow , +This pure congealed white , high Taurus' snow , +Fann'd with the eastern wind , turns to a crow +When thou hold'st up thy hand . O ! let me kiss +That princess of pure white , this seal of bliss . + +O spite ! O hell ! I see you all are bent +To set against me for your merriment : +If you were civil and knew courtesy , +You would not do me thus much injury . +Can you not hate me , as I know you do , +But you must join in souls to mock me too ? +If you were men , as men you are in show , +You would not use a gentle lady so ; +To vow , and swear , and superpraise my parts , +When I am sure you hate me with your hearts . +You both are rivals , and love Hermia , +And now both rivals , to mock Helena : +A trim exploit , a manly enterprise , +To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes +With your derision ! none of noble sort +Would so offend a virgin , and extort +A poor soul's patience , all to make you sport . + +You are unkind , Demetrius ; be not so ; +For you love Hermia ; this you know I know : +And here , with all good will , with all my heart , +In Hermia's love I yield you up my part ; +And yours of Helena to me bequeath , +Whom I do love , and will do to my death . + +Never did mockers waste more idle breath . + +Lysander , keep thy Hermia ; I will none : +If e'er I lov'd her , all that love is gone . +My heart with her but as guest wise sojourn'd , +And now to Helen it is home return'd , +There to remain . + +Helen , it is not so . + +Disparage not the faith thou dost not know , +Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear . +Look ! where thy love comes : yonder is thy dear . + + +Dark night , that from the eye his function takes , +The ear more quick of apprehension makes ; +Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense , +It pays the hearing double recompense . +Thou art not by mine eye , Lysander , found ; +Mine ear , I thank it , brought me to thy sound . +But why unkindly didst thou leave me so ? + +Why should he stay , whom love doth press to go ? + +What love could press Lysander from my side ? + +Lysander's love , that would not let him bide , +Fair Helena , who more engilds the night +Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light . +Why seek'st thou me ? could not this make thee know , +The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so ? + +You speak not as you think : it cannot be . + +Lo ! she is one of this confederacy . +Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three +To fashion this false sport in spite of me . +Injurious Hermia ! most ungrateful maid ! +Have you conspir'd , have you with these contriv'd +To bait me with this foul derision ? +Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd , +The sister-vows , the hours that we have spent , +When we have chid the hasty-footed time +For parting us , O ! is it all forgot ? +All school-days' friendship , childhood innocence ? +We , Hermia , like two artificial gods , +Have with our neelds created both one flower , +Both on one sampler , sitting on one cushion , +Both warbling of one song , both in one key , +As if our hands , our sides , voices , and minds , +Had been incorporate . So we grew together , +Like to a double cherry , seeming parted , +But yet an union in partition ; +Two lovely berries moulded on one stem ; +So , with two seeming bodies , but one heart ; +Two of the first , like coats in heraldry , +Due but to one , and crowned with one crest . +And will you rent our ancient love asunder , +To join with men in scorning your poor friend ? +It is not friendly , 'tis not maidenly : +Our sex , as well as I , may chide you for it , +Though I alone do feel the injury . + +I am amazed at your passionate words . +I scorn you not : it seems that you scorn me . + +Have you not set Lysander , as in scorn , +To follow me and praise my eyes and face , +And made your other love , Demetrius , +Who even but now did spurn me with his foot , +To call me goddess , nymph , divine and rare , +Precious , celestial ? Wherefore speaks he this +To her he hates ? and wherefore doth Lysander +Deny your love , so rich within his soul , +And tender me , forsooth , affection , +But by your setting on , by your consent ? +What though I be not so in grace as you , +So hung upon with love , so fortunate , +But miserable most to love unlov'd ? +This you should pity rather than despise . + +I understand not what you mean by this . + +Ay , do , persever , counterfeit sad looks , +Make mouths upon me when I turn my back ; +Wink each at other ; hold the sweet jest up : +This sport , well carried , shall be chronicled . +If you have any pity , grace , or manners , +You would not make me such an argument . +But , fare ye well : 'tis partly mine own fault , +Which death or absence soon shall remedy . + +Stay , gentle Helena ! hear my excuse : +My love , my life , my soul , fair Helena ! + +O excellent ! + +Sweet , do not scorn her so . + +If she cannot entreat , I can compel . + +Thou canst compel no more than she entreat : +Thy threats have no more strength than her weak prayers . +Helen , I love thee ; by my life , I do : +I swear by that which I will lose for thee , +To prove him false that says I love thee not . + +I say I love thee more than he can do . + +If thou say so , withdraw , and prove it too . + +Quick , come ! + +Lysander , whereto tends all this ? + +Away , you Ethiop ! + +No , no , he'll . . . +Seem to break loose ; take on , as you would follow , +But yet come not : you are a tame man , go ! + +Hang off , thou cat , thou burr ! vile thing , let loose , +Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent . + +Why are you grown so rude ? what change is this , +Sweet love , + +Thy love ! out , tawny Tartar , out ! +Out , loathed medicine ! hated poison , hence ! + +Do you not jest ? + +Yes , sooth ; and so do you . + +Demetrius , I will keep my word with thee . + +I would I had your bond , for I perceive +A weak bond holds you : I'll not trust your word . + +What ! should I hurt her , strike her , kill her dead ? +Although I hate her , I'll not harm her so . + +What ! can you do me greater harm than hate ? +Hate me ! wherefore ? O me ! what news , my love ? +Am not I Hermia ? Are not you Lysander ? +I am as fair now as I was erewhile . +Since night you lov'd me ; yet , since night you left me : +Why , then you left me ,O , the gods forbid ! +In earnest , shall I say ? + +Ay , by my life ; +And never did desire to see thee more . +Therefore be out of hope , of question , doubt ; +Be certain , nothing truer : 'tis no jest , +That I do hate thee and love Helena . + +O me ! you juggler ! you canker-blossom ! +You thief of love ! what ! have you come by night +And stol'n my love's heart from him ? + +Fine , i' faith ! +Have you no modesty , no maiden shame , +No touch of bashfulness ? What ! will you tear +Impatient answers from my gentle tongue ? +Fie , fie ! you counterfeit , you puppet you ! + +Puppet ! why , so : ay , that way goes the game . +Now I perceive that she hath made compare +Between our statures : she hath urg'd her height ; +And with her personage , her tall personage , +Her height , forsooth , she hath prevail'd with him . +And are you grown so high in his esteem , +Because I am so dwarfish and so low ? +How low am I , thou painted maypole ? speak ; +How low am I ? I am not yet so low +But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes . + +I pray you , though you mock me , gentlemen , +Let her not hurt me : I was never curst ; +I have no gift at all in shrewishness ; +I am a right maid for my cowardice : +Let her not strike me . You perhaps may think , +Because she is something lower than myself , +That I can match her . + +Lower ! hark , again . + +Good Hermia , do not be so bitter with me . +I evermore did love you , Hermia , +Did ever keep your counsels , never wrong'd you ; +Save that , in love unto Demetrius , +I told him of your stealth unto this wood . +He follow'd you ; for love I follow'd him ; +But he hath chid me hence , and threaten'd me +To strike me , spurn me , nay , to kill me too : +And now , so you will let me quiet go , +To Athens will I bear my folly back , +And follow you no further : let me go : +You see how simple and how fond I am . + +Why , get you gone . Who is't that hinders you ? + +A foolish heart , that I leave here behind . + +What ! with Lysander ? + +With Demetrius . + +Be not afraid : she shall not harm thee , Helena . + +No , sir ; she shall not , though you take her part . + +O ! when she's angry , she is keen and shrewd . +She was a vixen when she went to school : +And though she be but little , she is fierce . + +'Little' again ! nothing but 'low' and 'little !' +Why will you suffer her to flout me thus ? +Let me come to her . + +Get you gone , you dwarf ; +You minimus , of hindering knot-grass made ; +You bead , you acorn ! + +You are too officious +In her behalf that scorns your services . +Let her alone ; speak not of Helena ; +Take not her part , for , if thou dost intend +Never so little show of love to her , +Thou shalt aby it . + +Now she holds me not ; +Now follow , if thou dar'st , to try whose right , +Or thine or mine , is most in Helena . + +Follow ! nay , I'll go with thee , cheek by jole . + + +You , mistress , all this coil is 'long of you : +Nay , go not back . + +I will not trust you , I , +Nor longer stay in your curst company . +Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray , +My legs are longer though , to run away . + + +I am amaz'd , and know not what to say . + + +This is thy negligence : still thou mistak'st , +Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully . + +Believe me , king of shadows , I mistook . +Did not you tell me I should know the man +By the Athenian garments he had on ? +And so far blameless proves my enterprise , +That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes ; +And so far am I glad it so did sort , +As this their jangling I esteem a sport . + +Thou see'st these lovers seek a place to fight : +Hie therefore , Robin , overcast the night ; +The starry welking cover thou anon +With drooping fog as black as Acheron ; +And lead these testy rivals so astray , +As one come not within another's way . +Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue , +Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong ; +And sometime rail thou like Demetrius ; +And from each other look thou lead them thus , +Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep +With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep : +Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye ; +Whose liquor hath this virtuous property , +To take from thence all error with his might , +And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight . +When they next wake , all this derision +Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision ; +And back to Athens shall the lovers wend , +With league whose date till death shall never end . +Whiles I in this affair do thee employ , +I'll to my queen and beg her Indian boy ; +And then I will her charmed eye release +From monster's view , and all things shall be peace . + +My fairy lord , this must be done with haste , +For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast , +And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger ; +At whose approach , ghosts , wandering here and there , +Troop home to churchyards : damned spirits all , +That in cross-ways and floods have burial , +Already to their wormy beds are gone ; +For fear lest day should look their shames upon , +They wilfully themselves exile from light , +And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night . + +But we are spirits of another sort . +I with the morning's love have oft made sport ; +And , like a forester , the groves may tread , +Even till the eastern gate , all fiery-red , +Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams , +Turns into yellow gold his salt green-streams . +But , notwithstanding , haste ; make no delay : +We may effect this business yet ere day . + +Up and down , up and down ; +I will lead them up and down : +I am fear'd in field and town ; +Goblin , lead them up and down . + +Here comes one . + + +Where art thou , proud Demetrius ? speak thou now . + +Here , villain ! drawn and ready . Where art thou ? + +I will be with thee straight . + +Follow me , then , +To plainer ground . + +Lysander ! speak again . +Thou runaway , thou coward , art thou fled ? +Speak ! In some bush ? Where dost thou hide thy head ? + +Thou coward ! art thou bragging to the stars , +Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars , +And wilt not come ? Come , recreant ; come , thou child ; +I'll whip thee with a rod : he is defil'd +That draws a sword on thee . + +Yea , art thou there ? + +Follow my voice : we'll try no manhood here . + +He goes before me and still dares me on : +When I come where he calls , then he is gone . +The villain is much lighter-heel'd than I : +I follow'd fast , but faster he did fly ; +That fallen am I in dark uneven way , +And here will rest me . + +Come , thou gentle day ! +For if but once thou show me thy grey light , +I'll find Demetrius and revenge this spite . + +Ho ! ho ! ho ! Coward , why com'st thou not ? + +Abide me , if thou dar'st ; for well I wot +Thou runn'st before me , shifting every place , +And dar'st not stand , nor look me in the face . +Where art thou now ? + +Come hither : I am here . + +Nay then , thou mock'st me . Thou shalt buy this dear , +If ever I thy face by daylight see : +Now , go thy way . Faintness constraineth me +To measure out my length on this cold bed : +By day's approach look to be visited . + +O weary night ! O long and tedious night , +Abate thy hours ! shine , comforts , from the east ! +That I may back to Athens by daylight , +From these that my poor company detest : +And sleep , that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye , +Steal me awhile from mine own company . + +Yet but three ? Come one more ; +Two of both kinds make up four . +Here she comes , curst and sad : +Cupid is a knavish lad , +Thus to make poor females mad . + +Never so weary , never so in woe , +Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers , +I can no further crawl , no further go ; +My legs can keep no pace with my desires . +Here will I rest me till the break of day . +Heavens shield Lysander , if they mean a fray ! + +On the ground +Sleep sound : +I'll apply +To your eye , +Gentle lover , remedy + +When thou wak'st , +Thou tak'st +True delight +In the sight +Of thy former lady's eye : +And the country proverb known , +That every man should take his own , +In your waking shall be shown : +Jack shall have Jill ; +Nought shall go ill ; +The man shall have his mare again , +And all shall be well . + + +Come , sit thee down upon this flowery bed , +While I thy amiable cheeks do coy , +And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head , +And kiss thy fair large ears , my gentle joy . + +Where's Pease-blossom ? + +Ready . + +Scratch my head , Pease-blossom . Where's Mounsieur Cobweb ? + +Ready . + +Mounsieur Cobweb , good mounsieur , get your weapons in your hand , and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle ; and , good mounsieur , bring me the honey-bag . Do not fret yourself too much in the action , mounsieur ; and , good mounsieur , have a care the honey-bag break not ; I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey-bag , signior . Where's Mounsieur Mustard-seed ? + +Ready . + +Give me your neaf , Mounsieur Mustard-seed . Pray you , leave your curtsy , good mounsieur . + +What's your will ? + +Nothing , good mounsieur , but to help Cavalery Cobweb to scratch . I must to the barber's , mounsieur , for methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face ; and I am such a tender ass , if my hair do but tickle me , I must scratch . + +What , wilt thou hear some music , my sweet love ? + +I have a reasonable good ear in music : let us have the tongs and the bones . + +Or say , sweet love , what thou desir'st to eat . + +Truly , a peck of provender : I could munch your good dry oats . Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay : good hay , sweet hay , hath no fellow . + +I have a venturous fairy that shall seek +The squirrel's hoard , and fetch thee thence new nuts . + +I had rather have a handful or two of dried pease . But , I pray you , let none of your people stir me : I have an exposition of sleep come upon me . + +Sleep thou , and I will wind thee in my arms . +Fairies , be gone , and be all ways away . + +So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle +Gently entwist ; the female ivy so +Enrings the barky fingers of the elm . +O ! how I love thee ; how I dote on thee ! + +Welcome , good Robin . See'st thou this sweet sight ? +Her dotage now I do begin to pity : +For , meeting her of late behind the wood , +Seeking sweet favours for this hateful fool , +I did upbraid her and fall out with her ; +For she his hairy temples then had rounded +With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers ; +And that same dew , which sometime on the buds +Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls , +Stood now within the pretty flowerets' eyes +Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail . +When I had at my pleasure taunted her , +And she in mild terms begg'd my patience , +I then did ask of her her changeling child ; +Which straight she gave me , and her fairy sent +To bear him to my bower in fairy land . +And now I have the boy , I will undo +This hateful imperfection of her eyes : +And , gentle Puck , take this transformed scalp +From off the head of this Athenian swain , +That he , awaking when the other do , +May all to Athens back again repair , +And think no more of this night's accidents +But as the fierce vexation of a dream . +But first I will release the fairy queen . + + +Be as thou wast wont to be ; +See as thou wast wont to see : +Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower +Hath such force and blessed power . + +Now , my Titania ; wake you , my sweet queen . + +My Oberon ! what visions have I seen ! +Methought I was enamour'd of an ass . + +There lies your love . + +How came these things to pass ? +O ! how mine eyes do loathe his visage now . + +Silence , awhile . Robin , take off this head . +Titania , music call ; and strike more dead +Than common sleep of all these five the sense . + +Music , ho ! music ! such as charmeth sleep . + + +When thou wak'st , with thine own fool's eyes peep . + +Sound , music ! + +Come , my queen , take hands with me , +And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be . +Now thou and I are new in amity , +And will to-morrow midnight solemnly +Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly , +And bless it to all fair prosperity . +There shall the pairs of faithful lovers be +Wedded , with Theseus , all in jollity . + + +Fairy king , attend , and mark : +I do hear the morning lark . + +Then , my queen , in silence sad , +Trip we after the night's shade ; +We the globe can compass soon , +Swifter than the wandering moon . + +Come , my lord ; and in our flight +Tell me how it came this night +That I sleeping here was found +With these mortals on the ground . + + +Go , one of you , find out the forester ; +For now our observation is perform'd ; +And since we have the vaward of the day , +My love shall hear the music of my hounds . +Uncouple in the western valley ; let them go : +Dispatch , I say , and find the forester . +We will , fair queen , up to the mountain's top , +And mark the musical confusion +Of hounds and echo in conjunction . + +I was with Hercules and Cadmus once , +When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear +With hounds of Sparta : never did I hear +Such gallant chiding ; for , besides the groves , +The skies , the fountains , every region near +Seem'd all one mutual cry . I never heard +So musical a discord , such sweet thunder . + +My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind , +So flew'd , so sanded ; and their heads are hung +With ears that sweep away the morning dew ; +Crook-knee'd , and dew-lapp'd like Thessalian bulls ; +Slow in pursuit , but match'd in mouth like bells , +Each under each . A cry more tuneable +Was never holla'd to , nor cheer'd with horn , +In Crete , in Sparta , nor in Thessaly : +Judge , when you hear . But , soft ! what nymphs are these ? + +My lord , this is my daughter here asleep ; +And this , Lysander ; this Demetrius is ; +This Helena , old Nedar's Helena : +I wonder of their being here together . + +No doubt they rose up early to observe +The rite of May , and , hearing our intent , +Came here in grace of our solemnity . +But speak , Egeus , is not this the day +That Hermia should give answer of her choice ? + +It is , my lord . + +Go , bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns . + + +Good morrow , friends . Saint Valentine is past : + +Begin these wood-birds but to couple now ? + +Pardon , my lord . + + +I pray you all , stand up . +I know you two are rival enemies : +How comes this gentle concord in the world , +That hatred is so far from jealousy , +To sleep by hate , and fear no enmity ? + +My lord , I shall reply amazedly , +Half sleep , half waking : but as yet , I swear , +I cannot truly say how I came here ; +But , as I think ,for truly would I speak , +And now I do bethink me , so it is , +I came with Hermia hither : our intent +Was to be gone from Athens , where we might , +Without the peril of the Athenian law + +Enough , enough , my lord ; you have enough : +I beg the law , the law , upon his head . +They would have stol'n away ; they would , Demetrius , +Thereby to have defeated you and me ; +You of your wife , and me of my consent , +Of my consent that she should be your wife . + +My lord , fair Helen told me of their stealth , +Of this their purpose hither , to this wood ; +And I in fury hither follow'd them , +Fair Helena in fancy following me . +But , my good lord , I wot not by what power , +But by some power it is ,my love to Hermia , +Melted as doth the snow , seems to me now +As the remembrance of an idle gaud +Which in my childhood I did dote upon ; +And all the faith , the virtue of my heart , +The object and the pleasure of mine eye , +Is only Helena . To her , my lord , +Was I betroth'd ere I saw Hermia : +But , like in sickness , did I loathe this food ; +But , as in health , come to my natural taste , +Now do I wish it , love it , long for it , +And will for evermore be true to it . + +Fair lovers , you are fortunately met : +Of this discourse we more will hear anon . +Egeus , I will overbear your will , +For in the temple , by and by , with us , +These couples shall eternally be knit : +And , for the morning now is something worn , +Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside . +Away with us , to Athens : three and three , +We'll hold a feast in great solemnity . +Come , Hippolyta . + + +These things seem small and undistinguishable , +Like far-off mountains turned into clouds . + +Methinks I see these things with parted eye , +When everything seems double . + +So methinks : +And I have found Demetrius , like a jewel , +Mine own , and not mine own . + +Are you sure +That we are awake ? It seems to me +That yet we sleep , we dream . Do you not think +The duke was here , and bid us follow him ? + +Yea ; and my father . + +And Hippolyta . + +And he did bid us follow to the temple . + +Why then , we are awake . Let's follow him ; +And by the way let us recount our dreams . + + +When my cue comes , call me , and I will answer : my next is , 'Most fair Pyramus .' Heigh-ho ! Peter Quince ! Flute , the bellows-mender ! Snout , the tinker ! Starveling ! God's my life ! stolen hence , and left me asleep ! I have had a most rare vision . I have had a dream , past the wit of man to say what dream it was : man is but an ass , if he go about to expound this dream . Methought I was there is no man can tell what . Methought I was ,and methought I had ,but man is but a patched fool , if he will offer to say what methought I had . The eye of man hath not heard , the ear of man hath not seen , man's hand is not able to taste , his tongue to conceive , nor his heart to report , what my dream was . I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream : it shall be called Bottom's Dream , because it hath no bottom ; and I will sing it in the latter end of a play , before the duke : peradventure , to make it the more gracious , I shall sing it at her death . + + +Have you sent to Bottom's house ? is he come home yet ? + +He cannot be heard of . Out of doubt he is transported . + +If he come not , then the play is marred : it goes not forward , doth it ? + +It is not possible : you have not a man in all Athens able to discharge Pyramus but he . + +No ; he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in Athens . + +Yea , and the best person too ; and he is a very paramour for a sweet voice . + +You must say , 'paragon :' a paramour is , God bless us ! a thing of naught . + + +Masters , the duke is coming from the temple , and there is two or three lords and ladies more married : if our sport had gone forward , we had all been made men . + +O sweet bully Bottom ! Thus hath he lost sixpence a day during his life ; he could not have 'scaped sixpence a day : an the duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus , I'll be hanged ; he would have deserved it : sixpence a day in Pyramus , or nothing . + + +Where are these lads ? where are these hearts ? + +Bottom ! O most courageous day ! O most happy hour ! + +Masters , I am to discourse wonders : but ask me not what ; for if I tell you , I am no true Athenian . I will tell you everything , right as it fell out . + +Let us hear , sweet Bottom . + +Not a word of me . All that I will tell you is , that the duke hath dined . Get your apparel together , good strings to your beards , new ribbons to your pumps ; meet presently at the palace ; every man look o'er his part ; for the short and the long is , our play is preferred . In any case , let Thisby have clean linen ; and let not him that plays the lion pare his nails , for they shall hang out for the lion's claws . And , most dear actors , eat no onions nor garlic , for we are to utter sweet breath , and I do not doubt but to hear them say , it is a sweet comedy . No more words : away ! go ; away . + +'Tis strange , my Theseus , that these lovers speak of . + +More strange than true . I never may believe +These antique fables , nor these fairy toys . +Lovers and madmen have such seething brains , +Such shaping fantasies , that apprehend +More than cool reason ever comprehends . +The lunatic , the lover , and the poet , +Are of imagination all compact : +One sees more devils than vast hell can hold , +That is , the madman ; the lover , all as frantic , +Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt : +The poet's eye , in a fine frenzy rolling , +Doth glance from heaven to earth , from earth to heaven ; +And , as imagination bodies forth +The forms of things unknown , the poet's pen +Turns them to shapes , and gives to airy nothing +A local habitation and a name . +Such tricks hath strong imagination , +That , if it would but apprehend some joy , +It comprehends some bringer of that joy ; +Or in the night , imagining some fear , +How easy is a bush suppos'd a bear ! + +But all the story of the night told over , +And all their minds transfigur'd so together , +More witnesseth than fancy's images , +And grows to something of great constancy , +But , howsoever , strange and admirable . + +Here come the lovers , full of joy and mirth . + + +Joy , gentle friends ! joy , and fresh days of love + +Accompany your hearts ! + +More than to us +Wait in your royal walks , your board , your bed ! + +Come now ; what masques , what dances shall we have , +To wear away this long age of three hours +Between our after-supper and bed-time ? +Where is our usual manager of mirth ? +What revels are in hand ? Is there no play , +To ease the anguish of a torturing hour ? +Call Philostrate . + +Here , mighty Theseus . + +Say , what abridgment have you for this evening ? +What masque ? what music ? How shall we beguile +The lazy time , if not with some delight ? + +There is a brief how many sports are ripe ; +Make choice of which your highness will see first . + + +The battle with the Centaurs , to be sung +By an Athenian eunuch to the harp . +We'll none of that : that have I told my love , +In glory of my kinsman Hercules . +The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals , +Tearing the Thracian singer in their rage . +That is an old device ; and it was play'd +When I from Thebes came last a conqueror . +The thrice three Muses mourning for the death +Of Learning , late deceas'd in beggary . +That is some satire keen and critical , +Not sorting with a nuptial ceremony . +A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus +And his love Thisbe ; very tragical mirth . +Merry and tragical ! tedious and brief ! +That is , hot ice and wonderous strange snow . +How shall we find the concord of this discord ? + +A play there is , my lord , some ten words long , +Which is as brief as I have known a play ; +But by ten words , my lord , it is too long , +Which makes it tedious ; for in all the play +There is not one word apt , one player fitted . +And tragical , my noble lord , it is ; +For Pyramus therein doth kill himself . +Which when I saw rehears'd , I must confess , +Made mine eyes water ; but more merry tears +The passion of loud laughter never shed . + +What are they that do play it ? + +Hard-handed men , that work in Athens here , +Which never labour'd in their minds till now , +And now have toil'd their unbreath'd memories +With this same play , against your nuptial . + +And we will hear it . + +No , my noble lord ; +It is not for you : I have heard it over , +And it is nothing , nothing in the world ; +Unless you can find sport in their intents , +Extremely stretch'd and conn'd with cruel pain , +To do you service . + +I will hear that play ; +For never anything can be amiss , +When simpleness and duty tender it . +Go , bring them in : and take your places , ladies . + + +I love not to see wretchedness o'ercharg'd , +And duty in his service perishing . + +Why , gentle sweet , you shall see no such thing . + +He says they can do nothing in this kind . + +The kinder we , to give them thanks for nothing . +Our sport shall be to take what they mistake : +And what poor duty cannot do , noble respect +Takes it in might , not merit . +Where I have come , great clerks have purposed +To greet me with premeditated welcomes ; +Where I have seen them shiver and look pale , +Make periods in the midst of sentences , +Throttle their practis'd accent in their fears , +And , in conclusion , dumbly have broke off , +Not paying me a welcome . Trust me , sweet , +Out of this silence yet I pick'd a welcome ; +And in the modesty of fearful duty +I read as much as from the rattling tongue +Of saucy and audacious eloquence . +Love , therefore , and tongue-tied simplicity +In least speak most , to my capacity . + + +So please your Grace , the Prologue is address'd . + +Let him approach . + + +If we offend , it is with our good will . +That you should think , we come not to offend , +But with good will . To show our simple skill , +That is the true beginning of our end . +Consider then we come but in despite . +We do not come as minding to content you , +Our true intent is . All for your delight , +We are not here . That you should here repent you , +The actors are at hand ; and , by their show , +You shall know all that you are like to know . + + +This fellow doth not stand upon points . + +He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt ; he knows not the stop . A good moral , my lord : it is not enough to speak , but to speak true . + +Indeed he hath played on his prologue like a child on a recorder ; a sound , but not in government . + +His speech was like a tangled chain ; nothing impaired , but all disordered . Who is next ? + + +Gentles , perchance you wonder at this show ; +But wonder on , till truth make all things plain . +This man is Pyramus , if you would know ; +This beauteous lady Thisby is , certain . +This man , with lime and rough-cast , doth present +Wall , that vile Wall which did these lovers sunder ; +And through Wall's chink , poor souls , they are content +To whisper , at the which let no man wonder . +This man , with lanthorn , dog , and bush of thorn , +Presenteth Moonshine ; for , if you will know , +By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn +To meet at Ninus' tomb , there , there to woo . +This grisly beast , which Lion hight by name , +The trusty Thisby , coming first by night , +Did scare away , or rather did affright ; +And , as she fied , her mantle she did fall , +Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain . +Anon comes Pyramus , sweet youth and tall , +And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain : +Whereat , with blade , with bloody blameful blade , +He bravely broach'd his boiling bloody breast ; +And Thisby , tarrying in mulberry shade , +His dagger drew , and died . For all the rest , +Let Lion , Moonshine , Wall , and lovers twain , +At large discourse , while here they do remain . + + +I wonder , if the lion be to speak . + +No wonder , my lord : one lion may , when many asses do . +Wall . In this same interlude it doth befall +That I , one Snout by name , present a wall ; +And such a wall , as I would have you think , +That had in it a crannied hole or chink , +Through which the lovers , Pyramus and Thisby , +Did whisper often very secretly . +This loam , this rough-cast , and this stone doth show +That I am that same wall ; the truth is so ; +And this the cranny is , right and sinister , +Through which the fearful lovers are to whisper . + +Would you desire lime and hair to speak better ? + +It is the wittiest partition that ever I heard discourse , my lord . + +Pyramus draws near the wall : silence ! + + +O grim-look'd night ! O night with hue so black ! +O night , which ever art when day is not ! +O night ! O night ! alack , alack , alack ! +I fear my Thisby's promise is forgot . +And thou , O wall ! O sweet , O lovely wall ! +That stand'st between her father's ground and mine ; +Thou wall , O wall ! O sweet , and lovely wall ! +Show me thy chink to blink through with mine eyne . + +Thanks , courteous wall : Jove shield thee well for this ! +But what see I ? No Thisby do I see . +O wicked wall ! through whom I see no bliss ; +Curs'd be thy stones for thus deceiving me ! + +The wall , methinks , being sensible , should curse again . + +No , in truth , sir , he should not . 'Deceiving me ,' is Thisby's cue : she is to enter now , and I am to spy her through the wall . You shall see , it will fall pat as I told you . Yonder she comes . + + +O wall ! full often hast thou heard my moans , +For parting my fair Pyramus and me : +My cherry lips have often kiss'd thy stones , +Thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee . + +I see a voice : now will I to the chink , +To spy an I can hear my Thisby's face . +Thisby . + +My love ! thou art my love , I think . + +Think what thou wilt , I am thy lover's grace ; +And , like Limander , am I trusty still . + +And I like Helen , till the Fates me kill . + +Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true . + +As Shafalus to Procrus , I to you . + +O ! kiss me through the hole of this vile wall . + +I kiss the wall's hole , not your lips at all + +Wilt thou at Ninny's tomb meet me straightway ? + +'Tide life , 'tide death , I come without delay . + + +Thus have I , Wall , my part discharged so ; +And , being done , thus Wall away doth go . + + +Now is the mural down between the two neighbours . + +No remedy , my lord , when walls are so wilful to hear without warning . + +This is the silliest stuff that ever I heard . + +The best in this kind are but shadows , and the worst are no worse , if imagination amend them . + +It must be your imagination then , and not theirs . + +If we imagine no worse of them than they of themselves , they may pass for excellent men . Here come two noble beasts in , a man and a lion . + + +You , ladies , you , whose gentle hearts do fear +The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor , +May now perchance both quake and tremble here , +When lion rough in wildest rage doth roar . +Then know that I , one Snug the joiner , am +A lion-fell , nor else no lion's dam : +For , if I should as lion come in strife +Into this place , 'twere pity on my life . + +A very gentle beast , and of a good conscience . + +The very best at a beast , my lord , that e'er I saw . + +This lion is a very fox for his valour . + +True ; and a goose for his discretion . + +Not so , my lord ; for his valour cannot carry his discretion , and the fox carries the goose . + +His discretion , I am sure , cannot carry his valour , for the goose carries not the fox . It is well : leave it to his discretion , and let us listen to the moon . + +This lanthorn doth the horned moon present ; + +He should have worn the horns on his head . + +He is no crescent , and his horns are invisible within the circumference . + +This lanthorn doth the horned moon present ; +Myself the man i' the moon do seem to be . + +This is the greatest error of all the rest . +The man should be put into the lanthorn : how is it else the man i' the moon ? + +He dares not come there for the candle ; for , you see , it is already in snuff . + +I am aweary of this moon : would he would change ! + +It appears , by his small light of discretion , that he is in the wane ; but yet , in courtesy , in all reason , we must stay the time . + +Proceed , Moon . + +All that I have to say , is , to tell you that the lanthorn is the moon ; I , the man in the moon ; this thorn-bush , my thorn-bush ; and this dog , my dog . + +Why , all these should be in the lanthorn ; for all these are in the moon . But , silence ! here comes Thisbe . + + +This is old Ninny's tomb . Where is my love ? + +Oh . + + +Well roared , Lion . + +Well run , Thisbe . + +Well shone , Moon . Truly , the moon shines with a good grace . + + +Well moused , Lion . + +And then came Pyramus . + +And so the lion vanished . + + +Sweet moon , I thank thee for thy sunny beams ; +I thank thee , moon , for shining now so bright , +For , by thy gracious , golden , glittering streams , +I trust to taste of truest Thisby's sight . + +But stay , O spite ! +But mark , poor knight , +What dreadful dole is here ! +Eyes , do you see ? +How can it be ? +O dainty duck ! O dear ! +Thy mantle good , +What ! stain'd with blood ! +Approach , ye Furies fell ! +O Fates , come , come , +Cut thread and thrum ; +Quail , crush , conclude , and quell ! + + +This passion , and the death of a dear friend , would go near to make a man look sad . + +Beshrew my heart , but I pity the man . + +O ! wherefore , Nature , didst thou lions frame ? +Since lion vile hath here deflower'd my dear ? +Which is no , no which was the fairest dame +That liv'd , that lov'd , that lik'd , that look'd with cheer . + + +Come tears , confound ; +Out , sword , and wound +The pap of Pyramus : +Ay , that left pap , +Where heart doth hop : +Thus die I , thus , thus , thus . + +Now am I dead , +Now am I fled ; +My soul is in the sky : +Tongue , lose thy light ! +Moon , take thy flight ! + +Now die , die , die , die , die . + +No die , but an ace , for him ; for he is but one . + +Less than an ace , man , for he is dead ; he is nothing . + +With the help of a surgeon , he might yet recover , and prove an ass . + +How chance Moonshine is gone before Thisbe comes back and finds her lover ? + +She will find him by starlight . Here she comes ; and her passion ends the play . + + +Methinks she should not use a long one for such a Pyramus : I hope she will be brief . + +A mote will turn the balance , which Pyramus , which Thisbe , is the better : he for a man , God warrant us ; she for a woman , God bless us . + +She hath spied him already with those sweet eyes . + +And thus she moans , videlicet : + + +Asleep , my love ? +What , dead , my dove ? +O Pyramus , arise ! +Speak , speak ! Quite dumb ? +Dead , dead ! A tomb +Must cover thy sweet eyes . +These lily lips , +This cherry nose , +These yellow cowslip cheeks , +Are gone , are gone : +Lovers , make moan ! +His eyes were green as leeks . +O , Sisters Three , +Come , come to me , +With hands as pale as milk ; +Lay them in gore , +Since you have shore +With shears his thread of silk . +Tongue , not a word : +Come , trusty sword : +Come , blade , my breast imbrue : + +And farewell , friends ; +Thus Thisby ends : +Adieu , adieu , adieu . + +Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead . + +Ay , and Wall too . + +No , I assure you ; the wall is down that parted their fathers . Will it please you to see the epilogue , or to hear a Bergomask dance between two of our company ? + +No epilogue , I pray you ; for your play needs no excuse . Never excuse ; for when the players are all dead , there need none to be blamed . Marry , if he that writ it had played Pyramus , and hanged himself in Thisbe's garter , it would have been a fine tragedy : and so it is , truly , and very notably discharged . But come , your Bergomask : let your epilogue alone . + +The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve ; +Lovers , to bed ; 'tis almost fairy time . +I fear we shall out-sleep the coming morn , +As much as we this night have overwatch'd . +This palpable-gross play hath well beguil'd +The heavy gait of night . Sweet friends , to bed . +A fortnight hold we this solemnity , +In nightly revels , and new jollity . + +Now the hungry lion roars , +And the wolf behowls the moon ; +Whilst the heavy ploughman snores , +All with weary task fordone . +Now the wasted brands do glow , +Whilst the screech-owl , screeching loud , +Puts the wretch that lies in woe +In remembrance of a shroud . +Now it is the time of night +That the graves , all gaping wide , +Every one lets forth his sprite , +In the church-way paths to glide : +And we fairies , that do run +By the triple Hecate's team , +From the presence of the sun , +Following darkness like a dream , +Now are frolic ; not a mouse +Shall disturb this hallow'd house : +I am sent with broom before , +To sweep the dust behind the door . + + +Through the house give glimmering light +By the dead and drowsy fire ; +Every elf and fairy sprite +Hop as light as bird from brier ; +And this ditty after me +Sing and dance it trippingly . + +First , rehearse your song by rote , +To each word a warbling note : +Hand in hand , with fairy grace , +Will we sing , and bless this place . + + +Now , until the break of day , +Through this house each fairy stray . +To the best bride-bed will we , +Which by us shall blessed be ; +And the issue there create +Ever shall be fortunate . +So shall all the couples three +Ever true in loving be ; +And the blots of Nature's hand +Shall not in their issue stand : +Never mole , hare-lip , nor scar , +Nor mark prodigious , such as are +Despised in nativity , +Shall upon their children be . +With this field-dew consecrate , +Every fairy take his gait , +And each several chamber bless , +Through this palace , with sweet peace ; +Ever shall in safety rest , +And the owner of it blest . +Trip away ; +Make no stay ; +Meet me all by break of day . + + +If we shadows have offended , +Think but this , and all is mended , +That you have but slumber'd here +While these visions did appear . +And this weak and idle theme , +No more yielding but a dream , +Gentles , do not reprehend : +If you pardon , we will mend . +And , as I'm an honest Puck , +If we have unearned luck +Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue , +We will make amends ere long ; +Else the Puck a liar call : +So , good night unto you all . +Give me your hands , if we be friends , +And Robin shall restore amends . + +ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL + +In delivering my son from me , I bury a second husband . + +And I , in going , madam , weep o'er my father's death anew ; but I must attend his majesty's command , to whom I am now in ward , evermore in subjection . + +You shall find of the king a husband , madam ; you , sir , a father . He that so generally is at all times good , must of necessity hold his virtue to you , whose worthiness would stir it up where it wanted rather than lack it where there is such abundance . + +What hope is there of his majesty's amendment ? + +He hath abandoned his physicians , madam ; under whose practices he hath persecuted time with hope , and finds no other advantage in the process but only the losing of hope by time . + +This young gentlewoman had a father ,O , that 'had !' how sad a passage 'tis !whose skill was almost as great as his honesty ; had it stretched so far , would have made nature immortal , and death should have play for lack of work . Would , for the king's sake , he were living ! I think it would be the death of the king's disease . + +How called you the man you speak of , madam ? + +He was famous , sir , in his profession , and it was his great right to be so : Gerard de Narbon . + +He was excellent indeed , madam : the king very lately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly . He was skilful enough to have lived still , if knowledge could be set up against mortality . + +What is it , my good lord , the king languishes of ? + +A fistula , my lord . + +I heard not of it before . + +I would it were not notorious . Was this gentlewoman the daughter of Gerard de Narbon ? + +His sole child , my lord ; and bequeathed to my overlooking . I have those hopes of her good that her education promises : her dispositions she inherits , which makes fair gifts fairer ; for where an unclean mind carries virtuous qualities , there commendations go with pity ; they are virtues and traitors too : in her they are the better for their simpleness ; she derives her honesty and achieves her goodness . + +Your commendations , madam , get from her tears . + +'Tis the best brine a maiden can season her praise in . The remembrance of her father never approaches her heart but the tyranny of her sorrows takes all livelihood from her cheek . No more of this , Helena , go to , no more ; lest it be rather thought you affect a sorrow , than have it . + +I do affect a sorrow indeed , but I have it too . + +Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead , excessive grief the enemy to the living . + +If the living be enemy to the grief , the excess makes it soon mortal . + +Madam , I desire your holy wishes . + +How understand we that ? + +Be thou blest , Bertram ; and succeed thy father +In manners , as in shape ! thy blood and virtue +Contend for empire in thee ; and thy goodness +Share with thy birthright ! Love all , trust a few , +Do wrong to none : be able for thine enemy +Rather in power than use , and keep thy friend +Under thy own life's key : be check'd for silence , +But never tax'd for speech . What heaven more will +That thee may furnish , and my prayers pluck down , +Fall on thy head ! Farewell , my lord ; +'Tis an unseason'd courtier ; good my lord , +Advise him . + +He cannot want the best +That shall attend his love . + +Heaven bless him ! Farewell , Bertram . + + +The best wishes that can be forged in your thoughts be servants to you ! Be comfortable to my mother , your mistress , and make much of her . + +Farewell , pretty lady : you must hold the credit of your father . + + +O ! were that all . I think not on my father ; +And these great tears grace his remembrance more +Than those I shed for him . What was he like ? +I have forgot him : my imagination +Carries no favour in't but Bertram's . +I am undone : there is no living , none , +If Bertram be away . It were all one +That I should love a bright particular star +And think to wed it , he is so above me : +In his bright radiance and collateral light +Must I be comforted , not in his sphere . +The ambition in my love thus plagues itself : +The hind that would be mated by the lion +Must die for love . 'Twas pretty , though a plague , +To see him every hour ; to sit and draw +His arched brows , his hawking eye , his curls , +In our heart's table ; heart too capable +Of every line and trick of his sweet favour : +But now he's gone , and my idolatrous fancy +Must sanctify his reliques . Who comes here ? +One that goes with him : I love him for his sake ; +And yet I know him a notorious liar , +Think him a great way fool , solely a coward ; +Yet these fix'd evils sit so fit in him , +That they take place , when virtue's steely bones +Look bleak in the cold wind : withal , full oft we see +Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly . + + +Save you , fair queen ! + +And you , monarch ! + +No . + +And no . + +Are you meditating on virginity ? + +Ay . You have some stain of soldier in you ; let me ask you a question . Man is enemy to virginity ; how may we barricado it against him ? + +Keep him out . + +But he assails ; and our virginity , though valiant in the defence , yet is weak . Unfold to us some war-like resistance . + +There is none : man , sitting down before you , will undermine you and blow you up . + +Bless our poor virginity from underminers and blowers up ! Is there no military policy , how virgins might blow up men ? + +Virginity being blown down , man will quicklier be blown up : marry in blowing him down again , with the breach yourselves made , you lose your city . It is not politic in the commonwealth of nature to preserve virginity . Loss of virginity is rational increase , and there was never virgin got till virginity was first lost . That you were made of is metal to make virgins . Virginity , by being once lost , may be ten times found : by being ever kept , it is ever lost .'Tis too cold a companion : away with't ! + +I will stand for't a little , though therefore I die a virgin . + +There's little can be said in't ; 'tis against the rule of nature . To speak on the part of virginity is to accuse your mothers , which is most infallible disobedience . He that hangs himself is a virgin : virginity murders itself , and should be buried in highways , out of all sanctified limit , as a desperate offendress against nature . Virginity breeds mites , much like a cheese , consumes itself to the very paring , and so dies with feeding his own stomach . Besides , virginity is peevish , proud , idle , made of self-love , which is the most inhibited sin in the canon . Keep it not ; you cannot choose but lose by't ! Out with't ! within the year it will make itself two , which is a goodly increase , and the principal itself not much the worse . Away with't ! + +How might one do , sir , to lose it to her own liking ? + +Let me see : marry , ill , to like him that ne'er it likes . 'Tis a commodity that will lose the gloss with lying ; the longer kept , the less worth : off with't , while 'tis vendible ; answer the time of request . Virginity , like an old courtier , wears her cap out of fashion ; richly suited , but unsuitable : just like the brooch and the toothpick , which wear not now . Your date is better in your pie and your porridge than in your cheek : and your virginity , your old virginity , is like one of our French withered pears ; it looks ill , it eats drily ; marry , 'tis a withered pear ; it was formerly better ; marry , yet 'tis a withered pear . Will you anything with it ? + +Not my virginity yet . +There shall your master have a thousand loves , +A mother , and a mistress , and a friend , +A ph nix , captain , and an enemy , +A guide , a goddess , and a sovereign , +A counsellor , a traitress , and a dear ; +His humble ambition , proud humility , +His jarring concord , and his discord dulcet , +His faith , his sweet disaster ; with a world +Of pretty , fond , adoptious christendoms , +That blinking Cupid gossips . Now shall he +I know not what he shall . God send him well ! +The court's a learning-place , and he is one + +What one , i' faith ? + +That I wish well . 'Tis pity + +What's pity ? + +That wishing well had not a body in't , +Which might be felt ; that we , the poorer born , +Whose baser stars do shut us up in wishes , +Might with effects of them follow our friends , +And show what we alone must think , which never +Returns us thanks . + + +Monsieur Parolles , my lord calls for you . + + +Little Helen , farewell : if I can remember thee , I will think of thee at court . + +Monsieur Parolles , you were born under a charitable star . + +Under Mars , I . + +I especially think , under Mars . + +Why under Mars ? + +The wars have so kept you under that you must needs be born under Mars . + +When he was predominant . + +When he was retrograde , I think rather . + +Why think you so ? + +You go so much backward when you fight . + +That's for advantage . + +So is running away , when fear proposes the safety : but the composition that your valour and fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing , and I like the wear well . + +I am so full of businesses I cannot answer thee acutely . I will return perfect courtier ; in the which , my instruction shall serve to naturalize thee , so thou wilt be capable of a courtier's counsel , and understand what advice shall thrust upon thee ; else thou diest in thine unthankfulness , and thine ignorance makes thee away : farewell . When thou hast leisure , say thy prayers ; when thou hast none , remember thy friends . Get thee a good husband , and use him as he uses thee : so , farewell . + + +Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie +Which we ascribe to heaven : the fated sky +Gives us free scope ; only doth backward pull +Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull . +What power is it which mounts my love so high ; +That makes me see , and cannot feed mine eye ? +The mightiest space in fortune nature brings +To join like likes , and kiss like native things . +Impossible be strange attempts to those +That weigh their pains in sense , and do suppose +What hath been cannot be : who ever strove +To show her merit , that did miss her love ? +The king's disease ,my project may deceive me , +But my intents are fix'd and will not leave me . + + +The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears ; +Have fought with equal fortune , and continue +A braving war . + +So 'tis reported , sir . + +Nay , 'tis most credible : we here receive it +A certainty , vouch'd from our cousin Austria , +With caution that the Florentine will move us +For speedy aid ; wherein our dearest friend +Prejudicates the business , and would seem +To have us make denial . + +His love and wisdom , +Approv'd so to your majesty , may plead +For amplest credence . + +He hath arm'd our answer , +And Florence is denied before he comes : +Yet , for our gentlemen that mean to see +The Tuscan service , freely have they leave +To stand on either part . + +It well may serve +A nursery to our gentry , who are sick +For breathing and exploit . + +What's he comes here ? + + +It is the Count Rousillon , my good lord , +Young Betram . + +Youth , thou bear'st thy father's face ; +Frank nature , rather curious than in haste , +Hath well compos'd thee . Thy father's moral parts +Mayst thou inherit too ! Welcome to Paris . + +My thanks and duty are your majesty's . + +I would I had that corporal soundness now , +As when thy father and myself in friendship +First tried our soldiership ! He did look far +Into the service of the time and was +Discipled of the bravest : he lasted long ; +But on us both did haggish age steal on , +And wore us out of act . It much repairs me +To talk of your good father . In his youth +He had the wit which I can well observe +To-day in our young lords ; but they may jest +Till their own scorn return to them unnoted +Ere they can hide their levity in honour . +So like a courtier , contempt nor bitterness +Were in his pride or sharpness ; if they were , +His equal had awak'd them ; and his honour , +Clock to itself , knew the true minute when +Exception bid him speak , and at this time +His tongue obey'd his hand : who were below him +He us'd as creatures of another place , +And bow'd his eminent top to their low ranks , +Making them proud of his humility , +In their poor praise he humbled . Such a man +Might be a copy to these younger times , +Which , follow'd well , would demonstrate them now +But goers backward . + +His good remembrance , sir , +Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb ; +So in approof lives not his epitaph +As in your royal speech . + +Would I were with him ! He would always say , +Methinks I hear him now : his plausive words +He scatter'd not in ears , but grafted them , +To grow there and to bear . 'Let me not live ,' +Thus his good melancholy oft began , +On the catastrophe and heel of pastime , +When it was out ,'Let me not live ,' quoth he , +'After my flame lacks oil , to be the snuff +Of younger spirits , whose apprehensive senses +All but new things disdain ; whose judgments are +Mere fathers of their garments ; whose constancies +Expire before their fashions .' This he wish'd : +I , after him , do after him wish too , +Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home , +I quickly were dissolved from my hive , +To give some labourers room . + +You are lov'd , sir ; +They that least lend it you shall lack you first . + +I fill a place , I know't . How long is't , count , +Since the physician at your father's died ? +He was much fam'd . + +Some six months since , my lord . + +If he were living , I would try him yet : +Lend me an arm : the rest have worn me out +With several applications : nature and sickness +Debate it at their leisure . Welcome , count ; +My son's no dearer . + +Thank your majesty . + + +I will now hear : what say you of this gentlewoman ? + +Madam , the care I have had to even your content , I wish might be found in the calendar of my past endeavours ; for then we wound our modesty and make foul the clearness of our deservings , when of ourselves we publish them . + +What does this knave here ? Get you gone , sirrah : the complaints I have heard of you I do not all believe : 'tis my slowness that I do not ; for I know you lack not folly to commit them , and have ability enough to make such knaveries yours . + +'Tis not unknown to you , madam , I am a poor fellow . + +Well , sir . + +No , madam , 'tis not so well that I am poor , though many of the rich are damned . But , if I may have your ladyship's good will to go to the world , Isbel the woman and I will do as we may . + +Wilt thou needs be a beggar ? + +I do beg your good will in this case . + +In what case ? + +In Isbel's case and mine own . Service is no heritage ; and I think I shall never have the blessing of God till I have issue o' my body , for they say barnes are blessings . + +Tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry . + +My poor body , madam , requires it : I am driven on by the flesh ; and he must needs go that the devil drives . + +Is this all your worship's reason ? + +Faith , madam , I have other holy reasons , such as they are . + +May the world know them ? + +I have been , madam , a wicked creature , as you and all flesh and blood are ; and , indeed , I do marry that I may repent . + +Thy marriage , sooner than thy wickedness . + +I am out o' friends , madam ; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake . + +Such friends are thine enemies , knave . + +You're shallow , madam , in great friends ; for the knaves come to do that for me which I am aweary of . He that ears my land spares my team , and gives me leave to in the crop : if I be his cuckold , he's my drudge . He that comforts my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood ; he that cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood ; he that loves my flesh and blood is my friend : ergo , he that kisses my wife is my friend . If men could be contented to be what they are , there were no fear in marriage ; for young Charbon the puritan , and old Poysam the papist , howsome'er their hearts are severed in religion , their heads are both one ; they may joul horns together like any deer i' the herd . + +Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouthed and calumnious knave ? + +A prophet I , madam ; and I speak the truth the next way : + +For I the ballad will repeat , +Which men full true shall find ; +Your marriage comes by destiny , +Your cuckoo sings by kind . + + +Get you gone , sir : I'll talk with you more anon . + +May it please you , madam , that he bid Helen come to you : of her I am to speak . + +Sirrah , tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her ; Helen I mean . + + +Was this fair face the cause , quoth she , +Why the Grecians sacked Troy ? +Fond done , done fond , +Was this King Priam's joy ? +With that she sighed as she stood , +With that she sighed as she stood , +And gave this sentence then ; +Among nine bad if one be good , +Among nine bad if one be good , +There's yet one good in ten . + + +What ! one good in ten ? you corrupt the song , sirrah . + +One good woman in ten , madam ; which is a purifying o' the song . Would God would serve the world so all the year ! we'd find no fault with the tithe-woman if I were the parson . One in ten , quoth a' ! An we might have a good woman born but for every blazing star , or at an earthquake ,'twould mend the lottery well : a man may draw his heart out ere a' pluck one . + +You'll be gone , sir knave , and do as I command you ! + +That man should be at woman's command , and yet no hurt done ! Though honesty be no puritan , yet it will do no hurt ; it will wear the surplice of humility over the black gown of a big heart . I am going , forsooth : the business is for Helen to come hither . + + +Well , now . + +I know , madam , you love your gentlewoman entirely . + +Faith , I do : her father bequeathed her to me ; and she herself , without other advantage , may lawfully make title to as much love as she finds : there is more owing her than is paid , and more shall be paid her than she'll demand . + +Madam , I was very late more near her than I think she wished me : alone she was , and did communicate to herself her own words to her own ears ; she thought , I dare vow for her , they touched not any stranger sense . Her matter was , she loved your son : Fortune , she said , was no goddess , that had put such difference betwixt their two estates ; Love no god , that would not extend his might , only where qualities were level ; Dian no queen of virgins , that would suffer her poor knight surprised , without rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward . This she delivered in the most bitter touch of sorrow that e'er I heard virgin exclaim in ; which I held my duty speedily to acquaint you withal , sithence in the loss that may happen , it concerns you something to know it . + +You have discharged this honestly : keep it to yourself . Many likelihoods informed me of this before , which hung so tottering in the balance that I could neither believe nor misdoubt . Pray you , leave me : stall this in your bosom ; and I thank you for your honest care . I will speak with you further anon . + +Even so it was with me when I was young : +If ever we are nature's , these are ours ; this thorn +Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong ; +Our blood to us , this to our blood is born : +It is the show and seal of nature's truth , +Where love's strong passion is impress'd in youth : +By our remembrances of days foregone , +Such were our faults ; or then we thought them none . + +Her eye is sick on't : I observe her now . + +What is your pleasure , madam ? + +You know , Helen , +I am a mother to you . + +Mine honourable mistress . + +Nay , a mother : +Why not a mother ? When I said , 'a mother ,' +Methought you saw a serpent : what's in 'mother' +That you start at it ? I say , I am your mother ; +And put you in the catalogue of those +That were enwombed mine : 'tis often seen +Adoption strives with nature , and choice breeds +A native slip to us from foreign seeds ; +You ne'er oppress'd me with a mother's groan , +Yet I express to you a mother's care . +God's mercy , maiden ! does it curd thy blood +To say I am thy mother ? What's the matter , +That this distemper'd messenger of wet , +The many-colour'd Iris , rounds thine eye ? +Why ? that you are my daughter ? + +That I am not . + +I say , I am your mother . + +Pardon , madam ; +The Count Rousillon cannot be my brother : +I am from humble , he from honour'd name ; +No note upon my parents , his all noble : +My master , my dear lord he is ; and I +His servant live , and will his vassal die . +He must not be my brother . + +Nor I your mother ? + +You are my mother , madam : would you were , +So that my lord your son were not my brother , +Indeed my mother ! or were you both our mothers , +I care no more for than I do for heaven , +So I were not his sister . Can't no other , +But , I your daughter , he must be my brother ? + +Yes , Helen , you might be my daughter-in-law : +God shield you mean it not ! daughter and mother +So strive upon your pulse . What , pale again ? +My fear hath catch'd your fondness : now I see +The mystery of your loneliness , and find +Your salt tears' head : now to all sense 'tis gross +You love my son : invention is asham'd , +Against the proclamation of thy passion , +To say thou dost not : therefore tell me true ; +But tell me then , 'tis so ; for , look , thy cheeks +Confess it , th' one to th' other ; and thine eyes +See it so grossly shown in thy behaviours +That in their kind they speak it : only sin +And hellish obstinacy tie thy tongue , +That truth should be suspected . Speak , is't so ? +If it be so , you have wound a goodly clew ; +If it be not , forswear't : howe'er , I charge thee , +As heaven shall work in me for thine avail , +To tell me truly . + +Good madam , pardon me ! + +Do you love my son ? + +Your pardon , noble mistress ! + +Love you my son ? + +Do not you love him , madam ? + +Go not about ; my love hath in't a bond +Whereof the world takes note : come , come , disclose +The state of your affection , for your passions +Have to the full appeach'd . + +Then , I confess , +Here on my knee , before high heaven and you +That before you , and next unto high heaven , +I love your son . +My friends were poor , but honest ; so's my love : +Be not offended , for it hurts not him +That he is lov'd of me : I follow him not +By any token of presumptuous suit ; +Nor would I have him till I do deserve him ; +Yet never know how that desert should be . +I know I love in vain , strive against hope ; +Yet , in this captious and intenible sieve +I still pour in the waters of my love , +And lack not to lose still . Thus , Indian-like , +Religious in mine error , I adore +The sun , that looks upon his worshipper , +But knows of him no more . My dearest madam , +Let not your hate encounter with my love +For loving where you do : but , if yourself , +Whose aged honour cites a virtuous youth , +Did ever in so true a flame of liking +Wish chastely and love dearly , that your Dian +Was both herself and Love ; O ! then , give pity +To her , whose state is such that cannot choose +But lend and give where she is sure to lose ; +That seeks not to find that her search implies , +But , riddle-like , lives sweetly where she dies . + +Had you not lately an intent , speak truly , +To go to Paris ? + +Madam , I had . + +Wherefore ? tell true . + +I will tell truth ; by grace itself I swear . +You know my father left me some prescriptions +Of rare and prov'd effects , such as his reading +And manifest experience had collected +For general sovereignty ; and that he will'd me +In heedfull'st reservation to bestow them , +As notes whose faculties inclusive were +More than they were in note . Amongst the rest , +There is a remedy , approv'd , set down +To cure the desperate languishings whereof +The king is render'd lost . + +This was your motive +For Paris , was it ? speak . + +My lord your son made me to think of this ; +Else Paris , and the medicine , and the king , +Had from the conversation of my thoughts +Haply been absent then . + +But think you , Helen , +If you should tender your supposed aid , +He would receive it ? He and his physicians +Are of a mind ; he , that they cannot help him , +They , that they cannot help . How shall they credit +A poor unlearned virgin , when the schools , +Embowell'd of their doctrine , have left off +The danger to itself ? + +There's something in't , +More than my father's skill , which was the great'st +Of his profession , that his good receipt +Shall for my legacy be sanctified +By the luckiest stars in heaven : and , would your honour +But give me leave to try success , I'd venture +The well-lost life of mine on his Grace's cure , +By such a day , and hour . + +Dost thou believe't ? + +Ay , madam , knowingly . + +Why , Helen , thou shalt have my leave and love , +Means , and attendants , and my loving greetings +To those of mine in court . I'll stay at home +And pray God's blessing into thy attempt . +Be gone to-morrow ; and be sure of this , +What I can help thee to thou shalt not miss . + + +Farewell , young lords : these war-like principles +Do not throw from you : and you , my lords , farewell : +Share the advice betwixt you ; if both gain , all +The gift doth stretch itself as 'tis receiv'd , +And is enough for both . + +'Tis our hope , sir , +After well enter'd soldiers , to return +And find your Grace in health . + +No , no , it cannot be ; and yet my heart +Will not confess he owes the malady +That doth my life besiege . Farewell , young lords ; +Whether I live or die , be you the sons +Of worthy Frenchmen : let higher Italy +Those bated that inherit but the fall +Of the last monarchy see that you come +Not to woo honour , but to wed it ; when +The bravest questant shrinks , find what you seek +That fame may cry you loud : I say , farewell . + +Health , at your bidding , serve your majesty ! + +Those girls of Italy , take heed of them : +They say , our French lack language to deny +If they demand : beware of being captives , +Before you serve . + +Our hearts receive your warnings . + +Farewell . Come hither to me . + + +O my sweet lord , that you will stay behind us ! + +'Tis not his fault , the spark . + +O ! 'tis brave wars . + +Most admirable : I have seen those wars . + +I am commanded here , and kept a coil with +'Too young ,' and 'the next year ,' and ''tis too early .' + +An thy mind stand to't , boy , steal away bravely . + +I shall stay here the forehorse to a smock , +Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry , +Till honour be bought up and no sword worn +But one to dance with ! By heaven ! I'll steal away . + +There's honour in the theft . + +Commit it , count . + +I am your accessary ; and so farewell . + +I grow to you , and our parting is a tortured body . + +Farewell , captain . + +Sweet Monsieur Parolles ! + +Noble heroes , my sword and yours are kin . Good sparks and lustrous , a word , good metals : you shall find in the regiment of the Spinii , one Captain Spurio , with his cicatrice , an emblem of war , here on his sinister cheek : it was this very sword entrenched it : say to him , I live , and observe his reports for me + +We shall , noble captain . + + +Mars dote on you for his novices ! What will ye do ? + +Stay ; the king . + + +Use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords ; you have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu : be more expressive to them ; for they wear themselves in the cap of the time , there do muster true gait , eat , speak , and move under the influence of the most received star ; and though the devil lead the measure , such are to be followed . After them , and take a more dilated farewell . + +And I will do so . + +Worthy fellows ; and like to prove most sinewy swordmen . + +Pardon , my lord , for me and for my tidings . + +I'll fee thee to stand up . + +Then here's a man stands that has brought his pardon . +I would you had kneel'd , my lord , to ask me mercy , +And that at my bidding you could so stand up . + +I would I had ; so I had broke thy pate , +And ask'd thee mercy for't . + +Good faith , across : but , my good lord , 'tis thus ; +Will you be cur'd of your infirmity ? + +No . + +O ! will you eat no grapes , my royal fox ? +Yes , but you will my noble grapes an if +My royal fox could reach them . I have seen a medicine +That's able to breathe life into a stone , +Quicken a rock , and make you dance canary +With spritely fire and motion ; whose simple touch +Is powerful to araise King Pepin , nay , +To give great Charlemain a pen in's hand +And write to her a love-line . + +What 'her' is this ? + +Why , Doctor She . My lord , there's one arriv'd +If you will see her : now , by my faith and honour , +If seriously I may convey my thoughts +In this my light deliverance , I have spoke +With one , that in her sex , her years , profession , +Wisdom , and constancy , hath amaz'd me more +Than I dare blame my weakness . Will you see her , +For that is her demand , and know her business ? +That done , laugh well at me . + +Now , good Lafeu , +Bring in the admiration , that we with thee +May spend our wonder too , or take off thine +By wond'ring how thou took'st it . + +Nay , I'll fit you , +And not be all day neither . + + +Thus he his special nothing ever prologues . + + +Nay , come your ways . + +This haste hath wings indeed . + +Nay , come your ways ; +This is his majesty , say your mind to him : +A traitor you do look like ; but such traitors +His majesty seldom fears : I am Cressid's uncle , +That dare leave two together . Fare you well . + + +Now , fair one , does your business follow us ? + +Ay , my good lord . +Gerard de Narbon was my father ; +In what he did profess well found . + +I knew him . + +The rather will I spare my praises towards him ; +Knowing him is enough . On's bed of death +Many receipts he gave me ; chiefly one , +Which , as the dearest issue of his practice , +And of his old experience the only darling , +He bade me store up as a triple eye , +Safer than mine own two , more dear . I have so ; +And , hearing your high majesty is touch'd +With that malignant cause wherein the honour +Of my dear father's gift stands chief in power , +I come to tender it and my appliance , +With all bound humbleness . + +We thank you , maiden ; +But may not be so credulous of cure , +When our most learned doctors leave us , and +The congregated college have concluded +That labouring art can never ransom nature +From her inaidable estate ; I say we must not +So stain our judgment , or corrupt our hope , +To prostitute our past-cure malady +To empirics , or to dissever so +Our great self and our credit , to esteem +A senseless help when help past sense we deem . + +My duty then , shall pay me for my pains : +I will no more enforce mine office on you ; +Humbly entreating from your royal thoughts +A modest one , to bear me back again . + +I cannot give thee less , to be call'd grateful . +Thou thought'st to help me , and such thanks I give +As one near death to those that wish him live ; +But what at full I know , thou know'st no part , +I knowing all my peril , thou no art . + +What I can do can do no hurt to try , +Since you set up your rest 'gainst remedy . +He that of greatest works is finisher +Oft does them by the weakest minister : +So holy writ in babes hath judgment shown , +When judges have been babes ; great floods have flown +From simple sources ; and great seas have dried +When miracles have by the greatest been denied . +Oft expectation fails , and most oft there +Where most it promises ; and oft it hits +Where hope is coldest and despair most fits . + +I must not hear thee : fare thee well , kind maid . +Thy pains , not us'd , must by thyself be paid : +Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward . + +Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd . +It is not so with Him that all things knows , +As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows ; +But most it is presumption in us when +The help of heaven we count the act of men . +Dear sir , to my endeavours give consent ; +Of heaven , not me , make an experiment . +I am not an impostor that proclaim +Myself against the level of mine aim ; +But know I think , and think I know most sure , +My art is not past power nor you past cure . + +Art thou so confident ? Within what space +Hop'st thou my cure ? + +The great'st grace lending grace , +Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring +Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring , +Ere twice in murk and occidental damp +Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp , +Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass +Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass , +What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly , +Health shall live free , and sickness freely die . + +Upon thy certainty and confidence +What dar'st thou venture ? + +Tax of impudence , +A strumpet's boldness , a divulged shame , +Traduc'd by odious ballads : my maiden's name +Sear'd otherwise ; nay worse if worse extended +With vilest torture let my life be ended . + +Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak , +His powerful sound within an organ weak ; +And what impossibility would slay +In common sense , sense saves another way . +Thy life is dear ; for all that life can rate +Worth name of life in thee hath estimate ; +Youth , beauty , wisdom , courage , virtue , all +That happiness and prime can happy call : +Thou this to hazard needs must intimate +Skill infinite or monstrous desperate . +Sweet practiser , thy physic I will try , +That ministers thine own death if I die . + +If I break time , or flinch in property +Of what I spoke , unpitied let me die , +And well deserv'd . Not helping , death's my fee ; +But , if I help , what do you promise me ? + +Make thy demand . + +But will you make it even ? + +Ay , by my sceptre , and my hopes of heaven . + +Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand +What husband in thy power I will command : +Exempted be from me the arrogance +To choose from forth the royal blood of France , +My low and humble name to propagate +With any branch or image of thy state ; +But such a one , thy vassal , whom I know +Is free for me to ask , thee to bestow . + +Here is my hand ; the premises observ'd , +Thy will by my performance shall be serv'd : +So make the choice of thy own time , for I , +Thy resolv'd patient , on thee still rely . +More should I question thee , and more I must , +Though more to know could not be more to trust , +From whence thou cam'st , how tended on ; but rest +Unquestion'd welcome and undoubted blest . +Give me some help here , ho ! If thou proceed +As high as word , my deed shall match thy deed . + + +Come on , sir ; I shall now put you to the height of your breeding . + +I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught . I know my business is but to the court . + +To the court ! why what place make you special , when you put off that with such contempt ? 'But to the court !' + +Truly , madam , if God have lent a man any manners , he may easily put it off at court : he that cannot make a leg , put off's cap , kiss his hand , and say nothing , has neither leg , hands , lip , nor cap ; and indeed such a fellow , to say precisely , were not for the court . But , for me , I have an answer will serve all men . + +Marry , that's a bountiful answer that fits all questions . + +It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks ; the pin-buttock , the quatch-buttock , the brawn-buttock , or any buttock . + +Will your answer serve fit to all questions ? + +As fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney , as your French crown for your taffeta punk , as Tib's rush for Tom's forefinger , as a pancake for Shrove-Tuesday , a morris for Mayday , as the nail to his hole , the cuckold to his horn , as a scolding quean to a wrangling knave , as the nun's lip to the friar's mouth ; nay , as the pudding to his skin . + +Have you , I say , an answer of such fitness for all questions ? + +From below your duke to beneath your constable , it will fit any question . + +It must be an answer of most monstrous size that must fit all demands . + +But a trifle neither , in good faith , if the learned should speak truth of it . Here it is , and all that belongs to't : ask me if I am a courtier ; it shall do you no harm to learn . + +To be young again , if we could . I will be a fool in question , hoping to be the wiser by your answer . I pray you , sir , are you a courtier ? + +O Lord , sir ! there's a simple putting off . More , more , a hundred of them . + +Sir , I am a poor friend of yours , that loves you . + +O Lord , sir ! Thick , thick , spare not me . + +I think , sir , you can eat none of this homely meat . + +O Lord , sir ! Nay , put me to't , I warrant you . + +You were lately whipped , sir , as I think . + +O Lord , sir ! Spare not me . + +Do you cry , 'O Lord , sir !' at your whipping , and 'Spare not me ?' Indeed your 'O Lord , sir !' is very sequent to your whipping : you would answer very well to a whipping , if you were but bound to't . + +I ne'er had worse luck in my life in my 'O Lord , sir !' I see things may serve long , but not serve ever . + +I play the noble housewife with the time , +To entertain't so merrily with a fool . + +O Lord , sir ! why , there't serves well again . + +An end , sir : to your business . Give Helen this , +And urge her to a present answer back : +Commend me to my kinsmen and my son . +This is not much . + +Not much commendation to them . + +Not much employment for you : you understand me ? + +Most fruitfully : I am there before my legs . + +Haste you again . + + +They say miracles are past ; and we have our philosophical persons , to make modern and familiar , things supernatural and causeless . Hence is it that we make trifles of terrors , ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge , when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear . + +Why , 'tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot out in our latter times . + +And so 'tis . + +To be relinquished of the artists , + +So I say . + +Both of Galen and Paracelsus . + +So I say . + +Of all the learned and authentic fellows , + +Right ; so I say . + +That gave him out incurable , + +Why , there 'tis ; so say I too . + +Not to be helped , + +Right ; as 'twere , a man assured of a + +Uncertain life , and sure death . + +Just , you say well : so would I have said . + +I may truly say it is a novelty to the world . + +It is , indeed : if you will have it in showing , you shall read it in what do you call there + +A showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor . + +That's it I would have said ; the very same . + +Why , your dolphin is not lustier : 'fore me , I speak in respect + +Nay , 'tis strange , 'tis very strange , that is the brief and the tedious of it ; and he is of a most facinorous spirit , that will not acknowledge it to be the + +Very hand of heaven + +Ay , so I say . + +In a most weak and debile minister , great power , great transcendence : which should , indeed , give us a further use to be made than alone the recovery of the king , as to be generally thankful . + +I would have said it ; you say well . Here comes the king . + + +Lustig , as the Dutchman says : I'll like a maid the better , whilst I have a tooth in my head . Why , he's able to lead her a coranto . + +Mort du vinaigre ! Is not this Helen ? + +'Fore God , I think so . + +Go , call before me all the lords in court . + +Sit , my preserver , by thy patient's side : +And with this healthful hand , whose banish'd sense +Thou hast repeal'd , a second time receive +The confirmation of my promised gift , +Which but attends thy naming . + + +Fair maid , send forth thine eye : this youthful parcel +Of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing , +O'er whom both sov'reign power and father's voice +I have to use : thy frank election make ; + +Thou hast power to choose , and they none to forsake . + +To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress +Fall , when Love please ! marry , to each , but one . + +I'd give bay Curtal , and his furniture , +My mouth no more were broken than these boys' +And writ as little beard . + +Peruse them well : +Not one of those but had a noble father . + +Gentlemen , +Heaven hath through me restor'd the king to health . + +We understand it , and thank heaven for you . + +I am a simple maid ; and therein wealthiest +That I protest I simply am a maid . +Please it your majesty , I have done already : +The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me , +'We blush , that thou shouldst choose ; but , be refus'd , +Let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever ; +We'll ne'er come there again .' + +Make choice ; and see , +Who shuns thy love , shuns all his love in me . + +Now , Dian , from thy altar do I fly , +And to imperial Love , that god most high , +Do my sighs stream . Sir , will you hear my suit ? + +And grant it . + +Thanks , sir ; all the rest is mute . + +I had rather be in this choice than throw ames-ace for my life . + +The honour , sir , that flames in your fair eyes , +Before I speak , too threateningly replies : +Love make your fortunes twenty times above +Her that so wishes , and her humble love ! + +No better , if you please . + +My wish receive , +Which great Love grant ! and so I take my leave . + +Do all they deny her ? An they were sons of mine , I'd have them whipp'd or I would send them to the Turk to make eunuchs of . + +Be not afraid that I your hand should take ; +I'll never do you wrong for your own sake : +Blessing upon your vows ! and in your bed +Find fairer fortune , if you ever wed ! + +These boys are boys of ice , they'll none have her : sure , they are bastards to the English ; the French ne'er got 'em . + +You are too young , too happy , and too good , +To make yourself a son out of my blood . + +Fair one , I think not so . + +There's one grape yet . I am sure thy father drunk wine . But if thou be'st not an ass , I am a youth of fourteen : I have known thee already . + +I dare not say I take you ; but I give +Me and my service , ever whilst I live , +Into your guiding power . This is the man . + +Why then , young Bertram , take her ; she's thy wife . + +My wife , my liege ! I shall beseech your highness +In such a business give me leave to use +The help of mine own eyes . + +Know'st thou not , Bertram , +What she has done for me ? + +Yes , my good lord ; +But never hope to know why I should marry her . + +Thou know'st she has rais'd me from my sickly bed . + +But follows it , my lord , to bring me down +Must answer for your raising ? I know her well : +She had her breeding at my father's charge . +A poor physician's daughter my wife ! Disdain +Rather corrupt me ever ! + +'Tis only title thou disdain'st in her , the which +I can build up . Strange is it that our bloods , +Of colour , weight , and heat , pour'd all together , +Would quite confound distinction , yet stand off +In differences so mighty . If she be +All that is virtuous , save what thou dislik'st , +A poor physician's daughter , thou dislik'st +Of virtue for the name ; but do not so : +From lowest place when virtuous things proceed , +The place is dignified by the doer's deed : +Where great additions swell's , and virtue none , +It is a dropsied honour . Good alone +Is good without a name : vileness is so : +The property by what it is should go , +Not by the title . She is young , wise , fair ; +In these to nature she's immediate heir , +And these breed honour : that is honour's scorn +Which challenges itself as honour's born , +And is not like the sire : honours thrive +When rather from our acts we them derive +Than our foregoers . The mere word's a slave , +Debosh'd on every tomb , on every grave +A lying trophy , and as oft is dumb +Where dust and damn'd oblivion is the tomb +Of honour'd bones indeed . What should be said ? +If thou canst like this creature as a maid , +I can create the rest : virtue and she +Is her own dower ; honour and wealth from me . + +I cannot love her , nor will strive to do't . + +Thou wrong'st thyself if thou shouldst strive to choose . + +That you are well restor'd , my lord , I'm glad : +Let the rest go . + +My honour's at the stake , which to defeat +I must produce my power . Here , take her hand , +Proud scornful boy , unworthy this good gift , +That dost in vile misprision shackle up +My love and her desert ; thou canst not dream +We , poising us in her defective scale , +Shall weigh thee to the beam ; that wilt not know , +It is in us to plant thine honour where +We please to have it grow . Check thy contempt : +Obey our will , which travails in thy good : +Believe not thy disdain , but presently +Do thine own fortunes that obedient right +Which both thy duty owes and our power claims ; +Or I will throw thee from my care for ever +Into the staggers and the careless lapse +Of youth and ignorance ; both my revenge and hate +Loosing upon thee , in the name of justice , +Without all terms of pity . Speak ; thine answer . + +Pardon , my gracious lord ; for I submit +My fancy to your eyes . When I consider +What great creation and what dole of honour +Flies where you bid it , I find that she , which late +Was in my nobler thoughts most base , is now +The praised of the king ; who , so ennobled , +Is , as 'twere , born so . + +Take her by the hand , +And tell her she is thine : to whom I promise +A counterpoise , if not to thy estate +A balance more replete . + +I take her hand . + +Good fortune and the favour of the king +Smile upon this contract ; whose ceremony +Shall seem expedient on the now-born brief , +And be perform'd to-night : the solemn feast +Shall more attend upon the coming space , +Expecting absent friends . As thou lov'st her , +Thy love's to me religious ; else , does err . + + +Do you hear , monsieur ? a word with you . + +Your pleasure , sir ? + +Your lord and master did well to make his recantation . + +Recantation ! My lord ! my master ! + +Ay ; is it not a language I speak ? + +A most harsh one , and not to be understood without bloody succeeding . My master ! + +Are you companion to the Count Rousillon ? + +To any count ; to all counts ; to what is man . + +To what is count's man : count's master is of another style . + +You are too old , sir ; let it satisfy you , you are too old . + +I must tell thee , sirrah , I write man ; to which title age cannot bring thee . + +What I dare too well do , I dare not do . + +I did think thee , for two ordinaries , to be a pretty wise fellow : thou didst make tolerable vent of thy travel ; it might pass : yet the scarfs and the bannerets about thee did manifoldly dissuade me from believing thee a vessel of too great a burden . I have now found thee ; when I lose thee again , I care not ; yet art thou good for nothing but taking up , and that thou'rt scarce worth . + +Hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee , + +Do not plunge thyself too far in anger , lest thou hasten thy trial ; which if Lord have mercy on thee for a hen ! So , my good window of lattice , fare thee well : thy casement I need not open , for I look through thee . Give me thy hand . + +My lord , you give me most egregious indignity . + +Ay , with all my heart ; and thou art worthy of it . + +I have not , my lord , deserved it . + +Yes , good faith , every dram of it ; and I will not bate thee a scruple . + +Well , I shall be wiser . + +E'en as soon as thou canst , for thou hast to pull at a smack o' the contrary . If ever thou be'st bound in thy scarf and beaten , thou shalt find what it is to be proud of thy bondage . I have a desire to hold my acquaintance with thee , or rather my knowledge , that I may say in the default , he is a man I know . + +My lord , you do me most insupportable vexation . + +I would it were hell-pains for thy sake , and my poor doing eternal : for doing I am past ; as I will by thee , in what motion age will give me leave . + + +Well , thou hast a son shall take this disgrace off me ; scurvy , old , filthy , scurvy lord ! Well , I must be patient ; there is no fettering of authority . I'll beat him , by my life , if I can meet him with any convenience , an he were double and double a lord . I'll have no more pity of his age than I would have of I'll beat him , an if I could but meet him again ! + + +Sirrah , your lord and master's married ; there's news for you : you have a new mistress . + +I most unfeignedly beseech your lordship to make some reservation of your wrongs : he is my good lord : whom I serve above is my master . + +Who ? God ? + +Ay , sir . + +The devil it is that's thy master . Why dost thou garter up thy arms o' this fashion ? dost make hose of thy sleeves ? do other servants so ? Thou wert best set thy lower part where thy nose stands . By mine honour , if I were but two hours younger , I'd beat thee : methinks thou art a general offence , and every man should beat thee : I think thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee . + +This is hard and undeserved measure , my lord . + +Go to , sir ; you were beaten in Italy for picking a kernel out of a pomegranate ; you are a vagabond and no true traveller : you are more saucy with lords and honourable personages than the heraldry of your birth and virtue gives you commission . You are not worth another word , else I'd call you knave . I leave you . + + +Good , very good ; it is so then : good , very good . Let it be concealed awhile . + + +Undone , and forfeited to cares for ever ! + +What is the matter , sweet heart ? + +Although before the solemn priest I have sworn , +I will not bed her . + +What , what , sweet heart ? + +O my Parolles , they have married me ! +I'll to the Tuscan wars , and never bed her . + +France is a dog-hole , and it no more merits +The tread of a man's foot . To the wars ! + +There's letters from my mother : what the import is +I know not yet . + +Ay , that would be known . To the wars , my boy ! to the wars ! +He wears his honour in a box , unseen , +That hugs his kicky-wicky here at home , +Spending his manly marrow in her arms , +Which should sustain the bound and high curvet +Of Mars's fiery steed . To other regions ! +France is a stable ; we that dwell in't jades ; +Therefore , to the war ! + +It shall be so : I'll send her to my house , +Acquaint my mother with my hate to her , +And wherefore I am fled ; write to the king +That which I durst not speak : his present gift +Shall furnish me to those Italian fields , +Where noble fellows strike . War is no strife +To the dark house and the detested wife . + +Will this capriccio hold in thee ? art sure ? + +Go with me to my chamber , and advise me . +I'll send her straight away : to-morrow +I'll to the wars , she to her single sorrow . + +Why , these balls bound ; there's noise in it . 'Tis hard : +A young man married is a man that's marr'd : +Therefore away , and leave her bravely ; go : +The king has done you wrong : but , hush ! 'tis so . + + +My mother greets me kindly : is she well ? + +She is not well ; but yet she has her health ; she's very merry ; but yet she is not well : but thanks be given , she's very well , and wants nothing i' the world ; but yet she is not well . + +If she be very well , what does she ail that she's not very well ? + +Truly , she's very well indeed , but for two things . + +What two things ? + +One , that she's not in heaven , whither +God send her quickly ! the other , that she's in earth , from whence God send her quickly ! + + +Bless you , my fortunate lady ! + +I hope , sir , I have your good will to have mine own good fortunes . + +You had my prayers to lead them on ; and to keep them on , have them still . O ! my knave , how does my old lady ? + +So that you had her wrinkles , and I her money , I would she did as you say . + +Why , I say nothing . + +Marry , you are the wiser man ; for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing . To say nothing , to do nothing , to know nothing , and to have nothing , is to be a great part of your title ; which is within a very little of nothing . + +Away ! thou'rt a knave . + +You should have said , sir , before a knave thou'rt a knave ; that is , before me thou'rt a knave : this had been truth , sir . + +Go to , thou art a witty fool ; I have found thee . + +Did you find me in yourself , sir ? or were you taught to find me ? The search , sir , was profitable ; and much fool may you find in you , even to the world's pleasure and the increase of laughter . + +A good knave , i' faith , and well fed . +Madam , my lord will go away to-night ; +A very serious business calls on him . +The great prerogative and rite of love , +Which , as your due , time claims , he does acknowledge , +But puts it off to a compell'd restraint ; +Whose want , and whose delay , is strew'd with sweets , +Which they distil now in the curbed time , +To make the coming hour o'erflow with joy , +And pleasure drown the brim . + +What's his will else ? + +That you will take your instant leave o' the king , +And make this haste as your own good proceeding , +Strengthen'd with what apology you think +May make it probable need . + +What more commands he ? + +That , having this obtain'd , you presently +Attend his further pleasure . + +In everything I wait upon his will . + +I shall report it so . + +I pray you . Come , sirrah . + + +But I hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier . + +Yes , my lord , and of very valiant approof . + +You have it from his own deliverance . + +And by other warranted testimony . + +Then my dial goes not true : I took this lark for a bunting . + +I do assure you , my lord , he is very great in knowledge , and accordingly valiant . + +I have then sinned against his experience and transgressed against his valour ; and my state that way is dangerous , since I cannot yet find in my heart to repent . Here he comes ; I pray you , make us friends ; I will pursue the amity . + + +These things shall be done , sir . + +Pray you , sir , who's his tailor ? + +Sir ? + +O ! I know him well . Ay , sir ; he , sir , is a good workman , a very good tailor . + +Is she gone to the king ? + +She is . + +Will she away to-night ? + +As you'll have her . + +I have writ my letters , casketed my treasure , +Given orders for our horses ; and to-night , +When I should take possession of the bride , +End ere I do begin . + +A good traveller is something at the latter end of a dinner ; but one that lies three thirds , and uses a known truth to pass a thousand nothings with , should be once heard and thrice beaten . God save you , captain . + +Is there any unkindness between my lord and you , monsieur ? + +I know not how I have deserved to run into my lord's displeasure . + +You have made shift to run into't , boots and spurs and all , like him that leaped into the custard ; and out of it you'll run again , rather than suffer question for your residence . + +It may be you have mistaken him , my lord . + +And shall do so ever , though I took him at his prayers . Fare you well , my lord ; and believe this of me , there can be no kernel in this light nut ; the soul of this man is his clothes . Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence ; I have kept of them tame , and know their natures . Farewell , monsieur : I have spoken better of you than you have or will to deserve at my hand ; but we must do good against evil . + + +An idle lord , I swear . + +I think not so . + +Why , do you not know him ? + +Yes , I do know him well ; and common speech +Gives him a worthy pass . Here comes my clog . + + +I have , sir , as I was commanded from you , +Spoke with the king , and have procur'd his leave +For present parting ; only , he desires +Some private speech with you . + +I shall obey his will . +You must not marvel , Helen , at my course , +Which holds not colour with the time , nor does +The ministration and required office +On my particular : prepar'd I was not +For such a business ; therefore am I found +So much unsettled . This drives me to entreat you +That presently you take your way for home ; +And rather muse than ask why I entreat you ; +For my respects are better than they seem , +And my appointments have in them a need +Greater than shows itself at the first view +To you that know them not . This to my mother . + +'Twill be two days ere I shall see you , so +I leave you to your wisdom . + +Sir , I can nothing say , +But that I am your most obedient servant . + +Come , come , no more of that . + +And ever shall +With true observance seek to eke out that +Wherein toward me my homely stars have fail'd +To equal my great fortune . + +Let that go : +My haste is very great . Farewell : hie home . + +Pray sir , your pardon . + +Well , what would you say ? + +I am not worthy of the wealth I owe , +Nor dare I say 'tis mine , and yet it is ; +But , like a timorous thief , most fain would steal +What law does vouch mine own . + +What would you have ? + +Something , and scarce so much : nothing , indeed . +I would not tell you what I would , my lord : +Faith , yes ; +Strangers and foes do sunder , and not kiss . + +I pray you , stay not , but in haste to horse . + +I shall not break your bidding , good my lord . + +Farewell . + +Go thou toward home ; where I will never come +Whilst I can shake my sword or hear the drum . +Away ! and for our flight . + +Bravely , coragio ! + +So that from point to point now have you heard +The fundamental reasons of this war , +Whose great decision hath much blood let forth , +And more thirsts after . + +Holy seems the quarrel +Upon your Grace's part ; black and fearful +On the opposer . + +Therefore we marvel much our cousin France +Would in so just a business shut his bosom +Against our borrowing prayers . + +Good my lord , +The reasons of our state I cannot yield , +But like a common and an outward man , +That the great figure of a council frames +By self-unable motion : therefore dare not +Say what I think of it , since I have found +Myself in my incertain grounds to fail +As often as I guess'd . + +Be it his pleasure . + +But I am sure the younger of our nature , +That surfeit on their ease , will day by day +Come here for physic . + +Welcome shall they be , +And all the honours that can fly from us +Shall on them settle . You know your places well ; +When better fall , for your avails they fell . +To-morrow to the field . + + +It hath happened all as I would have had it , save that he comes not along with her . + +By my troth , I take my young lord to be a very melancholy man . + +By what observance , I pray you ? + +Why , he will look upon his boot and sing ; mend the ruff and sing ; ask questions and sing ; pick his teeth and sing . I know a man that had this trick of melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song . + +Let me see what he writes , and when he means to come . + +I have no mind to Isbel since I was at court . Our old ling and our Isbels o' the country are nothing like your old ling and your Isbels o' the court : the brains of my Cupid's knocked out , and I begin to love , as an old man loves money , with no stomach . + +What have we here ? + +E'en that you have there . + + +I have sent you a daughter-in-law : she hath recovered the king , and undone me . I have wedded her , not bedded her ; and sworn to make the 'not' eternal . You shall hear I am ran away : know it before the report come . If there be breadth enough in the world , I will hold a long distance . My duty to you . +Your unfortunate son , +This is not well : rash and unbridled boy , +To fly the favours of so good a king ! +To pluck his indignation on thy head +By the misprising of a maid too virtuous +For the contempt of empire ! + + +O madam ! yonder is heavy news within between two soldiers and my young lady . + +What is the matter ? + +Nay , there is some comfort in the news , some comfort ; your son will not be killed so soon as I thought he would . + +Why should he be killed ? + +So say I , madam , if he run away , as I hear he does : the danger is in standing to't ; that's the loss of men , though it be the getting of children . Here they come will tell you more ; for my part , I only hear your son was run away . + +Save you , good madam . + +Madam , my lord is gone , for ever gone . + +Do not say so . + +Think upon patience . Pray you , gentlemen , +I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief , +That the first face of neither , on the start , +Can woman me unto 't : where is my son , I pray you ? + +Madam , he's gone to serve the Duke of Florence : +We met him thitherward ; for thence we came , +And , after some dispatch in hand at court , +Thither we bend again . + +Look on his letter , madam ; here's my passport . +When thou canst get the ring upon my finger , which never shall come off , and show me a child begotten of thy body that I am father to , then call me husband : but in such a 'then' I write a 'never .' +This is a dreadful sentence . + +Brought you this letter , gentlemen ? + +Ay , madam ; +And for the contents' sake are sorry for our pains . + +I prithee , lady , have a better cheer ; +If thou engrossest all the griefs are thine , +Thou robb'st me of a moiety : he was my son , +But I do wash his name out of my blood , +And thou art all my child . Towards Florence is he ? + +Ay , madam . + +And to be a soldier ? + +Such is his noble purpose ; and , believe't , +The duke will lay upon him all the honour +That good convenience claims . + +Return you thither ? + +Ay , madam , with the swiftest wing of speed . + +Till I have no wife , I have nothing in France . +'Tis bitter . + +Find you that there ? + +Ay , madam . + +'Tis but the boldness of his hand , haply , which his heart was not consenting to . + +Nothing in France until he have no wife ! +There's nothing here that is too good for him +But only she ; and she deserves a lord +That twenty such rude boys might tend upon , +And call her hourly mistress . Who was with him ? + +A servant only , and a gentleman +Which I have some time known . + +Parolles , was it not ? + +Ay , my good lady , he . + +A very tainted fellow , and full of wickedness . +My son corrupts a well-derived nature +With his inducement . + +Indeed , good lady , +The fellow has a deal of that too much , +Which holds him much to have . + +Y'are welcome , gentlemen . +I will entreat you , when you see my son , +To tell him that his sword can never win +The honour that he loses : more I'll entreat you +Written to bear along . + +We serve you , madam , +In that and all your worthiest affairs . + +Not so , but as we change our courtesies . +Will you draw near ? + + +'Till I have no wife , I have nothing in France .' +Nothing in France until he has no wife ! +Thou shalt have none , Rousillon , none in France ; +Then hast thou all again . Poor lord ! is't I +That chase thee from thy country , and expose +Those tender limbs of thine to the event +Of the non-sparing war ? and is it I +That drive thee from the sportive court , where thou +Wast shot at with fair eyes , to be the mark +Of smoky muskets ? O you leaden messengers , +That ride upon the violent speed of fire , +Fly with false aim ; move the still-piecing air , +That sings with piercing ; do not touch my lord ! +Whoever shoots at him , I set him there ; +Whoever charges on his forward breast , +I am the caitiff that do hold him to't ; +And , though I kill him not , I am the cause +His death was so effected : better 'twere +I met the ravin lion when he roar'd +With sharp constraint of hunger ; better 'twere +That all the miseries which nature owes +Were mine at once . No , come thou home , Rousillon , +Whence honour but of danger wins a scar , +As oft it loses all : I will be gone ; +My being here it is that holds thee hence : +Shall I stay here to do't ? no , no , although +The air of paradise did fan the house , +And angels offic'd all : I will be gone , +That pitiful rumour may report my flight , +To consolate thine ear . Come , night ; end , day ! +For with the dark , poor thief , I'll steal away . + + +The general of our horse thou art ; and we , +Great in our hope , lay our best love and credence +Upon thy promising fortune . + +Sir , it is +A charge too heavy for my strength , but yet +We'll strive to bear it for your worthy sake +To the extreme edge of hazard . + +Then go thou forth , +And fortune play upon thy prosp'rous helm +As thy auspicious mistress ! + +This very day , +Great Mars , I put myself into thy file : +Make me but like my thoughts , and I shall prove +A lover of thy drum , hater of love . + + +Alas ! and would you take the letter of her ? +Might you not know she would do as she has done , +By sending me a letter ? Read it again . + +I am Saint Jaques' pilgrim , thither gone : + +Ambitious love hath so in me offended +That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon +With sainted vow my faults to have amended . +Write , write , that from the bloody course of war , +My dearest master , your dear son , may hie : +Bless him at home in peace , whilst I from far +His name with zealous fervour sanctify : +His taken labours bid him me forgive ; +I , his despiteful Juno , sent him forth +From courtly friends , with camping foes to live , +Where death and danger dog the heels of worth : +He is too good and fair for Death and me ; +Whom I myself embrace , to set him free . + + +Ah , what sharp stings are in her mildest words ! +Rinaldo , you did never lack advice so much , +As letting her pass so : had I spoke with her , +I could have well diverted her intents , +Which thus she hath prevented . + +Pardon me , madam : +If I had given you this at over-night +She might have been o'erta'en ; and yet she writes , +Pursuit would be but vain . + +What angel shall +Bless this unworthy husband ? he cannot thrive , +Unless her prayers , whom heaven delights to hear , +And loves to grant , reprieve him from the wrath +Of greatest justice . Write , write , Rinaldo , +To this unworthy husband of his wife ; +Let every word weigh heavy of her worth +That he does weigh too light : my greatest grief , +Though little he do feel it , set down sharply . +Dispatch the most convenient messenger : +When haply he shall hear that she is gone , +He will return ; and hope I may that she , +Hearing so much , will speed her foot again , +Led hither by pure love . Which of them both +Is dearest to me I have no skill in sense +To make distinction . Provide this messenger . +My heart is heavy and mine age is weak ; +Grief would have tears , and sorrow bids me speak . + + +Nay , come ; for if they do approach the city we shall lose all the sight . + +They say the French Count has done most honourable service . + +It is reported that he has taken their greatest commander , and that with his own hand he slew the duke's brother . We have lost our labour ; they are gone a contrary way : hark ! you may know by their trumpets . + +Come ; let's return again , and suffice ourselves with the report of it . Well , Diana , take heed of this French earl : the honour of a maid is her name , and no legacy is so rich as honesty . + +I have told my neighbour how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion . + +I know that knave ; hang him ! one Parolles : a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl . Beware of them , Diana ; their promises , enticements , oaths , tokens , and all these engines of lust , are not the things they go under : many a maid hath been seduced by them ; and the misery is , example , that so terrible shows in the wrack of maidenhood , cannot for all that dissuade succession , but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them . I hope I need not to advise you further ; but I hope your own grace will keep you where you are , though there were no further danger known but the modesty which is so lost . + +You shall not need to fear me . + +I hope so . Look , here comes a pilgrim : +I know she will lie at my house ; thither they send one another . I'll question her . + +God save you , pilgrim ! whither are you bound ? + +To Saint Jaques le Grand . +Where do the palmers lodge , I do beseech you ? + +At the Saint Francis , here beside the port . + +Is this the way ? + +Ay , marry , is't . Hark you ! + +They come this way . If you will tarry , holy pilgrim , +But till the troops come by , +I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd : +The rather , for I think I know your hostess +As ample as myself . + +Is it yourself ? + +If you shall please so , pilgrim . + +I thank you , and will stay upon your leisure . + +You came , I think , from France ? + +I did so . + +Here you shall see a countryman of yours +That has done worthy service . + +His name , I pray you . + +The Count Rousillon : know you such a one ? + +But by the ear , that hears most nobly of him ; +His face I know not . + +Whatsoe'er he is , +He's bravely taken here . He stole from France , +As 'tis reported , for the king had married him +Against his liking . Think you it is so ? + +Ay , surely , mere the truth : I know his lady . + +There is a gentleman that serves the count +Reports but coarsely of her . + +What's his name ? + +Monsieur Parolles . + +O ! I believe with him , +In argument of praise , or to the worth +Of the great count himself , she is too mean +To have her name repeated : all her deserving +Is a reserved honesty , and that +I have not heard examin'd . + +Alas , poor lady ! +'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife +Of a detesting lord . + +Ay , right ; good creature , wheresoe'er she is , +Her heart weighs sadly . This young maid might do her +A shrewd turn if she pleas'd . + +How do you mean ? +May be the amorous count solicits her +In the unlawful purpose . + +He does , indeed ; +And brokes with all that can in such a suit +Corrupt the tender honour of a maid : +But she is arm'd for him and keeps her guard +In honestest defence . + +The gods forbid else ! + + +So , now they come . +That is Antonio , the duke's eldest son ; +That , Escalus . + +Which is the Frenchman ? + +He ; +That with the plume : 'tis a most gallant fellow ; +I would he lov'd his wife . If he were honester , +He were much goodlier ; is't not a handsome gentleman ? + +I like him well . + +'Tis pity he is not honest . Yond's that same knave +That leads him to these places : were I his lady +I would poison that vile rascal . + +Which is he ? + +That jack-an-apes with scarfs . Why is he melancholy ? + +Perchance he's hurt i' the battle . + +Lose our drum ! well . + +He's shrewdly vexed at something . +Look , he has spied us . + +Marry , hang you ! + +And your courtesy , for a ring-carrier ! + + +The troop is past . Come , pilgrim , I will bring you +Where you shall host : of enjoin'd penitents +There's four or five , to great Saint Jaques bound , +Already at my house . + +I humbly thank you . +Please it this matron and this gentle maid +To eat with us to-night , the charge and thanking +Shall be for me ; and , to requite you further , +I will bestow some precepts of this virgin +Worthy the note . + +We'll take your offer kindly . + + +Nay , good my lord , put him to't : let him have his way . + +If your lordship find him not a hilding , hold me no more in your respect . + +On my life , my lord , a bubble . + +Do you think I am so far deceived in him ? + +Believe it , my lord , in mine own direct knowledge , without any malice , but to speak of him as my kinsman , he's a most notable coward , an infinite and endless liar , an hourly promise-breaker , the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment . + +It were fit you knew him ; lest , reposing too far in his virtue , which he hath not , he might at some great and trusty business in a main danger fail you . + +I would I knew in what particular action to try him . + +None better than to let him fetch off his drum , which you hear him so confidently undertake to do . + +I , with a troop of Florentines , will suddenly surprise him : such I will have whom I am sure he knows not from the enemy . We will bind and hood wink him so , that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries , when we bring him to our own tents . Be but your lordship present at his examination : if he do not , for the promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of base fear , offer to betray you and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you , and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath , never trust my judgment in anything . + +O ! for the love of laughter , let him fetch his drum : he says he has a stratagem for't . When your lordship sees the bottom of his success in't , and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted , if you give him not John Drum's entertainment , your inclining cannot be removed . Here he comes . + +O ! for the love of laughter , hinder not the honour of his design : let him fetch off his drum in any hand . + + +How now , monsieur ! this drum sticks sorely in your disposition . + +A pox on't ! let it go : 'tis but a drum . + +'But a drum !' Is't 'but a drum ?' A drum so lost ! There was excellent command , to charge in with our horse upon our own wings , and to rend our own soldiers ! + +That was not to be blamed in the command of the service : it was a disaster of war that C sar himself could not have prevented if he had been there to command . + +Well , we cannot greatly condemn our success : some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum ; but it is not to be recovered . + +It might have been recovered . + +It might ; but it is not now . + +It is to be recovered . But that the merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer , I would have that drum or another , or hic jacet . + +Why , if you have a stomach to't , monsieur , if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into its native quarter , be magnanimous in the enterprise and go on ; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit : if you speed well in it , the duke shall both speak of it , and extend to you what further becomes his greatness , even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness . + +By the hand of a soldier , I will undertake it . + +But you must not now slumber in it . + +I'll about it this evening : and I will presently pen down my dilemmas , encourage myself in my certainty , put myself into my mortal preparation , and by midnight look to hear further from me . + +May I be bold to acquaint his Grace you are gone about it ? + +I know not what the success will be , my lord ; but the attempt I vow . + +I know thou'rt valiant ; and , to the possibility of thy soldiership , will subscribe for thee . Farewell . + +I love not many words . + + +No more than a fish loves water . Is not this a strange fellow , my lord , that so confidently seems to undertake this business , which he knows is not to be done ; damns himself to do , and dares better be damned than to do't ? + +You do not know him , my lord , as we do : certain it is , that he will steal himself into a man's favour , and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries ; but when you find him out you have him ever after . + +Why , do you think he will make no deed at all of this that so seriously he does address himself unto ? + +None in the world ; but return with an invention and clap upon you two or three probable lies . But we have almost embossed him , you shall see his fall to-night ; for , indeed , he is not for your lordship's respect . + +We'll make you some sport with the fox ere we case him . He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu : when his disguise and he is parted , tell me what a sprat you shall find him ; which you shall see this very night . + +I must go look my twigs : he shall be caught . + +Your brother he shall go along with me . + +As't please your lordship : I'll leave you . + + +Now will I lead you to the house , and show you +The lass I spoke of . + +But you say she's honest . + +That's all the fault . I spoke with her but once , +And found her wondrous cold ; but I sent to her , +By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind , +Tokens and letters which she did re-send ; +And this is all I have done . She's a fair creature ; +Will you go see her ? + +With all my heart , my lord . + + +If you misdoubt me that I am not she , +I know not how I shall assure you further , +But I shall lose the grounds I work upon . + +Though my estate be fall'n , I was well born , +Nothing acquainted with these businesses ; +And would not put my reputation now +In any staining act . + +Nor would I wish you . +First , give me trust , the county is my husband , +And what to your sworn counsel I have spoken +Is so from word to word ; and then you cannot , +By the good aid that I of you shall borrow , +Err in bestowing it . + +I should believe you : +For you have show'd me that which well approves +You're great in fortune . + +Take this purse of gold , +And let me buy your friendly help thus far , +Which I will over-pay and pay again +When I have found it . The county woos your daughter , +Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty , +Resolv'd to carry her : let her in fine consent , +As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it . +Now , his important blood will nought deny +That she'll demand : a ring the county wears , +That down ward hath succeeded in his house +From son to son , some four or five descents +Since the first father wore it : this ring he holds +In most rich choice ; yet , in his idle fire , +To buy his will , it would not seem too dear , +Howe'er repented after . + +Now I see +The bottom of your purpose . + +You see it lawful then . It is no more , +But that your daughter , ere she seems as won , +Desires this ring , appoints him an encounter , +In fine , delivers me to fill the time , +Herself most chastely absent . After this , +To marry her , I'll add three thousand crowns +To what is past already . + +I have yielded . +Instruct my daughter how she shall persever , +That time and place with this deceit so lawful +May prove coherent . Every night he comes +With musics of all sorts and songs compos'd +To her unworthiness : it nothing steads us +To chide him from our eaves , for he persists +As if his life lay on't . + +Why then to-night +Let us assay our plot ; which , if it speed , +Is wicked meaning in a lawful deed , +And lawful meaning in a lawful act , +Where both not sin , and yet a sinful fact . +But let's about it . + +He can come no other way but by this hedge-corner . When you sally upon him , speak what terrible language you will : though you understand it not yourselves , no matter ; for we must not seem to understand him , unless some one among us , whom we must produce for an interpreter . + +Good captain , let me be the interpreter . + +Art not acquainted with him ? knows he not thy voice ? + +No , sir , I warrant you . + +But what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak to us again ? + +Even such as you speak to me . + +He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment . Now , he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages ; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy , not to know what we speak one to another ; so we seem to know , is to know straight our purpose : chough's language , gabble enough , and good enough . As for you , interpreter , you must seem very politic . But couch , ho ! here he comes , to beguile two hours in a sleep , and then to return and swear the lies he forges . + + +Ten o'clock : within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home . What shall I say I have done ? It must be a very plausive invention that carries it . They begin to smoke me , and disgraces have of late knocked too often at my door . I find my tongue is too foolhardy ; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it and of his creatures , not daring the reports of my tongue . + +This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of . + +What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum , being not ignorant of the impossibility , and knowing I had no such purpose ? I must give myself some hurts and say I got them in exploit . Yet slight ones will not carry it : they will say , 'Came you off with so little ?' and great ones I dare not give . Wherefore , what's the instance ? Tongue , I must put you into a butter-woman's mouth , and buy myself another of Bajazet's mute , if you prattle me into these perils . + +Is it possible he should know what he is , and be that he is ? + +I would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn or the breaking of my Spanish sword . + +We cannot afford you so . + +Or the baring of my beard , and to say it was in stratagem . + +'Twould not do . + +Or to drown my clothes , and say I was stripped . + +Hardly serve . + +Though I swore I leaped from the window of the citadel + +How deep ? + +Thirty fathom . + +Three great oaths would scarce make that be believed . + +I would I had any drum of the enemy's : +I would swear I recovered it . + +Thou shalt hear one anon . + +A drum now of the enemy's ! + + +Throca movousus , cargo , cargo , cargo . + +Cargo , cargo , villianda par corbo , cargo . + + +O ! ransom , ransom ! Do not hide mine eyes . + +Boskos thromuldo boskos . + +I know you are the Muskos' regiment ; +And I shall lose my life for want of language . +If there be here German , or Dane , low Dutch , +Italian , or French , let him speak to me : +I will discover that which shall undo +The Florentine . + +Boskos vauvado : +I understand thee , and can speak thy tongue : +Kerelybonto : Sir , +Betake thee to thy faith , for seventeen poniards +Are at thy bosom . + +O ! + +O ! pray , pray , pray . +Manka revania dulche . + +Oscorbidulchos volivorco . + +The general is content to spare thee yet ; +And , hoodwink'd as thou art , will lead thee on +To gather from thee : haply thou may'st inform +Something to save thy life . + +O ! let me live , +And all the secrets of our camp I'll show , +Their force , their purposes ; nay , I'll speak that +Which you will wonder at . + +But wilt thou faithfully ? + +If I do not , damn me . + +Acordo linta . +Come on ; thou art granted space . + + +Go , tell the Count Rousillon , and my brother , +We have caught the woodcock , and will keep him muffled +Till we do hear from them . + +Captain , I will . + +A' will betray us all unto ourselves : +Inform on that . + +So I will , sir . + +Till then , I'll keep him dark and safely lock'd . + + +They told me that your name was Fontibell . + +No , my good lord , Diana . + +Titled goddess ; +And worth it , with addition ! But , fair soul , +In your fine frame hath love no quality ? +If the quick fire of youth light not your mind , +You are no maiden , but a monument : +When you are dead , you should be such a one +As you are now , for you are cold and stern ; +And now you should be as your mother was +When your sweet self was got . + +She then was honest . + +So should you be . + +No : +My mother did but duty ; such , my lord , +As you owe to your wife . + +No more o' that ! +I prithee do not strive against my vows . +I was compell'd to her ; but I love thee +By love's own sweet constraint , and will for ever +Do thee all rights of service . + +Ay , so you serve us +Till we serve you ; but when you have our roses , +You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves +And mock us with our bareness . + +How have I sworn ! + +'Tis not the many oaths that make the truth , +But the plain single vow that is vow'd true . +What is not holy , that we swear not by , +But take the Highest to witness : then , pray you , tell me , +If I should swear by God's great attributes +I lov'd you dearly , would you believe my oaths , +When I did love you ill ? this has no holding , +To swear by him whom I protest to love , +That I will work against him : therefore your oaths +Are words and poor conditions , but unseal'd ; +At least in my opinion . + +Change it , change it . +Be not so holy-cruel : love is holy ; +And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts +That you do charge men with . Stand no more off , +But give thyself unto my sick desires , +Who then recover : say thou art mine , and ever +My love as it begins shall so persever . + +I see that men make ropes in such a scarr +That we'll forsake ourselves . Give me that ring . + +I'll lend it thee , my dear ; but have no power +To give it from me . + +Will you not , my lord ? + +It is an honour 'longing to our house , +Bequeathed down from many ancestors , +Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world +In me to lose . + +Mine honour's such a ring : +My chastity's the jewel of our house , +Bequeathed down from many ancestors , +Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world +In me to lose . Thus your own proper wisdom +Brings in the champion honour on my part +Against your vain assault . + +Here , take my ring : +My house , mine honour , yea , my life , be thine , +And I'll be bid by thee . + +When midnight comes , knock at my chamber-window : +I'll order take my mother shall not hear . +Now will I charge you in the band of truth , +When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed , +Remain there but an hour , nor speak to me . +My reasons are most strong ; and you shall know them +When back again this ring shall be deliver'd : +And on your finger in the night I'll put +Another ring , that what in time proceeds +May token to the future our past deeds . +Adieu , till then ; then , fail not . You have won +A wife of me , though there my hope be done . + +A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee . + + +For which live long to thank both heaven and me ! +You may so in the end . +My mother told me just how he would woo +As if she sat in 's heart ; she says all men +Have the like oaths : he had sworn to marry me +When his wife's dead ; therefore I'll lie with him +When I am buried . Since Frenchmen are so braid , +Marry that will , I live and die a maid : +Only in this disguise I think't no sin +To cozen him that would unjustly win . + + +You have not given him his mother's letter ? + +I have delivered it an hour since : there is something in't that stings his nature , for on the reading it he changed almost into another man . + +He has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking off so good a wife and so sweet a lady . + +Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the king , who had even tuned his bounty to sing happiness to him . I will tell you a thing , but you shall let it dwell darkly with you . + +When you have spoken it , 'tis dead , and I am the grave of it . + +He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence , of a most chaste renown ; and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour : he hath given her his monumental ring , and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition . + +Now , God delay our rebellion ! as we are ourselves , what things are we ! + +Merely our own traitors : and as in the common course of all treasons , we still see them reveal themselves , till they attain to their abhorred ends , so he that in this action contrives against his own nobility , in his proper stream o'erflows himself . + +Is it not most damnable in us , to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents ? We shall not then have his company to-night ? + +Not till after midnight , for he is dieted to his hour . + +That approaches apace : I would gladly have him see his company anatomized , that he might take a measure of his own judgments , wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit . + +We will not meddle with him till he come , for his presence must be the whip of the other . + +In the meantime what near you of these wars ? + +I hear there is an overture of peace . + +Nay , I assure you , a peace concluded . + +What will Count Rousillon do then ? will he travel higher , or return again into France ? + +I perceive by this demand , you are not altogether of his council . + +Let it be forbid , sir ; so should I be a great deal of his act . + +Sir , his wife some two months since fled from his house : her pretence is a pilgrimage to Saint Jaques le Grand ; which holy undertaking with most austere sanctimony she accomplished ; and , there residing , the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief ; in fine , made a groan of her last breath , and now she sings in heaven . + +How is this justified ? + +The stronger part of it by her own letters , which make her story true , even to the point of her death : her death itself , which could not be her office to say is come , was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place . + +Hath the count all this intelligence ? + +Ay , and the particular confirmations , point from point , to the full arming of the verity . + +I am heartily sorry that he'll be glad of this . + +How mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses ! + +And how mightily some other times we drown our gain in tears ! The great dignity that his valour hath here acquired for him shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample . + +The web of our life is of a mingled yarn , good and ill together : our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not ; and our crimes would despair if they were not cherished by our virtues . + +How now ! where's your master ? + +He met the duke in the street , sir , of whom he hath taken a solemn leave : his lordship will next morning for France . The duke hath offered him letters of commendations to the king . + +They shall be no more than needful there , if they were more than they can commend . + +They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness . Here's his lordship now . + +How now , my lord ! is't not after midnight ? + +I have to-night dispatched sixteen businesses , a month's length a-piece , by an abstract of success : I have conge'd with the duke , done my adieu with his nearest , buried a wife , mourned for her , writ to my lady mother I am returning , entertained my convoy ; and between these main parcels of dispatch effected many nicer needs : the last was the greatest , but that I have not ended yet . + +If the business be of any difficulty , and this morning your departure hence , it requires haste of your lordship . + +I mean , the business is not ended , as fearing to hear of it hereafter . But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier ? Come , bring forth this counterfeit model : he has deceived me , like a double-meaning prophesier . + +Bring him forth . + +Has sat i' the stocks all night , poor gallant knave . + +No matter ; his heels have deserved it , in usurping his spurs so long . How does he carry himself ? + +I have told your lordship already , the stocks carry him . But to answer you as you would be understood ; he weeps like a wench that had shed her milk : he hath confessed himself to Morgan ,whom he supposes to be a friar ,from the time of his remembrance to this very instant disaster of his setting i' the stocks : and what think you he hath confessed ? + +Nothing of me , has a' ? + +His confession is taken , and it shall be read to his face : if your lordship be in't , as I believe you are , you must have the patience to hear it . + + +A plague upon him ! muffled ! he can say nothing of me : hush ! hush ! + +Hoodman comes ! Porto tartarossa . + +He calls for the tortures : what will you say without 'em ? + +I will confess what I know without constraint : if ye pinch me like a pasty , I can say no more . + +Bosko chimurcho . + +Boblibindo chicurmurco . + +You are a merciful general . Our general bids you answer to what I shall ask you out of a note . + +And truly , as I hope to live . + +First , demand of him how many horse the duke is strong . What say you to that ? + +Five or six thousand ; but very weak and unserviceable : the troops are all scattered , and the commanders very poor rogues , upon my reputation and credit , and as I hope to live . + +Shall I set down your answer so ? + +Do : I'll take the sacrament on't , how and which way you will . + +All's one to him . What a past-saving slave is this ! + +You are deceived , my lord : this is Monsieur Parolles , the gallant militarist ,that was his own phrase ,that had the whole theorick of war in the knot of his scarf , and the practice in the chape of his dagger . + +I will never trust a man again for keeping his sword clean ; nor believe he can have everything in him by wearing his apparel neatly . + +Well , that's set down . + +Five or six thousand horse , I said ,I will say true ,or thereabouts , set down , for I'll speak truth . + +He's very near the truth in this . + +But I con him no thanks for't , in the nature he delivers it . + +Poor rogues , I pray you , say . + +Well , that's set down . + +I humbly thank you , sir . A truth's a truth ; the rogues are marvellous poor . + +Demand of him , of what strength they are a-foot . What say you to that ? + +By my troth , sir , if I were to live this present hour , I will tell true . Let me see : Spurio , a hundred and fifty ; Sebastian , so many ; Corambus , so many ; Jaques , so many ; Guiltian , Cosmo , Lodowick , and Gratii , two hundred fifty each ; mine own company , Chitopher , Vaumond , Bentii , two hundred fifty each : so that the muster-file , rotten and sound , upon my life , amounts not to fifteen thousand poll ; half of the which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks , lest they shake themselves to pieces . + +What shall be done to him ? + +Nothing , but let him have thanks . Demand of him my condition , and what credit I have with the duke . + +Well , that's set down . You shall demand of him , whether one Captain Dumain be i' the camp , a Frenchman ; what his reputation is with the duke ; what his valour , honesty , and expertness in wars ; or whether he thinks it were not possible , with well-weighing sums of gold , to corrupt him to a revolt . What say you to this ? what do you know of it ? + +I beseech you , let me answer to the particular of the inter'gatories : demand them singly . + +Do you know this Captain Dumain ? + +I know him : a' was a botcher's 'prentice in Paris , from whence he was whipped for getting the shrieve's fool with child ; a dumb innocent , that could not say him nay . + + +Nay , by your leave , hold your hands ; though I know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls . + +Well , is this captain in the Duke of Florence's camp ? + +Upon my knowledge he is , and lousy . + +Nay , look not so upon me ; we shall hear of your lordship anon . + +What is his reputation with the duke ? + +The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine , and writ to me this other day to turn him out o' the band : I think I have his letter in my pocket . + +Marry , we'll search . + +In good sadness , I do not know : either it is there , or it is upon a file with the duke's other letters in my tent . + +Here 'tis ; here's a paper ; shall I read it to you ? + +I do not know if it be it or no . + +Our interpreter does it well . + +Excellently . + +Dian , the count's a fool , and full of gold + +That is not the duke's letter , sir ; that is an advertisement to a proper maid in Florence , one Diana , to take heed of the allurement of one Count Rousillon , a foolish idle boy , but for all that very ruttish . I pray you , sir , put it up again . + +Nay , I'll read it first , by your favour . + +My meaning in't , I protest , was very honest in the behalf of the maid ; for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy , who is a whale to virginity , and devours up all the fry it finds . + +Damnable both-sides rogue ! + +When he swears oaths , bid him drop gold , and take it ; +After he scores , he never pays the score : +Half won is match well made ; match , and well make it ; +He ne'er pays after-debts ; take it before , +And say a soldier , Dian , told thee this , +Men are to mell with , boys are not to kiss ; +For count of this , the count's a fool , I know it , +Who pays before , but not when he does owe it . + +Thine , as he vow'd to thee in thine ear , + +He shall be whipped through the army with this rime in's forehead . + +This is your devoted friend , sir ; the manifold linguist and the armipotent soldier . + +I could endure anything before but a cat , and now he's a cat to me . + +I perceive , sir , by our general's looks , we shall be fain to hang you . + +My life , sir , in any case ! not that I am afraid to die ; but that , my offences being many , I would repent out the remainder of nature . Let me live , sir , in a dungeon , i' the stocks , or anywhere , so I may live . + +We'll see what may be done , so you confess freely : therefore , once more to this Captain Dumain . You have answered to his reputation with the duke and to his valour : what is his honesty ? + +He will steal , sir , an egg out of a cloister ; for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus ; he professes not keeping of oaths ; in breaking 'em he is stronger than Hercules ; he will lie , sir , with such volubility , that you would think truth were a fool ; drunkenness is his best virtue , for he will be swine-drunk , and in his sleep he does little harm , save to his bed-clothes about him ; but they know his conditions , and lay him in straw . I have but little more to say , sir , of his honesty : he has everything that an honest man should not have ; what an honest man should have , he has nothing . + +I begin to love him for this . + +For this description of thine honesty ? A pox upon him for me ! he is more and more a cat . + +What say you to his expertness in war ? + +Faith , sir , he has led the drum before the English tragedians ,to belie him I will not ,and more of his soldiership I know not ; except , in that country , he had the honour to be the officer at a place there called Mile-end , to instruct for the doubling of files : I would do the man what honour I can , but of this I am not certain . + +He hath out-villained villany so far , that the rarity redeems him . + +A pox on him ! he's a cat still . + +His qualities being at this poor price , I need not ask you , if gold will corrupt him to revolt . + +Sir , for a cardecu he will sell the fee-simple of his salvation , the inheritance of it ; and cut the entail from all remainders , and a perpetual succession for it perpetually . + +What's his brother , the other Captain Dumain ? + +Why does he ask him or me ? + +What's he ? + +E'en a crow o' the same nest ; not altogether so great as the first in goodness , but greater a great deal in evil . He excels his brother for a coward , yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is . In a retreat he out-runs any lackey ; marry , in coming on he has the cramp . + +If your life be saved , will you undertake to betray the Florentine ? + +Ay , and the captain of his horse , Count Rousillon . + +I'll whisper with the general , and know his pleasure . + +I'll no more drumming ; a plague of all drums ! Only to seem to deserve well , and to beguile the supposition of that lascivious young boy the count , have I run into this danger . Yet who would have suspected an ambush where I was taken ? + +There is no remedy , sir , but you must die . The general says , you , that have so traitorously discovered the secrets of your army , and made such pestiferous reports of men very nobly held , can serve the world for no honest use ; therefore you must die . Come , headsman , off with his head . + +O Lord , sir , let me live , or let me see my death ! + +That shall you , and take your leave of all your friends . + +So , look about you : know you any here ? + +Good morrow , noble captain . + +God bless you , Captain Parolles . + +God save you , noble captain . + +Captain , what greeting will you to my Lord Lafeu ? I am for France . + +Good captain , will you give me a copy of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the Count Rousillon ? an I were not a very coward I'd compel it of you ; but fare you well . + + +You are undone , captain ; all but your scarf ; that has a knot on't yet . + +Who cannot be crushed with a plot ? + +If you could find out a country where but women were that had received so much shame , you might begin an impudent nation . Fare ye well , sir ; I am for France too : we shall speak of you there . + + +Yet am I thankful : if my heart were great +'Twould burst at this . Captain I'll be no more ; +But I will eat and drink , and sleep as soft +As captain shall : simply the thing I am +Shall make me live . Who knows himself a braggart , +Let him fear this ; for it will come to pass +That every braggart shall be found an ass . +Rust , sword ! cool , blushes ! and Parolles , live +Safest in shame ! being fool'd , by foolery thrive ! +There's place and means for every man alive . +I'll after them . + + +That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you , +One of the greatest in the Christian world +Shall be my surety ; 'fore whose throne 'tis needful , +Ere I can perfect mine intents , to kneel . +Time was I did him a desired office , +Dear almost as his life ; which gratitude +Through flinty Tartar's bosom would peep forth , +And answer , thanks . I duly am inform'd +His Grace is at Marseilles ; to which place +We have convenient convoy . You must know , +I am supposed dead : the army breaking , +My husband hies him home ; where , heaven aiding , +And by the leave of my good lord the king , +We'll be before our welcome . + +Gentle madam , +You never had a servant to whose trust +Your business was more welcome . + +Nor you , mistress , +Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour +To recompense your love . Doubt not but heaven +Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower , +As it hath fated her to be my motive +And helper to a husband . But , O strange men ! +That can such sweet use make of what they hate , +When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts +Defiles the pitchy night : so lust doth play +With what it loathes for that which is away . +But more of this hereafter . You , Diana , +Under my poor instructions yet must suffer +Something in my behalf . + +Let death and honesty +Go with your impositions , I am yours +Upon your will to suffer . + +Yet , I pray you : +But with the word the time will bring on summer , +When briers shall have leaves as well as thorns , +And be as sweet as sharp . We must away ; +Our waggon is prepar'd , and time revives us : +All's well that ends well : still the fine's the crown ; +Whate'er the course , the end is the renown . + + +No , no , no ; your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there , whose villanous saffron would have made all the unbaked and doughy youth of a nation in his colour : your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour , and your son here at home , more advanced by the king than by that red-tailed humble-bee I speak of . + +I would I had not known him ; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman that ever nature had praise for creating . If she had partaken of my flesh , and cost me the dearest groans of a mother , I could not have owed her a more rooted love . + +'Twas a good lady , 'twas a good lady : we may pick a thousand salads ere we light on such another herb . + +Indeed , sir , she was the sweet-marjoram of the salad , or , rather the herb of grace . + +They are not salad-herbs , you knave ; they are nose-herbs . + +I am no great Nebuchadnezzar , sir ; I have not much skill in grass . + +Whether dost thou profess thyself , a knave , or a fool ? + +A fool , sir , at a woman's service , and a knave at a man's . + +Your distinction ? + +I would cozen the man of his wife , and do his service . + +So you were a knave at his service , indeed . + +And I would give his wife my bauble , sir , to do her service . + +I will subscribe for thee , thou art both knave and fool . + +At your service . + +No , no , no . + +Why , sir , if I cannot serve you , I can serve as great a prince as you are . + +Who's that ? a Frenchman ? + +Faith , sir , a' has an English name ; but his phisnomy is more hotter in France than there . + +What prince is that ? + +The black prince , sir ; alias , the prince of darkness ; alias , the devil . + +Hold thee , there's my purse . I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of : serve him still . + +I am a woodland fellow , sir , that always loved a great fire ; and the master I speak of , ever keeps a good fire . But , sure , he is the prince of the world ; let his nobility remain in's court . I am for the house with the narrow gate , which I take to be too little for pomp to enter : some that humble themselves may ; but the many will be too chill and tender , and they'll be for the flowery way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire . + +Go thy ways , I begin to be aweary of thee ; and I tell thee so before , because I would not fall out with thee . Go thy ways : let my horses be well looked to , without any tricks . + +If I put any tricks upon 'em , sir , they shall be jade's tricks , which are their own right by the law of nature . + + +A shrewd knave and an unhappy . + +So he is . My lord that's gone made himself much sport out of him : by his authority he remains here , which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness ; and , indeed , he has no pace , but runs where he will . + +I like him well ; 'tis not amiss . And I was about to tell you , since I heard of the good lady's death , and that my lord your son was upon his return home , I moved the king my master to speak in the behalf of my daughter ; which , in the minority of them both , his majesty , out of a self-gracious remembrance , did first propose . His highness hath promised me to do it ; and to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against your son , there is no fitter matter . How does your ladyship like it ? + +With very much content , my lord ; and I wish it happily effected . + +His highness comes post from Marseilles , of as able body as when he numbered thirty : he will be here to-morrow , or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed . + +It rejoices me that I hope I shall see him ere I die . I have letters that my son will be here to-night : I shall beseech your lordship to remain with me till they meet together . + +Madam , I was thinking with what manners I might safely be admitted . + +You need but plead your honourable privilege . + +Lady , of that I have made a bold charter ; but I thank my God it holds yet . + + +O madam ! yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on's face : whether there be a scar under it or no , the velvet knows ; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet . His left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half , but his right cheek is worn bare . + +A scar nobly got , or a noble scar , is a good livery of honour ; so belike is that . + +But it is your carbonadoed face . + +Let us go see your son , I pray you : I long to talk with the young noble soldier . + +Faith , there's a dozen of 'em , with delicate fine hats and most courteous feathers , which bow the head and nod at every man . + +But this exceeding posting , day and night , +Must wear your spirits low ; we cannot help it : +But since you have made the days and nights as one , +To wear your gentle limbs in my affairs , +Be bold you do so grow in my requital +As nothing can unroot you . In happy time ; + + +This man may help me to his majesty's ear , + +If he would spend his power . God save you , sir . + +And you . + +Sir , I have seen you in the court of France . + +I have been sometimes there . + +I do presume , sir , that you are not fallen +From the report that goes upon your goodness ; +And therefore , goaded with most sharp occasions , +Which lay nice manners by , I put you to +The use of your own virtues , for the which +I shall continue thankful . + +What's your will ? + +That it will please you +To give this poor petition to the king , +And aid me with that store of power you have +To come into his presence . + +The king's not here . + +Not here , sir ! + +Not , indeed : +He hence remov'd last night , and with more haste +Than is his use . + +Lord , how we lose our pains ! + +All's well that ends well yet , +Though time seems so adverse and means unfit . +I do beseech you , whither is he gone ? + +Marry , as I take it , to Rousillon ; +Whither I am going . + +I do beseech you , sir , +Since you are like to see the king before me , +Commend the paper to his gracious hand ; +Which I presume shall render you no blame +But rather make you thank your pains for it . +I will come after you with what good speed +Our means will make us means . + +This I'll do for you . + +And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd , +Whate'er falls more . We must to horse again : +Go , go , provide . + + +Good Monsieur Lavache , give my Lord Lafeu this letter . I have ere now , sir , been better known to you , when I have held familiarity with fresher clothes ; but I am now , sir , muddied in Fortune's mood , and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure . + +Truly , Fortune's displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so strongly as thou speakest of : I will henceforth eat no fish of Fortune's buttering . Prithee , allow the wind . + +Nay , you need not to stop your nose , sir : I spake but by a metaphor . + +Indeed , sir , if your metaphor stink , I will stop my nose ; or against any man's metaphor . Prithee , get thee further . + +Pray you , sir , deliver me this paper . + +Foh ! prithee , stand away : a paper from Fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman ! Look , here he comes himself . + + +Here is a purr of Fortune's , sir , or of Fortune's cat but not a musk-cat that has fallen into the unclean fishpond of her displeasure , and , as he says , is muddied withal . Pray you , sir , use the carp as you may , for he looks like a poor , decayed , ingenious , foolish , rascally knave . I do pity his distress in my similes of comfort , and leave him to your lordship . + +My lord , I am a man whom Fortune hath cruelly scratched . + +And what would you have me to do ? 'tis too late to pare her nails now . Wherein have you played the knave with Fortune that she should scratch you , who of herself is a good lady , and would not have knaves thrive long under her ? There's a cardecu for you . Let the justices make you and Fortune friends ; I am for other business . + +I beseech your honour to hear me one single word . + +You beg a single penny more : come , you shall ha't ; save your word . + +My name , my good lord , is Parolles . + +You beg more than one word then . Cox my passion ! give me your hand . How does your drum ? + +O , my good lord ! you were the first that found me . + +Was I , in sooth ? and I was the first that lost thee . + +It lies in you , my lord , to bring me in some grace , for you did bring me out . + +Out upon thee , knave ! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil ? one brings thee in grace and the other brings thee out . + +The king's coming ; I know by his trumpets . Sirrah , inquire further after me ; I had talk of you last night : though you are a fool and a knave , you shall eat : go to , follow . + +I praise God for you . + + +We lost a jewel of her , and our esteem +Was made much poorer by it : but your son , +As mad in folly , lack'd the sense to know +Her estimation home . + +'Tis past , my liege ; +And I beseech your majesty to make it +Natural rebellion , done i' the blaze of youth ; +When oil and fire , too strong for reason's force , +O'erbears it and burns on . + +My honour'd lady , +I have forgiven and forgotten all , +Though my revenges were high bent upon him , +And watch'd the time to shoot . + +This I must say , +But first I beg my pardon ,the young lord +Did to his majesty , his mother , and his lady , +Offence of mighty note , but to himself +The greatest wrong of all : he lost a wife +Whose beauty did astonish the survey +Of richest eyes , whose words all ears took captive , +Whose dear perfection hearts that scorn'd to serve +Humbly call'd mistress . + +Praising what is lost +Makes the remembrance dear . Well , call him hither ; +We are reconcil'd , and the first view shall kill +All repetition . Let him not ask our pardon : +The nature of his great offence is dead , +And deeper than oblivion we do bury +The incensing relics of it : let him approach , +A stranger , no offender ; and inform him +So 'tis our will he should . + +I shall , my liege . + + +What says he to your daughter ? have you spoke ? + +All that he is hath reference to your highness . + +Then shall we have a match . I have letters sent me , +That set him high in fame . + + +He looks well on't . + +I am not a day of season , +For thou mayst see a sunshine and a hail +In me at once ; but to the brightest beams +Distracted clouds give way : so stand thou forth ; +The time is fair again . + +My high-repented blames , +Dear sovereign , pardon to me . + +All is whole ; +Not one word more of the consumed time . +Let's take the instant by the forward top , +For we are old , and on our quick'st decrees +The inaudible and noiseless foot of time +Steals ere we can effect them . You remember +The daughter of this lord ? + +Admiringly , my liege : +At first I stuck my choice upon her , ere my heart +Durst make too bold a herald of my tongue , +Where the impression of mine eye infixing , +Contempt his scornful perspective did lend me , +Which warp'd the line of every other favour ; +Scorn'd a fair colour , or express'd it stolen ; +Extended or contracted all proportions +To a most hideous object : thence it came +That she , whom all men prais'd , and whom myself , +Since I have lost , have lov'd , was in mine eye +The dust that did offend it . + +Well excus'd : +That thou didst love her , strikes some scores away +From the great compt . But love that comes too late , +Like a remorseful pardon slowly carried , +To the great sender turns a sour offence , +Crying , 'That's good that's gone .' Our rasher faults +Make trivial price of serious things we have , +Not knowing them until we know their grave : +Oft our displeasures , to ourselves unjust , +Destroy our friends and after weep their dust : +Our own love waking cries to see what's done , +While shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon . +Be this sweet Helen's knell , and now forget her . +Send forth your amorous token for fair Maudlin : +The main consents are had ; and here we'll stay +To see our widower's second marriage-day . + +Which better than the first , O dear heaven , bless ! +Or , ere they meet , in me , O nature , cesse ! + +Come on , my son , in whom my house's name +Must be digested , give a favour from you +To sparkle in the spirits of my daughter , +That she may quickly come . + +And every hair that's on't , Helen , that's dead , +Was a sweet creature ; such a ring as this , +The last that e'er I took her leave at court , +I saw upon her finger . + +Hers it was not . + +Now , pray you , let me see it ; for mine eye , +While I was speaking , oft was fasten'd to't . +This ring was mine ; and , when I gave it Helen , +I bade her , if her fortunes ever stood +Necessitied to help , that by this token +I would relieve her . Had you that craft to reave her +Of what should stead her most ? + +My gracious sovereign , +Howe'er it pleases you to take it so , +The ring was never hers . + +Son , on my life , +I have seen her wear it ; and she reckon'd it +At her life's rate . + +I am sure I saw her wear it . + +You are deceiv'd , my lord , she never saw it : +In Florence was it from a casement thrown me , +Wrapp'd in a paper , which contain'd the name +Of her that threw it . Noble she was , and thought +I stood engag'd : but when I had subscrib'd +To mine own fortune , and inform'd her fully +I could not answer in that course of honour +As she had made the overture , she ceas'd , +In heavy satisfaction , and would never +Receive the ring again . + +Plutus himself , +That knows the tinct and multiplying medicine , +Hath not in nature's mystery more science +Than I have in this ring : 'twas mine , 'twas Helen's , +Whoever gave it you . Then , if you know +That you are well acquainted with yourself , +Confess 'twas hers , and by what rough enforcement +You got it from her . She call'd the saints to surety , +That she would never put it from her finger +Unless she gave it to yourself in bed , +Where you have never come , or sent it us +Upon her great disaster . + +She never saw it . + +Thou speak'st it falsely , as I love mine honour ; +And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me +Which I would fain shut out . If it should prove +That thou art so inhuman ,'twill not prove so ; +And yet I know not : thou didst hate her deadly , +And she is dead ; which nothing , but to close +Her eyes myself , could win me to believe , +More than to see this ring . Take him away . + +My fore-past proofs , howe'er the matter fall , +Shall tax my fears of little vanity , +Having vainly fear'd too little . Away with him ! +We'll sift this matter further . + +If you shall prove +This ring was ever hers , you shall as easy +Prove that I husbanded her bed in Florence , +Where yet she never was . + + +I am wrapp'd in dismal thinkings . + + +Gracious sovereign , +Whether I have been to blame or no , I know not : +Here's a petition from a Florentine , +Who hath , for four or five removes come short +To tender it herself . I undertook it , +Vanquish'd thereto by the fair grace and speech +Of the poor suppliant , who by this I know +Is here attending : her business looks in her +With an importing visage , and she told me , +In a sweet verbal brief , it did concern +Your highness with herself . + +"Upon his many protestations to marry me when his wife was dead , I blush to say it , he won me . Now is the Count Rousillon a widower : his vows are forfeited to me , and my honour's paid to him . He stole from Florence , taking no leave , and I follow him to his country for justice . Grant it me , O king ! in you it best lies ; otherwise a seducer flourishes , and a poor maid is undone . DIANA CAPILET ." + +I will buy me a son-in-law in a fair , and toll for this : I'll none of him . + +The heavens have thought well on thee , Lafeu , +To bring forth this discovery . Seek these suitors : +Go speedily and bring again the count . + +I am afeard the life of Helen , lady , +Was foully snatch'd . + +Now , justice on the doers ! + + +I wonder , sir , sith wives are monsters to you , +And that you fly them as you swear them lordship , +Yet you desire to marry . + +What woman's that ? + +I am , my lord , a wretched Florentine , +Derived from the ancient Capilet : +My suit , as I do understand , you know , +And therefore know how far I may be pitied . + +I am her mother , sir , whose age and honour +Both suffer under this complaint we bring , +And both shall cease , without your remedy . + +Come hither , county ; do you know these women ? + +My lord , I neither can nor will deny +But that I know them : do they charge me further ? + +Why do you look so strange upon your wife ? + +She's none of mine , my lord . + +If you shall marry , +You give away this hand , and that is mine ; +You give away heaven's vows , and those are mine ; +You give away myself , which is known mine ; +For I by vow am so embodied yours +That she which marries you must marry me ; +Either both or none . + +Your reputation comes too short for my daughter : you are no husband for her . + +My lord , this is a fond and desperate creature , +Whom sometime I have laugh'd with : let your highness +Lay a more noble thought upon mine honour +Than for to think that I would sink it here . + +Sir , for my thoughts , you have them ill to friend , +Till your deeds gain them : fairer prove your honour , +Than in my thought it lies . + +Good my lord , +Ask him upon his oath , if he does think +He had not my virginity . + +What sayst thou to her ? + +She's impudent , my lord ; +And was a common gamester to the camp . + +He does me wrong , my lord ; if I were so , +He might have bought me at a common price : +Do not believe him . O ! behold this ring , +Whose high respect and rich validity +Did lack a parallel ; yet for all that +He gave it to a commoner o' the camp , +If I be one . + +He blushes , and 'tis it : +Of six preceding ancestors , that gem +Conferr'd by testament to the sequent issue , +Hath it been ow'd and worn . This is his wife : +That ring's a thousand proofs . + +Methought you said +You saw one here in court could witness it . + +I did , my lord , but loath am to produce +So bad an instrument : his name's Parolles . + +I saw the man to-day , if man he be . + +Find him , and bring him hither . + + +What of him ? +He's quoted for a most perfidious slave , +With all the spots of the world tax'd and debosh'd , +Whose nature sickens but to speak a truth . +Am I or that or this for what he'll utter , +That will speak anything ? + +She hath that ring of yours . + +I think she has : certain it is I lik'd her , +And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth . +She knew her distance and did angle for me , +Madding my eagerness with her restraint , +As all impediments in fancy's course +Are motives of more fancy ; and , in fine , +Her infinite cunning , with her modern grace , +Subdued me to her rate ; she got the ring , +And I had that which any inferior might +At market-price have bought . + +I must be patient ; +You , that have turn'd off a first so noble wife , +May justly diet me . I pray you yet , +Since you lack virtue I will lose a husband , +Send for your ring ; I will return it home , +And give me mine again . + +I have it not . + +What ring was yours , I pray you ? + +Sir , much like +The same upon your finger . + +Know you this ring ? this ring was his of late . + +And this was it I gave him , being a-bed . + +The story then goes false you threw it him +Out of a casement . + +I have spoke the truth . + + +My lord , I do confess the ring was hers . + +You boggle shrewdly , every feather starts you . +Is this the man you speak of ? + +Ay , my lord . + +Tell me , sirrah , but tell me true , I charge you , +Not fearing the displeasure of your master , +Which , on your just proceeding I'll keep off , +By him and by this woman here what know you ? + +So please your majesty , my master hath been an honourable gentleman : tricks he hath had in him , which gentlemen have . + +Come , come , to the purpose : did he love this woman ? + +Faith , sir , he did love her ; but how ? + +How , I pray you ? + +He did love her , sir , as a gentleman loves a woman . + +How is that ? + +He loved her , sir , and loved her not . + +As thou art a knave , and no knave . +What an equivocal companion is this ! + +I am a poor man , and at your majesty's command . + +He is a good drum , my lord , but a naughty orator . + +Do you know he promised me marriage ? + +Faith , I know more than I'll speak . + +But wilt thou not speak all thou knowest ? + +Yes , so please your majesty . I did go between them , as I said ; but more than that , he loved her , for , indeed , he was mad for her , and talked of Satan , and of limbo , and of Furies , and I know not what : yet I was in that credit with them at that time , that I knew of their going to bed , and of other motions , as promising her marriage , and things which would derive me ill will to speak of : therefore I will not speak what I know . + +Thou hast spoken all already , unless thou canst say they are married : but thou art too fine in thy evidence ; therefore stand aside . This ring , you say , was yours ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +Where did you buy it ? or who gave it you ? + +It was not given me , nor I did not buy it . + +Who lent it you ? + +It was not lent me neither . + +Where did you find it , then ? + +I found it not . + +If it were yours by none of all these ways , +How could you give it him ? + +I never gave it him . + +This woman's an easy glove , my lord : she goes off and on at pleasure . + +This ring was mine : I gave it his first wife . + +It might be yours or hers , for aught I know . + +Take her away ; I do not like her now . +To prison with her ; and away with him . +Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring +Thou diest within this hour . + +I'll never tell you . + +Take her away . + +I'll put in bail , my liege . + +I think thee now some common customer . + +By Jove , if ever I knew man , 'twas you . + +Wherefore hast thou accus'd him all this while ? + +Because he's guilty , and he is not guilty . +He knows I am no maid , and he'll swear to't ; +I'll swear I am a maid , and he knows not . +Great king , I am no strumpet , by my life ; +I am either maid , or else this old man's wife . + + +She does abuse our ears : to prison with her ! + +Good mother , fetch my bail . + +Stay , royal sir ; +The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for , +And he shall surety me . But for this lord , +Who hath abus'd me , as he knows himself , +Though yet he never harm'd me , here I quit him : +He knows himself my bed he hath defil'd , +And at that time he got his wife with child : +Dead though she be , she feels her young one kick : +So there's my riddle : one that's dead is quick ; +And now behold the meaning . + + +Is there no exorcist +Beguiles the truer office of mine eyes ? +Is't real that I see ? + +No , my good lord ; +'Tis but the shadow of a wife you see ; +The name and not the thing . + +Both , both . O ! pardon . + +O my good lord ! when I was like this maid , +I found you wondrous kind . There is your ring ; +And , look you , here's your letter ; this it says : +When from my finger you can get this ring , +And are by me with child , &c . This is done : +Will you be mine , now you are doubly won ? + +If she , my liege , can make me know this clearly , +I'll love her dearly , ever , ever dearly . + +If it appear not plain , and prove untrue , +Deadly divorce step between me and you ! +O ! my dear mother ; do I see you living ? + +Mine eyes smell onions ; I shall weep anon . + +Good Tom Drum , lend me a handkercher : so , I thank thee . Wait on me home , I'll make sport with thee : let thy curtsies alone , they are scurvy ones . + +Let us from point to point this story know , +To make the even truth in pleasure flow . + + +If thou be'st yet a fresh uncropped flower , +Choose thou thy husband , and I'll pay thy dower ; +For I can guess that by thy honest aid +Thou keptst a wife herself , thyself a maid . +Of that , and all the progress , more and less , +Resolvedly more leisure shall express : +All yet seems well ; and if it end so meet , +The bitter past , more welcome is the sweet . + +Spoken by the The king's a beggar , now the play is done : +All is well ended if this suit be won +That you express content ; which we will pay , +With strife to please you , day exceeding day : +Ours be your patience then , and yours our parts ; +Your gentle hands lend us , and take our hearts . + +AS YOU LIKE IT + +As I remember , Adam , it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns , and , as thou sayest , charged my brother on his blessing , to breed me well : and there begins my sadness . My brother Jaques he keeps at school , and report speaks goldenly of his profit : for my part , he keeps me rustically at home , or , to speak more properly , stays me here at home unkept ; for call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth , that differs not from the stalling of an ox ? His horses are bred better ; for , besides that they are fair with their feeding , they are taught their manage , and to that end riders dearly hired : but I , his brother , gain nothing under him but growth , for the which his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to him as I . Besides this nothing that he so plentifully gives me , the something that nature gave me , his countenance seems to take from me : he lets me feed with his hinds , bars me the place of a brother , and , as much as in him lies , mines my gentility with my education . This is it , Adam , that grieves me ; and the spirit of my father , which I think is within me , begins to mutiny against this servitude . I will no longer endure it , though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it . + +Yonder comes my master , your brother . + +Go apart , Adam , and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up . + + +Now , sir ! what make you here ? + +Nothing : I am not taught to make anything . + +What mar you then , sir ? + +Marry , sir , I am helping you to mar that which God made , a poor unworthy brother of yours , with idleness . + +Marry , sir , be better employed , and be naught awhile . + +Shall I keep your hogs , and eat husks with them ? What prodigal portion have I spent , that I should come to such penury ? + +Know you where you are , sir ? + +O ! sir , very well : here in your orchard . + +Know you before whom , sir ? + +Ay , better than he I am before knows me . I know you are my eldest brother ; and , in the gentle condition of blood , you should so know me . The courtesy of nations allows you my better , in that you are the first-born ; but the same tradition takes not away my blood , were there twenty brothers betwixt us . I have as much of my father in me as you ; albeit , I confess , your coming before me is nearer to his reverence . + +What , boy ! + +Come , come , elder brother , you are too young in this . + +Wilt thou lay hands on me , villain ? + +I am no villain ; I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys ; he was my father , and he is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains . Wert thou not my brother , I would not take this hand from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy tongue for saying so : thou hast railed on thyself . + +Sweet masters , be patient : for your father's remembrance , be at accord . + +Let me go , I say . + +I will not , till I please : you shall hear me . My father charged you in his will to give me good education : you have trained me like a peasant , obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities . The spirit of my father grows strong in me , and I will no longer endure it ; therefore allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman , or give me the poor allottery my father left me by testament ; with that I will go buy my fortunes . + +And what wilt thou do ? beg , when that is spent ? Well , sir , get you in : I will not long be troubled with you ; you shall have some part of your will : I pray you , leave me . + +I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good . + +Get you with him , you old dog . + +Is 'old dog' my reward ? Most true , I have lost my teeth in your service . God be with my old master ! he would not have spoke such a word . + + +Is it even so ? begin you to grow upon me ? I will physic your rankness , and yet give no thousand crowns neither . Holla , Dennis ! + + +Calls your worship ? + +Was not Charles the duke's wrestler here to speak with me ? + +So please you , he is here at the door , and importunes access to you . + +Call him in . + +'Twill be a good way ; and to-morrow the wrestling is . + + +Good morrow to your worship . + +Good Monsieur Charles , what's the new news at the new court ? + +There's no news at the court , sir , but the old news : that is , the old duke is banished by his younger brother the new duke ; and three or four loving lords have put themselves into voluntary exile with him , whose lands and revenues enrich the new duke ; therefore he gives them good leave to wander . + +Can you tell if Rosalind , the duke's daughter , be banished with her father ? + +O , no ; for the duke's daughter , her cousin , so loves her ,being ever from their cradles bred together ,that she would have followed her exile , or have died to stay behind her . She is at the court , and no less beloved of her uncle than his own daughter ; and never two ladies loved as they do . + +Where will the old duke live ? + +They say he is already in the forest of Arden , and a many merry men with him ; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England . They say many young gentlemen flock to him every day , and fleet the time carelessly , as they did in the golden world . + +What , you wrestle to-morrow before the new duke ? + +Marry , do I , sir ; and I came to acquaint you with a matter . I am given , sir , secretly to understand that your younger brother Orlando hath a disposition to come in disguised against me to try a fall . To-morrow , sir , I wrestle for my credit , and he that escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him well . Your brother is but young and tender ; and , for your love , I would be loath to foil him as I must , for my own honour , if he come in : therefore , out of my love to you , I came hither to acquaint you withal , that either you might stay him from his intendment , or brook such disgrace well as he shall run into , in that it is a thing of his own search and altogether against my will . + +Charles , I thank thee for thy love to me , which thou shalt find I will most kindly requite . I had myself notice of my brother's purpose herein , and have by underhand means laboured to dissuade him from it , but he is resolute . I'll tell thee , Charles , it is the stubbornest young fellow of France ; full of ambition , an envious emulator of every man's good parts , a secret and villanous contriver against me his natural brother : therefore use thy discretion . I had as lief thou didst break his neck as his finger . And thou wert best look to't ; for if thou dost him any slight disgrace , or if he do not mightily grace himself on thee , he will practise against thee by poison , entrap thee by some treacherous device , and never leave thee till he hath ta'en thy life by some indirect means or other ; for , I assure thee ,and almost with tears I speak it ,there is not one so young and so villanous this day living . I speak but brotherly of him ; but should I anatomize him to thee as he is , I must blush and weep , and thou must look pale and wonder . + +I am heartily glad I came hither to you . If he come to-morrow , I'll give him his payment : if ever he go alone again , I'll never wrestle for prize more ; and so God keep your worship ! + + +Farewell , good Charles . Now will I stir this gamester . I hope I shall see an end of him ; for my soul , yet I know not why , hates nothing more than he . Yet he's gentle , never schooled and yet learned , full of noble device , of all sorts enchantingly beloved , and , indeed so much in the heart of the world , and especially of my own people , who best know him , that I am altogether misprised . But it shall not be so long ; this wrestler shall clear all : nothing remains but that I kindle the boy thither , which now I'll go about . + +I pray thee , Rosalind , sweet my coz , be merry . + +Dear Celia , I show more mirth than I am mistress of , and would you yet I were merrier ? Unless you could teach me to forget a banished father , you must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure . + +Herein I see thou lovest me not with the full weight that I love thee . If my uncle , thy banished father , had banished thy uncle , the duke my father , so thou hadst been still with me , I could have taught my love to take thy father for mine : so wouldst thou , if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously tempered as mine is to thee . + +Well , I will forget the condition of my estate , to rejoice in yours . + +You know my father hath no child but I , nor none is like to have ; and , truly , when he dies , thou shalt be his heir : for what he hath taken away from thy father perforce , I will render thee again in affection ; by mine honour , I will ; and when I break that oath , let me turn monster . Therefore , my sweet Rose , my dear Rose , be merry . + +From henceforth I will , coz , and devise sports . Let me see ; what think you of falling in love ? + +Marry , I prithee , do , to make sport withal : but love no man in good earnest ; nor no further in sport neither , than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst in honour come off again . + +What shall be our sport then ? + +Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from her wheel , that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally . + +I would we could do so , for her benefits are mightily misplaced , and the bountiful blind woman doth most mistake in her gifts to women . + +'Tis true ; for those that she makes fair she scarce makes honest , and those that she makes honest she makes very ill-favouredly . + +Nay , now thou goest from Fortune's office to Nature's : Fortune reigns in gifts of the world , not in the lineaments of Nature . + + +No ? when Nature hath made a fair creature , may she not by Fortune fall into the fire ? Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune , hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument ? + +Indeed , there is Fortune too hard for Nature , when Fortune makes Nature's natural the cutter-off of Nature's wit . + +Peradventure this is not Fortune's work neither , but Nature's ; who , perceiving our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses , hath sent this natural for our whetstone : for always the dulness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits . How now , wit ! whither wander you ? + +Mistress , you must come away to your father . + +Were you made the messenger ? + +No , by mine honour ; but I was bid to come for you . + +Where learned you that oath , fool ? + +Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes , and swore by his honour the mustard was naught : now , I'll stand to it , the pancakes were naught and the mustard was good , and yet was not the knight forsworn . + +How prove you that , in the great heap of your knowledge ? + +Ay , marry : now unmuzzle your wisdom . + +Stand you both forth now : stroke your chins , and swear by your beards that I am a knave . + +By our beards , if we had them , thou art . + +By my knavery , if I had it , then I were ; but if you swear by that that is not , you are not forsworn : no more was this knight , swearing by his honour , for he never had any ; or if he had , he had sworn it away before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard . + +Prithee , who is't that thou meanest ? + +One that old Frederick , your father , loves . + +My father's love is enough to honour him . Enough ! speak no more of him ; you'll be whipped for taxation one of these days . + +The more pity , that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly . + +By my troth , thou sayest true ; for since the little wit that fools have was silenced , the little foolery that wise men have makes a great show . Here comes Monsieur Le Beau . + +With his mouth full of news . + +Which he will put on us , as pigeons feed their young . + +Then we shall be news-cramm'd . + +All the better ; we shall be more marketable . + +Bon jour , Monsieur Le Beau : what's the news ? + +Fair princess , you have lost much good sport . + +Sport ! Of what colour ? + +What colour , madam ! How shall +I answer you ? + +As wit and fortune will . + +Or as the Destinies decree . + +Well said : that was laid on with a trowel . + +Nay , if I keep not my rank , + +Thou losest thy old smell . + +You amaze me , ladies : I would have told you of good wrestling , which you have lost the sight of . + +Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling . + +I will tell you the beginning ; and , if it please your ladyships , you may see the end , for the best is yet to do ; and here , where you are , they are coming to perform it . + +Well , the beginning , that is dead and buried . + +There comes an old man and his three sons , + +I could match this beginning with an old tale . + +Three proper young men , of excellent growth and presence ; + +With bills on their necks , 'Be it known unto all men by these presents .' + +The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles , the duke's wrestler ; which Charles in a moment threw him and broke three of his ribs , that there is little hope of life in him : so he served the second , and so the third . Yonder they lie ; the poor old man , their father , making such pitiful dole over them that all the beholders take his part with weeping . + +Alas ! + +But what is the sport , monsieur , that the ladies have lost ? + +Why , this that I speak of . + +Thus men may grow wiser every day : it is the first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies . + +Or I , I promise thee . + +But is there any else longs to feel this broken music in his sides ? is there yet another dotes upon rib-breaking ? Shall we see this wrestling , cousin ? + +You must , if you stay here ; for here is the place appointed for the wrestling , and they are ready to perform it . + +Yonder , sure , they are coming : let us now stay and see it . + + +Come on : since the youth will not be entreated , his own peril on his forwardness . + +Is yonder the man ? + +Even he , madam . + +Alas ! he is too young : yet he looks successfully . + +How now , daughter and cousin ! are you crept hither to see the wrestling ? + +Ay , my liege , so please you give us leave . + +You will take little delight in it , I can tell you , there is such odds in the man : in pity of the challenger's youth I would fam dissuade him , but he will not be entreated . Speak to him , ladies ; see if you can move him . + +Call him hither , good Monsieur le Beau . + +Do so : I'll not be by . + + +Monsieur the challenger , the princes call for you . + +I attend them with all respect and duty . + +Young man , have you challenged Charles the wrestler ? + +No , fair princess ; he is the general challenger : I come but in , as others do , to try with him the strength of my youth . + +Young gentleman , your spirits are too bold for your years . You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength : if you saw yourself with your eyes or knew yourself with your judgment , the fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise . We pray you , for your own sake , to embrace your own safety and give over this attempt . + +Do , young sir : your reputation shall not therefore be misprised . We will make it our suit to the duke that the wrestling might not go forward . + +I beseech you , punish me not with your hard thoughts , wherein I confess me much guilty , to deny so fair and excellent ladies anything . But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial : wherein if I be foiled , there is but one shamed that was never gracious ; if killed , but one dead that is willing to be so . I shall do my friends no wrong , for I have none to lament me ; the world no injury , for in it I have nothing ; only in the world I fill up a place , which may be better supplied when I have made it empty . + +The little strength that I have , I would it were with you . + +And mine , to eke out hers . + +Fare you well . Pray heaven I be deceived in you ! + +Your heart's desires be with you ! + +Come , where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth ? + +Ready , sir ; but his will hath in it a more modest working . + +You shall try but one fall . + +No , I warrant your Grace , you shall not entreat him to a second , that have so mightily persuaded him from a first . + +You mean to mock me after ; you should not have mocked me before : but come your ways . + +Now Hercules be thy speed , young man ! + +I would I were invisible , to catch the strong fellow by the leg . + + +O excellent young man ! + +If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye , I can tell who should down . + + +No more , no more . + +Yes , I beseech your Grace : I am not yet well breathed . + +How dost thou , Charles ? + +He cannot speak , my lord . + +Bear him away . What is thy name , young man ? + + +Orlando , my liege ; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys . + +I would thou hadst been son to some man else : +The world esteem'd thy father honourable , +But I did find him still mine enemy : +Thou shouldst have better pleas'd me with this deed , +Hadst thou descended from another house . +But fare thee well ; thou art a gallant youth : +I would thou hadst told me of another father . + + +Were I my father , coz , would I do this ? + +I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son , +His youngest son ; and would not change that calling , +To be adopted heir to Frederick . + +My father lov'd Sir Rowland as his soul , +And all the world was of my father's mind : +Had I before known this young man his son , +I should have given him tears unto entreaties , +Ere he should thus have ventur'd . + +Gentle cousin , +Let us go thank him and encourage him : +My father's rough and envious disposition +Sticks me at heart . Sir , you have well deserv'd : +If you do keep your promises in love +But justly , as you have exceeded all promise , +Your mistress shall be happy . + +Gentleman , + +Wear this for me , one out of suits with fortune , +That could give more , but that her hand lacks means . +Shall we go , coz ? + +Ay . Fare you well , fair gentleman . + +Can I not say , I thank you ? My better parts +Are all thrown down , and that which here stands up +Is but a quintain , a mere lifeless block . + +He calls us back : my pride fell with my fortunes ; +I'll ask him what he would . Did you call , sir ? +Sir , you have wrestled well , and overthrown +More than your enemies . + +Will you go , coz ? + +Have with you . Fare you well . + + +What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue ? +I cannot speak to her , yet she urg'd conference . +O poor Orlando , thou art overthrown ! +Or Charles or something weaker masters thee . + + +Good sir , I do in friendship counsel you +To leave this place . Albeit you have deserv'd +High commendation , true applause and love , +Yet such is now the duke's condition +That he misconstrues all that you have done . +The duke is humorous : what he is indeed , +More suits you to conceive than I to speak of . + +I thank you , sir ; and pray you , tell me this ; +Which of the two was daughter of the duke , +That here was at the wrestling ? + +Neither his daughter , if we judge by manners : +But yet , indeed the smaller is his daughter : +The other is daughter to the banish'd duke , +And here detain'd by her usurping uncle , +To keep his daughter company ; whose loves +Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters . +But I can tell you that of late this duke +Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece , +Grounded upon no other argument +But that the people praise her for her virtues , +And pity her for her good father's sake ; +And , on my life , his malice 'gainst the lady +Will suddenly break forth . Sir , fare you well : +Hereafter , in a better world than this , +I shall desire more love and knowledge of you . + +I rest much bounden to you : fare you well . + +Thus must I from the smoke into the smother ; +From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother . +But heavenly Rosalind ! + + +Why , cousin ! why , Rosalind ! Cupid have mercy ! Not a word ? + +Not one to throw at a dog . + +No , thy words are too precious to be cast away upon curs ; throw some of them at me ; come , lame me with reasons . + +Then there were two cousins laid up ; when the one should be lamed with reasons and the other mad without any . + +But is all this for your father ? + +No , some of it is for my child's father : +O , how full of briers is this working-day world ! + +They are but burrs , cousin , thrown upon thee in holiday foolery : if we walk not in the trodden paths , our very petticoats will catch them . + +I could shake them off my coat : these burrs are in my heart . + +Hem them away . + +I would try , if I could cry 'hem ,' and have him . + +Come , come ; wrestle with thy affections . + +O ! they take the part of a better wrestler than myself ! + +O , a good wish upon you ! you will try in time , in despite of a fall . But , turning these jests out of service , let us talk in good earnest : is it possible , on such a sudden , you should fall into so strong a liking with old Sir Rowland's youngest son ? + +The duke my father loved his father dearly . + +Doth it therefore ensue that you should love his son dearly ? By this kind of chase , I should hate him , for my father hated his father dearly ; yet I hate not Orlando . + +No , faith , hate him not , for my sake . + +Why should I not ? doth he not deserve well ? + +Let me love him for that ; and do you love him , because I do . Look , here comes the duke . + +With his eyes full of anger . + + +Mistress , dispatch you with your safest haste , +And get you from our court . + +Me , uncle ? + +You , cousin : +Within these ten days if that thou be'st found +So near our public court as twenty miles , +Thou diest for it . + +I do beseech your Grace , +Let me the knowledge of my fault bear with me . +If with myself I hold intelligence , +Or have acquaintance with mine own desires , +If that I do not dream or be not frantic , +As I do trust I am not ,then , dear uncle , +Never so much as in a thought unborn +Did I offend your highness . + +Thus do all traitors : +If their purgation did consist in words , +They are as innocent as grace itself : +Let it suffice thee that I trust thee not . + +Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor : +Tell me whereon the likelihood depends . + +Thou art thy father's daughter ; there's enough . + +So was I when your highness took his dukedom ; +So was I when your highness banish'd him . +Treason is not inherited , my lord ; +Or , if we did derive it from our friends , +What's that to me ? my father was no traitor : +Then , good my liege , mistake me not so much +To think my poverty is treacherous . + +Dear sovereign , hear me speak . + +Ay , Celia ; we stay'd her for your sake ; +Else had she with her father rang'd along . + +I did not then entreat to have her stay : +It was your pleasure and your own remorse . +I was too young that time to value her ; +But now I know her : if she be a traitor , +Why so am I ; we still have slept together , +Rose at an instant , learn'd , play'd , eat together ; +And wheresoe'er we went , like Juno's swans , +Still we went coupled and inseparable . + +She is too subtle for thee ; and her smoothness , +Her very silence and her patience , +Speak to the people , and they pity her . +Thou art a fool : she robs thee of thy name ; +And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous +When she is gone . Then open not thy lips : +Firm and irrevocable is my doom +Which I have pass'd upon her ; she is banish'd . + +Pronounce that sentence then , on me , my liege : +I cannot live out of her company . + +You are a fool . You , niece , provide yourself : +If you outstay the time , upon mine honour , +And in the greatness of my word , you die . + + +O my poor Rosalind ! whither wilt thou go ? +Wilt thou change fathers ? I will give thee mine . +I charge thee , be not thou more griev'd than I am . + +I have more cause . + +Thou hast not , cousin ; +Prithee , be cheerful ; know'st thou not , the duke +Hath banish'd me , his daughter ? + +That he hath not . + +No , hath not ? Rosalind lacks then the love +Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one : +Shall we be sunder'd ? shall we part , sweet girl ? +No : let my father seek another heir . +Therefore devise with me how we may fly , +Whither to go , and what to bear with us : +And do not seek to take your change upon you , +To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out ; +For , by this heaven , now at our sorrows pale , +Say what thou canst , I'll go along with thee . + +Why , whither shall we go ? + +To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden . + +Alas , what danger will it be to us , +Maids as we are , to travel forth so far ! +Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold . + +I'll put myself in poor and mean attire , +And with a kind of umber smirch my face ; +The like do you : so shall we pass along +And never stir assailants . + +Were it not better , +Because that I am more than common tall , +That I did suit me all points like a man ? +A gallant curtle-axe upon my thigh , +A boar-spear in my hand ; and ,in my heart +Lie there what hidden woman's fear there will , +We'll have a swashing and a martial outside , +As many other mannish cowards have +That do outface it with their semblances . + +What shall I call thee when thou art a man ? + +I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page , +And therefore look you call me Ganymede . +But what will you be call'd ? + +Something that hath a reference to my state : +No longer Celia , but Aliena . + +But , cousin , what if we assay'd to steal +The clownish fool out of your father's court ? +Would he not be a comfort to our travel ? + +He'll go along o'er the wide world with me ; +Leave me alone to woo him . Let's away , +And get our jewels and our wealth together , +Devise the fittest time and safest way +To hide us from pursuit that will be made +After my flight . Now go we in content +To liberty and not to banishment . + +Now , my co-mates and brothers in exile , +Hath not old custom made this life more sweet +Than that of painted pomp ? Are not these woods +More free from peril than the envious court ? +Here feel we but the penalty of Adam , +The seasons' difference ; as , the icy fang +And churlish chiding of the winter's wind , +Which , when it bites and blows upon my body , +Even till I shrink with cold , I smile and say +'This is no flattery : these are counsellors +That feelingly persuade me what I am .' +Sweet are the uses of adversity , +Which like the toad , ugly and venomous , +Wears yet a precious jewel in his head ; +And this our life exempt from public haunt , +Finds tongues in trees , books in the running brooks , +Sermons in stones , and good in every thing . +I would not change it . + +Happy is your Grace , +That can translate the stubbornness of fortune +Into so quiet and so sweet a style . + +Come , shall we go and kill us venison ? +And yet it irks me , the poor dappled fools , +Being native burghers of this desert city , +Should in their own confines with forked heads +Have their round haunches gor'd . + +Indeed , my lord , +The melancholy Jaques grieves at that ; +And , in that kind , swears you do more usurp +Than doth your brother that hath banish'd you . +To-day my Lord of Amiens and myself +Did steal behind him as he lay along +Under an oak whose antique root peeps out +Upon the brook that brawls along this wood ; +To the which place a poor sequester'd stag , +That from the hunters' aim had ta'en a hurt , +Did come to languish ; and , indeed , my lord , +The wretched animal heav'd forth such groans +That their discharge did stretch his leathern coat +Almost to bursting , and the big round tears +Cours'd one another down his innocent nose +In piteous chase ; and thus the hairy fool , +Much marked of the melancholy Jaques , +Stood on the extremest verge of the swift brook , +Augmenting it with tears . + +But what said Jaques ? +Did he not moralize this spectacle ? + +O , yes , into a thousand similes . +First , for his weeping into the needless stream ; +'Poor deer ,' quoth he , 'thou mak'st a testament +As worldlings do , giving thy sum of more +To that which had too much :' then , being there alone , +Left and abandon'd of his velvet friends ; +''Tis right ,' quoth he ; 'thus misery doth part +The flux of company :' anon , a careless herd , +Full of the pasture , jumps along by him +And never stays to greet him ; 'Ay ,' quoth Jaques , +'Sweep on , you fat and greasy citizens ; +'Tis just the fashion ; wherefore do you look +Upon that poor and broken bankrupt there ?' +Thus most invectively he pierceth through +The body of the country , city , court , +Yea , and of this our life ; swearing that we +Are mere usurpers , tyrants , and what's worse , +To fright the animals and to kill them up +In their assign'd and native dwelling-place . + +And did you leave him in this contemplation ? + +We did , my lord , weeping and commenting +Upon the sobbing deer . + +Show me the place . +I love to cope him in these sullen fits , +For then he's full of matter . + +I'll bring you to him straight . + + +Can it be possible that no man saw them ? +It cannot be : some villains of my court +Are of consent and sufferance in this . + +I cannot hear of any that did see her . +The ladies , her attendants of her chamber , +Saw her a-bed ; and , in the morning early +They found the bed untreasur'd of their mistress . + +My lord , the roynish clown , at whom so oft +Your Grace was wont to laugh , is also missing . +Hisperia , the princess' gentlewoman , +Confesses that she secretly o'erheard +Your daughter and her cousin much commend +The parts and graces of the wrestler +That did but lately foil the sinewy Charles ; +And she believes , wherever they are gone , +That youth is surely in their company . + +Send to his brother ; fetch that gallant hither ; +If he be absent , bring his brother to me ; +I'll make him find him . Do this suddenly , +And let not search and inquisition quail +To bring again these foolish runaways . + + +Who's there ? + +What ! my young master ? O my gentle master ! +O my sweet master ! O you memory +Of old Sir Rowland ! why , what make you here ? +Why are you virtuous ? Why do people love you ? +And wherefore are you gentle , strong , and valiant ? +Why would you be so fond to overcome +The bony priser of the humorous duke ? +Your praise is come too swiftly home before you . +Know you not , master , to some kind of men +Their graces serve them but as enemies ? +No more do yours : your virtues , gentle master , +Are sanctified and holy traitors to you . +O , what a world is this , when what is comely +Envenoms him that bears it ! + +Why , what's the matter ? + +O unhappy youth ! +Come not within these doors ; within this roof +The enemy of all your graces lives . +Your brother ,no , no brother ; yet the son , +Yet not the son , I will not call him son +Of him I was about to call his father , +Hath heard your praises , and this night he means +To burn the lodging where you use to lie , +And you within it : if he fail of that , +He will have other means to cut you off . +I overheard him and his practices . +This is no place ; this house is but a butchery : +Abhor it , fear it , do not enter it . + +Why , whither , Adam , wouldst thou have me go ? + +No matter whither , so you come not here . + +What ! wouldst thou have me go and beg my food ? +Or with a base and boisterous sword enforce +A thievish living on the common road ? +This I must do , or know not what to do : +Yet this I will not do , do how I can ; +I rather will subject me to the malice +Of a diverted blood and bloody brother . + +But do not so . I have five hundred crowns , +The thrifty hire I sav'd under your father , +Which I did store to be my foster-nurse +When service should in my old limbs lie lame , +And unregarded age in corners thrown . +Take that ; and He that doth the ravens feed , +Yea , providently caters for the sparrow , +Be comfort to my age ! Here is the gold ; +All this I give you . Let me be your servant : +Though I look old , yet I am strong and lusty ; +For in my youth I never did apply +Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood , +Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo +The means of weakness and debility ; +Therefore my age is as a lusty winter , +Frosty , but kindly . Let me go with you ; +I'll do the service of a younger man +In all your business and necessities . + +O good old man ! how well in thee appears +The constant service of the antique world , +When service sweat for duty , not for meed ! +Thou art not for the fashion of these times , +Where none will sweat but for promotion , +And having that , do choke their service up +Even with the having : it is not so with thee . +But , poor old man , thou prun'st a rotten tree , +That cannot so much as a blossom yield , +In lieu of all thy pains and husbandry . +But come thy ways , we'll go along together , +And ere we have thy youthful wages spent , +We'll light upon some settled low content . + +Master , go on , and I will follow thee +To the last gasp with truth and loyalty . +From seventeen years till now almost fourscore +Here lived I , but now live here no more . +At seventeen years many their fortunes seek ; +But at fourscore it is too late a week : +Yet fortune cannot recompense me better +Than to die well and not my master's debtor . + + +O Jupiter ! how weary are my spirits . + +I care not for my spirits if my legs were not weary . + +I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman ; but I must comfort the weaker vessel , as doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat : therefore , courage , good Aliena . + +I pray you , bear with me : I cannot go no further . + +For my part , I had rather bear with you than bear you ; yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you , for I think you have no money in your purse . + +Well , this is the forest of Arden . + +Ay , now am I in Arden ; the more fool I : when I was at home , I was in a better place : but travellers must be content . + +Ay , be so , good Touchstone . Look you , who comes here ; a young man and an old in solemn talk . + + +That is the way to make her scorn you still . + +O Corin , that thou knew'st how I do love her ! + +I partly guess , for I have lov'd ere now . + +No , Corin ; being old , thou canst not guess , +Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover +As ever sigh'd upon a midnight pillow : +But if thy love were ever like to mine , +As sure I think did never man love so , +How many actions most ridiculous +Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy ? + +Into a thousand that I have forgotten . + +O ! thou didst then ne'er love so heartily . +If thou remember'st not the slightest folly +That ever love did make thee run into , +Thou hast not lov'd : +Or if thou hast not sat as I do now , +Wearing thy hearer with thy mistress' praise , +Thou hast not lov'd : +Or if thou hast not broke from company +Abruptly , as my passion now makes me , +Thou hast not lov'd . O Phebe , Phebe , Phebe ! + + +Alas , poor shepherd ! searching of thy wound , +I have by hard adventure found mine own . + +And I mine . I remember , when I was in love I broke my sword upon a stone , and bid him take that for coming a-night to Jane Smile ; and I remember the kissing of her batler , and the cow's dugs that her pretty chopped hands had milked ; and I remember the wooing of a peascod instead of her , from whom I took two cods , and giving her them again , said with weeping tears , 'Wear these for my sake .' We that are true lovers run into strange capers ; but as all is mortal in nature , so is all nature in love mortal in folly . + +Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of . + +Nay , I shall ne'er be ware of mine own wit till I break my shins against it . + +Jove , Jove ! this shepherd's passion +Is much upon my fashion . + +And mine ; but it grows something stale with me . + +I pray you , one of you question yond man , +If he for gold will give us any food : +I faint almost to death . + +Holla , you clown ! + +Peace , fool : he's not thy kinsman . + +Who calls ? + +Your betters , sir . + +Else are they very wretched . + +Peace , I say . Good even to you , friend . + +And to you , gentle sir , and to you all . + +I prithee , shepherd , if that love or gold +Can in this desert place buy entertainment , +Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed . +Here's a young maid with travel much oppress'd , +And faints for succour . + +Fair sir , I pity her , +And wish , for her sake more than for mine own , +My fortunes were more able to relieve her ; +But I am shepherd to another man , +And do not shear the fleeces that I graze : +My master is of churlish disposition +And little recks to find the way to heaven +By doing deeds of hospitality . +Besides , his cote , his flocks , and bounds of feed +Are now on sale ; and at our sheepcote now , +By reason of his absence , there is nothing +That you will feed on ; but what is , come see , +And in my voice most welcome shall you be . + +What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture ? + +That young swain that you saw here but erewhile , +That little cares for buying anything . + +I pray thee , if it stand with honesty , +Buy thou the cottage , pasture , and the flock , +And thou shalt have to pay for it of us . + +And we will mend thy wages . I like this place , +And willingly could waste my time in it . + +Assuredly the thing is to be sold : +Go with me : if you like upon report +The soil , the profit , and this kind of life , +I will your very faithful feeder be , +And buy it with your gold right suddenly . + + +Under the greenwood tree +Who loves to lie with me , +And turn his merry note +Unto the sweet bird's throat , +Come hither , come hither , come hither : +Here shall he see +No enemy +But winter and rough weather . + +More , more , I prithee , more . + +It will make you melancholy , Monsieur Jaques . + +I thank it . More ! I prithee , more . I can suck melancholy out of a song as a weasel sucks eggs . More ! I prithee , more . + +My voice is ragged ; I know I cannot please you . + +I do not desire you to please me ; I do desire you to sing . Come , more ; another stanzo : call you them stanzos ? + +What you will , Monsieur Jaques . + +Nay , I care not for their names ; they owe me nothing . Will you sing ? + +More at your request than to please myself . + +Well then , if ever I thank any man , I'll thank you : but that they call compliment is like the encounter of two dog-apes , and when a man thanks me heartily , methinks I have given him a penny and he renders me the beggarly thanks . Come , sing ; and you that will not , hold your tongues . + +Well , I'll end the song . Sirs , cover the while ; the duke will drink under this tree . He hath been all this day to look you . + +And I have been all this day to avoid him . He is too disputable for my company : I think of as many matters as he , but I give heaven thanks , and make no boast of them . Come , warble ; come . + +Who doth ambition shun , + +And loves to live i' the sun , +Secking the food he eats , +And pleas'd with what he gets . +Come hither , come hither , come hither : +Here shall he see +No enemy +But winter and rough weather . + +I'll give you a verse to this note , that I made yesterday in despite of my invention . + +And I'll sing it . + +Thus it goes : + +If it do come to pass +That any man turn ass , +Leaving his wealth and ease , +A stubborn will to please , +Ducdame , ducdame , ducdame : +Here shall he see +Gross fools as he , +An if he will come to me . + + +What's that 'ducdame ?' + +'Tis a Greek invocation to call fools into a circle . I'll go sleep if I can ; if I cannot , I'll rail against all the first-born of Egypt . + +And I'll go seek the duke : his banquet is prepared . + + +Dear master , I can go no further : O ! I die for food . Here lie I down , and measure out my grave . Farewell , kind master . + +Why , how now , Adam ! no greater heart in thee ? Live a little ; comfort a little ; cheer thyself a little . If this uncouth forest yield anything savage , I will either be food for it , or bring it for food to thee . Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers . For my sake be comfortable , hold death awhile at the arm's end , I will here be with thee presently , and if I bring thee not something to eat , I will give thee leave to die ; but if thou diest before I come , thou art a mocker of my labour . Well said ! thou lookest cheerly , and I'll be with thee quickly . Yet thou liest in the bleak air : come I will bear thee to some shelter , and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner , if there live anything in this desert . Cheerly , good Adam . + + +I think he be transform'd into a beast , +For I can nowhere find him like a man . + +My lord , he is but even now gone hence : +Here was he merry , hearing of a song . + +If he , compact of jars , grow musical , +We shall have shortly discord in the spheres . +Go , seek him : tell him I would speak with him . + +He saves my labour by his own approach . + + +Why , how now , monsieur ! what a life is this , +That your poor friends must woo your company ? +What , you look merrily ! + +A fool , a fool ! I met a fool i' the forest , +A motley fool ; a miserable world ! +As I do live by food , I met a fool ; +Who laid him down and bask'd him in the sun , +And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good terms , +In good set terms , and yet a motley fool . +'Good morrow , fool ,' quoth I . 'No , sir ,' quoth he , +'Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune .' +And then he drew a dial from his poke , +And , looking on it with lack-lustre eye , +Says very wisely , 'It is ten o'clock ; +Thus may we see ,' quoth he , 'how the world wags : +'Tis but an hour ago since it was nine , +And after one hour more 'twill be eleven ; +And so , from hour to hour we ripe and ripe , +And then from hour to hour we rot and rot , +And thereby hangs a tale .' When I did hear +The motley fool thus moral on the time , +My lungs began to crow like chanticleer , +That fools should be so deep-contemplative , +And I did laugh sans intermission +An hour by his dial . O noble fool ! +A worthy fool ! Motley's the only wear . + +What fool is this ? + +O worthy fool ! One that hath been a courtier , +And says , if ladies be but young and fair , +They have the gift to know it ; and in his brain , +Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit +After a voyage ,he hath strange places cramm'd +With observation , the which he vents +In mangled forms . O that I were a fool ! +I am ambitious for a motley coat . + +Thou shalt have one . + +It is my only suit ; +Provided that you weed your better judgments +Of all opinion that grows rank in them +That I am wise . I must have liberty +Withal , as large a charter as the wind , +To blow on whom I please ; for so fools have : +And they that are most galled with my folly , +They most must laugh . And why , sir , must they so ? +The 'why' is plain as way to parish church : +He that a fool doth very wisely hit +Doth very foolishly , although he smart , +Not to seem senseless of the bob ; if not , +The wise man's folly is anatomiz'd +Even by the squandering glances of the fool . +Invest me in my motley ; give me leave +To speak my mind , and I will through and through +Cleanse the foul body of th' infected world , +If they will patiently receive my medicine . + +Fie on thee ! I can tell what thou wouldst do . + +What , for a counter , would I do , but good ? + +Most mischievous foul sin , in chiding sin : +For thou thyself hast been a libertine , +As sensual as the brutish sting itself ; +And all the embossed sores and headed evils , +That thou with licence of free foot hast caught , +Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world . + +Why , who cries out on pride , +That can therein tax any private party ? +Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea , +Till that the weary very means do ebb ? +What woman in the city do I name , +When that I say the city-woman bears +The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders ? +Who can come in and say that I mean her , +When such a one as she such is her neighbour ? +Or what is he of basest function , +That says his bravery is not on my cost , +Thinking that I mean him ,but therein suits +His folly to the mettle of my speech ? +There then ; how then ? what then ? Let me see wherein +My tongue hath wrong'd him : if it do him right , +Then he hath wrong'd himself ; if he be free , +Why then , my taxing like a wild goose flies , +Unclaim'd of any man . But who comes here ? + + +Forbear , and eat no more . + +Why , I have eat none yet . + +Nor shalt not , till necessity be serv'd . + +Of what kind should this cock come of ? + +Art thou thus bolden'd , man , by thy distress , +Or else a rude despiser of good manners , +That in civility thou seem'st so empty ? + +You touch'd my vein at first : the thorny point +Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show +Of smooth civility ; yet I am inland bred +And know some nurture . But forbear , I say : +He dies that touches any of this fruit +Till I and my affairs are answered . + +An you will not be answered with reason , +I must die . + +What would you have ? Your gentleness shall force +More than your force move us to gentleness . + +I almost die for food ; and let me have it . + +Sit down and feed , and welcome to our table . + +Speak you so gently ? Pardon me , I pray you : +I thought that all things had been savage here , +And therefore put I on the countenance +Of stern commandment . But whate'er you are +That in this desert inaccessible , +Under the shade of melancholy boughs , +Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time ; +If ever you have look'd on better days , +If ever been where bells have knoll'd to church , +If ever sat at any good man's feast , +If ever from your eyelids wip'd a tear , +And know what 'tis to pity , and be pitied , +Let gentleness my strong enforcement be : +In the which hope I blush , and hide my sword . + +True is it that we have seen better days , +And have with holy bell been knoll'd to church , +And sat at good men's feasts , and wip'd our eyes +Of drops that sacred pity hath engender'd ; +And therefore sit you down in gentleness +And take upon command what help we have +That to your wanting may be minister'd . + +Then but forbear your food a little while , +Whiles , like a doe , I go to find my fawn +And give it food . There is an old poor man , +Who after me hath many a weary step +Limp'd in pure love : till he be first suffic'd , +Oppress'd with two weak evils , age and hunger , +I will not touch a bit . + +Go find him out , +And we will nothing waste till you return . + +I thank ye ; and be bless'd for your good comfort ! + + +Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy : +This wide and universal theatre +Presents more woful pageants than the scene +Wherein we play in . + +All the world's a stage , +And all the men and women merely players : +They have their exits and their entrances ; +And one man in his time plays many parts , +His acts being seven ages . At first the infant , +Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms . +And then the whining school-boy , with his satchel , +And shining morning face , creeping like snail +Unwillingly to school . And then the lover , +Sighing like furnace , with a woful ballad +Made to his mistress' eyebrow . Then a soldier , +Full of strange oaths , and bearded like the pard , +Jealous in honour , sudden and quick in quarrel , +Seeking the bubble reputation +Even in the cannon's mouth . And then the justice , +In fair round belly with good capon lin'd , +With eyes severe , and beard of formal cut , +Full of wise saws and modern instances ; +And so he plays his part . The sixth age shifts +Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon , +With spectacles on nose and pouch on side , +His youthful hose well sav'd , a world too wide +For his shrunk shank ; and his big manly voice , +Turning again toward childish treble , pipes +And whistles in his sound . Last scene of all , +That ends this strange eventful history , +Is second childishness and mere oblivion , +Sans teeth , sans eyes , sans taste , sans everything . + + +Welcome . Set down your venerable burden , +And let him feed . + +I thank you most for him . + +So had you need : +I scarce can speak to thank you for myself . + +Welcome ; fall to : I will not trouble you +As yet , to question you about your fortunes . +Give us some music ; and , good cousin , sing . + +Blow , blow , thou winter wind , +Thou art not so unkind +As man's ingratitude ; +Thy tooth is not so keen , +Because thou art not seen , +Although thy breath be rude . +Heigh-ho ! sing , heigh-ho ! unto the green holly : +Most friendship is feigning , most loving mere folly . +Then heigh-ho ! the holly ! +This life is most jolly . +Freeze , freeze , thou bitter sky , +That dost not bite so nigh +As benefits forgot : +Though thou the waters warp , +Thy sting is not so sharp +As friend remember'd not . +Heigh-ho ! sing , heigh-ho ! unto the green holly : +Most friendship is feigning , most loving mere folly . +Then heigh-ho ! the holly ! +This life is most jolly . + +If that you were the good Sir Rowland's son , +As you have whisper'd faithfully you were , +And as mine eye doth his effigies witness +Most truly limn'd and living in your face , +Be truly welcome hither : I am the duke +That lov'd your father : the residue of your fortune , +Go to my cave and tell me . Good old man , +Thou art right welcome as thy master is . +Support him by the arm . Give me your hand , +And let me all your fortunes understand . + +Not seen him since ! Sir , sir , that cannot be : +But were I not the better part made mercy , +I should not seek an absent argument +Of my revenge , thou present . But look to it : +Find out thy brother , wheresoe'er he is ; +Seek him with candle ; bring him , dead or living , +Within this twelvemonth , or turn thou no more +To seek a living in our territory . +Thy lands and all things that thou dost call thine +Worth seizure , do we seize into our hands , +Till thou canst quit thee by thy brother's mouth +Of what we think against thee . + +O that your highness knew my heart in this ! +I never lov'd my brother in my life . + +More villain thou . Well , push him out of doors ; +And let my officers of such a nature +Make an extent upon his house and lands . +Do this expediently and turn him going . + + +Hang there , my verse , in witness of my love : +And thou , thrice-crowned queen of night , survey +With thy chaste eye , from thy pale sphere above , +Thy huntress' name , that my full life doth sway . +O Rosalind ! these trees shall be my books , +And in their barks my thoughts I'll character , +That every eye , which in this forest looks , +Shall see thy virtue witness'd everywhere . +Run , run , Orlando : carve on every tree +The fair , the chaste , and unexpressive she . + +And how like you this shepherd's life , Master Touchstone ? + +Truly , shepherd , in respect of itself , it is a good life ; but in respect that it is a shepherd's life , it is naught . In respect that it is solitary , I like it very well ; but in respect that it is private , it is a very vile life . Now , in respect it is in the fields , it pleaseth me well ; but in respect it is not in the court , it is tedious . As it is a spare life , look you , it fits my humour well ; but as there is no more plenty in it , it goes much against my stomach . Hast any philosophy in thee , shepherd ? + +No more but that I know the more one sickens the worse at ease he is ; and that he that wants money , means , and content , is without three good friends ; that the property of rain is to wet , and fire to burn ; that good pasture makes fat sheep , and that a great cause of the night is lack of the sun ; that he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may complain of good breeding , or comes of a very dull kindred . + +Such a one is a natural philosopher . Wast ever in court , shepherd ? + +No , truly . + +Then thou art damned . + +Nay , I hope . + +Truly , thou art damned like an ill-roasted egg , all on one side . + +For not being at court ? Your reason . + +Why , if thou never wast at court , thou never sawest good manners ; if thou never sawest good manners , then thy manners must be wicked ; and wickedness is sin , and sin is damnation . Thou art in a parlous state , shepherd . + +Not a whit , Touchstone : those that are good manners at the court , are as ridiculous in the country as the behaviour of the country is most mockable at the court . You told me you salute not at the court , but you kiss your hands ; that courtesy would be uncleanly if courtiers were shepherds . + +Instance , briefly ; come , instance . + +Why , we are still handling our ewes , and their fells , you know , are greasy . + +Why , do not your courtier's hands sweat ? and is not the grease of a mutton as wholesome as the sweat of a man ? Shallow , shallow . A better instance , I say ; come . + +Besides , our hands are hard . + +Your lips will feel them the sooner : shallow again . A more sounder instance ; come . + +And they are often tarred over with the surgery of our sheep ; and would you have us kiss tar ? The courtier's hands are perfumed with civet . + +Most shallow man ! Thou worms-meat , in respect of a good piece of flesh , indeed ! Learn of the wise , and perpend : civet is of a baser birth than tar , the very uncleanly flux of a cat . Mend the instance , shepherd . + +You have too courtly a wit for me : I'll rest . + +Wilt thou rest damned ? God help thee , shallow man ! God make incision in thee ! thou art raw . + +Sir , I am a true labourer : I earn that I eat , get that I wear , owe no man hate , envy no man's happiness , glad of other men's good , content with my harm ; and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes graze and my lambs suck . + +That is another simple sin in you , to bring the ewes and the rams together , and to offer to get your living by the copulation of cattle ; to be bawd to a bell-wether , and to betray a she-lamb of a twelvemonth to a crooked-pated , old , cuckoldy ram , out of all reasonable match . If thou be'st not damned for this , the devil himself will have no shepherds : I cannot see else how thou shouldst 'scape . + +Here comes young Master Ganymede , my new mistress's brother . + +From the east to western Ind , +No jewel is like Rosalind +Her worth , being mounted on the wind , +Through all the world bears Rosalind . +All the pictures fairest lin'd +Are but black to Rosalind . +Let no face be kept in mind , +But the fair of Rosalind . + + +I'll rime you so , eight years together , dinners and suppers and sleeping hours excepted : it is the right butter-women's rank to market . + +Out , fool ! + +For a taste : + +If a hart do lack a hind , +Let him seek out Rosalind . +If the cat will after kind , +So be sure will Rosalind . +Winter-garments must be lin'd , +So must slender Rosalind . +They that reap must sheaf and bind , +Then to cart with Rosalind . +Sweetest nut hath sourest rind , +Such a nut is Rosalind . +He that sweetest rose will find +Must find love's prick and Rosalind . + +This is the very false gallop of verses : why do you infect yourself with them ? + +Peace ! you dull fool : I found them on a tree . + +Truly , the tree yields bad fruit . + +I'll graff it with you , and then I shall graff it with a medlar : then it will be the earliest fruit i' the country ; for you'll be rotten ere you be half ripe , and that's the right virtue of the medlar . + +You have said ; but whether wisely or no , let the forest judge . + + +Peace ! +Here comes my sister , reading : stand aside . + + +Why should this a desert be ? +For it is unpeopled ? No ; +Tongues I'll hang on every tree , +That shall civil sayings show . +Some , how brief the life of man +Runs his erring pilgrimage , +That the stretching of a span +Buckles in his sum of age ; +Some , of violated vows +'Twixt the souls of friend and friend : +But upon the fairest boughs , +Or at every sentence' end , +Will I Rosalinda write ; +Teaching all that read to know +The quintessence of every sprite +Heaven would in little show . +Therefore Heaven Nature charg'd +That one body should be fill'd +With all graces wide enlarg'd : +Nature presently distill'd +Helen's cheek , but not her heart , +Cleopatra's majesty , +Atalanta's better part , +Sad Lucretia's modesty . +Thus Rosalind of many parts +By heavenly synod was devis'd +Of many faces , eyes , and hearts , +To have the touches dearest priz'd . +Heaven would that she these gifts should have , +And I to live and die her slave . + + +O most gentle pulpiter ! what tedious homily of love have you wearied your parishioners withal , and never cried , 'Have patience , good people !' + +How now ! back , friends ! Shepherd , go off a little : go with him , sirrah . + +Come , shepherd , let us make an honourable retreat ; though not with bag and baggage , yet with scrip and scrippage . + + +Didst thou hear these verses ? + +O , yes , I heard them all , and more too ; for some of them had in them more feet than the verses would bear . + +That's no matter : the feet might bear the verses . + +Ay , but the feet were lame , and could not bear themselves without the verse , and therefore stood lamely in the verse . + +But didst thou hear without wondering , how thy name should be hanged and carved upon these trees ? + +I was seven of the nine days out of the wonder before you came ; for look here what I found on a palm-tree : I was never so be-rimed since Pythagoras' time , that I was an Irish rat , which I can hardly remember . + +Trow you who hath done this ? + +Is it a man ? + +And a chain , that you once wore , about his neck . Change you colour ? + +I prithee , who ? + +O Lord , Lord ! it is a hard matter for friends to meet ; but mountains may be removed with earthquakes , and so encounter . + +Nay , but who is it ? + +Is it possible ? + +Nay , I prithee now , with most petitionary vehemence , tell me who it is . + +O wonderful , wonderful , and most wonderful wonderful ! and yet again wonderful ! and after that , out of all whooping ! + +Good my complexion ! dost thou think , though I am caparison'd like a man , I have a doublet and hose in my disposition ? One inch of delay more is a South-sea of discovery ; I prithee , tell me who is it quickly , and speak apace . I would thou couldst stammer , that thou mightst pour this concealed man out of thy mouth , as wine comes out of a narrow-mouth'd bottle ; either too much at once , or none at all . I prithee , take the cork out of thy mouth , that I may drink thy tidings . + +So you may put a man in your belly . + +Is he of God's making ? What manner of man ? Is his head worth a hat , or his chin worth a beard ? + +Nay , he hath but a little beard . + +Why , God will send more , if the man will be thankful . Let me stay the growth of his beard , if thou delay me not the knowledge of his chin . + +It is young Orlando , that tripped up the wrestler's heels and your heart both , in an instant . + +Nay , but the devil take mocking : speak , sad brow and true maid . + +I' faith , coz , 'tis he . + +Orlando ? + +Orlando . + +Alas the day ! what shall I do with my doublet and hose ? What did he when thou sawest him ? What said he ? How looked he ? Wherein went he ? What makes he here ? Did he ask for me ? Where remains he ? How parted he with thee , and when shalt thou see him again ? Answer me in one word . + +You must borrow me Gargantua's mouth first : 'tis a word too great for any mouth of this age's size . To say ay and no to these particulars is more than to answer in a catechism . + +But doth he know that I am in this forest and in man's apparel ? Looks he as freshly as he did the day he wrestled ? + +It is as easy to count atomies as to resolve the propositions of a lover ; but take a taste of my finding him , and relish it with good observance . I found him under a tree , like a dropped acorn . + +It may well be called Jove's tree , when it drops forth such fruit . + +Give me audience , good madam . + +Proceed . + +There lay he , stretch'd along like a wounded knight . + +Though it be pity to see such a sight , it well becomes the ground . + +Cry 'holla !' to thy tongue , I prithee ; it curvets unseasonably . He was furnish'd like a hunter . + +O , ominous ! he comes to kill my heart . + +I would sing my song without a burthen : thou bringest me out of tune . + +Do you not know I am a woman ? when I think , I must speak . Sweet , say on . + +You bring me out . Soft ! comes he not here ? + +'Tis he : slink by , and note him . + + +I thank you for your company ; but , good faith , I had as lief have been myself alone . + +And so had I ; but yet , for fashion' sake , I thank you too for your society . + +God be wi' you : let's meet as little as we can . + +I do desire we may be better strangers . + +I pray you , mar no more trees with writing love-songs in their barks . + +I pray you mar no more of my verses with reading them ill-favouredly . + +Rosalind is your love's name ? + +Yes , just . + +I do not like her name . + +There was no thought of pleasing you when she was christened . + +What stature is she of ? + +Just as high as my heart . + +You are full of pretty answers . Have you not been acquainted with goldsmiths' wives , and conn'd them out of rings ? + +Not so ; but I answer you right painted cloth , from whence you have studied your questions . + +You have a nimble wit : I think 'twas made of Atalanta's heels . Will you sit down with me ? and we two will rail against our mistress the world , and all our misery . + +I will chide no breather in the world but myself , against whom I know most faults . + +The worst fault you have is to be in love . + +'Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue . I am weary of you . + +By my troth , I was seeking for a fool when I found you . + +He is drowned in the brook : look but in , and you shall see him . + +There I shall see mine own figure . + +Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher . + +I'll tarry no longer with you . Farewell , good Signior Love . + +I am glad of your departure . Adieu , good Monsieur Melancholy . + + +I will speak to him like a saucy lackey , and under that habit play the knave with him . Do you hear , forester ? + +Very well : what would you ? + +I pray you , what is't o'clock ? + +You should ask me , what time o' day ; there's no clock in the forest . + +Then there is no true lover in the forest ; else sighing every minute and groaning every hour would detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock . + +And why not the swift foot of Time ? had not that been as proper ? + +By no means , sir . Time travels in divers paces with divers persons . I'll tell you who Time ambles withal , who Time trots withal , who Time gallops withal , and who he stands still withal . + +I prithee , who doth he trot withal ? + +Marry , he trots hard with a young maid between the contract of her marriage and the day it is solemnized ; if the interim be but a se'nnight , Time's pace is so hard that it seems the length of seven year . + +Who ambles Time withal ? + +With a priest that lacks Latin , and a rich man that hath not the gout ; for the one sleeps easily because he cannot study , and the other lives merrily because he feels no pain ; the one lacking the burden of lean and wasteful learning , the other knowing no burden of heavy tedious penury . These Time ambles withal . + +Who doth he gallop withal ? + +With a thief to the gallows ; for though he go as softly as foot can fall he thinks himself too soon there . + +Who stays it still withal ? + +With lawyers in the vacation ; for they sleep between term and term , and then they perceive not how Time moves . + +Where dwell you , pretty youth ? + +With this shepherdess , my sister ; here in the skirts of the forest , like fringe upon a petticoat . + +Are you native of this place ? + +As the cony , that you see dwell where she is kindled . + +Your accent is something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling . + +I have been told so of many : but indeed an old religious uncle of mine taught me to speak , who was in his youth an inland man ; one that knew courtship too well , for there he fell in love . I have heard him read many lectures against it ; and I thank God , I am not a woman , to be touched with so many giddy offences as he hath generally taxed their whole sex withal . + +Can you remember any of the principal evils that he laid to the charge of women ? + +There were none principal ; they were all like one another as half-pence are ; every one fault seeming monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it . + +I prithee , recount some of them . + +No , I will not cast away my physic , but on those that are sick . There is a man haunts the forest , that abuses our young plants with carving 'Rosalind' on their barks ; hangs odes upon hawthorns , and elegies on brambles ; all , forsooth , deifying the name of Rosalind : if I could meet that fancy-monger , I would give him some good counsel , for he seems to have the quotidian of love upon him . + +I am he that is so love-shaked . I pray you , tell me your remedy . + +There is none of my uncle's marks upon you : he taught me how to know a man in love ; in which cage of rushes I am sure you are not prisoner . + +What were his marks ? + +A lean cheek , which you have not ; a blue eye and sunken , which you have not ; an unquestionable spirit , which you have not ; a beard neglected , which you have not : but I pardon you for that , for , simply , your having in beard is a younger brother's revenue . Then , your hose should be ungartered , your bonnet unbanded , your sleeve unbuttoned , your shoe untied , and everything about you demonstrating a careless desolation . But you are no such man : you are rather point-device in your accoutrements ; as loving yourself than seeming the lover of any other . + +Fair youth , I would I could make thee believe I love . + +Me believe it ! you may as soon make her that you love believe it ; which , I warrant , she is apter to do than to confess she does ; that is one of the points in the which women still give the lie to their consciences . But , in good sooth , are you he that hangs the verses on the trees , wherein Rosalind is so admired ? + +I swear to thee , youth , by the white hand of Rosalind , I am that he , that unfortunate he . + +But are you so much in love as your rimes speak ? + +Neither rime nor reason can express how much . + +Love is merely a madness , and , I tell you , deserves as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do ; and the reason why they are not so punished and cured is , that the lunacy is so ordinary that the whippers are in love too . Yet I profess curing it by counsel . + +Did you ever cure any so ? + +Yes , one ; and in this manner . He was to imagine me his love , his mistress ; and I set him every day to woo me : at which time would I , being but a moonish youth , grieve , be effeminate , changeable , longing and liking ; proud , fantastical , apish , shallow , inconstant , full of tears , full of smiles , for every passion something , and for no passion truly anything , as boys and women are , for the most part , cattle of this colour ; would now like him , now loathe him ; then entertain him , then forswear him ; now weep for him , then spit at him ; that I drave my suitor from his mad humour of love to a living humour of madness , which was , to forswear the full stream of the world , and to live in a nook merely monastic . And thus I cured him ; and this way will I take upon me to wash your liver as clean as a sound sheep's heart , that there shall not be one spot of love in't . + +I would not be cured , youth . + +I would cure you , if you would but call me Rosalind , and come every day to my cote and woo me . + +Now , by the faith of my love , I will : tell me where it is . + +Go with me to it and I'll show it you ; and by the way you shall tell me where in the forest you live . Will you go ? + +With all my heart , good youth . + +Nay , you must call me Rosalind . Come , sister , will you go ? + + +Come apace , good Audrey : I will fetch up your goats , Audrey . And how , Audrey ? am I the man yet ? doth my simple feature content you ? + +Your features ! Lord warrant us ! what features ? + +I am here with thee and thy goats , as the most capricious poet , honest Ovid , was among the Goths . + +O knowledge ill-inhabited , worse than Jove in a thatch'd house ! + +When a man's verses cannot be understood , nor a man's good wit seconded with the forward child Understanding , it strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room . Truly , I would the gods had made thee poetical . + +I do not know what 'poetical' is . Is it honest in deed and word ? Is it a true thing ? + +No , truly , for the truest poetry is the most feigning ; and lovers are given to poetry , and what they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign . + +Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical ? + +I do , truly ; for thou swearest to me thou art honest : now , if thou wert a poet , I might have some hope thou didst feign . + +Would you not have me honest ? + +No , truly , unless thou wert hard-favour'd ; for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar . + +A material fool . + +Well , I am not fair , and therefore I pray the gods make me honest . + +Truly , and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish . + +I am not a slut , though I thank the gods I am foul . + +Well , praised be the gods for thy foulness ! sluttishness may come hereafter . But be it as it may be , I will marry thee ; and to that end I have been with Sir Oliver Martext , the vicar of the next village , who hath promised to meet me in this place of the forest , and to couple us . + +I would fain see this meeting . + +Well , the gods give us joy ! + +Amen . A man may , if he were of a fearful heart , stagger in this attempt ; for here we have no temple but the wood , no assembly but horn-beasts . But what though ? Courage ! As horns are odious , they are necessary . It is said , 'many a man knows no end of his goods :' right ; many a man has good horns , and knows no end of them . Well , that is the dowry of his wife ; 'tis none of his own getting . Horns ? Even so . Poor men alone ? No , no ; the noblest deer hath them as huge as the rascal . Is the single man therefore blessed ? No : as a walled town is more worthier than a village , so is the forehead of a married man more honourable than the bare brow of a bachelor ; and by how much defence is better than no skill , by so much is a horn more precious than to want . Here comes Sir Oliver . + +Sir Oliver Martext , you are well met : will you dispatch us here under this tree , or shall we go with you to your chapel ? + +Is there none here to give the woman ? + +I will not take her on gift of any man . + +Truly , she must be given , or the marriage is not lawful . + +Proceed , proceed : I'll give her . + +Good even , good Master What-ye-call't . how do you , sir ? You are very well met : God 'ild you for your last company : I am very glad to see you : even a toy in hand here , sir : nay , pray be covered . + +Will you be married , motley ? + +As the ox hath his bow , sir , the horse his curb , and the falcon her bells , so man hath his desires ; and as pigeons bill , so wedlock would be nibbling . + +And will you , being a man of your breeding , be married under a bush , like a beggar ? Get you to church , and have a good priest that can tell you what marriage is : this fellow will but join you together as they join wainscot ; then one of you will prove a shrunk panel , and like green timber , warp , warp . + +I am not in the mind but I were better to be married of him than of another : for he is not like to marry me well , and not being well married , it will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife . + +Go thou with me , and let me counsel thee . + +Come , sweet Audrey : +We must be married , or we must live in bawdry . +Farewell , good Master Oliver : not + +O sweet Oliver ! +O brave Oliver ! +Leave me not behind thee : + +but , + +Wind away , +Begone , I say , +I will not to wedding with thee . + +'Tis no matter : ne'er a fantastical knave of them all shall flout me out of my calling . + + +Never talk to me : I will weep . + +Do , I prithee ; but yet have the grace to consider that tears do not become a man . + +But have I not cause to weep ? + +As good cause as one would desire ; therefore weep . + +His very hair is of the dissembling colour . + +Something browner than Judas's ; marry , his kisses are Judas's own children . + +I' faith , his hair is of a good colour . + +An excellent colour : your chesnut was ever the only colour . + +And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch of holy bread . + +He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana : a nun of winter's sisterhood kisses not more religiously ; the very ice of chastity is in them . + +But why did he swear he would come this morning , and comes not ? + +Nay , certainly , there is no truth in him . + +Do you think so ? + +Yes : I think he is not a pick-purse nor a horse-stealer ; but for his verity in love , I do think him as concave as a covered goblet or a worm-eaten nut . + +Not true in love ? + +Yes , when he is in ; but I think he is not in . + +You have heard him swear downright he was . + +'Was' is not 'is :' besides , the oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a tapster ; they are both the confirmers of false reckonings . He attends here in the forest on the duke your father . + +I met the duke yesterday and had much question with him . He asked me of what parentage I was ; I told him , of as good as he ; so he laughed , and let me go . But what talk we of fathers , when there is such a man as Orlando ? + +O , that's a brave man ! he writes brave verses , speaks brave words , swears brave oaths , and breaks them bravely , quite traverse , athwart the heart of his lover ; as a puisny tilter , that spurs his horse but on one side , breaks his staff like a noble goose . But all's brave that youth mounts and folly guides . Who comes here ? + + +Mistress and master , you have oft inquir'd +After the shepherd that complain'd of love , +Who you saw sitting by me on the turf , +Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess +That was his mistress . + +Well , and what of him ? + +If you will see a pageant truly play'd , +Between the pale complexion of true love +And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain , +Go hence a little , and I shall conduct you , +If you will mark it . + +O ! come , let us remove : +The sight of lovers feedeth those in love . +Bring us to this sight , and you shall say +I'll prove a busy actor in their play . + + +Sweet Phebe , do not scorn me ; do not , Phebe : +Say that you love me not , but say not so +In bitterness . The common executioner , +Whose heart the accustom'd sight of death makes hard , +Falls not the axe upon the humbled neck +But first begs pardon : will you sterner be +Than he that dies and lives by bloody drops ? + + +I would not be thy executioner : +I fly thee , for I would not injure thee . +Thou tell'st me there is murder in mine eye : +'Tis pretty , sure , and very probable , +That eyes , that are the frail'st and softest things , +Who shut their coward gates on atomies , +Should be call'd tyrants , butchers , murderers ! +Now I do frown on thee with all my heart ; +And , if mine eyes can wound , now let them kill thee ; +Now counterfeit to swound ; why now fall down ; +Or , if thou canst not , O ! for shame , for shame , +Lie not , to say mine eyes are murderers . +Now show the wound mine eye hath made in thee ; +Scratch thee but with a pin , and there remains +Some scar of it ; lean but upon a rush , +The cicatrice and capable impressure +Thy palm some moment keeps ; but now mine eyes , +Which I have darted at thee , hurt thee not , +Nor , I am sure , there is no force in eyes +That can do hurt . + +O dear Phebe , +If ever ,as that ever may be near , +You meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy , +Then shall you know the wounds invisible +That love's keen arrows make . + +But , till that time +Come not thou near me ; and , when that time comes , +Afflict me with thy mocks , pity me not ; +As , till that time I shall not pity thee . + +And why , I pray you ? Who might be your mother , +That you insult , exult , and all at once , +Over the wretched ? What though you have no beauty , +As by my faith , I see no more in you +Than without candle may go dark to bed , +Must you be therefore proud and pitiless ? +Why , what means this ? Why do you look on me ? +I see no more in you than in the ordinary +Of nature's sale-work . Od's my little life ! +I think she means to tangle my eyes too . +No , faith , proud mistress , hope not after it : +'Tis not your inky brows , your black silk hair , +Your bugle eyeballs , nor your cheek of cream , +That can entame my spirits to your worship . +You foolish shepherd , wherefore do you follow her , +Like foggy south puffing with wind and rain ? +You are a thousand times a properer man +Than she a woman : 'tis such fools as you +That make the world full of ill-favour'd children : +'Tis not her glass , but you , that flatters her ; +And out of you she sees herself more proper +Than any of her lineaments can show her . +But , mistress , know yourself : down on your knees , +And thank heaven , fasting , for a good man's love : +For I must tell you friendly in your ear , +Sell when you can ; you are not for all markets . +Cry the man mercy ; love him ; take his offer : +Foul is most foul , being foul to be a scoffer . +So take her to thee , shepherd . Fare you well . + +Sweet youth , I pray you , chide a year together : +I had rather hear you chide than this man woo . + +He's fallen in love with her foulness , and she'll fall in love with my anger . If it be so , as fast as she answers thee with frowning looks , I'll sauce her with bitter words . Why look you so upon me ? + +For no ill will I bear you . + +I pray you , do not fall in love with me , +For I am falser than vows made in wine : +Besides , I like you not . If you will know my house , +'Tis at the tuft of olives here hard by . +Will you go , sister ? Shepherd , ply her hard . +Come , sister . Shepherdess , look on him better , +And be not proud : though all the world could see , +None could be so abus'd in sight as he . +Come , to our flock . + + +Dead shepherd , now I find thy saw of might : +'Who ever lov'd that lov'd not at first sight ?' + +Sweet Phebe , + +Ha ! what sayst thou , Silvius ? + +Sweet Phebe , pity me . + +Why , I am sorry for thee , gentle Silvius . + +Wherever sorrow is , relief would be : +If you do sorrow at my grief in love , +By giving love your sorrow and my grief +Were both extermin'd . + +Thou hast my love : is not that neighbourly ? + +I would have you . + +Why , that were covetousness . +Silvius , the time was that I hated thee ; +And yet it is not that I bear thee love : +But since that thou canst talk of love so well , +Thy company , which erst was irksome to me , +I will endure , and I'll employ thee too ; +But do not look for further recompense +Than thine own gladness that thou art employ'd . + +So holy and so perfect is my love , +And I in such a poverty of grace , +That I shall think it a most plenteous crop +To glean the broken ears after the man +That the main harvest reaps : loose now and then +A scatter'd smile , and that I'll live upon . + +Know'st thou the youth that spoke to me erewhile ? + +Not very well , but I have met him oft ; +And he hath bought the cottage and the bounds +That the old carlot once was master of . + +Think not I love him , though I ask for him . +'Tis but a peevish boy ; yet he talks well ; +But what care I for words ? yet words do well , +When he that speaks them pleases those that hear . +It is a pretty youth : not very pretty : +But , sure , he's proud ; and yet his pride becomes him : +He'll make a proper man : the best thing in him +Is his complexion ; and faster than his tongue +Did make offence his eye did heal it up . +He is not very tall ; yet for his years he's tall : +His leg is but so so ; and yet 'tis well : +There was a pretty redness in his lip , +A little riper and more lusty red +Than that mix'd in his cheek ; 'twas just the difference +Betwixt the constant red and mingled damask . +There be some women , Silvius , had they mark'd him +In parcels as I did , would have gone near +To fall in love with him ; but , for my part , +I love him not nor hate him not ; and yet +Have more cause to hate him than to love him : +For what had he to do to chide at me ? +He said mine eyes were black and my hair black ; +And , now I am remember'd , scorn'd at me . +I marvel why I answer'd not again : +But that's all one ; omittance is no quittance . +I'll write to him a very taunting letter , +And thou shalt bear it : wilt thou , Silvius ? + +Phebe , with all my heart . + +I'll write it straight ; +The matter's in my head and in my heart : +I will be bitter with him and passing short . +Go with me , Silvius . + +I prithee , pretty youth , let me be better acquainted with thee . + +They say you are a melancholy fellow . + +I am so ; I do love it better than laughing . + +Those that are in extremity of either are abominable fellows , and betray themselves to every modern censure worse than drunkards . + +Why , 'tis good to be sad and say nothing . + +Why , then , 'tis good to be a post . + +I have neither the scholar's melancholy , which is emulation ; nor the musician's , which is fantastical ; nor the courtier's , which is proud ; nor the soldier's , which is ambitious ; nor the lawyer's , which is politic ; nor the lady's , which is nice ; nor the lover's , which is all these : but it is a melancholy of mine own , compounded of many simples , extracted from many objects , and indeed the sundry contemplation of my travels , which , by often rumination , wraps me in a most humorous sadness . + +A traveller ! By my faith , you have great reason to be sad . I fear you have sold your own lands to see other men's ; then , to have seen much and to have nothing , is to have rich eyes and poor hands . + +Yes , I have gained my experience . + +And your experience makes you sad : I had rather have a fool to make me merry than experience to make me sad : and to travel for it too ! + + +Good day , and happiness , dear Rosalind ! + +Nay then , God be wi' you , an you talk in blank verse . + + +Farewell , Monsieur Traveller : look you lisp , and wear strange suits , disable all the benefits of your own country , be out of love with your nativity , and almost chide God for making you that countenance you are ; or I will scarce think you have swam in a gondola . Why , how now , Orlando ! where have you been all this while ? You a lover ! An you serve me such another trick , never come in my sight more . + +My fair Rosalind , I come within an hour of my promise . + +Break an hour's promise in love ! He that will divide a minute into a thousand parts , and break but a part of the thousandth part of a minute in the affairs of love , it may be said of him that Cupid hath clapped him o' the shoulder , but I'll warrant him heart-whole . + +Pardon me , dear Rosalind . + +Nay , an you be so tardy , come no more in my sight : I had as lief be wooed of a snail . + +Of a snail ! + +Ay , of a snail ; for though he comes slowly , he carries his house on his head ; a better jointure , I think , than you make a woman : besides , he brings his destiny with him . + +What's that ? + +Why , horns ; that such as you are fain to be beholding to your wives for : but he comes armed in his fortune and prevents the slander of his wife . + +Virtue is no horn-maker ; and my Rosalind is virtuous . + +And I am your Rosalind ? + +It pleases him to call you so ; but he hath a Rosalind of a better leer than you . + +Come , woo me , woo me ; for now I am in a holiday humour , and like enough to consent . What would you say to me now , an I were your very very Rosalind ? + +I would kiss before I spoke . + +Nay , you were better speak first , and when you were gravelled for lack of matter , you might take occasion to kiss . Very good orators , when they are out , they will spit ; and for lovers lacking ,God warn us !matter , the cleanliest shift is to kiss . + +How if the kiss be denied ? + +Then she puts you to entreaty , and there begins new matter . + +Who could be out , being before his beloved mistress ? + +Marry , that should you , if I were your mistress ; or I should think my honesty ranker than my wit . + +What , of my suit ? + +Not out of your apparel , and yet out of your suit . Am not I your Rosalind ? + +I take some joy to say you are , because I would be talking of her . + +Well , in her person I say I will not have you . + +Then in mine own person I die . + +No , faith , die by attorney . The poor world is almost six thousand years old , and in all this time there was not any man died in his own person , videlicet , in a love-cause . Troilus had his brains dashed out with a Grecian club ; yet he did what he could to die before , and he is one of the patterns of love . Leander , he would have lived many a fair year , though Hero had turned nun , if it had not been for a hot mid-summer night ; for , good youth , he went but forth to wash him in the Hellespont , and being taken with the cramp was drowned ; and the foolish coroners of that age found it was 'Hero of Sestos .' But these are all lies : men have died from time to time , and worms have eaten them , but not for love . + +I would not have my right Rosalind of this mind ; for , I protest , her frown might kill me . + +By this hand , it will not kill a fly . But come , now I will be your Rosalind in a more coming-on disposition ; and ask me what you will , I will grant it . + +Then love me , Rosalind . + +Yes , faith will I , Fridays and Saturdays and all . + +And wilt thou have me ? + +Ay , and twenty such . + +What sayest thou ? + +Are you not good ? + +I hope so . + +Why then , can one desire too much of a good thing ?Come , sister , you shall be the priest and marry us .Give me your hand , Orlando . What do you say , sister ? + +Pray thee , marry us . + +I cannot say the words . + +You must begin ,'Will you , Orlando ,' + +Go to .Will you , Orlando , have to wife this Rosalind ? + +I will . + +Ay , but when ? + +Why now ; as fast as she can marry us . + +Then you must say , 'I take thee , Rosalind , for wife .' + +I take thee , Rosalind , for wife . + +I might ask you for your commission ; but , I do take thee , Orlando , for my husband : there's a girl goes before the priest ; and , certainly , a woman's thought runs before her actions . + +So do all thoughts ; they are winged . + +Now tell me how long you would have her after you have possessed her ? + +For ever and a day . + +Say 'a day ,' without the 'ever .' No , no , Orlando ; men are April when they woo , December when they wed : maids are May when they are maids , but the sky changes when they are wives . I will be more jealous of thee than a Barbary cock-pigeon over his hen ; more clamorous than a parrot against rain ; more new-fangled than an ape ; more giddy in my desires than a monkey : I will weep for nothing , like Diana in the fountain , and I will do that when you are disposed to be merry ; I will laugh like a hyen , and that when thou art inclined to sleep . + +But will my Rosalind do so ? + +By my life , she will do as I do . + +O ! but she is wise . + +Or else she could not have the wit to do this : the wiser , the waywarder : make the doors upon a woman's wit , and it will out at the casement ; shut that , and 'twill out at the key-hole ; stop that , 'twill fly with the smoke out at the chimney . + +A man that hath a wife with such a wit , he might say , 'Wit , whither wilt ?' + +Nay , you might keep that check for it till you met your wife's wit going to your neighbour's bed . + +And what wit could wit have to excuse that ? + +Marry , to say she came to seek you there . You shall never take her without her answer , unless you take her without her tongue . O ! that woman that cannot make her fault her husband's occasion , let her never nurse her child herself , for she will breed it like a fool . + +For these two hours , Rosalind , I will leave thee . + +Alas ! dear love , I cannot lack thee two hours . + +I must attend the duke at dinner : by two o'clock I will be with thee again . + +Ay , go your ways , go your ways ; I knew what you would prove , my friends told me as much , and I thought no less : that flattering tongue of yours won me : 'tis but one cast away , and so , come , death ! Two o'clock is your hour ? + +Ay , sweet Rosalind . + +By my troth , and in good earnest , and so God mend me , and by all pretty oaths that are not dangerous , if you break one jot of your promise or come one minute behind your hour , I will think you the most pathetical break-promise , and the most hollow lover , and the most unworthy of her you call Rosalind , that may be chosen out of the gross band of the unfaithful . Therefore , beware my censure , and keep your promise . + +With no less religion than if thou wert indeed my Rosalind : so , adieu . + +Well , Time is the old justice that examines all such offenders , and let Time try . Adieu . + + +You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate : we must have your doublot and hose plucked over your head , and show the world what the bird hath done to her own nest . + +O coz , coz , coz , my pretty little coz , that thou didst know how many fathom deep I am in love ! But it cannot be sounded : my affection hath an unknown bottom , like the bay of Portugal . + +Or rather , bottomless ; that as fast as you pour affection in , it runs out . + +No ; that same wicked bastard of Venus , that was begot of thought , conceived of spleen , and born of madness , that blind rascally boy that abuses every one's eyes because his own are out , let him be judge how deep I am in love . I'll tell thee , Aliena , I cannot be out of the sight of Orlando : I'll go find a shadow and sigh till he come . + +And I'll sleep . + + +Which is he that killed the deer ? + +Sir , it was I . + +Let's present him to the duke , like a +Roman conqueror ; and it would do well to set the deer's horns upon his head for a branch of victory . Have you no song , forester , for this purpose ? + +Yes , sir . + +Sing it : 'tis no matter how it be in tune so it make noise enough . + +What shall he have that kill'd the deer ? +His leather skin and horns to wear . +Then sing him home + +Take thou no scorn to wear the horn ; +It was a crest ere thou wast born : +Thy father's father wore it , +And thy father bore it : +The horn , the horn , the lusty horn +Is not a thing to laugh to scorn + + +How say you now ? Is it not past two o'clock ? And here much Orlando ! + +I warrant you , with pure love and a troubled brain , he hath ta'en his bow and arrows , and is gone forth to sleep . Look , who comes here . + + +My errand is to you , fair youth . +My gentle Phebe did bid me give you this : + +I know not the contents ; but , as I guess +By the stern brow and waspish action +Which she did use as she was writing of it , +It bears an angry tenour : pardon me ; +I am but as a guiltless messenger . + +Patience herself would startle at this letter , +And play the swaggerer : bear this , bear all : +She says I am not fair ; that I lack manners ; +She calls me proud , and that she could not love me +Were man as rare as ph nix . 'Od's my will ! +Her love is not the hare that I do hunt : +Why writes she so to me ? Well , shepherd , well , +This is a letter of your own device . + +No , I protest , I know not the contents : +Phebe did write it . + +Come , come , you are a fool , +And turn'd into the extremity of love . +I saw her hand : she has a leathern hand , +A freestone-colour'd hand ; I verily did think +That her old gloves were on , but 'twas her hands : +She has a housewife's hand ; but that's no matter : +I say she never did invent this letter ; +This is a man's invention , and his hand . + +Sure , it is hers . + +Why , 'tis a boisterous and a cruel style , +A style for challengers ; why , she defies me , +Like Turk to Christian : woman's gentle brain +Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention , +Such Ethiop words , blacker in their effect +Than in their countenance . Will you hear the letter ? + +So please you , for I never heard it yet ; +Yet heard too much of Phebe's cruelty . + +She Phebes me . Mark how the tyrant writes . + +Art thou god to shepherd turn'd , +That a maiden's heart hath burn'd ? + +Can a woman rail thus ? + +Call you this railing ? + +Why , thy godhead laid apart , +Warr'st thou with a woman's heart ? + +Did you ever hear such railing ? + +Whiles the eye of man did woo me , +That could do no vengeance to me . + +Meaning me a beast . + +If the scorn of your bright eyne +Have power to raise such love in mine , +Alack ! in me what strange effect +Would they work in mild aspect . +Whiles you chid me , I did love , +How then might your prayers move ! +He that brings this love to thee +Little knows this love in me ; +And by him seal up thy mind ; +Whether that thy youth and kind +Will the faithful offer take +Of me and all that I can make ; +Or else by him my love deny , +And then I'll study how to die . + + +Call you this chiding ? + +Alas , poor shepherd ! + +Do you pity him ? no , he deserves no pity . Wilt thou love such a woman ? What , to make thee an instrument and play false strains upon thee ! not to be endured ! Well , go your way to her , for I see love hath made thee a tame snake , and say this to her : that if she love me , I charge her to love thee : if she will not , I will never have her , unless thou entreat for her . If you be a true lover , hence , and not a word , for here comes more company . + +Good morrow , fair ones . Pray you if you know , +Where in the purlieus of this forest stands +A sheepcote fenc'd about with olive-trees ? + +West of this place , down in the neighbour bottom : +The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream +Left on your right hand brings you to the place . +But at this hour the house doth keep itself ; +There's none within . + +If that an eye may profit by a tongue , +Then should I know you by description ; +Such garments , and such years : 'The boy is fair , +Of female favour , and bestows himself +Like a ripe sister : but the woman low , +And browner than her brother .' Are not you +The owner of the house I did inquire for ? + +It is no boast , being ask'd , to say , we are . + +Orlando doth commend him to you both , +And to that youth he calls his Rosalind +He sends this bloody napkin . Are you he ? + +I am : what must we understand by this ? + +Some of my shame ; if you will know of me +What man I am , and how , and why , and where +This handkercher was stain'd . + +I pray you , tell it . + +When last the young Orlando parted from you +He left a promise to return again +Within an hour ; and , pacing through the forest , +Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy , +Lo , what befell ! he threw his eye aside , +And mark what object did present itself : +Under an oak , whose boughs were moss'd with age , +And high top bald with dry antiquity , +A wretched ragged man , o'ergrown with hair , +Lay sleeping on his back : about his neck +A green and gilded snake had wreath'd itself , +Who with her head nimble in threats approach'd +The opening of his mouth ; but suddenly , +Seeing Orlando , it unlink'd itself , +And with indented glides did slip away +Into a bush ; under which bush's shade +A lioness , with udders all drawn dry , +Lay couching , head on ground , with catlike watch , +When that the sleeping man should stir ; for 'tis +The royal disposition of that beast +To prey on nothing that doth seem as dead : +This seen , Orlando did approach the man , +And found it was his brother , his elder brother . + +O ! I have heard him speak of that same brother ; +And he did render him the most unnatural +That liv'd 'mongst men . + +And well he might so do , +For well I know he was unnatural . + +But , to Orlando : did he leave him there , +Food to the suck'd and hungry lioness ? + +Twice did he turn his back and purpos'd so ; +But kindness , nobler ever than revenge , +And nature , stronger than his just occasion , +Made him give battle to the lioness , +Who quickly fell before him : in which hurtling +From miserable slumber I awak'd . + +Are you his brother ? + +Was it you he rescu'd ? + +Was't you that did so oft contrive to kill him ? + +'Twas I ; but 'tis not I . I do not shame +To tell you what I was , since my conversion +So sweetly tastes , being the thing I am . + +But , for the bloody napkin ? + +By and by . +When from the first to last , betwixt us two , +Tears our recountments had most kindly bath'd , +As how I came into that desert place : +In brief , he led me to the gentle duke , +Who gave me fresh array and entertainment , +Committing me unto my brother's love ; +Who led me instantly unto his cave , +There stripp'd himself ; and here , upon his arm +The lioness had torn some flesh away , +Which all this while had bled ; and now he fainted , +And cried , in fainting , upon Rosalind . +Brief , I recover'd him , bound up his wound ; +And , after some small space , being strong at heart , +He sent me hither , stranger as I am , +To tell this story , that you might excuse +His broken promise ; and to give this napkin , +Dy'd in his blood , unto the shepherd youth +That he in sport doth call his Rosalind . + +Why , how now , Ganymede ! sweet Ganymede ! + +Many will swoon when they do look on blood . + +There is more in it . Cousin ! Ganymede ! + +Look , he recovers . + +I would I were at home . + +We'll lead you thither . I pray you , will you take him by the arm ? + +Be of good cheer , youth . You a man ! You lack a man's heart . + +I do so , I confess it . Ah , sirrah ! a body would think this was well counterfeited . I pray you , tell your brother how well I counterfeited . Heigh-ho ! + +This was not counterfeit : there is too great testimony in your complexion that it was a passion of earnest . + +Counterfeit , I assure you . + +Well then , take a good heart and counterfeit to be a man . + +So I do ; but , i' faith , I should have been a woman by right . + +Come ; you look paler and paler : pray you , draw homewards . Good sir , go with us . + +That will I , for I must bear answer back How you excuse my brother , Rosalind . + +I shall devise something . But , I pray you , commend my counterfeiting to him . Will you go ? + +We shall find a time , Audrey : patience , gentle Audrey . + +Faith , the priest was good enough , for all the old gentleman's saying . + +A most wicked Sir Oliver , Audrey ; a most vile Martext . But , Audrey , there is a youth here in the forest lays claim to you . + +Ay , I know who 'tis : he hath no interest in me in the world . Here comes the man you mean . + + +It is meat and drink to me to see a clown . By my troth , we that have good wits have much to answer for : we shall be flouting ; we cannot hold . + +Good even , Audrey . + +God ye good even , William . + +And good even to you , sir . + +Good even , gentle friend . Cover thy head , cover thy head ; nay , prithee , be covered . How old are you , friend ? + +Five-and-twenty , sir . + +A ripe age . Is thy name William ? + +William , sir . + +A fair name . Wast born i' the forest here ? + +Ay , sir , I thank God . + +'Thank God ;' a good answer . Art rich ? + +Faith , sir , so so . + +'So so ,' is good , very good , very excellent good : and yet it is not ; it is but so so . Art thou wise ? + +Ay , sir , I have a pretty wit . + +Why , thou sayest well . I do now remember a saying , 'The fool doth think he is wise , but the wise man knows himself to be a fool .' The heathen philosopher , when he had a desire to eat a grape , would open his lips when he put it into his mouth ; meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat and lips to open . You do love this maid ? + +I do , sir . + +Give me your hand . Art thou learned ? + +No , sir . + +Then learn this of me : to have , is to have ; for it is a figure in rhetoric , that drink , being poured out of a cup into a glass , by filling the one doth empty the other ; for all your writers do consent that ipse is he : now , you are not ipse , for I am he . + +Which he , sir ? + +He , sir , that must marry this woman . Therefore , you clown , abandon ,which is in the vulgar , leave ,the society ,which in the boorish is , company ,of this female ,which in the common is , woman ; which together is , abandon the society of this female , or , clown , thou perishest ; or , to thy better understanding , diest ; or , to wit , I kill thee , make thee away , translate thy life into death , thy liberty into bondage . I will deal in poison with thee , or in bastinado , or in steel ; I will bandy with thee in faction ; I will o'errun thee with policy ; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways : therefore tremble , and depart . + +Do , good William . + +God rest you merry , sir . + +Our master and mistress seek you : come , away , away ! + +Trip , Audrey ! trip , Audrey ! I attend , I attend . + + +Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you should like her ? that , but seeing , you should love her ? and , loving , woo ? and , wooing , she should grant ? and will you persever to enjoy her ? + +Neither call the giddiness of it in question , the poverty of her , the small acquaintance , my sudden wooing , nor her sudden consenting ; but say with me , I love Aliena ; say with her , that she loves me ; consent with both , that we may enjoy each other : it shall be to your good ; for my father's house and all the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you , and here live and die a shepherd . + +You have my consent . Let your wedding be to-morrow : thither will I invite the duke and all's contented followers . Go you and prepare Aliena ; for , look you , here comes my Rosalind . + + +God save you , brother . + +And you , fair sister . + + +O ! my dear Orlando , how it grieves me to see thee wear thy heart in a scarf . + +It is my arm . + +I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws of a lion . + +Wounded it is , but with the eyes of a lady . + +Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to swound when he showed me your handkercher ? + +Ay , and greater wonders than that . + +O ! I know where you are . Nay , 'tis true : there was never anything so sudden but the fight of two rams , and C sar's thrasonical brag of 'I came , saw , and overcame :' for your brother and my sister no sooner met , but they looked ; no sooner looked but they loved ; no sooner loved but they sighed ; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason ; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy : and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage which they will climb incontinent , or else be incontinent before marriage . They are in the very wrath of love , and they will together : clubs cannot part them . + +They shall be married to-morrow , and I will bid the duke to the nuptial . But , O ! how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes . By so much the more shall I to-morrow be at the height of heart-heaviness , by how much I shall think my brother happy in having what he wishes for . + +Why then , to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind ? + +I can live no longer by thinking . + +I will weary you then no longer with idle talking . Know of me then ,for now I speak to some purpose ,that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit . I speak not this that you should bear a good opinion of my knowledge , insomuch I say I know you are ; neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in some little measure draw a belief from you , to do yourself good , and not to grace me . Believe then , if you please , that I can do strange things . I have , since I was three years old , conversed with a magician , most profound in his art and yet not damnable . If you do love Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out , when your brother marries Aliena , shall you marry her . I know into what straits of fortune she is driven ; and it is not impossible to me , if it appear not inconvenient to you , to set her before your eyes to-morrow , human as she is , and without any danger . + +Speakest thou in sober meanings ? + +By my life , I do ; which I tender dearly , though I say I am a magician . Therefore , put you in your best array ; bid your friends ; for if you will be married to-morrow , you shall ; and to Rosalind , if you will . Look , here comes a lover of mine , and a lover of hers . + + +Youth , you have done me much ungentleness , +To show the letter that I writ to you . + +I care not if I have : it is my study +To seem despiteful and ungentle to you . +You are there follow'd by a faithful shepherd : +Look upon him , love him ; he worships you . + +Good shepherd , tell this youth what 'tis to love . + +It is to be all made of sighs and tears ; +And so am I for Phebe . + +And I for Ganymede . + +And I for Rosalind . + +And I for no woman . + +It is to be all made of faith and service ; +And so am I for Phebe . + +And I for Ganymede . + +And I for Rosalind . + +And I for no woman . + +It is to be all made of fantasy , +All made of passion , and all made of wishes ; +All adoration , duty , and observance ; +All humbleness , all patience , and impatience ; +All purity , all trial , all obeisance ; +And so am I for Phebe . + +And so am I for Ganymede . + +And so am I for Rosalind . + +And so am I for no woman . + +If this be so , why blame you me to love you ? + +If this be so , why blame you me to love you ? + +If this be so , why blame you me to love you ? + +Who do you speak to , 'Why blame you me to love you ?' + +To her that is not here , nor doth not hear . + +Pray you , no more of this : 'tis like the howling of Irish wolves against the moon . + + +As you love Phebe , meet : and as I love no woman , I'll meet . So , fare you well : I have left you commands . + +I'll not fail , if I live . + +Nor I . + +Nor I . + + +To-morrow is the joyful day , Audrey ; to-morrow will we be married . + +I do desire it with all my heart , and I hope it is no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the world . Here come two of the banished duke's pages . + + +Well met , honest gentleman . + +By my troth , well met . Come , sit , sit , and a song . + +We are for you : sit i' the middle . + +Shall we clap into't roundly , without hawking or spitting , or saying we are hoarse , which are the only prologues to a bad voice ? + +I'faith , i'faith ; and both in a tune , like two gipsies on a horse . + +It was a lover and his lass , +With a hey , and a ho , and a hey nonino , +That o'er the green corn-field did pass , +In the spring time , the only pretty ring time , +When birds do sing , hey ding a ding , ding ; +Sweet lovers love the spring . +Between the acres of the rye , +With a hey , and a ho , and a hey nonino , +These pretty country folks would lie , +In the spring time , &c . +This carol they began that hour , +With a hey , and a ho , and a hey nonino , +How that a life was but a flower +In the spring time , &c . +And therefore take the present time , +With a hey , and a ho , and a hey nonino ; +For love is crowned with the prime +In the spring time , &c . + +Truly , young gentlemen , though there was no great matter in the ditty , yet the note was very untuneable . + +You are deceived , sir : we kept time ; we lost not our time . + +By my troth , yes ; I count it but time lost to hear such a foolish song . God be wi' you ; and God mend your voices ! Come , Audrey . + + +Dost thou believe , Orlando , that the boy +Can do all this that he hath promised ? + +I sometimes do believe , and sometimes do not ; +As those that fear they hope , and know they fear . + + +Patience once more , whiles our compact is urg'd . + + +You say , if I bring in your Rosalind , +You will bestow her on Orlando here ? + +That would I , had I kingdoms to give with her . + +And you say , you will have her when I bring her ? + +That would I , were I of all kingdoms king . + +You say , that you'll marry me , if I be willing ? + +That will I , should I die the hour after . + +But if you do refuse to marry me , +You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd ? + +So is the bargain . + +You say , that you'll have Phebe , if she will ? + +Though to have her and death were both one thing . + +I have promis'd to make all this matter even . +Keep you your word , O duke , to give your daughter ; +You yours , Orlando , to receive his daughter ; +Keep your word , Phebe , that you'll marry me , +Or else , refusing me , to wed this shepherd ; +Keep your word , Silvius , that you'll marry her , +If she refuse me : and from hence I go , +To make these doubts all even . + + +I do remember in this shepherd boy +Some lively touches of my daughter's favour . + +My lord , the first time that I ever saw him , +Methought he was a brother to your daughter ; +But , my good lord , this boy is forest-born , +And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments +Of many desperate studies by his uncle , +Whom he reports to be a great magician , +Obscured in the circle of this forest . + + +There is , sure , another flood toward , and these couples are coming to the ark . Here comes a pair of very strange beasts , which in all tongues are called fools . + +Salutation and greeting to you all ! + +Good my lord , bid him welcome . This is the motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in the forest : he hath been a courtier , he swears . + +If any man doubt that , let him put me to my purgation . I have trod a measure ; I have flattered a lady ; I have been politic with my friend , smooth with mine enemy ; I have undone three tailors ; I have had four quarrels , and like to have fought one . + +And how was that ta'en up ? + +Faith , we met , and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause . + +How seventh cause ? Good my lord , like this fellow . + +I like him very well . + +God 'ild you , sir ; I desire you of the like . I press in here , sir , amongst the rest of the country copulatives , to swear , and to forswear , according as marriage binds and blood breaks . A poor virgin , sir , an ill-favoured thing , sir , but mine own : a poor humour of mine , sir , to take that that no man else will . Rich honesty dwells like a miser , sir , in a poor house , as your pearl in your foul oyster . + +By my faith , he is very swift and sententious . + +According to the fool's bolt , sir , and such dulcet diseases . + +But , for the seventh cause ; how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause ? + +Upon a lie seven times removed :bear your body more seeming , Audrey :as thus , sir . I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard : he sent me word , if I said his beard was not cut well , he was in the mind it was : this is called 'the retort courteous .' If I sent him word again , it was not well cut , he would send me word , he cut it to please himself : this is called the 'quip modest .' If again , it was not well cut , he disabled my judgment : this is called the 'reply churlish .' If again , it was not well cut , he would answer , I spake not true : this is called the 'reproof valiant :' if again , it was not well cut , he would say , I lie : this is called the 'countercheck quarrelsome' : and so to the 'lie circumstantial ,' and the 'lie direct .' + +And how oft did you say his beard was not well cut ? + +I durst go no further than the 'lie circumstantial ,' nor he durst not give me the 'lie direct ;' and so we measured swords and parted . + +Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie ? + +O sir , we quarrel in print ; by the book , as you have books for good manners : I will name you the degrees . The first , the 'retort courteous ;' the second , the 'quip modest ;' the third , the 'reply churlish ;' the fourth , the 'reproof valiant ;' the fifth , the 'countercheck quarrelsome ;' the sixth , the 'lie with circumstance ;' the seventh , the 'lie direct .' All these you may avoid but the lie direct ; and you may avoid that too , with an 'if .' I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel ; but when the parties were met themselves , one of them thought but of an 'if ,' as 'If you said so , then I said so ;' and they shook hands and swore brothers . Your 'if' is the only peace-maker ; much virtue in 'if .' + +Is not this a rare fellow , my lord ? he's as good at any thing , and yet a fool . + +He uses his folly like a stalking-horse , and under the presentation of that he shoots his wit . + + +Then is there mirth in heaven , +When earthly things made even +Atone together . +Good duke , receive thy daughter ; +Hymen from heaven brought her ; +Yea , brought her hither , +That thou mightst join her hand with his , +Whose heart within her bosom is . + +To you I give myself , for I am yours . + + +To you I give myself , for I am yours . + +If there be truth in sight , you are my daughter . + +If there be truth in sight , you are my Rosalind . + +If sight and shape be true , +Why then , my love adieu ! + +I'll have no father , if you be not he . + + +I'll have no husband , if you be not he : + + +Nor ne'er wed woman , if you be not she . + + +Peace , ho ! I bar confusion : +'Tis I must make conclusion +Of these most strange events : +Here's eight that must take hands +To join in Hymen's bands , +If truth holds true contents . + + +You and you no cross shall part : + + +You and you are heart in heart : + + +You to his love must accord , +Or have a woman to your lord : + + +You and you are sure together , +As the winter to foul weather . +Whiles a wedlock hymn we sing , +Feed yourselves with questioning , +That reason wonder may diminish , +How thus we met , and these things finish . + + +Wedding is great Juno's crown : +O blessed bond of board and bed ! +'Tis Hymen peoples every town ; +High wedlock then be honoured . +Honour , high honour , and renown , +To Hymen , god of every town ! + +O my dear niece ! welcome thou art to me : +Even daughter , welcome in no less degree . + +I will not eat my word , now thou art mine ; +Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine . + + +Let me have audience for a word or two : +I am the second son of old Sir Rowland , +That bring these tidings to this fair assembly . +Duke Frederick , hearing how that every day +Men of great worth resorted to this forest , +Address'd a mighty power , which were on foot +In his own conduct , purposely to take +His brother here and put him to the sword : +And to the skirts of this wild wood he came , +Where , meeting with an old religious man , +After some question with him , was converted +Both from his enterprise and from the world ; +His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother , +And all their lands restor'd to them again +That were with him exil'd . This to be true , +I do engage my life . + +Welcome , young man ; +Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding : +To one , his lands withheld ; and to the other +A land itself at large , a potent dukedom . +First , in this forest , let us do those ends +That here were well begun and well begot ; +And after , every of this happy number +That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us , +Shall share the good of our returned fortune , +According to the measure of their states . +Meantime , forget this new-fall'n dignity , +And fall into our rustic revelry . +Play , music ! and you , brides and bridegrooms all , +With measure heap'd in joy , to the measures fall . + +Sir , by your patience . If I heard you rightly , +The duke hath put on a religious life , +And thrown into neglect the pompous court ? + +He hath . + +To him will I : out of these convertites +There is much matter to be heard and learn'd . + + +You to your former honour I bequeath ; +Your patience and your virtue well deserve it : + + +You to a love that your true faith doth merit : + + +You to your land , and love , and great allies : + + +You to a long and well-deserved bed : + + +And you to wrangling ; for thy loving voyage +Is but for two months victual'd . So , to your pleasures : +I am for other than for dancing measures . + +Stay , Jaques , stay . + +To see no pastime , I : what you would have +I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave . + + +Proceed , proceed : we will begin these rites , +As we do trust they'll end , in true delights . + +It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue ; but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord the prologue . If it be true that good wine needs no bush , 'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue ; yet to good wine they do use good bushes , and good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues . What a case am I in then , that am neither a good epilogue , nor cannot insinuate with you in the behalf of a good play ! I am not furnished like a beggar , therefore to beg will not become me : my way is , to conjure you ; and I'll begin with the women . I charge you , O women ! for the love you bear to men , to like as much of this play as please you : and I charge you , O men ! for the love you bear to women ,as I perceive by your simpering none of you hate them ,that between you and the women , the play may please . If I were a woman I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me , complexions that liked me , and breaths that I defied not ; and , I am sure , as many as have good beards , or good faces , or sweet breaths , will , for my kind offer , when I make curtsy , bid me farewell . + +CYMBELINE + +You do not meet a man but frowns ; our bloods +No more obey the heavens than our courtiers +Still seem as does the king . + +But what's the matter ? + +His daughter , and the heir of 's kingdom , whom +He purpos'd to his wife's sole son ,a widow +That late he married ,hath referr'd herself +Unto a poor but worthy gentleman . She's wedded ; +Her husband banish'd , she imprison'd : all +Is outward sorrow , though I think the king +Be touch'd at very heart . + +None but the king ? + +He that hath lost her too ; so is the queen , +That most desir'd the match ; but not a courtier , +Although they wear their faces to the bent +Of the king's looks , hath a heart that is not +Glad at the thing they scowl at . + +And why so ? + +He that hath miss'd the princess is a thing +Too bad for bad report ; and he that hath her , +I mean that married her , alack ! good man ! +And therefore banish'd is a creature such +As , to seek through the regions of the earth +For one his like , there would be something failing +In him that should compare . I do not think +So fair an outward and such stuff within +Endows a man but he . + +You speak him far . + +I do extend him , sir , within himself , +Crush him together rather than unfold +His measure duly . + +What's his name and birth ? + +I cannot delve him to the root : his father +Was called Sicilius , who did join his honour +Against the Romans with Cassibelan , +But had his titles by Tenantius whom +He serv'd with glory and admir'd success , +So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus ; +And had , besides this gentleman in question , +Two other sons , who in the wars o' the time +Died with their swords in hand ; for which their father +Then old and fond of issue took such sorrow +That he quit being , and his gentle lady , +Big of this gentleman , our theme , deceas'd +As he was born . The king , he takes the babe +To his protection ; calls him Posthumus Leonatus ; +Breeds him and makes him of his bedchamber , +Puts to him all the learnings that his time +Could make him the receiver of ; which he took , +As we do air , fast as 'twas minister'd , +And in's spring became a harvest ; liv'd in court , +Which rare it is to do most prais'd , most lov'd ; +A sample to the youngest , to the more mature +A glass that feated them , and to the graver +A child that guided dotards ; to his mistress , +For whom he now is banish'd , her own price +Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue ; +By her election may be truly read +What kind of man he is . + +I honour him , +Even out of your report . But pray you , tell me , +Is she sole child to the king ? + +His only child . +He had twosons ,if this be worth your hearing , +Mark it ,the eldest of them at three years old , +I' the swathing clothes the other , from their nursery +Were stol'n ; and to this hour no guess in knowledge +Which way they went . + +How long is this ago ? + +Some twenty years . + +That a king's children should be so convey'd , +So slackly guarded , and the search so slow , +That could not trace them ! + +Howsoe'er 'tis strange , +Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at , +Yet is it true , sir . + +I do well believe you . + +We must forbear . Here comes the gentleman , +The queen , and princess . + +No , be assur'd you shall not find me , daughter , +After the slander of most step-mothers , +Evil-ey'd unto you ; you're my prisoner , but +Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys +That lock up your restraint . For you , Posthumus , +So soon as I can win the offended king , +I will be known your advocate ; marry , yet +The fire of rage is in him , and 'twere good +You lean'd unto his sentence with what patience +Your wisdom may inform you . + +Please your highness , +I will from hence to-day . + +You know the peril : +I'll fetch a turn about the garden , pitying +The pangs of barr'd affections , though the king +Hath charg'd you should not speak together . + + +O ! +Dissembling courtesy . How fine this tyrant +Can tickle where she wounds ! My dearest husband , +I something fear my father's wrath ; but nothing , +Always reserv'd my holy duty ,what +His rage can do on me . You must be gone ; +And I shall here abide the hourly shot +Of angry eyes , not comforted to live , +But that there is this jewel in the world +That I may see again . + +My queen ! my mistress ! +O lady , weep no more , lest I give cause +To be suspected of more tenderness +Than doth become a man . I will remain +The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth . +My residence in Rome at one Philario's , +Who to my father was a friend , to me +Known but by letter ; thither write , my queen , +And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send , +Though ink be made of gall . + + +Be brief , I pray you ; +If the king come , I shall incur I know not +How much of his displeasure . + +Yet I'll move him +To walk this way . I never do him wrong , +But he does buy my injuries to be friends , +Pays dear for my offences . + + +Should we be taking leave +As long a term as yet we have to live , +The loathness to depart would grow . Adieu ! + +Nay , stay a little : +Were you but riding forth to air yourself +Such parting were too petty . Look here , love ; +This diamond was my mother's ; take it , heart ; +But keep it till you woo another wife , +When Imogen is dead . + +How ! how ! another ? +You gentle gods , give me but this I have , +And sear up my embracements from a next +With bonds of death !Remain , remain thou here + +While sense can keep it on ! And , sweetest , fairest , +As I my poor self did exchange for you , +To your so infinite loss , so in our trifles +I still win of you ; for my sake wear this ; +It is a manacle of love ; I'll place it +Upon this fairest prisoner . + + +O the gods ! +When shall we see again ? + + +Alack ! the king ! + +Thou basest thing , avoid ! hence , from my sight ! +If after this command thou fraught the court +With thy unworthiness , thou diest . Away ! +Thou'rt poison to my blood . + +The gods protect you +And bless the good remainders of the court ! +I am gone . + + +There cannot be a pinch in death +More sharp than this is . + +O disloyal thing , +That shouldst repair my youth , thou heap'st instead +A year's age on me . + +I beseech you , sir , +Harm not yourself with your vexation ; +I am senseless of your wrath ; a touch more rare +Subdues all pangs , all fears . + +Past grace ? obedience ? + +Past hope , and in despair ; that way , past grace . + +That mightst have had the sole son of my queen ! + +O bless'd , that I might not ! I chose an eagle +And did avoid a puttock . + +Thou took'st a beggar ; wouldst have made my throne +A seat for baseness . + +No ; I rather added +A lustre to it . + +O thou vile one ! + +Sir , +It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus ; +You bred him as my playfellow , and he is +A man worth any woman , overbuys me +Almost the sum he pays . + +What ! art thou mad ? + +Almost , sir ; heaven restore me ! Would I were +A neat-herd's daughter , and my Leonatus +Our neighbour shepherd's son ! + +Thou foolish thing ! + + +They were again together ; you have done +Not after our command . Away with her , + +And pen her up . + +Beseech your patience . Peace ! +Dear lady daughter , peace ! Sweet sovereign , +Leave us to ourselves , and make yourself some comfort +Out of your best advice . + +Nay , let her languish +A drop of blood a day ; and , being aged , +Die of this folly ! + + +Fie ! you must give way : + +Here is your servant . How now , sir ! What news ? + +My lord your son drew on my master . + +Ha ! +No harm , I trust , is done ? + +There might have been , +But that my master rather play'd than fought , +And had no help of anger ; they were parted +By gentlemen at hand . + +I am very glad on 't . + +Your son's my father's friend ; he takes his part . +To draw upon an exile ! O brave sir ! +I would they were in Afric both together , +Myself by with a needle , that I might prick +The goer-back . Why came you from your master ? + +On his command : he would not suffer me +To bring him to the haven ; left these notes +Of what commands I should be subject to , +When 't pleas'd you to employ me . + +This hath been +Your faithful servant ; I dare lay mine honour +He will remain so . + +I humbly thank your highness . + +Pray , walk awhile . + +About some half-hour hence , +I pray you , speak with me . You shall at least +Go see my lord aboard ; for this time leave me . + + +Sir , I would advise you to shift a shirt ; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice . Where air comes out , air comes in ; there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent . + +If my shirt were bloody , them to shift it . Have I hurt him ? + +No faith ; not so much as his patience . + +Hurt him ! his body's a passable carcass if he be not hurt ; it is a throughfare for steel if it be not hurt . + +His steel was in debt ; it went o' the backside the town . + +The villain would not stand me . + +No ; but he fled forward still , toward your face . + +Stand you ! You have land enough of your own ; but he added to your having , gave you some ground . + +As many inches as you have oceans . Puppies ! + +I would they had not come between us . + +So would I till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground . + +And that she should love this fellow and refuse me ! + +If it be a sin to make a true election , she is damned . + +Sir , as I told you always , her beauty and her brain go not together ; she's a good sign , but I have seen small reflection of her wit . + +She shines not upon fools , lest the reflection should hurt her . + +Come , I'll to my chamber . Would there had been some hurt done ! + +I wish not so ; unless it had been the fall of an ass , which is no great hurt . + +You'll go with us ? + +I'll attend your lordship . + +Nay , come , let's go together . + +Well , my lord . + + +I would thou grew'st unto the shores of the haven , +And question'dst every sail : if he should write , +And I not have it , 'twere a paper lost , +As offer'd mercy is . What was the last +That he spake to thee ? + +It was his queen , his queen ! + +Then wav'd his handkerchief ? + +And kiss'd it , madam . + +Senseless linen , happier therein than I ! +And that was all ? + +No , madam ; for so long +As he could make me with this eye or ear +Distinguish him from others , he did keep +The deck , with glove , or hat , or handkerchief , +Still waving , as the fits and stirs of 's mind +Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on , +How swift his ship . + +Thou shouldst have made him +As little as a crow , or less , ere left +To after-eye him . + +Madam , so I did . + +I would have broke mine eye-strings , crack'd them , but +To look upon him , till the diminution +Of space had pointed him sharp as my needle , +Nay , follow'd him , till he had melted from +The smallness of a gnat to air , and then +Have turn'd mine eye , and wept . But , good Pisanio , +When shall we hear from him ? + +Be assur'd , madam , +With his next vantage . + +I did not take my leave of him , but had +Most pretty things to say ; ere I could tell him +How I would think on him at certain hours +Such thoughts and such , or I could make him swear +The shes of Italy should not betray +Mine interest and his honour , or have charg'd him , +At the sixth hour of morn , at noon , at mid-night , +To encounter me with orisons , for then +I am in heaven for him ; or ere I could +Give him that parting kiss which I had set +Betwixt two charming words , comes in my father , +And like the tyrannous breathing of the north +Shakes all our buds from growing . + + +The queen , madam , +Desires your highness' company . + +Those things I bid you do , get them dispatch'd . +I will attend the queen . + +Madam , I shall . + + +Believe it , sir , I have seen him in Britain ; he was then of a crescent note , expected to prove so worthy as since he hath been allowed the name of ; but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration , though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side and I to peruse him by items . + +You speak of him when he was less furnished than now he is with that which makes him both without and within . + +I have seen him in France : we had very many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he . + +This matter of marrying his king's daughter ,wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than his own ,words him , I doubt not , a great deal from the matter . + +And then , his banishment . + +Ay , and the approbation of those that weep this lamentable divorce under her colours are wonderfully to extend him ; be it but to fortify her judgment , which else an easy battery might lay flat , for taking a beggar without less quality . But how comes it , he is to sojourn with you ? How creeps acquaintance ? + +His father and I were soldiers together ; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life . Here comes the Briton : let him be so entertained amongst you as suits , with gentlemen of your knowing , to a stranger of his quality . + +I beseech you all , be better known to this gentleman , whom I commend to you , as a noble friend of mine ; how worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter , rather than story him in his own hearing . + +Sir , we have known together in Orleans . + +Since when I have been debtor to you for courtesies , which I will be ever to pay and yet pay still . + +Sir , you o'er-rate my poor kindness . I was glad I did atone my countryman and you ; it had been pity you should have been put together with so mortal a purpose as then each bore , upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature . + +By your pardon , sir , I was then a young traveller ; rather shunned to go even with what I heard than in my every action to be guided by others' experiences ; but , upon my mended judgment ,if I offend not to say it is mended ,my quarrel was not altogether slight . + +Faith , yes , to be put to the arbitrement of swords , and by such two that would by all likelihood have confounded one the other , or have fallen both . + +Can we , with manners , ask what was the difference ? + +Safely , I think . 'Twas a contention in public , which may , without contradiction , suffer the report . It was much like an argument that fell out last night , where each of us fell in praise of our country mistresses ; this gentleman at that time vouching and upon warrant of bloody affirmation his to be more fair , virtuous , wise , chaste , constant , qualified , and less attemptable , than any the rarest of our ladies in France . + +That lady is not now living , or this gentleman's opinion by this worn out . + +She holds her virtue still and I my mind . + +You must not so far prefer her 'fore ours of Italy . + +Being so far provoked as I was in France , I would abate her nothing , though I profess myself her adorer , not her friend . + +As fair and as good a kind of hand-in-hand comparison had been something too fair and too good for any lady in Britain . If she went before others I have seen , as that diamond of yours outlustres many I have beheld , I could not but believe she excelled many ; but I have not seen the most precious diamond that is , nor you the lady . + +I praised her as I rated her ; so do I my stone . + +What do you esteem it at ? + +More than the world enjoys . + +Either your unparagoned mistress is dead , or she's outprized by a trifle . + +You are mistaken ; the one may be sold , or given ; or if there were wealth enough for the purchase , or merit for the gift ; the other is not a thing for sale , and only the gift of the gods . + +Which the gods have given you ? + +Which , by their graces , I will keep . + +You may wear her in little yours , but , you know , strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds . Your ring may be stolen , too ; so your brace of unprizeable estimations , the one is but frail and the other causal ; a cunning thief , or a that way accomplished courtier , would hazard the winning both of first and last . + +Your Italy contains none so accomplished a courtier to convince the honour of my mistress , if , in the holding or loss of that , you term her frail . I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves ; notwithstanding I fear not my ring . + +Let us leave here , gentlemen . + +Sir , with all my heart . This worthy signior , I thank him , makes no stranger of me ; we are familiar at first . + +With five times so much conversation I should get ground of your fair mistress , make her go back , even to the yielding , had I admittance and opportunity to friend . + +No , no . + +I dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring , which , in my opinion , o'ervalues it something ; but I make my wager rather against your confidence than her reputation ; and , to bar your offence herein too , I durst attempt it against any lady in the world . + +You are a great deal abused in too bold a persuasion ; and I doubt not you sustain what you're worthy of by your attempt . + +What's that ? + +A repulse ; though your attempt , as you call it , deserves more ,a punishment too . + +Gentlemen , enough of this ; it came in too suddenly ; let it die as it was born , and , I pray you , be better acquainted . + +Would I had put my estate and my neighbour's on the approbation of what I have spoke ! + +What lady would you choose to assail ? + +Yours ; whom in constancy you think stands so safe . I will lay you ten thousand ducats to your ring , that , commend me to the court where your lady is , with no more advantage than the opportunity of a second conference , and I will bring from thence that honour of hers which you imagine so reserved . + +I will wage against your gold , gold to it : my ring I hold dear as my finger ; 'tis part of it . + +You are afraid , and therein the wiser . If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram , you cannot preserve it from tainting . But I see you have some religion in you , that you fear . + +This is but a custom in your tongue ; you bear a graver purpose , I hope . + +I am the master of my speeches , and would undergo what's spoken , I swear . + +Will you ? I shall but lend my diamond till your return . Let there be covenants drawn between 's : my mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking ; I dare you to this match . Here's my ring . + +I will have it no lay . + +By the gods , it is one . If I bring you no sufficient testimony that I have enjoyed the dearest bodily part of your mistress , my ten thousand ducats are yours ; so is your diamond too : if I come off , and leave her in such honour as you have trust in , she your jewel , this your jewel , and my gold are yours ; provided I have your commendation for my more free entertainment . + +I embrace these conditions ; let us have articles betwixt us . Only , thus far you shall answer : if you make your voyage upon her and give me directly to understand that you have prevailed , I am no further your enemy ; she is not worth our debate : if she remain unseduced ,you not making it appear otherwise ,for your ill opinion , and the assault you have made to her chastity , you shall answer me with your sword . + +Your hand ; a covenant . We will have these things set down by lawful counsel , and straight away for Britain , lest the bargain should catch cold and starve . I will fetch my gold and have our two wagers recorded . + +Agreed . + + +Will this hold , think you ? + +Signior Iachimo will not from it . Pray , let us follow 'em . + + +Whiles yet the dew 's on ground , gather those flowers : +Make haste ; who has the note of them ? + +I , madam . + +Dispatch . + +Now , Master doctor , have you brought those drugs ? + +Pleaseth your highness , ay ; here they are , madam : + +But I beseech your Grace , without offence , +My conscience bids me ask ,wherefore you have +Commanded of me these most poisonous compounds , +Which are the movers of a languishing death , +But though slow , deadly ? + +I wonder , doctor , +Thou ask'st me such a question : have I not been +Thy pupil long ? Hast thou not learn'd me how +To make perfumes ? distil ? preserve ? yea , so +That our great king himself doth woo me oft +For my confections ? Having thus far proceeded , +Unless thou think'st me devilish ,is 't not meet +That I did amplify my judgment in +Other conclusions ? I will try the forces +Of these thy compounds on such creatures as +We count not worth the hanging ,but none human , +To try the vigour of them and apply +Allayments to their act , and by them gather +Their several virtues and effects . + +Your highness +Shall from this practice but make hard your heart ; +Besides , the seeing these effects will be +Both noisome and infectious . + +O ! content thee . + + +Here comes a flattering rascal ; upon him +Will I first work : he's for his master , +And enemy to my son . How now , Pisanio : +Doctor , your service for this time is ended ; + +Take your own way . + +I do suspect you , madam ; +But you shall do no harm . + +Hark thee , a word . + +I do not like her . She doth think she has +Strange lingering poisons ; I do know her spirit , +And will not trust one of her malice with +A drug of such damn'd nature . Those she has +Will stupify and dull the sense awhile ; +Which first , perchance , she'll prove on cats and dogs , +Then afterward up higher ; but there is +No danger in what show of death it makes , +More than the locking-up the spirits a time , +To be more fresh , reviving . She is fool'd +With a most false effect ; and I the truer , +So to be false with her . + +No further service , doctor , +Until I send for thee . + +I humbly take my leave . + + +Weeps she still , sayst thou ? Dost thou think in time +She will not quench , and let instructions enter +Where folly now possesses ? Do thou work : +When thou shalt bring me word she loves my son , +I'll tell thee on the instant thou art then +As great as is thy master ; greater , for +His fortunes all lie speechless , and his name +Is at last gasp ; return he cannot , nor +Continue where he is ; to shift his being +Is to exchange one misery with another , +And every day that comes comes to decay +A day's work in him . What shalt thou expect , +To be depender on a thing that leans , +Who cannot be new built , nor has no friends , +So much as but to prop him ? + +Thou tak'st up +Thou know'st not what ; but take it for thy labour : +It is a thing I made , which hath the king +Five times redeem'd from death ; I do not know +What is more cordial : nay , I prithee , take it ; +It is an earnest of a further good +That I mean to thee . Tell thy mistress how +The case stands with her ; do 't as from thyself . +Think what a chance thou changest on , but think +Thou hast thy mistress still , to boot , my son , +Who shall take notice of thee . I'll move the king +To any shape of thy preferment such +As thou'lt desire ; and then myself , I chiefly , +That set thee on to this desert , am bound +To load thy merit richly . Call my women ; +Think on my words . + +A sly and constant knave , +Not to be shak'd ; the agent for his master , +And the remembrancer of her to hold +The hand-fast to her lord . I have given him that +Which , if he take , shall quite unpeople her +Of leigers for her sweet , and which she after , +Except she bend her humour , shall be assur'd +To taste of too . + + +So , so ;well done , well done . +The violets , cowslips , and the prime-roses +Bear to my closet . Fare thee well , Pisanio : +Think on my words . + +And shall do : +But when to my good lord I prove untrue , +I'll choke myself ; there's all I'll do for you . + + +A father cruel , and a step-dame false ; +A foolish suitor to a wedded lady , +That hath her husband banish'd : O ! that husband , +My supreme crown of grief ! and those repeated +Vexations of it ! Had I been thief-stol'n , +As my two brothers , happy ! but most miserable +Is the desire that's glorious : bless'd be those , +How mean so'er , that have their honest wills , +Which seasons comfort . Who may this be ? Fie ! + + +Madam , a noble gentleman of Rome , +Comes from my lord with letters . + +Change you , madam ? +The worthy Leonatus is in safety , +And greets your highness dearly . + + +Thanks , good sir : +You are kindly welcome . + +All of her that is out of door most rich ! +If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare , +She is alone the Arabian bird , and I +Have lost the wager . Boldness be my friend ! +Arm me , audacity , from head to foot ! +Or , like the Parthian , I shall flying fight ; +Rather , directly fly . + +He is one of the noblest note , to whose kindnesses I am most infinitely tied . Reflect upon him accordingly , as you value your truest +So far I read aloud ; +But even the very middle of my heart +Is warm'd by the rest , and takes it thankfully . +You are as welcome , worthy sir , as I +Have words to bid you ; and shall find it so +In all that I can do . + +Thanks , fairest lady . +What ! are men mad ? Hath nature given them eyes +To see this vaulted arch , and the rich crop +Of sea and land , which can distinguish 'twixt +The fiery orbs above and the twinn'd stones +Upon the number'd beach ? and can we not +Partition make with spectacles so precious +'Twixt fair and foul ? + +What makes your admiration ? + +It cannot be i' the eye ; for apes and monkeys +'Twixt two such shes would chatter this way and +Contemn with mows the other ; nor i' the judgment , +For idiots in this case of favour would +Be wisely definite ; nor i' the appetite ; +Sluttery to such neat excellence oppos'd +Should make desire vomit emptiness , +Not so allur'd to feed . + +What is the matter , trow ? + +The cloyed will , +That satiate yet unsatisfied desire , that tub +Both fill'd and running ,ravening first the lamb , +Longs after for the garbage . + +What , dear sir , +Thus raps you ? are you well ? + +Thanks , madam , well . + + +Beseech you , sir , +Desire my man's abode where I did leave him ; +He's strange and peevish . + +I was going , sir , +To give him welcome . + + +Continues well my lord his health , beseech you ? + +Well , madam . + +Is he dispos'd to mirth ? I hope he is . + +Exceeding pleasant ; none a stranger there +So merry and so gamesome : he is call'd +The Briton reveller . + +When he was here +He did incline to sadness , and oft-times +Not knowing why . + +I never saw him sad . +There is a Frenchman his companion , one , +An eminent monsieur , that , it seems , much loves +A Gallian girl at home ; he furnaces +The thick sighs from him , whiles the jolly Briton +Your lord , I mean laughs from 's free lungs , cries , 'O ! +Can my sides hold , to think that man , who knows +By history , report , or his own proof , +What woman is , yea , what she cannot choose +But must be , will his free hours languish for +Assured bondage ?' + +Will my lord say so ? + +Ay , madam , with his eyes in flood with laughter : +It is a recreation to be by +And hear him mock the Frenchman ; but , heavens know , +Some men are much to blame . + +Not he , I hope . + +Not he ; but yet heaven's bounty towards him might +Be us'd more thankfully . In himself , 'tis much ; +In you ,which I account his beyond all talents , +Whilst I am bound to wonder , I am bound +To pity too . + +What do you pity , sir ? + +Two creatures , heartily . + +Am I one , sir ? +You look on me : what wrack discern you in me +Deserves your pity ? + +Lamentable ! What ! +To hide me from the radiant sun and solace +I' the dungeon by a snuff ! + +I pray you , sir , +Deliver with more openness your answers +To my demands . Why do you pity me ? + +That others do , +I was about to say , enjoy your But +It is an office of the gods to venge it , +Not mine to speak on 't . + +You do seem to know +Something of me , or what concerns me ; pray you , +Since doubting things go ill often hurts more +Than to be sure they do ; for certainties +Either are past remedies , or , timely knowing , +The remedy then born ,discover to me +What both you spur and stop . + +Had I this cheek +To bathe my lips upon ; this hand , whose touch , +Whose every touch , would force the feeler's soul +To the oath of loyalty ; this object , which +Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye , +Firing it only here ; should I damn'd then +Slaver with lips as common as the stairs +That mount the Capitol ; join gripes with hands +Made hard with hourly falsehood ,falsehood , as +With labour ;then by-peeping in an eye , +Base and illustrous as the smoky light +That's fed with stinking tallow ; it were fit +That all the plagues of hell should at one time +Encounter such revolt . + +My lord , I fear , +Has forgot Britain . + +And himself . Not I , +Inclin'd to this intelligence , pronounce +The beggary of his change ; but 'tis your graces +That from my mutest conscience to my tongue +Charms this report out . + +Let me hear no more . + +O dearest soul ! your cause doth strike my heart +With pity , that doth make me sick . A lady +So fair ,and fasten'd to an empery +Would make the great'st king double ,to be partner'd +With tom-boys hir'd with that self-exhibition +Which your own coffers yield ! with diseas'd ventures +That play with all infirmities for gold +Which rottenness can lend nature ! such boil'd stuff +As well might poison poison ! Be reveng'd ; +Or she that bore you was no queen , and you +Recoil from your great stock . + +Reveng'd ! +How should I be reveng'd ? If this be true , +As I have such a heart , that both mine ears +Must not in haste abuse ,if it be true , +How should I be reveng'd ? + +Should be make me +Live like Diana's priest , betwixt cold sheets , +Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps , +In your despite , upon your purse ? Revenge it . +I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure , +More noble than that runagate to your bed , +And will continue fast to your affection , +Still close as sure . + +What ho , Pisanio ! + +Let me my service tender on your lips . + +Away ! I do condemn mine ears that have +So long attended thee . If thou wert honourable , +Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue , not +For such an end thou seek'st ; as base as strange . +Thou wrong'st a gentleman , who is as far +From thy report as thou from honour , and +Solicit'st here a lady that disdains +Thee and the devil alike . What ho , Pisanio ! +The king my father shall be made acquainted +Of thy assault ; if he shall think it fit , +A saucy stranger in his court to mart +As in a Romish stew and to expound +His beastly mind to us , he hath a court +He little cares for and a daughter who +He not respects at all . What ho , Pisanio ! + +O happy Leonatus ! I may say : +The credit that thy lady hath of thee +Deserves thy trust , and thy most perfect goodness +Her assur'd credit . Blessed live you long ! +A lady to the worthiest sir that ever +Country call'd his ; and you his mistress , only +For the most worthiest fit . Give me your pardon . +I have spoken this , to know if your affiance +Were deeply rooted , and shall make your lord +That which he is , new o'er ; and he is one +The truest manner'd ; such a holy witch +That he enchants societies into him ; +Half all men's hearts are his . + +You make amends . + +He sits 'mongst men like a descended god : +He hath a kind of honour sets him off , +More than a mortal seeming . Be not angry , +Most mighty princess , that I have adventur'd +To try your taking of a false report ; which hath +Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment +In the election of a sir so rare , +Which you know cannot err . The love I bear him +Made me to fan you thus ; but the gods made you , +Unlike all others , chaffless . Pray , your pardon . + +All's well , sir . Take my power i' the court for yours . + +My humble thanks . I had almost forget +To entreat your Grace but in a small request , +And yet of moment too , for it concerns +Your lord , myself , and other noble friends , +Are partners in the business . + +Pray , what is 't ? + +Some dozen Romans of us and your lord , +The best feather of our wing , have mingled sums +To buy a present for the emperor ; +Which I , the factor for the rest , have done +In France ; 'tis plate of rare device , and jewels +Of rich and exquisite form ; their values great ; +And I am something curious , being strange , +To have them in safe stowage . May it please you +To take them in protection ? + +Willingly ; +And pawn mine honour for their safety : since +My lord hath interest in them , I will keep them +In my bedchamber . + +They are in a trunk , +Attended by my men ; I will make bold +To send them to you , only for this night ; +I must aboard to-morrow . + +O ! no , no . + +Yes , I beseech , or I shall short my word +By lengthening my return . From Gallia +I cross'd the seas on purpose and on promise +To see your Grace . + +I thank you for your pains ; +But not away to-morrow ! + +O ! I must , madam : +Therefore I shall beseech you , if you please +To greet your lord with writing , do 't to-night : +I have outstood my time , which is material +To the tender of our present . + +I will write . +Send your trunk to me ; it shall safe be kept , +And truly yielded you . You're very welcome . + +Was there ever man had such luck ! when I kissed the jack , upon an up-cast to be hit away ! I had a hundred pound on 't ; and then a whoreson jackanapes must take me up for swearing , as if I borrowed mine oaths of him and might not spend them at my pleasure . + +What got he by that ? You have broke his pate with your bowl . + +If his wit had been like him that broke it , it would have run all out . + +When a gentleman is disposed to swear , it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths , ha ? + +No , my lord ; + +nor crop the ears of them . + +Whoreson dog ! I give him satisfaction ! +Would he had been one of my rank ! + +To have smelt like a fool . + +I am not vexed more at any thing in the earth . A pox on 't ! I had rather not be so noble as I am . They dare not fight with me because of the queen my mother . Every Jack-slave hath his bellyful of fighting , and I must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match . + +You are cock and capon too ; and you crow , cock , with your comb on . + +Sayest thou ? + +It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to . + +No , I know that ; but it is fit I should commit offence to my inferiors . + +Ay , it is fit for your lordship only . + +Why , so I say . + +Did you hear of a stranger that's come to court to-night ? + +A stranger , and I not know on 't ! + +He's a strange fellow himself , and knows it not . + +There's an Italian come ; and 'tis thought , one of Leonatus' friends . + +Leonatus ! a banished rascal ; and he's another , whatsoever he be . Who told you of this stranger ? + +One of your lordship's pages . + +Is it fit I went to look upon him ? Is there no derogation in 't ? + +You cannot derogate , my lord . + +Not easily , I think . + +You are a fool , granted ; therefore your issues , being foolish , do not derogate . + +Come , I'll go see this Italian . What I have lost to-day at bowls I'll win to-night of him . Come , go . + +I'll attend your lordship . + +That such a crafty devil as is his mother +Should yield the world this ass ! a woman that +Bears all down with her brain , and this her son +Cannot take two from twenty for his heart +And leave eighteen . Alas ! poor princess , +Thou divine Imogen , what thou endur'st +Betwixt a father by thy step-dame govern'd , +A mother hourly coining plots , a wooer +More hateful than the foul expulsion is +Of thy dear husband , than that horrid act +Of the divorce he'd make . The heavens hold firm +The walls of thy dear honour ; keep unshak'd +That temple , thy fair mind ; that thou mayst stand , +To enjoy thy banish'd lord and this great land ! + + +Who's there ? my woman Helen ? + +Please you , madam . + +What hour is it ? + +Almost midnight , madam . + +I have read three hours then ; mine eyes are weak ; +Fold down the leaf where I have left ; to bed : +Take not away the taper , leave it burning , +And if thou canst awake by four o' the clock , +I prithee , call me . Sleep has seized me wholly . + +To your protection I commend me , gods ! +From fairies and the tempters of the night +Guard me , beseech ye ! + + +The crickets sing , and man's o'erlabour'd sense +Repairs itself by rest . Our Tarquin thus +Did softly press the rushes ere he waken'd +The chastity he wounded . Cytherea , +How bravely thou becom'st thy bed ! freshlily , +And whiter than the sheets ! That I might touch ! +But kiss : one kiss ! Rubies unparagon'd , +How dearly they do 't ! 'Tis her breathing that +Perfumes the chamber thus ; the flame of the taper +Bows toward her , and would under-peep her lids , +To see the enclosed lights , now canopied +Under these windows , white and azure lac'd +With blue of heaven's own tinct . But my design , +To note the chamber : I will write all down : +Such and such pictures ; there the window ; such +Th' adornment of her bed ; the arras , figures , +Why , such and such ; and the contents o' the story . +Ah ! but some natural notes about her body , +Above ten thousand meaner moveables +Would testify , to enrich mine inventory . +O sleep ! thou ape of death , lie dull upon her ; +And be her senses but as a monument +Thus in a chapel lying . Come off , come off ; + +As slippery as the Gordian knot was hard ! +'Tis mine ; and this will witness outwardly , +As strongly as the conscience does within , +To the madding of her lord . On her left breast +A mole cinque-spotted , like the crimson drops +I' the bottom of a cowslip : here's a voucher ; +Stronger than ever law could make : this secret +Will force him think I have pick'd the lock and ta'en +The treasure of her honour . No more . To what end ? +Why should I write this down , that's riveted , +Screw'd to my memory ? She hath been reading late +The tale of Tereus ; here the leaf's turn'd down +Where Philomel gave up . I have enough : +To the trunk again , and shut the spring of it . +Swift , swift , you dragons of the night , that dawning +May bare the raven's eye ! I lodge in fear ; +Though this a heavenly angel , hell is here . + +One , two , three : time , time ! + + +Your lordship is the most patient man in loss , the most coldest that ever turned up ace . + +It would make any man cold to lose . + +But not every man patient after the noble temper of your lordship . You are most hot and furious when you win . + +Winning will put any man into courage . +If I could get this foolish Imogen , I should have gold enough . It's almost morning , is 't not ? + +Day , my lord . + +I would this music would come . I am advised to give her music o' mornings ; they say it will penetrate . + + +Come on ; tune . If you can penetrate her with your fingering , so ; we'll try with tongue too : if none will do , let her remain ; but I'll never give o'er . First , a very excellent good-conceited thing ; after , a wonderful sweet air , with admirable rich words to it : and then let her consider . + + +Hark ! hark ! the lark at heaven's gate sings , +And Ph bus 'gins arise , +His steeds to water at those springs +On chalic'd flowers that lies , +And winking Mary-buds begin +To ope their golden eyes : +With every thing that pretty is , +My lady sweet , arise . +Arise , arise ! + + +So , get you gone . If this penetrate , I will consider your music the better ; if it do not , it is a vice in her ears , which horse-hairs and calves'-guts , nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot , can never amend . + +Here comes the king . + +I am glad I was up so late , for that's the reason I was up so early ; he cannot choose but take this service I have done fatherly . + +Good morrow to your majesty and to my gracious mother . + +Attend you here the door of our stern daughter ? +Will she not forth ? + +I have assail'd her with musics , but she vouchsafes no notice . + +The exile of her minion is too new , +She hath not yet forgot him ; some more time +Must wear the print of his remembrance out , +And then she's yours . + +You are most bound to the king , +Who lets go by no vantages that may +Prefer you to his daughter . Frame yourself +To orderly soliciting , and be friended +With aptness of the season ; make denials +Increase your services ; so seem as if +You were inspir'd to do those duties which +You tender to her ; that you in all obey her +Save when command to your dismission tends , +And therein you are senseless . + +Senseless ! not so . + + +So like you , sir , ambassadors from Rome ; +The one is Caius Lucius . + +A worthy fellow , +Albeit he comes on angry purpose now ; +But that's no fault of his : we must receive him +According to the honour of his sender ; +And towards himself , his goodness forespent on us , +We must extend our notice . Our dear son , +When you have given good morning to your mistress , +Attend the queen and us ; we shall have need +To employ you towards this Roman . Come , our queen . + + +If she be up , I'll speak with her ; if not , +Let her lie still , and dream . By your leave , ho ! + +I know her women are about her . What +If I do line one of their hands ? 'Tis gold +Which buys admittance ; oft it doth ; yea , and makes +Diana's rangers false themselves , yield up +Their deer to the stand o' the stealer ; and 'tis gold +Which makes the true man kill'd and saves the thief ; +Nay , sometime hangs both thief and true man . What +Can it not do and undo ? I will make +One of her women lawyer to me , for +I yet not understand the case myself . +By your leave . + +Who's there , that knocks ? + +A gentleman . + +No more ? + +Yes , and a gentlewoman's son . + +That's more +Than some whose tailors are as dear as yours +Can justly boast of . What's your lordship's pleasure ? + +Your lady's person : is she ready ? + +Ay , +To keep her chamber . + +There's gold for you ; sell me your good report . + +How ! my good name ? or to report of you +What I shall think is good ?The princess ! + + +Good morrow , fairest ; sister , your sweet hand . + + +Good morrow , sir . You lay out too much pains +For purchasing but trouble ; the thanks I give +Is telling you that I am poor of thanks +And scarce can spare them . + +Still , I swear I love you . + +If you but said so , 'twere as deep with me : +If you swear still , your recompense is still +That I regard it not . + +This is no answer . + +But that you shall not say I yield being silent +I would not speak . I pray you , spare me : faith , +I shall unfold equal discourtesy +To your best kindness . One of your great knowing +Should learn , being taught , forbearance . + +To leave you in your madness , 'twere my sin : +I will not . + +Fools cure not mad folks . + +Do you call me fool ? + +As I am mad , I do : +If you'll be patient , I'll no more be mad ; +That cures us both . I am much sorry , sir , +You put me to forget a lady's manners , +By being so verbal ; and learn now , for all , +That I , which know my heart , do here pronounce +By the very truth of it , I care not for you ; +And am so near the lack of charity , +To accuse myself ,I hate you ; which I had rather +You felt than make 't my boast . + +You sin against +Obedience , which you owe your father . For +The contract you pretend with that base wretch , +One bred of alms and foster'd with cold dishes , +With scraps o' the court , it is no contract , none ; +And though it be allow'd in meaner parties +Yet who than he more mean ?to knit their souls +On whom there is no more dependancy +But brats and beggary in self-figur'd knot ; +Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement by +The consequence o' the crown , and must not soil +The precious note of it with a base slave , +A hilding for a livery , a squire's cloth , +A pantler , not so eminent . + +Profane fellow ! +Wert thou the son of Jupiter , and no more +But what thou art besides , thou wert too base +To be his groom ; thou wert dignified enough , +Even to the point of envy , if 'twere made +Comparative for your virtues , to be styl'd +The under-hangman of his kingdom , and hated +For being preferr'd so well . + +The south-fog rot him ! + +He never can meet more mischance than come +To be but nam'd of thee . His meanest garment +That ever hath but clipp'd his body , is dearer +In my respect than all the hairs above thee , +Were they all made such men . How now , Pisanio ! + + +'His garment !' Now , the devil + +To Dorothy my woman hie thee presently , + +'His garment !' + +I am sprighted with a fool , +Frighted , and anger'd worse . Go , bid my woman +Search for a jewel that too casually +Hath left mine arm ; it was thy master's , 'shrew me +If I would lose it for a revenue +Of any king's in Europe . I do think +I saw 't this morning ; confident I am +Last night 'twas on mine arm , I kiss'd it ; +I hope it be not gone to tell my lord +That I kiss aught but he . + +'Twill not be lost . + +I hope so ; go , and search . + + +You have abus'd me : +'His meanest garment !' + +Ay , I said so , sir : +If you will make 't an action , call witness to 't . + +I will inform your father . + +Your mother too : +She's my good lady , and will conceive , I hope , +But the worst of me . So I leave you , sir , +To the worst of discontent . + + +I'll be reveng'd . +'His meanest garment !' Well . + + +Fear it not , sir ; I would I were so sure +To win the king as I am bold her honour +Will remain hers . + +What means do you make to him ? + +Not any , but abide the change of time , +Quake in the present winter's state and wish +That warmer days would come ; in these sear'd hopes , +I barely gratify your love ; they failing , +I must die much your debtor . + +Your very goodness and your company +O'erpays all I can do . By this , your king +Hath heard of great Augustus ; Caius Lucius +Will do 's commission throughly , and I think +He'll grant the tribute , send the arrearages , +Or look upon our Romans , whose remembrance +Is yet fresh in their grief . + +I do believe +Statist though I am none , nor like to be +That this will prove a war ; and you shall hear +The legions now in Gallia sooner landed +In our not-fearing Britain , than have tidings +Of any penny tribute paid . Our countrymen +Are men more order'd than when Julius C sar +Smil'd at their lack of skill , but found their courage +Worthy his frowning at : their discipline , +Now winged ,with their courage will make known +To their approvers they are people such +That mend upon the world . + +See ! Iachimo ! + + +The swiftest harts have posted you by land , +And winds of all the corners kiss'd your sails , +To make your vessel nimble . + +Welcome , sir . + +I hope the briefness of your answer made +The speediness of your return . + +Your lady +Is one of the fairest that I have look'd upon . + +And therewithal the best ; or let her beauty +Look through a casement to allure false hearts +And be false with them . + +Here are letters for you . + +Their tenour good , I trust . + +'Tis very like . + +Was Caius Lucius in the Britain court +When you were there ? + +He was expected then , +But not approach'd . + +All is well yet . +Sparkles this stone as it was wont ? or is't not +Too dull for your good wearing ? + +If I have lost it , +I should have lost the worth of it in gold . +I'll make a journey twice as far to enjoy +A second night of such sweet shortness which +Was mine in Britain ; for the ring is won . + +The stone's too hard to come by . + +Not a whit , +Your lady being so easy . + +Make not , sir , +Your loss your sport : I hope you know that we +Must not continue friends . + +Good sir , we must , +If you keep covenant . Had I not brought +The knowledge of your mistress home , I grant +We were to question further , but I now +Profess myself the winner of her honour , +Together with your ring ; and not the wronger +Of her or you , having proceeded but +By both your wills . + +If you can make 't apparent +That you have tasted her in bed , my hand +And ring is yours ; if not , the foul opinion +You had of her pure honour gains or loses +Your sword or mine or masterless leaves both +To who shall find them . + +Sir , my circumstances +Being so near the truth as I will make them , +Must first induce you to believe : whose strength +I will confirm with oath ; which , I doubt not , +You'll give me leave to spare , when you shall find +You need it not . + +Proceed . + +First , her bedchamber , +Where I confess I slept not , but profess +Had that was well worth watching ,it was hang'd +With tapestry of silk and silver ; the story +Proud Cleopatra , when she met her Roman , +And Cydnus swell'd above the banks , or for +The press of boats or pride ; a piece of work +So bravely done , so rich , that it did strive +In workmanship and value ; which I wonder'd +Could be rarely and exactly wrought , +Since the true life on 't was + +This is true ; +And this you might have heard of here , by me , +Or by some other . + +More particulars +Must justify my knowledge . + +So they must , +Or do your honour injury . + +The chimney +Is south the chamber , and the chimney-piece +Chaste Dian bathing ; never saw I figures +So likely to report themselves ; the cutter +Was as another nature , dumb ; outwent her , +Motion and breath left out . + +This is a thing +Which you might from relation likewise reap , +Being , as it is , much spoke of . + +The roof o' the chamber +With golden cherubins is fretted ; her andirons +I had forgot them were two winking Cupids +Of silver , each on one foot standing , nicely +Depending on their brands . + +This is her honour ! +Let it be granted you have seen all this ,and praise +Be given to your remembrance ,the description +Of what is in her chamber nothing saves +The wager you have laid . + +Then , if you can , +Be pale : I beg but leave to air this jewel ; see ! + +And now 'tis up again ; it must be married +To that your diamond ; I'll keep them . + +Jove ! +Once more let me behold it . Is it that +Which I left with her ? + +Sir ,I thank her ,that : +She stripp'd it from her arm ; I see her yet ; +Her pretty action did outsell her gift , +And yet enrich'd it too . She gave it me , and said +She priz'd it once . + +May be she pluck'd it off +To send it me . + +She writes so to you , doth she ? + +O ! no , no , no , 'tis true . Here , take this too ; + +It is a basilisk unto mine eye , +Kills me to look on 't . Let there be no honour +Where there is beauty ; truth where semblance ; love +Where there's another man ; the vows of women +Of no more bondage be to where they are made +Than they are to their virtues , which is nothing . +O ! above measure false . + +Have patience , sir , +And take your ring again ; 'tis not yet won : +It may be probable she lost it ; or +Who knows if one of her women , being corrupted , +Hath stol'n it from her ? + +Very true ; +And so I hope he came by 't . Back my ring . +Render to me some corporal sign about her , +More evident than this ; for this was stol'n . + +By Jupiter , I had it from her arm . + +Hark you , he swears ; by Jupiter he swears . +'Tis true ; nay , keep the ring ; 'tis true : I am sure +She would not lose it ; her attendants are +All sworn and honourable ; they induc'd to steal it ! +And by a stranger ! No , he hath enjoy'd her ; +The cognizance of her incontinency +Is this ; she hath bought the name of whore thus dearly . +There , take thy hire ; and all the fiends of hell +Divide themselves between you ! + +Sir , be patient : +This is not strong enough to be believ'd +Of one persuaded well of + +Never talk on 't ; +She hath been colted by him . + +If you seek +For further satisfying , under her breast , +Worthy the pressing , lies a mole , right proud +Of that most delicate lodging : by my life , +I kiss'd it , and it gave me present hunger +To feed again , though full . You do remember +This stain upon her ? + +Ay , and it doth confirm +Another stain , as big as hell can hold , +Were there no more but it . + +Will you hear more ? + +Spare your arithmetic ; never count the turns ; +Once , and a million ! + +I'll be sworn , + +No swearing . +If you will swear you have not done 't , you lie ; +And I will kill thee if thou dost deny +Thou'st made me cuckold . + +I'll deny nothing . + +O ! that I had her here , to tear her limb-meal . +I will go there and do 't , i' the court , before +Her father . I'll do something + + +Quite besides +The government of patience ! You have won : +Let's follow him , and pervert the present wrath +He hath against himself . + +With all my heart . + + +Is there no way for men to be , but women +Must be half-workers ? We are all bastards ; all , +And that most venerable man which I +Did call my father was I know not where +When I was stamp'd ; some coiner with his tools +Made me a counterfeit ; yet my mother seem'd +The Dian of that time ; so doth my wife +The nonpareil of this . O ! vengeance , vengeance ; +Me of my lawful pleasure she restrain'd +And pray'd me oft forbearance ; did it with +A pudency so rosy the sweet view on 't +Might well have warm'd old Saturn ; that I thought her +As chaste as unsunn'd snow . O ! all the devils ! +This yellow Iachimo , in an hour ,was 't not ? +Or less at first ?perchance he spoke not , but +Like a full-acorn'd boar , a German one , +Cried 'O !' and mounted ; found no opposition +But what he look'd for should oppose and she +Should from encounter guard . Could I find out +The woman's part in me ! For there's no motion +That tends to vice in man but I affirm +It is the woman's part ; be it lying , note it , +The woman's ; flattering , hers ; deceiving , hers ; +Lust and rank thoughts , hers , hers ; revenges , hers ; +Ambitions , covetings , change of prides , disdain , +Nice longing , slanders , mutability , +All faults that man may name , nay , that hell knows , +Why , hers , in part , or all ; but rather , all ; +For even to vice +They are not constant , but are changing still +One vice but of a minute old for one +Not half so old as that . I'll write against them , +Detest them , curse them . Yet 'tis greater skill +In a true hate to pray they have their will : +The very devils cannot plague them better . + +Now say what would Augustus C sar with us ? + +When Julius C sar whose remembrance yet +Lives in men's eyes , and will to ears and tongues +Be theme and hearing ever was in this Britain , +And conquer'd it , Cassibelan , thine uncle , +Famous in C sar's praises , no whit less +Than in his feats deserving it ,for him +And his succession , granted Rome a tribute , +Yearly three thousand pounds , which by thee lately +Is left untender'd . + +And , to kill the marvel , +Shall be so ever . + +There be many C sars +Ere such another Julius . Britain is +A world by itself , and we will nothing pay +For wearing our own noses . + +That opportunity , +Which then they had to take from 's , to resume , +We have again . Remember , sir , my liege , +The kings your ancestors , together with +The natural bravery of your isle , which stands +As Neptune's park , ribbed and paled in +With rocks unscaleable and roaring waters , +With sands , that will not bear your enemies' boats , +But suck them up to the topmast . A kind of conquest +C sar made here , but made not here his brag +Of 'came , and saw , and overcame :' with shame +The first that ever touch'd him he was carried +From off our coast , twice beaten ; and his shipping +Poor ignorant baubles !on our terrible seas , +Like egg-shells mov'd upon their surges , crack'd +As easily 'gainst our rocks : for joy whereof +The fam'd Cassibelan , who was once at point +O giglot fortune !to master C sar's sword , +Made Lud's town with rejoicing-fires bright , +And Britons stiut with courage . + +Come , there's no more tribute to be paid . Our kingdom is stronger than it was at that time ; and , as I said , there is no moe such C sars ; other of them may have crooked noses , but to owe such straight arms , none . + +Son , let your mother end . + +We have yet many among us can gripe as hard as Cassibelan ; I do not say I am one , but I have a hand . Why tribute ? why should we pay tribute ? If C sar can hide the sun from us with a blanket , or put the moon in his pocket , we will pay him tribute for light ; else , sir , no more tribute , pray you now . + +You must know , +Till the injurious Romans did extort +This tribute from us , we were free ; C sar's ambition +Which swell'd so much that it did almost stretch +The sides o' the world against all colour here +Did put the yoke upon 's ; which to shake off +Becomes a war-like people , whom we reckon +Ourselves to be . We do say then to C sar +Our ancestor was that Mulmutius which +Ordain'd our laws , whose use the sword of C sar +Hath too much mangled ; whose repair and franchise +Shall , by the power we hold , be our good deed , +Though Rome be therefore angry . Mulmutius made our laws , +Who was the first of Britain which did put +His brows within a golden crown , and call'd +Himself a king . + +I am sorry , Cymbeline , +That I am to pronounce Augustus C sar +C sar , that hath more kings his servants than +Thyself domestic officers thine enemy . +Receive it from me , then : war and confusion +In C sar's name pronounce I 'gainst thee : look +For fury not to be resisted . Thus defied , +I thank thee for myself . + +Thou art welcome , Caius . +Thy C sar knighted me ; my youth I spent +Much under him ; of him I gather'd honour ; +Which he , to seek of me again , perforce , +Behoves me keep at utterance . I am perfect +That the Pannonians and Dalmatians for +Their liberties are now in arms ; a precedent +Which not to read would show the Britons cold : +So C sar shall not find them . + +Let proof speak . + +His majesty bids you welcome . Make pastime with us a day or two , or longer ; if you seek us afterwards in other terms , you shall find us in our salt-water girdle ; if you beat us out of it , it is yours ; if you fall in the adventure , our crows shall fare the better for you ; and there's an end . + +So , sir . + +I know your master's pleasure and he mine : +All the remain is 'Welcome !' + + +How ! of adultery ! Wherefore write you not +What monster's her accuser ? Leonatus ! +O master ! what a strange infection +Is fall'n into thy ear ! What false Italian +As poisonous-tongu'd as handed hath prevail'd +On thy too ready hearing ? Disloyal ! No : +She's punish'd for her truth , and undergoes , +More goddess-like than wife-like , such assaults +As would take in some virtue . O my master ! +Thy mind to her is now as low as were +Thy fortunes . How ! that I should murder her ? +Upon the love and truth and vows which I +Have made to thy command ? I , her ? her blood ? +If it be so to do good service , never +Let me be counted serviceable . How look I , +That I should seem to lack humanity +So much as this fact comes to ?Do't : the letter +That I have sent her by her own command +Shall give thee opportunity :O damn'd paper ! +Black as the ink that's on thee . Senseless bauble , +Art thou a feodary for this act , and look'st +So virgin-like without ? Lo ! here she comes . +I am ignorant in what I am commanded . + + +How now , Pisanio ! + +Madam , here is a letter from my lord . + +Who ? thy lord ? that is my lord , Leonatus . +O ! learn'd indeed were that astronomer +That knew the stars as I his characters ; +He'd lay the future open . You good gods , +Let what is here contain'd relish of love , +Of my lord's health , of his content , yet not +That we two are asunder ; let that grieve him , +Some griefs are med'cinable ; that is one of them , +For it doth physic love ,of his content , +All but in that ! Good wax , thy leave . Bless'd be +You bees that make these locks of counsel ! Lovers +And men in dangerous bonds pray not alike ; +Though forfeiters you cast in prison , yet +You clasp young Cupid's tables . Good news , gods ! +Justice , and your father's wrath , should he take me in his dominion , could not be so cruel to me , as you , O the dearest of creatures , would not even renew me with your eyes . Take notice that I am in Cambria , at Milford-Haven ; what your own love will out of this advise you , follow . So , he wishes you all happiness , that remains loyal to his vow , and your , increasing in love , +O ! for a horse with wings ! Hear'st thou , Pisanio ? +He is at Milford-Haven ; read , and tell me +How far 'tis thither . If one of mean affairs +May plod it in a week , why may not I +Glide thither in a day ? Then , true Pisanio , +Who long'st , like me , to see thy lord ; who long'st , +O ! let me 'bate ,but not like me ; yet long'st , +But in a fainter kind :O ! not like me , +For mine's beyond beyond ; say , and speak thick ; +Love's counsellor should fill the bores of hearing , +To the smothering of the sense ,how far it is +To this same blessed Milford ; and , by the way , +Tell me how Wales was made so happy as +T' inherit such a haven ; but , first of all , +How we may steal from hence , and , for the gap +That we shall make in time , from our hencegoing +And our return , to excuse ; but first , how get hence . +Why should excuse be born or ere begot ? +We'll talk of that hereafter . Prithee , speak , +How many score of miles may we well ride +'Twixt hour and hour ? + +One score 'twixt sun and sun , +Madam , 's enough for you , and too much too . + +Why , one that rode to 's execution , man , +Could never go so slow : I have heard of riding wagers , +Where horses have been nimbler than the sands +That run i' the clock's behalf . But this is foolery ; +Go bid my woman feign a sickness ; say +She'll home to her father ; and provide me presently +A riding-suit , no costlier than would fit +A franklin's housewife . + +Madam , you're best consider . + +I see before me , man ; nor here , nor here , +Nor what ensues , but have a fog in them , +That I cannot look through . Away , I prithee ; +Do as I bid thee . There's no more to say ; +Accessible is none but Milford way . + + +A goodly day not to keep house , with such +Whose roof's as low as ours ! Stoop , boys ; this gate +Instructs you how to adore the heavens , and bows you +To a morning's holy office ; the gates of monarchs +Are arch'd so high that giants may jet through +And keep their impious turbans on , without +Good morrow to the sun . Hail , thou fair heaven ! +We house i' the rock , yet use thee not so hardly +As prouder livers do . + +Hail , heaven ! + +Hail , heaven ! + +Now for our mountain sport . Up to yond hill ; +Your legs are young ; I'll tread these flats . Consider , +When you above perceive me like a crow , +That it is place which lessens and sets off ; +And you may then revolve what tales I have told you +Of courts , of princes , of the tricks in war ; +This service is not service , so being done , +But being so allow'd ; to apprehend thus +Draws us a profit from all things we see , +And often , to our comfort , shall we find +The sharded beetle in a safer hold +Than is the full wing'd eagle . O ! this life +Is nobler than attending for a check , +Richer than doing nothing for a bribe , +Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk ; +Such gain the cap of him that makes 'em fine , +Yet keeps his book uncross'd ; no life to ours . + +Out of your proof you speak ; we , poor unfledg'd , +Have never wing'd from view o' the nest , nor know not +What air's from home . Haply this life is best , +If quiet life be best ; sweeter to you +That have a sharper known , well corresponding +With your stiff age ; but unto us it is +A cell of ignorance , travelling a-bed , +A prison for a debtor , that not dares +To stride a limit . + +What should we speak of +When we are old as you ? when we shall hear +The rain and wind beat dark December , how +In this our pinching cave shall we discourse +The freezing hours away ? We have seen nothing ; +We are beastly , subtle as the fox for prey , +Like war-like as the wolf for what we eat ; +Our valour is to chase what flies ; our cage +We make a quire , as doth the prison'd bird , +And sing our bondage freely . + +How you speak ! +Did you but know the city's usuries +And felt them knowingly ; the art o' the court , +As hard to leave as keep , whose top to climb +Is certain falling , or so slippery that +The fear's as bad as falling ; the toil of the war , +A pain that only seems to seek out danger +I' the name of fame and honour ; which dies i' the search , +And hath as oft a slanderous epitaph +As record of fair act ; nay , many times , +Doth ill deserve by doing well ; what's worse , +Must curtsy at the censure : O boys ! this story +The world may read in me ; my body's mark'd +With Roman swords , and my report was once +First with the best of note ; Cymbeline lov'd me , +And when a soldier was the theme , my name +Was not far off ; then was I as a tree +Whose boughs did bend with fruit , but , in one night , +A storm or robbery , call it what you will , +Shook down my mellow hangings , nay , my leaves , +And left me bare to weather . + +Uncertain favour ! + +My fault being nothing ,as I have told you oft , +But that two villains , whose false oaths prevail'd +Before my perfect honour , swore to Cymbeline +I was confederate with the Romans ; so +Follow'd my banishment , and this twenty years +This rock and these demesnes have been my world , +Where I have liv'd at honest freedom , paid +More pious debts to heaven than in all +The fore-end of my time . But , up to the mountains ! +This is not hunter's language . He that strikes +The venison first shall be the lord o' the feast ; +To him the other two shall minister ; +And we will fear no poison which attends +In place of greater state . I'll meet you in the valleys . + +How hard it is to hide the sparks of nature ! +These boys know little they are sons to the king ; +Nor Cymbeline dreams that they are alive . +They think they are mine ; and , though train'd up thus meanly +I' the cave wherein they bow , their thoughts do hit +The roofs of palaces , and nature prompts them +In simple and low things to prince it much +Beyond the trick of others . This Polydore , +The heir of Cymbeline and Britain , who +The king his father call'd Guiderius ,Jove ! +When on my three-foot stool I sit and tell +The war-like feats I have done , his spirits fly out +Into my story : say , 'Thus mine enemy fell , +And thus I set my foot on 's neck ;' even then +The princely blood flows in his cheek , he sweats , +Strains his young nerves , and puts himself in posture +That acts my words . The younger brother , Cadwal , +Once Arviragus ,in as like a figure , +Strikes life into my speech and shows much more +His own conceiving . Hark ! the game is rous'd . +O Cymbeline ! heaven and my conscience knows +Thou didst unjustly banish me ; whereon , +At three and two years old , I stole these babes , +Thinking to bar thee of succession , as +Thou reft'st me of my lands . Euriphile , +Thou wast their nurse ; they took thee for their mother , +And every day do honour to her grave : +Myself , Belarius , that am Morgan call'd , +They take for natural father . The game is up . + + +Thou told'st me , when we came from horse , the place +Was near at hand : ne'er long'd my mother so +To see me first , as I have now . Pisanio ! man ! +Where is Posthumus ? What is in thy mind , +That makes thee stare thus ? Wherefore breaks that sigh +From the inward of thee ? One , but painted thus , +Would be interpreted a thing perplex'd +Beyond self-explication ; put thyself +Into a haviour of less fear , ere wildness +Vanquish my staider senses . What's the matter ? +Why tender'st thou that paper to me with +A look untender ? If 't be summer news , +Smile to 't before ; if winterly , thou need'st +But keep that count'nance still . My husband's hand ! +That drug-damn'd Italy hath out-craftied him , +And he's at some hard point . Speak , man ; thy tongue +May take off some extremity , which to read +Would be even mortal to me . + +Please you , read ; +And you shall find me , wretched man , a thing +The most disdain'd of fortune . + +Thy mistress , Pisanio , hath played the strumpet in my bed ; the testimonies whereof lie bleeding in me . I speak not out of weak surmises , but from proof as strong as my grief and as certain as I expect my revenge . That part thou , Pisanio , must act for me , if thy faith be not tainted with the breach of hers . Let thine own hands take away her life ; I shall give thee opportunity at Milford-Haven ; she hath my letter for the purpose ; where , if thou fear to strike , and to make me certain it is done , thou art the pandar to her dishonour and equally to me disloyal . + +What shall I need to draw my sword ? the paper +Hath cut her throat already . No , 'tis slander , +Whose edge is sharper than the sword , whose tongue +Outvenoms all the worms of Nile , whose breath +Rides on the posting winds and doth belie +All corners of the world ; kings , queens , and states , +Maids , matrons , nay , the secrets of the grave +This viperous slander enters . What cheer , madam ? + +False to his bed ! What is it to be false ? +To lie in watch there and to think on him ? +To weep 'twixt clock and clock ? if sleep charge nature , +To break it with a fearful dream of him , +And cry myself awake ? that's false to 's bed , is it ? + +Alas ! good lady . + +I false ! Thy conscience witness ! Iachimo , +Thou didst accuse him of incontinency ; +Thou then look'dst like a villain ; now methinks +Thy favour's good enough . Some jay of Italy , +Whose mother was her painting , hath betray'd him : +Poor I am stale , a garment out of fashion , +And , for I am richer than to hang by the walls , +I must be ripp'd ; to pieces with me ! O ! +Men's vows are women's traitors ! All good seeming , +By thy revolt , O husband ! shall be thought +Put on for villany ; not born where 't grows , +But worn a bait for ladies . + +Good madam , hear me . + +True honest men being heard , like false neas , +Were in his time thought false , and Sinon's weeping +Did scandal many a holy tear , took pity +From most true wretchedness ; so thou , Posthumus , +Wilt lay the leaven on all proper men ; +Goodly and gallant shall be false and perjur'd +From thy great fail . Come , fellow , be thou honest ; +Do thou thy master's bidding . When thou seest him , +A little witness my obedience ; look ! +I draw the sword myself ; take it , and hit +The innocent mansion of my love , my heart . +Fear not , 'tis empty of all things but grief ; +Thy master is not there , who was indeed +The riches of it : do his bidding ; strike . +Thou mayst be valiant in a better cause , +But now thou seem'st a coward . + +Hence , vile instrument ! +Thou shalt not damn my hand . + +Why , I must die ; +And if I do not by thy hand , thou art +No servant of thy master's . Against self-slaughter +There is a prohibition so divine +That cravens my weak hand . Come , here's my heart . +Something's afore 't ; soft , soft ! we'll no defence ; +Obedient as the scabbard . What is here ? +The scriptures of the loyal Leonatus +All turn'd to heresy ! Away , away ! +Corrupters of my faith ; you shall no more +Be stomachers to my heart . Thus may poor fools +Believe false teachers ; though those that are betray'd +Do feel the treason sharply , yet the traitor +Stands in worse case of woe . +And thou , Posthumus , thou that didst set up +My disobedience 'gainst the king my father , +And make me put into contempt the suits +Of princely fellows , shalt hereafter find +It is no act of common passage , but +A strain of rareness ; and I grieve myself +To think , when thou shalt be disedg'd by her +That now thou tir'st on , how thy memory +Will then be pang'd by me . Prithee , dispatch ; +The lamb entreats the butcher ; where's thy knife ? +Thou art too slow to do thy master's bidding , +When I desire it too . + +O , gracious lady ! +Since I receiv'd command to do this business +I have not slept one wink . + +Do 't , and to bed then . + +I'll wake mine eyeballs blind first . + +Wherefore then +Didst undertake it ? Why hast thou abus'd +So many miles with a pretence ? this place ? +Mine action and thine own ? our horses' labour ? +The time inviting thee ? the perturb'd court , +For my being absent ?whereunto I never +Purpose return .Why hast thou gone so far , +To be unbent when thou hast ta'en thy stand , +The elected deer before thee ? + +But to win time +To lose so bad employment , in the which +I have consider'd of a course . Good lady , +Hear me with patience . + +Talk thy tongue weary ; speak : +I have heard I am a strumpet , and mine ear , +Therein false struck , can take no greater wound , +Nor tent to bottom that . But speak . + +Then , madam , +I thought you would not back again . + +Most like , +Bringing me here to kill me . + +Not so , neither ; +But if I were as wise as honest , then +My purpose would prove well . It cannot be +But that my master is abus'd ; some villain , +Some villain , ay , and singular in his art , +Hath done you both this cursed injury . + +Some Roman courtezan . + +No , on my life . +I'll give but notice you are dead and send him +Some bloody sign of it ; for 'tis commanded +I should do so : you shall be miss'd at court , +And that will well confirm it . + +Why , good fellow , +What shall I do the while ? where bide ? how live ? +Or in my life what comfort , when I am +Dead to my husband ? + +If you'll back to the court , + +No court , no father ; nor no more ado +With that harsh , noble , simple nothing Cloten ! +That Cloten , whose love-suit hath been to me +As fearful as a siege . + +If not at court , +Then not in Britain must you bide . + +Where then ? +Hath Britain all the sun that shines ? Day , night , +Are they not but in Britain ? I' the world's volume +Our Britain seems as of it , but not in 't ; +In a great pool a swan's nest : prithee , think +There's livers out of Britain . + +I am most glad +You think of other place . The ambassador , +Lucius the Roman , comes to Milford-Haven +To-morrow ; now , if you could wear a mind +Dark as your fortune is , and but disguise +That which , t' appear itself , must not yet be +But by self-danger , you should tread a course +Pretty , and full of view ; yea , haply , near +The residence of Posthumus ; so nigh at least +That though his actions were not visible , yet +Report should render him hourly to your ear +As truly as he moves . + +O ! for such means : +Though peril to my modesty , not death on 't , +I would adventure . + +Well , then , here's the point : +You must forget to be a woman ; change +Command into obedience ; fear and niceness +The handmaids of all women , or more truly +Woman it pretty self into a waggish courage ; +Ready in gibes , quick-answer'd , saucy , and +As quarrelous as the weasel ; nay , you must +Forget that rarest treasure of your cheek , +Exposing it but , O ! the harder heart , +Alack ! no remedy to the greedy touch +Of common-kissing Titan , and forget +Your laboursome and dainty trims , wherein +You made great Juno angry . + +Nay , be brief : +I see into thy end , and am almost +A man already . + +First , make yourself but like one . +Forethinking this , I have already fit +'Tis in my cloak-bag doublet , hat , hose , all +That answer to them ; would you in their serving , +And with what imitation you can borrow +From youth of such a season , 'fore noble Lucius +Present yourself , desire his service , tell him +Wherein you are happy ,which you'll make him know , +If that his head have ear in music ,doubtless +With joy he will embrace you , for he's honourable , +And , doubling that , most holy . Your means abroad , +You have me , rich ; and I will never fail +Beginning nor supplyment . + +Thou art all the comfort +The gods will diet me with . Prithee , away ; +There's more to be consider'd , but we'll even +All that good time will give us ; this attempt +I'm soldier to , and will abide it with +A prince's courage . Away , I prithee . + +Well , madam , we must take a short farewell , +Lest , being miss'd , I be suspected of +Your carriage from the court . My noble mistress , +Here is a box , I had it from the queen , +What's in 't is precious ; if you are sick at sea , +Or stomach-qualm'd at land , a dram of this +Will drive away distemper . To some shade , +And fit you to your manhood . May the gods +Direct you to the best ! + +Amen . I thank thee + + +Thus far ; and so farewell . + +Thanks , royal sir . +My emperor hath wrote , I must from hence ; +And am right sorry that I must report ye +My master's enemy . + +Our subjects , sir , +Will not endure his yoke ; and for ourself +To show less sovereignty than they , must needs +Appear unking-like . + +So , sir : I desire of you +A conduct over land to Milford-Haven . +Madam , all joy befall your Grace . + +And you ! + +My lords , you are appointed for that office ; +The due of honour in no point omit . +So , farewell , noble Lucius . + +Your hand , my lord . + +Receive it friendly ; but from this time forth +I wear it as your enemy . + +Sir , the event +Is yet to name the winner . Fare you well . + +Leave not the worthy Lucius , good my lords , +Till he have cross'd the Severn . Happiness ! + + +He goes hence frowning ; but it honours us +That we have given him cause . + +'Tis all the better ; +Your valiant Britons have their wishes in it . + +Lucius hath wrote already to the emperor +How it goes here . It fits us therefore ripely +Our chariots and horsemen be in readiness ; +The powers that he already hath in Gallia +Will soon be drawn to head , from whence he moves +His war for Britain . + +'Tis not sleepy business ; +But must be look'd to speedily and strongly . + +Our expectation that it would be thus +Hath made us forward . But , my gentle queen , +Where is our daughter ? She hath not appear'd +Before the Roman , nor to us hath tender'd +The duty of the day ; she looks us like +A thing more made of malice than of duty : +We have noted it . Call her before us , for +We have been too slight in sufferance . + + +Royal sir . +Since the exile of Posthumus , most retir'd +Hath her life been ; the cure whereof , my lord , +'Tis time must do . Beseech your majesty , +Forbear sharp speeches to her ; she's a lady +So tender of rebukes that words are strokes , +And strokes death to her . + + +Where is she , sir ? How +Can her contempt be answer'd ? + +Please you , sir , +Her chambers are all lock'd , and there's no answer +That will be given to the loudest noise we make . + +My lord , when last I went to visit her , +She pray'd me to excuse her keeping close , +Whereto constrain'd by her infirmity , +She should that duty leave unpaid to you , +Which daily she was bound to proffer ; this +She wish'd me to make known , but our great court +Made me to blame in memory . + +Her doors lock'd ! +Not seen of late ! Grant , heavens , that which I fear +Prove false ! + + +Son , I say , follow the king . + +That man of hers , Pisanio , her old servant , +I have not seen these two days . + +Go , look after . + +Pisanio , thou that stand'st so for Posthumus ! +He hath a drug of mine ; I pray his absence +Proceed by swallowing that , for he believes +It is a thing most precious . But for her , +Where is she gone ? Haply , despair hath sciz'd her , +Or , wing'd with fervour of her love , she's flown +To her desir'd Posthumus . Gone she is +To death or to dishonour , and my end +Can make good use of either ; she being down , +I have the placing of the British crown . + +How now , my son ! + +'Tis certain she is fled . +Go in and cheer the king ; he rages , none +Dare come about him . + +All the better ; may +This night forestall him of the coming day ! + + +I love and hate her ; for she's fair and royal , +And that she hath all courtly parts more exquisite +Than lady , ladies , woman ; from every one +The best she hath , and she , of all compounded , +Outsells them all . I love her therefore ; but +Disdaining me and throwing favours on +The low Posthumus slanders so her judgment +That what's else rare is chok'd , and in that point +I will conclude to hate her , nay , indeed , +To be reveng'd upon her . For , when fools +Shall + + +Who is here ? What ! are you packing , sirrah ? +Come hither . Ah ! you precious pandar . Villain , +Where is thy lady ? In a word ; or else + +Thou art straightway with the fiends . + +O ! good my lord . + +Where is thy lady ? or , by Jupiter +I will not ask again . Close villain , +I'll have this secret from thy heart , or rip +Thy heart to find it . Is she with Posthumus ? +From whose so many weights of baseness cannot +A dram of worth be drawn . + +Alas ! my lord , +How can she be with him ? When was she miss'd ? +He is in Rome . + +Where is she , sir ? Come nearer , +No further halting ; satisfy me home +What is become of her ? + +O ! my all-worthy lord . + +All-worthy villain ! +Discover where thy mistress is at once . +At the next word ; no more of 'worthy lord !' +Speak , or thy silence on the instant is +Thy condemnation and thy death . + +Then , sir , +This paper is the history of my knowledge +Touching her flight . + + +Let's see 't . I will pursue her +Even to Augustus' throne . + +Or this , or perish . +She's far enough ; and what he learns by this +May prove his travel , not her danger . + +Hum ! + +I'll write to my lord she's dead . O Imogen ! +Safe mayst thou wander , safe return agen ! + +Sirrah , is this letter true ? + +Sir , as I think . + +It is Posthumus' hand ; I know 't . Sirrah , if thou wouldst not be a villain , but do me true service , undergo those employments wherein I should have cause to use thee with a serious industry , that is , what villany soe'er I bid thee do , to perform it directly and truly , I would think thee an honest man ; thou shouldst neither want my means for thy relief nor my voice for thy preferment . + +Well , my good lord . + +Wilt thou serve me ? For since patiently and constantly thou hast stuck to the bare fortune of that beggar Posthumus , thou canst not , in the course of gratitude , but be a diligent follower of mine . Wilt thou serve me ? + +Sir , I will . + +Give me thy hand ; here's my purse . Hast any of thy late master's garments in thy possession ? + +I have , my lord , at my lodging , the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress . + +The first service thou dost me , fetch that suit hither : let it be thy first service ; go . + +I shall , my lord . + + +Meet thee at Milford-Haven !I forgot to ask him one thing ; I'll remember 't anon ,even there , thou villain Posthumus , will I kill thee . I would these garments were come . She said upon a time ,the bitterness of it I now belch from my heart ,that she held the very garment of Posthumus in more respect than my noble and natural person , together with the adornment of my qualities . With that suit upon my back will I ravish her : first kill him , and in her eyes ; there shall she see my valour , which will then be a torment to her contempt . He on the ground , my speech of insultment ended on his dead body , and when my lust hath dined ,which , as I say , to vex her , I will execute in the clothes that she so praised ,to the court I'll knock her back , foot her home again . She hath despised me rejoicingly , and I'll be merry in my revenge . + +Be those the garments ? + +Ay , my noble lord . + +How long is 't since she went to Milford-Haven ? + +She can scarce be there yet . + +Bring this apparel to my chamber ; that is the second thing that I have commanded thee : the third is , that thou wilt be a voluntary mute to my design . Be but duteous , and true preferment shall tender itself to thee . My revenge is now at Milford ; would I had wings to follow it ! +Come , and be true . + + +Thou bidd'st me to my loss ; for true to thee +Were to prove false , which I will never be , +To him that is most true . To Milford go , +And find not her whom thou pursu'st . Flow , flow , +You heavenly blessings , on her ! This fool's speed +Be cross'd with slowness ; labour be his meed ! + + +I see a man's life is a tedious one ; +I have tir'd myself , and for two nights together +Have made the ground my bed ; I should be sick +But that my resolution helps me . Milford , +When from the mountain-top Pisanio show'd thee , +Thou wast within a ken . O Jove ! I think +Foundations fly the wretched ; such , I mean , +Where they should be reliev'd . Two beggars told me +I could not miss my way ; will poor folks lie , +That have afflictions on them , knowing 'tis +A punishment or trial ? Yes ; no wonder , +When rich ones scarce tell true . To lapse in fulness +Is sorer than to lie for need , and falsehood +Is worse in kings than beggars . My dear lord ! +Thou art one o' the false ones . Now I think on thee , +My hunger's gone , but even before I was +At point to sink for food . But what is this ? +Here is a path to 't ; 'tis some savage hold ; +I were best not call , I dare not call , yet famine , +Ere clean it o'erthrow nature , makes it valiant . +Plenty and peace breeds cowards , hardness ever +Of hardiness is mother . Ho ! Who's here ? +If any thing that's civil , speak ; if savage , +Take or lend . Ho ! No answer ? Then I'll enter . +Best draw my sword ; and if mine enemy +But fear the sword like me , he'll scarcely look on 't . +Such a foe , good heavens ! + +You , Polydore , have prov'd best woodman , and +Are master of the feast ; Cadwal and I +Will play the cook and servant , 'tis our match ; +The sweat of industry would dry and die +But for the end it works to . Come ; our stomachs +Will make what's homely savoury ; weariness +Can snore upon the flint when resty sloth +Finds the down pillow hard . Now , peace be here , +Poor house , that keep'st thyself ! + +I am throughly weary . + +I am weak with toil , yet strong in appetite . + +There is cold meat i' the cave ; we'll browse on that , +Whilst what we have kill'd be cook'd . + +Stay ; come not in ; +But that it eats our victuals , I should think +Here were a fairy . + +What's the matter , sir ? + +By Jupiter , an angel ! or , if not , +An earthly paragon ! Behold divineness +No elder than a boy ! + + +Good masters , harm me not : +Before I enter'd here , I call'd ; and thought +To have begg'd or bought what I have took . Good troth , +I have stol'n nought , nor would not , though I had found +Gold strew'd i' the floor . Here's money for my meat ; +I would have left it on the board so soon +As I had made my meal , and parted +With prayers for the provider . + +Money , youth ? + +All gold and silver rather turn to dirt ! +As 'tis no better reckon'd but of those +Who worship dirty gods . + +I see you're angry . +Know , if you kill me for my fault , I should +Have died had I not made it . + +Whither bound ? + +To Milford-Haven . + +What's your name ? + +Fidele , sir . I have a kinsman who +Is bound for Italy ; he embark'd at Milford : +To whom being going , almost spent with hunger , +I am fall'n in this offence . + +Prithee , fair youth , +Think us no churis , nor measure our good minds +By this rude place we live in . Well encounter'd ! +'Tis almost night ; you shall have better cheer +Ere you depart , and thanks to stay and eat it . +Boys , bid him welcome . + +Were you a woman , youth , +I should woo hard but be your groom . In honesty , +I bid for you , as I do buy . + +I'll make 't my comfort +He is a man ; I'll love him as my brother ; +And such a welcome as I'd give to him +After a long absence , such is yours : most welcome ! +Be sprightly , for you fall 'mongst friends . + +'Mongst friends , +If brothers . + +Would it had been so , that they +Had been my father's sons ; then had my prize +Been less , and so more equal ballasting +To thee , Posthumus . + +He wrings at some distress . + +Would I could free 't ! + +Or I , whate'er it be , +What pain it cost , what danger . Gods ! + +Hark , boys + + +Great men , +That had a court no bigger than this cave , +That did attend themselves and had the virtue +Which their own conscience seal'd them ,laying by +That nothing-gift of differing multitudes , +Could not out-peer these twain . Pardon me , gods ! +I'd change my sex to be companion with them , +Since Leonatus' false . + +It shall be so . +Boys , we'll go dress our hunt . Fair youth , come in : +Discourse is heavy , fasting ; when we have supp'd , +We'll mannerly demand thee of thy story , +So far as thou wilt speak it . + +Pray , draw near . + +The night to the owl and morn to the lark less welcome . + +Thanks , sir . + +I pray , draw near . + + +This is the tenour of the emperor's writ : +That since the common men are now in action +'Gainst the Pannonians and Dalmatians , +And that the legions now in Gallia are +Full weak to undertake our wars against +The fall'n-off Britons , that we do incite +The gentry to this business . He creates +Lucius pro-consul ; and to you the tribunes , +For this immediate levy , he commends +His absolute commission . Long live C sar ! + +Is Lucius general of the forces ? + +Ay . + +Remaining now in Gallia ? + +With those legions +Which I have spoke of , whereunto your levy +Must be supplyant ; the words of your commission +Will tie you to the numbers and the time +Of their dispatch . + +We will discharge our duty . + +I am near to the place where they should meet , if Pisanio have mapped it truly . How fit his garments serve me ! Why should his mistress , who was made by him that made the tailor , not be fit too ? the rather ,saving reverence of the word ,for 'tis said a woman's fitness comes by fits . Therein I must play the workman . I dare speak it to myself ,for it is not vain-glory , for a man and his glass to confer in his own chamber ,I mean , the lines of my body are as well drawn as his ; no less young , more strong , not beneath him in fortunes , beyond him in the advantage of the time , above him in birth , alike conversant in general services , and more remarkable in single oppositions ; yet this imperceiverant thing loves him in my despite . What mortality is ! Posthumus , thy head , which now is growing upon thy shoulders , shall within this hour be off , thy mistress enforced , thy garments cut to pieces before thy face ; and all this done , spurn her home to her father , who may haply be a little angry for my so rough usage , but my mother , having power of his testiness , shall turn all into my commendations . My horse is tied up safe ; out , sword , and to a sore purpose ! Fortune , put them into my hand ! This is the very description of their meeting-place ; and the fellow dares not deceive me . + + +You are not well ; remain here in the cave ; +We'll come to you after hunting . + +Brother , stay here ; +Are we not brothers ? + +So man and man should be , +But clay and clay differs in dignity , +Whose dust is both alike . I am very sick . + +Go you to hunting ; I'll abide with him . + +So sick I am not , yet I am not well ; +But not so citizen a wanton as +To seem to die ere sick . So please you , leave me ; +Stick to your journal course ; the breach of custom +Is breach of all . I am ill ; but your being by me +Cannot amend me ; society is no comfort +To one not sociable . I am not very sick , +Since I can reason of it ; pray you , trust me here , +I'll rob none but myself , and let me die , +Stealing so poorly . + +I love thee ; I have spoke it ; +How much the quantity , the weight as much , +As I do love my father . + +What ! how ! how ! + +If it be sin to say so , sir , I yoke me +In my good brother's fault : I know not why +I love this youth ; and I have heard you say , +Love's reason's without reason : the bier at door , +And a demand who is 't shall die , I'd say +'My father , not this youth .' + +O noble strain ! +O worthiness of nature ! breed of greatness ! +Cowards father cowards , and base things sire base : +Nature hath meal and bran , contempt and grace . +I'm not their father ; yet who this should be , +Doth miracle itself , lov'd before me . +'Tis the ninth hour o' the morn . + +Brother , farewell . + +I wish ye sport . + +You health . So please you , sir . + +These are kind creatures . Gods , what lies I have heard ! +Our courtiers say all's savage but at court : +Experience , O ! thou disprov'st report . +The imperious seas breed monsters , for the dish +Poor tributary rivers as sweet fish . +I am sick still , heart-sick . Pisanio , +I'll now taste of thy drug . + + +I could not stir him ; +He said he was gentle , but unfortunate ; +Dishonestly afflicted , but yet honest . + +Thus did he answer me ; yet said hereafter +I might know more . + +To the field , to the field ! + + +We'll leave you for this time ; go in and rest . + +We'll not be long away . + +Pray , be not sick , +For you must be our housewife . + +Well or ill , +I am bound to you . + +And shalt be ever . + +This youth , howe'er distress'd , appears he hath had +Good ancestors . + +How angel-like he sings ! + +But his neat cookery ! he cut our roots +In characters , +And sauc'd our broths as Juno had been sick +And he her dieter . + +Nobly he yokes +A smiling with a sigh , as if the sigh +Was that it was , for not being such a smile ; +The smile mocking the sigh , that it would fly +From so divine a temple , to commix +With winds that sailors rail at . + +I do note +That grief and patience rooted in him , both +Mingle their spurs together . + +Grow , patience ! +And let the stinking-elder , grief , untwine +His perishing root with the increasing vine ! + +It is great morning . Come , away !Who's there ? + + +I cannot find those runagates ; that villain +Hath mock'd me . I am faint . + +'Those runagates !' +Means he not us ? I partly know him ; 'tis +Cloten , the son o' the queen . I fear some ambush . +I saw him not these many years , and yet +I know 'tis he . We are held as outlaws : hence ! + +He is but one . You and my brother search +What companies are near ; pray you , away ; +Let me alone with him . + + +Soft ! What are you +That fly me thus ? some villain mountainers ? +I have heard of such . What slave art thou ? + +A thing +More slavish did I ne'er than answering +A 'slave' without a knock . + +Thou art a robber , +A law-breaker , a villain . Yield thee , thief . + +To who ? to thee ? What art thou ? Have not I +An arm as big as thine ? a heart as big ? +Thy words , I grant , are bigger , for I wear not +My dagger in my mouth . Say what thou art , +Why I should yield to thee ? + +Thou villain base , +Know'st me not by my clothes ? + +No , nor thy tailor , rascal , +Who is thy grandfather : he made those clothes , +Which , as it seems , make thee . + +Thou precious varlet , +My tailor made them not . + +Hence then , and thank +The man that gave them thee . Thou art some fool ; +I am loath to beat thee . + +Thou injurious thief , +Hear but my name , and tremble . + +What's thy name ? + +Cloten , thou villain . + +Cloten , thou double villain , be thy name , +I cannot tremble at it ; were it Toad , or Adder , Spider , +'Twould move me sooner . + +To thy further fear , +Nay , to thy mere confusion , thou shalt know +I am son to the queen . + +I'm sorry for 't , not seeming +So worthy as thy birth . + +Art not afeard ? + +Those that I reverence those I fear , the wise ; +At fools I laugh , not fear them . + +Die the death : +When I have slain thee with my proper hand , +I'll follow those that even now fled hence , +And on the gates of Lud's town set your heads : +Yield , rustic mountaineer . + +No companies abroad . + +None in the world . You did mistake him , sure . + +I cannot tell ; long is it since I saw him , +But time hath nothing blurr'd those lines of favour +Which then he wore ; the snatches in his voice , +And burst of speaking , were as his . I am absolute +'Twas very Cloten . + +In this place we left them : +I wish my brother make good time with him , +You say he is so fell . + +Being scarce made up , +I mean , to man , he had not apprehension +Of roaring terrors ; for defect of judgment +Is oft the cease of fear . But see , thy brother . + + +This Cloten was a fool , an empty purse , +There was no money in 't . Not Hercules +Could have knock'd out his brains , for he had none ; +Yet I not doing this , the fool had borne +My head as I do his . + +What hast thou done ? + +I am perfect what : cut off one Cloten's head , +Son to the queen , after his own report ; +Who call'd me traitor , mountaineer , and swore , +With his own single hand he'd take us in , +Displace our heads where thank the gods !they grow , +And set them on Lud's town . + +We are all undone . + +Why , worthy father , what have we to lose , +But that he swore to take , our lives ? The law +Protects not us ; then why should we be tender +To let an arrogant piece of flesh threat us , +Play judge and executioner all himself , +For we do fear the law ? What company +Discover you abroad ? + +No single soul +Can we set eye on ; but in all safe reason +He must have some attendants . Though his humour +Was nothing but mutation , ay , and that +From one bad thing to worse ; not frenzy , not +Absolute madness could so far have rav'd +To bring him here alone . Although , perhaps , +It may be heard at court that such as we +Cave here , hunt here , are outlaws , and in time +May make some stronger head ; the which he hearing , +As it is like him ,might break out , and swear +He'd fetch us in ; yet is 't not probable +To come alone , either he so undertaking , +Or they so suffering ; then , on good ground we fear , +If we do fear this body hath a tail +More perilous than the head . + +Let ordinance +Come as the gods foresay it ; howsoe'er , +My brother hath done well . + +I had no mind +To hunt this day ; the boy Fidele's sickness +Did make my way long forth . + +With his own sword , +Which he did wave against my throat , I have ta'en +His head from him ; I'll throw 't into the creek +Behind our rock , and let it to the sea , +And tell the fishes he's the queen's son , Cloten : +That's all I reck . + + +I fear 'twill be reveng'd . +Would , Polydore , thou hadst not done 't ! though valour +Becomes thee well enough . + +Would I had done 't +So the revenge alone pursu'd me ! Polydore , +I love thee brotherly , but envy much +Thou hast robb'd me of this deed ; I would revenges , +That possible strength might meet , would seek us through +And put us to our answer . + +Well , 'tis done . +We'll hunt no more to-day , nor seek for danger +Where there's no profit . I prithee , to our rock ; +You and Fidele play the cooks ; I'll stay +Till hasty Polydore return , and bring him +To dinner presently . + +Poor sick Fidele ! +I'll willingly to him ; to gain his colour +I'd let a parish of such Clotens blood , +And praise myself for charity . + + +O thou goddess ! +Thou divine Nature , how thyself thou blazon'st +In these two princely boys . They are as gentle +As zephyrs , blowing below the violet , +Not wagging his sweet head ; and yet as rough , +Their royal blood enchaf'd , as the rud'st wind , +That by the top doth take the mountain pine , +And make him stoop to the vale . 'Tis wonder +That an invisible instinct should frame them +To royalty unlearn'd , honour untaught , +Civility not seen from other , valour +That wildly grows in them , but yields a crop +As if it had been sow'd ! Yet still it's strange +What Cloten's being here to us portends , +Or what his death will bring us . + + +Where's my brother ? +I have sent Cloten's clotpoll down the stream , +In embassy to his mother ; his body's hostage +For his return . + + +My ingenious instrument ! +Hark ! Polydore , it sounds ; but what occasion +Hath Cadwal now to give it motion ? Hark ! + +Is he at home ? + +He went hence even now . + +What does he mean ? since death of my dear'st mother +It did not speak before . All solemn things +Should answer solemn accidents . The matter ? +Triumphs for nothing and lamenting toys +Is jollity for apes and grief for boys . +Is Cadwal mad ? + + +Look ! here he comes , +And brings the dire occasion in his arms +Of what we blame him for . + +The bird is dead +That we have made so much on . I had rather +Have skipp'd from sixteen years of age to sixty , +To have turn'd my leaping-time into a crutch , +Than have seen this . + +O , sweetest , fairest lily ! +My brother wears thee not the one half so well +As when thou grew'st thyself . + +O melancholy ! +Who ever yet could sound thy bottom ? find +The ooze , to show what coast thy sluggish crare +Might easiliest harbour in ? Thou blessed thing ! +Jove knows what man thou mightst have made ; but I , +Thou diedst , a most rare boy , of melancholy . +How found you him ? + +Stark , as you see : +Thus smiling , as some fly had tickled slumber , +Not as death's dart , being laugh'd at ; his right cheek +Reposing on a cushion . + +Where ? + +O' the floor , +His arms thus leagu'd ; I thought he slept , and put +My clouted brogues from off my feet , whose rudeness +Answer'd my steps too loud . + +Why , he but sleeps : +If he be gone , he'll make his grave a bed ; +With female fairies will his tomb be haunted , +And worms will not come to thee . + +With fairest flowers +While summer lasts and I live here , Fidele , +I'll sweeten thy sad grave ; thou shalt not lack +The flower that's like thy face , pale primrose , nor +The azur'd hare-bell , like thy veins , no , nor +The leaf of eglantine , whom not to slander , +Out-sweeten'd not thy breath : the ruddock would , +With charitable bill ,O bill ! sore-shaming +Those rich-left heirs , that let their fathers lie +Without a monument ,bring thee all this ; +Yea , and furr'd moss besides , when flowers are none , +To winter-ground thy corse . + +Prithee , have done , +And do not play in wench-like words with that +Which is so serious . Let us bury him , +And not protract with admiration what +Is now due debt . To the grave ! + +Say , where shall 's lay him ? + +By good Euriphile , our mother . + +Be 't so : +And let us , Polydore , though now our voices +Have got the mannish crack , sing him to the ground , +As once our mother ; use like note and words , +Save that Euriphile must be Fidele . + +Cadwal , +I cannot sing ; I'll weep , and word it with thee ; +For notes of sorrow out of tune are worse +Than priests and fanes that lie . + +We'll speak it then . + +Great griefs , I see , medicine the less , for Cloten +Is quite forgot . He was a queen's son , boys , +And though he came our enemy , remember +He was paid for that ; though mean and mighty rotting +Together , have one dust , yet reverence +That angel of the world doth make distinction +Of place 'tween high and low . Our foe was princely , +And though you took his life , as being our foe , +Yet bury him as a prince . + +Pray you , fetch him hither . +Thersites' body is as good as Ajax' +When neither are alive . + +If you'll go fetch him , +We'll say our song the whilst . Brother , begin . + + +Nay , Cadwal , we must lay his head to the east ; +My father hath a reason for 't . + +'Tis true . + +Come on then , and remove him . + +So , begin . + + +Fear no more the heat o' the sun , +Nor the furious winter's rages ; +Thou thy worldly task hast done , +Home art gone , and ta'en thy wages ; +Golden lads and girls all must , +As chimney-sweepers , come to dust . + +Fear no more the frown o' the great , +Thou art past the tyrant's stroke : +Care no more to clothe and eat ; +To thee the reed is as the oak : +The sceptre , learning , physic , must +All follow this , and come to dust . + +Fear no more the lightning-flash , + +Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone ; + +Fear not slander , censure rash ; + +Thou hast finish'd joy and moan + +All lovers young , all lovers must +Consign to thee , and come to dust . + +No exorciser harm thee ! + +Nor no witchcraft charm thee ! + +Ghost unlaid forbear thee ! + +Nothing ill come near thee ! + +Quiet consummation have ; +And renowned be thy grave ! + +We have done our obsequies . Come , lay him down . + +Here's a few flowers , but 'bout mid-night , more ; +The herbs that have on them cold dew o' the night +Are strewings fitt'st for graves . Upon their faces +You were as flowers , now wither'd ; even so +These herblets shall , which we upon you strew . +Come on , away ; apart upon our knees . +The ground that gave them first has them again ; +Their pleasures here are past , so is their pain . + + +Yes , sir , to Milford-Haven ; which is the way ? +I thank you . By yond bush ? Pray , how far thither ? +'Ods pittikins ! can it be six mile yet ? +I have gone all night : Faith , I'll lie down and sleep . + + +But , soft ! no bed-fellow ! O gods and goddesses ! +These flowers are like the pleasures of the world ; +This bloody man , the care on 't . I hope I dream ; +For so I thought I was a cave-keeper , +And cook to honest creatures ; but 'tis not so , +'Twas but a bolt of nothing , shot at nothing , +Which the brain makes of fumes . Our very eyes +Are sometimes like our judgments , blind . Good faith , +I tremble still with fear ; but if there be +Yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity +As a wren's eye , fear'd gods , a part of it ! +The dream's here still ; even when I wake , it is +Without me , as within me ; not imagin'd , felt . +A headless man ! The garments of Posthumus ! +I know the shape of 's leg , this is his hand , +His foot Mercurial , his Martial thigh , +The brawns of Hercules , but his Jovial face +Murder in heaven ? How ! 'Tis gone . Pisanio , +All curses madded Hecuba gave the Greeks , +And mine to boot , be darted on thee ! Thou , +Conspir'd with that irregulous devil , Cloten , +Hast here cut off my lord . To write and read +Be henceforth treacherous ! Damn'd Pisanio +Hath with his forged letters , damn'd Pisanio , +From this most bravest vessel of the world +Struck the main-top ! O Posthumus ! alas ! +Where is thy head ? where's that ? Ay me ! where's that ? +Pisanio might have kill'd thee at the heart , +And left this head on . How should this be ? Pisanio ? +'Tis he and Cloten ; malice and lucre in them +Have laid this woe here . O ! 'tis pregnant , pregnant ! +The drug he gave me , which he said was precious +And cordial to me , have I not found it +Murderous to the senses ? That confirms it home ; +This is Pisanio's deed , and Cloten's : O ! +Give colour to my pale cheek with thy blood , +That we the horrider may seem to those +Which chance to find us . O ! my lord , my lord . + +To them the legions garrison'd in Gallia , +After your will , have cross'd the sea , attending +You here at Milford-Haven with your ships : +They are in readiness . + +But what from Rome ? + +The senate hath stirr'd up the confiners +And gentlemen of Italy , most willing spirits , +That promise noble service ; and they come +Under the conduct of bold Iachimo , +Sienna's brother . + +When expect you them ? + +With the next benefit o' the wind . + +This forwardness +Makes our hopes fair . Command our present numbers +Be muster'd ; bid the captains look to 't . Now , sir , +What have you dream'd of late of this war's purpose ? + +Last night the very gods show'd me a vision , +I fast and pray'd for their intelligence ,thus : +I saw Jove's bird , the Roman eagle , wing'd +From the spongy south to this part of the west , +There vanish'd in the sunbeams ; which portends , +Unless my sins abuse my divination , +Success to the Roman host . + +Dream often so , +And never false . Soft , ho ! what trunk is here +Without his top ? The ruin speaks that sometime +It was a worthy building . How ! a page ! +Or dead or sleeping on him ? But dead rather , +For nature doth abhor to make his bed +With the defunct , or sleep upon the dead . +Let's see the boy's face . + +He's alive , my lord . + +He'll , then , instruct us of this body . Young one , +Inform us of thy fortunes , for it seems +They crave to be demanded . Who is this +Thou mak'st thy bloody pillow ? Or who was he +That , otherwise than noble nature did , +Hath alter'd that good picture ? What's thy interest +In this sad wrack ? How came it ? Who is it ? +What art thou ? + +I am nothing ; or if not , +Nothing to be were better . This was my master , +A very valiant Briton and a good , +That here by mountaineers lies slain . Alas ! +There are no more such masters ; I may wander +From east to occident , cry out for service , +Try many , all good , serve truly , never +Find such another master . + +'Lack , good youth ! +Thou mov'st no less with thy complaining than +Thy master in bleeding . Say his name , good friend . + +Richard du Champ . + +If I do lie and do +No harm by it , though the gods hear , I hope +They'll pardon it .Say you , sir ? + +Thy name ? + +Fidele , sir . + +Thou dost approve thyself the very same ; +Thy name well fits thy faith , thy faith thy name . +Wilt take thy chance with me ? I will not say +Thou shalt be so well master'd , but be sure +No less belov'd . The Roman emperor's letters , +Sent by a consul to me , should not sooner +Than thine own worth prefer thee . Go with me . + +I'll follow , sir . But first , an 't please the gods , +I'll hide my master from the flies , as deep +As these poor pickaxes can dig ; and when +With wild wood-leaves and weeds I ha' strew'd his grave , +And on it said a century of prayers , +Such as I can , twice o'er , I'll weep and sigh ; +And , leaving so his service , follow you , +So please you entertain me . + +Ay , good youth , +And rather father thee than master thee . +My friends , +The boy hath taught us manly duties ; let us +Find out the prettiest daisied plot we can , +And make him with our pikes and partisans +A grave ; come , arm him . Boy , he is preferr'd +By thee to us , and he shall be interr'd +As soldiers can . Be cheerful ; wipe thine eyes : +Some falls are means the happier to arise . + + +Again ; and bring me word how 'tis with her . + +A fever with the absence of her son , +A madness , of which her life's in danger . Heavens ! +How deeply you at once do touch me . Imogen , +The great part of my comfort , gone ; my queen +Upon a desperate bed , and in a time +When fearful wars point at me ; her son gone , +So needful for this present : it strikes me , past +The hope of comfort . But for thee , fellow , +Who needs must know of her departure and +Dost seem so ignorant , we'll enforce it from thee +By a sharp torture . + +Sir , my life is yours , +I humbly set it at your will ; but , for my mistress , +I nothing know where she remains , why gone , +Nor when she purposes return . Beseech your highness , +Hold me your loyal servant . + +Good my liege , +The day that she was missing he was here ; +I dare be bound he's true and shall perform +All parts of his subjection loyally . For Cloten , +There wants no diligence in seeking him , +And will , no doubt , be found . + +The time is troublesome . + + +We'll slip you for a season ; but our jealousy +Does yet depend . + +So please-your majesty , +The Roman legions , all from Gallia drawn , +Are landed on your coast , with a supply +Of Roman gentlemen , by the senate sent . + +Now for the counsel of my son and queen ! +I am amaz'd with matter . + +Good my liege , +Your preparation can affront no less +Than what you hear of ; come more , for more you're ready : +The want is , but to put those powers in motion +That long to move . + +I thank you . Let's withdraw ; +And meet the time as it seeks us . We fear not +What can from Italy annoy us , but +We grieve at chances here . Away ! + + +I heard no letter from my master since +I wrote him Imogen was slain ; 'tis strange ; +Nor hear I from my mistress , who did promise +To yield me often tidings ; neither know I +What is betid to Cloten ; but remain +Perplex'd in all : the heavens still must work . +Wherein I am false I am honest ; not true to be true : +These present wars shall find I love my country , +Even to the note o' the king , or I'll fall in them . +All other doubts , by time let them be clear'd ; +Fortune brings in some boats that are not steer'd . + + +The noise is round about us . + +Let us from it . + +What pleasure , sir , find we in life , to lock it +From action and adventure ? + +Nay , what hope +Have we in hiding us ? this way , the Romans +Must or for Britons slay us , or receive us +For barbarous and unnatural revolts +During their use , and slay us after . + +Sons , +We'll higher to the mountains ; there secure us . +To the king's party there's no going ; newness +Of Cloten's death ,we being not known , not muster'd +Among the bands ,may drive us to a render +Where we have liv'd , and so extort from 's that +Which we have done , whose answer would be death +Drawn on with torture . + +This is , sir , a doubt +In such a time nothing becoming you , +Nor satisfying us . + +It is not likely +That when they hear the Roman horses neigh , +Behold their quarter'd fires , have both their eyes +And ears so cloy'd importantly as now , +That they will waste their time upon our note , +To know from whence we are . + +O ! I am known +Of many in the army ; many years , +Though Cloten then but young , you see , not wore him +From my remembrance . And , besides , the king +Hath not deserv'd my service nor your loves +Who find in my exile the want of breeding , +The certainty of this hard life ; aye hopeless +To have the courtesy your cradle promis'd , +But to be still hot summer's tanlings and +The shrinking slaves of winter . + +Than be so +Better to cease to be . Pray , sir , to the army : +I and my brother are not known ; yourself , +So out of thought , and thereto so o'ergrown , +Cannot be question'd . + +By this sun that shines , +I'll thither : what thing is it that I never +Did see man die ! scarce ever look'd on blood +But that of coward hares , hot goats , and venison ! +Never bestrid a horse , save one that had +A rider like myself , who ne'er wore rowel +Nor iron on his heel ! I am asham'd +To look upon the holy sun , to have +The benefit of his bless'd beams , remaining +So long a poor unknown . + +By heavens ! I'll go : +If you will bless me , sir , and give me leave , +I'll take the better care ; but if you will not , +The hazard therefore due fall on me by +The hands of Romans . + +So say I ; amen . + +No reason I , since of your lives you set +So slight a valuation , should reserve +My crack'd one to more care . Have with you , boys ! +If in your country wars you chance to die , +That is my bed too , lads , and there I'll lie : +Lead , lead . + +The time seems long ; their blood thinks scorn , +Till it fly out and show them princes born . + +Yea , bloody cloth , I'll keep thee , for I wish'd +Thou shouldst be colour'd thus . You married ones , +If each of you should take this course , how many +Must murder wives much better than themselves +For wrying but a little ! O Pisanio ! +Every good servant does not all commands ; +No bond but to do just ones . Gods ! if you +Should have ta'en vengeance on my faults , I never +Had liv'd to put on this ; so had you sav'd +The noble Imogen to repent , and struck +Me , wretch more worth your vengeance . But , alack ! +You snatch some hence for little faults ; that's love , +To have them fall no more ; you some permit +To second ills with ills , each elder worse , +And make them dread it , to the doers' thrift . +But Imogen is your own ; do your best wills , +And make me bless'd to obey . I am brought hither +Among the Italian gentry , and to fight +Against my lady's kingdom ; 'tis enough +That , Britain , I have kill'd thy mistress-piece ! +I'll give no wound to thee . Therefore good heavens , +Hear patiently my purpose : I'll disrobe me +Of these Italian weeds , and suit myself +As does a Briton peasant ; so I'll fight +Against the part I come with , so I'll die +For thee , O Imogen ! even for whom my life +Is , every breath , a death : and thus , unknown , +Pitied nor hated , to the face of peril +Myself I'll dedicate . Let me make men know +More valour in me than my habits show . +Gods ! put the strength o' the Leonati in me . +To shame the guise o' the world , I will begin +The fashion , less without and more within . + + +The heaviness and guilt within my bosom +Takes off my manhood : I have belied a lady , +The princess of this country , and the air on 't +Revengingly enfeebles me ; or could this carl , +A very drudge of nature's , have subdu'd me +In my profession ? Knighthoods and honours , borne +As I wear mine , are titles but of scorn . +If that thy gentry , Britain , go before +This lout as he exceeds our lords , the odds +Is that we scarce are men and you are gods . + + +Stand , stand ! We have the advantage of the ground . +The lane is guarded ; nothing routs us but +The villany of our fears . + +Stand , stand , and fight ! + +Stand , stand , and fight ! + +Away , boy , from the troops , and save thyself ; +For friends kill friends , and the disorder's such +As war were hoodwink'd . + +'Tis their fresh supplies . + +It is a day turn'd strangely : or betimes +Let's re-inforce , or fly . + + +Cam'st thou from where they made the stand ? + +I did : +Though you , it seems , come from the fliers . + +I did . + +No blame be to you , sir ; for all was lost , +But that the heavens fought . The king himself +Of his wings destitute , the army broken , +And but the backs of Britons seen , all flying +Through a strait lane ; the enemy full-hearted , +Lolling the tongue with slaughtering , having work +More plentiful than tools to do 't , struck down +Some mortally , some slightly touch'd , some falling +Merely through fear ; that the strait pass was damm'd +With dead men hurt behind , and cowards living +To die with lengthen'd shame . + +Where was this lane ? + +Close by the battle , ditch'd , and wall'd with turf ; +Which gave advantage to an ancient soldier , +An honest one , I warrant ; who deserv'd +So long a breeding as his white beard came to , +In doing this for his country ; athwart the lane , +He , with two striplings ,lads more like to run +The country base than to commit such slaughter , +With faces fit for masks , or rather fairer +Than those for preservation cas'd , or shame , +Made good the passage ; cried to those that fled , +'Our Britain's harts die flying , not our men : +To darkness fleet souls that fly backwards . Stand ! +Or we are Romans , and will give you that +Like beasts which you shun beastly , and may save , +But to look back in frown : stand , stand !' These three , +Three thousand confident , in act as many , +For three performers are the file when all +The rest do nothing ,with this word , 'Stand , stand !' +Accommodated by the place , more charming +With their own nobleness ,which could have turn'd +A distaff to a lance ,gilded pale looks , +Part shame , part spirit renew'd ; that some , turn'd coward +But by example ,O ! a sin of war , +Damn'd in the first beginners ,'gan to look +The way that they did , and to grin like lions +Upon the pikes o' the hunters . Then began +A stop i' the chaser , a retire , anon , +A rout , confusion thick ; forthwith they fly +Chickens , the way which they stoop'd eagles ; slaves , +The strides they victors made . And now our cowards +Like fragments in hard voyages became +The life o' the need ; having found the back door open +Of the unguarded hearts , Heavens ! how they wound ; +Some slain before ; some dying ; some their friends +O'er-borne i' the former wave ; ten , chas'd by one , +Are now each one the slaughter-man of twenty ; +Those that would die or ere resist are grown +The mortal bugs o' the field . + +This was strange chance : +A narrow lane , an old man , and two boys ! + +Nay , do not wonder at it ; you are made +Rather to wonder at the things you hear +Than to work any . Will you rime upon 't , +And vent it for a mockery ? Here is one : +'Two boys , an old man twice a boy , a lane , +Preserv'd the Britons , was the Romans' bane .' + +Nay , be not angry , sir . + +'Lack ! to what end ? +Who dares not stand his foe , I'll be his friend ; +For if he'll do , as he is made to do , +I know he'll quickly fly my friendship too . +You have put me into rime . + +Farewell ; you're angry . + + +Still going ?This is a lord ! O noble misery ! +To be i' the field , and ask , 'what news ?' of me ! +To-day how many would have given their honours +To have sav'd their carcases ! took heel to do 't , +And yet died too ! I , in mine own woe charm'd , +Could not find death where I did hear him groan , +Nor feel him where he struck : being an ugly monster , +'Tis strange he hides him in fresh cups , soft beds , +Sweet words ; or hath more ministers than we +That draw his knives i' the war . Well , I will find him ; +For being now a favourer to the Briton , +No more a Briton , I have resum'd again +The part I came in ; fight I will no more , +But yield me to the veriest hind that shall +Once touch my shoulder . Great the slaughter is +Here made by the Roman ; great the answer be +Britons must take . For me , my ransom's death ; +On either side I come to spend my breath , +Which neither here I'll keep nor bear agen , +But end it by some means for Imogen . + + +Great Jupiter be prais'd ! Lucius is taken . +'Tis thought the old man and his sons were angels . + +There was a fourth man , in a silly habit , +That gave th' affront with them . + +So 'tis reported ; +But none of 'em can be found . Stand ! who is there ? + +A Roman , +Who had not now been drooping here , if seconds +Had answer'd him . + +Lay hands on him ; a dog ! +A lag of Rome shall not return to tell +What crows have peck'd them here . He brags his service +As if he were of note : bring him to the king . + + +You shall not now be stol'n , you have locks upon you : +So graze as you find pasture . + +Ay , or a stomach . + + +Most welcome , bondage ! for thou art a way , +I think , to liberty . Yet am I better +Than one that's sick o' the gout , since he had rather +Groan so in perpetuity than be cur'd +By the sure physician death ; who is the key +To unbar these locks . My conscience , thou art fetter'd +More than my shanks and wrists : you good gods , give me +The penitent instrument to pick that bolt ; +Then , free for ever ! Is 't enough I am sorry ? +So children temporal fathers do appease ; +Gods are more full of mercy . Must I repent ? +I cannot do it better than in gyves , +Desir'd more than constrain'd ; to satisfy , +If of my freedom 'tis the main part , take +No stricter render of me than my all . +I know you are more clement than vile men , +Who of their broken debtors take a third , +A sixth , a tenth , letting them thrive again +On their abatement : that's not my desire ; +For Imogen's dear life take mine ; and though +'Tis not so dear , yet 'tis a life ; you coin'd it ; +'Tween man and man they weigh not every stamp ; +Though light , take pieces for the figure's sake : +You rather mine , being yours ; and so great powers , +If you will take this audit , take this life , +And cancel these cold bonds . O Imogen ! +I'll speak to thee in silence . + + +No more , thou thunder-master , show +Thy spite on mortal flies : +With Mars fall out , with Juno chide , +That thy adulteries +Rates and revenges . +Hath my poor boy done aught but well , +Whose face I never saw ? +I died whilst in the womb he stay'd +Attending nature's law : +Whose father then as men report , +Thou orphans' father art +Thou shouldst have been , and shielded him +From this earth-vexing smart . + +Lucina lent not me her aid , +But took me in my throes ; +That from me was Posthumus ript , +Came crying 'mongst his foes , +A thing of pity ! + +Great nature , like his ancestry , +Moulded the stuff so fair , +That he deserv'd the praise o' the world , +As great Sicilius' heir . + +When once he was mature for man , +In Britain where was he +That could stand up his parallel , +Or fruitful object be +In eye of Imogen , that best +Could deem his dignity ? + +With marriage wherefore was he mock'd , +To be exil'd , and thrown +From Leonati's seat , and cast +From her his dearest one , +Sweet Imogen ? + +Why did you suffer Iachimo , +Slight thing of Italy , +To taint his nobler heart and brain +With needless jealousy ; +And to become the geck and scorn +O' the other's villany ? + +For this from stiller seats we came , +Our parents and us twain , +That striking in our country's cause +Fell bravely and were slain ; +Our fealty and Tenantius' right +With honour to maintain . + +Like hardiment Posthumus hath +To Cymbeline perform'd : +Then Jupiter , thou king of gods , +Why hast thou thus adjourn'd +The graces for his merits due , +Being all to dolours turn'd ? + +Thy crystal window ope ; look out ; +No longer exercise +Upon a valiant race thy harsh +And potent injuries . + +Since , Jupiter , our son is good , +Take off his miseries . + +Peep through thy marble mansion ; help ! +Or we poor ghosts will cry +To the shining synod of the rest +Against thy deity . + +Help , Jupiter ! or we appeal , +And from thy justice fly . + + +No more , you petty spirits of region low , Offend our hearing ; hush ! How dare you ghosts +Accuse the thunderer , whose bolt , you know , +Sky-planted , batters all rebelling coasts ? +Poor shadows of Elysium , hence ; and rest +Upon your never-withering banks of flowers : +Be not with mortal accidents opprest ; +No care of yours it is ; you know 'tis ours . +Whom best I love I cross ; to make my gift , +The more delay'd , delighted . Be content ; +Your low-laid son our godhead will uplift : +His comforts thrive , his trials well are spent . +Our Jovial star reign'd at his birth , and in +Our temple was he married . Rise , and fade ! +He shall be lord of Lady Imogen , +And happier much by his affliction made . +This tablet lay upon his breast , wherein +Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine ; +And so , away : no further with your din +Express impatience , lest you stir up mine . +Mount , eagle , to my palace crystalline . + + +He came in thunder ; his celestial breath +Was sulphurous to smell ; the holy eagle +Stoop'd , as to foot us ; his ascension is +More sweet than our bless'd fields ; his royal bird +Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak , +As when his god is pleas'd . + +Thanks , Jupiter ! + +The marble pavement closes ; he is enter'd +His radiant roof . Away ! and , to be blest , +Let us with care perform his great behest . + + +Sleep , thou hast been a grandsire , and begot +A father to me ; and thou hast created +A mother and two brothers . But O scorn ! +Gone ! they went hence so soon as they were born : +And so I am awake . Poor wretches , that depend +On greatness' favour dream as I have done ; +Wake , and find nothing . But , alas ! I swerve : +Many dream not to find , neither deserve , +And yet are steep'd in favours ; so am I , +That have this golden chance and know not why . +What fairies haunt this ground ? A book ? O rare one ! +Be not , as is our fangled world , a garment +Nobler than that it covers : let thy effects +So follow , to be most unlike our courtiers , +As good as promise . +Whenas a lion's whelp shall , to himself unknown , without seeking find , and be embraced by a piece of tender air ; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches , which , being dead many years , shall after revive , be jointed to the old stock , and freshly grow , then shall Posthumus end his miseries , Britain be fortunate , and flourish in peace and plenty . +'Tis still a dream , or else such stuff as madmen +Tongue and brain not ; either both or nothing ; +Or senseless speaking , or a speaking such +As sense cannot untie . Be what it is , +The action of my life is like it , which +I'll keep , if but for sympathy . + + +Come , sir , are you ready for death ? + +Over-roasted rather ; ready long ago . + +Hanging is the word , sir : if you be ready for that , you are well cooked . + +So , if I prove a good repast to the spectators , the dish pays the shot . + +A heavy reckoning for you , sir ; but the comfort is , you shall be called to no more payments , fear no more tavern-bills , which are often the sadness of parting , as the procuring of mirth . You come in faint for want of meat , depart reeling with too much drink , sorry that you have paid too much ; and sorry that you are paid too much ; purse and brain both empty ; the brain the heavier for being too light , the purse too light , being drawn of heaviness of this contradiction you shall now be quit . O ! the charity of a penny cord ; it sums up thousands in a trice : you have no true debitor and creditor but it ; of what's past , is , and to come , the discharge . Your neck , sir , is pen , book and counters ; so the acquittance follows . + +I am merrier to die than thou art to live . + +Indeed , sir , he that sleeps feels not the toothache ; but a man that were to sleep your sleep , and a hangman to help him to bed , I think he would change places with his officer ; for look you , sir , you know not which way you shall go . + +Yes , indeed do I , fellow . + +Your death has eyes in 's head , then ; I have not seen him so pictured : you must either be directed by some that take upon them to know , or take upon yourself that which I am sure you do not know , or jump the after inquiry on your own peril : and how you shall speed in your journey's end , I think you'll never return to tell one . + +I tell thee , fellow , there are none want eyes to direct them the way I am going but such as wink and will not use them . + +What an infinite mock is this , that a man should have the best use of eyes to see the way of blindness ! I am sure hanging's the way of winking . + + +Knock off his manacles ; bring your prisoner to the king . + +Thou bring'st good news ; I am called to be made free . + +I'll be hang'd , then . + +Thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler ; no bolts for the dead . + + +Unless a man would marry a gallows and beget young gibbets , I never saw one so prone . Yet , on my conscience , there are verier knaves desire to live , for all he be a Roman ; and there be some of them too , that die against their wills ; so should I , if I were one . I would we were all of one mind , and one mind good ; O ! there were desolation of gaolers and gallowses . I speak against my present profit , but my wish hath a preferment in 't . + + +Stand by my side , you whom the gods have made +Preservers of my throne . Woe is my heart +That the poor soldier that so richly fought , +Whose rags sham'd gilded arms , whose naked breast +Stepp'd before targes of proof , cannot be found : +He shall be happy that can find him , if +Our grace can make him so . + +I never saw +Such noble fury in so poor a thing ; +Such precious deeds in one that promis'd nought +But beggary and poor looks . + +No tidings of him ? + +He hath been search'd among the dead and living , +But no trace of him . + +To my grief , I am +The heir of his reward ; which I will add + +To you , the liver , heart , and brain of Britain , +By whom , I grant , she lives . 'Tis now the time +To ask of whence you are : report it . + +Sir , +In Cambria are we born , and gentlemen : +Further to boast were neither true nor modest , +Unless I add , we are honest . + +Bow your knees . +Arise , my knights o' the battle : I create you +Companions to our person , and will fit you +With dignities becoming your estates . + + +There's business in these faces . Why so sadly +Greet you our victory ? you look like Romans , + +And not o' the court of Britain . + +Hail , great king ! +To sour your happiness , I must report +The queen is dead . + +Whom worse than a physician +Would this report become ? But I consider , +By medicine life may be prolong'd , yet death +Will seize the doctor too . How ended she ? + +With horror , madly dying , like her life ; +Which , being cruel to the world , concluded +Most cruel to herself . What she confess'd +I will report , so please you : these her women +Can trip me if I err ; who with wet cheeks +Were present when she finish'd . + +Prithee , say . + +First , she confess'd she never lov'd you , only +Affected greatness got by you , not you ; +Married your royalty , was wife to your place ; +Abhorr'd your person . + +She alone knew this ; +And , but she spoke it dying , I would not +Believe her lips in opening it . Proceed . + +Your daughter , whom she bore in hand to love +With such integrity , she did confess +Was as a scorpion to her sight ; whose life , +But that her flight prevented it , she had +Ta'en off by poison . + +O most delicate fiend ! +Who is't can read a woman ? Is there more ? + +More , sir , and worse . She did confess she had +For you a mortal mineral ; which , being took , +Should by the minute feed on life , and ling'ring , +By inches waste you ; in which time she purpos'd , +By watching , weeping , tendance , kissing , to +O'ercome you with her show ; yea , and in time +When she had fitted you with her craft to work +Her son into the adoption of the crown ; +But failing of her end by his strange absence , +Grew shameless-desperate ; open'd , in despite +Of heaven and men , her purposes ; repented +The evils she hatch'd were not effected : so , +Despairing died . + +Heard you all this , her women ? + +We did , so please your highness . + +Mine eyes +Were not in fault , for she was beautiful ; +Mine ears , that heard her flattery ; nor my heart , +That thought her like her seeming : it had been vicious +To have mistrusted her : yet , O my daughter ! +That it was folly in me , thou mayst say , +And prove it in thy feeling . Heaven mend all ! + +Thou com'st not , Caius , now for tribute ; that +The Britons have raz'd out , though with the loss +Of many a bold one ; whose kinsmen have made suit +That their good souls may be appeas'd with slaughter +Of you their captives , which ourself have granted : + +So , think of your estate . + +Consider , sir , the chance of war : the day +Was yours by accident ; had it gone with us , +We should not , when the blood was cool , have threaten'd +Our prisoners with the sword . But since the gods +Will have it thus , that nothing but our lives +May be call'd ransom , let it come ; sufficeth , +A Roman with a Roman's heart can suffer ; +Augustus lives to think on 't ; and so much +For my peculiar care . This one thing only +I will entreat ; my boy , a Briton born , +Let him be ransom'd ; never master had +A page so kind , so duteous , diligent , +So tender over his occasions , true , +So feat , so nurse-like . Let his virtue join +With my request , which I'll make bold your highness +Cannot deny ; he hath done no Briton harm , +Though he have serv'd a Roman . Save him , sir , +And spare no blood beside . + +I have surely seen him ; +His favour is familiar to me . Boy , +Thou hast look'd thyself into my grace , +And art mine own . I know not why nor wherefore , +To say , 'live , boy :' ne'er thank thy master ; live : +And ask of Cymbeline what boon thou wilt , +Fitting my bounty and thy state , I'll give it ; +Yea , though thou do demand a prisoner , +The noblest ta'en . + +I humbly thank your highness . + +I do not bid thee beg my life , good lad ; +And yet I know thou wilt . + +No , no ; alack ! +There's other work in hand . I see a thing +Bitter to me as death ; your life , good master , +Must shuffle for itself . + +The boy disdains me , +He leaves me , scorns me ; briefly die their joys +That place them on the truth of girls and boys . +Why stands he so perplex'd ? + +What wouldst thou , boy ? +I love thee more and more ; think more and more +What's best to ask . Know'st him thou look'st on ? speak ; +Wilt have him live ? Is he thy kin ? thy friend ? + +He is a Roman ; no more kin to me +Than I to your highness ; who , being born your vassal , +Am something nearer . + +Wherefore ey'st him so ? + +I'll tell you , sir , in private , if you please +To give me hearing . + +Ay , with all my heart , +And lend my best attention . What's thy name ? + +Fidele , sir . + +Thou'rt my good youth , my page ; +I'll be thy master : walk with me ; speak freely . + + +Is not this boy reviv'd from death ? + +One sand another +Not more resembles ;that sweet rosy lad +Who died , and was Fidele . What think you ? + +The same dead thing alive . + +Peace , peace ! see further ; he eyes us not ; forbear ; +Creatures may be alike ; were 't he , I am sure +He would have spoke to us . + +But we saw him dead . + +Be silent ; let's see further . + +It is my mistress : +Since she is living , let the time run on +To good , or bad . + + +Come , stand thou by our side : +Make thy demand aloud . + +Sir , step you forth ; +Give answer to this boy , and do it freely , +Or , by our greatness and the grace of it , +Which is our honour , bitter torture shall +Winnow the truth from falsehood . On , speak to him . + +My boon is , that this gentleman may render +Of whom he had this ring . + +What's that to him ? + +That diamond upon your finger , say +How came it yours ? + +Thou'lt torture me to leave unspoken that +Which , to be spoke , would torture thee . + +How ! me ? + +I am glad to be constrain'd to utter that +Which torments me to conceal . By villany +I got this ring ; 'twas Leonatus' jewel , +Whom thou didst banish , and which more may grieve thee , +As it doth me a nobler sir ne'er liv'd +'Twixt sky and ground . Wilt thou hear more , my lord ? + +All that belongs to this . + +That paragon , thy daughter , +For whom my heart drops blood , and my false spirits +Quail to remember ,Give me leave ; I faint . + +My daughter ! what of her ? Renew thy strength ; +I had rather thou shouldst live while nature will +Than die ere I hear more . Strive , man , and speak . + +Upon a time ,unhappy was the clock +That struck the hour !it was in Rome ,accurs'd +The mansion where !'twas at a feast O , would +Our viands had been poison'd , or at least +Those which I heav'd to head !the good Posthumus , +What should I say ? he was too good to be +Where ill men were ; and was the best of all +Amongst the rar'st of good ones ;sitting sadly +Hearing us praise our loves of Italy +For beauty that made barren the swell'd boast +Of him that best could speak ; for feature laming +The shrine of Venus , or straight-pight Minerva , +Postures beyond brief nature ; for condition , +A shop of all the qualities that man +Loves woman for ; besides that hook of wiving , +Fairness which strikes the eye . + +I stand on fire . +Come to the matter . + +All too soon I shall , +Unless thou wouldst grieve quickly . This Posthumus +Most like a noble lord in love , and one +That had a royal lover took his hint ; +And , not dispraising whom we prais'd ,therein +He was as calm as virtue ,he began +His mistress' picture ; which by his tongue being made , +And then a mind put in 't , either our brags +Were crack'd of kitchen trulls , or his description +Prov'd us unspeaking sots . + +Nay , nay , to the purpose . + +Your daughter's chastity , there it begins . +He spake of her as Dian had hot dreams , +And she alone were cold ; whereat I , wretch , +Made scruple of his praise , and wager'd with him +Pieces of gold 'gainst this , which then he wore +Upon his honour'd finger , to attain +In suit the place of his bed , and win this ring +By hers and mine adultery . He , true knight , +No lesser of her honour confident +Than I did truly find her , stakes this ring ; +And would so , had it been a carbuncle +Of Ph bus' wheel ; and might so safely , had it +Been all the worth of 's car . Away to Britain +Post I in this design . Well may you , sir , +Remember me at court , where I was taught +Of your chaste daughter the wide difference +'Twixt amorous and villanous . Being thus quench'd +Of hope , not longing , mine Italian brain +'Gan in your duller Britain operate +Most vilely ; for my vantage , excellent ; +And , to be brief , my practice so prevail'd , +That I return'd with simular proof enough +To make the noble Leonatus mad , +By wounding his belief in her renown +With tokens thus , and thus ; averring notes +Of chamber-hanging , pictures , this her bracelet ; +Oh cunning ! how I got it !nay , some marks +Of secret on her person , that he could not +But think her bond of chastity quite crack'd , +I having ta'en the forfeit . Whereupon , +Methinks I see him now , + +Ay , so thou dost , +Italian fiend !Ay me , most credulous fool , +Egregious murderer , thief , any thing +That's due to all the villains past , in being , +To come . O ! give me cord , or knife , or poison , +Some upright justicer . Thou king , send out +For torturers ingenious ; it is I +That all the abhorred things o' the earth amend +By being worse than they . I am Posthumus , +That kill'd thy daughter ; villain-like , I lie ; +That caus'd a lesser villain than myself , +A sacrilegious thief , to do 't ; the temple +Of virtue was she ; yea , and she herself . +Spit , and throw stones , cast mire upon me , set +The dogs o' the street to bay me ; every villain +Be call'd Posthumus Leonatus ; and +Be villany less than 'twas ! O Imogen ! +My queen , my life , my wife ! O Imogen , +Imogen , Imogen ! + +Peace , my lord ! hear , hear ! + +Shall 's have a play of this ? Thou scornful page , +There lie thy part . + + +O , gentlemen , help ! +Mine , and your mistress ! O ! my Lord Posthumus , +You ne'er kill'd Imogen till now . Help , help ! +Mine honour'd lady ! + +Does the world go round ? + +How come these staggers on me ? + +Wake , my mistress ! + +If this be so , the gods do mean to strike me +To death with mortal joy . + +How fares my mistress ? + +O ! get thee from my sight : +Thou gav'st me poison : dangerous fellow , hence ! +Breathe not where princes are . + +The tune of Imogen ! + +Lady , +The gods throw stones of sulphur on me , if +That box I gave you was not thought by me +A precious thing : I had it from the queen . + +New matter still ? + +It poison'd me . + +O gods ! +I left out one thing which the queen confess'd , +Which must approve thee honest : 'If Pisanio +Have ,' said she , 'given his mistress that confection +Which I gave him for cordial , she is serv'd +As I would serve a rat .' + +What's this , Cornelius ? + +The queen , sir , very oft importun'd me +To temper poisons for her , still pretending +The satisfaction of her knowledge only +In killing creatures vile , as cats and dogs , +Of no esteem ; I , dreading that her purpose +Was of more danger , did compound for her +A certain stuff , which , being ta'en , would cease +The present power of life , but in short time +All offices of nature should again +Do their due functions . Have you ta'en of it ? + +Most like I did , for I was dead . + +My boys , +There was our error . + +This is , sure , Fidele . + +Why did you throw your wedded lady from you ? +Think that you are upon a rock ; and now +Throw me again . + + +Hang there like fruit , my soul , +Till the tree die ! + +How now , my flesh , my child ! +What , mak'st thou me a dullard in this act ? +Wilt thou not speak to me ? + +Your blessing , sir . + +Though you did love this youth , I blame ye not ; +You had a motive for 't . + +My tears that fall +Prove holy water on thee ! Imogen , +Thy mother's dead . + +I am sorry for 't , my lord . + +O , she was naught ; and long of her it was +That we meet here so strangely ; but her son +Is gone , we know not how , nor where . + +My lord , +Now fear is from me , I'll speak troth . Lord Cloten , +Upon my lady's missing , came to me +With his sword drawn , foam'd at the mouth , and swore +If I discover'd not which way she was gone , +It was my instant death . By accident , +I had a feigned letter of my master's +Then in my pocket , which directed him +To seek her on the mountains near to Milford ; +Where , in a frenzy , in my master's garments , +Which he enforc'd from me , away he posts +With unchaste purpose and with oath to violate +My lady's honour ; what became of him +I further know not . + +Let me end the story : +I slew him there . + +Marry , the gods forfend ! +I would not thy good deeds should from my lips +Pluck a hard sentence : Prithee , valiant youth , +Deny 't again . + +I have spoke it , and I did it . + +He was a prince . + +A most incivil one . The wrongs he did me +Were nothing prince-like ; for he did provoke me +With language that would make me spurn the sea +If it could so roar to me . I cut off 's head ; +And am right glad he is not standing here +To tell this tale of mine . + +I am sorry for thee : +By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd , and must +Endure our law . Thou'rt dead . + +That headless man +I thought had been my lord . + +Bind the offender , +And take him from our presence . + +Stay , sir king : +This man is better than the man he slew , +As well descended as thyself ; and hath +More of thee merited than a band of Clotens +Had ever scar for . + +Let his arms alone ; +They were not born for bondage . + +Why , old soldier , +Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for , +By tasting of our wrath ? How of descent +As good as we ? + +In that he spake too far . + +And thou shalt die for 't . + +We will die all three : +But I will prove that two on 's are as good +As I have given out him . My sons , I must +For mine own part unfold a dangerous speech , +Though , haply , well for you . + +Your danger's ours . + +And our good his . + +Have at it , then , by leave . +Thou hadst , great king , a subject who was call'd +Belarius . + +What of him ? he is +A banish'd traitor . + +He it is that hath +Assum'd this age : indeed , a banish'd man ; +I know not how a traitor . + +Take him hence : +The whole world shall not save him . + +Not too hot : +First pay me for the nursing of thy sons ; +And let it be confiscate all so soon +As I have receiv'd it . + +Nursing of my sons ! + +I am too blunt and saucy ; here's my knee : +Ere I arise I will prefer my sons ; +Then spare not the old father . Mighty sir , +These two young gentlemen , that call me father , +And think they are my sons , are none of mine ; +They are the issue of your loins , my liege , +And blood of your begetting . + +How ! my issue ! + +So sure as you your father's . I , old Morgan , +Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd : +Your pleasure was my mere offence , my punishment +Itself , and all my treason ; that I suffer'd +Was all the harm I did . These gentle princes +For such and so they are these twenty years +Have I train'd up ; those arts they have as I +Could put into them ; my breeding was , sir , as +Your highness knows . Their nurse , Euriphile , +Whom for the theft I wedded , stole these children +Upon my banishment : I mov'd her to 't , +Having receiv'd the punishment before , +For that which I did then ; beaten for loyalty +Excited me to treason . Their dear loss , +The more of you 'twas felt the more it shap'd +Unto my end of stealing them . But , gracious sir , +Here are your sons again ; and I must lose +Two of the sweet'st companions in the world . +The benediction of these covering heavens +Fall on their heads like dew ! for they are worthy +To inlay heaven with stars . + +Thou weep'st , and speak'st . +The service that you three have done is more +Unlike than this thou tell'st . I lost my children : +If these be they , I know not how to wish +A pair of worthier sons . + +Be pleas'd awhile . +This gentleman , whom I call Polydore , +Most worthy prince , as yours , is true Guiderius ; +This gentleman , my Cadwal , Arviragus , +Your younger princely son ; he , sir , was lapp'd +In a most curious mantle , wrought by the hand +Of his queen mother , which , for more probation , +I can with ease produce . + +Guiderius had +Upon his neck a mole , a sanguine star ; +It was a mark of wonder . + +This is he , +Who hath upon him still that natural stamp . +It was wise nature's end in the donation , +To be his evidence now . + +O ! what , am I +A mother to the birth of three ? Ne'er mother +Rejoic'd deliverance more . Blest pray you be , +That , after this strange starting from your orbs , +You may reign in them now . O Imogen ! +Thou hast lost by this a kingdom . + +No , my lord ; +I have got two worlds by 't . O my gentle brothers ! +Have we thus met ? O , never say hereafter +But I am truest speaker : you call'd me brother , +When I was but your sister ; I you brothers +When ye were so indeed . + +Did you e'er meet ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +And at first meeting lov'd ; +Continu'd so , until we thought he died . + +By the queen's dram she swallow'd . + +O rare instinct ! +When shall I hear all through ? This fierce abridgment +Hath to it circumstantial branches , which +Distinction should be rich in . Where ? how liv'd you ? +And when came you to serve our Roman captive ? +How parted with your brothers ? how first met them ? +Why fied you from the court , and whither ? These , +And your three motives to the battle , with +I know not how much more , should be demanded , +And all the other by-dependances , +From chance to chance , but nor the time nor place +Will serve our long inter'gatories . See , +Posthumus anchors upon Imogen , +And she , like harmless lightning , throws her eye +On him , her brothers , me , her master , hitting +Each object with a joy : the counterchange +Is severally in all . Let's quit this ground , +And smoke the temple with our sacrifices . + + +Thou art my brother ; so we'll hold thee ever . + +You are my father too ; and did relieve me , +To see this gracious season . + +All o'erjoy'd +Save these in bonds ; let them be joyful too , +For they shall taste our comfort . + +My good master , +I will yet do you service . + +Happy be you ! + +The forlorn soldier , that so nobly fought +He would have well becom'd this place and grac'd +The thankings of a king . + +I am , sir , +The soldier that did company these three +In poor beseeming ; 'twas a fitment for +The purpose I then follow'd . That I was he , +Speak , Iachimo ; I had you down and might +Have made you finish . + +I am down again ; +But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee , +As then your force did . Take that life , beseech you , +Which I so often owe , but your ring first , +And here the bracelet of the truest princess +That ever swore her faith . + +Kneel not to me : +The power that I have on you is to spare you ; +The malice towards you to forgive you . Live , +And deal with others better . + +Nobly doom'd : +We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law ; +Pardon's the word to all . + +You holp us , sir , +As you did mean indeed to be our brother ; +Joy'd are we that you are . + +Your servant , princes . Good my lord of Rome , +Call forth your soothsayer . As I slept , methought +Great Jupiter , upon his eagle back'd , +Appear'd to me , with other spritely shows +Of mine own kindred : when I wak'd , I found +This label on my bosom ; whose containing +Is so from sense in hardness that I can +Make no collection of it ; let him show +His skill in the construction . + +Philarmonus ! + +Here , my good lord . + +Read , and declare the meaning + +Whenas a lion's whelp shall , to himself unknown , without seeking find , and be embraced by a piece of tender air ; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches , which , being dead many years , shall after revive , be jointed to the old stock , and freshly grow : then shall Posthumus end his miseries , Britain be fortunate , and flourish in peace and plenty . +Thou , Leonatus , art the lion's whelp ; +The fit and apt construction of thy name , +Being Leo-natus , doth import so much . + + +The piece of tender air , thy virtuous daughter , +Which we call mollis aer ; and mollis aer +We term it mulier ; which mulier , I divine , +Is this most constant wife ; who , even now , +Answering the letter of the oracle , +Unknown to you , + +unsought , were clipp'd about +With this most tender air . + +This hath some seeming . + +The lofty cedar , royal Cymbeline , +Personates thee , and thy lopp'd branches point +Thy two sons forth ; who , by Belarius stolen , +For many years thought dead , are now reviv'd +To the majestic cedar join'd , whose issue +Promises Britain peace and plenty . + +Well ; +My peace we will begin . And , Caius Lucius , +Although the victor , we submit to C sar , +And to the Roman empire ; promising +To pay our wonted tribute , from the which +We were dissuaded by our wicked queen ; +Whom heavens in justice both on her and hers +Have laid most heavy hand . + +The fingers of the powers above do tune +The harmony of this peace . The vision +Which I made known to Lucius ere the stroke +Of this yet scarce-cold battle , at this instant +Is full accomplish'd ; for the Roman eagle , +From south to west on wing soaring aloft , +Lessen'd herself , and in the beams o' the sun +So vanish'd : which foreshow'd our princely eagle , +The imperial C sar , should again unite +His favour with the radiant Cymbeline , +Which shines here in the west . + +Laud we the gods ; +And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils +From our bless'd altars . Publish we this peace +To all our subjects . Set we forward : let +A Roman and a British ensign wave +Friendly together ; so through Lud's town march : +And in the temple of great Jupiter +Our peace we'll ratify ; seal it with feasts . +Set on there . Never was a war did cease , +Ere bloody hands were wash'd , with such a peace . + +LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST + +Let fame , that all hunt after in their lives , +Live register'd upon our brazen tombs , +And then grace us in the disgrace of death ; +When , spite of cormorant devouring Time , +The endeavour of this present breath may buy +That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge , +And make us heirs of all eternity . +Therefore , brave conquerors ,for so you are , +That war against your own affections +And the huge army of the world's desires , +Our late edict shall strongly stand in force : +Navarre shall be the wonder of the world ; +Our court shall be a little academe , +Still and contemplative in living art . +You three , Berowne , Dumaine , and Longaville , +Have sworn for three years' term to live with me , +My fellow-scholars , and to keep those statutes +That are recorded in this schedule here : +Your oaths are pass'd ; and now subscribe your names , +That his own hand may strike his honour down +That violates the smallest branch herein . +If you are arm'd to do , as sworn to do , +Subscribe to your deep oaths , and keep it too . + +I am resolv'd ; 'tis but a three years' fast : +The mind shall banquet , though the body pine : +Fat paunches have lean pates , and dainty bits +Make rich the ribs , but bankrupt quite the wits . + +My loving lord , Dumaine is mortified : +The grosser manner of these world's delights +He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves : +To love , to wealth , to pomp , I pine and die ; +With all these living in philosophy . + +I can but say their protestation over ; +So much , dear liege , I have already sworn , +That is , to live and study here three years . +But there are other strict observances ; +As , not to see a woman in that term , +Which I hope well is not enrolled there : +And one day in a week to touch no food , +And but one meal on every day beside ; +The which I hope is not enrolled there : +And then , to sleep but three hours in the night , +And not be seen to wink of all the day , +When I was wont to think no harm all night +And make a dark night too of half the day , +Which I hope well is not enrolled there . +O ! these are barren tasks , too hard to keep , +Not to see ladies , study , fast , not sleep . + +Your oath is pass'd to pass away from these . + +Let me say no , my liege , an if you please . +I only swore to study with your Grace , +And stay here in your court for three years' space . + +You swore to that , Berowne , and to the rest . + +By yea and nay , sir , then I swore in jest . +What is the end of study ? let me know . + +Why , that to know which else we should not know . + +Things hid and barr'd , you mean , from common sense ? + +Ay , that is study's god-like recompense . + +Come on then ; I will swear to study so , +To know the thing I am forbid to know ; +As thus : to study where I well may dine , +When I to feast expressly am forbid ; +Or study where to meet some mistress fine , +When mistresses from common sense are hid ; +Or , having sworn too hard-a-keeping oath , +Study to break it , and not break my troth . +If study's gain be thus , and this be so , +Study knows that which yet it doth not know . +Swear me to this , and I will ne'er say no . + +These be the stops that hinder study quite , +And train our intellects to vain delight . + +Why , all delights are vain ; but that most vain +Which , with pain purchas'd doth inherit pain : +As , painfully to pore upon a book , +To seek the light of truth ; while truth the while +Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look : +Light seeking light doth light of light beguile : +So , ere you find where light in darkness lies , +Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes . +Study me how to please the eye indeed , +By fixing it upon a fairer eye , +Who dazzling so , that eye shall be his heed , +And give him light that it was blinded by . +Study is like the heaven's glorious sun , +That will not be deep-search'd with saucy looks ; +Small have continual plodders ever won , +Save base authority from others' books . +These earthly godfathers of heaven's lights +That give a name to every fixed star , +Have no more profit of their shining nights +Than those that walk and wot not what they are . +Too much to know is to know nought but fame ; +And every godfather can give a name . + +How well he's read , to reason against reading ! + +Proceeded well , to stop all good proceeding ! + +He weeds the corn , and still lets grow the weeding . + +The spring is near , when green geese are a-breeding . + +How follows that ? + +Fit in his place and time . + +In reason nothing . + +Something then , in rime . + +Berowne is like an envious sneaping frost +That bites the first-born infants of the spring . + +Well , say I am : why should proud summer boast +Before the birds have any cause to sing ? +Why should I joy in an abortive birth ? +At Christmas I no more desire a rose +Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth ; +But like of each thing that in season grows . +So you , to study now it is too late , +Climb o'er the house to unlock the little gate . + +Well , sit you out : go home , Berowne : adieu ! + +No , my good lord ; I have sworn to stay with you : +And though I have for barbarism spoke more +Than for that angel knowledge you can say , +Yet confident I'll keep to what I swore , +And bide the penance of each three years' day . +Give me the paper ; let me read the same ; +And to the strict'st decrees I'll write my name . + +How well this yielding rescues thee from shame ! + +Item , That no woman shall come within a mile of my court . Hath this been proclaimed ? + +Four days ago . + +Let's see the penalty . On pain of losing her tongue . Who devised this penalty ? + +Marry , that did I . + +Sweet lord , and why ? + +To fright them hence with that dread penalty . + +A dangerous law against gentility ! + +Item . If any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three years , he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can possibly devise . +This article , my liege , yourself must break ; +For well you know here comes in embassy +The French king's daughter with yourself to speak +A maid of grace and complete majesty +About surrender up of Aquitaine +To her decrepit , sick , and bed-rid father : +Therefore this article is made in vain , +Or vainly comes th' admired princess hither . + +What say you , lords ? why , this was quite forgot . + +So study evermore is overshot : +While it doth study to have what it would , +It doth forget to do the thing it should ; +And when it hath the thing it hunteth most , +'Tis won as towns with fire ; so won , so lost . + +We must of force dispense with this decree ; +She must lie here on mere necessity . + +Necessity will make us all forsworn +Three thousand times within this three years' space ; +For every man with his affects is born , +Not by might master'd , but by special grace . +If I break faith this word shall speak for me , +I am forsworn 'on mere necessity .' +So to the laws at large I write my name : + +And he that breaks them in the least degree +Stands in attainder of eternal shame : +Suggestions are to others as to me ; +But I believe , although I seem so loath , +I am the last that will last keep his oath . +But is there no quick recreation granted ? + +Ay , that there is . Our court , you know , is haunted +With a refined traveller of Spain ; +A man in all the world's new fashion planted , +That hath a mint of phrases in his brain ; +One whom the music of his own vain tongue +Doth ravish like enchanting harmony ; +A man of complements , whom right and wrong +Have chose as umpire of their mutiny : +This child of fancy , that Armado hight , +For interim to our studies shall relate +In high-born words the worth of many a knight +From tawny Spain lost in the world's debate . +How you delight , my lords , I know not , I ; +But , I protest , I love to hear him lie , +And I will use him for my minstrelsy . + +Armado is a most illustrious wight , +A man of fire-new words , fashion's own knight . + +Costard the swain and he shall be our sport ; +And , so to study , three years is but short . + + +Which is the duke's own person ? + +This , fellow . What wouldst ? + +I myself reprehend his own person , for I am his Grace's tharborough : but I would see his own person in flesh and blood . + +This is he . + +Signior Arm Arm commends you . There's villany abroad : this letter will tell you more . + +Sir , the contempts thereof are as touching me . + +A letter from the magnificent Armado . + +How long soever the matter , I hope in God for high words . + +A high hope for a low heaven : God grant us patience ! + +To hear , or forbear laughing ? + +To hear meekly , sir , and to laugh moderately ; or to forbear both . + +Well , sir , be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness . + +The matter is to me , sir , as concerning Jaquenetta . The manner of it is , I was taken with the manner . + +In what manner ? + +In manner and form following , sir ; all those three : I was seen with her in the manor-house , sitting with her upon the form , and taken following her into the park ; which , put together , is , in manner and form following . Now , sir , for the manner ,it is the manner of a man to speak to a woman , for the form ,in some form . + +For the following , sir ? + +As it shall follow in my correction ; and God defend the right ! + +Will you hear this letter with attention ? + +As we would hear an oracle . + +Such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh . + +Great deputy , the welkin's vicegerent , and sole dominator of Navarre , my soul's earth's God , and body's fostering patron , + +Not a word of Costard yet . + +So it is , + +It may be so ; but if he say it is so , he is , in telling true , but so . + +Peace ! + +Be to me and every man that dares not fight . + +No words ! + +Of other men's secrets , I beseech you . + +So it is , besieged with sable-coloured melancholy , I did commend the black-oppressing humour to the most wholesome physic of thy health-giving air ; and , as I am a gentleman , betook myself to walk . The time when ? About the sixth hour ; when beasts most graze , birds best peck , and men sit down to that nourishment which is called supper : so much for the time when . Now for the ground which ; which , I mean , I walked upon : it is ycleped thy park . Then for the place where ; where , I mean , I did encounter that most obscene and preposterous event , that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon-coloured ink , which here thou viewest , beholdest , surveyest , or seest . But to the place where , it standeth north-north-east and by east from the west corner of thy curious-knotted garden : there did I see that low-spirited swain , that base minnow of thy mirth , + +Me . + +that unlettered small-knowing soul , + +Me . + +that shallow vessel , + +Still me . + +which , as I remember , hight Costard , + +O me . + +sorted and consorted , contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon , with with ,O ! with but with this I passion to say wherewith , + +With a wench . + +with a child of our grandmother Eve , a female ; or , for thy more sweet understanding , a woman . Him , I ,as my everesteemed duty pricks me on ,have sent to thee , to receive the meed of punishment , by thy sweet Grace's officer , Antony Dull ; a man of good repute , carriage , bearing , and estimation . + +Me , an't please you ; I am Antony Dull . + +For Jaquenetta ,so is the weaker vessel called which I apprehended with the aforesaid swain ,I keep her as a vessel of thy law's fury ; and shall , at the least of thy sweet notice , bring her to trial . Thine , in all compliments of devoted and heart-burning heat of duty , + +This is not so well as I looked for , but the best that ever I heard . + +Ay , the best for the worst . But , sirrah , what say you to this ? + +Sir , I confess the wench . + +Did you hear the proclamation ? + +I do confess much of the hearing it , but little of the marking of it . + +It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment to be taken with a wench . + +I was taken with none , sir : I was taken with a damosel . + +Well , it was proclaimed 'damosel .' + +This was no damosel neither , sir : she was a 'virgin .' + +It is so varied too ; for it was proclaimed 'virgin .' + +If it were , I deny her virginity : I was taken with a maid . + +This maid will not serve your turn , sir . + +This maid will serve my turn , sir . + +Sir , I will pronounce your sentence : you shall fast a week with bran and water . + +I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge . + +And Don Armado shall be your keeper . +My Lord Berowne , see him deliver'd o'er : +And go we , lords , to put in practice that +Which each to other hath so strongly sworn . + + +I'll lay my head to any good man's hat , +These oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn . +Sirrah , come on . + +I suffer for the truth , sir : for true it is I was taken with Jaquenetta , and Jaquenetta is a true girl ; and therefore welcome the sour cup of prosperity ! Affliction may one day smile again ; and till then , sit thee down , sorrow ! + + +Boy , what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy ? + +A great sign , sir , that he will look sad . + +Why , sadness is one and the self-same thing , dear imp . + +No , no ; O Lord , sir , no . + +How canst thou part sadness and melancholy , my tender juvenal ? + +By a familiar demonstration of the working , my tough senior . + +Why tough senior ? why tough senior ? + +Why tender juvenal ? why tender juvenal ? + +I spoke it , tender juvenal , as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days , which we may nominate tender . + +And I , tough senior , as an appertinent title to your old time , which we may name tough . + +Pretty , and apt . + +How mean you , sir ? I pretty , and my saying apt ? or I apt , and my saying pretty ? + +Thou pretty , because little . + +Little pretty , because little . Wherefore apt ? + +And therefore apt , because quick . + +Speak you this in my praise , master ? + +In thy condign praise . + +I will praise an eel with the same praise . + +What ! that an eel is ingenious ? + +That an eel is quick . + +I do say thou art quick in answers : thou heatest my blood . + +I am answered , sir . + +I love not to be crossed . + +He speaks the mere contrary : crosses love not him . + +I have promised to study three years with the duke . + +You may do it in an hour , sir . + +Impossible . + +How many is one thrice told ? + +I am ill at reckoning ; it fitteth the spirit of a tapster . + +You are a gentleman and a gamester , sir . + +I confess both : they are both the varnish of a complete man . + +Then , I am sure you know how much the gross sum of deuce-ace amounts to . + +It doth amount to one more than two . + +Which the base vulgar do call three . + +True . + +Why , sir , is this such a piece of study ? Now , here's three studied , ere you'll thrice wink ; and how easy it is to put 'years' to the word 'three ,' and study three years in two words , the dancing horse will tell you . + +A most fine figure ! + +To prove you a cipher . + +I will hereupon confess I am in love ; and as it is base for a soldier to love , so am I in love with a base wench . If drawing my sword against the humour of affection would deliver me from the reprobate thought of it , I would take Desire prisoner , and ransom him to any French courtier for a new devised curtsy . I think scorn to sigh : methinks I should outswear Cupid . Comfort me , boy : what great men have been in love ? + +Hercules , master . + +Most sweet Hercules ! More authority , dear boy , name more ; and , sweet my child , let them be men of good repute and carriage . + +Samson , master : he was a man of good carriage , great carriage , for he carried the towngates on his back like a porter ; and he was in love . + +O well-knit Samson ! strong-jointed Samson ! I do excel thee in my rapier as much as thou didst me in carrying gates . I am in love too . Who was Samson's love , my dear Moth ? + +A woman , master . + +Of what complexion ? + +Of all the four , or the three , or the two , or one of the four . + +Tell me precisely of what complexion . + +Of the sea-water green , sir . + +Is that one of the four complexions ? + +As I have read , sir ; and the best of them too . + +Green indeed is the colour of lovers ; but to have a love of that colour , methinks Samson had small reason for it . He surely affected her for her wit . + +It was so , sir , for she had a green wit . + +My love is most immaculate white and red . + +Most maculate thoughts , master , are masked under such colours . + +Define , define , well-educated infant . + +My father's wit , and my mother's tongue , assist me ! + +Sweet invocation of a child ; most pretty and pathetical ! + + +If she be made of white and red , +Her faults will ne'er be known , +For blushing cheeks by faults are bred , +And fears by pale white shown : +Then if she fear , or be to blame , +By this you shall not know , +For still her cheeks possess the same +Which native she doth owe . + +A dangerous rime , master , against the reason of white and red . + +Is there not a ballad , boy , of the King and the Beggar ? + +The world was very guilty of such a ballad some three ages since ; but I think now 'tis not to be found ; or , if it were , it would neither serve for the writing nor the tune . + +I will have that subject newly writ o'er , that I may example my digression by some mighty precedent . Boy , I do love that country girl that I took in the park with the rational hind Costard : she deserves well . + +To be whipped ; and yet a better love than my master . + +Sing , boy : my spirit grows heavy in love . + +And that's great marvel , loving a light wench . + +I say , sing . + +Forbear till this company be past . + + +Sir , the duke's pleasure is , that you keep Costard safe : and you must let him take no delight nor no penance , but a' must fast three days a week . For this damsel , I must keep her at the park ; she is allowed for the day-woman . +Fare you well . + +I do betray myself with blushing . Maid ! + +Man ? + +I will visit thee at the lodge . + +That's hereby . + +I know where it is situate . + +Lord , how wise you are ! + +I will tell thee wonders . + +With that face ? + +I love thee . + +So I heard you say . + +And so farewell . + +Fair weather after you ! + +Come , Jaquenetta , away ! + + +Villain , thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned . + +Well , sir , I hope , when I do it , I shall do it on a full stomach . + +Thou shalt be heavily punished . + +I am more bound to you than your fellows , for they are but lightly rewarded . + +Take away this villain : shut him up . + +Come , you transgressing slave : away ! + +Let me not be pent up , sir : I will fast , being loose . + +No , sir ; that were fast and loose : thou shalt to prison . + +Well , if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen , some shall see + +What shall some see ? + +Nay , nothing , Master Moth , but what they look upon . It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words ; and therefore I will say nothing : I thank God I have as little patience as another man , and therefore I can be quiet . + + +I do affect the very ground , which is base , where her shoe , which is baser , guided by her foot , which is basest , doth tread . I shall be forsworn ,which is a great argument of falsehood ,if I love . And how can that be true love which is falsely attempted ? Love is a familiar ; Love is a devil : there is no evil angel but Love . Yet was Samson so tempted , and he had an excellent strength ; yet was Solomon so seduced , and he had a very good wit . Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club , and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier . The first and second clause will not serve my turn ; the passado he respects not , the duello he regards not : his disgrace is to be called boy , but his glory is , to subdue men . Adieu , valour ! rust , rapier ! be still , drum ! for your manager is in love ; yea , he loveth . Assist me some extemporal god of rime , for I am sure I shall turn sonneter . Devise , wit ; write , pen ; for I am for whole volumes in folio . + +Now , madam , summon up your dearest spirits : +Consider whom the king your father sends , +To whom he sends , and what's his embassy : +Yourself , held precious in the world's esteem , +To parley with the sole inheritor +Of all perfections that a man may owe , +Matchless Navarre ; the plea of no less weight +Than Aquitaine , a dowry for a queen . +Be now as prodigal of all dear grace +As Nature was in making graces dear +When she did starve the general world beside , +And prodigally gave them all to you . + +Good Lord Boyet , my beauty , though but mean , +Needs not the painted flourish of your praise : +Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye , +Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues . +I am less proud to hear you tell my worth +Than you much willing to be counted wise +In spending your wit in the praise of mine . +But now to task the tasker : good Boyet , +You are not ignorant , all-telling fame +Doth noise abroad , Navarre hath made a vow , +Till painful study shall out-wear three years , +No woman may approach his silent court : +Therefore to us seemth it a needful course , +Before we enter his forbidden gates , +To know his pleasure ; and in that behalf , +Bold of your worthiness , we single you +As our best-moving fair solicitor . +Tell him , the daughter of the King of France , +On serious business , craving quick dispatch , +Importunes personal conference with his Grace . +Haste , signify so much ; while we attend , +Like humble-visag'd suitors , his high will . + +Proud of employment , willingly I go . + +All pride is willing pride , and yours is so . + +Who are the votaries , my loving lords , +That are vow-fellows with this virtuous duke ? + +Lord Longaville is one . + +Know you the man ? + +I know him , madam : at a marriage feast , +Between Lord Perigort and the beauteous heir +Of Jacques Falconbridge , solemnized +In Normandy , saw I this Longaville . +A man of sovereign parts he is esteem'd ; +Well fitted in the arts , glorious in arms : +Nothing becomes him ill that he would well . +The only soil of his fair virtue's gloss , +If virtue's gloss will stain with any soil , +Is a sharp wit match'd with too blunt a will ; +Whose edge hath power to cut , whose will still wills +It should none spare that come within his power . + +Some merry mocking lord , belike ; is't so ? + +They say so most that most his humours know . + +Such short-liv'd wits do wither as they grow . +Who are the rest ? + +The young Dumaine , a well-accomplish'd youth , +Of all that virtue love for virtue lov'd : +Most power to do most harm , least knowing ill , +For he hath wit to make an ill shape good , +And shape to win grace though he had no wit . +I saw him at the Duke Alen on's once ; +And much too little of that good I saw +Is my report to his great worthiness . + +Another of these students at that time +Was there with him , if I have heard a truth : +Berowne they call him ; but a merrier man , +Within the limit of becoming mirth , +I never spent an hour's talk withal . +His eye begets occasion for his wit ; +For every object that the one doth catch +The other turns to a mirth-moving jest , +Which his fair tongue , conceit's expositor , +Delivers in such apt and gracious words , +That aged ears play truant at his tales , +And younger hearings are quite ravished ; +So sweet and voluble is his discourse . + +God bless my ladies ! are they all in love , +That every one her own hath garnished +With such bedecking ornaments of praise ? + +Here comes Boyet . + + +Now , what admittance , lord ? + +Navarre had notice of your fair approach ; +And he and his competitors in oath +Were all address'd to meet you , gentle lady , +Before I came . Marry , thus much I have learnt ; +He rather means to lodge you in the field , +Like one that comes here to besiege his court , +Than seek a dispensation for his oath , +To let you enter his unpeeled house . +Here comes Navarre . + +Fair princess , welcome to the court of Navarre . + +'Fair ,' I give you back again ; and 'welcome' I have not yet : the roof of this court is too high to be yours , and welcome to the wide fields too base to be mine . + +You shall be welcome , madam , to my court . + +I will be welcome , then : conduct me thither . + +Hear me , dear lady ; I have sworn an oath . + +Our Lady help my lord ! he'll be forsworn . + +Not for the world , fair madam , by my will . + +Why , will shall break it ; will , and nothing else . + +Your ladyship is ignorant what it is . + +Were my lord so , his ignorance were wise , +Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance . +I hear your grace hath sworn out house-keeping : +'Tis deadly sin to keep that oath , my lord , +And sin to break it . +But pardon me , I am too sudden-bold : +To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me . +Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming , +And suddenly resolve me in my suit . + + +Madam , I will , if suddenly I may . + +You will the sooner that I were away , +For you'll prove perjur'd if you make me stay . + +Did not I dance with you in Brabant once ? + +Did not I dance with you in Brabant once ? + +I know you did . + +How needless was it then +To ask the question ! + +You must not be so quick . + +'Tis 'long of you that spur me with such questions . + +Your wit's too hot , it speeds too fast , 'twill tire . + +Not till it leave the rider in the mire . + +What time o' day ? + +The hour that fools should ask . + +Now fair befall your mask ! + +Fair fall the face it covers ! + +And send you many lovers ! + +Amen , so you be none . + +Nay , then I will be gone . + +Madam , your father here doth intimate +The payment of a hundred thousand crowns ; +Being but the one half of an entire sum +Disbursed by my father in his wars . +But say that he , or we ,as neither have , +Receiv'd that sum , yet there remains unpaid +A hundred thousand more ; in surety of the which , +One part of Aquitaine is bound to us , +Although not valu'd to the money's worth . +If then the king your father will restore +But that one half which is unsatisfied , +We will give up our right in Aquitaine , +And hold fair friendship with his majesty . +But that it seems , he little purposeth , +For here he doth demand to have repaid +A hundred thousand crowns ; and not demands , +On payment of a hundred thousand crowns , +To have his title live in Aquitaine ; +Which we much rather had depart withal , +And have the money by our father lent , +Than Aquitaine , so gelded as it is . +Dear princess , were not his requests so far +From reason's yielding , your fair self should make +A yielding 'gainst some reason in my breast , +And go well satisfied to France again . + +You do the king my father too much wrong +And wrong the reputation of your name , +In so unseeming to confess receipt +Of that which hath so faithfully been paid . + +I do protest I never heard of it ; +And if you prove it , I'll repay it back +Or yield up Aquitaine . + +We arrest your word . +Boyet , you can produce acquittances +For such a sum from special officers +Of Charles his father . + +Satisfy me so . + +So please your Grace , the packet is not come +Where that and other specialties are bound : +To-morrow you shall have a sight of them . + +It shall suffice me : at which interview +All liberal reason I will yield unto . +Meantime , receive such welcome at my hand +As honour , without breach of honour , may +Make tender of to thy true worthiness . +You may not come , fair princess , in my gates ; +But here without you shall be so receiv'd , +As you shall deem yourself lodg'd in my heart , +Though so denied fair harbour in my house . +Your own good thoughts excuse me , and farewell : +To-morrow shall we visit you again . + +Sweet health and fair desires consort your Grace ! + +Thy own wish wish I thee in every place ! + + +Lady , I will commend you to mine own heart . + +Pray you , do my commendations ; I would be glad to see it . + +I would you heard it groan . + +Is the fool sick ? + +Sick at the heart . + +Alack ! let it blood . + +Would that do it good ? + +My physic says , 'ay .' + +Will you prick't with your eye ? + +No point , with my knife . + +Now , God save thy life ! + +And yours from long living ! + +I cannot stay thanksgiving . + + +Sir , I pray you , a word : what lady is that same ? + +The heir of Alen on , Katharine her name . + +A gallant lady . Monsieur , fare you well . + + +I beseech you a word : what is she in the white ? + +A woman sometimes , an you saw her in the light . + +Perchance light in the light . I desire her name . + +She hath but one for herself ; to desire that , were a shame . + +Pray you , sir , whose daughter ? + +Her mother's , I have heard . + +God's blessing on your beard ! + +Good sir , be not offended . +She is an heir of Falconbridge . + +Nay , my choler is ended . +She is a most sweet lady . + +Not unlike , sir ; that may be . + + +What's her name , in the cap ? + +Rosaline , by good hap . + +Is she wedded or no ? + +To her will , sir , or so . + +You are welcome , sir . Adieu . + +Farewell to me , sir , and welcome to you . + + +That last is Berowne , the merry mad-cap lord : +Not a word with him but a jest . + +And every jest but a word . + +It was well done of you to take him at his word . + +I was as willing to grapple , as he was to board . + +Two hot sheeps , marry ! + +And wherefore not ships ? +No sheep , sweet lamb , unless we feed on your lips . + +You sheep , and I pasture : shall that finish the jest ? + +So you grant pasture for me . + + +Not so , gentle beast . +My lips are no common , though several they be . + +Belonging to whom ? + +To my fortunes and me . + +Good wits will be jangling ; but , gentles , agree . +This civil war of wits were much better us'd +On Navarre and his book-men , for here 'tis abus'd . + +If my observation ,which very seldom lies , +By the heart's still rhetoric disclosed with eyes , +Deceive me not now , Navarre is infected . + +With what ? + +With that which we lovers entitle affected . + +Your reason . + +Why , all his behaviours did make their retire +To the court of his eye , peeping thorough desire ; +His heart , like an agate , with your print impress'd , +Proud with his form , in his eye pride express'd : +His tongue , all impatient to speak and not see , +Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be ; +All senses to that sense did make their repair , +To feel only looking on fairest of fair , +Methought all his senses were lock'd in his eye , +As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy ; +Who , tend'ring their own worth from where they were glass'd , +Did point you to buy them , along as you pass'd . +His face's own margent did quote such amazes , +That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes . +I'll give you Aquitaine , and all that is his , +An' you give him for my sake but one loving kiss . + +Come to our pavilion : Boyet is dispos'd . + +But to speak that in words which his eye hath disclos'd . +I only have made a mouth of his eye , +By adding a tongue which I know will not he . + +Thou art an old love-monger , and speak'st skilfully . + +He is Cupid's grandfather and learns news of him . + +Then was Venus like her mother , for her father is but grim . + +Do you hear , my mad wenches ? + +No . + +What , then , do you see ? + +Ay , our way to be gone . + +You are too hard for me . + +Warble , child ; make passionate my sense of hearing . + +Concolinel , + +Sweet air ! Go , tenderness of years ; take this key , give enlargement to the swain , bring him festinately hither ; I must employ him in a letter to my love . + +Master , will you win your love with a French brawl ? + +How meanest thou ? brawling in French ? + +No , my complete master ; but to jig off a tune at the tongue's end , canary to it with your feet , humour it with turning up your eyelids , sigh a note and sing a note , sometime through the throat , as if you swallowed love by singing love , sometime through the nose , as if you snuffed up love by smelling love ; with your hat penthouse-like o'er the shop of your eyes ; with your arms crossed on your thin belly-doublet like a rabbit on a spit ; or your hands in your pocket like a man after the old painting ; and keep not too long in one tune , but a snip and away . These are complements , these are humours , these betray nice wenches , that would be betrayed without these ; and make them men of note ,do you note me ?that most are affected to these . + +How hast thou purchased this experience ? + +By my penny of observation . + +But O but O , + +'The hobby-horse is forgot .' + +Callest thou my love 'hobby-horse ?' + +No , master ; the hobby-horse is but a colt , and your love perhaps , a hackney . But have you forgot your love ? + +Almost I had . + +Negligent student ! learn her by heart . + +By heart , and in heart , boy . + +And out of heart , master : all those three I will prove . + +What wilt thou prove ? + +A man , if I live ; and this , by , in , and without , upon the instant : by heart you love her , because your heart cannot come by her ; in heart you love her , because your heart is in love with her ; and out of heart you love her , being out of heart that you cannot enjoy her . + +I am all these three . + +And three times as much more , and yet nothing at all . + +Fetch hither the swain : he must carry me a letter . + +A message well sympathized : a horse to be ambassador for an ass . + +Ha , ha ! what sayest thou ? + +Marry , sir , you must send the ass upon the horse , for he is very slow-gaited . But I go . + +The way is but short : away ! + +As swift as lead , sir . + +Thy meaning , pretty ingenious ? +Is not lead a metal heavy , dull , and slow ? + +Minime , honest master ; or rather , master , no . + +I say , lead is slow . + +You are too swift , sir , to say so : +Is that lead slow which is fir'd from a gun ? + +Sweet smoke of rhetoric ! +He reputes me a cannon ; and the bullet , that's he : +I shoot thee at the swain . + +Thump then , and I flee . + + +A most acute juvenal ; volable and free of grace ! +By thy favour , sweet welkin , I must sigh in thy face : +Most rude melancholy , valour gives thee place . +My herald is return'd . + + +A wonder , master ! here's a costard broken in a shin . + +Some enigma , some riddle : come , thy l'envoy ; begin . + +No egma , no riddle , no l'envoy ; no salve in the mail , sir . O ! sir , plantain , a plain plantain : no l'envoy , no l'envoy : no salve , sir , but a plantain . + +By virtue , thou enforcest laughter ; thy silly thought , my spleen ; the heaving of my lungs provokes me to ridiculous smiling : O ! pardon me , my stars . Doth the inconsiderate take salve for l'envoy , and the word l'envoy for a salve ? + +Do the wise think them other ? is not l'envoy a salve ? + +No , page : it is an epilogue or discourse , to make plain +Some obscure precedence that hath tofore been sain . +I will example it : + +The fox , the ape , and the humble-bee +Were still at odds , being but three . + +There's the moral . Now the l'envoy . + +I will add the l'envoy . Say the moral again . + + +The fox , the ape , and the humble-bee , +Were still at odds , being but three . + +Until the goose came out of door , +And stay'd the odds by adding four . + +Now will I begin your moral , and do you follow with my l'envoy . + +The fox , the ape , and the humble-bee , +Were still at odds , being but three . + +Until the goose came out of door , +Staying the odds by adding four . + + +A good l'envoy , ending in the goose . +Would you desire more ? + +The boy hath sold him a bargain , a goose , that's flat . +Sir , your pennyworth is good an your goose be fat . +To sell a bargain well is as cunning as fast and loose : +Let me see ; a fat l'envoy ; ay , that's a fat goose . + +Come hither , come hither . How did this argument begin ? + +By saying that a costard was broken in a shin . +Then call'd you for the l'envoy . + +True , and I for a plantain : thus came your argument in ; +Then the boy's fat l'envoy , the goose that you bought ; +And he ended the market . + +But tell me ; how was there a costard broken in a shin ? + +I will tell you sensibly . + +Thou hast no feeling of it , Moth : I will speak that l'envoy : +I , Costard , running out , that was safely within , +Fell over the threshold and broke my shin . + +We will talk no more of this matter . + +Till there be more matter in the shin . + +Sirrah Costard , I will enfranchise thee . + +O ! marry me to one Frances : I smell some l'envoy , some goose , in this . + +By my sweet soul , I mean setting thee at liberty , enfreedoming thy person : thou wert immured , restrained , captivated , bound . + +True , true , and now you will be my purgation and let me loose . + +I give thee thy liberty , set thee from durance ; and in lieu thereof , impose upon thee nothing but this : + +Bear this significant to the country maid Jaquenetta . [Giving money .] There is remuneration ; for the best ward of mine honour is rewarding my dependents . Moth , follow . + + +Like the sequel , I . Signior Costard , adieu . + +My sweet ounce of man's flesh ! my incony Jew ! + +Now will I look to his remuneration . Remuneration ! O ! that's the Latin word for three farthings : three farthings , remuneration . 'What's the price of this inkle ?' 'One penny .' 'No , I'll give you a remuneration :' why , it carries it Remuneration ! why , it is a fairer name than French crown . I will never buy and sell out of this word . + + +O ! my good knave Costard , exceedingly well met . + +Pray you , sir , how much carnation riband may a man buy for a remuneration ? + +What is a remuneration ? + +Marry , sir , halfpenny farthing . + +Why then , three-farthing-worth of silk . + +I thank your worship . God be wi' you ! + +Stay , slave ; I must employ thee : +As thou wilt win my favour , good my knave , +Do one thing for me that I shall entreat . + +When would you have it done , sir ? + +O , this afternoon . + +Well , I will do it , sir ! fare you well . + +O , thou knowest not what it is . + +I shall know , sir , when I have done it . + +Why , villain , thou must know first . + +I will come to your worship to-morrow morning . + +It must be done this afternoon . Hark , slave , it is but this : +The princess comes to hunt here in the park , +And in her train there is a gentle lady : +When tongues speak sweetly , then they name her name , +And Rosaline they call her : ask for her +And to her white hand see thou do commend +This seal'd-up counsel . + +There's thy guerdon : go . + +Gardon , O sweet gardon ! better than remuneration ; a 'leven-pence farthing better . +Most sweet gardon ! I will do it , sir , in print +Gardon ! remuneration ! + + +And I , +Forsooth , in love ! I , that have been love's whip ; +A very beadle to a humorous sigh ; +A critic , nay , a night-watch constable , +A domineering pedant o'er the boy , +Than whom no mortal so magnificent ! +This wimpled , whining , purblind , wayward boy , +This senior-junior , giant-dwarf , Dan Cupid ; +Regent of love-rimes , lord of folded arms , +The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans , +Liege of all loiterers and malecontents , +Dread prince of plackets , king of codpieces , +Sole imperator and great general +Of trotting 'paritors : O my little heart ! +And I to be a corporal of his field , +And wear his colours like a tumbler's hoop ! +What I ! I love ! I sue ! I seek a wife ! +A woman that is like a German clock , +Still a-repairing , ever out of frame , +And never going aright , being a watch , +But being watch'd that it may still go right ! +Nay , to be perjur'd , which is worst of all ; +And , among three , to love the worst of all ; +A wightly wanton with a velvet brow , +With two pitch balls stuck in her face for eyes ; +Ay , and , by heaven , one that will do the deed +Though Argus were her eunuch and her guard : +And I to sigh for her ! to watch for her ! +To pray for her ! Go to ; it is a plague +That Cupid will impose for my neglect +Of his almighty dreadful little might . +Well , I will love , write , sigh , pray , sue , and groan : +Some men must love my lady , and some Joan . + +Was that the king , that spurr'd his horse so hard +Against the steep uprising of the hill ? + +I know not ; but I think it was not he . + +Whoe'er a' was , a' show'd a mounting mind . +Well , lords , to-day we shall have our dispatch ; +On Saturday we will return to France . +Then , forester , my friend , where is the bush +That we must stand and play the murderer in ? + +Hereby , upon the edge of yonder coppice ; +A stand where you may make the fairest shoot . + +I thank my beauty , I am fair that shoot , +And thereupon thou speak'st the fairest shoot . + +Pardon me , madam , for I meant not so . + +What , what ? first praise me , and again say no ? +O short-liv'd pride ! Not fair ? alack for woe ! + +Yes , madam , fair . + +Nay , never paint me now : +Where fair is not , praise cannot mend the brow . +Here , good my glass : + +Take this for telling true : +Fair payment for foul words is more than due . + +Nothing but fair is that which you inherit . + +See , see ! my beauty will be sav'd by merit . +O heresy in fair , fit for these days ! +A giving hand , though foul , shall have fair praise . +But come , the bow : now mercy goes to kill , +And shooting well is then accounted ill . +Thus will I save my credit in the shoot : +Not wounding , pity would not let me do't ; +If wounding , then it was to show my skill , +That more for praise than purpose meant to kill . +And out of question so it is sometimes , +Glory grows guilty of detested crimes , +When , for fame's sake , for praise , an outward part , +We bend to that the working of the heart ; +As I for praise alone now seek to spill +The poor deer's blood , that my heart means no ill . + +Do not curst wives hold that self-sovereignty +Only for praise' sake , when they strive to be +Lords o'er their lords ? + +Only for praise ; and praise we may afford +To any lady that subdues a lord . + + +Here comes a member of the commonwealth . + +God dig-you-den all ! Pray you , which is the head lady ? + +Thou shalt know her , fellow , by the rest that have no heads . + +Which is the greatest lady , the highest ? + +The thickest , and the tallest . + +The thickest , and the tallest ! it is so ; truth is truth . +An your waist , mistress , were as slender as my wit , +One o'these maids' girdles for your waist should be fit . +Are not you the chief woman ? you are the thickest here . + +What's your will , sir ? what's your will ? + +I have a letter from Monsieur Berowne to one Lady Rosaline . + +O ! thy letter , thy letter ; he's a good friend of mine . +Stand aside , good bearer . Boyet , you can carve ; +Break up this capon . + +I am bound to serve . +This letter is mistook ; it importeth none here : +It is writ to Jaquenetta . + +We will read it , I swear . +Break the neck of the wax , and every one give ear . + +By heaven , that thou art fair , is most infallible ; true , that thou art beauteous ; truth itself , that thou art lovely . More fairer than fair , beautiful than beauteous , truer than truth itself , have commiseration on thy heroical vassal ! The magnanimous and most illustrate king Cophetua set eye upon the pernicious and indubitate beggar Zenelophon , and he it was that might rightly say veni , vidi , vici ; which to anatomize in the vulgar O base and obscure vulgar !videlicet , he came , saw , and overcame : he came , one ; saw , two ; overcame , three . Who came ? the king : Why did he come ? to see : Why did he see ? to overcome : To whom came he ? to the beggar : What saw he ? the beggar . Whom overcame he ? the beggar . The conclusion is victory : on whose side ? the king's ; the captive is enriched : on whose side ? the beggar's . The catastrophe is a nuptial : on whose side ? the king's , no , on both in one , or one in both . I am the king , for so stands the comparison ; thou the beggar , for so witnesseth thy lowliness . Shall I command thy love ? I may : Shall I enforce thy love ? I could : Shall I entreat thy love ? I will . What shalt thou exchange for rags ? robes ; for tittles ? titles ; for thyself ? me . Thus , expecting thy reply , I profane my lips on thy foot , my eyes on thy picture , and my heart on thy every part . +Thine , in the dearest design of Industry , DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO . +Thus dost thou hear the Nemean lion roar +'Gainst thee , thou lamb , that standest as his prey : +Submissive fall his princely feet before , +And he from forage will incline to play . +But if thou strive , poor soul , what art thou then ? +Food for his rage , repasture for his den . + +What plume of feathers is he that indited this letter ? +What vane ? what weathercock ? did you ever hear better ? + +I am much deceiv'd but I remember the style . + +Else your memory is bad , going o'er it erewhile . + +This Armado is a Spaniard , that keeps here in court ; +A phantasime , a Monarcho , and one that makes sport +To the prince and his book-mates . + +Thou , fellow , a word . +Who gave thee this letter ? + +I told you ; my lord . + +To whom shouldst thou give it ? + +From my lord to my lady . + +From which lord , to which lady ? + +From my lord Berowne , a good master of mine , +To a lady of France , that he call'd Rosaline . + +Thou hast mistaken his letter . Come , lords , away . +Here , sweet , put up this : 'twill be thine another day . + + +Who is the suitor ? who is the suitor ? + +Shall I teach you to know ? + +Ay , my continent of beauty . + +Why , she that bears the bow . +Finely put off ! + +My lady goes to kill horns ; but , if thou marry , +Hang me by the neck if horns that year miscarry . +Finely put on ! + +Well then , I am the shooter . + +And who is your deer ? + +If we choose by the horns , yourself : come not near . +Finely put on , indeed ! + +You still wrangle with her , Boyet , and she strikes at the brow . + +But she herself is hit lower : have I hit her now ? + +Shall I come upon thee with an old saying , that was a man when King Pepin of France was a little boy , as touching the hit it ? + +So may I answer thee with one as old , that was a woman when Queen Guinever of Britain was a little wench , as touching the hit it . + + +Thou canst not hit it , hit it , hit it , +Thou canst not hit it , my good man . + +An I cannot , cannot , cannot , +An I cannot , another can . + +By my troth , most pleasant : how both did fit it ! + +A mark marvellous well shot , for they both did hit it . + +A mark ! O ! mark but that mark ; a mark , says my lady ! +Let the mark have a prick in't , to mete at , if it may be . + +Wide o' the bow hand ! i' faith your hand is out . + +Indeed a' must shoot nearer , or he'll ne'er hit the clout . + +An' if my hand be out , then belike your hand is in . + +Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin . + +Come , come , you talk greasily ; your lips grow foul . + +She's too hard for you at pricks , sir : challenge her to bowl . + +I fear too much rubbing . Good night , my good owl . + + +By my soul , a swain ! a most simple clown ! +Lord , lord how the ladies and I have put him down ! +O' my troth , most sweet jests ! most incony vulgar wit ! +When it comes so smoothly off , so obscenely , as it were , so fit , +Armado , o' the one side , O ! a most dainty man . +To see him walk before a lady , and to bear her fan ! +To see him kiss his hand ! and how most sweetly a' will swear ! +And his page o' t'other side , that handful of wit ! +Ah ! heavens , it is a most pathetical nit . + + +Sola , sola ! + + +Very reverend sport , truly : and done in the testimony of a good conscience . + +The deer was , as you know , sanguis , in blood ; ripe as a pomewater , who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of c lo , the sky , the welkin , the heaven ; and anon falleth like a crab on the face of terra , the soil , the land , the earth . + +Truly , Master Holofernes , the epithets are sweetly varied , like a scholar at the least : but , sir , I assure ye , it was a buck of the first head . + +Sir Nathaniel , haud credo . + +'Twas not a haud credo ; 'twas a pricket . + +Most barbarous intimation ! yet a kind of insinuation , as it were , in via , in way , of explication ; facere , as it were , replication , or , rather , ostentare , to show , as it were , his inclination ,after his undressed , unpolished , uneducated , unpruned , untrained , or , rather , unlettered , or , ratherest , unconfirmed fashion ,to insert again my haud credo for a deer . + +I said the deer was not a haud credo ; 'twas a pricket . + +Twice sod simplicity , bis coctus ! +O ! thou monster Ignorance , how deformed dost thou look ! + +Sir , he hath not fed of the dainties that are bred of a book ; +he hath not eat paper , as it were ; he hath not drunk ink : his intellect is not replenished ; he is only an animal , only sensible in the duller parts : +And such barren plants are set before us , that we thankful should be , +Which we of taste and feeling are , for those parts that do fructify in us more than he ; +For as it would ill become me to be vain , indiscreet , or a fool : +So , were there a patch set on learning , to see him in a school : +But , omne bene , say I ; being of an old Father's mind , +Many can brook the weather that love not the wind . + +You two are book-men : can you tell by your wit , +What was a month old at Cain's birth , that's not five weeks old as yet ? + +Dictynna , goodman Dull : Dictynna , goodman Dull . + +What is Dictynna ? + +A title to Ph be , to Luna , to the moon . + +The moon was a month old when Adam was no more ; +And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score . +The allusion holds in the exchange . + +'Tis true indeed : the collusion holds in the exchange . + +God comfort thy capacity ! I say , the allusion holds in the exchange . + +And I say the pollusion holds in the exchange , for the moon is never but a month old ; and I say beside that 'twas a pricket that the princess killed . + +Sir Nathaniel , will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer ? and , to humour the ignorant , I have call'd the deer the princess killed , a pricket . + +Perge , good Master Holofernes , perge ; so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility . + +I will something affect the letter ; for it argues facility . + +The preyful princess pierc'd and prick'd a pretty pleasing pricket ; +Some say a sore ; but not a sore , till now made sore with shooting . +The dogs did yell ; put l to sore , then sorel jumps from thicket ; +Or pricket , sore , or else sorel ; the people fall a hooting . +If sore be sore , then l to sore makes fifty sores one sorel ! +Of one sore I a hundred make , by adding but one more l . + + +A rare talent ! + +If a talent be a claw , look how he claws him with a talent . + +This is a gift that I have , simple , simple ; a foolish extravagant spirit , full of forms , figures , shapes , objects , ideas , apprehensions , motions , revolutions : these are begot in the ventricle of memory , nourished in the womb of pia mater , and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion . But the gift is good in those in whom it is acute , and I am thankful for it . + +Sir , I praise the Lord for you , and so may my parishioners ; for their sons are well tutored by you , and their daughters profit very greatly under you : you are a good member of the commonwealth . + +Mehercle ! if their sons be ingenuous , they shall want no instruction ; if their daughters be capable , I will put it to them . But , vir sapit qui pauca loquitur . A soul feminine saluteth us . + + +God give you good morrow , Master parson . + +Master parson , quasi pers-on . An if one should be pierced , which is the one ? + +Marry , Master schoolmaster , he that is likest to a hogshead . + +Piercing a hogshead ! a good lustre of conceit in a turf of earth ; fire enough for a flint , pearl enough for a swine : 'tis pretty ; it is well . + +Good Master parson + +be so good as read me this letter : it was given me by Costard , and sent me from Don Armado : I beseech you , read it . + +Fauste , precor gelida quando pecus omne sub umbra Ruminat , and so forth . Ah ! good old Mantuan . I may speak of thee as the traveller doth of Venice : + +Venetia , Venetia , +Chi non te vede , non te pretia . + +Old Mantuan ! old Mantuan ! Who understandeth thee not , loves thee not . Ut , re , sol , la , mi , fa . Under pardon , sir , what are the contents ? or , rather , as Horace says in his What , my soul , verses ? + +Ay , sir , and very learned . + +Let me hear a staff , a stanze , a verse : lege , domine . + + +If love make me forsworn , how shall I swear to love ? +Ah ! never faith could hold , if not to beauty vow'd ; +Though to myself forsworn , to thee I'll faithful prove ; +Those thoughts to me were oaks , to thee like osiers bow'd +Study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes . +Where all those pleasures live that art would comprehend : +If knowledge be the mark , to know thee shall suffice +Well learned is that tongue that well can thee commend ; +All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder ; +Which is to me some praise that I thy parts admire +Thy eye Jove's lightning bears , thy voice his dreadful thunder , +Which , not to anger bent , is music and sweet fire . +Celestial as thou art , O ! pardon love this wrong . +That sings heaven's praise with such an earthly tongue ! + + +You find not the apostrophas , and so miss the accent : let me supervise the canzonet . Here are only numbers ratified ; but , for the elegancy , facility , and golden cadence of poesy , caret . Ovidius Naso was the man : and why , indeed , Naso , but for smelling out the odoriferous flowers of fancy , the jerks of invention ? Imitari is nothing ; so doth the hound his master , the ape his keeper , the 'tired horse his rider . But , damosella virgin , was this directed to you ? + +Ay , sir ; from one Monsieur Berowne , one of the strange queen's lords . + +I will overglance the superscript . To the snow-white hand of the most beauteous Lady Rosaline . I will look again on the intellect of the letter , for the nomination of the party writing to the person written unto : Your ladyship's , in all desired employment , + + +Good Costard , go with me . Sir , God save your life ! + +Have with thee , my girl . + + +Sir , you have done this in the fear of God , very religiously ; and , as a certain Father saith + +Sir , tell not me of the Father ; I do fear colourable colours . But to return to the verses : did they please you , Sir Nathaniel ? + +Marvellous well for the pen . + +I do dine to-day at the father's of a certain pupil of mine ; where , if before repast it shall please you to gratify the table with a grace , I will , on my privilege I have with the parents of the foresaid child or pupil , undertake your ben venuto ; where I will prove those verses to be very unlearned , neither savouring of poetry , wit , nor invention . I beseech your society . + +And thank you too ; for society saith the text is the happiness of life . + +And , certes , the text most infallibly concludes it .[To + +The king he is hunting the deer ; I am coursing myself : they have pitched a toil ; I am toiling in a pitch ,pitch that defiles : defile ! a foul word ! Well , sit thee down , sorrow ! for so they say the fool said , and so say I , and I the fool : well proved , wit ! By the Lord , this love is as mad as Ajax : it kills sheep : it kills me , I a sheep : well proved again o' my side ! I will not love ; if I do , hang me ; i' faith , I will not . O ! but her eye ,by this light , but for her eye , I would not love her ; yes , for her two eyes . Well , I do nothing in the world but lie , and lie in my throat . By heaven , I do love , and it hath taught me to rime , and to be melancholy ; and here is part of my rime , and here my melancholy . Well , she hath one o' my sonnets already : the clown bore it , the fool sent it , and the lady hath it : sweet clown , sweeter fool , sweetest lady ! By the world , I would not care a pin if the other three were in . Here comes one with a paper : God give him grace to groan ! + +Ah me ! + +Shot , by heaven ! Proceed , sweet Cupid : thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left pap . In faith , secrets ! + + +So sweet a kiss the golden sun gives not +To those fresh morning drops upon the rose , +As thy eye-beams , when their fresh rays have smote +The night of dew that on my cheeks down flows : +Nor shines the silver moon one half so bright +Through the transparent bosom of the deep , +As doth thy face through tears of mine give light , +Thou shin'st in every tear that I do weep . +No drop but as a coach doth carry thee ; +So ridest thou triumphing in my woe . +Do but behold the tears that swell in me , +And they thy glory through my grief will show +But do not love thyself , then thou wilt keep +My tears for glasses , and still make me weep . +O queen of queens ! how far thou dost excel , +No thought can think , nor tongue of mortal tell + +How shall she know my griefs ? I'll drop the paper : +Sweet leaves , shade folly . Who is he comes here ? + +What , Longaville ! and reading ! listen , ear . + + +Now , in thy likeness , one more fool appear ! + +Ay me ! I am forsworn . + +Why , he comes in like a perjure , wearing papers . + +In love , I hope : sweet fellowship in shame ! + +One drunkard loves another of the name . + +Am I the first that have been perjur'd so ? + +I could put thee in comfort : not by two that I know : +Thou mak'st the triumviry , the corner-cap of society , +The shape of love's Tyburn , that hangs up simplicity . + +I fear these stubborn lines lack power to move . +O sweet Maria , empress of my love ! +These numbers will I tear , and write in prose . + +O ! rimes are guards on wanton Cupid's hose : +Disfigure not his slop . + +This same shall go . + +Did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye , +'Gainst whom the world cannot hold argument , +Persuade my heart to this false perjury ? +Vows for thee broke deserve not punishment . +A woman I forswore ; but I will prove , +Thou being a goddess , I forswore not thee : +My vow was earthly , thou a heavenly love ; +Thy grace , being gain'd , cures all disgrace in me . +Vows are but breath , and breath a vapour is : +Then thou , fair sun , which on my earth dost shine , +Exhal'st this vapour-vow ; in thee it is : +If broken , then , it is no fault of mine : +If by me broke , what fool is not so wise +To lose an oath to win a paradise ! + + +This is the liver-vein , which makes flesh a deity ; +A green goose a goddess ; pure , pure idolatry . +God amend us , God amend ! we are much out o' the way . + +By whom shall I send this ?Company ! stay . + + +All hid , all hid ; an old infant play . +Like a demi-god here sit I in the sky , +And wretched fools' secrets heedfully o'er-eye . +More sacks to the mill ! O heavens ! I have my wish . + +Dumaine transform'd : four woodcocks in a dish ! + +O most divine Kate ! + +O most profane coxcomb ! + +By heaven , the wonder of a mortal eye ! + +By earth , she is but corporal ; there you lie . + +Her amber hairs for foul have amber quoted . + +An amber-colour'd raven was well noted . + +As upright as the cedar . + +Stoop , I say ; +Her shoulder is with child . + +As fair as day . + +Ay , as some days ; but then no sun must shine . + +O ! that I had my wish . + +And I had mine ! + +And I mine too , good Lord ! + +Amen , so I had mine . Is not that a good word ? + +I would forget her ; but a fever she +Reigns in my blood , and will remember'd be . + +A fever in your blood ! why , then incision +Would let her out in saucers : sweet misprision ! + +Once more I'll read the ode that I have writ . + +Once more I'll mark how love can vary wit . + + +On a day , alack the day ! +Love , whose month is ever May , +Spied a blossom passing fair +Playing in the wanton air : +Through the velvet leaves the wind , +All unseen , 'gan passage find ; +That the lover , sick to death , +Wish'd himself the heaven's breath . +Air , quoth he , thy cheeks may blow ; +Air , would I might triumph so ! +But alack ! my hand is sworn +Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn : +Vow , alack ! for youth unmeet , +Youth so apt to pluck a sweet . +Do not call it sin in me , +That I am forsworn for thee ; +Thou for whom e'en Jove would swear +Juno but an Ethiop were ; +And deny himself for Jove , +Turning mortal for thy love . + +This will I send , and something else more plain , +That shall express my true love's fasting pain . +O ! would the King , Berowne , and Longaville +Were lovers too . Ill , to example ill , +Would from my forehead wipe a perjur'd note ; +For none offend where all alike do dote . + +Dumaine , thy love is far from charity , +That in love's grief desir'st society : +You may look pale , but I should blush , I know , +To be o'erheard and taken napping so . + +Come , sir , you blush : as his your case is such ; +You chide at him , offending twice as much : +You do not love Maria ; Longaville +Did never sonnet for her sake compile , +Nor never lay his wreathed arms athwart +His loving bosom to keep down his heart . +I have been closely shrouded in this bush , +And mark'd you both , and for you both did blush . +I heard your guilty rimes , observ'd your fashion , +Saw sighs reek from you , noted well your passion : +Ay me ! says one ; O Jove ! the other cries ; +One , her hairs were gold , crystal the other's eyes : + + +You would for paradise break faith and troth ; + + +And Jove , for your love , would infringe an oath . +What will Berowne say , when that he shall hear +A faith infringed , which such zeal did swear ? +How will he scorn ! how will he spend his wit ! +How will he triumph , leap and laugh at it ! +For all the wealth that ever I did see , +I would not have him know so much by me . + +Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy . + +Ah ! good my liege , I pray thee , pardon me : +Good heart ! what grace hast thou , thus to reprove +These worms for loving , that art most in love ? +Your eyes do make no coaches ; in your tears +There is no certain princess that appears : +You'll not be perjur'd , 'tis a hateful thing : +Tush ! none but minstrels like of sonneting . +But are you not asham'd ? nay , are you not , +All three of you , to be thus much o'ershot ? +You found his mote ; the king your mote did see ; +But I a beam do find in each of three . +O ! what a scene of foolery have I seen , +Of sighs , of groans , of sorrow , and of teen ; +O me ! with what strict patience have I sat , +To see a king transformed to a gnat ; +To see great Hercules whipping a gig , +And profound Solomon to tune a jig , +And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys , +And critic Timon laugh at idle toys ! +Where lies thy grief ? O ! tell me , good Dumaine , +And , gentle Longaville , where lies thy pain ? +And where my liege's ? all about the breast : +A caudle , ho ! + +Too bitter is thy jest . +Are we betray'd thus to thy over-view ? + +Not you to me , but I betray'd by you : +I , that am honest ; I , that hold it sin +To break the vow I am engaged in ; +I am betray'd , by keeping company +With men like men , men of inconstancy . +When shall you see me write a thing in rime ? +Or groan for Joan ? or spend a minute's time +In pruning me ? When shall you hear that I +Will praise a hand , a foot , a face , an eye , +A gait , a state , a brow , a breast , a waist , leg , a limb ? + +Soft ! Whither away so fast ? true man or a thief that gallops so ? + +I post from love ; good lover , let me go . + + +God bless the king ! + +What present hast thou there ? + +Some certain treason . + +What makes treason here ? + +Nay , it makes nothing , sir . + +If it mar nothing neither , +The treason and you go in peace away together . + +I beseech your Grace , let this letter be read : +Our parson misdoubts it ; 'twas treason , he said . + +Berowne , read it over + +There hadst thou it ? + +Of Costard . + +Where hadst thou it ? + +Of Dun Adramadio , Dun Adramadio . + + +How now ! what is in you ? why dost thou tear it ? + +A toy , my liege , a toy : your Grace needs not fear it . + +It did move him to passion , and therefore let's hear it . + +It is Berowne's writing , and here is his name . + +Ah , you whoreson logger-head , you were born to do me shame . +Guilty , my lord , guilty ; I confess , I confess . + +What ? + +That you three fools lack'd me fool to make up the mess ; +He , he , and you , and you my liege , and I , +Are pick-purses in love , and we deserve to die . +O ! dismiss this audience , and I shall tell you more . + +Now the number is even . + +True , true ; we are four . +Will these turtles be gone ? + +Hence , sirs ; away ! + +Walk aside the true folk , and let the traitors stay . + + +Sweet lords , sweet lovers , O ! let us embrace . +As true we are as flesh and blood can be : +The sea will ebb and flow , heaven show his face ; +Young blood doth not obey an old decree : +We cannot cross the cause why we were born ; +Therefore , of all hands must we be forsworn . + +What ! did these rent lines show some love of thine ? + +'Did they ,' quoth you ? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline , +That , like a rude and savage man of Inde , +At the first opening of the gorgeous east , +Bows not his vassal head , and , strucken blind , +Kisses the base ground with obedient breast ? +What peremptory eagle-sighted eye +Dares look upon the heaven of her brow , +That is not blinded by her majesty ? + +What zeal , what fury hath inspir'd thee now ? +My love , her mistress , is a gracious moon ; +She , an attending star , scarce seen a light . + +My eyes are then no eyes , nor I Berowne : +O ! but for my love , day would turn to night . +Of all complexions the cull'd sovereignty +Do meet , as at a fair , in her fair cheek ; +Where several worthies make one dignity , +Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek . +Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues , +Fie , painted rhetoric ! O ! she needs it not : +To things of sale a seller's praise belongs ; +She passes praise ; then praise too short doth blot . +A wither'd hermit , five-score winters worn , +Might shake off fifty , looking in her eye : +Beauty doth varnish age , as if new-born , +And gives the crutch the cradle's infancy . +O ! 'tis the sun that maketh all things shine . + +By heaven , thy love is black as ebony . + +Is ebony like her ? O wood divine ! +A wife of such wood were felicity . +O ! who can give an oath ? where is a book ? +That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack , +If that she learn not of her eye to look : +No face is fair that is not full so black . + +O paradox ! Black is the badge of hell , +The hue of dungeons and the scowl of night ; +And beauty's crest becomes the heavens well . + +Devils soonest tempt , resembling spirits of light . +O ! if in black my lady's brows be deck'd , +It mourns that painting and usurping hair +Should ravish doters with a false aspect ; +And therefore is she born to make black fair . +Her favour turns the fashion of the days , +For native blood is counted painting now : +And therefore red , that would avoid dispraise , +Paints itself black , to imitate her brow . + +To look like her are chimney-sweepers black . + +And since her time are colliers counted bright . + +And Ethiops of their sweet complexion crack . + +Dark needs no candles now , for dark is light . + +Your mistresses dare never come in rain , +For fear their colours should be wash'd away . + +'Twere good yours did ; for , sir , to tell you plain , +I'll find a fairer face not wash'd to-day . + +I'll prove her fair , or talk till doomsday here . + +No devil will fright thee then so much as she . + +I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear . + +Look , here's thy love : + +my foot and her face see . + +O ! if the streets were paved with thine eyes , +Her feet were much too dainty for such tread . + +O vile ! then , as she goes , what upward lies +The street should see as she walk'd over head . + +But what of this ? Are we not all in love ? + +Nothing so sure ; and thereby all forsworn . + +Then leave this chat ; and good Berowne , now prove +Our loving lawful , and our faith not torn . + +Ay , marry , there ; some flattery for this evil . + +O ! some authority how to proceed ; +Some tricks , some quillets , how to cheat the devil . + +Some salve for perjury . + +O , 'tis more than need . +Have at you , then , affection's men-at-arms : +Consider what you first did swear unto , +To fast , to study , and to see no woman ; +Flat treason 'gainst the kingly state of youth . +Say , can you fast ? your stomachs are too young , +And abstinence engenders maladies . +And where that you have vow'd to study , lords , +In that each of you hath forsworn his book , +Can you still dream and pore and thereon look ? +For when would you , my lord , or you , or you , +Have found the ground of study's excellence +Without the beauty of a woman's face ? +From women's eyes this doctrine I derive : +They are the ground , the books , the academes , +From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire . +Why , universal plodding poisons up +The nimble spirits in the arteries , +As motion and long-during action tires +The sinewy vigour of the traveller . +Now , for not looking on a woman's face , +You have in that forsworn the use of eyes , +And study too , the causer of your vow ; +For where is any author in the world +Teaches such beauty as a woman's eye ? +Learning is but an adjunct to ourself , +And where we are our learning likewise is : +Then when ourselves we see in ladies' eyes , +Do we not likewise see our learning there ? +O ! we have made a vow to study , lords , +And in that vow we have forsworn our books : +For when would you , my liege , or you , or you , +In leaden contemplation have found out +Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes +Of beauty's tutors have enrich'd you with ? +Other slow arts entirely keep the brain , +And therefore , finding barren practisers , +Scarce show a harvest of their heavy toil ; +But love , first learned in a lady's eyes , +Lives not alone immured in the brain , +But , with the motion of all elements , +Courses as swift as thought in every power , +And gives to every power a double power , +Above their functions and their offices . +It adds a precious seeing to the eye ; +A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind ; +A lover's ear will hear the lowest sound , +When the suspicious head of theft is stopp'd : +Love's feeling is more soft and sensible +Than are the tender horns of cockled snails : +Love's tongue proves dainty Bacchus gross in taste . +For valour , is not Love a Hercules , +Still climbing trees in the Hesperides ? +Subtle as Sphinx ; as sweet and musical +As bright Apollo's lute , strung with his hair ; +And when Love speaks , the voice of all the gods +Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony . +Never durst poet touch a pen to write +Until his ink were temper'd with Love's sighs ; +O ! then his lines would ravish savage ears , +And plant in tyrants mild humility . +From women's eyes this doctrine I derive : +They sparkle still the right Promethean fire ; +They are the books , the arts , the academes , +That show , contain , and nourish all the world ; +Else none at all in aught proves excellent . +Then fools you were these women to forswear , +Or , keeping what is sworn , you will prove fools . +For wisdom's sake , a word that all men love , +Or for love's sake , a word that loves all men , +Or for men's sake , the authors of these women ; +Or women's sake , by whom we men are men , +Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves , +Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths . +It is religion to be thus forsworn ; +For charity itself fulfils the law ; +And who can sever love from charity ? + +Saint Cupid , then ! and , soldiers , to the field ! + +Advance your standards , and upon them , lords ! +Pell-mell , down with them ! but be first advis'd , +In conflict that you get the sun of them . + +Now to plain-dealing ; lay these glozes by ; +Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France ? + +And win them too : therefore let us devise +Some entertainment for them in their tents . + +First , from the park let us conduct them thither ; +Then homeward every man attach the hand +Of his fair mistress : in the afternoon +We will with some strange pastime solace them , +Such as the shortness of the time can shape ; +For revels , dances , masks , and merry hours , +Forerun fair Love , strewing her way with flowers . + +Away , away ! no time shall be omitted , +That will betime , and may by us be fitted . + +Allons ! allons ! Sow'd cockle reap'd no corn ; +And justice always whirls in equal measure : +Light wenches may prove plagues to men forsworn ; +If so , our copper buys no better treasure . + +Satis quod sufficit . + +I praise God for you , sir : your reasons at dinner have been sharp and sententious ; pleasant without scurrility , witty without affection , audacious without impudency , learned without opinion , and strange without heresy . I did converse this quondam day with a companion of the king's , who is intituled , nominated , or called , Don Adriano de Armado . + +Novi hominem tanquam te : his humour is lofty , his discourse peremptory , his tongue field , his eye ambitious , his gait majestical , and his general behaviour vain , ridiculous , and thrasonical . He is too picked , too spruce , too affected , too odd , as it were , too peregrinate , as I may call it . + +A most singular and choice epithet . + + +He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument . I abhor such fanatical phantasimes , such insociable and point-devise companions ; such rackers of orthography , as to speak dout , fine , when he should say , doubt ; det , when he should pronounce , debt ,d , e , b , t , not d , e , t : he clepeth a calf , cauf ; half , hauf ; neighbour vocatur nebour , neigh abbreviated ne . This is abhominable , which he would call abominable ,it insinuateth me of insanie : anne intelligis , domine ? To make frantic , lunatic . + +Laus Deo bone intelligo . + +Bone ? bone , for bene : Priscian a little scratched ; 'twill serve . + + +Videsne quis venit ? + +Video , et gaudeo . + +Chirrah ! + +Quare Chirrah , not sirrah ? + +Men of peace , well encountered . + +Most military sir , salutation . + +They have been at a great feast of languages , and stolen the scraps . + +O ! they have lived long on the almsbasket of words . I marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word ; for thou art not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus : thou art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon . + +Peace ! the peal begins . + +Monsieur , are you not lettered ? + +Yes , yes ; he teaches boys the hornbook . What is a , b , spelt backward , with the horn on his head ? + +Ba , pueritia , with a horn added . + +Ba ! most silly sheep with a horn . You hear his learning . + +Quis , quis , thou consonant ? + +The third of the five vowels , if you repeat them ; or the fifth , if I . + +I will repeat them ,a , e , i , + +The sheep ; the other two concludes it ,o , u . + +Now , by the salt wave of the Mediterraneum , a sweet touch , a quick venew of wit ! snip , snap , quick and home ! it rejoiceth my intellect : true wit ! + +Offered by a child to an old man ; which is wit-old . + +What is the figure ? what is the figure ? + +Horns . + +Thou disputest like an infant ; go , whip thy gig . + +Lend me your horn to make one , and I will whip about your infamy circum circa . A gig of a cuckold's horn . + +An I had but one penny in the world , thou shouldst have it to buy gingerbread . Hold , there is the very remuneration I had of thy master , thou halfpenny purse of wit , thou pigeon-egg of discretion . O ! an the heavens were so pleased that thou wert but my bastard , what a joyful father wouldst thou make me . Go to ; thou hast it ad dunghill , at the fingers' ends , as they say . + +O ! I smell false Latin ; dunghill for unguem . + +Arts-man , pr ambula : we will be singled from the barbarous . Do you not educate youth at the charge-house on the top of the mountain ? + +Or mons , the hill . + +At your sweet pleasure , for the mountain . + +I do , sans question . + +Sir , it is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the princess at her pavilion in the posteriors of this day , which the rude multitude call the afternoon . + +The posterior of the day , most generous sir , is liable , congruent , and measurable for the afternoon : the word is well culled , chose , sweet and apt , I do assure you , sir ; I do assure . + +Sir , the king is a noble gentleman , and my familiar , I do assure ye , very good friend . For what is inward between us , let it pass : I do beseech thee , remember thy curtsy ; I beseech thee , apparel thy head : and among other importunate and most serious designs , and of great import indeed , too , but let that pass : for I must tell thee , it will please his Grace , by the world , sometime to lean upon my poor shoulder , and with his royal finger , thus dally with my excrement , with my mustachio : but , sweet heart , let that pass . By the world , I recount no fable : some certain special honours it pleaseth his greatness to impart to Armado , a soldier , a man of travel , that hath seen the world : but let that pass . The very all of all is , but , sweet heart , I do implore secrecy , that the king would have me present the princess , sweet chuck , with some delightful ostentation , or show , or pageant , or antick , or fire-work . Now , understanding that the curate and your sweet self are good at such eruptions and sudden breaking out of mirth , as it were , I have acquainted you withal , to the end to crave your assistance . + +Sir , you shall present before her the Nine Worthies . Sir Nathaniel , as concerning some entertainment of time , some show in the posterior of this day , to be rendered by our assistance , at the king's command , and this most gallant , illustrate , and learned gentleman , before the princess ; I say , none so fit as to present the Nine Worthies . + +Where will you find men worthy enough to present them ? + +Joshua , yourself ; myself , or this gallant gentleman , Judas Maccab us ; this swain , because of his great limb , or joint , shall pass Pompey the Great ; the page , Hercules , + +Pardon , sir ; error : he is not quantity enough for that Worthy's thumb : he is not so big as the end of his club . + +Shall I have audience ? he shall present Hercules in minority : his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake ; and I will have an apology for that purpose . + +An excellent device ! so , if any of the audience hiss , you may cry , 'Well done , Hercules ! now thou crushest the snake !' that is the way to make an offence gracious , though few have the grace to do it . + +For the rest of the Worthies ? + +I will play three myself . + +Thrice-worthy gentleman ! + +Shall I tell you a thing ? + +We attend . + +We will have , if this fadge not , an antick . I beseech you , follow . + +Via , goodman Dull ! thou hast spoken no word all this while . + +Nor understood none neither , sir . + +Allons ! we will employ thee . + +I'll make one in a dance , or so ; or I will play the tabor to the Worthies , and let them dance the hay . + +Most dull , honest Dull , to our sport , away ! + + +Sweet hearts , we shall be rich ere we depart , +If fairings come thus plentifully in : lady wall'd about with diamonds ! +Look you what I have from the loving king . + +Madam , came nothing else along with that ? + +Nothing but this ! yes , as much love in rime +As would be cramm'd up in a sheet of paper , +Writ o' both sides the leaf , margent and all , +That he was fain to seal on Cupid's name . + +That was the way to make his godhead wax ; +For he hath been five thousand years a boy . + +Ay , and a shrewd unhappy gallows too . + +You'll ne'er be friends with him : a' kill'd your sister . + +He made her melancholy , sad , and heavy ; +And so she died : had she been light , like you , +Of such a merry , nimble , stirring spirit , +She might ha' been a grandam ere she died ; +And so may you , for a light heart lives long . + +What's your dark meaning , mouse , of this light word ? + +A light condition in a beauty dark . + +We need more light to find your meaning out . + +You'll mar the light by taking it in snuff ; +Therefore , I'll darkly end the argument . + +Look , what you do , you do it still i' the dark . + +So do not you , for you are a light wench . + +Indeed I weigh not you , and therefore light . + +You weigh me not . O ! that's you care not for me . + +Great reason ; for , 'past cure is still past care .' + +Well bandied both ; a set of wit well play'd . +But Rosaline , you have a favour too : +Who sent it ? and what is it ? + +I would you knew : +An if my face were but as fair as yours , +My favour were as great ; be witness this . +Nay , I have verses too , I thank Berowne : +The numbers true ; and , were the numb'ring too , +I were the fairest goddess on the ground : +I am compar'd to twenty thousand fairs . +O ! he hath drawn my picture in his letter . + +Anything like ? + +Much in the letters , nothing in the praise . + +Beauteous as ink ; a good conclusion . + +Fair as a text B in a copy-book . + +'Ware pencils ! how ? let me not die your debtor . +My red dominical , my golden letter : +O , that your face were not so full of O's ! + +A pox of that jest ! and beshrew all shrows ! + +But what was sent to you from fair Dumaine ? + +Madam , this glove . + +Did he not send you twain ? + +Yes , madam ; and moreover , +Some thousand verses of a faithful lover : +A huge translation of hypocrisy , +Vilely compil'd , profound simplicity . + +This , and these pearls to me sent Longaville : +The letter is too long by half a mile . + +I think no less . Dost thou not wish in heart +The chain were longer and the letter short ? + +Ay , or I would these hands might never part . + +We are wise girls to mock our lovers so . + +They are worse fools to purchase mocking so . +That same Berowne I'll torture ere I go . +O that I knew he were but in by the week ! +How I would make him fawn , and beg , and seek , +And wait the season , and observe the times , +And spend his prodigal wits in bootless rimes , +And shape his service wholly to my hests , +And make him proud to make me proud that jests ! +So perttaunt-like would I o'ersway his state +That he should be my fool , and I his fate . + +None are so surely caught , when they are catch'd , +As wit turn'd fool : folly , in wisdom hatch'd , +Hath wisdom's warrant and the help of school +And wit's own grace to grace a learned fool . + +The blood of youth burns not with such excess +As gravity's revolt to wantonness . + +Folly in fools bears not so strong a note +As foolery in the wise , when wit doth dote ; +Since all the power thereof it doth apply +To prove , by wit , worth in simplicity . + + +Here comes Boyet , and mirth is in his face . + +O ! I am stabb'd with laughter . Where's her Grace ? + +Thy news , Boyet ? + +Prepare , madam , prepare ! +Arm , wenches , arm ! encounters mounted are +Against your peace : Love doth approach disguis'd , +Armed in arguments ; you'll be surpris'd : +Muster your wits ; stand in your own defence ; +Or hide your heads like cowards , and fly hence . + +Saint Denis to Saint Cupid ! What are they +That charge their breath against us ? say , scout , say . + +Under the cool shade of a sycamore +I thought to close mine eyes some half an hour , +When , lo ! to interrupt my purpos'd rest , +Toward that shade I might behold addrest +The king and his companions : warily +I stole into a neighbour thicket by , +And overheard what you shall overhear ; +That , by and by , disguis'd they will be here . +Their herald is a pretty knavish page , +That well by heart hath conn'd his embassage : +Action and accent did they teach him there ; +'Thus must thou speak , and thus thy body bear .' +And ever and anon they made a doubt +Presence majestical would put him out ; +'For ,' quoth the king , 'an angel shalt thou see ; +Yet fear not thou , but speak audaciously .' +The boy replied , 'An angel is not evil ; +I should have fear'd her had she been a devil .' +With that all laugh'd and clapp'd him on the shoulder , +Making the bold wag by their praises bolder . +One rubb'd his elbow thus , and fleer'd , and swore +A better speech was never spoke before ; +Another , with his finger and his thumb , +Cry'd 'Via ! we will do't , come what will come ;' +The third he caper'd and cried , 'All goes well ;' +The fourth turn'd on the toe , and down he fell . +With that , they all did tumble on the ground , +With such a zealous laughter , so profound , +That in this spleen ridiculous appears , +To check their folly , passion's solemn tears . + +But what , but what , come they to visit us ? + +They do , they do ; and are apparell'd thus , +Like Muscovites or Russians , as I guess . +Their purpose is to parle , to court and dance ; +And every one his love-feat will advance +Unto his several mistress , which they'll know +By favours several which they did bestow . + +And will they so ? the gallants shall be task'd : +For , ladies , we will every one be mask'd , +And not a man of them shall have the grace , +Despite of suit , to see a lady's face . +Hold , Rosaline , this favour thou shalt wear , +And then the king will court thee for his dear : +Hold , take thou this , my sweet , and give me thine , +So shall Berowne take me for Rosaline , +And change you favours too ; so shall your loves +Woo contrary , deceiv'd by these removes . + +Come on , then ; wear the favours most in sight . + +But in this changing what is your intent ? + +The effect of my intent is , to cross theirs : +They do it but in mocking merriment ; +And mock for mock is only my intent . +Their several counsels they unbosom shall +To loves mistook and so be mock'd withal +Upon the next occasion that we meet , +With visages display'd , to talk and greet . + +But shall we dance , if they desire us to't ? + +No , to the death , we will not move a foot : +Nor to their penn'd speech render we no grace ; +But while 'tis spoke each turn away her face . + +Why , that contempt will kill the speaker's heart , +And quite divorce his memory from his part . + +Therefore I do it ; and I make no doubt , +The rest will ne'er come in , if he be out . +There's no such sport as sport by sport o'erthrown , +To make theirs ours and ours none but our own : +So shall we stay , mocking intended game , +And they , well mock'd , depart away with shame . + + +The trumpet sounds : be mask'd ; the maskers come . + + +All hail , the richest beauties on the earth ! + +Beauties no richer than rich taffeta . + +A holy parcel of the fairest dames , + +That ever turn'd their backs to mortal views ! + +'Their eyes ,' villain , 'their eyes .' + +That ever turn'd their eyes to mortal views ! +Out + +True ; 'out ,' indeed . + +'Out of your favours , heavenly spirits , vouchsafe +Not to behold' + +'Once to behold ,' rogue . + +'Once to behold with your sun-beamed eyes , +with your sun-beamed eyes' + +They will not answer to that epithet ; +You were best call it 'daughter-beamed eyes .' + +They do not mark me , and that brings me out . + +Is this your perfectness ? be gone , you rogue ! + + +What would these strangers ? know their minds , Boyet : +If they do speak our language , 'tis our will +That some plain man recount their purposes : +Know what they would . + +What would you with the princess ? + +Nothing but peace and gentle visitation . + +What would they , say they ? + +Nothing but peace and gentle visitation . + +Why , that they have ; and bid them so be gone . + +She says , you have it , and you may be gone . + +Say to her , we have measur'd many miles , +To tread a measure with her on this grass . + +They say , that they have measur'd many a mile , +To tread a measure with you on this grass . + +It is not so . Ask them how many inches +Is in one mile : if they have measur'd many , +The measure then of one is easily told . + +If to come hither you have measur'd miles , +And many miles , the princess bids you tell +How many inches do fill up one mile . + +Tell her we measure them by weary steps . + +She hears herself . + +How many weary steps , +Of many weary miles you have o'ergone , +Are number'd in the travel of one mile ? + +We number nothing that we spend for you : +Our duty is so rich , so infinite , +That we may do it still without accompt . +Vouchsafe to show the sunshine of your face , +That we , like savages , may worship it . + +My face is but a moon , and clouded too . + +Blessed are clouds , to do as such clouds do ! +Vouchsafe , bright moon , and these thy stars , to shine , +Those clouds remov'd , upon our wat'ry eyne . + +O vain petitioner ! beg a greater matter ; +Thou now request'st but moonshine in the water . + +Then , in our measure but vouchsafe one change . +Thou bid'st me beg ; this begging is not strange . + +Play , music , then ! Nay , you must do it soon . + +Not yet ! no dance ! thus change I like the moon . + +Will you not dance ? How come you thus estrang'd ? + +You took the moon at full , but now she's chang'd . + +Yet still she is the moon , and I the man . +The music plays ; vouchsafe some motion to it . + +Our ears vouchsafe it . + +But your legs should do it . + +Since you are strangers , and come here by chance , +We'll not be nice : take hands : we will not dance . + +Why take we hands then ? + +Only to part friends . +Curtsy , sweet hearts ; and so the measure ends . + +More measure of this measure : be not nice . + +We can afford no more at such a price . + +Prize you yourselves ? what buys your company ? + +Your absence only . + +That can never be . + +Then cannot we be bought : and so , adieu ; +Twice to your visor , and half once to you ! + +If you deny to dance , let's hold more chat . + +In private , then . + +I am best pleas'd with that . + + +White-handed mistress , one sweet word with thee . + +Honey , and milk , and sugar ; there are three . + +Nay then , two treys , an if you grow so nice , +Metheglin , wort , and malmsey : well run , dice ! +There's half a dozen sweets . + +Seventh sweet , adieu : +Since you can cog , I'll play no more with you . + +One word in secret . + +Let it not be sweet . + +Thou griev'st my gall . + +Gall ! bitter . + +Therefore meet . + + +Will you vouchsafe with me to change a word ? + +Name it . + +Fair lady , + +Say you so ? Fair lord , +Take that for your fair lady . + +Please it you , +As much in private , and I'll bid adieu . + + +What ! was your visor made without a tongue ? + +I know the reason , lady , why you ask . + +O ! for your reason ; quickly , sir ; I long . + +You have a double tongue within your mask , +And would afford my speechless visor half . + +'Veal ,' quoth the Dutchman . Is not 'veal' a calf ? + +A calf , fair lady ! + +No , a fair lord calf . + +Let's part the word . + +No , I'll not be your half : +Take all , and wean it : it may prove an ox . + +Look , how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks . +Will you give horns , chaste lady ? do not so . + +Then die a calf , before your horns do grow . + +One word in private with you , ere I die . + +Bleat softly then ; the butcher hears you cry . + + +The tongues of mocking wenches are as keen +As is the razor's edge invisible , +Cutting a smaller hair than may be seen , +Above the sense of sense ; so sensible +Seemeth their conference ; their conceits have wings +Fleeter than arrows , bullets , wind , thought , swifter things . + +Not one word more , my maids : break off , break off . + +By heaven , all dry-beaten with pure scoff ! + +Farewell , mad wenches : you have simple wits . + +Twenty adieus , my frozen Muscovits . + +Are these the breed of wits so wonder'd at ? + +Tapers they are , with your sweet breaths puff'd out . + +Well-liking wits they have ; gross , gross ; fat , fat . + +O poverty in wit , kingly-poor flout ! +Will they not , think you , hang themselves to-night ? +Or ever , but in visors , show their faces ? +This pert Berowne was out of countenance quite . + +O ! they were all in lamentable cases . +The king was weeping-ripe for a good word . + +Berowne did swear himself out of all suit . + +Dumaine was at my service , and his sword : +'No point ,' quoth I : my servant straight was mute . + +Lord Longaville said , I came o'er his heart ; +And trow you what he call'd me ? + +Qualm , perhaps . + +Yes , in good faith . + +Go , sickness as thou art ! + +Well , better wits have worn plain statutecaps . +But will you hear ? the king is my love sworn . + +And quick Berowne hath plighted faith to me . + +And Longaville was for my service born . + +Dumaine is mine , as sure as bark on tree . + +Madam , and pretty mistresses , give ear : +Immediately they will again be here +In their own shapes ; for it can never be +They will digest this harsh indignity . + +Will they return ? + +They will , they will , God knows ; +And leap for joy , though they are lame with blows : +Therefore change favours ; and , when they repair , +Blow like sweet roses in this summer air . + +How blow ? how blow ? speak to be understood . + +Fair ladies mask'd , are roses in their bud : +Dismask'd , their damask sweet commixture shown , +Are angels vailing clouds , or roses blown . + +Avaunt perplexity ! What shall we do +If they return in their own shapes to woo ? + +Good madam , if by me you'll be advis'd , +Let's mock them still , as well known as disguis'd . +Let us complain to them what fools were here , +Disguis'd like Muscovites , in shapeless gear ; +And wonder what they were , and to what end +Their shallow shows and prologue vilely penn'd , +And their rough carriage so ridiculous , +Should be presented at our tent to us . + +Ladies , withdraw : the gallants are at hand . + +Whip to your tents , as roes run over land . + +Fair sir , God save you ! Where is the princess ? + +Gone to her tent . Please it your majesty , +Command me any service to her thither ? + +That she vouchsafe me audience for one word . + +I will ; and so will she , I know , my lord . + + +This fellow pecks up wit , as pigeons pease , +And utters it again when God doth please : +He is wit's pedlar , and retails his wares +At wakes and wassails , meetings , markets , fairs ; +And we that sell by gross , the Lord doth know , +Have not the grace to grace it with such show . +This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve ; +Had he been Adam , he had tempted Eve : +He can carve too , and lisp : why , this is he +That kiss'd his hand away in courtesy ; +This is the ape of form , monsieur the nice , +That , when he plays at tables , chides the dice +In honourable terms : nay , he can sing +A mean most meanly , and in ushering +Mend him who can : the ladies call him , sweet ; +The stairs , as he treads on them , kiss his feet . +This is the flower that smiles on every one , +To show his teeth as white as whales-bone ; +And consciences , that will not die in debt , +Pay him the due of honey-tongu'd Boyet . + +A blister on his sweet tongue , with my heart , +That put Armado's page out of his part ! + + +See where it comes ! Behaviour , what wert thou , +Till this man show'd thee ? and what art thou now ? + +All hail , sweet madam , and fair time of day ! + +'Fair ,' in 'all hail ,' is foul , as I conceive . + +Construe my speeches better , if you may . + +Then wish me better : I will give you leave . + +We came to visit you , and purpose now +To lead you to our court : vouchsafe it then . + +This field shall hold me , and so hold your vow : +Nor God , nor I , delights in perjur'd men . + +Rebuke me not for that which you provoke : +The virtue of your eye must break my oath . + +You nick-name virtue ; vice you should have spoke ; +For virtue's office never breaks men's troth . +Now , by my maiden honour , yet as pure +As the unsullied lily , I protest , +A world of torments though I should endure , +I would not yield to be your house's guest ; +So much I hate a breaking cause to be +Of heavenly oaths , vow'd with integrity . + +O ! you have liv'd in desolation here , +Unseen , unvisited , much to our shame . + +Not so , my lord ; it is not so , I swear ; +We have had pastime here and pleasant game . +A mess of Russians left us but of late . + +How , madam ! Russians ? + +Ay , in truth , my lord ; +Trim gallants , full of courtship and of state . + +Madam , speak true . It is not so , my lord : +My lady , to the manner of the days , +In courtesy gives undeserving praise . +We four , indeed , confronted were with four +In Russian habit : here they stay'd an hour , +And talk'd apace ; and in that hour , my lord , +They did not bless us with one happy word . +I dare not call them fools ; but this I think , +When they are thirsty , fools would fam have drink . + +This jest is dry to me . Fair gentle sweet , +Your wit makes wise things foolish : when we greet , +With eyes best seeing , heaven's fiery eye , +By light we lose light : your capacity +Is of that nature that to your huge store +Wise things seem foolish and rich things but poor . + +This proves you wise and rich , for in my eye + +I am a fool , and full of poverty . + +But that you take what doth to you belong , +It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue . + +O ! I am yours , and all that I possess . + +All the fool mine ? + +I cannot give you less . + +Which of the visors was it that you wore ? + +Where ? when ? what visor ? why demand you this ? + +There , then , that visor ; that superfluous case +That hid the worse , and show'd the better face . + +We are descried : they'll mock us now downright . + +Let us confess , and turn it to a jest . + +Amaz'd , my lord ? Why looks your highness sad ? + +Help ! hold his brows ! he'll swound . +Why look you pale ? +Sea-sick , I think , coming from Muscovy . + +Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury . +Can any face of brass hold longer out ? +Here stand I , lady ; dart thy skill at me ; +Bruise me with scorn , confound me with a flout ; +Thrust thy sharp wit quite through my ignorance ; +Cut me to pieces with thy keen conceit ; +And I will wish thee never more to dance , +Nor never more in Russian habit wait . +O ! never will I trust to speeches penn'd , +Nor to the motion of a school-boy's tongue , +Nor never come in visor to my friend , +Nor woo in rime , like a blind harper's song , +Taffeta phrases , silken terms precise , +Three-pil'd hyperboles , spruce affectation , +Figures pedantical ; these summer flies +Have blown me full of maggot ostentation : +I do forswear them ; and I here protest , +By this white glove ,how white the hand , +God knows , +Henceforth my wooing mind shall be express'd +In russet yeas and honest kersey noes : +And , to begin , wench ,so God help me , la ! +My love to thee is sound , sans crack or flaw . + +Sans 'sans ,' I pray you . + +Yet I have a trick +Of the old rage : bear with me , I am sick ; +I'll leave it by degrees . Soft ! let us see : +Write , 'Lord have mercy on us' on those three ; +They are infected , in their hearts it lies ; +They have the plague , and caught it of your eyes : +These lords are visited ; you are not free , +For the Lord's tokens on you do I see . + +No , they are free that gave these tokens to us . + +Our states are forfeit : seek not to undo us . + +It is not so . For how can this be true , +That you stand forfeit , being those that sue ? + +Peace ! for I will not have to do with you . + +Nor shall not , if I do as I intend . + +Speak for yourselves : my wit is at an end . + +Teach us , sweet madam , for our rude transgression +Some fair excuse . + +The fairest is confession . +Were you not here , but even now , disguis'd ? + +Madam , I was . + +And were you well advis'd ? + +I was , fair madam . + +When you then were here , +What did you whisper in your lady's ear ? + +That more than all the world I did respect her . + +When she shall challenge this , you will reject her . + +Upon mine honour , no . + +Peace ! peace ! forbear ; +Your oath once broke , you force not to forswear . + +Despise me , when I break this oath of mine . + +I will ; and therefore keep it . Rosaline , +What did the Russian whisper in your ear ? + +Madam , he swore that he did hold me dear +As precious eyesight , and did value me +Above this world ; adding thereto , moreover , +That he would wed me , or else die my lover . + +God give thee joy of him ! the noble lord +Most honourably doth uphold his word . + +What mean you , madam ? by my life , my troth , +I never swore this lady such an oath . + +By heaven you did ; and to confirm it plain , +You gave me this : but take it , sir , again . + +My faith and this the princess I did give : +I knew her by this jewel on her sleeve . + +Pardon me , sir , this jewel did she wear ; +And Lord Berowne , I thank him , is my dear . +What , will you have me , or your pearl again ? + +Neither of either ; I remit both twain . +I see the trick on't : here was a consent , +Knowing aforehand of our merriment , +To dash it like a Christmas comedy . +Some carry-tale , some please-man , some slight zany , +Some mumble-news , some trencher-knight , some Dick , +That smiles his cheek in years , and knows the trick +To make my lady laugh when she's dispos'd , +Told our intents before ; which once disclos'd , +The ladies did change favours , and then we , +Following the signs , woo'd but the sign of she . +Now , to our perjury to add more terror , +We are again forsworn , in will and error . +Much upon this it is : + +and might not you +Forestall our sport , to make us thus untrue ? +Do not you know my lady's foot by the squire , +And laugh upon the apple of her eye ? +And stand between her back , sir , and the fire , +Holding a trencher , jesting merrily ? +You put our page out : go , you are allow'd ; +Die when you will , a smock shall be your shroud . +You leer upon me , do you ? there's an eye +Wounds like a leaden sword . + +Full merrily +Hath this brave manage , this career , been run . + +Lo ! he is tilting straight . Peace ! I have done . + +Welcome , pure wit ! thou partest a fair fray . + +O Lord , sir , they would know +Whether the three Worthies shall come in or no . + +What , are there but three ? + +No , sir ; but it is vara fine , +For every one pursents three . + +And three times thrice is nine . + +Not so , sir ; under correction , sir , I hope , it is not so . +You cannot beg us , sir , I can assure you , sir ; we know what we know : +I hope , sir , three times thrice , sir , + +Is not nine . + +Under correction , sir , we know whereuntil it doth amount . + +By Jove , I always took three threes for nine . + +O Lord , sir ! it were pity you should get your living by reckoning , sir . + +How much is it ? + +O Lord , sir ! the parties themselves , the actors , sir , will show whereuntil it doth amount : for mine own part , I am , as they say , but to parfect one man in one poor man , Pompion the Great , sir . + +Art thou one of the Worthies ? + +It pleased them to think me worthy of Pompion the Great : for mine own part , I know not the degree of the Worthy , but I am to stand for him . + +Go , bid them prepare . + +We will turn it finely off , sir ; we will take some care . + + +Berowne , they will shame us ; let them not approach . + +We are shame-proof , my lord ; and 'tis some policy +To have one show worse than the king's and his company . + +I say they shall not come . + +Nay , my good lord , let me o'errule you now . +That sport best pleases that doth least know how ; +Where zeal strives to content , and the contents +Die in the zeal of those which it presents ; +Their form confounded makes most form in mirth , +When great things labouring perish in their birth . + +A right description of our sport , my lord . + + +Anointed , I implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words . + + +Doth this man serve God ? + +Why ask you ? + +He speaks not like a man of God's making , + +That's all one , my fair , sweet , honey monarch ; for , I protest , the schoolmaster is exceeding fantastical ; too-too vain ; too-too vain : but we will put it , as they say , to fortuna de la guerra . I wish you the peace of mind , most royal couplement ! + + +Here is like to be a good presence of Worthies . He presents Hector of Troy ; the swain , Pompey the Great ; the parish curate , Alexander ; Armado's page , Hercules ; the pedant , Judas Maccab us : +And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive , +These four will change habits and present the other five . + +There is five in the first show . + +You are deceived , 'tis not so . + +The pedant , the braggart , the hedgepriest , the fool , and the boy : +Abate throw at novum , and the whole world again +Cannot pick out five such , take each one in his vein . + +The ship is under sail , and here she comes amain . + + +I Pompey am , + +You lie , you are not he . + +I Pompey am , + +With libbard's head on knee . + +Well said , old mocker : I must needs be friends with thee . + +I Pompey am , Pompey surnam'd the Big , + +'The Great .' + +It is 'Great ,' sir ; Pompey surnam'd the Great ; +That oft in field , with targe and shield , did make my foe to sweat : +And travelling along this coast , I here am come by chance , +And lay my arms before the legs of this sweet lass of France . +If your ladyship would say , 'Thanks , Pompey ,' I had done . + +Great thanks , great Pompey . + +'Tis not so much worth ; but I hope I was perfect . I made a little fault in 'Great .' + +My hat to a halfpenny , Pompey proves the best Worthy . + + +When in the world I liv'd , I was the world's commander ; +By east , west , north , and south , I spread my conquering might : +My scutcheon plain declares that I am Alisander , + +Your nose says , no , you are not ; for it stands too right . + +Your nose smells 'no ,' in this , most tender-smelling knight . + +The conqueror is dismay'd . Proceed , good Alexander . + +When in the world I liv'd , I was the world's commander ; + +Most true ; 'tis right : you were so , Alisander . + +Pompey the Great , + +Your servant , and Costard . + +Take away the conqueror , take away Alisander . + + +There , an't shall please you : a foolish mild man ; an honest man , look you , and soon dashed ! He is a marvellous good neighbour , faith , and a very good bowler ; but , for Alisander ,alas , you see how 'tis ,a little o'erparted . But there are Worthies a-coming will speak their mind in some other sort . + +Stand aside , good Pompey . + + +Great Hercules is presented by this imp , +Whose club kill'd Cerberus , that three-headed canis ; +And , when he was a babe , a child , a shrimp , +Thus did he strangle serpents in his manus . +Quoniam , he seemeth in minority , +Ergo , I come with this apology . +Keep some state in thy exit , and vanish . + +Judas I am . + +A Judas ! + +Not Iscariot , sir . +Judas I am , ycleped Maccab us . + +Judas Maccab us clipt is plain Judas . + +A kissing traitor . How art thou prov'd Judas ? + +Judas I am . + +The more shame for you , Judas . + +What mean you , sir ? + +To make Judas hang himself . + +Begin , sir ; you are my elder . + +Well follow'd : Judas was hanged on an elder . + +I will not be put out of countenance . + +Because thou hast no face . + +What is this ? + +A cittern-head . + +The head of a bodkin . + +A death's face in a ring . + +The face of an old Roman coin , scarce seen . + +The pommel of C sar's falchion . + +The carved-bone face on a flask . + +Saint George's half-cheek in a brooch . + +Ay , and in a brooch of lead . + +Ay , and worn in the cap of a toothdrawer . +And now forward ; for we have put thee in countenance . + +You have put me out of countenance . + +False : we have given thee faces . + +But you have outfaced them all . + +An thou wert a lion , we would do so . + +Therefore , as he is an ass , let him go . +And so adieu , sweet Jude ! nay , why dost thou stay ? + +For the latter end of his name . + +For the ass to the Jude ? give it him :Jud-as , away ! + +This is not generous , not gentle , not humble . + +A light for Monsieur Judas ! it grows dark , he may stumble . + +Alas ! poor Maccab us , how hath he been baited . + + +Hide thy head , Achilles : here comes Hector in arms . + +Though my mocks come home by me , I will now be merry . + +Hector was but a Troyan in respect of this . + +But is this Hector ? + +I think Hector was not so clean-timbered . + +His calf is too big for Hector . + +More calf , certain . + +No ; he is best indued in the small . + +This cannot be Hector . + +He's a god or a painter ; for he makes faces . + +The armipotent Mars , of lances the almighty , +Gave Hector a gift , + +A gilt nutmeg . + +A lemon . + +Stuck with cloves . + +No , cloven . + +Peace ! +The armipotent Mars , of lances the almighty , Gave Hector a gift , the heir of Ilion ; +A man so breath'd , that certain he would fight ye +From morn till night , out of his pavilion . +I am that flower , + +That mint . + +That columbine . + +Sweet Lord Longaville , rein thy tongue . + +I must rather give it the rein , for it runs against Hector . + +Ay , and Hector's a greyhound . + +The sweet war-man is dead and rotten ; sweet chucks , beat not the bones of the buried ; when he breathed , he was a man . But I will forward with my device . + +Sweet royalty , bestow on me the sense of hearing . + +Speak , brave Hector ; we are much delighted . + +I do adore thy sweet Grace's slipper . + +Loves her by the foot . + +He may not by the yard . + +This Hector far surmounted Hannibal , + +The party is gone ; fellow Hector , she is gone ; she is two months on her way . + +What meanest thou ? + +Faith , unless you play the honest Troyan , the poor wench is cast away : she's quick ; the child brags in her belly already : 'tis yours . + +Dost thou infamonize me among potentates ? Thou shalt die . + +Then shall Hector be whipped for Jaquenetta that is quick by him , and hanged for Pompey that is dead by him . + +Most rare Pompey ! + +Renowned Pompey ! + +Greater than great , great , great , great Pompey ! Pompey the Huge ! + +Hector trembles . + +Pompey is moved . More Ates , more Ates ! stir them on ! stir them on ! + +Hector will challenge him . + +Ay , if a' have no more man's blood in's belly than will sup a flea . + +By the north pole , I do challenge thee . + +I will not fight with a pole , like a northern man : I'll slash ; I'll do it by the sword . I bepray you , let me borrow my arms again . + +Room for the incensed Worthies ! + +I'll do it in my shirt . + +Most resolute Pompey ! + +Master , let me take you a button-hole lower . Do you not see Pompey is uncasing for the combat ? What mean you ? you will lose your reputation . + +Gentlemen and soldiers , pardon me ; I will not combat in my shirt . + +You may not deny it ; Pompey hath made the challenge . + +Sweet bloods , I both may and will . + +What reason have you for't ? + +The naked truth of it is , I have no shirt . I go woolward for penance . + +True , and it was enjoined him in Rome for want of linen ; since when , I'll be sworn , he wore none but a dish-clout of Jaquenetta's , and that a' wears next his heart for a favour . + + +God save you , madam ! + +Welcome , Marcade ; +But that thou interrupt'st our merriment . + +I am sorry , madam ; for the news I bring +Is heavy in my tongue . The king your father + +Dead , for my life ! + +Even so : my tale is told . + +Worthies , away ! The scene begins to cloud . + +For my own part , I breathe free breath . I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion , and I will right myself like a soldier . + + +How fares your majesty ? + +Boyet , prepare : I will away to-night . + +Madam , not so : I do beseech you , stay . + +Prepare , I say . I thank you , gracious lords , +For all your fair endeavours ; and entreat , +Out of a new-sad soul , that you vouchsafe +In your rich wisdom to excuse or hide +The liberal opposition of our spirits , +If over-boldly we have borne ourselves +In the converse of breath ; your gentleness +Was guilty of it . Farewell , worthy lord ! +A heavy heart bears not a nimble tongue , +Excuse me so , coming so short of thanks +For my great suit so easily obtain'd . + +The extreme part of time extremely forms +All causes to the purpose of his speed , +And often , at his very loose , decides +That which long process could not arbitrate : +And though the mourning brow of progeny +Forbid the smiling courtesy of love +The holy suit which fain it would convince ; +Yet , since love's argument was first on foot , +Let not the cloud of sorrow justle it +From what it purpos'd ; since , to wail friends lost +Is not by much so wholesome-profitable +As to rejoice at friends but newly found . + +I understand you not : my griefs are double . + +Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief ; +And by these badges understand the king . +For your fair sakes have we neglected time , +Play'd foul play with our oaths . Your beauty , ladies , +Hath much deform'd us , fashioning our humours +Even to the opposed end of our intents ; +And what in us hath seem'd ridiculous , +As love is full of unbefitting strains ; +All wanton as a child , skipping and vain ; +Form'd by the eye , and , therefore , like the eye , +Full of stray shapes , of habits and of forms , +Varying in subjects , as the eye doth roll +To every varied object in his glance : +Which parti-coated presence of loose love +Put on by us , if , in your heavenly eyes , +Have misbecome our oaths and gravities , +Those heavenly eyes , that look into these faults , +Suggested us to make . Therefore , ladies , +Our love being yours , the error that love makes +Is likewise yours : we to ourselves prove false , +By being once false for ever to be true +To those that make us both ,fair ladies , you : +And even that falsehood , in itself a sin , +Thus purifies itself and turns to grace . + +We have receiv'd your letters full of love ; +Your favours , the embassadors of love ; +And , in our maiden council , rated them +At courtship , pleasant jest , and courtesy , +As bombast and as lining to the time . +But more devout than this in our respects +Have we not been ; and therefore met your loves +In their own fashion , like a merriment . + +Our letters , madam , show'd much more than jest . + +So did our looks . + +We did not quote them so . + +Now , at the latest minute of the hour , +Grant us your loves . + +A time , methinks , too short +To make a world-without-end bargain in . +No , no , my lord , your Grace is perjur'd much , +Full of dear guiltiness ; and therefore this : +If for my love ,as there is no such cause , +You will do aught , this shall you do for me : +Your oath I will not trust ; but go with speed +To some forlorn and naked hermitage , +Remote from all the pleasures of the world ; +There stay , until the twelve celestial signs +Have brought about their annual reckoning . +If this austere insociable life +Change not your offer made in heat of blood ; +If frosts and fasts , hard lodging and thin weeds , +Nip not the gaudy blossoms of your love , +But that it bear this trial and last love ; +Then , at the expiration of the year , +Come challenge me , challenge me by these deserts , +And , by this virgin palm now kissing thine , +I will be thine ; and , till that instant , shut +My woful self up in a mourning house , +Raining the tears of lamentation +For the remembrance of my father's death . +If this thou do deny , let our hands part ; +Neither intitled in the other's heart . + +If this , or more than this , I would deny , +To flatter up these powers of mine with rest , +The sudden hand of death close up mine eye ! +Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast . + +And what to me , my love ? and what to me ? + +You must be purged too , your sins are rack'd : +You are attaint with faults and perjury ; +Therefore , if you my favour mean to get , +A twelvemonth shall you spend , and never rest , +But seek the weary beds of people sick . + +But what to me , my love ? but what to me ? + +A wife ! A beard , fair health , and honesty ; +With three-fold love I wish you all these three . + +O ! shall I say , I thank you , gentle wife ? + +Not so , my lord . A twelvemonth and a day +I'll mark no words that smooth-fac'd wooers say : +Come when the king doth to my lady come ; +Then , if I have much love , I'll give you some . + +I'll serve thee true and faithfully till then . + +Yet swear not , lest you be forsworn again . + +What says Maria ? + +At the twelvemonth's end +I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend . + +I'll stay with patience ; but the time is long . + +The liker you ; few taller are so young . + +Studies my lady ? mistress , look on me . +Behold the window of my heart , mine eye , +What humble suit attends thy answer there ; +Impose some service on me for thy love . + +Oft have I heard of you , my Lord Berowne , +Before I saw you , and the world's large tongue +Proclaims you for a man replete with mocks ; +Full of comparisons and wounding flouts , +Which you on all estates will execute +That lie within the mercy of your wit : +To weed this wormwood from your fruitful brain , +And therewithal to win me , if you please , +Without the which I am not to be won , +You shall this twelvemonth term , from day to day , +Visit the speechless sick , and still converse +With groaning wretches ; and your task shall be , +With all the fierce endeavour of your wit +To enforce the pained impotent to smile . + +To move wild laughter in the throat of death ? +It cannot be ; it is impossible : +Mirth cannot move a soul in agony . + +Why , that's the way to choke a gibing spirit , +Whose influence is begot of that loose grace +Which shallow laughing hearers give to fools . +A jest's prosperity lics in the ear +Of him that hears it , never in the tongue +Of him that makes it : then , if sickly ears , +Deaf'd with the clamours of their own dear groans , +Will hear your idle scorns , continue them , +And I will have you and that fault withal ; +But if they will not , throw away that spirit , +And I shall find you empty of that fault , +Right joyful of your reformation . + +A twelvemonth ! well , befall what will befall , +I'll jest a twelvemonth in a hospital . + +Ay , sweet my lord ; and so I take my leave . + +No , madam ; we will bring you on your way . + +Our wooing doth not end like an old play ; +Jack hath not Jill ; these ladies' courtesy +Might well have made our sport a comedy . + +Come , sir , it wants a twelvemonth and a day , +And then 'twill end . + +That's too long for a play . + + +Sweet majesty , vouchsafe me , + +Was not that Hector ? + +The worthy knight of Troy . + +I will kiss thy royal finger , and take leave . I am a votary ; I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years . But , most esteemed greatness , will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled in praise of the owl and the cuckoo ? it should have followed in the end of our show . + +Call them forth quickly ; we will do so . + +Holla ! approach . + + +This side is Hiems , Winter ; this Ver , the Spring ; the one maintained by the owl , the other by the cuckoo . Ver , begin . + +SPRING . + + +I + +When daisies pied and violets blue +And lady-smocks all silver-white +And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue +Do paint the meadows with delight , +The cuckoo then , on every tree , +Mocks married men ; for thus sings he , +Cuckoo , +Cuckoo , cuckoo : O , word of fear , +Unpleasing to a married ear ! + +II . + +When shepherds pipe on oaten straws , +And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks , +When turtles tread , and rooks , and daws , +And maidens bleach their summer smocks , +The cuckoo then , on every tree , +Mocks married men ; for thus sings he , +Cuckoo ; +Cuckoo , cuckoo : O , word of fear , +Unpleasing to a married ear ! + +WINTER . + + +III . + +When icicles hang by the wall , +And Dick the shepherd blows his nail , +And Tom bears logs into the hall , +And milk comes frozen home in pail , +When blood is nipp'd , and ways be foul , +Then nightly sings the staring owl , +Tu-who ; +Tu-whit , tu-who a merry note , +While greasy Joan doth keel the pot . + +IV + +When all aloud the wind doth blow , +And coughing drowns the parson's saw , +And birds sit brooding in the snow , +And Marian's nose looks red and raw , +When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl , +Then nightly sings the staring owl , +Tu-who ; +Tu-whit , tu-who a merry note , +While greasy Joan doth keel the pot . + + +The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo . You , that way : we , this way . + +MEASURE FOR MEASURE + +Escalus . + +My lord ? + +Of government the properties to unfold , +Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse , +Since I am put to know that your own science +Exceeds , in that , the lists of all advice +My strength can give you : then no more remains , +But that , to your sufficiency , as your worth is able , +And let them work . The nature of our people , +Our city's institutions , and the terms +For common justice , you're as pregnant in , +As art and practice hath enriched any +That we remember . There is our commission , + +From which we would not have you warp . Call hither , +I say , bid come before us Angelo . + +What figure of us think you he will bear ? +For you must know , we have with special soul +Elected him our absence to supply , +Lent him our terror , drest him with our love , +And given his deputation all the organs +Of our own power : what think you of it ? + +If any in Vienna be of worth +To undergo such ample grace and honour , +It is Lord Angelo . + +Look where he comes . + + +Always obedient to your Grace's will , +I come to know your pleasure . + +Angelo , +There is a kind of character in thy life , +That , to th' observer doth thy history +Fully unfold . Thyself and thy belongings +Are not thine own so proper , as to waste +Thyself upon thy virtues , they on thee . +Heaven doth with us as we with torches do , +Not light them for themselves ; for if our virtues +Did not go forth of us , 'twere all alike +As if we had them not . Spirits are not finely touch'd +But to fine issues , nor Nature never lends +The smallest scruple of her excellence , +But , like a thrifty goddess , she determines +Herself the glory of a creditor , +Both thanks and use . But I do bend my speech +To one that can my part in him advertise ; +Hold , therefore , Angelo : + +In our remove be thou at full ourself ; +Mortality and mercy in Vienna +Live in thy tongue and heart . Old Escalus , +Though first in question , is thy secondary . +Take thy commission . + + +Now , good my lord , +Let there be some more test made of my metal , +Before so noble and so great a figure +Be stamp'd upon it . + +No more evasion : +We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice +Proceeded to you ; therefore take your honours . +Our haste from hence is of so quick condition +That it prefers itself , and leaves unquestion'd +Matters of needful value . We shall write to you , +As time and our concernings shall importune , +How it goes with us ; and do look to know +What doth befall you here . So , fare you well : +To the hopeful execution do I leave you +Of your commissions . + +Yet , give leave , my lord , +That we may bring you something on the way . + +My haste may not admit it ; +Nor need you , on mine honour , have to do +With any scruple : your scope is as mine own , +So to enforce or qualify the laws +As to your soul seems good . Give me your hand ; +I'll privily away : I love the people , +But do not like to stage me to their eyes . +Though it do well , I do not relish well +Their loud applause and Aves vehement , +Nor do I think the man of safe discretion +That does affect it . Once more , fare you well . + +The heavens give safety to your purposes ! + +Lead forth and bring you back in happiness ! + +I thank you . Fare you well . + + +I shall desire you , sir , to give me leave +To have free speech with you ; and it concerns me +To look into the bottom of my place : +A power I have , but of what strength and nature +I am not yet instructed . + +'Tis so with me . Let us withdraw together , +And we may soon our satisfaction have +Touching that point . + +I'll wait upon your honour . + + +If the Duke with the other dukes come not to composition with the King of Hungary , why then , all the dukes fall upon the king . + +Heaven grant us its peace , but not the King of Hungary's ! + +Amen . + +Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate , that went to sea with the Ten Commandments , but scraped one out of the table . + +'Thou shalt not steal ?' + +Ay , that he razed . + +Why , 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions : they put forth to steal . There's not a soldier of us all , that , in the thanksgiving before meat , doth relish the petition well that prays for peace . + +I never heard any soldier dislike it . + +I believe thee , for I think thou never wast where grace was said . + +No ? a dozen times at least . + +What , in metre ? + +In any proportion or in any language . + +I think , or in any religion . + +Ay ; why not ? Grace is grace , despite of all controversy : as , for example , thou thyself art a wicked villain , despite of all grace . + +Well , there went but a pair of shears between us . + +I grant ; as there may between the lists and the velvet : thou art the list . + +And thou the velvet : thou art good velvet ; thou art a three-piled piece , I warrant thee . I had as lief be a list of an English kersey as be piled , as thou art piled , for a French velvet . Do I speak feelingly now ? + +I think thou dost ; and , indeed , with most painful feeling of thy speech : I will , out of thine own confession , learn to begin thy health ; but , whilst I live , forget to drink after thee . + +I think I have done myself wrong , have I not ? + +Yes , that thou hast , whether thou art tainted or free . + +Behold , behold , where Madam Mitigation comes ! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to + +To what , I pray ? + +Judge . + +To three thousand dolours a year . + +Ay , and more . + +A French crown more . + +Thou art always figuring diseases in me ; but thou art full of error : I am sound . + +Nay , not as one would say , healthy ; but so sound as things that are hollow : thy bones are hollow ; impiety has made a feast of thee . + + +How now ! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ? + +Well , well ; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all . + +Who's that , I pray thee ? + +Marry , sir , that's Claudio , Signior Claudio . + +Claudio to prison ! 'tis not so . + +Nay , but I know 'tis so : I saw him arrested ; saw him carried away ; and , which is more , within these three days his head to be chopped off . + +But , after all this fooling , I would not have it so . Art thou sure of this ? + +I am too sure of it ; and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child . + +Believe me , this may be : he promised to meet me two hours since , and he was ever precise in promise-keeping . + +Besides , you know , it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose . + +But most of all , agreeing with the proclamation . + +Away ! let's go learn the truth of it . + + +Thus , what with the war , what with the sweat , what with the gallows and what with poverty , I am custom-shrunk . + +How now ! what's the news with you ? + +Yonder man is carried to prison . + +Well : what has he done ? + +A woman . + +But what's his offence ? + +Groping for trouts in a peculiar river . + +What , is there a maid with child by him ? + +No ; but there's a woman with maid by him . You have not heard of the proclamation , have you ? + +What proclamation , man ? + +All houses of resort in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down + +And what shall become of those in the city ? + +They shall stand for seed : they had gone down too , but that a wise burgher put in for them . + +But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down ? + +To the ground , mistress . + +Why , here's a change indeed in the commonwealth ! What shall become of me ? + +Come ; fear not you : good counsellors lack no clients : though you change your place , you need not change your trade ; I'll be your tapster still . Courage ! there will be pity taken on you ; you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service , you will be considered . + +What's to do here , Thomas tapster ? +Let's withdraw . + +Here comes Signior Claudio , led by the provost to prison ; and there's Madam Juliet . + +Fellow , why dost thou show me thus to the world ? +Bear me to prison , where I am committed . + +I do it not in evil disposition , +But from Lord Angelo by special charge . + +Thus can the demi-god Authority +Make us pay down for our offence' by weight . +The words of heaven ; on whom it will , it will ; +On whom it will not , so : yet still 'tis just . + + +Why , how now , Claudio ! whence comes this restraint ? + +From too much liberty , my Lucio , liberty : +As surfeit is the father of much fast , +So every scope by the immoderate use +Turns to restraint . Our natures do pursue +Like rats that ravin down their proper bane , +A thirsty evil , and when we drink we die . + +If I could speak so wisely under an arrest , I would send for certain of my creditors . And yet , to say the truth , I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment . What's thy offence , Claudio ? + +What but to speak of would offend again . + +What , is't murder ? + +No . + +Lechery ? + +Call it so . + +Away , sir ! you must go . + +One word , good friend . Lucio , a word with you . + + +A hundred , if they'll do you any good . +Is lechery so looked after ? + +Thus stands it with me : upon a true contract +I got possession of Julietta's bed : +You know the lady ; she is fast my wife , +Save that we do the denunciation lack +Of outward order : this we came not to , +Only for propagation of a dower +Remaining in the coffer of her friends , +From whom we thought it meet to hide our love +Till time had made them for us . But it chances +The stealth of our most mutual entertainment +With character too gross is writ on Juliet . + +With child , perhaps ? + +Unhappily , even so . +And the new deputy now for the duke , +Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness , +Or whether that the body public be +A horse whereon the governor doth ride , +Who , newly in the seat , that it may know +He can command , lets it straight feel the spur ; +Whether the tyranny be in his place , +Or in his eminence that fills it up , +I stagger in :but this new governor +Awakes me all the enrolled penalties +Which have , like unscour'd armour , hung by the wall +So long that nineteen zodiacs have gone round , +And none of them been worn ; and , for a name , +Now puts the drowsy and neglected act +Freshly on me : 'tis surely for a name . + +I warrant it is : and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders that a milkmaid , if she be in love , may sigh it off . Send after the duke and appeal to him . + +I have done so , but he's not to be found . +I prithee , Lucio , do me this kind service . +This day my sister should the cloister enter , +And there receive her approbation : +Acquaint her with the danger of my state ; +Implore her , in my voice , that she make friends +To the strict deputy ; bid herself assay him : +I have great hope in that ; for in her youth +There is a prone and speechless dialect , +Such as move men ; beside , she hath prosperous art +When she will play with reason and discourse , +And well she can persuade . + +I pray she may : as well for the encouragement of the like , which else would stand under grievous imposition , as for the enjoying of thy life , who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack . I'll to her . + +I thank you , good friend Lucio . + +Within two hours . + +Come , officer , away ! + + +No , holy father ; throw away that thought : +Believe not that the dribbling dart of love +Can pierce a complete bosom . Why I desire thee +To give me secret harbour , hath a purpose +More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends +Of burning youth . + +May your Grace speak of it ? + +My holy sir , none better knows than you +How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd , +And held in idle price to haunt assemblies +Where youth , and cost , and witless bravery keeps . +I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo +A man of stricture and firm abstinence +My absolute power and place here in Vienna , +And he supposes me travell'd to Poland ; +For so I have strew'd it in the common ear , +And so it is receiv'd . Now , pious sir , +You will demand of me why I do this ? + +Gladly , my lord . + +We have strict statutes and most biting laws , +The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds , +Which for this fourteen years we have let sleep ; +Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave , +That goes not out to prey . Now , as fond fathers , +Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch , +Only to stick it in their children's sight +For terror , not to use , in time the rod +Becomes more mock'd than fear'd ; so our decrees , +Dead to infliction , to themselves are dead , +And liberty plucks justice by the nose ; +The baby beats the nurse , and quite athwart +Goes all decorum . + +It rested in your Grace +T' unloose this tied-up justice when you pleas'd ; +And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd +Than in Lord Angelo . + +I do fear , too dreadful : +Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope , +'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them +For what I bid them do : for we bid this be done , +When evil deeds have their permissive pass +And not the punishment . Therefore , indeed , my father , +I have on Angelo impos'd the office , +Who may , in the ambush of my name , strike home , +And yet my nature never in the sight +To do it slander . And to behold his sway , +I will , as 'twere a brother of your order , +Visit both prince and people : therefore , I prithee , +Supply me with the habit , and instruct me +How I may formally in person bear me +Like a true friar . Moe reasons for this action +At our more leisure shall I render you ; +Only , this one : Lord Angelo is precise ; +Stands at a guard with envy ; scarce confesses +That his blood flows , or that his appetite +Is more to bread than stone : hence shall we see , +If power change purpose , what our seemers be . + + +And have you nuns no further privileges ? + +Are not these large enough ? + +Yes , truly : I speak not as desiring more , +But rather wishing a more strict restraint +Upon the sisterhood , the votarists of Saint Clare . + +Ho ! Peace be in this place ! + +Who's that which calls ? + +It is a man's voice . Gentle Isabella , +Turn you the key , and know his business of him : +You may , I may not ; you are yet unsworn . +When you have vow'd , you must not speak with men +But in the presence of the prioress : +Then , if you speak , you must not show your face , +Or , if you show your face , you must not speak . +He calls again ; I pray you , answer him . + + +Peace and prosperity ! Who is't that calls ? + + +Hail , virgin , if you be , as those cheek-roses +Proclaim you are no less ! Can you so stead me +As bring me to the sight of Isabella , +A novice of this place , and the fair sister +To her unhappy brother Claudio ? + +Why 'her unhappy brother ?' let me ask ; +The rather for I now must make you know +I am that Isabella and his sister . + +Gentle and fair , your brother kindly greets you : +Not to be weary with you , he's in prison . + +Woe me ! for what ? + +For that which , if myself might be his judge , +He should receive his punishment in thanks : +He hath got his friend with child . + +Sir , make me not your story . + +It is true . +I would not , though 'tis my familiar sin +With maids to seem the lapwing and to jest , +Tongue far from heart , play with all virgins so : +I hold you as a thing ensky'd and sainted ; +By your renouncement an immortal spirit , +And to be talk'd with in sincerity , +As with a saint . + +You do blaspheme the good in mocking me . + +Do not believe it . Fewness and truth , 'tis thus : +Your brother and his lover have embrac'd : +As those that feed grow full , as blossoming time +That from the seedness the bare fallow brings +To teeming foison , even so her plenteous womb +Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry . + +Some one with child by him ? My cousin Juliet ? + +Is she your cousin ? + +Adoptedly ; asschool-maids change their names +By vain , though apt affection . + +She it is . + +O ! let him marry her . + +This is the point . +The duke is very strangely gone from hence ; +Bore many gentlemen , myself being one , +In hand and hope of action ; but we do learn +By those that know the very nerves of state , +His givings out were of an infinite distance +From his true-meant design . Upon his place , +And with full line of his authority , +Governs Lord Angelo ; a man whose blood +Is very snow-broth ; one who never feels +The wanton stings and motions of the sense , +But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge +With profits of the mind , study and fast . +He ,to give fear to use and liberty , +Which have for long run by the hideous law , +As mice by lions , hath pick'd out an act , +Under whose heavy sense your brother's life +Falls into forfeit : he arrests him on it , +And follows close the rigour of the statute , +To make him an example . All hope is gone , +Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer +To soften Angelo ; and that's my pith of business +Twixt you and your poor brother . + +Doth he so seek his life ? + +He's censur'd him +Already ; and , as I hear , the provost hath +A warrant for his execution . + +Alas ! what poor ability's in me +To do him good ? + +Assay the power you have . + +My power ? alas ! I doubt + +Our doubts are traitors , +And make us lose the good we oft might win , +By fearing to attempt . Go to Lord Angelo , +And let him learn to know , when maidens sue , +Men give like gods ; but when they weep and kneel , +All their petitions are as freely theirs +As they themselves would owe them . + +I'll see what I can do . + +But speedily . + +I will about it straight ; +No longer staying but to give the Mother +Notice of my affair . I humbly thank you : +Commend me to my brother ; soon at night +I'll send him certain word of my success . + +I take my leave of you . + +Good sir , adieu . + +We must not make a scarecrow of the law , +Setting it up to fear the birds of prey , +And let it keep one shape , till custom make it +Their perch and not their terror . + +Ay , but yet +Let us be keen and rather cut a little , +Than fall , and bruise to death . Alas ! this gentleman , +Whom I would save , had a most noble father . +Let but your honour know , +Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue , +That , in the working of your own affections , +Had time coher'd with place or place with wishing , +Or that the resolute acting of your blood +Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose , +Whether you had not , some time in your life , +Err'd in this point which now you censure him , +And pull'd the law upon you . + +'Tis one thing to be tempted , Escalus , +Another thing to fall . I not deny , +The jury , passing on the prisoner's life , +May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two +Guiltier than him they try ; what's open made to justice , +That justice seizes : what know the laws +That thieves do pass on thieves ? 'Tis very pregnant , +The jewel that we find , we stoop and take it +Because we see it ; but what we do not see +We tread upon , and never think of it . +You may not so extenuate his offence +For I have had such faults ; but rather tell me , +When I , that censure him , do so offend , +Let mine own judgment pattern out my death , +And nothing come in partial . Sir , he must die . + +Be it as your wisdom will . + +Where is the provost ? + +Here , if it like your honour . + +See that Claudio +Be executed by nine to-morrow morning : +Bring him his confessor , let him be prepar'd ; +For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage . + + +Well , heaven forgive him , and forgive us all ! +Some rise by sin , and some by virtue fall : +Some run from brakes of ice , and answer none , +And some condemned for a fault alone . + + +Come , bring them away : if these be good people in a common-weal that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses , I know no law : bring them away . + +How now , sir ! What's your name , and what's the matter ? + +If it please your honour , I am the poor duke's constable , and my name is Elbow : I do lean upon justice , sir ; and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors . + +Benefactors ! Well ; what benefactors are they ? are they not malefactors ? + +If it please your honour , I know not well what they are ; but precise villains they are , that I am sure of , and void of all profanation in the world that good Christians ought to have . + +This comes off well : here's a wise officer . + +Go to : what quality are they of ? Elbow is your name ? why dost thou not speak , Elbow ? + +He cannot , sir : he's out at elbow . + +What are you , sir ? + +He , sir ! a tapster , sir ; parcel-bawd ; one that serves a bad woman , whose house , sir , was , as they say , plucked down in the suburbs ; and now she professes a hot-house , which , I think , is a very ill house too . + +How know you that ? + +My wife , sir , whom I detest before heaven and your honour , + +How ! thy wife ? + +Ay , sir ; whom , I thank heaven , is an honest woman , + +Dost thou detest her therefore ? + +I say , sir , I will detest myself also , as well as she , that this house , if it be not a bawd's house , it is pity of her life , for it is a naughty house . + +How dost thou know that , constable ? + +Marry , sir , by my wife ; who , if she had been a woman cardinally given , might have been accused in fornication , adultery , and all uncleanliness there . + +By the woman's means ? + +Ay , sir , by Mistress Overdone's means ; but as she spit in his face , so she defied him . + +Sir , if it please your honour , this is not so . + +Prove it before these varlets here , thou honourable man , prove it . + +Do you hear how he misplaces ? + +Sir , she came in , great with child , and longing ,saving your honour's reverence ,for stewed prunes . Sir , we had but two in the house , which at that very distant time stood , as it were , in a fruit-dish , a dish of some three-pence ; your honours have seen such dishes ; they are not China dishes , but very good dishes . + +Go to , go to : no matter for the dish , sir . + +No , indeed , sir , not of a pin ; you are therein in the right : but to the point . As I say , this Mistress Elbow , being , as I say , with child , and being great-bellied , and longing , as I said , for prunes , and having but two in the dish , as I said , Master Froth here , this very man , having eaten the rest , as I said , and , as I say , paying for them very honestly ; for , as you know , Master Froth , I could not give you three-pence again . + +No , indeed . + +Very well : you being then , if you be remembered , cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes , + +Ay , so I did , indeed . + +Why , very well : I telling you then , if you be remembered , that such a one and such a one were past cure of the thing you wot of , unless they kept very good diet , as I told you , + +All this is true . + +Why , very well then . + +Come , you are a tedious fool : to the purpose . What was done to Elbow's wife , that he hath cause to complain of ? Come me to what was done to her . + +Sir , your honour cannot come to that yet . + +No , sir , nor I mean it not . + +Sir , but you shall come to it , by your honour's leave . And , I beseech you , look into Master Froth here , sir ; a man of fourscore pound a year , whose father died at Hallowmas . Was't not at Hallowmas , Master Froth ? + +All-hallownd eve . + +Why , very well : I hope here be truths . He , sir , sitting , as I say , in a lower chair , sir ; 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes , where indeed , you have a delight to sit , have you not ? + +I have so , because it is an open room and good for winter . + +Why , very well then : I hope here be truths . + +This will last out a night in Russia , +When nights are longest there : I'll take my leave , +And leave you to the hearing of the cause , +Hoping you'll find good cause to whip them all . + +I think no less . Good morrow to your lordship . + +Now , sir , come on : what was done to Elbow's wife , once more ? + +Once , sir ? there was nothing done to her once . + +I beseech you , sir , ask him what this man did to my wife . + +I beseech your honour , ask me . + +Well , sir , what did this gentleman to her ? + +I beseech you , sir , look in this gentleman's face . Good Master Froth , look upon his honour ; 'tis for a good purpose . Doth your honour mark his face ? + +Ay , sir , very well . + +Nay , I beseech you , mark it well . + +Well , I do so . + +Doth your honour see any harm in his face ? + +Why , no . + +I'll be supposed upon a book , his face is the worst thing about him . Good , then ; if his face be the worst thing about him , how could Master Froth do the constable's wife any harm ? I would know that of your honour . + +He's in the right . Constable , what say you to it ? + +First , an' it like you , the house is a respected house ; next , this is a respected fellow , and his mistress is a respected woman . + +By this hand , sir , his wife is a more respected person than any of us all . + +Varlet , thou liest : thou liest , wicked varlet . The time is yet to come that she was ever respected with man , woman , or child . + +Sir , she was respected with him before he married with her . + +Which is the wiser here ? Justice , or Iniquity ? Is this true ? + +O thou caitiff ! O thou varlet ! O thou wicked Hannibal ! I respected with her before I was married to her ? If ever I was respected with her , or she with me , let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer . Prove this , thou wicked Hannibal , or I'll have mine action of battery on thee . + +If he took you a box o' th' ear , you might have your action of slander too . + +Marry , I thank your good worship for it . What is't your worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff ? + +Truly , officer , because he hath some offences in him that thou wouldest discover if thou couldst , let him continue in his courses till thou knowest what they are . + +Marry , I thank your worship for it . Thou seest , thou wicked varlet , now , what's come upon thee : thou art to continue now , thou varlet , thou art to continue . + +Where were you born , friend ? + +Here in Vienna , sir . + +Are you of fourscore pounds a year ? + +Yes , an't please you , sir . + +So . + +What trade are you of , sir ? + +A tapster ; a poor widow's tapster . + +Your mistress' name ? + +Mistress Overdone . + +Hath she had any more than one husband ? + +Nine , sir ; Overdone by the last . + +Nine !Come hither to me , Master Froth . Master Froth , I would not have you acquainted with tapsters ; they will draw you , Master Froth , and you will hang them . Get you gone , and let me hear no more of you . + +I thank your worship . For mine own part , I never come into any room in a taphouse , but I am drawn in . + +Well : no more of it , Master Froth : farewell . + +Come you hither to me , Master tapster . What's your name , Master tapster ? + +Pompey . + +What else ? + +Bum , sir . + +Troth , and your bum is the greatest thing about you , so that , in the beastliest sense , you are Pompey the Great . Pompey , you are partly a bawd , Pompey , howsoever you colour it in being a tapster , are you not ? come , tell me true : it shall be the better for you . + +Truly , sir , I am a poor fellow that would live . + +How would you live , Pompey ? by being a bawd ? What do you think of the trade , Pompey ? is it a lawful trade ? + +If the law would allow it , sir . + +But the law will not allow it , Pompey ; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna . + +Does your worship mean to geld and splay all the youth of the city ? + +No , Pompey . + +Truly , sir , in my humble opinion , they will to't then . If your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves , you need not to fear the bawds . + +There are pretty orders beginning , I can tell you : it is but heading and hanging . + +If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together , you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads . If this law hold in Vienna ten year , I'll rent the fairest house in it after threepence a bay . If you live to see this come to pass , say , Pompey told you so . + +Thank you , good Pompey ; and , in requital of your prophecy , hark you : I advise you , let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever ; no , not for dwelling where you do : if I do , Pompey , I shall beat you to your tent , and prove a shrewd C sar to you . In plain dealing , Pompey , I shall have you whipt . So , for this time , Pompey , fare you well . + +I thank your worship for your good counsel ; + +but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine . +Whip me ! No , no ; let carman whip his jade ; +The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade . + + +Come hither to me , Master Elbow ; come hither , Master constable . How long have you been in this place of constable ? + +Seven year and a half , sir . + +I thought , by your readiness in the office , you had continued in it some time . You say , seven years together ? + +And a half , sir . + +Alas ! it hath been great pains to you ! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon 't . Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it ? + +Faith , sir , few of any wit in such matters . As they are chosen , they are glad to choose me for them : I do it for some piece of money , and go through with all . + +Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven , the most sufficient of your parish . + +To your worship's house , sir ? + +To my house . Fare you well . + +What's o'clock , think you ? + +Eleven , sir . + +I pray you home to dinner with me . + +I humbly thank you . + +It grieves me for the death of Claudio ; +But there is no remedy . + +Lord Angelo is severe . + +It is but needful : +Mercy is not itself , that oft looks so ; +Pardon is still the nurse of second woe . +But yet , poor Claudio ! There's no remedy . +Come , sir . + + +He's hearing of a cause : he will come straight : +I'll tell him of you . + +Pray you , do . + +I'll know +His pleasure ; may be he will relent . Alas ! +He hath but as offended in a dream : +All sects , all ages smack of this vice , and he +To die for it ! + + +Now , what's the matter , provost ? + +Is it your will Claudio shall die to-morrow ? + +Did I not tell thee , yea ? hadst thou not order ? +Why dost thou ask again ? + +Lest I might be too rash . +Under your good correction , I have seen , +When , after execution , Judgment hath +Repented o'er his doom . + +Go to ; let that be mine : +Do you your office , or give up your place , +And you shall well be spar'd . + +I crave your honour's pardon . +What shall be done , sir , with the groaning Juliet ? +She's very near her hour . + +Dispose of her +To some more fitter place ; and that with speed . + + +Here is the sister of the man condemn'd +Desires access to you . + +Hath he a sister ? + +Ay , my good lord ; a very virtuous maid , +And to be shortly of a sisterhood , +If not already . + +Well , let her be admitted . + +See you the fornicatress be remov'd : +Let her have needful , but not lavish , means ; +There shall be order for't . + + +God save your honour ! + + +Stay a little while . + +You're welcome : what's your will ? + +I am a woful suitor to your honour , +Please but your honour hear me . + +Well ; what's your suit ? + +There is a vice that most I do abhor , +And most desire should meet the blow of justice , +For which I would not plead , but that I must ; +For which I must not plead , but that I am +At war 'twixt will and will not . + +Well ; the matter ? + +I have a brother is condemn'd to die : +I do beseech you , let it be his fault , +And not my brother . + +Heaven give thee moving graces ! + +Condemn the fault , and not the actor of it ? +Why , every fault's condemn'd ere it be done . +Mine were the very cipher of a function , +To fine the faults whose fine stands in record , +And let go by the actor . + +O just , but severe law ! +I had a brother , then .Heaven keep your honour ! + + +Give't not o'er so : to him again , entreat him ; +Kneel down before him , hang upon his gown ; +You are too cold ; if you should need a pin , +You could not with more tame a tongue desire it . +To him . I say ! + +Must he needs die ? + +Maiden , no remedy . + +Yes ; I do think that you might pardon him , +And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy . + +I will not do't . + +But can you , if you would ? + +Look , what I will not , that I cannot do . + +But might you do't , and do the world no wrong , +If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse +As mine is to him ? + +He's sentenc'd : 'tis too late . + +You are too cold . + +Too late ? why , no ; I , that do speak a word , +May call it back again . Well , believe this , +No ceremony that to great ones 'longs , +Not the king's crown , nor the deputed sword , +The marshal's truncheon , nor the judge's robe , +Become them with one half so good a grace +As mercy does . +If he had been as you , and you as he , +You would have slipt like him ; but he , like you , +Would not have been so stern . + +Pray you , be gone . + +I would to heaven I had your potency , +And you were Isabel ! should it then be thus ? +No ; I would tell what 'twere to be a judge , +And what a prisoner . + +Ay , touch him ; there's the vein . + +Your brother is a forfeit of the law , +And you but waste your words . + +Alas ! alas ! +Why , all the souls that were were forfeit once ; +And He that might the vantage best have took , +Found out the remedy . How would you be , +If He , which is the top of judgment , should +But judge you as you are ? O ! think on that , +And mercy then will breathe within your lips , +Like man new made . + +Be you content , fair maid ; +It is the law , not I , condemn your brother : +Were he my kinsman , brother , or my son , +It should be thus with him : he must die to-morrow . + +To-morrow ! O ! that's sudden ! Spare him , spare him ! +He's not prepar'd for death . Even for our kitchens +We kill the fowl of season : shall we serve heaven +With less respect than we do minister +To our gross selves ? Good , good my lord , bethink you : +Who is it that hath died for this offence ? +There's many have committed it . + +Ay , well said . + +The law hath not been dead , though it hath slept : +Those many had not dar'd to do that evil , +If that the first that did th' edict infringe +Had answer'd for his deed : now 'tis awake , +Takes note of what is done , and , like a prophet , +Looks in a glass , that shows what future evils , +Either new , or by remissness new-conceiv'd , +And so in progress to be hatch'd and born , +Are now to have no successive degrees , +But , ere they live , to end . + +Yet show some pity . + +I show it most of all when I show justice ; +For then I pity those I do not know , +Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall , +And do him right , that , answering one foul wrong , +Lives not to act another . Be satisfied : +Your brother dies to-morrow : be content . + +So you must be the first that gives this sentence , +And he that suffers . O ! it is excellent +To have a giant's strength , but it is tyrannous +To use it like a giant . + +That's well said . + +Could great men thunder +As Jove himself does , Jove would ne'er be quiet , +For every pelting , petty officer +Would use his heaven for thunder ; nothing but thunder . +Merciful heaven ! +Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt +Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak +Than the soft myrtle ; but man , proud man , +Drest in a little brief authority , +Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd , +His glassy essence , like an angry ape , +Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven +As make the angels weep ; who , with our spleens , +Would all themselves laugh mortal . + +O , to him , to him , wench ! He will relent : +He's coming : I perceive't . + +Pray heaven she win him ! + +We cannot weigh our brother with ourself : +Great men may jest with saints ; 'tis wit in them , +But , in the less foul profanation . + +Thou'rt in the right , girl : more o' that . + +That in the captain's but a choleric word , +Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy . + +Art advis'd o' that ? more on 't . + +Why do you put these sayings upon me ? + +Because authority , though it err like others , +Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself , +That skins the vice o' the top . Go to your bosom ; +Knock there , and ask your heart what it doth know +That's like my brother's fault : if it confess +A natural guiltiness such as is his , +Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue +Against my brother's life . + +She speaks , and 'tis +Such sense that my sense breeds with it . Fare you well . + +Gentle my lord , turn back . + +I will bethink me . Come again to-morrow . + +Hark how I'll bribe you . Good my lord , turn back . + +How ! bribe me ? + +Ay , with such gifts that heaven shall share with you . + +You had marr'd all else . + +Not with fond sicles of the tested gold , +Or stones whose rates are either rich or poor +As fancy values them ; but with true prayers +That shall be up at heaven and enter there +Ere sun-rise : prayers from preserved souls , +From fasting maids whose minds are dedicate +To nothing temporal . + +Well ; come to me to-morrow . + +Go to ; 'tis well : away ! + +Heaven keep your honour safe ! + +Amen : +For I am that way going to temptation , +Where prayers cross . + +At what hour to-morrow +Shall I attend your lordship ? + +At any time 'fore noon . + +Save your honour ! + + +From thee ; even from thy virtue ! +What's this ? what's this ? Is this her fault or mine ? +The tempter or the tempted , who sins most ? +Ha ! +Not she ; nor doth she tempt : but it is I , +That , lying by the violet in the sun , +Do as the carrion does , not as the flower , +Corrupt with virtuous season . Can it be +That modesty may more betray our sense +Than woman's lightness ? Having waste ground enough , +Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary , +And pitch our evils there ? O , fie , fie , fie ! +What dost thou , or what art thou , Angelo ? +Dost thou desire her foully for those things +That make her good ? O , let her brother live ! +Thieves for their robbery have authority +When judges steal themselves . What ! do I love her , +That I desire to hear her speak again , +And feast upon her eyes ? What is't I dream on ? +O cunning enemy , that , to catch a saint , +With saints dost bait thy hook ! Most dangerous +Is that temptation that doth goad us on +To sin in loving virtue : never could the strumpet , +With all her double vigour , art and nature , +Once stir my temper ; but this virtuous maid +Subdues me quite . Ever till now , +When men were fond , I smil'd and wonder'd how . + + +Hail to you , provost ! so I think you are . + +I am the provost . What's your will , good friar ? + +Bound by my charity and my bless'd order , +I come to visit the afflicted spirits +Here in the prison : do me the common right +To let me see them and to make me know +The nature of their crimes , that I may minister +To them accordingly . + +I would do more than that , if more were needful . +Look , here comes one : a gentlewoman of mine , +Who , falling in the flaws of her own youth , +Hath blister'd her report . She is with child , +And he that got it , sentenc'd ; a young man +More fit to do another such offence , +Than die for this . + + +When must he die ? + +As I do think , to-morrow . + + +I have provided for you : stay a while , +And you shall be conducted . + +Repent you , fair one , of the sin you carry ? + +I do , and bear the shame most patiently . + +I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience , +And try your penitence , if it be sound , +Or hollowly put on . + +I'll gladly learn . + +Love you the man that wrong'd you ? + +Yes , as I love the woman that wrong'd him . + +So then it seems your most offenceful act +Was mutually committed ? + +Mutually . + +Then was your sin of heavier kind than his . + +I do confess it , and repent it , father . + +'Tis meet so , daughter : but lest you do repent , +As that the sin hath brought you to this shame , +Which sorrow is always toward ourselves , not heaven , +Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it , +But as we stand in fear , + +I do repent me , as it is an evil , +And take the shame with joy . + +There rest . +Your partner , as I hear , must die to-morrow , +And I am going with instruction to him . +God's grace go with you ! Benedicite ! + + +Must die to-morrow ! O injurious love , +That respites me a life , whose very comfort +Is still a dying horror ! + +'Tis pity of him . + + +When I would pray and think , I think and pray +To several subjects : heaven hath my empty words , +Whilst my invention , hearing not my tongue , +Anchors on Isabel : heaven in my mouth , +As if I did but only chew his name , +And in my heart the strong and swelling evil +Of my conception . The state , whereon I studied , +Is like a good thing , being often read , +Grown fear'd and tedious ; yea , my gravity , +Wherein , let no man hear me , I take pride , +Could I with boot change for an idle plume , +Which the air beats for vain . O place ! O form ! +How often dost thou with thy case , thy habit , +Wrench awe from fools , and tie the wiser souls +To thy false seeming ! Blood , thou art blood : +Let's write good angel on the devil's horn , +'Tis not the devil's crest . + +How now ! who's there ? + +One Isabel , a sister , +Desires access to you . + +Teach her the way . + +O heavens ! +Why does my blood thus muster to my heart , +Making both it unable for itself , +And dispossessing all my other parts +Of necessary fitness ? +So play the foolish throngs with one that swounds ; +Come all to help him , and so stop the air +By which he should revive : and even so +The general , subject to a well-wish'd king , +Quit their own part , and in obsequious fondness +Crowd to his presence , where their untaught love +Must needs appear offence . + +How now , fair maid ! + +I am come to know your pleasure . + +That you might know it , would much better please me , +Than to demand what 'tis . Your brother cannot live . + +Even so . Heaven keep your honour ! + +Yet may he live awhile ; and , it may be , +As long as you or I : yet he must die . + +Under your sentence ? + +Yea . + +When , I beseech you ? that in his reprieve , +Longer or shorter , he may be so fitted +That his soul sicken not . + +Ha ! fie , these filthy vices ! It were as good +To pardon him that hath from nature stolen +A man already made , as to remit +Their saucy sweetness that do coin heaven's image +In stamps that are forbid : 'tis all as easy +Falsely to take away a life true made , +As to put metal in restrained means +To make a false one . + +'Tis set down so in heaven , but not in earth . + +Say you so ? then I shall pose you quickly . +Which had you rather , that the most just law +Now took your brother's life ; or , to redeem him , +Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness +As she that he hath stain'd ? + +Sir , believe this , +I had rather give my body than my soul . + +I talk not of your soul . Our compell'd sins +Stand more for number than for accompt . + +How say you ? + +Nay , I'll not warrant that ; for I can speak +Against the thing I say . Answer to this : +I , now the voice of the recorded law , +Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life : +Might there not be a charity in sin +To save this brother's life ? + +Please you to do't , +I'll take it as a peril to my soul ; +It is no sin at all , but charity . + +Pleas'd you to do't , at peril of your soul , +Were equal poise of sin and charity . + +That I do beg his life , if it be sin , +Heaven let me bear it ! you granting of my suit , +If that be sin , I'll make it my morn prayer +To have it added to the faults of mine , +And nothing of your answer . + +Nay , but hear me . +Your sense pursues not mine : either you are ignorant , +Or seem so craftily ; and that's not good . + +Let me be ignorant , and in nothing good , +But graciously to know I am no better . + +Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright +When it doth tax itself ; as these black masks +Proclaim an enshield beauty ten times louder +Than beauty could , display'd . But mark me ; +To be received plain , I'll speak more gross : +Your brother is to die . + +So . + +And his offence is so , as it appears +Accountant to the law upon that pain . + +True . + +Admit no other way to save his life , +As I subscribe not that , nor any other , +But in the loss of question ,that you , his sister , +Finding yourself desir'd of such a person , +Whose credit with the judge , or own great place , +Could fetch your brother from the manacles +Of the all-building law ; and that there were +No earthly mean to save him , but that either +You must lay down the treasures of your body +To this suppos'd , or else to let him suffer ; +What would you do ? + +As much for my poor brother , as myself : +That is , were I under the terms of death , +Th' impression of keen whips I'd wear as rubies , +And strip myself to death , as to a bed +That , longing , have been sick for , ere I'd yield +My body up to shame . + +Then must your brother die . + +And 'twere the cheaper way : +Better it were a brother died at once , +Than that a sister , by redeeming him , +Should die for ever . + +Were not you then as cruel as the sentence +That you have slander'd so ? + +Ignomy in ransom and free pardon +Are of two houses : lawful mercy +Is nothing kin to foul redemption . + +You seem'd of late to make the law a tyrant ; +And rather prov'd the sliding of your brother +A merriment than a vice . + +O , pardon me , my lord ! it oft falls out , +To have what we would have , we speak not what we mean . +I something do excuse the thing I hate , +For his advantage that I dearly love . + +We are all frail . + +Else let my brother die , +If not a feodary , but only he +Owe and succeed thy weakness . + +Nay , women are frail too . + +Ay , as the glasses where they view themselves , +Which are as easy broke as they make forms . +Women ! Help heaven ! men their creation mar +In profiting by them . Nay , call us ten times frail , +For we are soft as our complexions are , +And credulous to false prints . + +I think it well : +And from this testimony of your own sex , +Since I suppose we are made to be no stronger +Than faults may shake our frames ,let me be bold ; +I do arrest your words . Be that you are , +That is , a woman ; if you be more , you're none ; +If you be one , as you are well express'd +By all external warrants , show it now , +By putting on the destin'd livery . + +I have no tongue but one : gentle my lord , +Let me entreat you speak the former language . + +Plainly conceive , I love you . + +My brother did love Juliet ; and you tell me +That he shall die for't . + +He shall not , Isabel , if you give me love . + +I know your virtue hath a licence in't . +Which seems a little fouler than it is , +To pluck on others . + +Believe me , on mine honour , +My words express my purpose . + +Ha ! little honour to be much believ'd , +And most pernicious purpose ! Seeming , seeming ! +I will proclaim thee , Angelo ; look for't : +Sign me a present pardon for my brother , +Or with an outstretch'd throat I'll tell the world aloud +What man thou art . + +Who will believe thee , Isabel ? +My unsoil'd name , the austereness of my life , +My vouch against you , and my place i' the state , +Will so your accusation overweigh , +That you shall stifle in your own report +And smell of calumny . I have begun ; +And now I give my sensual race the rein : +Fit thy consent to my sharp appetite ; +Lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes , +That banish what they sue for ; redeem thy brother +By yielding up thy body to my will , +Or else he must not only die the death , +But thy unkindness shall his death draw out +To lingering sufferance . Answer me to-morrow , +Or , by the affection that now guides me most , +I'll prove a tyrant to him . As for you , +Say what you can , my false o'erweighs your true . + + +To whom should I complain ? Did I tell this , +Who would believe me ? O perilous mouths ! +That bear in them one and the self-same tongue , +Either of condemnation or approof , +Bidding the law make curt'sy to their will ; +Hooking both right and wrong to th' appetite , +To follow as it draws . I'll to my brother : +Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood , +Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour , +That , had he twenty heads to tender down +On twenty bloody blocks , he'd yield them up , +Before his sister should her body stoop +To such abhorr'd pollution . +Then , Isabel , live chaste , and , brother , die : +More than our brother is our chastity . +I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request , +And fit his mind to death , for his soul's rest . + +So then you hope of pardon from Lord Angelo ? + +The miserable have no other medicine +But only hope : +I have hope to live , and am prepar'd to die . + +Be absolute for death ; either death or life +Shall thereby be the sweeter . Reason thus with life : +If I do lose thee , I do lose a thing +That none but fools would keep : a breath thou art , +Servile to all the skyey influences , +That dost this habitation , where thou keep'st , +Hourly afflict . Merely , thou art death's fool ; +For him thou labour'st by thy flight to shun , +And yet run'st toward him still . Thou art not noble : +For all th' accommodations that thou bear'st +Are nurs'd by baseness . Thou art by no means valiant ; +For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork +Of a poor worm . Thy best of rest is sleep , +And that thou oft provok'st ; yet grossly fear'st +Thy death , which is no more . Thou art not thyself ; +For thou exist'st on many a thousand grains +That issue out of dust . Happy thou art not ; +For what thou hast not , still thou striv'st to get , +And what thou hast , forget'st . Thou art not certain ; +For thy complexion shifts to strange effects , +After the moon . If thou art rich , thou'rt poor ; +For , like an ass whose back with ingots bows , +Thou bear'st thy heavy riches but a journey , +And death unloads thee . Friend hast thou none ; +For thine own bowels , which do call thee sire , +The mere effusion of thy proper loins , +Do curse the gout , serpigo , and the rheum , +For ending thee no sooner . Thou hast nor youth nor age ; +But , as it were , an after-dinner's sleep , +Dreaming on both ; for all thy blessed youth +Becomes as aged , and doth beg the alms +Of palsied eld ; and when thou art old and rich , +Thou hast neither heat , affection , limb , nor beauty , +To make thy riches pleasant . What's yet in this +That bears the name of life ? Yet in this life +Lie hid moe thousand deaths : yet death we fear , +That makes these odds all even . + +I humbly thank you . +To sue to live , I find I seek to die , +And , seeking death , find life : let it come on . + +What ho ! Peace here ; grace and good company ! + +Who's there ? come in : the wish deserves a welcome . + +Dear sir , ere long I'll visit you again . + +Most holy sir , I thank you . + + +My business is a word or two with Claudio . + +And very welcome . Look , signior ; here's your sister . + +Provost , a word with you . + +As many as you please . + +Bring me to hear them speak , where I may be conceal'd . + + +Now , sister , what's the comfort ? + +Why , as all comforts are ; most good , most good indeed . +Lord Angelo , having affairs to heaven , +Intends you for his swift ambassador , +Where you shall be an everlasting leiger : +Therefore , your best appointment make with speed ; +To-morrow you set on . + +Is there no remedy ? + +None , but such remedy , as to save a head +To cleave a heart in twain . + +But is there any ? + +Yes , brother , you may live : +There is a devilish mercy in the judge , +If you'll implore it , that will free your life , +But fetter you till death . + +Perpetual durance ? + +Ay , just ; perpetual durance , a restraint , +Though all the world's vastidity you had , +To a determin'd scope . + +But in what nature ? + +In such a one as , you consenting to't , +Would bark your honour from that trunk you bear , +And leave you naked . + +Let me know the point . + +O , I do fear thee , Claudio ; and I quake , +Lest thou a feverous life shouldst entertain , +And six or seven winters more respect +Than a perpetual honour . Dar'st thou die ? +The sense of death is most in apprehension , +And the poor beetle , that we tread upon , +In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great +As when a giant dies . + +Why give you me this shame ? +Think you I can a resolution fetch +From flowery tenderness ? If I must die , +I will encounter darkness as a bride , +And hug it in mine arms . + +There spake my brother : there my father's grave +Did utter forth a voice . Yes , thou must die : +Thou art too noble to conserve a life +In base appliances . This outward-sainted deputy , +Whose settled visage and deliberate word +Nips youth i' the head , and follies doth enmew +As falcon doth the fowl , is yet a devil ; +His filth within being cast , he would appear +A pond as deep as hell . + +The prenzie Angelo ? + +O , 'tis the cunning livery of hell , +The damned'st body to invest and cover +In prenzie guards ! Dost thou think , Claudio ? +If I would yield him my virginity , +Thou mightst be freed . + +O heavens ! it cannot be . + +Yes , he would give't thee , from this rank offence , +So to offend him still . This night's the time +That I should do what I abhor to name , +Or else thou diest to-morrow . + +Thou shalt not do't . + +O ! were it but my life , +I'd throw it down for your deliverance +As frankly as a pin . + +Thanks , dear Isabel . + +Be ready , Claudio , for your death to-morrow . + +Yes . Has he affections in him , +That thus can make him bite the law by the nose , +When he would force it ? Sure , it is no sin ; +Or of the deadly seven it is the least . + +Which is the least ? + +If it were damnable , he being so wise , +Why would he for the momentary trick +Be perdurably fin'd ? O Isabel ! + +What says my brother ? + +Death is a fearful thing . + +And shamed life a hateful . + +Ay , but to die , and go we know not where ; +To lie in cold obstruction and to rot ; +This sensible warm motion to become +A kneaded clod ; and the delighted spirit +To bathe in fiery floods , or to reside +In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice ; +To be imprison'd in the viewless winds , +And blown with restless violence round about +The pendant world ; or to be worse than worst +Of those that lawless and incertain thoughts +Imagine howling : 'tis too horrible ! +The weariest and most loathed worldly life +That age , ache , penury and imprisonment +Can lay on nature is a paradise +To what we fear of death . + +Alas ! alas ! + +Sweet sister , let me live : +What sin you do to save a brother's life , +Nature dispenses with the deed so far +That it becomes a virtue . + +O you beast ! +O faithless coward ! O dishonest wretch ! +Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice ? +Is't not a kind of incest , to take life +From thine own sister's shame ? What should I think ? +Heaven shield my mother play'd my father fair ; +For such a warped slip of wilderness +Ne'er issu'd from his blood . Take my defiance ; +Die , perish ! Might but my bending down +Reprieve thee from thy fate , it should proceed . +I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death , +No word to save thee . + +Nay , hear me , Isabel . + +O , fie , fie , fie ! +Thy sin's not accidental , but a trade . +Mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd : +'Tis best that thou diest quickly . + + +O hear me , Isabella . + + +Vouchsafe a word , young sister , but one word . + +What is your will ? + +Might you dispense with your leisure , I would by and by have some speech with you : the satisfaction I would require is likewise your own benefit . + +I have no superfluous leisure : my stay must be stolen out of other affairs ; but I will attend you a while . + +Son , I have overheard what hath past between you and your sister . Angelo had never the purpose to corrupt her ; only he hath made an assay of her virtue to practise his judgment with the disposition of natures . She , having the truth of honour in her , hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive : I am confessor to Angelo , and I know this to be true ; therefore prepare yourself to death . Do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible : to-morrow you must die ; go to your knees and make ready . + +Let me ask my sister pardon . I am so out of love with life that I will sue to be rid of it . + +Hold you there : farewell . + + +Provost , a word with you . + +What's your will , father ? + +That now you are come , you will be gone . Leave me awhile with the maid : my mind promises with my habit no loss shall touch her by my company . + +In good time . + + +The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good : the goodness that is cheap in beauty makes beauty brief in goodness ; but grace , being the soul of your complexion , shall keep the body of it ever fair . The assault that Angelo hath made to you , fortune hath conveyed to my understanding ; and , but that frailty hath examples for his falling , I should wonder at Angelo . How would you do to content this substitute , and to save your brother ? + +I am now going to resolve him ; I had rather my brother die by the law than my son should be unlawfully born . But O , how much is the good duke deceived in Angelo ! If ever he return and I can speak to him . I will open my lips in vain , or discover his government . + +That shall not be much amiss : yet , as the matter now stands , he will avoid your accusation ; 'he made trial of you only .' Therefore , fasten your ear on my advisings : to the love I have in doing good a remedy presents itself . I do make myself believe that you may most uprighteously do a poor wronged lady a merited benefit , redeem your brother from the angry law , do no stain to your own gracious person , and much please the absent duke , if peradventure he shall ever return to have hearing of this business . + +Let me hear you speak further . I have spirit to do anything that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit . + +Virtue is bold , and goodness never fearful . Have you not heard speak of Mariana , the sister of Frederick , the great soldier who miscarried at sea ? + +I have heard of the lady , and good words went with her name . + +She should this Angelo have married ; was affianced to her by oath , and the nuptial appointed : between which time of the contract , and limit of the solemnity , her brother Frederick was wracked at sea , having in that perished vessel the dowry of his sister . But mark how heavily this befell to the poor gentlewoman : there she lost a noble and renowned brother , in his love toward her ever most kind and natural ; with him the portion and sinew of her fortune , her marriage-dowry with both , her combinate husband , this well-seeming Angelo . + +Can this be so ? Did Angelo so leave her ? + +Left her in her tears , and dried not one of them with his comfort ; swallowed his vows whole , pretending in her discoveries of dishonour : in few , bestowed her on her own lamentation , which she yet wears for his sake ; and he , a marble to her tears , is washed with them , but relents not . + +What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid from the world ! What corruption in this life , that it will let this man live ! But how out of this can she avail ? + +It is a rupture that you may easily heal ; and the cure of it not only saves your brother , but keeps you from dishonour in doing it . + +Show me how , good father . + +This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continuance of her first affection : his unjust unkindness , that in all reason should have quenched her love , hath , like an impediment in the current , made it more violent and unruly . Go you to Angelo : answer his requiring with a plausible obedience : agree with his demands to the point ; only refer yourself to this advantage , first , that your stay with him may not be long , that the time may have all shadow and silence in it , and the place answer to convenience . This being granted in course , and now follows all , we shall advise this wronged maid to stead up your appointment , go in your place ; if the encounter acknowledge itself hereafter , it may compel him to her recompense ; and here by this is your brother saved , your honour untainted , the poor Mariana advantaged , and the corrupt deputy scaled . The maid will I frame and make fit for his attempt . If you think well to carry this , as you may , the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof . What think you of it ? + +The image of it gives me content already , and I trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection . + +It lies much in your holding up . Haste you speedily to Angelo : if for this night he entreat you to his bed , give him promise of satisfaction . I will presently to St . Luke's ; there , at the moated grange , resides this dejected Mariana : at that place call upon me , and dispatch with Angelo , that it may be quickly . + +I thank you for this comfort . Fare you well , good father . + + +Nay , if there be no remedy for it , but that you will needs buy and sell men and women like beasts , we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard . + +O heavens ! what stuff is here ? + +'Twas never merry world , since , of two usuries , the merriest was put down , and the worser allowed by order of law a furred gown to keep him warm ; and furred with fox and lamb skins too , to signify that craft , being richer than innocency , stands for the facing . + +Come your way , sir . Bless you , good father friar . + +And you , good brother father . What offence hath this man made you , sir ? + +Marry , sir , he hath offended the law : and , sir , we take him to be a thief too , sir ; for we have found upon him , sir , a strange picklock , which we have sent to the deputy . + +Fie , sirrah : a bawd , a wicked bawd ! +The evil that thou causest to be done , +That is thy means to live . Do thou but think +What 'tis to cram a maw or clothe a back +From such a filthy vice : say to thyself , +From their abominable and beastly touches +I drink , I eat , array myself , and live . +Canst thou believe thy living is a life , +So stinkingly depending ? Go mend , go mend . + +Indeed , it does stink in some sort , sir ; but yet , sir , I would prove + +Nay , if the devil have given thee proofs for sin , +Thou wilt prove his . Take him to prison , officer ; +Correction and instruction must both work +Ere this rude beast will profit . + +He must before the deputy , sir ; he has given him warning . The deputy cannot abide a whoremaster : if he be a whoremonger , and comes before him , he were as good go a mile on his errand . + +That we were all , as some would seem to be , +From our faults , as faults from seeming , free ! + +His neck will come to your waist ,a cord , sir . + +I spy comfort : I cry , bail . Here's a gentleman and a friend of mine . + + +How now , noble Pompey ! What , at the wheels of C sar ? Art thou led in triumph ? What , is there none of Pygmalion's images , newly made woman , to he had now , for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutched ? What reply ? ha ? What say'st thou to this tune , matter and method ? Is't not drowned i' the last rain , ha ? What sayest thou Trot ? Is the world as it was , man ? Which is the way ? Is it sad , and few words , or how ? The trick of it ? + +Still thus , and thus , still worse ! + +How doth my dear morsel , thy mistress ? Procures she still , ha ? + +Troth , sir , she hath eaten up all her beef , and she is herself in the tub . + +Why , 'tis good ; it is the right of it ; it must be so : ever your fresh whore and your powdered bawd : an unshunned consequence ; it must be so . Art going to prison , Pompey ? + +Yes , faith , sir . + +Why , 'tis not amiss , Pompey . Farewell . Go , say I sent thee thither . For debt , Pompey ? or how ? + +For being a bawd , for being a bawd . + +Well , then , imprison him . If imprisonment be the due of a bawd , why , 'tis his right : bawd is he , doubtless , and of antiquity too ; bawd-born . Farewell , good Pompey . Commend me to the prison , Pompey . You will turn good husband now , Pompey ; you will keep the house . + +I hope , sir , your good worship will be my bail . + +No , indeed will I not , Pompey ; it is not the wear . I will pray , Pompey , to increase your bondage : if you take it not patiently , why , your mettle is the more . Adieu , trusty Pompey . Bless you , friar . + +And you . + +Does Bridget paint still , Pompey , ha ? + +Come your ways , sir ; come . + +You will not bail me then , sir ? + +Then , Pompey , nor now . What news abroad , friar ? What news ? + +Come your ways , sir ; come . + +Go to kennel , Pompey ; go . + +What news , friar , of the duke ? + +I know none . Can you tell me of any ? + +Some say he is with the Emperor of Russia ; other some , he is in Rome : but where is he , think you ? + +I know not where ; but wheresoever , I wish him well . + +It was a mad fantastical trick of him to steal from the state , and usurp the beggary he was never born to . Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence ; he puts transgression to't . + +He does well in't . + +A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him : something too crabbed that way , friar . + +It is too general a vice , and severity must cure it . + +Yes , in good sooth , the vice is of a great kindred ; it is well allied ; but it is impossible to extirp it quite , friar , till eating and drinking be put down . They say this Angelo was not made by man and woman after this downright way of creation : is it true , think you ? + +How should he be made , then ? + +Some report a sea-maid spawn'd him ; some that he was begot between two stock-fishes . But it is certain that when he makes water his urine is congealed ice ; that I know to be true ; and he is a motion generative ; that's infallible . + +You are pleasant , sir , and speak apace . + +Why , what a ruthless thing is this in him , for the rebellion of a cod-piece to take away the life of a man ! Would the duke that is absent have done this ? Ere he would have hanged a man for the getting a hundred bastards , he would have paid for the nursing a thousand : he had some feeling of the sport ; he knew the service , and that instructed him to mercy . + +I never heard the absent duke much detected for women ; he was not inclined that way . + +O , sir , you are deceived . + +'Tis not possible . + +Who ? not the duke ? yes , your beggar of fifty , and his use was to put a ducat in her clack-dish ; the duke had crotchets in him . He would be drunk too ; that let me inform you . + +You do him wrong , surely . + +Sir , I was an inward of his . A shy fellow was the duke ; and , I believe I know the cause of his withdrawing . + +What , I prithee , might be the cause ? + +No , pardon ; 'tis a secret must be locked within the teeth and the lips ; but this I can let you understand , the greater file of the subject held the duke to be wise . + +Wise ! why , no question but he was . + +A very superficial , ignorant , unweighing fellow . + +Either this is envy in you , folly , or mistaking : the very stream of his life and the business he hath helmed must , upon a warranted need , give him a better proclamation . Let him be but testimonied in his own bringings forth , and he shall appear to the envious a scholar , a statesman and a soldier . Therefore you speak unskilfully ; or , if your knowledge be more , it is much darkened in your malice . + +Sir , I know him , and I love him . + +Love talks with better knowledge , and knowledge with dearer love . + +Come , sir , I know what I know . + +I can hardly believe that , since you know not what you speak . But , if ever the duke return ,as our prayers are he may ,let me desire you to make your answer before him : if it be honest you have spoke , you have courage to maintain it . I am bound to call upon you ; and , I pray you , your name ? + +Sir , my name is Lucio , well known to the duke . + +He shall know you better , sir , if I may live to report you . + +I fear you not . + +O ! you hope the duke will return no more , or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite . But indeed I can do you little harm ; you'll forswear this again . + +I'll be hanged first : thou art deceived in me , friar . But no more of this . Canst thou tell if Claudio die to-morrow or no ? + +Why should he die , sir ? + +Why ? for filling a bottle with a tundish . I would the duke we talk of were returned again : this ungenitured agent will unpeople the province with continency ; sparrows must not build in his house-eaves , because they are lecherous . The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered ; he would never bring them to light : would he were returned ! Marry , this Claudio is condemned for untrussing . Farewell , good friar ; I prithee , pray for me . The duke , I say to thee again , would eat mutton on Fridays . He's not past it yet , and I say to thee , he would mouth with a beggar , though she smelt brown bread and garlic : say that I said so . Farewell . + + +No might nor greatness in mortality +Can censure 'scape : back-wounding calumny +The whitest virtue strikes . What king so strong +Can tie the gall up in the slanderous tongue ? +But who comes here ? + + +Go ; away with her to prison ! + +Good my lord , be good to me ; your honour is accounted a merciful man ; good my lord . + +Double and treble admonition , and still forfeit in the same kind ? This would make mercy swear , and play the tyrant . + +A bawd of eleven years' continuance , may it please your honour . + +My lord , this is one Lucio's information against me . Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the duke's time ; he promised her marriage ; his child is a year and a quarter old , come Philip and Jacob : I have kept it myself , and see how he goes about to abuse me ! + +That fellow is a fellow of much licence : let him be called before us . Away with her to prison ! Go to ; no more words . + +Provost , my brother Angelo will not be altered ; Claudio must die to-morrow . Let him be furnished with divines , and have all charitable preparation : if my brother wrought by my pity , it should not be so with him . + +So please you , this friar hath been with him , and advised him for the entertainment of death . + +Good even , good father . + +Bliss and goodness on you ! + +Of whence are you ? + +Not of this country , though my chance is now +To use it for my time : I am a brother +Of gracious order , late come from the See , +In special business from his Holiness . + +What news abroad i' the world ? + +None , but there is so great a fever on goodness , that the dissolution of it must cure it : novelty is only in request ; and it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course , as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertaking : there is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure , but security enough to make fellowships accursed . Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world . This news is old enough , yet it is every day's news . I pray you , sir , of what disposition was the duke ? + +One that , above all other strifes , contended especially to know himself . + +What pleasure was he given to ? + +Rather rejoicing to see another merry , than merry at anything which professed to make him rejoice : a gentleman of all temperance . But leave we him to his events , with a prayer they may prove prosperous ; and let me desire to know how you find Claudio prepared . I am made to understand , that you have lent him visitation . + +He professes to have received no sinister measure from his judge , but most willingly humbles himself to the determination of justice ; yet had he framed to himself , by the instruction of his frailty , many deceiving promises of life , which I , by my good leisure have discredited to him , and now is he resolved to die . + +You have paid the heavens your function , and the prisoner the very debt of your calling . I have laboured for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty ; but my brother justice have I found so severe , that he hath forced me to tell him he is indeed Justice . + +If his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding , it shall become him well ; wherein if he chance to fail , he hath sentenced himself . + +I am going to visit the prisoner . Fare you well . + +Peace be with you ! + +He , who the sword of heaven will bear +Should be as holy as severe ; +Pattern in himself to know , +Grace to stand , and virtue go ; +More nor less to others paying +Than by self offences weighing . +Shame to him whose cruel striking +Kills for faults of his own liking ! +Twice treble shame on Angelo , +To weed my vice and let his grow ! +O , what may man within him hide , +Though angel on the outward side ! +How many likeness made in crimes , +Making practice on the times , +To draw with idle spiders' strings +Most pond'rous and substantial things ! +Craft against vice I must apply : +With Angelo to-night shall lie +His old betrothed but despis'd : +So disguise shall , by the disguis'd , +Pay with falsehood false exacting , +And perform an old contracting . + +Take , O take those lips away , +That so sweetly were forsworn ; +And those eyes , the break of day , +Lights that do mislead the morn : +But my kisses bring again , +bring again , +Seals of love , but seal'd in vain , +seal'd in vain . + + +Break off thy song , and haste thee quick away : +Here comes a man of comfort , whose advice +Hath often still'd my brawling discontent . + +I cry you mercy , sir ; and well could wish +You had not found me here so musical : +Let me excuse me , and believe me so , + +My mirth it much displeas'd , but pleas'd my woe . + +'Tis good ; though music oft hath such a charm +To make bad good , and good provoke to harm . +I pray you tell me , hath anybody inquired for me here to-day ? much upon this time have I promised here to meet . + +You have not been inquired after : I have sat here all day . + +I do constantly believe you . The time is come even now . I shall crave your forbearance a little ; may be I will call upon you anon , for some advantage to yourself . + +I am always bound to you . + +Very well met , and well come . +What is the news from this good deputy ? + +He hath a garden circummur'd with brick , +Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd ; +And to that vineyard is a planched gate , +That makes his opening with this bigger key ; +This other doth command a little door +Which from the vineyard to the garden leads ; +There have I made my promise +Upon the heavy middle of the night +To call upon him . + +But shall you on your knowledge find this way ? + +I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't : +With whispering and most guilty diligence , +In action all of precept , he did show me +The way twice o'er . + +Are there no other tokens +Between you 'greed concerning her observance ? + +No , none , but only a repair i' the dark ; +And that I have possess'd him my most stay +Can be but brief ; for I have made him know +I have a servant comes with me along , +That stays upon me , whose persuasion is +I come about my brother . + +'Tis well borne up . +I have not yet made known to Mariana +A word of this . What ho ! within ! come forth . + + +I pray you , be acquainted with this maid ; + +She comes to do you good . + +I do desire the like . + +Do you persuade yourself that I respect you ? + +Good friar , I know you do , and oft have found it . + +Take then this your companion by the hand , +Who hath a story ready for your ear . +I shall attend your leisure : but make haste ; +The vaporous night approaches . + +Will't please you walk aside ? + + +O place and greatness ! millions of false eyes +Are stuck upon thee : volumes of report +Run with these false and most contrarious quests +Upon thy doings : thousand escapes of wit +Make thee the father of their idle dream , +And rack thee in their fancies ! + +Welcome ! How agreed ? + +She'll take the enterprise upon her , father , +If you advise it . + +It is not my consent , +But my entreaty too . + +Little have you to say +When you depart from him , but , soft and low , +'Remember now my brother .' + +Fear me not . + +Nor , gentle daughter , fear you not at all . +He is your husband on a pre-contract : +To bring you thus together , 'tis no sin , +Sith that the justice of your title to him +Doth flourish the deceit . Come , let us go : +Our corn's to reap , for yet our tithe's to sow . + + +Come hither , sirrah . Can you cut off a man's head ? + +If the man be a bachelor , sir , I can ; but if he be a married man , he is his wife's head , and I can never cut off a woman's head . + +Come , sir , leave me your snatches , and yield me a direct answer . To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine . Here is in our prison a common executioner , who in his office lacks a helper : if you will take it on you to assist him , it shall redeem you from your gyves ; if not , you shall have your full time of imprisonment , and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping , for you have been a notorious bawd . + +Sir , I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind ; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman . I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner . + +What ho , Abhorson ! Where's Abhorson , there ? + + +Do you call , sir ? + +Sirrah , here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution . If you think it meet , compound with him by the year , and let him abide here with you ; if not , use him for the present , and dismiss him . He cannot plead his estimation with you ; he hath been a bawd . + +A bawd , sir ? Fie upon him ! he will discredit our mystery . + +Go to , sir ; you weigh equally ; a feather will turn the scale . + + +Pray , sir , by your good favour for surely , sir , a good favour you have , but that you have a hanging look ,do you call , sir , your occupation a mystery ? + +Ay , sir ; a mystery . + +Painting , sir , I have heard say , is a mystery ; and your whores , sir , being members of my occupation , using painting , do prove my occupation a mystery : but what mystery there should be in hanging , if I should be hanged , I cannot imagine . + +Sir , it is a mystery . + +Proof ? + +Every true man's apparel fits your thief . + +If it be too little for your thief , your true man thinks it big enough ; if it be too big for your thief , your thief thinks it little enough : so , every true man's apparel fits your thief . + + +Are you agreed ? + +Sir , I will serve him ; for I do find that your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd , he doth often ask forgiveness . + +You , sirrah , provide your block and your axe to-morrow four o'clock . + +Come on , bawd ; I will instruct thee in my trade ; follow . + +I do desire to learn , sir ; and , I hope , if you have occasion to use me for your own turn , you shall find me yare ; for , truly , sir , for your kindness I owe you a good turn . + +Call hither Barnardine and Claudio : + +The one has my pity ; not a jot the other , +Being a murderer , though he were my brother . + + +Look , here's the warrant , Claudio , for thy death : +'Tis now dead midnight , and by eight to-morrow + +Thou must be made immortal . Where's Barnardine ? + +As fast lock'd up in sleep as guiltless labour +When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones ; +He will not wake . + +Who can do good on him ? +Well , go ; prepare yourself . + +But hark , what noise ? +Heaven give your spirits comfort ! + +By and by . +I hope it is some pardon or reprieve +For the most gentle Claudio . + +Welcome , father . + +The best and wholesom'st spirits of the night +Envelop you , good provost ! Who call'd here of late ? + +None since the curfew rung . + +Not Isabel ? + +No . + +They will , then , ere't be long . + +What comfort is for Claudio ? + +There's some in hope . + +It is a bitter deputy . + +Not so , not so : his life is parallel'd +Even with the stroke and line of his great justice : +He doth with holy abstinence subdue +That in himself which he spurs on his power +To qualify in others : were he meal'd with that +Which he corrects , then were he tyrannous ; +But this being so , he's just . + +Now are they come . + +This is a gentle provost : seldom when +The steeled gaoler is the friend of men . + +How now ! What noise ? That spirit's possess'd with haste +That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes . + + +There he must stay until the officer +Arise to let him in ; he is call'd up . + +Have you no countermand for Claudio yet , +But he must die to-morrow ? + +None , sir , none . + +As near the dawning , provost , as it is , +You shall hear more ere morning . + +Happily +You something know ; yet , I believe there comes +No countermand : no such example have we . +Besides , upon the very siege of justice , +Lord Angelo hath to the public ear +Profess'd the contrary . + +This is his lordship's man . + +And here comes Claudio's pardon . + +My lord hath sent you this note ; and by me this further charge , that you swerve not from the smallest article of it , neither in time , matter , or other circumstance . Good morrow ; for , as I take it , it is almost day . + +I shall obey him . + + +This is his pardon , purchased by such sin +For which the pardoner himself is in ; +Hence hath offence his quick celerity , +When it is borne in high authority . +When vice makes mercy , mercy's so extended , +That for the fault's love is the offender friended . +Now , sir , what news ? + +I told you ; Lord Angelo , belike thinking me remiss in mine office , awakens me with this unwonted putting on ; methinks strangely , for he hath not used it before . + +Pray you , let's hear . + +Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary , let Claudio be executed by four of the clock ; and , in the afternoon , Barnardine . For my better satisfaction , let me have Claudio's head sent me by five . Let this be duly performed ; with a thought that more depends on it than we must yet deliver . Thus fail not to do your office , as you will answer it at your peril . +What say you to this , sir ? + +What is that Barnardine who is to be executed this afternoon ? + +A Bohemian born , but here nursed up and bred ; one that is a prisoner nine years old . + +How came it that the absent duke had not either delivered him to his liberty or executed him ? I have heard it was ever his manner to do so . + +His friends still wrought reprieves for him ; and , indeed , his fact , till now in the government of Lord Angelo , came not to an undoubtful proof . + +It is now apparent ? + +Most manifest , and not denied by himself . + +Hath he borne himself penitently in prison ? How seems he to be touched ? + +A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but as a drunken sleep ; careless , reckless , and fearless of what's past , present , or to come ; insensible of mortality , and desperately mortal . + +He wants advice . + +He will hear none . He hath evermore had the liberty of the prison : give him leave to escape hence , he would not : drunk many times a day , if not many days entirely drunk . We have very oft awaked him , as if to carry him to execution , and showed him a seeming warrant for it : it hath not moved him at all . + +More of him anon . There is written in your brow , provost , honesty and constancy ; if I read it not truly , my ancient skill beguiles me ; but , in the boldness of my cunning I will lay myself in hazard . Claudio , whom here you have warrant to execute , is no greater forfeit to the law than Angalo who hath sentenced him . To make you understand this in a manifested effect , I crave but four days' respite , for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy . + +Pray , sir , in what ? + +In the delaying death . + +Alack ! how may I do it , having the hour limited , and an express command , under penalty , to deliver his head in the view of Angelo ? I may make my case as Claudio's to cross this in the smallest . + +By the vow of mine order I warrant you , if my instructions may be your guide . Let this Barnardine be this morning executed , and his head borne to Angelo . + +Angelo hath seen them both , and will discover the favour . + +O ! death's a great disguiser , and you may add to it . Shave the head , and tie the beard ; and say it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death : you know the course is common . If anything fall to you upon this , more than thanks and good fortune , by the saint whom I profess , I will plead against it with my life . + +Pardon me , good father ; it is against my oath . + +Were you sworn to the duke or to the deputy ? + +To him , and to his substitutes . + +You will think you have made no offence , if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing ? + +But what likelihood is in that ? + +Not a resemblance , but a certainty . Yet since I see you fearful , that neither my coat , integrity , nor persuasion can with ease attempt you , I will go further than I meant , to pluck all fears out of you . Look you , sir ; here is the hand and seal of the duke : you know the character , I doubt not , and the signet is not strange to you . + +I know them both . + +The contents of this is the return of the duke : you shall anon over-read if at your pleasure , where you shall find within these two days , he will be here . This is a thing that Angelo knows not , for he this very day receives letters of strange tenour ; perchance of the duke's death ; perchance , his entering into some monastery ; but , by chance , nothing of what is writ . Look , the unfolding star calls up the shepherd . Put not yourself into amazement how these things should be : all difficulties are but easy when they are known . Call your executioner , and off with Barnardine's head : I will give him a present shrift and advise him for a better place . Yet you are amaz'd , but this shall absolutely resolve you . Come away ; it is almost clear dawn . + + +I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house of profession : one would think it were Mistress Overdone's own house , for here be many of her old customers . First , here's young Master Rash ; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger , nine-score and seventeen pounds , of which he made five marks , ready money : marry , then ginger was not much in request , for the old women were all dead . Then is there here one Master Caper , at the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer , for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin , which now peaches him a beggar . Then have we young Dizy , and young Master Deep-vow , and Master Copperspur , and Master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man , and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding , and Master Forthlight , the tilter , and brave Master Shoe-tie the great traveller , and wild Half-can that stabbed Pots , and , I think , forty more ; all great doers in our trade , and are now 'for the Lord's sake .' + + +Sirrah , bring Barnardine hither . + +Master Barnardine ! you must rise and be hanged , Master Barnardine . + +What ho ! Barnardine ! + +A pox o' your throats ! +Who makes that noise there ? What are you ? + +Your friends , sir ; the hangman . You must be so good , sir , to rise and be put to death . + +Away ! you rogue , away ! +I am sleepy . + +Tell him he must awake , and that quickly too . + +Pray , Master Barnardine , awake till you are executed , and sleep afterwards . + +Go in to him , and fetch him out . + +He is coming , sir , he is coming ; I hear his straw rustle . + +Is the axe upon the block , sirrah ? + +Very ready , sir . + + +How now , Abhorson ! what's the news with you ? + +Truly , sir , I would desire you to clap into your prayers ; for , look you , the warrant's come . + +You rogue , I have been drinking all night ; I am not fitted for't . + +O , the better , sir ; for he that drinks all night , and is hang'd betimes in the morning , may sleep the sounder all the next day . + +Look you , sir ; here comes your ghostly father : do we jest now , think you ? + + +Sir , induced by my charity , and hearing how hastily you are to depart , I am come to advise you , comfort you , and pray with you . + +Friar , not I : I have been drinking hard all night , and I will have more time to prepare me , or they shall beat out my brains with billets . I will not consent to die this day , that's certain . + +O , sir , you must ; and therefore , I beseech you look forward on the journey you shall go . + +I swear I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion . + +But hear you . + +Not a word : if you have anything to say to me , come to my ward ; for thence will not I to day . + +Unfit to live or die . O , gravel heart ! +After him fellows : bring him to the block . + + +Now , sir , how do you find the prisoner ? + +A creature unprepar'd , unmeet for death ; +And , to transport him in the mind he is +Were damnable . + +Here in the prison , father , +There died this morning of a cruel fever +One Ragozine , a most notorious pirate , +A man of Claudio's years ; his beard and head +Just of his colour . What if we do omit +This reprobate till he were well inclin'd , +And satisfy the deputy with the visage +Of Ragozine , more like to Claudio ? + +O , 'tis an accident that heaven provides ! +Dispatch it presently : the hour draws on +Prefix'd by Angelo . See this be done , +And sent according to command , whiles I +Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die . + +This shall be done , good father , presently . +But Barnardine must die this afternoon : +And how shall we continue Claudio , +To save me from the danger that might come +If he were known alive ? + +Let this be done : +Put them in secret holds , both Barnardine and Claudio : +Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting +To the under generation , you shall find +Your safety manifested . + +I am your free dependant . + +Quick , dispatch , +And send the head to Angelo . + +Now will I write letters to Angelo , +The provost , he shall bear them ,whose contents +Shall witness to him I am near at home , +And that , by great injunctions , I am bound +To enter publicly : him I'll desire +To meet me at the consecrated fount +A league below the city ; and from thence , +By cold gradation and well-balanc'd form , +We shall proceed with Angelo . + + +Here is the head ; I'll carry it myself . + +Convenient is it . Make a swift return , +For I would commune with you of such things +That want no ear but yours . + +I'll make all speed . + + +Peace , ho , be here ! + +The tongue of Isabel . She's come to know +If yet her brother's pardon be come hither ; +But I will keep her ignorant of her good , +To make her heavenly comforts of despair , +When it is least expected . + + +Ho ! by your leave . + +Good morning to you , fair and gracious daughter . + +The better , given me by so holy a man . +Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon ? + +He hath releas'd him , Isabel , from the world : +His head is off and sent to Angelo . + +Nay , but it is not so . + +It is no other : show your wisdom , daughter , +In your close patience . + +O ! I will to him and pluck out his eyes ! + +You shall not be admitted to his sight . + +Unhappy Claudio ! Wretched Isabel ! +Injurious world ! Most damned Angelo ! + +This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot ; +Forbear it therefore ; give your cause to heaven . +Mark what I say , which you shall find +By every syllable a faithful verity . +The duke comes home to-morrow ; nay , dry your eyes : +One of our covent , and his confessor , +Gives me this instance : already he hath carried +Notice to Escalus and Angelo , +Who do prepare to meet him at the gates , +There to give up their power . If you can , pace your wisdom +In that good path that I would wish it go , +And you shall have your bosom on this wretch , +Grace of the Duke , revenges to your heart , +And general honour . + +I am directed by you . + +This letter then to Friar Peter give ; +'Tis that he sent me of the duke's return : +Say , by this token , I desire his company +At Mariana's house to-night . Her cause and yours , +I'll perfect him withal , and he shall bring you +Before the duke ; and to the head of Angelo +Accuse him home , and home . For my poor self , +I am combined by a sacred vow +And shall be absent . Wend you with this letter . +Command these fretting waters from your eyes +With a light heart : trust not my holy order , +If I pervert your course . Who's here ? + + +Good even . Friar , where is the provost ? + +Not within , sir . + +O pretty Isabella , I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red : thou must be patient . I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran ; I dare not for my head fill my belly ; one fruitful meal would set me to't . But they say the duke will be here to-morrow . By my troth , Isabel , I loved thy brother : if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home , he had lived . + + +Sir , the duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports ; but the best is , he lives not in them . + +Friar , thou knowest not the duke so well as I do : he's a better woodman than thou takest him for . + +Well , you'll answer this one day . +Fare ye well . + +Nay , tarry ; I'll go along with thee : I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke . + +You have told me too many of him already , sir , if they be true ; if not true , none were enough . + +I was once before him for getting a wench with child . + +Did you such a thing ? + +Yes , marry , did I ; but I was fain to forswear it : they would else have married me to the rotten medlar . + +Sir , your company is fairer than honest . +Rest you well . + +By my troth , I'll go with thee to the lane's end . If bawdy talk offend you , we'll have very little of it . Nay , friar , I am a kind of burr ; I shall stick . + + +Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other . + +In most uneven and distracted manner . +His actions show much like to madness : pray heaven his wisdom be not tainted ! And why meet him at the gates , and redeliver our authorities there ? + +I guess not . + +And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering , that if any crave redress of injustice , they should exhibit their petitions in the street ? + +He shows his reason for that : to have a dispatch of complaints , and to deliver us from devices hereafter , which shall then have no power to stand against us . + +Well , I beseech you , let it be proclaim'd : +Betimes i' the morn I'll call you at your house ; +Give notice to such men of sort and suit +As are to meet him . + +I shall , sir : fare you well . + +Good night . + +This deed unshapes me quite , makes me unpregnant +And dull to all proceedings . A deflower'd maid , +And by an eminent body that enforc'd +The law against it ! But that her tender shame +Will not proclaim against her maiden loss , +How might she tongue me ! Yet reason dares her no : +For my authority bears so credent bulk , +That no particular scandal once can touch : +But it confounds the breather . He should have liv'd , +Save that his riotous youth , with dangerous sense , +Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge , +By so receiving a dishonour'd life +With ransom of such shame . Would yet he had liv'd ! +Alack ! when once our grace we have forgot , +Nothing goes right : we would , and we would not . + + +These letters at fit time deliver me . + +The provost knows our purpose and our plot . +The matter being afoot , keep your instruction , +And hold you ever to our special drift , +Though sometimes you do blench from this to that , +As cause doth minister . Go call at Flavius' house , +And tell him where I stay : give the like notice +To Valentinus , Rowland , and to Crassus , +And bid them bring the trumpets to the gate ; +But send me Flavius first . + +It shall be speeded well . + +I thank thee , Varrius ; thou hast made good haste . +Come , we will walk . There's other of our friends +Will greet us here anon , my gentle Varrius . + + +To speak so indirectly I am loath : +I would say the truth ; but to accuse him so , +That is your part : yet I'm advis'd to do it ; +He says , to veil full purpose . + +Be rul'd by him . + +Besides , he tells me that if peradventure +He speak against me on the adverse side , +I should not think it strange ; for 'tis a physic +That's bitter to sweet end . + +I would , Friar Peter + +O , peace ! the friar is come . + + +Come ; I have found you out a stand most fit , +Where you may have such vantage on the duke , +He shall not pass you . Twice have the trumpets sounded : +The generous and gravest citizens +Have hent the gates , and very near upon +The duke is ent'ring : therefore hence , away ! + +My very worthy cousin , fairly met ! +Our old and faithful friend , we are glad to see you . + +Happy return be to your royal Grace ! + +Happy return be to your royal Grace ! + +Many and hearty thankings to you both . +We have made inquiry of you ; and we hear +Such goodness of your justice , that our soul +Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks , +Forerunning more requital . + +You make my bonds still greater . + +O ! your desert speaks loud ; and I should wrong it , +To lock it in the wards of covert bosom , +When it deserves , with characters of brass , +A forted residence 'gainst the tooth of time +And razure of oblivion . Give me your hand , +And let the subject see , to make them know +That outward courtesies would fain proclaim +Favours that keep within . Come , Escalus , +You must walk by us on our other hand ; +And good supporters are you . + + +Now is your time : speak loud and kneel before him . + +Justice , O royal duke ! Vail your regard +Upon a wrong'd , I'd fain have said , a maid ! +O worthy prince ! dishonour not your eye +By throwing it on any other object +Till you have heard me in my true complaint +And given me justice , justice , justice , justice ! + +Relate your wrongs : in what ? by whom ? Be brief ; +Here is Lord Angelo , shall give you justice : +Reveal yourself to him . + +O worthy duke ! +You bid me seek redemption of the devil . +Hear me yourself ; for that which I must speak +Must either punish me , not being believ'd , +Or wring redress from you . Hear me , O , hear me , here ! + +My lord , her wits , I fear me , are not firm : +She hath been a suitor to me for her brother +Cut off by course of justice , + +By course of justice ! + +And she will speak most bitterly and strange . + +Most strange , but yet most truly , will I speak . +That Angelo's forsworn , is it not strange ? +That Angelo's a murderer , is't not strange ? +That Angelo is an adulterous thief , +A hypocrite , a virgin-violator ; +Is it not strange , and strange ? + +Nay , it is ten times strange . + +It is not truer he is Angelo +Than this is all as true as it is strange ; +Nay , it is ten times true ; for truth is truth +To the end of reckoning . + +Away with her ! poor soul , +She speaks this in the infirmity of sense . + +O prince , I conjure thee , as thou believ'st +There is another comfort than this world , +That thou neglect me not , with that opinion +That I am touch'd with madness . Make not impossible +That which but seems unlike . 'Tis not impossible +But one , the wicked'st caitiff on the ground , +May seem as shy , as grave , as just , as absolute +As Angelo ; even so may Angelo , +In all his dressings , characts , titles , forms , +Be an arch-villain . Believe it , royal prince : +If he be less , he's nothing ; but he's more , +Had I more name for badness . + +By mine honesty , +If she be mad ,as I believe no other , +Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense , +Such a dependency of thing on thing , +As e'er I heard in madness . + +O gracious duke ! +Harp not on that ; nor do not banish reason +For inequality ; but let your reason serve +To make the truth appear where it seems hid , +And hide the false seems true . + +Many that are not mad +Have , sure , more lack of reason . What would you say ? + +I am the sister of one Claudio , +Condemn'd upon the act of fornication +To lose his head ; condemn'd by Angelo . +I , in probation of a sisterhood , +Was sent to by my brother ; one Lucio +As then the messenger , + +That's I , an't like your Grace : +I came to her from Claudio , and desir'd her +To try her gracious fortune with Lord Angelo +For her poor brother's pardon . + +That's he indeed . + +You were not bid to speak . + +No , my good lord ; +Nor wish'd to hold my peace . + +I wish you now , then ; +Pray you , take note of it ; and when you have +A business for yourself , pray heaven you then +Be perfect . + +I warrant your honour . + +The warrant's for yourself : take heed to it . + +This gentleman told somewhat of my tale , + +Right . + +It may be right ; but you are in the wrong +To speak before your time . Proceed . + +I went +To this pernicious caitiff deputy . + +That's somewhat madly spoken . + +Pardon it ; +The phrase is to the matter . + +Mended again : the matter ; proceed . + +In brief , to set the needless process by , +How I persuaded , how I pray'd , and kneel'd , +How he refell'd me , and how I replied , +For this was of much length ,the vile conclusion +I now begin with grief and shame to utter . +He would not , but by gift of my chaste body +To his concupiscible intemperate lust , +Release my brother ; and , after much debatement , +My sisterly remorse confutes mine honour , +And I did yield to him . But the next morn betimes , +His purpose surfeiting , he sends a warrant +For my poor brother's head . + +This is most likely ! + +O , that it were as like as it is true ! + +By heaven , fond wretch ! thou know'st not what thou speak'st , +Or else thou art suborn'd against his honour +In hateful practice . First , his integrity +Stands without blemish ; next , it imports no reason +That with such vehemency he should pursue +Faults proper to himself : if he had so offended , +He would have weigh'd thy brother by himself , +And not have cut him off . Some one hath set you on : +Confess the truth , and say by whose advice +Thou cam'st here to complain . + +And is this all ? +Then , O you blessed ministers above , +Keep me in patience ; and , with ripen'd time +Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up +In countenance ! Heaven shield your Grace from woe , +As I , thus wrong'd , hence unbelieved go ! + +I know you'd fain be gone . An officer ! +To prison with her ! Shall we thus permit +A blasting and a scandalous breath to fall +On him so near us ? This needs must be a practice . +Who knew of your intent and coming hither ? + +One that I would were here , Friar Lodowick . + +A ghostly father , belike . Who knows that Lodowick ? + +My lord , I know him ; 'tis a meddling friar ; +I do not like the man : had he been lay , my lord , +For certain words he spake against your Grace +In your retirement , I had swing'd him soundly . + +Words against me ! This' a good friar , belike ! +And to set on this wretched woman here +Against our substitute ! Let this friar be found . + +But yesternight , my lord , she and that friar , +I saw them at the prison : a saucy friar , +A very scurvy fellow . + +Bless'd be your royal Grace ! +I have stood by , my lord , and I have heard +Your royal ear abus'd . First , hath this woman +Most wrongfully accus'd your substitute , +Who is as free from touch or soil with her , +As she from one ungot . + +We did believe no less . +Know you that Friar Lodowick that she speaks of ? + +I know him for a man divine and holy ; +Not scurvy , nor a temporary meddler , +As he's reported by this gentleman ; +And , on my trust , a man that never yet +Did , as he vouches , misreport your Grace . + +My lord , most villanously ; believe it . + +Well ; he in time may come to clear himself , +But at this instant he is sick , my lord , +Of a strange fever . Upon his mere request , +Being come to knowledge that there was complaint +Intended 'gainst Lord Angelo , came I hither , +To speak , as from his mouth , what he doth know +Is true and false ; and what he with his oath +And all probation will make up full clear , +Whensoever he's convented . First , for this woman , +To justify this worthy nobleman , +So vulgarly and personally accus'd , +Her shall you hear disproved to her eyes , +Till she herself confess it . + +Good friar , let's hear it . + +Do you not smile at this , Lord Angelo ? +O heaven , the vanity of wretched fools ! +Give us some seats . Come , cousin Angelo ; +In this I'll be impartial ; be you judge +Of your own cause . Is this the witness , friar ? +First , let her show her face , and after speak . + +Pardon , my lord ; I will not show my face +Until my husband bid me . + +What , are you married ? + +No , my lord . + +Are you a maid ? + +No , my lord . + +A widow , then ? + +Neither , my lord . + +Why , you +Are nothing , then : neither maid , widow , nor wife ? + +My lord , she may be a punk ; for many of them are neither maid , widow , nor wife . + +Silence that fellow : I would he had some cause +To prattle for himself . + +Well , my lord . + +My lord , I do confess I ne'er was married ; +And I confess besides I am no maid : +I have known my husband yet my husband knows not +That ever he knew me . + +He was drunk then my lord : it can be no better . + +For the benefit of silence , would thou wert so too ! + +Well , my lord . + +This is no witness for Lord Angelo . + +Now I come to't , my lord : +She that accuses him of fornication , +In self-same manner doth accuse my husband ; +And charges him , my lord , with such a time , +When , I'll depose , I had him in mine arms , +With all th' effect of love . + +Charges she moe than me ? + +Not that I know . + +No ? you say your husband . + +Why , just , my lord , and that is Angelo , +Who thinks he knows that he ne'er knew my body +But knows he thinks that he knows Isabel's . + +This is a strange abuse . Let's see thy face . + +My husband bids me ; now I will unmask . + +This is that face , thou cruel Angelo , +Which once thou swor'st was worth the looking on : +This is the hand which , with a vow'd contract , +Was fast belock'd in thine : this is the body +That took away the match from Isabel , +And did supply thee at thy garden-house +In her imagin'd person . + +Know you this woman ? + +Carnally , she says . + +Sirrah , no more ! + +Enough , my lord . + +My lord , I must confess I know this woman ; +And five years since there was some speech of marriage +Betwixt myself and her , which was broke off , +Partly for that her promised proportions +Came short of composition ; but , in chief +For that her reputation was disvalu'd +In levity : since which time of five years +I never spake with her , saw her , nor heard from her , +Upon my faith and honour . + +Noble prince , +As there comes light from heaven and words from breath , +As there is sense in truth and truth in virtue , +I am affianc'd this man's wife as strongly +As words could make up vows : and , my good lord , +But Tuesday night last gone in 's garden-house +He knew me as a wife . As this is true , +Let me in safety raise me from my knees +Or else for ever be confixed here , +A marble monument . + +I did but smile till now : +Now , good my lord , give me the scope of justice ; +My patience here is touch'd . I do perceive +These poor informal women are no more +But instruments of some more mightier member +That sets them on . Let me have way , my lord , +To find this practice out . + +Ay , with my heart ; +And punish them unto your height of pleasure . +Thou foolish friar , and thou pernicious woman , +Compact with her that's gone , think'st thou thy oaths , +Though they would swear down each particular saint , +Were testimonies against his worth and credit +That's seal'd in approbation ? You , Lord Escalus , +Sit with my cousin ; lend him your kind pains +To find out this abuse , whence 'tis deriv'd . +There is another friar that set them on ; +Let him be sent for . + +Would he were here , my lord ; for he indeed +Hath set the women on to this complaint : +Your provost knows the place where he abides +And he may fetch him . + +Go do it instantly . + +And you , my noble and well-warranted cousin , +Whom it concerns to hear this matter forth , +Do with your injuries as seems you best , +In any chastisement : I for awhile will leave you ; +But stir not you , till you have well determin'd +Upon these slanderers . + +My lord , we'll do it throughly . + +Signior Lucio , did not you say you knew that +Friar Lodowick to be a dishonest person ? + +Cucullus non facit monachum : honest in nothing , but in his clothes ; and one that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the duke . + +We shall entreat you to abide here till he come and enforce them against him . We shall find this friar a notable fellow . + +As any in Vienna , on my word . + +Call that same Isabel here once again : +I would speak with her . + + +Pray you , my lord , give me leave to question ; you shall see how I'll handle her . + +Not better than he , by her own report . + +Say you ? + +Marry , sir , I think , if you handled her privately , she would sooner confess : perchance , publicly , she'll be ashamed . + +I will go darkly to work with her . + +That's the way : for women are light at midnight . + + +Come on , mistress : here's a gentlewoman denies all that you have said . + +My lord , here comes the rascal I spoke of ; here with the provost . + +In very good time : speak not you to him , till we call upon you . + + +Mum . + +Come , sir . Did you set these women on to slander Lord Angelo ? they have confessed you did . + +'Tis false . + +How ! know you where you are ? + +Respect to your great place ! and let the devil +Be sometime honour'd for his burning throne . +Where is the duke ? 'tis he should hear me speak . + +The duke's in us , and we will hear you speak : +Look you speak justly . + +Boldly , at least . But , O , poor souls ! +Come you to seek the lamb here of the fox ? +Good night to your redress ! Is the duke gone ? +Then is your cause gone too . The duke's unjust , +Thus to retort your manifest appeal , +And put your trial in the villain's mouth +Which here you come to accuse . + +This is the rascal : this is he I spoke of . + +Why , thou unreverend and unhallow'd friar ! +Is't not enough thou hast suborn'd these women +To accuse this worthy man , but , in foul mouth , +And in the witness of his proper ear , +To call him villain ? +And then to glance from him to the duke himself . +To tax him with injustice ? take him hence ; +To the rack with him ! We'll touse you joint by joint , +But we will know his purpose . What ! 'unjust' ? + +Be not so hot ; the duke +Dare no more stretch this finger of mine than he +Dare rack his own : his subject am I not , +Nor here provincial . My business in this state +Made me a looker-on here in Vienna , +Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble +Till it o'er-run the stew : laws for all faults , +But faults so countenanc'd , that the strong statutes +Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop , +As much in mock as mark . + +Slander to the state ! Away with him to prison ! + +What can you vouch against him , Signior Lucio ? +Is this the man that you did tell us of ? + +'Tis he , my lord . Come hither , goodman bald-pate : do you know me ? + +I remember you , sir , by the sound of your voice : I met you at the prison , in the absence of the duke . + +O ! did you so ? And do you remember what you said of the duke ? + +Most notedly , sir . + +Do you so , sir ? And was the duke a flesh-monger , a fool , and a coward , as you then reported him to be ? + +You must , sir , change persons with me , ere you make that my report : you , indeed , spoke so of him ; and much more , much worse . + +O thou damnable fellow ! Did not I pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches ? + +I protest I love the duke as I love myself . + +Hark how the villain would close now , after his treasonable abuses ! + +Such a fellow is not to be talk'd withal . +Away with him to prison ! Where is the provost ? +Away with him to prison ! Lay bolts enough on him , let him speak no more . Away with those giglots too , and with the other confederate companion ! + + +Stay , sir ; stay awhile . + +What ! resists he ? Help him , Lucio . + +Come , sir ; come , sir ; come , sir ; foh ! sir . Why , you bald-pated , lying rascal , you must be hooded , must you ? show your knave's visage , with a pox to you ! show your sheepbiting face , and be hanged an hour ! Will't not off ? + + +Thou art the first knave that e'er made a duke . +First , provost , let me bail these gentle three . + + +Sneak not away , sir ; for the friar and you +Must have a word anon . Lay hold on him . + +This may prove worse than hanging . + +What you have spoke I pardon ; sit you down : +We'll borrow place of him . + +Sir , by your leave . +Hast thou or word , or wit , or impudence , +That yet can do thee office ? If thou hast , +Rely upon it till my tale be heard , +And hold no longer out . + +O my dread lord ! +I should be guiltier than my guiltiness , +To think I can be undiscernible +When I perceive your Grace , like power divine , +Hath look'd upon my passes . Then , good prince , +No longer session hold upon my shame , +But let my trial be mine own confession : +Immediate sentence then and sequent death +Is all the grace I beg . + +Come hither , Mariana , +Say , wast thou e'er contracted to this woman ? + +I was , my lord . + +Go take her hence , and marry her instantly . +Do you the office , friar ; which consummate , +Return him here again . Go with him , provost . + + +My lord , I am more amaz'd at his dishonour +Than at the strangeness of it . + +Come hither , Isabel . +Your friar is now your prince : as I was then +Advertising and holy to your business , +Not changing heart with habit , I am still +Attorney'd at your service . + +O , give me pardon , +That I , your vassal , have employ'd and pain'd +Your unknown sovereignty ! + +You are pardon'd , Isabel : +And now , dear maid , be you as free to us . +Your brother's death , I know , sits at your heart ; +And you may marvel why I obscur'd myself , +Labouring to save his life , and would not rather +Make rash remonstrance of my hidden power +Than let him so be lost . O most kind maid ! +It was the swift celerity of his death , +Which I did think with slower foot came on , +That brain'd my purpose : but , peace be with him ! +That life is better life , past fearing death , +Than that which lives to fear : make it your comfort , +So happy is your brother . + +I do , my lord . + + +For this new-married man approaching here , +Whose salt imagination yet hath wrong'd +Your well-defended honour , you must pardon +For Mariana's sake . But as he adjudg'd your brother , +Being criminal , in double violation +Of sacred chastity , and of promise-breach , +Thereon dependent , for your brother's life , +The very mercy of the law cries out +Most audible , even from his proper tongue , +'An Angelo for Claudio , death for death !' +Haste still pays haste , and leisure answers leisure , +Like doth quit like , and Measure still for Measure . +Then , Angelo , thy fault's thus manifested , +Which , though thou wouldst deny , denies thee vantage . +We do condemn thee to the very block +Where Claudio stoop'd to death , and with like haste . +Away with him ! + +O , my most gracious lord ! +I hope you will not mock me with a husband . + +It is your husband mock'd you with a husband . +Consenting to the safeguard of your honour , +I thought your marriage fit ; else imputation , +For that he knew you , might reproach your life +And choke your good to come . For his possessions , +Although by confiscation they are ours , +We do instate and widow you withal , +To buy you a better husband . + +O my dear lord ! +I crave no other , nor no better man . + +Never crave him ; we are definitive . + +Gentle my liege , + +You do but lose your labour . +Away with him to death ! + +Now , sir , to you . + +O my good lord ! Sweet Isabel , take my part : +Lend me your knees , and , all my life to come , +I'll lend you all my life to do you service , + +Against all sense you do importune her : +Should she kneel down in mercy of this fact , +Her brother's ghost his paved bed would break , +And take her hence in horror . + +Isabel , +Sweet Isabel , do yet but kneel by me : +Hold up your hands , say nothing , I'll speak all . +They say best men are moulded out of faults , +And , for the most , become much more the better +For being a little bad : so may my husband . +O , Isabel ! will you not lend a knee ? + +He dies for Claudio's death . + +Most bounteous sir , +Look , if it please you , on this man condemn'd , +As if my brother liv'd . I partly think +A due sincerity govern'd his deeds , +Till he did look on me : since it is so , +Let him not die . My brother had but justice , +In that he did the thing for which he died : +For Angelo , +His act did not o'ertake his bad intent ; +And must be buried but as an intent +That perish'd by the way . Thoughts are no subjects ; +Intents but merely thoughts . + +Merely , my lord . + +Your suit's unprofitable : stand up , I say . +I have bethought me of another fault . +Provost , how came it Claudio was beheaded +At an unusual hour ? + +It was commanded so . + +Had you a special warrant for the deed ? + +No , my good lord ; it was by private message . + +For which I do discharge you of your office : +Give up your keys . + +Pardon me , noble lord : +I thought it was a fault , but knew it not , +Yet did repent me , after more advice ; +For testimony whereof , one in the prison , +That should by private order else have died +I have reserv'd alive . + +What's he ? + +His name is Barnardine . + +I would thou hadst done so by Claudio . +Go , fetch him hither : let me look upon him . + + +I am sorry , one so learned and so wise +As you , Lord Angelo , have still appear'd , +Should slip so grossly , both in the heat of blood , +And lack of temper'd judgment afterward . + +I am sorry that such sorrow I procure ; +And so deep sticks it in my penitent heart +That I crave death more willingly than mercy : +'Tis my deserving , and I do entreat it . + + +Which is that Barnardine ? + +This , my lord . + +There was a friar told me of this man . +Sirrah , thou art said to have a stubborn soul , +That apprehends no further than this world , +And squar'st thy life according . Thou'rt condemn'd : +But , for those earthly faults , I quit them all , +And pray thee take this mercy to provide +For better times to come . Friar , advise him : +I leave him to your hand .What muffled fellow's that ? + +This is another prisoner that I sav'd , +That should have died when Claudio lost his head , +As like almost to Claudio as himself . + + +If he be like your brother , for his sake +Is he pardon'd ; and , for your lovely sake +Give me your hand and say you will be mine , +He is my brother too . But fitter time for that . +By this , Lord Angelo perceives he's safe : +Methinks I see a quickening in his eye . +Well , Angelo , your evil quits you well : +Look that you love your wife ; her worth worth yours . +I find an apt remission in myself , +And yet here's one in place I cannot pardon . + + +You , sirrah , that knew me for a fool , a coward , +One all of luxury , an ass , a madman : +Wherein have I so deserv'd of you , +That you extol me thus ? + +'Faith , my lord , I spoke it but according to the trick . If you will hang me for it , you may ; but I had rather it would please you I might be whipped . + +Whipp'd first , sir , and hang'd after . +Proclaim it , provost , round about the city , +If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow , +As I have heard him swear himself there's one +Whom he begot with child , let her appear , +And he shall marry her : the nuptial finish'd , +Let him be whipp'd and hang'd . + +I beseech your highness , do not marry me to a whore . Your highness said even now , I made you a duke : good my lord , do not recompense me in making me a cuckold . + +Upon mine honour , thou shalt marry her . +Thy slanders I forgive ; and therewithal +Remit thy other forfeits . Take him to prison , +And see our pleasure herein executed . + +Marrying a punk , my lord , is pressing to death , whipping , and hanging . + +Slandering a prince deserves it . +She , Claudio , that you wrong'd , look you restore . +Joy to you , Mariana ! love her , Angelo : +I have confess'd her and I know her virtue . +Thanks , good friend Escalus , for thy much goodness : +There's more behind that is more gratulate . +Thanks , provost , for thy care and secrecy ; +We shall employ thee in a worthier place . +Forgive him , Angelo , that brought you home +The head of Ragozine for Claudio's : +The offence pardons itself . Dear Isabel , +I have a motion much imports your good ; +Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline , +What's mine is yours , and what is yours is mine . +So , bring us to our palace ; where we'll show +What's yet behind , that's meet you all should know . + +MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING + +I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina . + +He is very near by this : he was not three leagues off when I left him . + +How many gentlemen have you lost in this action ? + +But few of any sort , and none of name . + +A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers . I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio . + +Much deserved on his part and equally remembered by Don Pedro . He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age , doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion : he hath indeed better bettered expectation than you must expect of me to tell you how . + +He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it . + +I have already delivered him letters , and there appears much joy in him ; even so much that joy could not show itself modest enough without a badge of bitterness . + +Did he break out into tears ? + +In great measure . + +A kind overflow of kindness . There are no faces truer than those that are so washed : how much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping ! + +I pray you is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no ? + +I know none of that name , lady : there was none such in the army of any sort . + +What is he that you ask for , niece ? + +My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua . + +O ! he is returned , and as pleasant as ever he was . + +He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged Cupid at the flight ; and my uncle's fool , reading the challenge , subscribed for Cupid , and challenged him at the bird-bolt . I pray you , how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars ? But how many hath he killed ? for , indeed , I promised to eat all of his killing . + +Faith , niece , you tax Signior Benedick too much ; but he'll be meet with you , I doubt it not . + +He hath done good service , lady , in these wars . + +You had musty victual , and he hath holp to eat it : he is a very valiant trencherman ; he hath an excellent stomach . + +And a good soldier too , lady . + +And a good soldier to a lady ; but what is he to a lord ? + +A lord to a lord , a man to a man , stuffed with all honourable virtues . + +It is so , indeed ; he is no less than a stuffed man ; but for the stuffing ,well , we are all mortal . + +You must not , sir , mistake my niece There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her : they never meet but there's a skirmish of wit between them . + +Alas ! he gets nothing by that . In our last conflict four of his five wits went halting off , and now is the whole man governed with one ! so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm , let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse ; for it is all the wealth that he hath left to be known a reasonable creature . Who is his companion now ? He hath every month a new sworn brother . + +Is't possible ? + +Very easily possible : he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat ; it ever changes with the next block . + +I see , lady , the gentleman is not in your books . + +No ; an he were , I would burn my study . But , I pray you , who is his companion ? Is there no young squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil ? + +He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio . + +O Lord ! he will hang upon him like a disease : he is sooner caught than the pestilence , and the taker runs presently mad . God help the noble Claudio ! if he have caught the Benedick , it will cost him a thousand pound ere a' be cured . + +I will hold friends with you , lady . + +Do , good friend . + +You will never run mad , niece . + +No , not till a hot January . + +Don Pedro is approached . + + +Good Signior Leonato , you are come to meet your trouble : the fashion of the world is to avoid cost , and you encounter it . + +Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your Grace , for trouble being gone , comfort should remain ; but when you depart from me , sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave . + +You embrace your charge too willingly . I think this is your daughter . + +Her mother hath many times told me so . + +Were you in doubt , sir , that you asked her ? + +Signior Benedick , no ; for then you were a child . + +You have it full , Benedick : we may guess by this what you are , being a man . Truly , the lady fathers herself . Be happy , lady , for you are like an honourable father . + +If Signior Leonato be her father , she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina , as like him as she is . + +I wonder that you will still be talking , Signior Benedick : nobody marks you . + +What ! my dear Lady Disdain , are you yet living ? + +Is it possible Disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick ? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain , if you come in her presence . + +Then is courtesy a turncoat . But it is certain I am loved of all ladies , only you excepted ; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart ; for , truly , I love none . + +A dear happiness to women : they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor . I thank God and my cold blood , I am of your humour for that : I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me . + +God keep your ladyship still in that mind ; so some gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face . + +Scratching could not make it worse , an 'twere such a face as yours were . + +Well , you are a rare parrot-teacher . + +A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours . + +I would my horse had the speed of your tongue , and so good a continuer . But keep your way , i' God's name ; I have done . + +You always end with a jade's trick : I know you of old . + +This is the sum of all , Leonato : Signior Claudio , and Signior Benedick , my dear friend Leonato hath invited you all . I tell him we shall stay here at the least a month , and he heartily prays some occasion may detain us longer : I dare swear he is no hypocrite , but prays from his heart . + +If you swear , my lord , you shall not be forsworn . + +Let me bid you welcome , my lord : being reconciled to the prince your brother , I owe you all duty . + +I thank you : I am not of many words , but I thank you . + +Please it your Grace lead on ? + +Your hand , Leonato ; we will go together . + + +Benedick , didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato ? + +I noted her not ; but I looked on her . + +Is she not a modest young lady ? + +Do you question me , as an honest man should do , for my simple true judgment ; or would you have me speak after my custom , as being a professed tyrant to their sex ? + +No ; I pray thee speak in sober judgment . + +Why , i' faith , methinks she's too low for a high praise , too brown for a fair praise , and too little for a great praise : only this commendation I can afford her , that were she other than she is , she were unhandsome , and being no other but as she is , I do not like her . + +Thou thinkest I am in sport : I pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her . + +Would you buy her , that you inquire after her ? + +Can the world buy such a jewel ? + +Yea , and a case to put it into . But speak you this with a sad brow , or do you play the flouting Jack , to tell us Cupid is a good hare-finder , and Vulcan a rare carpenter ? Come , in what key shall a man take you , to go in the song ? + +In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on . + +I can see yet without spectacles and I see no such matter : there's her cousin an she were not possessed with a fury , exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December . But I hope you have no intent to turn husband , have you ? + +I would scarce trust myself , though I had sworn to the contrary , if Hero would be my wife . + +Is't come to this , i' faith ? Hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion ? Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again ? Go to , i' faith ; an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke , wear the print of it , and sigh away Sundays . Look ! Don Pedro is returned to seek you . + + +What secret hath held you here , that you followed not to Leonato's ? + +I would your Grace would constrain me to tell . + +I charge thee on thy allegiance . + +You hear , Count Claudio : I can be secret as a dumb man ; I would have you think so ; but on my allegiance , mark you this , on my allegiance : he is in love . With who ? now that is your Grace's part . Mark how short his answer is : with Hero , Leonato's short daughter . + +If this were so , so were it uttered . + +Like the old tale , my lord : 'it is not so , nor 'twas not so ; but , indeed , God forbid it should be so .' + +If my passion change not shortly , God forbid it should be otherwise . + +Amen , if you love her ; for the lady is very well worthy . + +You speak this to fetch me in , my lord . + +By my troth , I speak my thought . + +And in faith , my lord , I spoke mine . + +And by my two faiths and troths , my lord , I spoke mine . + +That I love her , I feel . + +That she is worthy , I know . + +That I neither feel how she should be loved nor know how she should be worthy , is the opinion that fire cannot melt out of me : I will die in it at the stake . + +Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty . + +And never could maintain his part but in the force of his will . + +That a woman conceived me , I thank her ; that she brought me up , I likewise give her most humble thanks : but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead , or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick , all women shall pardon me . Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any , I will do myself the right to trust none ; and the fine is ,for the which I may go the finer ,I will live a bachelor . + +I shall see thee , ere I die , look pale with love . + +With anger , with sickness , or with hunger , my lord ; not with love : prove that ever I lose more blood with love than I will get again with drinking , pick out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen , and hang me up at the door of a brothel-house for the sign of blind Cupid . + +Well , if ever thou dost fall from this faith , thou wilt prove a notable argument . + +If I do , hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot at me ; and he that hits me , let him be clapped on the shoulder , and called Adam . + +Well , as time shall try : +'In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke .' + +The savage bull may ; but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it , pluck off the bull's horns and set them in my forehead ; and let me be vilely painted , and in such great letters as they write , 'Here is good horse to hire ,' let them signify under my sign 'Here you may see Benedick the married man .' + +If this should ever happen , thou wouldst be horn-mad . + +Nay , if Cupid have not spent all his quiver in Venice , thou wilt quake for this shortly . + +I look for an earthquake too then . + +Well , you will temporize with the hours . In the meantime , good Signior Benedick , repair to Leonato's : commend me to him and tell him I will not fail him at supper ; for indeed he hath made great preparation . + +I have almost matter enough in me for such an embassage ; and so I commit you + +To the tuition of God : from my house , if I had it , + +The sixth of July : your loving friend , Benedick . + +Nay , mock not , mock not . The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments , and the guards are but slightly basted on neither : ere you flout old ends any further , examine your conscience : and so I leave you . + + +My liege , your highness now may do me good . + +My love is thine to teach : teach it but how , +And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn +Any hard lesson that may do thee good . + +Hath Leonato any son , my lord ? + +No child but Hero ; she's his only heir . +Dost thou affect her , Claudio ? + +O ! my lord , +When you went onward on this ended action , +I looked upon her with a soldier's eye , +That lik'd , but had a rougher task in hand +Than to drive liking to the name of love ; +But now I am return'd , and that war-thoughts +Have left their places vacant , in their rooms +Come thronging soft and delicate desires , +All prompting me how fair young Hero is , +Saying , I lik'd her ere I went to wars . + +Thou wilt be like a lover presently , +And tire the hearer with a book of words . +If thou dost love fair Hero , cherish it , +And I will break with her , and with her father , +And thou shalt have her . Was't not to this end +That thou began'st to twist so fine a story ? + +How sweetly do you minister to love , +That know love's grief by his complexion ! +But lest my liking might too sudden seem , +I would have salv'd it with a longer treatise . + +What need the bridge much broader than the flood ? +The fairest grant is the necessity . +Look , what will serve is fit : 'tis once , thou lov'st , +And I will fit thee with the remedy . +I know we shall have revelling to-night : +I will assume thy part in some disguise , +And tell fair Hero I am Claudio ; +And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart , +And take her hearing prisoner with the force +And strong encounter of my amorous tale : +Then , after to her father will I break ; +And the conclusion is , she shall be thine . +In practice let us put it presently . + + +How now , brother ! Where is my cousin , your son ? Hath he provided this music ? + +He is very busy about it . But , brother , I can tell you strange news that you yet dreaint not of . + +Are they good ? + +As the event stamps them : but they have a good cover ; they show well outward . The prince and Count Claudio , walking in a thick-pleached alley in my orchard , were thus much overheard by a man of mine : the prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my niece your daughter , and meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance ; and , if he found her accordant , he meant to take the present time by the top and instantly break with you of it . + +Hath the fellow any wit that told you this ? + +A good sharp fellow : I will send for him ; and question him yourself . + +No , no ; we will hold it as a dream till it appear itself : but I will acquaint my daughter withal , that she may be the better prepared for an answer , if peradventure this be true . Go you , and tell her of it . + +Cousins , you know what you have to do . O ! I cry you mercy , friend ; go you with me , and I will use your skill . Good cousin , have a care this busy time . + + +What the good-year , my lord ! why are you thus out of measure sad ? + +There is no measure in the occasion that breeds ; therefore the sadness is without limit . + +You should hear reason . + +And when I have heard it , what blessing brings it ? + +It not a present remedy , at least a patient sufferance . + +I wonder that thou , being ,as thou say'st thou art ,born under Saturn , goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief . I cannot hide what I am : I must be sad when I have cause , and smile at no man's jests ; eat when I have stomach , and wait for no man's leisure ; sleep when I am drowsy , and tend on no man's business ; laugh when I am merry , and claw no man in his humour . + +Yea ; but you must not make the full show of this till you may do it without controlment . You have of late stood out against your brother , and he hath ta'en you newly into his grace ; where it is impossible you should take true root but by the fair weather that you make yourself : it is needful that you frame the season for your own harvest . + +I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace ; and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any : in this , though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man , it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain . I am trusted with a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog ; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage . If I had my mouth , I would bite ; if I had my liberty , I would do my liking : in the meantime , let me be that I am , and seek not to alter me . + +Can you make no use of your discontent ? + +I make all use of it , for I use it only . Who comes here ? + +What news , Borachio ? + +I came yonder from a great supper : the prince , your brother , is royally entertained by Leonato ; and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage . + +Will it serve for any model to build mischief on ? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness ? + +Marry , it is your brother's right hand . + +Who ? the most exquisite Claudio ? + +Even he . + +A proper squire ! And who , and who ? which way looks he ? + +Marry , on Hero , the daughter and heir of Leonato . + +A very forward March-chick ! How came you to this ? + +Being entertained for a perfumer , as I was smoking a musty room , comes me the prince and Claudio , hand in hand , in sad conference : I whipt me behind the arras , and there heard it agreed upon that the prince should woo Hero for himself , and having obtained her , give her to Count Claudio . + +Come , come ; let us thither : this may prove food to my displeasure . That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow : if I can cross him any way , I bless myself every way . You are both sure , and will assist me ? + +To the death , my lord . + +To the death , my lord . + +Let us to the great supper : their cheer is the greater that I am subdued . Would the cook were of my mind ! Shall we go prove what's to be done ? + +We'll wait upon your lordship . + +Was not Count John here at supper ? + +I saw him not . + +How tartly that gentleman looks ! I never can see him but I am heart-burned an hour after . + +He is of a very melancholy disposition . + +He were an excellent man that were made just in the mid-way between him and Benedick : the one is too like an image , and says nothing ; and the other too like my lady's eldest son , evermore tattling . + +Then half Signior Benedick's tongue in Count John's mouth , and half Count John's melancholy in Signior Benedick's face , + +With a good leg and a good foot , uncle , and money enough in his purse , such a man would win any woman in the world , if a' could get her good will . + +By my troth , niece , thou wilt never get thee a husband , if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue . + +In faith , she's too curst . + +Too curst is more than curst : I shall lessen God's sending that way ; for it is said , 'God sends a curst cow short horns ;' but to a cow too curst he sends none . + +So , by being too curst , God will send you no horns ? + +Just , if he send me no husband ; for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening . Lord ! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face : I had rather lie in the woollen . + +You may light on a husband that hath no beard . + +What should I do with him ? dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting-gentlewoman ? He that hath a beard is more than a youth , and he that hath no beard is less than a man ; and he that is more than a youth is not for me ; and he that is less than a man , I am not for him : therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-ward , and lead his apes into hell . + +Well then , go you into hell ? + +No ; but to the gate ; and there will the devil meet me , like an old cuckold , with horns on his head , and say , 'Get you to heaven , Beatrice , get you to heaven ; here's no place for you maids :' so deliver I up my apes , and away to Saint Peter for the heavens ; he shows me where the bachelors sit , and there live we as merry as the day is long . + +Well , niece , I trust you will be ruled by your father . + +Yes , faith ; it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy , and say , 'Father , as it please you :' but yet for all that , cousin , let him be a handsome fellow , or else make another curtsy , and say , 'Father , as it please me .' + +Well , niece , I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband . + +Not till God make men of some other metal than earth . Would it not grieve a woman to be over-mastered with a piece of valiant dust ? to make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl ? No , uncle , I'll none : Adam's sons are my brethren ; and truly , I hold it a sin to match in my kindred . + +Daughter , remember what I told you : if the prince do solicit you in that kind , you know your answer . + +The fault will be in the music , cousin , if you be not wooed in good time : if the prince be too important , tell him there is measure in everything , and so dance out the answer . For , hear me , Hero : wooing , wedding , and repenting , is as a Scotch jig , a measure , and a cinque-pace : the first suit is hot and hasty , like a Scotch jig , and full as fantastical ; the wedding , mannerly-modest , as a measure , full of state and ancientry ; and then comes Repentance , and , with his bad legs , falls into the cinque-pace faster and faster , till he sink into his grave . + +Cousin , you apprehend passing shrewdly . + +I have a good eye , uncle : I can see a church by daylight . + +The revellers are entering , brother : make good room . + +Lady , will you walk about with your friend ? + +So you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing , I am yours for the walk ; and especially when I walk away . + +With me in your company ? + +I may say so , when I please . + +And when please you to say so ? + +When I like your favour ; for God defend the lute should be like the case ! + +My visor is Philemon's roof ; within the house is Jove . + +Why , then , your visor should be thatch'd . + +Speak low , if you speak love . + + +Well , I would you did like me . + +So would not I , for your own sake ; for I have many ill qualities . + +Which is one ? + +I say my prayers aloud . + +I love you the better ; the hearers may cry Amen . + +God match me with a good dancer ! + +Amen . + +And God keep him out of my sight when the dance is done ! Answer , clerk . + +No more words : the clerk is answered . + +I know you well enough : you are Signior Antonio . + +At a word , I am not . + +I know you by the waggling of your head . + +To tell you true , I counterfeit him . + +You could never do him so ill-well , unless you were the very man . Here's his dry hand up and down : you are he , you are he . + +At a word , I am not . + +Come , come ; do you think I do not know you by your excellent wit ? Can virtue hide itself ? Go to , mum , you are he : graces will appear , and there's an end . + +Will you not tell me who told you so ? + +No , you shall pardon me . + +Nor will you not tell me who you are ? + +Not now . + +That I was disdainful , and that I had my good wit out of the 'Hundred Merry Tales .' Well , this was Signior Benedick that said so . + +What's he ? + +I am sure you know him well enough . + +Not I , believe me . + +Did he never make you laugh ? + +I pray you , what is he ? + +Why , he is the prince's jester : a very dull fool ; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders : none but libertines delight in him ; and the commendation is not in his wit , but in his villany ; for he both pleases men and angers them , and then they laugh at him and beat him . I am sure he is in the fleet : I would he had boarded me ! + +When I know the gentleman , I'll tell him what you say . + +Do , do : he'll but break a comparison or two on me ; which , peradventure not marked or not laughed at , strikes him into melancholy ; and then there's a partridge wing saved , for the fool will eat no supper that night . + +We must follow the leaders . + +In every good thing . + +Nay , if they lead to any ill , I will leave them at the next turning . + + +Sure my brother is amorous on Hero , and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it . The ladies follow her and but one visor remains . + +And that is Claudio : I know him by his bearing . + +Are you not Signior Benedick ? + +You know me well ; I am he . + +Signior , you are very near my brother in his love : he is enamoured on Hero ; I pray you , dissuade him from her ; she is no equal for his birth : you may do the part of an honest man in it . + +How know you he loves her ? + +I heard him swear his affection . + +So did I too ; and he swore he would marry her to-night . + +Come , let us to the banquet . + + +Thus answer I in name of Benedick , +But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio . +'Tis certain so ; the prince woos for himself . +Friendship is constant in all other things +Save in the office and affairs of love : +Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues ; +Let every eye negotiate for itself +And trust no agent ; for beauty is a witch +Against whose charms faith melteth into blood . +This is an accident of hourly proof , +Which I mistrusted not . Farewell , therefore , Hero ! + + +Count Claudio ? + +Yea , the same . + +Come , will you go with me ? + +Whither ? + +Even to the next willow , about your own business , count . What fashion will you wear the garland of ? About your neck , like a usurer's chain ? or under your arm , like a lieutenant's scarf ? You must wear it one way , for the prince hath got your Hero . + +I wish him joy of her . + +Why , that's spoken like an honest drovier : so they sell bullocks . But did you think the prince would have served you thus ? + +I pray you , leave me . + +Ho ! now you strike like the blind man : 'twas the boy that stole your meat , and you'll beat the post . + +If it will not be , I'll leave you . + + +Alas ! poor hurt fowl . Now will he creep into sedges . But , that my lady Beatrice should know me , and not know me ! The prince's fool ! Ha ! it may be I go under that title because I am merry . Yea , but so I am apt to do myself wrong ; I am not so reputed : it is the base though bitter disposition of Beatrice that puts the world into her person , and so gives me out . Well , I'll be revenged as I may . + + +Now , signior , where's the count ? Did you see him ? + +Troth , my lord , I have played the part of Lady Fame . I found him here as melancholy as a lodge in a warren . I told him , and I think I told him true , that your Grace had got the good will of this young lady ; and I offered him my company to a willow tree , either to make him a garland , as being forsaken , or to bind him up a rod , as being worthy to be whipped . + +To be whipped ! What's his fault ? + +The flat transgression of a school-boy , who , being overjoy'd with finding a bird's nest , shows it his companion , and he steals it . + +Wilt thou make a trust a transgression ? The transgression is in the stealer . + +Yet it had not been amiss the rod had been made , and the garland too ; for the garland he might have worn himself , and the rod he might have bestowed on you , who , as I take it , have stolen his bird's nest . + +I will but teach them to sing , and restore them to the owner . + +If their singing answer your saying , by my faith , you say honestly . + +The Lady Beatrice hath a quarrel to you : the gentleman that danced with her told her she is much wronged by you . + +O ! she misused me past the endurance of a block : an oak but with one green leaf on it , would have answered her : my very visor began to assume life and scold with her . She told me , not thinking I had been myself , that I was the prince's jester ; that I was duller than a great thaw ; huddling jest upon jest with such impossible conveyance upon me , that I stood like a man at a mark , with a whole army shooting at me . She speaks poniards , and every word stabs : if her breath were as terrible as her terminations , there were no living near her ; she would infect to the north star . I would not marry her , though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed : she would have made Hercules have turned spit , yea , and have cleft his club to make the fire too . Come , talk not of her ; you shall find her the infernal Ate in good apparel . I would to God some scholar would conjure her , for certainly , while she is here , a man may live as quiet in hell as in a sanctuary ; and people sin upon purpose because they would go thither ; so , indeed , all disquiet , horror and perturbation follow her . + + +Look ! here she comes . + +Will your Grace command me any service to the world's end ? I will go on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes that you can devise to send me on ; I will fetch you a toothpicker now from the furthest inch of Asia ; bring you the length of Prester John's foot ; fetch you a hair off the Great Cham's beard ; do you any embassage to the Pigmies , rather than hold three words' conference with this harpy . You have no employment for me ? + +None , but to desire your good company . + +O God , sir , here's a dish I love not : I cannot endure my Lady Tongue . + + +Come , lady , come ; you have lost the heart of Signior Benedick . + +Indeed , my lord , he lent it me awhile ; and I gave him use for it , a double heart for a single one : marry , once before he won it of me with false dice , therefore your Grace may well say I have lost it . + +You have put him down , lady , you have put him down . + +So I would not he should do me , my lord , lest I should prove the mother of fools . I have brought Count Claudio , whom you sent me to seek . + +Why , how now , count ! wherefore are you sad ? + +Not sad , my lord . + +How then ? Sick ? + +Neither , my lord . + +The count is neither sad , nor sick , nor merry , nor well ; but civil count , civil as an orange , and something of that jealous complexion . + +I' faith , lady , I think your blazon to be true ; though , I'll be sworn , if he be so , his conceit is false . Here , Claudio , I have wooed in thy name , and fair Hero is won ; I have broke with her father , and , his good will obtained ; name the day of marriage , and God give thee joy ! + +Count , take of me my daughter , and with her my fortunes : his Grace hath made the match , and all grace say Amen to it ! + +Speak , count , 'tis your cue . + +Silence is the perfectest herald of joy : I were but little happy , if I could say how much . Lady , as you are mine , I am yours : I give away myself for you and dote upon the exchange . + +Speak , cousin ; or , if you cannot , stop his mouth with a kiss , and let not him speak neither . + +In faith , lady , you have a merry heart . + +Yea , my lord ; I thank it , poor fool , it keeps on the windy side of care . My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart . + +And so she doth , cousin . + +Good Lord , for alliance ! Thus goes every one to the world but I , and I am sunburnt . I may sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband ! + +Lady Beatrice , I will get you one . + +I would rather have one of your father's getting . Hath your Grace ne'er a brother like you ? Your father got excellent husbands , if a maid could come by them . + +Will you have me , lady ? + +No , my lord , unless I might have another for working days : your Grace is too costly to wear every day . But , I beseech your Grace , pardon me ; I was born to speak all mirth and no matter . + +Your silence most offends me , and to be merry best becomes you ; for , out of question , you were born in a merry hour . + +No , sure , my lord , my mother cried ; but then there was a star danced , and under that was I born . Cousins , God give you joy ! + +Niece , will you look to those things I told you of ? + +I cry you mercy , uncle . By your Grace's pardon . + + +By my troth , a pleasant-spirited lady . + +There's little of the melancholy element in her , my lord : she is never sad but when she sleeps ; and not ever sad then , for I have heard my daughter say , she hath often dreamed of unhappiness and waked herself with laughing . + +She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband . + +O ! by no means : she mocks all her wooers out of suit . + +She were an excellent wife for Benedick . + +O Lord ! my lord , if they were but a week married , they would talk themselves mad . + +Count Claudio , when mean you to go to church ? + +To-morrow , my lord . Time goes on crutches till love have all his rites . + +Not till Monday , my dear son , which is hence a just seven-night ; and a time too brief too , to have all things answer my mind . + +Come , you shake the head at so long a breathing ; but , I warrant thee , Claudio , the time shall not go dully by us . I will in the interim undertake one of Hercules' labours , which is , to bring Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection the one with the other . I would fain have it a match ; and I doubt not but to fashion it , if you three will but minister such assistance as I shall give you direction . + +My lord , I am for you , though it cost me ten nights' watchings . + +And I , my lord . + +And you too , gentle Hero ? + +I will do any modest office , my lord , to help my cousin to a good husband . + +And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that I know . Thus far can I praise him ; he is of a noble strain , of approved valour , and confirmed honesty . I will teach you how to humour your cousin , that she shall fall in love with Benedick ; and I , with your two helps , will so practise on Benedick that , in despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach , he shall fall in love with Beatrice . If we can do this , Cupid is no longer an archer : his glory shall be ours , for we are the only love-gods . Go in with me , and I will tell you my drift . + + +It is so ; the Count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato . + +Yea , my lord ; but I can cross it . + +Any bar , any cross , any impediment will be medicinable to me : I am sick in displeasure to him , and whatsoever comes athwart his affection ranges evenly with mine . How canst thou cross this marriage ? + +Not honestly , my lord ; but so covertly that no dishonesty shall appear in me . + +Show me briefly how . + +I think I told your lordship , a year since , how much I am in the favour of Margaret , the waiting-gentlewoman to Hero . + +I remember . + +I can , at any unseasonable instant of the night , appoint her to look out at her lady's chamber-window . + +What life is in that , to be the death of this marriage ? + +The poison of that lies in you to temper . Go you to the prince your brother ; spare not to tell him , that he hath wronged his honour in marrying the renowned Claudio ,whose estimation do you mightily hold up ,to a contaminated stale , such a one as Hero . + +What proof shall I make of that ? + +Proof enough to misuse the prince , to vex Claudio , to undo Hero , and kill Leonato . +Look you for any other issue ? + +Only to despite them , I will endeavour any thing . + +Go , then ; find me a meet hour to draw Don Pedro and the Count Claudio alone : tell them that you know that Hero loves me ; intend a kind of zeal both to the prince and Claudio , as in love of your brother's honour , who hath made this match , and his friend's reputation , who is thus like to be cozened with the semblance of a maid ,that you have discovered thus . They will scarcely believe this without trial : offer them instances , which shall bear no less likelihood than to see me at her chamber-window , hear me call Margaret Hero ; hear Margaret term me Claudio ; and bring them to see this the very night before the intended wedding : for in the meantime I will so fashion the matter that Hero shall be absent ; and there shall appear such seeming truth of Hero's disloyalty , that jealousy shall be called assurance , and all the preparation overthrown . + +Grow this to what adverse issue it can , I will put it in practice . Be cunning in the working this , and thy fee is a thousand ducats . + +Be you constant in the accusation , and my cunning shall not shame me . + +I will presently go learn their day of marriage . + + +Boy ! + + +Signior ? + +In my chamber-window lies a book ; bring it hither to me in the orchard . + +I am here already , sir . + +I know that ; but I would have thee hence , and here again . [Exit Boy .] I do much wonder that one man , seeing how much another man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love , will , after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others , become the argument of his own scorn by falling in love : and such a man is Claudio . I have known , when there was no music with him but the drum and the fife ; and now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe : I have known , when he would have walked ten mile afoot to see a good armour ; and now will he lie ten nights awake , carving the fashion of a new doublet . He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose , like an honest man and a soldier ; and now is he turned orthographer ; his words are a very fantastical banquet , just so many strange dishes . May I be so converted , and see with these eyes ? I cannot tell ; I think not : I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster ; but I'll take my oath on it , till he have made an oyster of me , he shall never make me such a fool . One woman is fair , yet I am well ; another is wise , yet I am well ; another virtuous , yet I am well ; but till all graces be in one woman , one woman shall not come in my grace . Rich she shall be , that's certain ; wise , or I'll none ; virtuous , or I'll never cheapen her ; fair , or I'll never look on her ; mild , or come not near me ; noble , or not I for an angel ; of good discourse , an excellent musician , and her hair shall be of what colour it please God . Ha ! the prince and Monsieur Love ! I will hide me in the arbour . + +Come , shall we hear this music ? + +Yea , my good lord . How still the evening is , +As hush'd on purpose to grace harmony ! + +See you where Benedick hath hid himself ? + +O ! very well , my lord : the music ended , +We'll fit the kid-fox with a penny-worth . + +Come , Balthazar , we'll hear that song again . + +O ! good my lord , tax not so bad a voice +To slander music any more than once . + +It is the witness still of excellency , +To put a strange face on his own perfection . +I pray thee , sing , and let me woo no more . + +Because you talk of wooing , I will sing ; +Since many a wooer doth commence his suit +To her he thinks not worthy ; yet he woos ; +Yet will he swear he loves . + +Nay , pray thee , come ; +Or if thou wilt hold longer argument , +Do it in notes . + +Note this before my notes ; +There's not a note of mine that's worth the noting . + +Why these are very crotchets that he speaks ; +Notes , notes , forsooth , and nothing ! + + +Now , divine air ! now is his soul ravished ! Is it not strange that sheeps' guts should hale souls out of men's bodies ? Well , a horn for my money , when all's done . + +Sigh no more , ladies , sigh no more , +Men were deceivers ever ; +One foot in sea , and one on shore , +To one thing constant never . +Then sigh not so , +But let them go , +And be you blithe and bonny , +Converting all your sounds of woe +Into Hey nonny , nonny . +Sing no more ditties , sing no mo +Of dumps so dull and heavy ; +The fraud of men was ever so , +Since summer first was leavy . +Then sigh not so , +But let them go , +And be you blithe and bonny , +Converting all your sounds of woe +Into Hey nonny , nonny . + + +By my troth , a good song . + +And an ill singer , my lord . + +Ha , no , no , faith ; thou singest well enough for a shift . + +An he had been a dog that should have howled thus , they would have hanged him ; and I pray God his bad voice bode no mischief . I had as lief have heard the night-raven , come what plague could have come after it . + +Yea , marry ; dost thou hear , Balthazar ? I pray thee , get us some excellent music , for to-morrow night we would have it at the Lady Hero's chamber-window . + +The best I can , my lord . + +Do so : farewell . + +Come hither , Leonato : what was it you told me of to-day , that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick ? + +O ! ay : + +Stalk on , stalk on ; the fowl sits . I did never think that lady would have loved any man . + +No , nor I neither ; but most wonderful that she should so dote on Signior Benedick , whom she hath in all outward behaviours seemed ever to abhor . + +Is't possible ? Sits the wind in that corner ? + +By my troth , my lord , I cannot tell what to think of it but that she loves him with an enraged affection : it is past the infinite of thought . + +May be she doth but counterfeit . + +Faith , like enough . + +O God ! counterfeit ! There was never counterfeit of passion came so near the life of passion as she discovers it . + +Why , what effects of passion shows she ? + +Bait the hook well : this fish will bite . + +What effects , my lord ? She will sit you ; + +You heard my daughter tell you how . + +She did , indeed . + +How , how , I pray you ? You amaze me : I would have thought her spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection . + +I would have sworn it had , my lord ; especially against Benedick . + +I should think this a gull , but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it : knavery cannot , sure , hide itself in such reverence . + +He hath ta'en the infection : hold it up . + +Hath she made her affection known to Benedick ? + +No ; and swears she never will : that's her torment . + +'Tis true , indeed ; so your daughter says : 'Shall I ,' says she , 'that have so oft encountered him with scorn , write to him that I love him ?' + +This says she now when she is beginning to write to him ; for she'll be up twenty times a night , and there will she sit in her smock till she have writ a sheet of paper : my daughter tells us all . + +Now you talk of a sheet of paper , I remember a pretty jest your daughter told us of . + +O ! when she had writ it , and was reading it over , she found Benedick and Beatrice between the sheet ? + +That . + +O ! she tore the letter into a thousand halfpence ; railed at herself , that she should be so immodest to write to one that she knew would flout her : 'I measure him ,' says she , 'by my own spirit ; for I should flout him , if he writ to me ; yea , though I love him , I should .' + +Then down upon her knees she falls , weeps , sobs , beats her heart , tears her hair , prays , curses ; 'O sweet Benedick ! God give me patience !' + +She doth indeed ; my daughter says so ; and the ecstasy hath so much overborne her , that my daughter is sometimes afeard she will do a desperate outrage to herself . It is very true . + +It were good that Benedick knew of it by some other , if she will not discover it . + +To what end ? he would but make a sport of it and torment the poor lady worse . + +An he should , it were an alms to hang him . She's an excellent sweet lady , and , out of all suspicion , she is virtuous . + +And she is exceeding wise . + +In everything but in loving Benedick . + +O ! my lord , wisdom and blood combating in so tender a body , we have ten proofs to one that blood hath the victory . I am sorry for her , as I have just cause , being her uncle and her guardian . + +I would she had bestowed this dotage on me ; I would have daffed all other respects and made her half myself . I pray you , tell Benedick of it , and hear what a' will say . + +Were it good , think you ? + +Hero thinks surely she will die ; for she says she will die if he love her not , and she will die ere she make her love known , and she will die if he woo her , rather than she will bate one breath of her accustomed crossness . + +She doth well : if she should make tender of her love , 'tis very possible he'll scorn it ; for the man ,as you know all ,hath a contemptible spirit . + +he is a very proper man . + +He hath indeed a good outward happiness . + +'Fore God , and in my mind , very wise . + +He doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit . + +And I take him to be valiant . + +As Hector , I assure you : and in the managing of quarrels you may say he is wise ; for either he avoids them with great discretion , or undertakes them with a most Christian-like fear . + +If he do fear God , a' must necessarily keep peace : if he break the peace , he ought to enter into a quarrel with fear and trembling . + +And so will he do ; for the man doth fear God , howsoever it seems not in him by some large jests he will make . Well , I am sorry for your niece . Shall we go seek Benedick , and tell him of her love ? + +Never tell him , my lord : let her wear it out with good counsel . + +Nay , that's impossible : she may wear her heart out first . + +Well , we will hear further of it by your daughter : let it cool the while . I love Benedick well , and I could wish he would modestly examine himself , to see how much he is unworthy to have so good a lady . + +My lord , will you walk ? dinner is ready . + +If he do not dote on her upon this , I will never trust my expectation . + +Let there be the same net spread for her ; and that must your daughter and her gentlewoman carry . The sport will be , when they hold one an opinion of another's dotage , and no such matter : that's the scene that I would see , which will be merely a dumbshow . Let us send her to call him in to dinner . + + +This can be no trick : the conference was sadly borne . They have the truth of this from Hero . They seem to pity the lady : it seems , her affections have their full bent . Love me ! why , it must be requited . I hear how I am censured : they say I will bear myself proudly , if I perceive the love come from her ; they say too that she will rather die than give any sign of affection . I did never think to marry : I must not seem proud : happy are they that hear their detractions , and can put them to mending . They say the lady is fair : 'tis a truth , I can bear them witness ; and virtuous : 'tis so , I cannot reprove it ; and wise , but for loving me : by my troth , it is no addition to her wit , nor no great argument of her folly , for I will be horribly in love with her . I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me , because I have railed so long against marriage ; but doth not the appetite alter ? A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age . Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour ? No ; the world must be peopled . When I said I would die a bachelor , I did not think I should live till I were married . Here comes Beatrice . By this day ! she's a fair lady : I do spy some marks of love in her . + + +Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner . + +Fair Beatrice , I thank you for your pains . + +I took no more pains for those thanks than you take pains to thank me : if it had been painful , I would not have come . + +You take pleasure then in the message ? + +Yea , just so much as you may take upon a knife's point , and choke a daw withal . You have no stomach , signior : fare you well . + + +Ha ! 'Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner ,' there's a double meaning in that . 'I took no more pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank me ,' that's as much as to say , Any pains that I take for you is as easy as thanks . If I do not take pity of her , I am a villain ; if I do not love her , I am a Jew . I will go get her picture . + +Good Margaret , run thee to the parlour ; +There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice +Proposing with the prince and Claudio : +Whisper her ear , and tell her , I and Ursula +Walk in the orchard , and our whole discourse +Is all of her ; say that thou overheard'st us , +And bid her steal into the pleached bower , +Where honey-suckles , ripen'd by the sun , +Forbid the sun to enter ; like favourites , +Made proud by princes , that advance their pride +Against that power that bred it . There will she hide her , +To listen our propose . This is thy office ; +Bear thee well in it and leave us alone . + +I'll make her come , I warrant you , presently . + + +Now , Ursula , when Beatrice doth come , +As we do trace this alley up and down , +Our talk must only be of Benedick : +When I do name him , let it be thy part +To praise him more than ever man did merit . +My talk to thee must be how Benedick +Is sick in love with Beatrice : of this matter +Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made , +That only wounds by hearsay . + + +Now begin ; +For look where Beatrice , like a lapwing , runs + +Close by the ground , to hear our conference . + +The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish +Cut with her golden oars the silver stream , +And greedily devour the treacherous bait : +So angle we for Beatrice ; who even now +Is couched in the woodbine coverture . +Fear you not my part of the dialogue . + +Then go we near her , that her ear lose nothing +Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it . + +No , truly , Ursula , she is too disdainful ; +I know her spirits are as coy and wild +As haggerds of the rock . + +But are you sure +That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely ? + +So says the prince , and my new-trothed lord . + +And did they bid you tell her of it , madam ? + +They did entreat me to acquaint her of it ; +But I persuaded them , if they lov'd Benedick , +To wish him wrestle with affection , +And never to let Beatrice know of it . + +Why did you so ? Doth not the gentleman +Deserve as full as fortunate a bed +As ever Beatrice shall couch upon ? + +O god of love ! I know he doth deserve +As much as may be yielded to a man ; +But nature never fram'd a woman's heart +Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice ; +Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes , +Misprising what they look on , and her wit +Values itself so highly , that to her +All matter else seems weak . She cannot love , +Nor take no shape nor project of affection , +She is so self-endear'd . + +Sure , I think so ; +And therefore certainly it were not good +She knew his love , lest she make sport at it . + +Why , you speak truth . I never yet saw man , +How wise , how noble , young , how rarely featur'd , +But she would spell him backward : if fair-fac'd , +She would swear the gentleman should be her sister ; +If black , why , Nature , drawing of an antick , +Made a foul blot ; if tall , a lance ill-headed ; +If low , an agate very vilely cut ; +If speaking , why , a vane blown with all winds ; +If silent , why , a block moved with none . +So turns she every man the wrong side out , +And never gives to truth and virtue that +Which simpleness and merit purchaseth . + +Sure , sure , such carping is not commendable . + +No ; not to be so odd and from all fashions +As Beatrice is , cannot be commendable . +But who dare tell her so ? If I should speak , +She would mock me into air : O ! she would laugh me +Out of myself , press me to death with wit . +Therefore let Benedick , like cover'd fire , +Consume away in sighs , waste inwardly : +It were a better death than die with mocks , +Which is as bad as die with tickling . + +Yet tell her of it : hear what she will say . + +No ; rather I will go to Benedick , +And counsel him to fight against his passion . +And , truly , I'll devise some honest slanders +To stain my cousin with . One doth not know +How much an ill word may empoison liking . + +O ! do not do your cousin such a wrong . +She cannot be so much without true judgment , +Having so swift and excellent a wit +As she is priz'd to have ,as to refuse +So rare a gentleman as Signior Benedick . + +He is the only man of Italy , +Always excepted my dear Claudio . + +I pray you , be not angry with me , madam , +Speaking my fancy : Signior Benedick , +For shape , for bearing , argument and valour , +Goes foremost in report through Italy . + +Indeed , he hath an excellent good name . + +His excellence did earn it , ere he had it . +When are you married , madam ? + +Why , every day , to-morrow . Come , go in : +I'll show thee some attires , and have thy counsel +Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow . + +She's lim'd , I warrant you : we have caught her , madam . + +If it prove so , then loving goes by haps : +Some Cupid kills with arrows , some with traps . + + +What fire is in mine ears ? Can this be true ? +Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much ? +Contempt , farewell ! and maiden pride , adieu ! +No glory lives behind the back of such . +And , Benedick , love on ; I will requite thee , +Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand : +If thou dost love , my kindness shall incite thee +To bind our loves up in a holy band ; +For others say thou dost deserve , and I +Believe it better than reportingly . + + +I do but stay till your marriage be consummate , and then go I toward Arragon . + +I'll bring you thither , my lord , if you'll vouchsafe me . + +Nay , that would be as great a soil in the new gloss of your marriage , as to show a child his new coat and forbid him to wear it . I will only be bold with Benedick for his company ; for , from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot , he is all mirth : he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's bow-string , and the little hangman dare not shoot at him . He hath a heart as sound as a bell , and his tongue is the clapper ; for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks . + +Gallants , I am not as I have been . + +So say I : methinks you are sadder . + +I hope he be in love . + +Hang him , truant ! there's no true drop of blood in him , to be truly touched with love . If he be sad , he wants money . + +I have the tooth-ache . + +Draw it . + +Hang it . + +You must hang it first , and draw it afterwards . + +What ! sigh for the tooth-ache ? + +Where is but a humour or a worm ? + +Well , every one can master a grief but he that has it . + +Yet say I , he is in love . + +There is no appearance of fancy in him , unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises ; as , to be a Dutchman to-day , a Frenchman to-morrow , or in the shape of two countries at once , as a German from the waist downward , all slops , and a Spaniard from the hip upward , no doublet . Unless he have a fancy to this foolery , as it appears he hath , he is no fool for fancy , as you would have it appear he is . + +If he be not in love with some woman , there is no believing old signs : a' brushes his hat a mornings ; what should that bode ? + +Hath any man seen him at the barber's ? + +No , but the barber's man hath been seen with him ; and the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis-balls . + +Indeed he looks younger than he did , by the loss of a beard . + +Nay , a' rubs himself with civet : can you smell him out by that ? + +That's as much as to say the sweet youth's in love . + +The greatest note of it is his melancholy . + +And when was he wont to wash his face ? + +Yea , or to paint himself ? for the which , I hear what they say of him . + +Nay , but his jesting spirit ; which is now crept into a lute-string , and new-governed by stops . + +Indeed , that tells a heavy tale for him . Conclude , conclude he is in love . + +Nay , but I know who loves him . + +That would I know too : I warrant , one that knows him not . + +Yes , and his ill conditions ; and in despite of all , dies for him . + +She shall be buried with her face upwards . + +Yet is this no charm for the tooth-ache . +Old signior , walk aside with me : I have studied eight or nine wise words to speak to you , which these hobby-horses must not hear . + + +For my life , to break with him about Beatrice . + +'Tis even so . Hero and Margaret have by this played their parts with Beatrice , and then the two bears will not bite one another when they meet . + + +My lord and brother , God save you ! + +Good den , brother . + +If your leisure served , I would speak with you . + +In private ? + +If it please you ; yet Count Claudio may hear , for what I would speak of concerns him . + +What's the matter ? + +Means your lordship to be married to-morrow ? + +You know he does . + +I know not that , when he knows what I know . + +If there be any impediment , I pray you discover it . + +You may think I love you not : let that appear hereafter , and aim better at me by that I now will manifest . For my brother , I think he holds you well , and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect your ensuing marriage ; surely suit ill-spent , and labour ill bestowed ! + +Why , what's the matter ? + +I came hither to tell you ; and circumstances shortened ,for she hath been too long a talking of ,the lady is disloyal . + +Who , Hero ? + +Even she : Leonato's Hero , your Hero , every man's Hero . + +Disloyal ? + +The word's too good to paint out her wickedness ; I could say , she were worse : think you of a worse title , and I will fit her to it . Wonder not till further warrant : go but with me to-night , you shall see her chamber-window entered , even the night before her wedding-day : if you love her then , to-morrow wed her ; but it would better fit your honour to change your mind . + +May this be so ? + +I will not think it . + +If you dare not trust that you see , confess not that you know . If you will follow me , I will show you enough ; and when you have seen more and heard more , proceed accordingly . + +If I see any thing to-night why I should not marry her to-morrow , in the congregation , where I should wed , there will I shame her . + +And , as I wooed for thee to obtain her , I will join with thee to disgrace her . + +I will disparage her no further till you are my witnesses : bear it coldly but till midnight , and let the issue show itself . + +O day untowardly turned ! + +O mischief strangely thwarting ! + +O plague right well prevented ! So will you say when you have seen the sequel . + + +Are you good men and true ? + +Yea , or else it were pity but they should suffer salvation , body and soul . + +Nay , that were a punishment too good for them , if they should have any allegiance in them , being chosen for the prince's watch . + +Well , give them their charge , neighbour Dogberry . + +First , who think you the most desartless man to be constable ? + +Hugh Oatcake , sir , or George Seacoal ; for they can write and read . + +Come hither , neighbour Seacoal . God hath blessed you with a good name : to be a well-favoured man is the gift of fortune ; but to write and read comes by nature . + +Both which , Master constable , + +You have : I knew it would be your answer . Well , for your favour , sir , why , give God thanks , and make no boast of it ; and for your writing and reading , let that appear when there is no need of such vanity . You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch ; therefore bear you the lanthorn . This is your charge : you shall comprehend all vagrom men ; you are to bid any man stand , in the prince's name . + +How , if a' will not stand ? + +Why , then , take no note of him , but let him go ; and presently call the rest of the watch together , and thank God you are rid of a knave . + +If he will not stand when he is bidden , he is none of the prince's subjects . + +True , and they are to meddle with none but the prince's subjects . You shall also make no noise in the streets : for , for the watch to babble and to talk is most tolerable and not to be endured . + +We will rather sleep than talk : we know what belongs to a watch . + +Why , you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman , for I cannot see how sleeping should offend ; only have a care that your bills be not stolen . Well , you are to call at all the alehouses , and bid those that are drunk get them to bed . + +How if they will not ? + +Why then , let them alone till they are sober : if they make you not then the better answer , you may say they are not the men you took them for . + +Well , sir . + +If you meet a thief , you may suspect him , by virtue of your office , to be no true man ; and , for such kind of men , the less you meddle or make with them , why , the more is for your honesty . + +If we know him to be a thief , shall we not lay hands on him ? + +Truly , by your office , you may ; but I think they that touch pitch will be defiled . The most peaceable way for you , if you do take a thief , is , to let him show himself what he is and steal out of your company . + +You have been always called a merciful man , partner . + +Truly , I would not hang a dog by my will , much more a man who hath any honesty in him . + +If you hear a child cry in the night , you must call to the nurse and bid her still it . + +How if the nurse be asleep and will not hear us ? + +Why , then , depart in peace , and let the child wake her with crying ; for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baes , will never answer a calf when he bleats . + +'Tis very true . + +This is the end of the charge . You constable , are to present the prince's own person : if you meet the prince in the night , you may stay him . + +Nay , by 'r lady , that I think , a' cannot . + +Five shillings to one on't , with any man that knows the statues , he may stay him : marry , not without the prince be willing ; for , indeed , the watch ought to offend no man , and it is an offence to stay a man against his will . + +By 'r lady , I think it be so . + +Ha , ah , ha ! Well , masters , good night : an there be any matter of weight chances , call up me : keep your fellows' counsels and your own , and good night . Come , neighbour . + +Well , masters , we hear our charge : let us go sit here upon the church-bench till two , and then all go to bed . + +One word more , honest neighbours . I pray you , watch about Signior Leonato's door ; for the wedding being there to-morrow , there is a great coil to-night . Adieu ; be vigitant , I beseech you . + +What , Conrade ! + +Peace ! stir not . + +Conrade , I say ! + +Here , man , I am at thy elbow . + +Mass , and my elbow itched ; I thought there would a scab follow . + +I will owe thee an answer for that ; and now forward with thy tale . + +Stand thee close then under this penthouse , for it drizzles rain , and I will , like a true drunkard , utter all to thee . + +Some treason , masters ; yet stand close . + +Therefore know , I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats . + +Is it possible that any villany should be so dear ? + +Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any villany should be so rich ; for when rich villains have need of poor ones , poor ones may make what price they will . + +I wonder at it . + +That shows thou art unconfirmed . Thou knowest that the fashion of a doublet , or a hat , or a cloak , is nothing to a man . + +Yes , it is apparel . + +I mean , the fashion . + +Yes , the fashion is the fashion . + +Tush ! I may as well say the fool's the fool . But seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion is ? + +I know that Deformed ; a' has been a vile thief this seven years ; a' goes up and down like a gentleman : I remember his name . + +Didst thou not hear somebody ? + +No : 'twas the vane on the house . + +Seest thou not , I say , what a deformed thief this fashion is ? how giddily he turns about all the hot bloods between fourteen and five-and-thirty ? sometime fashioning them like Pharaoh's soldiers in the reechy painting ; sometime like god Bel's priests in the old church-window ; sometime like the shaven Hercules in the smirched worm-eaten tapestry , where his cod-piece seems as massy as his club ? + +All this I see , and I see that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man . But art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too , that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion ? + +Not so , neither ; but know , that I have to-night wooed Margaret , the Lady Hero's gentlewoman , by the name of Hero : she leans me out at her mistress' chamber-window , bids me a thousand times good night ,I tell this tale vilely :I should first tell thee how the prince , Claudio , and my master , planted and placed and possessed by my master Don John , saw afar off in the orchard this amiable encounter . + +And thought they Margaret was Hero ? + +Two of them did , the prince and Claudio ; but the devil my master , knew she was Margaret ; and partly by his oaths , which first possessed them , partly by the dark night , which did deceive them , but chiefly by my villany , which did confirm any slander that Don John had made , away went Claudio enraged ; swore he would meet her , as he was appointed , next morning at the temple , and there , before the whole congregation , shame her with what he saw o'er night , and send her home again without a husband . + +We charge you in the prince's name , stand ! + +Call up the right Master constable . We have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealth . + +And one Deformed is one of them : I know him , a' wears a lock . + +Masters , masters ! + +You'll be made bring Deformed forth , I warrant you . + +Masters , + +Never speak : we charge you let us obey you to go with us . + +We are like to prove a goodly commodity , being taken up of these men's bills . + +A commodity in question , I warrant you . Come , we'll obey you . + + +Good Ursula , wake my cousin Beatrice , and desire her to rise . + +I will , lady . + +And bid her come hither . + +Well . + + +Troth , I think your other rabato were better . + +No , pray thee , good Meg , I'll wear this . + +By my troth's not so good ; and I warrant your cousin will say so . + +My cousin's a fool , and thou art another : I'll wear none but this . + +I like the new tire within excellently , if the hair were a thought browner ; and your gown's a most rare fashion , i' faith . I saw the Duchess of Milan's gown that they praise so . + +O ! that exceeds , they say . + +By my troth's but a night-gown in respect of yours : cloth o' gold , and cuts , and laced with silver , set with pearls , down sleeves , side sleeves , and skirts round , underborne with a bluish tinsel ; but for a fine , quaint , graceful , and excellent fashion , yours is worth ten on't . + +God give me joy to wear it ! for my heart is exceeding heavy . + +'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man . + +Fie upon thee ! art not ashamed ? + +Of what , lady ? of speaking honourably ? is not marriage honourable in a beggar ? Is not your lord honourable without marriage ? I think you would have me say , 'saving your reverence , a husband :' an bad thinking do not wrest true speaking , I'll offend nobody . Is there any harm in 'the heavier for a husband ?' None , I think , an it be the right husband and the right wife ; otherwise 'tis light , and not heavy : ask my Lady Beatrice else ; here she comes . + + +Good morrow , coz . + +Good morrow , sweet Hero . + +Why , how now ! do you speak in the sick tune ? + +I am out of all other tune , methinks . + +Clap's into 'Light o' love ;' that goes without a burden : do you sing it , and I'll dance it . + +Ye light o' love with your heels ! then , if your husband have stables enough , you'll see he shall lack no barns . + +O illegitimate construction ! I scorn that with my heels . + +'Tis almost five o'clock , cousin ; 'tis time you were ready . By my troth , I am exceeding ill . Heigh-ho ! + +For a hawk , a horse , or a husband ? + +For the letter that begins them all , H . + +Well , an you be not turned Turk , there's no more sailing by the star . + +What means the fool , trow ? + +Nothing I ; but God send every one their heart's desire ! + +These gloves the count sent me ; they are an excellent perfume . + +I am stuffed , cousin , I cannot smell . + +A maid , and stuffed ! there's goodly catching of cold . + +O , God help me ! God help me ! how long have you professed apprehension ? + +Ever since you left it . Doth not my wit become me rarely ! + +It is not seen enough , you should wear it in your cap . By my troth , I am sick . + +Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus , and lay it to your heart : it is the only thing for a qualm . + +There thou prick'st her with a thistle . + +Benedictus ! why Benedictus ? you have some moral in this Benedictus . + +Moral ! no , by my troth , I have no moral meaning ; I meant , plain holy-thistle . You may think , perchance , that I think you are in love : nay , by'r lady , I am not such a fool to think what I list ; nor I list not to think what I can ; nor , indeed , I cannot think , if I would think my heart out of thinking , that you are in love , or that you will be in love , or that you can be in love . Yet Benedick was such another , and now is he become a man : he swore he would never marry ; and yet now , in despite of his heart , he eats his meat without grudging : and how you may be converted , I know not ; but methinks you look with your eyes as other women do . + +What pace is this that thy tongue keeps ? + +Not a false gallop . + + +Madam , withdraw : the prince , the count , Signior Benedick , Don John , and all the gallants of the town , are come to fetch you to church . + +Help to dress me , good coz , good Meg , good Ursula . + + +What would you with me , honest neighbour ? + +Marry , sir , I would have some confidence with you , that decerns you nearly . + +Brief , I pray you ; for you see it is a busy time with me . + +Marry , this it is , sir . + +Yes , in truth it is , sir . + +What is it , my good friends ? + +Goodman Verges , sir , speaks a little off the matter : an old man , sir , and his wits are not so blunt , as , God help , I would desire they were ; but , in faith , honest as the skin between his brows . + +Yes , I thank God , I am as honest as any man living , that is an old man and no honester than I . + +Comparisons are odorous : palabras , neighbour Verges . + +Neighbours , you are tedious . + +It pleases your worship to say so , but we are the poor duke's officers ; but truly , for mine own part , if I were as tedious as a king , I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship . + +All thy tediousness on me ! ha ? + +Yea , an't were a thousand pound more than 'tis ; for I hear as good exclamation on your worship , as of any man in the city , and though I be but a poor man , I am glad to hear it . + +And so am I . + +I would fain know what you have to say . + +Marry , sir , our watch to-night , excepting your worship's presence , ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina . + +A good old man , sir ; he will be talking ; as they say , 'when the age is in , the wit is out .' God help us ! it is a world to see ! Well said , i' faith , neighbour Verges : well , God's a good man ; an two men ride of a horse , one must ride behind . An honest soul , i' faith , sir ; by my troth he is , as ever broke bread : but God is to be worshipped : all men are not alike ; alas ! good neighbour . + +Indeed , neighbour , he comes too short of you . + +Gifts that God gives . + +I must leave you . + +One word , sir : our watch , sir , hath indeed comprehended two aspicious persons , and we would have them this morning examined before your worship . + +Take their examination yourself , and bring it me : I am now in great haste , as may appear unto you . + +It shall be suffigance . + +Drink some wine ere you go : fare you well . + + +My lord , they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband . + +I'll wait upon them : I am ready . + + +Go , good partner , go , get you to Francis Seacoal ; bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol : we are now to examination these men . + +And we must do it wisely . + +We will spare for no wit , I warrant you ; here's that shall drive some of them to a non-come : only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication , and meet me at the gaol . + +Come , Friar Francis , be brief : only to the plain form of marriage , and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards . + +You come hither , my lord , to marry this lady ? + +No . + +To be married to her , friar ; you come to marry her . + +Lady , you come hither to be married to this count ? + +I do . + +If either of you know any inward impediment , why you should not be conjoined , I charge you , on your souls , to utter it . + +Know you any , Hero ? + +None , my lord . + +Know you any , count ? + +I dare make his answer ; none . + +O ! what men dare do ! what men may do ! what men daily do , not knowing what they do ! + +How now ! Interjections ? Why then , some be of laughing , as ah ! ha ! he ! + +Stand thee by , friar . Father , by your leave : +Will you with free and unconstrained soul +Give me this maid , your daughter ? + +As freely , son , as God did give her me . + +And what have I to give you back whose worth +May counterpoise this rich and precious gift ? + +Nothing , unless you render her again . + +Sweet prince , you learn me noble thankfulness . +There , Leonato , take her back again : +Give not this rotten orange to your friend ; +She's but the sign and semblance of her honour . +Behold ! how like a maid she blushes here . +O ! what authority and show of truth +Can cunning sin cover itself withal . +Comes not that blood as modest evidence +To witness simple virtue ? Would you not swear , +All you that see her , that she were a maid , +By these exterior shows ? But she is none : +She knows the heat of a luxurious bed ; +Her blush is guiltiness , not modesty . + +What do you mean , my lord ? + +Not to be married , +Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton . + +Dear my lord , if you , in your own proof , +Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth , +And made defeat of her virginity , + +I know what you would say : if I have known her , +You'll say she did embrace me as a husband , +And so extenuate the 'forehand sin : +No , Leonato , +I never tempted her with word too large ; +But , as a brother to his sister , show'd +Bashful sincerity and comely love . + +And seem'd I ever otherwise to you ? + +Out on thee ! Seeming ! I will write against it : +You seem to me as Dian in her orb , +As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown ; +But you are more intemperate in your blood +Than Venus , or those pamper'd animals +That rage in savage sensuality . + +Is my lord well , that he doth speak so wide ? + +Sweet prince , why speak not you ? + +What should I speak ? +I stand dishonour'd , that have gone about +To link my dear friend to a common stale . + +Are these things spoken , or do I but dream ? + +Sir , they are spoken , and these things are true . + +This looks not like a nuptial . + +True ! O God ! + +Leonato , stand I here ? +Is this the prince ? Is this the prince's brother ? +Is this face Hero's ? Are our eyes our own ? + +All this is so ; but what of this , my lord ? + +Let me but move one question to your daughter ; +And by that fatherly and kindly power +That you have in her , bid her answer truly . + +I charge thee do so , as thou art my child . + +O , God defend me ! how am I beset ! +What kind of catechizing call you this ? + +To make you answer truly to your name . + +Is it not Hero ? Who can blot that name +With any just reproach ? + +Marry , that can Hero : +Hero itself can blot out Hero's virtue . +What man was he talk'd with you yesternight +Out at your window , betwixt twelve and one ? +Now , if you are a maid , answer to this . + +I talk'd with no man at that hour , my lord . + +Why , then are you no maiden . Leonato , +I am sorry you must hear : upon mine honour , +Myself , my brother , and this grieved count , +Did see her , hear her , at that hour last night , +Talk with a ruffian at her chamber-window ; +Who hath indeed , most like a liberal villain , +Confess'd the vile encounters they have had +A thousand times in secret . + +Fie , fie ! they are not to be nam'd , my lord , +Not to be spoke of ; +There is not chastity enough in language +Without offence to utter them . Thus , pretty lady , +I am sorry for thy much misgovernment . + +O Hero ! what a Hero hadst thou been , +If half thy outward graces had been plac'd +About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart ! +But fare thee well , most foul , most fair ! farewell , +Thou pure impiety , and impious purity ! +For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love , +And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang , +To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm , +And never shall it more be gracious . + +Hath no man's dagger here a point for me ? + + +Why , how now , cousin ! wherefore sink you down ? + +Come , let us go . These things , come thus to light , +Smother her spirits up . + + +How doth the lady ? + +Dead , I think ! help , uncle ! +Hero ! why , Hero ! Uncle ! Signior Benedick ! +Friar ! + +O Fate ! take not away thy heavy hand : +Death is the fairest cover for her shame +That may be wish'd for . + +How now , cousin Hero ! + +Have comfort , lady . + +Dost thou look up ? + +Yea ; wherefore should she not ? + +Wherefore ! Why , doth not every earthly thing +Cry shame upon her ? Could she here deny +The story that is printed in her blood ? +Do not live , Hero ; do not ope thine eyes ; +For , did I think thou wouldst not quickly die , +Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames , +Myself would , on the rearward of reproaches , +Strike at thy life . Griev'd I , I had but one ? +Chid I for that at frugal nature's frame ? +O ! one too much by thee . Why had I one ? +Why ever wast thou lovely in mine eyes ? +Why had I not with charitable hand +Took up a beggar's issue at my gates , +Who smirched thus , and mir'd with infamy , +I might have said , 'No part of it is mine ; +This shame derives itself from unknown loins ?' +But mine , and mine I lov'd , and mine I prais'd , +And mine that I was proud on , mine so much +That I myself was to myself not mine , +Valuing of her ; why , she O ! she is fallen +Into a pit of ink , that the wide sea +Hath drops too few to wash her clean again , +And salt too little which may season give +To her foul-tainted flesh . + +Sir , sir , be patient . +For my part , I am so attir'd in wonder , +I know not what to say . + +O ! on my soul , my cousin is belied ! + +Lady , were you her bedfellow last night ? + +No , truly , not ; although , until last night , +I have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow . + +Confirm'd , confirm'd ! O ! that is stronger made , +Which was before barr'd up with ribs of iron . +Would the two princes lie ? and Claudio lie , +Who lov'd her so , that , speaking of her foulness , +Wash'd it with tears ? Hence from her ! let her die . + +Hear me a little ; +For I have only been silent so long , +And given way unto this course of fortune , +By noting of the lady : I have mark'd +A thousand blushing apparitions +To start into her face ; a thousand innocent shames +In angel whiteness bear away those blushes ; +And in her eye there hath appear'd a fire , +To burn the errors that these princess hold +Against her maiden truth . Call me a fool ; +Trust not my reading nor my observations , +Which with experimental seal doth warrant +The tenour of my book ; trust not my age , +My reverence , calling , nor divinity , +If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here +Under some biting error . + +Friar , it cannot be . +Thou seest that all the grace that she hath left +Is , that she will not add to her damnation +A sin of perjury : she not denies it . +Why seek'st thou then to cover with excuse +That which appears in proper nakedness ? + +Lady , what man is he you are accus'd of ? + +They know that do accuse me , I know none ; +If I know more of any man alive +Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant , +Let all my sins lack mercy ! O , my father ! +Prove you that any man with me convers'd +At hours unmeet , or that I yesternight +Maintain'd the change of words with any creature , +Refuse me , hate me , torture me to death . + +There is some strange misprision in the princes . + +Two of them have the very bent of honour ; +And if their wisdoms be misled in this , +The practice of it lives in John the bastard , +Whose spirits toil in frame of villanies . + +I know not . If they speak but truth of her , +These hands shall tear her ; if they wrong her honour , +The proudest of them shall well hear of it . +Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine . +Nor age so eat up my invention , +Nor fortune made such havoc of my means , +Nor my bad life reft me so much of friends , +But they shall find , awak'd in such a kind , +Both strength of limb and policy of mind , +Ability in means and choice of friends , +To quit me of them throughly . + +Pause awhile , +And let my counsel sway you in this case . +Your daughter here the princes left for dead ; +Let her awhile be secretly kept in , +And publish it that she is dead indeed : +Maintain a mourning ostentation ; +And on your family's old monument +Hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites +That appertain unto a burial . + +What shall become of this ? What will this do ? + +Marry , this well carried shall on her behalf +Change slander to remorse ; that is some good : +But not for that dream I on this strange course , +But on this travail look for greater birth . +She dying , as it must be so maintain'd , +Upon the instant that she was accus'd , +Shall be lamented , pitied and excus'd +Of every hearer ; for it so falls out +That what we have we prize not to the worth +Whiles we enjoy it , but being lack'd and lost , +Why , then we rack the value , then we find +The virtue that possession would not show us +Whiles it was ours . So will it fare with Claudio : +When he shall hear she died upon his words , +The idea of her life shall sweetly creep +Into his study of imagination , +And every lovely organ of her life +Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit , +More moving-delicate , and full of life +Into the eye and prospect of his soul , +Than when she liv'd indeed : then shall he mourn , +If ever love had interest in his liver , +And wish he had not so accused her , +No , though he thought his accusation true . +Let this be so , and doubt not but success +Will fashion the event in better shape +Than I can lay it down in likelihood . +But if all aim but this be levell'd false , +The supposition of the lady's death +Will quench the wonder of her infamy : +And if it sort not well , you may conceal her , +As best befits her wounded reputation , +In some reclusive and religious life , +Out of all eyes , tongues , minds , and injuries . + +Signior Leonato , let the friar advise you : +And though you know my inwardness and love +Is very much unto the prince and Claudio , +Yet , by mine honour , I will deal in this +As secretly and justly as your soul +Should with your body . + +Being that I flow in grief , +The smallest twine may lead me . + +'Tis well consented : presently away ; +For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure . +Come , lady , die to live : this wedding day +Perhaps is but prolong'd : have patience and endure . + + +Lady Beatrice , have you wept all this while ? + +Yea , and I will weep a while longer . + +I will not desire that . + +You have no reason ; I do it freely . + +Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged . + +Ah ! how much might the man deserve of me that would right her . + +Is there any way to show such friendship ? + +A very even way , but no such friend . + +May a man do it ? + +It is a man's office , but not yours . + +I do love nothing in the world so well as you : is not that strange ? + +As strange as the thing I know not . +It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as your , but believe me not , and yet I lie not ; I confess nothing , not I deny nothing . I am sorry for my cousin . + +By my sword , Beatrice , thou lovest me . + +Do not swear by it , and eat it . + +I will swear by it that you love me ; and I will make him eat it that says I love not you . + +Will you not eat your word ? + +With no sauce that can be devised to it . I protest I love thee . + +Why then , God forgive me ! + +What offence , sweet Beatrice ? + +You have stayed me in a happy hour : +I was about to protest I loved you . + +And do it with all thy heart . + +I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest . + +Come , bid me do anything for thee . + +Kill Claudio . + +Ha ! not for the wide world . + +You kill me to deny it . Farewell . + +Tarry , sweet Beatrice . + +I am gone , though I am here : there is no love in you : nay , I pray you , let me go . + +Beatrice , + +In faith , I will go . + +We'll be friends first . + +You dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy . + +Is Claudio thine enemy ? + +Is he not approved in the height a villain , that hath slandered , scorned , dishonoured my kinswoman ? O ! that I were a man . What ! bear her in hand until they come to take hands , and then , with public accusation , uncovered slander , unmitigated rancour ,O God , that I were a man ! I would eat his heart in the market-place . + +Hear me , Beatrice , + +Talk with a man out at a window ! a proper saying ! + +Nay , but Beatrice , + +Sweet Hero ! she is wronged , she is slandered , she is undone . + +Beat + +Princes and counties ! Surely , a princely testimony , a goodly Count Comfect ; a sweet gallant , surely ! O ! that I were a man for his sake , or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake ! But manhood is melted into curtsies , valour into compliment , and men are only turned into tongue , and trim ones too : he is now as valiant as Hercules , that only tells a lie and swears it . I cannot be a man with wishing , therefore I will die a woman with grieving . + +Tarry , good Beatrice . By this hand , I love thee . + +Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it . + +Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero ? + +Yea , as sure as I have a thought or a soul . + +Enough ! I am engaged , I will challenge him . I will kiss your hand , and so leave you . By this hand , Claudio shall render me a dear account . As you hear of me , so think of me . Go , comfort your cousin : I must say she is dead ; and so , farewell . + + +Is our whole dissembly appeared ? + +O ! a stool and a cushion for the sexton . + +Which be the malefactors ? + +Marry , that am I and my partner . + +Nay , that's certain : we have the exhibition to examine . + +But which are the offenders that are to be examined ? let them come before Master constable . + +Yea , marry , let them come before me . +What is your name , friend ? + +Borachio . + +Pray write down Borachio . Yours , sirrah ? + +I am a gentleman , sir , and my name is Conrade . + +Write down Master gentleman Conrade . Masters , do you serve God ? + +Yea , sir , we hope . + +Yea , sir , we hope . + +Write down that they hope they serve God : and write God first ; for God defend but God should go before such villains ! Masters , it is proved already that you are little better than false knaves , and it will go near to be thought so shortly . How answer you for yourselves ? + +Marry , sir , we say we are none . + +A marvellous witty fellow , I assure you ; but I will go about with him . Come you hither , sirrah ; a word in your ear : sir , I say to you , it is thought you are false knaves . + +Sir , I say to you we are none . + +Well , stand aside . 'Fore God , they are both in a tale . Have you writ down , that they are none ? + +Master constable , you go not the way to examine : you must call forth the watch that are their accusers . + +Yea , marry , that's the eftest way . Let the watch come forth . Masters , I charge you , in the prince's name , accuse these men . + +This man said , sir , that Don John , the prince's brother , was a villain . + +Write down Prince John a villain . +Why , this is flat perjury , to call a prince's brother villain . + +Master constable , + +Pray thee , fellow , peace : I do not like thy look , I promise thee . + +What heard you him say else ? + +Marry , that he had received a thousand ducats of Don John for accusing the Lady Hero wrongfully . + +Flat burglary as ever was committed . + +Yea , by the mass , that it is . + +What else , fellow ? + +And that Count Claudio did mean , upon his words , to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly , and not marry her . + +O villain ! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this . + +What else ? + +This is all . + +And this is more , masters , than you can deny . Prince John is this morning secretly stolen away : Hero was in this manner accused , in this very manner refused , and , upon the grief of this , suddenly died . Master constable , let these men be bound , and brought to Leonato's : I will go before and show him their examination . + + +Come , let them be opinioned . + +Let them be in the hands + +Off , coxcomb ! + +God's my life ! where's the sexton ? let him write down the prince's officer coxcomb . Come , bind them . Thou naughty varlet ! + +Away ! you are an ass ; you are an ass . + +Dost thou not suspect my place ? Dost thou not suspect my years ? O that he were here to write me down an ass ! but , masters , remember that I am an ass ; though it be not written down , yet forget not that I am an ass . No , thou villain , thou art full of piety , as shall be proved upon thee by good witness . I am a wise fellow ; and , which is more , an officer ; and , which is more , a householder ; and , which is more , as pretty a piece of flesh as any in Messina ; and one that knows the law , go to ; and a rich fellow enough , go to ; and a fellow that hath had losses ; and one that hath two gowns , and everything handsome about him . Bring him away . O that I had been writ down an ass ! + +If you go on thus , you will kill yourself ; +And 'tis not wisdom thus to second grief +Against yourself . + +I pray thee , cease thy counsel , +Which falls into mine ears as profitless +As water in a sieve : give not me counsel ; +Nor let no comforter delight mine ear +But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine : +Bring me a father that so lov'd his child , +Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd like mine , +And bid him speak of patience ; +Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine , +And let it answer every strain for strain , +As thus for thus and such a grief for such , +In every lineament , branch , shape , and form : +If such a one will smile , and stroke his beard ; +Bid sorrow wag , cry 'hem' when he should groan , +Patch grief with proverbs ; make misfortune drunk +With candle-wasters ; bring him yet to me , +And I of him will gather patience . +But there is no such man ; for , brother , men +Can counsel and speak comfort to that grief +Which they themselves not feel ; but , tasting it , +Their counsel turns to passion , which before +Would give preceptial medicine to rage , +Fetter strong madness in a silken thread , +Charm ache with air and agony with words . +No , no ; 'tis all men's office to speak patience +To those that wring under the load of sorrow , +But no man's virtue nor sufficiency +To be so moral when he shall endure +The like himself . Therefore give me no counsel : +My griefs cry louder than advertisement . + +Therein do men from children nothing differ . + +I pray thee , peace ! I will be flesh and blood ; +For there was never yet philosopher +That could endure the toothache patiently , +However they have writ the style of gods +And made a push at chance and sufferance . + +Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself ; +Make those that do offend you suffer too . + +There thou speak'st reason : nay , I will do so . +My soul doth tell me Hero is belied ; +And that shall Claudio know ; so shall the prince , +And all of them that thus dishonour her . + +Here come the prince and Claudio hastily . + + +Good den , good den . + +Good day to both of you . + +Hear you , my lords , + +We have some haste , Leonato . + +Some haste , my lord ! well , fare you well , my lord : +Are you so hasty now ?well , all is one . + +Nay , do not quarrel with us , good old man . + +If he could right himself with quarrelling , +Some of us would lie low . + +Who wrongs him ? + +Marry , thou dost wrong me ; thou dissembler , thou . +Nay , never lay thy hand upon thy sword ; +I fear thee not . + +Marry , beshrew my hand , +If it should give your age such cause of fear . +In faith , my hand meant nothing to my sword . + +Tush , tush , man ! never fleer and jest at me : +I speak not like a dotard nor a fool , +As , under privilege of age , to brag +What I have done being young , or what would do , +Were I not old . Know , Claudio , to thy head , +Thou hast so wrong'd mine innocent child and me +That I am forc'd to lay my reverence by , +And , with grey hairs and bruise of many days , +Do challenge thee to trial of a man . +I say thou hast belied mine innocent child : +Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart , +And she lies buried with her ancestors ; +O ! in a tomb where never scandal slept , +Save this of hers , fram'd by thy villany ! + +My villany ? + +Thine , Claudio ; thine , I say . + +You say not right , old man . + +My lord , my lord , +I'll prove it on his body , if he dare , +Despite his nice fence and his active practice , +His May of youth and bloom of lustihood . + +Away ! I will not have to do with you . + +Canst thou so daff me ? Thou hast kill'd my child ; +If thou kill'st me , boy , thou shalt kill a man . + +He shall kill two of us , and men indeed : +But that's no matter ; let him kill one first : +Win me and wear me ; let him answer me . +Come , follow me , boy ; come , sir boy , come , follow me . +Sir boy , I'll whip you from your foining fence ; +Nay , as I am a gentleman , I will . + +Brother , + +Content yourself . God knows I lov'd my niece ; +And she is dead , slander'd to death by villains , +That dare as well answer a man indeed +As I dare take a serpent by the tongue . +Boys , apes , braggarts , Jacks , milksops ! + +Brother Antony , + +Hold you content . What , man ! I know them , yea , +And what they weigh , even to the utmost scruple , +Scrambling , out-facing , fashion-monging boys , +That lie and cog and flout , deprave and slander , +Go antickly , show outward hideousness , +And speak off half a dozen dangerous words , +How they might hurt their enemies , if they durst ; +And this is all ! + +But , brother Antony , + +Come , 'tis no matter : +Do not you meddle , let me deal in this . + +Gentlemen both , we will not wake your patience . +My heart is sorry for your daughter's death ; +But , on my honour , she was charg'd with nothing +But what was true and very full of proof . + +My lord , my lord + +I will not hear you . + +No ? +Come , brother , away . I will be heard . + +And shall , or some of us will smart for it . + +See , see ; here comes the man we went to seek . + +Now , signior , what news ? + +Good day , my lord . + +Welcome , signior : you are almost come to part almost a fray . + +We had like to have had our two noses snapped off with two old men without teeth . + +Leonato and his brother . What thinkest thou ? Had we fought , I doubt we should have been too young for them . + +In a false quarrel there is no true valour . I came to seek you both . + +We have been up and down to seek thee ; for we are high-proof melancholy , and would fain have it beaten away . Wilt thou use thy wit ? + +It is in my scabbard ; shall I draw it ? + +Dost thou wear thy wit by thy side ? + +Never any did so , though very many have been beside their wit . I will bid thee draw , as we do the minstrels ; draw , to pleasure us . + +As I am an honest man , he looks pale . Art thou sick , or angry ? + +What , courage , man ! What though care killed a cat , thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care . + +Sir , I shall meet your wit in the career , an you charge it against me . I pray you choose another subject . + +Nay then , give him another staff : this last was broke cross . + +By this light , he changes more and more : I think he be angry indeed . + +If he be , he knows how to turn his girdle . + +Shall I speak a word in your ear ? + +God bless me from a challenge ! + +You are a villain ; I jest not : I will make it good how you dare , with what you dare , and when you dare . Do me right , or I will protest your cowardice . You have killed a sweet lady , and her death shall fall heavy on you . Let me hear from you . + +Well I will meet you , so I may have good cheer . + +What , a feast , a feast ? + +I' faith , I thank him ; he hath bid me to a calf's-head and a capon , the which if I do not carve most curiously , say my knife's naught . +Shall I not find a woodcock too ? + +Sir , your wit ambles well ; it goes easily . + +I'll tell thee how Beatrice praised thy wit the other day . I said , thou hadst a fine wit . 'True ,' says she , 'a fine little one .' 'No ,' said I , 'a great wit .' 'Right ,' said she , 'a great gross one .' 'Nay ,' said I , 'a good wit .' 'Just ,' said she , 'it hurts nobody .' 'Nay ,' said I , 'the gentleman is wise .' 'Certain ,' said she , 'a wise gentleman .' 'Nay ,' said I , 'he hath the tongues .' 'That I believe ,' said she . 'for he swore a thing to me on Monday night , which he forswore on Tuesday morning : there's a double tongue ; there's two tongues .' Thus did she , an hour together , trans-shape thy particular virtues ; yet at last she concluded with a sigh , thou wast the properest man in Italy . + +For the which she wept heartily and said she cared not . + +Yea , that she did ; but yet , for all that , an if she did not hate him deadly , she would love him dearly . The old man's daughter told us all . + +All , all ; and moreover , God saw him when he was hid in the garden . + +But when shall we set the savage bull's horns on the sensible Benedick's head ? + +Yea , and text underneath , 'Here dwells Benedick the married man !' + +Fare you well , boy : you know my mind . I will leave you now to your gossip-like humour : you break jests as braggarts do their blades , which , God be thanked , hurt not . My lord , for your many courtesies I thank you : I must discontinue your company . Your brother the bastard is fled from Messina : you have , among you , killed a sweet and innocent lady . For my Lord Lack-beard there , he and I shall meet ; and till then , peace be with him . + + +He is in earnest . + +In most profound earnest ; and , I'll warrant you , for the love of Beatrice . + +And hath challenged thee ? + +Most sincerely . + +What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his doublet and hose and leaves off his wit ! + +He is then a giant to an ape ; but then is an ape a doctor to such a man . + +But , soft you ; let me be : pluck up , my heart , and be sad ! Did he not say my brother was fled ? + + +Come , you , sir : if justice cannot tame you , she shall ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance . Nay , an you be a cursing hypocrite once , you must be looked to . + +How now ! two of my brother's men bound ! Borachio , one ! + +Hearken after their offence , my lord . + +Officers , what offence have these men done ? + +Marry , sir , they have committed false report ; moreover , they have spoken untruths ; secondarily , they are slanders ; sixth and lastly , they have belied a lady ; thirdly , they have verified unjust things ; and to conclude , they are lying knaves . + +First , I ask thee what they have done ; thirdly , I ask thee what's their offence ; sixth and lastly , why they are committed ; and , to conclude , what you lay to their charge ? + +Rightly reasoned , and in his own division ; and , by my troth , there's one meaning well suited . + +Who have you offended , masters , that you are thus bound to your answer ? this learned constable is too cunning to be understood . What's your offence ? + +Sweet prince , let me go no further to mine answer : do you hear me , and let this count kill me . I have deceived even your very eyes : what your wisdoms could not discover , these shallow fools have brought to light ; who , in the night overheard me confessing to this man how Don John your brother incensed me to slander the Lady Hero ; how you were brought into the orchard and saw me court Margaret in Hero's garments ; how you disgraced her , when you should marry her . My villany they have upon record ; which I had rather seal with my death than repeat over to my shame . The lady is dead upon mine and my master's false accusation ; and , briefly , I desire nothing but the reward of a villain . + +Runs not this speech like iron through your blood ? + +I have drunk poison whiles he utter'd it . + +But did my brother set thee on to this ? + +Yea ; and paid me richly for the practice of it . + +He is compos'd and fram'd of treachery : +And fled he is upon this villany . + +Sweet Hero ! now thy image doth appear +In the rare semblance that I lov'd it first . + +Come , bring away the plaintiffs : by this time our sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter . And masters , do not forget to specify , when time and place shall serve , that I am an ass . + +Here , here comes Master Signior Leonato , and the sexton too . + + +Which is the villain ? Let me see his eyes , +That , when I note another man like him , +I may avoid him . Which of these is he ? + +If you would know your wronger , look on me . + +Art thou the slave that with thy breath hast kill'd +Mine innocent child ? + +Yea , even I alone . + +No , not so , villain ; thou beliest thyself : +Here stand a pair of honourable men ; +A third is fled , that had a hand in it . +I thank you , princes , for my daughter's death +Record it with your high and worthy deeds . +'Twas bravely done , if you bethink you of it . + +I know not how to pray your patience ; +Yet I must speak . Choose your revenge yourself ; +Impose me to what penance your invention +Can lay upon my sin : yet sinn'd I not +But in mistaking . + +By my soul , nor I : +And yet , to satisfy this good old man , +I would bend under any heavy weight +That he'll enjoin me to . + +I cannot bid you bid my daughter live ; +That were impossible : but , I pray you both , +Possess the people in Messina here +How innocent she died ; and if your love +Can labour aught in sad invention , +Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb , +And sing it to her bones : sing it to-night . +To-morrow morning come you to my house , +And since you could not be my son-in-law , +Be yet my nephew . My brother hath a daughter , +Almost the copy of my child that's dead , +And she alone is heir to both of us : +Give her the right you should have given her cousin , +And so dies my revenge . + +O noble sir , +Your over-kindness doth wring tears from me ! +I do embrace your offer ; and dispose +For henceforth of poor Claudio . + +To-morrow then I will expect your coming ; +To-night I take my leave . This naughty man +Shall face to face be brought to Margaret , +Who , I believe , was pack'd in all this wrong , +Hir'd to it by your brother . + +No , by my soul she was not ; +Nor knew not what she did when she spoke to me ; +But always hath been just and virtuous +In anything that I do know by her . + +Moreover , sir ,which , indeed , is not under white and black ,this plaintiff here , the offender , did call me ass : I beseech you , let it be remembered in his punishment . And also , the watch heard them talk of one Deformed : they say he wears a key in his ear and a lock hanging by it , and borrows money in God's name , the which he hath used so long and never paid , that now men grow hard-hearted , and will lend nothing for God's sake . Pray you , examine him upon that point . + +I thank thee for thy care and honest pains . + +Your worship speaks like a most thankful and reverend youth , and I praise God for you . + +There's for thy pains . + +God save the foundation ! + +Go , I discharge thee of thy prisoner , and I thank thee . + +I leave an arrant knave with your worship ; which I beseech your worship to corect yourself , for the example of others . God keep your worship ! I wish your worship well ; God restore you to health ! I humbly give you leave to depart , and if a merry meeting may be wished , God prohibit it ! Come , neighbour . + + +Until to-morrow morning , lords , farewell . + +Farewell , my lords : we look for you to-morrow . + +We will not fail . + +To-night I'll mourn with Hero . + + +Bring you these fellows on . We'll talk with Margaret , +How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow . + + +Pray thee , sweet Mistress Margaret , deserve well at my hands by helping me to the speech of Beatrice . + +Will you then write me a sonnet in praise of my beauty ? + +In so high a style , Margaret , that no man living shall come over it ; for , in most comely truth , thou deservest it . + +To have no man come over me ! why , shall I always keep below stairs ? + +Thy wit is as quick as the greyhound's mouth ; it catches . + +And yours as blunt as the fencer's foils , which hit , but hurt not . + +A most manly wit , Margaret ; it will not hurt a woman : and so , I pray thee , call Beatrice . I give thee the bucklers . + +Give us the swords , we have bucklers of our own . + +If you use them , Margaret , you must put in the pikes with a vice ; and they are dangerous weapons for maids . + +Well , I will call Beatrice to you , who I think hath legs . + +And therefore will come . + + +The god of love , +That sits above , +And knows me , and knows me , +How pitiful I deserve , + +I mean , in singing ; but in loving , Leander the good swimmer , Troilus the first employer of pandars , and a whole book full of these quondam carpet-mongers , whose names yet run smoothly in the even road of a blank verse , why , they were never so truly turned over and over as my poor self , in love . Marry , I cannot show it in rime ; I have tried : I can find out no rime to 'lady' but 'baby ,' an innocent rime ; for 'scorn ,' 'horn ,' a hard rime ; for 'school ,' 'fool ,' a babbling rime ; very ominous endings : no , I was not born under a riming planet , nor I cannot woo in festival terms . + +Sweet Beatrice , wouldst thou come when I called thee ? + +Yea , signior ; and depart when you bid me . + +O , stay but till then ! + +'Then' is spoken ; fare you well now : and yet , ere I go , let me go with that I came for ; which is , with knowing what hath passed between you and Claudio . + +Only foul words ; and thereupon I will kiss thee . + +Foul words is but foul wind , and foul wind is but foul breath , and foul breath is noisome ; therefore I will depart unkissed . + +Thou hast frighted the word out of his right sense , so forcible is thy wit . But I must tell thee plainly , Claudio undergoes my challenge , and either I must shortly hear from him , or I will subscribe him a coward . And , I pray thee now , tell me , for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me ? + +For them all together ; which maintained so politic a state of evil that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them . But for which of my good parts did you first suffer love for me ? + +'Suffer love ,' a good epithet ! I do suffer love indeed , for I love thee against my will . + +In spite of your heart , I think . Alas , poor heart ! If you spite it for my sake , I will spite it for yours ; for I will never love that which my friend hates . + +Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably . + +It appears not in this confession : there's not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself . + +An old , an old instance , Beatrice , that lived in the time of good neighbours . If a man do not erect in this age his own tomb ere he dies , he shall live no longer in monument than the bell rings and the widow weeps . + +And how long is that think you ? + +Question : why , an hour in clamour and a quarter in rheum : therefore it is most expedient for the wise ,if Don Worm , his conscience , find no impediment to the contrary ,to be the trumpet of his own virtues , as I am to myself . So much for praising myself , who , I myself will bear witness , is praiseworthy . And now tell me , how doth your cousin ? + +Very ill . + +And how do you ? + +Very ill too . + +Serve God , love me , and mend . There will I leave you too , for here comes one in haste . + + +Madam , you must come to your uncle . Yonder's old coil at home : it is proved , my Lady Hero hath been falsely accused , the prince and Claudio mightily abused ; and Don John is the author of all , who is fled and gone . Will you come presently ? + +Will you go hear this news , signior ? + +I will live in thy heart , die in thy lap , and be buried in thy eyes ; and moreover I will go with thee to thy uncle's . + + +Is this the monument of Leonato ? + +It is , my lord . + +Done to death by slanderous tongues +Was the Hero that here lies : +Death , in guerdon of her wrongs , +Gives her fame which never dies . +So the life that died with shame +Lives in doath with glorious fame . + +Hang thou there upon the tomb , +Praising her when I am dumb . +Now , music , sound , and sing your solemn hymn . + +Pardon , goddess of the night , +Those that slew thy virgin knight ; +For the which , with songs of woe , +Round about her tomb they go . +Midnight , assist our moan ; +Help us to sigh and groan , +Heavily , heavily : +Graves , yawn and yield your dead , +Till death be uttered , +Heavily , heavily . + +Now , unto thy bones good night ! +Yearly will I do this rite . + +Good morrow , masters : put your torches out . +The wolves have prey'd ; and look , the gentle day , +Before the wheels of Ph bus , round about +Dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey . +Thanks to you all , and leave us : fare you well + +Good morrow , masters : each his several way . + +Come , let us hence , and put on other weeds ; +And then to Leonato's we will go . + +And Hymen now with luckier issue speed's , +Than this for whom we render'd up this woe ! + + +Did I not tell you she was innocent ? + +So are the prince and Claudio , who accus'd her +Upon the error that you heard debated : +But Margaret was in some fault for this , +Although against her will , as it appears +In the true course of all the question . + +Well , I am glad that all things sort so well . + +And so am I , being else by faith enforc'd +To call young Claudio to a reckoning for it . + +Well , daughter , and you gentlewomen all , +Withdraw into a chamber by yourselves , +And when I send for you , come hither mask'd : +The prince and Claudio promis'd by this hour +To visit me . + +You know your office , brother ; +You must be father to your brother's daughter , +And give her to young Claudio . + +Which I will do with confirm'd countenance . + +Friar , I must entreat your pains , I think . + +To do what , signior ? + +To bind me , or undo me ; one of them . +Signior Leonato , truth it is , good signior , +Your niece regards me with an eye of favour . + +That eye my daughter lent her : 'tis most true . + +And I do with an eye of love requite her . + +The sight whereof I think , you had from me , +From Claudio , and the prince . But what's your will ? + +Your answer , sir , is enigmatical : +But , for my will , my will is your good will +May stand with ours , this day to be conjoin'd +In the state of honourable marriage : +In which , good friar , I shall desire your help . + +My heart is with your liking . + +And my help . +Here come the prince and Claudio . + + +Good morrow to this fair assembly . + +Good morrow , prince ; good morrow , Claudio : +We here attend you . Are you yet determin'd +To-day to marry with my brother's daughter ? + +I'll hold my mind , were she an Ethiop . + +Call her forth , brother : here's the friar ready . + + +Good morrow , Benedick . Why , what's the matter , +That you have such a February face , +So full of frost , of storm and cloudiness ? + +I think he thinks upon the savage bull . +Tush ! fear not , man , we'll tip thy horns with gold , +And all Europa shall rejoice at thee , +As once Europa did at lusty Jove , +When he would play the noble beast in love . + +Bull Jove , sir , had an amiable low : +And some such strange bull leap'd your father's cow , +And got a calf in that same noble feat , +Much like to you , for you have just his bleat . + +For this I owe you : here come other reckonings . + +Which is the lady I must seize upon ? + +This same is she , and I do give you her . + +Why , then she's mine . Sweet , let me see your face . + +No , that you shall not , till you take her hand +Before this friar , and swear to marry her . + +Give me your hand : before this holy friar , +I am your husband , if you like of me . + +And when I liv'd , I was your other wife : + +And when you lov'd , you were my other husband . + +Another Hero ! + +Nothing certainer : +One Hero died defil'd , but I do live , +And surely as I live , I am a maid . + +The former Hero ! Hero that is dead ! + +She died , my lord , but whiles her slander liv'd . + +All this amazement can I qualify : +When after that the holy rites are ended , +I'll tell you largely of fair Hero's death : +Meantime , let wonder seem familiar , +And to the chapel let us presently . + +Soft and fair , friar . Which is Beatrice ? + +I answer to that name . What is your will ? + +Do not you love me ? + +Why , no ; no more than reason . + +Why , then , your uncle and the prince and Claudio +Have been deceived ; for they swore you did . + +Do not you love me ? + +Troth , no ; no more than reason . + +Why , then , my cousin , Margaret , and Ursula , +Are much deceiv'd ; for they did swear you did . + +They swore that you were almost sick for me . + +They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me . + +'Tis no such matter . Then , you do not love me ? + +No , truly , but in friendly recompense . + +Come , cousin , I am sure you love the gentleman . + +And I'll be sworn upon 't that he loves her ; +For here's a paper written in his hand , +A halting sonnet of his own pure brain , +Fashion'd to Beatrice . + +And here's another , +Writ in my cousin's hand , stolen from her pocket , +Containing her affection unto Benedick . + +A miracle ! here's our own hands against our hearts . Come , I will have thee ; but , by this light , I take thee for pity . + +I would not deny you ; but , by this good day , I yield upon great persuasion , and partly to save your life , for I was told you were in a consumption . + +Peace ! I will stop your mouth . + + +How dost thou , Benedick , the married man ? + +I'll tell thee what , prince ; a college of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my humour . Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram ? No ; if a man will be beaten with brains , a' shall wear nothing handsome about him . In brief , since I do purpose to marry , I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it ; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it , for man is a giddy thing , and this is my conclusion . For thy part , Claudio , I did think to have beaten thee ; but , in that thou art like to be my kinsman , live unbruised , and love my cousin . + +I had well hoped thou wouldst have denied Beatrice , that I might have cudgelled thee out of thy single life , to make thee a double-dealer ; which , out of question , thou wilt be , if my cousin do not look exceeding narrowly to thee . + +Come , come , we are friends . Let's have a dance ere we are married , that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives' heels . + +We'll have dancing afterward . + +First , of my word ; therefore play , music ! Prince , thou art sad ; get thee a wife , get thee a wife : there is no staff more reverend than one tipped with horn . + + +My lord , your brother John is ta'en in flight , +And brought with armed men back to Messina . + +Think not on him till to-morrow : I'll devise thee brave punishments for him . Strike up , pipers ! + +PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE + + +To sing a song that old was sung , +From ashes ancient Gower is come , +Assuming man's infirmities , +To glad your ear , and please your eyes . +It hath been sung at festivals , +On ember-eves , and holy-ales ; +And lords and ladies in their lives +Have read it for restoratives : +The purchase is to make men glorious ; +Et bonum quo antiquius , eo melius . +If you , born in these latter times , +When wit's more ripe , accept my rimes , +And that to hear an old man sing +May to your wishes pleasure bring , +I life would wish , and that I might +Waste it for you like taper-light . +This Antioch , then , Antiochus the Great +Built up , this city , for his chiefest seat , +The fairest in all Syria , +I tell you what mine authors say : +This king unto him took a fere , +Who died and left a female heir , +So buxom , blithe , and full of face +As heaven had lent her all his grace ; +With whom the father liking took , +And her to incest did provoke . +Bad child , worse father ! to entice his own +To evil should be done by none . +By custom what they did begin +Was with long use account no sin . +The beauty of this sinful dame +Made many princes thither frame , +To seek her as a bed-fellow , +In marriage-pleasures play-fellow : +Which to prevent , he made a law , +To keep her still , and men in awe , +That whoso ask'd her for his wife , +His riddle told not , lost his life : +So for her many a wight did die , +As yon grim looks do testify . +What now ensues , to the judgment of your eye +I give , my cause who best can justify . + + +Young Prince of Tyre , you have at large receiv'd +The danger of the task you undertake . + +I have , Antiochus , and , with a soul +Embolden'd with the glory of her praise , +Think death no hazard in this enterprise . + +Bring in our daughter , clothed like a bride , +For the embracements even of Jove himself ; +At whose conception , till Lucina reign'd , +Nature this dowry gave , to glad her presence , +The senate-house of planets all did sit , +To knit in her their best perfections . + +See , where she comes apparell'd like the spring , +Graces her subjects , and her thoughts the king +Of every virtue gives renown to men ! +Her face the book of praises , where is read +Nothing but curious pleasures , as from thence +Sorrow were ever raz'd , and testy wrath +Could never be her mild companion . +You gods , that made me man , and sway in love , +That hath inflam'd desire in my breast +To taste the fruit of you celestial tree +Or die in the adventure , be my helps , +As I am son and servant to your will , +To compass such a boundless happiness ! + +Prince Pericles , + +That would be son to great Antiochus . + +Before thee stands this fair Hesperides , +With golden fruit , but dangerous to be touch'd ; +For death-like dragons here affright thee hard : +Her face , like heaven , enticeth thee to view +Her countless glory , which desert must gain ; +And which , without desert , because thine eye +Presumes to reach , all thy whole heap must die . +Yon sometime famous princes , like thyself , +Drawn by report , adventurous by desire , +Tell thee with speechless tongues and semblance pale , +That without covering , save yon field of stars , +They here stand martyrs , slain in Cupid's wars ; +And with dead cheeks advise thee to desist +For going on death's net , whom none resist . + +Antiochus , I thank thee , who hath taught +My frail mortality to know itself , +And by those fearful objects to prepare +This body , like to them , to what I must ; +For death remember'd should be like a mirror , +Who tells us life's but breath , to trust it error . +I'll make my will then ; and as sick men do , +Who know the world , see heaven , but feeling woe , +Gripe not at earthly joys as erst they did : +So I bequeath a happy peace to you +And all good men , as every prince should do ; +My riches to the earth from whence they came , + +But my unspotted fire of love to you . +Thus ready for the way of life or death , +I wait the sharpest blow . + +Scorning advice , read the conclusion then ; +Which read and not expounded , 'tis decreed , +As these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed . + +Of all say'd yet , mayst thou prove prosperous ! +Of all say'd yet , I wish thee happiness ! + +Like a bold champion , I assume the lists , +Nor ask advice of any other thought +But faithfulness and courage . + +I am no viper , yet I feed +On mother's flesh which did me breed ; +I sought a husband , in which labour +I found that kindness in a father . +He's father , son , and husband mild , +I mother , wife , and yet his child . +How they may be , and yet in two , +As you will live , resolve it you . + +Sharp physic is the last : but , O you powers ! +That give heaven countless eyes to view men's acts , +Why cloud they not their sights perpetually , +If this be true , which makes me pale to read it ? +Fair glass of light , I lov'd you , and could still , +Were not this glorious casket stor'd with ill : +But I must tell you now my thoughts revolt ; +For he's no man on whom perfections wait +That , knowing sin within , will touch the gate . +You're a fair viol , and your sense the strings , +Who , finger'd to make men his lawful music , +Would draw heaven down and all the gods to hearken ; +But being play'd upon before your time , +Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime . +Good sooth , I care not for you . + +Prince Pericles , touch not , upon thy life , +For that's an article within our law , +As dangerous as the rest . Your time's expir'd : +Either expound now or receive your sentence . + +Great king , +Few love to hear the sins they love to act ; +'Twould braid yourself too near for me to tell it . +Who has a book of all that monarchs do , +He's more secure to keep it shut than shown ; +For vice repeated is like the wandering wind , +Blows dust in others' eyes , to spread itself ; +And yet the end of all is bought thus dear , +The breath is gone , and the sore eyes see clear +To stop the air would hurt them . The blind mole casts +Copp'd hills towards heaven , to tell the earth is throng'd +By man's oppression ; and the poor worm doth die for 't . +Kings are earth's gods ; in vice their law's their will ; +And if Jove stray , who dares say Jove doth ill ? +It is enough you know ; and it is fit , +What being more known grows worse , to smother it . +All love the womb that their first being bred , +Then give my tongue like leave to love my head . + +Heaven ! that I had thy head ; he has found the meaning ; +But I will gloze with him . Young Prince of Tyre , +Though by the tenour of our strict edict , +Your exposition misinterpreting , +We might proceed to cancel of your days ; +Yet hope , succeeding from so fair a tree +As your fair self , doth tune us otherwise : +Forty days longer we do respite you ; +If by which time our secret be undone , +This mercy shows we'll joy in such a son : +And until then your entertain shall be +As doth befit our honour and your worth . + + +How courtesy would seem to cover sin , +When what is done is like a hypocrite , +The which is good in nothing but in sight ! +If it be true that I interpret false , +Then were it certain you were not so bad +As with foul incest to abuse your soul ; +Where now you're both a father and a son , +By your untimely claspings with your child , +Which pleasure fits a husband , not a father ; +And she an eater of her mother's flesh , +By the defiling of her parent's bed ; +And both like serpents are , who though they feed +On sweetest flowers , yet they poison breed . +Antioch , farewell ! for wisdom sees , those men +Blush not in actions blacker than the night , +Will shun no course to keep them from the light . +One sin , I know , another doth provoke ; +Murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke . +Poison and treason are the hands of sin , +Ay , and the targets , to put off the shame : +Then , lest my life be cropp'd to keep you clear , +By flight I'll shun the danger which I fear . + +He hath found the meaning , for which we mean +To take his head . +He must not live to trumpet forth my infamy , +Nor tell the world Antiochus doth sin +In such a loathed manner ; +And therefore instantly this prince must die , +For by his fall my honour must keep high . +Who attends us there ? + + +Doth your highness call ? + +Thaliard , +You're of our chamber , and our mind partakes +Her private actions to your secrecy ; +And for your faithfulness we will advance you . +Thaliard , behold , here's poison , and here's gold ; +We hate the Prince of Tyre , and thou must kill him : +It fits thee not to ask the reason why , +Because we bid it . Say , is it done ? + +My lord , 'tis done . + +Enough . + +Let your breath cool yourself , telling your haste . + +My lord , Prince Pericles is fled . + + +As thou +Wilt live , fly after ; and , as an arrow shot +From a well-experienc'd archer hits the mark +His eye doth level at , so thou ne'er return +Unless thou say 'Prince Pericles is dead .' + +My lord , +If I can get him within my pistol's length , +I'll make him sure enough : so , farewell to your highness . + +Thaliard , adieu ! + +Till Pericles be dead , +My heart can lend no succour to my head . + + +Let none disturb us . +Why should this change of thoughts , +The sad companion , dull-ey'd melancholy , +Be my so us'd a guest , as not an hour +In the day's glorious walk or peaceful night +The tomb where grief should sleep can breed me quiet ? +Here pleasures court mine eyes , and mine eyes shun them , +And danger , which I feared , is at Antioch , +Whose arm seems far too short to hit me here ; +Yet neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits , +Nor yet the other's distance comfort me . +Then it is thus : the passions of the mind , +That have their first conception by mis-dread , +Have after-nourishment and life by care ; +And what was first but fear what might be done , +Grows elder now and cares it be not done . +And so with me : the great Antiochus , +'Gainst whom I am too little to contend , +Since he's so great can make his will his act , +Will think me speaking , though I swear to silence ; +Nor boots it me to say I honour him , +If he suspect I may dishonour him ; +And what may make him blush in being known , +He'll stop the course by which it might be known . +With hostile forces he'll o'erspread the land , +And with the ostent of war will look so huge , +Amazement shall drive courage from the state , +Our men be vanquish'd ere they do resist , +And subjects punish'd that ne'er thought offence : +Which care of them , not pity of myself , +Who am no more but as the tops of trees , +Which fence the roots they grow by and defend them , +Make both my body pine and soul to languish , +And punish that before that he would punish . + + +Joy and all comfort in your sacred breast ! + +And keep your mind , till you return to us , +Peaceful and comfortable . + +Peace , peace ! and give experience tongue . +They do abuse the king that flatter him ; +For flattery is the bellows blows up sin ; +The thing the which is flatter'd , but a spark , +To which that blast gives heat and stronger glowing ; +Whereas reproof , obedient and in order , +Fits kings , as they are men , for they may err : +When Signior Sooth here does proclaim a peace , +He flatters you , makes war upon your life . +Prince , pardon me , or strike me , if you please ; +I cannot be much lower than my knees . + +All leave us else ; but let your cares o'erlook +What shipping and what lading's in our haven , +And then return to us . + +Helicanus , thou +Hast mov'd us ; what seest thou in our looks ? + +An angry brow , dread lord . + +If there be such a dart in prince's frowns , +How durst thy tongue move anger to our face ? + +How dare the plants look up to heaven , from whence +They have their nourishment ? + +Thou know'st I have power +To take thy life from thee . + +I have ground the axe myself ; +Do you but strike the blow . + +Rise , prithee , rise ; +Sit down ; thou art no flatterer : +I thank thee for it ; and heaven forbid +That kings should let their ears hear their faults hid ! +Fit counsellor and servant for a prince , +Who by thy wisdom mak'st a prince thy servant , +What wouldst thou have me do ? + +To bear with patience +Such griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself . + +Thou speak'st like a physician , Helicanus , +That minister'st a potion unto me +That thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself . +Attend me then : I went to Antioch , +Where as thou know'st , against the face of death +I sought the purchase of a glorious beauty , +From whence an issue I might propagate +Are arms to princes and bring joys to subjects . +Her face was to mine eye beyond all wonder ; +The rest , hark in thine ear , as black as incest ; +Which by my knowledge found , the sinful father +Seem'd not to strike , but smooth ; but thou know'st this , +'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss . +Which fear so grew in me I hither fled , +Under the covering of a careful night , +Who seem'd my good protector ; and , being here , +Bethought me what was past , what might succeed . +I knew him tyrannous ; and tyrants' fears +Decrease not , but grow faster than the years . +And should he doubt it , as no doubt he doth , +That I should open to the listening air +How many worthy princes' bloods were shed , +To keep his bed of blackness unlaid ope , +To lop that doubt he'll fill this land with arms , +And make pretence of wrong that I have done him ; +When all , for mine , if I may call 't , offence , +Must feel war's blow , who spares not innocence : +Which love to all , of which thyself art one , +Who now reprov'st me for it , + +Alas ! sir . + +Drew sleep out of mine eyes , blood from my cheeks , +Musings into my mind , with thousand doubts +How I might stop this tempest , ere it came ; +And finding little comfort to relieve them , +I thought it princely charity to grieve them . + +Well , my lord , since you have given me leave to speak , +Freely will I speak . Antiochus you fear , +And justly too , I think , you fear the tyrant , +Who either by public war or private treason +Will take away your life . +Therefore , my lord , go travel for a while , +Till that his rage and anger be forgot , +Or till the Destinies do cut his thread of life . +Your rule direct to any ; if to me , +Day serves not light more faithful than I'll be . + +I do not doubt thy faith ; +But should he wrong my liberties in my absence ? + +We'll mingle our bloods together in the earth , +From whence we had our being and our birth . + +Tyre , I now look from thee then , and to Tarsus +Intend my travel , where I'll hear from thee , +And by whose letters I'll dispose myself . +The care I had and have of subjects' good +On thee I'll lay , whose wisdom's strength can bear it . +I'll take thy word for faith , not ask thine oath ; +Who shuns not to break one will sure crack both . +But in our orbs we'll live so round and safe , +That time of both this truth shall ne'er convince , +Thou show'dst a subject's shine , I a true prince . + + +So this is Tyre , and this the court . Here must I kill King Pericles ; and if I do not , I am sure to be hanged at home : 'tis dangerous . Well , I perceive he was a wise fellow , and had good discretion , that , being bid to ask what he would of the king , desired he might know none of his secrets : now do I see he had some reason for it ; for if a king bid a man be a villain , he is bound by the indenture of his oath to be one . Hush ! here come the lords of Tyre . + + +You shall not need , my fellow peers of Tyre , +Further to question me of your king's departure : +His seal'd commission , left in trust with me , +Doth speak sufficiently he's gone to travel . + +How ! the king gone ! + +If further yet you will be satisfied , +Why , as it were unlicens'd of your loves , +He would depart , I'll give some light unto you . +Being at Antioch + +What from Antioch ? + +Royal Antiochus on what cause I know not +Took some displeasure at him , at least he judg'd so ; +And doubting lest that he had err'd or sinn'd , +To show his sorrow he'd correct himself ; +So puts himself unto the shipman's toil , +With whom each minute threatens life or death . + +Well , I perceive +I shall not be hang'd now , although I would ; +But since he's gone , the king it sure must please : +He 'scap'd the land , to perish at the sea . +I'll present myself . + +Peace to the lords of Tyre . + +Lord Thaliard from Antiochus is welcome . + +From him I come , +With message unto princely Pericles ; +But since my landing I have understood +Your lord hath betook himself to unknown travels , +My message must return from whence it came . + +We have no reason to desire it , +Commended to our master , not to us : +Yet , ere you shall depart , this we desire , +As friends to Antioch , we may feast in Tyre . + + +My Dionyza , shall we rest us here , +And by relating tales of others' griefs , +See if 'twill teach us to forget our own ? + +That were to blow at fire in hope to quench it ; +For who digs hills because they do aspire +Throws down one mountain to cast up a higher . +O my distressed lord ! even such our griefs are ; +Here they're but felt , and seen with mischief's eyes , +But like to groves , being topp'd , they higher rise . + +O Dionyza , +Who wanteth food , and will not say he wants it , +Or can conceal his hunger till he famish ? +Our tongues and sorrows do sound deep +Our woes into the air ; our eyes do weep +Till tongues fetch breath that may proclaim them louder ; +That if heaven slumber while their creatures want , +They may awake their helps to comfort them . +I'll then discourse our woes , felt several years , +And wanting breath to speak help me with tears . + +I'll do my best , sir . + +This Tarsus , o'er which I have the government , +A city on whom plenty held full hand , +For riches strew'd herself even in the streets ; +Whose towers bore heads so high they kiss'd the clouds , +And strangers ne'er beheld but wonder'd at ; +Whose men and dames so jetted and adorn'd , +Like one another's glass to trim them by : +Their tables were stor'd full to glad the sight , +And not so much to feed on as delight ; +All poverty was scorn'd , and pride so great , +The name of help grew odious to repeat . + +O ! 'tis too true , + +But see what heaven can do ! By this our change , +These mouths , whom but of late earth , sea , and air +Were all too little to content and please , +Although they gave their creatures in abundance , +As houses are defil'd for want of use , +They are now starv'd for want of exercise ; +Those palates who , not yet two summers younger , +Must have inventions to delight the taste , +Would now be glad of bread , and beg for it ; +Those mothers who , to nousle up their babes , +Thought nought too curious , are ready now +To eat those little darlings whom they lov'd . +So sharp are hunger's teeth , that man and wife +Draw lots who first shall die to lengthen life . +Here stands a lord , and there a lady weeping ; +Here many sink , yet those which see them fall +Have scarce strength left to give them burial . +Is not this true ? + +Our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it . + +O ! let those cities that of plenty's cup +And her prosperities so largely taste , +With their superfluous riots , hear these tears : +The misery of Tarsus may be theirs . + + +Where's the lord governor ? + +Here . +Speak out thy sorrows which thou bring'st in haste , +For comfort is too far for us to expect . + +We have descried , upon our neighbouring shore , +A portly sail of ships make hitherward . + +I thought as much . +One sorrow never comes but brings an heir +That may succeed as his inberitor ; +And so in ours . Some neighbouring nation , +Taking advantage of our misery , +Hath stuff'd these hollow vessels with their power , +To beat us down , the which are down already ; +And make a conquest of unhappy me , +Whereas no glory's got to overcome . + +That's the least fear ; for by the semblance +Of their white flags display'd , they bring us peace , +And come to us as favourers , not as foes . + +Thou speak'st like him 's untutor'd to repeat : +Who makes the fairest show means most deceit . +But bring they what they will and what they can , +What need we fear ? +The ground's the lowest and we are half way there . +Go tell their general we attend him here , +To know for what he comes , and whence he comes , +And what he craves . + +I go , my lord . + + +Welcome is peace if he on peace consist ; +If wars we are unable to resist . + + +Lord governor , for so we hear you are , +Let not our ships and number of our men , +Be like a beacon fir'd to amaze your eyes . +We have heard your miseries as far as Tyre , +And seen the desolation of your streets : +Nor come we to add sorrow to your tears , +But to relieve them of their heavy load ; +And these our ships , you happily may think +Are like the Trojan horse was stuff'd within +With bloody veins , expecting overthrow , +Are stor'd with corn to make your needy bread , +And give them life whom hunger starv'd half dead . + +The gods of Greece protect you ! +And we'll pray for you . + +Arise , I pray you , rise : +We do not look for reverence , but for love , +And harbourage for ourself , our ships , and men . + +The which when any shall not gratify , +Or pay you with unthankfulness in thought , +Be it our wives , our children , or ourselves , +The curse of heaven and men succeed their evils ! +Till when the which , I hope , shall ne'er be seen +Your Grace is welcome to our town and us . + +Which welcome we'll accept ; feast here awhile , +Until our stars that frown lend us a smile . + +Here have you seen a mighty king +His child , I wis , to incest bring ; +A better prince and benign lord , +That will prove awful both in deed and word . +Be quiet , then , as men should be , +Till he hath pass'd necessity . +I'll show you those in troubles reign , +Losing a mite , a mountain gain . +The good in conversation , +To whom I give my benison , +Is still at Tarsus , where each man +Thinks all is writ he speken can ; +And , to remember what he does , +Build his statue to make him glorious : +But tidings to the contrary +Are brought your eyes ; what need speak I ? + + +Good Helicane hath stay'd at home , +Not to eat honey like a drone +From others' labours ; for though he strive +To killen bad , keep good alive , +And to fulfil his prince' desire , +Sends word of all that haps in Tyre : +How Thaliard came full bent with sin +And had intent to murder him ; +And that in Tarsus was not best +Longer for him to make his rest . +He , doing so , put forth to seas , +Where when men been , there's seldom ease ; +For now the wind begins to blow ; +Thunder above and deeps below +Make such unquiet , that the ship +Should house him safe is wrack'd and split ; +And he , good prince , having all lost , +By waves from coast to coast is tost . +All perishen of man , of pelf , +Ne aught escapen but himself ; +Till Fortune , tir'd with doing bad , +Threw him ashore , to give him glad ; +And here he comes . What shall be next , +Pardon old Gower , this longs the text . + +Yet cease your ire , you angry stars of heaven ! +Wind , rain , and thunder , remember , earthly man +Is but a substance that must yield to you ; +And I , as fits my nature , do obey you . +Alas ! the sea hath cast me on the rocks , +Wash'd me from shore to shore , and left me breath +Nothing to think on but ensuing death : +Let it suffice the greatness of your powers +To have bereft a prince of all his fortunes ; +And having thrown him from your watery grave , +Here to have death in peace is all he'll crave . + + +What , ho , Pilch ! + +Ha ! come and bring away the nets . + +What , Patch-breech , I say ! + +What say you , master ? + +Look how thou stirrest now ! come away , or I'll fetch thee with a wannion . + +Faith , master , I am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us even now . + +Alas ! poor souls ; it grieved my heart to hear what pitiful cries they made to us to help them , when , well-a-day , we could scarce help ourselves . + +Nay , master , said not I as much when I saw the porpus how he bounced and tumbled ? they say they're half fish half flesh ; a plague on them ! they ne'er come but I look to be washed . Master , I marvel how the fishes live in the sea . + +Why , as men do a-land ; the great ones eat up the little ones ; I can compare our rich misers to nothing so fitly as to a whale ; a' plays and tumbles , driving the poor fry before him , and at last devours them all at a mouthful . Such whales have I heard on o' the land , who never leave gaping till they've swallowed the whole parish , church , steeple , bells , and all . + +A pretty moral . + +But master , if I had been the sexton , I would have been that day in the belfry . + +Why , man ? + +Because he should have swallowed me too ; and when I had been in his belly , I would have kept such a jangling of the bells , that he should never have left till he cast bells , steeple , church , and parish , up again . But if the good King Simonides were of my mind , + +Simonides ! + +We would purge the land of these drones , that rob the bee of her honey . + +How from the finny subject of the sea +These fishers tell the infirmities of men ; +And from their watery empire recollect +All that may men approve or men detect ! + + +Peace be at your labour , honest fishermen . + +Honest ! good fellow , what's that ? if it be a day fits you , search out of the calendar , and nobody look after it . + +Y' may see the sea hath cast me on your coast . + +What a drunken knave was the sea , to cast thee in our way ! + +A man whom both the waters and the wind , +In that vast tennis-court , have made the ball +For them to play upon , entreats you pity him ; +He asks of you , that never us'd to beg . + +No , friend , cannot you beg ? here's them in our country of Greece gets more with begging than we can do with working . + +Canst thou catch any fishes then ? + +I never practised it . + +Nay then thou wilt starve , sure ; for here's nothing to be got now-a-days unless thou canst fish for 't . + +What I have been I have forgot to know , +But what I am want teaches me to think on ; +A man throng'd up with cold ; my veins are chill , +And have no more of life than may suffice +To give my tongue that heat to ask your help ; +Which if you shall refuse , when I am dead , +For that I am a man , pray see me buried . + +Die , quoth-a ? Now , gods forbid ! I have a gown here ; come , put it on ; keep thee warm . Now , afore me , a handsome fellow ! Come , thou shalt go home , and we'll have flesh for holidays , fish for fasting-days , and moreo'er puddings and flap-jacks ; and thou shalt be welcome . + +I thank you , sir . + +Hark you , my friend ; you said you could not beg . + +I did but crave . + +But crave ! Then I'll turn craver too , and so I shall 'scape whipping . + +Why , are all your beggars whipped , then ? + +O ! not all , my friend , not all ; for if all your beggars were whipped , I would wish no better office than to be beadle . But , master , I'll go draw up the net . + + +How well this honest mirth becomes their labour ! + +Hark you , sir ; do you know where ye are ? + +Not well . + +Why , I'll tell you : this is called Pentapolis , and our king the good Simonides . + +The good King Simonides do you call him ? + +Ay , sir ; and he deserves to be so called for his peaceable reign and good government . + +He is a happy king , since he gains from his subjects the name of good by his government . How far is his court distant from this shore ? + +Marry , sir , half a day's journey ; and I'll tell you , he hath a fair daughter , and to-morrow is her birthday ; and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to just and tourney for her love . + +Were my fortunes equal to my desires , I could wish to make one there . + +O ! sir , things must be as they may ; and what a man cannot get , he may lawfully deal for his wife's soul , + + +Help , master , help ! here's a fish hangs in the net , like a poor man's right in the law ; 'twill hardly come out . Ha ! bots on 't , 'tis come at last , and 'tis turned to a rusty armour . + +An armour , friends ! I pray you , let me see it . +Thanks , Fortune , yet , that after all my crosses +Thou giv'st me somewhat to repair myself ; +And though it was mine own , part of mine heritage , +Which my dead father did bequeath to me , +With this strict charge , even as he left his life , +'Keep it , my Pericles , it hath been a shield +'Twixt me and death ;' and pointed to this brace ; +'For that it sav'd me , keep it ; in like necessity +The which the gods protect thee from !'t may defend thee .' +It kept where I kept , I so dearly lov'd it ; +Till the rough seas , that spare not any man , +Took it in rage , though calm'd they have given 't again . +I thank thee for 't ; my shipwrack now 's no ill , +Since I have here my father's gift in 's will . + +What mean you , sir ? + +To beg of you , kind friends , this coat of worth , +For it was sometime target to a king ; +I know it by this mark . He lov'd me dearly , +And for his sake I wish the having of it ; +And that you'd guide me to your sovereign's court , +Where with it I may appear a gentleman ; +And if that ever my low fortunes better , +I'll pay your bounties ; till then rest your debtor . + +Why , wilt thou tourney for the lady ? + +I'll show the virtue I have borne in arms . + +Why , do'e take it ; and the gods give thee good on 't ! + +Ay , but hark you , my friend ; 'twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the water ; there are certain condolements , certain vails . I hope , sir , if you thrive , you'll remember from whence you had it . + +Believe it , I will . +By your furtherance I am cloth'd in steel ; +And spite of all the rapture of the sea , +This jewel holds his biding on my arm : +Unto thy value will I mount myself +Upon a courser , whose delightful steps +Shall make the gazer joy to see him tread . +Only , my friend , I yet am unprovided +Of a pair of bases . + +We'll sure provide ; thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair , and I'll bring thee to the court myself . + +Then honour be but a goal to my will ! This day I'll rise , or else add ill to ill . + +Are the knights ready to begin the triumph ? + +They are , my liege ; +And stay your coming to present themselves . + +Return them , we are ready ; and our daughter , +In honour of whose birth these triumphs are , +Sits here , like beauty's child , whom nature gat +For men to see , and seeing wonder at . + + +It pleaseth you , my royal father , to express +My commendations great , whose merit's less . + +'Tis fit it should be so ; for princes are +A model , which heaven makes like to itself : +As jewels lose their glory if neglected , +So princes their renowns if not respected . +'Tis now your honour , daughter , to explain +The labour of each knight in his device . + +Which , to preserve mine honour , I'll perform . + + +Who is the first that doth prefer himself ? + +A knight of Sparta , my renowned father ; +And the device he bears upon his shield +Is a black Ethiop reaching at the sun ; +The word , Lux tua vita mihi . + +He loves you well that holds his life of you . + +Who is the second that presents himself ? + +A prince of Macedon , my royal father ; +And the device he bears upon his shield +Is an arm'd knight that's conquer'd by a lady ; +The motto thus , in Spanish , Piu por dulzura que por fuerza . + + +And what's the third ? + +The third of Antioch ; +And his device , a wreath of chivalry ; +The word , Me pomp provexit apex . + + +What is the fourth ? + +A burning torch that's turned upside down ; +The word , Quod me alit me extinguit . + +Which shows that beauty hath his power and will , +Which can as well inflame as it can kill . + + +The fifth , a hand environed with clouds , +Holding out gold that's by the touchstone tried ; +The motto thus , Sic spectanda fides . + + +And what 's +The sixth and last , the which the knight himself +With such a graceful courtesy deliver'd ? + +He seems to be a stranger ; but his present is +A wither'd branch , that's only green at top ; +The motto , In hac spe vivo . + +A pretty moral ; +From the dejected state wherein he is , +He hopes by you his fortune yet may flourish . + +He had need mean better than his outward show +Can any way speak in his just commend ; +For , by his rusty outside he appears +To have practis'd more the whipstock than the lance . + +He well may be a stranger , for he comes +To an honour'd triumph strangely furnished . + +And on set purpose let his armour rust +Until this day , to scour it in the dust . + +Opinion's but a fool , that makes us scan +The outward habit by the inward man . +But stay , the knights are coming ; we'll withdraw +Into the gallery . + + +Knights , +To say you're welcome were superfluous . +To place upon the volume of your deeds , +As in a title-page , your worth in arms , +Were more than you expect , or more than's fit , +Since every worth in show commends itself . +Prepare for mirth , for mirth becomes a feast : +You are princes and my guests . + +But you , my knight and guest ; +To whom this wreath of victory I give , +And crown you king of this day's happiness . + +'Tis more by fortune , lady , than by merit . + +Call it by what you will , the day is yours ; +And here , I hope , is none that envies it . +In framing an artist art hath thus decreed , +To make some good , but others to exceed ; +And you're her labour'd scholar . Come , queen o' the feast , +For , daughter , so you are ,here take your place ; +Marshal the rest , as they deserve their grace . + +We are honour'd much by good Simonides . + +Your presence glads our days ; honour we love , +For who hates honour , hates the gods above . + +Sir , yonder is your place . + +Some other is more fit . + +Contend not , sir ; for we are gentlemen +That neither in our hearts nor outward eyes +Envy the great nor do the low despise . + +You are right courteous knights . + +Sit , sir ; sit . + +By Jove , I wonder , that is king of thoughts , +These cates resist me , she but thought upon . + +By Juno , that is queen of marriage , +All viands that I eat do seem unsavoury , +Wishing him my meat . Sure , he's a gallant gentleman . + +He's but a country gentleman ; +He has done no more than other knights have done ; +He has broken a staff or so ; so let it pass . + +To me he seems like diamond to glass . + +Yon king's to me like to my father's picture , +Which tells me in that glory once he was ; +Had princes sit , like stars , about his throne , +And he the sun for them to reverence . +None that beheld him , but like lesser lights +Did vail their crowns to his supremacy ; +Where now his son's like a glow-worm in the night , +The which hath fire in darkness , none in light : +Whereby I see that Time's the king of men ; +He's both their parent , and he is their grave , +And gives them what he will , not what they crave . + +What , are you merry , knights ? + +Who can be other in this royal presence ? + +Here , with a cup that's stor'd unto the brim , +As you do love , fill to your mistress' lips , +We drink this health to you . + +We thank your Grace . + +Yet pause awhile ; +Yon knight doth sit too melancholy , +As if the entertainment in our court +Had not a show might countervail his worth . +Note it not you , Thaisa ? + +What is it +To me , my father ? + +O ! attend , my daughter : +Princes in this should live like gods above , +Who freely give to every one that comes +To honour them ; +And princes not doing so are like to gnats , +Which make a sound , but kill'd are wonder'd at . +Therefore to make his entrance more sweet , +Here say we drink this standing-bowl of wine to him . + +Alas ! my father , it befits not me +Unto a stranger knight to be so bold ; +He may my proffer take for an offence , +Since men take women's gifts for impudence . + +How ! +Do as I bid you , or you'll move me else . + +Now , by the gods , he could not please me better . + +And further tell him , we desire to know of him , +Of whence he is , his name , and parentage . + +The king , my father , sir , has drunk to you . + +I thank him . + +Wishing it so much blood unto your life . + +I thank both him and you , and pledge him freely . + +And further he desires to know of you , +Of whence you are , your name and parentage . + +A gentleman of Tyre , my name , Pericles ; +My education been in arts and arms ; +Who , looking for adventures in the world , +Was by the rough seas reft of ships and men , +And after shipwrack , driven upon this shore . + +He thanks your Grace ; names himself Pericles , +A gentleman of Tyre , +Who only by misfortune of the seas +Bereft of ships and men , cast on this shore . + +Now , by the gods , I pity his misfortune , +And will awake him from his melancholy . +Come , gentlemen , we sit too long on trifles , +And waste the time which looks for other revels . +Even in your armours , as you are address'd , +Will very well become a soldier's dance . +I will not have excuse , with saying this +Loud music is too harsh for ladies' heads +Since they love men in arms as well as beds . + +So this was well ask'd , 'twas so well perform'd . +Come , sir ; +Here is a lady that wants breathing too : +And I have often heard , you knights of Tyre +Are excellent in making ladies trip , +And that their measures are as excellent . + +In those that practise them they are , my lord . + +O ! that's as much as you would be denied +Of your fair courtesy . + +Unclasp , unclasp ; +Thanks , gentlemen , to all ; all have done well , + + +But you the best . Pages and lights , to conduct +These knights unto their several lodgings ! Yours , sir , +We have given order to be next our own . + +I am at your Grace's pleasure . + +Princes , it is too late to talk of love , +And that's the mark I know you level at ; +Therefore each one betake him to his rest ; +To-morrow all for speeding do their best . + + +No , Escanes , know this of me , +Antiochus from incest liv'd not free ; +For which , the most high gods not minding longer +To withhold the vengeance that they had in store , +Due to this heinous capital offence , +Even in the height and pride of all his glory , +When he was seated in a chariot +Of an inestimable value , and his daughter with him , +A fire from heaven came and shrivell'd up +Their bodies , even to loathing ; for they so stunk , +That all those eyes ador'd them ere their fall +Scorn now their hand should give them burial . + +'Twas very strange . + +And yet but just ; for though +This king were great , his greatness was no guard +To bar heaven's shaft , but sin had his reward . + +'Tis very true . + + +See , not a man in private conference +Or council has respect with him but he . + +It shall no longer grieve without reproof . + +And curs'd be he that will not second it . + +Follow me then . Lord Helicane , a word . + +With me ? and welcome . Happy day , my lords . + +Know that our griefs are risen to the top , +And now at length they overflow their banks . + +Your griefs ! for what ? wrong not the prince you love . + +Wrong not yourself then , noble Helicane ; +But if the prince do live , let us salute him , +Or know what ground's made happy by his breath . +If in the world he live , we'll seek him out ; +If in his grave he rest , we'll find him there ; +And be resolv'd he lives to govern us , +Or dead , give 's cause to mourn his funeral , +And leaves us to our free election . + +Whose death's indeed the strongest in our censure : +And knowing this kingdom is without a head , +Like goodly buildings left without a roof +Soon fall to ruin , your noble self , +That best know'st how to rule and how to reign , +We thus submit unto , our sovereign . + +Live , noble Helicane ! + +For honour's cause forbear your suffrages : +If that you love Prince Pericles , forbear . +Take I your wish , I leap into the seas , +Where's hourly trouble for a minute's ease . +A twelvemonth longer , let me entreat you +To forbear the absence of your king ; +If in which time expir'd he not return , +I shall with aged patience bear your yoke . +But if I cannot win you to this love , +Go search like nobles , like noble subjects , +And in your search spend your adventurous worth ; +Whom if you find , and win unto return , +You shall like diamonds sit about his crown . + +To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield ; +And since Lord Helicane enjoineth us , +We with our travels will endeavour it . + +Then you love us , we you , and we'll clasp hands : +When peers thus knit , a kingdom ever stands . + + +Good morrow to the good Simonides . + +Knights , from my daughter this I let you know , +That for this twelvemonth she'll not undertake +A married life . +Her reason to herself is only known , +Which yet from her by no means can I get . + +May we not get access to her , my lord ? + +Faith , by no means ; she hath so strictly tied +Her to her chamber that 'tis impossible . +One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery ; +This by the eye of Cynthia hath she vow'd , +And on her virgin honour will not break it . + +Though loath to bid farewell , we take our leaves . + + +So , +They're well dispatch'd ; now to my daughter's letter . +She tells me here , she'll wed the stranger knight , +Or never more to view nor day nor light . +'Tis well , mistress ; your choice agrees with mine ; +I like that well : how absolute she's in 't , +Not minding whether I dislike or no ! +Well , I do commend her choice ; +And will no longer have it be delay'd . +Soft ! here he comes : I must dissemble it . + + +All fortune to the good Simonides ! + +To you as much , sir ! I am beholding to you +For your sweet music this last night : I do +Protest my ears were never better fed +With such delightful pleasing harmony + +It is your Grace's pleasure to commend , +Not my desert . + +Sir , you are music's master . + +The worst of all her scholars , my good lord . + +Let me ask you one thing . +What do you think of my daughter , sir ? + +A most virtuous princess . + +And she is fair too , is she not ? + +As a fair day in summer ; wondrous fair . + +My daughter , sir , thinks very well of you ; +Ay , so well , that you must be her master , +And she will be your scholar : therefore look to it . + +I am unworthy for her schoolmaster . + +She thinks not so ; peruse this writing else . + +What's here ? +A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre ! +'Tis the king's subtilty to have my life . +O ! seek not to entrap me , gracious lord , +A stranger and distressed gentleman , +That never aim'd so high to love your daughter , +But bent all offices to honour her . + +Thou hast bewitch'd my daughter , and thou art +A villain . + +By the gods , I have not : +Never did thought of mine levy offence ; +Nor never did my actions yet commence +A deed might gain her love or your displeasure . + +Traitor , thou liest . + +Traitor ! + +Ay , traitor . + +Even in his throat , unless it be the king , +That calls me traitor , I return the lie . + +Now , by the gods , I do applaud his courage . + +My actions are as noble as my thoughts , +That never relish'd of a base descent . +I came unto your court for honour's cause , +And not to be a rebel to her state ; +And he that otherwise accounts of me , +This sword shall prove he's honour's enemy . + +No ? +Here comes my daughter , she can witness it . + + +Then , as you are as virtuous as fair , +Resolve your angry father , if my tongue +Did e'er solicit , or my hand subscribe +To any syllable that made love to you . + +Why , sir , say if you had , +Who takes offence at that would make me glad ? + +Yea , mistress , are you so peremptory ? + + +I am glad on 't , with all my heart . +I'll tame you ; I'll bring you in subjection . +Will you , not having my consent , +Bestow your love and your affections +Upon a stranger ? + +who , for aught I know , +May be , nor can I think the contrary , +As great in blood as I myself . + + +Therefore , hear you , mistress ; either frame +Your will to mine ; and you , sir , hear you , +Either be rul'd by me , or I will make you +Man and wife : +Nay , come , your hands and lips must seal it too ; +And being join'd , I'll thus your hopes destroy ; +And for a further grief ,God give you joy ! +What ! are you both pleas'd ? + +Yes , if you love me , sir . + +Even as my life , or blood that fosters it . + +What ! are you both agreed ? + +Yes , if 't please your majesty . + +Yes , if 't please your majesty . + +It pleaseth me so well , that I will see you wed ; +Then with what haste you can get you to bed . + +Now sleep yslaked hath the rout ; +No din but snores the house about , +Made louder by the o'er-fed breast +Of this most pompous marriage-feast . +The cat , with eyne of burning coal , +Now couches fore the mouse's hole ; +And crickets sing at the oven's mouth , +E'er the blither for their drouth . +Hymen hath brought the bride to bed , +Where , by the loss of maidenhead , +A babe is moulded . Be attent ; +And time that is so briefly spent +With your fine fancies quaintly eche ; +What's dumb in show I'll plain with speech . + + +By many a dern and painful perch , +Of Pericles the careful search +By the four opposing coigns , +Which the world together joins , +Is made with all due diligence +That horse and sail and high expense , +Can stead the quest . At last from Tyre , +Fame answering the most strange inquire +To the court of King Simonides +Are letters brought , the tenour these : +Antiochus and his daughter dead ; +The men of Tyrus on the head +Of Helicanus would set on +The crown of Tyre , but he will none : +The mutiny he there hastes t' oppress ; +Says to 'em , if King Pericles +Come not home in twice six moons , +He , obedient to their dooms , +Will take the crown . The sum of this , +Brought hither to Pentapolis , +Yravished the regions round , +And every one with claps can sound , +'Our heir-apparent is a king ! +Who dream'd , who thought of such a thing ?' +Brief , he must hence depart to Tyre : +His queen , with child , makes her desire , +Which who shall cross ?along to go ; +Omit we all their dole and woe : +Lychorida , her nurse , she takes , +And so to sea . Their vessel shakes +On Neptune's billow ; half the flood +Hath their keel cut : but Fortune's mood +Varies again ; the grisled north +Disgorges such a tempest forth , +That , as a duck for life that dives , +So up and down the poor ship drives . +The lady shrieks , and well-a-near +Does fall in travail with her fear ; +And what ensues in this fell storm +Shall for itself itself perform . +I nill relate , action may +Conveniently the rest convey , +Which might not what by me is told . +In your imagination hold +This stage the ship , upon whose deck +The sea-tost Pericles appears to speak . + +Thou God of this great vast , rebuke these surges , +Which wash both heaven and hell ; and thou , that hast +Upon the winds command , bind them in brass , +Having call'd them from the deep . O ! still +Thy deafening , dreadful thunders ; gently quench +Thy nimble , sulphurous flashes . O ! how Lychorida , +How does my queen ? Thou stormest venomously ; +Wilt thou spit all thyself ? The seaman's whistle +Is as a whisper in the ears of death , +Unheard . Lychorida ! Lucina , O ! +Divinest patroness , and midwife gentle +To those that cry by night , convey thy deity +Aboard our dancing boat ; make swift the pangs +Of my queen's travails ! + +Now , Lychorida ! + +Here is a thing too young for such a place , +Who , if it had conceit , would die , as I +Am like to do : take in your arms this piece +Of your dead queen . + +How , how , Lychorida ! + +Patience , good sir ; do not assist the storm . +Here's all that is left living of your queen , +A little daughter : for the sake of it , +Be manly , and take comfort . + +O you gods ! +Why do you make us love your goodly gifts , +And snatch them straight away ? We here below , +Recall not what we give , and therein may +Use honour with you . + +Patience , good sir , +Even for this charge . + +Now , mild may be thy life ! +For a more blust'rous birth had never babe : +Quiet and gentle thy conditions ! +For thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world +That e'er was prince's child . Happy what follows ! +Thou hast as chiding a nativity +As fire , air , water , earth , and heaven can make , +To herald thee from the womb ; even at the first +Thy loss is more than can thy portage quit , +With all thou canst find here . Now , the good gods +Throw their best eyes upon 't ! + + +What courage , sir ? God save you ! + +Courage enough . I do not fear the flaw ; +It hath done to me the worst . Yet for the love +Of this poor infant , this fresh-new sea-farer , +I would it would be quiet . + +Slack the bolins there ! thou wilt not , wilt thou ? Blow , and split thyself . + +But sea-room , an the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon , I care not . + +Sir , you queen must overboard : the sea works high , the wind is loud , and will not lie till the ship be cleared of the dead . + +That's your superstition . + +Pardon us , sir ; with us at sea it hath been still observed , and we are strong in custom . Therefore briefly yield her , for she must overboard straight . + +As you think meet . Most wretched queen ! + +Here she lies , sir . + +A terrible child-bed hast thou had , my dear ; +No light , no fire : the unfriendly elements +Forgot thee utterly ; nor have I time +To give thee hallow'd to thy grave , but straight +Must cast thee , scarcely coffin'd , in the ooze ; +Where , for a monument upon thy bones , +And aye-remaining lamps , the belching whale +And humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse , +Lying with simple shells ! O Lychorida ! +Bid Nestor bring me spices , ink and paper , +My casket and my jewels ; and bid Nicander +Bring me the satin coffer : lay the babe +Upon the pillow . Hie thee , whiles I say +A priestly farewell to her : suddenly , woman . + + +Sir , we have a chest beneath the hatches , caulk'd and bitumed ready . + +I thank thee . Mariner , say what coast is this ? + +We are near Tarsus . + +Thither , gentle mariner , +Alter thy course for Tyre . When canst thou reach it ? + +By break of day , if the wind cease . + +O ! make for Tarsus . +There will I visit Cleon , for the babe +Cannot hold out to Tyrus ; there I'll leave it +At careful nursing . Go thy ways , good mariner ; +I'll bring the body presently . + + +Philemon , ho ! + + +Doth my lord call ? + +Get fire and meat for these poor men ; +'T has been a turbulent and stormy night . + +I have been in many ; but such a night as this +Till now I ne'er endur'd . + +Your master will be dead ere you return ; +There's nothing can be minister'd to nature +That can recover him . + +Give this to the 'pothecary , +And tell me how it works . + +Good morrow , sir . + +Good morrow to your lordship . + +Gentlemen , +Why do you stir so early ? + +Sir , +Our lodgings , standing bleak upon the sea , +Shook as the earth' did quake ; +The very principals did seem to rend , +And all to topple . Pure surprise and fear +Made me to quit the house . + +That is the cause we trouble you so early ; +'Tis not our husbandry . + +O ! you say well . + +But I much marvel that your lordship , having +Rich tire about you , should at these early hours +Shake off the golden slumber of repose . +'Tis most strange , +Nature should be so conversant with pain , +Being thereto not compell'd . + +I hold it ever , +Virtue and cunning were endowments greater +Than nobleness and riches ; careless heirs +May the two latter darken and expend , +But immortality attends the former , +Making a man a god . 'Tis known I ever +Have studied physic , through which secret art , +By turning o'er authorities , I have +Together with my practice made familiar +To me and to my aid the blest infusions +That dwell in vegetives , in metals , stones ; +And can speak of the disturbances +That nature works , and of her cures ; which doth give me +A more content in course of true delight +Than to be thirsty after tottering honour , +Or tie my treasure up in silken bags , +To please the fool and death . + +Your honour has through Ephesus pour'd forth +Your charity , and hundreds call themselves +Your creatures , who by you have been restor'd : +And not your knowledge , your personal pain , but even +Your purse , still open , hath built Lord Cerimon +Such strong renown as time shall ne'er decay . + + +So ; lift there . + +What is that ? + +Sir , even now +Did the sea toss upon our shore this chest : +'Tis of some wrack . + +Set it down ; let's look upon 't . + +'Tis like a coffin , sir . + +Whate'er it be , +'Tis wondrous heavy . Wrench it open straight ; +If the sea's stomach be o'ercharg'd with gold , +'Tis a good constraint of fortune it belches upon us . + +'Tis so , my lord . + +How close 'tis caulk'd and bitumed ! +Did the sea cast it up ? + +I never saw so huge a billow , sir , +As toss'd it upon shore . + +Come , wrench it open . +Soft ! it smells most sweetly in my sense . + +A delicate odour . + +As ever hit my nostril . So , up with it . +O you most potent gods ! what's here ? a corse ! + +Most strange ! + +Shrouded in cloth of state ; balm'd and entreasur'd +With full bags of spices ! A passport too ! +Apollo , perfect me i' the characters ! + +Here I give to understand , +If e'er this coffin drive a-land , +I , King Pericles , have lost +This queen worth all our mundane cost . +Who finds her , give her burying ; +She was the daughter of a king : +Besides this treasure for a fee , +The gods requite his charity ! + +If thou liv'st , Pericles , thou hast a heart +That even cracks for woe ! This chanc'd to-night . + +Most likely , sir . + +Nay , certainly to-night ; +For look , how fresh she looks . They were too rough +That threw her in the sea . Make fire within ; +Fetch hither all the boxes in my closet . + +Death may usurp on nature many hours , +And yet the fire of life kindle again +The overpress'd spirits . I heard +Of an Egyptian , that had nine hours lien dead , +Who was by good appliances recovered . + + +Well said , well said ; the fire and cloths . +The rough and woeful music that we have , +Cause it to sound , beseech you . +The viol once more ;how thou stirr'st , thou block ! +The music there ! I pray you , give her air . +Gentlemen , +This queen will live ; nature awakes , a warmth +Breathes out of her ; she hath not been entranc'd +Above five hours . See ! how she 'gins to blow + +Into life's flower again . + +The heavens +Through you increase our wonder and set up +Your fame for ever . + +She is alive ! behold , +Her eyelids , cases to those heavenly jewels +Which Pericles hath lost , +Begin to part their fringes of bright gold ; +The diamonds of a most praised water +Do appear , to make the world twice rich . Live , +And make us weep to hear your fate , fair creature , +Rare as you seem to be ! + + +O dear Diana ! +Where am I ? Where's my lord ? What world is this ? + +Is not this strange ? + +Most rare . + +Hush , gentle neighbours ! +Lend me your hands ; to the next chamber bear her . +Get linen ; now this matter must be look'd to , +For her relapse is mortal , Come , come ; +And sculapius guide us ! + + +Most honour'd Cleon , I must needs be gone ; +My twelve months are expir'd , and Tyrus stands +In a litigious peace . You and your lady +Take from my heart all thankfulness ; the gods +Make up the rest upon you ! + +Your shafts of fortune , though they hurt you mortally , +Yet glance full wanderingly on us . + +O your sweet queen ! +That the strict fates had pleas'd you had brought her hither , +To have bless'd mine eyes with her ! + +We cannot but obey +The powers above us . Could I rage and roar +As doth the sea she lies in , yet the end +Must be as 'tis . My gentle babe Marina whom , +For she was born at sea , I have nam'd so here +I charge your charity withal , and leave her +The infant of your care , beseeching you +To give her princely training , that she may be +Manner'd as she is born . + +Fear not , my lord , but think +Your Grace , that fed my country with your corn +For which the people's prayers still fall upon you +Must in your child be thought on . If neglection +Should therein make me vile , the common body , +By you reliev'd , would force me to my duty ; +But if to that my nature need a spur , +The gods revenge it upon me and mine , +To the end of generation ! + +I believe you ; +Your honour and your goodness teach me to 't , +Without your vows . Till she be married , madam , +By bright Diana , whom we honour , all +Unscissar'd shall this hair of mine remain , +Though I show ill in 't . So I take my leave . +Good madam , make me blessed in your care +In bringing up my child . + +I have one myself , +Who shall not be more dear to my respect +Than yours , my lord . + +Madam , my thanks and prayers . + +We'll bring your Grace e'en to the edge o' the shore ; +Then give you up to the mask'd Neptune and +The gentlest winds of heaven . + +I will embrace +Your offer . Come , dearest madam . O ! no tears , +Lychorida , no tears : +Look to your little mistress , on whose grace +You may depend hereafter . Come , my lord . + + +Madam , this letter , and some certain jewels , +Lay with you in your coffer ; which are now +At your command . Know you the character ? + +It is my lord's . +That I was shipp'd at sea , I well remember , +Even on my eaning time ; but whether there +Deliver'd , by the holy gods , +I cannot rightly say . But since King Pericles , +My wedded lord , I ne'er shall see again , +A vestal livery will I take me to , +And never more have joy . + +Madam , if this you purpose as you speak , +Diana's temple is not distant far , +Where you may abide till your date expire . +Moreover , if you please , a niece of mine +Shall there attend you . + +My recompense is thanks , that's all ; +Yet my good will is great , though the gift small . + +Imagine Pericles arriv'd at Tyre , +Welcom'd and settled to his own desire . +His woeful queen we leave at Ephesus , +Unto Diana there a votaress . +Now to Marina bend your mind , +Whom our fast-growing scene must find +At Tarsus , and by Cleon train'd +In music , letters ; who hath gain'd +Of education all the grace , +Which makes her bath the heart and places +Of general wonder . But , alack ! +That monster envy , oft the wrack +Of earned praise , Marina's life +Seeks to take off by treason's knife . +And in this kind hath our Cleon +One daughter , and a wench full grown , +Even ripe for marriage-rite ; this maid +Hight Philoten , and it is said +For certain in our story , she +Would ever with Marina be : +Be 't when she weav'd the sleided silk +With fingers , long , small , white as milk , +Or when she would with sharp neeld wound +The cambric , which she made more sound +By hurting it ; when to the lute +She sung , and made the night-bird mute , +That still records with moan ; or when +She would with rich and constant pen +Vail to her mistress Dian ; still +This Philoten contends in skill +With absolute Marina : so +With the dove of Paphos might the crow +Vie feathers white . Marina gets +All praises , which are paid as debts , +And not as given . This so darks +In Philoten all graceful marks , +That Cleon's wife , with envy rare , +A present murderer does prepare +For good Marina , that her daughter +Might stand peerless by this slaughter . +The sooner her vile thoughts to stead , +Lychorida , our nurse , is dead : +And cursed Dionyza hath +The pregnant instrument of wrath +Prest for this blow . The unborn event +I do commend to your content : +Only I carry winged time +Post on the lame feet of my rime ; +Which never could I so convey , +Unless your thoughts went on my way . +Dionyza doth appear , +With Leonine , a murderer . + + +Thy oath remember ; thou hast sworn to do 't : +'Tis but a blow , which never shall be known . +Thou canst not do a thing i' the world so soon , +To yield thee so much profit . Let not conscience , +Which is but cold , inflaming love i' thy bosom , +Inflame too nicely ; nor let pity , which +Even women have cast off , melt thee , but he +A soldier to thy purpose . + +I'll do 't ; but yet she is a goodly creature . + +The fitter , then , the gods should have her . Here +She comes weeping for her only mistress' death . +Thou art resolv'd ? + +I am resolv'd . + + +No , I will rob Tellus of her weed , +To strew thy green with flowers ; the yellows , blues , +The purple violets , and marigolds , +Shall as a carpet hang upon thy grave , +While summer days do last . Ay me ! poor maid , +Born in a tempest , when my mother died , +This world to me is like a lasting storm , +Whirring me from my friends . + +How now , Marina ! why do you keep alone ? +How chance my daughter is not with you ? Do not +Consume your blood with sorrowing ; you have +A nurse of me . Lord ! how your favour's chang'd +With this unprofitable woe . Come , +Give me your flowers , ere the sea mar it . +Walk with Leonine ; the air is quick there , +And it pierces and sharpens the stomach . Come , +Leonine , take her by the arm , walk with her . + +No , I pray you ; +I'll not bereave you of your servant . + +Come , come ; +I love the king your father , and yourself , +With more than foreign heart . We every day +Expect him here ; when he shall come and find +Our paragon to all reports thus blasted , +He will repent the breadth of his great voyage ; +Blame both my lord and me , that we have taken +No care to your best courses . Go , I pray you ; +Walk , and be cheerful once again ; reserve +That excellent complexion , which did steal +The eyes of young and old . Care not for me ; +I can go home alone . + +Well , I will go ; +But yet I have no desire to it . + +Come , come , I know 'tis good for you . +Walk half an hour , Leonine , at least . +Remember what I have said . + +I warrant you , madam . + +I'll leave you , my sweet lady , for a while ; +Pray you walk softly , do not heat your blood : +What ! I must have care of you . + +My thanks , sweet madam . + +Is this wind westerly that blows ? + +South-west . + +When I was born , the wind was north . + +Was 't so ? + +My father , as nurse said , did never fear , +But cried 'Good seamen !' to the sailors , galling +His kingly hands haling ropes ; +And , clasping to the mast , endur'd a sea +That almost burst the deck . + +When was this ? + +When I was born : +Never were waves nor wind more violent ; +And from the ladder-tackle washes off +A canvas-climber . 'Ha !' says one , 'wilt out ?' +And with a dropping industry they skip +From stem to stern ; the boatswain whistles , and +The master calls , and trebles their confusion . + +Come ; say your prayers . + +What mean you ? + +If you require a little space for prayer , +I grant it . Pray ; but be not tedious , +For the gods are quick of ear , and I am sworn +To do my work with haste . + +Why will you kill me ? + +To satisfy my lady . + +Why would she have me kill'd ? +Now , as I can remember , by my troth , +I never did her hurt in all my life . +I never spake bad word , nor did ill turn +To any living creature ; believe me , la , +I never kill'd a mouse , nor hurt a fly ; +I trod upon a worm against my will , +But I wept for it . How have I offended , +Wherein my death might yield her any profit , +Or my life imply her any danger ? + +My commission +Is not to reason of the deed , but do 't . + +You will not do 't for all the world , I hope . +You are well favour'd , and your looks foreshow +You have a gentle heart . I saw you lately , +When you caught hurt in parting two that fought ; +Good sooth , it show'd well in you ; do so now ; +Your lady seeks my life ; come you between , +And save poor me , the weaker . + +I am sworn , +And will dispatch . + + +Hold , villain ! + + +A prize ! a prize ! + +Half-part , mates , half-part . +Come , let's have her aboard suddenly . + +These roguing thieves serve the great pirate Valdes ; +And they have seiz'd Marina . Let her go ; +There's no hope she'll return . I'll swear she's dead , +And thrown into the sea . But I'll see further ; +Perhaps they will but please themselves upon her , +Not carry her aboard . If she remain , +Whom they have ravish'd must by me be slain . + + +Boult . + +Sir ? + +Search the market narrowly ; Mitylene is full of gallants ; we lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless . + +We were never so much out of creatures . We have but poor three , and they can do no more than they can do ; and they with continual action are even as good as rotten . + +Therefore , let's have fresh ones , whate'er we pay for them . If there be not a conscience to be used in every trade , we shall never prosper . + +Thou sayst true ; 'tis not the bringing up of poor bastards , as , I think , I have brought up some eleven + +Ay , to eleven ; and brought them down again . But shall I search the market ? + +What else , man ? The stuff we have a strong wind will blow it to pieces , they are so pitifully sodden . + +Thou sayst true ; they're too unwholesome , o' conscience . The poor Transylvanian is dead , that lay with the little baggage . + +Ay , she quickly pooped him ; she made him roast-meat for worms . But I'll go search the market . + + +Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly , and so give over . + +Why to give over , I pray you ? is it a shame to get when we are old ? + +O ! our credit comes not in like the commodity , nor the commodity wages not with the danger ; therefore , if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate , 'twere not amiss to keep our door hatched . Besides , the sore terms we stand upon with the gods will be strong with us for giving over . + +Come , other sorts offend as well as we . + +As well as we ! ay , and better too ; we offend worse . Neither is our profession any trade ; it's no calling . But here comes Boult . + + +Come your ways . My masters , you say she's a virgin ? + +O ! sir , we doubt it not . + +Master , I have gone through for this piece , you see : if you like her , so ; if not , I have lost my earnest . + +Boult , has she any qualities ? + +She has a good face , speaks well , and has excellent good clothes ; there's no further necessity of qualities can make her be refused . + +What's her price , Boult ? + +I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces . + +Well , follow me , my masters , you shall have your money presently . Wife , take her in ; instruct her what she has to do , that she may not be raw in her entertainment . + + +Boult , take you the marks of her , the colour of her hair , complexion , height , age , with warrant of her virginity ; and cry , 'He that will give most , shall have her first .' Such a maiden-head were no cheap thing , if men were as they have been . Get this done as I command you . + +Performance shall follow . + + +Alack ! that Leonine was so slack , so slow . +He should have struck , not spoke ; or that these pirates +Not enough barbarous had not o'erboard thrown me +For to seek my mother ! + +Why lament you , pretty one ? + +That I am pretty . + +Come , the gods have done their part in you . + +I accuse them not . + +You are lit into my hands , where you are like to live . + +The more my fault +To 'scape his hands where I was like to die . + +Ay , and you shall live in pleasure . + +No . + +Yes , indeed , shall you , and taste gentlemen of all fashions . You shall fare well ; you shall have the difference of all complexions . What ! do you stop your ears ? + +Are you a woman ? + +What would you have me be , an I be not a woman ? + +An honest woman , or not a woman . + +Marry , whip thee , gosling ; I think I shall have something to do with you . Come , you are a young foolish sapling , and must be bowed as I would have you . + +The gods defend me ! + +If it please the gods to defend you by men , then men must comfort you , men must feed you , men must stir you up . Boult's returned . + +Now , sir , hast thou cried her through the market ? + +I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs ; I have drawn her picture with my voice . + +And I prithee , tell me , how dost thou find the inclination of the people , especially of the younger sort ? + +Faith , they listened to me , as they would have hearkened to their father's testament . There was a Spaniard's mouth so watered , that he went to bed to her very description . + +We shall have him here to-morrow with his best ruff on . + +To-night , to-night . But , mistress , do you know the French knight that cowers i' the hams ? + +Who ? Monsieur Veroles ? + +Ay ; he offered to cut a caper at the proclamation ; but he made a groan at it , and swore he would see her to-morrow . + +Well , well ; as for him , he brought his disease hither : here he does but repair it . I know he will come in our shadow , to scatter his crowns in the sun . + +Well , if we had of every nation a traveller , we should lodge them with this sign . + +Pray you , come hither awhile . You have fortunes coming upon you . Mark me : you must seem to do that fearfully , which you commit willingly ; to despise profit where you have most gain . To weep that you live as ye do makes pity in your lovers ; seldom but that pity begets you a good opinion , and that opinion a mere profit . + +I understand you not . + +O ! take her home , mistress , take her home ; these blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practice . + +Thou sayst true , i' faith , so they must ; for your bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant . + +Faith , some do , and some do not . But , mistress , if I have bargained for the joint , + +Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit . + +I may so ? + +Who should deny it ? Come , young one , I like the manner of your garments well . + +Ay , by my faith , they shall not be changed yet . + +Boult , spend thou that in the town ; report what a sojourner we have ; you'll lose nothing by custom . When nature framed this piece , she meant thee a good turn ; therefore say what a paragon she is , and thou hast the harvest out of thine own report . + +I warrant you , mistress , thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stir up the lewdly-inclined . I'll bring home some to-night . + +Come your ways ; follow me . + +If fires be hot , knives sharp , or waters deep , +Untied I still my virgin knot will keep . +Diana , aid my purpose ! + +What have we to do with Diana ? +Pray you , will you go with us ? + + +Why , are you foolish ? Can it be undone ? + +O Dionyza ! such a piece of slaughter +The sun and moon ne'er look'd upon . + +I think +You'll turn a child again . + +Were I chief lord of all this spacious world , +I'd give it to undo the deed . O lady ! +Much less in blood than virtue , yet a princess +To equal any single crown o' the earth +I' the justice of compare . O villain Leonine ! +Whom thou hast poison'd too ; +If thou hadst drunk to him 't had been a kindness +Becoming well thy fact ; what canst thou say +When noble Pericles shall demand his child ? + +That she is dead . Nurses are not the fates , +To foster it , nor ever to preserve . +She died at night ; I'll say so . Who can cross it ? +Unless you play the pious innocent , +And for an honest attribute cry out +'She died by foul play .' + +O ! go to . Well , well , +Of all the faults beneath the heavens , the gods +Do like this worst . + +Be one of those that think +The pretty wrens of Tarsus will fly hence , +And open this to Pericles . I do shame +To think of what a noble strain you are , +And of how coward a spirit . + +To such proceeding +Who ever but his approbation added , +Though not his prime consent , he did not flow +From honourable sources . + +Be it so , then ; +Yet none does know but you how she came dead , +Nor none can know , Leonine being gone . +She did distain my child , and stood between +Her and her fortunes ; none would look on her , +But cast their gazes on Marina's face , +Whilst ours was blurted at and held a malkin +Not worth the time of day . It pierc'd me thorough ; +And though you call my course unnatural , +You not your child well loving , yet I find +It greets me as an enterprise of kindness +Perform'd to your sole daughter . + +Heavens forgive it ! + +And as for Pericles , +What should he say ? We wept after her hearse , +And even yet we mourn ; her monument +Is almost finish'd , and her epitaphs +In glittering golden characters express +A general praise to her , and care in us +At whose expense 'tis done . + +Thou art like the harpy , +Which , to betray , dost with thine angel's face , +Seize with thine eagle's talons . + +You are like one that superstitiously +Doth swear to the gods that winter kills the flies ; +But yet I know you'll do as I advise . + +Thus time we waste , and longest leagues make short ; +Sail seas in cockles , have an wish but for 't ; +Making to take your imagination +From bourn to bourn , region to region . +By you being pardon'd , we commit no crime +To use one language in each several clime +Where our scenes seem to live . I do beseech you +To learn of me , who stand i' the gaps to teach you , +The stages of our story . Pericles +Is now again thwarting the wayward seas , +Attended on by many a lord and knight , +To see his daughter , all his life's delight . +Old Helicanus goes along . Behind +Is left to govern it , you bear in mind , +Old Escanes , whom Helicanus late +Advanc'd in time to great and high estate . +Well-sailing ships and bounteous winds have brought +This king to Tarsus , think his pilot thought , +So with his steerage shall your thoughts grow on , +To fetch his daughter home , who first is gone . +Like motes and shadows see them move awhile ; +Your ears unto your eyes I'll reconcile . + + +See how belief may suffer by foul show ! +This borrow'd passion stands for true old woe ; +And Pericles , in sorrow all devour'd , +With sighs shot through , and biggest tears o'ershower'd , +Leaves Tarsus and again embarks . He swears +Never to wash his face , nor cut his hairs ; +He puts on sackcloth , and to sea . He bears +A tempest , which his mortal vessel tears , +And yet he rides it out . Now please you wit +The epitaph is for Marina writ +By wicked Dionyza . + + +the fairest , sweet'st , and best lies here , +who wither'd in her spring of year : +she was of tyrus the king's daughter , +on whom foul death hath made this slaughter . +marina was she call'd ; and at her birth , +thetis , being proud , swallow'd some part o' the earth : +therefore the earth , fearing to be o'erflow'd , +hath thetis' birth-child on the heavens bestow'd : +wherefore she does , and swears she'll never stint , +make raging battery upon shores of flint . + +No visor does become black villany +So well as soft and tender flattery . +Let Pericles believe his daughter's dead , +And bear his courses to be ordered +By Lady Fortune ; while our scene must play +His daughter's woe and heavy well-a-day +In her unholy service . Patience then , +And think you now are all in Mitylen . + + +Did you ever hear the like ? + +No , nor never shall do in such a place as this , she being once gone . + +But to have divinity preached there ! did you ever dream of such a thing ? + +No , no . Come , I am for no more bawdy-houses . Shall's go hear the vestals sing ? + +I'll do any thing now that is virtuous ; but I am out of the road of rutting for ever . + + +Well , I had rather than twice the worth of her she had ne'er come here . + +Fie , fie upon her ! she is able to freeze the god Priapus , and undo a whole generation ; we must either get her ravished , or be rid of her . When she should do for clients her fitment , and do me the kindness of our profession , she has me her quirks , her reasons , her master-reasons , her prayers , her knees ; that she would make a puritan of the devil if he should cheapen a kiss of her . + +Faith , I must ravish her , or she'll disfurnish us of all our cavaliers , and make all our swearers priests . + +Now , the pox upon her green-sickness for me ! + +Faith , there's no way to be rid on 't but by the way to the pox . Here comes the Lord Lysimachus , disguised . + +We should have both lord and lown if the peevish baggage would but give way to customers . + + +How now ! How a dozen of virginities ? + +Now , the gods to-bless your honour ! + +I am glad to see your honour in good health . + +You may so ; 'tis the better for you that your resorters stand upon sound legs . How now ! wholesome iniquity , have you that a man may deal withal , and defy the surgeon ? + +We have here one , sir , if she would but there never came her like in Mitylene . + +If she'd do the deed of darkness , thou wouldst say . + +Your honour knows what 'tis to say well enough . + +Well ; call forth , call forth . + +For flesh and blood , sir , white and red , you shall see a rose ; and she were a rose indeed if she had but + +What , prithee ? + +O ! sir , I can be modest . + +That dignifies the renown of a bawd no less than it gives a good report to a number to be chaste . + + +Here comes that which grows to the stalk ; never plucked yet , I can assure you . + +Is she not a fair creature ? + +Faith , she would serve after a long voyage at sea . Well , there's for you ; leave us . + +I beseech your honour , give me leave ; a word , and I'll have done presently . + +I beseech you do . + +First , I would have you note , this is an honourable man . + +I desire to find him so , that I may worthily note him . + +Next , he's the governor of this country , and a man whom I am bound to . + +If he govern the country , you are bound to him indeed ; but how honourable he is in that I know not . + +Pray you , without any more virginal fencing , will you use him kindly ? He will line your apron with gold . + +What he will do graciously , I will thankfully receive . + +Ha' you done ? + +My lord , she's not paced yet ; you must take some pains to work her to your manage . Come , we will leave his honour and her together . + +Go thy ways . + +Now , pretty one , how long have you been at this trade ? + +What trade , sir ? + +Why , I cannot name 't but I shall offend . + +I cannot be offended with my trade . Please you to name it . + +How long have you been of this profession ? + +E'er since I can remember . + +Did you go to 't so young ? Were you a gamester at five or at seven ? + +Earlier too , sir , if now I be one . + +Why , the house you dwell in proclaims you to be a creature of sale . + +Do you know this house to be a place of such resort , and will come into 't ? I hear say you are of honourable parts , and are the governor of this place . + +Why , hath your principal made known unto you who I am ? + +Who is my principal ? + +Why , your herb-woman ; she that sets seeds and roots of shame and iniquity . O ! you have heard something of my power , and so stand aloof for more serious wooing . But I protest to thee , pretty one , my authority shall not see thee , or else look friendly upon thee . Come , bring me to some private place ; come , come . + +If you were born to honour , show it now ; +If put upon you , make the judgment good +That thought you worthy of it . + +How's this ? how's this ? Some more ; be sage . + +For me , +That am a maid , though most ungentle fortune +Hath plac'd me in this sty , where , since I came , +Diseases have been sold dearer than physic , +O ! that the gods +Would set me free from this unhallow'd place , +Though they did change me to the meanest bird +That flies i' the purer air ! + +I did not think +Thou couldst have spoke so well ; ne'er dream'd thou couldst . +Had I brought hither a corrupted mind , +Thy speech had alter'd it . Hold , here's gold for thee ; +Persever in that clear way thou goest , +And the gods strengthen thee ! + +The good gods preserve you ! + +For me , be you thoughten +That I came with no ill intent , for to me +The very doors and windows savour vilely . +Farewell . Thou art a piece of virtue , and +I doubt not but thy training hath been noble . +Hold , here's more gold for thee . +A curse upon him , die he like a thief , +That robs thee of thy goodness ! If thou dost +Hear from me , it shall be for thy good . + + +I beseech your honour , one piece for me . + +Avaunt ! thou damned door-keeper . Your house , +But for this virgin that doth prop it , would +Sink and overwhelm you . Away ! + + +How's this ? We must take another course with you . If your peevish chastity , which is not worth a breakfast in the cheapest country under the cope , shall undo a whole household , let me be gelded like a spaniel . Come your ways . + +Whither would you have me ? + +I must have your maidenhead taken off , or the common hangman shall execute it . Come your ways . We'll have no more gentlemen driven away . Come your ways , I say . + + +How now ! what's the matter ? + +Worse and worse , mistress ; she has here spoken holy words to the Lord Lysimachus . + +O ! abominable . + +She makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the gods . + +Marry , hang her up for ever ! + +The nobleman would have dealt with her like a nobleman , and she sent him away as cold as a snowball ; saying his prayers too . + +Boult , take her away ; use her at thy pleasure ; crack the glass of her virginity , and make the rest malleable . + +An if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is , she shall be ploughed . + +Hark , hark , you gods ! + +She conjures ; away with her ! Would she had never come within my doors ! Marry , hang you ! She's born to undo us . Will you not go the way of women-kind ? Marry , come up , my dish of chastity with rosemary and bays ! + + +Come , mistress ; come your ways with me . + +Whither wilt thou have me ? + +To take from you the jewel you hold so dear . + +Prithee , tell me one thing first . + +Come now , your one thing . + +What canst thou wish thine enemy to be ? + +Why , I could wish him to be my master , or rather , my mistress . + +Neither of these are so bad as thou art , +Since they do better thee in their command . +Thou hold'st a place , for which the pained'st fiend +Of hell would not in reputation change ; +Thou art the damned door-keeper to every +Coystril that comes inquiring for his Tib , +To the choleric fisting of every rogue +Thy ear is liable , thy food is such +As hath been belch'd on by infected lungs . + +What would you have me do ? go to the wars , would you ? where a man may serve seven years for the loss of a leg , and have not money enough in the end to buy him a wooden one ? + +Do any thing but this thou doest . Empty . +Old receptacles , or common sewers , of filth ; +Serve by indenture to the common hangman : +Any of these ways are yet better than this ; +For what thou professest , a baboon , could he speak , +Would own a name too dear . O ! that the gods +Would safely deliver me from this place . +Here , here's gold for thee . +If that thy master would gain by me , +Proclaim that I can sing , weave , sew , and dance , +With other virtues , which I'll keep from boast ; +And I will undertake all these to teach . +I doubt not but this populous city will +Yield many scholars . + +But can you teach all this you speak of ? + +Prove that I cannot , take me home again , +And prostitute me to the basest groom +That doth frequent your house . + +Well , I will see what I can do for thee ; if I can place thee , I will . + +But , amongst honest women . + +Faith , my acquaintance lies little amongst them . But since my master and mistress have bought you , there's no going but by their consent ; therefore I will make them acquainted with your purpose , and I doubt not but I shall find them tractable enough . Come ; I'll do for thee what I can ; come your ways . + + +Marina thus the brothel 'scapes , and chances +Into an honest house , our story says . +She sings like one immortal , and she dances +As goddess-like to her admired lays ; +Deep clerks she dumbs ; and with her neeld composes +Nature's own shape , of bud , bird , branch , or berry , +That even her art sisters the natural roses ; +Her inkle , silk , twin with the rubied cherry ; +That pupils lacks she none of noble race , +Who pour their bounty on her ; and her gain +She gives the cursed bawd . Here we her place ; +And to her father turn our thoughts again , +Where we left him , on the sea . We there him lost , +Whence , driven before the winds , he is arriv'd +Here where his daughter dwells : and on this coast +Suppose him now at anchor . The city striv'd +God Neptune's annual feast to keep ; from whence +Lysimachus our Tyrian ship espies , +His banners sable , trimm'd with rich expense ; +And to him in his barge with fervour hies . +In your supposing once more put your sight +Of heavy Pericles ; think this his bark : +Where what is done in action , more , if might , +Shall be discover'd ; please you , sit and hark . + +Where's the Lord Helicanus ? he can resolve you . +O ! here he is . +Sir , there's a barge put off from Mitylene , +And in it is Lysimachus , the governor , +Who craves to come aboard . What is your will ? + +That he have his . Call up some gentlemen . + +Ho , gentlemen ! my lord calls . + + +Doth your lordship call ? + +Gentlemen , there's some of worth would come aboard ; +I pray ye , greet them fairly . + +Sir , +This is the man that can , in aught you would , +Resolve you . + +Hail , reverend sir ! The gods preserve you ! + +And you , sir , to outlive the age I am , +And die as I would do . + +You wish me well . +Being on shore , honouring of Neptune's triumphs , +Seeing this goodly vessel ride before us , +I made to it to know of whence you are . + +First , what is your place ? + +I am the governor of this place you lie before . + +Sir , +Our vessel is of Tyre , in it the king ; +A man who for this three months hath not spoken +To any one , nor taken sustenance +But to prorogue his grief . + +Upon what ground is his distemperature ? + +'Twould be too tedious to repeat ; +But the main grief springs from the loss +Of a beloved daughter and a wife . + +May we not see him ? + +You may ; +But bootless is your sight : he will not speak +To any . + +Yet let me obtain my wish . + +Behold him . + +This was a goodly person , +Till the disaster that , one mortal night , +Drove him to this . + +Sir king , all hail ! the gods preserve you ! +Hall , royal sir ! + +It is in vain ; he will not speak to you . + +Sir , +We have a maid in Mitylene , I durst wager , +Would win some words of him . + +'Tis well bethought . +She questionless with her sweet harmony +And other chosen attractions , would allure , +And make a battery through his deafen'd ports +Which now are midway stopp'd : +She is all happy as the fair'st of all , +And with her fellow maids is now upon +The leafy shelter that abuts against +The island's side . + + +Sure , all's effectless ; yet nothing we'll omit , +That bears recovery's name . But , since your kindness +We have stretch'd thus far , let us beseech you , +That for our gold we may provision have , +Wherein we are not destitute for want , +But weary for the staleness . + +O ! sir , a courtesy , +Which if we should deny , the most just gods +For every graff would send a caterpillar , +And so afflict our province . Yet once more +Let me entreat to know at large the cause +Of your king's sorrow . + +Sit , sir , I will recount it to you ; +But see , I am prevented . + + +O ! here is +The lady that I sent for . Welcome , fair one ! +Is't not a goodly presence ? + +She's a gallant lady . + +She's such a one , that were I well assur'd +Came of a gentle kind and noble stock , +I'd wish no better choice , and think me rarely wed . +Fair one , all goodness that consists in bounty +Expect even here , where is a kingly patient : +If that thy prosperous and artificial feat +Can draw him but to answer thee in aught , +Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay +As thy desires can wish . + +Sir , I will use +My utmost skill in his recovery , +Provided +That none but I and my companion maid +Be suffer'd to come near him . + +Come , let us leave her ; +And the gods make her prosperous ! + + +Mark'd he your music ? + +No , nor look'd on us . + +See , she will speak to him . + +Hail , sir ! my lord , lend ear . + +Hum ! ha ! + +I am a maid , +My lord , that ne'er before invited eyes , +But have been gaz'd on like a comet ; she speaks , +My lord , that , may be , hath endur'd a grief +Might equal yours , if both were justly weigh'd . +Though wayward Fortune did malign my state , +My derivation was from ancestors +Who stood equivalent with mighty kings ; +But time hath rooted out my parentage , +And to the world and awkward casualties +Bound me in servitude . + +I will desist ; +But there is something glows upon my cheek , +And whispers in mine ear , 'Go not till he speak .' + +My fortunes parentage good parentage +To equal mine !was it not thus ? what say you ? + +I said , my lord , if you did know my parentage , +You would not do me violence . + +I do think so . Pray you , turn your eyes upon me . +You are like something that What country-woman ? +Here of these shores ? + +No , nor of any shores ; +Yet I was mortally brought forth , and am +No other than I appear . + +I am great with woe , and shall deliver weeping . +My dearest wife was like this maid , and such a one +My daughter might have been : my queen's square brows ; +Her stature to an inch ; as wand-like straight ; +As silver-voic'd ; her eyes as jewel-like , +And cas'd as richly ; in pace another Juno ; +Who starves the ears she feeds , and makes them hungry , +The more she gives them speech . Where do you live ? + +Where I am but a stranger ; from the deck +You may discern the place . + +Where were you bred ? +And how achiev'd you these endowments , which +You make more rich to owe ? + +Should I tell my history , it would seem +Like lies , disdain'd in the reporting . + +Prithee , speak ; +Falseness cannot come from thee , for thou look'st +Modest as justice , and thou seem'st a palace +For the crown'd truth to dwell in . I believe thee , +And make my senses credit thy relation +To points that seem impossible ; for thou lookest +Like one I lov'd indeed . What were thy friends ? +Didst thou not say when I did push thee back , +Which was when I perceiv'd thee ,that thou cam'st +From good descending ? + +So indeed I did . + +Report thy parentage . I think thou saidst +Thou hadst been toss'd from wrong to injury , +And that thou thought'st thy griefs might equal mine , +If both were open'd . + +Some such thing +I said , and said no more but what my thoughts +Did warrant me was likely . + +Tell thy story ; +If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part +Of my endurance , thou art a man , and I +Have suffer'd like a girl ; yet thou dost look +Like Patience gazing on kings' graves , and smiling +Extremity out of act . What were thy friends ? +How lost thou them ? Thy name , my most kind virgin ? +Recount , I do beseech thee . Come , sit by me . + +My name is Marina . + +O ! I am mock'd , +And thou by some incensed god sent hither +To make the world to laugh at me . + +Patience , good sir , +Or here I'll cease . + +Nay , I'll be patient . +Thou little know'st how thou dost startle me , +To call thyself Marina . + +The name +Was given me by one that had some power ; +My father , and a king . + +How ! a king's daughter ? +And call'd Marina ? + +You said you would believe me ; +But , not to be a troubler of your peace , +I will end here . + +But are you flesh and blood ? +Have you a working pulse ? and are no fairy ? +Motion !Well ; speak on . Where were you born ? +And wherefore call'd Marina ? + +Call'd Marina +For I was born at sea . + +At sea ! what mother ? + +My mother was the daughter of a king ; +Who died the minute I was born , +As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft +Deliver'd weeping . + +O ! stop there a little . +This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep +Did mock sad fools withal ; this cannot be . +My daughter's buried . Well ; where were you bred ? +I'll hear you more , to the bottom of your story , +And never interrupt you . + +You'll scorn to believe me ; 'twere best I did give o'er . + +I will believe you by the syllable +Of what you shall deliver . Yet , give me leave : +How came you in these parts ? where were you bred ? + +The king my father did in Tarsus leave me , +Till cruel Cleon , with his wicked wife , +Did seek to murder me ; and having woo'd +A villain to attempt it , who having drawn to do 't , +A crew of pirates came and rescu'd me ; +Brought me to Mitylene . But , good sir , +Whither will you have me ? Why do you weep ? It may be +You think me an impostor ; no , good faith ; +I am the daughter to King Pericles , +If good King Pericles be . + +Ho , Helicanus ! + +Calls my lord ? + +Thou art a grave and noble counsellor , +Most wise in general ; tell me , if thou canst , +What this maid is , or what is like to be , +That thus hath made me weep ? + +I know not ; but +Here is the regent , sir , of Mitylene , +Speaks nobly of her . + +She never would tell +Her parentage ; being demanded that , +She would sit still and weep . + +O Helicanus ! strike me , honour'd sir ; +Give me a gash , put me to present pain , +Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me +O'erbear the shores of my mortality , +And drown me with their sweetness . O ! come hither , +Thou that begett'st him that did thee beget ; +Thou that wast born at sea , buried at Tarsus , +And found at sea again . O Helicanus ! +Down on thy knees , thank the holy gods as loud +As thunder threatens us ; this is Marina . +What was thy mother's name ? tell me but that , +For truth can never be confirm'd enough , +Though doubts did ever sleep . + +First , sir , I pray , +What is your title ? + +I am Pericles of Tyre : but tell me now +My drown'd queen's name , as in the rest you said +Thou hast been god-like perfect ; +Thou'rt heir of kingdoms , and another life +To Pericles thy father . + +Is it no more to be your daughter than +To say my mother's name was Thaisa ? +Thaisa was my mother , who did end +The minute I began . + +Now , blessing on thee ! rise ; thou art my child , +Give me fresh garments . Mine own , Helicanus ; +She is not dead at Tarsus , as she should have been , +By savage Cleon ; she shall tell thee all ; +When thou shalt kneel , and justify in knowledge +She is thy very princess . Who is this ? + +Sir , 'tis the governor of Mitylene , +Who , hearing of your melancholy state , +Did come to see you . + +I embrace you . +Give me my robes . I am wild in my beholding . +O heavens ! bless my girl . But , hark ! what music ? +Tell Helicanus , my Marina , tell him +O'er , point by point , for yet he seems to doubt , +How sure you are my daughter . But , what music ? + +My lord , I hear none . + +None ! +The music of the spheres ! List , my Marina . + +It is not good to cross him ; give him way . + +Rarest sounds ! Do ye not hear ? + +My lord , I hear . + + +Most heavenly music : +It nips me unto list'ning , and thick slumber +Hangs upon mine eyes ; let me rest . + + +A pillow for his head . +So , leave him all . Well , my companion friends , +If this but answer to my just belief , +I'll well remember you . + +My temple stands in Ephesus ; hie thee thither , +And do upon mine altar sacrifice . +There , when my maiden priests are met together , +Before the people all , +Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife ; +To mourn thy crosses , with thy daughter's , call +And give them repetition to the life . +Perform my bidding , or thou liv'st in woe ; +Do it , and happy ; by my silver bow ! +Awake , and tell thy dream ! + + +Celestial Dian , goddess argentine , +I will obey thee ! Helicanus ! + + +Sir ? + +My purpose was for Tarsus , there to strike +The inhospitable Cleon : but I am +For other service first : toward Ephesus +Turn our blown sails ; eftsoons I'll tell thee why . + + +Shall we refresh us , sir , upon your shore , +And give you gold for such provision +As our intents will need ? + +Sir , +With all my heart ; and when you come ashore , +I have another suit . + +You shall prevail , +Were it to woo my daughter ; for it seems +You have been noble towards her . + +Sir , lend me your arm . + +Come , my Marina . + + +Now our sands are almost run ; +More a little , and then dumb . +This , my last boon , give me , +For such kindness must relieve me , +That you aptly will suppose +What pageantry , what feats , what shows , +What minstrelsy , and pretty din , +The regent made in Mitylen +To greet the king . So he thriv'd , +That he is promis'd to be wiv'd +To fair Marina ; but in no wise +Till he had done his sacrifice , +As Dian bade : whereto being bound , +The interim , pray you , all confound . +In feather'd briefness sails are fill'd , +And wishes fall out as they're will'd . +At Ephesus , the temple see , +Our king and all his company . +That he can hither come so soon , +Is by your fancy's thankful doom . + +Hail , Dian ! to perform thy just command , +I here confess myself the King of Tyre ; +Who , frighted from my country , did wed +At Pentapolis the fair Thaisa . +At sea in childbed died she , but brought forth +A maid-child call'd Marina ; who , O goddess ! +Wears yet thy silver livery . She at Tarsus +Was nurs'd with Cleon , whom at fourteen years +He sought to murder ; but her better stars +Brought her to Mitylene , 'gainst whose shore +Riding , her fortunes brought the maid aboard us , +Where , by her own most clear remembrance , she +Made known herself my daughter . + +Voice and favour ! +You are , you are O royal Pericles ! + + +What means the nun ? she dies ! help , gentlemen ! + +Noble sir , +If you have told Diana's altar true , +This is your wife . + +Reverend appearer , no ; +I threw her o'erboard with these very arms . + +Upon this coast , I warrant you . + +'Tis most certain . + +Look to the lady . O ! she's but o'erjoy'd . +Early in blustering morn this lady was +Thrown upon this shore . I op'd the coffin , +Found there rich jewels ; recover'd her , and plac'd her +Here in Diana's temple . + +May we see them ? + +Great sir , they shall be brought you to my house , +Whither I invite you . Look ! Thaisa is +Recovered . + +O ! let me look ! +If he be none of mine , my sanctity +Will to my sense bend no licentious ear , +But curb it , spite of seeing . O ! my lord , +Are you not Pericles ? Like him you speak , +Like him you are . Did you not name a tempest , +A birth , and death ? + +The voice of dead Thaisa ! + +That Thaisa am I , supposed dead +And drown'd . + +Immortal Dian ! + +Now I know you better . +When we with tears parted Pentapolis , +The king my father gave you such a ring . + + +This , this : no more , you gods ! your present kindness +Makes my past miseries sport : you shall do well , +That on the touching of her lips I may +Melt and no more be seen . O ! come , be buried +A second time within these arms . + +My heart +Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom . + + +Look , who kneels here ! Flesh of thy flesh , Thaisa ; +Thy burden at the sea , and call'd Marina , +For she was yielded there . + +Bless'd , and mine own ! + +Hail , madam , and my queen ! + +I know you not . + +You have heard me say , when I did fly from Tyre , +I left behind an ancient substitute ; +Can you remember what I call'd the man ? +I have nam'd him oft . + +'Twas Helicanus then . + +Still confirmation ! +Embrace him , dear Thaisa ; this is he . +Now do I long to hear how you were found , +How possibly preserv'd , and whom to thank , +Besides the gods , for this great miracle . + +Lord Cerimon , my lord ; this man , +Through whom the gods have shown their power ; that can +From first to last resolve you . + +Reverend sir , +The gods can have no mortal officer +More like a god than you . Will you deliver +How this dead queen re-lives ? + +I will , my lord . +Beseech you , first go with me to my house . +Where shall be shown you all was found with her ; +How she came placed here in the temple ; +No needful thing omitted . + +Pure Dian ! bless thee for thy vision ; I +Will offer night-oblations to thee . Thaisa , +This prince , the fair-betrothed of your daughter , +Shall marry her at Pentapolis . And now +This ornament +Makes me look dismal will I clip to form ; +And what this fourteen years no rasor touch'd , +To grace thy marriage-day I'll beautify . + +Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit , sir , +My father's dead . + +Heavens make a star of him ! Yet there , my queen , +We'll celebrate their nuptials , and ourselves +Will in that kingdom spend our following days ; +Our son and daughter shall in Tyrus reign . +Lord Cerimon , we do our longing stay +To hear the rest untold . Sir , lead's the way . + +In Antiochus and his daughter you have heard +Of monstrous lust the due and just reward : +In Pericles , his queen , and daughter , seen +Although assail'd with fortune fierce and keen +Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast , +Led on by heaven , and crown'd with joy at last . +In Helicanus may you well descry +A figure of truth , of faith , of loyalty . +In reverend Cerimon there well appears +The worth that learned charity aye wears . +For wicked Cleon and his wife , when fame +Had spread their cursed deed , and honour'd name +Of Pericles , to rage the city turn , +That him and his they in his palace burn : +The gods for murder seemed so content +To punish them ; although not done , but meant . +So on your patience evermore attending , +New joy wait on you ! Here our play hath ending . + +THE COMEDY OF ERRORS + +Proceed , Solinus , to procure my fall , +And by the doom of death end woes and all . + +Merchant of Syracusa , plead no more . +I am not partial to infringe our laws : +The enmity and discord which of late +Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your duke +To merchants , our well-dealing countrymen , +Who , wanting guilders to redeem their lives , +Have seal'd his rigorous statutes with their bloods , +Excludes all pity from our threat'ning looks . +For , since the mortal and intestine jars +'Twixt thy seditious countrymen and us , +It hath in solemn synods been decreed , +Both by the Syracusians and ourselves , +T' admit no traffic to our adverse towns : +Nay , more , if any , born at Ephesus +Be seen at Syracusian marts and fairs ; +Again , if any Syracusian born +Come to the bay of Ephesus , he dies , +His goods confiscate to the duke's dispose ; +Unless a thousand marks be levied , +To quit the penalty and to ransom him . +Thy substance , valu'd at the highest rate , +Cannot amount unto a hundred marks ; +Therefore , by law thou art condemn'd to die . + +Yet this my comfort : when your words are done , +My woes end likewise with the evening sun . + +Well , Syracusian ; say , in brief the cause +Why thou departedst from thy native home , +And for what cause thou cam'st to Ephesus . + +A heavier task could not have been impos'd +Than I to speak my griefs unspeakable ; +Yet , that the world may witness that my end +Was wrought by nature , not by vile offence , +I'll utter what my sorrow gives me leave . +In Syracusa was I born , and wed +Unto a woman , happy but for me , +And by me too , had not our hap been bad . +With her I liv'd in joy : our wealth increas'd +By prosperous voyages I often made +To Epidamnum ; till my factor's death , +And the great care of goods at random left , +Drew me from kind embracements of my spouse : +From whom my absence was not six months old , +Before herself ,almost at fainting under +The pleasing punishment that women bear , +Had made provision for her following me , +And soon and safe arrived where I was . +There had she not been long but she became +A joyful mother of two goodly sons ; +And , which was strange , the one so like the other , +As could not be distinguish'd but by names . +That very hour , and in the self-same inn , +A meaner woman was delivered +Of such a burden , male twins , both alike . +Those ,for their parents were exceeding poor , +I bought , and brought up to attend my sons . +My wife , not meanly proud of two such boys , +Made daily motions for our home return : +Unwilling I agreed ; alas ! too soon +We came aboard . +A league from Epidamnum had we sail'd , +Before the always-wind-obeying deep +Gave any tragic instance of our harm : +But longer did we not retain much hope ; +For what obscured light the heavens did grant +Did but convey unto our fearful minds +A doubtful warrant of immediate death ; +Which , though myself would gladly have embrac'd , +Yet the incessant weepings of my wife , +Weeping before for what she saw must come , +And piteous plainings of the pretty babes , +That mourn'd for fashion , ignorant what to fear , +Forc'd me to seek delays for them and me . +And this it was , for other means was none : +The sailors sought for safety by our boat , +And left the ship , then sinking-ripe , to us : +My wife , more careful for the latter-born , +Had fasten'd him unto a small spare mast , +Such as seafaring men provide for storms ; +To him one of the other twins was bound , +Whilst I had been like heedful of the other . +The children thus dispos'd , my wife and I , +Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fix'd , +Fasten'd ourselves at either end the mast ; +And floating straight , obedient to the stream , +Were carried towards Corinth , as we thought . +At length the sun , gazing upon the earth , +Dispers'd those vapours that offended us , +And , by the benefit of his wished light +The seas wax'd calm , and we discovered +Two ships from far making amain to us ; +Of Corinth that , of Epidaurus this : +But ere they came ,O ! let me say no more ; +Gather the sequel by that went before . + +Nay , forward , old man ; do not break off so ; +For we may pity , though not pardon thee . + +O ! had the gods done so , I had not now +Worthily term'd them merciless to us ! +For , ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues , +We were encounter'd by a mighty rock ; +Which being violently borne upon , +Our helpful ship was splitted in the midst ; +So that , in this unjust divorce of us +Fortune had left to both of us alike +What to delight in , what to sorrow for . +Her part , poor soul ! seeming as burdened +With lesser weight , but not with lesser woe , +Was carried with more speed before the wind , +And in our sight they three were taken up +By fishermen of Corinth , as we thought . +At length , another ship had seiz'd on us ; +And , knowing whom it was their hap to save , +Gave healthful welcome to their ship-wrack'd guests ; +And would have reft the fishers of their prey , +Had not their bark been very slow of sail ; +And therefore homeward did they bend their course . +Thus have you heard me sever'd from my bliss , +That by misfortune was my life prolong'd , +To tell sad stories of my own mishaps . + +And , for the sake of them thou sorrowest for , +Do me the favour to dilate at full +What hath befall'n of them and thee till now . + +My youngest boy , and yet my eldest care , +At eighteen years became inquisitive +After his brother ; and importun'd me +That his attendant for his case was like , +Reft of his brother , but retain'd his name +Might bear him company in the quest of him ; +Whom whilst I labour'd of a love to see , +I hazarded the loss of whom I lov'd . +Five summers have I spent in furthest Greece , +Roaming clean through the bounds of Asia , +And , coasting homeward , came to Ephesus , +Hopeless to find , yet loath to leave unsought +Or that or any place that harbours men . +But here must end the story of my life ; +And happy were I in my timely death , +Could all my travels warrant me they live . + +Hapless geon , whom the fates have mark'd +To bear the extremity of dire mishap ! +Now , trust me , were it not against our laws , +Against my crown , my oath , my dignity , +Which princes , would they , may not disannul , +My soul should sue as advocate for thee . +But though thou art adjudged to the death +And passed sentence may not be recall'd +But to our honour's great disparagement , +Yet will I favour thee in what I can : +Therefore , merchant , I'll limit thee this day +To seek thy life by beneficial help . +Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus ; +Beg thou , or borrow , to make up the sum , +And live ; if no , then thou art doom'd to die . +Gaoler , take him to thy custody . + +I will , my lord . + +Hopeless and helpless doth geon wend , +But to procrastinate his lifeless end . + + +Therefore , give out you are of Epidamnum , +Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate . +This very day , a Syracusian merchant +Is apprehended for arrival here ; +And , not being able to buy out his life , +According to the statute of the town +Dies ere the weary sun set in the west . +There is your money that I had to keep . + +Go bear it to the Centaur , where we host , +And stay there , Dromio , till I come to thee . +Within this hour it will be dinner-time : +Till that , I'll view the manners of the town , +Peruse the traders , gaze upon the buildings , +And then return and sleep within mine inn , +For with long travel I am stiff and weary . +Get thee away . + +Many a man would take you at your word , +And go indeed , having so good a mean . + + +A trusty villain , sir , that very oft , +When I am dull with care and melancholy , +Lightens my humour with his merry jests . +What , will you walk with me about the town , +And then go to my inn and dine with me ? + +I am invited , sir , to certain merchants , +Of whom I hope to make much benefit ; +I crave your pardon . Soon at five o'clock , +Please you , I'll meet with you upon the mart , +And afterward consort you till bed-time : +My present business calls me from you now . + +Farewell till then : I will go lose myself , +And wander up and down to view the city . + +Sir , I commend you to your own content . + + +He that commends me to mine own content , +Commends me to the thing I cannot get . +I to the world am like a drop of water +That in the ocean seeks another drop ; +Who , falling there to find his fellow forth , +Unseen , inquisitive , confounds himself : +So I , to find a mother and a brother , +In quest of them , unhappy , lose myself . + + +Here comes the almanack of my true date . + +What now ? How chance thou art return'd so soon ? + +Return'd so soon ! rather approach'd too late : +The capon burns , the pig falls from the spit , +The clock hath strucken twelve upon the bell ; +My mistress made it one upon my cheek : +She is so hot because the meat is cold ; +The meat is cold because you come not home ; +You come not home because you have no stomach ; +You have no stomach , having broke your fast ; +But we , that know what 'tis to fast and pray , +Are penitent for your default to-day . + +Stop in your wind , sir : tell me this , I pray : +Where have you left the money that I gave you ? + +O !sixpence , that I had o' Wednesday last +To pay the saddler for my mistress' crupper ; +The saddler had it , sir ; I kept it not . + +I am not in a sportive humour now . +Tell me , and dally not , where is the money ? +We being strangers here , how dar'st thou trust +So great a charge from thine own custody ? + +I pray you , jest , sir , as you sit at dinner . +I from my mistress come to you in post ; +If I return , I shall be post indeed , +For she will score your fault upon my pate . +Methinks your maw , like mine , should be your clock +And strike you home without a messenger . + +Come , Dromio , come ; these jests are out of season ; +Reserve them till a merrier hour than this . +Where is the gold I gave in charge to thee ? + +To me , sir ? why , you gave no gold to me . + +Come on , sir knave , have done your foolishness , +And tell me how thou hast dispos'd thy charge . + +My charge was but to fetch you from the mart +Home to your house , the Ph nix , sir , to dinner : +My mistress and her sister stays for you . + +Now , as I am a Christian , answer me , +In what safe place you have bestow'd my money ; +Or I shall break that merry sconce of yours +That stands on tricks when I am undispos'd . +Where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me ? + +I have some marks of yours upon my pate , +Some of my mistress' marks upon my shoulders , +But not a thousand marks between you both . +If I should pay your worship those again , +Perchance you will not bear them patiently . + +Thy mistress' marks ! what mistress , slave , hast thou ? + +Your worship's wife , my mistress at the Ph nix ; +She that doth fast till you come home to dinner , +And prays that you will hie you home to dinner . + +What ! wilt thou flout me thus unto my face , +Being forbid ? There , take you that , sir knave . + + +What mean you , sir ? for God's sake , hold your hands ! +Nay , an you will not , sir , I'll take my heels . + + +Upon my life , by some device or other +The villain is o'er-raught of all my money . +They say this town is full of cozenage ; +As , nimble jugglers that deceive the eye , +Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind , +Soul-killing witches that deform the body , +Disguised cheaters , prating mountebanks , +And many such-like liberties of sin : +If it prove so , I will be gone the sooner . +I'll to the Centaur , to go seek this slave : +I greatly fear my money is not safe . + +Neither my husband , nor the slave return'd , +That in such haste I sent to seek his master ! +Sure , Luciana , it is two o'clock . + +Perhaps some merchant hath invited him , +And from the mart he's somewhere gone to dinner . +Good sister , let us dine and never fret : +A man is master of his liberty : +Time is their master , and , when they see time , +They'll go or come : if so , be patient , sister . + +Why should their liberty than ours be more ? + +Because their business still lies out o' door . + +Look , when I serve him so , he takes it ill . + +O ! know he is the bridle of your will . + +There's none but asses will be bridled so . + +Why , headstrong liberty is lash'd with woe . +There's nothing situate under heaven's eye +But hath his bound , in earth , in sea , in sky : +The beasts , the fishes , and the winged fowls , +Are their males' subjects and at their controls . +Men , more divine , the masters of all these , +Lords of the wide world , and wild wat'ry seas , +Indu'd with intellectual sense and souls , +Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls , +Are masters to their females and their lords : +Then , let your will attend on their accords . + +This servitude makes you to keep unwed . + +Not this , but troubles of the marriage-bed . + +But , were you wedded , you would bear some sway . + +Ere I learn love , I'll practise to obey . + +How if your husband start some other where ? + +Till he come home again , I would forbear . + +Patience unmov'd ! no marvel though she pause ; +They can be meek that have no other cause . +A wretched soul , bruis'd with adversity , +We bid be quiet when we hear it cry ; +But were we burden'd with like weight of pain , +As much , or more we should ourselves complain : +So thou , that hast no unkind mate to grieve thee , +With urging helpless patience wouldst relieve me : +But if thou live to see like right bereft . +This fool-begg'd patience in thee will be left . + +Well , I will marry one day , but to try . +Here comes your man : now is your husband nigh . + + +Say , is your tardy master now at hand ? + +Nay , he's at two hands with me , and that my two ears can witness . + +Say , didst thou speak with him ? Know'st thou his mind ? + +Ay , ay , he told his mind upon mine ear . +Beshrew his hand , I scarce could understand it . + +Spake he so doubtfully , thou couldst not feel his meaning ? + +Nay , he struck so plainly , I could too well feel his blows ; and withal so doubtfully , that I could scarce understand them . + +But say , I prithee , is he coming home ? +It seems he hath great care to please his wife . + +Why , mistress , sure my master is horn-mad . + +Horn-mad , thou villain ! + +I mean not cuckold-mad ; but , sure , he is stark mad . +When I desir'd him to come home to dinner , +He ask'd me for a thousand marks in gold : +''Tis dinner time ,' quoth I ; 'my gold !' quoth he : +'Your meat doth burn ,' quoth I ; 'my gold !' quoth he : +'Will you come home ?' quoth I : 'my gold !' quoth he : +'Where is the thousand marks I gave thee , villain ?' +'The pig ,' quoth I , 'is burn'd ;' 'my gold !' quoth he : +'My mistress , sir ,' quoth I : 'hang up thy mistress ! +I know not thy mistress : out on thy mistress !' + +Quoth who ? + +Quoth my master : +'I know ,' quoth he , 'no house , no wife , no mistress .' +So that my errand , due unto my tongue , +I thank him , I bear home upon my shoulders ; +For , in conclusion , he did beat me there . + +Go back again , thou slave , and fetch him home . + +Go back again , and be new beaten home ? +For God's sake , send some other messenger . + +Back , slave , or I will break thy pate across . + +And he will bless that cross with other beating : +Between you , I shall have a holy head . + +Hence , prating peasant ! fetch thy master home . + +Am I so round with you as you with me , +That like a football you do spurn me thus ? +You spurn me hence , and he will spurn me hither : +If I last in this service , you must case me in leather . + + +Fie , how impatience loureth in your face ! + +His company must do his minions grace , +Whilst I at home starve for a merry look . +Hath homely age the alluring beauty took +From my poor cheek ? then , he hath wasted it : +Are my discourses dull ? barren my wit ? +If voluble and sharp discourse be marr'd , +Unkindness blunts it more than marble hard : +Do their gay vestments his affections bait ? +That's not my fault ; he's master of my state : +What ruins are in me that can be found +By him not ruin'd ? then is he the ground +Of my defeatures . My decayed fair +A sunny look of his would soon repair ; +But , too unruly deer , he breaks the pale +And feeds from home : poor I am but his stale . + +Self-harming jealousy ! fie ! beat it hence . + +Unfeeling fools can with such wrengs dispense . +I know his eye doth homage otherwhere , +Or else what lets it but he would be here ? +Sister , you know he promis'd me a chain : +Would that alone , alone he would detain , +So he would keep fair quarter with his bed ! +I see , the jewel best enamelled +Will lose his beauty ; and though gold bides still +That others touch , yet often touching will +Wear gold ; and no man that hath a name , +By falsehood and corruption doth it shame . +Since that my beauty cannot please his eye , +I'll weep what's left away , and weeping die . + +How many fond fools serve mad jealousy ! + + +The gold I gave to Dromio is laid up +Safe at the Centaur ; and the heedful slave +Is wander'd forth , in care to seek me out . +By computation , and mine host's report , +I could not speak with Dromio since at first +I sent him from the mart . See , here he comes . + + +How now , sir ! is your merry humour alter'd ? +As you love strokes , so jest with me again . +You know no Centaur ? You receiv'd no gold ? +Your mistress sent to have me home to dinner ? +My house was at the Ph nix ? Wast thou mad , + +That thus so madly thou didst answer me ? + +What answer , sir ? when spake I such a word ? + +Even now , even here , not half-an-hour since . + +I did not see you since you sent me hence , +Home to the Centaur , with the gold you gave me . + +Villain , thou didst deny the gold's receipt , +And told'st me of a mistress and a dinner ; +For which , I hope , thou felt'st I was displeas'd . + +I am glad to see you in this merry vein : +What means this jest ? I pray you , master , tell me . + +Yea , dost thou jeer , and flout me in the teeth ? +Think'st thou I jest ? Hold , take thou that , and that . + + +Hold , sir , for God's sake ! now your jest is earnest . +Upon what bargain do you give it me ? + +Because that I familiarly sometimes +Do use you for my fool , and chat with you , +Your sauciness will jest upon my love , +And make a common of my serious hours . +When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport , +But creep in crannies when he hides his beams . +If you will jest with me , know my aspect , +And fashion your demeanour to my looks , +Or I will beat this method in your sconce . + +Sconce , call you it ? so you would leave battering , I had rather have it a head : an you use these blows long , I must get a sconce for my head and insconce it too ; or else I shall seek my wit in my shoulders . But , I pray , sir , why am I beaten ? + +Dost thou not know ? + +Nothing , sir , but that I am beaten . + +Shall I tell you why ? + +Ay , sir , and wherefore ; for they say every why hath a wherefore . + +Why , first ,for flouting me ; and then , wherefore , +For urging it the second time to me . + +Was there ever any man thus beaten out of season , +When , in the why and the wherefore is neither rime nor reason ? +Well , sir , I thank you . + +Thank me , sir ! for what ? + +Marry , sir , for this something that you gave me for nothing . + +I'll make you amends next , to give you nothing for something . But say , sir , is it dinner-time ? + +No , sir : I think the meat wants that I have + +In good time , sir ; what's that ? + +Basting . + +Well , sir , then 'twill be dry . + +If it be , sir , I pray you eat none of it . + +Your reason ? + +Lest it make you choleric , and purchase me another dry basting . + +Well , sir , learn to jest in good time : there's a time for all things . + +I durst have denied that , before you were so choleric . + +By what rule , sir ? + +Marry , sir , by a rule as plain as the plain bald pate of Father Time himself . + +Let's hear it . + +There's no time for a man to recover his hair that grows bald by nature . + +May he not do it by fine and recovery ? + +Yes , to pay a fine for a periwig and recover the lost hair of another man . + +Why is Time such a niggard of hair , being , as it is , so plentiful an excrement ? + +Because it is a blessing that he bestows on beasts : and what he hath scanted men in hair , he hath given them in wit . + +Why , but there's many a man hath more hair than wit . + +Not a man of those but he hath the wit to lose his hair . + +Why , thou didst conclude hairy men plain dealers without wit . + +The plainer dealer , the sooner lost : yet be loseth it in a kind of jollity . + +For what reason ? + +For two ; and sound ones too . + +Nay , not sound , I pray you . + +Sure ones then . + +Nay , not sure , in a thing falsing . + +Certain ones , then . + +Name them . + +The one , to save the money that he spends in tiring ; the other , that at dinner they should not drop in his porridge . + +You would all this time have proved there is no time for all things . + +Marry , and did , sir ; namely , no time to recover hair lost by nature . + +But your reason was not substantial , why there is not time to recover . + +Thus I mend it : Time himself is bald , and therefore to the world's end will have bald followers . + +I knew 'twould be a bald conclusion . +But soft ! who wafts us yonder ? + + +Ay , ay , Antipholus , look strange , and frown : +Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects , +I am not Adriana , nor thy wife . +The time was once when thou unurg'd wouldst vow +That never words were music to thine ear , +That never object pleasing in thine eye , +That never touch well welcome to thy hand , +That never meat sweet-savour'd in thy taste , +Unless I spake , or look'd , or touch'd , or carv'd to thee . +How comes it now , my husband , O ! how comes it , +That thou art thus estranged from thyself ? +Thyself I call it , being strange to me , +That , undividable , incorporate , +Am better than thy dear self's better part . +Ah ! do not tear away thyself from me , +For know , my love , as easy mayst thou fall +A drop of water in the breaking gulf , +And take unmingled thence that drop again , +Without addition or diminishing , +As take from me thyself and not me too . +How dearly would it touch thee to the quick , +Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious , +And that this body , consecrate to thee , +By ruffian lust should be contaminate ! +Wouldst thou not spit at me and spurn at me , +And hurl the name of husband in my face , +And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot-brow , +And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring +And break it with a deep-divorcing vow ? +I know thou canst ; and therefore , see thou do it . +I am possess'd with an adulterate blot ; +My blood is mingled with the crime of lust : +For if we two be one and thou play false , +I do digest the poison of thy flesh , +Being strumpeted by thy contagion . +Keep then fair league and truce with thy true bed ; +I live unstain'd , thou undishonoured . + +Plead you to me , fair dame ? I know you not : +In Ephesus I am but two hours old , +As strange unto your town as to your talk ; +Who , every word by all my wit being scann'd , +Want wit in all one word to understand . + +Fie , brother : how the world is chang'd with you ! +When were you wont to use my sister thus ? +She sent for you by Dromio home to dinner . + +By Dromio ? + +By me ? + +By thee ; and this thou didst return from him , +That he did buffet thee , and in his blows , +Denied my house for his , me for his wife . + +Did you converse , sir , with this gentle-woman ? +What is the course and drift of your compact ? + +I , sir ? I never saw her till this time . + +Villain , thou liest ; for even her very words +Didst thou deliver to me on the mart . + +I never spake with her in all my life . + +How can she thus then , call us by our names , +Unless it be by inspiration ? + +How ill agrees it with your gravity +To counterfeit thus grossly with your slave , +A betting him to thwart me in my mood ! +Be it my wrong you are from me exempt , +But wrong not that wrong with a more contempt . +Come , I will fasten on this sleeve of thine ; +Thou art an elm , my husband , I a vine , +Whose weakness , married to thy stronger state , +Makes me with thy strength to communicate : +If aught possess thee from me , it is dross , +Usurping ivy , brier , or idle moss ; +Who , all for want of pruning , with intrusion +Infect thy sap and live on thy confusion . + +To me she speaks ; she moves me for her theme ! +What ! was I married to her in my dream ? +Or sleep I now and think I hear all this ? +What error drives our eyes and ears amiss ? +Until I know this sure uncertainty , +I'll entertain the offer'd fallacy . + +Dromio , go bid the servants spread for dinner + +O , for my beads ! I cross me for a sinner . +This is the fairy land : O ! spite of spites . +We talk with goblins , owls , and elvish sprites : +If we obey them not , this will ensue , +They'll suck our breath , or pinch us black and blue . + +Why prat'st thou to thyself and answer'st not ? +Dromio , thou drone , thou snail , thou slug , thou sot ! + +I am transformed , master , am not I ? + +I think thou art , in mind , and so am I . + +Nay , master , both in mind and in my shape . + +Thou hast thine own form . + +No , I am an ape . + +If thou art chang'd to aught , 'tis to an ass . + +'Tis true ; she rides me and I long for grass . +'Tis so , I am an ass ; else it could never be +But I should know her as well as she knows me . + +Come , come ; no longer will I be a fool , +To put the finger in the eye and weep , +Whilst man and master laugh my woes to scorn . +Come , sir , to dinner . Dromio , keep the gate . +Husband , I'll dine above with you to-day , +And shrive you of a thousand idle pranks . +Sirrah , if any ask you for your master , +Say he dines forth , and let no creature enter . +Come , sister . Dromio , play the porter well . + +Am I in earth , in heaven , or in hell ? +Sleeping or waking ? mad or well-advis'd ? +Known unto these , and to myself disguis'd ! +I'll say as they say , and persever so , +And in this mist at all adventures go . + +Master , shall I be porter at the gate ? + +Ay ; and let none enter , lest I break your pate . + +Come , come , Antipholus ; we dine too late . + +Good Signior Angelo , you must excuse us all ; +My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours ; +Say that I linger'd with you at your shop +To see the making of her carkanet , +And that to-morrow you will bring it home . +But here's a villain , that would face me down +He met me on the mart , and that I beat him , +And charg'd him with a thousand marks in gold , +And that I did deny my wife and house . +Thou drunkard , thou , what didst thou mean by this ? + +Say what you will , sir , but I know what I know ; +That you beat me at the mart , I have your hand to show : +If the skin were parchment and the blows you gave were ink , +Your own handwriting would tell you what I think . + +I think thou art an ass . + +Marry , so it doth appear +By the wrongs I suffer and the blows I bear . +I should kick , being kick'd ; and , being at that pass , +You would keep from my heels and beware of an ass . + +You are sad , Signior Balthazar : pray God , our cheer +May answer my good will and your good welcome here . + +I hold your dainties cheap , sir , and your welcome dear . + +O , Signior Balthazar , either at flesh or fish , +A table-full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish . + +Good meat , sir , is common ; that every churl affords . + +And welcome more common , for that's nothing but words . + +Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast . + +Ay , to a niggardly host and more sparing guest : +But though my cates be mean , take them in good part ; +Better cheer may you have , but not with better heart . +But soft ! my door is lock'd . Go bid them let us in . + +Maud , Bridget , Marian , Cicely , Gillian , Ginn ! + +Mome , malt-horse , capon , coxcomb , idiot , patch ! +Either get thee from the door or sit down at the hatch . +Dost thou conjure for wenches , that thou call'st for such store , +When one is one too many ? Go , get thee from the door . + +What patch is made our porter ?My master stays in the street . + +Let him walk from whence he came , lest he catch cold on's feet . + +Who talks within there ? ho ! open the door . + +Right , sir ; I'll tell you when , an you'll tell me wherefore . + +Wherefore ? for my dinner : I have not din'd to-day . + +Nor to-day here you must not ; come again when you may . + +What art thou that keep'st me out from the house I owe ? + +The porter for this time , sir , and my name is Dromio . + +O villain ! thou hast stolen both mine office and my name : +The one ne'er got me credit , the other mickle blame . +If thou hadst been Dromio to-day in my place , +Thou wouldst have chang'd thy face for a name , or thy name for an ass . + +What a coil is there , Dromio ! who are those at the gate ? + +Let my master in , Luce . + +Faith , no ; he comes too late ; +And so tell your master . + +O Lord ! I must laugh . +Have at you with a proverb : Shall I set in my staff ? + +Have at you with another : that's when ? can you tell ? + +If thy name be call'd Luce ,Luce , thou hast answer'd him well . + +Do you hear , you minion ? you'll let us in , I trow ? + +I thought to have ask'd you . + +And you said , no . + +So come , help : well struck ! there was blow for blow . + +Thou baggage , let me in . + +Can you tell for whose sake ? + +Master , knock the door hard . + +Let him knock till it ache . + +You'll cry for this , minion , if I beat the door down . + +What needs all that , and a pair of stocks in the town ? + +Who is that at the door that keeps all this noise ? + +By my troth your town is troubled with unruly boys . + +Are you there , wife ? you might have come before . + +Your wife , sir knave ! go , get you from the door . + +If you went in pain , master , this 'knave' would go sore . + +Here is neither cheer , sir , nor welcome : we would fain have either . + +In debating which was best , we shall part with neither . + +They stand at the door , master : bid them welcome hither . + +There is something in the wind , that we cannot get in . + +You would say so , master , if your garments were thin . +Your cake here is warm within ; you stand here in the cold : +It would make a man mad as a buck to be so bought and sold . + +Go fetch me something : I'll break ope the gate . + +Break any breaking here , and I'll break your knave's pate . + +A man may break a word with you , sir , and words are but wind : +Ay , and break it in your face , so he break it not behind . + +It seems thou wantest breaking : out upon thee , hind ! + +Here's too much 'out upon thee !' I pray thee , let me in . + +Ay , when fowls have no feathers , and fish have no fin . + +Well , I'll break in . Go borrow me a crow . + +A crow without feather ? Master , mean you so ? +For a fish without a fin , there's a fowl without a feather : +If a crow help us in , sirrah , we'll pluck a crow together . + +Go get thee gone : fetch me an iron crow . + +Have patience , sir ; O ! let it not be so ; +Herein you war against your reputation , +And draw within the compass of suspect +The unviolated honour of your wife . +Once this ,your long experience of her wisdom , +Her sober virtue , years , and modesty , +Plead on her part some cause to you unknown ; +And doubt not , sir , but she will well excuse +Why at this time the doors are made against you . +Be rul'd by me : depart in patience , +And let us to the Tiger all to dinner ; +And about evening come yourself alone , +To know the reason of this strange restraint . +If by strong hand you offer to break in +Now in the stirring passage of the day , +A vulgar comment will be made of it , +And that supposed by the common rout +Against your yet ungalled estimation , +That may with foul intrusion enter in +And dwell upon your grave when you are dead ; +For slander lives upon succession , +For ever housed where it gets possession . + +You have prevail'd : I will depart in quiet , +And , in despite of mirth , mean to be merry . +I know a wench of excellent discourse , +Pretty and witty , wild and yet , too , gentle : +There will we dine : this woman that I mean , +My wife ,but , I protest , without desert , +Hath oftentimes upbraided me withal : +To her will we to dinner . + +Get you home , +And fetch the chain ; by this I know 'tis made : +Bring it , I pray you , to the Porpentine ; +For there's the house : that chain will I bestow , +Be it for nothing but to spite my wife , +Upon mine hostess there . Good sir , make haste . +Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me , +I'll knock elsewhere , to see if they'll disdain me . + +I'll meet you at that place some hour hence . + +Do so . This jest shall cost me some expense . + + +And may it be that you have quite forgot A husband's office ? Shall , Antipholus , +Even in the spring of love , thy love-springs rot ? +Shall love , in building , grow so ruinous ? +If you did wed my sister for her wealth , +Then , for her wealth's sake use her with more kindness : +Or , if you like elsewhere , do it by stealth ; +Muffle your false love with some show of blindness ; +Let not my sister read it in your eye ; +Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator ; +Look sweet , speak fair , become disloyalty ; +Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger ; +Bear a fair presence , though your heart be tainted ; +Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint ; +Be secret-false : what need she be acquainted ? +What simple thief brags of his own attaint ? +'Tis double wrong to truant with your bed , +And let her read it in thy looks at board : +Shame hath a bastard fame , well managed ; +Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word . +Alas ! poor women , make us but believe , +Being compact of credit , that you love us ; +Though others have the arm , show us the sleeve ; +We in your motion turn , and you may move us . +Then , gentle brother , get you in again ; +Comfort my sister , cheer her , call her wife : +'Tis holy sport to be a little vain , +When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife . + +Sweet mistress ,what your name is else , I know not , +Nor by what wonder you do hit of mine , +Less in your knowledge and your grace you show not +Than our earth's wonder ; more than earth divine . +Teach me , dear creature , how to think and speak : +Lay open to my earthy-gross conceit , +Smother'd in errors , feeble , shallow , weak , +The folded meaning of your words' deceit . +Against my soul's pure truth why labour you +To make it wander in an unknown field ? +Are you a god ? would you create me new ? +Transform me then , and to your power I'll yield . +But if that I am I , then well I know +Your weeping sister is no wife of mine , +Nor to her bed no homage do I owe : +Far more , far more , to you do I decline . +O ! train me not , sweet mermaid , with thy note , +To drown me in thy sister flood of tears : +Sing , siren , for thyself , and I will dote : +Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs , +And as a bed I'll take them and there lie ; +And , in that glorious supposition think +He gains by death that hath such means to die : +Let Love , being light , be drowned if she sink ! + +What ! are you mad , that you do reason so ? + +Not mad , but mated ; how , I do not know . + +It is a fault that springeth from your eye . + +For gazing on your beams ; fair sun , being by . + +Gaze where you should , and that will clear your sight . + +As good to wink , sweet love , as look on night . + +Why call you me love ? call my sister so . + +Thy sister's sister . + +That's my sister . + +No ; +It is thyself , mine own self's better part ; +Mine eye's clear eye , my dear heart's dearer heart ; +My food , my fortune , and my sweet hope's aim , +My sole earth's heaven , and my heaven's claim . + +All this my sister is , or else should be . + +Call thyself sister , sweet , for I aim thee . +Thee will I love and with thee lead my life : +Thou hast no husband yet nor I no wife . +Give me thy hand . + +O ! soft , sir ; hold you still : +I'll fetch my sister , to get her good will . + +Why , how now , Dromio ! where run'st thou so fast ? + +Do you know me , sir ? am I Dromio ? am I your man ? am I myself ? + +Thou art Dromio , thou art my man , thou art thyself . + +I am an ass , I am a woman's man and besides myself . + +What woman's man ? and how besides thyself ? + +Marry , sir , besides myself , I am due to a woman ; one that claims me , one that haunts me , one that will have me . + +What claim lays she to thee ? + +Marry , sir , such claim as you would lay to your horse ; and she would have me as a beast : not that , I being a beast , she would have me ; but that she , being a very beastly creature , lays claim to me . + +What is she ? + +A very reverent body ; aye , such a one as a man may not speak of , without he say , 'Sir-reverence .' I have but lean luck in the match , and yet is she a wondrous fat marriage . + +How dost thou mean a fat marriage ? + +Marry , sir , she's the kitchen-wench , and all grease ; and I know not what use to put her to but to make a lamp of her and run from her by her own light . I warrant her rags and the tallow in them will burn a Poland winter ; if she lives till doomsday , she'll burn a week longer than the whole world . + +What complexion is she of ? + +Swart , like my shoe , but her face nothing like so clean kept : for why she sweats ; a man may go over shoes in the grime of it . + +That's a fault that water will mend . + +No , sir , 'tis in grain ; Noah's flood could not do it . + +What's her name ? + +Nell , sir ; but her name and three quarters ,that is , an ell and three quarters ,will not measure her from hip to hip . + +Then she bears some breadth ? + +No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip : she is spherical , like a globe ; I could find out countries in her . + +In what part of her body stands Ireland ? + +Marry , sir , in her buttocks : I found it out by the bogs . + +Where Scotland ? + +I found it by the barrenness ; hard in the palm of the hand . + +Where France ? + +In her forehead ; armed and reverted , making war against her heir . + +Where England ? + +I looked for the chalky cliffs , but I could find no whiteness in them : but I guess it stood in her chin , by the salt rheum that ran between France and it . + +Where Spain ? + +Faith , I saw not ; but I felt it hot in her breath . + +Where America , the Indies ? + +O , sir ! upon her nose , all o'er embellished with rubies , carbuncles , sapphires , declining their rich aspect to the hot breath of Spain , who sent whole armadoes of caracks to be ballast at her nose . + +Where stood Belgia , the Netherlands ? + +O , sir ! I did not look so low . To conclude , this drudge , or diviner , laid claim to me ; call'd me Dromio ; swore I was assured to her ; told me what privy marks I had about me , as the mark of my shoulder , the mole in my neck , the great wart on my left arm , that I , amazed , ran from her as a witch . +And , I think , if my breast had not been made of faith and my heart of steel , +She had transform'd me to a curtal dog and made me turn i' the wheel . + +Go hie thee presently post to the road : +An if the wind blow any way from shore , +I will not harbour in this town to-night : +If any bark put forth , come to the mart , +Where I will walk till thou return to me . +If every one knows us and we know none , +'Tis time , I think , to trudge , pack , and be gone . + +As from a bear a man would run for life , +So fly I from her that would be my wife . + + +There's none but witches do inhabit here , +And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence . +She that doth call me husband , even my soul +Doth for a wife abhor ; but her fair sister , +Possess'd with such a gentle sovereign grace , +Of such enchanting presence and discourse , +Hath almost made me traitor to myself : +But , lest myself be guilty to self-wrong , +I'll stop mine ears against the mermaid's song . + + +Master Antipholus ! + +Ay , that's my name . + +I know it well , sir : lo , here is the chain . +I thought to have ta'en you at the Porpentine ; +The chain unfinish'd made me stay thus long . + +What is your will that I shall do with this ? + +What please yourself , sir : I have made it for you . + +Made it for me , sir ! I bespoke it not + +Not once , nor twice , but twenty times you have . +Go home with it and please your wife withal ; +And soon at supper-time I'll visit you , +And then receive my money for the chain . + +I pray you , sir , receive the money now , +For fear you ne'er see chain nor money more . + +You are a merry man , sir : fare you well . + + +What I should think of this , I cannot tell : +But this I think , there's no man is so vain +That would refuse so fair an offer'd chain . +I see , a man here needs not live by shifts , +When in the streets he meets such golden gifts . +I'll to the mart , and there for Dromio stay : +If any ship put out , then straight away . + +You know since Pentecost the sum is due , +And since I have not much importun'd you ; +Nor now I had not , but that I am bound +To Persia , and want guilders for my voyage : +Therefore make present satisfaction , +Or I'll attach you by this officer . + +Even just the sum that I do owe to you +Is growing to me by Antipholus ; +And in the instant that I met with you +He had of me a chain : at five o'clock +I shall receive the money for the same . +Pleaseth you walk with me down to his house , +I will discharge my bond , and thank you too . + + +That labour may you save : see where he comes . + +While I go to the goldsmith's house , go thou +And buy a rope's end , that I will bestow +Among my wife and her confederates , +For locking me out of my doors by day . +But soft ! I see the goldsmith . Get thee gone ; +Buy thou a rope , and bring it home to me . + +I buy a thousand pound a year : I buy a rope ! + + +A man is well holp up that trusts to you : +I promised your presence and the chain ; +But neither chain nor goldsmith came to me . +Belike you thought our love would last too long , +If it were chain'd together , and therefore came not . + +Saving your merry humour , here's the note +How much your chain weighs to the utmost carat . +The fineness of the gold , and chargeful fashion , +Which doth amount to three odd ducats more +Than I stand debted to this gentleman : +I pray you see him presently discharg'd , +For he is bound to sea and stays but for it . + +I am not furnish'd with the present money ; +Besides , I have some business in the town . +Good signior , take the stranger to my house , +And with you take the chain , and bid my wife +Disburse the sum on the receipt thereof : +Perchance I will be there as soon as you . + +Then , you will bring the chain to her yourself ? + +No ; bear it with you , lest I come not time enough . + +Well , sir , I will . Have you the chain about you ? + +An if I have not , sir , I hope you have , +Or else you may return without your money . + +Nay , come , I pray you , sir , give me the chain : +Both wind and tide stays for this gentleman , +And I , to blame , have held him here too long . + +Good Lord ! you use this dalliance to excuse +Your breach of promise to the Porpentine . +I should have child you for not bringing it , +But , like a shrew , you first begin to brawl . + +The hour steals on ; I pray you , sir , dispatch . + +You hear how he importunes me : the chain ! + +Why , give it to my wife and fetch your money . + +Come , come ; you know I gave it you even now . +Either send the chain or send by me some token . + +Fie ! now you run this humour out of breath . +Come , where's the chain ? I pray you , let me see it . + +My business cannot brook this dalliance . +Good sir , say whe'r you'll answer me or no : +If not , I'll leave him to the officer . + +I answer you ! what should I answer you ? + +The money that you owe me for the chain . + +I owe you none till I receive the chain . + +You know I gave it you half an hour since . + +You gave me none : you wrong me much to say so . + +You wrong me more , sir , in denying it : +Consider how it stands upon my credit . + +Well , officer , arrest him at my suit . + +I do ; +And charge you in the duke's name to obey me . + +This touches me in reputation . +Either consent to pay this sum for me , +Or I attach you by this officer . + +Consent to pay thee that I never had ! +Arrest me , foolish fellow , if thou dar'st . + +Here is thy fee : arrest him , officer . +I would not spare my brother in this case , +If he should scorn me so apparently . + +I do arrest you , sir : you hear the suit . + +I do obey thee till I give thee bail . +But , sirrah , you shall buy this sport as dear +As all the metal in your shop will answer . + +Sir , sir , I shall have law in Ephesus , +To your notorious shame , I doubt it not . + + +Master , there is a bark of Epidamnum +That stays but till her owner comes aboard , +And then she bears away . Our fraughtage , sir , +I have convey'd aboard , and I have bought +The oil , the balsamum , and aqua-vit . +The ship is in her trim ; the merry wind +Blows fair from land ; they stay for nought at all +But for their owner , master , and yourself . + +How now ! a madman ! Why , thou peevish sheep , +What ship of Epidamnum stays for me ? + +A ship you sent me to , to hire waftage . + +Thou drunken slave , I sent thee for a rope ; +And told thee to what purpose , and what end . + +You sent me for a rope's end as soon : +You sent me to the bay , sir , for a bark . + +I will debate this matter at more leisure , +And teach your ears to list me with more heed . +To Adriana , villain , hie thee straight ; +Give her this key , and tell her , in the desk +That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry , +There is a purse of ducats : let her send it . +Tell her I am arrested in the street , +And that shall bail me . Hie thee , slave , be gone ! +On , officer , to prison till it come . + + +To Adriana ! that is where we din'd , +Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband : +She is too big , I hope , for me to compass . +Thither I must , although against my will , +For servants must their masters' minds fulfil . + + +Ah ! Luciana , did he tempt thee so ? +Mights thou perceive austerely in his eye +That he did plead in earnest ? yea or no ? +Look'd he or red or pale ? or sad or merrily ? +What observation mad'st thou in this case +Of his heart's meteors tilting in his face ? + +First he denied you had in him no right . + +He meant he did me none ; the more my spite . + +Then swore he that he was a stranger here . + +And true he swore , though yet forsworn he were . + +Then pleaded I for you . + +And what said he ? + +That love I begg'd for you he begg'd of me . + +With what persuasion did he tempt thy love ? + +With words that in an honest suit might move . +First , he did praise my beauty , then my speech . + +Didst speak him fair ? + +Have patience , I beseech . + +I cannot , nor I will not hold me still : +My tongue , though not my heart , shall have his will . +He is deformed , crooked , old and sere , +Ill-fac'd , worse bodied , shapeless every where : +Vicious , ungentle , foolish , blunt , unkind , +Stigmatical in making , worse in mind . + +Who would be jealous then , of such a one ? +No evil lost is wail'd when it is gone . + +Ah ! but I think him better than I say , +And yet would herein others' eyes were worse . +Far from her nest the lapwing cries away : +My heart prays for him , though my tongue do curse . + + +Here , go : the desk ! the purse ! sweet , now , make haste . + +How hast thou lost thy breath ? + +By running fast . + +Where is thy master , Dromio ? is he well ? + +No , he's in Tartar limbo , worse than hell . +A devil in an everlasting garment hath him , +One whose hard heart is button'd up with steel ; +A fiend , a fairy , pitiless and rough ; +A wolf , nay , worse , a fellow all in buff ; +A back-friend , a shoulder-clapper , one that countermands +The passages of alleys , creeks and narrow lands ; +A hound that runs counter and yet draws dryfoot well ; +One that , before the judgment , carries poor souls to hell . + +Why , man , what is the matter ? + +I do not know the matter : he is 'rested on the case . + +What , is he arrested ? tell me at whose suit . + +I know not at whose suit he is arrested well ; +But he's in a suit of buff which 'rested him , that can I tell . +Will you send him , mistress , redemption , the money in his desk ? + +Go fetch it , sister . + +This I wonder at : +That he , unknown to me , should be in debt : +Tell me , was he arrested on a band ? + +Not on a band , but on a stronger thing ; +A chain , a chain . Do you not hear it ring ? + +What , the chain ? + +No , no , the bell : 'tis time that I were gone : +It was two ere I left him , and now the clock strikes one . + +The hours come back ! that did I never hear . + +O yes ; if any hour meet a sergeant , a' turns back for very fear . + +As if Time were in debt ! how fondly dost thou reason ! + +Time is a very bankrupt , and owes more than he's worth to season . +Nay , he's a thief too : have you not heard men say , +That Time comes stealing on by night and day ? +If Time be in debt and theft , and a sergeant in the way , +Hath he not reason to turn back an hour in a day ? + + +Go , Dromio : there's the money , bear it straight , +And bring thy master home immediately . +Come , sister ; I am press'd down with conceit ; Conceit , my comfort and my injury . + + +There's not a man I meet but doth salute me , +As if I were their well acquainted friend ; +And every one doth call me by my name . +Some tender money to me ; some invite me ; +Some other give me thanks for kindnesses ; +Some offer me commodities to buy : +Even now a tailor call'd me in his shop +And show'd me silks that he had bought for me , +And therewithal , took measure of my body . +Sure these are but imaginary wiles , +And Lapland sorcerers inhabit here . + + +Master , here's the gold you sent me for . +What ! have you got the picture of old Adam new apparelled ? + +What gold is this ? What Adam dost thou mean ? + +Not that Adam that kept the Paradise , but that Adam that keeps the prison : he that goes in the calf's skin that was killed for the Prodigal : he that came behind you , sir , like an evil angel , and bid you forsake your liberty . + +I understand thee not . + +No ? why , 'tis a plain case : he that went , like a base-viol , in a case of leather ; the man , sir , that , when gentlemen are tired , gives them a fob , and 'rests them ; he , sir , that takes pity on decayed men and gives them suits of durance ; he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a morris-pike . + +What , thou meanest an officer ? + +Ay , sir , the sergeant of the band ; he that brings any man to answer it that breaks his band ; one that thinks a man always going to bed , and says , 'God give you good rest !' + +Well , sir , there rest in your foolery . Is there any ship puts forth to-night ? may we be gone ? + +Why , sir , I brought you word an hour since that the bark Expedition put forth to-night ; and then were you hindered by the sergeant to tarry for the hoy Delay . Here are the angels that you sent for to deliver you . + +The fellow is distract , and so am I ; +And here we wander in illusions : +Some blessed power deliver us from hence ! + + +Well met , well met , Master Antipholus . +I see , sir , you have found the goldsmith now : +Is that the chain you promis'd me to-day ? + +Satan , avoid ! I charge thee tempt me not ! + +Master , is this Mistress Satan ? + +It is the devil . + +Nay , she is worse , she is the devil's dam , and here she comes in the habit of a light wench : and thereof comes that the wenches say , 'God damn me ;' that's as much as to say , 'God make me a light wench .' It is written , they appear to men like angels of light : light is an effect of fire , and fire will burn ; ergo , light wenches will burn . Come not near her . + +Your man and you are marvellous merry , sir . Will you go with me ? we'll mend our dinner here . + +Master , if you do , expect spoon-meat , so bespeak a long spoon . + +Why , Dromio ? + +Marry , he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil . + +Avoid thee , fiend ! what tell'st thou me of supping ? +Thou art , as you are all , a sorceress : +I conjure thee to leave me and be gone . + +Give me the ring of mine you had at dinner , +Or , for my diamond , the chain you promis'd , +And I'll be gone , sir , and not trouble you . + +Some devils ask but the parings of one's nail , +A rush , a hair , a drop of blood , a pin , +A nut , a cherry-stone ; +But she , more covetous , would have a chain . +Master , be wise : an if you give it her , +The devil will shake her chain and fright us with it . + +I pray you , sir , my ring , or else the chain : +I hope you do not mean to cheat me so . + +Avaunt , thou witch ! Come , Dromio , let us go . + +'Fly pride ,' says the peacock : mistress , that you know . + + +Now , out of doubt , Antipholus is mad , +Else would he never so demean himself . +A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats , +And for the same he promis'd me a chain : +Both one and other he denies me now . +The reason that I gather he is mad , +Besides this present instance of his rage , +Is a mad tale he told to-day at dinner , +Of his own doors being shut against his entrance +Belike his wife , acquainted with his fits , +On purpose shut the doors against his way . +My way is now to hie home to his house , +And tell his wife , that , being lunatic , +He rush'd into my house , and took perforce +My ring away . This course I fittest choose , +For forty ducats is too much to lose . + + +Fear me not , man ; I will not break away : +I'll give thee , ere I leave thee , so much money , +To warrant thee , as I am 'rested for . +My wife is in a wayward mood to-day , +And will not lightly trust the messenger . +That I should be attach'd in Ephesus , +I tell you , 'twill sound harshly in her ears . + + +Here comes my man : I think he brings the money . + +How now , sir ! have you that I sent you for ? + +Here's that , I warrant you , will pay them all . + +But where's the money ? + +Why , sir , I gave the money for the rope . + +Five hundred ducats , villain , for a rope ? + +I'll serve you , sir , five hundred at the rate . + +To what end did I bid thee hie thee home ? + +To a rope's end , sir ; and to that end am I return'd . + +And to that end , sir , I will welcome you . + + +Good sir , be patient . + +Nay , 'tis for me to be patient ; I am in adversity . + +Good now , hold thy tongue . + +Nay , rather persuade him to hold his hands . + +Thou whoreson , senseless villain ! + +I would I were senseless , sir , that I might not feel your blows . + +Thou art sensible in nothing but blows , and so is an ass . + +I am an ass indeed ; you may prove it by my long ears . I have served him from the hour of my nativity to this instant , and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows . When I am cold , he heats me with beating ; when I am warm , he cools me with beating ; I am waked with it when I sleep ; raised with it when I sit ; driven out of doors with it when I go from home ; welcomed home with it when I return ; nay , I bear it on my shoulders , as a beggar wont her brat ; and , I think , when he hath lamed me , I shall beg with it from door to door . + +Come , go along ; my wife is coming yonder . + + +Mistress , respice finem , respect your end ; or rather , to prophesy like the parrot , 'Beware the rope's end .' + +Wilt thou still talk ? + + +How say you now ? is not your husband mad ? + +His incivility confirms no less . +Good Doctor Pinch , you are a conjurer ; +Establish him in his true sense again , +And I will please you what you will demand . + +Alas ! how fiery and how sharp he looks . + +Mark how he trembles in his ecstasy ! + +Give me your hand and let me feel your pulse . + +There is my hand , and let it feel your ear . + + +I charge thee , Satan , hous'd within this man , +To yield possession to my holy prayers , +And to thy state of darkness hie thee straight : +I conjure thee by all the saints in heaven . + +Peace , doting wizard , peace ! I am not mad . + +O ! that thou wert not , poor distressed soul ! + +You minion , you , are these your customers ? +Did this companion with the saffron face +Revel and feast it at my house to-day , +Whilst upon me the guilty doors were shut +And I denied to enter in my house ? + +O husband , God doth know you din'd at home ; +Where would you had remain'd until this time . +Free from these slanders and this open shame ! + +Din'd at home ! Thou villain , what say'st thou ? + +Sir , sooth to say , you did not dine at home . + +Were not my doors lock'd up and I shut out ? + +Perdy , your doors were lock'd and you shut out . + +And did not she herself revile me there ? + +Sans fable , she herself revil'd you there . + +Did not her kitchen-maid rail , taunt , and scorn me ? + +Certes , she did ; the kitchen-vestal scorn'd you . + +And did not I in rage depart from thence ? + +In verity you did : my bones bear witness , +That since have felt the vigour of his rage . + +Is't good to soothe him in these contraries ? + +It is no shame : the fellow finds his vein , +And , yielding to him humours well his frenzy . + +Thou hast suborn'd the goldsmith to arrest me . + +Alas ! I sent you money to redeem you , +By Dromio here , who came in haste for it . + +Money by me ! heart and good will you might ; +But surely , master , not a rag of money . + +Went'st not thou to her for a purse of ducats ? + +He came to me , and I deliver'd it . + +And I am witness with her that she did . + +God and the rope-maker bear me witness +That I was sent for nothing but a rope ! + +Mistress , both man and master is possess'd : +I know it by their pale and deadly looks . +They must be bound and laid in some dark room . + +Say , wherefore didst thou lock me forth to-day ? +And why dost thou deny the bag of gold ? + +I did not , gentle husband , lock thee forth . + +And , gentle master , I receiv'd no gold ; +But I confess , sir , that we were lock'd out . + +Dissembling villain ! thou speak'st false in both . + +Dissembling harlot ! thou art false in all ; +And art confederate with a damned pack +To make a loathsome abject scorn of me ; +But with these nails I'll pluck out those false eyes +That would behold in me this shameful sport . + +O ! bind him , bind him , let him not come near me . + +More company ! the fiend is strong within him . + +Ay me ! poor man , how pale and wan he looks ! + + +What , will you murder me ? Thou gaoler , thou , +I am thy prisoner : wilt thou suffer them +To make a rescue ? + +Masters , let him go : +He is my prisoner , and you shall not have him . + +Go bind this man , for he is frantic too . + + +What wilt thou do , thou peevish officer ? +Hast thou delight to see a wretched man +Do outrage and displeasure to himself ? + +He is my prisoner : if I let him go , +The debt he owes will be requir'd of me . + +I will discharge thee ere I go from thee : +Bear me forthwith unto his creditor , +And , knowing how the debt grows , I will pay it . +Good Master doctor , see him safe convey'd +Home to my house . O most unhappy day ! + +O most unhappy strumpet ! + +Master , I am here enter'd in bond for you . + +Out on thee , villain ! wherefore dost thou mad me ? + +Will you be bound for nothing ? be mad , good master ; cry , 'the devil !' + +God help , poor souls ! how idly do they talk . + +Go bear him hence . Sister , go you with me . + +Say now , whose suit is he arrested at ? + +One Angelo , a goldsmith ; do you know him ? + +I know the man . What is the sum he owes ? + +Two hundred ducats . + +Say , how grows it due ? + +Due for a chain your husband had of him . + +He did bespeak a chain for me , but had it not . + +When as your husband all in rage , to-day +Came to my house , and took away my ring , +The ring I saw upon his finger now , +Straight after did I meet him with a chain . + +It may be so , but I did never see it . +Come , gaoler , bring me where the goldsmith is : +I long to know the truth hereof at large . + + +God , for thy mercy ! they are loose again . + +And come with naked swords . Let's call more help +To have them bound again . + +Away ! they'll kill us . + + +I see , these witches are afraid of swords . + +She that would be your wife now ran from you . + +Come to the Centaur ; fetch our stuff from thence : +I long that we were safe and sound aboard . + +Faith , stay here this night , they will surely do us no harm ; you saw they speak us fair , give us gold : methinks they are such a gentle nation , that , but for the mountain of mad flesh that claims marriage of me , I could find in my heart to stay here still , and turn witch . + +I will not stay to-night for all the town ; +Therefore away , to get our stuff aboard . + +I am sorry , sir , that I have hinder'd you ; +But , I protest , he had the chain of me , +Though most dishonestly he doth deny it . + +How is the man esteem'd here in the city ? + +Of very reverend reputation , sir , +Of credit infinite , highly belov'd , +Second to none that lives here in the city : +His word might bear my wealth at any time . + +Speak softly : yonder , as I think , he walks . + + +'Tis so ; and that self chain about his neck +Which he forswore most monstrously to have . +Good sir , draw near to me , I'll speak to him . +Signior Antipholus , I wonder much +That you would put me to this shame and trouble ; +And not without some scandal to yourself , +With circumstance and oaths so to deny +This chain which now you wear so openly : +Beside the charge , the shame , imprisonment , +You have done wrong to this my honest friend , +Who , but for staying on our controversy , +Had hoisted sail and put to sea to-day . +This chain you had of me ; can you deny it ? + +I think I had : I never did deny it . + +Yes , that you did , sir , and forswore it too . + +Who heard me to deny it or forswear it ? + +These ears of mine , thou know'st , did hear thee . +Fie on thee , wretch ! 'tis pity that thou liv'st +To walk where any honest men resort . + +Thou art a villain to impeach me thus : +I'll prove mine honour and mine honesty +Against thee presently , if thou dar'st stand . + +I dare , and do defy thee for a villain . + +Hold ! hurt him not , for God's sake ! he is mad . +Some get within him , take his sword away . +Bind Dromio too , and bear them to my house . + +Run , master , run ; for God's sake , take a house ! +This is some priory : in , or we are spoil'd . + +Be quiet , people . Wherefore throng you hither ? + +To fetch my poor distracted husband hence . +Let us come in , that we may bind him fast , +And bear him home for his recovery . + +I knew he was not in his perfect wits . + +I am sorry now that I did draw on him . + +How long hath this possession held the man ? + +This week he hath been heavy , sour , sad , +And much different from the man he was ; +But , till this afternoon his passion +Ne'er brake into extremity of rage . + +Hath he not lost much wealth by wrack of sea ? +Buried some dear friend ? Hath not else his eye +Stray'd his affection in unlawful love ? +A sin prevailing much in youthful men , +Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing . +Which of these sorrows is he subject to ? + +To none of these , except it be the last ; +Namely , some love that drew him oft from home . + +You should for that have reprehended him . + +Why , so I did . + +Ay , but not rough enough . + +As roughly as my modesty would let me . + +Haply , in private . + +And in assemblies too . + +Ay , but not enough . + +It was the copy of our conference : +In bed , he slept not for my urging it ; +At board , he fed not for my urging it ; +Alone , it was the subject of my theme ; +In company I often glanced it : +Still did I tell him it was vile and bad . + +And thereof came it that the man was mad : +The venom clamours of a jealous woman +Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth . +It seems , his sleeps were hinder'd by thy railing , +And thereof comes it that his head is light . +Thou say'st his meat was sauc'd with thy upbraidings : +Unquiet meals make ill digestions ; +Thereof the raging fire of fever bred : +And what's a fever but a fit of madness ? +Thou say'st his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls : +Sweet recreation barr'd , what doth ensue +But moody moping , and dull melancholy , +Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair , +And at her heels a huge infectious troop +Of pale distemperatures and foes to life ? +In food , in sport , and life-preserving rest +To be disturb'd , would mad or man or beast : +The consequence is then , thy jealous fits +Have scar'd thy husband from the use of wits . + +She never reprehended him but mildly +When he demean'd himself rough , rude , and wildly . +Why bear you these rebukes and answer not ? + +She did betray me to my own reproof . +Good people , enter , and lay hold on him . + +No ; not a creature enters in my house . + +Then , let your servants bring my husband forth . + +Neither : he took this place for sanctuary , +And it shall privilege him from your hands +Till I have brought him to his wits again , +Or lose my labour in assaying it . + +I will attend my husband , be his nurse , +Diet his sickness , for it is my office , +And will have no attorney but myself ; +And therefore let me have him home with me . + +Be patient ; for I will not let him stir +Till I have us'd the approved means I have , +With wholesome syrups , drugs , and holy prayers , +To make of him a formal man again . +It is a branch and parcel of mine oath , +A charitable duty of my order ; +Therefore depart and leave him here with me . + +I will not hence and leave my husband here ; +And ill it doth beseem your holiness +To separate the husband and the wife . + +Be quiet , and depart : thou shalt not have him . + + +Complain unto the duke of this indignity . + +Come , go : I will fall prostrate at his feet , +And never rise until my tears and prayers +Have won his Grace to come in person hither , +And take perforce my husband from the abbess . + +By this , I think , the dial points at five : +Anon , I'm sure , the duke himself in person +Comes this way to the melancholy vale , +The place of death and sorry execution , +Behind the ditches of the abbey here . + +Upon what cause ? + +To see a reverend Syracusian merchant , +Who put unluckily into this bay +Against the laws and statutes of this town , +Beheaded publicly for his offence . + +See where they come : we will behold his death . + +Kneel to the duke before he pass the abbey . + + +Yet once again proclaim it publicly , +If any friend will pay the sum for him , +He shall not die ; so much we tender him . + +Justice , most sacred duke , against the abbess ! + +She is a virtuous and a reverend lady : +It cannot be that she hath done thee wrong . + +May it please your Grace , Antipholus , my husband , +Whom I made lord of me and all I had , +At your important letters , this ill day +A most outrageous fit of madness took him , +That desperately he hurried through the street , +With him his bondman , all as mad as he , +Doing displeasure to the citizens +By rushing in their houses , bearing thence +Rings , jewels , anything his rage did like . +Once did I get him bound and sent him home , +Whilst to take order for the wrongs I went +That here and there his fury had committed . +Anon , I wot not by what strong escape , +He broke from those that had the guard of him , +And with his mad attendant and himself , +Each one with ireful passion , with drawn swords +Met us again , and , madly bent on us +Chas'd us away , till , raising of more aid +We came again to bind them . Then they fled +Into this abbey , whither we pursu'd them ; +And here the abbess shuts the gates on us , +And will not suffer us to fetch him out , +Nor send him forth that we may bear him hence . +Therefore , most gracious duke , with thy command +Let him be brought forth , and borne hence for help . + +Long since thy husband serv'd me in my wars , +And I to thee engag'd a prince's word , +When thou didst make him master of thy bed , +To do him all the grace and good I could . +Go , some of you , knock at the abbey gate +And bid the lady abbess come to me . +I will determine this before I stir . + + +O mistress , mistress ! shift and save yourself ! +My master and his man are both broke loose , +Beaten the maids a-row and bound the doctor , +Whose beard they have sing'd off with brands of fire ; +And ever as it blaz'd they threw on him +Great pails of puddled mire to quench the hair . +My master preaches patience to him , and the while +His man with scissors nicks him like a fool ; +And sure , unless you send some present help , +Between them they will kill the conjurer . + +Peace , fool ! thy master and his man are here , +And that is false thou dost report to us . + +Mistress , upon my life , I tell you true ; +I have not breath'd almost , since I did see it . +He cries for you and vows , if he can take you , +To scotch your face , and to disfigure you . + +Hark , hark ! I hear him , mistress : fly , be gone ! + +Come , stand by me ; fear nothing . Guard with halberds ! + +Ay me , it is my husband ! Witness you , +That he is borne about invisible : +Even now we hous'd him in the abbey here , +And now he's here , past thought of human reason . + + +Justice , most gracious duke ! O ! grant me justice , +Even for the service that long since I did thee , +When I bestrid thee in the wars and took +Deep scars to save thy life ; even for the blood +That then I lost for thee , now grant me justice . + +Unless the fear of death doth make me dote , +I see my son Antipholus and Dromio ! + +Justice , sweet prince , against that woman there ! +She whom thou gav'st to me to be my wife , +That hath abused and dishonour'd me , +Even in the strength and height of injury ! +Beyond imagination is the wrong +That she this day hath shameless thrown on me . + +Discover how , and thou shalt find me just . + +This day , great duke , she shut the doors upon me , +While she with harlots feasted in my house . + +A grievous fault ! Say , woman , didst thou so ? + +No , my good lord : myself , he , and my sister +To-day did dine together . So befall my soul +As this is false he burdens me withal ! + +Ne'er may I look on day , nor sleep on night , +But she tells to your highness simple truth ! + +O perjur'd woman ! They are both forsworn : +In this the madman justly chargeth them ! + +My liege , I am advised what I say : +Neither disturb'd with the effect of wine , +Nor heady-rash , provok'd with raging ire , +Albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad . +This woman lock'd me out this day from dinner : +That goldsmith there , were he not pack'd with her , +Could witness it , for he was with me then ; +Who parted with me to go fetch a chain , +Promising to bring it to the Porpentine , +Where Balthazar and I did dine together . +Our dinner done , and he not coming thither , +I went to seek him : in the street I met him , +And in his company that gentleman . +There did this perjur'd goldsmith swear me down +That I this day of him receiv'd the chain , +Which , God he knows , I saw not ; for the which +He did arrest me with an officer . +I did obey , and sent my peasant home +For certain ducats : he with none return'd . +Then fairly I bespoke the officer +To go in person with me to my house . +By the way we met +My wife , her sister , and a rabble more +Of vile confederates : along with them +They brought one Pinch , a hungry lean-fac'd villain , +A mere anatomy , a mountebank , +A threadbare juggler , and a fortune-teller , +A needy , hollow-ey'd , sharp-looking wretch , +A living-dead man . This pernicious slave , +Forsooth , took on him as a conjurer , +And , gazing in mine eyes , feeling my pulse , +And with no face , as 'twere , out-facing me , +Cries out , I was possess'd . Then , altogether +They fell upon me , bound me , bore me thence , +And in a dark and dankish vault at home +There left me and my man , both bound together ; +Till , gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder , +I gain'd my freedom , and immediately +Ran hither to your Grace ; whom I beseech +To give me ample satisfaction +For these deep shames and great indignities . + +My lord , in truth , thus far I witness with him , +That he din'd not at home , but was lock'd out . + +But had he such a chain of thee , or no ? + +He had , my lord ; and when he ran in here , +These people saw the chain about his neck . + +Besides , I will be sworn these ears of mine +Heard you confess you had the chain of him +After you first forswore it on the mart ; +And thereupon I drew my sword on you ; +And then you fled into this abbey here , +From whence , I think , you are come by miracle . + +I never came within these abbey walls ; +Nor ever didst thou draw thy sword on me ; +I never saw the chain , so help me heaven ! +And this is false you burden me withal . + +Why , what an intricate impeach is this ! +I think you all have drunk of Circe's cup . +If here you hous'd him , here he would have been ; +If he were mad , he would not plead so coldly ; +You say he din'd at home ; the goldsmith here +Denies that saying . Sirrah , what say you ? + +Sir , he din'd with her there , at the Porpentine . + +He did , and from my finger snatch'd that ring . + +'Tis true , my liege ; this ring I had of her . + +Saw'st thou him enter at the abbey here ? + +As sure , my liege , as I do see your Grace . + +Why , this is strange . Go call the abbess hither . + +I think you are all mated or stark mad . + +Most mighty duke , vouchsafe me speak a word : +Haply I see a friend will save my life , +And pay the sum that may deliver me . + +Speak freely , Syracusian , what thou wilt . + +Is not your name , sir , called Antipholus ? +And is not that your bondman Dromio ? + +Within this hour I was his bondman , sir ; +But he , I thank him , gnaw'd in two my cords : +Now am I Dromio and his man , unbound . + +I am sure you both of you remember me . + +Ourselves we do remember , sir , by you ; +For lately we were bound , as you are now . +You are not Pinch's patient , are you , sir ? + +Why look you strange on me ? you know me well . + +I never saw you in my life till now . + +O ! grief hath chang'd me since you saw me last , +And careful hours , with Time's deformed hand , +Have written strange defeatures in my face : +But tell me yet , dost thou not know my voice ? + +Neither . + +Dromio , nor thou ? + +No , trust me , sir , not I . + +I am sure thou dost . + +Ay , sir ; but I am sure I do not ; and whatsoever a man denies , you are now bound to believe him . + +Not know my voice ! O , time's extremity , +Hast thou so crack'd and splitted my poor tongue +In seven short years , that here my only son +Knows not my feeble key of untun'd cares ? +Though now this grained face of mine be hid +In sap-consuming winter's drizzled snow , +And all the conduits of my blood froze up , +Yet hath my night of life some memory , +My wasting lamps some fading glimmer left , +My dull deaf ears a little use to hear : +All these old witnesses , I cannot err , +Tell me thou art my son Antipholus . + +I never saw my father in my life . + +But seven years since , in Syracusa , boy , +Thou know'st we parted : but perhaps , my son , +Thou sham'st to acknowledge me in misery . + +The duke and all that know me in the city +Can witness with me that it is not so : +I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life . + +I tell thee , Syracusian , twenty years +Have I been patron to Antipholus , +During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa . +I see thy age and dangers make thee dote . + + +Most mighty duke , behold a man much wrong'd . + + +I see two husbands , or mine eyes deceive me ! + +One of these men is Genius to the other ; +And so of these : which is the natural man , +And which the spirit ? Who deciphers them ? + +I , sir , am Dromio : command him away . + +I , sir , am Dromio : pray let me stay . + +geon art thou not ? or else his ghost ? + +O ! my old master ; who hath bound him here ? + +Whoever bound him , I will loose his bonds , +And gain a husband by his liberty . +Speak , old geon , if thou be'st the man +That hadst a wife once call'd milia , +That bore thee at a burden two fair sons . +O ! if thou be'st the same geon , speak , +And speak unto the same milia ! + +If I dream not , thou art milia : +If thou art she , tell me where is that son +That floated with thee on the fatal raft ? + +By men of Epidamnum , he and I , +And the twin Dromio , all were taken up : +But by and by rude fishermen of Corinth +By force took Dromio and my son from them , +And me they left with those of Epidamnum . +What then became of them , I cannot tell ; +I to this fortune that you see me in . + +Why , here begins his morning story right : +These two Antipholus' , these two so like , +And these two Dromios , one in semblance , +Besides her urging of her wrack at sea ; +These are the parents to these children , +Which accidentally are met together . +Antipholus , thou cam'st from Corinth first ? + +No , sir , not I ; I came from Syracuse . + +Stay , stand apart ; I know not which is which . + +I came from Corinth , my most gracious lord , + +And I with him . + +Brought to this town by that most famous warrior , +Duke Menaphon , your most renowned uncle . + +Which of you two did dine with me to-day ? + +I , gentle mistress . + +And are not you my husband ? + +No ; I say nay to that . + +And so do I ; yet did she call me so ; +And this fair gentlewoman , her sister here , +Did call me brother . + +What I told you then , +I hope I shall have leisure to make good , +If this be not a dream I see and hear . + +That is the chain , sir , which you had of me . + +I think it be , sir ; I deny it not . + +And you , sir , for this chain arrested me . + +I think I did , sir ; I deny it not . + +I sent you money , sir , to be your bail , +By Dromio ; but I think he brought it not . + +No , none by me . + +This purse of ducats I receiv'd from you , +And Dromio , my man , did bring them me . +I see we still did meet each other's man , +And I was ta'en for him , and he for me , +And thereupon these errors are arose . + +These ducats pawn I for my father here . + +It shall not need : thy father hath his life . + +Sir , I must have that diamond from you . + +There , take it ; and much thanks for my good cheer . + +Renowned duke , vouchsafe to take the pains +To go with us into the abbey here , +And hear at large discoursed all our fortunes ; +And all that are assembled in this place , +That by this sympathized one day's error +Have suffer'd wrong , go keep us company , +And we shall make full satisfaction . +Thirty-three years have I but gone in travail +Of you , my sons ; and , till this present hour +My heavy burdens ne'er delivered . +The duke , my husband , and my children both , +And you the calendars of their nativity , +Go to a gossip's feast , and joy with me : +After so long grief such festivity ! + +With all my heart I'll gossip at this feast . + + +Master , shall I fetch your stuff from shipboard ? + +Dromio , what stuff of mine hast thou embark'd ? + +Your goods that lay at host , sir , in the Centaur . + +He speaks to me . I am your master , Dromio : +Come , go with us ; we'll look to that anon : +Embrace thy brother there ; rejoice with him . + + +There is a fat friend at your master's house , +That kitchen'd me for you to-day at dinner : +She now shall be my sister , not my wife . + +Methinks you are my glass , and not my brother : +I see by you I am a sweet-fac'd youth . +Will you walk in to see their gossiping ? + +Not I , sir ; you are my elder . + +That's a question : how shall we try it ? + +We'll draw cuts for the senior : till then lead thou first . + +Nay , then , thus : +We came into the world like brother and brother ; +And now let's go hand in hand , not one before another . + +THE MERCHANT OF VENICE + + +In sooth , I know not why I am so sad : +It wearies me ; you say it wearies you ; +But how I caught it , found it , or came by it , +What stuff 'tis made of , whereof it is born , +I am to learn ; +And such a want-wit sadness makes of me , +That I have much ado to know myself . + +Your mind is tossing on the ocean ; +There , where your argosies with portly sail , +Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood , +Or , as it were , the pageants of the sea , +Do overpeer the petty traffickers , +That curtsy to them , do them reverence , +As they fly by them with their woven wings . + +Believe me , sir , had I such venture forth , +The better part of my affections would +Be with my hopes abroad . I should be still +Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind ; +Peering in maps for ports , and piers , and roads ; +And every object that might make me fear +Misfortune to my ventures , out of doubt +Would make me sad . + +My wind , cooling my broth , +Would blow me to an ague , when I thought +What harm a wind too great might do at sea . +I should not see the sandy hour-glass run +But I should think of shallows and of flats , +And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand +Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs +To kiss her burial . Should I go to church +And see the holy edifice of stone , +And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks , +Which touching but my gentle vessel's side +Would scatter all her spices on the stream , +Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks ; +And , in a word , but even now worth this , +And now worth nothing ? Shall I have the thought +To think on this , and shall I lack the thought +That such a thing bechanc'd would make me sad ? +But tell not me : I know Antonio +Is sad to think upon his merchandise . + +Believe me , no : I thank my fortune for it , +My ventures are not in one bottom trusted , +Nor to one place ; nor is my whole estate +Upon the fortune of this present year : +Therefore , my merchandise makes me not sad . + +Why , then you are in love . + +Fie , fie ! + +Not in love neither ? Then let's say you are sad , +Because you are not merry : and 'twere as easy +For you to laugh and leap , and say you are merry , +Because you are not sad . Now , by two-headed Janus , +Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time : +Some that will evermore peep through their eyes +And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper , +And other of such vinegar aspect +That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile , +Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable . + + +Here comes Bassanio , your most noble kinsman , +Gratiano , and Lorenzo . Fare ye well : +We leave you now with better company . + +I would have stay'd till I had made you merry , +If worthier friends had not prevented me . + +Your worth is very dear in my regard . +I take it , your own business calls on you , +And you embrace the occasion to depart . + +Good morrow , my good lords . + +Good signiors both , when shall we laugh ? say when ? +You grow exceeding strange : must it be so ? + +We'll make our leisures to attend on yours . + + +My Lord Bassanio , since you have found Antonio , +We too will leave you ; but , at dinner-time , +I pray you , have in mind where we must meet . + +I will not fail you . + +You look not well , Signior Antonio ; +You have too much respect upon the world : +They lose it that do buy it with much care : +Believe me , you are marvellously chang'd . + +I hold the world but as the world , Gratiano ; +A stage where every man must play a part , +And mine a sad one . + +Let me play the fool : +With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come , +And let my liver rather heat with wine +Than my heart cool with mortifying groans . +Why should a man , whose blood is warm within , +Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster ? +Sleep when he wakes , and creep into the jaundice +By being peevish ? I tell thee what , Antonio +I love thee , and it is my love that speaks +There are a sort of men whose visages +Do cream and mantle like a standing pond , +And do a wilful stillness entertain , +With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion +Of wisdom , gravity , profound conceit ; +As who should say , 'I am Sir Oracle , +And when I ope my lips let no dog bark !' +O , my Antonio , I do know of these , +That therefore only are reputed wise +For saying nothing ; when , I am very sure , +If they should speak , would almost damn those ears +Which , hearing them , would call their brothers fools . +I'll tell thee more of this another time : +But fish not , with this melancholy bait , +For this fool-gudgeon , this opinion . +Come , good Lorenzo . Fare ye well awhile : +I'll end my exhortation after dinner . + +Well , we will leave you then till dinner-time . +I must be one of these same dumb-wise men , +For Gratiano never lets me speak . + +Well , keep me company but two years moe , +Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue . + +Farewell : I'll grow a talker for this gear . + +Thanks , i' faith ; for silence is only commendable +In a neat's tongue dried and a maid not vendible . + + +Is that anything now ? + +Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing , more than any man in all Venice . His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff : you shall seek all day ere you find them , and , when you have them , they are not worth the search . + +Well , tell me now , what lady is the same +To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage , +That you to-day promis'd to tell me of ? + +'Tis not unknown to you , Antonio , +How much I have disabled mine estate , +By something showing a more swelling port +Than my faint means would grant continuance : +Nor do I now make moan to be abridg'd +From such a noble rate ; but my chief care +Is , to come fairly off from the great debts +Wherein my time , something too prodigal , +Hath left me gag'd . To you , Antonio , +I owe the most , in money and in love ; +And from your love I have a warranty +To unburthen all my plots and purposes +How to get clear of all the debts I owe . + +I pray you , good Bassanio , let me know it ; +And if it stand , as you yourself still do , +Within the eye of honour , be assur'd , +My purse , my person , my extremest means , +Lie all unlock'd to your occasions . + +In my school-days , when I had lost one shaft , +I shot his fellow of the self-same flight +The self-same way with more advised watch , +To find the other forth , and by adventuring both , +I oft found both . I urge this childhood proof , +Because what follows is pure innocence . +I owe you much , and , like a wilful youth , +That which I owe is lost ; but if you please +To shoot another arrow that self way +Which you did shoot the first , I do not doubt , +As I will watch the aim , or to find both , +Or bring your latter hazard back again , +And thankfully rest debtor for the first . + +You know me well , and herein spend but time +To wind about my love with circumstance ; +And out of doubt you do me now more wrong +In making question of my uttermost +Than if you had made waste of all I have : +Then do but say to me what I should do +That in your knowledge may by me be done , +And I am prest unto it : therefore speak . + +In Belmont is a lady richly left , +And she is fair , and , fairer than that word , +Of wondrous virtues : sometimes from her eyes +I did receive fair speechless messages : +Her name is Portia ; nothing undervalu'd +To Cato's daughter , Brutus' Portia : +Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth , +For the four winds blow in from every coast +Renowned suitors ; and her sunny locks +Hang on her temples like a golden fleece ; +Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond , +And many Jasons come in quest of her . +O my Antonio ! had I but the means +To hold a rival place with one of them , +I have a mind presages me such thrift , +That I should questionless be fortunate . + +Thou knowest that all my fortunes are at sea ; +Neither have I money , nor commodity +To raise a present sum : therefore go forth ; +Try what my credit can in Venice do : +That shall be rack'd , even to the uttermost , +To furnish thee to Belmont , to fair Portia . +Go , presently inquire , and so will I , +Where money is , and I no question make +To have it of my trust or for my sake . + + +By my troth , Nerissa , my little body is aweary of this great world . + +You would be , sweet madam , if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are : and yet , for aught I see , they are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that starve with nothing . It is no mean happiness therefore , to be seated in the mean : superfluity comes sooner by white hairs , but competency lives longer . + +Good sentences and well pronounced . + +They would be better if well followed . + +If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do , chapels had been churches , and poor men's cottages princes' palaces . It is a good divine that follows his own instructions : I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done , than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching . The brain may devise laws for the blood , but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree : such a hare is madness the youth , to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple . But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband . O me , the word 'choose !' I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike ; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father . Is it not hard , Nerissa , that I cannot choose one nor refuse none ? + +Your father was ever virtuous , and holy men at their death have good inspirations ; therefore , the lottery that he hath devised in these three chests of gold , silver , and lead , whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you , will , no doubt , never be chosen by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love . But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come ? + +I pray thee , over-name them , and as thou namest them , I will describe them ; and , according to my description , level at my affection . + +First , there is the Neapolitan prince . + +Ay , that's a colt indeed , for he doth nothing but talk of his horse ; and he makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself . I am much afeard my lady his mother played false with a smith . + +Then is there the County Palatine . + +He doth nothing but frown , as who should say , 'An you will not have me , choose .' He hears merry tales , and smiles not : I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old , being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth . I had rather be married to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these . God defend me from these two ! + +How say you by the French lord , Monsieur Le Bon ? + +God made him , and therefore let him pass for a man . In truth , I know it is a sin to be a mocker ; but , he ! why , he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's , a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine ; he is every man in no man ; if a throstle sing , he falls straight a-capering ; he will fence with his own shadow : if I should marry him , I should marry twenty husbands . If he would despise me , I would forgive him , for if he love me to madness , I shall never requite him . + +What say you , then , to Falconbridge , the young baron of England ? + +You know I say nothing to him , for he understands not me , nor I him : he hath neither Latin , French , nor Italian ; and you will come into the court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth in the English . He is a proper man's picture , but , alas ! who can converse with a dumb-show ? How oddly he is suited ! I think he bought his doublet in Italy , his round hose in France , his bonnet in Germany , and his behaviour every where . + +What think you of the Scottish lord , his neighbour ? + +That he hath a neighbourly charity in him , for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman , and swore he would pay him again when he was able : I think the Frenchman became his surety and sealed under for another . + +How like you the young German , the Duke of Saxony's nephew ? + +Very vilely in the morning , when he is sober , and most vilely in the afternoon , when he is drunk : when he is best , he is a little worse than a man , and when he is worst , he is little better than a beast . An the worst fall that ever fell , I hope I shall make shift to go without him . + +If he should offer to choose , and choose the right casket , you should refuse to perform your father's will , if you should refuse to accept him . + +Therefore , for fear of the worst , I pray thee , set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket , for , if the devil be within and that temptation without , I know he will choose it . I will do anything , Nerissa , ere I will be married to a sponge . + +You need not fear , lady , the having any of these lords : they have acquainted me with their determinations ; which is , indeed , to return to their home and to trouble you with no more suit , unless you may be won by some other sort than your father's imposition depending on the caskets . + +If I live to be as old as Sibylla , I will die as chaste as Diana , unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will . I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable , for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence , and I pray God grant them a fair departure . + +Do you not remember , lady , in your father's time , a Venetian , a scholar and a soldier , that came hither in the company of the Marquis of Montferrat ? + +Yes , yes : it was Bassanio ; as I think , he was so called . + +True , madam : he , of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon , was the best deserving a fair lady . + +I remember him well , and I remember him worthy of thy praise . + +How now ! what news ? + +The four strangers seek for you , madam , to take their leave ; and there is a forerunner come from a fifth , the Prince of Morocco , who brings word the prince his master will be here to-night . + +If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell , I should be glad of his approach : if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil , I had rather he should shrive me than wive me . Come , Nerissa . Sirrah , go before . +Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer , another knocks at the door . + + +Three thousand ducats ; well ? + +Ay , sir , for three months . + +For three months ; well ? + +For the which , as I told you , Antonio shall be bound . + +Antonio shall become bound ; well ? + +May you stead me ? Will you pleasure me ? Shall I know your answer ? + +Three thousand ducats , for three months , and Antonio bound . + +Your answer to that . + +Antonio is a good man . + +Have you heard any imputation to the contrary ? + +Ho , no , no , no , no : my meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient . Yet his means are in supposition : he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis , another to the Indies ; I understand moreover upon the Rialto , he hath a third at Mexico , a fourth for England , and other ventures he hath , squandered abroad . But ships are but boards , sailors but men : there be land-rats and water-rats , land-thieves , and water-thieves ,I mean pirates ,and then there is the peril of waters , winds , and rocks . The man is , notwithstanding , sufficient . Three thousand ducats ; I think , I may take his bond . + +Be assured you may . + +I will be assured I may ; and , that I may be assured , I will bethink me . May I speak with Antonio ? + +If it please you to dine with us . + +Yes , to smell pork : to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into . I will buy with you , sell with you , talk with you , walk with you , and so following ; but I will not eat with you , drink with you , nor pray with you . What news on the Rialto ? Who is he comes here ? + + +This is Signior Antonio . + +How like a fawning publican he looks ! +I hate him for he is a Christian ; +But more for that in low simplicity +He lends out money gratis , and brings down +The rate of usance here with us in Venice . +If I can catch him once upon the hip , +I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him . +He hates our sacred nation , and he rails , +Even there where merchants most do congregate , +On me , my bargains , and my well-won thrift , +Which he calls interest . Cursed be my tribe , +If I forgive him ! + +Shylock , do you hear ? + +I am debating of my present store , +And , by the near guess of my memory , +I cannot instantly raise up the gross +Of full three thousand ducats . What of that ? +Tubal , a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe , +Will furnish me . But soft ! how many months +Do you desire ? + +Rest you fair , good signior ; +Your worship was the last man in our mouths . + +Shylock , albeit I neither lend nor borrow +By taking nor by giving of excess , +Yet , to supply the ripe wants of my friend , +I'll break a custom . + +Is he yet possess'd +How much ye would ? + +Ay , ay , three thousand ducats . + +And for three months . + +I had forgot ; three months ; you told me so . +Well then , your bond ; and let me see . But hear you ; +Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow +Upon advantage . + +I do never use it . + +When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep , +This Jacob from our holy Abram was , +As his wise mother wrought in his behalf , +The third possessor : ay , he was the third , + +And what of him ? did he take interest ? + +No ; not take interest ; not , as you would say , +Directly interest : mark what Jacob did . +When Laban and himself were compromis'd , +That all the eanlings that were streak'd and pied +Should fall as Jacob's hire , the ewes , being rank , +In end of autumn turned to the rams ; +And , when the work of generation was +Between these woolly breeders in the act , +The skilful shepherd peel'd me certain wands , +And , in the doing of the deed of kind , +He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes , +Who , then conceiving , did in eaning time +Fall parti-colour'd lambs , and those were Jacob's . +This was a way to thrive , and he was blest : +And thrift is blessing , if men steal it not . + +This was a venture , sir , that Jacob serv'd for ; +A thing not in his power to bring to pass , +But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven . +Was this inserted to make interest good ? +Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams ? + +I cannot tell ; I make it breed as fast : But note me , signior . + +Mark you this , Bassanio , +The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose . +An evil soul , producing holy witness , +Is like a villain with a smiling cheek , +A goodly apple rotten at the heart . +O , what a goodly outside falsehood hath ! + +Three thousand ducats ; 'tis a good round sum . +Three months from twelve , then let me see the rate . + +Well , Shylock , shall we be beholding to you ? + +Signior Antonio , many a time and oft +In the Rialto you have rated me +About my moneys and my usances : +Still have I borne it with a patient shrug , +For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe . +You call me misbeliever , cut-throat dog , +And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine , +And all for use of that which is mine own . +Well then , it now appears you need my help : +Go to then ; you come to me , and you say , +'Shylock , we would have moneys :' you say so ; +You , that did void your rheum upon my beard , +And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur +Over your threshold : moneys is your suit . +What should I say to you ? Should I not say , +'Hath a dog money ? Is it possible +A cur can lend three thousand ducats ?' or +Shall I bend low , and in a bondman's key , +With bated breath , and whispering humbleness , +Say this : +'Fair sir , you spet on me on Wednesday last ; +You spurn'd me such a day ; another time +You call'd me dog ; and for these courtesies +I'll lend you thus much moneys ?' + +I am as like to call thee so again , +To spet on thee again , to spurn thee too . +If thou wilt lend this money , lend it not +As to thy friends ,for when did friendship take +A breed for barren metal of his friend ? +But lend it rather to thine enemy ; +Who if he break , thou mayst with better face +Exact the penalty . + +Why , look you , how you storm ! +I would be friends with you , and have your love , +Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with , +Supply your present wants , and take no doit +Of usance for my moneys , and you'll not hear me : +This is kind I offer . + +This were kindness . + +This kindness will I show . +Go with me to a notary , seal me there +Your single bond ; and , in a merry sport , +If you repay me not on such a day , +In such a place , such sum or sums as are +Express'd in the condition , let the forfeit +Be nominated for an equal pound +Of your fair flesh , to be cut off and taken +In what part of your body pleaseth me . + +Content , i' faith : I'll seal to such a bond , +And say there is much kindness in the Jew . + +You shall not seal to such a bond for me : +I'll rather dwell in my necessity . + +Why , fear not , man ; I will not forfeit it : +Within these two months , that's a month before +This bond expires , I do expect return +Of thrice three times the value of this bond . + +O father Abram ! what these Christians are , +Whose own hard dealing teaches them suspect +The thoughts of others . Pray you , tell me this ; +If he should break his day , what should I gain +By the exaction of the forfeiture ? +A pound of man's flesh , taken from a man , +Is not so estimable , profitable neither , +As flesh of muttons , beefs , or goats . I say , +To buy his favour , I extend this friendship : +If he will take it , so ; if not , adieu ; +And , for my love , I pray you wrong me not . + +Yes , Shylock , I will seal unto this bond . + +Then meet me forthwith at the notary's ; +Give him direction for this merry bond , +And I will go and purse the ducats straight , +See to my house , left in the fearful guard +Of an unthrifty knave , and presently +I will be with you . + +Hie thee , gentle Jew . + +This Hebrew will turn Christian : he grows kind . + +I like not fair terms and a villain's mind . + +Come on : in this there can be no dismay ; +My ships come home a month before the day . + + +Mislike me not for my complexion , +The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun , +To whom I am a neighbour and near bred . +Bring me the fairest creature northward born , +Where Ph bus' fire scarce thaws the icicles , +And let us make incision for your love , +To prove whose blood is reddest , his or mine . +I tell thee , lady , this aspect of mine +Hath fear'd the valiant : by my love , I swear +The best regarded virgins of our clime +Have lov'd it too : I would not change this hue , +Except to steal your thoughts , my gentle queen . + +In terms of choice I am not solely led +By nice direction of a maiden's eyes ; +Besides , the lottery of my destiny +Bars me the right of voluntary choosing : +But if my father had not scanted me +And hedg'd me by his wit , to yield myself +His wife who wins me by that means I told you , +Yourself , renowned prince , then stood as fair +As any comer I have look'd on yet +For my affection . + +Even for that I thank you : +Therefore , I pray you , lead me to the caskets +To try my fortune . By this scimitar , +That slew the Sophy , and a Persian prince +That won three fields of Sultan Solyman , +I would outstare the sternest eyes that look , +Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth , +Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear , +Yea , mock the lion when he roars for prey , +To win thee , lady . But , alas the while ! +If Hercules and Lichas play at dice +Which is the better man , the greater throw +May turn by fortune from the weaker hand : +So is Alcides beaten by his page ; +And so may I , blind fortune leading me , +Miss that which one unworthier may attain , +And die with grieving . + +You must take your chance ; +And either not attempt to choose at all , +Or swear before you choose , if you choose wrong , +Never to speak to lady afterward +In way of marriage : therefore be advis'd . + +Nor will not : come , bring me unto my chance . + +First , forward to the temple : after dinner +Your hazard shall be made . + +Good fortune then ! +To make me blest or cursed'st among men ! + + +Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master . The fiend is at mine elbow , and tempts me , saying to me , 'Gobbo , Launcelot Gobbo , good Launcelot ,' or 'good Gobbo ,' or 'good Launcelot Gobbo , use your legs , take the start , run away .' My conscience says , 'No ; take heed , honest Launcelot ; take heed , honest Gobbo ;' or , as aforesaid , 'honest Launcelot Gobbo ; do not run ; scorn running with thy heels .' Well , the most courageous fiend bids me pack : 'Via !' says the fiend ; 'away !' says the fiend ; 'for the heavens , rouse up a brave mind ,' says the fiend , 'and run .' Well , my conscience , hanging about the neck of my heart , says very wisely to me , 'My honest friend Launcelot , being an honest man's son ,' or rather an honest woman's son ;for , indeed , my father did something smack , something grow to , he had a kind of taste ;well , my conscience says , 'Launcelot , budge not .' 'Budge ,' says the fiend . 'Budge not ,' says my conscience . 'Conscience ,' say I , 'you counsel well ;' 'fiend ,' say I , 'you counsel well :' to be ruled by my conscience , I should stay with the Jew my master , who , God bless the mark ! is a kind of devil ; and , to run away from the Jew , I should be ruled by the fiend , who , saving your reverence , is the devil himself . Certainly , the Jew is the very devil incarnal ; and , in my conscience , my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience , to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew . The fiend gives the more friendly counsel : I will run , fiend ; my heels are at your commandment ; I will run . + + +Master young man , you ; I pray you , which is the way to Master Jew's ? + +O heavens ! this is my truebegotten father , who , being more than sandblind , high-gravel blind , knows me not : I will try confusions with him . + +Master young gentleman , I pray you , which is the way to Master Jew's ? + +Turn up on your right hand at the next turning , but , at the next turning of all , on your left ; marry , at the very next turning , turn of no hand , but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house . + +By God's sonties , 'twill be a hard way to hit . Can you tell me whether one Launcelot , that dwells with him , dwell with him or no ? + +Talk you of young Master Launcelot ? + +Mark me now ; now will I raise the waters . Talk you of young Master Launcelot ? + +No master , sir , but a poor man's son : his father , though I say it , is an honest , exceeding poor man , and , God be thanked , well to live . + +Well , let his father be what a' will , we talk of young Master Launcelot . + +Your worship's friend , and Launcelot , sir . + +But I pray you , ergo , old man , ergo , I beseech you , talk you of young Master Launcelot ? + +Of Launcelot , an't please your mastership . + +Ergo , Master Launcelot . Talk not of Master Launcelot , father ; for the young gentleman ,according to Fates and Destinies and such odd sayings , the Sisters Three and such branches of learning ,is , indeed , deceased ; or , as you would say in plain terms , gone to heaven . + +Marry , God forbid ! the boy was the very staff of my age , my very prop . + +Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post , a staff or a prop ? Do you know me , father ? + +Alack the day ! I know you not , young gentleman : but I pray you , tell me , is my boy ,God rest his soul !alive or dead ? + +Do you not know me , father ? + +Alack , sir , I am sand-blind ; I know you not . + +Nay , indeed , if you had your eyes , you might fail of the knowing me : it is a wise father that knows his own child . Well , old man , I will tell you news of your son . Give me your blessing ; truth will come to light ; murder cannot be hid long ; a man's son may , but , in the end , truth will out . + +Pray you , sir , stand up . I am sure you are not Launcelot , my boy . + +Pray you , let's have no more fooling about it , but give me your blessing : I am Launcelot , your boy that was , your son that is , your child that shall be . + +I cannot think you are my son . + +I know not what I shall think of that ; but I am Launcelot , the Jew's man , and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother . + +Her name is Margery , indeed : I'll be sworn , if thou be Launcelot , thou art mine own flesh and blood . Lord worshipped might he be ! what a beard hast thou got ! thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my thill-horse has on his tail . + +It should seem then that Dobbin's tail grows backward : I am sure he had more hair on his tail than I have on my face , when I last saw him . + +Lord ! how art thou changed . How dost thou and thy master agree ? I have brought him a present . How 'gree you now ? + +Well , well : but , for mine own part , as I have set up my rest to run away , so I will not rest till I have run some ground . My master's a very Jew : give him a present ! give him a halter : I am farnished in his service ; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs . Father , I am glad you are come : give me your present to one Master Bassanio , who , indeed , gives rare new liveries . If I serve not him , I will run as far as God has any ground . O rare fortune ! here comes the man : to him , father ; for I am a Jew , if I serve the Jew any longer . + + +You may do so ; but let it be so hasted that supper be ready at the very furthest by five of the clock . See these letters delivered ; put the liveries to making ; and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging . + + +To him , father . + +God bless your worship ! + +Gramercy ! wouldst thou aught with me ? + +Here's my son , sir , a poor boy , + +Not a poor boy , sir , but the rich Jew's man ; that would , sir ,as my father shall specify , + +He hath a great infection , sir , as one would say , to serve + +Indeed , the short and the long is , I serve the Jew , and have a desire , as my father shall specify , + +His master and he , saving your worship's reverence , are scarce cater-cousins , + +To be brief , the very truth is that the Jew having done me wrong , doth cause me ,as my father , being , I hope , an old man , shall frutify unto you , + +I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship , and my suit is , + +In very brief , the suit is impertinent to myself , as your worship shall know by this honest old man ; and , though I say it , though old man , yet poor man , my father . + +One speak for both . What would you ? + +Serve you , sir . + +That is the very defect of the matter , sir . + +I know thee well ; thou hast obtain'd thy suit : +Shylock thy master spoke with me this day , +And hath preferr'd thee , if it be preferment +To leave a rich Jew's service , to become +The follower of so poor a gentleman . + +The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you , sir : you have the grace of God , sir , and he hath enough . + +Thou speak'st it well . Go , father , with thy son . +Take leave of thy old master , and inquire +My lodging out . + +Give him a livery +More guarded than his fellows' : see it done . + +Father , in . I cannot get a service , no ; I have ne'er a tongue in my head . Well , + +if any man in Italy have a fairer table which doth offer to swear upon a book , I shall have good fortune . Go to ; here's a simple line of life : here's a small trifle of wives : alas ! fifteen wives is nothing : a 'leven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man ; and then to 'scape drowning thrice , and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ; here are simple 'scapes . Well , if Fortune be a woman , she's a good wench for this gear . Father , come ; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye . + + +I pray thee , good Leonardo , think on this : +These things being bought , and orderly bestow'd , +Return in haste , for I do feast to-night +My best-esteem'd acquaintance : hie thee , go . + +My best endeavours shall be done herein . + + +Where is your master ? + +Yonder , sir , he walks . + + +Signior Bassanio ! + +Gratiano ! + +I have a suit to you . + +You have obtain'd it . + +You must not deny me : I must go with you to Belmont . + +Why , then you must . But hear thee , Gratiano ; +Thou art too wild , too rude and bold of voice ; +Parts that become thee happily enough , +And in such eyes as ours appear not faults ; +But where thou art not known , why , there they show +Something too liberal . Pray thee , take pain +To allay with some cold drops of modesty +Thy skipping spirit , lest , through thy wild behaviour , +I be misconstru'd in the place I go to , +And lose my hopes . + +Signior Bassanio , hear me : +If I do not put on a sober habit , +Talk with respect , and swear but now and then , +Wear prayer-books in my pocket , look demurely , +Nay more , while grace is saying , hood mine eyes +Thus with my hat , and sigh , and say 'amen ;' +Use all the observance of civility , +Like one well studied in a sad ostent +To please his grandam , never trust me more . + +Well , we shall see your bearing . + +Nay , but I bar to-night ; you shall not gauge me +By what we do to-night . + +No , that were pity : +I would entreat you rather to put on +Your boldest suit of mirth , for we have friends +That purpose merriment . But fare you well : +I have some business . + +And I must to Lorenzo and the rest ; +But we will visit you at supper-time . + + +I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so : +Our house is hell , and thou , a merry devil , +Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness . +But fare thee well ; there is a ducat for thee : +And , Launcelot , soon at supper shalt thou see +Lorenzo , who is thy new master's guest : +Give him this letter ; do it secretly ; +And so farewell : I would not have my father +See me in talk with thee . + +Adieu ! tears exhibit my tongue . Most beautiful pagan , most sweet Jew ! If a Christian did not play the knave and get thee , I am much deceived . But , adieu ! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit : adieu ! + +Farewell , good Launcelot . + +Alack , what heinous sin is it in me +To be asham'd to be my father's child ! +But though I am a daughter to his blood , +I am not to his manners . O Lorenzo ! +If thou keep promise , I shall end this strife , +Become a Christian , and thy loving wife . + + +Nay , we will slink away in supper-time , +Disguise us at my lodging , and return +All in an hour . + +We have not made good preparation . + +We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers . + +'Tis vile , unless it may be quaintly order'd , +And better , in my mind , not undertook . + +'Tis now but four o'clock : we have two hours +To furnish us . + +Friend Launcelot , what's the news ? + +An it shall please you to break up this , it shall seem to signify . + +I know the hand : in faith , 'tis a fair hand ; +And whiter than the paper it writ on +Is the fair hand that writ . + +Love news , in faith . + +By your leave , sir . + +Whither goest thou ? + +Marry , sir , to bid my old master , the Jew , to sup to-night with my new master , the Christian . + +Hold here , take this : tell gentle Jessica +I will not fail her ; speak it privately . +Go , gentlemen , + +Will you prepare you for this masque to-night ? +I am provided of a torch-bearer . + +Ay , marry , I'll be gone about it straight . + +And so will I . + +Meet me and Gratiano +At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence . + +'Tis good we do so . + + +Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? + +I must needs tell thee all . She hath directed +How I shall take her from her father's house ; +What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with ; +What page's suit she hath in readiness . +If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven , +It will be for his gentle daughter's sake ; +And never dare misfortune cross her foot , +Unless she do it under this excuse , +That she is issue to a faithless Jew . +Come , go with me : peruse this as thou goest . +Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer . + + +Well , thou shalt see , thy eyes shall be thy judge , +The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio : +What , Jessical thou shalt not gormandize , +As thou hast done with me ;What , Jessical +And sleep and snore , and rend apparel out +Why , Jessica , I say ! + +Why , Jessica ! + +Who bids thee call ? I do not bid thee call . + +Your worship was wont to tell me that +I could do nothing without bidding . + + +Call you ? What is your will ? + +I am bid forth to supper , Jessica : +There are my keys . But wherefore should I go ? +I am not bid for love ; they flatter me : +But yet I'll go in hate , to feed upon +The prodigal Christian . Jessica , my girl , +Look to my house . I am right loath to go : +There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest , +For I did dream of money-bags to-night . + +I beseech you , sir , go : my young master doth expect your reproach . + +So do I his . + +And they have conspired together : I will not say you shall see a masque ; but if you do , then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black-Monday last , at six o'clock i' the morning , falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon . + +What ! are there masques ? Hear you me , Jessica : +Lock up my doors ; and when you hear the drum , +And the vile squealing of the wry-neck'd fife , +Clamber not you up to the casements then , +Nor thrust your head into the public street +To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces , +But stop my house's ears , I mean my casements ; +Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter +My sober house . By Jacob's staff I swear +I have no mind of feasting forth to-night ; +But I will go . Go you before me , sirrah ; +Say I will come . + +I will go before , air . Mistress , look out at window , for all this ; + +There will come a Christian by , +Will be worth a Jewess' eye . + +What says that fool of Hagar's offspring , ha ? + +His words were , 'Farewell , mistress ;' nothing else . + +The patch is kind enough , but a huge feeder ; +Snail-slow in profit , and he sleeps by day +More than the wild cat : drones hive not with me ; +Therefore I part with him , and part with him +To one that I would have him help to waste +His borrow'd purse . Well , Jessica , go in : +Perhaps I will return immediately : +Do as I bid you ; shut doors after you : +'Fast bind , fast find ,' +A proverb never stale in thrifty mind . + + +Farewell ; and if my fortune be not crost , +I have a father , you a daughter , lost . + + +This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo +Desir'd us to make stand . + +His hour is almost past . + +And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour , +For lovers ever run before the clock . + +O ! ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly +To seal love's bonds new-made , than they are wont +To keep obliged faith unforfeited ! + +That ever holds : who riseth from a feast +With that keen appetite that he sits down ? +Where is the horse that doth untread again +His tedious measures with the unbated fire +That he did pace them first ? All things that are , +Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd . +How like a younker or a prodigal +The scarfed bark puts from her native bay , +Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind ! +How like the prodigal doth she return , +With over-weather'd ribs and ragged sails , +Lean , rent , and beggar'd by the strumpet wind ! + +Here comes Lorenzo : more of this hereafter . + + +Sweet friends , your patience for my long abode ; +Not I , but my affairs , have made you wait : +When you shall please to play the thieves for wives , +I'll watch as long for you then . Approach ; +Here dwells my father Jew . Ho ! who's within ? + + +Who are you ? Tell me , for more certainty , +Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue . + +Lorenzo , and thy love . + +Lorenzo , certain ; and my love indeed , +For whom love I so much ? And now who knows +But you , Lorenzo , whether I am yours ? + +Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art . + +Here , catch this casket ; it is worth the pains . +I am glad 'tis night , you do not look on me , +For I am much asham'd of my exchange ; +But love is blind , and lovers cannot see +The pretty follies that themselves commit ; +For if they could , Cupid himself would blush +To see me thus transformed to a boy . + +Descend , for you must be my torch-bearer . + +What ! must I hold a candle to my shames ? +They in themselves , good sooth , are too-too light . +Why , 'tis an office of discovery , love , +And I should be obscur'd . + +So are you , sweet , +Even in the lovely garnish of a boy . +But come at once ; +For the close night doth play the runaway , +And we are stay'd for at Bassanio's feast . + +I will make fast the doors , and gild myself +With some more ducats , and be with you straight . + + +Now , by my hood , a Gentile , and no Jew . + +Beshrew me , but I love her heartily ; +For she is wise , if I can judge of her , +And fair she is , if that mine eyes be true , +And true she is , as she hath prov'd herself ; +And therefore , like herself , wise , fair , and true , +Shall she be placed in my constant soul . + + +What , art thou come ? On , gentlemen ; away ! +Our masquing mates by this time for us stay . + + +Who's there ? + +Signior Antonio ! + +Fie , fie , Gratiano ! where are all the rest ? +'Tis nine o'clock ; our friends all stay for you . +No masque to-night : the wind is come about ; +Bassanio presently will go aboard : +I have sent twenty out to seek for you . + +I am glad on't : I desire no more delight +Than to be under sail and gone to-night . + + +Go , draw aside the curtains , and discover +The several caskets to this noble prince . +Now make your choice . + +The first , of gold , which this inscription bears : +Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire . +The second , silver , which this promise carries : +Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves . +This third , dull lead , with warning all as blunt : +Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath . +How shall I know if I do choose the right ? + +The one of them contains my picture , prince : +If you choose that , then I am yours withal . + +Some god direct my judgment ! Let me see : +I will survey the inscriptions back again : +What says this leaden casket ? +Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath . +Must give : For what ? for lead ? hazard for lead ? +This casket threatens . Men that hazard all +Do it in hope of fair advantages : +A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross ; +I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead . +What says the silver with her virgin hue ? +Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves . +As much as he deserves ! Pause there , Morocco , +And weigh thy value with an even hand . +If thou be'st rated by thy estimation , +Thou dost deserve enough ; and yet enough +May not extend so far as to the lady : +And yet to be afeard of my deserving +Were but a weak disabling of myself . +As much as I deserve ! Why , that's the lady : +I do in birth deserve her , and in fortunes , +In graces , and in qualities of breeding ; +But more than these , in love I do deserve . +What if I stray'd no further , but chose here ? +Let's see once more this saying grav'd in gold : +Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire . +Why , that's the lady : all the world desires her ; +From the four corners of the earth they come , +To kiss this shrine , this mortal-breathing saint : +The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds +Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now +For princes to come view fair Portia : +The watery kingdom , whose ambitious head +Spits in the face of heaven , is no bar +To stop the foreign spirits , but they come , +As o'er a brook , to see fair Portia . +One of these three contains her heavenly picture . +Is't like that lead contains her ? 'Twere damnation +To think so base a thought : it were too gross +To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave . +Or shall I think in silver she's immur'd , +Being ten times undervalu'd to tried gold ? +O sinful thought ! Never so rich a gem +Was set in worse than gold . They have in England +A coin that bears the figure of an angel +Stamped in gold , but that's insculp'd upon ; +But here an angel in a golden bed +Lies all within . Deliver me the key : +Here do I choose , and thrive I as I may ! + +There , take it , prince ; and if my form lie there , +Then I am yours . + + +O hell ! what have we here ? +A carrion Death , within whose empty eye +There is a written scroll . I'll read the writing . + +All that glisters is not gold ; +Often have you heard that told : +Many a man his life hath sold +But my outside to behold : +Gilded tombs do worms infold . +Had you been as wise as bold , +Young in limbs , in judgment old , +Your answer had not been inscroll'd : +Fare you well ; your suit is cold . + +Cold , indeed ; and labour lost : +Then , farewell , heat , and welcome , frost ! +Portia , adieu . I have too griev'd a heart +To take a tedious leave : thus losers part . + + +A gentle riddance . Draw the curtains : go . +Let all of his complexion choose me so . + + +Why , man , I saw Bassanio under sail : +With him is Gratiano gone along ; +And in their ship I'm sure Lorenzo is not . + +The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke , +Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship . + +He came too late , the ship was under sail : +But there the duke was given to understand +That in a gondola were seen together +Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica . +Besides , Antonio certified the duke +They were not with Bassanio in his ship . + +I never heard a passion so confus'd , +So strange , outrageous , and so variable , +As the dog Jew did utter in the streets : +'My daughter ! O my ducats ! O my daughter ! +Fled with a Christian ! O my Christian ducats ! +Justice ! the law ! my ducats , and my daughter ! +A sealed bag , two sealed bags of ducats , +Of double ducats , stol'n from me by my daughter ! +And jewels ! two stones , two rich and precious stones , +Stol'n by my daughter ! Justice ! find the girl ! +She hath the stones upon her , and the ducats .' + +Why , all the boys in Venice follow him , +Crying , his stones , his daughter , and his ducats . + +Let good Antonio look he keep his day , +Or he shall pay for this . + +Marry , well remember'd . +I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday , +Who told me ,in the narrow seas that part +The French and English ,there miscarried +A vessel of our country richly fraught . +I thought upon Antonio when he told me , +And wish'd in silence that it were not his . + +You were best to tell Antonio what you hear ; +Yet do not suddenly , for it may grieve him . + +A kinder gentleman treads not the earth . +I saw Bassanio and Antonio part : +Bassanio told him he would make some speed +Of his return : he answer'd 'Do not so ; +Slubber not business for my sake , Bassanio , +But stay the very riping of the time ; +And for the Jew's bond which he hath of me , +Let it not enter in your mind of love : +Be merry , and employ your chiefest thoughts +To courtship and such fair ostents of love +As shall conveniently become you there :' +And even there , his eye being big with tears , +Turning his face , he put his hand behind him , +And with affection wondrous sensible +He wrung Bassanio's hand ; and so they parted . + +I think he only loves the world for him . +I pray thee , let us go and find him out , +And quicken his embraced heaviness +With some delight or other . + +Do we so . + + +Quick , quick , I pray thee ; draw the curtain straight : +The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath , +And comes to his election presently . + + +Behold , there stands the caskets , noble prince : +If you choose that wherein I am contain'd , +Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd ; +But if you fail , without more speech , my lord , +You must be gone from hence immediately . + +I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things : +First , never to unfold to any one +Which casket 'twas I chose ; next , if I fail +Of the right casket , never in my life +To woo a maid in way of marriage ; +Lastly , +If I do fail in fortune of my choice , +Immediately to leave you and be gone . + +To these injunctions every one doth swear +That comes to hazard for my worthless self . + +And so have I address'd me . Fortune now +To my heart's hope ! Gold , silver , and base lead . +Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath : +You shall look fairer , ere I give or hazard . +What says the golden chest ? ha ! let me see : +Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire . +What many men desire ! that 'many' may be meant +By the fool multitude , that choose by show , +Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach ; +Which pries not to the interior , but , like the martlet , +Builds in the weather on the outward wall , +Even in the force and road of casualty . +I will not choose what many men desire , +Because I will not jump with common spirits +And rank me with the barbarous multitude . +Why , then to thee , thou silver treasure-house ; +Tell me once more what title thou dost bear : +Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves . +And well said too ; for who shall go about +To cozen fortune and be honourable +Without the stamp of merit ? Let none presume +To wear an undeserved dignity . +O ! that estates , degrees , and offices +Were not deriv'd corruptly , and that clear honour +Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer . +How many then should cover that stand bare ; +How many be commanded that command ; +How much low peasantry would then be glean'd +From the true seed of honour ; and how much honour +Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times +To be new varnish'd ! Well , but to my choice : +Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves . +I will assume desert . Give me a key for this , +And instantly unlock my fortunes here . + + +Too long a pause for that which you find there . + +What's here ? the portrait of a blinking idiot , +Presenting me a schedule ! I will read it . +How much unlike art thou to Portia ! +How much unlike my hopes and my deservings ! +Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves . +Did I deserve no more than a fool's head ? +Is that my prize ? are my deserts no better ? + +To offend , and judge , are distinct offices , +And of opposed natures . + +What is here ? + +The fire seven times tried this : +Seven times tried that judgment is +That did never choose amiss . +Some there be that shadows kiss ; +Such have but a shadow's bliss : +There be fools alive , I wis , +Silver'd o'er ; and so was this . +Take what wife you will to bed , +I will ever be your head : +So be gone , sir : you are sped . + + +Still more fool I shall appear +By the time I linger here : +With one fool's head I came to woo , +But I go away with two . +Sweet , adieu . I'll keep my oath , +Patiently to bear my wroth . + +Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth . +O , these deliberate fools ! when they do choose , +They have the wisdom by their wit to lose . + +The ancient saying is no heresy : +'Hanging and wiving goes by destiny .' + +Come , draw the curtain , Nerissa . + + +Where is my lady ? + +Here ; what would my lord ? + +Madam , there is alighted at your gate +A young Venetian , one that comes before +To signify the approaching of his lord ; +From whom he bringeth sensible regreets , +To wit , besides commends and courteous breath , +Gifts of rich value . Yet I have not seen +So likely an embassador of love . +A day in April never came so sweet , +To show how costly summer was at hand , +As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord . + +No more , I pray thee : I am half afeard +Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee , +Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him . +Come , come , Nerissa ; for I long to see +Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly . + +Bassanio , lord Love , if thy will it be ! + +Now , what news on the Rialto ? + +Why , yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wracked on the narrow seas ; the Goodwins , I think they call the place ; a very dangerous flat , and fatal , where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried , as they say , if my gossip Report be an honest woman of her word . + +I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped ginger , or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband . But it is true ,without any slips of prolixity or crossing the plain highway of talk ,that the good Antonio , the honest Antonio ,O , that I had a title good enough to keep his name company ! + +Come , the full stop . + +Ha ! what sayst thou ? Why , the end is , he hath lost a ship . + +I would it might prove the end of his losses . + +Let me say 'amen' betimes , lest the devil cross my prayer , for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew . + +How now , Shylock ! what news among the merchants ? + +You knew , none so well , none so well as you , of my daughter's flight . + +That's certain : I , for my part , knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal . + +And Shylock , for his own part , knew the bird was fledged ; and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam . + +She is damned for it . + +That's certain , if the devil may be her judge . + +My own flesh and blood to rebel ! + +Out upon it , old carrion ! rebels it at these years ? + +I say my daughter is my flesh and blood . + +There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory ; more between your bloods than there is between red wine and Rhenish . But tell us , do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no ? + +There I have another bad match : a bankrupt , a prodigal , who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto ; a beggar , that used to come so smug upon the mart ; let him look to his bond : he was wont to call me usurer ; let him look to his bond : he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy ; let him look to his bond . + +Why , I am sure , if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh : what's that good for ? + +To bait fish withal : if it will feed nothing else , it will feed my revenge . He hath disgraced me , and hindered me half a million , laughed at my losses , mocked at my gains , scorned my nation , thwarted my bargains , cooled my friends , heated mine enemies ; and what's his reason ? I am a Jew . Hath not a Jew eyes ? hath not a Jew hands , organs , dimensions , senses , affections , passions ? fed with the same food , hurt with the same weapons , subject to the same diseases , healed by the same means , warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer , as a Christian is ? If you prick us , do we not bleed ? if you tickle us , do we not laugh ? if you poison us , do we not die ? and if you wrong us , shall we not revenge ? If we are like you in the rest , we will resemble you in that . If a Jew wrong a Christian , what is his humility ? Revenge . If a Christian wrong a Jew , what should his sufferance be by Christian example ? Why , revenge . The villany you teach me I will execute , and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction . + + +Gentlemen , my master Antonio is at his house , and desires to speak with you both . + +We have been up and down to seek him . + + +Here comes another of the tribe : a third cannot be matched , unless the devil himself turn Jew . + + +How now , Tubal ! what news from Genoa ? Hast thou found my daughter ? + +I often came where I did hear of her , but cannot find her . + +Why there , there , there ! a diamond gone , cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort ! The curse never fell upon our nation till now ; I never felt it till now : two thousand ducats in that ; and other precious , precious jewels . I would my daughter were dead at my foot , and the jewels in her ear ! would she were hearsed at my foot , and the ducats in her coffin ! No news of them ? Why , so : and I know not what's spent in the search : Why thou loss upon loss ! the thief gone with so much , and so much to find the thief ; and no satisfaction , no revenge : nor no ill luck stirring but what lights on my shoulders ; no sighs but of my breathing ; no tears but of my shedding . + +Yes , other men have ill luck too . Antonio , as I heard in Genoa , + +What , what , what ? ill luck , ill luck ? + +hath an argosy cast away , coming from Tripolis . + +I thank God ! I thank God ! Is it true ? is it true ? + +I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wrack . + +I thank thee , good Tubal . Good news , good news ! ha , ha ! Where ? in Genoa ? + +Your daughter spent in Genoa , as I heard , one night , fourscore ducats . + +Thou stick'st a dagger in me : I shall never see my gold again : fourscore ducats at a sitting ! fourscore ducats ! + +There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice , that swear he cannot choose but break . + +I am very glad of it : I'll plague him ; I'll torture him : I am glad of it . + +One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey . + +Out upon her ! Thou torturest me , Tubal : it was my turquoise ; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor : I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys . + +But Antonio is certainly undone . + +Nay , that's true , that's very true . Go , Tubal , fee me an officer ; bespeak him a fortnight before . I will have the heart of him , if he forfeit ; for , were he out of Venice , I can make what merchandise I will . Go , go , Tubal , and meet me at our synagogue ; go , good Tubal ; at our synagogue , Tubal . + + +I pray you , tarry : pause a day or two +Before you hazard ; for , in choosing wrong . +I lose your company : therefore , forbear awhile . +There's something tells me , but it is not love , +I would not lose you ; and you know yourself , +Hate counsels not in such a quality . +But lest you should not understand me well , +And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought , +I would detain you here some month or two +Before you venture for me . I could teach you +How to choose right , but then I am forsworn ; +So will I never be : so may you miss me ; +But if you do , you'll make me wish a sin , +That I had been forsworn . Beshrew your eyes , +They have o'erlook'd me and divided me : +One half of me is yours , the other half yours , +Mine own , I would say ; but if mine , then yours , +And so all yours . O ! these naughty times +Put bars between the owners and their rights ; +And so , though yours , not yours . Prove it so , +Let fortune go to hell for it , not I . +I speak too long ; but 'tis to peise the time , +To eke it and to draw it out in length , +To stay you from election . + +Let me choose ; +For as I am , I live upon the rack . + +Upon the rack , Bassanio ! then confess +What treason there is mingled with your love . + +None but that ugly treason of mistrust , +Which makes me fear th' enjoying of my love : +There may as well be amity and life +'Tween snow and fire , as treason and my love . + +Ay , but I fear you speak upon the rack , +Where men enforced do speak anything . + +Promise me life , and I'll confess the truth . + +Well then , confess , and live . + +'Confess' and 'love' +Had been the very sum of my confession : +O happy torment , when my torturer +Doth teach me answers for deliverance ! +But let me to my fortune and the caskets . + +Away then ! I am lock'd in one of them : +If you do love me , you will find me out . +Nerissa and the rest , stand all aloof . +Let music sound while he doth make his choice ; +Then , if he lose , he makes a swan-like end , +Fading in music : that the comparison +May stand more proper , my eye shall be the stream +And watery death-bed for him . He may win ; +And what is music then ? then music is +Even as the flourish when true subjects bow +To a new-crowned monarch : such it is +As are those dulcet sounds in break of day +That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear , +And summon him to marriage . Now he goes , +With no less presence , but with much more love , +Than young Alcides , when he did redeem +The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy +To the sea-monster : I stand for sacrifice ; +The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives , +With bleared visages , come forth to view +The issue of the exploit . Go , Hercules ! +Live thou , I live : with much , much more dismay +I view the fight than thou that mak'st the fray . + + +Tell me where is fancy bred , +Or in the heart or in the head ? +How begot , how nourished ? +Reply , reply . +It is engender'd in the eyes , +With gazing fed ; and fancy dies +In the cradle where it lies +Let us all ring fancy's knell ; +I'll begin it ,Ding , dong , bell . + + +Ding , dong , bell . + +So may the outward shows be least themselves : +The world is still deceiv'd with ornament . +In law , what plea so tainted and corrupt +But , being season'd with a gracious voice , +Obscures the show of evil ? In religion , +What damned error , but some sober brow +Will bless it and approve it with a text , +Hiding the grossness with fair ornament ? +There is no vice so simple but assumes +Some mark of virtue on his outward parts . +How many cowards , whose hearts are all as false +As stairs of sand , wear yet upon their chins +The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars , +Who , inward search'd , have livers white as milk ; +And these assume but valour's excrement +To render them redoubted ! Look on beauty , +And you shall see 'tis purchas'd by the weight ; +Which therein works a miracle in nature , +Making them lightest that wear most of it : +So are those crisped snaky golden locks +Which make such wanton gambols with the wind , +Upon supposed fairness , often known +To be the dowry of a second head , +The skull that bred them , in the sepulchre . +Thus ornament is but the guiled shore +To a most dangerous sea ; the beauteous scarf +Veiling an Indian beauty ; in a word , +The seeming truth which cunning times put on +To entrap the wisest . Therefore , thou gaudy gold , +Hard food for Midas , I will none of thee ; +Nor none of thee , thou pale and common drudge +'Tween man and man : but thou , thou meagre lead , +Which rather threat'nest than dost promise aught , +Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence , +And here choose I : joy be the consequence ! + +How all the other passions fleet to air , +As doubtful thoughts , and rash-embrac'd despair , +And shuddering fear , and green-ey'd jealousy . +O love ! be moderate ; allay thy ecstasy ; +In measure rain thy joy ; scant this excess ; +I feel too much thy blessing ; make it less , +For fear I surfeit ! + +What find I here ? + +Fair Portia's counterfeit ! What demi-god +Hath come so near creation ? Move these eyes ? +Or whether , riding on the balls of mine , +Seem they in motion ? Here are sever'd lips , +Parted with sugar breath ; so sweet a bar +Should sunder such sweet friends . Here , in her hairs +The painter plays the spider , and hath woven +A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men +Faster than gnats in cobwebs : but her eyes ! +How could he see to do them ? having made one , +Methinks it should have power to steal both his +And leave itself unfurnish'd : yet look , how far +The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow +In underprizing it , so far this shadow +Doth limp behind the substance . Here's the scroll , +The continent and summary of my fortune . + +You that choose not by the view , +Chance as fair and choose as true ! +Since this fortune falls to you , +Be content and seek no new . +If you be well pleas'd with this +And hold your fortune for your bliss , +Turn you where your lady is +And claim her with a loving kiss . + +A gentle scroll . Fair lady , by your leave ; + +I come by note , to give and to receive . +Like one of two contending in a prize , +That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes , +Hearing applause and universal shout , +Giddy in spirit , still gazing in a doubt +Whether those peals of praise be his or no ; +So , thrice-fair lady , stand I , even so , +As doubtful whether what I see be true , +Until confirm'd , sign'd , ratified by you . + +You see me , Lord Bassanio , where I stand , +Such as I am : though for myself alone +I would not be ambitious in my wish , +To wish myself much better ; yet , for you +I would be trebled twenty times myself ; +A thousand times more fair , ten thousand times +More rich ; +That only to stand high in your account , +I might in virtues , beauties , livings , friends , +Exceed account : but the full sum of me +Is sum of nothing ; which , to term in gross , +Is an unlesson'd girl , unschool'd , unpractis'd ; +Happy in this , she is not yet so old +But she may learn ; happier than this , +She is not bred so dull but she can learn ; +Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit +Commits itself to yours to be directed , +As from her lord , her governor , her king . +Myself and what is mine to you and yours +Is now converted : but now I was the lord +Of this fair mansion , master of my servants , +Queen o'er myself ; and even now , but now , +This house , these servants , and this same myself +Are yours , my lord . I give them with this ring ; +Which when you part from , lose , or give away , +Let it presage the ruin of your love , +And be my vantage to exclaim on you . + +Madam , you have bereft me of all words , +Only my blood speaks to you in my veins ; +And there is such confusion in my powers , +As , after some oration fairly spoke +By a beloved prince , there doth appear +Among the buzzing pleased multitude ; +Where every something , being blent together , +Turns to a wild of nothing , save of joy , +Express'd and not express'd . But when this ring +Parts from this finger , then parts life from hence : +O ! then be bold to say Bassanio's dead . + +My lord and lady , it is now our time , +That have stood by and seen our wishes prosper , +To cry , good joy . Good joy , my lord and lady ! + +My Lord Bassanio and my gentle lady , +I wish you all the joy that you can wish ; +For I am sure you can wish none from me : +And when your honours mean to solemnize +The bargain of your faith , I do beseech you , +Even at that time I may be married too . + +With all my heart , so thou canst get a wife . + +I thank your lordship , you have got me one . +My eyes , my lord , can look as swift as yours : +You saw the mistress , I beheld the maid ; +You lov'd , I lov'd for intermission . +No more pertains to me , my lord , than you . +Your fortune stood upon the caskets there , +And so did mine too , as the matter falls ; +For wooing here until I sweat again , +And swearing till my very roof was dry +With oaths of love , at last , if promise last , +I got a promise of this fair one here +To have her love , provided that your fortune +Achiev'd her mistress . + +Is this true , Nerissa ? + +Madam , it is , so you stand pleas'd withal . + +And do you , Gratiano , mean good faith ? + +Yes , faith , my lord . + +Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage . + +We'll play with them the first boy for a thousand ducats . + +What ! and stake down ? + +No ; we shall ne'er win at that sport , and stake down . +But who comes here ? Lorenzo and his infidel ? +What ! and my old Venetian friend , Salanio ? + + +Lorenzo , and Salanio , welcome hither , +If that the youth of my new interest here +Have power to bid you welcome . By your leave , +I bid my very friends and countrymen , +Sweet Portia , welcome . + +So do I , my lord : +They are entirely welcome . + +I thank your honour . For my part , my lord , +My purpose was not to have seen you here ; +But meeting with Salanio by the way , +He did entreat me , past all saying nay , +To come with him along . + +I did , my lord , +And I have reason for it . Signior Antonio +Commends him to you . + + +Ere I ope his letter , +I pray you , tell me how my good friend doth . + +Not sick , my lord , unless it be in mind ; +Nor well , unless in mind : his letter there +Will show you his estate . + +Nerissa , cheer yon stranger ; bid her welcome . +Your hand , Salanio . What's the news from Venice ? +How doth that royal merchant , good Antonio ? +I know he will be glad of our success ; +We are the Jasons , we have won the fleece . + +I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost . + +There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper , +That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek : +Some dear friend dead , else nothing in the world +Could turn so much the constitution +Of any constant man . What , worse and worse ! +With leave , Bassanio ; I am half yourself , +And I must freely have the half of anything +That this same paper brings you . + +O sweet Portia ! +Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words +That ever blotted paper . Gentle lady , +When I did first impart my love to you , +I freely told you all the wealth I had +Ran in my veins , I was a gentleman : +And then I told you true ; and yet , dear lady , +Rating myself at nothing , you shall see +How much I was a braggart . When I told you +My state was nothing , I should then have told you +That I was worse than nothing ; for , indeed , +I have engag'd myself to a dear friend , +Engag'd my friend to his mere enemy , +To feed my means . Here is a letter , lady ; +The paper as the body of my friend , +And every word in it a gaping wound , +Issuing life-blood . But is it true , Salanio ? +Hath all his ventures fail'd ? What , not one hit ? +From Tripolis , from Mexico , and England , +From Lisbon , Barbary , and India ? +And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch +Of merchant-marring rocks ? + +Not one , my lord . +Besides , it should appear , that if he had +The present money to discharge the Jew , +He would not take it . Never did I know +A creature , that did bear the shape of man , +So keen and greedy to confound a man . +He plies the duke at morning and at night , +And doth impeach the freedom of the state , +If they deny him justice : twenty merchants , +The duke himself , and the magnificoes +Of greatest port , have all persuaded with him ; +But none can drive him from the envious plea +Of forfeiture , of justice , and his bond . + +When I was with him , I have heard him swear +To Tubal and to Chus , his countrymen , +That he would rather have Antonio's flesh +Than twenty times the value of the sum +That he did owe him ; and I know , my lord , +If law , authority , and power deny not , +It will go hard with poor Antonio . + +Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble ? + +The dearest friend to me , the kindest man , +The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit +In doing courtesies , and one in whom +The ancient Roman honour more appears +Than any that draws breath in Italy . + +What sum owes he the Jew ? + +For me , three thousand ducats . + +What , no more ? +Pay him six thousand , and deface the bond ; +Double six thousand , and then treble that , +Before a friend of this description +Shall lose a hair thorough Bassanio's fault . +First go with me to church and call me wife , +And then away to Venice to your friend ; +For never shall you lie by Portia's side +With an unquiet soul . You shall have gold +To pay the petty debt twenty times over : +When it is paid , bring your true friend along . +My maid Nerissa and myself meantime , +Will live as maids and widows . Come , away ! +For you shall hence upon your wedding-day . +Bid your friends welcome , show a merry cheer ; +Since you are dear bought , I will love you dear . +But let me hear the letter of your friend . + +Sweet Bassanio , my ships have all miscarried , my creditors grow cruel , my estate is very low , my bond to the Jew is forfeit ; and since , in paying it , it is impossible I should live , all debts are cleared between you and I , if I might but see you at my death . Notwithstanding , use your pleasure : if your love do not persuade you to come , let not my letter . + +O love , dispatch all business , and be gone ! + +Since I have your good leave to go away , +I will make haste ; but , till I come again , +No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay , +Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain . + + +Gaoler , look to him : tell not me of mercy ; +This is the fool that lent out money gratis : +Gaoler , look to him . + +Hear me yet , good Shylock . + +I'll have my bond ; speak not against my bond : +I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond . +Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause , +But , since I am a dog , beware my fangs : +The duke shall grant me justice . I do wonder , +Thou naughty gaoler , that thou art so fond +To come abroad with him at his request . + +I pray thee , hear me speak . + +I'll have my bond ; I will not hear thee speak : +I'll have my bond , and therefore speak no more . +I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool , +To shake the head , relent , and sigh , and yield +To Christian intercessors . Follow not ; +I'll have no speaking ; I will have my bond . + + +It is the most impenetrable cur +That ever kept with men . + +Let him alone : +I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers . +He seeks my life ; his reason well I know . +I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures +Many that have at times made moan to me ; +Therefore he hates me . + +I am sure the duke +Will never grant this forfeiture to hold . + +The duke cannot deny the course of law : +For the commodity that strangers have +With us in Venice , if it be denied , +'Twill much impeach the justice of the state ; +Since that the trade and profit of the city +Consisteth of all nations . Therefore , go : +These griefs and losses have so bated me , +That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh +To-morrow to my bloody creditor . +Well , gaoler , on . Pray God , Bassanio come +To see me pay his debt , and then I care not ! + + +Madam , although I speak it in your presence , +You have a noble and a true conceit +Of god-like amity ; which appears most strongly +In bearing thus the absence of your lord . +But if you knew to whom you show this honour , +How true a gentleman you send relief , +How dear a lover of my lord your husband , +I know you would be prouder of the work +Than customary bounty can enforce you . + +I never did repent for doing good , +Nor shall not now : for in companions +That do converse and waste the time together , +Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love , +There must be needs a like proportion +Of lineaments , of manners , and of spirit ; +Which makes me think that this Antonio , +Being the bosom lover of my lord , +Must needs be like my lord . If it be so , +How little is the cost I have bestow'd +In purchasing the semblance of my soul +From out the state of hellish cruelty ! +This comes too near the praising of myself ; +Therefore , no more of it : hear other things . +Lorenzo , I commit into your hands +The husbandry and manage of my house +Until my lord's return : for mine own part , +I have toward heaven breath'd a secret vow +To live in prayer and contemplation , +Only attended by Nerissa here , +Until her husband and my lord's return . +There is a monastery two miles off , +And there will we abide . I do desire you +Not to deny this imposition , +The which my love and some necessity +Now lays upon you . + +Madam , with all my heart : +I shall obey you in all fair commands . + +My people do already know my mind , +And will acknowledge you and Jessica +In place of Lord Bassanio and myself . +So fare you well till we shall meet again . + +Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you ! + +I wish your ladyship all heart's content . + +I thank you for your wish , and am well pleas'd +To wish it back on you : fare you well , Jessica . + +Now , Balthazar , +As I have ever found thee honest-true , +So let me find thee still . Take this same letter , +And use thou all the endeavour of a man +In speed to Padua : see thou render this +Into my cousin's hand , Doctor Bellario ; +And , look , what notes and garments he doth give thee , +Bring them , I pray thee , with imagin'd speed +Unto the traject , to the common ferry +Which trades to Venice . Waste no time in words , +But get thee gone : I shall be there before thee . + +Madam , I go with all convenient speed . + + +Come on , Nerissa : I have work in hand +That you yet know not of : we'll see our husbands +Before they think of us . + +Shall they see us ? + +They shall , Nerissa ; but in such a habit +That they shall think we are accomplished +With that we lack . I'll hold thee any wager , +When we are both accoutred like young men , +I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two , +And wear my dagger with the braver grace , +And speak between the change of man and boy +With a reed voice , and turn two mincing steps +Into a manly stride , and speak of frays +Like a fine bragging youth , and tell quaint lies , +How honourable ladies sought my love , +Which I denying , they fell sick and died : +I could not do withal ; then I'll repent , +And wish , for all that , that I had not kill'd them : +And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell , +That men shall swear I have discontinu'd school +Above a twelvemonth . I have within my mind +A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks , +Which I will practise . + +Why , shall we turn to men ? + +Fie , what a question's that , +If thou wert near a lewd interpreter ! +But come : I'll tell thee all my whole device +When I am in my coach , which stays for us +At the park gate ; and therefore haste away , +For we must measure twenty miles to-day . + + +Yes , truly ; for , look you , the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children ; therefore , I promise you , I fear you . I was always plain with you , and so now I speak my agitation of the matter : therefore be of good cheer ; for , truly , I think you are damned . There is but one hope in it that can do you any good , and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither . + +And what hope is that , I pray thee ? + +Marry , you may partly hope that your father got you not , that you are not the Jew's daughter . + +That were a kind of bastard hope , indeed : so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me . + +Truly then I fear you are damned both by father and mother : thus when I shun Scylla , your father , I fall into Charybdis , your mother : well , you are gone both ways . + +I shall be saved by my husband ; he hath made me a Christian . + +Truly the more to blame he : we were Christians enow before ; e'en as many as could well live one by another . This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs : if we grow all to be pork-eaters , we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money . + +I'll tell my husband , Launcelot , what you say : here he comes . + + +I shall grow jealous of you shortly , Launcelot , if you thus get my wife into corners . + +Nay , you need not fear us , Lorenzo : Launcelot and I are out . He tells me flatly , there is no mercy for me in heaven , because I am a Jew's daughter : and he says you are no good member of the commonwealth , for , in converting Jews to Christians , you raise the price of pork . + +I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting up of the negro's belly : the Moor is with child by you , Launcelot . + +It is much that the Moor should be more than reason ; but if she be less than an honest woman , she is indeed more than I took her for . + +How every fool can play upon the word ! I think the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence , and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots . Go in , sirrah : bid them prepare for dinner . + +That is done , sir ; they have all stomachs . + +Goodly Lord , what a wit-snapper are you ! then bid them prepare dinner . + +That is done too , sir ; only , 'cover' is the word . + +Will you cover , then , sir ? + +Not so , sir , neither ; I know my duty . + +Yet more quarrelling with occasion ! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant ? I pray thee , understand a plain man in his plain meaning : go to thy fellows ; bid them cover the table , serve in the meat , and we will come in to dinner . + +For the table , sir , it shall be served in ; for the meat , sir , it shall be covered ; for your coming in to dinner , sir , why , let it be as humours and conceits shall govern . + + +O dear discretion , how his words are suited ! +The fool hath planted in his memory +An army of good words : and I do know +A many fools , that stand in better place , +Garnish'd like him , that for a tricksy word +Defy the matter . How cheer'st thou , Jessica ? +And now , good sweet , say thy opinion ; +How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's wife ? + +Past all expressing . It is very meet , +The Lord Bassanio live an upright life , +For , having such a blessing in his lady , +He finds the joys of heaven here on earth ; +And if on earth he do not mean it , then +In reason he should never come to heaven . +Why , if two gods should play some heavenly match , +And on the wager lay two earthly women , +And Portia one , there must be something else +Pawn'd with the other , for the poor rude world +Hath not her fellow . + +Even such a husband +Hast thou of me as she is for a wife . + +Nay , but ask my opinion too of that . + +I will anon ; first , let us go to dinner . + +Nay , let me praise you while I have a stomach . + +No , pray thee , let it serve for table-talk ; Then howsoe'er thou speak'st , 'mong other things I shall digest it . + +Well , I'll set you forth . + +What , is Antonio here ? + +Ready , so please your Grace . + +I am sorry for thee : thou art come to answer +A stony adversary , an inhuman wretch +Uncapable of pity , void and empty +From any dram of mercy . + +I have heard +Your Grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify +His rigorous course ; but since he stands obdurate , +And that no lawful means can carry me +Out of his envy's reach , I do oppose +My patience to his fury , and am arm'd +To suffer with a quietness of spirit +The very tyranny and rage of his . + +Go one , and call the Jew into the court . + +He's ready at the door : he comes , my lord . + + +Make room , and let him stand before our face . +Shylock , the world thinks , and I think so too , +That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice +To the last hour of act ; and then 'tis thought +Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange +Than is thy strange-apparent cruelty ; +And where thou now exact'st the penalty , +Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh , +Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture , +But , touch'd with human gentleness and love , +Forgive a moiety of the principal ; +Glancing an eye of pity on his losses , +That have of late so huddled on his back , +Enow to press a royal merchant down , +And pluck commiseration of his state +From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint , +From stubborn Turks and Tartars , never train'd +To offices of tender courtesy . +We all expect a gentle answer , Jew . + +I have possess'd your Grace of what I purpose ; +And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn +To have the due and forfeit of my bond : +If you deny it , let the danger light +Upon your charter and your city's freedom . +You'll ask me , why I rather choose to have +A weight of carrion flesh than to receive +Three thousand ducats : I'll not answer that : +But say it is my humour : is it answer'd ? +What if my house be troubled with a rat , +And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats +To have it ban'd ? What , are you answer'd yet ? +Some men there are love not a gaping pig ; +Some , that are mad if they behold a cat ; +And others , when the bagpipe sings i' the nose , +Cannot contain their urine : for affection , +Mistress of passion , sways it to the mood +Of what it likes , or loathes . Now , for your answer : +As there is no firm reason to be render'd , +Why he cannot abide a gaping pig ; +Why he , a harmless necessary cat ; +Why he , a wauling bagpipe ; but of force +Must yield to such inevitable shame +As to offend , himself being offended ; +So can I give no reason , nor I will not , +More than a lodg'd hate and a certain loathing +I bear Antonio , that I follow thus +A losing suit against him . Are you answer'd ? + +This is no answer , thou unfeeling man , +To excuse the current of thy cruelty . + +I am not bound to please thee with my answer . + +Do all men kill the things they do not love ? + +Hates any man the thing he would not kill ? + +Every offence is not a hate at first . + +What ! wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice ? + +I pray you , think you question with the Jew : +You may as well go stand upon the beach , +And bid the main flood bate his usual height ; +You may as well use question with the wolf , +Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb ; +You may as well forbid the mountain pines +To wag their high tops , and to make no noise +When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven ; +You may as well do anything most hard , +As seek to soften that than which what's harder ? +His Jewish heart : therefore , I do beseech you , +Make no more offers , use no further means ; +But with all brief and plain conveniency , +Let me have judgment , and the Jew his will . + +For thy three thousand ducats here is six . + +If every ducat in six thousand ducats +Were in six parts and every part a ducat , +I would not draw them ; I would have my bond . + +How shalt thou hope for mercy , rendering none ? + +What judgment shall I dread , doing no wrong ? +You have among you many a purchas'd slave , +Which , like your asses and your dogs and mules , +You use in abject and in slavish parts , +Because you bought them : shall I say to you , +Let them be free , marry them to your heirs ? +Why sweat they under burdens ? let their beds +Be made as soft as yours , and let their palates +Be season'd with such viands ? You will answer : +'The slaves are ours :' so do I answer you : +The pound of flesh which I demand of him , +Is dearly bought ; 'tis mine and I will have it . +If you deny me , fie upon your law ! +There is no force in the decrees of Venice . +I stand for judgment : answer ; shall I have it ? + +Upon my power I may dismiss this court , +Unless Bellario , a learned doctor , +Whom I have sent for to determine this , +Come here to-day . + +My lord , here stays without +A messenger with letters from the doctor , +New come from Padua . + +Bring us the letters : call the messenger . + +Good cheer , Antonio ! What , man , courage yet ! +The Jew shall have my flesh , blood , bones , and all , +Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood . + +I am a tainted wether of the flock , +Meetest for death : the weakest kind of fruit +Drops earliest to the ground ; and so let me : +You cannot better be employ'd , Bassanio , +Than to live still , and write mine epitaph . + + +Came you from Padua , from Bellario ? + +From both , my lord . Bellario greets your Grace . + + +Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly ? + +To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there . + +Not on thy sole , but on thy soul , harsh Jew , +Thou mak'st thy knife keen ; but no metal can , +No , not the hangman's axe , bear half the keenness +Of thy sharp envy . Can no prayers pierce thee ? + +No , none that thou hast wit enough to make . + +O , be thou damn'd , inexecrable dog ! +And for thy life let justice be accus'd . +Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith +To hold opinion with Pythagoras , +That souls of animals infuse themselves +Into the trunks of men : thy currish spirit +Govern'd a wolf , who , hang'd for human slaughter , +Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet , +And whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam , +Infus'd itself in thee ; for thy desires +Are wolfish , bloody , starv'd , and ravenous . + +Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond , +Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud : +Repair thy wit , good youth , or it will fall +To cureless ruin . I stand here for law . + +This letter from Bellario doth commend +A young and learned doctor to our court . +Where is he ? + +He attendeth here hard by , +To know your answer , whether you'll admit him . + +With all my heart : some three or four of you +Go give him courteous conduct to this place . +Meantime , the court shall hear Bellario's letter . + +Your Grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick ; but in the instant that your messenger came , in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome ; his name is Balthazar . I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant : we turned o'er many books together : he is furnished with my opinion ; which , bettered with his own learning ,the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend ,comes with him , at my importunity , to fill up your Grace's request in my stead I beseech you , let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation , for I never knew so young a body with so old a head . I leave him to your gracious acceptance , whose trial shall better publish his commendation . + +You hear the learn'd Bellario , what he writes : +And here , I take it , is the doctor come . + +Give me your hand . Came you from old Bellario ? + +I did , my lord . + +You are welcome : take your place . +Are you acquainted with the difference +That holds this present question in the court ? + +I am informed throughly of the cause . +Which is the merchant here , and which the Jew ? + +Antonio and old Shylock , both stand forth . + +Is your name Shylock ? + +Shylock is my name . + +Of a strange nature is the suit you follow ; +Yet in such rule that the Venetian law +Cannot impugn you as you do proceed . + + +You stand within his danger , do you not ? + +Ay , so he says . + +Do you confess the bond ? + +I do . + +Then must the Jew be merciful . + +On what compulsion must I ? tell me that . + +The quality of mercy is not strain'd , +It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven +Upon the place beneath : it is twice bless'd ; +It blesseth him that gives and him that takes : +'Tis mightiest in the mightiest ; it becomes +The throned monarch better than his crown ; +His sceptre shows the force of temporal power , +The attribute to awe and majesty , +Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings ; +But mercy is above this sceptred sway , +It is enthroned in the hearts of kings , +It is an attribute to God himself , +And earthly power doth then show likest God's +When mercy seasons justice . Therefore , Jew , +Though justice be thy plea , consider this , +That in the course of justice none of us +Should see salvation : we do pray for mercy , +And that same prayer doth teach us all to render +The deeds of mercy . I have spoke thus much +To mitigate the justice of thy plea , +Which if thou follow , this strict court of Venice +Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there . + +My deeds upon my head ! I crave the law , +The penalty and forfeit of my bond . + +Is he not able to discharge the money ? + +Yes , here I tender it for him in the court ; +Yea , twice the sum : if that will not suffice , +I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er , +On forfeit of my hands , my head , my heart . +If this will not suffice , it must appear +That malice bears down truth . And , I beseech you , +Wrest once the law to your authority : +To do a great right , do a little wrong , +And curb this cruel devil of his will . + +It must not be . There is no power in Venice +Can alter a decree established : +'Twill be recorded for a precedent , +And many an error by the same example +Will rush into the state . It cannot be . + +A Daniel come to judgment ! yea , a Daniel ! +O wise young judge , how I do honour thee ! + +I pray you , let me look upon the bond . + +Here 'tis , most reverend doctor ; here it is . + +Shylock , there's thrice thy money offer'd thee . + +An oath , an oath , I have an oath in heaven : +Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ? +No , not for Venice . + +Why , this bond is forfeit ; +And lawfully by this the Jew may claim +A pound of flesh , to be by him cut off +Nearest the merchant's heart . Be merciful : +Take thrice thy money ; bid me tear the bond . + +When it is paid according to the tenour . +It doth appear you are a worthy judge ; +You know the law , your exposition +Hath been most sound : I charge you by the law , +Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar , +Proceed to judgment : by my soul I swear +There is no power in the tongue of man +To alter me . I stay here on my bond . + +Most heartily I do beseech the court +To give the judgment . + +Why then , thus it is : +You must prepare your bosom for his knife . + +O noble judge ! O excellent young man ! + +For , the intent and purpose of the law +Hath full relation to the penalty , +Which here appeareth due upon the bond . + +'Tis very true ! O wise and upright judge ! +How much more elder art thou than thy looks ! + +Therefore lay bare your bosom . + +Ay , 'his breast :' +So says the bond :doth it not , noble judge ? +'Nearest his heart :' those are the very words . + +It is so . Are there balance here to weigh +The flesh ? + +I have them ready . + +Have by some surgeon , Shylock , on your charge , +To stop his wounds , lest he do bleed to death . + +Is it so nominated in the bond ? + +It is not so express'd ; but what of that ? +'Twere good you do so much for charity . + +I cannot find it : 'tis not in the bond . + +You , merchant , have you anything to say ? + +But little : I am arm'd and well prepar'd . +Give me your hand , Bassanio : fare you well ! +Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you ; +For herein Fortune shows herself more kind +Than is her custom : it is still her use +To let the wretched man outlive his wealth , +To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow +An age of poverty ; from which lingering penance +Of such a misery doth she cut me off . +Commend me to your honourable wife : +Tell her the process of Antonio's end ; +Say how I lov'd you , speak me fair in death ; +And , when the tale is told , bid her be judge +Whether Bassanio had not once a love . +Repent not you that you shall lose your friend , +And he repents not that he pays your debt ; +For if the Jew do cut but deep enough , +I'll pay it instantly with all my heart . + +Antonio , I am married to a wife +Which is as dear to me as life itself ; +But life itself , my wife , and all the world , +Are not with me esteem'd above thy life : +I would lose all , ay , sacrifice them all , +Here to this devil , to deliver you . + +Your wife would give you little thanks for that , +If she were by to hear you make the offer . + +I have a wife , whom , I protest , I love : +I would she were in heaven , so she could +Entreat some power to change this currish Jew . + +'Tis well you offer it behind her back ; +The wish would make else an unquiet house . + +These be the Christian husbands ! I have a daughter ; +Would any of the stock of Barabbas +Had been her husband rather than a Christian ! +We trifle time ; I pray thee , pursue sentence . + +A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine : +The court awards it , and the law doth give it . + +Most rightful judge ! + +And you must cut this flesh from off his breast : +The law allows it , and the court awards it . + +Most learned judge ! A sentence ! come , prepare ! + +Tarry a little : there is something else . +This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood ; +The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh :' +Then take thy bond , take thou thy pound of flesh ; +But , in the cutting it , if thou dost shed +One drop of Christian blood , thy lands and goods +Are , by the laws of Venice , confiscate +Unto the state of Venice . + +O upright judge ! Mark , Jew : O learned judge ! + +Is that the law ? + +Thyself shalt see the act ; +For , as thou urgest justice , be assur'd +Thou shalt have justice , more than thou desir'st . + +O learned judge ! Mark , Jew : a learned judge ! + +I take this offer then : pay the bond thrice , +And let the Christian go . + +Here is the money . + +Soft ! +The Jew shall have all justice ; soft ! no haste : +He shall have nothing but the penalty . + +O Jew ! an upright judge , a learned judge ! + +Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh . +Shed thou no blood ; nor cut thou less , nor more , +But just a pound of flesh : if thou tak'st more , +Or less , than a just pound , be it but so much +As makes it light or heavy in the substance , +Or the division of the twentieth part +Of one poor scruple , nay , if the scale do turn +But in the estimation of a hair , +Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate . + +A second Daniel , a Daniel , Jew ! +Now , infidel , I have thee on the hip . + +Why doth the Jew pause ? take thy forfeiture . + +Give me my principal , and let me go . + +I have it ready for thee ; here it is . + +He hath refus'd it in the open court : +He shall have merely justice , and his bond . + +A Daniel , still say I ; a second Daniel ! +I thank thee , Jew , for teaching me that word . + +Shall I not have barely my principal ? + +Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture , +To be so taken at thy peril , Jew . + +Why , then the devil give him good of it ! +I'll stay no longer question . + +Tarry , Jew : +The law hath yet another hold on you . +It is enacted in the laws of Venice , +If it be prov'd against an alien +That by direct or indirect attempts +He seek the life of any citizen , +The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive +Shall seize one half his goods ; the other half +Comes to the privy coffer of the state ; +And the offender's life lies in the mercy +Of the duke only , 'gainst all other voice . +In which predicament , I say , thou stand'st ; +For it appears by manifest proceeding , +That indirectly and directly too +Thou hast contriv'd against the very life +Of the defendant ; and thou hast incurr'd +The danger formerly by me rehears'd . +Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke . + +Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself : +And yet , thy wealth being forfeit to the state , +Thou hast not left the value of a cord ; +Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge . + +That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits , +I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it . +For half thy wealth , it is Antonio's ; +The other half comes to the general state , +Which humbleness may drive into a fine . + +Ay , for the state ; not for Antonio . + +Nay , take my life and all ; pardon not that : +You take my house when you do take the prop +That doth sustain my house ; you take my life +When you do take the means whereby I live . + +What mercy can you render him , Antonio ? + +A halter gratis ; nothing else , for God's sake ! + +So please my lord the duke , and all the court , +To quit the fine for one half of his goods , +I am content ; so he will let me have +The other half in use , to render it , +Upon his death , unto the gentleman +That lately stole his daughter : +Two things provided more , that , for this favour , +He presently become a Christian ; +The other , that he do record a gift , +Here in the court , of all he dies possess'd , +Unto his son Lorenzo , and his daughter . + +He shall do this , or else I do recant +The pardon that I late pronounced here . + +Art thou contented , Jew ? what dost thou say ? + +I am content . + +Clerk , draw a deed of gift . + +I pray you give me leave to go from hence : +I am not well . Send the deed after me , +And I will sign it . + +Get thee gone , but do it . + +In christening thou shalt have two godfathers ; +Had I been judge , thou shouldst have had ten more , +To bring thee to the gallows , not the font . + + +Sir , I entreat you home with me to dinner . + +I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon : +I must away this night toward Padua , +And it is meet I presently set forth . + +I am sorry that your leisure serves you not . +Antonio , gratify this gentleman , +For , in my mind , you are much bound to him . + + +Most worthy gentleman , I and my friend +Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted +Of grievous penalties ; in lieu whereof , +Three thousand ducats , due unto the Jew , +We freely cope your courteous pains withal . + +And stand indebted , over and above , +In love and service to you evermore . + +He is well paid that is well satisfied ; +And I , delivering you , am satisfied , +And therein do account myself well paid : +My mind was never yet more mercenary . +I pray you , know me when we meet again : +I wish you well , and so I take my leave . + +Dear sir , of force I must attempt you further : +Take some remembrance of us , as a tribute , +Not as a fee . Grant me two things , I pray you , +Not to deny me , and to pardon me . + +You press me far , and therefore I will yield . + + +Give me your gloves , I'll wear them for your sake ; + + +And , for your love , I'll take this ring from you . +Do not draw back your hand ; I'll take no more ; +And you in love shall not deny me this . + +This ring , good sir ? alas ! it is a trifle ; +I will not shame myself to give you this . + +I will have nothing else but only this ; +And now methinks I have a mind to it . + +There's more depends on this than on the value . +The dearest ring in Venice will I give you , +And find it out by proclamation : +Only for this , I pray you , pardon me . + +I see , sir , you are liberal in offers : +You taught me first to beg , and now methinks +You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd . + +Good sir , this ring was given me by my wife ; +And , when she put it on , she made me vow +That I should never sell nor give nor lose it . + +That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts . +An if your wife be not a mad-woman , +And know how well I have deserv'd the ring , +She would not hold out enemy for ever , +For giving it to me . Well , peace be with you . + + +My Lord Bassanio , let him have the ring : +Let his deservings and my love withal +Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandment . + +Go , Gratiano ; run and overtake him ; +Give him the ring , and bring him , if thou canst , +Unto Antonio's house . Away ! make haste . + +Come , you and I will thither presently , +And in the morning early will we both +Fly toward Belmont . Come , Antonio . + + +Inquire the Jew's house out , give him this deed , +And let him sign it . We'll away to-night , +And be a day before our husbands home : +This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo . + + +Fair sir , you are well o'erta'en . +My Lord Bassanio upon more advice +Hath sent you here this ring , and doth entreat +Your company at dinner . + +That cannot be : +His ring I do accept most thankfully ; +And so , I pray you , tell him : furthermore , +I pray you , show my youth old Shylock's house . + +That will I do . + +Sir , I would speak with you . + + +I'll see if I can get my husband's ring , +Which I did make him swear to keep for ever . + +Thou mayst , I warrant . We shall have old swearing +That they did give the rings away to men ; +But we'll outface them , and outswear them too . +Away ! make haste : thou know'st where I will tarry . + +Come , good sir , will you show me to this house ? + +The moon shines bright : in such a night as this , +When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees +And they did make no noise , in such a night +Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls , +And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents , +Where Cressid lay that night . + +In such a night +Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew , +And saw the lion's shadow ere himself , +And ran dismay'd away . + +In such a night +Stood Dido with a willow in her hand +Upon the wild sea-banks , and waft her love +To come again to Carthage . + +In such a night +Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs +That did renew old son . + +In such a night +Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew , +And with an unthrift love did run from Venice , +As far as Belmont . + +In such a night +Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well , +Stealing her soul with many vows of faith , +And ne'er a true one . + +In such a night +Did pretty Jessica , like a little shrew , +Slander her love , and he forgave it her . + +I would out-night you , did no body come ; +But , hark ! I hear the footing of a man . + + +Who comes so fast in silence of the night ? + +A friend . + +A friend ! what friend ? your name , I pray you , friend . + +Stephano is my name ; and I bring word +My mistress will before the break of day +Be here at Belmont : she doth stray about +By holy crosses , where she kneels and prays +For happy wedlock hours . + +Who comes with her ? + +None , but a holy hermit and her maid . +I pray you , is my master yet return'd ? + +He is not , nor we have not heard from him . +But go we in , I pray thee , Jessica , +And ceremoniously let us prepare +Some welcome for the mistress of the house . + + +Sola , sola ! wo ha , ho ! sola , sola ! + +Who calls ? + +Sola ! did you see Master Lorenzo ? +Master Lorenzo ! sola , sola ! + +Leave hollaing , man ; here . + +Sola ! where ? where ? + +Here . + +Tell him there's a post come from my master , with his horn full of good news : my master will be here ere morning . + + +Sweet soul , let's in , and there expect their coming . +And yet no matter ; why should we go in ? +My friend Stephano , signify , I pray you , +Within the house , your mistress is at hand ; +And bring your music forth into the air . + +How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank ! +Here will we sit , and let the sounds of music +Creep in our ears : soft stillness and the night +Become the touches of sweet harmony . +Sit , Jessica : look , how the floor of heaven +Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold : +There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st +But in his motion like an angel sings , +Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins ; +Such harmony is in immortal souls ; +But , whilst this muddy vesture of decay +Doth grossly close it in , we cannot hear it . + +Come , ho ! and wake Diana with a hymn : +With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear , +And draw her home with music . + + +I am never merry when I hear sweet music . + +The reason is , your spirits are attentive : +For do but note a wild and wanton herd , +Or race of youthful and unhandled colts , +Fetching mad bounds , bellowing and neighing loud , +Which is the hot condition of their blood ; +If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound , +Or any air of music touch their ears , +You shall perceive them make a mutual stand , +Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze +By the sweet power of music : therefore the poet +Did feign that Orpheus drew trees , stones , and floods ; +Since nought so stockish , hard , and full of rage , +But music for the time doth change his nature . +The man that hath no music in himself , +Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds , +Is fit for treasons , stratagems , and spoils ; +The motions of his spirit are dull as night , +And his affections dark as Erebus : +Let no such man be trusted . Mark the music . + + +That light we see is burning in my hall . +How far that little candle throws his beams ! +So shines a good deed in a naughty world . + +When the moon shone , we did not see the candle . + +So doth the greater glory dim the less : +A substitute shines brightly as a king +Until a king be by , and then his state +Empties itself , as doth an inland brook +Into the main of waters . Music ! hark ! + +It is your music , madam , of the house . + +Nothing is good , I see , without respect : +Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day . + +Silence bestows that virtue on it , madam . + +The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark +When neither is attended , and I think +The nightingale , if she should sing by day , +When every goose is cackling , would be thought +No better a musician than the wren . +How many things by season season'd are +To their right praise and true perfection ! +Peace , ho ! the moon sleeps with Endymion , +And would not be awak'd ! + + +That is the voice , +Or I am much deceiv'd , of Portia . + +He knows me , as the blind man knows the cuckoo , +By the bad voice . + +Dear lady , welcome home . + +We have been praying for our husbands' welfare , +Which speed , we hope , the better for our words . +Are they return'd ? + +Madam , they are not yet ; +But there is come a messenger before , +To signify their coming . + +Go in , Nerissa : +Give order to my servants that they take +No note at all of our being absent hence ; +Nor you , Lorenzo ; Jessica , nor you . + + +Your husband is at hand ; I hear his trumpet : +We are no tell-tales , madam ; fear you not . + +This night methinks is but the daylight sick ; +It looks a little paler : 'tis a day , +Such as the day is when the sun is hid . + + +We should hold day with the Antipodes , +If you would walk in absence of the sun . + +Let me give light , but let me not be light ; +For a light wife doth make a heavy husband , +And never be Bassanio so for me : +But God sort all ! You are welcome home , my lord . + +I thank you , madam . Give welcome to my friend : +This is the man , this is Antonio , +To whom I am so infinitely bound . + +You should in all sense be much bound to him , +For , as I hear , he was much bound for you . + +No more than I am well acquitted of . + +Sir , you are very welcome to our house : +It must appear in other ways than words , +Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy . + +By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong ; +In faith , I gave it to the judge's clerk : +Would he were gelt that had it , for my part , +Since you do take it , love , so much at heart . + +A quarrel , ho , already ! what's the matter ? + +About a hoop of gold , a paltry ring +That she did give me , whose poesy was +For all the world like cutlers' poetry +Upon a knife , 'Love me , and leave me not .' + +What talk you of the posy , or the value ? +You swore to me , when I did give it you , +That you would wear it till your hour of death , +And that it should lie with you in your grave : +Though not for me , yet for your vehement oaths , +You should have been respective and have kept it . +Gave it a judge's clerk ! no , God's my judge , +The clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it . + +He will , an if he live to be a man . + +Ay , if a woman live to be a man . + +Now , by this hand , I gave it to a youth , +A kind of boy , a little scrubbed boy , +No higher than thyself , the judge's clerk . +A prating boy , that begg'd it as a fee : +I could not for my heart deny it him . + +You were to blame ,I must be plain with you , +To part so slightly with your wife's first gift ; +A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger , +And riveted so with faith unto your flesh . +I gave my love a ring and made him swear +Never to part with it ; and here he stands , +I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it +Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth +That the world masters . Now , in faith , Gratiano , +You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief : +An 'twere to me , I should be mad at it . + +Why , I were best to cut my left hand off , +And swear I lost the ring defending it . + +My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away +Unto the judge that begg'd it , and indeed +Deserv'd it too ; and then the boy , his clerk , +That took some pains in writing , he begg'd mine ; +And neither man nor master would take aught +But the two rings . + +What ring gave you , my lord ? +Not that , I hope , that you receiv'd of me . + +If I could add a lie unto a fault , +I would deny it ; but you see my finger +Hath not the ring upon it ; it is gone . + +Even so void is your false heart of truth . +By heaven , I will ne'er come in your bed +Until I see the ring . + +Nor I in yours , +Till I again see mine . + +Sweet Portia , +If you did know to whom I gave the ring , +If you did know for whom I gave the ring , +And would conceive for what I gave the ring , +And how unwillingly I left the ring , +When naught would be accepted but the ring , +You would abate the strength of your displeasure . + +If you had known the virtue of the ring , +Or half her worthiness that gave the ring , +Or your own honour to contain the ring , +You would not then have parted with the ring . +What man is there so much unreasonable , +If you had pleas'd to have defended it +With any terms of zeal , wanted the modesty +To urge the thing held as a ceremony ? +Nerissa teaches me what to believe : +I'll die for't but some woman had the ring . + +No , by my honour , madam , by my soul , +No woman had it ; but a civil doctor , +Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me , +And begg'd the ring , the which I did deny him , +And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away ; +Even he that did uphold the very life +Of my dear friend . What should I say , sweet lady ? +I was enforc'd to send it after him ; +I was beset with shame and courtesy ; +My honour would not let ingratitude +So much besmear it . Pardon me , good lady , +For , by these blessed candles of the night , +Had you been there , I think you would have begg'd +The ring of me to give the worthy doctor . + +Let not that doctor e'er come near my house . +Since he hath got the jewel that I lov'd , +And that which you did swear to keep for me , +I will become as liberal as you ; +I'll not deny him anything I have ; +No , not my body , nor my husband's bed . +Know him I shall , I am well sure of it : +Lie not a night from home ; watch me like Argus : +If you do not , if I be left alone , +Now by mine honour , which is yet mine own , +I'll have that doctor for my bedfellow . + +And I his clerk ; therefore be well advis'd +How you do leave me to mine own protection . + +Well , do you so : let me not take him , then ; +For if I do , I'll mar the young clerk's pen . + +I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels . + +Sir , grieve not you ; you are welcome notwithstanding . + +Portia , forgive me this enforced wrong ; +And in the hearing of these many friends , +I swear to thee , even by thine own fair eyes , +Wherein I see myself , + +Mark you but that ! +In both my eyes he doubly sees himself ; +In each eye , one : swear by your double self , +And there's an oath of credit . + +Nay , but hear me : +Pardon this fault , and by my soul I swear +I never more will break an oath with thee . + +I once did lend my body for his wealth , +Which , but for him that had your husband's ring , +Had quite miscarried : I dare be bound again , +My soul upon the forfeit , that your lord +Will never more break faith advisedly . + +Then you shall be his surety . Give him this , +And bid him keep it better than the other . + +Here , Lord Bassanio ; swear to keep this ring . + +By heaven ! it is the same I gave the doctor ! + +I had it of him : pardon me , Bassanio , +For , by this ring , the doctor lay with me . + +And pardon me , my gentle Gratiano ; +For that same scrubbed boy , the doctor's clerk , +In lieu of this last night did lie with me . + +Why , this is like the mending of highways +In summer , where the ways are fair enough . +What ! are we cuckolds ere we have deserv'd it ? + +Speak not so grossly . You are all amaz'd : +Here is a letter ; read it at your leisure ; +It comes from Padus , from Bellario : +There you shall find that Portia was the doctor , +Nerissa , there , her clerk : Lorenzo here +Shall witness I set forth as soon as you +And even but now return'd ; I have not yet +Enter'd my house . Antonio , you are welcome ; +And I have better news in store for you +Than you expect : unseal this letter soon ; +There you shall find three of your argosies +Are richly come to harbour suddenly . +You shall not know by what strange accident +I chanced on this letter . + +I am dumb . + +Were you the doctor and I knew you not ? + +Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold ? + +Ay ; but the clerk that never means to do it , +Unless he live until he be a man . + +Sweet doctor , you shall be my bedfellow : +When I am absent , then , lie with my wife . + +Sweet lady , you have given me life and living ; +For here I read for certain that my ships +Are safely come to road . + +How now , Lorenzo ! +My clerk hath some good comforts too for you . + +Ay , and I'll give them him without a fee . +There do I give to you and Jessica , +From the rich Jew , a special deed of gift , +After his death , of all he dies possess'd of . + +Fair ladies , you drop manna in the way +Of starved people . + +It is almost morning , +And yet I am sure you are not satisfied +Of these events at full . Let us go in ; +And charge us there upon inter'gatories , +And we will answer all things faithfully . + +Let it be so : the first inter'gatory +That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is , +Whe'r till the next night she had rather stay , +Or go to bed now , being two hours to day : +But were the day come , I should wish it dark , +That I were couching with the doctor's clerk . +Well , while I live I'll fear no other thing +So sore as keeping safe Nerissa's ring . + +THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR + +Sir Hugh , persuade me not ; I will make a Star-chamber matter of it ; if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs he shall not abuse Robert Shallow , esquire . + +In the county of Gloster , justice of peace , and coram . + +Ay , cousin Slender , and cust-alorum . + +Ay , and rato-lorum too ; and a gentleman born , Master Parson ; who writes himself armigero , in any bill , warrant , quittance , or obligation ,armigero . + +Ay , that I do ; and have done any time these three hundred years . + +All his successors gone before him hath done't ; and all his ancestors that come after him may : they may give the dozen white luces in their coat . + +It is an old coat . + +The dozen white louses do become an old coat well ; it agrees well , passant ; it is a familiar beast to man , and signifies love . + +The luce is the fresh fish ; the salt fish is an old coat . + +I may quarter , coz ? + +You may , by marrying . + +It is marring indeed , if he quarter it . + +Not a whit . + +Yes , py'r lady ; if he has a quarter of your coat , there is but three skirts for yourself , in my simple conjectures : but that is all one . If Sir John Falstaff have committed disparagements unto you , I am of the Church , and will be glad to do my benevolence to make atonements and compremises between you . + +The Council shall hear it ; it is a riot . + +It is not meet the Council hear a riot ; there is no fear of Got in a riot . The Council , look you , shall desire to hear the fear of Got , and not to hear a riot ; take your vizaments in that . + +Ha ! o' my life , if I were young again , the sword should end it . + +It is petter that friends is the sword , and end it ; and there is also another device in my prain , which , peradventure , prings goot discretions with it . There is Anne Page , which is daughter to Master Thomas Page , which is pretty virginity . + +Mistress Anne Page ? She has brown hair , and speaks small like a woman . + +It is that fery person for all the orld , as just as you will desire ; and seven hundred pounds of moneys , and gold and silver , is her grandsire , upon his death's-bed ,Got deliver to a joyful resurrections !give , when she is able to overtake seventeen years old . It were a goot motion if we leave our pribbles and prabbles , and desire a marriage between Master Abraham and Mistress Anne Page . + +Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound ? + +Ay , and her father is make her a petter penny . + +I know the young gentlewoman ; she has good gifts . + +Seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts . + +Well , let us see honest Master Page . Is Falstaff there ? + +Shall I tell you a lie ? I do despise a har as I do despise one that is false ; or as I despise one that is not true . The knight , Sir John , is there ; and , I beseech you , be ruled by your well-willers . I will peat the door for Master Page . + +What , hoa ! Got pless your house here ! + +Who's there ? + +Here is Got's plessing , and your friend . and Justice Shallow ; and here young Master Slender , that peradventures shall tell you another tale , if matters grow to your likings . + + +I am glad to see your worships well . I thank you for my venison , Master Shallow . + +Master Page , I am glad to see you : much good do it your good heart ! I wished your venison better ; it was ill killed . How doth good Mistress Page ?and I thank you always with my heart , la ! with my heart . + +Sir , I thank you . + +Sir , I thank you ; by yea and no , I do . + +I am glad to see you , good Master Slender . + +How does your fallow greyhound , sir ? I heard say he was outrun on Cotsall . + +It could not be judged , sir . + +You'll not confess , you'll not confess . + +That he will not : 'tis your fault , 'tis your fault . 'Tis a good dog . + +A cur , sir . + +Sir , he's a good dog , and a fair dog ; can there be more said ? he is good and fair . Is Sir John Falstaff here ? + +Sir , he is within ; and I would I could do a good office between you . + +It is spoke as a Christians ought to speak . + +He hath wronged me , Master Page . + +Sir , he doth in some sort confess it . + +If it be confessed , it is not redressed : is not that so , Master Page ? He hath wronged me ; indeed , he hath ;at a word , he hath ,believe me : Robert Shallow , esquire , saith , he is wronged . + +Here comes Sir John . + + +Now , Master Shallow , you'll complain of me to the king ? + +Knight , you have beaten my men , killed my deer , and broke open my lodge . + +But not kissed your keeper's daughter ? + +Tut , a pin ! this shall be answered . + +I will answer it straight : I have done all this . That is now answered . + +The Council shall know this . + +'Twere better for you if it were known in counsel : you'll be laughed at . + +Pauca verba , Sir John ; goot worts . + +Good worts ! good cabbage . Slender , I broke your head : what matter have you against me ? + +Marry , sir , I have matter in my head against you ; and against your cony-catching rascals , Bardolph , Nym , and Pistol . They carried me to the tavern , and made me drunk , and afterwards picked my pocket . + +You Banbury cheese ! + +Ay , it is no matter . + +How now , Mephistophilus ! + +Ay , it is no matter . + +Slice , I say ! pauca , pauca ; slice ! that's my humour . + +Where's Simple , my man ? can you tell , cousin ? + +Peace , I pray you . Now let us understand : there is three umpires in this matter , as I understand ; that is Master Page , fidelicet , Master Page ; and there is myself , fidelicet , myself ; and the three party is , lastly and finally , mine host of the Garter . + +We three , to hear it and end it between them . + +Fery goot : I will make a prief of it in my note-book ; and we will afterwards ork upon the cause with as great discreetly as we can . + +Pistol ! + +He hears with ears . + +The tevil and his tam ! what phrase is this , 'He hears with ear ?' Why , it is affectations . + +Pistol , did you pick Master Slender's purse ? + +Ay , by these gloves , did he ,or I would I might never come in mine own great chamber again else ,of seven groats in mill-sixpences , and two Edward shovel-boards , that cost me two shilling and two pence a-piece of Yead Miller , by these gloves . + +Is this true , Pistol ? + +No ; it is false , if it is a pick-purse . + +Ha , thou mountain foreigner !Sir John and master mine , +I combat challenge of this latten bilbo . +Word of denial in thy labras here ! +Word of denial : froth and scum , thou liest . + +By these gloves , then , 'twas he . + +Be avised , sir , and pass good humours . I will say , 'marry trap ,' with you , if you run the nuthook's humour on me : that is the very note of it . + +By this hat , then , he in the red face had it ; for though I cannot remember what I did when you made me drunk , yet I am not altogether an ass . + +What say you , Scarlet and John ? + +Why , sir , for my part , I say , the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences . + +It is his 'five senses ;' fie , what the ignorance is ! + +And being fap , sir , was , as they say , cashier'd ; and so conclusions pass'd the careires . + +Ay , you spake in Latin then too ; but 'tis no matter . I'll ne'er be drunk whilst I live again , but in honest , civil , godly company , for this trick : if I be drunk , I'll be drunk with those that have the fear of God , and not with drunken knaves . + +So Got udge me , that is a virtuous mind . + +You hear all these matters denied , gentlemen ; you hear it . + + +Nay , daughter , carry the wine in ; we'll drink within . + + +O heaven ! this is Mistress Anne Page . + +How now , Mistress Ford ! + +Mistress Ford , by my troth , you are very well met : by your leave , good mistress . + + +Wife , bid these gentlemen welcome . Come , we have a hot venison pasty to dinner : come , gentlemen , I hope we shall drink down all unkindness . + + +I had rather than forty shillings I had my Book of Songs and Sonnets here . + +How now , Simple ! Where have you been ? I must wait on myself , must I ? You have not the Book of Riddles about you , have you ? + +Book of Riddles ! why , did you not lend it to Alice Shortcake upon All-Hallowmas last , a fortnight afore Michaelmas ? + +Come , coz ; come , coz ; we stay for you . A word with you , coz ; marry , this , coz : there is , as 'twere a tender , a kind of tender , made afar off by Sir Hugh here : do you understand me ? + +Ay , sir , you shall find me reasonable : if it be so , I shall do that that is reason . + +Nay , but understand me . + +So I do , sir . + +Give ear to his motions , Master Slender : I will description the matter to you , if you pe capacity of it . + +Nay , I will do as my cousin Shallow says . I pray you pardon me ; he's a justice of peace in his country , simple though I stand here . + +But that is not the question ; the question is concerning your marriage . + +Ay , there's the point , sir . + +Marry , is it , the very point of it ; to Mistress Anne Page . + +Why , if it be so , I will marry her upon any reasonable demands . + +But can you affection the 'oman ? Let us command to know that of your mouth or of your lips ; for divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth : therefore , precisely , can you carry your good will to the maid ? + +Cousin Abraham Slender , can you love her ? + +I hope , sir , I will do as it shall become one that would do reason . + +Nay , Got's lords and his ladies ! you must speak possitable , if you can carry her your desires towards her . + +That you must . Will you , upon good dowry , marry her ? + +I will do a greater thing than that , upon your request , cousin , in any reason . + +Nay , conceive me , conceive me , sweet coz : what I do , is to pleasure you , coz . Can you love the maid ? + +I will marry her , sir , at your request ; but if there be no great love in the beginning , yet heaven may decrease it upon better acquaintance , when we are married and have more occasion to know one another : I hope , upon familiarity will grow more contempt : but if you say , 'Marry her ,' I will marry her ; that I am freely dissolved , and dissolutely . + +It is a fery discretion answer ; save , the faul is in the ort 'dissolutely :' the ort is , according to our meaning , 'resolutely .' His meaning is goot . + +Ay , I think my cousin meant well . + +Ay , or else I would I might be hanged , la ! + +Here comes fair Mistress Anne . + +Would I were young for your sake , Mistress Anne . + +The dinner is on the table ; my father desires your worships' company . + +I will wait on him , fair Mistress Anne . + +Od's plessed will ! I will not be absence at the grace . + + +Will't please your worship to come in , sir ? + +No , I thank you , forsooth , heartily ; I am very well . + +The dinner attends you , sir . + +I am not a-hungry , I thank you forsooth . Go , sirrah , for all you are my man , go wait upon my cousin Shallow . + +A justice of peace sometime may be beholding to his friend for a man . I keep but three men and a boy yet , till my mother be dead ; but what though ? yet I live like a poor gentleman born . + +I may not go in without your worship : they will not sit till you come . + +I' faith , I'll eat nothing ; I thank you as much as though I did . + +I pray you , sir , walk in . + +I had rather walk here , I thank you . I bruised my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence ; three veneys for a dish of stewed prunes ;and , by my troth , I cannot abide the smell of hot meat since . Why do your dogs bark so ? be there bears i' the town ? + +I think there are , sir ; I heard them talked of . + +I love the sport well ; but I shall as soon quarrel at it as any man in England . You are afraid , if you see the bear loose , are you not ? + +Ay , indeed , sir . + +That's meat and drink to me , now : I have seen Sackerson loose twenty times , and have taken him by the chain ; but , I warrant you , the women have so cried and shrieked at it , that it passed : but women , indeed , cannot abide 'em ; they are very ill-favoured rough things . + + +Come , gentle Master Slender , come ; we stay for you . + +I'll eat nothing , I thank you , sir . + +By cock and pie , you shall not choose , sir ! come , come . + +Nay , pray you , lead the way . + +Come on , sir . + +Mistress Anne , yourself shall go first . + +Not I , sir ; pray you , keep on . + +Truly , I will not go first : truly , la ! I will not do you that wrong . + +I pray you , sir . + +I'll rather be unmannerly than troublesome . You do yourself wrong , indeed , la ! + + +Go your ways , and ask of Doctor Caius' house , which is the way : and there dwells one Mistress Quickly , which is in the manner of his nurse , or his try nurse , or his cook , or his laundry , his washer , and his wringer . + +Well , sir . + +Nay , it is petter yet . Give her this letter ; for it is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with Mistress Anne Page : and the letter is , to desire and require her to solicit your master's desires to Mistress Anne Page . I pray you , be gone : I will make an end of my dinner ; there's pippins and seese to come . + + +Mine host of the Garter ! + +What says my bully-rook ? Speak scholarly and wisely . + +Truly , mine host , I must turn away some of my followers . + +Discard , bully Hercules ; cashier : let them wag ; trot , trot . + +I sit at ten pounds a week . + +Thou'rt an emperor , C sar , Keisar , and Pheezar . I will entertain Bardolph ; he shall draw , he shall tap : said I well , bully Hector ? + +Do so , good mine host . + +I have spoke ; let him follow . + +Let me see thee forth and lime : I am at a word ; follow . + + +Bardolph , follow him . A tapster is a good trade : an old cloak makes a new jerkin ; a withered serving-man , a fresh tapster . Go ; adieu . + +It is a life that I have desired . I will thrive . + +O base Hungarian wight ! wilt thou the spigot wield ? + + +He was gotten in drink ; is not the humour conceited ? + +I am glad I am so acquit of this tinderbox ; his thefts were too open ; his filching was like an unskilful singer ; he kept not time . + +The good humour is to steal at a minim's rest . + +'Convey ,' the wise it call . 'Steal !' foh ! a fico for the phrase ! + +Well , sirs , I am almost out at heels . + +Why , then , let kibes ensue . + +There is no remedy ; I must conycatch , I must shift . + +Young ravens must have food . + +Which of you know Ford of this town ? + +I ken the wight : he is of substance good . + +My honest lads , I will tell you what I am about . + +Two yards , and more . + +No quips now , Pistol ! Indeed , I am in the waist two yards about ; but I am now about no waste ; I am about thrift . Briefly , I do mean to make love to Ford's wife : I spy entertainment in her ; she discourses , she carves , she gives the leer of invitation : I can construe the action of her familiar style ; and the hardest voice of her behaviour , to be Englished rightly , is , 'I am Sir John Falstaff's .' + +He hath studied her well , and translated her well , out of honesty into English . + +The anchor is deep : will that humour pass ? + +Now , the report goes she has all the rule of her husband's purse ; he hath a legion of angels . + +As many devils entertain , and 'To her , boy ,' say I . + +The humour rises ; it is good : humour me the angels . + +I have writ me here a letter to her ; and here another to Page's wife , who even now gave me good eyes too , examined my parts with most judicious illiades : sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot , sometimes my portly belly . + +Then did the sun on dunghill shine . + +I thank thee for that humour . + +O ! she did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention , that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning-glass . Here's another letter to her : she bears the purse too ; she is a region in Guiana , all gold and bounty . I will be 'cheator to them both , and they shall be exchequers to me : they shall be my East and West Indies , and I will trade to them both . Go bear thou this letter to Mistress Page ; and thou this to Mistress Ford . We will thrive , lads , we will thrive . + +Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become , +And by my side wear steel ? then , Lucifer take all ! + +I will run no base humour : here , take the humour-letter . I will keep the haviour of reputation . + +Hold , sirrah , bear you these letters tightly : +Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores . +Rogues , hence ! avaunt ! vanish like hailstones , go ; +Trudge , plod away o'the hoof ; seek shelter , pack ! +Falstaff will learn the humour of this age , +French thrift , you rogues : myself and skirted page . + + +Let vultures gripe thy guts ! for gourd and fullam holds , +And high and low beguile the rich and poor . +Tester I'll have in pouch when thou shalt lack , +Base Phrygian Turk ! + +I have operations in my head , which be humours of revenge . + +Wilt thou revenge ? + +By welkin and her star ! + +With wit or steel ? + +With both the humours , I : +I will discuss the humour of this love to Page . + + +And I to Ford shall eke unfold +How Falstaff , varlet vile , +His dove will prove , his gold will hold , +And his soft couch defile . + + +My humour shall not cool : I will incense Page to deal with poison ; I will possess him with yellowness , for the revolt of mine is dangerous : that is my true humour . + +Thou art the Mars of malcontents : I second thee ; troop on . + + +What , John Rugby ! + +I pray thee , go to the casement , and see if you can see my master , Master Doctor Caius , coming : if he do , i' faith , and find anybody in the house , here will be an old abusing of God's patience and the king's English . + +I'll go watch . + +Go ; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night , in faith , at the latter end of a sea-coal fire . + +An honest , willing , kind fellow , as ever servant shall come in house withal ; and , I warrant you , no tell-tale , nor no breed-bate : his worst fault is , that he is given to prayer ; he is something peevish that way , but nobody but has his fault ; but let that pass . Peter Simple you say your name is ? + +Ay , for fault of a better . + +And Master Slender's your master ? + +Ay , forsooth . + +Does he not wear a great round beard like a glover's paring-knife ? + +No , forsooth : he hath but a little wheyface , with a little yellow beard a cane-coloured beard . + +A softly-sprighted man , is he not ? + +Ay , forsooth ; but he is as tall a man of his hands as any is between this and his head : he hath fought with a warrener . + +How say you ?O ! I should remember him : does he not hold up his head , as it were , and strut in his gait ? + +Yes , indeed , does he . + +Well , heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune ! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can for your master : Anne is a good girl , and I wish + + +Out , alas ! here comes my master . + +We shall all be shent . Run in here , good young man ; go into this closet . + + +'And down , down , adown-a ,' &c . + +Vat is you sing ? I do not like dese toys . Pray you , go and vetch me in my closet une boitine verde ; a box , a green-a box : do intend vat I speak ? a green-a box . + +Ay , forsooth ; I'll fetch it you . + +I am glad he went not in himself : if he had found the young man , he would have been horn-mad . + +Fe , fe , fe , fe ! ma foi , il fait fort chaud . Je m'en vais la cour ,la grande affaire . + +Is it this , sir ? + +Oui ; mettez le au mon pocket ; d p chez , quickly .Vere is dat knave Rugby ? + +What , John Rugby ! John ! + + +Here , sir . + +You are John Rugby , and you are Jack Rugby : come , take-a your rapier , and come after my heel to de court . + +'Tis ready , sir , here in the porch . + +By my trot , I tarry too long .Od's me ! Qu'ay j'oubli ? dere is some simples in my closet , dat I vill not for de varld I shall leave behind . + +Ay me ! he'll find the young man there , and be mad . + +O diable ! diable ! vat is in my closet ?Villain ! larron ! + +Rugby , my rapier ! + +Good master , be content . + +Verefore shall I be content-a ? + +The young man is an honest man . + +Vat shall de honest man do in my closet ? dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet . + +I beseech you , be not so phlegmatic . Hear the truth of it : he came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh . + +Vell . + +Ay , forsooth , to desire her to + +Peace , I pray you . + +Peace-a your tongue !Speak-a your tale . + +To desire this honest gentlewoman , your maid , to speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master in the way of marriage . + +This is all , indeed , la ! but I'll ne'er put my finger in the fire , and need not . + +Sir Hugh send-a you ?Rugby , baillez me some paper : tarry you a little-a while . + + +I am glad he is so quiet : if he had been throughly moved , you should have heard him so loud , and so melancholy . But , notwithstanding , man , I'll do your master what good I can ; and the very yea and the no is , the French doctor , my master ,I may call him my master , look you , for I keep his house ; and I wash , wring , brew , bake , scour , dress meat and drink , make the beds , and do all myself , + +'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand . + +Are you avis'd o' that ? you shall find it a great charge : and to be up early and down late ; but notwithstanding ,to tell you in your ear ,I would have no words of it ,my master himself is in love with Mistress Anne Page : but notwithstanding that , I know Anne's mind , that's neither here nor there . + +You jack'nape , give-a dis letter to Sir Hugh ; by gar , it is a challenge : I vill cut his troat in de Park ; and I vill teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make . You may be gone ; it is not good you tarry here : by gar , I vill cut all his two stones ; by gar , he shall not have a stone to trow at his dog . + + +Alas ! he speaks but for his friend . + +It is no matter-a for dat :do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne Page for myself ? By gar , I vill kill de Jack priest ; and I have appointed mine host of de Jartiere to measure our weapon . By gar , I vill myself have Anne Page . + +Sir , the maid loves you , and all shall be well . We must give folks leave to prate : what , the good-jer ! + +Rugby , come to the court vit me . By gar , if I have not Anne Page , I shall turn your head out of my door . Follow my heels , Rugby . + + +You shall have An fool's-head of your own . No , I know Anne's mind for that : never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne's mind than I do ; nor can do more than I do with her , I thank heaven . + +Who's within there ? ho ! + +Who's there , I trow ? Come near the house , I pray you . + + +How now , good woman ! how dost thou ? + +The better , that it pleases your good worship to ask . + +What news ? how does pretty Mistress Anne ? + +In truth , sir , and she is pretty , and honest , and gentle ; and one that is your friend , I can tell you that by the way ; I praise heaven for it . + +Shall I do any good , thinkest thou ? Shall I not lose my suit ? + +Troth , sir , all is in his hands above ; but notwithstanding , Master Fenton , I'll be sworn on a book , she loves you . Have not your worship a wart above your eye ? + +Yes , marry have I ; what of that ? + +Well , thereby hangs a tale . Good faith , it is such another Nan ; but , I detest , an honest maid as ever broke bread : we had an hour's talk of that wart . I shall never laugh but in that maid's company ;but , indeed , she is given too much to allicholy and musing . But for you well , go to . + +Well , I shall see her to-day . Hold , there's money for thee ; let me have thy voice in my behalf : if thou seest her before me , commend me . + +Will I ? i' faith , that we will : and I will tell your worship more of the wart the next time we have confidence ; and of other wooers . + +Well , farewell ; I am in great haste now . + +Farewell to your worship . + +Truly , an honest gentleman : but Anne loves him not ; for I know Anne's mind as well as another does . Out upon't ! what have I forgot ? + +What ! have I 'scaped love-letters in the holiday-time of my beauty , and am I now a subject for them ? Let me see . + +Ask me no reason why I love you ; for though Love use Reason for his physician , he admits him not for his counsellor . You are not young , no more am I ; go to then , there's sympathy ; you are merry , so am I , ha ! ha ! then , there's more sympathy , you love sack , and so do I , would you desire better sympathy ? Let it suffice thee , Mistress Page , at the least , if the love of a soldier can suffice , that I love thee I will not say , pity me ,'tis not a soldier-like phrase ; but I say , love me . By me , + +Thine own true knight , +By day or night , +Or any kind of light , +With all his might +For thee to fight , + +What a Herod of Jewry is this ! O wicked , wicked world ! one that is well-nigh worn to pieces with age , to show himself a young gallant ! What an unweighed behaviour hath this Flemish drunkard picked , with the devil's name ! out of my conversation , that he dares in this manner assay me ? Why , he hath not been thrice in my company ! What should I say to him ? I was then frugal of my mirth :heaven forgive me ! Why , I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men . How shall I be revenged on him ? for revenged I will be , as sure as his guts are made of puddings . + + +Mistress Page ! trust me , I was going to your house . + +And , trust me , I was coming to you . You look very ill . + +Nay , I'll ne'er believe that : I have to show to the contrary . + +Faith , but you do , in my mind . + +Well , I do then ; yet , I say I could show you to the contrary . O , Mistress Page ! give me some counsel . + +What's the matter , woman ? + +O woman , if it were not for one trifling respect , I could come to such honour ! + +Hang the trifle , woman ; take the honour . What is it ?dispense with trifles ;what is it ? + +If I would but go to hell for an eternal moment or so , I could be knighted . + +What ? thou liest . Sir Alice Ford ! These knights will hack ; and so thou shouldst not alter the article of thy gentry . + +We burn daylight : here , read , read ; perceive how I might be knighted . I shall think the worse of fat men as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking : and yet he would not swear ; praised women's modesty ; and gave such orderly and well-behaved reproof to all uncomeliness , that I would have sworn his disposition would have gone to the truth of his words ; but they do no more adhere and keep place together than the Hundredth Psalm to the tune of 'Green Sleeves .' What tempest , I trow , threw this whale , with so many tuns of oil in his belly , ashore at Windsor ? How shall I be revenged on him ? I think , the best way were to entertain him with hope , till the wicked fire of lust have melted him in his own grease . Did you ever hear the like ? + +Letter for letter , but that the name of Page and Ford differs ! To thy great comfort in this mystery of ill opinions , here's the twin brother of thy letter : but let thine inherit first ; for , I protest , mine never shall . I warrant , he hath a thousand of these letters , writ with blank space for different names , sure more , and these are of the second edition . He will print them , out of doubt ; for he cares not what he puts into the press , when he would put us two : I had rather be a grantess , and lie under Mount Pelion . Well , I will find you twenty lascivious turtles ere one chaste man . + +Why , this is the very same ; the very hand , the very words . What doth he think of us ? + +Nay , I know not : it makes me almost ready to wrangle with mine own honesty . I'll entertain myself like one that I am not acquainted withal ; for , sure , unless he know some strain in me , that I know not myself , he would never have boarded me in this fury . + +Boarding call you it ? I'll be sure to keep him above deck . + +So will I : if he come under my hatches , I'll never to sea again . Let's be revenged on him : let's appoint him a meeting ; give him a show of comfort in his suit , and lead him on with a fine-baited delay , till he hath pawned his horses to mine host of the Garter . + +Nay , I will consent to act any villany against him , that may not sully the chariness of our honesty . O , that my husband saw this letter ! it would give eternal food to his jealousy . + +Why , look , where he comes ; and my good man too : he's as far from jealousy , as I am from giving him cause ; and that , I hope , is an unmeasurable distance . + +You are the happier woman . + +Let's consult together against this greasy knight . Come hither . + +Well , I hope it be not so . + +Hope is a curtal dog in some affairs : +Sir John affects thy wife . + +Why , sir , my wife is not young . + +He woos both high and low , both rich and poor , +Both young and old , one with another , Ford . +He loves the galimaufry : Ford , perpend . + +Love my wife ! + +With liver burning hot : prevent , or go thou , +Like Sir Act on he , with Ringwood at thy heels . +O ! odious is the name ! + +What name , sir ? + +The horn , I say . Farewell : +Take heed ; have open eye , for thieves do foot by night : +Take heed , ere summer comes or cuckoo-birds do sing . +Away , sir Corporal Nym ! +Believe it , Page ; he speaks sense . + + +I will be patient : I will find out this . + +And this is true ; I like not the humour of lying . He hath wronged me in some humours : I should have borne the humoured letter to her , but I have a sword and it shall bite upon my necessity . He loves your wife ; there's the short and the long . My name is Corporal Nym ; I speak , and I avouch 'tis true : my name is Nym , and Falstaff loves your wife . Adieu . I love not the humour of bread and cheese ; and there's the humour of it . Adieu . + + +'The humour of it ,' quoth'a ! here's a fellow frights humour out of his wits . + +I will seek out Falstaff . + +I never heard such a drawling , affecting rogue . + +If I do find it : well . + +I will not believe such a Cataian , though the priest o' the town commended him for a true man . + +'Twas a good sensible fellow : well . + +How now , Meg ! + +Whither go you , George ?Hark you . + +How now , sweet Frank ! why art thou melancholy ? + +I melancholy ! I am not melancholy . Get you home , go . + +Faith , thou hast some crotchets in thy head now . Will you go , Mistress Page ? + +Have with you . You'll come to dinner , George ? + +Look , who comes yonder : she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight . + +Trust me , I thought on her : she'll fit it . + + +You are come to see my daughter Anne ? + +Ay , forsooth ; and , I pray , how does good Mistress Anne ? + +Go in with us , and see : we'd have an hour's talk with you . + + +How now , Master Ford ! + +You heard what this knave told me , did you not ? + +Yes ; and you heard what the other told me ? + +Do you think there is truth in them ? + +Hang 'em , slaves ! I do not think the knight would offer it : but these that accuse him in his intent towards our wives , are a yoke of his discarded men ; very rogues , now they be out of service . + +Were they his men ? + +Marry , were they . + +I like it never the better for that . Does he lie at the Garter ? + +Ay , marry , does he . If he should intend this voyage towards my wife , I would turn her loose to him ; and what he gets more of her than sharp words , let it lie on my head . + +I do not misdoubt my wife , but I would be loth to turn them together . A man may be too confident : I would have nothing 'lie on my head :' I cannot be thus satisfied . + +Look , where my ranting host of the Garter comes . There is either liquor in his pate or money in his purse when he looks so merrily . + +How now , mine host ! + +How now , bully-rook ! thou'rt a gentleman . Cavaliero-justice , I say ! + +I follow , mine host , I follow . Good even and twenty , good Master Page ! Master Page , will you go with us ? we have sport in hand . + +Tell him , cavaliero-justice ; tell him , bully-rook . + +Sir , there is a fray to be fought between Sir Hugh the Welsh priest and Caius the French doctor . + +Good mine host o' the Garter , a word with you . + +What sayest thou , my bully-rook ? + + +Will you go with us to behold it ? My merry host hath had the measuring of their weapons , and , I think , hath appointed them contrary places ; for , believe me , I hear the parson is no jester . Hark , I will tell you what our sport shall be . + + +Hast thou no suit against my knight , my guest-cavalier ? + +None , I protest : but I'll give you a pottle of burnt sack to give me recourse to him and tell him my name is Brook , only for a jest . + +My hand , bully : thou shalt have egress and regress ; said I well ? and thy name shall be Brook . It is a merry knight . Will you go , mynheers ? + +Have with you , mine host . + +I have heard , the Frenchman hath good skill in his rapier . + +Tut , sir ! I could have told you more . In these times you stand on distance , your passes , stoccadoes , and I know not what : 'tis the heart , Master Page ; 'tis here , 'tis here . I have seen the time with my long sword I would have made you four tall fellows skip like rats . + +Here , boys , here , here ! shall we wag ? + +Have with you . I had rather hear them scold than fight . + + +Though Page be a secure fool , and stands so firmly on his wife's frailty , yet I cannot put off my opinion so easily . She was in his company at Page's house , and what they made there , I know not . Well , I will look further into't ; and I have a disguise to sound Falstaff . If I find her honest , I lose not my labour ; if she be otherwise , 'tis labour well bestowed . + + +I will not lend thee a penny . + +Why , then the world's mine oyster , +Which I with sword will open . +I will retort the sum in equipage . + +Not a penny . I have been content , sir , you should lay my countenance to pawn : I have grated upon my good friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow Nym ; or else you had looked through the grate , like a geminy of baboons . I am damned in hell for swearing to gentlemen my friends , you were good soldiers and tall fellows ; and when Mistress Bridget lost the handle of her fan , I took't upon mine honour thou hadst it not . + +Didst thou not share ? hadst thou not fifteen pence ? + +Reason , you rogue , reason : thinkest thou , I'll endanger my soul gratis ? At a word , hang no more about me ; I am no gibbet for you : go : a short knife and a throng !to your manor of Picht-hatch ! go . You'll not bear a letter for me , you rogue !you stand upon your honour !Why , thou unconfinable baseness , it is as much as I can do to keep the terms of mine honour precise . I , I , I , myself sometimes , leaving the fear of God on the left hand and hiding mine honour in my necessity , am fain to shuffle , to hedge and to lurch ; and yet you , rogue , will ensconce your rags , your cat-a-mountain looks , your red-lattice phrases , and your bold-beating oaths , under the shelter of your honour ! You will not do it , you ! + +I do relent : what wouldst thou more of man ? + + +Sir , here's a woman would speak with you . + +Let her approach . + + +Give your worship good morrow . + +Good morrow , good wife . + +Not so , an't please your worship . + +Good maid , then . + +I'll be sworn +As my mother was , the first hour I was born . + +I do believe the swearer . What with me ? + +Shall I vouchsafe your worship a word or two ? + +Two thousand , fair woman ; and I'll vouchsafe thee the hearing . + +There is one Mistress Ford , sir ,I pray , come a little nearer this ways :I myself dwell with Master Doctor Caius . + +Well , on : Mistress Ford , you say , + +Your worship says very true :I pray your worship , come a little nearer this ways . + +I warrant thee , nobody hears ; mine own people , mine own people . + +Are they so ? God bless them , and make them his servants ! + +Well : Mistress Ford ; what of her ? + +Why , sir , she's a good creature . Lord , Lord ! your worship's a wanton ! Well , heaven forgive you , and all of us , I pray ! + +Mistress Ford ; come , Mistress Ford , + +Marry , this is the short and the long of it . You have brought her into such a canaries as 'tis wonderful : the best courtier of them all , when the court lay at Windsor , could never have brought her to such a canary ; yet there has been knights , and lords , and gentlemen , with their coaches , I warrant you , coach after coach , letter after letter , gift after gift ; smelling so sweetly all musk , and so rushling , I warrant you , in silk and gold ; and in such alligant terms ; and in such wine and sugar of the best and the fairest , that would have won any woman's heart ; and , I warrant you , they could never get an eye-wink of her . I had myself twenty angels given me this morning ; but I defy all angels , in any such sort , as they say , but in the way of honesty : and , I warrant you , they could never get her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all ; and yet there has been earls , nay , which is more , pensioners ; but , I warrant you , all is one with her . + +But what says she to me ? be brief , my good she Mercury . + +Marry , she hath received your letter ; for the which she thanks you a thousand times ; and she gives you to notify that her husband will be absence from his house between ten and eleven . + +Ten and eleven ? + +Ay , forsooth ; and then you may come and see the picture , she says , that you wot of : Master Ford , her husband , will be from home . Alas ! the sweet woman leads an ill life with him ; he's a very jealousy man ; she leads a very frampold life with him , good heart . + +Ten and eleven . Woman , commend me to her ; I will not fail her . + +Why , you say well . But I have another messenger to your worship : Mistress Page hath her hearty commendations to you too : and let me tell you in your ear , she's as fartuous a civil modest wife , and one , I tell you , that will not miss you morning nor evening prayer , as any is in Windsor , whoe'er be the other : and she bade me tell your worship that her husband is seldom from home ; but , she hopes there will come a time . I never knew a woman so dote upon a man : surely , I think you have charms , la ; yes , in truth . + +Not I , I assure thee : setting the attraction of my good parts aside , I have no other charms . + +Blessing on your heart for't ! + +But , I pray thee , tell me this : has Ford's wife and Page's wife acquainted each other how they love me ? + +That were a jest indeed ! they have not so little grace , I hope : that were a trick , indeed ! But Mistress Page would desire you to send her your little page , of all loves : her husband has a marvellous infection to the little page ; and , truly , Master Page is an honest man . Never a wife in Windsor leads a better life than she does : do what she will , say what she will , take all , pay all , go to bed when she list , rise when she list , all is as she will : and , truly she deserves it ; for if there be a kind woman in Windsor , she is one . You must send her your page ; no remedy . + +Why , I will . + +Nay , but do so , then : and , look you , he may come and go between you both ; and in any case have a nay-word , that you may know one another's mind , and the boy never need to understand any thing ; for 'tis not good that children should know any wickedness : old folks , you know , have discretion , as they say , and know the world . + +Fare thee well : commend me to them both . There's my purse ; I am yet thy debtor .Boy , go along with this woman . + +This news distracts me . + +This punk is one of Cupid's carriers . +Clap on more sails ; pursue ; up with your fights ; +Give fire ! she is my prize , or ocean whelm them all ! + + +Sayest thou so , old Jack ? go thy ways ; I'll make more of thy old body than I have done . Will they yet look after thee ? Wilt thou , after the expense of so much money , be now a gainer ? Good body , I thank thee . Let them say 'tis grossly done ; so it be fairly done , no matter . + + +Sir John , there's one Master Brook below would fain speak with you , and be acquainted with you : and hath sent your worship a morning's draught of sack . + +Brook is his name ? + +Ay , sir . + +Call him in . + +Such Brooks are welcome to me , that o'erflow such liquor . Ah , ha ! Mistress Ford and Mistress Page , have I encompassed you ? go to ; via ! + + +Bless your , sir ! + +And you , sir ; would you speak with me ? + +I make bold to press with so little preparation upon you . + +You're welcome . What's your will ?Give us leave , drawer . + + +Sir , I am a gentleman that have spent much : my name is Brook . + +Good Master Brook , I desire more acquaintance of you . + +Good Sir John , I sue for yours : not to charge you ; for I must let you understand I think myself in better plight for a lender than you are : the which hath something emboldened me to this unseasoned intrusion ; for , they say , if money go before , all ways do lie open . + +Money is a good soldier , sir , and will on . + +Troth , and I have a bag of money here troubles me : if you will help to bear it , Sir John , take all , or half , for easing me of the carriage . + +Sir , I know not how I may deserve to be your porter . + +I will tell you , sir , if you will give me the hearing . + +Speak , good Master Brook ; I shall be glad to be your servant . + +Sir , I hear you are a scholar ,I will be brief with you , and you have been a man long known to me , though I had never so good means , as desire , to make myself acquainted with you . I shall discover a thing to you , wherein I must very much lay open mine own imperfection ; but , good Sir John , as you have one eye upon my follies , as you hear them unfolded , turn another into the register of your own , that I may pass with a reproof the easier , sith you yourself know how easy it is to be such an offender . + +Very well , sir ; proceed . + +There is a gentlewoman in this town , her husband's name is Ford . + +Well , sir . + +I have long loved her , and , I protest to you , bestowed much on her ; followed her with a doting observance ; engrossed opportunities to meet her ; fee'd every slight occasion that could but niggardly give me sight of her ; not only bought many presents to give her , but have given largely to many to know what she would have given . Briefly , I have pursued her as love hath pursued me ; which hath been on the wing of all occasions . But whatsoever I have merited , either in my mind or in my means , meed , I am sure , I have received none ; unless experience be a jewel that I have purchased at an infinite rate ; and that hath taught me to say this , + +Love like a shadow flies when substance love pursues ; +Pursuing that that flies , and flying what pursues + + +Have you received no promise of satisfaction at her hands ? + +Never . + +Have you importuned her to such a purpose ? + +Never . + +Of what quality was your love , then ? + +Like a fair house built upon another man's ground ; so that I have lost my edifice by mistaking the place where I erected it . + +To what purpose have you unfolded this to me ? + +When I have told you that , I have told you all . Some say , that though she appear honest to me , yet in other places she enlargeth her mirth so far that there is shrewd construction made of her . Now , Sir John , here is the heart of my purpose : you are a gentleman of excellent breeding , admirable discourse , of great admittance , authentic in your place and person , generally allowed for your many war-like , court-like , and learned preparations . + +O , sir ! + +Believe it , for you know it . There is money ; spend it , spend it ; spend more ; spend all I have ; only give me so much of your time in exchange of it , as to lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife : use your art of wooing , win her to consent to you ; if any man may , you may as soon as any . + +Would it apply well to the vehemency of your affection , that I should win what you would enjoy ? Methinks you prescribe to yourself very preposterously . + +O , understand my drift . She dwells so securely on the excellency of her honour , that the folly of my soul dares not present itself : she is too bright to be looked against . Now , could I come to her with any detection in my hand , my desires had instance and argument to commend themselves : I could drive her then from the ward of her purity , her reputation , her marriage vow , and a thousand other her defences , which now are too-too strongly embattled against me . What say you to't , Sir John ? + +Master Brook , I will first make bold with your money ; next , give me your hand ; and last , as I am a gentleman , you shall , if you will , enjoy Ford's wife . + +O good sir ! + +I say you shall . + +Want no money , Sir John ; you shall want none . + +Want no Mistress Ford , Master Brook ; you shall want none . I shall be with her , I may tell you , by her own appointment ; even as you came in to me , her assistant or go-between parted from me : I say I shall be with her between ten and eleven ; for at that time the jealous rascally knave her husband will be forth . Come you to me at night ; you shall know how I speed . + +I am blest in your acquaintance . Do you know Ford , sir ? + +Hang him , poor cuckoldly knave ! I know him not . Yet I wrong him , to call him poor : they say the jealous wittolly knave hath masses of money ; for the which his wife seems to me well-favoured . I will use her as the key of the cuckoldly rogue's coffer ; and there's my harvest-home . + +I would you knew Ford , sir , that you might avoid him , if you saw him . + +Hang him , mechanical salt-butter rogue ! I will stare him out of his wits ; I will awe him with my cudgel : it shall hang like a meteor o'er the cuckold's horns . Master Brook , thou shalt know I will predominate over the peasant , and thou shalt he with his wife . Come to me soon at night . Ford's a knave , and I will aggravate his style ; thou , Master Brook , shalt know him for knave and cuckold . Come to me soon at night . + + +What a damned Epicurean rascal is this ! My heart is ready to crack with impatience . Who says this is improvident jealousy ? my wife hath sent to him , the hour is fixed , the match is made . Would any man have thought this ? See the hell of having a false woman ! My bed shall be abused , my coffers ransacked , my reputation gnawn at ; and I shall not only receive this villanous wrong , but stand under the adoption of abominable terms , and by him that does me this wrong . Terms ! names ! Amaimon sounds well ; Lucifer , well ; Barbason , well ; yet they are devils' additions , the names of fiends : but Cuckold ! Wittol !Cuckold ! the devil himself hath not such a name . Page is an ass , a secure ass : he will trust his wife ; he will not be jealous . I will rather trust a Fleming with my butter , Parson Hugh the Welshman with my cheese , an Irishman with my aqua-vit bottle , or a thief to walk my ambling gelding , than my wife with herself : then she plots , then she ruminates , then she devises ; and what they think in their hearts they may effect , they will break their hearts but they will effect . God be praised for my jealousy ! Eleven o'clock the hour : I will prevent this , detect my wife , be revenged on Falstaff , and laugh at Page . I will about it ; better three hours too soon than a minute too late . Fie , fie , fie ! cuckold ! cuckold ! cuckold ! + + +Jack Rugby ! + +Sir ? + +Vat is de clock , Jack ? + +'Tis past the hour , sir , that Sir Hugh promised to meet . + +By gar , he has save his soul , dat he is no come : he has pray his Pible vell , dat he is no come . By gar , Jack Rugby , he is dead already , if he be come . + +He is wise , sir ; he knew your worship would kill him , if he came . + +By gar , de herring is no dead so as I vill kill him . Take your rapier , Jack ; I vill tell you how I vill kill him . + +Alas , sir ! I cannot fence . + +Villany , take your rapier . + +Forbear ; here's company . + + +Bless thee , bully doctor ! + +Save you , Master Doctor Caius ! + +Now , good Master doctor ! + +Give you good morrow , sir . + +Vat be all you , one , two , tree , four , come for ? + +To see thee fight , to see thee foin , to see thee traverse ; to see thee here , to see thee there ; to see thee pass thy punto , thy stock , thy reverse , thy distance , thy montant . Is he dead , my Ethiopian ? is he dead , my Francisco ? ha , bully ! What says my sculapius ? my Galen ? my heart of elder ? ha ! is he dead , bully stale ? is he dead ? + +By gar , he is de coward Jack priest of de vorld ; he is not show his face . + +Thou art a Castilian King Urinal ! Hector of Greece , my boy ! + +I pray you , bear vitness that me have stay six or seven , two , tree hours for him , and he is no come . + +He is the wiser man , Master doctor : he is a curer of souls , and you a curer of bodies ; if you should fight , you go against the hair of your professions . Is it not true , Master Page ? + +Master Shallow , you have yourself been a great fighter , though now a man of peace . + +Bodykins , Master Page , though I now be old and of the peace , if I see a sword out , my finger itches to make one . Though we are justices and doctors and churchmen , Master Page , we have some salt of our youth in us ; we are the sons of women , Master Page . + +'Tis true , Master Shallow . + +It will be found so , Master Page . Master Doctor Caius , I am come to fetch you home . I am sworn of the peace : you have showed yourself a wise physician , and Sir Hugh hath shown himself a wise and patient churchman . You must go with me , Master doctor . + +Pardon , guest-justice .A word , Monsieur Mockwater . + +Mock-vater ! vat is dat ? + +Mock-water , in our English tongue , is valour , bully . + +By gar , den , I have as mush mock-vater as de Englishman . Scurvy jack-dog priest ! by gar , me vill cut his ears . + +He will clapper-claw thee tightly , bully . + +Clapper-de-claw ! vat is dat ? + +That is , he will make thee amends . + +By gar , me do look , he shall clapper-de-claw me ; for , by gar , me vill have it . + +And I will provoke him to't , or let him wag . + +Me tank you for dat . + +And moreover , bully ,But first , Master guest , and Master Page , and eke Cavaliero Slender , go you through the town to Frogmore . + + +Sir Hugh is there , is he ? + +He is there : see what humour he is in ; and I will bring the doctor about by the fields . Will it do well ? + +We will do it . + +Adieu , good Master doctor . + + +By gar , me vill kill de priest ; for he speak for a jack-an-ape to Anne Page . + +Let him die . Sheathe thy impatience ; throw cold water on thy choler : go about the fields with me through Frogmore : I will bring thee where Mistress Anne Page is , at a farmhouse a-feasting ; and thou shalt woo her . Cried I aim ? said I well ? + +By gar , me tank you for dat : by gar , I love you ; and I shall procure-a you de good guest , de earl , de knight , de lords , de gentlemen , my patients . + +For the which I will be thy adversary toward Anne Page : said I well ? + +By gar , 'tis good ; vell said . + +Let us wag , then . + +Come at my heels , Jack Rugby . + +I pray you now , good Master Slender's serving-man , and friend Simple by your name , which way have you looked for Master Caius , that calls himself doctor of physic ? + +Marry , sir , the pittie-ward , the parkward , every way ; old Windsor way , and every way but the town way . + +I most fehemently desire you you will also look that way . + +I will , sir . + + +Pless my soul ! how full of chollors I am , and trempling of mind ! I shall be glad if he have deceived me . How melancholies I am ! I will knog his urinals about his knave's costard when I have goot opportunities for the 'ork : pless my soul ! + + +To shallow rivers , to whose falls +Melodious birds sing madrigals ; +There will we make our peds of roses , +And a thousand fragrant pasies . +To shallow + +Mercy on me ! I have a great dispositions to cry . + + +Melodious birds sing madrigals , +When as I sat in Pabylon , +And a thousand vagram posies . +To shallow , + +Yonder he is coming , this way , Sir Hugh . + +He's welcome . + + +To shallow rivers , to whose falls + +Heaven prosper the right !what weapons is he ? + +No weapons , sir . There comes my master , Master Shallow , and another gentleman , from Frogmore , over the stile , this way . + +Pray you , give me my gown ; or else keep it in your arms . + +How now , Master Parson ! Good morrow , good Sir Hugh . Keep a gamester from the dice , and a good student from his book , and it is wonderful . + +Ah , sweet Anne Page ! + +Save you , good Sir Hugh ! + +Pless you from His mercy sake , all of you ! + +What , the sword and the word ! do you study them both , Master Parson ? + +And youthful still in your doublet and hose ! this raw rheumatic day ? + +There is reasons and causes for it . + +We are come to you to do a good office , Master parson . + +Fery well : what is it ? + +Yonder is a most reverend gentleman , who , belike having received wrong by some person , is at most odds with his own gravity and patience that ever you saw . + +I have lived fourscore years and upward ; I never heard a man of his place , gravity , and learning , so wide of his own respect . + +What is he ? + +I think you know him ; Master Doctor Caius , the renowned French physician . + +Got's will , and his passion of my heart ! I had as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge . + +Why ? + +He has no more knowledge in Hibbocrates and Galen ,and he is a knave besides ; a cowardly knave as you would desires to be acquainted withal . + +I warrant you , he's the man should fight with him . + +O , sweet Anne Page ! + +It appears so , by his weapons . Keep them asunder : here comes Doctor Caius . + + +Nay , good Master parson , keep in your weapon . + +So do you , good Master doctor . + +Disarm them , and let them question : let them keep their limbs whole and hack our English . + +I pray you , let-a me speak a word vit your ear : verefore vill you not meet-a me ? + +Pray you , use your patience : in good time . + +By gar , you are de coward , de Jack dog , John ape . + +Pray you , let us not be laughing-stogs to other men's humours ; I desire you in friendship , and I will one way or other make you amends : [Aloud .] I will knog your urinals about your knave's cogscomb for missing your meetings and appointments . + +Diable !Jack Rugby ,mine host de Jarretierre ,have I not stay for him to kill him ? have I not , at de place I did appoint ? + +As I am a Christians soul , now , look you , this is the place appointed : I'll be judgment by mine host of the Garter . + +Peace , I say , Gallia and Guallia ; French and Welsh , soul-curer and body-curer ! + +Ay , dat is very good ; excellent . + +Peace , I say ! hear mine host of the Garter . Am I politic ? am I subtle ? am I a Machiavel ? Shall I lose my doctor ? no ; he gives me the potions and the motions . Shall I lose my parson , my priest , my Sir Hugh ? no ; he gives me the proverbs and the no-verbs . Give me thy hand , terrestrial ; so ;give me thy hand celestial ; so . Boys of art , I have deceived you both ; I have directed you to wrong places : your hearts are mighty , your skins are whole , and let burnt sack be the issue . Come , lay their swords to pawn . Follow me , lads of peace ; follow , follow , follow . + +Trust me , a mad host !Follow , gentlemen , follow . + +O , sweet Anne Page ! + + +Ha ! do I perceive dat ? have you make-a de sot of us , ha , ha ? + +This is well ; he has made us his vlouting-stog . I desire you that we may be friends and let us knog our prains together to be revenge on this same scall , scurvy , cogging companion , the host of the Garter . + +By gar , vit all my heart . He promise to bring me vere is Anne Page : by gar , he deceive me too . + +Well , I will smite his noddles . Pray you , follow . + + +Nay , keep your way , little gallant : you were wont to be a follower , but now you are a leader . Whether had you rather lead mine eyes , or eye your master's heels ? + +I had rather , forsooth , go before you like a man than follow him like a dwarf . + +O ! you are a flattering boy : now I see you'll be a courtier . + + +Well met , Mistress Page . Whither go you ? + +Truly , sir , to see your wife : is she at home ? + +Ay ; and as idle as she may hang together , for want of company . I think , if your husbands were dead , you two would marry . + +Be sure of that ,two other husbands . + +Where had you this pretty weathercock ? + +I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of . What do you call your knight's name , sirrah ? + +Sir John Falstaff . + +Sir John Falstaff ! + +He , he ; I can never hit on's name . There is such a league between my good man and he ! Is your wife at home indeed ? + +Indeed she is . + +By your leave , sir : I am sick till I see her . + + +Has Page any brains ? hath he any eyes ? hath he any thinking ? Sure , they sleep ; he hath no use of them . Why , this boy will carry a letter twenty mile , as easy as a cannon will shoot point-blank twelve score . He pieces out his wife's inclination ; he gives her folly motion and advantage : and now she's going to my wife , and Falstaff's boy with her . A man may hear this shower sing in the wind : and Falstaff's boy with her ! Good plots ! they are laid ; and our revolted wives share damnation together . Well ; I will take him , then torture my wife , pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page , divulge Page himself for a secure and wilful Act on ; and to these violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim . + +The clock gives me my cue , and my assurance bids me search ; there I shall find Falstaff . I shall be rather praised for this than mocked ; for it is as positive as the earth is firm , that Falstaff is there : I will go . + + +Well met , Master Ford . + +Trust me , a good knot . I have good cheer at home ; and I pray you all go with me . + +I must excuse myself , Master Ford . + +And so must I , sir : we have appointed to dine with Mistress Anne , and I would not break with her for more money than I'll speak of . + +We have lingered about a match between Anne Page and my cousin Slender , and this day we shall have our answer . + +I hope I have your good will , father Page . + +You have , Master Slender ; I stand wholly for you : but my wife , Master doctor , is for you altogether . + +Ay , by gar ; and de maid is love-a me : my nursh-a Quickly tell me so mush . + +What say you to young Master Fenton ? he capers , he dances , he has eyes of youth , he writes verses , he speaks holiday , he smells April and May : he will carry't , he will carry't ; 'tis in his buttons ; he will carry't . + +Not by my consent , I promise you . The gentleman is of no having : he kept company with the wild prince and Pointz ; he is of too high a region ; he knows too much . No , he shall not knit a knot in his fortunes with the finger of my substance : if he take her , let him take her simply ; the wealth I have waits on my consent , and my consent goes not that way . + +I beseech you heartily , some of you go home with me to dinner : besides your cheer , you shall have sport ; I will show you a monster . Master doctor , you shall go ; so shall you , Master Page ; and you , Sir Hugh . + +Well , fare you well : we shall have the freer wooing at Master Page's . + + +Go home , John Rugby ; I come anon . + + +Farewell , my hearts : I will to my honest knight Falstaff , and drink canary with him . + + +I think I shall drink in pipewine first with him ; I'll make him dance . Will you go , gentles ? + +Have with you to see this monster . + + +What , John ! what , Robert ! + +Quickly , quickly :Is the buckbasket + +I warrant . What , Robin , I say ! + + +Come , come , come . + +Here , set it down . + +Give your men the charge ; we must be brief . + +Marry , as I told you before , John , and Robert , be ready here hard by in the brewhouse ; and when I suddenly call you , come forth , and without any pause or staggering , take this basket on your shoulders : that done , trudge with it in all haste , and carry it among the whitsters in Datchet-mead , and there empty it in the muddy ditch , close by the Thames side . + +You will do it ? + +I have told them over and over ; they lack no direction . Be gone , and come when you are called . + + +Here comes little Robin . + + +How now , my eyas-musket ! what news with you ? + +My master , Sir John , is come in at your back-door , Mistress Ford , and requests your company . + +You little Jack-a-Lent , have you been true to us ? + +Ay , I'll be sworn . My master knows not of your being here , and hath threatened to put me into everlasting liberty if I tell you of it ; for he swears he'll turn me away . + +Thou'rt a good boy ; this secrecy of thine shall be a tailor to thee and shall make thee a new doublet and hose . I'll go hide me . + +Do so . Go tell thy master I am alone . + +Mistress Page , remember you your cue . + +I warrant thee ; if I do not act it , hiss me . + + +Go to , then : we'll use this unwholesome humidity , this gross watery pumpion ; we'll teach him to know turtles from jays . + + +'Have I caught my heavenly jewel ?' Why , now let me die , for I have lived long enough : this is the period of my ambition : O this blessed hour ! + +O , sweet Sir John ! + +Mistress Ford , I cannot cog , I cannot prate , Mistress Ford . Now shall I sin in my wish : I would thy husband were dead . I'll speak it before the best lord , I would make thee my lady . + +I your lady , Sir John ! alas , I should be a pitiful lady . + +Let the court of France show me such another . I see how thine eye would emulate the diamond : thou hast the right arched beauty of the brow that becomes the ship-tire , the tire-valiant , or any tire of Venetian admittance . + +A plain kerchief , Sir John : my brows become nothing else ; nor that well neither . + +By the Lord , thou art a traitor to say so : thou wouldst make an absolute courtier ; and the firm fixture of thy foot would give an excellent motion to thy gait in a semi-circled farthingale . I see what thou wert , if Fortune thy foe were not , Nature thy friend . Come , thou canst not hide it . + +Believe me , there's no such thing in me . + +What made me love thee ? let that persuade thee there's something extraordinary in thee . Come , I cannot cog and say thou art this and that , like a many of these lisping hawthornbuds , that come like women in men s apparel , and smell like Bucklersbury in simple-time ; I cannot ; but I love thee ; none but thee ; and thou deservest it . + +Do not betray me , sir . I fear you love Mistress Page . + +Thou mightst as well say , I love to walk by the Counter-gate , which is as hateful to me as the reek of a lime-kiln . + +Well , heaven knows how I love you ; and you shall one day find it . + +Keep in that mind ; I'll deserve it . + +Nay , I must tell you , so you do , or else I could not be in that mind . + +Mistress Ford ! Mistress Ford ! here's Mistress Page at the door , sweating and blowing and looking wildly , and would needs speak with you presently . + +She shall not see me : I will ensconce me behind the arras . + +Pray you , do so : she's a very tattling woman . + + +What's the matter ? how now ! + +O Mistress Ford ! what have you done ? You're shamed , you are overthrown , you're undone for ever ! + +What's the matter , good Mistress Page ? + +O well-a-day , Mistress Ford ! having an honest man to your husband , to give him such cause of suspicion ! + +What cause of suspicion ? + +What cause of suspicion ! Out upon you ! how am I mistook in you ! + +Why , alas , what's the matter ? + +Your husband's coming hither , woman , with all the officers of Windsor , to search for a gentleman that he says is here now in the house by your consent , to take an ill advantage of his absence : you are undone . + +Speak louder .'Tis not so , I hope . + +Pray heaven it be not so , that you have such a man here ! but 'tis most certain your husband's coming with half Windsor at his heels , to search for such a one . I come before to tell you . If you know yourself clear , why , I am glad of it ; but if you have a friend here , convey , convey him out . Be not amazed ; call all your senses to you : defend your reputation , or bid farewell to your good life for ever . + +What shall I do ?There is a gentleman , my dear friend ; and I fear not mine own shame so much as his peril : I had rather than a thousand pound he were out of the house . + +For shame ! never stand 'you had rather' and 'you had rather :' your husband's here at hand ; bethink you of some conveyance : in the house you cannot hide him . O , how have you deceived me ! Look , here is a basket : if he be of any reasonable stature , he may creep in here ; and throw foul linen upon him , as if it were going to bucking : or it is whiting-time send him by your two men to Datchet-mead . + +He's too big to go in there . What shall I do ? + +Let me see't , let me see't , O , let me see't ! I'll in , I'll in . Follow your friend's counsel . I'll in . + +What , Sir John Falstaff ! Are these your letters , knight ? + +I love thee , and none but thee ; help me away : let me creep in here . I'll never + + +Help to cover your master , boy . Call your men , Mistress Ford . You dissembling knight ! + +What , John ! Robert ! John ! + +Go take up these clothes here quickly ; where's the cowl-staff ? look , how you drumble ! carry them to the laundress in Datchet-mead ; quickly , come . + +Pray you , come near : if I suspect without cause , why then make sport at me ; then let me be your jest ; I deserve it . How now ! what goes here ? whither bear you this ? + +To the laundress , forsooth . + +Why , what have you to do whither they bear it ? You were best meddle with buck-washing . + +Buck ! I would I could wash myself of the buck ! Buck , buck , buck ! Ay , buck ; I warrant you , buck ; and of the season too , it shall appear . + +Gentlemen , I have dreamed to-night ; I'll tell you my dream . Here , here , here be my keys : ascend my chambers ; search , seek , find out : I'll warrant we'll unkennel the fox . Let me stop this way first . [Locking the door .] So , now uncape . + +Good Master Ford , be contented : you wrong yourself too much . + +True , Master Page . Up , gentlemen ; you shall see sport anon : follow me , gentlemen . + + +This is fery fantastical humours and jealousies . + +By gar , 'tis no de fashion of France ; it is not jealous in France . + +Nay , follow him , gentlemen ; see the issue of his search . + + +Is there not a double excellency in this ? + +I know not which pleases me better ; that my husband is deceived , or Sir John . + +What a taking was he in when your husband asked who was in the basket ! + +I am half afraid he will have need of washing ; so throwing him into the water will do him a benefit . + +Hang him , dishonest rascal ! I would all of the same strain were in the same distress . + +I think my husband hath some special suspicion of Falstaff's being here ; for I never saw him so gross in his jealousy till now . + +I will lay a plot to try that ; and we will yet have more tricks with Falstaff : his dissolute disease will scarce obey this medicine . + +Shall we send that foolish carrion Mistress Quickly to him , and excuse his throwing into the water ; and give him another hope , to betray him to another punishment ? + +We will do it : let him be sent for to-morrow , eight o'clock , to have amends . + + +I cannot find him : may be the knave bragged of that he could not compass . + +Heard you that ? + +Ay , ay , peace .You use me well , Master Ford , do you ? + +Ay , I do so . + +Heaven make you better than your thoughts ! + +Amen ! + +You do yourself mighty wrong , Master Ford . + +Ay , ay ; I must bear it . + +If there pe any pody in the house , and in the chambers , and in the coffers , and in the presses , heaven forgive my sins at the day of judgment ! + +By gar , nor I too , dere is no bodies . + +Fie , fie , Master Ford ! are you not ashamed ? What spirit , what devil suggests this imagination ? I would not ha' your distemper in this kind for the wealth of Windsor Castle . + +'Tis my fault , Master Page : I suffer for it . + +You suffer for a pad conscience : your wife is as honest a 'omans as I will desires among five thousand , and five hundred too . + +By gar , I see 'tis an honest woman . + +Well ; I promised you a dinner . Come , come , walk in the Park : I pray you , pardon me ; I will hereafter make known to you why I have done this . Come , wife ; come , Mistress Page . I pray you , pardon me ; pray heartily , pardon me . + +Let's go in , gentlemen ; but , trust me , we'll mock him . I do invite you to-morrow morning to my house to breakfast ; after , we'll a-birding together : I have a fine hawk for the bush . Shall it be so ? + +Any thing . + +If there is one , I shall make two in the company . + +If dere be one or two , I shall make-a de turd . + +Pray you go , Master Page . + +I pray you now , remembrance to-morrow on the lousy knave , mine host . + +Dat is good ; by gar , vit all my heart . + +A lousy knave ! to have his gibes and his mockeries ! + + +I see I cannot get thy father's love ; +Therefore no more turn me to him , sweet Nan . + +Alas ! how then ? + +Why , thou must be thyself . +He doth object , I am too great of birth , +And that my state being gall'd with my expense , +I seek to heal it only by his wealth . +Besides these , other bars he lays before me , +My riots past , my wild societies ; +And tells me 'tis a thing impossible +I should love thee but as a property . + +May be he tells you true . + +No , heaven so speed me in my time to come ! +Albeit I will confess thy father's wealth +Was the first motive that I woo'd thee , Anne : +Yet , wooing thee , I found thee of more value +Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags ; +And 'tis the very riches of thyself +That now I aim at . + +Gentle Master Fenton , +Yet seek my father's love ; still seek it , sir : +If opportunity and humblest suit +Cannot attain it , why , then ,hark you hither . + +Break their talk , Mistress Quickly : my kinsman shall speak for himself . + +I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't . 'Slid , 'tis but venturing . + +Be not dismayed . + +No , she shall not dismay me : I care not for that , but that I am afeard . + +Hark ye ; Master Slender would speak a word with you . + +I come to him . + +This is my father's choice . +O , what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults +Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year ! + +And how does good Master Fenton ? Pray you , a word with you . + +She's coming ; to her , coz . O boy , thou hadst a father ! + +I had a father , Mistress Anne ; my uncle can tell you good jests of him . Pray you , uncle , tell Mistress Anne the jest , how my father stole two geese out of a pen , good uncle . + +Mistress Anne , my cousin loves you . + +Ay , that I do ; as well as I love any woman in Glostershire . + +He will maintain you like a gentlewoman . + +Ay , that I will , come cut and long-tail , under the degree of a squire . + +He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure . + +Good Master Shallow , let him woo for himself . + +Marry , I thank you for it ; I thank you for that good comfort . She calls you , coz : I'll leave you . + +Now , Master Slender . + +Now , good Mistress Anne . + +What is your will ? + +My will ? od's heartlings ! that's a pretty jest , indeed ! I ne'er made my will yet , I thank heaven ; I am not such a sickly creature , I give heaven praise . + +I mean , Master Slender , what would you with me ? + +Truly , for mine own part , I would little or nothing with you . Your father and my uncle have made motions : if it be my luck , so ; if not , happy man be his dole ! They can tell you how things go better than I can : you may ask your father ; here he comes . + + +Now , Master Slender : love him , daughter Anne . +Why , how now ! what does Master Fenton here ? +You wrong me , sir , thus still to haunt my house : +I told you , sir , my daughter is dispos'd of . + +Nay , Master Page , be not impatient . + +Good Master Fenton , come not to my child . + +She is no match for you . + +Sir , will you hear me ? + +No , good Master Fenton . +Come , Master Shallow ; come , son Slender , in . +Knowing my mind , you wrong me , Master Fenton . + + +Speak to Mistress Page . + +Good Mistress Page , for that I love your daughter +In such a righteous fashion as I do , +Perforce , against all checks , rebukes and manners , +I must advance the colours of my love +And not retire : let me have your good will . + +Good mother , do not marry me to yond fool . + +I mean it not ; I seek you a better husband . + +That's my master , Master doctor . + +Alas ! I had rather be set quick i' the earth , +And bowl'd to death with turnips . + +Come , trouble not yourself . Good Master Fenton , +I will not be your friend nor enemy : +My daughter will I question how she loves you , +And as I find her , so am I affected . +'Till then , farewell , sir : she must needs go in ; +Her father will be angry . + +Farewell , gentle mistress . Farewell , Nan . + + +This is my doing , now : 'Nay ,' said I , 'will you cast away your child on a fool , and a physician ? Look on Master Fenton .' This is my doing . + +I thank thee : and I pray thee , once to-night +Give my sweet Nan this ring . There's for thy pains . + +Now heaven send thee good fortune ! + +A kind heart he hath : a woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart . But yet I would my master had Mistress Anne ; or I would Master Slender had her ; or , in sooth , I would Master Fenton had her . I will do what I can for them all three , for so I have promised , and I'll be as good as my word ; but speciously for Master Fenton . Well , I must of another errand to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses : what a beast am I to slack it ! + + +Bardolph , I say , + +Here , sir . + +Go fetch me a quart of sack ; put a toast in't . + +Have I lived to be carried in a basket , and to be thrown in the Thames like a barrow of butcher's offal ? Well , if I be served such another trick , I'll have my brains ta'en out , and buttered , and give them to a dog for a new year's gift . The rogues slighted me into the river with as little remorse as they would have drowned a blind bitch's puppies , fifteen i' the litter ; and you may know by my size that I have a kind of alacrity in sinking : if the bottom were as deep as hell , I should down . I had been drowned but that the shore was shelvy and shallow ; a death that I abhor , for the water swells a man , and what a thing should I have been when I had been swelled ! I should have been a mountain of mummy . + + +Here's Mistress Quickly , sir , to speak with you . + +Come , let me pour in some sack to the Thames water , for my belly's as cold as if I had swallowed snowballs for pills to cool the reins . Call her in . + +Come in , woman . + + +By your leave . I cry you mercy : give your worship good morrow . + +Take away these chalices . Go brew me a pottle of sack finely . + +With eggs , sir ? + +Simple of itself ; I'll no pullet-sperm in my brewage . + +How now ! + +Marry , sir , I come to your worship from Mistress Ford . + +Mistress Ford ! I have had ford enough ; I was thrown into the ford ; I have my belly full of ford . + +Alas the day ! good heart , that was not her fault : she does so take on with her men ; they mistook their erection . + +So did I mine , to build upon a foolish woman's promise . + +Well , she laments , sir , for it , that it would yearn your heart to see it . Her husband goes this morning a-birding : she desires you once more to come to her between eight and nine . I must carry her word quickly : she'll make you amends , I warrant you . + +Well , I will visit her : tell her so ; and bid her think what a man is : let her consider his frailty , and then judge of my merit . + +I will tell her . + +Do so . Between nine and ten , sayest thou ? + +Eight and nine , sir . + +Well , be gone : I will not miss her . + +Peace be with you , sir . + + +I marvel I hear not of Master Brook ; he sent me word to stay within . I like his money well . O ! here he comes . + + +Bless you , sir ! + +Now , Master Brook , you come to know what hath passed between me and Ford's wife ? + +That , indeed , Sir John , is my business . + +Master Brook , I will not lie to you : I was at her house the hour she appointed me . + +And how sped you , sir ? + +Very ill-favouredly , Master Brook . + +How so , sir ? did she change her determination ? + +No , Master Brook ; but the peaking cornuto her husband , Master Brook , dwelling in a continual 'larum of jealousy , comes me in the instant of our encounter , after we had embraced , kissed , protested , and , as it were , spoke the prologue of our comedy ; and at his heels a rabble of his companions , thither provoked and instigated by his distemper , and , forsooth , to search his house for his wife's love . + +What ! while you were there ? + +While I was there . + +And did he search for you , and could not find you ? + +You shall hear . As good luck would have it , comes in one Mistress Page ; gives intelligence of Ford's approach ; and in her invention , and Ford's wife's distraction , they conveyed me into a buck-basket . + +A buck-basket ! + +By the Lord , a buck-basket ! rammed me in with foul shirts and smocks , socks , foul stockings , greasy napkins ; that , Master Brook , there was the rankest compound of villanous smell that ever offended nostril . + +And how long lay you there ? + +Nay , you shall hear , Master Brook , what I have suffered to bring this woman to evil for your good . Being thus crammed in the basket , a couple of Ford's knaves , his hinds , were called forth by their mistress to carry me in the name of foul clothes to Datchet-lane : they took me on their shoulders ; met the jealous knave their master in the door , who asked them once or twice what they had in their basket . I quaked for fear lest the lunatic knave would have searched it ; but Fate , ordaining he should be a cuckold , held his hand . Well ; on went he for a search , and away went I for foul clothes . But mark the sequel , Master Brook : I suffered the pangs of three several deaths : first , an intolerable-fright , to be detected with a jealous rotten bell-wether ; next , to be compassed , like a good bilbo , in the circumference of a peck , hilt to point , heel to head ; and then , to be stopped in , like a strong distillation , with stinking clothes that fretted in their own grease : think of that , a man of my kidney , think of that , that am as subject to heat as butter ; a man of continual dissolution and thaw : it was a miracle to 'scape suffocation . And in the height of this bath , when I was more than half stewed in grease , like a Dutch dish , to be thrown into the Thames , and cooled , glowing hot , in that surge , like a horse-shoe ; think of that , hissing hot , think of that , Master Brook ! + +In good sadness , sir , I am sorry that for my sake you have suffered all this . My suit then is desperate ; you'll undertake her no more ? + +Master Brook , I will be thrown into Etna , as I have been into Thames , ere I will leave her thus . Her husband is this morning gone a-birding : I have received from her another embassy of meeting ; 'twixt eight and nine is the hour , Master Brook . + +'Tis past eight already , sir . + +Is it ? I will then address me to my appointment . Come to me at your convenient leisure , and you shall know how I speed , and the conclusion shall be crowned with your enjoying her : adieu . You shall have her , Master Brook ; Master Brook , you shall cuckold Ford . + + +Hum ! ha ! is this a vision ? is this a dream ? do I sleep ? Master Ford , awake ! awake , Master Ford ! there's a hole made in your best coat , Master Ford . This 'tis to be married : this 'tis to have linen and buck-baskets ! Well , I will proclaim myself what I am : I will now take the lecher ; he is at my house ; he cannot 'scape me ; 'tis impossible he should ; he cannot creep into a half-penny purse , nor into a pepper-box ; but , lest the devil that guides him should aid him , I will search impossible places . Though what I am I cannot avoid , yet to be what I would not , shall not make me tame : if I have horns to make me mad , let the proverb go with me ; I'll be horn-mad . + +Is he at Master Ford's already , thinkest thou ? + +Sure he is by this , or will be presently ; but truly , he is very courageous mad about his throwing into the water . Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly . + +I'll be with her by and by : I'll but bring my young man here to school . Look , where his master comes ; 'tis a playing-day , I see . + +How now , Sir Hugh ! no school to-day ? + +No ; Master Slender is get the boys leave to play . + +Blessing of his heart ! + +Sir Hugh , my husband says my son profits nothing in the world at his book : I pray you , ask him some questions in his accidence . + +Come hither , William ; hold up your head ; come . + +Come on , sirrah ; hold up your head ; answer your master , be not afraid . + +William , how many numbers is in nouns ? + +Two . + +Truly , I thought there had been one number more , because they say , 'Od's nouns .' + +Peace your tattlings ! What is fair , William ? + +Pulcher . + +Polecats ! there are fairer things than polecats , sure . + +You are a very simplicity 'oman : I pray you peace . What is lapis , William ? + +A stone . + +And what is a stone , William ? + +A pebble . + +No , it is lapis : I pray you remember in your prain . + +Lapis . + +That is a good William . What is he , William , that does lend articles ? + +Articles are borrowed of the pronoun , and be thus declined , Singulariter , nominativo , hic , h c , hoc . + +Nominativo , hig , hag , hog ; pray you , mark : genitivo , hujus . Well , what is your accusative case ? + +Accusativo , hinc . + +I pray you , have your remembrance , child ; accusativo , hung , hang , hog . + +Hang hog is Latin for bacon , I warrant you . + +Leave your prabbles , 'oman . What is the focative case , William ? + +O vocativo , O . + +Remember , William ; focative is caret . + +And that's a good root . + +'Oman , forbear . + +Peace ! + +What is your genitive case plural , William ? + +Genitive case ? + +Ay . + +Genitive , horum , harum , horum . + +Vengeance of Jenny's case ! fie on her ! Never name her , child , if she be a whore . + +For shame , 'oman ! + +You do ill to teach the child such words . He teaches him to hick and to hack , which they'll do fast enough of themselves , and to call 'horum ?' fie upon you ! + +'Oman , art thou lunatics ? hast thou no understandings for thy cases and the numbers and the genders ? Thou art as foolish Christian creatures as I would desires . + +Prithee , hold thy peace . + +Show me now , William , some declensions of your pronouns . + +Forsooth , I have forgot . + +It is qui , qu , quod ; if you forget your quis , your qu s , and your quods , you must be preeches . Go your ways and play ; go . + +He is a better scholar than I thought he was . + +He is a good sprag memory . Farewell , Mistress Page . + +Adieu , good Sir Hugh . + +Get you home , boy . Come , we stay too long . + + +Mistress Ford , your sorrow hath eaten up my sufferance . I see you are obsequious in your love , and I profess requital to a hair's breadth ; not only , Mistress Ford , in the simple office of love , but in all the accoutrement , complement and ceremony of it . But are you sure of your husband now ? + +He's a-birding , sweet Sir John . + +What ho ! gossip Ford ! what ho ! + +Step into the chamber , Sir John . + +How now , sweetheart ! who's at home besides yourself ? + +Why , none but mine own people . + +Indeed ! + +No , certainly . + +Speak louder . + +Truly , I am so glad you have nobody here . + +Why ? + +Why , woman , your husband is in his old lunes again : he so takes on yonder with my husband ; so rails against all married mankind ; so curses all Eve's daughters , of what complexion soever ; and so buffets himself on the forehead , crying , 'Peer out , peer out !' that any madness I ever yet beheld seemed but tameness , civility and patience , to this his distemper he is in now . I am glad the fat knight is not here . + +Why , does he talk of him ? + +Of none but him ; and swears he was carried out , the last time he searched for him , in a basket : protests to my husband he is now here , and hath drawn him and the rest of their company from their sport , to make another experiment of his suspicion . But I am glad the knight is not here ; now he shall see his own foolery . + +How near is he , Mistress Page ? + +Hard by ; at street end ; he will be here anon . + +I am undone ! the knight is here . + +Why then you are utterly shamed , and he's but a dead man . What a woman are you ! Away with him , away with him ! better shame than murder . + +Which way should he go ? how should I bestow him ? Shall I put him into the basket again ? + + +No , I'll come no more i' the basket . May I not go out ere he come ? + +Alas ! three of Master Ford's brothers watch the door with pistols , that none shall issue out ; otherwise you might slip away ere he came . But what make you here ? + +What shall I do ? I'll creep up into the chimney . + +There they always use to discharge their birding-pieces . + +Creep into the kiln-hole . + +Where is it ? + +He will seek there , on my word . Neither press , coffer , chest , trunk , well , vault , but he hath an abstract for the remembrance of such places , and goes to them by his note : there is no hiding you in the house . + +I'll go out , then . + +If you go out in your own semblance , you die , Sir John . Unless you go out disguised , + +How might we disguise him ? + +Alas the day ! I know not . There is no woman's gown big enough for him ; otherwise , he might put on a hat , a muffler , and a kerchief , and so escape . + +Good hearts , devise something : any extremity rather than a mischief . + +My maid's aunt , the fat woman of Brainford , has a gown above . + +On my word , it will serve him ; she's as big as he is : and there's her thrummed hat and her muffler too . Run up , Sir John . + +Go , go , sweet Sir John : Mistress Page and I will look some linen for your head . + +Quick , quick ! we'll come dress you straight ; put on the gown the while . + + +I would my husband would meet him in this shape : he cannot abide the old woman of Brainford ; he swears she's a witch ; forbade her my house , and hath threatened to beat her . + +Heaven guide him to thy husband's cudgel , and the devil guide his cudgel afterwards ! + +But is my husband coming ? + +Ay , in good sadness , is he ; and talks of the basket too , howsoever he hath had intelligence . + +We'll try that ; for I'll appoint my men to carry the basket again , to meet him at the door with it , as they did last time . + +Nay , but he'll be here presently : let's go dress him like the witch of Brainford . + +I'll first direct my men what they shall do with the basket . Go up ; I'll bring linen for him straight . + + +Hang him , dishonest varlet ! we cannot misuse him enough . +We'll leave a proof , by that which we will do , +Wives may be merry , and yet honest too : +We do not act that often jest and laugh ; +'Tis old , but true , 'Still swine eats all the draff .' + +Go , sirs , take the basket again on your shoulders : your master is hard at door ; if he bid you set it down , obey him . Quickly ; dispatch . + + +Come , come , take it up . + +Pray heaven , it be not full of knight again . + +I hope not ; I had as lief bear so much lead . + + +Ay , but if it prove true , Master Page , have you any way then to unfool me again ? Set down the basket , villains . Somebody call my wife . Youth in a basket ! O you panderly rascals ! there's a knot , a ging , a pack , a conspiracy against me : now shall the devil be shamed . What , wife , I say ! Come , come forth ! Behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching ! + +Why , this passes ! Master Ford , you are not to go loose any longer ; you must be pinioned . + +Why , this is lunatics ! this is mad as a mad dog ! + +Indeed , Master Ford , this is not well , indeed . + +So say I too , sir . + +Come hither , Mistress Ford , the honest woman , the modest wife , the virtuous creature , that hath the jealous fool to her husband ! I suspect without cause , mistress , do I ? + +Heaven by my witness , you do , if you suspect me in any dishonesty . + +Well said , brazen-face ! hold it out . Come forth , sirrah ! + + +This passes ! + +Are you not ashamed ? let the clothes alone . + +I shall find you anon . + +'Tis unreasonable . Will you take up your wife's clothes ? Come away . + +Empty the basket , I say ! + +Why , man , why ? + +Master Page , as I am an honest man , there was one conveyed out of my house yesterday in this basket : why may not he be there again ? In my house I am sure he is ; my intelligence is true ; my jealousy is reasonable . Pluck me out all the linen . + +If you find a man there he shall die a flea's death . + +Here's no man . + +By my fidelity , this is not well , Master Ford ; this wrongs you . + +Master Ford , you must pray , and not follow the imaginations of your own heart : this is jealousies . + +Well , he's not here I seek for . + +No , nor nowhere else but in your brain . + + +Help to search my house this one time : if I find not what I seek , show no colour for my extremity ; let me for ever be your table-sport ; let them say of me , 'As jealous as Ford , that searched a hollow walnut for his wife's leman .' Satisfy me once more ; once more search with me . + +What ho , Mistress Page ! come you and the old woman down ; my husband will come into the chamber . + +Old woman ! What old woman's that ? + +Why , it is my maid's aunt of Brainford . + +A witch , a quean , an old cozening quean ! Have I not forbid her my house ? She comes of errands , does she ? We are simple men ; we do not know what's brought to pass under the profession of fortune-telling . She works by charms , by spells , by the figure , and such daubery as this is , beyond our element : we know nothing . Come down , you witch , you hag , you ; come down , I say ! + +Nay , good , sweet husband ! good gentlemen , let him not strike the old woman . + + +Come , Mother Prat ; come , give me your hand . + +I'll 'prat' her . + +Out of my door , you witch , you rag , you baggage , you polecat , you ronyon ! out , out ! I'll conjure you , I'll fortune-tell you . + + +Are you not ashamed ? I think you have killed the poor woman . + +Nay , he will do it . 'Tis a goodly credit for you . + +Hang her , witch ! + +By yea and no , I think the 'oman is a witch indeed : I like not when a 'oman has a great peard ; I spy a great peard under her muffler . + +Will you follow , gentlemen ? I beseech you , follow : see but the issue of my jealousy . If I cry out thus upon no trail , never trust me when I open again . + +Let's obey his humour a little further . Come , gentlemen . + + +Trust me , he beat him most pitifully . + +Nay , by the mass , that he did not ; he beat him most unpitifully methought . + +I'll have the cudgel hallowed and hung o'er the altar : it hath done meritorious service . + +What think you ? May we , with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience , pursue him with any further revenge ? + +The spirit of wantonness is , sure , scared out of him : if the devil have him not in fee-simple , with fine and recovery , he will never , I think , in the way of waste , attempt us again . + +Shall we tell our husbands how we have served him ? + +Yes , by all means ; if it be but to scrape the figures out of your husband's brains . If they can find in their hearts the poor unvirtuous fat knight shall be any further afflicted , we two will still be the ministers . + +I'll warrant they'll have him publicly shamed , and methinks there would be no period to the jest , should he not be publicly shamed . + +Come , to the forge with it then ; shape it : I would not have things cool . + + +Sir , the Germans desire to have three of your horses : the duke himself will be to-morrow at court , and they are going to meet him . + +What duke should that be comes so secretly ? I hear not of him in the court . Let me speak with the gentlemen ; they speak English ? + +Ay , sir ; I'll call them to you . + +They shall have my horses , but I'll make them pay ; I'll sauce them : they have had my house a week at command ; I have turned away my other guests : they must come off ; I'll sauce them . Come . + + +'Tis one of the pest discretions of a 'oman as ever I did look upon . + +And did he send you both these letters at an instant ? + +Within a quarter of an hour . + +Pardon me , wife . Henceforth do what thou wilt ; +I rather will suspect the sun with cold +Than thee with wantonness : now doth thy honour stand , +In him that was of late an heretic , +As firm as faith . + +'Tis well , 'tis well ; no more . +Be not as extreme in submission +As in ofrence ; +But let our plot go forward : let our wives +Yet once again , to make us public sport , +Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow , +Where we may take him and disgrace him for it . + +There is no better way than that they spoke of . + +How ? to send him word they'll meet him in the Park at midnight ? Fie , fie ! he'll never come . + +You say he has been thrown into the rivers , and has been grievously peaten as an old 'oman : methinks there should be terrors in him that he should not come ; methinks his flesh is punished , he shall have no desires . + +So think I too . + +Devise but how you'll use him when he comes , +And let us two devise to bring him thither . + +There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter , +Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest , +Doth all the winter-time , at still midnight , +Walk round about an oak , with great ragg'd horns ; +And there he blasts the tree , and takes the cattle , +And makes milch-kine yield blood , and shakes a chain +In a most hideous and dreadful manner : +You have heard of such a spirit , and well you know +The superstitious idle-headed eld +Receiv'd and did deliver to our age +This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth . + +Why , yet there want not many that do fear +In deep of night to walk by this Herne's oak . +But what of this ? + +Marry , this is our device ; +That Falstaff at that oak shall meet with us , +Disguis'd like Herne with huge horns on his head . + +Well , let it not be doubted but he'll come , +And in this shape when you have brought him thither , +What shall be done with him ? what is your plot ? + +That likewise have we thought upon , and thus : +Nan Page my daughter , and my little son , +And three or four more of their growth , we'll dress +Like urchins , ouphs and fairies , green and white , +With rounds of waxen tapers on their heads , +And rattles in their hands . Upon a sudden , +As Falstaff , she , and I , are newly met , +Let them from forth a sawpit rush at once +With some diffused song : upon their sight , +We two in great amazedness will fly : +Then let them all encircle him about , +And , fairy-like , to-pinch the unclean knight ; +And ask him why , that hour of fairy revel , +In their so sacred paths he dares to tread +In shape profane . + +And till he tell the truth , +Let the supposed fairies pinch him sound +And burn him with their tapers . + +The truth being known , +We'll all present ourselves , dis-horn the spirit , +And mock him home to Windsor . + +The children must +Be practis'd well to this , or they'll ne'er do't . + +I will teach the children their behaviours ; and I will be like a jack-an-apes also , to burn the knight with my taber . + +That will be excellent . I'll go buy them vizards . + +My Nan shall be the queen of all the fairies , +Finely attired in a robe of white . + +That silk will I go buy : + +and in that time +Shall Master Slender steal my Nan away , +And marry her at Eton . Go , send to Falstaff straight . + +Nay , I'll to him again in name of Brook ; +He'll tell me all his purpose . Sure , he'll come . + +Fear not you that . Go , get us properties , +And tricking for our fairies . + +Let us about it : it is admirable pleasures and fery honest knaveries . + + +Go , Mistress Ford , +Send Quickly to Sir John , to know his mind . + +I'll to the doctor : he hath my good will , +And none but he , to marry with Nan Page . +That Slender , though well landed , is an idiot ; +And him my husband best of all affects : +The doctor is well money'd , and his friends +Potent at court : he , none but he , shall have her , +Though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her . + + +What wouldst thou have , boor ? what , thick-skin ? speak , breathe , discuss ; brief , short , quick , snap . + +Marry , sir , I come to speak with Sir John Falstaff from Master Slender . + +There's his chamber , his house , his castle , his standing-bed and truckle-bed : 'tis painted about with the story of the Prodigal , fresh and new . Go knock and call : he'll speak like an Anthropophaginian unto thee : knock , I say . + +There's an old woman , a fat woman , gone up into his chamber : I'll be so bold as stay , sir , till she come down ; I come to speak with her , indeed . + +Ha ! a fat woman ! the knight may be robbed : I'll call . Bully knight ! Bully Sir John ! speak from thy lungs military : art thou there ? it is thine host , thine Ephesian , calls . + +How now , mine host ! + +Here's a Bohemian-Tartar tarries the coming down of thy fat woman . Let her descend , bully ; let her descend ; my chambers are honourable : fie ! privacy ? fie ! + + +There was , mine host , an old fat woman even now with me , but she's gone . + +Pray you , sir , was't not the wise woman of Brainford ? + +Ay , marry , was it , muscle-shell : what would you with her ? + +My Master , sir , Master Slender , sent to her , seeing her go thorough the streets , to know , sir , whether one Nym , sir , that beguiled him of a chain , had the chain or no . + +I spake with the old woman about it . + +And what says she , I pray , sir ? + +Marry , she says that the very same man that beguiled Master Slender of his chain cozened him of it . + +I would I could have spoken with the woman herself : I had other things to have spoken with her too , from him . + +What are they ? let us know . + +Ay , come ; quick . + +I may not conceal them , sir . + +Conceal them , or thou diest . + +Why , sir , they were nothing but about Mistress Anne Page ; to know if it were my master's fortune to have her or no . + +'Tis , 'tis his fortune . + +What , sir ? + +To have her , or no . Go ; say the woman told me so . + +May I be bold to say so , sir ? + +Ay , Sir Tike ; who more bold ? + +I thank your worship : I shall make my master glad with these tidings . + + +Thou art clerkly , thou art clerkly , Sir John . Was there a wise woman with thee ? + +Ay , that there was , mine host ; one that hath taught me more wit than ever I learned before in my life : and I paid nothing for it neither , but was paid for my learning . + + +Out , alas , sir ! cozenage , mere cozenage ! + +Where be my horses ? speak well of them , varletto . + +Run away , with the cozeners ; for so soon as I came beyond Eton , they threw me off , from behind one of them , in a slough of mire ; and set spurs and away , like three German devils , three Doctor Faustuses . + +They are gone but to meet the duke , villain . Do not say they be fled : Germans are honest men . + + +Where is mine host ? + +What is the matter , sir ? + +Have a care of your entertainments : there is a friend of mine come to town , tells me , there is three cozen-germans that has cozened all the hosts of Readins , of Maidenhead , of Colebrook , of horses and money . I tell you for good will , look you : you are wise and full of gibes and vlouting-stogs , and 'tis not convenient you should be cozened . Fare you well . + +Vere is mine host de Jarteer ? + +Here , Master doctor , in perplexity and doubtful dilemma . + +I cannot tell vat is dat ; but it is tell-a me dat you make grand preparation for a duke de Jamany : by my trot , dere is no duke dat de court is know to come . I tell you for good vill : adieu . + + +Hue and cry , villain ! go . Assist me , knight ; I am undone . Fly , run , hue and cry , villain ! I am undone ! + + +I would all the world might be cozened , for I have been cozened and beaten too . If it should come to the ear of the court how I have been transformed , and how my transformation hath been washed and cudgelled , they would melt me out of my fat drop by drop , and liquor fishermen's boots with me : I warrant they would whip me with their fine wits till I were as crest-fallen as a dried pear . I never prospered since I forswore myself at primero . Well , if my wind were but long enough to say my prayers , I would repent . + +Now , whence come you ? + +From the two parties , forsooth . + +The devil take one party and his dam the other ! and so they shall be both bestowed . I have suffered more for their sakes , more than the villanous inconstancy of man's disposition is able to bear . + +And have not they suffered ? Yes , I warrant ; speciously one of them : Mistress Ford , good heart , is beaten black and blue , that you cannot see a white spot about her . + +What tellest thou me of black and blue ? I was beaten myself into all the colours of the rainbow ; and I was like to be apprehended for the witch of Brainford : but that my admirable dexterity of wit , my counterfeiting the action of an old woman , delivered me , the knave constable had set me i' the stocks , i' the common stocks , for a witch . + +Sir , let me speak with you in your chamber ; you shall hear how things go , and , I warrant , to your content . Here is a letter will say somewhat . Good hearts ! what ado here is to bring you together ! Sure , one of you does not serve heaven well , that you are so crossed . + +Come up into my chamber . + + +Master Fenton , talk not to me : my mind is heavy ; I will give over all . + +Yet hear me speak . Assist me in my purpose , +And , as I am a gentleman , I'll give thee +A hundred pound in gold more than your loss . + +I will hear you , Master Fenton ; and I will , at the least , keep your counsel . + +From time to time I have acquainted you +With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page ; +Who , mutually hath answer'd my affection , +So far forth as herself might be her chooser , +Even to my wish . I have a letter from her +Of such contents as you will wonder at ; +The mirth whereof so larded with my matter , +That neither singly can be manifested , +Without the show of both ; wherein fat Falstaff +Hath a great scare : the image of the jest +I'll show you here at large + +Hark , good mine host : +To-night at Herne's oak , just 'twixt twelve and one , +Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen ; +The purpose why , is here : in which disguise , +While other jests are something rank on foot , +Her father hath commanded her to slip +Away with Slender , and with him at Eton +Immediately to marry : she hath consented : +Now , sir , +Her mother , even strong against that match +And firm for Doctor Caius , hath appointed +That he shall likewise shuffle her away , +While other sports are tasking of their minds ; +And at the deanery , where a priest attends , +Straight marry her : to this her mother's plot +She , seemingly obedient , likewise hath +Made promise to the doctor . Now , thus it rests : +Her father means she shall be all in white , +And in that habit , when Slender sees his time +To take her by the hand and bid her go , +She shall go with him : her mother hath intended , +The better to denote her to the doctor , +For they must all be mask'd and vizarded +That quaint in green she shall be loose enrob'd , +With ribands pendent , flaring 'bout her head ; +And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe , +To pinch her by the hand ; and on that token +The maid hath given consent to go with him . + +Which means she to deceive , father or mother ? + +Both , my good host , to go along with me : +And here it rests , that you'll procure the vicar +To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and one , +And , in the lawful name of marrying , +To give our hearts united ceremony . + +Well , husband your device ; I'll to the vicar . +Bring you the maid , you shall not lack a priest . + +So shall I evermore be bound to thee ; +Besides , I'll make a present recompense . + +Prithee , no more prattling ; go : I'll hold . This is the third time ; I hope good luck lies in odd numbers . Away ! go . They say there is divinity in odd numbers , either in nativity , chance or death . Away ! + +I'll provide you a chain , and I'll do what I can to get you a pair of horns . + +Away , I say ; time wears : hold up your head , and mince . + + +How now , Master Brook ! Master Brook , the matter will be known to-night , or never . Be you in the Park about midnight , at Herne's oak , and you shall see wonders . + +Went you not to her yesterday , sir , as you told me you had appointed ? + +I went to her , Master Brook , as you see , like a poor old man ; but I came from her , Master Brook , like a poor old woman . That same knave Ford , her husband , hath the finest mad devil of jealousy in him , Master Brook , that ever governed frenzy . I will tell you : he beat me grievously , in the shape of a woman ; for in the shape of a man , Master Brook , I fear not Goliath with a weaver's beam , because I know also life is a shuttle . I am in haste : go along with me ; I'll tell you all , Master Brook . Since I plucked geese , played traunt , and whipped top , I knew not what it was to be beaten till lately . Follow me : I'll tell you strange things of this knave Ford , on whom to-night I will be revenged , and I will deliver his wife into your hand . Follow . Strange things in hand , Master Brook ! Follow . + + +Come , come ; we'll couch i' the castle-ditch till we see the light of our fairies . Remember , son Slender , my daughter . + +Ay , forsooth ; I have spoke with her and we have a nayword how to know one another . I come to her in white , and cry , 'mum ;' she cries , 'budget ;' and by that we know one another . + +That's good too : but what needs either your 'mum ,' or her 'budget ?' the white will decipher her well enough . It hath struck ten o'clock . + +The night is dark ; light and spirits will become it well . Heaven prosper our sport ! No man means evil but the devil , and we shall know him by his horns . Let's away ; follow me . + + +Master Doctor , my daughter is in green : when you see your time , take her by the hand , away with her to the deanery , and dispatch it quickly . Go before into the Park : we two must go together . + +I know vat I have to do . Adieu . + +Fare you well , sir . + +My husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse of Falstaff , as he will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter : but 'tis no matter ; better a little chiding than a great deal of heart break . + +Where is Nan now and her troop of fairies , and the Welsh devil , Hugh ? + +They are all couched in a pit hard by Herne's oak , with obscured lights ; which , at the very instant of Falstaff's and our meeting , they will at once display to the night . + +That cannot choose but amaze him . + +If he be not amazed , he will be mocked ; if he be amazed , he will every way be mocked . + +We'll betray him finely . + +Against such lewdsters and their lechery , +Those that betray them do no treachery . + +The hour draws on : to the oak , to the oak ! + + +Trib , trib , fairies : come ; and remember your parts . Be pold , I pray you ; follow me into the pit , and when I give the watch-ords , do as I pid you . Come , come ; trib , trib . + + +The Windsor bell hath struck twelve ; the minute draws on . Now , the hot-blooded gods assist me ! Remember , Jove , thou wast a bull for thy Europa ; love set on thy horns . O powerful love ! that , in some respects , makes a beast a man ; in some other , a man a beast . You were also , Jupiter , a swan for the love of Leda ; O omnipotent love ! how near the god drew to the complexion of a goose ! A fault done first in the form of a beast ; O Jove , a beastly fault ! and then another fault in the semblance of a fowl : think on 't , Jove ; a foul fault ! When gods have hot backs , what shall poor men do ? For me , I am here a Windsor stag ; and the fattest , I think , i' the forest : send me a cool rut-time , Jove , or who can blame me to piss my tallow ? Who comes here ? my doe ? + + +Sir John ! art thou there , my deer ? my male deer ? + +My doe with the black scut ! Let the sky rain potatoes ; let it thunder to the tune of 'Green Sleeves ;' hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes ; let there come a tempest of provocation , I will shelter me here . + + +Mistress Page is come with me , sweetheart . + +Divide me like a brib'd buck , each a haunch : I will keep my sides to myself , my shoulders for the fellow of this walk , and my horns I bequeath your husbands . Am I a woodman , ha ? Speak I like Herne the hunter ? Why , now is Cupid a child of conscience ; he makes restitution . As I am a true spirit , welcome ! + + +Alas ! what noise ? + +Heaven forgive our sins ! + +What should this be ? + +Away , away ! + +Away , away ! + + +I think the devil will not have me damned , lest the oil that is in me should set hell on fire ; he would never else cross me thus . + + +Fairies , black , grey , green , and white , +You moonshine revellers , and shades of night , +You orphan heirs of fixed destiny , +Attend your office and your quality . +Crier Hobgoblin , make the fairy oyes . + +Elves , list your names : silence , you airy toys ! +Cricket , to Windsor chimneys shalt thou leap : +Where fires thou find'st unrak'd and hearths unswept , +There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry : +Our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery . + +They are fairies ; he that speaks to them shall die : +I'll wink and couch : no man their works must eye . + + +Where's Bede ? Go you , and where you find a maid +That , ere she sleep , has thrice her prayers said , +Rein up the organs of her fantasy , +Sleep she as sound as careless infancy ; +But those that sleep and think not on their sins , +Pinch them , arms , legs , backs , shoulders , sides , and shins . + +About , about ! +Search Windsor castle , elves , within and out : +Strew good luck , ouphs , on every sacred room , +That it may stand till the perpetual doom , +In state as wholesome as in state 'tis fit , +Worthy the owner , and the owner it . +The several chairs of order look you scour +With juice of balm and every precious flower : +Each fair instalment , coat , and several crest , +With loyal blazon , ever more be blest ! +And nightly , meadow-fairies , look you sing , +Like to the Garter's compass , in a ring : +The expressure that it bears , green let it be , +More fertile-fresh than all the field to see ; +And , Honi soit qui mal y pense write +In emerald tufts , flowers purple , blue , and white ; +Like sapphire , pearl , and rich embroidery , +Buckled below fair knighthood's bending knee : +Fairies use flowers for their charactery . +Away ! disperse ! But , till 'tis one o'clock , +Our dance of custom round about the oak +Of Herne the hunter , let us not forget . + +Pray you , lock hand in hand ; yourselves in order set ; +And twenty glow-worms shall our lanthorns be , +To guide our measure round about the tree . +But , stay ; I smell a man of middle-earth . + +Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy , lest he transform me to a piece of cheese ! + +Vile worm , thou wast o'erlook'd even in thy birth . + +With trial-fire touch me his finger-end : +If he be chaste , the flame will back descend +And turn him to no pain ; but if he start , +It is the flesh of a corrupted heart . + +A trial ! come . + +Come , will this wood take fire ? + + +Oh , oh , oh ! + +Corrupt , corrupt , and tainted in desire ! +About him , fairies , sing a scornful rime ; +And , as you trip , still pinch him to your time . + +Fie on sinful fantasy ! +Fie on lust and luxury ! +Lust is but a bloody fire , +Kindled with unchaste desire , +Fed in heart , whose flames aspire , +As thoughts do blow them higher and higher . +Pinch him , fairies , mutually ; +Pinch him for his villany ; +Pinch him , and burn him , and turn him about , +Till candles and star-light and moonshine be out . + + +Nay , do not fly : I think we have watch'd you now : +Will none but Herne the hunter serve your turn ? + +I pray you , come , hold up the jest no higher . +Now , good Sir John , how like you Windsor wives ? +See you these , husband ? do not these fair yokes +Become the forest better than the town ? + +Now sir , who's a cuckold now ? Master Brook , Falstaff's a knave , a cuckoldly knave ; here are his horns , Master Brook : and , Master Brook , he hath enjoyed nothing of Ford's but his buck-basket , his cudgel , and twenty pounds of money , which must be paid too , Master Brook ; his horses are arrested for it , Master Brook . + +Sir John , we have had ill luck ; we could never meet . I will never take you for my love again , but I will always count you my deer . + +I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass . + +Ay , and an ox too ; both the proofs are extant . + +And these are not fairies ? I was three or four times in the thought they were not fairies ; and yet the guiltiness of my mind , the sudden surprise of my powers , drove the grossness of the foppery into a received belief , in despite of the teeth of all rime and reason , that they were fairies . See now how wit may be made a Jack-a-lent , when 'tis upon ill employment ! + +Sir John Falstaff , serve Got , and leave your desires , and fairies will not pinse you . + +Well said , fairy Hugh . + +And leave you your jealousies too , I pray you . + +I will never mistrust my wife again , till thou art able to woo her in good English . + +Have I laid my brain in the sun and dried it , that it wants matter to prevent so gross o'er-reaching as this ? Am I ridden with a Welsh goat too ? shall I have a coxcomb of frize ? 'Tis time I were choked with a piece of toasted cheese . + +Seese is not goot to give putter : your pelly is all putter . + +'Seese' and 'putter !' have I lived to stand at the taunt of one that makes fritters of English ? This is enough to be the decay of lust and late-walking through the realm . + +Why , Sir John , do you think , though we would have thrust virtue out of our hearts by the head and shoulders , and have given ourselves without scruple to hell , that ever the devil could have made you our delight ? + +What , a hodge-pudding ? a bag of flax ? + +A puffed man ? + +Old , cold , withered , and of intolerable entrails ? + +And one that is as slanderous as Satan ? + +And as poor as Job ? + +And as wicked as his wife ? + +And given to fornications , and to taverns , and sack and wine and metheglins , and to drinkings and swearings and starings , pribbles and prabbles ? + +Well , I am your theme : you have the start of me ; I am dejected ; I am not able to answer the Welsh flannel . Ignorance itself is a plummet o'er me : use me as you will . + +Marry , sir , we'll bring you to Windsor , to one Master Brook , that you have cozened of money , to whom you should have been a pander : over and above that you have suffered , I think , to repay that money will be a biting affliction . + +Nay , husband , let that go to make amends ; +Forgive that sum , and so we'll all be friends . + +Well , here's my hand : all is forgiven at last . + +Yet be cheerful , knight : thou shalt eat a posset to-night at my house ; where I will desire thee to laugh at my wife , that now laughs at thee . Tell her , Master Slender hath married her daughter . + +Doctors doubt that : if Anne Page be my daughter , she is , by this Doctor Caius' wife . + + +Whoa , ho ! ho ! father Page ! + +Son , how now ! how now , son ! have you dispatched ? + +Dispatched ! I'll make the best in Gloster-shire know on 't ; would I were hanged , la , else ! + +Of what , son ? + +I came yonder at Eton to marry Mistress Anne Page , and she's a great lubberly boy : if it had not been i' the church , I would have swinged him , or he should have swinged me . If I did not think it had been Anne Page , would I might never stir ! and 'tis a postmaster's boy . + +Upon my life , then , you took the wrong . + +What need you tell me that ? I think so , when I took a boy for a girl . If I had been married to him , for all he was in woman's apparel , I would not have had him . + +Why , this is your own folly . Did not I tell you how you should know my daughter by her garments ? + +I went to her in white , and cried , 'mum ,' and she cried 'budget ,' as Anne and I had appointed ; and yet it was not Anne , but a postmaster's boy . + +Jeshu ! Master Slender , cannot you see put marry poys ? + +O I am vexed at heart : what shall I do ? + +Good George , be not angry : I knew of your purpose ; turned my daughter into green ; and , indeed , she is now with the doctor at the deanery , and there married . + + +Vere is Mistress Page ? By gar , I am cozened : I ha' married un gar on , a boy ; un paysan , by gar , a boy ; it is not Anne Page : by gar , I am cozened . + +Why , did you not take her in green ? + +Ay , by gar , and 'tis a boy : by gar , I'll raise all Windsor . + + +This is strange . Who hath got the right Anne ? + +My heart misgives me : here comes Master Fenton . + +How now , Master Fenton ! + +Pardon , good father ! good my mother , pardon ! + +Now , mistress , how chance you went not with Master Slender ? + +Why went you not with Master Doctor , maid ? + +You do amaze her : hear the truth of it . +You would have married her most shamefully , +Where there was no proportion held in love . +The truth is , she and I , long since contracted , +Are now so sure that nothing can dissolve us . +The offence is holy that she hath committed , +And this deceit loses the name of craft , +Of disobedience , or unduteous title , +Since therein she doth evitate and shun +A thousand irreligious cursed hours , +Which forced marriage would have brought upon her . + +Stand not amaz'd : here is no remedy : +In love the heavens themselves do guide the state : +Money buys lands , and wives are sold by fate . + +I am glad , though you have ta'en a special stand to strike at me , that your arrow hath glanced . + +Well , what remedy ?Fenton , heaven give thee joy ! +What cannot be eschew'd must be embrac'd . + +When night dogs run all sorts of deer are chas'd . + +Well , I will muse no further . Master Fenton , +Heaven give you many , many merry days ! +Good husband , let us every one go home , +And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire ; +Sir John and all . + +Let it be so . Sir John , +To Master Brook you yet shall hold your word ; +For he to-night shall lie with Mistress Ford . + +THE TAMING OF THE SHREW + + +I'll pheeze you , in faith . + +A pair of stocks , you rogue ! + +Y'are a baggage : the Slys are no rogues ; look in the chronicles ; we came in with Richard Conqueror . Therefore , paucas pallabris ; let the world slide . Sessa ! + +You will not pay for the glasses you have burst ? + +No , not a denier . Go by , Jeronimy , go to thy cold bed , and warm thee . + +I know my remedy : I must go fetch the third-borough . + + +Third , or fourth , or fifth borough , I'll answer him by law . I'll not budge an inch , boy : let him come , and kindly . + +Huntsman , I charge thee , tender well my hounds : +Brach Merriman , the poor cur is emboss'd , +And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach . +Saw'st thou not , boy , how Silver made it good +At the hedge-corner , in the coldest fault ? +I would not lose the dog for twenty pound . + +Why , Bellman is as good as he , my lord ; +He cried upon it at the merest loss , +And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent : +Trust me , I take him for the better dog . + +Thou art a fool : if Echo were as fleet , +I would esteem him worth a dozen such . +But sup them well , and look unto them all : +To-morrow I intend to hunt again . + +I will , my lord . + +What's here ? one dead , or drunk ? See , doth he breathe ? + +He breathes , my lord . Were he not warm'd with ale , +This were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly . + +O monstrous beast ! how like a swine he lies ! +Grim death , how foul and loathsome is thine image ! +Sirs , I will practise on this drunken man . +What think you , if he were convey'd to bed , +Wrapp'd in sweet clothes , rings put upon his fingers , +A most delicious banquet by his bed , +And brave attendants near him when he wakes , +Would not the beggar then forget himself ? + +Believe me , lord , I think he cannot choose . + +It would seem strange unto him when he wak'd . + +Even as a flattering dream or worthless fancy . +Then take him up and manage well the jest . +Carry him gently to my fairest chamber , +And hang it round with all my wanton pictures ; +Balm his foul head in warm distilled waters , +And burn sweet wood to make the lodging sweet . +Procure me music ready when he wakes , +To make a dulcet and a heavenly sound ; +And if he chance to speak , be ready straight , +And with a low submissive reverence +Say , 'What is it your honour will command ?' +Let one attend him with a silver basin +Full of rose-water , and bestrew'd with flowers ; +Another bear the ewer , the third a diaper , +And say , 'Will't please your lordship cool your hands ?' +Some one be ready with a costly suit , +And ask him what apparel he will wear ; +Another tell him of his hounds and horse , +And that his lady mourns at his disease . +Persuade him that he hath been lunatic ; +And , when he says he is say that he dreams , +For he is nothing but a mighty lord . +This do , and do it kindly , gentle sirs : +It will be pastime passing excellent , +If it be husbanded with modesty . + +My lord , I warrant you we will play our part , +As he shall think , by our true diligence , +He is no less than what we say he is . + +Take him up gently , and to bed with him , +And each one to his office when he wakes . + +Sirrah , go see what trumpet 'tis that sounds : + +Belike , some noble gentleman that means , +Travelling some journey , to repose him here . + +How now ! who is it ? + +An it please your honour , +Players that offer service to your lordship . + +Bid them come near . + +Now , fellows , you are welcome . + +We thank your honour . + +Do you intend to stay with me to-night ? + +So please your lordship to accept our duty . + +With all my heart . This fellow I remember , +Since once he play'd a farmer's eldest son : +'Twas where you woo'd the gentlewoman so well . +I have forgot your name ; but , sure , that part +Was aptly fitted and naturally perform'd . + +I think 'twas Soto that your honour means . + +'Tis very true : thou didst it excellent . +Well , you are come to me in happy time , +The rather for I have some sport in hand +Wherein your cunning can assist me much . +There is a lord will hear you play to-night ; +But I am doubtful of your modesties , +Lest , over-eyeing of his odd behaviour , +For yet his honour never heard a play , +You break into some merry passion +And so offend him ; for I tell you , sirs , +If you should smile he grows impatient . + +Fear not , my lord : we can contain ourselves +Were he the veriest antick in the world . + +Go , sirrah , take them to the buttery , +And give them friendly welcome every one : +Let them want nothing that my house affords . + +Sirrah , go you to Barthol'mew my page , +And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady : +That done , conduct him to the drunkard's chamber ; +And call him 'madam ,' do him obeisance . +Tell him from me ,as he will win my love , +He bear himself with honourable action , +Such as he hath observ'd in noble ladies +Unto their lords , by them accomplished : +Such duty to the drunkard let him do +With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy ; +And say , 'What is't your honour will command , +Wherein your lady and your humble wife +May show her duty , and make known her love ?' +And then , with kind embracements , tempting kisses , +And with declining head into his bosom , +Bid him shed tears , as being overjoy'd +To see her noble lord restor'd to health , +Who for this seven years hath esteemed him +No better than a poor and loathsome beggar . +And if the boy have not a woman's gift +To rain a shower of commanded tears , +An onion will do well for such a shift , +Which in a napkin being close convey'd , +Shall in despite enforce a watery eye . +See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou canst : +Anon I'll give thee more instructions . + +I know the boy will well usurp the grace , +Voice , gait , and action of a gentlewoman : +I long to hear him call the drunkard husband , +And how my men will stay themselves from laughter +When they do homage to this simple peasant . +I'll in to counsel them : haply , my presence +May well abate the over merry spleen +Which otherwise would grow into extremes . + + +For God's sake ! a pot of small ale . + +Will't please your lordship drink a cup of sack ? + +Will't please your honour taste of these conserves ? + +What raiment will your honour wear to-day ? + +I am Christophero Sly ; call not me honour , nor lordship : I ne'er drank sack in my life ; and if you give me any conserves , give me conserves of beef . Ne'er ask me what raiment I'll wear , for I have no more doublets than backs , no more stockings than legs , nor no more shoes than feet : nay , sometime more feet than shoes , or such shoes as my toes look through the overleather . + +Heaven cease this idle humour in your honour ! +O , that a mighty man , of such descent , +Of such possessions , and so high esteem , +Should be infused with so foul a spirit ! + +What ! would you make me mad ? Am not I Christopher Sly , old Sly's son , of Burtonheath ; by birth a pedlar , by education a cardmaker , by transmutation a bear-herd , and now by present profession a tinker ? Ask Marian Hacket , the fat ale-wife of Wincot , if she know me not : if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale , score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom . What ! I am not bestraught : here's + +O ! this it is that makes your lady mourn . + +O ! this it is that makes your servants droop . + +Hence comes it that your kindred shuns your house , +As beaten hence by your strange lunacy . +O noble lord , bethink thee of thy birth , +Call home thy ancient thoughts from banishment , +And banish hence these abject lowly dreams . +Look how thy servants do attend on thee , +Each in his office ready at thy beck : +Wilt thou have music ? hark ! Apollo plays , + +And twenty caged nightingales do sing : +Or wilt thou sleep ? we'll have thee to a couch +Softer and sweeter than the lustful bed +On purpose trimm'd up for Semiramis . +Say thou wilt walk , we will bestrew the ground : +Or wilt thou ride ? thy horses shall be trapp'd , +Their harness studded all with gold and pearl . +Dost thou love hawking ? thou hast hawks will soar +Above the morning lark : or wilt thou hunt ? +Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them , +And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth . + +Say thou wilt course ; thy greyhounds are as swift +As breathed stags , ay , fleeter than the roe . + +Dost thou love pictures ? we will fetch thee straight +Adonis painted by a running brook , +And Cytherea all in sedges hid , +Which seem to move and wanton with her breath , +Even as the waving sedges play with wind . + +We'll show thee Io as she was a maid , +And how she was beguiled and surpris'd , +As lively painted as the deed was done . + +Or Daphne roaming through a thorny wood , +Scratching her legs that one shall swear she bleeds ; +And at that sight shall sad Apollo weep , +So workmanly the blood and tears are drawn . + +Thou art a lord and nothing but a lord : +Thou hast a lady far more beautiful +Than any woman in this waning age . + +And till the tears that she hath shed for thee +Like envious floods o'er-run her lovely face , +She was the fairest creature in the world ; +And yet she is inferior to none . + +Am I a lord ? and have I such a lady ? +Or do I dream ? or have I dream'd till now ? +I do not sleep ; I see , I hear , I speak ; +I smell sweet savours , and I feel soft things : +Upon my life , I am a lord indeed ; +And not a tinker , nor Christophero Sly . +Well , bring our lady hither to our sight ; +And once again , a pot o' the smallest ale . + +Will't please your mightiness to wash your hands ? + +O , how we joy to see your wit restor'd ! +O , that once more you knew but what you are ! +These fifteen years you have been in a dream , +Or , when you wak'd , so wak'd as if you slept . + +These fifteen years ! by my fay , a goodly nap . +But did I never speak of all that time ? + +O ! yes , my lord , but very idle words ; +For though you lay here in this goodly chamber , +Yet would you say ye were beaten out of door , +And rail upon the hostess of the house , +And say you would present her at the leet , +Because she brought stone jugs and no seal'd quarts . +Sometimes you would call out for Cicely Hacket . + +Ay , the woman's maid of the house . + +Why , sir , you know no house , nor no such maid , +Nor no such men as you have reckon'd up , +As Stephen Sly , and old John Naps of Greece , +And Peter Turf , and Henry Pimpernell , +And twenty more such names and men as these , +Which never were nor no man ever saw . + +Now , Lord be thanked for my good amends ! + +Amen . + +I thank thee ; thou shalt not lose by it . + + +How fares my noble lord ? + +Marry , I fare well , for here is cheer enough . +Where is my wife ? + +Here , noble lord : what is thy will with her ? + +Are you my wife , and will not call me husband ? +My men should call me lord : I am your goodman . + +My husband and my lord , my lord and husband ; +I am your wife in all obedience . + +I know it well . What must I call her ? + +Madam . + +Al'ce madam , or Joan madam ? + +Madam , and nothing else : so lords call ladies . + +Madam wife , they say that I have dream'd +And slept above some fifteen year or more . + +Ay , and the time seems thirty unto me , +Being all this time abandon'd from your bed . + +'Tis much . Servants , leave me and her alone . +Madam , undress you , and come now to bed . + +Thrice noble lord , let me entreat of you +To pardon me yet for a night or two , +Or , if not so , until the sun be set : +For your physicians have expressly charg'd , +In peril to incur your former malady , +That I should yet absent me from your bed : +I hope this reason stands for my excuse . + +Ay , it stands so , that I may hardly tarry so long ; but I would be loath to fall into my dreams again : I will therefore tarry , in spite of the flesh and the blood . + + +Your honour's players , hearing your amendment , +Are come to play a pleasant comedy ; +For so your doctors hold it very meet , +Seeing too much sadness hath congeal'd your blood , +And melancholy is the nurse of frenzy : +Therefore they thought it good you hear a play , +And frame your mind to mirth and merriment , +Which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life . + +Marry , I will ; let them play it . Is not a commonty a Christmas gambold or a tumbling-trick ? + +No , my good lord ; it is more pleasing stuff . + +What ! household stuff ? + +It is a kind of history . + +Well , we'll see't . Come , madam wife , sit by my side , +And let the world slip : we shall ne'er be younger . + + +Tranio , since for the great desire I had +To see fair Padua , nursery of arts , +I am arriv'd for fruitful Lombardy , +The pleasant garden of great Italy ; +And by my father's love and leave am arm'd +With his good will and thy good company , +My trusty servant well approv'd in all , +Here let us breathe , and haply institute +A course of learning and ingenious studies . +Pisa , renowned for grave citizens , +Gave me my being and my father first , +A merchant of great traffic through the world , +Vincentio , come of the Bentivolii . +Vincentio's son , brought up in Florence , +It shall become to serve all hopes conceiv'd , +To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds : +And therefore , Tranio , for the time I study , +Virtue and that part of philosophy +Will I apply that treats of happiness +By virtue specially to be achiev'd . +Tell me thy mind ; for I have Pisa left +And am to Padua come , as he that leaves +A shallow plash to plunge him in the deep , +And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst . + +Mi perdonate , gentle master mine , +I am in all affected as yourself , +Glad that you thus continue your resolve +To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy . +Only , good master , while we do admire +This virtue and this moral discipline , +Let's be no stoics nor no stocks , I pray ; +Or so devote to Aristotle's checks +As Ovid be an outcast quite abjur'd . +Balk logic with acquaintance that you have , +And practise rhetoric in your common talk ; +Music and poesy use to quicken you ; +The mathematics and the metaphysics , +Fall to them as you find your stomach serves you ; +No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en ; +In brief , sir , study what you most affect . + +Gramercies , Tranio , well dost thou advise . +If , Biondello , thou wert come ashore , +We could at once put us in readiness , +And take a lodging fit to entertain +Such friends as time in Padua shall beget . +But stay awhile : what company is this ? + +Master , some show to welcome us to town . + + +Gentlemen , importune me no further , +For how I firmly am resolv'd you know ; +That is , not to bestow my youngest daughter +Before I have a husband for the elder . +If either of you both love Katharina , +Because I know you well and love you well , +Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure . + +To cart her rather : she's too rough for me . +There , there , Hortensio , will you any wife ? + +I pray you , sir , is it your will +To make a stale of me amongst these mates ? + +Mates , maid ! how mean you that ? no mates for you , +Unless you were of gentler , milder mould . + +I' faith , sir , you shall never need to fear : +I wis it is not half way to her heart ; +But if it were , doubt not her care should be +To comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool , +And paint your face , and use you like a fool . + +From all such devils , good Lord deliver us ! + +And me too , good Lord ! + +Hush , master ! here is some good pastime toward : +That wench is stark mad or wonderful froward . + +But in the other's silence do I see +Maid's mild behaviour and sobriety . +Peace , Tranio ! + +Well said , master ; mum ! and gaze your fill . + +Gentlemen , that I may soon make good +What I have said ,Bianca , get you in : +And let it not displease thee , good Bianca , +For I will love thee ne'er the less , my girl . + +A pretty peat ! it is best +Put finger in the eye , an she knew why . + +Sister , content you in my discontent . +Sir , to your pleasure humbly I subscribe : +My books and instruments shall be my company , +On them to look and practise by myself . + +Hark , Tranio ! thou mayst hear Minerva speak . + +Signior Baptista , will you be so strange ? +Sorry am I that our good will effects +Bianca's grief . + +Why will you mew her up , +Signior Baptista , for this fiend of hell , +And make her bear the penance of her tongue ? + +Gentlemen , content ye ; I am resolv'd . +Go in , Bianca . + +And for I know she taketh most delight +In music , instruments , and poetry , +Schoolmasters will I keep within my house , +Fit to instruct her youth . If you , Hortensio , +Or Signior Gremio , you , know any such , +Prefer them hither ; for to cunning men +I will be very kind , and liberal +To mine own children in good bringing up ; +And so , farewell . Katharina , you may stay ; +For I have more to commune with Bianca . + + +Why , and I trust I may go too ; may I not ? +What ! shall I be appointed hours , as though , belike , +I knew not what to take , and what to leave ? Ha ! + + +You may go to the devil's dam : your gifts are so good , here's none will hold you . Their love is not so great , Hortensio , but we may blow our nails together , and fast it fairly out : our cake's dough on both sides . Farewell : yet , for the love I bear my sweet Bianca , if I can by any means light on a fit man to teach her that wherein she delights , I will wish him to her father . + +So will I , Signior Gremio : but a word , I pray . Though the nature of our quarrel yet never brooked parle , know now , upon advice , it toucheth us both ,that we may yet again have access to our fair mistress and be happy rivals in Bianca's love ,to labour and effect one thing specially . + +What's that , I pray ? + +Marry , sir , to get a husband for her sister . + +A husband ! a devil . + +I say , a husband . + +I say , a devil . Thinkest thou , Hortensio , though her father be very rich , any man is so very a fool to be married to hell ? + +Tush , Gremio ! though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums , why , man , there be good fellows in the world , an a man could light on them , would take her with all faults , and money enough . + +I cannot tell ; but I had as lief take her dowry with this condition , to be whipped at the high-cross every morning . + +Faith , as you say , there's small choice in rotten apples . But , come ; since this bar in law makes us friends , it shall be so far forth friendly maintained , till by helping Baptista's eldest daughter to a husband , we set his youngest free for a husband , and then have to't afresh . Sweet Bianca ! Happy man be his dole ! He that runs fastest gets the ring . How say you , Signior Gremio ? + +I am agreed : and would I had given him the best horse in Padua to begin his wooing , that would thoroughly woo her , wed her , and bed her , and rid the house of her . Come on . + + +I pray , sir , tell me , is it possible +That love should of a sudden take such hold ? + +O Tranio ! till I found it to be true , +I never thought it possible or likely ; +But see , while idly I stood looking on , +I found the effect of love in idleness ; +And now in plainness do confess to thee , +That art to me as secret and as dear +As Anna to the Queen of Carthage was , +Tranio , I burn , I pine , I perish , Tranio , +If I achieve not this young modest girl . +Counsel me , Tranio , for I know thou canst : +Assist me , Tranio , for I know thou wilt . + +Master , it is no time to chide you now ; +Affection is not rated from the heart : +If love have touch'd you , nought remains but so , +Redime te captum , quam queas minimo . + +Gramercies , lad ; go forward : this contents : +The rest will comfort , for thy counsel's sound . + +Master , you look'd so longly on the maid , +Perhaps you mark'd not what's the pith of all . + +O yes , I saw sweet beauty in her face , +Such as the daughter of Agenor had , +That made great Jove to humble him to her hand , +When with his knees he kiss'd the Cretan strand . + +Saw you no more ? mark'd you not how her sister +Began to scold and raise up such a storm +That mortal ears might hardly endure the din ? + +Tranio , I saw her coral lips to move , +And with her breath she did perfume the air ; +Sacred and sweet was all I saw in her . + +Nay , then , 'tis time to stir him from his trance . +I pray , awake , sir : if you love the maid , +Bend thoughts and wits to achieve her . Thus it stands : +Her elder sister is so curst and shrewd , +That till the father rid his hands of her , +Master , your love must live a maid at home ; +And therefore has he closely mew'd her up , +Because she will not be annoy'd with suitors . + +Ah , Tranio , what a cruel father's he ! +But art thou not advis'd he took some care +To get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her ? + +Ay , marry , am I , sir ; and now 'tis plotted . + +I have it , Tranio . + +Master , for my hand , +Both our inventions meet and jump in one . + +Tell me thine first . + +You will be schoolmaster , +And undertake the teaching of the maid : +That's your device . + +It is : may it be done ? + +Not possible ; for who shall bear your part , +And be in Padua here Vincentio's son ? +Keep house and ply his book , welcome his friends ; +Visit his countrymen , and banquet them ? + +Basta ; content thee ; for I have it full . +We have not yet been seen in any house , +Nor can we be distinguish'd by our faces +For man , or master : then , it follows thus : +Thou shalt be master , Tranio , in my stead , +Keep house , and port , and servants , as I should : +I will some other be ; some Florentine , +Some Neapolitan , or meaner man of Pisa . +'Tis hatch'd and shall be so : Tranio , at once +Uncase thee , take my colour'd hat and cloak : +When Biondello comes , he waits on thee ; +But I will charm him first to keep his tongue . + + +So had you need . +In brief then , sir , sith it your pleasure is , +And I am tied to be obedient ; +For so your father charg'd me at our parting , +'Be serviceable to my son ,' quoth he , +Although I think 'twas in another sense : +I am content to be Lucentio , +Because so well I love Lucentio . + +Tranio , be so , because Lucentio loves ; +And let me be a slave , to achieve that maid +Whose sudden sight hath thrall'd my wounded eye . +Here comes the rogue . + +Sirrah , where have you been ? + +Where have I been ! Nay , how now ! where are you ? +Master , has my fellow Tranio stol'n your clothes , +Or you stol'n his ? or both ? pray , what's the news ? + +Sirrah , come hither : 'tis no time to jest , +And therefore frame your manners to the time . +Your fellow Tranio , here , to save my life , +Puts my apparel and my countenance on , +And I for my escape have put on his ; +For in a quarrel since I came ashore +I kill'd a man , and fear I was descried . +Wait you on him , I charge you , as becomes , +While I make way from hence to save my life : +You understand me ? + +I , sir ! ne'er a whit . + +And not a jot of Tranio in your mouth : +Tranio is changed to Lucentio . + +The better for him : would I were so too ! + +So would I , faith , boy , to have the next wish after , +That Lucentio indeed had Baptista's youngest daughter . +But , sirrah , not for my sake , but your master's , I advise +You use your manners discreetly in all kind of companies : +When I am alone , why , then I am Tranio ; +But in all places else your master , Lucentio . + +Tranio , let's go . One thing more rests , that thyself execute , to make one among these wooers : if thou ask me why , sufficeth my reasons are both good and weighty . + +My lord , you nod ; you do not mind the play . + +Yes , by Saint Anne , I do . A good matter , surely : comes there any more of it ? + +My lord , 'tis but begun . + +'Tis a very excellent piece of work , madam lady : would 'twere done ! + + +Verona , for awhile I take my leave , +To see my friends in Padua ; but , of all +My best beloved and approved friend , +Hortensio ; and I trow this is his house . +Here , sirrah Grumio ; knock , I say . + +Knock , sir ! whom should I knock ? is there any man has rebused your worship ? + +Villain , I say , knock me here soundly . + +Knock you here , sir ! why , sir , what am I , sir , that I should knock you here , sir ? + +Villain , I say , knock me at this gate ; +And rap me well , or I'll knock your knave's pate . + +My master is grown quarrelsome . I should knock you first , +And then I know after who comes by the worst . + +Will it not be ? +Faith , sirrah , an you'll not knock , I'll ring it ; +I'll try how you can sol , fa , and sing it . + + +Help , masters , help ! my master is mad . + +Now , knock when I bid you , sirrah villain ! + + +How now ! what's the matter ? My old friend Grumio ! and my good friend Petruchio ! How do you all at Verona ? + +Signior Hortensio , come you to part the fray ? +Con tutto il cuore ben trovato , may I say . + +Alla nostra casa ben venuto ; molto honorato signior mio Petruchio . +Rise , Grumio , rise : we will compound this quarrel . + +Nay , 'tis no matter , sir , what he 'leges in Latin . If this be not a lawful cause for me to leave his service , look you , sir , he bid me knock him and rap him soundly , sir : well , was it fit for a servant to use his master so ; being , perhaps , for aught I see , two-and-thirty , a pip out ? +Whom would to God , I had well knock'd at first , +Then had not Grumio come by the worst . + +A senseless villain ! Good Hortensio , +I bade the rascal knock upon your gate , +And could not get him for my heart to do it . + +Knock at the gate ! O heavens ! Spake you not these words plain , 'Sirrah , knock me here , rap me here , knock me well , and knock me soundly ?' And come you now with 'knocking at the gate ?' + +Sirrah , be gone , or talk not , I advise you . + +Petruchio , patience ; I am Grumio's pledge . +Why , this's a heavy chance 'twixt him and you , +Your ancient , trusty , pleasant servant Grumio . +And tell me now , sweet friend , what happy gale +Blows you to Padua here from old Verona ? + +Such wind as scatters young men through the world +To seek their fortunes further than at home , +Where small experience grows . But in a few , +Signior Hortensio , thus it stands with me : +Antonio , my father , is deceas'd , +And I have thrust myself into this maze , +Haply to wive and thrive as best I may . +Crowns in my purse I have and goods at home , +And so am come abroad to see the world . + +Petruchio , shall I then come roundly to thee , +And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife ? +Thou'dst thank me but a little for my counsel ; +And yet I'll promise thee she shall be rich , +And very rich : but thou'rt too much my friend , +And I'll not wish thee to her . + +Signior Hortensio , 'twixt such friends as we , +Few words suffice ; and therefore , if thou know +One rich enough to be Petruchio's wife , +As wealth is burden of my wooing dance , +Be she as foul as was Florentius' love , +As old as Sibyl , and as curst and shrewd +As Socrates' Xanthippe , or a worse , +She moves me not , or not removes , at least , +Affection's edge in me , were she as rough +As are the swelling Adriatic seas : +I come to wive it wealthily in Padua ; +If wealthily , then happily in Padua . + +Nay , look you , sir , he tells you flatly what his mind is : why , give him gold enough and marry him to a puppet or an aglet-baby ; or an old trot with ne'er a tooth in her head , though she have as many diseases as two-and-fifty horses : why , nothing comes amiss , so money comes withal . + +Petruchio , since we are stepp'd thus far in , +I will continue that I broach'd in jest . +I can , Petruchio , help thee to a wife +With wealth enough , and young and beauteous , +Brought up as best becomes a gentlewoman : +Her only fault ,and that is faults enough , +Is , that she is intolerable curst +And shrewd and froward , so beyond all measure , +That , were my state far worser than it is , +I would not wed her for a mine of gold : + +Hortensio , peace ! thou know'st not gold's effect : +Tell me her father's name , and 'tis enough ; +For I will board her , though she chide as loud +As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack . + +Her father is Baptista Minola , +An affable and courteous gentleman ; +Her name is Katharina Minola , +Renown'd in Padua for her scolding tongue . + +I know her father , though I know not her ; +And he knew my deceased father well . +I will not sleep , Hortensio , till I see her ; +And therefore let me be thus bold with you , +To give you over at this first encounter , +Unless you will accompany me thither . + +I pray you , sir , let him go while the humour lasts . O' my word , an she knew him as well as I do , she would think scolding would do little good upon him . She may , perhaps , call him half a score knaves or so : why , that's nothing : an he begin once , he'll rail in his ropetricks . I'll tell you what , sir , an she stand him but a little , he will throw a figure in her face , and so disfigure her with it that she shall have no more eyes to see withal than a cat . You know him not , sir . + +Tarry , Petruchio , I must go with thee , +For in Baptista's keep my treasure is : +He hath the jewel of my life in hold , +His youngest daughter , beautiful Bianca , +And her withholds from me and other more , +Suitors to her and rivals in my love ; +Supposing it a thing impossible , +For those defects I have before rehears'd , +That ever Katharina will be woo'd : +Therefore this order hath Baptista ta'en , +That none shall have access unto Bianca , +Till Katharine the curst have got a husband . + +Katharine the curst ! +A title for a maid of all titles the worst . + +Now shall my friend Petruchio do me grace , +And offer me , disguis'd in sober robes , +To old Baptista as a schoolmaster +Well seen in music , to instruct Bianca ; +That so I may , by this device , at least +Have leave and leisure to make love to her , +And unsuspected court her by herself . + +Here's no knavery ! See , to beguile the old folks , how the young folks lay their heads together ! + +Master , master , look about you : who goes there , ha ? + +Peace , Grumio ! 'tis the rival of my love . +Petruchio , stand by awhile . + +A proper stripling , and an amorous ! + +O ! very well ; I have perus'd the note . +Hark you , sir ; I'll have them very fairly bound : +All books of love , see that at any hand , +And see you read no other lectures to her . +You understand me . Over and beside +Signior Baptista's liberality , +I'll mend it with a largess . Take your papers too , +And let me have them very well perfum'd ; +For she is sweeter than perfume itself +To whom they go to . What will you read to her ? + +Whate'er I read to her , I'll plead for you , +As for my patron , stand you so assur'd , +As firmly as yourself were still in place ; +Yea , and perhaps with more successful words +Than you , unless you were a scholar , sir . + +O ! this learning , what a thing it is . + +O ! this woodcock , what an ass it is . + +Peace , sirrah ! + +Grumio , mum ! God save you , Signior Gremio ! + +And you're well met , Signior Hortensio . +Trow you whither I am going ? To Baptista Minola . +I promis'd to inquire carefully +About a schoolmaster for the fair Bianca ; +And , by good fortune , I have lighted well +On this young man ; for learning and behaviour +Fit for her turn ; well read in poetry +And other books , good ones , I warrant ye . + +'Tis well : and I have met a gentleman +Hath promis'd me to help me to another , +A fine musician to instruct our mistress : +So shall I no whit be behind in duty +To fair Bianca , so belov'd of me . + +Belov'd of me , and that my deeds shall prove . + +And that his bags shall prove . + +Gremio , 'tis now no time to vent our love : +Listen to me , and if you speak me fair , +I'll tell you news indifferent good for either . +Here is a gentleman whom by chance I met , +Upon agreement from us to his liking , +Will undertake to woo curst Katharine ; +Yea , and to marry her , if her dowry please . + +So said , so done , is well . +Hortensio , have you told him all her faults ? + +I know she is an irksome , brawling scold : +If that be all , masters , I hear no harm . + +No , sayst me so , friend ? What countryman ? + +Born in Verona , old Antonio's son : +My father dead , my fortune lives for me ; +And I do hope good days and long to see . + +O , sir , such a life , with such a wife , were strange ! +But if you have a stomach , to't i' God's name : +You shall have me assisting you in all . +But will you woo this wild-cat ? + +Will I live ? + +Will he woo her ? ay , or I'll hang her . + +Why came I hither but to that intent ? +Think you a little din can daunt mine ears ? +Have I not in my time heard lions roar ? +Have I not heard the sea , puff'd up with winds , +Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat ? +Have I not heard great ordnance in the field , +And heaven's artillery thunder in the skies ? +Have I not in a pitched battle heard +Loud 'larums , neighing steeds , and trumpets' clang ? +And do you tell me of a woman's tongue , +That gives not half so great a blow to hear +As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire ? +Tush , tush ! fear boys with bugs . + +For he fears none . + +Hortensio , hark : +This gentleman is happily arriv'd , +My mind presumes , for his own good and ours . + +I promis'd we would be contributors , +And bear his charge of wooing , whatsoe'er . + +And so we will , provided that he win her . + +I would I were as sure of a good dinner . + + +Gentlemen , God save you ! If I may be bold , +Tell me , I beseech you , which is the readiest way +To the house of Signior Baptista Minola ? + +He that has the two fair daughters : is't he you mean ? + +Even he , Biondello ! + +Hark you , sir ; you mean not her to + +Perhaps , him and her , sir : what have you to do ? + +Not her that chides , sir , at any hand , I pray . + +I love no chiders , sir . Biondello , let's away . + +Well begun , Tranio . + +Sir , a word ere you go : +Are you a suitor to the maid you talk of , yea or no ? + +And if I be , sir , is it any offence ? + +No ; if without more words you will get you hence . + +Why , sir , I pray , are not the streets as free +For me as for you ? + +But so is not she . + +For what reason , I beseech you ? + +For this reason , if you'll know , +That she's the choice love of Signior Gremio . + +That she's the chosen of Signior Hortensio . + +Softly , my masters ! if you be gentlemen , +Do me this right ; hear me with patience . +Baptista is a noble gentleman , +To whom my father is not all unknown ; +And were his daughter fairer than she is , +She may more suitors have , and me for one . +Fair Leda's daughter had a thousand wooers ; +Then well one more may fair Bianca have , +And so she shall ; Lucentio shall make one , +Though Paris came in hope to speed alone . + +What ! this gentleman will out-talk us all . + +Sir , give him head : I know he'll prove a jade . + +Hortensio , to what end are all these words ? + +Sir , let me be so bold as ask you , +Did you yet ever see Baptista's daughter ? + +No , sir ; but hear I do that he hath two , +The one as famous for a scolding tongue +As is the other for beauteous modesty . + +Sir , sir , the first's for me ; let her go by . + +Yea , leave that labour to great Hercules , +And let it be more than Alcides' twelve . + +Sir , understand you this of me in sooth : +The youngest daughter , whom you hearken for , +Her father keeps from all access of suitors , +And will not promise her to any man +Until the elder sister first be wed ; +The younger then is free , and not before . + +If it be so , sir , that you are the man +Must stead us all , and me among the rest ; +And if you break the ice , and do this feat , +Achieve the elder , set the younger free +For our access , whose hap shall be to have her +Will not so graceless be to be ingrate . + +Sir , you say well , and well you do conceive ; +And since you do profess to be a suitor , +You must , as we do , gratify this gentleman , +To whom we all rest generally beholding . + +Sir , I shall not be slack : in sign whereof , +Please ye we may contrive this afternoon , +And quaff carouses to our mistress' health , +And do as adversaries do in law , +Strive mightily , but eat and drink as friends . + +O excellent motion ! Fellows , let's be gone . + +O excellent motion ! Fellows , let's be gone . + +The motion's good indeed , and be it so : +Petruchio , I shall be your ben venuto . + +Good sister , wrong me not , nor wrong yourself , +To make a bondmaid and a slave of me ; +That I disdain : but for these other gawds , +Unbind my hands , I'll pull them off myself , +Yea , all my raiment , to my petticoat ; +Or what you will command me will I do , +So well I know my duty to my elders . + +Of all thy suitors , here I charge thee , tell +Whom thou lov'st best : see thou dissemble not . + +Believe me , sister , of all the men alive +I never yet beheld that special face +Which I could fancy more than any other . + +Minion , thou liest . Is't not Hortensio ? + +If you affect him , sister , here I swear +I'll plead for you myself , but you shall have him . + +O ! then , belike , you fancy riches more : +You will have Gremio to keep you fair . + +Is it for him you do envy me so ? +Nay , then you jest ; and now I well perceive +You have but jested with me all this while : +I prithee , sister Kate , untie my hands . + +If that be jest , then all the rest was so . + +Why , how now , dame ! whence grows this insolence ? +Bianca , stand aside . Poor girl ! she weeps . +Go ply thy needle ; meddle not with her . +For shame , thou hilding of a devilish spirit , +Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee ? +When did she cross thee with a bitter word ? + +Her silence flouts me , and I'll be reveng'd . + + +What ! in my sight ? Bianca , get thee in . + + +What ! will you not suffer me ? Nay , now I see +She is your treasure , she must have a husband ; +I must dance bare-foot on her wedding-day , +And , for your love to her , lead apes in hell . +Talk not to me : I will go sit and weep +Till I can find occasion of revenge . + + +Was ever gentleman thus griev'd as I ? +But who comes here ? + + +Good morrow , neighbour Baptista . + +Good morrow , neighbour Gremio . God save you , gentlemen ! + +And you , good sir . Pray , have you not a daughter +Call'd Katharina , fair and virtuous ? + +I have a daughter , sir , call'd Katharina . + +You are too blunt : go to it orderly . + +You wrong me , Signior Gremio : give me leave . +I am a gentleman of Verona , sir , +That , hearing of her beauty and her wit , +Her affability and bashful modesty , +Her wondrous qualities and mild behaviour , +Am bold to show myself a forward guest +Within your house , to make mine eye the witness +Of that report which I so oft have heard . +And , for an entrance to my entertainment , +I do present you with a man of mine , + +Cunning in music and the mathematics , +To instruct her fully in those sciences , +Whereof I know she is not ignorant . +Accept of him , or else you do me wrong : +His name is Licio , born in Mantua . + +You're welcome , sir ; and he , for your good sake . +But for my daughter Katharine , this I know , +She is not for your turn , the more my grief . + +I see you do not mean to part with her , +Or else you like not of my company . + +Mistake me not ; I speak but as I find . +Whence are you , sir ? what may I call your name ? + +Petruchio is my name ; Antonio's son ; +A man well known throughout all Italy . + +I know him well : you are welcome for his sake . + +Saving your tale , Petruchio , I pray , +Let us , that are poor petitioners , speak too . +Backare ! you are marvellous forward . + +O , pardon me , Signior Gremio ; I would fain be doing . + +I doubt it not , sir ; but you will curse your wooing . +Neighbour , this is a gift very grateful , I am sure of it . To express the like kindness myself , that have been more kindly beholding to you than any , freely give unto you this young scholar , + +that has been long studying at Rheims ; as cunning in Greek , Latin , and other languages , as the other in music and mathematics . His name is Cambio ; pray accept his service . + +A thousand thanks , Signior Gremio ; welcome , good Cambio . + +But , gentle sir , methinks you walk like a stranger : may I be so bold to know the cause of your coming ? + +Pardon me , sir , the boldness is mine own , +That , being a stranger in this city here , +Do make myself a suitor to your daughter , +Unto Bianca , fair and virtuous . +Nor is your firm resolve unknown to me , +In the preferment of the eldest sister . +This liberty is all that I request , +That , upon knowledge of my parentage , +I may have welcome 'mongst the rest that woo , +And free access and favour as the rest : +And , toward the education of your daughters , +I here bestow a simple instrument , +And this small packet of Greek and Latin books : +If you accept them , then their worth is great . + +Lucentio is your name , of whence , I pray ? + +Of Pisa , sir ; son to Vincentio . + +A mighty man of Pisa ; by report +I know him well : you are very welcome , sir . + + +and you the set of books ; +You shall go see your pupils presently . +Holla , within ! + + +Sirrah , lead these gentlemen +To my two daughters , and then tell them both +These are their tutors : bid them use them well . + +We will go walk a little in the orchard , +And then to dinner . You are passing welcome , + +And so I pray you all to think yourselves . + +Signior Baptista , my business asketh haste , +And every day I cannot come to woo . +You knew my father well , and in him me , +Left solely heir to all his lands and goods , +Which I have better'd rather than decreas'd : +Then tell me , if I get your daughter's love , +What dowry shall I have with her to wife ? + +After my death the one half of my lands , +And in possession twenty thousand crowns . + +And , for that dowry , I'll assure her of +Her widowhood , be it that she survive me , +In all my lands and leases whatsoever . +Let specialties be therefore drawn between us , +That covenants may be kept on either hand . + +Ay , when the special thing is well obtain'd , +That is , her love ; for that is all in all . + +Why , that is nothing ; for I tell you , father , +I am as peremptory as she proud-minded ; +And where two raging fires meet together +They do consume the thing that feeds their fury : +Though little fire grows great with little wind , +Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire and all ; +So I to her , and so she yields to me ; +For I am rough and woo not like a babe . + +Well mayst thou woo , and happy be thy speed ! +But be thou arm'd for some unhappy words . + +Ay , to the proof ; as mountains are for winds , +That shake not , though they blow perpetually . + + +How now , my friend ! why dost thou look so pale ? + +For fear , I promise you , if I look pale . + +What , will my daughter prove a good musician ? + +I think she'll sooner prove a soldier : +Iron may hold with her , but never lutes . + +Why , then thou canst not break her to the lute ? + +Why , no ; for she hath broke the lute to me . +I did but tell her she mistook her frets , +And bow'd her hand to teach her fingering ; +When , with a most impatient devilish spirit , +'Frets , call you these ?' quoth she ; 'I'll fume with them ;' +And , with that word , she struck me on the head , +And through the instrument my pate made way ; +And there I stood amazed for a while , +As on a pillory , looking through the lute ; +While she did call me rascal fiddler , +And twangling Jack ; with twenty such vile terms +As she had studied to misuse me so . + +Now , by the world , it is a lusty wench ! +I love her ten times more than e'er I did : +O ! how I long to have some chat with her ! + +Well , go with me , and be not so discomfited : +Proceed in practice with my younger daughter ; +She's apt to learn , and thankful for good turns . +Signior Petruchio , will you go with us , +Or shall I send my daughter Kate to you ? + +I pray you do ; I will attend her here , + +And woo her with some spirit when she comes . +Say that she rail ; why then I'll tell her plain +She sings as sweetly as a nightingale : +Say that she frown ; I'll say she looks as clear +As morning roses newly wash'd with dew : +Say she be mute and will not speak a word ; +Then I'll commend her volubility , +And say she uttereth piercing eloquence : +If she do bid me pack ; I'll give her thanks , +As though she bid me stay by her a week : +If she deny to wed ; I'll crave the day +When I shall ask the banns , and when be married . +But here she comes ; and now , Petruchio , speak . + +Good morrow , Kate ; for that's your name , I hear . + +Well have you heard , but something hard of hearing : +They call me Katharine that do talk of me . + +You lie , in faith ; for you are call'd plain Kate , +And bonny Kate , and sometimes Kate the curst ; +But , Kate , the prettiest Kate in Christendom ; +Kate of Kate-Hall , my super-dainty Kate , +For dainties are all cates : and therefore , Kate , +Take this of me , Kate of my consolation ; +Hearing thy mildness prais'd in every town , +Thy virtues spoke of , and thy beauty sounded , +Yet not so deeply as to thee belongs , +Myself am mov'd to woo thee for my wife . + +Mov'd ! in good time : let him that mov'd you hither +Remove you hence . I knew you at the first , +You were a moveable . + +Why , what's a moveable ? + +A joint-stool . + +Thou hast hit it : come , sit on me . + +Asses are made to bear , and so are you . + +Women are made to bear , and so are you . + +No such jade as bear you , if me you mean . + +Alas ! good Kate , I will not burden thee ; +For , knowing thee to be but young and light , + +Too light for such a swain as you to catch , +And yet as heavy as my weight should be . + +Should be ! should buz ! + +Well ta'en , and like a buzzard . + +O slow-wing'd turtle ! shall a buzzard take thee ? + +Ay , for a turtle , as he takes a buzzard . + +Come , come , you wasp ; i' faith you are too angry . + +If I be waspish , best beware my sting . + +My remedy is , then , to pluck it out . + +Ay , if the fool could find it where it lies . + +Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting ? +In his tail . + +In his tongue . + +Whose tongue ? + +Yours , if you talk of tails ; and so farewell . + +What ! with my tongue in your tail ? nay , come again . +Good Kate , I am a gentleman . + +That I'll try . + + +I swear I'll cuff you if you strike again . + +So may you lose your arms : +If you strike me , you are no gentleman ; +And if no gentleman , why then no arms . + +A herald , Kate ? O ! put me in thy books . + +What is your crest ? a coxcomb ? + +A combless cock , so Kate will be my hen . + +No cock of mine ; you crow too like a craven . + +Nay , come , Kate , come ; you must not look so sour . + +It is my fashion when I see a crab . + +Why , here's no crab , and therefore look not sour . + +There is , there is . + +Then show it me . + +Had I a glass , I would . + +What , you mean my face ? + +Well aim'd of such a young one . + +Now , by Saint George , I am too young for you . + +Yet you are wither'd . + +'Tis with cares . + +I care not . + +Nay , hear you , Kate : in sooth , you 'scape not so . + +I chafe you , if I tarry : let me go . + +No , not a whit : I find you passing gentle . +'Twas told me you were rough and coy and sullen , +And now I find report a very liar ; +For thou art pleasant , gamesome , passing courteous , +But slow in speech , yet sweet as spring-time flowers : +Thou canst not frown , thou canst not look askance , +Nor bite the lip , as angry wenches will ; +Nor hast thou pleasure to be cross in talk ; +But thou with mildness entertain'st thy wooers , +With gentle conference , soft and affable . +Why does the world report that Kate doth limp ? +O slanderous world ! Kate , like the hazel-twig , +Is straight and slender , and as brown in hue +As hazel nuts , and sweeter than the kernels . +O ! let me see thee walk : thou dost not halt . + +Go , fool , and whom thou keep'st command . + +Did ever Dian so become a grove +As Kate this chamber with her princely gait ? +O ! be thou Dian , and let her be Kate , +And then let Kate be chaste , and Dian sportful ! + +Where did you study all this goodly speech ? + +It is extempore , from my mother-wit . + +A witty mother ! witless else her son . + +Am I not wise ? + +Yes ; keep you warm . + +Marry , so I mean , sweet Katharine , in thy bed : +And therefore , setting all this chat aside , +Thus in plain terms : your father hath consented +That you shall be my wife ; your dowry 'greed on ; +And will you , nill you , I will marry you . +Now , Kate , I am a husband for your turn ; +For , by this light , whereby I see thy beauty , +Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well , +Thou must be married to no man but me : +For I am he am born to tame you , Kate ; +And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate +Conformable as other household Kates . +Here comes your father : never make denial ; +I must and will have Katharine to my wife . + + +Now , Signior Petruchio , how speed you with my daughter ? + +How but well , sir ? how but well ? +It were impossible I should speed amiss . + +Why , how now , daughter Katharine ! in your dumps ? + +Call you me daughter ? now , I promise you +You have show'd a tender fatherly regard , +To wish me wed to one half lunatic ; +A mad-cap ruffian and a swearing Jack , +That thinks with oaths to face the matter out . + +Father , 'tis thus : yourself and all the world , +That talk'd of her , have talk'd amiss of her : +If she be curst , it is for policy , +For she's not froward , but modest as the dove ; +She is not hot , but temperate as the morn ; +For patience she will prove a second Grissel , +And Roman Lucrece for her chastity ; +And to conclude , we have 'greed so well together , +That upon Sunday is the wedding-day . + +I'll see thee hang'd on Sunday first . + +Hark , Petruchio : she says she'll see thee hang'd first . + +Is this your speeding ? nay then , good night our part ! + +Be patient , gentlemen ; I choose her for myself : +If she and I be pleas'd , what's that to you ? +'Tis bargain'd 'twixt us twain , being alone , +That she shall still be curst in company . +I tell you , 'tis incredible to believe +How much she loves me : O ! the kindest Kate . +She hung about my neck , and kiss on kiss +She vied so fast , protesting oath on oath , +That in a twink she won me to her love . +O ! you are novices : 'tis a world to see , +How tame , when men and women are alone , +A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew . +Give me thy hand , Kate : I will unto Venice +To buy apparel 'gainst the wedding-day . +Provide the feast , father , and bid the guests ; +I will be sure my Katharine shall be fine . + +I know not what to say ; but give me your hands . +God send you joy , Petruchio ! 'tis a match . + +Amen , say we : we will be witnesses . + +Amen , say we : we will be witnesses . + +Father , and wife , and gentlemen , adieu . +I will to Venice ; Sunday comes apace : +We will have rings , and things , and fine array ; +And , kiss me , Kate , we will be married o' Sunday . + + +Was ever match clapp'd up so suddenly ? + +Faith , gentlemen , now I play a merchant's part , +And venture madly on a desperate mart . + +'Twas a commodity lay fretting by you : +'Twill bring you gain , or perish on the seas . + +The gain I seek is , quiet in the match . + +No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch . +But now , Baptista , to your younger daughter : +Now is the day we long have looked for : +I am your neighbour , and was suitor first . + +And I am one that love Bianca more +Than words can witness , or your thoughts can guess . + +Youngling , thou canst not love so dear as I . + +Greybeard , thy love doth freeze . + +But thine doth fry . +Skipper , stand back : 'tis age that nourisheth . + +But youth in ladies eyes that flourisheth . + +Content you , gentlemen ; I'll compound this strife : +'Tis deeds must win the prize ; and he , of both , +That can assure my daughter greatest dower +Shall have my Bianca's love . +Say , Signior Gremio , what can you assure her ? + +First , as you know , my house within the city +Is richly furnished with plate and gold : +Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands ; +My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry ; +In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns ; +In cypress chests my arras counterpoints , +Costly apparel , tents , and canopies , +Fine linen , Turkey cushions boss'd with pearl , +Valance of Venice gold in needle-work , +Pewter and brass , and all things that belong +To house or housekeeping : then , at my farm +I have a hundred milch-kine to the pail , +Six score fat oxen standing in my stalls , +And all things answerable to this portion . +Myself am struck in years , I must confess ; +And if I die to-morrow , this is hers , +If whilst I live she will be only mine . + +That 'only' came well in . Sir , list to me : +I am my father's heir and only son : +If I may have your daughter to my wife , +I'll leave her houses three or four as good , +Within rich Pisa walls , as any one +Old Signior Gremio has in Padua ; +Besides two thousand ducats by the year +Of fruitful land , all of which shall be her jointure . +What , have I pinch'd you , Signior Gremio ? + +Two thousand ducats by the year of land ! +My land amounts not to so much in all : +That she shall have ; besides an argosy +That now is lying in Marseilles' road . +What , have I chok'd you with an argosy ? + +Gremio , 'tis known my father hath no less +Than three great argosies , besides two galliasses , +And twelve tight galleys ; these I will assure her , +And twice as much , whate'er thou offer'st next . + +Nay , I have offer'd all , I have no more ; +And she can have no more than all I have : +If you like me , she shall have me and mine . + +Why , then the maid is mine from all the world , +By your firm promise . Gremio is out-vied . + +I must confess your offer is the best ; +And , let your father make her the assurance , +She is your own ; else , you must pardon me : +If you should die before him , where's her dower ? + +That's but a cavil : he is old , I young . + +And may not young men die as well as old ? + +Well , gentlemen , +I am thus resolv'd . On Sunday next , you know , +My daughter Katharine is to be married : +Now , on the Sunday following , shall Bianca +Be bride to you , if you make this assurance ; +If not , to Signior Gremio : +And so , I take my leave , and thank you both . + +Adieu , good neighbour . + +Now I fear thee not : +Sirrah young gamester , your father were a fool +To give thee all , and in his waning age +Set foot under thy table . Tut ! a toy ! +An old Italian fox is not so kind , my boy . + + +A vengeance on your crafty wither'd hide ! +Yet I have fac'd it with a card of ten . +'Tis in my head to do my master good : +I see no reason , but suppos'd Lucentio +Must get a father , called 'suppos'd Vincentio ;' +And that's a wonder : fathers , commonly +Do get their children ; but in this case of wooing , +A child shall get a sire , if I fail not of my cunning . + +Fiddler , forbear ; you grow too forward , sir : +Have you so soon forgot the entertainment +Her sister Katharine welcom'd you withal ? + +But , wrangling pedant , this is +The patroness of heavenly harmony : +Then give me leave to have prerogative ; +And when in music we have spent an hour , +Your lecture shall have leisure for as much . + +Preposterous ass , that never read so far +To know the cause why music was ordain'd ! +Was it not to refresh the mind of man +After his studies or his usual pain ? +Then give me leave to read philosophy , +And while I pause , serve in your harmony . + +Sirrah , I will not bear these braves of thine . + +Why , gentlemen , you do me double wrong , +To strive for that which resteth in my choice . +I am no breeching scholar in the schools ; +I'll not be tied to hours nor 'pointed times , +But learn my lessons as I please myself . +And , to cut off all strife , here sit we down : +Take you your instrument , play you the whiles ; +His lecture will be done ere you have tun'd . + +You'll leave his lecture when I am in tune ? + + +That will be never : tune vour instrument . + +Where left we last ? + +Here , madam : + +Hac ibat Simois ; hic est Sigeia tellus ; +Hic steterat Priami regia celsa senis . + + +Construe them . + +Hac ibat , as I told you before , Simois , I am Lucentio , hic est , son unto Vincentio of Pisa , Sigeia tellus , disguised thus to get your love ; Hic steterat , and that Lucentio that comes a wooing , Priami , is my man Tranio , regia , bearing my port , celsa senis , that we might beguile the old pantaloon . + +Madam , my instrument's in tune . + +Let's hear . + +O fie ! the treble jars . + +Spit in the hole , man , and tune again . + +Now let me see if I can construe it : Hac ibat Simois , I know you not , hic est Sigeia tellus , I trust you not ; Hic steterat Priami , take heed he hear us not , regia , presume not ; celsa senis , despair not . + +Madam , 'tis now in tune . + +All but the base . + +The base is right ; 'tis the base knave that jars . +How fiery and forward our pedant is ! + + +Now , for my life , the knave doth court my love : +Pedascule , I'll watch you better yet . + +In time I may believe , yet I mistrust . + +Mistrust it not ; for , sure , acides +Was Ajax , call'd so from his grandfather . + +I must believe my master ; else , I promise you , +I should be arguing still upon that doubt : +But let it rest . Now , Licio , to you . +Good masters , take it not unkindly , pray , +That I have been thus pleasant with you both . + +You may go walk , and give me leave a while : +My lessons make no music in three parts . + +Are you so formal , sir ? + +Well , I must wait , +And watch withal ; for , but I be deceiv'd , +Our fine musician groweth amorous . + +Madam , before you touch the instrument , +To learn the order of my fingering , +I must begin with rudiments of art ; +To teach you gamut in a briefer sort , +More pleasant , pithy , and effectual , +Than hath been taught by any of my trade : +And there it is in writing , fairly drawn . + +Why , I am past my gamut long ago . + +Yet read the gamut of Hortensio . + + +'Gamut' I am , the ground of all accord , +'A re ,' to plead Hortensio's passion ; +'B mi ,' Bianca , take him for thy lord , +'C fa ut ,' that loves with all affection : +'D sol re ,' one clef , two notes have I : +'E la mi ,' show pity , or I die . + +Call you this gamut ? tut , I like it not : +Old fashions please me best ; I am not so nice , +To change true rules for odd inventions . + + +Mistress , your father prays you leave your books , +And help to dress your sister's chamber up : +You know to-morrow is the wedding-day . + +Farewell , sweet masters both : I must be gone . + + +Faith , mistress , then I have no cause to stay . + + +But I have cause to pry into this pedant : +Methinks he looks as though he were in love . +Yet if thy thoughts , Bianca , be so humble +To cast thy wandering eyes on every stale , +Seize thee that list : if once I find thee ranging , +Hortensio will be quit with thee by changing . + + +Signior Lucentio , this is the 'pointed day +That Katharine and Petruchio should be married , +And yet we hear not of our son-in-law . +What will be said ? what mockery will it be +To want the bridegroom when the priest attends +To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage ! +What says Lucentio to this shame of ours ? + +No shame but mine : I must , forsooth , be forc'd +To give my hand oppos'd against my heart +Unto a mad-brain rudesby , full of spleen ; +Who woo'd in haste and means to wed at leisure . +I told you , I , he was a frantic fool , +Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour ; +And to be noted for a merry man , +He'll woo a thousand , 'point the day of marriage , +Make friends invite , and proclaim the banns ; +Yet never means to wed where he hath woo'd . +Now must the world point at poor Katharine , +And say , 'Lo ! there is mad Petruchio's wife , +If it would please him come and marry her .' + +Patience , good Katharine , and Baptista too . +Upon my life , Petruchio means but well , +Whatever fortune stays him from his word : +Though he be blunt , I know him passing wise ; +Though he be merry , yet withal he's honest . + +Would Katharine had never seen him though ! + + +Go , girl : I cannot blame thee now to weep , +For such an injury would vex a very saint , +Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour . + + +Master , master ! news ! old news , and such news as you never heard of ! + +Is it new and old too ? how may that be ? + +Why , is it not news to hear of Petruchio's coming ? + +Is he come ? + +Why , no , sir . + +What then ? + +He is coming . + +When will he be here ? + +When he stands where I am and sees you there . + +But , say , what to thine old news ? + +Why , Petruchio is coming , in a new hat and an old jerkin ; a pair of old breeches thrice turned ; a pair of boots that have been candle-cases , one buckled , another laced ; an old rusty sword ta'en out of the town-armoury , with a broken hilt , and chapeless ; with two broken points : his horse hipped with an old mothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred ; besides , possessed with the glanders and like to mose in the chine ; troubled with the lampass , infected with the fashions , full of windgalls , sped with spavins , rayed with the yellows , past cure of the fives , stark spoiled with the staggers , begnawn with the bots , swayed in the back , and shoulder-shotten ; near-legged before , and with a half-checked bit , and a head-stall of sheep's leather , which , being restrained to keep him from stumbling , hath been often burst and now repaired with knots ; one girth six times pieced , and a woman's crupper of velure , which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs , and here and there pieced with packthread . + +Who comes with him ? + +O , sir ! his lackey , for all the world caparisoned like the horse ; with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other , gartered with a red and blue list ; an old hat , and the 'humour of forty fancies' pricked in't for a feather : a monster , a very monster in apparel , and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey . + +'Tis some odd humour pricks him to this fashion ; +Yet oftentimes he goes but mean-apparell'd . + +I am glad he is come , howsoe'er he comes . + +Why , sir , he comes not . + +Didst thou not say he comes ? + +Who ? that Petruchio came ? + +Ay , that Petruchio came . + +No , sir ; I say his horse comes , with him on his back . + +Why , that's all one . + + +Nay , by Saint Jamy , +I hold you a penny , +A horse and a man +Is more than one , +And yet not many . + +Come , where be these gallants ? who is at home ? + +You are welcome , sir . + +And yet I come not well . + +And yet you halt not . + +Not so well apparell'd +As I wish you were . + +Were it better , I should rush in thus . +But where is Kate ? where is my lovely bride ? +How does my father ? Gentles , methinks you frown : +And wherefore gaze this goodly company , +As if they saw some wondrous monument , +Some comet , or unusual prodigy ? + +Why , sir , you know this is your weddingday : +First were we sad , fearing you would not come ; +Now sadder , that you come so unprovided . +Fie ! doff this habit , shame to your estate , +An eye-sore to our solemn festival . + +And tell us what occasion of import +Hath all so long detain'd you from your wife , +And sent you hither so unlike yourself ? + +Tedious it were to tell , and harsh to hear : +Sufficeth , I am come to keep my word , +Though in some part enforced to digress ; +Which , at more leisure , I will so excuse +As you shall well be satisfied withal . +But where is Kate ? I stay too long from her : +The morning wears , 'tis time we were at church . + +See not your bride in these unreverent robes : +Go to my chamber ; put on clothes of mine . + +Not I , believe me : thus I'll visit her . + +But thus , I trust , you will not marry her . + +Good sooth , even thus ; therefore ha' done with words : +To me she's married , not unto my clothes . +Could I repair what she will wear in me +As I can change these poor accoutrements , +'Twere well for Kate and better for myself . +But what a fool am I to chat with you +When I should bid good morrow to my bride , +And seal the title with a lovely kiss ! + + +He hath some meaning in his mad attire . +We will persuade him , be it possible , +To put on better ere he go to church . + +I'll after him , and see the event of this . + + +But to her love concerneth us to add +Her father's liking : which to bring to pass , +As I before imparted to your worship , +I am to get a man ,whate'er he be +It skills not much , we'll fit him to our turn , +And he shall be Vincentio of Pisa , +And make assurance here in Padua , +Of greater sums than I have promised . +So shall you quietly enjoy your hope , +And marry sweet Bianca with consent . + +Were it not that my fellow schoolmaster +Doth watch Bianca's steps so narrowly , +'Twere good , methinks , to steal our marriage ; +Which once perform'd , let all the world say no , +I'll keep mine own , despite of all the world . + +That by degrees we mean to look into , +And watch our vantage in this business . +We'll over-reach the greybeard , Gremio , +The narrow-prying father , Minola , +The quaint musician , amorous Licio ; +All for my master's sake , Lucentio . + +Signior Gremio , came you from the church ? + +As willingly as e'er I came from school . + +And is the bride and bridegroom coming home ? + +A bridegroom say you ? 'Tis a groom indeed , +A grumbling groom , and that the girl shall find . + +Curster than she ? why , 'tis impossible . + +Why , he's a devil , a devil , a very fiend . + +Why , she's a devil , a devil , the devil's dam . + +Tut ! she's a lamb , a dove , a fool to him . +I'll tell you , Sir Lucentio : when the priest +Should ask , if Katharine should be his wife , +'Ay , by gogs-wouns !' quoth he ; and swore so loud , +That , all amaz'd , the priest let fall the book ; +And , as he stoop'd again to take it up , +The mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff +That down fell priest and book and book and priest : +'Now take them up ,' quoth he , 'if any list .' + +What said the wench when he arose again ? + +Trembled and shook ; for why he stampt and swore , +As if the vicar meant to cozen him . +But after many ceremonies done , +He calls for wine : 'A health !' quoth he ; as if +He had been aboard , carousing to his mates +After a storm ; quaff'd off the muscadel , +And threw the sops all in the sexton's face ; +Having no other reason +But that his beard grew thin and hungerly , +And seem'd to ask him sops as he was drinking . +This done , he took the bride about the neck , +And kiss'd her lips with such a clamorous smack +That at the parting all the church did echo : +And I , seeing this , came thence for very shame ; +And after me , I know , the rout is coming . +Such a mad marriage never was before . +Hark , hark ! I hear the minstrels play . + +Gentlemen and friends , I thank you for your pains : +I know you think to dine with me to-day , +And have prepar'd great store of wedding cheer ; +But so it is , my haste doth call me hence , +And therefore here I mean to take my leave . + +Is't possible you will away to-night ? + +I must away to-day , before night come . +Make it no wonder : if you knew my business , +You would entreat me rather go than stay . +And , honest company , I thank you all , +That have beheld me give away myself +To this most patient , sweet , and virtuous wife . +Dine with my father , drink a health to me , +For I must hence ; and farewell to you all . + +Let us entreat you stay till after dinner . + +It may not be . + +Let me entreat you . + +It cannot be . + +Let me entreat you . + +I am content . + +Are you content to stay ? + +I am content you shall entreat me stay , +But yet not stay , entreat me how you can . + +Now , if you love me , stay . + +Grumio , my horse ! + +Ay , sir , they be ready : the oats have eaten the horses . + +Nay , then , +Do what thou canst , I will not go to-day ; +No , nor to-morrow , nor till I please myself , +The door is open , sir , there lies your way ; +You may be jogging whiles your boots are green ; +For me , I'll not be gone till I please myself . +'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom , +That take it on you at the first so roundly . + +O Kate ! content thee : prithee , be not angry . + +I will be angry : what hast thou to do ? +Father , be quiet ; he shall stay my leisure . + +Ay , marry , sir , now it begins to work . + +Gentlemen , forward to the bridal dinner : +I see a woman may be made a fool , +If she had not a spirit to resist . + +They shall go forward , Kate , at thy command . +Obey the bride , you that attend on her ; +Go to the feast , revel and domineer , +Carouse full measure to her maidenhead , +Be mad and merry , or go hang yourselves : +But for my bonny Kate , she must with me . +Nay , look not big , nor stamp , nor stare , nor fret ; +I will be master of what is mine own . +She is my goods , my chattels ; she is my house , +My household stuff , my field , my barn , +My horse , my ox , my ass , my anything ; +And here she stands , touch her whoever dare ; +I'll bring mine action on the proudest he +That stops my way in Padua . Grumio , +Draw forth thy weapon , we're beset with thieves ; +Rescue thy mistress , if thou be a man . +Fear not , sweet wench ; they shall not touch thee , Kate : +I'll buckler thee against a million . + + +Nay , let them go , a couple of quiet ones . + +Went they not quickly I should die with laughing . + +Of all mad matches never was the like . + +Mistress , what's your opinion of your sister ? + +That , being mad herself , she's madly mated . + +I warrant him , Petruchio is Kated . + +Neighbours and friends , though bride and bridegroom wants +For to supply the places at the table , +You know there wants no junkets at the feast . +Lucentio , you shall supply the bridegroom's place , +And let Bianca take her sister's room . + +Shall sweet Bianca practise how to bride it ? + +She shall , Lucentio . Come , gentlemen , let's go . + +Fie , fie , on all tired jades , on all mad masters , and all foul ways ! Was ever man so beaten ? was ever man so rayed ? was ever man so weary ? I am sent before to make a fire , and they are coming after to warm them . Now , were not I a little pot and soon hot , my very lips might freeze to my teeth , my tongue to the roof of my mouth , my heart in my belly , ere I should come by a fire to thaw me ; but I , with blowing the fire , shall warm myself ; for , considering the weather , a taller man than I will take cold . Holla , ho ! Curtis . + + +Who is that calls so coldly ? + +A piece of ice : if thou doubt it , thou mayst slide from my shoulder to my heel with no greater a run but my head and my neck . A fire , good Curtis . + +Is my master and his wife coming , Grumio ? + +O ! ay , Curtis , ay ; and therefore fire , fire ; cast on no water . + +Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported ? + +She was , good Curtis , before this frost ; but , thou knowest , winter tames man , woman , and beast ; for it hath tamed my old master , and my new mistress , and myself , fellow Curtis . + +Away , you three-inch-fool ! I am no beast . + +Am I but three inches ? why , thy horn is a foot ; and so long am I at the least . But wilt thou make a fire , or shall I complain on thee to our mistress , whose hand ,she being now at hand ,thou shalt soon feel , to thy cold comfort , for being slow in thy hot office ? + +I prithee , good Grumio , tell me , how goes the world ? + +A cold world , Curtis , in every office but thine ; and therefore , fire . Do thy duty , and have thy duty , for my master and mistress are almost frozen to death . + +There's fire ready ; and therefore , good Grumio , the news ? + +Why , 'Jack , boy ! ho , boy !' and as much news as thou wilt . + +Come , you are so full of cony-catching . + +Why therefore fire : for I have caught extreme cold . Where's the cook ? is supper ready , the house trimmed , rushes strewed , cobwebs swept ; the serving-men in their new fustian , their white stockings , and every officer his wedding-garment on ? Be the Jacks fair within , the Jills fair without , and carpets laid , and everything in order ? + +All ready ; and therefore , I pray thee , news ? + +First , know , my horse is tired ; my master and mistress fallen out . + +How ? + +Out of their saddles into the dirt ; and thereby hangs a tale . + +Let's ha't , good Grumio . + +Lend thine ear . + +Here . + +There . + +This is to feel a tale , not to hear a tale . + +And therefore it is called a sensible tale ; and this cuff was but to knock at your ear and beseech listening . Now I begin : Imprimis , we came down a foul hill , my master riding behind my mistress , + +Both of one horse ? + +What's that to thee ? + +Why , a horse . + +Tell thou the tale : but hadst thou not crossed me thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell , and she under her horse ; thou shouldst have heard in how miry a place , how she was bemoiled : how he left her with the horse upon her ; how he beat me because her horse stumbled ; how she waded through the dirt to pluck him off me : how he swore ; how she prayed , that never prayed before ; how I cried ; how the horses ran away ; how her bridle was burst ; how I lost my crupper ; with many things of worthy memory , which now shall die in oblivion , and thou return unexperienced to thy grave . + +By this reckoning he is more shrew than she . + +Ay ; and that , thou and the proudest of you all shall find when he comes home . But what talk I of this ? Call forth Nathaniel , Joseph , Nicholas , Philip , Walter , Sugarsop , and the rest : let their heads be sleekly combed , their blue coats brushed , and their garters of an indifferent knit : let them curtsy with their left legs , and not presume to touch a hair of my master's horsetail till they kiss their hands . Are they all ready ? + +They are . + +Call them forth . + +Do you hear ? ho ! you must meet my master to countenance my mistress . + +Why , she hath a face of her own . + +Who knows not that ? + +Thou , it seems , that callest for company to countenance her . + +I call them forth to credit her . + +Why , she comes to borrow nothing of them . + + +Welcome home , Grumio ! + +How now , Grumio ? + +What , Grumio ! + +Fellow Grumio ! + +How now , old lad ! + +Welcome , you ; how now , you ; what , you ; fellow , you ; and thus much for greeting . Now , my spruce companions , is all ready , and all things neat ? + +All things is ready . How near is our master ? + +E'en at hand , alighted by this ; and therefore be not ,Cock's passion , silence ! I hear my master . + + +Where be these knaves ? What ! no man at door +To hold my stirrup nor to take my horse ? +Where is Nathaniel , Gregory , Philip ? + +Here , here , sir ; here , sir . + +Here , sir ! here , sir ! here , sir ! here , sir ! +You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms ! +What , no attendance ? no regard ? no duty ? +Where is the foolish knave I sent before ? + +Here , sir ; as foolish as I was before . + +You peasant swain ! you whoreson malt-horse drudge ! +Did I not bid thee meet me in the park , +And bring along these rascal knaves with thee ? + +Nathaniel's coat , sir , was not fully made , +And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' the heel , +There was no link to colour Peter's hat , +And Walter's dagger was not come from sheathing , +There were none fine but Adam , Ralph , and Gregory ; +The rest were ragged , old , and beggarly ; +Yet , as they are , here are they come to meet you . + +Go , rascals , go , and fetch my supper in . + +Where is the life that late I led ? +Where are those ? Sit down , Kate , and welcome . +Soud , soud , soud , soud ! + + +Why , when , I say ?Nay , good sweet Kate , be merry . +Off with my boots , you rogues ! you villains ! When ? + +It was the friar of orders grey , +As he forth walked on his way : + +Out , you rogue ! you pluck my foot awry : + +Take that , and mend the plucking off the other . +Be merry , Kate . Some water , here ; what , ho ! +Where's my spaniel Troilus ? Sirrah , get you hence +And bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither : + +One , Kate , that you must kiss , and be acquainted with . +Where are my slippers ? Shall I have some water ? +Come , Kate , and wash , and welcome heartily . + + +You whoreson villain ! will you let it fall ? + +Patience , I pray you ; 'twas a fault unwilling . + +A whoreson , beetle-headed , flap-ear'd knave ! +Come , Kate , sit down ; I know you have a stomach . +Will you give thanks , sweet Kate , or else shall I ? +What's this ? mutton ? + +Ay . + +Who brought it ? + +I . + +'Tis burnt ; and so is all the meat . +What dogs are these ! Where is the rascal cook ? +How durst you , villains , bring it from the dresser , +And serve it thus to me that love it not ? + +There , take it to you , trenchers , cups , and all . +You heedless joltheads and unmanner'd slaves ! +What ! do you grumble ? I'll be with you straight . + +I pray you , husband , be not so disquiet : +The meat was well if you were so contented . + +I tell thee , Kate , 'twas burnt and dried away ; +And I expressly am forbid to touch it , +For it engenders choler , planteth anger ; +And better 'twere that both of us did fast , +Since , of ourselves , ourselves are choleric , +Than feed it with such over-roasted flesh . +Be patient ; to-morrow't shall be mended , +And for this night we'll fast for company : +Come , I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber . + + +Peter , didst ever see the like ? + +He kills her in her own humour . + + +Where is he ? + +In her chamber , making a sermon of continency to her ; +And rails , and swears , and rates , that she , poor soul , +Knows not which way to stand , to look , to speak , +And sits as one new-risen from a dream . +Away , away ! for he is coming hither . + +Thus have I politicly begun my reign , +And 'tis my hope to end successfully . +My falcon now is sharp and passing empty , +And till she stoop she must not be full-gorg'd , +For then she never looks upon her lure . +Another way I have to man my haggard , +To make her come and know her keeper's call ; +That is , to watch her , as we watch these kites +That bate and beat and will not be obedient . +She eat no meat to-day , nor none shall eat ; +Last night she slept not , nor to-night she shall not : +As with the meat , some undeserved fault +I'll find about the making of the bed ; +And here I'll fling the pillow , there the bolster , +This way the coverlet , another way the sheets : +Ay , and amid this hurly I intend +That all is done in reverend care of her ; +And in conclusion she shall watch all night : +And if she chance to nod I'll rail and brawl , +And with the clamour keep her still awake . +This is a way to kill a wife with kindness ; +And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humour . +He that knows better how to tame a shrew , +Now let him speak : 'tis charity to show . + + +Is't possible , friend Licio , that Mistress Bianca +Doth fancy any other but Lucentio ? +I tell you , sir , she bears me fair in hand . + +Sir , to satisfy you in what I have said , +Stand by , and mark the manner of his teaching . + +Now , mistress , profit you in what you read ? + +What , master , read you ? first resolve me that . + +I read that I profess , the Art to Love . + +And may you prove , sir , master of your art ! + +While you , sweet dear , prove mistress of my heart . + + +Quick proceeders , marry ! Now , tell me , I pray , +You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca +Lov'd none in the world so well as Lucentio . + +O despiteful love ! unconstant womankind ! +I tell thee , Licio , this is wonderful . + +Mistake no more : I am not Licio , +Nor a musician , as I seem to be ; +But one that scorns to live in this disguise , +For such a one as leaves a gentleman , +And makes a god of such a cullion : +Know , sir , that I am call'd Hortensio . + +Signior Hortensio , I have often heard +Of your entire affection to Bianca ; +And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness , +I will with you , if you be so contented , +Forswear Bianca and her love for ever . + +See , how they kiss and court ! Signior Lucentio , +Here is my hand , and here I firmly vow +Never to woo her more ; but I do forswear her , +As one unworthy all the former favours +That I have fondly flatter'd her withal . + +And here I take the like unfeigned oath , +Never to marry with her though she would entreat . +Fie on her ! see how beastly she doth court him . + +Would all the world , but he had quite forsworn ! +For me , that I may surely keep mine oath , +I will be married to a wealthy widow +Ere three days pass , which hath as long lov'd me +As I have lov'd this proud disdainful haggard . +And so farewell , Signior Lucentio . +Kindness in women , not their beauteous looks , +Shall win my love : and so I take my leave , +In resolution as I swore before . + + +Mistress Bianca , bless you with such grace +As 'longeth to a lover's blessed case ! +Nay , I have ta'en you napping , gentle love , +And have forsworn you with Hortensio . + +Tranio , you jest . But have you both forsworn me ? + +Mistress , we have . + +Then we are rid of Licio . + +I' faith , he'll have a lusty widow now , That shall be woo'd and wedded in a day . + +God give him joy ! + +Ay , and he'll tame her . + +He says so , Tranio . + +Faith , he is gone unto the taming-school . + +The taming-school ! what , is there such a place ? + +Ay , mistress , and Petruchio is the master ; +That teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long , +To tame a shrew , and charm her chattering tongue . + + +O master , master ! I have watch'd so long +That I'm dog-weary ; but at last I spied +An ancient angel coming down the hill +Will serve the turn . + +What is he , Biondello ? + +Master , a mercatante , or a pedant , +I know not what ; but formal in apparel , +In gait and countenance surely like a father . + +And what of him , Tranio ? + +If he be credulous and trust my tale , +I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio , +And give assurance to Baptista Minola , +As if he were the right Vincentio . +Take in your love , and then let me alone . + +God save you , sir ! + +And you , sir ! you are welcome . +Travel you far on , or are you at the furthest ? + +Sir , at the furthest for a week or two ; +But then up further , and as far as Rome ; +And so to Tripoli , if God lend me life . + +What countryman , I pray ? + +Of Mantua . + +Of Mantua , sir ! marry , God forbid ! +And come to Padua , careless of your life ? + +My life , sir ! how , I pray ? for that goes hard . + +'Tis death for any one in Mantua +To come to Padua . Know you not the cause ? +Your ships are stay'd at Venice ; and the duke , +For private quarrel 'twixt your duke and him , +Hath publish'd and proclaim'd it openly . +'Tis marvel , but that you are but newly come , +You might have heard it else proclaim'd about . + +Alas , sir ! it is worse for me than so ; +For I have bills for money by exchange +From Florence , and must here deliver them . + +Well , sir , to do you courtesy , +This will I do , and this I will advise you : +First , tell me , have you ever been at Pisa ? + +Ay , sir , in Pisa have I often been ; +Pisa , renowned for grave citizens . + +Among them , know you one Vincentio ? + +I know him not , but I have heard of him ; +A merchant of incomparable wealth . + +He is my father , sir ; and , sooth to say , +In countenance somewhat doth resemble you . + +As much as an apple doth an oyster , and all one . + +To save your life in this extremity , +This favour will I do you for his sake ; +And think it not the worst of all your fortunes +That you are like to Sir Vincentio . +His name and credit shall you undertake , +And in my house you shall be friendly lodg'd , +Look that you take upon you as you should ! +You understand me , sir ; so shall you stay +Till you have done your business in the city . +If this be courtesy , sir , accept of it . + +O sir , I do ; and will repute you ever +The patron of my life and liberty . + +Then go with me to make the matter good . +This , by the way , I let you understand : +My father is here look'd for every day , +To pass assurance of a dower in marriage +'Twixt me and one Baptista's daughter here : +In all these circumstances I'll instruct you . +Go with me to clothe you as becomes you . + + +No , no , forsooth ; I dare not , for my life . + +The more my wrong the more his spite appears . +What , did he marry me to famish me ? +Beggars , that come unto my father's door , +Upon entreaty have a present alms ; +If not , elsewhere they meet with charity : +But I , who never knew how to entreat , +Nor never needed that I should entreat , +Am starv'd for meat , giddy for lack of sleep ; +With oaths kept waking , and with brawling fed . +And that which spites me more than all these wants , +He does it under name of perfect love ; +As who should say , if I should sleep or eat +'Twere deadly sickness , or else present death . +I prithee go and get me some repast ; +I care not what , so it be wholesome food . + +What say you to a neat's foot ? + +'Tis passing good : I prithee let me have it . + +I fear it is too choleric a meat . +How say you to a fat tripe finely broil'd ? + +I like it well : good Grumio , fetch it me . + +I cannot tell ; I fear 'tis choleric . +What say you to a piece of beef and mustard ? + +A dish that I do love to feed upon . + +Ay , but the mustard is too hot a little . + +Why , then the beef , and let the mustard rest . + +Nay , then I will not : you shall have the mustard , +Or else you get no beef of Grumio . + +Then both , or one , or anything thou wilt . + +Why then , the mustard without the beef . + +Go , get thee gone , thou false deluding slave , + +That feed'st me with the very name of meat . +Sorrow on thee and all the pack of you , +That triumph thus upon my misery ! +Go , get thee gone , I say . + + +How fares my Kate ? What , sweeting , all amort ? + +Mistress , what cheer ? + +Faith , as cold as can be . + +Pluck up thy spirits ; look cheerfully upon me . +Here , love ; thou seest how diligent I am , +To dress thy meat myself and bring it thee : + +I am sure , sweet Kate , this kindness merits thanks . +What ! not a word ? Nay then , thou lov'st it not , +And all my pains is sorted to no proof . +Here , take away this dish . + +I pray you , let it stand . + +The poorest service is repaid with thanks , +And so shall mine , before you touch the meat . + +I thank you , sir . + +Signior Petruchio , fie ! you are to blame . +Come , Mistress Kate , I'll bear you company . + +Eat it up all , Hortensio , if thou lov'st me . +Much good do it unto thy gentle heart ! +Kate , eat apace : and now , my honey love , +Will we return unto thy father's house , +And revel it as bravely as the best , +With silken coats and caps and golden rings , +With ruffs and cuffs and farthingales and things ; +With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery , +With amber bracelets , beads and all this knavery . +What ! hast thou din'd ? The tailor stays thy leisure , +To deck thy body with his ruffling treasure . + + +Come , tailor , let us see these ornaments ; +Lay forth the gown . + + +What news with you , sir ? + +Here is the cap your worship did bespeak . + +Why , this was moulded on a porringer ; +A velvet dish : fie , fie ! 'tis lewd and filthy : +Why , 'tis a cockle or a walnut-shell , +A knack , a toy , a trick , a baby's cap : +Away with it ! come , let me have a bigger . + +I'll have no bigger : this doth fit the time , +And gentlewomen wear such caps as these . + +When you are gentle , you shall have one too ; +And not till then . + +That will not be in haste . + +Why , sir , I trust I may have leave to speak , +And speak I will ; I am no child , no babe : +Your betters have endur'd me say my mind , +And if you cannot , best you stop your ears . +My tongue will tell the anger of my heart , +Or else my heart , concealing it , will break : +And rather than it shall , I will be free +Even to the uttermost , as I please , in words . + +Why , thou sayst true ; it is a paltry cap , +A custard-coffin , a bauble , a silken pie . +I love thee well in that thou lik'st it not . + +Love me or love me not , I like the cap , +And it I will have , or I will have none . + + +Thy gown ? why , ay : come , tailor , let us see't . +O mercy , God ! what masquing stuff is here ? +What's this ? a sleeve ? 'tis like a demi-cannon : +What ! up and down , carv'd like an apple-tart ? +Here's snip and nip and cut and slish and slash , +Like to a censer in a barber's shop . +Why , what , i' devil's name , tailor , call'st thou this ? + +I see , she's like to have neither cap nor gown . + +You bid me make it orderly and well , +According to the fashion and the time . + +Marry , and did : but if you be remember'd , +I did not bid you mar it to the time . +Go , hop me over every kennel home , +For you shall hop without my custom , sir . +I'll none of it : hence ! make your best of it . + +I never saw a better-fashion'd gown , +More quaint , more pleasing , nor more commendable . +Belike you mean to make a puppet of me . + +Why , true ; he means to make a puppet of thee . + +She says your worship means to make a puppet of her . + +O monstrous arrogance ! Thou liest , thou thread , +Thou thimble , +Thou yard , three-quarters , half-yard , quarter , nail ! +Thou flea , thou nit , thou winter-cricket thou ! +Brav'd in mine own house with a skein of thread ! +Away ! thou rag , thou quantity , thou remnant , +Or I shall so be-mete thee with thy yard +As thou shalt think on prating whilst thou liv'st ! +I tell thee , I , that thou hast marr'd her gown . + +Your worship is deceiv'd : the gown is made +Just as my master had direction . +Grumio gave order how it should be done . + +I gave him no order ; I gave him the stuff . + +But how did you desire it should be made ? + +Marry , sir , with needle and thread . + +But did you not request to have it cut ? + +Thou hast faced many things . + +I have . + +Face not me : thou hast braved many men ; brave not me : I will neither be faced nor braved . I say unto thee , I bid thy master cut out the gown ; but I did not bid him cut it to pieces : ergo , thou liest . + +Why , here is the note of the fashion to testify . + +Read it . + +The note lies in's throat if he say I said so . + +Imprimis . A loose-bodied gown . + +Master , if ever I said loose-bodied gown , sew me in the skirts of it , and beat me to death with a bottom of brown thread . I said , a gown . + +Proceed . + +With a small compassed cape . + +I confess the cape . + +With a trunk sleeve . + +I confess two sleeves . + +The sleeves curiously cut . + +Ay , there's the villany . + +Error i' the bill , sir ; error i' the bill . I commanded the sleeves should be cut out and sewed up again ; and that I'll prove upon thee , though thy little finger be armed in a thimble . + +This is true that I say : an I had thee in place where thou shouldst know it . + +I am for thee straight : take thou the bill , give me thy mete-yard , and spare not me . + +God-a-mercy , Grumio ! then he shall have no odds . + +Well , sir , in brief , the gown is not for me . + +You are i' the right , sir ; 'tis for my mistress . + +Go , take it up unto thy master's use . + +Villain , not for thy life ! take up my mistress' gown for thy master's use ! + +Why , sir , what's your conceit in that ? + +O , sir , the conceit is deeper than you think for . +Take up my mistress' gown to his master's use ! +O , fie , fie , fie ! + +Hortensio , say thou wilt see the tailor paid . + + +Go take it hence ; be gone , and say no more . + +Tailor , I'll pay thee for thy gown to-morrow : +Take no unkindness of his hasty words . +Away ! I say ; commend me to thy master . + + +Well , come , my Kate ; we will unto your father's , +Even in these honest mean habiliments . +Our purses shall be proud , our garments poor : +For 'tis the mind that makes the body rich ; +And as the sun breaks through the darkest clouds , +So honour peereth in the meanest habit . +What is the jay more precious than the lark +Because his feathers are more beautiful ? +Or is the adder better than the eel +Because his painted skin contents the eye ? +O , no , good Kate ; neither art thou the worse +For this poor furniture and mean array . +If thou account'st it shame , lay it on me ; +And therefore frolic : we will hence forthwith , +To feast and sport us at thy father's house . +Go , call my men , and let us straight to him ; +And bring our horses unto Long-lane end ; +There will we mount , and thither walk on foot . +Let's see ; I think 'tis now some seven o'clock , +And well we may come there by dinner-time . + +I dare assure you , sir , 'tis almost two ; +And 'twill be supper-time ere you come there . + +It shall be seven ere I go to horse . +Look , what I speak , or do , or think to do , +You are still crossing it . Sirs , let't alone : +I will not go to-day ; and ere I do , +It shall be what o'clock I say it is . + +Why , so this gallant will command the sun . + + +Sir , this is the house : please it you that I call ? + +Ay , what else ? and , but I be deceived , +Signior Baptista may remember me , +Near twenty years ago , in Genoa , +Where we were lodgers at the Pegasus . + +'Tis well ; and hold your own , in any case , +With such austerity as 'longeth to a father . + +I warrant you . But , sir , here comes your boy ; +'Twere good he were school'd . + + +Fear you not him . Sirrah Biondello , +Now do your duty throughly , I advise you : +Imagine 'twere the right Vincentio . + +Tut ! fear not me . + +But hast thou done thy errand to Baptista ? + +I told him that your father was at Venice , +And that you look'd for him this day in Padua . + +Thou'rt a tall fellow : hold thee that to drink . +Here comes Baptista . Set your countenance , sir . + + +Signior Baptista , you are happily met . + + +Sir , this is the gentleman I told you of : +I pray you , stand good father to me now , + +Give me Bianca for my patrimony . + +Soft , son ! +Sir , by your leave : having come to Padua +To gather in some debts , my son Lucentio +Made me acquainted with a weighty cause +Of love between your daughter and himself : +And ,for the good report I hear of you , +And for the love he beareth to your daughter , +And she to him ,to stay him not too long , +I am content , in a good father's care , +To have him match'd ; and , if you please to like +No worse than I , upon some agreement +Me shall you find ready and willing +With one consent to have her so bestow'd ; +For curious I cannot be with you , +Signior Baptista , of whom I hear so well . + +Sir , pardon me in what I have to say : +Your plainness and your shortness please me well . +Right true it is , your son Lucentio here +Doth love my daughter and she loveth him , +Or both dissemble deeply their affections : +And therefore , if you say no more than this , +That like a father you will deal with him +And pass my daughter a sufficient dower , +The match is made , and all is done : +Your son shall have my daughter with consent . + +I thank you , sir . Where , then , do you know best +We be affied and such assurance ta'en +As shall with either part's agreement stand ? + +Not in my house , Lucentio ; for , you know , +Pitchers have ears , and I have many servants . +Besides , old Gremio is hearkening still , +And happily we might be interrupted . + +Then at my lodging an it like you : +There doth my father lie , and there this night +We'll pass the business privately and well . +Send for your daughter by your servant here ; +My boy shall fetch the scrivener presently . +The worst is this , that , at so slender warning , +You're like to have a thin and slender pittance . + +It likes me well . Cambio , hie you home , +And bid Bianca make her ready straight ; +And , if you will , tell what hath happened : +Lucentio's father is arriv'd in Padua , +And how she's like to be Lucentio's wife . + +I pray the gods she may with all my heart ! + +Dally not with the gods , but get thee gone . +Signior Baptista , shall I lead the way ? +Welcome ! one mess is like to be your cheer . +Come , sir ; we will better it in Pisa . + +I follow you . + + +Cambio ! + +What sayst thou , Biondello ? + +You saw my master wink and laugh upon you ? + +Biondello , what of that ? + +Faith , nothing ; but he has left me here behind to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens . + +I pray thee , moralize them . + +Then thus . Baptista is safe , talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son . + +And what of him ? + +His daughter is to be brought by you to the supper . + +And then ? + +The old priest at Saint Luke's church is at your command at all hours . + +And what of all this ? + +I cannot tell , expect they are busied about a counterfeit assurance : take you assurance of her , cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum . To the church ! take the priest , clerk , and some sufficient honest witnesses . +If this be not that you look for , I have no more to say , +But bid Bianca farewell for ever and a day . + + +Hearest thou , Biondello ? + +I cannot tarry : I knew a wench married in an afternoon as she went to the garden for parsley to stuff a rabbit ; and so may you , sir ; and so , adieu , sir . My master hath appointed me to go to Saint Luke's , to bid the priest be ready to come against you come with your appendix . + + +I may , and will , if she be so contented : +She will be pleas'd ; then wherefore should I doubt ? +Hap what hap may , I'll roundly go about her : +It shall go hard if Cambio go without her . + + +Come on , i' God's name ; once more toward our father's . +Good Lord , how bright and goodly shines the moon ! + +The moon ! the sun : it is not moonlight now . + +I say it is the moon that shines so bright . + +I know it is the sun that shines so bright . + +Now , by my mother's son , and that's myself , +It shall be moon , or star , or what I list , +Or ere I journey to your father's house . +Go one and fetch our horses back again . +Evermore cross'd and cross'd ; nothing but cross'd ! + +Say as he says , or we shall never go . + +Forward , I pray , since we have come so far , +And be it moon , or sun , or what you please . +An if you please to call it a rush-candle , +Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me . + +I say it is the moon . + +I know it is the moon . + +Nay , then you lie ; it is the blessed sun . + +Then God be bless'd , it is the blessed sun : +But sun it is not when you say it is not , +And the moon changes even as your mind . +What you will have it nam'd , even that it is ; +And so , it shall be so for Katharine . + +Petruchio , go thy ways ; the field is won . + +Well , forward , forward ! thus the bowl should run , +And not unluckily against the bias . +But soft ! what company is coming here ? + + +Good morrow , gentle mistress : where away ? +Tell me , sweet Kate , and tell me truly too , +Hast thou beheld a fresher gentlewoman ? +Such war of white and red within her cheeks ! +What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty , +As those two eyes become that heavenly face ? +Fair lovely maid , once more good day to thee . + +Sweet Kate , embrace her for her beauty's sake . + +A' will make the man mad , to make a woman of him . + +Young budding virgin , fair and fresh and sweet , +Whither away , or where is thy abode ? +Happy the parents of so fair a child ; +Happier the man , whom favourable stars +Allot thee for his lovely bed-fellow ! + +Why , how now , Kate ! I hope thou art not mad : +This is a man , old , wrinkled , faded , wither'd , +And not a maiden , as thou sayst he is . + +Pardon , old father , my mistaking eyes , +That have been so bedazzled with the sun +That everything I look on seemeth green : +Now I perceive thou art a reverend father ; +Pardon , I pray thee , for my mad mistaking . + +Do , good old grandsire ; and withal make known +Which way thou travellest : if along with us , +We shall be joyful of thy company . + +Fair sir , and you my merry mistress , +That with your strange encounter much amaz'd me , +My name is called Vincentio ; my dwelling , Pisa ; +And bound I am to Padua , there to visit +A son of mine , which long I have not seen . + +What is his name ? + +Lucentio , gentle sir . + +Happily met ; the happier for thy son . +And now by law , as well as reverend age , +I may entitle thee my loving father : +The sister to my wife , this gentlewoman , +Thy son by this hath married . Wonder not , +Nor be not griev'd : she is of good esteem , +Her dowry wealthy , and of worthy birth ; +Beside , so qualified as may beseem +The spouse of any noble gentleman . +Let me embrace with old Vincentio ; +And wander we to see thy honest son , +Who will of thy arrival be full joyous . + +But is this true ? or is it else your pleasure , +Like pleasant travellers , to break a jest +Upon the company you overtake ? + +I do assure thee , father , so it is . + +Come , go along , and see the truth hereof ; +For our first merriment hath made thee jealous . + + +Well , Petruchio , this has put me in heart . +Have to my widow ! and if she be froward , +Then hast thou taught Hortensio to be untoward . + +Softly and swiftly , sir , for the priest is ready . + +I fly , Biondello : but they may chance to need thee at home ; therefore leave us . + +Nay , faith , I'll see the church o' your back ; and then come back to my master as soon as I can . + + +I marvel Cambio comes not all this while . + + +Sir , here's the door , this is Lucentio's house : +My father's bears more toward the marketplace ; +Thither must I , and here I leave you , sir . + +You shall not choose but drink before you go . +I think I shall command your welcome here , +And , by all likelihood , some cheer is toward . + + +They're busy within ; you were best knock louder . + + +What's he that knocks as he would beat down the gate ? + +Is Signior Lucentio within , sir ? + +He's within , sir , but not to be spoken withal . + +What if a man bring him a hundred pound or two , to make merry withal ? + +Keep your hundred pounds to yourself : he shall need none so long as I live . + +Nay , I told you your son was well beloved in Padua . Do you hear , sir ? To leave frivolous circumstances , I pray you , tell Signior Lucentio that his father is come from Pisa , and is here at the door to speak with him . + +Thou liest : his father is come from Padua , and here looking out at the window . + +Art thou his father ? + +Ay , sir ; so his mother says , if I may believe her . + +Why , how now , gentleman ! why , this is flat knavery , to take upon you another man's name . + +Lay hands on the villain : I believe , a' means to cozen somebody in this city under my countenance . + + +I have seen them in the church together : God send 'em good shipping ! But who is here ? mine old master , Vincentio ! now we are undone and brought to nothing . + +Come hither , crack-hemp . + +I hope I may choose , sir . + +Come hither , you rogue . What , have you forgot me ? + +Forgot you ! no , sir : I could not forget you , for I never saw you before in all my life . + +What , you notorious villain ! didst thou never see thy master's father , Vincentio ? + +What , my old , worshipful old master ? yes , marry , sir : see where he looks out of the window . + +Is't so , indeed ? + + +Help , help , help ! here's a madman will murder me . + + +Help , son ! help , Signior Baptista ! + + +Prithee , Kate , let's stand aside , and see the end of this controversy . + +Sir , what are you that offer to beat my servant ? + +What am I , sir ! nay , what are you , sir ? O immortal gods ! O fine villain ! A silken doublet ! a velvet hose ! a scarlet cloak ! and a copatain hat ! O , I am undone ! I am undone ! while I play the good husband at home , my son and my servant spend all at the university . + +How now ! what's the matter ? + +What , is the man lunatic ? + +Sir , you seem a sober ancient gentleman by your habit , but your words show you a madman . Why , sir , what 'cerns it you if I wear pearl and gold ? I thank my good father , I am able to maintain it . + +Thy father ! O villain ! he is a sailmaker in Bergamo . + +You mistake , sir , you mistake , sir . Pray , what do you think is his name ? + +His name ! as if I knew not his name : I have brought him up ever since he was three years old , and his name is Tranio . + +Away , away , mad ass ! his name is Lucentio ; and he is mine only son , and heir to the lands of me , Signior Vincentio . + +Lucentio ! O ! he hath murdered his master . Lay hold on him , I charge you in the duke's name . O my son , my son ! tell me , thou villain , where is my son Lucentio ? + +Call forth an officer . + +Carry this mad knave to the gaol . Father Baptista , I charge you see that he be forthcoming . + +Carry me to the gaol ! + +Stay , officer : he shall not go to prison . + +Talk not , Signior Gremio : I say he shall go to prison . + +Take heed , Signior Baptista , lest you be cony-catched in this business : I dare swear this is the right Vincentio . + +Swear , if thou darest . + +Nay , I dare not swear it . + +Then thou wert best say , that I am not Lucentio . + +Yes , I know thee to be Signior Lucentio . + +Away with the dotard ! to the gaol with him ! + +Thus strangers may be haled and abused : O monstrous villain ! + + +O ! we are spoiled ; and yonder he is : deny him , forswear him , or else we are all undone . + +Pardon , sweet father . + +Lives my sweetest son ? + + +Pardon , dear father . + +How hast thou offended ? +Where is Lucentio ? + +Here's Lucentio , +Right son to the right Vincentio ; +That have by marriage made thy daughter mine , +While counterfeit supposes blear'd thine eyne . + +Here's packing , with a witness , to deceive us all ! + +Where is that damned villain Tranio , +That fac'd and brav'd me in this matter so ? + +Why , tell me , is not this my Cambio ? + +Cambio is chang'd into Lucentio . + +Love wrought these miracles . Bianca's love +Made me exchange my state with Tranio , +While he did bear my countenance in the town ; +And happily I have arriv'd at last +Unto the wished haven of my bliss . +What Tranio did , myself enforc'd him to ; +Then pardon him , sweet father , for my sake . + +I'll slit the villain's nose , that would have sent me to the gaol . + +But do you hear , sir ? +Have you married my daughter without asking my good will ? + +Fear not , Baptista ; we will content you , go to : but I will in , to be revenged for this villany . + + +And I , to sound the depth of this knavery . + + +Look not pale , Bianca ; thy father will not frown . + + +My cake is dough ; but I'll in among the rest , +Out of hope of all , but my share of the feast . + +Husband , let's follow , to see the end of this ado . + +First kiss me , Kate , and we will . + +What ! in the midst of the street ? + +What ! art thou ashamed of me ? + +No , sir , God forbid ; but ashamed to kiss . + +Why , then let's home again . Come , sirrah , let's away . + +Nay , I will give thee a kiss : now pray thee , love , stay . + +Is not this well ? Come , my sweet Kate : +Better once than never , for never too late . + + +At last , though long , our jarring notes agree : +And time it is , when raging war is done , +To smile at 'scapes and perils overblown . +My fair Bianca , bid my father welcome , +While I with self-same kindness welcome thine . +Brother Petruchio , sister Katharina , +And thou , Hortensio , with thy loving widow , +Feast with the best , and welcome to my house : +My banquet is to close our stomachs up , +After our great good cheer . Pray you , sit down ; +For now we sit to chat as well as eat . + + +Nothing but sit and sit , and eat and eat ! + +Padua affords this kindness , son Petruchio . + +Padua affords nothing but what is kind . + +For both our sakes I would that word were true . + +Now , for my life , Hortensio fears his widow . + +Then never trust me , if I be afeard . + +You are very sensible , and yet you miss my sense : +I mean , Hortensio is afeard of you . + +He that is giddy thinks the world turns round . + +Roundly replied . + +Mistress , how mean you that ? + +Thus I conceive by him . + +Conceives by me ! How likes Hortensio that ? + +My widow says , thus she conceives her tale . + +Very well mended . Kiss him for that , good widow . + +'He that is giddy thinks the world turns round :' +I pray you , tell me what you meant by that . + +Your husband , being troubled with a shrew , +Measures my husband's sorrow by his woe : +And now you know my meaning . + +A very mean meaning . + +Right , I mean you . + +And I am mean , indeed , respecting you . + +To her , Kate ! + +To her , widow ! + +A hundred marks , my Kate does put her down . + +That's my office . + +Spoke like an officer : ha' to thee , lad . + + +How likes Gremio these quick-witted folks ? + +Believe me , sir , they butt together well . + +Head and butt ! a hasty-witted body +Would say your head and butt were head and horn . + +Ay , mistress bride , hath that awaken'd you ? + +Ay , but not frighted me ; therefore I'll sleep again . + +Nay , that you shall not ; since you have begun , +Have at you for a bitter jest or two . + +Am I your bird ? I mean to shift my bush ; +And then pursue me as you draw your bow . +You are welcome all . + + +She hath prevented me . Here , Signior Tranio ; +This bird you aim'd at , though you hit her not : +Therefore a health to all that shot and miss'd . + +O sir ! Lucentio slipp'd me , like his greyhound , +Which runs himself , and catches for his master . + +A good swift simile , but something currish . + +'Tis well , sir , that you hunted for yourself : +'Tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay . + +O ho , Petruchio ! Tranio hits you now . + +I thank thee for that gird , good Tranio . + +Confess , confess , hath he not hit you here ? + +A' has a little gall'd me , I confess ; +And , as the jest did glance away from me , +'Tis ten to one it maim'd you two outright . + +Now , in good sadness , son Petruchio , +I think thou hast the veriest shrew of all . + +Well , I say no : and therefore , for assurance , +Let's each one send unto his wife ; +And he whose wife is most obedient +To come at first when he doth send for her , +Shall win the wager which we will propose . + +Content . What is the wager ? + +Twenty crowns . + +Twenty crowns ! +I'll venture so much of my hawk or hound , +But twenty times so much upon my wife . + +A hundred then . + +Content . + +A match ! 'tis done . + +Who shall begin ? + +That will I . +Go , Biondello , bid your mistress come to me . + +I go . + + +Son , I will be your half , Bianca comes . + +I'll have no halves ; I'll bear it all myself . + +How now ! what news ? + +Sir , my mistress sends you word +That she is busy and she cannot come . + +How ! she is busy , and she cannot come ! +Is that an answer ? + +Ay , and a kind one too : +Pray God , sir , your wife send you not a worse . + +I hope , better . + +Sirrah Biondello , go and entreat my wife +To come to me forthwith . + + +O ho ! entreat her ! +Nay , then she must needs come . + +I am afraid , sir , +Do what you can , yours will not be entreated . + +Now , where's my wife ? + +She says you have some goodly jest in hand : +She will not come : she bids you come to her . + +Worse and worse ; she will not come ! O vile , +Intolerable , not to be endur'd ! +Sirrah Grumio , go to your mistress ; say , +I command her come to me . + + +I know her answer . + +What ? + +She will not . + +The fouler fortune mine , and there an end . + + +Now , by my holidame , here comes Katharina ! + +What is your will , sir , that you send for me ? + +Where is your sister , and Hortensio's wife ? + +They sit conferring by the parlour fire . + +Go , fetch them hither : if they deny to come , +Swinge me them soundly forth unto their husbands . +Away , I say , and bring them hither straight . + + +Here is a wonder , if you talk of a wonder . + +And so it is . I wonder what it bodes . + +Marry , peace it bodes , and love , and quiet life , +An awful rule and right supremacy ; +And , to be short , what not that's sweet and happy . + +Now fair befall thee , good Petruchio ! +The wager thou hast won ; and I will add +Unto their losses twenty thousand crowns ; +Another dowry to another daughter , +For she is chang'd , as she had never been . + +Nay , I will win my wager better yet , +And show more sign of her obedience , +Her new-built virtue and obedience . +See where she comes , and brings your froward wives +As prisoners to her womanly persuasion . + + +Katharine , that cap of yours becomes you not : +Off with that bauble , throw it under foot . + +Lord ! let me never have a cause to sigh , +Till I be brought to such a silly pass ! + +Fie ! what a foolish duty call you this ? + +I would your duty were as foolish too : +The wisdom of your duty , fair Bianca , +Hath cost me an hundred crowns since supper-time . + +The more fool you for laying on my duty . + +Katharine , I charge thee , tell these headstrong women +What duty they do owe their lords and husbands . + +Come , come , you're mocking : we will have no telling . + +Come on , I say ; and first begin with her . + +She shall not . + +I say she shall : and first begin with her . + +Fie , fie ! unknit that threatening unkind brow , +And dart not scornful glances from those eyes , +To wound thy lord , thy king , thy governor : +It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads , +Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds , +And in no sense is meet or amiable . +A woman mov'd is like a fountain troubled , +Muddy , ill-seeming , thick , bereft of beauty ; +And while it is so , none so dry or thirsty +Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it . +Thy husband is thy lord , thy life , thy keeper , +Thy head , thy sovereign ; one that cares for thee , +And for thy maintenance commits his body +To painful labour both by sea and land , +To watch the night in storms , the day in cold , +Whilst thou liest warm at home , secure and safe ; +And craves no other tribute at thy hands +But love , fair looks , and true obedience ; +Too little payment for so great a debt . +Such duty as the subject owes the prince , +Even such a woman oweth to her husband ; +And when she's froward , peevish , sullen , sour , +And not obedient to his honest will , +What is she but a foul contending rebel , +And graceless traitor to her loving lord ? +I am asham'd that women are so simple +To offer war where they should kneel for peace , +Or seek for rule , supremacy , and sway , +When they are bound to serve , love , and obey . +Why are our bodies soft , and weak , and smooth , +Unapt to toil and trouble in the world , +But that our soft conditions and our hearts +Should well agree with our external parts ? +Come , come , you froward and unable worms ! +My mind hath been as big as one of yours , +My heart as great , my reason haply more , +To bandy word for word and frown for frown ; +But now I see our lances are but straws , +Our strength as weak , our weakness past compare , +That seeming to be most which we indeed least are . +Then vail your stomachs , for it is no boot , +And place your hands below your husband's foot : +In token of which duty , if he please , +My hand is ready ; may it do him ease . + +Why , there's a wench ! Come on , and kiss me , Kate . + +Well , go thy ways , old lad , for thou shalt ha't . + +'Tis a good hearing when children are toward . + +But a harsh hearing when women are froward . + +Come , Kate , we'll to bed . +We three are married , but you two are sped . +'Twas I won the wager , + +though you hit the white ; +And , being a winner , God give you good night ! + + +Now , go thy ways ; thou hast tam'd a curst shrew . + +'Tis a wonder , by your leave , she will be tam'd so . + +THE TEMPEST + +Boatswain ! + +Here , master : what cheer ? + +Good , speak to the mariners : fall to't yarely , or we run ourselves aground : bestir , bestir . + +Heigh , my hearts ! cheerly , cheerly , my hearts ! yare , yare ! Take in the topsail . Tend to the master's whistle .Blow , till thou burst thy wind , if room enough ! + + +Good boatswain , have care . Where's the master ? Play the men . + +I pray now , keep below . + +Where is the master , boson ? + +Do you not hear him ? You mar our labour : keep your cabins : you do assist the storm . + +Nay , good , be patient . + +When the sea is . Hence ! What cares these roarers for the name of king ? To cabin : silence ! trouble us not . + +Good , yet remember whom thou hast aboard . + +None that I more love than myself . You are a counsellor : if you can command these elements to silence , and work the peace of the present , we will not hand a rope more ; use your authority : if you cannot , give thanks you have lived so long , and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour , if it so hap .Cheerly , good hearts !Out of our way , I say . + + +I have great comfort from this fellow : methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him ; his complexion is perfect gallows . Stand fast , good Fate , to his hanging ! make the rope of his destiny our cable , for our own doth little advantage ! If he be not born to be hanged , our case is miserable . + +Down with the topmast ! yare ! lower , lower ! Bring her to try with main-course . + +A plague upon this howling ! they are louder than the weather , or our office . + +Yet again ? what do you here ? Shall we give o'er , and drown ? Have you a mind to sink ? + +A pox o' your throat , you bawling , blasphemous , incharitable dog ! + +Work you , then . + +Hang , cur , hang ! you whoreson , insolent noisemaker , we are less afraid to be drowned than thou art . + +I'll warrant him for drowning ; though the ship were no stronger than a nutshell , and as leaky as an unstanched wench . + +Lay her a-hold , a-hold ! Set her two courses ; off to sea again ; lay her off . + + +All lost ! to prayers , to prayers ! all lost ! + + +What , must our mouths be cold ? + +The king and prince at prayers ! let us assist them , +For our case is as theirs . + +I am out of patience . + +We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards . +This wide-chapp'd rascal ,would thou might'st lie drowning , +The washing of ten tides ! + +He'll be hang'd yet , +Though every drop of water swear against it , +And gape at wid'st to glut him . + +'We split , we split !' 'Farewell , my wife and children !' +'Farewell , brother !' 'We split , we split , we split !' ] + +Let's all sink wi' the king . + + +Let's take leave of him . + + +Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground ; long heath , brown furze , any thing . The wills above be done ! but I would fain die a dry death . + + +If by your art , my dearest father , you have +Put the wild waters in this roar , allay them . +The sky , it seems , would pour down stinking pitch , +But that the sea , mounting to th' welkin's cheek , +Dashes the fire out . O ! I have suffer'd +With those that I saw suffer : a brave vessel , +Who had , no doubt , some noble creatures in her , +Dash'd all to pieces . O ! the cry did knock +Against my very heart . Poor souls , they perish'd . +Had I been any god of power , I would +Have sunk the sea within the earth , or e'er +It should the good ship so have swallow'd and +The fraughting souls within her . + +Be collected : +No more amazement . Tell your piteous heart +There's no harm done . + +O , woe the day ! + +No harm . +I have done nothing but in care of thee , +Of thee , my dear one ! thee , my daughter !who +Art ignorant of what thou art , nought knowing +Of whence I am : nor that I am more better +Than Prospero , master of a full poor cell , +And thy no greater father . + +More to know +Did never meddle with my thoughts . + +'Tis time +I should inform thee further . Lend thy hand , +And pluck my magic garment from me .So : + +Lie there , my art .Wipe thou thine eyes ; have comfort . +The direful spectacle of the wrack , which touch'd +The very virtue of compassion in thee , +I have with such provision in mine art +So safely order'd , that there is no soul +No , not so much perdition as an hair , +Betid to any creature in the vessel +Which thou heard'st cry , which thou saw'st sink . Sit down ; +For thou must now know further . + +You have often +Begun to tell me what I am , but stopp'd , +And left me to a bootless inquisition , +Concluding , 'Stay ; not yet .' + +The hour's now come , +The very minute bids thee ope thine ear ; +Obey and be attentive . Canst thou remember +A time before we came unto this cell ? +I do not think thou canst , for then thou wast not +Out three years old . + +Certainly , sir , I can . + +By what ? by any other house or person ? +Of anything the image tell me , that +Hath kept with thy remembrance . + +'Tis far off ; +And rather like a dream than an assurance +That my remembrance warrants . Had I not +Four or five women once that tended me ? + +Thou hadst , and more , Miranda . But how is it +That this lives in thy mind ? What seest thou else +In the dark backward and abysm of time ? +If thou remember'st aught ere thou cam'st here , +How thou cam'st here , thou may'st . + +But that I do not . + +Twelve year since , Miranda , twelve year since , +Thy father was the Duke of Milan and +A prince of power . + +Sir , are not you my father ? + +Thy mother was a piece of virtue , and +She said thou wast my daughter ; and thy father +Was Duke of Milan , and his only heir +A princess ,no worse issued . + +O , the heavens ! +What foul play had we that we came from thence ? +Or blessed was't we did ? + +Both , both , my girl : +By foul play , as thou say'st , were we heav'd thence ; +But blessedly holp hither . + +O ! my heart bleeds +To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to , +Which is from my remembrance . Please you , further . + +My brother and thy uncle , call'd Antonio , +I pray thee , mark me ,that a brother should +Be so perfidious !he whom next thyself , +Of all the world I lov'd , and to him put +The manage of my state ; as at that time , +Through all the signiories it was the first , +And Prospero the prime duke ; being so reputed +In dignity , and for the liberal arts , +Without a parallel : those being all my study , +The government I cast upon my brother , +And to my state grew stranger , being transported +And rapt in secret studies . Thy false uncle +Dost thou attend me ? + +Sir , most heedfully . + +Being once perfected how to grant suits , +How to deny them , who t'advance , and who +To trash for over-topping ; new created +The creatures that were mine , I say , or chang'd 'em , +Or else new form'd 'em : having both the key +Of officer and office , set all hearts i' the state +To what tune pleas'd his ear ; that now he was +The ivy which had hid my princely trunk , +And suck'd my verdure out on't .Thou attend'st not . + +O , good sir ! I do . + +I pray thee , mark me . +I , thus neglecting worldly ends , all dedicated +To closeness and the bettering of my mind +With that , which , but by being so retir'd , +O'erpriz'd all popular rate , in my false brother +Awak'd an evil nature ; and my trust , +Like a good parent , did beget of him +A falsehood in its contrary as great +As my trust was ; which had , indeed no limit , +A confidence sans bound . He being thus lorded , +Not only with what my revenue yielded , +But what my power might else exact ,like one , +Who having , into truth , by telling of it , +Made such a sinner of his memory , +To credit his own lie ,he did believe +He was indeed the duke ; out o' the substitution , +And executing th' outward face of royalty , +With all prerogative :Hence his ambition growing , +Dost thou hear ? + +Your tale , sir , would cure deafness . + +To have no screen between this part he play'd +And him he play'd it for , he needs will be +Absolute Milan . Me , poor man ,my library +Was dukedom large enough : of temporal royalties +He thinks me now incapable ; confederates , +So dry he was for sway ,wi' the king of Naples +To give him annual tribute , do him homage ; +Subject his coronet to his crown , and bend +The dukedom , yet unbow'd ,alas , poor Milan ! +To most ignoble stooping . + +O the heavens ! + +Mark his condition and the event ; then tell me +If this might be a brother . + +I should sin +To think but nobly of my grandmother : +Good wombs have borne bad sons . + +Now the condition . +This King of Naples , being an enemy +To me inveterate , hearkens my brother's suit ; +Which was , that he , in lieu o' the premises +Of homage and I know not how much tribute , +Should presently extirpate me and mine +Out of the dukedom , and confer fair Milan , +With all the honours on my brother : whereon , +A treacherous army levied , one midnight +Fated to the purpose did Antonio open +The gates of Milan ; and , i' the dead of darkness , +The ministers for the purpose hurried thence +Me and thy crying self . + +Alack , for pity ! +I , not rememb'ring how I cried out then , +Will cry it o'er again : it is a hint , +That wrings mine eyes to 't . + +Hear a little further , +And then I'll bring thee to the present business +Which now's upon us ; without the which this story +Were most impertinent . + +Wherefore did they not +That hour destroy us ? + +Well demanded , wench : +My tale provokes that question . Dear , they durst not , +So dear the love my people bore me , nor set +A mark so bloody on the business ; but +With colours fairer painted their foul ends . +In few , they hurried us aboard a bark , +Bore us some leagues to sea ; where they prepar'd +A rotten carcass of a boat , not rigg'd , +Nor tackle , sail , nor mast ; the very rats +Instinctively have quit it : there they hoist us , +To cry to the sea that roar'd to us ; to sigh +To the winds whose pity , sighing back again , +Did us but loving wrong . + +Alack ! what trouble +Was I then to you ! + +O , a cherubin +Thou wast , that did preserve me ! Thou didst smile , +Infused with a fortitude from heaven , +When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt , +Under my burden groan'd ; which rais'd in me +An undergoing stomach , to bear up +Against what should ensue . + +How came we ashore ? + +By Providence divine . +Some food we had and some fresh water that +A noble Neapolitan , Gonzalo , +Out of his charity ,who being then appointed +Master of this design ,did give us ; with +Rich garments , linens , stuffs , and necessaries , +Which since have steaded much ; so , of his gentleness , +Knowing I lov'd my books , he furnish'd me , +From mine own library with volumes that +I prize above my dukedom . + +Would I might +But ever see that man ! + +Now I arise : + +Sit still , and hear the last of our sea-sorrow . +Here in this island we arriv'd ; and here +Have I , thy schoolmaster , made thee more profit +Than other princes can , that have more time +For vainer hours and tutors not so careful . + +Heavens thank you for't ! And now , I pray you , sir , +For still 'tis beating in my mind ,your reason +For raising this sea-storm ? + +Know thus far forth . +By accident most strange , bountiful Fortune , +Now my dear lady , hath mine enemies +Brought to this shore ; and by my prescience +I find my zenith doth depend upon +A most auspicious star , whose influence +If now I court not but omit , my fortunes +Will ever after droop . Here cease more questions ; +Thou art inclin'd to sleep ; 'tis a good dulness , +And give it way ;I know thou canst not choose . + +Come away , servant , come ! I'm ready now . +Approach , my Ariel ; come ! + + +All hail , great master ! grave sir , hail ! I come +To answer thy best pleasure ; be't to fly , +To swim , to dive into the fire , to ride +On the curl'd clouds : to thy strong bidding task +Ariel and all his quality . + +Hast thou , spirit , +Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee ? + +To every article . +I boarded the king's ship ; now on the beak , +Now in the waist , the deck , in every cabin , +I flam'd amazement : sometime I'd divide +And burn in many places ; on the topmast , +The yards , and boresprit , would I flame distinctly , +Then meet , and join : Jove's lightnings , the precursors +O' the dreadful thunder-claps , more momentary +And sight-outrunning were not : the fire and cracks +Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune +Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble , +Yea , his dread trident shake . + +My brave spirit ! +Who was so firm , so constant , that this coil +Would not infect his reason ? + +Not a soul +But felt a fever of the mad and play'd +Some tricks of desperation . All but mariners , +Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel , +Then all a-fire with me : the king's son , Ferdinand , +With hair up-staring ,then like reeds , not hair , +Was the first man that leap'd ; cried , 'Hell is empty , +And all the devils are here .' + +Why , that's my spirit ! +But was not this nigh shore ? + +Close by , my master . + +But are they , Ariel , safe ? + +Not a hair perish'd ; +On their sustaining garments not a blemish , +But fresher than before : and , as thou bad'st me , +In troops I have dispers'd them 'bout the isle . +The king's son have I landed by himself ; +Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs +In an odd angle of the isle and sitting , +His arms in this sad knot . + +Of the king's ship +The mariners , say how thou hast dispos'd , +And all the rest o' the fleet . + +Safely in harbour +Is the king's ship ; in the deep nook , where once +Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew +From the still-vex'd Bermoothes ; there she's hid : +The mariners all under hatches stow'd ; +Who , with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour , +I have left asleep : and for the rest o' the fleet +Which I dispers'd , they all have met again , +And are upon the Mediterranean flote , +Bound sadly home for Naples , +Supposing that they saw the king's ship wrack'd , +And his great person perish . + +Ariel , thy charge +Exactly is perform'd : but there's more work : +What is the time o' th' day ? + +Past the mid season . + +At least two glasses . The time 'twixt six and now +Must by us both be spent most preciously . + +Is there more toil ? Since thou dost give me pains , +Let me remember thee what thou hast promis'd +Which is not yet perform'd me . + +How now ! moody ? +What is't thou canst demand ? + +My liberty . + +Before the time be out ? no more ! + +I prithee +Remember , I have done thee worthy service ; +Told thee no lies , made no mistakings , serv'd +Without or grudge or grumblings : thou didst promise +To bate me a full year . + +Dost thou forget +From what a torment I did free thee ? + +No . + +Thou dost ; and think'st it much to tread the ooze +Of the salt deep , +To run upon the sharp wind of the north , +To do me business in the veins o' th' earth +When it is bak'd with frost . + +I do not , sir . + +Thou liest , malignant thing ! Hast thou forgot +The foul witch Sycorax , who with age and envy +Was grown into a hoop ? hast thou forgot her ? + +No , sir . + +Thou hast . Where was she born ? speak ; tell me . + +Sir , in Argier . + +O ! was she so ? I must , +Once in a month , recount what thou hast been , +Which thou forget'st . This damn'd witch , Sycorax , +For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible +To enter human hearing , from Argier , +Thou know'st , was banish'd : for one thing she did +They would not take her life . Is not this true ? + +Ay , sir . + +This blue-ey'd hag was hither brought with child +And here was left by the sailors . Thou , my slave , +As thou report'st thyself , wast then her servant : +And , for thou wast a spirit too delicate +To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands , +Refusing her grand hests , she did confine thee , +By help of her more potent ministers , +And in her most unmitigable rage , +Into a cloven pine ; within which rift +Imprison'd , thou didst painfully remain +A dozen years ; within which space she died +And left thee there , where thou didst vent thy groans +As fast as mill-wheels strike . Then was this island , +Save for the son that she did litter here , +A freckled whelp hag-born ,not honour'd with +A human shape . + +Yes ; Caliban her son . + +Dull thing , I say so ; he that Caliban , +Whom now I keep in service . Thou best know'st +What torment I did find thee in ; thy groans +Did make wolves howl and penetrate the breasts +Of ever-angry bears : it was a torment +To lay upon the damn'd , which Sycorax +Could not again undo ; it was mine art , +When I arriv'd and heard thee , that made gape +The pine , and let thee out . + +I thank thee , master . + +If thou more murmur'st , I will rend an oak +And peg thee in his knotty entrails till +Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters . + +Pardon , master ; +I will be correspondent to command , +And do my spiriting gently . + +Do so ; and after two days +I will discharge thee . + +That's my noble master ! +What shall I do ? say what ? what shall I do ? + +Go make thyself like a nymph of the sea : be subject +To no sight but thine and mine ; invisible +To every eyeball else . Go , take this shape , +And hither come in't : go , hence with diligence ! + +Awake , dear heart , awake ! thou hast slept well ; +Awake ! + +The strangeness of your story put +Heaviness in me . + +Shake it off . Come on ; +We'll visit Caliban my slave , who never +Yields us kind answer . + +'Tis a villain , sir , +I do not love to look on . + +But , as 'tis , +We cannot miss him : he does make our fire , +Fetch in our wood ; and serves in offices +That profit us .What ho ! slave ! Caliban ! +Thou earth , thou ! speak . + +There's wood enough within . + +Come forth , I say ; there's other business for thee : +Come , thou tortoise ! when ? + + +Fine apparition ! My quaint Ariel , + +Hark in thine ear . + +My lord , it shall be done . + + +Thou poisonous slave , got by the devil himself +Upon thy wicked dam , come forth ! + + +As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd +With raven's feather from unwholesome fen +Drop on you both ! a south-west blow on ye , +And blister you all o'er ! + +For this , be sure , to-night thou shalt have cramps , +Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up ; urchins +Shall forth at vast of night , that they may work +All exercise on thee : thou shalt be pinch'd +As thick as honeycomb , each pinch more stinging +Than bees that made them . + +I must eat my dinner . +This island's mine , by Sycorax my mother , +Which thou tak'st from me . When thou camest first , +Thou strok'dst me , and mad'st much of me ; wouldst give me +Water with berries in't ; and teach me how +To name the bigger light , and how the less , +That burn by day and night : and then I lov'd thee +And show'd thee all the qualities o' th' isle , +The fresh springs , brine-pits , barren place , and fertile . +Cursed be I that did so !All the charms +Of Sycorax , toads , beetles , bats , light on you ! +For I am all the subjects that you have , +Which first was mine own king ; and here you sty me +In this hard rock , whiles you do keep from me +The rest o' th' island . + +Thou most lying slave , +Whom stripes may move , not kindness ! I have us'd thee , +Filth as thou art , with human care ; and lodg'd thee +In mine own cell , till thou didst seek to violate +The honour of my child . + +Oh ho ! Oh ho !would it had been done ! +Thou didst prevent me ; I had peopled else +This isle with Calibans . + +Abhorred slave , +Which any print of goodness will not take , +Being capable of all ill ! I pitied thee , +Took pains to make thee speak , taught thee each hour +One thing or other : when thou didst not , savage , +Know thine own meaning , but wouldst gabble like +A thing most brutish , I endow'd thy purposes +With words that made them known : but thy vile race , +Though thou didst learn , had that in't which good natures +Could not abide to be with ; therefore wast thou +Deservedly confin'd into this rock , +Who hadst deserv'd more than a prison . + +You taught me language : and my profit on't +Is , I know how to curse : the red plague rid you , +For learning me your language ! + +Hag-seed , hence ! +Fetch us in fuel ; and be quick , thou'rt best , +To answer other business . Shrug'st thou , malice ? +If thou neglect'st , or dost unwillingly +What I command , I'll rack thee with old cramps , +Fill all thy bones with aches ; make thee roar , +That beasts shall tremble at thy din . + +No , pray thee ! + + +I must obey : his art is of such power , +It would control my dam's god , Setebos , +And make a vassal of him . + +So , slave ; hence ! + +Come unto these yellow sands , +And then take hands : +Curtsied when you have , and kiss'd , +The wild waves whist , +Foot it featly here and there ; +And , sweet sprites , the burden bear . +Hark , hark ! + +The watch-dogs bark : + +Hark , hark ! I hear +The strain of strutting Chanticleer + +Where should this music be ? i' th' air , or th' earth ? +It sounds no more ;and sure , it waits upon +Some god o' th' island . Sitting on a bank , +Weeping again the king my father's wrack , +This music crept by me upon the waters , +Allaying both their fury , and my passion , +With its sweet air : thence I have follow'd it , +Or it hath drawn me rather ,but 'tis gone . +No , it begins again . + +Full fathom five thy father lies ; +Of his bones are coral made +Those are pearls that were his eyes : +Nothing of him that doth fade , +But doth suffer a sea-change +Into something rich and strange . +Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell : + +Hark ! now I hear them ,ding-dong , bell . + + +The ditty does remember my drown'd father . +This is no mortal business , nor no sound +That the earth owes :I hear it now above me . + +The fringed curtains of thine eye advance , +And say what thou seest yond . + +What is't ? a spirit ? +Lord , how it looks about ! Believe me , sir , +It carries a brave form :but 'tis a spirit . + +No , wench ; it eats and sleeps , and hath such senses +As we have , such ; this gallant which thou see'st , +Was in the wrack ; and , but he's something stain'd +With grief ,that's beauty's canker ,thou might'st call him +A goodly person : he hath lost his fellows +And strays about to find 'em . + +I might call him +A thing divine ; for nothing natural +I ever saw so noble . + +It goes on , I see , +As my soul prompts it .Spirit , fine spirit ! I'll free thee +Within two days for this . + +Most sure , the goddess +On whom these airs attend !Vouchsafe , my prayer +May know if you remain upon this island ; +And that you will some good instruction give +How I may bear me here : my prime request , +Which I do last pronounce , is ,O you wonder ! +If you be maid or no ? + +No wonder , sir ; +But certainly a maid . + +My language ! heavens ! +I am the best of them that speak this speech , +Were I but where 'tis spoken . + +How ! the best ? +What wert thou , if the King of Naples heard thee ? + +A single thing , as I am now , that wonders +To hear thee speak of Naples . He does hear me ; +And , that he does , I weep : myself am Naples , +Who with mine eyes ,ne'er since at ebb ,beheld +The king , my father wrack'd . + +Alack , for mercy ! + +Yes , faith , and all his lords ; the Duke of Milan , +And his brave son being twain . + +The Duke of Milan , +And his more braver daughter could control thee , +If now 'twere fit to do't .At the first sight + +They have changed eyes :delicate Ariel , +I'll set thee free for this ! + +A word , good sir ; +I fear you have done yourself some wrong : a word . + +Why speaks my father so ungently ? This +Is the third man that e'er I saw ; the first +That e'er I sigh'd for : pity move my father +To be inclin'd my way ! + +O ! if a virgin , +And your affection not gone forth , I'll make you +The Queen of Naples . + +Soft , sir : one word more + + +They are both in either's powers : but this swift business +I must uneasy make , lest too light winning +Make the prize light . + +One word more : I charge thee +That thou attend me . Thou dost here usurp +The name thou ow'st not ; and hast put thyself +Upon this island as a spy , to win it +From me , the lord on't . + +No , as I am a man . + +There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple : +If the ill spirit have so fair a house , +Good things will strive to dwell with't . + +Follow me . + + +Come ; +I'll manacle thy neck and feet together : +Sea-water shalt thou drink ; thy food shall be +The fresh-brook muscles , wither'd roots and husks +Wherein the acorn cradled . Follow . + +No ; +I will resist such entertainment till +Mine enemy has more power . + + +O dear father ! +Make not too rash a trial of him , for +He's gentle , and not fearful . + +What ! I say , +My foot my tutor ?Put thy sword up , traitor ; +Who mak'st a show , but dar'st not strike , thy conscience +Is so possess'd with guilt : come from thy ward , +For I can here disarm thee with this stick +And make thy weapon drop . + +Beseech you , father ! + +Hence ! hang not on my garments . + +Sir , have pity : +I'll be his surety . + +Silence ! one word more +Shall make me chide thee , if not hate thee . What ! +An advocate for an impostor ? hush ! +Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he , +Having seen but him and Caliban : foolish wench ! +To the most of men this is a Caliban +And they to him are angels . + +My affections +Are then most humble ; I have no ambition +To see a goodlier man . + +Come on ; obey : +Thy nerves are in their infancy again , +And have no vigour in them . + +So they are : +My spirits , as in a dream , are all bound up . +My father's loss , the weakness which I feel , +The wrack of all my friends , or this man's threats , +To whom I am subdued , are but light to me , +Might I but through my prison once a day +Behold this maid : all corners else o' th' earth +Let liberty make use of ; space enough +Have I in such a prison . + +Come on . +Thou hast done well , fine Ariel ! + +Follow me . + + +Hark , what thou else shalt do me . + +Be of comfort ; +My father's of a better nature , sir , +Than he appears by speech : this is unwonted , +Which now came from him . + +Thou shalt be as free +As mountain winds ; but then exactly do +All points of my command . + +To the syllable . + +Come , follow .Speak not for him . + +Beseech you , sir , be merry : you have cause , +So have we all , of joy ; for our escape +Is much beyond our loss . Our hint of woe +Is common : every day some sailor's wife , +The masters of some merchant and the merchant , +Have just our theme of woe ; but for the miracle , +I mean our preservation , few in millions +Can speak like us : then wisely , good sir , weigh +Our sorrow with our comfort . + +Prithee , peace . + +He receives comfort like cold porridge . + +The visitor will not give him o'er so . + +Look , he's winding up the watch of his wit ; by and by it will strike . + +Sir , + +One : tell . + +When every grief is entertain'd that's offer'd , +Comes to the entertainer + +A dollar . + +Dolour comes to him , indeed : you have spoken truer than you purposed . + +You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should . + +Therefore , my lord , + +Fie , what a spendthrift is he of his tongue ! + +I prithee , spare . + +Well , I have done : but yet + +He will be talking . + +Which , of he or Adrian , for a good wager , first begins to crow ? + +The old cock . + +The cockerel . + +Done . The wager ? + +A laughter . + +A match ! + +Though this island seem to be desert , + +Ha , ha , ha ! So you're paid . + +Uninhabitable , and almost inaccessible , + +Yet + +Yet + +He could not miss it . + +It must needs be of subtle , tender , and delicate temperance . + +Temperance was a delicate wench . + +Ay , and a subtle ; as he most learnedly delivered . + +The air breathes upon us here most sweetly . + +As if it had lungs , and rotten ones . + +Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen . + +Here is everything advantageous to life . + +True ; save means to live . + +Of that there's none , or little . + +How lush and lusty the grass looks ! how green ! + +The ground indeed is tawny . + +With an eye of green in't . + +He misses not much . + +No ; he doth but mistake the truth totally . + +But the rarity of it is ,which is indeed almost beyond credit , + +As many vouch'd rarities are . + +That our garments , being , as they were , drenched in the sea , hold notwithstanding their freshness and glosses ; being rather new-dyed than stain'd with salt water . + +If but one of his pockets could speak , would it not say he lies ? + +Ay , or very falsely pocket up his report . + +Methinks , our garments are now as fresh as when we put them on first in Afric , at the marriage of the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis . + +'Twas a sweet marriage , and we prosper well in our return . + +Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to their queen . + +Not since widow Dido's time . + +Widow ! a pox o' that ! How came that widow in ? Widow Dido ! + +What if he had said , widower neas too ? Good Lord , how you take it ! + +Widow Dido , said you ? you make me study of that : she was of Carthage , not of Tunis . + +This Tunis , sir , was Carthage . + +Carthage ? + +I assure you , Carthage . + +His word is more than the miraculous harp . + +He hath rais'd the wall , and houses too . + +What impossible matter will he make easy next ? + +I think he will carry this island home in his pocket , and give it his son for an apple . + +And , sowing the kernels of it in the sea , bring forth more islands . + +Ay ? + +Why , in good time . + +Sir , we were talking that our garments seem now as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage of your daughter , who is now queen . + +And the rarest that e'er came there . + +Bate , I beseech you , widow Dido . + +O ! widow Dido ; ay , widow Dido . + +Is not , sir , my doublet as fresh as the first day I wore it ? I mean , in a sort . + +That sort was well fish'd for . + +When I wore it at your daughter's marriage ? + +You cram these words into mine ears , against +The stomach of my sense . Would I had never +Married my daughter there ! for , coming thence , +My son is lost ; and , in my rate , she too , +Who is so far from Italy remov'd , +I ne'er again shall see her . O thou , mine heir +Of Naples and of Milan ! what strange fish +Hath made his meal on thee ? + +Sir , he may live : +I saw him beat the surges under him , +And ride upon their backs : he trod the water , +Whose enmity he flung aside , and breasted +The surge most swoln that met him : his bold head +'Bove the contentious waves he kept , and oar'd +Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke +To the shore , that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd , +As stooping to relieve him . I not doubt +He came alive to land . + +No , no ; he's gone . + +Sir , you may thank yourself for this great loss , +That would not bless our Europe with your daughter , +But rather lose her to an African ; +Where she at least is banish'd from your eye , +Who hath cause to wet the grief on't . + +Prithee , peace . + +You were kneel'd to and importun'd otherwise +By all of us ; and the fair soul herself +Weigh'd between loathness and obedience , at +Which end o' the beam should bow . We have lost your son , +I fear , for ever : Milan and Naples have +More widows in them of this business' making , +Than we bring men to comfort them : the fault's +Your own . + +So is the dearest of the loss . + +My lord Sebastian , +The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness +And time to speak it in ; you rub the sore , +When you should bring the plaster . + +Very well . + +And most chirurgeonly . + +It is foul weather in us all , good sir , +When you are cloudy . + +Foul weather ? + +Very foul . + +Had I plantation of this isle , my lord , + +He'd sow't with nettle-seed . + +Or docks , or mallows . + +'And were the king on't , what would I do ? + +'Scape being drunk for want of wine . + +I' the commonwealth I would by contraries +Execute all things ; for no kind of traffic +Would I admit ; no name of magistrate ; +Letters should not be known ; riches , poverty , +And use of service , none ; contract , succession , +Bourn , bound of land , tilth , vineyard , none ; +No use of metal , corn , or wine , or oil ; +No occupation ; all men idle , all ; +And women too , but innocent and pure ; +No sovereignty , + +Yet he would be king on't . + +The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning . + +All things in common nature should produce +Without sweat or endeavour : treason , felony , +Sword , pike , knife , gun , or need of any engine , +Would I not have ; but nature should bring forth , +Of its own kind , all foison , all abundance , +To feed my innocent people . + +No marrying 'mong his subjects ? + +None , man ; all idle ; whores and knaves . + +I would with such perfection govern , sir , +To excel the golden age + +Save his majesty ! + +Long live Gonzalo ! + +And ,do you mark me , sir ? + +Prithee , no more : thou dost talk nothing to me . + +I do well believe your highness ; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen , who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing . + +'Twas you we laugh'd at . + +Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you ; so you may continue and laugh at nothing still . + +What a blow was there given ! + +An it had not fallen flat-long . + +You are gentlemen of brave mettle : you would lift the moon out of her sphere , if she would continue in it five weeks without changing . + + +We would so , and then go a-bat-fowling . + +Nay , good my lord , be not angry . + +No , I warrant you ; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly . Will you laugh me asleep , for I am very heavy ? + +Go sleep , and hear us . + + +What ! all so soon asleep ! I wish mine eyes +Would , with themselves , shut up my thoughts : I find +They are inclin'd to do so . + +Please you , sir , +Do not omit the heavy offer of it : +It seldom visits sorrow ; when it doth +It is a comforter . + +We two , my lord , +Will guard your person while you take your rest , +And watch your safety . + +Thank you . Wondrous heavy . + + +What a strange drowsiness possesses them ! + +It is the quality o' the climate . + +Why +Doth it not then our eyelids sink ? I find not +Myself dispos'd to sleep . + +Nor I : my spirits are nimble . +They fell together all , as by consent ; +They dropp'd , as by a thunder-stroke . What might , +Worthy Sebastian ? O ! what might ?No more : +And yet methinks I see it in thy face , +What thou should'st be . The occasion speaks thee ; and +My strong imagination sees a crown +Dropping upon thy head . + +What ! art thou waking ? + +Do you not hear me speak ? + +I do ; and surely , +It is a sleepy language , and thou speak'st +Out of thy sleep . What is it thou didst say ? +This is a strange repose , to be asleep +With eyes wide open ; standing , speaking , moving , +And yet so fast asleep . + +Noble Sebastian , +Thou let'st thy fortune sleep die rather ; wink'st +Whiles thou art waking . + +Thou dost snore distinctly : +There's meaning in thy snores . + +I am more serious than my custom : you +Must be so too , if heed me ; which to do +Trebles thee o'er . + +Well ; I am standing water . + +I'll teach you how to flow . + +Do so : to ebb , +Hereditary sloth instructs me . + +O ! +If you but knew how you the purpose cherish +Whiles thus you mock it ! how , in stripping it , +You more invest it ! Ebbing men , indeed , +Most often do so near the bottom run +By their own fear or sloth . + +Prithee , say on : +The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim +A matter from thee , and a birth indeed +Which throes thee much to yield . + +Thus , sir : +Although this lord of weak remembrance , this +Who shall be of as little memory +When he is earth'd , hath here almost persuaded , +For he's a spirit of persuasion , only +Professes to persuade ,the king , his son's alive , +'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd +As he that sleeps here swims . + +I have no hope +That he's undrown'd . + +O ! out of that 'no hope +What great hope have you ! no hope that way is +Another way so high a hope that even +Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond , +But doubts discovery there . Will you grant with me +That Ferdinand is drown'd ? + +He's gone . + +Then tell me +Who's the next heir of Naples ? + +Claribel . + +She that is Queen of Tums ; she that dwells +Ten leagues beyond man's life ; she that from Naples +Can have no note , unless the sun were post +The man i' th' moon's too slow till new-born chins +Be rough and razorable : she that , from whom ? +We all were sea-swallow'd , though some cast again , +And by that destiny to perform an act +Whereof what's past is prologue , what to come +In yours and my discharge . + +What stuff is this !How say you ? +'Tis true my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis ; +So is she heir of Naples ; 'twixt which regions +There is some space . + +A space whose every cubit +Seems to cry out , 'How shall that Claribel +Measure us back to Naples ?Keep in Tunis , +And let Sebastian wake !' Say , this were death +That now hath seiz'd them ; why , they were no worse +Than now they are . There be that can rule Naples +As well as he that sleeps ; lords that can prate +As amply and unnecessarily +As this Gonzalo ; I myself could make +A chough of as deep chat . O , that you bore +The mind that I do ! what a sleep were this +For your advancement ! Do you understand me ? + +Methinks I do . + +And how does your content +Tender your own good fortune ? + +I remember +You did supplant your brother Prospero . + +True : +And look how well my garments sit upon me ; +Much feater than before ; my brother's servants +Were then my fellows ; now they are my men . + +But , for your conscience , + +Ay , sir ; where lies that ? if it were a kibe , +'Twould put me to my slipper ; but I feel not +This deity in my bosom : twenty consciences , +That stand 'twixt me and Milan , candied be they , +And melt ere they molest ! Here lies your brother , +No better than the earth he lies upon , +If he were that which now he's like , that's dead ; +Whom I , with this obedient steel ,three inches of it , +Can lay to bed for ever ; whiles you , doing thus , +To the perpetual wink for aye might put +This ancient morsel , this Sir Prudence , who +Should not upbraid our course . For all the rest , +They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk ; +They'll tell the clock to any business that +We say befits the hour . + +Thy case , dear friend , +Shall be my precedent : as thou got'st Milan , +I'll come by Naples . Draw thy sword : one stroke +Shall free thee from the tribute which thou pay'st , +And I the king shall love thee . + +Draw together ; +And when I rear my hand , do you the like , +To fall it on Gonzalo . + +O ! but one word . + +My master through his art foresees the danger +That you , his friend , are in ; and sends me forth +For else his project dies to keep thee living . + + +While you here do snoring lie , +Open-ey'd Conspiracy +His time doth take . +If of life you keep a care , +Shake off slumber , and beware +Awake ! awake ! + + +Then let us both be sudden . + +Now , good angels +Preserve the king ! + + +Why , how now ! ho , awake ! Why are you drawn ? +Wherefore this ghastly looking ? + +What's the matter ? + +Whiles we stood here securing your repose , +Even now , we heard a hollow burst of bellowing +Like bulls , or rather hons ; did't not wake you ? +It struck mine ear most terribly . + +I heard nothing . + +O ! 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear , +To make an earthquake : sure it was the roar +Of a whole herd of lions . + +Heard you this , Gonzalo ? + +Upon mine honour , sir , I heard a humming , +And that a strange one too , which did awake me . +I shak'd you , sir , and cry'd ; as mine eyes open'd , +I saw their weapons drawn :there was a noise , +That's verily . 'Tis best we stand upon our guard , +Or that we quit this place : let's draw our weapons . + +Lead off this ground , and let's make further search +For my poor son . + +Heavens keep him from these beasts ! +For he is , sure , i' the island . + +Lead away . + + +Prospero my lord shall know what I have done : +So , king , go safely on to seek thy son . + + +All the infections that the sun sucks up +From bogs , fens , flats , on Prosper fall , and make him +By inch-meal a disease ! His spirits hear me , +And yet I needs must curse . But they'll nor pinch , +Fright me with urchin-shows , pitch me i' the mire , +Nor lead me , like a firebrand , in the dark +Out of my way , unless he bid 'em ; but +For every trifle are they set upon me : +Sometime like apes , that mow and chatter at me +And after bite me ; then like hedge-hogs , which +Lie tumbling in my bare-foot way and mount +Their pricks at my foot-fall ; sometime am I +All wound with adders , who with cloven tongues +Do hiss me into madness . + + +Lo now ! lo ! +Here comes a spirit of his , and to torment me +For bringing wood in slowly : I'll fall flat ; + +Perchance he will not mind me . + +Here's neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all , and another storm brewing ; I hear it sing i' the wind : yond same black cloud , yond huge one , looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor . If it should thunder as it did before , I know not where to hide my head : yond same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls .What have we here ? a man or a fish ? Dead or alive ? A fish : he smells like a fish ; a very ancient and fish-like smell ; a kind of not of the newest Poor-John . A strange fish ! Were I in England now ,as once I was ,and had but this fish painted , not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver : there would this monster make a man ; any strange beast there makes a man . When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar , they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian . Legg'd like a man ! and his fins like arms ! Warm , o' my troth ! I do now let loose my opinion , hold it no longer ; this is no fish , but an islander , that hath lately suffered by a thunderbolt . + +Alas ! the storm is come again : my best way is to creep under his gaberdine ; there is no other shelter hereabout : misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows . I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past . + +I shall no more to sea , to sea , +Here shall I die a-shore : + +This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral : +Well , here's my comfort . + + +The master , the swabber , the boatswain and I , +The gunner and his mate , +Lov'd Mall , Meg , and Marian and Margery , +But none of us car'd for Kate ; +For she had a tongue with a tang , +Would cry to a sailor , 'Go hang !' +She lov'd not the savour of tar nor of pitch , +Yet a tailor might scratch her where-e'er she did itch : +Then to sea , boys , and let her go hang . + +This is a scurvy tune too : but here's my comfort . + + +Do not torment me : O ! + +What's the matter ? Have we devils here ? Do you put tricks upon us with savages and men of Ind ? Ha ! I have not 'scaped drowning , to be afeard now of your four legs ; for it hath been said , As proper a man as ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground : and it shall be said so again while Stephano breathes at's nostrils . + +The spirit torments me : O ! + +This is some monster of the isle with four legs , who hath got , as I take it , an ague . Where the devil should he learn our language ? I will give him some relief , if it be but for that : if I can recover him and keep him tame and get to Naples with him , he's a present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's-leather . + +Do not torment me , prithee : I'll bring my wood home faster . + +He's in his fit now and does not talk after the wisest . He shall taste of my bottle : if he have never drunk wine afore it will go near to remove his fit . If I can recover him , and keep him tame , I will not take too much for him : he shall pay for him that hath him , and that soundly . + +Thou dost me yet but little hurt ; thou wilt anon , I know it by thy trembling : now Prosper works upon thee . + +Come on your ways : open your mouth ; here is that which will give language to you , cat . Open your mouth : this will shake your shaking , I can tell you , and that soundly + +: you cannot tell who's your friend ; open your chaps again . + +I should know that voice : it should be but he is drowned , and these are devils . O ! defend me . + +Four legs and two voices ; a most delicate monster ! His forward voice now is to speak well of his friend ; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches , and to detract . If all the wine in my bottle will recover him , I will help his ague . Come . Amen ! I will pour some in thy other mouth . + +Stephano ! + +Doth thy other mouth call me ? Mercy ! mercy ! This is a devil , and no monster : I will leave him ; I have no long spoon . + +Stephano !if thou beest Stephano , touch me , and speak to me ; for I am Trinculo :be not afeard thy good friend Trinculo . + +If thou beest Trinculo , come forth . I'll pull thee by the lesser legs : if any be Trinculo's legs , these are they . Thou art very Trinculo indeed ! How cam'st thou to be the siege of this moon-calf ? Can he vent Trinculos ? + +I took him to be killed with a thunderstroke . But art thou not drowned , Stephano ? I hope now thou art not drowned . Is the storm overblown ? I hid me under the dead mooncalf's gaberdine for fear of the storm . And art thou living , Stephano ? O Stephano ! two Neapolitans 'scaped ! + +Prithee , do not turn me about : my stomach is not constant . + +These be fine things an if they be not sprites . +That's a brave god and bears celestial liquor : +I will kneel to him . + +How didst thou 'scape ? How cam'st thou hither ? swear by this bottle , how thou cam'st hither . I escaped upon a butt of sack , which the sailors heaved overboard , by this bottle ! which I made of the bark of a tree with mine own hands , since I was cast ashore . + +I'll swear upon that bottle , to be thy true subject ; for the liquor is not earthly . + +Here : swear then , how thou escapedst . + +Swam ashore , man , like a duck : I can swim like a duck , I'll be sworn . + +Here , kiss the book + +. Though thou canst swim like a duck , thou art made like a goose . + +O Stephano ! hast any more of this ? + +The whole butt , man : my cellar is in a rock by the seaside , where my wine is hid . How now , moon-calf ! how does thine ague ? + +Hast thou not dropped from heaven ? + +Out o the moon , I do assure thee : I was the man in the moon , when time was . + +I have seen thee in her , and I do adore thee ; my mistress showed me thee , and thy dog , and thy bush . + +Come , swear to that ; kiss the book ; I will furnish it anon with new contents ; swear . + +By this good light , this is a very shallow monster .I afeard of him !a very weak monster .The man i' the moon ! a most poor credulous monster !Well drawn , monster , in good sooth . + +I'll show thee every fertile inch o' the island ; +And I will kiss thy foot . I prithee , be my god . + +By this light , a most perfidious and drunken monster : when his god's asleep , he'll rob his bottle . + +I'll kiss thy foot : I'll swear myself thy subject . + +Come on then ; down , and swear . + +I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster . A most scurvy monster ! I could find in my heart to beat him , + +Come , kiss . + +But that the poor monster's in drink : an abominable monster ! + +I'll shew thee the best springs ; I'll pluck thee berries ; +I'll fish for thee , and get thee wood enough . +A plague upon the tyrant that I serve ! +I'll bear him no more sticks , but follow thee , +Thou wondrous man . + +A most ridiculous monster , to make a wonder of a poor drunkard ! + +I prithee , let me bring thee where crabs grow ; +And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts ; +Show thee a jay's nest and instruct thee how +To snare the nimble marmozet ; I'll bring thee +To clust'ring filberts , and sometimes I'll get thee +Young scamels from the rock . Wilt thou go with me ? + +I prithee now , lead the way , without any more talking .Trinculo , the king and all our company else being drowned , we will inherit here .Here ; bear my bottle .Fellow Trinculo , we'll fill him by and by again . + +Farewell , master ; farewell , farewell + + +A howling monster , a drunken monster . + + +No more dams I'll make for fish , +Nor fetch in firing +At requiring , +Nor scrape trenchering , nor wash dish , +'Ban , 'Ban , Ca Caliban , +Has a new master Get a new man . + +Freedom , high-day ! high-day , freedom ! freedom ! high-day , freedom ! + +O brave monster ! lead the way . + +There be some sports are painful , and their labour +Delight in them sets off : some kinds of baseness +Are nobly undergone , and most poor matters +Point to rich ends . This my mean task +Would be as heavy to me as odious ; but +The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead +And makes my labours pleasures : O ! she is +Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed , +And he's compos'd of harshness . I must remove +Some thousands of these logs and pile them up , +Upon a sore injunction : my sweet mistress +Weeps when she sees me work , and says such baseness +Had never like executor . I forget : +But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours , +Most busiest when I do it . + + +Alas ! now , pray you , +Work not so hard : I would the lightning had +Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile ! +Pray , set it down and rest you : when this burns , +'Twill weep for having wearied you . My father +Is hard at study ; pray now , rest yourself : +He's safe for these three hours . + +O most dear mistress , +The sun will set , before I shall discharge +What I must strive to do . + +If you'll sit down , +I'll bear your logs the while . Pray , give me that ; +I'll carry it to the pile . + +No , precious creature : +I had rather crack my sinews , break my back , +Than you should such dishonour undergo , +While I sit lazy by . + +It would become me +As well as it does you : and I should do it +With much more ease ; for my good will is to it , +And yours it is against . + +Poor worm ! thou art infected : +This visitation shows it . + +You look wearily . + +No , noble mistress ; 'tis fresh morning with me +When you are by at night . I do beseech you +Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers +What is your name ? + +Miranda .O my father ! +I have broke your hest to say so . + +Admir'd Miranda ! +Indeed , the top of admiration ; worth +What's dearest to the world ! Full many a lady +I have ey'd with best regard , and many a time +The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage +Brought my too diligent ear : for several virtues +Have I lik'd several women ; never any +With so full soul but some defect in her +Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd , +And put it to the foil : but you , O you ! +So perfect and so peerless , are created +Of every creature's best . + +I do not know +One of my sex ; no woman's face remember , +Save , from my glass , mine own ; nor have I seen +More that I may call men than you , good friend , +And my dear father : how features are abroad , +I am skill-less of ; but , by my modesty , +The jewel in my dower ,I would not wish +Any companion in the world but you ; +Nor can imagination form a shape , +Besides yourself , to like of . But I prattle +Something too wildly and my father's precepts +I therein do forget . + +I am in my condition +A prince , Miranda ; I do think , a king ; +I would not so !and would no more endure +This wooden slavery than to suffer +The flesh-fly blow my mouth .Hear my soul speak : +The very instant that I saw you did +My heart fly to your service ; there resides , +To make me slave to it ; and for your sake +Am I this patient log-man . + +Do you love me ? + +O heaven ! O earth ! bear witness to this sound , +And crown what I profess with kind event +If I speak true : if hollowly , invert +What best is boded me to mischief ! I , +Beyond all limit of what else i' the world , +Do love , prize , honour you . + +I am a fool +To weep at what I am glad of . + +Fair encounter +Of two most rare affections ! Heavens rain grace +On that which breeds between them ! + +Wherefore weep you ? + +At mine unworthiness , that dare not offer +What I desire to give ; and much less take +What I shall die to want . But this is trifling ; +And all the more it seeks to hide itself +The bigger bulk it shows . Hence , bashful cunning ! +And prompt me , plain and holy innocence ! +I am your wife , if you will marry me ; +If not , I'll die your maid : to be your fellow +You may deny me ; but I'll be your servant +Whether you will or no . + +My mistress , dearest ; +And I thus humble ever . + +My husband then ? + +Ay , with a heart as willing +As bondage e'er of freedom : here's my hand . + +And mine , with my heart in't : and now farewell +Till half an hour hence . + +A thousand thousand ! + + +So glad of this as they , I cannot be , +Who are surpris'd withal ; but my rejoicing +At nothing can be more . I'll to my book ; +For yet , ere supper time , must I perform +Much business appertaining . + + +Tell not me :when the butt is out , we will drink water ; not a drop before : therefore bear up , and board 'em .Servant-monster , drink to me . + +Servant-monster ! the folly of this island ! They say there's but five upon this isle : we are three of them ; if th' other two be brained like us , the state totters . + +Drink , servant-monster , when I bid thee : thy eyes are almost set in thy head . + +Where should they be set else ? he were a brave monster indeed , if they were set in his tail . + +My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack : for my part , the sea cannot drown me ; I swam , ere I could recover the shore , five-and-thirty leagues , off and on , by this light . Thou shalt be my lieutenant , monster , or my standard . + +Your lieutenant , if you list ; he's no standard . + +We'll not run , Monsieur monster . + +Nor go neither : but you'll lie , like dogs ; and yet say nothing neither . + +Moon-calf , speak once in thy life , if thou beest a good moon-calf . + +How does thy honour ? Let me lick thy shoe . I'll not serve him , he is not valiant . + +Thou hest , most ignorant monster : I am in case to justle a constable . Why , thou deboshed fish thou , was there ever a man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day ? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie , being but half a fish and half a monster ? + +Lo , how he mocks me ! wilt thou let him , my lord ? + +'Lord' quoth he !that a monster should be such a natural ! + +Lo , lo , again ! bite him to death , I prithee . + +Trinculo , keep a good tongue in your head : if you prove a mutineer , the next tree ! The poor monster's my subject , and he shall not suffer indignity . + +I thank my noble lord . Wilt thou be pleas'd +To hearken once again the suit I made thee ? + +Marry , will I ; kneel , and repeat it : I will stand , and so shall Trinculo . + + +As I told thee before , I am subject to a tyrant , a sorcerer , that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island . + +Thou liest . + +Thou liest , thou jesting monkey thou ; +I would my valiant master would destroy thee ; +I do not lie . + +Trinculo , if you trouble him any more in his tale , by this hand , I will supplant some of your teeth . + +Why , I said nothing . + +Mum then and no more . + +Proceed . + +I say , by sorcery he got this isle ; +From me he got it : if thy greatness will , +Revenge it on him ,for , I know , thou dar'st ; +But this thing dare not , + +That's most certain . + +Thou shalt be lord of it and I'll serve thee . + +How now shall this be compassed ? Canst thou bring me to the party ? + +Yea , yea , my lord : I'll yield him thee asleep , +Where thou may'st knock a nail into his head . + +Thou liest ; thou canst not . + +What a pied ninny's this ! Thou scurvy patch ! +I do beseech thy greatness , give him blows , +And take his bottle from him : when that's gone +He shall drink nought but brine ; for I'll not show him +Where the quick freshes are . + +Trinculo , run into no further danger : interrupt the monster one word further , and , by this hand , I'll turn my mercy out o' doors and make a stock-fish of thee . + +Why , what did I ? I did nothing . I'll go further off . + +Didst thou not say he hed ? + +Thou liest . + +Do I so ? take thou that . + + +As you like this , give me the lie another time . + +I did not give thee the he :Out o' your wits and hearing too ?A pox o' your bottle ! this can sack and drinking do .A murrain on your monster , and the devil take your fingers ! + +Ha , ha , ha ! + +Now , forward with your tale .Prithee stand further off . + +Beat him enough : after a little time +I'll beat him too . + +Stand further .Come , proceed . + +Why , as I told thee , 'tis a custom with him +I' the afternoon to sleep : there thou may'st brain him , +Having first seiz'd his books ; or with a log +Batter his skull , or paunch him with a stake , +Or cut his wezand with thy knife . Remember +First to possess his books ; for without them +He's but a sot , as I am , nor hath not +One spirit to command : they all do hate him +As rootedly as I . Burn but his books ; +He has brave utensils ,for so he calls them , +Which , when he has a house , he'll deck withal : +And that most deeply to consider is +The beauty of his daughter ; he himself +Calls her a nonpareil : I never saw a woman , +But only Sycorax my dam and she ; +But she as far surpasseth Sycorax +As great'st does least . + +Is it so brave a lass ? + +Ay , lord ; she will become thy bed , I warrant , +And bring thee forth brave brood . + +Monster , I will kill this man : his daughter and I will be king and queen ,save our graces ! and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys . Dost thou like the plot , Trinculo ? + +Excellent . + +Give me thy hand : I am sorry I beat thee ; but , while thou livest , keep a good tongue in thy head . + +Within this half hour will he be asleep ; +Wilt thou destroy him then ? + +Ay , on mine honour . + +This will I tell my master . + +Thou mak'st me merry : I am full of pleasure . +Let us be jocund : will you troll the catch +You taught me but while-ere ? + +At thy request , monster , I will do reason , any reason : Come on , Trinculo , let us sing . + + +Flout 'em , and scout 'em ; and scout 'em , and flout 'em ; +Thought is free . + + +That's not the tune . + + +What is this same ? + +This is the tune of our catch , played by the picture of Nobody . + +If thou beest a man , show thyself in thy likeness : if thou beest a devil , take't as thou list . + +O , forgive me my sins ! + +He that dies pays all debts : I defy thee .Mercy upon us ! + +Art thou afeard ? + +No , monster , not I . + +Be not afeard : the isle is full of noises , +Sounds and sweet airs , that give delight , and hurt not . +Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments +Will hum about mine ears ; and sometime voices , +That , if I then had wak'd after long sleep , +Will make mesleep again : and then , in dreaming , +The clouds methought would open and show riches +Ready to drop upon me ; that , when I wak'd +I cried to dream again . + +This will prove a brave kingdom to me , where I shall have my music for nothing . + +When Prospero is destroyed . + +That shall be by and by : I remember the story . + +The sound is going away : let's follow it , and after do our work . + +Lead , monster ; we'll follow .I would I could see this taborer ! he lays it on . Wilt come ? + +I'll follow , Stephano . + + +By'r lakin , I can go no further , sir ; +My old bones ache : here's a maze trod indeed , +Through forth-rights , and meanders ! by your patience , +I needs must rest me . + +Old lord , I cannot blame thee , +Who am myself attach'd with weariness , +To the dulling of my spirits : sit down , and rest . +Even here I will put off my hope , and keep it +No longer for my flatterer : he is drown'd +Whom thus we stray to find ; and the sea mocks +Our frustrate search on land . Well , let him go . + +I am right glad that he's so out of hope . +Do not , for one repulse , forego the purpose +That you resolv'd to effect . + +The next advantage +Will we take throughly . + +Let it be to-night ; +For , now they are oppress'd with travel , they +Will not , nor cannot , use such vigilance +As when they are fresh . + +I say to-night : no more . + +What harmony is this ? my good friends , hark ! + +Marvellous sweet music ! + +Give us kind keepers , heavens ! What were these ? + +A living drollery . Now I will believe +That there are unicorns ; that in Arabia +There is one tree , the ph nix' throne ; one ph nix +At this hour reigning there . + +I'll believe both ; +And what does else want credit , come to me , +And I'll be sworn 'tis true : travellers ne'er did lie , +Though fools at home condemn them . + +If in Naples +I should report this now , would they believe me ? +If I should say I saw such islanders , +For , certes , these are people of the island , +Who , though they are of monstrous shape , yet , note , +Their manners are more gentle-kind than of +Our human generation you shall find +Many , nay , almost any . + +Honest lord , +Thou hast said well ; for some of you there present +Are worse than devils . + +I cannot too much muse , +Such shapes , such gesture , and such sound , expressing , +Although they want the use of tongue ,a kind +Of excellent dumb discourse . + +Praise in departing . + +They vanish'd strangely . + +No matter , since +They have left their viands behind ; for we have stomachs . +Will't please you to taste of what is here ? + +Not I . + +Faith , sir , you need not fear . When we were boys , +Who would believe that there were mountaineers +Dew-lapp'd like bulls , whose throats had hanging at them +Wallets of flesh ? or that there were such men +Whose heads stood in their breasts ? which now we find +Each putter-out of five for one will bring us +Good warrant of . + +I will stand to and feed , +Although my last ; no matter , since I feel +The best is past .Brother , my lord the duke , +Stand to and do as we . + +You are three men of sin , whom Destiny +That hath to instrument this lower world +And what is in't ,the never-surfeited sea +Hath caused to belch up you ; and on this island +Where man doth not inhabit ; you 'mongst men +Being most unfit to live . I have made you mad ; + + +And even with such-like valour men hang and drown +Their proper selves . You fools ! I and my fellows +Are ministers of fate : the elements +Of whom your swords are temper'd , may as well +Wound the loud winds , or with bemock'd-at stabs +Kill the still-closing waters , as diminish +One dowle that's in my plume ; my fellow-ministers +Are like invulnerable . If you could hurt , +Your swords are now too massy for your strengths , +And will not be uplifted . But , remember , +For that's my business to you ,that you three +From Milan did supplant good Prospero ; +Expos'd unto the sea , which hath requit it , +Him and his innocent child : for which foul deed +The powers , delaying , not forgetting , have +Incens'd the seas and shores , yea , all the creatures , +Against your peace . Thee of thy son , Alonso , +They have bereft ; and do pronounce , by me , +Lingering perdition ,worse than any death +Can be at once ,shall step by step attend +You and your ways ; whose wraths to guard you from +Which here in this most desolate isle , else falls +Upon your heads ,is nothing but heart-sorrow +And a clear life ensuing . + + +Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou +Perform'd , my Ariel ; a grace it had , devouring : +Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated +In what thou hadst to say : so , with good life +And observation strange , my meaner ministers +Their several kinds have done . My high charms work , +And these mine enemies are all knit up +In their distractions : they now are in my power ; +And in these fits I leave them , while I visit +Young Ferdinand ,whom they suppose is drown'd , +And his and mine lov'd darling . + + +I the name of something holy , sir , why stand you +In this strange stare ? + +O , it is monstrous ! monstrous ! +Methought the billows spoke and told me of it ; +The winds did sing it to me ; and the thunder , +That deep and dreadful organ-pipe , pronounc'd +The name of Prosper : it did bass my trespass . +Therefore my son i' th' ooze is bedded ; and +I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded , +And with him there lie mudded . + + +But one fiend at a time , +I'll fight their legions o'er . + +I'll be thy second . + + +All three of them are desperate ; their great guilt , +Like poison given to work a great time after , +Now 'gins to bite the spirits .I do beseech you +That are of suppler joints , follow them swiftly +And hinder them from what this ecstasy +May now provoke them to . + +Follow , I pray you . + +If I have too austerely punish'd you , +Your compensation makes amends ; for I +Have given you here a third of mine own life , +Or that for which I live ; whom once again +I tender to thy hand : all thy vexations +Were but my trials of thy love , and thou +Hast strangely stood the test : here , afore Heaven , +I ratify this my rich gift . O Ferdinand ! +Do not smile at me that I boast her off , +For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise , +And make it halt behind her . + +I do believe it +Against an oracle . + +Then , as my gift and thine own acquisition +Worthily purchas'd , take my daughter : but +If thou dost break her virgin knot before +All sanctimonious ceremonies may +With full and holy rite be minister'd , +No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall +To make this contract grow ; but barren hate , +Sour-ey'd disdain and discord shall bestrew +The union of your bed with weeds so loathly +That you shall hate it both : therefore take heed , +As Hymen's lamps shall light you . + +As I hope +For quiet days , fair issue and long life , +With such love as 'tis now , the murkiest den , +The most opportune place , the strong'st sug gestion +Our worser genius can , shall never melt +Mine honour into lust , to take away +The edge of that day's celebration +When I shall think , or Ph bus' steeds are founder'd , +Or Night kept chain'd below . + +Fairly spoke : +Sit then , and talk with her , she is thine own . +What , Ariell my industrious servant Ariell + + +What would my potent master ? here I am . + +Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service +Did worthily perform ; and I must use you +In such another trick . Go bring the rabble , +O'er whom I give thee power , here to this place : +Incite them to quick motion ; for I must +Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple +Some vanity of mine art : it is my promise , +And they expect it from me . + +Presently ? + +Ay , with a twink . + +Before you can say , 'Come ,' and 'Go ,' +And breathe twice ; and cry , 'so , so ,' +Each one , tripping on his toe , +Will be here with mop and mow . +Do you love me , master ? no ? + +Dearly my delicate Ariel . Do not approach +Till thou dost hear me call . + +Well , I conceive . + + +Look , thou be true ; do not give dalliance +Too much the rein : the strongest oaths are straw +To the fire i' the blood : be more abstemious , +Or else good night your vow ! + +I warrant you , sir ; +The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart +Abates the ardour of my liver . + +Well . +Now come , my Ariel ! bring a corollary , +Rather than want a spirit : appear , and pertly . +No tongue ! all eyes ! be silent . + +Ceres , most bounteous lady , thy rich leas +Of wheat , rye , barley , vetches , oats , and peas ; +Thy turfy mountains , where live nibbling sheep , +And flat meads thatch'd with stover , them to keep ; +Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims , +Which spongy April at thy hest betrims , +To make cold nymphs chaste crowns ; and thy broom groves , +Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves , +Being lass-lorn ; thy pole-clipt vineyard ; +And thy sea-marge , sterile and rocky-hard , +Where thou thyself dost air : the queen o' the sky , +Whose watery arch and messenger am I , +Bids thee leave these ; and with her sovereign grace , +Here on this grass-plot , in this very place , +To come and sport ; her peacocks fly amain : +Approach , rich Ceres , her to entertain . + + +Hail , many-colour'd messenger , that ne'er +Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter ; +Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers +Diffusest honey-drops , refreshing showers : +And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown +My bosky acres , and my unshrubb'd down , +Rich scarf to my proud earth ; why hath thy queen +Summon'd me hither , to this short-grass'd green ? + +A contract of true love to celebrate , +And some donation freely to estate +On the bless'd lovers . + +Tell me , heavenly bow , +If Venus or her son , as thou dost know , +Do now attend the queen ? since they did plot +The means that dusky Dis my daughter got , +Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company +I have forsworn . + +Of her society +Be not afraid ; I met her deity +Cutting the clouds towards Paphos and her son +Dove-drawn with her . Here thought they to have done +Some wanton charm upon this man and maid , +Whose vows are , that no bed-rite shall be paid +Till Hymen's torch be lighted ; but in vain : +Mars's hot minion is return'd again ; +Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows , +Swears he will shoot no more , but play with sparrows , +And be a boy right out . + +Highest queen of state , +Great Juno comes ; I know her by her gait . + + +How does my bounteous sister ? Go with me +To bless this twain , that they may prosperous be , +And honour'd in their issue . + +Honour , riches , marriage-blessing , +Long continuance , and increasing , +Hourly joys be still upon you ! +Juno sings her blessings on you . + +Earth's increase , foison plenty , +Barns and garners never empty : +Vines , with clust'ring bunches growing ; +Plants with goodly burden bowing ; +Spring come to you at the farthest +In the very end of harvest ! +Scarcity and want shall shun you ; +Ceres' blessing so is on you . + +This is a most majestic vision , and +Harmonious charmingly : May I be bold +To think these spirits ? + +Spirits , which by mine art +I have from their confines call'd to enact +My present fancies . + +Let me live here ever : +So rare a wonder'd father and a wise , +Makes this place Paradise . + + +Sweet , now , silence ! +Juno and Ceres whisper seriously , +There's something else to do : hush , and be mute , +Or else our spell is marr'd . + +You nymphs , call'd Naiades , of the windring brooks , +With your sedg'd crowns , and ever-harmless looks , +Leave your crisp channels , and on this green land +Answer your summons : Juno does command . +Come , temperate nymphs , and help to celebrate +A contract of true love : be not too late . + + +You sun-burn'd sicklemen , of August weary , +Come hither from the furrow , and be merry : +Make holiday : your rye-straw hats put on , +And these fresh nymphs encounter every one +In country footing . + + +I had forgot that foul conspiracy +Of the beast Caliban , and his confederates +Against my life : the minute of their plot +Is almost come . + +Well done ! avoid ; no more ! + +This is strange : your father's in some passion +That works him strongly . + +Never till this day +Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd . + +You do look , my son , in a mov'd sort , +As if you were dismay'd : be cheerful , sir : +Our revels now are ended . These our actors , +As I foretold you , were all spirits and +Are melted into air , into thin air : +And , like the baseless fabric of this vision , +The cloud-capp'd towers , the gorgeous palaces , +The solemn temples , the great globe itself , +Yea , all which it inherit , shall dissolve +And , like this insubstantial pageant faded , +Leave not a rack behind . We are such stuff +As dreams are made on , and our little life +Is rounded with a sleep .Sir , I am vex'd : +Bear with my weakness ; my old brain is troubled . +Be not disturb'd with my infirmity . +If you be pleas'd , retire into my cell +And there repose : a turn or two I'll walk , +To still my beating mind . + +We wish your peace . + + +Come with a thought ! + +I thank thee : Ariel , come ! + + +Thy thoughts I cleave to . What's thy pleasure ? + +Spirit , +We must prepare to meet with Caliban . + +Ay , my commander ; when I presented Ceres , +I thought to have told thee of it ; but I fear'd +Lest I might anger thee . + +Say again , where didst thou leave these varlets ? + +I told you , sir , they were red-hot with drinking ; +So full of valour that they smote the air +For breathing in their faces ; beat the ground +For kissing of their feet ; yet always bending +Towards their project . Then I beat my tabor ; +At which , like unback'd colts , they prick'd their ears , +Advanc'd their eyelids , lifted up their noses +As they smelt music : so I charm'd their ears +That , calf-like , they my lowing follow'd through +Tooth'd briers , sharp furzes , pricking goss and thorns , +Which enter'd their frail shins : at last I left them +I' the filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell , +There dancing up to the chins , that the foul lake +O'erstunk their feet . + +This was well done , my bird . +Thy shape invisible retain thou still : +The trumpery in my house , go bring it hither , +For stale to catch these thieves . + +I go , I go . + + +A devil , a born devil , on whose nature +Nurture can never stick ; on whom my pains , +Humanely taken , are all lost , quite lost ; +And as with age his body uglier grows , +So his mind cankers . I will plague them all , +Even to roaring . + + +Come , hang them on this line . + +Pray you , tread softly , that the blind mole may not +Hear a foot fall : we now are near his cell . + +Monster , your fairy , which you say is a harmless fairy , has done little better than played the Jack with us . + +Monster , I do smell all horse-piss ; at which my nose is in great indignation . + +So is mine .Do you hear , monster ? If I should take a displeasure against you , look you , + +Thou wert but a lost monster . + +Good my lord , give me thy favour still : +Be patient , for the prize I'll bring thee to +Shall hoodwink this mischance : therefore speak softly ; +All's hush'd as midnight yet . + +Ay , but to lose our bottles in the pool , + +There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that , monster , but an infinite loss . + +That's more to me than my wetting : yet this is your harmless fairy , monster . + +I will fetch off my bottle , though I be o'er ears for my labour . + +Prithee , my king , be quiet . Seest thou here , +This is the mouth o' the cell : no noise , and enter . +Do that good mischief , which may make this island +Thine own for ever , and I , thy Caliban , +For aye thy foot-licker . + +Give me thy hand : I do begin to have bloody thoughts . + +O king Stephano ! O peer ! O worthy Stephano ! look , what a wardrobe here is for thee ! + +Let it alone , thou fool ; it is but trash . + +O , ho , monster ! we know what belongs to a frippery .O king Stephano ! + +Put off that gown , Trinculo ; by this hand , I'll have that gown . + +Thy grace shall have it . + +The dropsy drown this fooll what do you mean +To dote thus on such luggage ? Let's along , +And do the murder first : if he awake , +From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches ; +Make us strange stuff . + +Be you quiet , monster .Mistress line , is not this my jerkin ? Now is the jerkin under the line : now , jerkin , you are like to lose your hair and prove a bald jerkin . + +Do , do : we steal by line and level , an't like your grace . + +I thank thee for that jest ; here's a garment for't : wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this country : 'Steal by line and level ,' is an excellent pass of pate ; there's another garment for't . + +Monster , come , put some lime upon your fingers , and away with the rest . + +I will have none on't : we shall lose our time , +And all be turn'd to barnacles , or to apes +With foreheads villanous low . + +Monster , lay-to your fingers : help to bear this away where my hogshead of wine is , or I'll turn you out of my kingdom . Go to ; carry this . + +And this . + +Ay , and this . + +Hey , Mountain , hey ! + +Silver ! there it goes , Silver ! + +Fury , Fury ! there , Tyrant , there ! hark , hark ! + +Go , charge my goblins that they grind their joints +With dry convulsions ; shorten up their sinews +With aged cramps , and more pinch-spotted make them +Than pard , or cat o' mountain . + +Hark ! they roar . + +Let them be hunted soundly . At this hour +Lie at my mercy all mine enemies : +Shortly shall all my labours end , and thou +Shalt have the air at freedom : for a little , +Follow , and do me service . + +Now does my project gather to a head : +My charms crack not ; my spirits obey , and time +Goes upright with his carriage . How's the day ? + +On the sixth hour ; at which time , my lord , +You said our work should cease . + +I did say so , +When first I rais'd the tempest . Say , my spirit , +How fares the king and's followers ? + +Confin'd together +In the same fashion as you gave in charge , +Just as you left them : all prisoners , sir , +In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell ; +They cannot budge till your release . The king , +His brother , and yours , abide all three distracted , +And the remainder mourning over them , +Brimful of sorrow and dismay ; but chiefly +Him , that you term'd , sir , 'The good old lord Gonzalo :' +His tears run down his beard , like winter's drops +From eaves of reeds ; your charm so strongly works them , +That if you now beheld them , your affections +Would become tender . + +Dost thou think so , spirit ? + +Mine would , sir , were I human . + +And mine shall . +Hast thou , which art but air , a touch , a feeling +Of their afflictions , and shall not myself , +One of their kind , that relish all as sharply , +Passion as they , be kindlier mov'd than thou art ? +Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick , +Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury +Do I take part : the rarer action is +In virtue than in vengeance : they being penitent , +The sole drift of my purpose doth extend +Not a frown further . Go , release them , Ariel . +My charms I'll break , their senses I'll restore , +And they shall be themselves . + +I'll fetch them , sir + + +Ye elves of hills , brooks , standing lakes , and groves ; +And ye , that on the sands with printless foot +Do chase the ebbing Neptune and do fly him +When he comes back ; you demi-puppets , that +By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make +Whereof the ewe not bites ; and you , whose pastime +Is to make midnight mushrooms ; that rejoice +To hear the solemn curfew ; by whose aid , +Weak masters though ye be I have bedimm'd +The noontide sun , call'd forth the mutinous winds , +And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd vault +Set roaring war : to the dread-rattling thunder +Have I given fire and rifted Jove's stout oak +With his own bolt : the strong-bas'd promontory +Have I made shake ; and by the spurs pluck'd up +The pine and cedar : graves at my command +Have wak'd their sleepers , op'd , and let them forth +By my so potent art . But this rough magic +I here abjure ; and , when I have requir'd +Some heavenly music ,which even now I do , +To work mine end upon their senses that +This airy charm is for , I'll break my staff , +Bury it certain fathoms in the earth , +And , deeper than did ever plummet sound , +I'll drown my book . + +A solemn air and the best comforter +To an unsettled fancy , cure thy brains , +Now useless , boil'd within thy skull ! There stand , +For you are spell-stopp'd . +Holy Gonzalo , honourable man , +Mine eyes , even sociable to the show of thine , +Fall fellowly drops . The charm dissolves apace ; +And as the morning steals upon the night , +Melting the darkness , so their rising senses +Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle +Their clearer reason .O good Gonzalo ! +My true preserver , and a loyal sir +To him thou follow'st , I will pay thy graces +Home , both in word and deed .Most cruelly +Didst thou , Alonso , use me and my daughter : +Thy brother was a furtherer in the act ; +Thou'rt pinch'd for't now , Sebastian .Flesh and blood , +You , brother mine , that entertain'd ambition , +Expell'd remorse and nature ; who , with Sebastian , +Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong , +Would here have kill'd your king ; I do forgive thee , +Unnatural though thou art !Their understanding +Begins to swell , and the approaching tide +Will shortly fill the reasonable shores +That now lie foul and muddy . Not one of them +That yet looks on me , or would know me .Ariel , +Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell : + +I will discase me , and myself present , +As I was sometime Milan .Quickly , spirit ; +Thou shalt ere long be free . + + +Where the bee sucks , there suck I +In a cowslip's bell I he : +There I couch when owls do cry . +On the bat's back I do fly +After summer merrily +Merrily , merrily shall I live now +Under the blossom that hangs on the bough + + +Why , that's my dainty Ariel ! I shall miss thee ; +But yet thou shalt have freedom ;so , so , so . +To the king's ship , invisible as thou art : +There shalt thou find the mariners asleep +Under the hatches ; the master and the boatswain +Being awake , enforce them to this place , +And presently , I prithee . + +I drink the air before me , and return +Or e'er your pulse twice beat . + + +All torment , trouble , wonder , and amazement +Inhabits here : some heavenly power guide us +Out of this fearful country ! + +Behold , sir king , +The wronged Duke of Milan , Prospero . +For more assurance that a living prince +Does now speak to thee , I embrace thy body ; +And to thee and thy company I bid +A hearty welcome . + +Whe'r thou beest he or no , +Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me , +As late I have been , I not know : thy pulse +Beats , as of flesh and blood ; and , since I saw thee , +Th' affliction of my mind amends , with which , +I fear , a madness held me : this must crave , +An if this be at all a most strange story . +Thy dukedom I resign , and do entreat +Thou pardon me my wrongs .But how should Prospero +Be living , and be here ? + +First , noble friend , +Let me embrace thine age ; whose honour cannot +Be measur'd , or confin'd . + +Whether this be , +Or be not , I'll not swear . + +You do yet taste +Some subtilties o' the isle , that will not let you +Believe things certain .Welcome ! my friends all : + + +But you , my brace of lords , were I so minded , +I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you , +And justify you traitors : at this time +I will tell no tales . + +The devil speaks in him . + +No . +For you , most wicked sir , whom to call brother +Would even infect my mouth , I do forgive +Thy rankest fault ; all of them ; and require +My dukedom of thee , which , perforce , I know , +Thou must restore . + +If thou beest Prospero , +Give us particulars of thy preservation ; +How thou hast met us here , who three hours since +Were wrack'd upon this shore ; where I have lost , +How sharp the point of this remembrance is ! +My dear son Ferdinand . + +I am woe for't , sir . + +Irreparable is the loss , and patience +Says it is past her cure . + +I rather think +You have not sought her help ; of whose soft grace , +For the like loss I have her sovereign aid , +And rest myself content . + +You the like loss ! + +As great to me , as late ; and , supportable +To make the dear loss , have I means much weaker +Than you may call to comfort you , for I +Have lost my daughter . + +A daughter ? +O heavens ! that they were living both in Naples , +The king and queen there ! that they were , I wish +Myself were mudded in that oozy bed +Where my son lies . When did you lose your daughter ? + +In this last tempest . I perceive , these lords +At this encounter do so much admire +That they devour their reason , and scarce think +Their eyes do offices of truth , their words +Are natural breath : but , howsoe'er you have +Been justled from your senses , know for certain +That I am Prospero and that very duke +Which was thrust forth of Milan ; who most strangely +Upon this shore , where you were wrack'd , was landed , +To be the lord on't . No more yet of this ; +For 'tis a chronicle of day by day , +Not a relation for a breakfast nor +Befitting this first meeting . Welcome , sir ; +This cell's my court : here have I few attendants +And subjects none abroad : pray you , look in . +My dukedom since you have given me again , +I will requite you with as good a thing ; +At least bring forth a wonder , to content ye +As much as me my dukedom . + + +Sweet lord , you play me false . + +No , my dearest love , +I would not for the world . + +Yes , for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle , +And I would call it fair play . + +If this prove +A vision of the island , one dear son +Shall I twice lose . + +A most high miracle ! + +Though the seas threaten , they are merciful : +I have curs'd them without cause . + + +Now , all the blessings +Of a glad father compass thee about ! +Arise , and say how thou cam'st here . + +O , wonder ! +How many goodly creatures are there here ! +How beauteous mankind is ! O brave new world , +That has such people in't ! + +'Tis new to thee . + +What is this maid , with whom thou wast at play ? +Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours : +Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us , +And brought us thus together ? + +Sir , she is mortal ; +But by immortal Providence she's mine ; +I chose her when I could not ask my father +For his advice , nor thought I had one . She +Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan , +Of whom so often I have heard renown , +But never saw before ; of whom I have +Receiv'd a second life ; and second father +This lady makes him to me . + +I am hers : +But O ! how oddly will it sound that I +Must ask my child forgiveness ! + +There , sir , stop : +Let us not burden our remembrances +With a heaviness that's gone . + +I have inly wept , +Or should have spoke ere this . Look down , you gods , +And on this couple drop a blessed crown ; +For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way +Which brought us hither ! + +I say , Amen , Gonzalo ! + +Was Milan thrust from Milan , that his issue +Should become kings of Naples ? O , rejoice +Beyond a common joy , and set it down +With gold on lasting pillars . In one voyage +Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis , +And Ferdinand , her brother , found a wife +Where he himself was lost ; Prospero his dukedom +In a poor isle ; and all of us ourselves , +When no man was his own . + +Give me your hands : +Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart +That doth not wish you joy ! + +Be it so : Amen ! + + +O look , sir ! look , sir ! here are more of us . +I prophesied , if a gallows were on land , +This fellow could not drown .Now , blasphemy , +That swear'st grace o'erboard , not an oath on shore ? + +Hast thou no mouth by land ? What is the news ? + +The best news is that we have safely found +Our king and company : the next , our ship , +Which but three glasses since we gave out split , +Is tight and yare and bravely rigg'd as when +We first put out to sea . + +Sir , all this service +Have I done since I went . + +My tricksy spirit ! + +These are not natural events ; they strengthen +From strange to stranger .Say , how came you hither ? + +If I did think , sir , I were well awake , +I'd strive to tell you . We were dead of sleep , +And ,how we know not ,all clapp'd under hatches , +Where , but even now , with strange and several noises +Of roaring , shrieking , howling , jingling chains , +And mo diversity of sounds , all horrible , +We were awak'd ; straightway , at liberty : +Where we , in all her trim , freshly beheld +Our royal , good , and gallant ship ; our master +Capering to eye her : on a trice , so please you , +Even in a dream , were we divided from them , +And were brought moping hither . + +Was't well done ? + +Bravely , my diligence ! Thou shalt be free . + +This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod ; +And there is in this business more than nature +Was ever conduct of : some oracle +Must rectify our knowledge . + +Sir , my liege , +Do not infest your mind with beating on +The strangeness of this business : at pick'd leisure +Which shall be shortly , single I'll resolve you , +Which to you shall seem probable ,of every +These happen'd accidents ; till when , be cheerful , +And think of each thing well . + +Come hither , spirit ; +Set Caliban and his companions free ; +Untie the spell . + +How fares my gracious sir ? +There are yet missing of your company +Some few odd lads that you remember not . + + +Every man shift for all the rest , and let no man take care for himself , for all is but fortune .Coragio ! bully-monster , Coragio ! + +If these be true spies which I wear in my head , here's a goodly sight . + +O Setebos ! these be brave spirits , indeed . +How fine my master is ! I am afraid +He will chastise me . + +Ha , ha ! +What things are these , my lord Antonio ? +Will money buy them ? + +Very like ; one of them +Is a plain fish , and , no doubt , marketable . + +Mark but the badges of these men , my lords , +Then say , if they be true .This mis-shapen knave , +His mother was a witch ; and one so strong +That could control the moon , make flows and ebbs , +And deal in her command without her power . +These three have robb'd me ; and this demidevil , +For he's a bastard one ,had plotted with them +To take my life : two of these fellows you +Must know and own ; this thing of darkness I +Acknowledge mine . + +I shall be pinch'd to death + +Is not this Stephano , my drunken butler ? + +He is drunk now : where had he wine ? + +And Trinculo is reeling-ripe : where should they +Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them ? +How cam'st thou in this pickle ? + +I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last that , I fear me , will never out of my bones : I shall not fear fly-blowing . + +Why , how now , Stephano ! + +O ! touch me not : I am not Stephano , but a cramp . + +You'd be king of the isle , sirrah ? + +I should have been a sore one then . + +This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on . + + +He is as disproportion'd in his manners As in his shape .Go , sirrah , to my cell ; +Take with you your companions : as you look +To have my pardon , trim it handsomely . + +Ay , that I will ; and I'll be wise hereafter , +And seek for grace . What a thrice-double ass +Was I , to take this drunkard for a god , +And worship this dull fool ! + +Go to ; away ! + +Hence , and bestow your luggage where you found it . + +Or stole it , rather . + + +Sir , I invite your highness and your train +To my poor cell , where you shall take your rest +For this one night ; which part of it I'll waste +With such discourse as , I not doubt , shall make it +Go quick away ; the story of my life +And the particular accidents gone by +Since I came to this isle : and in the morn +I'll bring you to your ship , and so to Naples , +Where I have hope to see the nuptial +Of these our dear-beloved solemniz'd ; +And thence retire me to my Milan , where +Every third thought shall be my grave . + +I long +To hear the story of your life , which must +Take the ear strangely . + +I'll deliver all ; +And promise you calm seas , auspicious gales +And sail so expeditious that shall catch +Your royal fleet far off . + +My Ariel , chick , +That is thy charge : then to the elements +Be free , and fare thou well !Please you , draw near . + +Now my charms are all o'erthrown , +And what strength I have's mine own ; +Which is most faint : now , 'tis true , +I must be here confin'd by you , +Or sent to Naples Let me not , +Since I have my dukedom got +And pardon'd the deceiver , dwell +In this bare island by your spell ; +But release me from my bands +With the help of your good hands . +Gentle breath of yours my sails +Must fill , or else my project fails , +Which was to please . Now I want +Spirits to enforce , art to enchant ; +And my ending is despair , +Unless I be reliev'd by prayer , +Which pierces so that it assaults +Mercy itself and frees all faults . +As you from crimes would pardon'd be , +Let your indulgence set me free . + +THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA + +Cease to persuade , my loving Proteus : +Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits . +Were't not affection chains thy tender days +To the sweet glances of thy honour'd love , +I rather would entreat thy company +To see the wonders of the world abroad +Than , living dully sluggardiz'd at home , +Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness . +But since thou lov'st , love still , and thrive therein , +Even as I would when I to love begin . + +Wilt thou be gone ? Sweet Valentine , adieu ! +Think on thy Proteus , when thou haply seest +Some rare note-worthy object in thy travel : +Wish me partaker in thy happiness +When thou dost meet good hap ; and in thy danger , +If ever danger do environ thee , +Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers , +For I will be thy beadsman , Valentine . + +And on a love-book pray for my success ? + +Upon some book I love I'll pray for thee . + +That's on some shallow story of deep love , +How young Leander cross'd the Hellespont . + +That's a deep story of a deeper love ; +For he was more than over shoes in love . + +'Tis true ; for you are over boots in love , +And yet you never swum the Hellespont . + +Over the boots ? nay , give me not the boots . + +No , I will not , for it boots thee not . + +What ? + +To be in love , where scorn is bought with groans ; +Coy looks with heart-sore sighs ; one fading moment's mirth +With twenty watchful , weary , tedious nights : +If haply won , perhaps a hapless gain ; +If lost , why then a grievous labour won : +However , but a folly bought with wit , +Or else a wit by folly vanquished . + +So , by your circumstance , you call me fool . + +So , by your circumstance , I fear you'll prove . + +'Tis love you cavil at : I am not Love . + +Love is your master , for he masters you ; +And he that is so yoked by a fool , +Methinks , should not be chronicled for wise . + +Yet writers say , as in the sweetest bud +The eating canker dwells , so eating love +Inhabits in the finest wits of all . + +And writers say , as the most forward bud +Is eaten by the canker ere it blow , +Even so by love the young and tender wit +Is turned to folly ; blasting in the bud , +Losing his verdure even in the prime , +And all the fair effects of future hopes . +But wherefore waste I time to counsel thee +That art a votary to fond desire ? +Once more adieu ! my father at the road +Expects my coming , there to see me shipp'd . + +And thither will I bring thee , Valentine . + +Sweet Proteus , no ; now let us take our leave . +To Milan let me hear from thee by letters +Of thy success in love , and what news else +Betideth here in absence of thy friend ; +And I likewise will visit thee with mine . + +All happiness bechance to thee in Milan ! + +As much to you at home ! and so , farewell . + + +He after honour hunts , I after love : +He leaves his friends to dignify them more ; +I leave myself , my friends and all , for love . +Thou , Julia , thou hast metamorphos'd me ; +Made me neglect my studies , lose my time , +War with good counsel , set the world at nought ; +Made wit with musing weak , heart sick with thought . + + +Sir Proteus , save you ! Saw you my master ? + +But now he parted hence , to embark for Milan . + +Twenty to one , then , he is shipp'd already , +And I have play'd the sheep , in losing him . + +Indeed , a sheep doth very often stray , +An if the shepherd be a while away . + +You conclude that my master is a shepherd , then , and I a sheep ? + +I do . + +Why then my horns are his horns , whether I wake or sleep . + +A silly answer , and fitting well a sheep . + +This proves me still a sheep . + +True , and thy master a shepherd . + +Nay , that I can deny by a circumstance . + +It shall go hard but I'll prove it by another . + +The shepherd seeks the sheep , and not the sheep the shepherd ; but I seek my master , and my master seeks not me : therefore I am no sheep . + +The sheep for fodder follow the shepherd , the shepherd for food follows not the sheep ; thou for wages followest thy master , thy master for wages follows not thee : therefore thou art a sheep . + +Such another proof will make me cry 'baa .' + +But , dost thou hear ? gavest thou my letter to Julia ? + +Ay , sir : I , a lost mutton , gave your letter to her , a laced mutton ; and she , a laced mutton , gave me , a lost mutton , nothing for my labour . + +Here's too small a pasture for such store of muttons . + +If the ground be overcharged , you were best stick her . + +Nay , in that you are astray ; 'twere best pound you . + +Nay , sir , less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter . + +You mistake : I mean the pound ,a pinfold . + +From a pound to a pin ? fold it over and over , +'Tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover . + +But what said she ? + +Did she nod ? + +Ay . + +Nod , ay ? why , that's noddy . + +You mistook , sir : I say she did nod ; and you ask me if she did nod ; and I say , Ay . + +And that set together is noddy . + +Now you have taken the pains to set it together , take it for your pains . + +No , no ; you shall have it for bearing the letter . + +Well , I perceive I must be fain to bear with you . + +Why , sir , how do you bear with me ? + +Marry , sir , the letter very orderly ; having nothing but the word 'noddy' for my pains . + +Beshrew me , but you have a quick wit . + +And yet it cannot overtake your slow purse . + +Come , come ; open the matter in brief : what said she ? + +Open your purse , that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered . + +Well , sir , here is for your pains + +What said she ? + +Truly , sir , I think you'll hardly win her . + +Why ? couldst thou perceive so much from her ? + +Sir , I could perceive nothing at all from her ; no , not so much as a ducat for delivering your letter . And being so hard to me that brought your mind , I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling your mind . Give her no token but stones , for she's as hard as steel . + +What ! said she nothing ? + +No , not so much as 'Take this for thy pains .' To testify your bounty , I thank you , you have testerned me ; in requital whereof , henceforth carry your letters yourself . And so , sir , I'll commend you to my master . + +Go , go , be gone , to save your ship from wrack ; +Which cannot perish , having thee aboard , +Being destin'd to a drier death on shore . + +I must go send some better messenger : +I fear my Julia would not deign my lines , +Receiving them from such a worthless post . + + +But say , Lucetta , now we are alone , +Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love ? + +Ay , madam , so you stumble not unheedfully . + +Of all the fair resort of gentlemen +That every day with parle encounter me , +In thy opinion which is worthiest love ? + +Please you repeat their names , I'll show my mind +According to my shallow simple skill . + +What think'st thou of the fair Sir Eglamour ? + +As of a knight well-spoken , neat and fine ; +But , were I you , he never should be mine . + +What think'st thou of the rich Mercatio ? + +Well of his wealth ; but of himself , so so . + +What think'st thou of the gentle Proteus ? + +Lord , Lord ! to see what folly reigns in us ! + +How now ! what means this passion at his name ? + +Pardon , dear madam ; 'tis a passing shame +That I , unworthy body as I am , +Should censure thus on lovely gentlemen . + +Why not on Proteus , as of all the rest ? + +Then thus ,of many good I think him best . + +Your reason ? + +I have no other but a woman's reason : +I think him so because I think him so . + +And wouldst thou have me cast my love on him ? + +Ay , if you thought your love not cast away . + +Why , he , of all the rest hath never mov'd me . + +Yet he of all the rest , I think , best loves ye . + +His little speaking shows his love but small . + +Fire that's closest kept burns most of all . + +They do not love that do not show their love . + +O ! they love least that let men know their love . + +I would I knew his mind . + +Peruse this paper , madam . + + +'To Julia .' Say from whom ? + +That the contents will show . + +Say , say , who gave it thee ? + +Sir Valentine's page , and sent , I think , from Proteus . +He would have given it you , but I , being in the way , +Did in your name receive it ; pardon the fault , I pray . + +Now , by my modesty , a goodly broker ! +Dare you presume to harbour wanton lines ? +To whisper and conspire against my youth ? +Now , trust me , 'tis an office of great worth +And you an officer fit for the place . +There , take the paper : see it be return'd ; +Or else return no more into my sight . + +To plead for love deserves more fee than hate . + +Will ye be gone ? + +That you may ruminate . + + +And yet I would I had o'erlook'd the letter . +It were a shame to call her back again +And pray her to a fault for which I chid her . +What fool is she , that knows I am a maid , +And would not force the letter to my view ! +Since maids , in modesty , say 'No' to that +Which they would have the profferer construe 'Ay .' +Fie , fie ! how wayward is this foolish love +That , like a testy babe , will scratch the nurse +And presently all humbled kiss the rod ! +How churlishly I child Lucetta hence , +When willingly I would have had her here : +How angerly I taught my brow to frown , +When inward joy enforc'd my heart to smile . +My penance is , to call Lucetta back +And ask remission for my folly past . +What ho ! Lucetta ! + + +What would your ladyship ? + +Is it near dinner-time ? + +I would it were ; +That you might kill your stomach on your meat +And not upon your maid . + +What is't that you took up so gingerly ? + +Nothing . + +Why didst thou stoop , then ? + +To take a paper up +That I let fall . + +And is that paper nothing ? + +Nothing concerning me . + +Then let it lie for those that it concerns . + +Madam , it will not lie where it concerns , +Unless it have a false interpreter . + +Some love of yours hath writ to you in rime . + +That I might sing it , madam , to a tune : +Give me a note : your ladyship can set . + +As little by such toys as may be possible ; +Best sing it to the tune of 'Light o' Love .' + +It is too heavy for so light a tune . + +Heavy ! belike it hath some burden , then ? + +Ay ; and melodious were it , would you sing it . + +And why not you ? + +I cannot reach so high . + +Let's see your song . + +How now , minion ! + +Keep tune there still , so you will sing it out : +And yet methinks , I do not like this tune . + +You do not ? + +No , madam ; it is too sharp . + +You , minion , are too saucy . + +Nay , now you are too flat +And mar the concord with too harsh a descant : +There wanteth but a mean to fill your song . + +The mean is drown'd with your unruly bass . + +Indeed , I bid the base for Proteus . + +This babble shall not henceforth trouble me . +Here is a coil with protestation ! + +Go , get you gone , and let the papers lie : +You would be fingering them , to anger me . + +She makes it strange ; but she would be best pleas'd +To be so anger'd with another letter . + + +Nay , would I were so anger'd with the same ! +O hateful hands , to tear such loving words ! +Injurious wasps , to feed on such sweet honey +And kill the bees that yield it with your stings ! +I'll kiss each several paper for amends . +Look , here is writ 'kind Julia :' unkind Julia ! +As in revenge of thy ingratitude , +I throw thy name against the bruising stones , +Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain . +And here is writ 'love-wounded Proteus :' +Poor wounded name ! my bosom , as a bed +Shall lodge thee till thy wound be throughly heal'd ; +And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss . +But twice or thrice was 'Proteus' written down : +Be calm , good wind , blow not a word away +Till I have found each letter in the letter , +Except mine own name ; that some whirlwind bear +Unto a ragged , fearful hanging rock , +And throw it thence into the raging sea ! +Lo ! here in one line is his name twice writ , +'Poor forlorn Proteus , passionate Proteus , +To the sweet Julia' :that I'll tear away ; +And yet I will not , sith so prettily +He couples it to his complaining names : +Thus will I fold them one upon another : +Now kiss , embrace , contend , do what you will . + + +Madam , +Dinner is ready , and your father stays . + +Well , let us go . + +What ! shall these papers he like tell-tales here ? + +If you respect them , best to take them up . + +Nay , I was taken up for laying them down ; +Yet here they shall not lie , for catching cold . + +I see you have a month's mind to them . + +Ay , madam , you may say what sights you see ; +I see things too , although you judge I wink . + +Come , come ; will't please you go ? + + +Tell me , Panthino , what sad talk was that +Wherewith my brother held you in the cloister ? + +'Twas of his nephew Proteus , your son . + +Why , what of him ? + +He wonder'd that your lordship +Would suffer him to spend his youth at home , +While other men , of slender reputation , +Put forth their sons to seek preferment out : +Some to the wars , to try their fortune there ; +Some to discover islands far away ; +Some to the studious universities . +For any or for all these exercises +He said that Proteus your son was meet , +And did request me to importune you +To let him spend his time no more at home , +Which would be great impeachment to his age , +In having known to travel in his youth . + +Nor need'st thou much importune me to that +Whereon this month I have been hammering . +I have consider'd well his loss of time , +And how he cannot be a perfect man , +Not being tried and tutor'd in the world : +Experience is by industry achiev'd +And perfected by the swift course of time . +Then tell me , whither were I best to send him ? + +I think your lordship is not ignorant +How his companion , youthful Valentine , +Attends the emperor in his royal court . + +I know it well . + +'Twere good , I think , your lordship sent him thither : +There shall be practise tilts and tournaments , +Hear sweet discourse , converse with noblemen , +And be in eye of every exercise +Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth . + +I like thy counsel , well hast thou advis'd : +And that thou mayst perceive how well I like it +The execution of it shall make known . +Even with the speediest expedition +I will dispatch him to the emperor's court . + +To-morrow , may it please you , Don Alphonso +With other gentlemen of good esteem , +Are journeying to salute the emperor +And to commend their service to his will . + +Good company ; with them shall Proteus go : +And in good time :now will we break with him . + + +Sweet love ! sweet lines ! sweet life ! +Here is her hand , the agent of her heart ; +Here is her oath for love , her honour's pawn . +O ! that our fathers would applaud our loves , +To seal our happiness with their consents ! +O heavenly Julia ! + +How now ! what letter are you reading there ? + +May't please your lordship , 'tis a word or two +Of commendations sent from Valentine , +Deliver'd by a friend that came from him . + +Lend me the letter ; let me see what news . + +There is no news , my lord ; but that he writes +How happily he lives , how well belov'd +And daily graced by the emperor ; +Wishing me with him , partner of his fortune . + +And how stand you affected to his wish ? + +As one relying on your lordship's will +And not depending on his friendly wish . + +My will is something sorted with his wish . +Muse not that I thus suddenly proceed ; +For what I will , I will , and there an end . +I am resolv'd that thou shalt spend some time +With Valentinus in the emperor's court : +What maintenance he from his friends receives , +Like exhibition thou shalt have from me . +To-morrow be in readiness to go : +Excuse it not , for I am peremptory . + +My lord , I cannot be so soon provided : +Please you , deliberate a day or two . + +Look , what thou want'st shall be sent after thee : +No more of stay ; to-morrow thou must go . +Come on , Panthino : you shall be employ'd +To hasten on his expedition . + + +Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning , +And drench'd me in the sea , where I am drown'd . +I fear'd to show my father Julia's letter , +Lest he should take exceptions to my love ; +And with the vantage of mine own excuse +Hath he excepted most against my love . +O ! how this spring of love resembleth +The uncertain glory of an April day , +Which now shows all the beauty of the sun , +And by and by a cloud takes all away ! + + +Sir Proteus , your father calls for you : +He is in haste ; therefore , I pray you , go . + +Why , this it is : my heart accords thereto , +And yet a thousand times it answers , 'no .' + +Sir , your glove . + + +Not mine ; my gloves are on . + +Why , then this may be yours , for this is but one . + +Ha ! let me see : ay , give it me , it's mine ; +Sweet ornament that decks a thing divine ! +Ah Silvia ! Silvia ! + +Madam Silvia ! Madam Silvia ! + +How now , sirrah ? + +She is not within hearing , sir . + +Why , sir , who bade you call her ? + +Your worship , sir ; or else I mistook . + +Well , you'll still be too forward . + +And yet I was last chidden for being too slow . + +Go to , sir . Tell me , do you know Madam Silvia ? + +She that your worship loves ? + +Why , how know you that I am in love ? + +Marry , by these special marks : first , you have learned , like Sir Proteus , to wreathe your arms , like a malecontent ; to relish a love-song , like a robin-redbreast ; to walk alone , like one that had the pestilence ; to sigh , like a schoolboy that had lost his A B C ; to weep , like a young wench that had buried her grandam ; to fast , like one that takes diet ; to watch , like one that fears robbing ; to speak puling , like a beggar at Hallowmas . You were wont , when you laughed , to crow like a cock ; when you walked , to walk like one of the lions ; when you fasted , it was presently after dinner ; when you looked sadly , it was for want of money : and now you are metamorphosed with a mistress , that , when I look on you , I can hardly think you my master . + +Are all these things perceived in me ? + +They are all perceived without ye . + +Without me ? they cannot . + +Without you ? nay , that's certain ; for , without you were so simple , none else would : but you are so without these follies , that these follies are within you and shine through you like the water in an urinal , that not an eye that sees you but is a physician to comment on your malady . + +But tell me , dost thou know my lady Silvia ? + +She that you gaze on so as she sits at supper ? + +Hast thou observed that ? even she , I mean . + +Why , sir , I know her not . + +Dost thou know her by my gazing on her , and yet knowest her not ? + +Is she not hard-favoured , sir ? + +Not so fair , boy , as well-favoured . + +Sir , I know that well enough . + +What dost thou know ? + +That she is not so fair , as , of you , well-favoured . + +I mean that her beauty is exquisite , but her favour infinite . + +That's because the one is painted and the other out of all count . + +How painted ? and how out of count ? + +Marry , sir , so painted to make her fair , that no man counts of her beauty . + +How esteemest thou me ? I account of her beauty . + +You never saw her since she was deformed . + +How long hath she been deformed ? + +Ever since you loved her . + +I have loved her ever since I saw her , and still I see her beautiful . + +If you love her you cannot see her . + +Why ? + +Because Love is blind . O ! that you had mine eyes ; or your own eyes had the lights they were wont to have when you chid at Sir Proteus for going ungartered ! + +What should I see then ? + +Your own present folly and her passing deformity : for he , being in love , could not see to garter his hose ; and you , being in love , cannot see to put on your hose . + +Belike , boy , then , you are in love ; for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes . + +True , sir ; I was in love with my bed . I thank you , you swinged me for my love , which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours . + +In conclusion , I stand affected to her . + +I would you were set , so your affection would cease . + +Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves . + +And have you ? + +I have . + +Are they not lamely writ ? + +No , boy , but as well as I can do them . +Peace ! here she comes . + + +O excellent motion ! O exceeding puppet ! now will he interpret to her . + +Madam and mistress , a thousand good morrows . + +O ! give ye good even : here's a million of manners . + +Sir Valentine and servant , to you two thousand . + +He should give her interest , and she gives it him . + +As you enjoin'd me , I have writ your letter +Unto the secret nameless friend of yours ; +Which I was much unwilling to proceed in +But for my duty to your ladyship . + + +I thank you , gentle servant . 'Tis very clerkly done . + +Now , trust me , madam , it came hardly off ; +For , being ignorant to whom it goes +I writ at random , very doubtfully . + +Perchance you think too much of so much pains ? + +No , madam ; so it stead you , I will write , +Please you command , a thousand times as much . +And yet + +A pretty period ! Well , I guess the sequel ; +And yet I will not name it ; and yet I care not ; +And yet take this again ; and yet I thank you , +Meaning henceforth to trouble you no more . + +And yet you will ; and yet another yet . + +What means your ladyship ? do you not like it ? + +Yes , yes : the lines are very quaintly writ , +But since unwillingly , take them again : +Nay , take them . + + +Madam , they are for you . + +Ay , ay ; you writ them , sir , at my request , +But I will none of them ; they are for you . +I would have had them writ more movingly . + +Please you , I'll write your ladyship another . + +And when it's writ , for my sake read it over : +And if it please you , so ; if not , why , so . + +If it please me , madam , what then ? + +Why , if it please you , take it for your labour : +And so , good morrow , servant . + + +O jest unseen , inscrutable , invisible , +As a nose on a man's face , or a weathercock on a steeple ! +My master sues to her , and she hath taught her suitor , +He being her pupil , to become her tutor . +O excellent device ! was there ever heard a better , +That my master , being scribe , to himself should write the letter ? + +How now , sir ! what are you reasoning with yourself ? + +Nay , I was riming : 'tis you that have the reason . + +To do what ? + +To be a spokesman from Madam Silvia . + +To whom ? + +To yourself . Why , she wooes you by a figure . + +What figure ? + +By a letter , I should say . + +Why , she hath not writ to me ? + +What need she , when she hath made you write to yourself ? Why , do you not perceive the jest ? + +No , believe me . + +No believing you , indeed , sir . But did you perceive her earnest ? + +She gave me none , except an angry word . + +Why , she hath given you a letter . + +That's the letter I writ to her friend . + +And that letter hath she delivered , and there an end . + +I would it were no worse . + +I'll warrant you , 'tis as well : +'For often have you writ to her , and she , in modesty , +Or else for want of idle time , could not again reply ; +Or fearing else some messenger that might her mind discover , +Herself hath taught her love himself to write unto her lover .' +All this I speak in print , for in print I found it . +Why muse you , sir ? 'tis dinner-time . + +I have dined . + +Ay , but hearken , sir : though the chameleon Love can feed on the air , I am one that am nourished by my victuals and would fain have meat . O ! be not like your mistress : be moved , be moved . + + +Have patience , gentle Julia . + +I must , where is no remedy . + +When possibly I can , I will return . + +If you turn not , you will return the sooner . +Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake . + + +Why , then , we'll make exchange : here , take you this . + + +And seal the bargain with a holy kiss . + +Here is my hand for my true constancy ; +And when that hour o'erslips me in the day +Wherein I sigh not , Julia , for thy sake , +The next ensuing hour some foul mischance +Torment me for my love's forgetfulness ! +My father stays my coming ; answer not . +The tide is now : nay , not thy tide of tears ; +That tide will stay me longer than I should . +Julia , farewell . + +What ! gone without a word ? +Ay , so true love should do : it cannot speak ; +For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it . + + +Sir Proteus , you are stay'd for . + +Go ; I come , I come . +Alas ! this parting strikes poor lovers dumb . + + +Nay , 'twill be this hour ere I have done weeping : all the kind of the Launces have this very fault . I have received my proportion , like the prodigious son , and am going with Sir Proteus to the imperial's court . I think Crab my dog be the sourest-natured dog that lives : my mother weeping , my father wailing , my sister crying , our maid howling , our cat wringing her hands , and all our house in a great perplexity , yet did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear . He is a stone , a very pebble stone , and has no more pity in him than a dog ; a Jew would have wept to have seen our parting : why , my grandam , having no eyes , look you , wept herself blind at my parting . Nay , I'll show you the manner of it . This shoe is my father ; no , this left shoe is my father : no , no , this left shoe is my mother ; nay , that cannot be so neither :yes , it is so ; it is so ; it hath the worser sole . This shoe , with the hole in , is my mother , and this my father . A vengeance on't ! there 'tis : now , sir , this staff is my sister ; for , look you , she is as white as a lily and as small as a wand : this hat is Nan , our maid : I am the dog ; no , the dog is himself , and I am the dog ,O ! the dog is me , and I am myself : ay , so , so . Now come I to my father ; 'Father , your blessing ;' now should not the shoe speak a word for weeping : now should I kiss my father ; well , he weeps on . Now come I to my mother ;O , that she could speak now like a wood woman ! Well , I kiss her ; why , there 'tis ; here's my mother's breath up and down . Now come I to my sister ; mark the moan she makes : Now the dog all this while sheds not a tear nor speaks a word ; but see how I lay the dust with my tears . + + +Launce , away , away , aboard ! thy master is shipped , and thou art to post after with oars . What's the matter ? why weepest thou , man ? Away , ass ! you'll lose the tide if you tarry any longer . + +It is no matter if the tied were lost ; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied . + +What's the unkindest tide ? + +Why , he that's tied here , Crab , my dog . + +Tut , man , I mean thou'lt lose the flood ; and , in losing the flood , lose thy voyage , and , in losing thy voyage , lose thy master ; and , in losing thy master , lose thy service ; and , in losing thy service ,Why dost thou stop my mouth ? + +For fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue . + +Where should I lose my tongue ? + +In thy tale . + +In thy tail ! + +Lose the tide , and the voyage , and the master , and the service , and the tied ! Why , man , if the river were dry , I am able to fill it with my tears ; if the wind were down , I could drive the boat with my sighs . + +Come , come away , man ; I was sent to call thee . + +Sir , call me what thou darest . + +Wilt thou go ? + +Well , I will go . + + +Servant ! + +Mistress ? + +Master , Sir Thurio frowns on you . + +Ay , boy , it's for love . + +Not of you . + +Of my mistress , then . + +'Twere good you knock'd him . + +Servant , you are sad . + +Indeed , madam , I seem so . + +Seem you that you are not ? + +Haply I do . + +So do counterfeits . + +So do you . + +What seem I that I am not ? + +Wise . + +What instance of the contrary ? + +Your folly . + +And how quote you my folly ? + +I quote it in your jerkin . + +My jerkin is a doublet . + +Well , then , I'll double your folly . + +How ? + +What , angry , Sir Thurio ! do you change colour ? + +Give him leave , madam ; he is a kind of chameleon . + +That hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air . + +You have said , sir . + +Ay , sir , and done too , for this time . + +I know it well , sir : you always end ere you begin . + +A fine volley of words , gentlemen , and quickly shot off . + +'Tis indeed , madam ; we thank the giver . + +Who is that , servant ? + +Yourself , sweet lady ; for you gave the fire . Sir Thurio borrows his wit from your ladyship's looks , and spends what he borrows kindly in your company . + +Sir , if you spend word for word with me , I shall make your wit bankrupt . + +I know it well , sir : you have an exchequer of words , and , I think , no other treasure to give your followers ; for it appears by their bare liveries that they live by your bare words . + +No more , gentlemen , no more . Here comes my father . + + +Now , daughter Silvia , you are hard beset . +Sir Valentine , your father's in good health : +What say you to a letter from your friends +Of much good news ? + +My lord , I will be thankful +To any happy messenger from thence . + +Know ye Don Antonio , your countryman ? + +Ay , my good lord ; I know the gentleman +To be of worth and worthy estimation , +And not without desert so well reputed . + +Hath he not a son ? + +Ay , my good lord ; a son that well deserves +The honour and regard of such a father . + +You know him well ? + +I know him as myself ; for from our infancy +We have convers'd and spent our hours together : +And though myself have been an idle truant , +Omitting the sweet benefit of time +To clothe mine age with angel-like perfection , +Yet hath Sir Proteus ,for that's his name , +Made use and fair advantage of his days : +His years but young , but his experience old ; +His head unmellow'd , but his judgment ripe ; +And , in a word ,for far behind his worth +Come all the praises that I now bestow , +He is complete in feature and in mind +With all good grace to grace a gentleman . + +Beshrew me , sir , but if he make this good , +He is as worthy for an empress' love +As meet to be an emperor's counsellor . +Well , sir , this gentleman is come to me +With commendation from great potentates ; +And here he means to spend his time awhile : +I think , 'tis no unwelcome news to you . + +Should I have wish'd a thing , it had been he . + +Welcome him then according to his worth . +Silvia , I speak to you ; and you , Sir Thurio : +For Valentine , I need not cite him to it . +I'll send him hither to you presently . + + +This is the gentleman I told your ladyship +Had come along with me , but that his mistress +Did hold his eyes lock'd in her crystal looks . + +Belike that now she hath enfranchis'd them +Upon some other pawn for fealty . + +Nay , sure , I think she holds them prisoners still . + +Nay , then he should be blind ; and , being blind , +How could he see his way to seek out you ? + +Why , lady , Love hath twenty pairs of eyes . + +They say that Love hath not an eye at all . + +To see such lovers , Thurio , as yourself : +Upon a homely object Love can wink . + +Have done , have done . Here comes the gentleman . + + +Welcome , dear Proteus ! Mistress , I beseech you , +Confirm his welcome with some special favour . + +His worth is warrant for his welcome hither , +If this be he you oft have wish'd to hear from . + +Mistress , it is : sweet lady , entertain him +To be my fellow-servant to your ladyship . + +Too low a mistress for so high a servant . + +Not so , sweet lady ; but too mean a servant +To have a look of such a worthy mistress . + +Leave off discourse of disability : +Sweet lady , entertain him for your servant . + +My duty will I boast of , nothing else . + +And duty never yet did want his meed . +Servant , you are welcome to a worthless mistress . + +I'll die on him that says so but yourself . + +That you are welcome ? + +That you are worthless . + + +Madam , my lord your father would speak with you . + +I wait upon his pleasure . + +Come , Sir Thurio , +Go with me . Once more , new servant , welcome : +I'll leave you to confer of home-affairs ; +When you have done , we look to hear from you . + +We'll both attend upon your ladyship . + + +Now , tell me , how do all from whence you came ? + +Your friends are well and have them much commended . + +And how do yours ? + +I left them all in health . + +How does your lady and how thrives your love ? + +My tales of love were wont to weary you ; +I know you joy not in a love-discourse . + +Ay , Proteus , but that life is alter'd now : +I have done penance for contemning love ; +Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me +With bitter fasts , with penitential groans , +With nightly tears and daily heart-sore sighs ; +For , in revenge of my contempt of love , +Love hath chas'd sleep from my enthralled eyes , +And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow . +O , gentle Proteus ! Love's a mighty lord , +And hath so humbled me as I confess , +There is no woe to his correction , +Nor to his service no such joy on earth . +Now no discourse , except it be of love ; +Now can I break my fast , dine , sup and sleep , +Upon the very naked name of love . + +Enough ; I read your fortune in your eye . +Was this the idol that you worship so ? + +Even she ; and is she not a heavenly saint ? + +No ; but she is an earthly paragon . + +Call her divine . + +I will not flatter her . + +O ! flatter me , for love delights in praises . + +When I was sick you gave me bitter pills , +And I must minister the like to you . + +Then speak the truth by her ; if not divine , +Yet let her be a principality , +Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth . + +Except my mistress . + +Sweet , except not any , +Except thou wilt except against my love . + +Have I not reason to prefer mine own ? + +And I will help thee to prefer her too : +She shall be dignified with this high honour , +To bear my lady's train , lest the base earth +Should from her vesture chance to steal a kiss , +And , of so great a favour growing proud , +Disdain to root the summer-swelling flower , +And make rough winter everlastingly . + +Why , Valentine , what braggardism is this ? + +Pardon me , Proteus : all I can is nothing +To her whose worth makes other worthies nothing . +She is alone . + +Then , let her alone . + +Not for the world : why , man , she is mine own , +And I as rich in having such a jewel +As twenty seas , if all their sand were pearl , +The water nectar , and the rocks pure gold . +Forgive me that I do not dream on thee , +Because thou see'st me dote upon my love . +My foolish rival , that her father likes +Only for his possessions are so huge , +Is gone with her along , and I must after , +For love , thou know'st , is full of jealousy . + +But she loves you ? + +Ay , and we are betroth'd : nay , more , our marriage-hour , +With all the cunning manner of our flight , +Determin'd of : how I must climb her window , +The ladder made of cords , and all the means +Plotted and 'greed on for my happiness . +Good Proteus , go with me to my chamber , +In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel . + +Go on before , I shall inquire you forth : +I must unto the road , to disembark +Some necessaries that I needs must use , +And then I'll presently attend you . + +Will you make haste ? + +I will . + +Even as one heat another heat expels , +Or as one nail by strength drives out another , +So the remembrance of my former love +Is by a newer object quite forgotten . +Is it mine eye , or Valentinus' praise , +Her true perfection , or my false transgression , +That makes me reasonless to reason thus ? +She's fair ; and so is Julia that I love , +That I did love , for now my love is thaw'd , +Which , like a waxen image 'gainst a fire , +Bears no impression of the thing it was . +Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold , +And that I love him not as I was wont : +O ! but I love his lady too-too much ; +And that's the reason I love him so little . +How shall I dote on her with more advice , +That thus without advice begin to love her ? +'Tis but her picture I have yet beheld , +And that hath dazzled my reason's light ; +But when I look on her perfections , +There is no reason but I shall be blind . +If I can check my erring love , I will ; +If not , to compass her I'll use my skill . + + +Launce ! by mine honesty , welcome to Milan ! + +Forswear not thyself , sweet youth , for I am not welcome . I reckon this always that a man is never undone till he be hanged ; nor never welcome to a place till some certain shot be paid and the hostess say , 'Welcome !' + +Come on , you madcap , I'll to the alehouse with you presently ; where , for one shot of five pence , thou shalt have five thousand welcomes . But , sirrah , how did thy master part with Madam Julia ? + +Marry , after they closed in earnest , they parted very fairly in jest . + +But shall she marry him ? + +No . + +How then ? Shall he marry her ? + +No , neither . + +What , are they broken ? + +No , they are both as whole as a fish . + +Why then , how stands the matter with them ? + +Marry , thus ; when it stands well with him , it stands well with her . + +What an ass art thou ! I understand thee not . + +What a block art thou , that thou canst not ! My staff understands me . + +What thou sayest ? + +Ay , and what I do too : look thee , I'll but lean , and my staff understands me . + +It stands under thee , indeed . + +Why , stand-under and under-stand is all one . + +But tell me true , will't be a match ? + +Ask my dog : if he say ay , it will ; if he say no , it will ; if he shake his tail and say nothing , it will . + +The conclusion is , then , that it will . + +Thou shalt never get such a secret from me but by a parable . + +'Tis well that I get it so . But , Launce , how sayest thou , that my master is become a notable lover ? + +I never knew him otherwise . + +Than how ? + +A notable lubber , as thou reportest him to be . + +Why , thou whoreson ass , thou mistakest me . + +Why , fool , I meant not thee ; I meant thy master . + +I tell thee , my master is become a hot lover . + +Why , I tell thee , I care not though he burn himself in love . If thou wilt go with me to the alehouse so ; if not , thou art a Hebrew , a Jew , and not worth the name of a Christian . + +Why ? + +Because thou hast not so much charity in thee as to go to the ale with a Christian . Wilt thou go ? + +At thy service . + + +To leave my Julia , shall I be forsworn ; +To love fair Silvia , shall I be forsworn ; +To wrong my friend , I shall be much forsworn ; +And even that power which gave me first my oath +Provokes me to this threefold perjury : +Love bade me swear , and Love bids me forswear . +O sweet-suggesting Love ! if thou hast sinn'd , +Teach me , thy tempted subject , to excuse it . +At first I did adore a twinkling star , +But now I worship a celestial sun . +Unheedful vows may heedfully be broken ; +And he wants wit that wants resolved will +To learn his wit to exchange the bad for better . +Fie , fie , unreverend tongue ! to call her bad , +Whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferr'd +With twenty thousand soul-confirming oaths . +I cannot leave to love , and yet I do ; +But there I leave to love where I should love . +Julia I lose and Valentine I lose : +If I keep them , I needs must lose myself ; +If I lose them , thus find I by their loss , +For Valentine , myself ; for Julia , Silvia . +I to myself am dearer than a friend , +For love is still most precious in itself ; +And Silvia witness heaven that made her fair ! +Shows Julia but a swarthy Ethiope . +I will forget that Julia is alive , +Remembering that my love to her is dead ; +And Valentine I'll hold an enemy , +Aiming at Silvia as a sweeter friend . +I cannot now prove constant to myself +Without some treachery us'd to Valentine : +This night he meaneth with a corded ladder +To climb celestial Silvia's chamber-window , +Myself in counsel , his competitor . +Now presently , I'll give her father notice +Of their disguising and pretended flight ; +Who , all enrag'd , will banish Valentine ; +For Thurio , he intends , shall wed his daughter ; +But , Valentine being gone , I'll quickly cross , +By some sly trick blunt Thurio's dull proceeding . +Love , lend me wings to make my purpose swift , +As thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift ! + + +Counsel , Lucetta ; gentle girl , assist me : +And e'en in kind love I do conjure thee , +Who art the table wherein all my thoughts +Are visibly character'd and engrav'd , +To lesson me and tell me some good mean +How , with my honour , I may undertake +A journey to my loving Proteus . + +Alas ! the way is wearisome and long . + +A true-devoted pilgrim is not weary +To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps ; +Much less shall she that hath Love's wings to fly , +And when the flight is made to one so dear , +Of such divine perfection , as Sir Proteus . + +Better forbear till Proteus make return . + +O ! know'st thou not his looks are my soul's food ? +Pity the dearth that I have pined in , +By longing for that food so long a time . +Didst thou but know the inly touch of love , +Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow +As seek to quench the fire of love with words . + +I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire , +But qualify the fire's extreme rage , +Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason . + +The more thou damm'st it up , the more it burns . +The current that with gentle murmur glides , +Thou know'st , being stopp'd , impatiently doth rage ; +But when his fair course is not hindered , +He makes sweet music with th' enamell'd stones , +Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge +He overtaketh in his pilgrimage ; +And so by many winding nooks he strays +With willing sport , to the wild ocean . +Then let me go and hinder not my course : +I'll be as patient as a gentle stream +And make a pastime of each weary step , +Till the last step have brought me to my love ; +And there I'll rest , as after much turmoil +A blessed soul doth in Elysium . + +But in what habit will you go along ? + +Not like a woman ; for I would prevent +The loose encounters of lascivious men . +Gentle Lucetta , fit me with such weeds +As may beseem some well-reputed page . + +Why , then , your ladyship must cut your hair . + +No , girl ; I'll knit it up in silken strings +With twenty odd-conceited true-love knots : +To be fantastic may become a youth +Of greater time than I shall show to be . + +What fashion , madam , shall I make your breeches ? + +That fits as well as 'Tell me , good my lord , +What compass will you wear your farthingale ?' +Why , even what fashion thou best lik'st , Lucetta . + +You must needs have them with a cod-piece , madam . + +Out , out , Lucetta ! that will be ill-favour'd . + +A round hose , madam , now's not worth a pin , +Unless you have a cod-piece to stick pins on . + +Lucetta , as thou lov'st me , let me have +What thou think'st meet and is most mannerly . +But tell me , wench , how will the world repute me +For undertaking so unstaid a journey ? +I fear me , it will make me scandaliz'd . + +If you think so , then stay at home and go not . + +Nay , that I will not . + +Then never dream on infamy , but go . +If Proteus like your journey when you come , +No matter who's displeas'd when you are gone . +I fear me , he will scarce be pleas'd withal . + +That is the least , Lucetta , of my fear : +A thousand oaths , an ocean of his tears , +And instances of infinite of love +Warrant me welcome to my Proteus . + +All these are servants to deceitful men . + +Base men , that use them to so base effect ; +But truer stars did govern Proteus' birth : +His words are bonds , his oaths are oracles , +His love sincere , his thoughts immaculate , +His tears pure messengers sent from his heart , +His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth . + +Pray heaven he prove so when you come to him ! + +Now , as thou lov'st me , do him not that wrong +To bear a hard opinion of his truth : +Only deserve my love by loving him , +And presently go with me to my chamber , +To take a note of what I stand in need of +To furnish me upon my longing journey . +All that is mine I leave at thy dispose , +My goods , my lands , my reputation ; +Only , in lieu thereof , dispatch me hence . +Come , answer not , but to it presently ! +I am impatient of my tarriance . + +Sir Thurio , give us leave , I pray , awhile ; +We have some secrets to confer about . + +Now tell me , Proteus , what's your will with me ? + +My gracious lord , that which I would discover +The law of friendship bids me to conceal ; +But when I call to mind your gracious favours +Done to me , undeserving as I am , +My duty pricks me on to utter that +Which else no worldly good should draw from me . +Know , worthy prince , Sir Valentine , my friend , +This night intends to steal away your daughter : +Myself am one made privy to the plot . +I know you have determin'd to bestow her +On Thurio , whom your gentle daughter hates ; +And should she thus be stol'n away from you +It would be much vexation to your age . +Thus , for my duty's sake , I rather chose +To cross my friend in his intended drift , +Than , by concealing it , heap on your head +A pack of sorrows which would press you down , +Being unprevented , to your timeless grave . + +Proteus , I thank thee for thine honest care , +Which to requite , command me while I live . +This love of theirs myself have often seen , +Haply , when they have judg'd me fast asleep , +And oftentimes have purpos'd to forbid +Sir Valentine her company and my court ; +But fearing lest my jealous aim might err +And so unworthily disgrace the man , +A rashness that I ever yet have shunn'd , +I gave him gentle looks , thereby to find +That which thyself hast now disclos'd to me . +And , that thou mayst perceive my fear of this , +Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested , +I nightly lodge her in an upper tower , +The key whereof myself have ever kept ; +And thence she cannot be convey'd away . + +Know , noble lord , they have devis'd a mean +How he her chamber-window will ascend +And with a corded ladder fetch her down ; +For which the youthful lover now is gone +And this way comes he with it presently ; +Where , if it please you , you may intercept him . +But , good my lord , do it so cunningly +That my discovery be not aimed at ; +For love of you , not hate unto my friend , +Hath made me publisher of this pretence . + +Upon mine honour , he shall never know +That I had any light from thee of this . + +Adieu , my lord : Sir Valentine is coming . + +Sir Valentine , whither away so fast ? + +Please it your Grace , there is a messenger +That stays to bear my letters to my friends , +And I am going to deliver them . + +Be they of much import ? + +The tenour of them doth but signify +My health and happy being at your court . + +Nay then , no matter : stay with me awhile ; +I am to break with thee of some affairs +That touch me near , wherein thou must be secret . +'Tis not unknown to thee that I have sought +To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter . + +I know it well , my lord ; and sure , the match +Were rich and honourable ; besides , the gentleman +Is full of virtue , bounty , worth , and qualities +Beseeming such a wife as your fair daughter . +Cannot your Grace win her to fancy him ? + +No , trust me : she is peevish , sullen , froward , +Proud , disobedient , stubborn , lacking duty ; +Neither regarding that she is my child , +Nor fearing me as if I were her father : +And , may I say to thee this pride of hers , +Upon advice , hath drawn my love from her ; +And , where I thought the remnant of mine age +Should have been cherish'd by her child-like duty , +I now am full resolv'd to take a wife +And turn her out to who will take her in : +Then let her beauty be her wedding-dower ; +For me and my possessions she esteems not . + +What would your Grace have me to do in this ? + +There is a lady of Verona here , +Whom I affect ; but she is nice and coy +And nought esteems my aged eloquence : +Now therefore , would I have thee to my tutor , +For long agone I have forgot to court ; +Besides , the fashion of the time is chang'd , +How and which way I may bestow myself +To be regarded in her sun-bright eye . + +Win her with gifts , if she respect not words : +Dumb jewels often in their silent kind +More than quick words do move a woman's mind . + +But she did scorn a present that I sent her . + +A woman sometime scorns what best contents her . +Send her another ; never give her o'er , +For scorn at first makes after-love the more . +If she do frown , 'tis not in hate of you , +But rather to beget more love in you ; +If she do chide , 'tis not to have you gone ; +For why the fools are mad if left alone . +Take no repulse , whatever she doth say ; +For , 'get you gone ,' she doth not mean , 'away !' +Flatter and praise , commend , extol their graces ; +Though ne'er so black , say they have angels' faces . +That man that hath a tongue , I say , is no man , +If with his tongue he cannot win a woman . + +But she I mean is promis'd by her friends +Unto a youthful gentleman of worth , +And kept severely from resort of men , +That no man hath access by day to her . + +Why then , I would resort to her by night . + +Ay , but the doors be lock'd and keys kept safe , +That no man hath recourse to her by night . + +What lets but one may enter at her window ? + +Her chamber is aloft , far from the ground , +And built so shelving that one cannot climb it +Without apparent hazard of his life . + +Why then , a ladder quaintly made of cords , +To cast up , with a pair of anchoring hooks , +Would serve to scale another Hero's tower , +So bold Leander would adventure it . + +Now , as thou art a gentleman of blood , +Advise me where I may have such a ladder . + +When would you use it ? pray , sir , tell me that . + +This very night ; for Love is like a child , +That longs for every thing that he can come by . + +By seven o'clock I'll get you such a ladder . + +But hark thee ; I will go to her alone : +How shall I best convey the ladder thither ? + +It will be light , my lord , that you may bear it +Under a cloak that is of any length . + +A cloak as long as thine will serve the turn ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +Then let me see thy cloak : +I'll get me one of such another length . + +Why , any cloak will serve the turn , my lord . + +How shall I fashion me to wear a cloak ? +I pray thee , let me feel thy cloak upon me . + +What letter is this same ? What's here ?To Silvia ! +And here an engine fit for my proceeding ! +I'll be so bold to break the seal for once . + +My thoughts do harbour with my Silvia nightly ; +And slaves they are to me that send them flying +O ! could their master come and go as lightly , +Himself would lodge where senseless they are lying ! +My herald thoughts in thy pure bosom rest them ; +While I , their king , that thither them importune , +Do curse the grace that with such grace hath bless'd them , +Because myself do want my servants' fortune : +I curse myself , for they are sent by me , +That they should harbour where their lord would be . + +What's here ? + +Silvia , this night I will enfranchise thee + +'Tis so ; and here's the ladder for the purpose . +Why , Phaethon ,for thou art Merops' son , +Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car +And with thy daring folly burn the world ? +Wilt thou reach stars , because they shine on thee ? +Go , basc intruder ! overweening slave ! +Bestow thy fawning smiles on equal mates , +And think my patience , more than thy desert , +Is privilege for thy departure hence . +Thank me for this more than for all the favours +Which all too much I have bestow'd on thee . +But if thou linger in my territories +Longer than swiftest expedition +Will give thee time to leave our royal court , +By heaven ! my wrath shall far exceed the love +I ever borc my daughter or thyself . +Be gone ! I will not hear thy vain excuse ; +But , as thou lov'st thy life , make speed from hence . + + +And why not death rather than living torment ? +To die is to be banish'd from myself ; +And Silvia is myself : banish'd from her +Is self from self ,a deadly banishment ! +What light is light , if Silvia be not seen ? +What joy is joy , if Silvia be not by ? +Unless it be to think that she is by +And feed upon the shadow of perfection . +Except I be by Silvia in the night , +There is no music in the nightingale ; +Unless I look on Silvia in the day , +There is no day for me to look upon . +She is my essence ; and I leave to be , +If I be not by her fair influence +Foster'd , illumin'd , cherish'd , kept alive . +I fly not death , to fly his deadly doom : +Tarry I here , I but attend on death ; +But , fly I hence , I fly away from life . + + +Run , boy ; run , run , and seek him out . + +Soho ! soho ! + +What seest thou ? + +Him we go to find : there's not a hair on's head but 'tis a Valentine . + +Valentine ? + +No . + +Who then ? his spirit ? + +Neither . + +What then ? + +Nothing . + +Can nothing speak ? Master , shall I strike ? + +Who would'st thou strike ? + +Nothing . + +Villain , forbear . + +Why , sir , I'll strike nothing : I pray you , + +Sirrah , I say , forbear .Friend Valentine , a word . + +My ears are stopp'd and cannot hear good news , +So much of bad already hath possess'd them . + +Then in dumb silence will I bury mine , +For they are harsh , untuneable and bad . + +Is Silvia dead ? + +No , Valentine . + +No Valentine , indeed , for sacred Silvia ! +Hath she forsworn me ? + +No , Valentine . + +No Valentine , if Silvia have forsworn me ! +What is your news ? + +Sir , there is a proclamation that you are vanished . + +That thou art banished , O , that's the news , +From hence , from Silvia , and from me thy friend . + +O , I have fed upon this woe already , +And now excess of it will make me surfeit . +Doth Silvia know that I am banished ? + +Ay , ay ; and she hath offer'd to the doom +Which , unrevers'd , stands in effectual force +A sea of melting pearl , which some call tears : +Those at her father's churlish feet she tender'd ; +With them , upon her knees , her humble self ; +Wringing her hands , whose whiteness so became them +As if but now they waxed pale for woe : +But neither bended knees , pure hands held up , +Sad sighs , deep groans , nor silver-shedding tears , +Could penetrate her uncompassionate sire ; +But Valentine , if he be ta'en , must die . +Besides , her intercession chaf'd him so , +When she for thy repeal was suppliant , +That to close prison he commanded her , +With many bitter threats of biding there . + +No more ; unless the next word that thou speak'st +Have some malignant power upon my life : +If so , I pray thee , breathe it in mine ear , +As ending anthem of my endless dolour . + +Cease to lament for that thou canst not help , +And study help for that which thou lament'st . +Time is the nurse and breeder of all good . +Here if thou stay , thou canst not see thy love ; +Besides , thy staying will abridge thy life . +Hope is a lover's staff ; walk hence with that +And manage it against despairing thoughts . +Thy letters may be here , though thou art hence ; +Which , being writ to me , shall be deliver'd +Even in the milk-white bosom of thy love . +The time now serves not to expostulate : +Come , I'll convey thee through the city-gate , +And , ere I part with thee , confer at large +Of all that may concern thy love-affairs . +As thou lov'st Silvia , though not for thyself , +Regard thy danger , and along with me ! + +I pray thee , Launce , and if thou seest my boy , +Bid him make haste and meet me at the North-gate . + +Go , sirrah , find him out . Come , Valentine . + +O my dear Silvia ! hapless Valentine ! + + +I am but a fool , look you ; and yet I have the wit to think my master is a kind of a knave : but that's all one , if he be but one knave . He lives not now that knows me to be in love : yet I am in love ; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me , nor who 'tis I love ; and yet 'tis a woman ; but what woman , I will not tell myself ; and yet 'tis a milkmaid ; yet 'tis not a maid , for she hath had gossips ; yet 'tis a maid , for she is her master's maid , and serves for wages . She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel ,which is much in a bare Christian . + +Here is the catelog of her condition . Imprimis , She can fetch and carry . Why , a horse can do no more : nay , a horse cannot fetch , but only carry ; therefore , is she better than a jade . Item , She can milk ; look you , a sweet virtue in a maid with clean hands . + + +How now , Signior Launce ! what news with your mastership ? + +With my master's ship ? why , it is at sea . + +Well , your old vice still ; mistake the word . What news , then , in your paper ? + +The blackest news that ever thou heardest . + +Why , man , how black ? + +Why , as black as ink . + +Let me read them . + +Fie on thee , jolthead ! thou canst not read . + +Thou liest ; I can . + +I will try thee . Tell me this : who begot thee ? + +Marry , the son of my grandfather . + +O , illiterate loiterer ! it was the son of thy grandmother . This proves that thou canst not read . + +Come , fool , come : try me in thy paper . + +There ; and Saint Nicholas be thy speed ! + +Imprimis , She can milk . + +Ay , that she can . + +Item , She brews good ale . + +And thereof comes the proverb , 'Blessing of your heart , you brew good ale .' + +Item , She can sew . + +That's as much as to say , Can she so ? + +Item , She can knit . + +What need a man care for a stock with a wench , when she can knit him a stock ? + +Item , She can wash and scour . + +A special virtue ; for then she need not be washed and scoured . + +Item , She can spin . + +Then may I set the world on wheels , when she can spin for her living . + +Item , She hath many nameless virtues . + +That's as much as to say , bastard virtues ; that , indeed , know not their fathers , and therefore have no names . + +Here follow her vices . + +Close at the heels of her virtues . + +Item , She is not to be kissed fasting , in respect of her breath . + +Well , that fault may be mended with a breakfast . Read on . + +Item , She hath a sweet mouth . + +That makes amends for her sour breath . + +Item , She doth talk in her sleep . + +It's no matter for that , so she sleep not in her talk . + +Item , She is slow in words . + +O villain , that set this down among her vices ! To be slow in words is a woman's only virtue : I pray thee , out with't , and place it for her chief virtue . + +Item , She is proud . + +Out with that too : it was Eve's legacy , and cannot be ta'en from her . + +Item , She hath no teeth . + +I care not for that neither , because I love crusts . + +Item , She is curst . + +Well ; the best is , she hath no teeth to bite . + +Item , She will often praise her liquor . + +If her liquor be good , she shall : if she will not , I will ; for good things should be praised . + +Item , She is too liberal . + +Of her tongue she cannot , for that's writ down she is slow of : of her purse she shall not , for that I'll keep shut : now , of another thing she may , and that cannot I help . Well , proceed . + +Item , She hath more hair than wit , and more faults than hairs , and more wealth than faults . + +Stop there ; I'll have her : she was mine , and not mine , twice or thrice in that last article . Rehearse that once more . + +Item , She hath more hair than wit . + +More hair than wit it may be ; I'll prove it : the cover of the salt hides the salt , and therefore it is more than the salt ; the hair , that covers the wit is more than the wit , for the greater hides the less . What's next ? + +And more faults than hairs . + +That's monstrous ! O , that that were out ! + +And more wealth than faults . + +Why , that word makes the faults gracious . Well , I'll have her ; and if it be a match , as nothing is impossible , + +What then ? + +Why , then will I tell thee ,that thy master stays for thee at the North-gate . + +For me ? + +For thee ! ay ; who art thou ? he hath stayed for a better man than thee . + +And must I go to him ? + +Thou must run to him , for thou hast stayed so long that going will scarce serve the turn . + +Why didst not tell me sooner ? pox of your love-letters ! + + +Now will he be swing'd for reading my letter . An unmannerly slave , that will thrust himself into secrets . I'll after , to rejoice in the boy's correction . + + +Sir Thurio , fear not but that she will love you , +Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight . + +Since his exile she hath despis'd me most , +Forsworn my company and rail'd at me , +That I am desperate of obtaining her . + +This weak impress of love is as a figure +Trenched in ice , which with an hour's heat +Dissolves to water and doth lose his form . +A little time will melt her frozen thoughts , +And worthless Valentine shall be forgot . + + +How now , Sir Proteus ! Is your countryman + +According to our proclamation gone ? + +Gone , my good lord . + +My daughter takes his going grievously . + +A little time , my lord , will kill that grief . + +So I believe ; but Thurio thinks not so . +Proteus , the good conceit I hold of thee , +For thou hast shown some sign of good desert , +Makes me the better to confer with thee . + +Longer than I prove loyal to your Grace +Let me not live to look upon your Grace . + +Thou know'st how willingly I would effect +The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter . + +I do , my lord . + +And also , I think , thou art not ignorant +How she opposes her against my will . + +She did , my lord , when Valentine was here . + +Ay , and perversely she persevers so . +What might we do to make the girl forget +The love of Valentine , and love Sir Thurio ? + +The best way is to slander Valentine +With falsehood , cowardice , and poor descent , +Three things that women highly hold in hate . + +Ay , but she'll think that it is spoke in hate . + +Ay , if his enemy deliver it : +Therefore it must with circumstance be spoken +By one whom she esteemeth as his friend . + +Then you must undertake to slander him . + +And that , my lord , I shall be loath to do : +'Tis an ill office for a gentleman , +Especially against his very friend . + +Where your good word cannot advantage him , +Your slander never can endamage him : +Therefore the office is indifferent , +Being entreated to it by your friend . + +You have prevail'd , my lord . If I can do it , +By aught that I can speak in his dispraise , +She shall not long continue love to him . +But say this weed her love from Valentine , +It follows not that she will love Sir Thurio . + +Therefore , as you unwind her love from him , +Lest it should ravel and be good to none , +You must provide to bottom it on me ; +Which must be done by praising me as much +As you in worth dispraise Sir Valentine . + +And , Proteus , we dare trust you in this kind , +Because we know , on Valentine's report , +You are already Love's firm votary +And cannot soon revolt and change your mind . +Upon this warrant shall you have access +Where you with Silvia may confer at large ; +For she is lumpish , heavy , melancholy , +And , for your friend's sake , will be glad of you ; +Where you may temper her , by your persuasion +To hate young Valentine and love my friend . + +As much as I can do I will effect . +But you , Sir Thurio , are not sharp enough ; +You must lay lime to tangle her desires +By wailful sonnets , whose composed rimes +Should be full-fraught with serviceable vows . + +Ay , +Much is the force of heaven-bred poesy . + +Say that upon the altar of her beauty +You sacrifice your tears , your sighs , your heart . +Write till your ink be dry , and with your tears +Moist it again , and frame some feeling line +That may discover such integrity : +For Orpheus' lute was strung with poets' sinews , +Whose golden touch could soften steel and stones , +Make tigers tame and huge leviathans +Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands . +After your dire-lamenting elegies , +Visit by night your lady's chamber-window +With some sweet consort : to their instruments +Tune a deploring dump ; the night's dead silence +Will well become such sweet-complaining grievance . +This , or else nothing , will inherit her . + +This discipline shows thou hast been in love . + +And thy advice this night I'll put in practice . +Therefore , sweet Proteus , my direction-giver , +Let us into the city presently +To sort some gentlemen well skill'd in music . +I have a sonnet that will serve the turn +To give the onset to thy good advice . + +About it , gentlemen ! + +We'll wait upon your grace till aftersupper , +And afterward determine our proceedings . + +Even now about it ! I will pardon you . + +Fellows , stand fast ; I see a passenger . + +If there be ten , shrink not , but down with 'em . + + +Stand , sir , and throw us that you have about ye ; +If not , we'll make you sit and rifle you . + +Sir , we are undone : these are the villains +That all the travellers do fear so much . + +My friends , + +That's not so , sir ; we are your enemies . + +Peace ! we'll hear him . + +Ay , by my beard , will we , for he is a proper man . + +Then know , that I have little wealth to lose . +A man I am cross'd with adversity : +My riches are these poor habiliments , +Of which if you should here disfurnish me , +You take the sum and substance that I have . + +Whither travel you ? + +To Verona . + +Whence came you ? + +From Milan . + +Have you long sojourn'd there ? + +Some sixteen months ; and longer might have stay'd +If crooked fortune had not thwarted me . + +What ! were you banish'd thence ? + +I was . + +For what offence ? + +For that which now torments me to rehearse . +I kill'd a man , whose death I much repent ; +But yet I slew him manfully , in fight , +Without false vantage or base treachery . + +Why , ne'er repent it , if it were done so . +But were you banish'd for so small a fault ? + +I was , and held me glad of such a doom . + +Have you the tongues ? + +My youthful travel therein made me happy , +Or else I often had been miserable . + +By the bare scalp of Robin Hood's fat friar , +This fellow were a king for our wild faction ! + +We'll have him : Sirs , a word . + +Master , be one of them ; +It is an honourable kind of thievery . + +Peace , villain ! + +Tell us this : have you anything to take to ? + +Nothing , but my fortune . + +Know then , that some of us are gentlemen , +Such as the fury of ungovern'd youth +Thrust from the company of awful men : +Myself was from Verona banished +For practising to steal away a lady , +An heir , and near allied unto the duke . + +And I from Mantua , for a gentleman , +Who , in my mood , I stabb'd unto the heart . + +And I for such like petty crimes as these . +But to the purpose ; for we cite our faults , +That they may hold excus'd our lawless lives ; +And , partly , seeing you are beautified +With goodly shape , and by your own report +A linguist , and a man of such perfection +As we do in our quality much want + +Indeed , because you are a banish'd man , +Therefore , above the rest , we parley to you . +Are you content to be our general ? +To make a virtue of necessity +And live , as we do , in this wilderness ? + +What say'st thou ? wilt thou be of our consort ? +Say 'ay ,' and be the captain of us all : +We'll do thee homage and be rul'd by thee , +Love thee as our commander and our king . + +But if thou scorn our courtesy , thou diest . + +Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offer'd . + +I take your offer and will live with you , +Provided that you do no outrages +On silly women , or poor passengers . + +No ; we detest such vile , base practices . +Come , go with us ; we'll bring thee to our crews , +And show thee all the treasure we have got , +Which , with ourselves , all rest at thy dispose . + + +Already have I been false to Valentine , +And now I must be as unjust to Thurio . +Under the colour of commending him , +I have access my own love to prefer : +But Silvia is too fair , too true , too holy , +To be corrupted with my worthless gifts . +When I protest true loyalty to her , +She twits me with my falsehood to my friend ; +When to her beauty I commend my vows , +She bids me think how I have been forsworn +In breaking faith with Julia whom I lov'd : +And notwithstanding all her sudden quips , +The least whereof would quell a lover's hope , +Yet , spaniel-like , the more she spurns my love , +The more it grows , and fawneth on her still . +But here comes Thurio : now must we to her window , +And give some evening music to her ear . + + +How now , Sir Proteus ! are you crept before us ? + +Ay , gentle Thurio ; for you know that love +Will creep in service where it cannot go . + +Ay ; but I hope , sir , that you love not here . + +Sir , but I do ; or else I would be hence . + +Who ? Silvia ? + +Ay , Silvia , for your sake . + +I thank you for your own . Now , gentlemen , +Let's tune , and to it lustily a while . + + +Now , my young guest , methinks you're allycholly : I pray you , why is it ? + +Marry , mine host , because I cannot be merry . + +Come , we'll have you merry . I'll bring you where you shall hear music and see the gentleman that you asked for . + +But shall I hear him speak ? + +Ay , that you shall . + +That will be music . + + +Hark ! hark ! + +Is he among these ? + +Ay ; but peace ! let's hear 'em . + + +Who is Silvia ? what is she ? +That all our swains commend her ? +Holy , fair , and wise is she ; +The heaven such grace did lend her , +That she might admired be . +Is she kind as she is fair ? +For beauty lives with kindness : +Love doth to her eyes repair , +To help him of his blindness ; +And , being help'd , inhabits there . +Then to Silvia let us sing , +That Silvia is excelling ; +She excels each mortal thing +Upon the dull earth dwelling ; +To her let us garlands bring . + +How now ! are you sadder than you were before ? How do you , man ? the music likes you not . + +You mistake ; the musician likes me not . + +Why , my pretty youth ? + +He plays false , father . + +How ? out of tune on the strings ? + +Not so ; but yet so false that he grieves my very heart-strings . + +You have a quick ear . + +Ay ; I would I were deaf ; it makes me have a slow heart . + +I perceive you delight not in music . + +Not a whit ,when it jars so . + +Hark ! what fine change is in the music ! + +Ay , that change is the spite . + +You would have them always play but one thing ? + +I would always have one play but one thing . +But , host , doth this Sir Proteus that we talk on +Often resort unto this gentlewoman ? + +I will tell you what Launce , his man , told me : he lov'd her out of all nick . + +Where is Launce ? + +Gone to seek his dog ; which , to-morrow , by his master's command , he must carry for a present to his lady . + +Peace ! stand aside : the company parts . + +Sir Thurio , fear not you : I will so plead +That you shall say my cunning drift excels . + +Where meet we ? + +At Saint Gregory's well . + +Farewell . + +Madam , good even to your ladyship . + +I thank you for your music , gentlemen . +Who is that that spake ? + +One , lady , if you knew his pure heart's truth , +You would quickly learn to know him by his voice . + +Sir Proteus , as I take it . + +Sir Proteus , gentle lady , and your servant . + +What is your will ? + +That I may compass yours . + +You have your wish ; my will is even this : +That presently you hie you home to bed . +Thou subtle , perjur'd , false , disloyal man ! +Think'st thou I am so shallow , so conceitless , +To be seduced by thy flattery , +That hast deceiv'd so many with thy vows ? +Return , return , and make thy love amends . +For me , by this pale queen of night I swear , +I am so far from granting thy request +That I despise thee for thy wrongful suit , +And by and by intend to chide myself +Even for this time I spend in talking to thee . + +I grant , sweet love , that I did love a lady ; +But she is dead . + +'Tware false , if I should speak it ; +For I am sure she is not buried . + +Say that she be ; yet Valentine thy friend +Survives ; to whom , thyself art witness +I am betroth'd : and art thou not asham'd +To wrong him with thy importunacy ? + +I likewise hear that Valentine is dead . + +And so suppose am I ; for in his grave , Assure thyself my love is buried . + +Sweet lady , let me rake it from the earth . + +Go to thy lady's grave and call hers thence ; +Or , at the least , in hers sepulchre thine . + +He heard not that . + +Madam , if your heart be so obdurate , +Vouchsafe me yet your picture for my love , +The picture that is hanging in your chamber : +To that I'll speak , to that I'll sigh and weep ; +For since the substance of your perfect self +Is else devoted , I am but a shadow , +And to your shadow will I make true love . + +If 'twere a substance , you would , sure , deceive it , +And make it but a shadow , as I am . + +I am very loath to be your idol , sir ; +But , since your falsehood shall become you well +To worship shadows and adore false shapes , +Send to me in the morning and I'll send it . +And so , good rest . + +As wretches have o'er night +That wait for execution in the morn . + + +Host , will you go ? + +By my halidom , I was fast asleep . + +Pray you , where lies Sir Proteus ? + +Marry , at my house . Trust me , I think 'tis almost day . + +Not so ; but it hath been the longest night +That e'er I watch'd and the most heaviest . + + +This is the hour that Madam Silvia +Entreated me to call , and know her mind : +There's some great matter she'd employ me in . +Madam , Madam ! + + +Who calls ? + +Your servant , and your friend ; +One that attends your ladyship's command . + +Sir Eglamour , a thousand times good morrow . + +As many , worthy lady , to yourself . +According to your ladyship's impose , +I am thus early come to know what service +It is your pleasure to command me in . + +O Eglamour , thou art a gentleman +Think not I flatter , for I swear I do not +Valiant , wise , remorseful , well-accomplish'd . +Thou art not ignorant what dear good will +I bear unto the banish'd Valentine , +Nor how my father would enforce me marry +Vain Thurio , whom my very soul abhors . +Thyself hast lov'd ; and I have heard thee say +No grief did ever come so near thy heart +As when thy lady and thy true love died , +Upon whose grave thou vow'dst pure chastity . +Sir Eglamour , I would to Valentine , +To Mantua , where , I hear he makes abode ; +And , for the ways are dangerous to pass , +I do desire thy worthy company , +Upon whose faith and honour I repose . +Urge not my father's anger , Eglamour , +But think upon my grief , a lady's grief , +And on the justice of my flying hence , +To keep me from a most unholy match , +Which heaven and fortune still rewards with plagues . +I do desire thee , even from a heart +As full of sorrows as the sea of sands , +To bear me company and go with me : +If not , to hide what I have said to thee , +That I may venture to depart alone . + +Madam , I pity much your grievances ; +Which since I know they virtuously are plac'd , +I give consent to go along with you , +Recking as little what betideth me +As much I wish all good befortune you . +When will you go ? + +This evening coming . + +Where shall I meet you ? + +At Friar Patrick's cell , +Where I intend holy confession . + +I will not fail your ladyship . +Good morrow , gentle lady . + +Good morrow , kind Sir Eglamour . + + +When a man's servant shall play the cur with him , look you , it goes hard ; one that I brought up of a puppy ; one that I saved from drowning , when three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it . I have taught him , even as one would say precisely , 'Thus would I teach a dog .' I was sent to deliver him as a present to Mistress Silvia from my master , and I came no sooner into the dining-chamber but he steps me to her trencher and steals her capon's leg . O ! 'tis a foul thing when a cur cannot keep himself in all companies . I would have , as one should say , one that takes upon him to be a dog indeed , to be , as it were , a dog at all things . If I had not had more wit than he , to take a fault upon me that he did , I think verily he had been hanged for't : sure as I live , he had suffered for't : you shall judge . He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-like dogs under the duke's table : he had not been there bless the mark a pissing-while , but all the chamber smelt him . 'Out with the dog !' says one ; 'What cur is that ?' says another ; 'Whip him out ,' says the third ; 'Hang him up ,' says the duke . I , having been acquainted with the smell before , knew it was Crab , and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs : 'Friend ,' quoth I , 'you mean to whip the dog ?' 'Ay , marry , do I ,' quoth he . 'You do him the more wrong ,' quoth I ; ''twas I did the thing you wot of .' He makes me no more ado , but whips me out of the chamber . How many masters would do this for his servant ? Nay , I'll be sworn , I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen , otherwise he had been executed ; I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed , otherwise he had suffered for't ; thou thinkest not of this now . Nay , I remember the trick you served me when I took my leave of Madam Silvia : did not I bid thee still mark me and do as I do ? When didst thou see me heave up my leg and make water against a gentlewoman's farthingale ? Didst thou ever see me do such a trick ? + + +Sebastian is thy name ? I like thee well +And will employ thee in some service presently . + +In what you please : I will do what I can . + +I hope thou wilt . + +How now , you whoreson peasant ! +Where have you been these two days loitering ? + +Marry , sir , I carried Mistress Silvia the dog you bade me . + +And what says she to my little jewel ? + +Marry , she says , your dog was a cur , and tells you , currish thanks is good enough for such a present . + +But she received my dog ? + +No , indeed , did she not : here have I brought him back again . + +What ! didst thou offer her this from me ? + +Ay , sir : the other squirrel was stolen from me by the hangman boys in the marketplace ; and then I offered her mine own , who is a dog as big as ten of yours , and therefore the gift the greater . + +Go , get thee hence , and find my dog again , +Or ne'er return again into my sight . +Away , I say ! Stay'st thou to vex me here ? +A slave that still an end turns me to shame . + +Sebastian , I have entertained thee +Partly , that I have need of such a youth , +That can with some discretion do my business , +For't is no trusting to yond foolish lout ; +But chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour , +Which , if my augury deceive me not , +Witness good bringing up , fortune , and truth : +Therefore , know thou , for this I entertain thee . +Go presently , and take this ring with thee . +Deliver it to Madam Silvia : +She lov'd me well deliver'd it to me . + +It seems , you lov'd not her , to leave her token . +She's dead , belike ? + +Not so : I think , she lives . + +Alas ! + +Why dost thou cry 'alas ?' + +I cannot choose +But pity her . + +Wherefore should'st thou pity her ? + +Because methinks that she lov'd you as well +As you do love your lady Silvia . +She dreams on him that has forgot her love ; +You dote on her , that cares not for your love . +'Tis pity , love should be so contrary ; +And thinking on it makes me cry , 'alas !' + +Well , well , give her that ring and therewithal +This letter : that's her chamber . Tell my lady +I claim the promise for her heavenly picture . +Your message done , hie home unto my chamber , +Where thou shalt find me sad and solitary . + + +How many women would do such a message ? +Alas , poor Proteus ! thou hast entertain'd +A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs . +Alas , poor fool ! why do I pity him +That with his very heart despiseth me ? +Because he loves her , he despiseth me ; +Because I love him , I must pity him . +This ring I gave him when he parted from me , +To bind him to remember my good will ; +And now am I unhappy messenger +To plead for that which I would not obtain , +To carry that which I would have refus'd , +To praise his faith which I would have disprais'd . +I am my master's true-confirmed love , +But cannot be true servant to my master , +Unless I prove false traitor to myself . +Yet will I woo for him ; but yet so coldly +As heaven it knows , I would not have him speed . + + +Gentlewoman , good day ! I pray you , be my mean + +To bring me where to speak with Madam Silvia . + +What would you with her , if that I be she ? + +If you be she , I do entreat your patience To hear me speak the message I am sent on . + +From whom ? + +From my master , Sir Proteus , madam . + +O ! he sends you for a picture ? + +Ay , madam . + +Ursula , bring my picture there . + +Go , give your master this : tell him from me , +One Julia , that his changing thoughts forget , +Would better fit his chamber than this shadow . + +Madam , please you peruse this letter . +Pardon me , madam , I have unadvis'd +Deliver'd you a paper that I should not : +This is the letter to your ladyship . + +I pray thee , let me look on that again . + +It may not be : good madam , pardon me . + +There , hold . +I will not look upon your master's lines : +I know , they are stuff'd with protestations +And full of new-found oaths , which he will break +As easily as I do tear his paper . + +Madam , he sends your ladyship this ring . + +The more shame for him that he sends it me ; +For , I have heard him say a thousand times , +His Julia gave it him at his departure . +Though his false finger have profan'd the ring , +Mine shall not do his Julia so much wrong . + +She thanks you . + +What say'st thou ? + +I thank you , madam , that you tender her . +Poor gentlewoman ! my master wrongs her much . + +Dost thou know her ? + +Almost as well as I do know myself : +To think upon her woes , I do protest +That I have wept a hundred several times . + +Belike , she thinks , that Proteus hath forsook her . + +I think she doth , and that's her cause of sorrow . + +Is she not passing fair ? + +She hath been fairer , madam , than she is . +When she did think my master lov'd her well , +She , in my judgment , was as fair as you ; +But since she did neglect her looking-glass +And threw her sun-expelling mask away , +The air hath starv'd the roses in her cheeks +And pinch'd the lily-tincture of her face , +That now she is become as black as I . + +How tall was she ? + +About my stature ; for , at Pentecost , +When all our pageants of delight were play'd , +Our youth got me to play the woman's part , +And I was trimm'd in Madam Julia's gown , +Which served me as fit , by all men's judgments , +As if the garment had been made for me : +Therefore I know she is about my height . +And at that time I made her weep agood ; +For I did play a lamentable part . +Madam , 'twas Ariadne passioning +For Theseus' perjury and unjust flight ; +Which I so lively acted with my tears +That my poor mistress , moved therewithal , +Wept bitterly , and would I might be dead +If I in thought felt not her very sorrow ! + +She is beholding to thee , gentle youth . +Alas , poor lady , desolate and left ! +I weep myself to think upon thy words . +Here , youth , there is my purse : I give thee this +For thy sweet mistress' sake , because thou lov'st her . +Farewell . + +And she shall thank you for't , if e'er you know her . + +A virtuous gentlewoman , mild and beautiful . +I hope my master's suit will be but cold , +Since she respects my mistress' love so much . +Alas , how love can trifle with itself ! +Here is her picture : let me see ; I think , +If I had such a tire , this face of mine +Were full as lovely as is this of hers ; +And yet the painter flatter'd her a little , +Unless I flatter with myself too much . +Her hair is auburn , mine is perfect yellow : +If that be all the difference in his love +I'll get me such a colour'd periwig . +Her eyes are grey as glass , and so are mine : +Ay , but her forehead's low , and mine's as high . +What should it be that he respects in her +But I can make respective in myself , +If this fond Love were not a blinded god ? +Come , shadow , come , and take this shadow up , +For 'tis thy rival . O thou senseless form ! +Thou shalt be worshipp'd , kiss'd , lov'd , and ador'd , +And , were there sense in his idolatry , +My substance should be statue in thy stead . +I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake , +That us'd me so ; or else , by Jove I vow , +I should have scratch'd out your unseeing eyes , +To make my master out of love with thee . + +The sun begins to gild the western sky , +And now it is about the very hour +That Silvia at Friar Patrick's cell should meet me . +She will not fail ; for lovers break not hours , +Unless it be to come before their time , +So much they spur their expedition . +See , where she comes . + +Lady , a happy evening ! + +Amen , amen ! go on , good Eglamour , +Out at the postern by the abbey-wall . +I fear I am attended by some spies . + +Fear not : the forest is not three leagues off ; +If we recover that , we're sure enough . + + +Sir Proteus , what says Silvia to my suit ? + +O , sir , I find her milder than she was ; +And yet she takes exceptions at your person . + +What ! that my leg is too long ? + +No , that it is too little . + +I'll wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder . + +But love will not be spurr'd to what it loathes . + +What says she to my face ? + +She says it is a fair one . + +Nay then , the wanton lies ; my face is black . + +But pearls are fair , and the old saying is , +'Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies' eyes .' + +'Tis true , such pearls as put out ladies' eyes ; +For I had rather wink than look on them . + +How likes she my discourse ? + +Ill , when you talk of war . + +But well , when I discourse of love and peace ? + +But better , indeed , when you hold your peace . + +What says she to my valour ? + +O , sir , she makes no doubt of that . + +She needs not , when she knows it cowardice . + +What says she to my birth ? + +That you are well deriv'd . + +True ; from a gentleman to a fool . + +Considers she my possessions ? + +O , ay ; and pities them . + +Wherefore ? + +That such an ass should owe them . + +That they are out by lease . + +Here comes the duke . + + +How now , Sir Proteus ! how now , Thurio ! +Which of you saw Sir Eglamour of late ? + +Not I . + +Nor I . + +Saw you my daughter ? + +Neither . + +Why then , +She's fled unto that peasant Valentine , +And Eglamour is in her company . +'Tis true ; for Friar Laurence met them both , +As he in penance wander'd through the forest ; +Him he knew well , and guess'd that it was she , +But , being mask'd , he was not sure of it ; +Besides , she did intend confession +At Patrick's cell this even , and there she was not . +These likelihoods confirm her flight from hence . +Therefore , I pray you , stand not to discourse , +But mount you presently and meet with me +Upon the rising of the mountain-foot , +That leads towards Mantua , whither they are fled . +Dispatch , sweet gentlemen , and follow me . + + +Why , this it is to be a peevish girl , +That flies her fortune when it follows her . +I'll after , more to be reveng'd on Eglamour +Than for the love of reckless Silvia . + + +And I will follow , more for Silvia's love +Than hate of Eglamour that goes with her . + + +And I will follow , more to cross that love +Than hate for Silvia that is gone for love . + + +Come , come , +Be patient ; we must bring you to our captain . + +A thousand more mischances than this one +Have learn'd me how to brook this patiently . + +Come , bring her away . + +Where is the gentleman that was with her ? + +Being nimble-footed , he hath outrun us ; +But Moyses and Valerius follow him . +Go thou with her to the west end of the wood ; +There is our captain . We'll follow him that's fled : +The thicket is beset ; he cannot 'scape . + + +Come , I must bring you to our captain's cave . +Fear not ; he bears an honourable mind , +And will not use a woman lawlessly . + +O Valentine ! this I endure for thee . + + +How use doth breed a habit in a man ! +This shadowy desart , unfrequented woods , +I better brook than flourishing peopled towns . +Here can I sit alone , unseen of any , +And to the nightingale's complaining notes +Tune my distresses and record my woes . +O thou that dost inhabit in my breast , +Leave not the mansion so long tenantless , +Lest , growing ruinous , the building fall +And leave no memory of what it was ! +Repair me with thy presence , Silvia ! +Thou gentle nymph , cherish thy forlorn swain ! + +What halloing and what stir is this to-day ? +These are my mates , that make their wills their law , +Have some unhappy passenger in chase . +They love me well ; yet I have much to do +To keep them from uncivil outrages . +Withdraw thee , Valentine : who's this comes here ? + +Madam , this service I have done for you +Though you respect not aught your servant doth +To hazard life and rescue you from him +That would have forc'd your honour and your love . +Vouchsafe me , for my meed , but one fair look ; +A smaller boon than this I cannot beg , +And less than this , I am sure , you cannot give . + +How like a dream is this I see and hear ! +Love , lend me patience to forbear awhile . + +O , miserable , unhappy that I am ! + +Unhappy were you , madam , ere I came ; +But by my coming I have made you happy . + +By thy approach thou mak'st me most unhappy . + +And me , when he approacheth to your presence . + +Had I been seized by a hungry lion , +I would have been a breakfast to the beast , +Rather than have false Proteus rescue me . +O ! heaven be judge how I love Valentine , +Whose life's as tender to me as my soul , +And full as much for more there cannot be +I do detest false perjur'd Proteus . +Therefore be gone , solicit me no more . + +What dangerous action , stood it next to death , +Would I not undergo for one calm look ! +O , 'tis the curse in love , and still approv'd , +When women cannot love where they're belov'd ! + +When Proteus cannot love where he's belov'd . +Read over Julia's heart , thy first best love , +For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith +Into a thousand oaths ; and all those oaths +Descended into perjury to love me . +Thou hast no faith left now , unless thou'dst two , +And that's far worse than none : better have none +Than plural faith which is too much by one . +Thou counterfeit to thy true friend ! + +In love +Who respects friend ? + +All men but Proteus . + +Nay , if the gentle spirit of moving words +Can no way change you to a milder form , +I'll woo you like a soldier , at arms' end , +And love you 'gainst the nature of love ,force ye . + +O heaven ! + +I'll force thee yield to my desire . + +Ruffian , let go that rude uncivil touch ; +Thou friend of an ill fashion ! + +Valentine ! + +Thou common friend , that's without faith or love +For such is a friend now treach'rous man ! +Thou hast beguil'd my hopes : naught but mine eye +Could have persuaded me . Now I dare not say +I have one friend alive : thou wouldst disprove me . +Who should be trusted now , when one's right hand +Is perjur'd to the bosom ? Proteus , +I am sorry I must never trust thee more , +But count the world a stranger for thy sake . +The private wound is deep'st . O time most curst ! +'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst ! + +My shame and guilt confound me . +Forgive me , Valentine . If hearty sorrow +Be a sufficient ransom for offence , +I tender't here : I do as truly suffer +As e'er I did commit . + +Then , I am paid ; +And once again I do receive thee honest . +Who by repentance is not satisfied +Is nor of heaven , nor earth ; for these are pleas'd . +By penitence the Eternal's wrath's appeas'd : +And , that my love may appear plain and free , +All that was mine in Silvia I give thee . + +O me unhappy ! + + +Look to the boy . + +Why , boy ! why , wag ! how now ! what's the matter ? +Look up ; speak . + +O good sir , my master charg'd me +To deliver a ring to Madam Silvia , +Which out of my neglect was never done . + +Where is that ring , boy ? + +Here 'tis this is it . + + +How ! let me see . +Why this is the ring I gave to Julia . + +O , cry you mercy , sir ; I have mistook : +This is the ring you sent to Silvia . + + +But how cam'st thou by this ring ? +At my depart I gave this unto Julia . + +And Julia herself did give it me ; +And Julia herself hath brought it hither . + +How ! Julia ! + +Behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths , +And entertain'd them deeply in her heart : +How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root ! +O Proteus ! let this habit make thee blush . +Be thou asham'd that I have took upon me +Such an immodest raiment ; if shame live +In a disguise of love . +It is the lesser blot , modesty finds , +Women to change their shapes than men their minds . + +Than men their minds ! 'tis true . O heaven ! were man +But constant , he were perfect : that one error +Fills him with faults ; makes him run through all the sins : +Inconstancy falls off ere it begins . +What is in Silvia's face , but I may spy +More fresh in Julia's with a constant eye ? + +Come , come , a hand from either . +Let me be blest to make this happy close : +'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes . + +Bear witness , heaven , I have my wish , for ever . + +And I mine . + + +A prize ! a prize ! a prize ! + +Forbear , forbear , I say ; it is my lord the duke . +Your Grace is welcome to a man disgrac'd , +Banished Valentine . + +Sir Valentine ! + +Yonder is Silvia ; and Silvia's mine . + +Thurio , give back , or else embrace thy death ; +Come not within the measure of my wrath ; +Do not name Silvia thine ; if once again , +Verona shall not hold thee . Here she stands ; +Take but possession of her with a touch ; +I dare thee but to breathe upon my love . + +Sir Valentine , I care not for her , I . +I hold him but a fool that will endanger +His body for a girl that loves him not : +I claim her not , and therefore she is thine . + +The more degenerate and base art thou , +To make such means for her as thou hast done , +And leave her on such slight conditions . +Now , by the honour of my ancestry , +I do applaud thy spirit , Valentine , +And think thee worthy of an empress' love . +Know then , I here forget all former griefs , +Cancel all grudge , repeal thee home again , +Plead a new state in thy unrivall'd merit , +To which I thus subscribe : Sir Valentine , +Thou art a gentleman and well deriv'd ; +Take thou thy Silvia , for thou hast deserv'd her . + +I thank your Grace ; the gift hath made me happy . +I now beseech you , for your daughter's sake , +To grant one boon that I shall ask of you . + +I grant it , for thine own , whate'er it be . + +These banish'd men , that I have kept withal +Are men endu'd with worthy qualities : +Forgive them what they have committed here , +And let them be recall'd from their exile . +They are reformed , civil , full of good , +And fit for great employment , worthy lord . + +Thou hast prevail'd ; I pardon them , and thee : +Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts . +Come , let us go : we will include all jars +With triumphs , mirth , and rare solemnity . + +And as we walk along , I dare be bold +With our discourse to make your Grace to smile . +What think you of this page , my lord ? + +I think the boy hath grace in him : he blushes . + +I warrant you , my lord , more grace than boy . + +What mean you by that saying ? + +Please you , I'll tell you as we pass along , +That you will wonder what hath fortuned . +Come , Proteus ; 'tis your penance , but to hear +The story of your loves discovered : +That done , our day of marriage shall be yours ; +One feast , one house , one mutual happiness . + +THE WINTERS TALE + +If you shall chance , Camillo , to visit Bohemia , on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot , you shall see , as I have said , great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia . + +I think , this coming summer , the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him . + +Wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be justified in our loves : for , indeed , + +Beseech you , + +Verily , I speak it in the freedom of my knowledge : we cannot with such magnificence in so rare I know not what to say . We will give you sleepy drinks , that your senses , unintelligent of our insufficience , may , though they cannot praise us , as little accuse us . + +You pay a great deal too dear for what's given freely . + +Believe me , I speak as my understanding instructs me , and as mine honesty puts it to utterance . + +Sicilia cannot show himself over-kind to Bohemia . They were trained together in their childhoods ; and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection which cannot choose but branch now . Since their more mature dignities and royal necessities made separation of their society , their encounters , though not personal , have been royally attorneyed with interchange of gifts , letters , loving embassies ; that they have seemed to be together , though absent , shook hands , as over a vast , and embraced , as it were , from the ends of opposed winds . The heavens continue their loves ! + +I think there is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it . You have an unspeakable comfort of your young Prince Mamilhus : it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note . + +I very well agree with you in the hopes of him . It is a gallant child ; one that indeed physics the subject , makes old hearts fresh ; they that went on crutches ere he was born desire yet their life to see him a man . + +Would they else be content to die ? + +Yes ; if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live . + +If the king had no son , they would desire to live on crutches till he had one . + + +Nine changes of the watery star have been +The shepherd's note since we have left our throne +Without a burden : time as long again +Would be fill'd up , my brother , with our thanks ; +And yet we should for perpetuity +Go hence in debt : and therefore , like a cipher , +Yet standing in rich place , I multiply +With one 'We thank you' many thousands moe +That go before it . + +Stay your thanks awhile , +And pay them when you part . + +Sir , that's to-morrow . +I am question'd by my fears , of what may chance +Or breed upon our absence ; that may blow +No sneaping winds at home , to make us say , +'This is put forth too truly !' Besides , I have stay'd +To tire your royalty . + +We are tougher , brother , +Than you can put us to't . + +No longer stay . + +One seven-night longer . + +Very sooth , to-morrow . + +We'll part the time between's then ; and in that +I'll no gainsaying . + +Press me not , beseech you , so . +There is no tongue that moves , none , none i' the world , +So soon as yours could win me : so it should now , +Were there necessity in your request , although +'Twere needful I denied it . My affairs +Do even drag me homeward ; which to hinder +Were in your love a whip to me ; my stay +To you a charge and trouble : to save both , +Farewell , our brother . + +Tongue-tied , our queen ? speak you . + +I had thought , sir , to have held my peace until +You had drawn oaths from him not to stay . +You , sir , +Charge him too coldly : tell him , you are sure +All in Bohemia's well : this satisfaction +The by-gone day proclaim'd : say this to him , +He's beat from his best ward . + +Well said , Hermione . + +To tell he longs to see his son were strong : +But let him say so then , and let him go ; +But let him swear so , and he shall not stay , +We'll thwack him hence with distaffs . + + +Yet of your royal presence I'll adventure +The borrow of a week . When at Bohemia +You take my lord , I'll give him my commission +To let him there a month behind the gest +Prefix'd for's parting : yet , good deed , Leontes , +I love thee not a jar o' the clock behind +What lady she her lord . You'll stay ? + +No , madam . + +Nay , but you will ? + +I may not , verily . + +Verily ! +You put me off with limber vows ; but I , +Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths , +Should yet say , 'Sir , no going .' Verily , +You shall not go : a lady's 'verily' 's +As potent as a lord's . Will you go yet ? +Force me to keep you as a prisoner , +Not like a guest ; so you shall pay your fees +When you depart , and save your thanks . How say you ? +My prisoner , or my guest ? by your dread 'verily ,' +One of them you shall be . + +Your guest , then , madam : +To be your prisoner should import offending ; +Which is for me less easy to commit +Than you to punish . + +Not your gaoler then , +But your kind hostess . Come , I'll question you +Of my lord's tricks and yours when you were boys : +You were pretty lordings then . + +We were , fair queen , +Two lads that thought there was no more behind +But such a day to-morrow as to-day , +And to be boy eternal . + +Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two ? + +We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun , +And bleat the one at the other : what we chang'd +Was innocence for innocence ; we knew not +The doctrine of ill-doing , no nor dream'd +That any did . Had we pursu'd that life , +And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd +With stronger blood , we should have answer'd heaven +Boldly , 'not guilty ;' the imposition clear'd +Hereditary ours . + +By this we gather +You have tripp'd since . + +O ! my most sacred lady , +Temptations have since then been born to's ; for +In those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl ; +Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyes +Of my young playfellow . + +Grace to boot ! +Of this make no conclusion , lest you say +Your queen and I are devils ; yet , go on : +The offences we have made you do we'll answer ; +If you first sinn'd with us , and that with us +You did continue fault , and that you slipp'd not +With any but with us . + +Is he won yet ? + +He'll stay , my lord . + +At my request he would not . +Hermione , my dearest , thou never spok'st +To better purpose . + +Never ? + +Never , but once . + +What ! have I twice said well ? when was't before ? +I prithee tell me ; cram's with praise , and make's +As fat as tame things : one good deed , dying tongueless , +Slaughters a thousand waiting upon that . +Our praises are our wages : you may ride's +With one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere +With spur we heat an acre . But to the goal : +My last good deed was to entreat his stay : +What was my first ? it has an elder sister , +Or I mistake you : O ! would her name were Grace . +But once before I spoke to the purpose : when ? +Nay , let me have't ; I long . + +Why , that was when +Three crabbed months had sour'd themselves to death , +Ere I could make thee open thy white hand +And clap thyself my love : then didst thou utter , +'I am yours for ever .' + +'Tis grace indeed . +Why , lo you now , I have spoke to the purpose twice : +The one for ever earn'd a royal husband , +The other for some while a friend . + + +Too hot , too hot ! +To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods . +I have tremor cordis on me : my heart dances ; +But not for joy ; not joy . This entertainment +May a free face put on , derive a liberty +From heartiness , from bounty , fertile bosom , +And well become the agent :'t may I grant : +But to be paddling palms and pinching fingers , +As now they are , and making practis'd smiles , +As in a looking-glass ; and then to sigh , as 'twere +The mort o' the deer ; O ! that is entertainment +My bosom likes not , nor my brows . Mamillius , +Art thou my boy ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +I' fecks ? +Why , that's my bawcock . What ! hast smutch'd thy nose ? +They say it is a copy out of mine . Come , captain , +We must be neat ; not neat , but cleanly , captain : +And yet the steer , the heifer , and the calf , +Are all call'd neat . Still virginalling +Upon his palm ! How now , you wanton calf ! +Art thou my calf ? + +Yes , if you will , my lord . + +Thou want'st a rough pash and the shoots that I have , +To be full like me : yet they say we are +Almost as like as eggs ; women say so , +That will say anything : but were they false +As o'er-dy'd blacks , as wind , as waters , false +As dice are to be wish'd by one that fixes +No bourn 'twixt his and mine , yet were it true +To say this boy were like me . Come , sir page , +Look on me with your wolkin eye : sweet villain ! +Most dear'st ! my collop ! Can thy dam ?may't be ? +Affection ! thy intention stabs the centre : +Thou dost make possible things not so held , +Communicat'st with dreams ;how can this be ? +With what's unreal thou co-active art , +And fellow'st nothing : then , 'tis very credent +Thou mayst co-join with something ; and thou dost , +And that beyond commission , and I find it , +And that to the infection of my brains +And hardening of my brows . + +What means Sicilia ? + +He something seems unsettled . + +How , my lord ! +What cheer ? how is't with you , best brother ? + +You look +As if you held a brow of much distraction : +Are you mov'd , my lord ? + +No , in good earnest . +How sometimes nature will betray its folly , +Its tenderness , and make itself a pastime +To harder bosoms ! Looking on the lines +Of my boy's face , methoughts I did recoil +Twenty-three years , and saw myself unbreech'd , +In my green velvet coat , my dagger muzzled , +Lest it should bite its master , and so prove , +As ornaments oft do , too dangerous : +How like , methought , I then was to this kernel , +This squash , this gentleman . Mine honest friend , +Will you take eggs for money ? + +No , my lord , I'll fight . + +You will ? why , happy man be his dole ! My brother , +Are you so fond of your young prince as we +Do seem to be of ours ? + +If at home , sir , +He's all my exercise , my mirth , my matter , +Now my sworn friend and then mine enemy ; +My parasite , my soldier , statesman , all : +He makes a July's day short as December , +And with his varying childness cures in me +Thoughts that would thick my blood . + +So stands this squire +Offic'd with me . We two will walk , my lord , +And leave you to your graver steps . Hermione , +How thou lov'st us , show in our brother's welcome : +Let what is dear in Sicily be cheap : +Next to thyself and my young rover , he's +Apparent to my heart . + +If you would seek us , +We are yours i' the garden : shall's attend you there ? + +To your own bents dispose you : you'll be found , +Be you beneath the sky . + +I am angling now , +Though you perceive me not how I give line . +Go to , go to ! +How she holds up the neb , the bill to him ! +And arms her with the boldness of a wife +To her allowing husband ! + +Gone already ! +Inch-thick , knee-deep , o'er head and ears a fork'd one ! +Go play , boy , play ; thy mother plays , and I +Play too , but so disgrac'd a part , whose issue +Will hiss me to my grave : contempt and clamour +Will be my knell . Go play , boy , play . There have been , +Or I am much deceiv'd , cuckolds ere now ; +And many a man there is even at this present , +Now , while I speak this , holds his wife by the arm , +That little thinks she has been sluic'd in's absence , +And his pond fish'd by his next neighbour , by +Sir Smile , his neighbour : nay , there's comfort in't , +Whiles other men have gates , and those gates open'd , +As mine , against their will . Should all despair +That have revolted wives the tenth of mankind +Would hang themselves . Physic for't there is none ; +It is a bawdy planet , that will strike +Where 'tis predominant ; and 'tis powerful , think it , +From east , west , north , and south : be it concluded , +No barricado for a belly : know't ; +It will let in and out the enemy +With bag and baggage . Many a thousand on's +Have the disease , and feel't not . How now , boy ! + +I am like you , they say . + +Why , that's some comfort . +What ! Camillo there ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +Go play , Mamillius ; thou'rt an honest man . + +Camillo , this great sir will yet stay longer . + +You had much ado to make his anchor hold : +When you cast out , it still came home . + +Didst note it ? + +He would not stay at your petitions ; made +His business more material . + +Didst perceive it ? + + +They're here with me already , whispering , rounding +'Sicilia is a so-forth .' 'Tis far gone , +When I shall gust it last . How came't , Camillo , +That he did stay ? + +At the good queen's entreaty . + +At the queen's , be't : 'good' should be pertinent ; +But so it is , it is not . Was this taken +By any understanding pate but thine ? +For thy conceit is soaking ; will draw in +More than the common blocks : not noted , is't , +But of the finer natures ? by some severals +Of head-piece extraordinary ? lower messes +Perchance are to this business purblind ? say . + +Business , my lord ! I think most understand +Bohemia stays here longer . + +Ha ! + +Stays here longer . + +Ay , but why ? + +To satisfy your highness and the entreaties +Of our most gracious mistress . + +Satisfy ! +The entreaties of your mistress ! satisfy ! +Let that suffice . I have trusted thee , Camillo , +With all the nearest things to my heart , as well +My chamber-councils , wherein , priest-like , thou +Hast cleans'd my bosom : I from thee departed +Thy penitent reform'd ; but we have been +Deceiv'd in thy integrity , deceiv'd +In that which seems so . + +Be it forbid , my lord ! + +To bide upon 't , thou art not honest ; or , +If thou inclin'st that way , thou art a coward , +Which hoxes honesty behind , restraining +From course requir'd ; or else thou must be counted +A servant grafted in my serious trust , +And therein negligent ; or else a fool +That seest a game play'd home , the rich stake drawn , +And tak'st it all for jest . + +My gracious lord , +I may be negligent , foolish , and fearful ; +In every one of these no man is free , +But that his negligence , his folly , fear , +Among the infinite doings of the world , +Sometime puts forth . In your affairs , my lord , +If ever I were wilful-negligent , +It was my folly ; if industriously +I play'd the fool , it was my negligence , +Not weighing well the end ; if ever fearful +To do a thing , where I the issue doubted , +Whereof the execution did cry out +Against the non-performance , 'twas a fear +Which oft infects the wisest : these , my lord , +Are such allow'd infirmities that honesty +Is never free of : but , beseech your Grace , +Be plainer with me ; let me know my trespass +By its own visage ; if I then deny it , +'Tis none of mine . + +Ha' not you seen , Camillo , +But that's past doubt ; you have , or your eyeglass +Is thicker than a cuckold's horn ,or heard , +For to a vision so apparent rumour +Cannot be mute ,or thought ,for cogitation +Resides not in that man that does not think , +My wife is slippery ? If thou wilt confess , +Or else be impudently negative , +To have nor eyes , nor ears , nor thought ,then say +My wife's a hobby-horse ; deserves a name +As rank as any flax-wench that puts to +Before her troth-plight : say't and justify't . + +I would not be a stander-by , to hear +My sovereign mistress clouded so , without +My present vengeance taken : 'shrew my heart , +You never spoke what did become you less +Than this ; which to reiterate were sin +As deep as that , though true . + +Is whispering nothing ? +Is leaning cheek to cheek ? is meeting noses ? +Kissing with inside lip ? stopping the career +Of laughter with a sigh ?a note infallible +Of breaking honesty ,horsing foot on foot ? +Skulking in corners ? wishing clocks more swift ? +Hours , minutes ? noon , midnight ? and all eyes +Blind with the pin and web but theirs , theirs only , +That would unseen be wicked ? is this nothing ? +Why , then the world and all that's in't is nothing ; +The covering sky is nothing ; Bohemia nothing ; +My wife is nothing ; nor nothing have these nothings , +If this be nothing . + +Good my lord , be cur'd +Of this diseas'd opinion , and betimes ; +For 'tis most dangerous . + +Say it be , 'tis true . + +No , no , my lord . + +It is ; you lie , you lie : +I say thou liest , Camillo , and I hate thee ; +Pronounce thee a gross lout , a mindless slave , +Or else a hovering temporizer , that +Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil , +Inclining to them both : were my wife's liver +Infected as her life , she would not live +The running of one glass . + +Who does infect her ? + +Why , he that wears her like her medal , hanging +About his neck , Bohemia : who , if I +Had servants true about me , that bare eyes +To see alike mine honour as their profits , +Their own particular thrifts , they would do that +Which should undo more doing : ay , and thou , +His cup-bearer ,whom I from meaner form +Have bench'd and rear'd to worship , who mayst see +Plainly , as heaven sees earth , and earth sees heaven , +How I am galled ,mightst bespice a cup , +To give mine enemy a lasting wink ; +Which draught to me were cordial . + +Sir , my lord , +I could do this , and that with no rash potion , +But with a lingering dram that should not work +Maliciously like poison : but I cannot +Believe this crack to be in my dread mistress , +So sovereingly being honourable : +I have lov'd thee , + +Make that thy question , and go rot ! +Dost think I am so muddy , so unsettled , +To appoint myself in this vexation ; sully +The purity and whiteness of my sheets , +Which to preserve is sleep ; which being spotted +Is goads , thorns , nettles , tails of wasps ? +Give scandal to the blood o' the prince my son , +Who I do think is mine , and love as mine , +Without ripe moving to't ? Would I do this ? +Could man so blench ? + +I must believe you , sir : +I do ; and will fetch off Bohemia for't ; +Provided that when he's remov'd , your highness +Will take again your queen as yours at first , +Even for your son's sake ; and thereby for sealing +The injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms +Known and allied to yours . + +Thou dost advise me +Even so as I mine own course have set down : +I'll give no blemish to her honour , none . + +My lord , +Go then ; and with a countenance as clear +As friendship wears at feasts , keep with Bohemia , +And with your queen . I am his cupbearer ; +If from me he have wholesome beverage , +Account me not your servant . + +This is all : +Do't , and thou hast the one half of my heart ; +Do't not , thou split'st thine own . + +I'll do't , my lord . + +I will seem friendly , as thou hast advis'd me . + + +O miserable lady ! But , for me , +What case stand I in ? I must be the poisoner +Of good Polixenes ; and my ground to do't +Is the obedience to a master ; one +Who , in rebellion with himself will have +All that are his so too . To do this deed +Promotion follows . If I could find example +Of thousands that had struck anointed kings , +And flourish'd after , I'd not do't ; but since +Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one , +Let villany itself forswear't . I must +Forsake the court : to do't , or no , is certain +To me a break-neck . Happy star reign now ! +Here comes Bohemia . + + +This is strange : methinks +My favour here begins to warp . Not speak ? +Good day , Camillo . + +Hail , most royal sir ! + +What is the news i' the court ? + +None rare , my lord . + +The king hath on him such a countenance +As he had lost some province and a region +Lov'd as he loves himself : even now I met him +With customary compliment , when he , +Wafting his eyes , to the contrary , and falling +A lip of much contempt , speeds from me and +So leaves me to consider what is breeding +That changes thus his manners . + +I dare not know , my lord . + +How ! dare not ! do not ! Do you know , and dare not +Be intelligent to me ? 'Tis thereabouts : +For , to yourself , what you do know , you must , +And cannot say you dare not . Good Camillo , +Your chang'd complexions are to me a mirror +Which shows me mine chang'd too ; for I must be +A party in this alteration , finding +Myself thus alter'd with't . + +There is a sickness +Which puts some of us in distemper ; but +I cannot name the disease , and it is caught +Of you that yet are well . + +How ! caught of me ? +Make me not sighted like the basilisk : +I have look'd on thousands , who have sped the better +By my regard , but kill'd none so . Camillo , +As you are certainly a gentleman , thereto +Clerk-like experienc'd , which no less adorns +Our gentry than our parents' noble names , +In whose success we are gentle ,I beseech you , +If you know aught which does behove my knowledge +Thereof to be inform'd , imprison it not +In ignorant concealment . + +I may not answer . + +A sickness caught of me , and yet I well ! +I must be answer'd . Dost thou hear , Camillo ; +I conjure thee , by all the parts of man +Which honour does acknowledge ,whereof the least +Is not this suit of mine ,that thou declare +What incidency thou dost guess of harm +Is creeping toward me ; how far off , how near ; +Which way to be prevented if to be ; +If not , how best to bear it . + +Sir , I will tell you ; +Since I am charg'd in honour and by him +That I think honourable . Therefore mark my counsel , +Which must be even as swiftly follow'd as +I mean to utter it , or both yourself and me +Cry 'lost ,' and so good night ! + +On , good Camillo . + +I am appointed him to murder you . + +By whom , Camillo ? + +By the king . + +For what ? + +He thinks , nay , with all confidence he swears , +As he had seen't or been an instrument +To vice you to't , that you have touch'd his queen +Forbiddenly . + +O , then my best blood turn +To an infected jelly , and my name +Be yok'd with his that did betray the Best ! +Turn then my freshest reputation to +A savour , that may strike the dullest nostril +Where I arrive ; and my approach be shunn'd , +Nay , hated too , worse than the great'st infection +That e'er was heard or read ! + +Swear his thought over +By each particular star in heaven and +By all their influences , you may as well +Forbid the sea for to obey the moon +As or by oath remove or counsel shake +The fabric of his folly , whose foundation +Is pil'd upon his faith , and will continue +The standing of his body . + +How should this grow ? + +I know not : but I am sure 'tis safer to +Avoid what's grown than question how 'tis born . +If therefore you dare trust my honesty , +That lies enclosed in this trunk , which you +Shall bear along impawn'd , away to-night ! +Your followers I will whisper to the business , +And will by twos and threes at several posterns +Clear them o'the city . For myself , I'll put +My fortunes to your service , which are here +By this discovery lost . Be not uncertain ; +For , by the honour of my parents , I +Have utter'd truth , which , if you seek to prove , +I dare not stand by ; nor shall you be safer +Than one condemn'd by the king's own mouth , thereon +His execution sworn . + +I do believe thee : +I saw his heart in's face . Give me thy hand : +Be pilot to me and thy places shall +Still neighbour mine . My ships are ready and +My people did expect my hence departure +Two days ago . This jealousy +Is for a precious creature : as she's rare +Must it be great , and , as his person's mighty +Must it be violent , and , as he does conceive +He is dishonour'd by a man which ever +Profess'd to him , why , his revenges must +In that be made more bitter . Fear o'ershades me : +Good expedition be my friend , and comfort +The gracious queen , part of his theme , but nothing +Of his ill-ta'en suspicion ! Come . Camillo ; +I will respect thee as a father if +Thou bear'st my life off hence : let us avoid . + +It is in mine authority to command +The keys of all the posterns : please your highness +To take the urgent hour . Come , sir , away ! + +Take the boy to you : he so troubles me , 'Tis past enduring . + +Come , my gracious lord , Shall I be your playfellow ? + +No , I'll none of you . + +Why , my sweet lord ? + +You'll kiss me hard and speak to me as if +I were a baby still . I love you better . + +And why so , my lord ? + +Not for because +Your brows are blacker ; yet black brows , they say , +Become some women best , so that there be not +Too much hair there , but in a semicircle , +Or a half-moon made with a pen . + +Who taught you this ? + +I learn'd it out of women's faces . Pray now , +What colour are your eyebrows ? + +Blue , my lord . + +Nay , that's a mock : I have seen a lady's nose +That has been blue , but not her eyebrows . + +Hark ye ; +The queen your mother rounds apace : we shall +Present our services to a fine new prince +One of these days ; and then you'd wanton with us , +If we would have you . + +She is spread of late +Into a goodly bulk : good time encounter her ! + +What wisdom stirs amongst you ? Come sir , now +I am for you again : pray you , sit by us , +And tell's a tale . + +Merry or sad shall't be ? + +As merry as you will . + +A sad tale's best for winter . +I have one of sprites and goblins . + +Let's have that , good sir . +Come on , sit down : come on , and do your best +To fright me with your sprites ; you're powerful at it . + +There was a man , + +Nay , come , sit down ; then on . + +Dwelt by a churchyard . I will tell it softly ; +Yond crickets shall not hear it . + +Come on then , +And give't me in mine ear . + + +Was he met there ? his train ? Camillo with him ? + +Behind the tuft of pines I met them : never +Saw I men scour so on their way : I ey'd them +Even to their ships + +How blest am I +In my just censure , in my true opinion ! +Alack , for lesser knowledge ! How accurs'd +In being so blest ! There may be in the cup +A spider steep'd , and one may drink , depart , +And yet partake no venom , for his knowledge +Is not infected ; but if one present +The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye , make known +How he hath drunk , he cracks his gorge , his sides , +With violent hefts . I have drunk , and seen the spider . +Camillo was his help in this , his pandar : +There is a plot against my life , my crown ; +All's true that is mistrusted : that false villain +Whom I employ'd was pre-employ'd by him : +He has discover'd my design , and I +Remain a pinch'd thing ; yea , a very trick +For them to play at will . How came the posterns +So easily open ? + +By his great authority ; +Which often hath no less prevail'd than so +On your command . + +I know't too well . + + +Give me the boy : I am glad you did not nurse him : +Though he does bear some signs of me , yet you +Have too much blood in him . + +What is this ? sport ? + +Bear the boy hence ; he shall not come about her ; +Away with him ! + +and let her sport herself +With that she's big with ; for 'tis Polixenes +Has made thee swell thus . + +But I'd say he had not , +And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying , +Howe'er you lean to the nayward . + +You , my lords , +Look on her , mark her well ; be but about +To say , 'she is a goodly lady ,' and +The justice of your hearts will thereto add +''Tis pity she's not honest , honourable :' +Praise her but for this her without-door form , +Which , on my faith deserves high speech ,and straight +The shrug , the hum or ha , these petty brands +That calumny doth use ,O , I am out ! +That mercy does , for calumny will sear +Virtue itself : these shrugs , these hums and ha's , +When you have said 'she's goodly ,' come between , +Ere you can say 'she's honest .' But be't known , +From him that has most cause to grieve it should be , +She's an adulteress . + +Should a villain say so , +The most replenish'd villain in the world , +He were as much more villain : you , my lord , +Do but mistake . + +You have mistook , my lady , +Polixenes for Leontes . O thou thing ! +Which I'll not call a creature of thy place , +Lest barbarism , making me the precedent , +Should a like language use to all degrees , +And mannerly distinguishment leave out +Betwixt the prince and beggar : I have said +She's an adulteress ; I have said with whom : +More , she's a traitor , and Camillo is +A federary with her , and one that knows +What she should shame to know herself +But with her most vile principal , that she's +A bed-swerver , even as bad as those +That vulgars give bold'st titles ; ay , and privy +To this their late escape . + +No , by my life , +Privy to none of this . How will this grieve you +When you shall come to clearer knowledge that +You thus have publish'd me ! Gentle my lord , +You scarce can right me throughly then to say +You did mistake . + +No ; if I mistake +In those foundations which I build upon , +The centre is not big enough to bear +A schoolboy's top . Away with her to prison ! +He who shall speak for her is afar off guilty +But that he speaks . + +There's some ill planet reigns : +I must be patient till the heavens look +With an aspect more favourable . Good my lords , +I am not prone to weeping , as our sex +Commonly are ; the want of which vain dew +Perchance shall dry your pities ; but I have +That honourable grief lodg'd here which burns +Worse than tears drown . Beseech you all , my lords , +With thoughts so qualified as your charities +Shall best instruct you , measure me ; and so +The king's will be perform'd ! + +Shall I be heard ? + +Who is't that goes with me ? Beseech your highness , +My women may be with me ; for you see +My plight requires it . Do not weep , good fools ; +There is no cause : when you shall know your mistress +Has deserv'd prison , then abound in tears +As I come out : this action I now go on +Is for my better grace . Adieu , my lord : +I never wish'd to see you sorry ; now +I trust I shall . My women , come ; you have leave . + +Go , do our bidding : hence ! + + +Beseech your highness call the queen again . + +Be certain what you do , sir , lest your justice +Prove violence : in the which three great ones suffer , +Yourself , your queen , your son . + +For her , my lord , +I dare my life lay down , and will do't , sir , +Please you to accept it ,that the queen is spotless +I' the eyes of heaven and to you : I mean , +In this which you accuse her . + +If it prove +She's otherwise , I'll keep my stables where +I lodge my wife ; I'll go in couples with her ; +Than when I feel and see her no further trust her ; +For every inch of woman in the world , +Ay , every dram of woman's flesh is false , +If she be . + +Hold your peaces ! + +Good my lord , + +It is for you we speak , not for ourselves . +You are abus'd , and by some putter-on +That will be damn'd for't ; would I knew the villain , +I would land-damn him . Be she honour-flaw'd , +I have three daughters ; the eldest is eleven , +The second and the third , nine and some five ; +If this prove true , they'll pay for't : by mine honour , +I'll geld them all ; fourteen they shall not see , +To bring false generations : they are co-heirs ; +And I had rather glib myself than they +Should not produce fair issue . + +Cease ! no more . +You smell this business with a sense as cold +As is a dead man's nose ; but I do see't and feel't , +As you feel doing thus , and see withal +The instruments that feel . + +If it be so , +We need no grave to bury honesty : +There's not a grain of it the face to sweeten +Of the whole dungy earth . + +What ! lack I credit ? + +I had rather you did lack than I , my lord , +Upon this ground ; and more it would content me +To have her honour true than your suspicion , +Be blam'd for't how you might . + +Why , what need we +Commune with you of this , but rather follow +Our forceful instigation ? Our prerogative +Calls not your counsels , but our natural goodness +Imparts this ; which if you ,or stupified +Or seeming so in skill ,cannot or will not +Relish a truth like us , inform yourselves +We need no more of your advice : the matter , +The loss , the gain , the ordering on't , is all +Properly ours . + +And I wish , my liege , +You had only in your silent judgment tried it , +Without more overture . + +How could that be ? +Either thou art most ignorant by age , +Or thou wert born a fool . Camillo's flight , +Added to their familiarity , +Which was as gross as ever touch'd conjecture , +That lack'd sight only , nought for approbation +But only seeing , all other circumstances +Made up to the deed , doth push on this proceeding : +Yet , for a greater confirmation , +For in an act of this importance 'twere +Most piteous to be wild ,I have dispatch'd in post +To sacred Delphos , to Apollo's temple , +Cleomenes and Dion , whom you know +Of stuff'd sufficiency . Now , from the oracle +They will bring all ; whose spiritual counsel had , +Shall stop or spur me . Have I done well ? + +Well done , my lord . + +Though I am satisfied and need no more +Than what I know , yet shall the oracle +Give rest to the minds of others , such as he +Whose ignorant credulity will not +Come up to the truth . So have we thought it good +From our free person she should be confin'd , +Lest that the treachery of the two fled hence +Be left her to perform . Come , follow us : +We are to speak in public ; for this business +Will raise us all . + +To laughter , as I take it , +If the good truth were known . + + +The keeper of the prison , call to him ; +Let him have knowledge who I am . + +Good lady , +No court in Europe is too good for thee ; +What dost thou then in prison ? + + +Now , good sir , + +You know me , do you not ? + +For a worthy lady +And one whom much I honour . + +Pray you then , +Conduct me to the queen . + +I may not , madam : to the contrary +I have express commandment . + +Here's ado , +To lock up honesty and honour from +The access of gentle visitors ! Is't lawful , pray you , +To see her women ? any of them ? Emilia ? + +So please you , madam , +To put apart these your attendants , I +Shall bring Emilia forth . + +I pray now , call her . +Withdraw yourselves . + + +And , madam , +I must be present at your conference . + +Well , be't so , prithee . + +Here's such ado to make no stain a stain , +As passes colouring . + + +Dear gentlewoman , + +How fares our gracious lady ? + +As well as one so great and so forlorn +May hold together . On her frights and griefs , +Which never tender lady hath borne greater , +She is something before her time deliver'd . + +A boy ? + +A daughter ; and a goodly babe , +Lusty and like to live : the queen receives +Much comfort in't ; says , 'My poor prisoner , +I am innocent as you .' + +I dare be sworn : +These dangerous unsafe lunes i' the king , beshrew them ! +He must be told on't , and he shall : the office +Becomes a woman best ; I'll take't upon me . +If I prove honey-mouth'd , let my tongue blister , +And never to my red-look'd anger be +The trumpet any more . Pray you , Emilia , +Commend my best obedience to the queen : +If she dares trust me with her little babe , +I'll show it to the king and undertake to be +Her advocate to the loud'st . We do not know +How he may soften at the sight of the child : +The silence often of pure innocence +Persuades when speaking fails . + +Most worthy madam , +Your honour and your goodness is so evident +That your free undertaking cannot miss +A thriving issue : there is no lady living +So meet for this great errand . Please your ladyship +To visit the next room , I'll presently +Acquaint the queen of your most noble offer , +Who but to-day hammer'd of this design , +But durst not tempt a minister of honour , +Lest she should be denied . + +Tell her , Emilia , +I'll use that tongue I have : if wit flow from't +As boldness from my bosom , let it not be doubted +I shall do good . + +Now be you blest for it ! +I'll to the queen . Please you , come something nearer . + +Madam , if't please the queen to send the babe , +I know not what I shall incur to pass it , +Having no warrant . + +You need not fear it , sir : +The child was prisoner to the womb , and is +By law and process of great nature thence +Freed and enfranchis'd ; not a party to +The anger of the king , nor guilty of , +If any be , the trespass of the queen . + +I do believe it . + +Do not you fear : upon mine honour , I +Will stand betwixt you and danger . + + +Nor night , nor day , no rest ; it is but weakness +To bear the matter thus ; mere weakness . If +The cause were not in being ,part o' the cause , +She the adultress ; for the harlot king +Is quite beyond mine arm , out of the blank +And level of my brain , plot-proof ; but she +I can hook to me : say , that she were gone , +Given to the fire , a moiety of my rest +Might come to me again . Who's there ? + +My lord ? + +How does the boy ? + +He took good rest to-night ; +'Tis hop'd his sickness is discharg'd . + +To see his nobleness ! +Conceiving the dishonour of his mother , +He straight declin'd , droop'd , took it deeply , +Fasten'd and fix'd the shame on't in himself , +Threw off his spirit , his appetite , his sleep , +And downright languish'd . Leave me solely : go , +See how he fares . + +Fie , fie ! no thought of him ; +The very thought of my revenges that way +Recoil upon me : in himself too mighty , +And in his parties , his alliance ; let him be +Until a time may serve : for present vengeance , +Take it on her . Camillo and Polixenes +Laugh at me ; make their pastime at my sorrow : +They should not laugh , if I could reach them , nor +Shall she within my power . + + +You must not enter . + +Nay , rather , good my lords , be second to me : +Fear you his tyrannous passion more , alas , +Than the queen's life ? a gracious innocent soul , +More free than he is jealous . + +That's enough . + +Madam , he hath not slept to-night ; commanded +None should come at him . + +Not so hot , good sir ; +I come to bring him sleep . 'Tis such as you , +That creep like shadows by him and do sigh +At each his needless heavings , such as you +Nourish the cause of his awaking : I +Do come with words as med'cinal as true , +Honest as either , to purge him of that humour +That presses him from sleep . + +What noise there , ho ? + +No noise , my lord ; but needful conference +About some gossips for your highness . + +How ! +Away with that audacious lady ! Antigonus , +I charg'd thee that she should not come about me : +I knew she would . + +I told her so , my lord , +On your displeasure's peril , and on mine , +She should not visit you . + +What ! canst not rule her ? + +From all dishonesty he can : in this , +Unless he take the course that you have done , +Commit me for committing honour , trust it , +He shall not rule me . + +La you now ! you hear ; +When she will take the rein I let her run ; +But she'll not stumble . + +Good my liege , I come , +And I beseech you , hear me , who professes +Myself your loyal servant , your physician , +Your most obedient counsellor , yet that dares +Less appear so in comforting your evils +Than such as most seem yours : I say , I come +From your good queen . + +Good queen ! + +Good queen , my lord , good queen ; I say , good queen ; +And would by combat make her good , so were I +A man , the worst about you . + +Force her hence . + +Let him that makes but trifles of his eyes +First hand me : on mine own accord I'll off ; +But first I'll do my errand . The good queen , +For she is good , hath brought you forth a daughter : +Here 'tis ; commends it to your blessing . + + +Out ! +A mankind witch ! Hence with her , out o' door : +A most intelligencing bawd ! + +Not so ; +I am as ignorant in that as you +In so entitling me , and no less honest +Than you are mad ; which is enough , I'll warrant , +As this world goes , to pass for honest . + +Traitors ! +Will you not push her out ? Give her the bastard . + + +Thou dotard ! thou art woman-tir'd , unroosted +By thy dame Partlet here . Take up the bastard ; +Take't up , I say ; give't to thy crone . + +For ever +Unvenerable be thy hands , if thou +Tak'st up the princess by that forced baseness +Which he has put upon't ! + +He dreads his wife . + +So I would you did ; then , 'twere past all doubt , +You'd call your children yours . + +A nest of traitors ! + +I am none , by this good light . + +Nor I ; nor any +But one that's here , and that's himself ; for he +The sacred honour of himself , his queen's , +His hopeful son's , his babe's , betrays to slander , +Whose sting is sharper than the sword's ; and will not , +For , as the case now stands , it is a curse +He cannot be compell'd to't ,once remove +The root of his opinion , which is rotten +As ever oak or stone was sound . + +A callat +Of boundless tongue , who late hath beat her husband +And now baits me ! This brat is none of mine ; +It is the issue of Polixenes : +Hence with it ; and , together with the dam +Commit them to the fire ! + +It is yours ; +And , might we lay the old proverb to your charge , +'So like you , 'tis the worse .' Behold , my lords , +Although the print be little , the whole matter +And copy of the father ; eye , nose , lip , +The trick of's frown , his forehead , nay , the valley , +The pretty dimples of his chin and cheek , his smiles , +The very mould and frame of hand , nail , finger : +And thou , good goddess Nature , which hast made it +So like to him that got it , if thou hast +The ordering of the mind too , 'mongst all colours +No yellow in't ; lest she suspect , as he does , +Her children not her husband's . + +A gross hag ! +And , lozel , thou art worthy to be hang'd , +That wilt not stay her tongue . + +Hang all the husbands +That cannot do that feat , you'll leave yourself +Hardly one subject . + +Once more , take her hence . + +A most unworthy and unnatural lord +Can do no more . + +I'll ha' thee burn'd . + +I care not : +It is a heretic that makes the fire , +Not she which burns in't . I'll not call you tyrant ; +But this most cruel usage of your queen , +Not able to produce more accusation +Than your own weak-hing'd fancy ,something savours +Of tyranny , and will ignoble make you , +Yea , scandalous to the world . + +On your allegiance , +Out of the chamber with her ! Were I a tyrant , +Where were her life ? she durst not call me so +If she did know me one . Away with her ! + +I pray you do not push me ; I'll be gone . +Look to your babe , my lord ; 'tis yours : Jove send her +A better guiding spirit ! What need these hands ? +You , that are thus so tender o'er his follies , +Will never do him good , not one of you . +So , so : farewell ; we are gone . + + +Thou , traitor , hast set on thy wife to this . +My child ! away with't !even thou , that hast +A heart so tender o'er it , take it hence +And see it instantly consum'd with fire : +Even thou and none but thou . Take it up straight : +Within this hour bring me word 'tis done , +And by good testimony ,or I'll seize thy life , +With what thou else call'st thine . If thou refuse +And wilt encounter with my wrath , say so ; +The bastard brains with these my proper hands +Shall I dash out . Go , take it to the fire ; +For thou sett'st on thy wife . + +I did not , sir : +These lords , my noble fellows , if they please , +Can clear me in't . + +We can , my royal liege , +He is not guilty of her coming hither . + +You are liars all . + +Beseech your highness , give us better credit : +We have always truly serv'd you , and beseech you +So to esteem of us ; and on our knees we beg , +As recompense of our dear services +Past and to come , that you do change this purpose , +Which being so horrible , so bloody , must +Lead on to some foul issue . We all kneel . + +I am a feather for each wind that blows . +Shall I live on to see this bastard kneel +And call me father ? Better burn it now +Than curse it then . But , be it ; let it live : +It shall not neither . + +You , sir , come you hither ; +You that have been so tenderly officious +With Lady Margery , your midwife there , +To save this bastard's life ,for 'tis a bastard , +So sure as thy beard's grey ,what will you adventure +To save this brat's life ? + +Any thing , my lord , +That my ability may undergo , +And nobleness impose : at least , thus much : +I'll pawn the little blood which I have left , +To save the innocent : any thing possible . + +It shall be possible . Swear by this sword +Thou wilt perform my bidding . + +I will , my lord . + +Mark and perform it ,seest thou !for the fail +Of any point in't shall not only be +Death to thyself , but to thy lewd-tongu'd wife , +Whom for this time we pardon . We enjoin thee , +As thou art liegeman to us , that thou carry +This female bastard hence ; and that thou bear it +To some remote and desart place quite out +Of our dominions ; and that there thou leave it , +Without more mercy , to its own protection , +And favour of the climate . As by strange fortune +It came to us , I do in justice charge thee , +On thy soul's peril and thy body's torture , +That thou commend it strangely to some place , +Where chance may nurse or end it . Take it up . + +I swear to do this , though a present death +Had been more merciful . Come on , poor babe : +Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens +To be thy nurses ! Wolves and bears , they say , +Casting their savageness aside have done +Like offices of pity . Sir , be prosperous +In more than this deed doth require ! And blessing +Against this cruelty fight on thy side , +Poor thing , condemn'd to loss ! + + +No ; I'll not rear +Another's issue . + + +Please your highness , posts +From those you sent to the oracle are come +An hour since : Cleomenes and Dion , +Being well arriv'd from Delphos , are both landed , +Hasting to the court . + +So please you , sir , their speed +Hath been beyond account . + +Twenty-three days +They have been absent : 'tis good speed ; foretells +The great Apollo suddenly will have +The truth of this appear . Prepare you , lords ; +Summon a session , that we may arraign +Our most disloyal lady ; for , as she hath +Been publicly accus'd , so shall she have +A just and open trial . While she lives +My heart will be a burden to me . Leave me , +And think upon my bidding . + +The climate's delicate , the air most sweet , +Fertile the isle , the temple much surpassing +The common praise it bears . + +I shall report , +For most it caught me , the celestial habits , +Methinks I so should term them ,and the reverence +Of the grave wearers . O , the sacrifice ! +How ceremonious , solemn , and unearthly +It was i' the offering ! + +But of all , the burst +And the ear-deafening voice o' the oracle , +Kin to Jove's thunder , so surpris'd my sense , +That I was nothing . + +If the event o' the journey +Prove as successful to the queen ,O , be't so ! +As it hath been to us rare , pleasant , speedy , +The time is worth the use on't . + +Great Apollo +Turn all to the best ! These proclamations , +So forcing faults upon Hermione , +I little like . + +The violent carriage of it +Will clear or end the business : when the oracle , +Thus by Apollo's great divine seal'd up , +Shall the contents discover , something rare +Even then will rush to knowledge .Go :fresh horses ! +And gracious be the issue ! + + +This sessions , to our great grief we pronounce , +Even pushes 'gainst our heart : the party tried +The daughter of a king , our wife , and one +Of us too much belov'd . Let us be clear'd +Of being tyrannous , since we so openly +Proceed in justice , which shall have due course , +Even to the guilt or the purgation . +Produce the prisoner . + +It is his highness' pleasure that the queen +Appear in person here in court . Silence ! + + +Read the indictment . + +Hermione , queen to the worthy Leontes , King of Sicilia , thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason , in committing adultery with Polixenes , King of Bohemia , and conspiring with Camillo to take away the life of our sovereign lord the king , thy royal husband : the pretence whereof being by circumstances partly laid open , thou , Hermione , contrary to the faith and allegiance of a true subject , didst counsel and aid them , for their better safety , to fly away by night . + +Since what I am to say must be but that +Which contradicts my accusation , and +The testimony on my part no other +But what comes from myself , it shall scarce boot me +To say 'Not guilty :' mine integrity +Being counted falsehood , shall , as I express it , +Be so receiv'd . But thus : if powers divine +Behold our human actions , as they do , +I doubt not then but innocence shall make +False accusation blush , and tyranny +Tremble at patience . You , my lord , best know , +Who least will seem to do so ,my past life +Hath been as continent , as chaste , as true , +As I am now unhappy ; which is more +Than history can pattern , though devis'd +And play'd to take spectators . For behold me , +A fellow of the royal bed , which owe +A moiety of the throne , a great king's daughter , +The mother to a hopeful prince , here standing +To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore +Who please to come and hear . For life , I prize it . +As I weigh grief , which I would spare : for honour , +'Tis a derivative from me to mine , +And only that I stand for . I appeal +To your own conscience , sir , before Polixenes +Came to your court , how I was in your grace , +How merited to be so ; since he came , +With what encounter so uncurrent I +Have strain'd , to appear thus : if one jot beyond +The bound of honour , or in act or will +That way inclining , harden'd be the hearts +Of all that hear me , and my near'st of kin +Cry fie upon my grave ! + +I ne'er heard yet +That any of these bolder vices wanted +Less impudence to gainsay what they did +Than to perform it first . + +That's true enough ; +Though 'tis a saying , sir , not due to me . + +You will not own it . + +More than mistress of +Which comes to me in name of fault , I must not +At all acknowledge . For Polixenes , +With whom I am accus'd ,I do confess +I lov'd him as in honour he requir'd , +With such a kind of love as might become +A lady like me ; with a love even such , +So and no other , as yourself commanded : +Which not to have done I think had been in me +Both disobedience and ingratitude +To you and toward your friend , whose love had spoke , +Even since it could speak , from an infant , freely +That it was yours . Now , for conspiracy , +I know not how it tastes , though it be dish'd +For me to try how : all I know of it +Is that Camillo was an honest man ; +And why he left your court , the gods themselves , +Wotting no more than I , are ignorant . + +You knew of his departure , as you know +What you have underta'en to do in's absence . + +Sir , +You speak a language that I understand not : +My life stands in the level of your dreams , +Which I'll lay down . + +Your actions are my dreams : +You had a bastard by Polixenes , +And I but dream'd it . As you were past all shame , +Those of your fact are so ,so past all truth : +Which to deny concerns more than avails ; for as +Thy brat hath been cast out , like to itself , +No father owning it ,which is , indeed , +More criminal in thee than it ,so thou +Shalt feel our justice , in whose easiest passage +Look for no less than death . + +Sir , spare your threats : +The bug which you would fright me with I seek . +To me can life be no commodity : +The crown and comfort of my life , your favour , +I do give lost ; for I do feel it gone , +But know not how it went . My second joy , +And first-fruits of my body , from his presence +I am barr'd , like one infectious . My third comfort , +Starr'd most unluckily , is from my breast , +The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth , +Hal'd out to murder : myself on every post +Proclaim'd a strumpet : with immodest hatred +The child-bed privilege denied , which 'longs +To women of all fashion : lastly , hurried +Here to this place , i'the open air , before +I have got strength of limit . Now , my liege , +Tell me what blessings I have here alive , +That I should fear to die ? Therefore proceed . +But yet hear this ; mistake me not ; no life , +I prize it not a straw :but for mine honour , +Which I would free , if I shall be condemn'd +Upon surmises , all proofs sleeping else +But what your jealousies awake , I tell you +'Tis rigour and not law . Your honours all , +I do refer me to the oracle : +Apollo be my judge ! + +This your request +Is altogether just : therefore , bring forth , +And in Apollo's name , his oracle . + + +The Emperor of Russia was my father : +O ! that he were alive , and here beholding +His daughter's trial ; that he did but see +The flatness of my misery ; yet with eyes +Of pity , not revenge ! + + +You here shall swear upon this sword of justice , +That you , Cleomenes and Dion , have +Been both at Delphos , and from thence have brought +This seal'd-up oracle , by the hand deliver'd +Of great Apollo's priest , and that since then +You have not dar'd to break the holy seal , +Nor read the secrets in't . + +All this we swear . + +All this we swear . + +Break up the seals , and read . + +Hermione is chaste ; Polixenes blameless ; Camillo a true subject ; Leontes a jealous tyrant ; his innocent babe truly begotten ; and the king shall live without an heir if that which is lost be not found ! + +Now blessed be the great Apollo ! + +Praised ! + +Hast thou read truth ? + +Ay , my lord ; even so +As it is here set down . + +There is no truth at all i' the oracle : +The sessions shall proceed : this is mere falsehood . + + +My lord the king , the king ! + +What is the business ? + +O sir ! I shall be hated to report it : +The prince your son , with mere conceit and fear +Of the queen's speed , is gone . + +How ! gone ! + +Is dead . + +Apollo's angry ; and the heavens themselves +Do strike at my injustice . + +How now , there ! + +This news is mortal to the queen : look down , +And see what death is doing . + +Take her hence : +Her heart is but o'ercharg'd ; she will recover : +I have too much believ'd mine own suspicion : +Beseech you , tenderly apply to her +Some remedies for life . + +Apollo , pardon +My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle ! +I'll reconcile me to Polixenes , +New woo my queen , recall the good Camillo , +Whom I proclaim a man of truth , of mercy ; +For , being transported by my jealousies +To bloody thoughts and to revenge , I chose +Camillo for the minister to poison +My friend Polixenes : which had been done , +But that the good mind of Camillo tardied +My swift command ; though I with death and with +Reward did threaten and encourage him , +Not doing it , and being done : he , most humane +And fill'd with honour , to my kingly guest +Unclasp'd my practice , quit his fortunes here , +Which you knew great , and to the certain hazard +Of all incertainties himself commended , +No richer than his honour : how he glisters +Thorough my rust ! and how his piety +Does my deeds make the blacker ! + + +Woe the while ! +O , cut my lace , lest my heart , cracking it , +Break too ! + +What fit is this , good lady ? + +What studied torments , tyrant , hast for me ? +What wheels ? racks ? fires ? What flaying ? or what boiling +In leads , or oils ? what old or newer torture +Must I receive , whose every word deserves +To taste of thy most worst ? Thy tyranny , +Together working with thy jealousies , +Fancies too weak for boys , too green and idle +For girls of nine , O ! think what they have done , +And then run mad indeed , stark mad ; for all +Thy by-gone fooleries were but spices of it . +That thou betray'dst Polixenes , 'twas nothing ; +That did but show thee of a fool , inconstant +And damnable ingrateful ; nor was't much +Thou wouldst have poison'd good Camillo's honour +To have him kill a king ; poor trespasses , +More monstrous standing by : whereof I reckon +The casting forth to crows thy baby daughter +To be or none or little ; though a devil +Would have shed water out of fire ere done't : +Nor is't directly laid to thee , the death +Of the young prince , whose honourable thoughts , +Thoughts high for one so tender ,cleft the heart +That could conceive a gross and foolish sire +Blemish'd his gracious dam : this is not , no , +Laid to thy answer : but the last ,O lords ! +When I have said , cry , 'woe !' the queen , the queen , +The sweetest , dearest creature's dead , and vengeance for't +Not dropp'd down yet . + +The higher powers forbid ! + +I say she's dead ; I'll swear't : if word nor oath +Prevail not , go and see : if you can bring +Tincture or lustre in her lip , her eye , +Heat outwardly , or breath within , I'll serve you +As I would do the gods . But , O thou tyrant ! +Do not repent these things , for they are heavier +Than all thy woes can stir ; therefore betake thee +To nothing but despair . A thousand knees +Ten thousand years together , naked , fasting , +Upon a barren mountain , and still winter +In storm perpetual , could not move the gods +To look that way thou wert . + +Go on , go on ; +Thou canst not speak too much : I have deserv'd +All tongues to talk their bitterest . + +Say no more : +Howe'er the business goes , you have made fault +I' the boldness of your speech . + +I am sorry for't : +All faults I make , when I shall come to know them , +I do repent . Alas ! I have show'd too much +The rashness of a woman : he is touch'd +To the noble heart . What's gone and what's past help +Should be past grief : do not receive affliction +At my petition ; I beseech you , rather +Let me be punish'd , that have minded you +Of what you should forget . Now , good my liege , +Sir , royal sir , forgive a foolish woman : +The love I bore your queen ,lo , fool again ! +I'll speak of her no more , nor of your children ; +I'll not remember you of my own lord , +Who is lost too : take your patience to you , +And I'll say nothing . + +Thou didst speak but well , +When most the truth , which I receive much better +Than to be pitied of thee . Prithee , bring me +To the dead bodies of my queen and son : +One grave shall be for both : upon them shall +The causes of their death appear , unto +Our shame perpetual . Once a day I'll visit +The chapel where they lie , and tears shed there +Shall be my recreation : so long as nature +Will bear up with this exercise , so long +I daily vow to use it . Come and lead me +Unto these sorrows . + + +Thou art perfect , then , our ship hath touch'd upon +The desarts of Bohemia ? + +Ay , my lord ; and fear +We have landed in ill time : the skies look grimly +And threaten present blusters . In my conscience , +The heavens with that we have in hand are angry , +And frown upon's . + +Their sacred wills be done ! Go , get aboard ; +Look to thy bark : I'll not be long before +I call upon thee . + +Make your best haste , and go not +Too far i' the land : 'tis like to be loud weather ; +Besides , this place is famous for the creatures +Of prey that keep upon't . + +Go thou away : +I'll follow instantly . + +I am glad at heart +To be so rid of the business . + + +Come , poor babe : +I have heard , but not believ'd , the spirits o' the dead +May walk again : if such thing be , thy mother +Appear'd to me last night , for ne'er was dream +So like a waking . To me comes a creature , +Sometimes her head on one side , some another ; +I never saw a vessel of like sorrow , +So fill'd , and so becoming : in pure white robes , +Like very sanctity , she did approach +My cabin where I lay ; thrice bow'd before me , +And , gasping to begin some speech , her eyes +Became two spouts : the fury spent , anon +Did this break from her : 'Good Antigonus , +Since fate , against thy better disposition , +Hath made thy person for the thrower-out +Of my poor babe , according to thine oath , +Places remote enough are in Bohemia , +There weep and leave it crying ; and , for the babe +Is counted lost for ever , Perdita , +I prithee , call't : for this ungentle business , +Put on thee by my lord , thou ne'er shalt see +Thy wife Paulina more :' and so , with shrieks , +She melted into air . Affrighted much , +I did in time collect myself , and thought +This was so and no slumber . Dreams are toys ; +Yet for this once , yea , superstitiously , +I will be squar'd by this . I do believe +Hermione hath suffer'd death ; and that +Apollo would , this being indeed the issue +Of King Polixenes , it should here be laid , +Either for life or death , upon the earth +Of its right father . Blossom , speed thee well ! + +There lie ; and there thy character : there these ; + +Which may , if fortune please , both breed thee , pretty , +And still rest thine . The storm begins : poor wretch ! +That for thy mother's fault art thus expos'd +To loss and what may follow . Weep I cannot , +But my heart bleeds , and most accurs'd am I +To be by oath enjoin'd to this . Farewell ! +The day frowns more and more : thou art like to have +A lullaby too rough . I never saw +The heavens so dim by day . A savage clamour ! +Well may I get aboard ! This is the chase : +I am gone for ever . + +I would there were no age between sixteen and three-and-twenty , or that youth would sleep out the rest ; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child , wronging the ancientry , stealing , fighting . Hark you now ! Would any but these boiled brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty hunt this weather ? They have scared away two of my best sheep ; which I fear the wolf will sooner find than the master : if anywhere I have them , 'tis by the sea-side , browsing of ivy . Good luck , an't be thy will ! what have we here ? + +Mercy on's , a barne ; a very pretty barne ! A boy or a child , I wonder ? A pretty one ; a very pretty one ; sure some scape : though I am not bookish , yet I can read waiting-gentlewoman in the scape . This has been some stair-work , some trunk-work , some behind-door-work ; they were warmer that got this than the poor thing is here . I'll take it up for pity ; yet I'll tarry till my son come ; he hollaed but even now . Whoa , ho , hoa ! + + +Hilloa , loa ! + +What ! art so near ? If thou'lt see a thing to talk on when thou art dead and rotten , come hither . What ailest thou , man ? + +I have seen two such sights by sea and by land ! but I am not to say it is a see , for it is now the sky : betwixt the firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkin's point . + +Why , boy , how is it ? + +I would you did but see how it chafes , how it rages , how it takes up the shore ! but that's not to the point . O ! the most piteous cry of the poor souls ; sometimes to see 'em , and not to see 'em ; now the ship boring the moon with her mainmast , and anon swallowed with yest and froth , as you'd thrust a cork into a hogshead . And then for the land-service : to see how the bear tore out his shoulderbone ; how he cried to me for help and said his name was Antigonus , a nobleman . But to make an end of the ship : to see how the sea flap-dragoned it : but , first , how the poor souls roared , and the sea mocked them ; and how the poor gentleman roared , and the bear mocked him , both roaring louder than the sea or weather . + +Name of mercy ! when was this , boy ? + +Now , now ; I have not winked since I saw these sights : the men are not yet cold under water , nor the bear half dined on the gentleman : he's at it now . + +Would I had been by , to have helped the old man ! + +I would you had been by the ship's side , to have helped her : there your charity would have lacked footing . + +Heavy matters ! heavy matters ! but look thee here , boy . Now bless thyself : thou mettest with things dying , I with things new born . Here's a sight for thee ; look thee , a bearing-cloth for a squire's child ! Look thee here : take up , take up , boy ; open't . So , let's see : it was told me , I should be rich by the fairies : this is some changeling .Open't . What's within , boy ? + +You're a made old man : if the sins of your youth are forgiven you , you're well to live . Gold ! all gold ! + +This is fairy gold , boy , and 'twill prove so : up with't , keep it close : home , home , the next way . We are lucky , boy ; and to be so still , requires nothing but secrecy . Let my sheep go . Come , good boy , the next way home . + +Go you the next way with your findings . I'll go see if the bear be gone from the gentleman , and how much he hath eaten : they are never curst but when they are hungry . If there be any of him left , I'll bury it . + +That's a good deed . If thou mayst discern by that which is left of him what he is , fetch me to the sight of him . + +Marry , will I ; and you shall help to put him i' the ground . + +'Tis a lucky day , boy , and we'll do good deeds on't . + +I , that please some , try all , both joy and terror +Of good and bad , that make and unfold error , +Now take upon me , in the name of Time , +To use my wings . Impute it not a crime +To me or my swift passage , that I slide +O'er sixteen years , and leave the growth untried +Of that wide gap ; since it is in my power +To o'erthrow law , and in one self-born hour +To plant and o'erwhelm custom . Let me pass +The same I am , ere ancient'st order was +Or what is now receiv'd : I witness to +The times that brought them in ; so shall I do +To the freshest things now reigning , and make stale +The glistering of this present , as my tale +Now seems to it . Your patience this allowing , +I turn my glass and give my scene such growing +As you had slept between . Leontes leaving , +The effects of his fond jealousies so grieving , +That he shuts up himself ,imagine me , +Gentle spectators , that I now may be +In fair Bohemia ; and remember well , +I mention'd a son o' the king's , which Florizel +I now name to you ; and with speed so pace +To speak of Perdita , now grown in grace +Equal with wondering : what of her ensues +I list not prophesy ; but let Time's news +Be known when 'tis brought forth . A shepherd's daughter , +And what to her adheres , which follows after , +Is th' argument of Time . Of this allow , +If ever you have spent time worse ere now : +If never , yet that Time himself doth say +He wishes earnestly you never may . + +I pray thee , good Camillo , be no more importunate : 'tis a sickness denying thee anything ; a death to grant this . + +It is fifteen years since I saw my country : though I have for the most part been aired abroad , I desire to lay my bones there . Besides , the penitent king , my master , hath sent for me ; to whose feeling sorrows I might be some allay , or I o'erween to think so , which is another spur to my departure . + +As thou lovest me , Camillo , wipe not out the rest of thy services by leaving me now . The need I have of thee thine own goodness hath made : better not to have had thee than thus to want thee . Thou , having made me businesses which none without thee can sufficiently manage , must either stay to execute them thyself or take away with thee the very services thou hast done ; which if I have not enough considered ,as too much I cannot ,to be more thankful to thee shall be my study , and my profit therein , the heaping friendships . Of that fatal country , Sicilia , prithee speak no more , whose very naming punishes me with the remembrance of that penitent , as thou callest him , and reconciled king , my brother ; whose loss of his most precious queen and children are even now to be afresh lamented . Say to me , when sawest thou the Prince Florizel , my son ? Kings are no less unhappy , their issue not being gracious , than they are in losing them when they have approved their virtues . + +Sir , it is three days since I saw the prince . What his happier affairs may be , are to me unknown ; but I have missingly noted he is of late much retired from court , and is less frequent to his princely exercises than formerly he hath appeared . + +I have considered so much , Camillo , and with some care ; so far , that I have eyes under my service which look upon his removedness ; from whom I have this intelligence , that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd ; a man , they say , that from very nothing , and beyond the imagination of his neighbours , is grown into an unspeakable estate . + +I have heard , sir , of such a man , who hath a daughter of most rare note : the report of her is extended more than can be thought to begin from such a cottage . + +That's likewise part of my intelligence ; but I fear , the angle that plucks our son thither . Thou shalt accompany us to the place ; where we will , not appearing what we are , have some question with the shepherd ; from whose simplicity I think it not uneasy to get the cause of my son's resort thither . Prithee , be my present partner in this business , and lay aside the thoughts of Sicilia . + +I willingly obey your command . + +My best Camillo !We must disguise ourselves . + +When daffodils begin to peer , +With heigh ! the doxy , over the dale , +Why , then comes in the sweet o' the year ; +For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale . + + +The white sheet bleaching on the hedge , +With heigh ! the sweet birds , O , how they sing ! +Doth set my pugging tooth on edge ; +For a quart of ale is a dish for a king + + +The lark , that tirra-lirra chants , +With , heigh ! with , heigh ! the thrush and the jay , +Are summer songs for me and my aunts , +While we lie tumbling in the hay . + + +I have served Prince Florizel , and in my time wore three-pile ; but now I am out of service : + +But shall I go mourn for that , my dear ? +The pale moon shines by night ; +And when I wander here and there , +I then do most go right . +If tinkers may have leave to live , +And bear the sow-skin bowget , +Then my account I well may give , +And in the stocks avouch it + +My traffic is sheets ; when the kite builds , look to lesser linen . My father named me Autolycus ; who being , as I am , littered under Mercury , was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles . With die and drab I purchased this caparison , and my revenue is the silly cheat . Gallows and knock are too powerful on the highway : beating and hanging are terrors to me : for the life to come , I sleep out the thought of it . A prize ! a prize ! + + +Let me see : Every 'leven wether tods ; every tod yields pound and odd shilling : fifteen hundred shorn , what comes the wool to ? + +If the springe hold , the cock's mine . + +I cannot do't without compters . Let me see ; what am I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast ? 'Three pound of sugar ; five pound of currants ; rice ,' what will this sister of mine do with rice ? But my father hath made her mistress of the feast , and she lays it on . She hath made me four-and-twenty nosegays for the shearers , three-man song-men all , and very good ones ; but they are most of them means and bases : but one puritan amongst them , and he sings psalms to hornpipes . I must have saffron , to colour the warden pies ; mace , dates ,none ; that's out of my note :nutmegs seven ; a race or two of ginger ,but that I may beg ;four pound of prunes , and as many of raisins o' the sun . + +O ! that ever I was born ! + + +I' the name of me ! + +O ! help me , help me ! pluck but off these rags , and then death , death ! + +Alack , poor soul ! thou hast need of more rags to lay on thee , rather than have these off . + +O , sir ! the loathsomeness of them offends me more than the stripes I have received , which are mighty ones and millions . + +Alas , poor man ! a million of beating may come to a great matter . + +I am robbed , sir , and beaten ; my money and apparel ta'en from me , and these detestable things put upon me . + +What , by a horseman or a footman ? + +A footman , sweet sir , a footman . + +Indeed , he should be a footman , by the garments he hath left with thee : if this be a horseman's coat , it hath seen very hot service . Lend me thy hand , I'll help thee : come , lend me thy hand . + + +O ! good sir , tenderly , O ! + +Alas , poor soul ! + +O ! good sir ; softly , good sir ! I fear , sir , my shoulder-blade is out . + +How now ! canst stand ? + +Softly , dear sir ; + +good sir , softly . You ha' done me a charitable office . + +Dost lack any money ? I have a little money for thee . + +No , good sweet sir : no , I beseech you , sir . I have a kinsman not past three-quarters of a mile hence , unto whom I was going : I shall there have money , or anything I want : offer me no money , I pray you ! that kills my heart . + +What manner of fellow was he that robbed you ? + +A fellow , sir , that I have known to go about with trol-my-dames : I knew him once a servant of the prince . I cannot tell , good sir , for which of his virtues it was , but he was certainly whipped out of the court . + +His vices , you would say : there's no virtue whipped out of the court : they cherish it , to make it stay there , and yet it will no more but abide . + +Vices , I would say , sir . I know this man well : he hath been since an ape-bearer ; then a process-server , a bailiff ; then he compassed a motion of the Prodigal Son , and married a tinker's wife within a mile where my land and living lies ; and having flown over many knavish professions , he settled only in rogue : some call him Autolycus . + +Out upon him ! Prig , for my life , prig : he haunts wakes , fairs , and bear-baitings . + +Very true , sir ; he , sir , he : that's the rogue that put me into this apparel . + +Not a more cowardly rogue in all Bohemia : if you had but looked big and spit at him , he'd have run . + +I must confess to you , sir , I am no fighter : I am false of heart that way , and that he knew , I warrant him . + +How do you now ? + +Sweet sir , much better than I was : I can stand and walk . I will even take my leave of you , and pace softly towards my kinsman's . + +Shall I bring thee on the way ? + +No , good-faced sir ; no , sweet sir . + +Then fare thee well : I must go buy spices for our sheep-shearing . + +Prosper you , sweet sir ! + +Your purse is not hot enough to purchase your spice . I'll be with you at your sheep-shearing too . If I make not this cheat bring out another , and the shearers prove sheep , let me be unrolled , and my name put in the book of virtue . + +Jog on , jog on , the footpath way , +And merrily hent the stile-a : +A merry heart goes all the day , +Your sad tares in a mile-a . + +These your unusual weeds to each part of you +Do give a life : no shepherdess , but Flora +Peering in April's front . This your sheep-shearing +Is as a meeting of the petty gods , +And you the queen on't . + +Sir , my gracious lord , +To chide at your extremes it not becomes me : +O ! pardon , that I name them . Your high self , +The gracious mark o' the land , you have obscur'd +With a swain's wearing , and me , poor lowly maid , +Most goddess-like prank'd up . But that our feasts +In every mess have folly , and the feeders +Digest it with a custom , I should blush +To see you so attired ,swoon , I think , +To show myself a glass . + +I bless the time +When my good falcon made her flight across +Thy father's ground . + +Now , Jove afford you cause ! +To me the difference forges dread ; your greatness +Hath not been us'd to fear . Even now I tremble +To think , your father , by some accident , +Should pass this way as you did . O , the Fates ! +How would he look , to see his work , so noble , +Vilely bound up ? What would he say ? Or how +Should I , in these my borrow'd flaunts , behold +The sternness of his presence ? + +Apprehend +Nothing but jollity . The gods themselves , +Humbling their deities to love , have taken +The shapes of beasts upon them : Jupiter +Became a bull , and bellow'd ; the green Neptune +A ram , and bleated ; and the fire-rob'd god , +Golden Apollo , a poor humble swain , +As I seem now . Their transformations +Were never for a piece of beauty rarer , +Nor in a way so chaste , since my desires +Run not before mine honour , nor my lusts +Burn hotter than my faith . + +O ! but , sir , +Your resolution cannot hold , when 'tis +Oppos'd , as it must be , by the power of the king . +One of these two must be necessities , +Which then will speak , that you must change this purpose , +Or I my life . + +Thou dearest Perdita , +With these forc'd thoughts , I prithee , darken not +The mirth o' the feast : or I'll be thine , my fair , +Or not my father's ; for I cannot be +Mine own , nor anything to any , if +I be not thine : to this I am most constant , +Though destiny say no . Be merry , gentle ; +Strangle such thoughts as these with any thing +That you behold the while . Your guests are coming : +Lift up your countenance , as it were the day +Of celebration of that nuptial which +We two have sworn shall come . + +O lady Fortune , +Stand you auspicious ! + +See , your guests approach : +Address yourself to entertain them sprightly , +And let's be red with mirth . + + +Fie , daughter ! when my old wife liv'd , upon +This day she was both pantler , butler , cook ; +Both dame and servant ; welcom'd all , serv'd all , +Would sing her song and dance her turn ; now here , +At upper end o' the table , now i' the middle ; +On his shoulder , and his ; her face o' fire +With labour and the thing she took to quench it , +She would to each one sip . You are retir'd , +As if you were a feasted one and not +The hostess of the meeting : pray you , bid +These unknown friends to's welcome ; for it is +A way to make us better friends , more known . +Come , quench your blushes and present yourself +That which you are , mistress o' the feast : come on , +And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing , +As your good flock shall prosper . + +Sir , welcome : +It is my father's will I should take on me +The hostess-ship o' the day : + +You're welcome , sir . +Give me those flowers there , Dorcas . Reverend sirs , +For you there's rosemary and rue ; these keep +Seeming and savour all the winter long : +Grace and remembrance be to you both , +And welcome to our shearing ! + +Shepherdess , +A fair one are you ,well you fit our ages +With flowers of winter . + +Sir , the year growing ancient , +Not yet on summer's death , nor on the birth +Of trembling winter , the fairest flowers o' the season +Are our carnations , and streak'd gillyvors , +Which some call nature's bastards : of that kind +Our rustic garden's barren , and I care not +To get slips of them . + +Wherefore , gentle maiden , +Do you neglect them ? + +For I have heard it said +There is an art which in their piedness shares +With great creating nature . + +Say there be ; +Yet nature is made better by no mean +But nature makes that mean : so , over that art , +Which you say adds to nature , is an art +That nature makes . You see , sweet maid , we marry +A gentler scion to the wildest stock , +And make conceive a bark of baser kind +By bud of nobler race : this is an art +Which does mend nature , change it rather , but +The art itself is nature . + +So it is . + +Then make your garden rich in gillyvors , +And do not call them bastards . + +I'll not put +The dibble in earth to set one slip of them ; +No more than , were I painted , I would wish +This youth should say , 'twere well , and only therefore +Desire to breed by me . Here's flowers for you ; +Hot lavender , mints , savory , marjoram ; +The marigold , that goes to bed wi' the sun , +And with him rises weeping : these are flowers +Of middle summer , and I think they are given +To men of middle age . You're very welcome . + +I should leave grazing , were I of your flock , +And only live by gazing . + +Out , alas ! +You'd be so lean , that blasts of January +Would blow you through and through . Now , my fair'st friend , +I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might +Become your time of day ; and yours , and yours , +That wear upon your virgin branches yet +Your maidenheads growing : O Proserpina ! +For the flowers now that frighted thou let'st fall +From Dis's waggon ! daffodils , +That come before the swallow dares , and take +The winds of March with beauty ; violets dim , +But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes +Or Cytherea's breath ; pale prime-roses , +That die unmarried , ere they can behold +Bright Ph bus in his strength , a malady +Most incident to maids ; bold oxlips and +The crown imperial ; lilies of all kinds , +The flower-de-luce being one . O ! these I lack +To make you garlands of , and my sweet friend , +To strew him o'er and o'er ! + +What ! like a corse ? + +No , like a bank for love to lie and play on ; +Not like a corse ; or if ,not to be buried , +But quick and in mine arms . Come , take your flowers : +Methinks I play as I have seen them do +In Whitsun pastorals : sure this robe of mine +Does change my disposition . + +What you do +Still betters what is done . When you speak , sweet , +I'd have you do it ever : when you sing , +I'd have you buy and sell so ; so give alms ; +Pray so ; and , for the ordering your affairs , +To sing them too : when you do dance , I wish you +A wave o' the sea , that you might ever do +Nothing but that ; move still , still so , +And own no other function : each your doing , +So singular in each particular , +Crowns what you are doing in the present deed , +That all your acts are queens . + +O Doricles ! +Your praises are too large : but that your youth , +And the true blood which fairly peeps through it , +Do plainly give you out an unstain'd shepherd , +With wisdom I might fear , my Doricles , +You woo'd me the false way . + +I think you have +As little skill to fear as I have purpose +To put you to't . But , come ; our dance , I pray . +Your hand , my Perdita : so turtles pair +That never mean to part . + +I'll swear for 'em . + +This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever +Ran on the green-sord : nothing she does or seems +But smacks of something greater than herself ; +Too noble for this place . + +He tells her something +That makes her blood look out . Good sooth , she is +The queen of curds and cream . + +Come on , strike up . + +Mopsa must be your mistress : marry , garlic , +To mend her kissing with . + +Now , in good time ! + +Not a word , a word : we stand upon our manners . +Come , strike up . + + +Pray , good shepherd , what fair swain is this +Which dances with your daughter ? + +They call him Doricles , and boasts himself +To have a worthy feeding ; but I have it +Upon his own report and I believe it : +He looks like sooth . He says he loves my daughter : +I think so too ; for never gaz'd the moon +Upon the water as he'll stand and read +As 'twere my daughter's eyes ; and , to be plain , +I think there is not half a kiss to choose +Who loves another best . + +She dances featly . + +So she does any thing , though I report it +That should be silent . If young Doricles +Do light upon her , she shall bring him that +Which he not dreams of . + + +O master ! if you did but hear the pedlar at the door , you would never dance again after a tabor and pipe ; no , the bagpipe could not move you . He sings several tunes faster than you'll tell money ; he utters them as he had eaten ballads and all men's ears grew to his tunes . + +He could never come better : he shall come in : I love a ballad but even too well , if it be doleful matter merrily set down , or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung lamentably . + +He hath songs for man or woman , of all sizes ; no milliner can so fit his customers with gloves : he has the prettiest love-songs for maids ; so without bawdry , which is strange ; with such delicate burthens of dildos and fadings , 'jump her and thump her ;' and where some stretchmouthed rascal would , as it were , mean mischief and break a foul gap into the matter , he makes the maid to answer , 'Whoop , do me no harm , good man ;' puts him off , slights him with 'Whoop , do me no harm , good man .' + +This is a brave fellow . + +Believe me , thou talkest of an admirable conceited fellow . Has he any unbraided wares ? + +He hath ribands of all the colours i' the rainbow ; points more than all the lawyers in Bohemia can learnedly handle , though they come to him by the gross ; inkles , caddisses , cambrics , lawns : why , he sings 'em over , as they were gods or goddesses . You would think a smock were a she-angel , he so chants to the sleeve-hand and the work about the square on't . + +Prithee , bring him in , and let him approach singing . + +Forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words in's tunes . + + +You have of these pedlars , that have more in them than you'd think , sister . + +Ay , good brother , or go about to think . + +Lawn as white as driven snow ; +Cyprus black as e'er was crow ; +Gloves as sweet as damask roses ; +Masks for faces and for noses ; +Bugle-bracelet , necklace-amber , +Perfume for a lady's chamber ; +Golden quoifs and stomachers , +For my lads to give their dears ; +Pins and poking-sticks of steel ; +What maids lack from head to heel : +Come buy of me , come ; come buy , come buy ; +Buy , lads , or else your lasses cry : +Come buy . + +If I were not in love with Mopsa , thou shouldst take no money of me ; but being enthralled as I am , it will also be the bondage of certain ribands and gloves . + +I was promised them against the feast ; but they come not too late now . + +He hath promised you more than that , or there be liars . + +He hath paid you all he promised you : may be he has paid you more , which will shame you to give him again . + +Is there no manners left among maids ? will they wear their plackets where they should bear their faces ? Is there not milking-time , when you are going to bed , or kiln-hole , to whistle off these secrets , but you must be tittle-tattling before all our guests ? 'Tis well they are whispering : clamour your tongues , and not a word more . + +I have done . Come , you promised me a tawdry lace and a pair of sweet gloves . + +Have I not told thee how I was cozened by the way , and lost all my money ? + +And indeed , sir , there are cozeners abroad ; therefore it behoves men to be wary . + +Fear not thou , man , thou shalt lose nothing here . + +I hope so , sir ; for I have about me many parcels of charge . + +What hast here ? ballads ? + +Pray now , buy some : I love a ballad in print , a-life , for then we are sure they are true . + +Here's one to a very doleful tune , how a usurer's wife was brought to bed of twenty money-bags at a burden ; and how she longed to eat adders' heads and toads carbonadoed . + +Is it true , think you ? + +Very true , and but a month old . + +Bless me from marrying a usurer ! + +Here's the midwife's name to't , one Mistress Taleporter , and five or six honest wives' that were present . Why should I carry lies abroad ? + +Pray you now , buy it . + +Come on , lay it by : and let's first see moe ballads ; we'll buy the other things anon . + +Here's another ballad of a fish that appeared upon the coast on Wednesday the fourscore of April , forty thousand fathom above water , and sung this ballad against the hard hearts of maids : it was thought she was a woman and was turned into a cold fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that loved her . The ballad is very pitiful and as true . + +Is it true too , think you ? + +Five justices' hands at it , and witnesses more than my pack will hold . + +Lay it by too : another . + +This is a merry ballad , but a very pretty one . + +Let's have some merry ones . + +Why , this is a passing merry one , and goes to the tune of 'Two maids wooing a man :' there's scarce a maid westward but she sings it : 'tis in request , I can tell you . + +We can both sing it : if thou'lt bear a part thou shalt hear ; 'tis in three parts . + +We had the tune on't a month ago . + +I can bear my part ; you must know 'tis my occupation : have at it with you . + + +Get you hence , for I must go , +Where it fits not you to know . + +Whither ? + +O ! whither ? + +Whither ? + +It becomes thy oath full woll , +Thou to me thy secrets tell . + +Me too : let me go thither . + +Or thou go'st to the grange or mill . + +If to either , thou dost ill . + +Neither . + +What , neither ? + +Neither . + +Thou hast sworn my love to be + +Thou hast sworn it more to me : +Then whither go'st ? say whither ? + + +We'll have this song out anon by ourselves : my father and the gentlemen are in sad talk , and we'll not trouble them : come , bring away thy pack after me . Wenches , I'll buy for you both . Pedlar , let's have the first choice . Follow me , girls . + + +And you shall pay well for 'em . + +Will you buy any tape , +Or lace for your cape , +My dainty duck , my dear-a ? +Any silk , any thread , +Any toys for your head , +Of the new'st and fin'st , fin'st wear-a ? +Come to the pedlar ; +Money's a meddler , +That doth utter all men's ware-a . + + +Master , there is three carters , three shepherds , three neat-herds , three swine-herds , that have made themselves all men of hair ; they call themselves Saltiers ; and they have a dance which the wenches say is a gallimaufry of gambols , because they are not in't ; but they themselves are o' the mind ,if it be not too rough for some that know little but bowling ,it will please plentifully . + +Away ! we'll none on't : here has been too much homely foolery already . I know , sir , we weary you . + +You weary those that refresh us : pray , let's see these four threes of herdsmen . + +One three of them , by their own report , sir , hath danced before the king ; and not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier . + +Leave your prating : since these good men are pleased let them come in : but quickly now . + +Why , they stay at door , sir . + +O , father ! you'll know more of that hereafter . + + +Is it not too far gone ? 'Tis time to part them . +He's simple and tells much . + +How now , fair shepherd ! +Your heart is full of something that does take +Your mind from feasting . Sooth , when I was young , +And handed love as you do , I was wont +To load my she with knacks : I would have ransack'd +The pedlar's silken treasury and have pour'd it +To her acceptance ; you have let him go +And nothing marted with him . If your lass +Interpretation should abuse and call this +Your lack of love or bounty , you were straited +For a reply , at least if you make a care +Of happy holding her . + +Old sir , I know +She prizes not such trifles as these are . +The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd +Up in my heart , which I have given already , +But not deliver'd . O ! hear me breathe my life +Before this ancient sir , who , it should seem , +Hath sometime lov'd : I take thy hand ; this hand , +As soft as dove's down , and as white as it , +Or Ethiopian's tooth , or the fann'd snow +That's bolted by the northern blasts twice o'er . + +What follows this ? +How prettily the young swain seems to wash +The hand was fair before ! I have put you out : +But to your protestation : let me hear +What you profess . + +Do , and be witness to't . + +And this my neighbour too ? + +And he , and more +Than he , and men , the earth , the heavens , and all ; +That , were I crown'd the most imperial monarch , +Thereof most worthy , were I the fairest youth +That ever made eye swerve , had force and knowledge +More than was ever man's , I would not prize them +Without her love : for her employ them all ; +Commend them and condemn them to her service +Or to their own perdition . + +Fairly offer'd . + +This shows a sound affection . + +But , my daughter , +Say you the like to him ? + +I cannot speak +So well , nothing so well ; no , nor mean better : +By the pattern of mine own thoughts I cut out +The purity of his . + +Take hands ; a bargain ; +And , friends unknown , you shall bear witness to't : +I give my daughter to him , and will make +Her portion equal his . + +O ! that must be +I' the virtue of your daughter : one being dead , +I shall have more than you can dream of yet ; +Enough then for your wonder . But , come on ; +Contract us 'fore these witnesses . + +Come , your hand ; +And , daughter , yours . + +Soft , swain , awhile , beseech you . +Have you a father ? + +I have ; but what of him ? + +Knows he of this ? + +He neither does nor shall . + +Methinks a father +Is , at the nuptial of his son , a guest +That best becomes the table . Pray you , once more , +Is not your father grown incapable +Of reasonable affairs ? is he not stupid +With age and altering rheums ? can he speak ? hear ? +Know man from man ? dispute his own estate ? +Lies he not bed-rid ? and again does nothing +But what he did being childish ? + +No , good sir : +He has his health and ampler strength indeed +Than most have of his age . + +By my white beard , +You offer him , if this be so , a wrong +Something unfilial . Reason my son +Should choose himself a wife , but as good reason +The father ,all whose joy is nothing else +But fair posterity ,should hold some counsel +In such a business . + +I yield all this ; +But for some other reasons , my grave sir , +Which 'tis not fit you know , I not acquaint +My father of this business . + +Let him know't . + +He shall not . + +Prithee , let him . + +No , he must not . + +Let him , my son : he shall not need to grieve +At knowing of thy choice . + +Come , come , he must not . +Mark our contract . + +Mark your divorce , young sir , + +Whom son I dare not call : thou art too base +To be acknowledg'd : thou a sceptre's heir , +That thus affect'st a sheep-hook ! Thou old traitor , +I am sorry that by hanging thee I can +But shorten thy life one week . And thou , fresh piece +Of excellent witchcraft , who of force must know +The royal fool thou cop'st with , + +O , my heart ! + +I'll have thy beauty scratch'd with briers , and made +More homely than thy state . For thee , fond boy , +If I may ever know thou dost but sigh +That thou no more shalt see this knack ,as never +I mean thou shalt ,we'll bar thee from succession ; +Not hold thee of our blood , no , not our kin , +Far than Deucalion off : mark thou my words : +Follow us to the court . Thou , churl , for this time , +Though full of our displeasure , yet we free thee +From the dead blow of it . And you , enchantment , +Worthy enough a herdsman ; yea , him too , +That makes himself , but for our honour therein , +Unworthy thee ,if ever henceforth thou +These rural latches to his entrance open , +Or hoop his body more with thy embraces , +I will devise a death as cruel for thee +As thou art tender to't . + + +Even here undone ! +I was not much afeard ; for once or twice +I was about to speak and tell him plainly , +The self-same sun that shines upon his court +Hides not his visage from our cottage , but +Looks on alike . Will't please you , sir , be gone ? +I told you what would come of this : beseech you , +Of your own state take care : this dream of mine +Being now awake , I'll queen it no inch further , +But milk my ewes and weep . + +Why , how now , father ! +Speak , ere thou diest . + +I cannot speak , nor think , +Nor dare to know that which I know . O sir ! +You have undone a man of fourscore three , +That thought to fill his grave in quiet , yea , +To die upon the bed my father died , +To lie close by his honest bones : but now +Some hangman must put on my shroud and lay me +Where no priest shovels in dust . O cursed wretch ! +That knew'st this was the prince , and wouldst adventure +To mingle faith with him . Undone ! undone ! +If I might die within this hour , I have liv'd +To die when I desire . + + +Why look you so upon me ? +I am but sorry , not afeard ; delay'd , +But nothing alter'd . What I was , I am : +More straining on for plucking back ; not following +My leash unwillingly . + +Gracious my lord , +You know your father's temper : at this time +He will allow no speech , which I do guess +You do not purpose to him ; and as hardly +Will he endure your sight as yet , I fear : +Then , till the fury of his highness settle , +Come not before him . + +I not purpose it . +I think , Camillo ? + +Even he , my lord . + +How often have I told you 'twould be thus ! +How often said my dignity would last +But till 'twere known ! + +It cannot fail but by +The violation of my faith ; and then +Let nature crush the sides o' the earth together +And mar the seeds within ! Lift up thy looks : +From my succession wipe me , father ; I +Am heir to my affection . + +Be advis'd . + +I am ; and by my fancy : if my reason +Will thereto be obedient , I have reason ; +If not , my senses , better pleas'd with madness , +Do bid it welcome . + +This is desperate , sir . + +So call it ; but it does fulfil my vow , +I needs must think it honesty . Camillo , +Not for Bohemia , nor the pomp that may +Be thereat glean'd , for all the sun sees or +The close earth wombs or the profound sea hides +In unknown fathoms , will I break my oath +To this my fair belov'd . Therefore , I pray you , +As you have ever been my father's honour'd friend , +When he shall miss me ,as , in faith , I mean not +To see him any more ,cast your good counsels +Upon his passion : let myself and fortune +Tug for the time to come . This you may know +And so deliver , I am put to sea +With her whom here I cannot hold on shore ; +And most opportune to our need , I have +A vessel rides fast by , but not prepar'd +For this design . What course I mean to hold +Shall nothing benefit your knowledge , nor +Concern me the reporting . + +O my lord ! +I would your spirit were easier for advice , +Or stronger for your need . + +Hark , Perdita . + + +I'll hear you by and by . + +He's irremovable , +Resolv'd for flight . Now were I happy if +His going I could frame to serve my turn , +Save him from danger , do him love and honour , +Purchase the sight again of dear Sicilia +And that unhappy king , my master , whom +I so much thirst to see . + +Now , good Camillo , +I am so fraught with curious business that +I leave out ceremony . + +Sir , I think +You have heard of my poor services , i' the love +That I have borne your father ? + +Very nobly +Have you deserv'd : it is my father's music +To speak your deeds , not little of his care +To have them recompens'd as thought on . + +Well , my lord , +If you may please to think I love the king +And through him what's nearest to him , which is +Your gracious self , embrace but my direction , +If your more ponderous and settled project +May suffer alteration , on mine honour +I'll point you where you shall have such receiving +As shall become your highness ; where you may +Enjoy your mistress ,from the whom , I see , +There's no disjunction to be made , but by , +As , heavens forfend ! your ruin ,marry her ; +And with my best endeavours in your absence +Your discontenting father strive to qualify , +And bring him up to liking . + +How , Camillo , +May this , almost a miracle , be done ? +That I may call thee something more than man , +And , after that trust to thee . + +Have you thought on +A place whereto you'll go ? + +Not any yet ; +But as the unthought-on accident is guilty +To what we wildly do , so we profess +Ourselves to be the slaves of chance and flies +Of every wind that blows . + +Then list to me : +This follows ; if you will not change your purpose +But undergo this flight , make for Sicilia , +And there present yourself and your fair princess , +For so , I see , she must be ,'fore Leontes ; +She shall be habited as it becomes +The partner of your bed . Methinks I see +Leontes opening his free arms and weeping +His welcomes forth ; asks thee , the son , forgiveness +As 'twere i' the father's person ; kisses the hands +Of your fresh princess ; o'er and o'er divides him +'Twixt his unkindness and his kindness : the one +He chides to hell , and bids the other grow +Faster than thought or time . + +Worthy Camillo , +What colour for my visitation shall I +Hold up before him ? + +Sent by the king your father +To greet him and to give him comforts . Sir , +The manner of your bearing towards him , with +What you as from your father shall deliver , +Things known betwixt us three , I'll write you down : +The which shall point you forth at every sitting +What you must say ; that he shall not perceive +But that you have your father's bosom there +And speak his very heart . + +I am bound to you . +There is some sap in this . + +A course more promising +Than a wild dedication of yourselves +To unpath'd waters , undream'd shores , most certain +To miseries enough : no hope to help you , +But as you shake off one to take another ; +Nothing so certain as your anchors , who +Do their best office , if they can but stay you +Where you'll be loath to be . Besides , you know +Prosperity's the very bond of love , +Whose fresh complexion and whose heart together +Affliction alters . + +One of these is true : +I think affliction may subdue the cheek , +But not take in the mind . + +Yea , say you so ? +There shall not at your father's house these seven years +Be born another such . + +My good Camillo , +She is as forward of her breeding as +She is i' the rear o' her birth . + +I cannot say 'tis pity +She lacks instructions , for she seems a mistress +To most that teach . + +Your pardon , sir ; for this +I'll blush you thanks . + +My prettiest Perdita ! +But O ! the thorns we stand upon . Camillo , +Preserver of my father , now of me , +The med'cine of our house , how shall we do ? +We are not furnish'd like Bohemia's son , +Nor shall appear in Sicilia . + +My lord , +Fear none of this : I think you know my fortunes +Do all lie there : it shall be so my care +To have you royally appointed as if +The scene you play were mine . For instance , sir , +That you may know you shall not want , one word . + +Ha , ha ! what a fool Honesty is ! and Trust , his sworn brother , a very simple gentleman ! I have sold all my trumpery : not a counterfeit stone , not a riband , glass , pomander , brooch , table-book , ballad , knife , tape , glove , shoe-tie , bracelet , horn-ring , to keep my pack from fasting : they throng who should buy first , as if my trinkets had been hallowed and brought a benediction to the buyer : by which means I saw whose purse was best in picture ; and what I saw , to my good use I remembered . My clown ,who wants but something to be a reasonable man ,grew so in love with the wenches' song that he would not stir his pettitoes till he had both tune and words ; which so drew the rest of the herd to me that all their other senses stuck in ears : you might have pinched a placket , it was senseless ; 'twas nothing to geld a codpiece of a purse ; I would have filed keys off that hung in chains : no hearing , no feeling , but my sir's song , and admiring the nothing of it ; so that , in this time of lethargy I picked and cut most of their festival purses ; and had not the old man come in with a whoo-bub against his daughter and the king's son , and scared my choughs from the chaff , I had not left a purse alive in the whole army . + + +Nay , but my letters , by this means being there +So soon as you arrive , shall clear that doubt . + +And those that you'll procure from King Leontes + +Shall satisfy your father . + +Happy be you ! +All that you speak shows fair . + +Whom have we here ? +We'll make an instrument of this : omit +Nothing may give us aid . + +If they have overheard me now , why , hanging . + +How now , good fellow ! Why shakest thou so ? Fear not , man ; here's no harm intended to thee . + +I am a poor fellow , sir . + +Why , be so still ; here's nobody will steal that from thee ; yet , for the outside of thy poverty we must make an exchange ; therefore , discase thee instantly ,thou must think , there's a necessity in't ,and change garments with this gentleman : though the pennyworth on his side be the worst , yet hold thee , there's some boot . + +I am a poor fellow , sir . + +I know ye well enough . + +Nay , prithee , dispatch : the gentleman is half flayed already . + +Are you in earnest , sir ? + +I smell the trick on't . + +Dispatch , I prithee . + +Indeed , I have had earnest ; but I cannot with conscience take it . + +Unbuckle , unbuckle . + +Fortunate mistress ,let my prophecy +Come home to ye !you must retire yourself +Into some covert : take your sweetheart's hat +And pluck it o'er your brows ; muffle your face ; +Dismantle you , and , as you can , disliken +The truth of your own seeming ; that you may , +For I do fear eyes over you ,to shipboard +Get undescried . + +I see the play so lies +That I must bear a part . + +No remedy . +Have you done there ? + +Should I now meet my father +He would not call me son . + +Nay , you shall have no hat . + +Come , lady , come . Farewell , my friend . + +Adieu , sir . + +O Perdita , what have we twain forgot ! +Pray you , a word . + + +What I do next shall be to tell the king +Of this escape , and whither they are bound ; +Wherein my hope is I shall so prevail +To force him after : in whose company +I shall review Sicilia , for whose sight +I have a woman's longing . + +Fortune speed us ! +Thus we set on , Camillo , to the sea-side . + +The swifter speed the better . + + +I understand the business ; I hear it . To have an open ear , a quick eye , and a nimble hand , is necessary for a cut-purse : a good nose is requisite also , to smell out work for the other senses . I see this is the time that the unjust man doth thrive . What an exchange had this been without boot ! what a boot is here with this exchange ! Sure , the gods do this year connive at us , and we may do anything extempore . The prince himself is about a piece of iniquity ; stealing away from his father with his clog at his heels . If I thought it were a piece of honesty to acquaint the king withal , I would not do't : I hold it the more knavery to conceal it , and therein am I constant to my profession . Aside , aside : here is more matter for a hot brain . Every lane's end , every shop , church , session , hanging , yields a careful man work . + + +See , see , what a man you are now ! There is no other way but to tell the king she's a changeling and none of your flesh and blood . + +Nay , but hear me . + +Nay , but hear me . + +Go to , then . + +She being none of your flesh and blood , your flesh and blood has not offended the king ; and so your flesh and blood is not to be punished by him . Show those things you found about her ; those secret things , all but what she has with her : this being done , let the law go whistle : I warrant you . + +I will tell the king all , every word , yea , and his son's pranks too ; who , I may say , is no honest man neither to his father nor to me , to go about to make me the king's brother-in-law . + +Indeed , brother-in-law was the furthest off you could have been to him , and then your blood had been the dearer by I know not how much an ounce . + +Very wisely , puppies ! + +Well , let us to the king : there is that in this fardel will make him scratch his beard . + +I know not what impediment this complaint may be to the flight of my master . + +Pray heartily he be at palace . + +Though I am not naturally honest , I am so sometimes by chance : let me pocket up my pedlar's excrement . [Takes off his false beard .] How now , rustics ! whither are you bound ? + +To the palace , an it like your worship . + +Your affairs there , what , with whom , the condition of that fardel , the place of your dwelling , your names , your ages , of what having , breeding , and anything that is fitting to be known , discover . + +We are but plain fellows , sir . + +A lie ; you are rough and hairy . Let me have no lying ; it becomes none but tradesmen , and they often give us soldiers the lie ; but we pay them for it with stamped coin , not stabbing steel ; therefore they do not give us the lie . + +Your worship had like to have given us one , if you had not taken yourself with the manner . + +Are you a courtier , an't like you , sir ? + +Whether it like me or no , I am a courtier . Seest thou not the air of the court in these enfoldings ? hath not my gait in it the measure of the court ? receives not thy nose court-odour from me ? reflect I not on thy baseness court-contempt ? Think'st thou , for that I insinuate , or toaze from thee thy business , I am therefore no courtier ? I am courtier , cap-a-pe , and one that will either push on or pluck back thy business there : whereupon I command thee to open thy affair . + +My business , sir , is to the king . + +What advocate hast thou to him ? + +I know not , an't like you . + +Advocate's the court-word for a pheasant : say you have none . + +None , sir ; I have no pheasant , cock nor hen . + +How bless'd are we that are not simple men ! +Yet nature might have made me as these are , +Therefore I'll not disdain . + +This cannot be but a great courtier . + +His garments are rich , but he wears them not handsomely . + +He seems to be the more noble in being fantastical : a great man , I'll warrant ; I know by the picking on's teeth . + +The fardel there ? what's i' the fardel ? +Wherefore that box ? + +Sir , there lies such secrets in this fardel and box which none must know but the king ; and which he shall know within this hour if I may come to the speech of him . + +Age , thou hast lost thy labour . + +Why , sir ? + +The king is not at the palace ; he is gone aboard a new ship to purge melancholy and air himself : for , if thou be'st capable of things serious , thou must know the king is full of grief . + +So 'tis said , sir , about his son , that should have married a shepherd's daughter . + +If that shepherd be not now in hand-fast , let him fly : the curses he shall have , the torture he shall feel , will break the back of man , the heart of monster . + +Think you so , sir ? + +Not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy and vengeance bitter ; but those that are germane to him , though removed fifty times , shall all come under the hangman : which though it be great pity , yet it is necessary . An old sheep-whistling rogue , a ram-tender , to offer to have his daughter come into grace ! Some say he shall be stoned ; but that death is too soft for him , say I : draw our throne into a sheep cote ! all deaths are too few , the sharpest too easy . + +Has the old man e'er a son , sir , do you hear , an't like you , sir ? + +He has a son , who shall be flayed alive ; then 'nointed over with honey , set on the head of a wasp's nest ; then stand till he be three quarters and a dram dead ; then recovered again with aqua-vit or some other hot infusion ; then , raw as he is , and in the hottest day prognostication proclaims , shall he be set against a brick-wall , the sun looking with a southward eye upon him , where he is to behold him with flies blown to death . But what talk we of these traitorly rascals , whose miseries are to be smiled at , their offences being so capital ? Tell me ,for you seem to be honest plain men ,what you have to the king : being something gently considered , I'll bring you where he is aboard , tender your persons to his presence , whisper him in your behalfs ; and if it be in man besides the king to effect your suits , here is a man shall do it . + +He seems to be of great authority : close with him , give him gold ; and though authority be a stubborn bear , yet he is oft led by the nose with gold . Show the inside of your purse to the outside of his hand , and no more ado . Remember , 'stoned ,' and 'flayed alive !' + +An't please you , sir , to undertake the business for us , here is that gold I have : I'll make it as much more and leave this young man in pawn till I bring it you . + +After I have done what I promised ? + +Ay , sir . + +Well , give me the moiety . Are you a party in this business ? + +In some sort , sir : but though my case be a pitiful one , I hope I shall not be flayed out of it . + +O ! that's the case of the shepherd's son : hang him , he'll be made an example . + +Comfort , good comfort ! we must to the king and show our strange sights : he must know 'tis none of your daughter nor my sister ; we are gone else . Sir , I will give you as much as this old man does when the business is performed ; and remain , as he says , your pawn till it be brought you . + +I will trust you . Walk before toward the sea-side ; go on the right hand , I will but look upon the hedge and follow you . + +We are blessed in this man , as I may say , even blessed . + +Let's before as he bids us . He was provided to do us good . + + +If I had a mind to be honest I see Fortune would not suffer me : she drops booties in my mouth . I am courted now with a double occasion , gold , and a means to do the prince my master good ; which who knows how that may turn back to my advancement ? I will bring these two moles , these blind ones , aboard him : if he think it fit to shore them again , and that the complaint they have to the king concerns him nothing , let him call me rogue for being so far officious ; for I am proof against that title and what shame else belongs to't . To him will I present them : there may be matter in it . + +Sir , you have done enough , and have perform'd +A saint-like sorrow : no fault could you make +Which you have not redeem'd ; indeed , paid down +More penitence than done trespass . At the last , +Do as the heavens have done , forget your evil ; +With them forgive yourself . + +Whilst I remember +Her and her virtues , I cannot forget +My blemishes in them , and so still think of +The wrong I did myself ; which was so much , +That heirless it hath made my kingdom , and +Destroy'd the sweet'st companion that e'er man +Bred his hopes out of . + +True , too true , my lord ; +If one by one you wedded all the world , +Or from the all that are took something good , +To make a perfect woman , she you kill'd +Would be unparallel'd . + +I think so . Kill'd ! +She I kill'd ! I did so ; but thou strik'st me +Sorely to say I did : it is as bitter +Upon thy tongue as in my thought . Now , good now +Say so but seldom . + +Not at all , good lady : +You might have spoken a thousand things that would +Have done the time more benefit , and grac'd +Your kindness better . + +You are one of those +Would have him wed again . + +If you would not so , +You pity not the state , nor the remembrance +Of his most sovereign name ; consider little +What dangers , by his highness' fail of issue , +May drop upon his kingdom and devour +Incertain lookers-on . What were more holy +Than to rejoice the former queen is well ? +What holier than for royalty's repair , +For present comfort , and for future good , +To bless the bed of majesty again +With a sweet fellow to't ? + +There is none worthy , +Respecting her that's gone . Besides , the gods +Will have fulfill'd their secret purposes ; +For has not the divine Apollo said , +Is't not the tenour of his oracle , +That King Leontes shall not have an heir +Till his lost child be found ? which that it shall , +Is all as monstrous to our human reason +As my Antigonus to break his grave +And come again to me ; who , on my life , +Did perish with the infant . 'Tis your counsel +My lord should to the heavens be contrary , +Oppose against their wills . + +Care not for issue ; +The crown will find an heir : great Alexander +Left his to the worthiest , so his successor +Was like to be the best . + +Good Paulina , +Who hast the memory of Hermione , +I know , in honour ; O ! that ever I +Had squar'd me to thy counsel ! then , even now , +I might have look'd upon my queen's full eyes , +Have taken treasure from her lips , + +And left them +More rich , for what they yielded . + +Thou speak'st truth . +No more such wives ; therefore , no wife : one worse , +And better us'd , would make her sainted spirit +Again possess her corpse and on this stage , +Where we're offenders now ,appear soul-vex'd , +And begin , 'Why to me ?' + +Had she such power , +She had just cause . + +She had ; and would incense me +To murder her I married . + +I should so : +Were I the ghost that walk'd , I'd bid you mark +Her eye , and tell me for what dull part in't +You chose her ; then I'd shriek , that even your ears +Should rift to hear me ; and the words that follow'd +Should be 'Remember mine .' + +Stars , stars ! +And all eyes else dead coals . Fear thou no wife ; +I'll have no wife , Paulina . + +Will you swear +Never to marry but by my free leave ? + +Never , Paulina : so be bless'd my spirit ! + +Then , good my lords , bear witness to his oath . + +You tempt him over much . + +Unless another , +As like Hermione as is her picture , +Affront his eye . + +Good madam , + +I have done . +Yet , if my lord will marry ,if you will , sir , +No remedy , but you will ,give me the office +To choose you a queen , she shall not be so young +As was your former ; but she shall be such +As , walk'd your first queen's ghost , it should take joy +To see her in your arms . + +My true Paulina , +We shall not marry till thou bidd'st us . + +That +Shall be when your first queen's again in breath ; +Never till then . + + +One that gives out himself Prince Florizel , +Son of Polixenes , with his princess ,she +The fairest I have yet beheld ,desires access +To your high presence . + +What with him ? he comes not +Like to his father's greatness ; his approach , +So out of circumstance and sudden , tells us +'Tis not a visitation fram'd , but forc'd +By need and accident . What train ? + +But few , +And those but mean . + +His princess , say you , with him ? + +Ay , the most peerless piece of earth , I think , +That e'er the sun shone bright on . + +O Hermione ! +As every present time doth boast itself +Above a better gone , so must thy grave +Give way to what's seen now . Sir , you yourself +Have said and writ so ,but your writing now +Is colder than that theme ,'She had not been , +Nor was not to be equall'd ;' thus your verse +Flow'd with her beauty once : 'tis shrewdly ebb'd +To say you have seen a better . + +Pardon , madam : +The one I have almost forgot your pardon +The other , when she has obtain'd your eye , +Will have your tongue too . This is a creature , +Would she begin a sect , might quench the zeal +Of all professors else , make proselytes +Of who she but bid follow . + +How ! not women ? + +Women will love her , that she is a woman +More worth than any man ; men , that she is +The rarest of all women . + +Go , Cleomenes ; +Yourself , assisted with your honour'd friends , +Bring them to our embracement . Still 'tis strange , + +He thus should steal upon us . + +Had our prince +Jewel of children seen this hour , he had pair'd +Well with this lord : there was not full a month +Between their births . + +Prithee , no more : cease ! thou know'st +He dies to me again when talk'd of : sure , +When I shall see this gentleman , thy speeches +Will bring me to consider that which may +Unfurnish me of reason . They are come . + + +Your mother was most true to wedlock , prince ; +For she did print your royal father off , +Conceiving you . Were I but twenty-one , +Your father's image is so hit in you , +His very air , that I should call you brother , +As I did him ; and speak of something wildly +By us perform'd before . Most dearly welcome ! +And you , fair princess ,goddess ! O , alas ! +I lost a couple , that 'twixt heaven and earth +Might thus have stood begetting wonder as +You , gracious couple , do : and then I lost +All mine own folly the society , +Amity too , of your brave father , whom , +Though bearing misery , I desire my life + +Once more to look on him . + +By his command +Have I here touch'd Sicilia ; and from him +Give you all greetings that a king , at friend , +Can send his brother : and , but infirmity , +Which waits upon worn times ,hath something seiz'd +His wish'd ability , he had himself +The land and waters 'twixt your throne and his +Measur'd to look upon you , whom he loves +He bade me say so more than all the sceptres +And those that bear them living . + +O , my brother ! +Good gentleman ,the wrongs I have done thee stir +Afresh within me , and these thy offices +So rarely kind , are as interpreters +Of my behind-hand slackness ! Welcome hither , +As is the spring to the earth . And hath he too +Expos'd this paragon to the fearful usage +At least ungentle of the dreadful Neptune , +To greet a man not worth her pains , much less +The adventure of her person ? + +Good my lord , +She came from Libya . + +Where the war-like Smalus , +That noble honour'd lord , is fear'd and lov'd ? + +Most royal sir , from thence ; from him , whose daughter +His tears proclaim'd his , parting with her : thence +A prosperous south-wind friendly we have cross'd , +To execute the charge my father gave me +For visiting your highness : my best train +I have from your Sicilian shores dismiss'd ; +Who for Bohemia bend , to signify +Not only my success in Libya , sir , +But my arrival and my wife's , in safety +Here where we are . + +The blessed gods +Purge all infection from our air whilst you +Do climate here ! You have a holy father , +A graceful gentleman ; against whose person , +So sacred as it is , I have done sin : +For which the heavens , taking angry note , +Have left me issueless ; and your father's bless'd +As he from heaven merits it with you , +Worthy his goodness . What might I have been , +Might I a son and daughter now have look'd on , +Such goodly things as you ! + + +Most noble sir , +That which I shall report will bear no credit , +Were not the proof so nigh . Please you , great sir , +Bohemia greets you from himself by me ; +Desires you to attach his son , who has +His dignity and duty both cast off +Fled from his father , from his hopes , and with +A shepherd's daughter . + +Where's Bohemia ? speak . + +Here in your city ; I now came from him : +I speak amazedly , and it becomes +My marvel and my message . To your court +Whiles he was hastening ,in the chase it seems +Of this fair couple ,meets he on the way +The father of this seeming lady and +Her brother , having both their country quitted +With this young prince . + +Camillo has betray'd me ; +Whose honour and whose honesty till now +Endur'd all weathers . + +Lay't so to his charge : +He's with the king your father . + +Who ? Camillo ? + +Camillo , sir : I spake with him , who now +Has these poor men in question . Never saw I +Wretches so quake : they kneel , they kiss the earth , +Forswear themselves as often as they speak : +Bohemia stops his ears , and threatens them +With divers deaths in death . + +O my poor father ! +The heaven sets spies upon us , will not have +Our contract celebrated . + +You are married ? + +We are not , sir , nor are we like to be ; +The stars , I see , will kiss the valleys first : +The odds for high and low's alike . + +My lord , +Is this the daughter of a king ? + +She is , +When once she is my wife . + +That 'once ,' I see , by your good father's speed , +Will come on very slowly . I am sorry , +Most sorry , you have broken from his liking +Where you were tied in duty ; and as sorry +Your choice is not so rich in worth as beauty , +That you might well enjoy her . + +Dear , look up : +Though Fortune , visible an enemy , +Should chase us with my father , power no jot +Hath she to change our loves . Beseech you , sir , +Remember since you ow'd no more to time +Than I do now ; with thought of such affections , +Step forth mine advocate ; at your request +My father will grant precious things as trifles + +Would he do so , I'd beg your precious mistress , +Which he counts but a trifle . + +Sir , my liege , +Your eye hath too much youth in't : not a month +'Fore your queen died , she was more worth such gazes +Than what you look on now . + +I thought of her , +Even in these looks I made . + +But your petition +Is yet unanswer'd . I will to your father : +Your honour not o'erthrown by your desires , +I am friend to them and you ; upon which errand +I now go toward him . Therefore follow me , +And mark what way I make : come , good my lord . + + +Beseech you , sir , were you present at this relation ? + +I was by at the opening of the fardel , heard the old shepherd deliver the manner how he found it : whereupon , after a little amazedness , we were all commanded out of the chamber ; only this methought I heard the shepherd say , he found the child . + +I would most gladly know the issue of it . + +I make a broken delivery of the business ; but the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were very notes of admiration : they seemed almost , with staring on one another , to tear the cases of their eyes ; there was speech in their dumbness , language in their very gesture ; they looked as they had heard of a world ransomed , or one destroyed : a notable passion of wonder appeared in them ; but the wisest beholder , that knew no more but seeing , could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow ; but in the extremity of the one it must needs be . + +Here comes a gentleman that haply knows more . The news , Rogero ? + +Nothing but bonfires : the oracle is fulfilled ; the king's daughter is found : such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour that ballad-makers cannot be able to express it . + +Here comes the lady Paulina's steward : he can deliver you more . How goes it now , sir ? this news which is called true is so like an old tale , that the verity of it is in strong suspicion : has the king found his heir ? + +Most true , if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance : that which you hear you'll swear you see , there is such unity in the proofs . The mantle of Queen Hermione , her jewel about the neck of it , the letters of Antigonus found with it , which they know to be his character ; the majesty of the creature in resemblance of the mother , the affection of nobleness which nature shows above her breeding , and many other evidences proclaim her with all certainty to be the king's daughter . Did you see the meeting of the two kings ? + +No . + +Then have you lost a sight , which was to be seen , cannot be spoken of . There might you have beheld one joy crown another , so , and in such manner that , it seemed , sorrow wept to take leave of them , for their joy waded in tears . There was casting up of eyes , holding up of hands , with countenances of such distraction that they were to be known by garment , not by favour . Our king , being ready to leap out of himself for joy of his found daughter , as if that joy were now become a loss , cries , 'O , thy mother , thy mother !' then asks Bohemia forgiveness ; then embraces his son-in-law ; then again worries he his daughter with clipping her ; now he thanks the old shepherd , which stands by like a weather-bitten conduit of many kings' reigns . I never heard of such another encounter , which lames report to follow it and undoes description to do it . + +What , pray you , became of Antigonus that carried hence the child ? + +Like an old tale still , which will have matter to rehearse , though credit be asleep and not an ear open . He was torn to pieces with a bear : this avouches the shepherd's son , who has not only his innocence which seems much to justify him , but a handkerchief and rings of his that Paulina knows . + +What became of his bark and his followers ? + +Wracked , the same instant of their master's death , and in the view of the shepherd : so that all the instruments which aided to expose the child were even then lost when it was found . But , O ! the noble combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina . She had one eye declined for the loss of her husband , another elevated that the oracle was fulfilled : she lifted the princess from the earth , and so locks her in embracing , as if she would pin her to her heart that she might no more be in danger of losing . + +The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes , for by such was it acted . + +One of the prettiest touches of all , and that which angled for mine eyes ,caught the water though not the fish ,was when at the relation of the queen's death , with the manner how she came to it ,bravely confessed and lamented by the king ,how attentiveness wounded his daughter ; till , from one sign of dolour to another , she did , with an 'alas !' I would fain say , bleed tears , for I am sure my heart wept blood . Who was most marble there changed colour ; some swounded , all sorrowed : if all the world could have seen't , the woe had been universal . + +Are they returned to the court ? + +No ; the princess hearing of her mother's statue , which is in the keeping of Paulina a piece many years in doing , and now newly performed by that rare Italian master , Julio Romano ; who , had he himself eternity and could put breath into his work , would beguile Nature of her custom , so perfectly he is her ape : he so near to Hermione hath done Hermione that they say one would speak to her and stand in hope of answer : thither with all greediness of affection are they gone , and there they intend to sup . + +I thought she had some great matter there in hand , for she hath privately , twice or thrice a day , ever since the death of Hermione , visited that removed house . Shall we thither and with our company piece the rejoicing ? + +Who would be thence that has the benefit of access ? every wink of an eye some new grace will be born : our absence makes us unthrifty to our knowledge . Let's along . + + +Now , had I not the dash of my former life in me , would preferment drop on my head . I brought the old man and his son aboard the prince ; told him I heard them talk of a fardel and I know not what ; but he at that time , overfond of the shepherd's daughter ,so he then took her to be ,who began to be much sea-sick , and himself little better , extremity of weather continuing , this mystery remained undiscovered . But 'tis all one to me ; for had I been the finder out of this secret , it would not have relished among my other discredits . Here come those I have done good to against my will , and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune . + + +Come , boy ; I am past moe children , but thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born . + +You are well met , sir . You denied to fight with me this other day , because I was no gentleman born : see you these clothes ? say , you see them not and think me still no gentleman born : you were best say these robes are not gentleman born . Give me the lie , do , and try whether I am not now gentleman born . + +I know you are now , sir , a gentleman born . + +Ay , and have been so any time these four hours . + +And so have I , boy . + +So you have : but I was a gentleman born before my father ; for the king's son took me by the hand and called me brother ; and then the two kings called my father brother ; and then the prince my brother and the princess my sister called my father father ; and so we wept : and there was the first gentleman-like tears that ever we shed . + +We may live , son , to shed many more . + +Ay ; or else 'twere hard luck , being in so preposterous estate as we are . + +I humbly beseech you , sir , to pardon me all the faults I have committed to your worship , and to give me your good report to the prince my master . + +Prithee , son , do ; for we must be gentle , now we are gentlemen . + +Thou wilt amend thy life ? + +Ay , an it like your good worship . + +Give me thy hand : I will swear to the prince thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in Bohemia . + +You may say it , but not swear it . + +Not swear it , now I am a gentleman ? Let boors and franklins say it , I'll swear it . + +How if it be false , son ? + +If it be ne'er so false , a true gentleman may swear it in the behalf of his friend : and I'll swear to the prince thou art a tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt not be drunk ; but I know thou art no tall fellow of thy hands and that thou wilt be drunk : but I'll swear it , and I would thou wouldst be a tall fellow of thy hands . + +I will prove so , sir , to my power . + +Ay , by any means prove a tall fellow : if I do not wonder how thou darest venture to be drunk , not being a tall fellow , trust me not . Hark ! the kings and the princes , our kindred , are going to see the queen's picture . Come , follow us : we'll be thy good masters . + + +O grave and good Paulina , the great comfort +That I have had of thee ! + +What , sovereign sir , +I did not well , I meant well . All my services +You have paid home ; but that you have vouchsaf'd , +With your crown'd brother and these your contracted +Heirs of your kingdoms , my poor house to visit , +It is a surplus of your grace , which never +My life may last to answer . + +O Paulina ! +We honour you with trouble : but we came +To see the statue of our queen : your gallery +Have we pass'd through , not without much content +In many singularities , but we saw not +That which my daughter came to look upon , +The statue of her mother . + +As she liv'd peerless , +So her dead likeness , I do well believe , +Excels whatever yet you look'd upon +Or hand of man hath done ; therefore I keep it +Lonely , apart . But here it is : prepare +To see the life as lively mock'd as ever +Still sleep mock'd death : behold ! and say 'tis well . + +I like your silence : it the more shows off +Your wonder ; but yet speak : first you , my liege . +Comes it not something near ? + +Her natural posture ! +Chide me , dear stone , that I may say , indeed +Thou art Hermione ; or rather , thou art she +In thy not chiding , for she was as tender +As infancy and grace . But yet , Paulina , +Hermione was not so much wrinkled ; nothing +So aged as this seems . + +O ! not by much . + +So much the more our carver's excellence ; +Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her +As she liv'd now . + +As now she might have done , +So much to my good comfort , as it is +Now piercing to my soul . O ! thus she stood , +Even with such life of majesty ,warm life , +As now it coldly stands ,when first I woo'd her . +I am asham'd : does not the stone rebuke me +For being more stone than it ? O , royal piece ! +There's magic in thy majesty , which has +My evils conjur'd to remembrance , and +From thy admiring daughter took the spirits , +Standing like stone with thee . + +And give me leave , +And do not say 'tis superstition , that +I kneel and then implore her blessing . Lady , +Dear queen , that ended when I but began , +Give me that hand of yours to kiss . + +O , patience ! +The statue is but newly fix'd , the colour's +Not dry . + +My lord , your sorrow was too sore laid on , +Which sixteen winters cannot blow away , +So many summers dry : scarce any joy +Did ever so long live ; no sorrow +But kill'd itself much sooner . + +Dear my brother , +Let him that was the cause of this have power +To take off so much grief from you as he +Will piece up in himself . + +Indeed , my lord , +If I had thought the sight of my poor image +Would thus have wrought you ,for the stone is mine , +I'd not have show'd it . + +Do not draw the curtain . + +No longer shall you gaze on't , lest your fancy +May think anon it moves . + +Let be , let be ! +Would I were dead , but that , methinks , already +What was he that did make it ? See , my lord , +Would you not deem it breath'd , and that those veins +Did verily bear blood ? + +Masterly done : +The very life seems warm upon her lip . + +The fixure of her eye has motion in't , +As we are mock'd with art . + +I'll draw the curtain ; +My lord's almost so far transported that +He'll think anon it lives . + +O sweet Paulina ! +Make me to think so twenty years together : +No settled senses of the world can match +The pleasure of that madness . Let't alone . + +I am sorry , sir , I have thus far stirr'd you : but +I could afflict you further . + +Do , Paulina ; +For this affliction has a taste as sweet +As any cordial comfort . Still , methinks , +There is an air comes from her : what fine chisel +Could ever yet cut breath ? Let no man mock me , +For I will kiss her . + +Good my lord , forbear . +The ruddiness upon her lip is wet : +You'll mar it if you kiss it ; stain your own +With oily painting . Shall I draw the curtain ? + +No , not these twenty years . + +So long could I +Stand by , a looker-on . + +Either forbear , +Quit presently the chapel , or resolve you +For more amazement . If you can behold it , +I'll make the statue move indeed , descend , +And take you by the hand ; but then you'll think , +Which I protest against ,I am assisted +By wicked powers . + +What you can make her do , +I am content to look on : what to speak , +I am content to hear ; for 'tis as easy +To make her speak as move . + +It is requir'd +You do awake your faith . Then , all stand still ; +Or those that think it is unlawful business +I am about , let them depart . + +Proceed : +No foot shall stir . + +Music , awake her : strike ! + +'Tis time ; descend ; be stone no more : approach ; +Strike all that look upon with marvel . Come ; +I'll fill your grave up : stir ; nay , come away ; +Bequeath to death your numbness , for from him +Dear life redeems you . You perceive she stirs : + +Start not ; her actions shall be holy as +You hear my spell is lawful : do not shun her +Until you see her die again , for then +You kill her double . Nay , present your hand : +When she was young you woo'd her ; now in age +Is she become the suitor ! + +O ! she's warm . +If this be magic , let it be an art +Lawful as eating . + +She embraces him . + +She hangs about his neck : +If she pertain to life let her speak too . + +Ay ; and make't manifest where she has liv'd , +Or how stol'n from the dead . + +That she is living , +Were it but told you , should be hooted at +Like an old tale ; but it appears she lives , +Though yet she speak not . Mark a little while . +Please you to interpose , fair madam . kneel +And pray your mother's blessing . Turn , good lady ; +Our Perdita is found . + + +You gods , look down , +And from your sacred vials pour your graces +Upon my daughter's head ! Tell me , mine own , +Where hast thou been preserv'd ? where liv'd ? how found +Thy father's court ? for thou shalt hear that I , +Knowing by Paulina that the oracle +Gave hope thou wast in being , have preserv'd +Myself to see the issue . + +There's time enough for that ; +Lest they desire upon this push to trouble +Your joys with like relation . Go together , +You precious winners all : your exultation +Partake to every one . I , an old turtle , +Will wing me to some wither'd bough , and there +My mate , that's never to be found again , +Lament till I am lost . + +O ! peace , Paulina . +Thou shouldst a husband take by my consent , +As I by thine a wife : this is a match , +And made between's by vows . Thou hast found mine ; +But how , is to be question'd ; for I saw her , +As I thought dead , and have in vain said many +A prayer upon her grave . I'll not seek far , +For him , I partly know his mind ,to find thee +An honourable husband . Come , Camillo , +And take her by the hand ; whose worth and honesty +Is richly noted , and here justified +By us , a pair of kings . Let's from this place . +What ! look upon my brother : both your pardons , +That e'er I put between your holy looks +My ill suspicion . This' your son-in-law , +And son unto the king ,whom heavens directing , +Is troth-plight to your daughter . Good Paulina , +Lead us from hence , where we may leisurely +Each one demand and answer to his part +Perform'd in this wide gap of time since first +We were dissever'd : hastily lead away . + +TROILUS AND CRESSIDA + +In Troy there lies the scene . From isles of Greece +The princes orgulous , their high blood chaf'd , +Have to the port of Athens sent their ships , +Fraught with the ministers and instruments +Of cruel war : sixty and nine , that wore +Their crownets regal , from the Athenian bay +Put forth toward Phrygia ; and their vow is made +To ransack Troy , within whose strong immures +The ravish'd Helen , Menelaus' queen , +With wanton Paris sleeps ; and that's the quarrel . +To Tenedos they come , +And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge +Their war-like fraughtage : now on Dardan plains +The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch +Their brave pavilions : Priam's six-gated city , +Dardan , and Tymbria , Ilias , Chetas , Trojan , +And Antenorides , with massy staples +And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts , +Sperr up the sons of Troy . +Now expectation , tickling skittish spirits , +On one and other side , Trojan and Greek , +Sets all on hazard . And hither am I come +A prologue arm'd , but not in confidence +Of author's pen or actor's voice , but suited +In like conditions as our argument , +To tell you , fair beholders , that our play +Leaps o'er the vaunt and firstlings of those broils , +Beginning in the middle ; starting thence away +To what may be digested in a play . +Like or find fault ; do as your pleasures are : +Now good or bad , 'tis but the chance of war . + +Call here my varlet , I'll unarm again : +Why should I war without the walls of Troy , +That find such cruel battle here within ? +Each Trojan that is master of his heart , +Let him to field ; Troilus , alas ! has none . + +Will this gear ne'er be mended ? + +The Greeks are strong , and skilful to their strength . +Fierce to their skill , and to their fierceness valiant ; +But I am weaker than a woman's tear , +Tamer than sleep , fonder than ignorance , +Less valiant than the virgin in the night , +And skilless as unpractis'd infancy . + +Well , I have told you enough of this : for my part , I'll not meddle nor make no further . He that will have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding . + +Have I not tarried ? + +Ay , the grinding ; but you must tarry the bolting . + +Have I not tarried ? + +Ay , the bolting ; but you must tarry the leavening . + +Still have I tarried . + +Ay , to the leavening ; but here's yet in the word 'hereafter' the kneading , the making of the cake , the heating of the oven , and the baking ; nay , you must stay the cooling too , or you may chance to burn your lips . + +Patience herself , what goddess e'er she be , +Doth lesser blench at sufferance than I do . +At Priam's royal table do I sit ; +And when fair Cressid comes into my thoughts , +So , traitor ! 'when she comes' !When is she thence ? + +Well , she looked yesternight fairer than ever I saw her look , or any woman else . + +I was about to tell thee : when my heart , +As wedged with a sigh , would rive in twain , +Lest Hector or my father should perceive me , +I have as when the sun doth light a storm +Buried this sigh in wrinkle of a smile ; +But sorrow , that is couch'd in seeming gladness , +Is like that mirth fate turns to sudden sadness . + +An her hair were not somewhat darker than Helen's ,well , go to ,there were no more comparison between the women : but , for my part , she is my kins woman ; I would not , as they term it , praise her , but I would somebody had heard her talk yesterday , as I did : I will not dispraise your sister Cassandra's wit , but + +O Pandarus ! I tell thee , Pandarus , +When I do tell thee , there my hopes lie drown'd , +Reply not in how many fathoms deep +They lie indrench'd . I tell thee I am mad +In Cressid's love : thou answer'st , she is fair ; +Pour'st in the open ulcer of my heart +Her eyes , her hair , her cheek , her gait , her voice ; +Handlest in thy discourse , O ! that her hand , +In whose comparison all whites are ink , +Writing their own reproach ; to whose soft seizure +The cygnet's down is harsh , and spirit of sense +Hard as the palm of ploughman : this thou tell'st me , +As true thou tell'st me , when I say I love her ; +But , saying thus , instead of oil and balm , +Thou lay'st in every gash that love hath given me +The knife that made it . + +I speak no more than truth . + +Thou dost not speak so much . + +Faith , I'll not meddle in't . Let her be as she is : if she be fair , 'tis the better for her ; an she be not , she has the mends in her own hands . + +Good Pandarus , how now , Pandarus ! + +I have had my labour for my travail ; ill-thought on of her , and ill-thought on of you : gone between , and between , but small thanks for my labour . + +What ! art thou angry , Pandarus ? what ! with me ? + +Because she's kin to me , therefore she's not so fair as Helen : an she were not kin to me , she would be as fair on Friday as Helen is on Sunday . But what care I ? I care not an she were a black-a-moor ; 'tis all one to me . + +Say I she is not fair ? + +I do not care whether you do or no . She's a fool to stay behind her father : let her to the Greeks ; and so I'll tell her the next time I see her . For my part , I'll meddle nor make no more i' the matter . + +Pandarus , + +Not I . + +Sweet Pandarus , + +Pray you , speak no more to me ! I will leave all as I found it , and there an end . + + +Peace , you ungracious clamours ! peace , rude sounds ! +Fools on both sides ! Helen must needs bo fair , +When with your blood you daily paint her thus . +I cannot fight upon this argument ; +It is too starv'd a subject for my sword . +But Pandarus ,O gods ! how do you plague me . +I cannot come to Cressid but by Pandar ; +And he's as tetchy to be woo'd to woo +As she is stubborn-chaste against all suit . +Tell me , Apollo , for thy Daphne's love , +What Cressid is , what Pandar , and what we ? +Her bed is India ; there she lies , a pearl : +Between our Ilium and where she resides +Let it be call'd the wild and wandering flood ; +Ourself the merchant , and this sailing Pandar +Our doubtful hope , our convoy and our bark . + + +How now , Prince Troilus ! wherefore not afield ? + +Because not there : this woman's answer sorts , +For womanish it is to be from thence . +What news , neas , from the field to-day ? + +That Paris is returned home , and hurt . + +By whom , neas ? + +Troilus , by Menelaus . + +Let Paris bleed : 'tis but a scar to scorn ; +Paris is gor'd with Menelaus' horn . + + +Hark , what good sport is out of town to-day ! + +Better at home , if 'would I might' were 'may .' +But to the sport abroad : are you bound thither ? + +In all swift haste . + +Come , go we then together . + + +Who were those went by ? + +Queen Hecuba and Helen . + +And whither go they ? + +Up to the eastern tower , +Whose height commands as subject all the vale , +To see the battle . Hector , whose patience +Is as a virtue fix'd , to-day was mov'd : +He chid Andromache , and struck his armourer ; +And , like as there were husbandry in war , +Before the sun rose he was harness'd light , +And to the field goes he ; where every flower +Did , as a prophet , weep what it foresaw +In Hector's wrath . + +What was his cause of anger ? + +The noise goes , this : there is among the Greeks +A lord of Trojan blood , nephew to Hector ; +They call him Ajax . + +Good ; and what of him ? + +They say he is a very man per se +And stands alone . + +So do all men , unless they are drunk , sick , or have no legs . + +This man , lady , hath robbed many beasts of their particular additions : he is as valiant as the lion , churlish as the bear , slow as the elephant : a man into whom nature hath so crowded humours that his valour is crushed into folly , his folly sauced with discretion : there is no man hath a virtue that he hath not a glimpse of , nor any man an attaint but he carries some stain of it . He is melancholy without cause , and merry against the hair ; he hath the joints of every thing , but every thing so out of joint that he is a gouty Briareus , many hands and no use ; or purblind Argus , all eyes and no sight . + +But how should this man , that makes me smile , make Hector angry ? + +They say he yesterday coped Hector in the battle and struck him down ; the disdain and shame whereof hath ever since kept Hector fasting and waking . + +Who comes here ? + + +Madam , your uncle Pandarus . + +Hector's a gallant man . + +As may be in the world , lady . + +What's that ? what's that ? + +Good morrow , uncle Pandarus . + +Good morrow , cousin Cressid . What do you talk of ? Good morrow , Alexander . +How do you , cousin ? When were you at Ilium ? + +This morning , uncle . + +What were you talking of when I came ? Was Hector armed and gone ere ye came to Ilium ? Helen was not up , was she ? + +Hector was gone , but Helen was not up . + +E'en so : Hector was stirring early . + +That were we talking of , and of his anger . + +Was he angry ? + +So he says here . + +True , he was so ; I know the cause too : he'll lay about him to-day , I can tell them that : and there's Troilus will not come far behind him ; let them take heed of Troilus , I can tell them that too . + +What ! is he angry too ? + +Who , Troilus ? Troilus is the better man of the two . + +O Jupiter ! there's no comparison . + +What ! not between Troilus and Hector ? +Do you know a man if you see him ? + +Ay , if I ever saw him before and knew him . + +Well , I say Troilus is Troilus . + +Then you say as I say ; for I am sure he is not Hector . + +No , nor Hector is not Troilus in some degrees . + +'Tis just to each of them ; he is himself . + +Himself ! Alas , poor Troilus , I would he were . + +So he is . + +Condition , I had gone bare-foot to India . + +He is not Hector . + +Himself ! no , he's not himself . Would a' were himself : well , the gods are above ; time must friend or end : well , Troilus , well , I would my heart were in her body . No , Hector is not a better man than Troilus . + +Excuse me . + +He is elder . + +Pardon me , pardon me . + +Th' other's not come to't ; you shall tell me another tale when the other's come to't . Hector shall not have his wit this year . + +He shall not need it if he have his own . + +Nor his qualities . + +No matter . + +Nor his beauty . + +'Twould not become him ; his own's better . + +You have no judgment , niece : Helen herself swore th' other day , that Troilus , for a brown favour ,for so 'tis I must confess ,not brown neither , + +No , but brown . + +Faith , to say truth , brown and not brown . + +To say the truth , true and not true . + +She prais'd his complexion above Paris . + +Why , Paris hath colour enough . + +So he has . + +Then Troilus should have too much : if she praised him above , his complexion is higher than his : he having colour enough , and the other higher , is too flaming a praise for a good complexion . I had as lief Helen's golden tongue had commended Troilus for a copper nose . + +I swear to you , I think Helen loves him better than Paris . + +Then she's a merry Greek indeed . + +Nay , I am sure she does . She came to him th' other day into the compassed window , and , you know , he has not past three or four hairs on his chin , + +Indeed , a tapster's arithmetic may soon bring his particulars therein to a total . + +Why , he is very young ; and yet will he , within three pound , lift as much as his brother Hector . + +Is he so young a man , and so old a lifter ? + +But to prove to you that Helen loves him : she came and puts me her white hand to his cloven chin , + +Juno have mercy ! how came it cloven ? + +Why , you know , 'tis dimpled . I think his smiling becomes him better than any man in all Phrygia . + +O ! he smiles valiantly . + +Does he not ? + +O ! yes , an 'twere a cloud in autumn . + +Why , go to , then . But to prove to you that Helen loves Troilus , + +Troilus will stand to the proof , if you'll prove it so . + +Troilus ! why he esteems her no more than I esteem an addle egg . + +If you love an addle egg as well as you love an idle head , you would eat chickens i' the shell . + +I cannot choose but laugh , to think how she tickled his chin : indeed , she has a marvell's white hand , I must needs confess , + +Without the rack . + +And she takes upon her to spy a white hair on his chin . + +Alas ! poor chin ! many a wart is richer . + +But there was such laughing : Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er . + +With millstones . + +And Cassandra laughed . + +But there was more temperate fire under the pot of her eyes : did her eyes run o'er too ? + +And Hector laughed . + +At what was all this laughing ? + +Marry , at the white hair that Helen spied on Troilus' chin . + +An't had been a green hair , I should have laughed too . + +They laughed not so much at the hair as at his pretty answer . + +What was his answer ? + +Quoth she , 'Here's but one-and-fifty hairs on your chin , and one of them is white .' + +This is her question . + +That's true ; make no question of that . 'One-and-fifty hairs ,' quoth he , 'and one white : that white hair is my father , and all the rest are his sons .' 'Jupiter !' quoth she , 'which of these hairs is Paris , my husband ?' 'The forked one ,' quoth he ; 'pluck't out , and give it him .' But there was such laughing , and Helen so blushed , and Paris so chafed , and all the rest so laughed , that it passed . + +So let it now , for it has been a great while going by . + +Well , cousin , I told you a thing yesterday ; think on't . + +So I do . + +I'll be sworn 'tis true : he will weep you , an 'twere a man born in April . + +And I'll spring up in his tears , an 'twere a nettle against May . + + +Hark ! they are coming from the field . Shall we stand up here , and see them as they pass toward Ilium ? good niece , do ; sweet niece , Cressida . + +At your pleasure . + +Here , here ; here's an excellent place : here we may see most bravely . I'll tell you them all by their names as they pass by , but mark Troilus above the rest . + +Speak not so loud . + + +That's neas : is not that a brave man ? he's one of the flowers of Troy , I can tell you : but mark Troilus ; you shall see anon . + + +Who's that ? + +That's Antenor : he has a shrewd wit , I can tell you ; and he's a man good enough : he's one o' the soundest judgments in Troy , whosoever , and a proper man of person . When comes Troilus ? I'll show you Troilus anon : if he see me , you shall see him nod at me . + +Will he give you the nod ? + +You shall see . + +If he do , the rich shall have more . + + +That's Hector , that , that , look you , that ; there's a fellow ! Go thy way , Hector ! There's a brave man , niece . O brave Hector ! Look how he looks ! there's a countenance ! Is't not a brave man ? + +O ! a brave man . + +Is a' not ? It does a man's heart good . Look you what hacks are on his helmet ! look you yonder , do you see ? look you there : there's no jesting ; there's laying on , take't off who will , as they say : there be hacks ! + +Be those with swords ? + +Swords ? any thing , he cares not ; an the devil come to him , it's all one : by God's lid , it does one's heart good . Yonder comes Paris , yonder comes Paris . + +Look ye yonder , niece : is't not a gallant man too , is't not ? Why , this is brave now . Who said he came hurt home to-day ? he's not hurt : why , this will do Helen's heart good now , ha ! Would I could see Troilus now ! You shall see Troilus anon . + +Who's that ? + + +That's Helenus . I marvel where Troilus is . That's Helenus . I think he went not forth to-day . That's Helenus . + +Can Helenus fight , uncle ? + +Helenus ? no , yes , he'll fight indifferent well . I marvel where Troilus is . Hark ! do you not hear the people cry , 'Troilus ?' Helenus is a priest . + +What sneaking fellow comes yonder ? + + +Where ? yonder ? that's Deiphobus . +Tis Troilus ! there's a man , niece ! Hem ! Brave +Troilus ! the prince of chivalry ! + +Peace ! for shame , peace ! + +Mark him ; note him : O brave Troilus ! look well upon him , niece : look you how his sword is bloodied , and his helmet more hacked than Hector's ; and how he looks , and how he goes ! O admirable youth ! he ne'er saw three-and-twenty . Go thy way , Troilus , go thy way ! Had I a sister were a grace , or a daughter a goddess , he should take his choice . O admirable man ! Paris ? Paris is dirt to him ; and , I warrant , Helen , to change , would give an eye to boot . + +Here come more . + + +Asses , fools , dolts ! chaff and bran , chaff and bran ! porridge after meat ! I could live and die i' the eyes of Troilus . Ne'er look , ne'er look ; the eagles are gone : crows and daws , crows and daws ! I had rather be such a man as Troilus than Agamemnon and all Greece . + +There is among the Greeks Achilles , a better man than Troilus . + +Achilles ! a drayman , a porter , a very camel . + +Well , well . + +'Well , well !' Why , have you any discretion ? have you any eyes ? Do you know what a man is ? Is not birth , beauty , good shape , discourse , manhood , learning , gentleness , virtue , youth , liberality , and so forth , the spice and salt that season a man ? + +Ay , a minced man : and then to be baked with no date in the pie , for then the man's date's out . + +You are such a woman ! one knows not at what ward you lie . + +Upon my back , to defend my belly ; upon my wit , to defend my wiles ; upon my secrecy , to defend mine honesty ; my mask , to defend my beauty ; and you , to defend all these : and at all these wards I lie , at a thousand watches . + +Say one of your watches . + +Nay , I'll watch you for that ; and that's one of the chiefest of them too : if I cannot ward what I would not have hit , I can watch you for telling how I took the blow ; unless it swell past hiding , and then it's past watching . + +You are such another ! + + +Sir , my lord would instantly speak with you . + +Where ? + +At your own house ; there he unarms him . + +Good boy , tell him I come . + +I doubt he be hurt . Fare ye well , good niece . + +Adieu , uncle . + +I'll be with you , niece , by and by . + +To bring , uncle ? + +Ay , a token from Troilus . + +By the same token , you are a bawd . + +Words , vows , gifts , tears , and love's full sacrifice +He offers in another's enterprise ; +But more in Troilus thousand-fold I see +Than in the glass of Pandar's praise may be . +Yet hold I off . Women are angels , wooing : +Things won are done ; joy's soul lies in the doing : +That she belov'd knows nought that knows not this : +Men prize the thing ungain'd more than it is : +That she was never yet , that ever knew +Love got so sweet as when desire did sue . +Therefore this maxim out of love I teach : +Achievement is command ; ungain'd , beseech : +Then though my heart's content firm love doth bear , +Nothing of that shall from mine eyes appear . + + +Princes , +What grief hath set the jaundice on your cheeks ? +The ample proposition that hope makes +In all designs begun on earth below +Fails in the promis'd largeness : checks and disasters +Grow in the veins of actions highest rear'd ; +As knots , by the conflux of meeting sap , +Infect the sound pine and divert his grain +Tortive and errant from his course of growth . +Nor , princes , is it matter new to us +That we come short of our suppose so far +That after seven years' siege yet Troy walls stand ; +Sith every action that hath gone before , +Whereof we have record , trial did draw +Bias and thwart , not answering the aim , +And that unbodied figure of the thought +That gave't surmised shape . Why then , you princes , +Do you with cheeks abash'd behold our works , +And call them shames ? which are indeed nought else +But the protractive trials of great Jove , +To find persistive constancy in men : +The fineness of which metal is not found +In Fortune's love ; for then , the bold and coward , +The wise and fool , the artist and unread , +The hard and soft , seem all affin'd and kin : +But , in the wind and tempest of her frown , +Distinction , with a broad and powerful fan , +Puffing at all , winnows the light away ; +And what hath mass or matter , by itself +Lies rich in virtue and unmingled . + +With due observance of thy god-like seat , +Great Agamemnon , Nestor shall apply +Thy latest words . In the reproof of chance +Lies the true proof of men : the sea being smooth , +How many shallow bauble boats dare sail +Upon her patient breast , making their way +With those of nobler bulk ! +But let the ruffian Boreas once enrage +The gentle Thetis , and anon behold +The strong-ribb'd bark through liquid mountains cut , +Bounding between the two moist elements , +Like Perseus' horse : where's then the saucy boat +Whose weak untimber'd sides but even now +Co-rivall'd greatness ? either to harbour fled , +Or made a toast for Neptune . Even so +Doth valour's show and valour's worth divide +In storms of fortune ; for in her ray and brightness +The herd hath more annoyance by the breese +Than by the tiger ; but when the splitting wind +Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks , +And flies fled under shade , why then the thing of courage , +As rous'd with rage , with rage doth sympathize , +And with an accent tun'd in self-same key , +Retorts to chiding fortune . + +Agamemnon , +Thou great commander , nerve and bone of Greece , +Heart of our numbers , soul and only spirit , +In whom the tempers and the minds of all +Should be shut up , hear what Ulysses speaks . +Besides the applause and approbation +The which , + +most mighty for thy place and sway , + + +And thou most reverend for thy stretch'd-out life , +I give to both your speeches , which were such +As Agamemnon and the hand of Greece +Should hold up high in brass ; and such again +As venerable Nestor , hatch'd in silver , +Should with a bond of air , strong as the axle-tree +On which heaven rides , knit all the Greekish ears +To his experienc'd tongue , yet let it please hoth , +Thou great , and wise , to hear Ulysses speak . + +Speak , Prince of Ithaca ; and be't of less expect +That matter needless , of importless burden , +Divide thy lips , than we are confident , +When rank Thersites opes his mastick jaws , +We shall hear music , wit , and oracle . + +Troy , yet upon his basis , had been down , +And the great Hector's sword had lack'd a master , +But for these instances . +The specialty of rule hath been neglected : +And look , how many Grecian tents do stand +Hollow upon this plain , so many hollow factions . +When that the general is not like the hive +To whom the foragers shall all repair , +What honey is expected ? Degree being vizarded , +The unworthiest shows as fairly in the mask . +The heavens themselves , the planets , and this centre +Observe degree , priority , and place , +Insisture , course , proportion , season , form , +Office , and custom , in all line of order : +And therefore is the glorious planet Sol +In noble eminence enthron'd and spher'd +Amidst the other ; whose med'cinable eye +Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil , +And posts , like the commandment of a king , +Sans check , to good and bad : but when the planets +In evil mixture to disorder wander , +What plagues , and what portents , what mutiny , +What raging of the sea , shaking of earth , +Commotion in the winds , frights , changes , horrors , +Divert and crack , rend and deracinate +The unity and married calm of states +Quite from their fixure ! O ! when degree is shak'd , +Which is the ladder to all high designs , +The enterprise is sick . How could communities , +Degrees in schools , and brotherhoods in cities , +Peaceful commerce from dividable shores , +The primogenitive and due of birth , +Prerogative of age , crowns , sceptres , laurels , +But by degree , stand in authentic place ? +Take but degree away , untune that string , +And , hark ! what discord follows ; each thing meets +In mere oppugnancy : the bounded waters +Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores , +And make a sop of all this solid globe : +Strength should be lord of imbecility , +And the rude son should strike his father dead : +Force should be right ; or rather , right and wrong +Between whose endless jar justice resides +Should lose their names , and so should justice too . +Then every thing includes itself in power , +Power into will , will into appetite ; +And appetite , a universal wolf , +So doubly seconded with will and power , +Must make perforce a universal prey , +And last eat up himself . Great Agamemnon , +This chaos , when degree is suffocate , +Follows the choking . +And this neglection of degree it is +That by a pace goes backward , with a purpose +It hath to climb . The general's disdain'd +By him one step below , he by the next , +That next by him beneath ; so every step , +Exampled by the first pace that is sick +Of his superior , grows to an envious fever +Of pale and bloodless emulation : +And 'tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot , +Not her own sinews . To end a tale of length , +Troy in our weakness lives , not in her strength . + +Most wisely hath Ulysses here discover'd +The fever whereof all our power is sick . + +The nature of the sickness found , Ulysses , +What is the remedy ? + +The great Achilles , whom opinion crowns +The sinew and the forehand of our host , +Having his ear full of his airy fame , +Grows dainty of his worth , and in his tent +Lies mocking our designs . With him Patroclus +Upon a lazy bed the livelong day +Breaks scurril jests , +And with ridiculous and awkward action +Which , slanderer , he imitation calls +He pageants us . Sometime , great Agamemnon , +Thy topless deputation he puts on +And , like a strutting player , whose conceit +Lies in his hamstring , and doth think it rich +To hear the wooden dialogue and sound +'Twixt his stretch'd footing and the scaffoldage , +Such to-be-pitied and o'er-wrested seeming +He acts thy greatness in :and when he speaks , +'Tis like a chime a mending ; with terms unsquar'd , +Which , from the tongue of roaring Typhon dropp'd , +Would seem hyperboles . At this fusty stuff +The large Achilles , on his press'd bed lolling , +From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause ; +Cries , 'Excellent ! 'tis Agamemnon just . +Now play me Nestor ; hem , and stroke thy beard , +As he being drest to some oration .' +That's done ;as near as the extremest ends +Of parallels , like as Vulcan and his wife : +Yet good Achilles still cries , 'Excellent ! +'Tis Nestor right . Now play him me , Patroclus , +Arming to answer in a night alarm .' +And then , forsooth , the faint defects of age +Must be the scene of mirth ; to cough and spit , +And with a palsy-fumbling on his gorget , +Shake in and out the rivet : and at this sport +Sir Valour dies ; cries , 'O ! enough , Patroclus ; +Or give me ribs of steel ; I shall split all +In pleasure of my spleen .' And in this fashion , +All our abilities , gifts , natures , shapes , +Severals and generals of grace exact , +Achievements , plots , orders , preventions , +Excitements to the field , or speech for truce , +Success or loss , what is or is not , serves +As stuff for these two to make paradoxes . + +And in the imitation of these twain +Whom , as Ulysses says , opinion crowns +With an imperial voice many are infect . +Ajax is grown self-will'd , and bears his head +In such a rein , in full as proud a place +As broad Achilles ; keeps his tent like him ; +Makes factious feasts ; rails on our state of war , +Bold as an oracle , and sets Thersites +A slave whose gall coins slanders like a mint +To match us in comparison with dirt ; +To weaken and discredit our exposure , +How rank soever rounded in with danger . + +They tax our policy , and call it cowardice ; +Count wisdom as no member of the war ; +Forestall prescience , and esteem no act +But that of hand : the still and mental parts , +That do contrive how many hands shall strike , +When fitness calls them on , and know by measure +Of their observant toil the enemies' weight , +Why , this hath not a finger's dignity : +They call this bed-work , mappery , closet-war ; +So that the ram that batters down the wall , +For the great swing and rudeness of his poise , +They place before his hand that made the engine , +Or those that with the fineness of their souls +By reason guides his execution . + +Let this be granted , and Achilles' horse +Makes many Thetis' sons . + + +What trumpet ? look , Menelaus . + +From Troy . + + +What would you 'fore our tent ? + +Is this great Agamemnon's tent , I pray you ? + +Even this . + +May one , that is a herald and a prince , +Do a fair message to his kingly ears ? + +With surety stronger than Achilles' arm +'Fore all the Greekish heads , which with one voice +Call Agamemnon head and general . + +Fair leave and large security . How may +A stranger to those most imperial looks +Know them from eyes of other mortals ? + +How ! + +Ay ; +I ask , that I might waken reverence , +And bid the cheek be ready with a blush +Modest as morning when she coldly eyes +The youthful Ph bus : +Which is that god in office , guiding men ? +Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon ? + +This Trojan scorns us ; or the men of Troy +Are ceremonious courtiers . + +Courtiers as free , as debonair , unarm'd , +As bending angels ; that's their fame in peace : +But when they would seem soldiers , they have galls , +Good arms , strong joints , true swords ; and , Jove's accord , +Nothing so full of heart . But peace , neas ! +Peace , Trojan ! lay thy finger on thy lips ! +The worthiness of praise distains his worth , +If that the prais'd himself bring the praise forth ; +But what the repining enemy commends , +That breath fame blows ; that praise , sole pure , transcends . + +Sir , you of Troy , call you yourself neas ? + +Ay , Greek , that is my name . + +What's your affair , I pray you ? + +Sir , pardon ; 'tis for Agamemnon's ears . + +He hears nought privately that comes from Troy . + +Nor I from Troy come not to whisper him : +I bring a trumpet to awake his ear , +To set his sense on the attentive bent , +And then to speak . + +Speak frankly as the wind : +It is not Agamemnon's sleeping hour ; +That thou shalt know , Trojan , he is awake , +He tells thee so himself . + +Trumpet , blow aloud , +Send thy brass voice through all these lazy tents ; +And every Greek of mettle , let him know , +What Troy means fairly shall be spoke aloud . + +We have , great Agamemnon , here in Troy . +A prince called Hector ,Priam is his father , +Who in this dull and long-continu'd truce +Is rusty grown : he bade me take a trumpet , +And to this purpose speak : kings , princes , lords ! +If there be one among the fair'st of Greece +That holds his honour higher than his ease , +That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril , +That knows his valour , and knows not his fear , +That loves his mistress more than in confession , +With truant vows to her own lips he loves , +And dare avow her beauty and her worth +In other arms than hers ,to him this challenge . +Hector , in view of Trojans and of Greeks , +Shall make it good , or do his best to do it , +He hath a lady wiser , fairer , truer , +Than ever Greek did compass in his arms ; +And will to-morrow with his trumpet call , +Mid-way between your tents and walls of Troy , +To rouse a Grecian that is true in love : +If any come , Hector shall honour him ; +If none , he'll say in Troy when he retires , +The Grecian dames are sunburnt , and not worth +The splinter of a lance . Even so much . + +This shall be told our lovers , Lord neas ; +If none of them have soul in such a kind , +We left them all at home : but we are soldiers ; +And may that soldier a mere recreant prove , +That means not , hath not , or is not in love ! +If then one is , or hath , or means to be , +That one meets Hector ; if none else , I am he . + +Tell him of Nestor , one that was a man +When Hector's grandsire suck'd : he is old now ; +But if there be not in our Grecian host +One noble man that hath one spark of fire +To answer for his love , tell him from me , +I'll hide my silver beard in a gold beaver , +And in my vantbrace put this wither'd brawn ; +And , meeting him , will tell him that my lady +Was fairer than his grandam , and as chaste +As may be in the world : his youth in flood , +I'll prove this truth with my three drops of blood . + +Now heavens forbid such scarcity of youth ! + +Amen . + +Fair Lord neas , let me touch your hand ; +To our pavilion shall I lead you first . +Achilles shall have word of this intent ; +So shall each lord of Greece , from tent to tent : +Yourself shall feast with us before you go , +And find the welcome of a noble foe . + + +Nestor ! + +What says Ulysses ? + +I have a young conception in my brain ; +Be you my time to bring it to some shape . + +What is't ? + +This 'tis : +Blunt wedges rive hard knots : the seeded pride +That hath to this maturity blown up +In rank Achilles , must or now be cropp'd , +Or , shedding , breed a nursery of like evil , +To overbulk us all . + +Well , and how ? + +This challenge that the gallant Hector sends , +However it is spread in general name , +Relates in purpose only to Achilles . + +The purpose is perspicuous even as substance +Whose grossness little characters sum up : +And , in the publication , make no strain , +But that Achilles , were his brain as barren +As banks of Libya ,though , Apollo knows , +'Tis dry enough ,will with great speed of judgment , +Ay , with celerity , find Hector's purpose +Pointing on him . + +And wake him to the answer , think you ? + +Yes , 'tis most meet : whom may you else oppose , +That can from Hector bring those honours off , +If not Achilles ? Though't be a sportful combat , +Yet in the trial much opinion dwells ; +For here the Trojans taste our dear'st repute +With their fin'st palate : and trust to me , Ulysses , +Our imputation shall be oddly pois'd +In this wild action ; for the success , +Although particular , shall give a scantling +Of good or bad unto the general ; +And in such indexes , although small pricks +To their subsequent volumes , there is seen +The baby figure of the giant mass +Of things to come at large . It is suppos'd +He that meets Hector issues from our choice ; +And choice , being mutual act of all our souls , +Makes merit her election , and doth boil , +As 'twere from forth us all , a man distill'd +Out of our virtues ; who miscarrying , +What heart receives from bence the conquering part , +To steel a strong opinion to themselves ? +Which entertain'd , limbs are his instruments , +In no less working than are swords and bows +Directive by the limbs . + +Give pardon to my speech : +Therefore 'tis meet Achilles meet not Hector . +Let us like merchants show our foulest wares , +And think perchance they'll sell ; if not , +The lustre of the better yet to show +Shall show the better . Do not consent +That ever Hector and Achilles meet ; +For both our honour and our shame in this +Are dogg'd with two strange followers . + +I see them not with my old eyes : what are they ? + +What glory our Achilles shares from Hector , +Were he not proud , we all should share with him : +But he already is too insolent ; +And we were better parch in Afric sun +Than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes , +Should he 'scape Hector fair : if he were foil'd , +Why then we did our main opinion crush +In taint of our best man . No ; make a lottery ; +And by device let blockish Ajax draw +The sort to fight with Hector : among ourselves +Give him allowance as the worthier man , +For that will physic the great Myrmidon +Who broils in loud applause ; and make him fall +His crest that prouder than blue Iris bends . +If the dull brainless Ajax come safe off , +We'll dress him up in voices : if he fail , +Yet go we under our opinion still +That we have better men . But , hit or miss , +Our project's life this shape of sense assumes : +Ajax employ'd plucks down Achilles' plumes . + +Ulysses , +Now I begin to relish thy advice ; +And I will give a taste of it forthwith +To Agamemnon : go we to him straight . +Two curs shall tame each other : pride alone +Must tarre the mastiffs on , as 'twere their bone . + + +Thersites ! + +Agamemnon , how if he had boils ? full , all over , generally ? + +Thersites ! + +And those boils did run ? Say so , did not the general run then ? were not that a botchy core ? + +Dog ! + +Then would come some matter from him : I see none now . + +Thou bitch-wolf's son , canst thou not hear ? +Feel , then . + + +The plague of Greece upon thee , thou mongrel beef-witted lord ! + +Speak then , thou vinewedst leaven , speak : I will beat thee into handsomeness . + +I shall sooner rail thee into wit and holiness : but I think thy horse will sooner con an oration than thou learn a prayer without book . Thou canst strike , canst thou ? a red murrain o' thy jade's tricks ! + +Toadstool , learn me the proclamation . + +Dost thou think I have no sense , thou strikest me thus ? + +The proclamation ! + +Thou art proclaimed a fool , I think . + +Do not , porpentine , do not : my fingers itch . + +I would thou didst itch from head to foot , and I had the scratching of thee ; I would make thee the loathsomest scab of Greece . When thou art forth in the incursions , thou strikest as slow as another . + +I say , the proclamation ! + +Thou grumblest and railest every hour on Achilles , and thou art as full of envy at his greatness as Cerberus is at Proserpina's beauty , ay that thou barkest at him . + +Mistress Thersites ! + +Thou shouldst strike him . + +Cobloaf ! + +He would pun thee into shivers with his fist , as a sailor breaks a biscuit . + +You whoreson cur . + + +Do , do . + +Thou stool for a witch ! + +Ay , do , do ; thou sodden-witted lord ! thou hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows ; an assinego may tutor thee : thou scurvy-valiant ass ! thou art here but to thrash Trojans ; and thou art bought and sold among those of any wit , like a barbarian slave . If thou use to beat me , I will begin at thy heel , and tell what thou art by inches , thou thing of no bowels , thou ! + +You dog ! + +You scurvy lord ! + +You cur ! + + +Mars his idiot ! do , rudeness ; do , camel ; do , do . + + +Why , how now , Ajax ! wherefore do you this ? +How now , Thersites ! what's the matter , man ? + +You see him there , do you ? + +Ay ; what's the matter ? + +Nay , look upon him . + +So I do : what's the matter ? + +Nay , but regard him well . + +'Well !' why , so I do . + +But yet you look not well upon him ; for , whosoever you take him to be , he is Ajax . + +I know that , fool . + +Ay , but that fool knows not himself . + +Therefore I beat thee . + +Lo , lo , lo , lo , what modicums of wit he utters ! his evasions have ears thus long . I have bobbed his brain more than he has beat my bones : I will buy nine sparrows for a penny , and his pia mater is not worth the ninth part of a sparrow . This lord , Achilles , Ajax , who wears his wit in his belly , and his guts in his head , I'll tell you what I say of him . + +What ? + +I say , this Ajax , + + +Nay , good Ajax . + +Has not so much wit + +Nay , I must hold you . + +As will stop the eye of Helen's needle , for whom he comes to fight . + +Peace , fool ! + +I would have peace and quietness , but the fool will not : he there ; that he ; look you there . + +O thou damned cur ! I shall + +Will you set your wit to a fool's ? + +No , I warrant you ; for a fool's will shame it . + +Good words , Thersites . + +What's the quarrel ? + +I bade the vile owl go learn me the tenour of the proclamation , and he rails upon me . + +I serve thee not . + +Well , go to , go to . + +I serve here voluntary . + +Your last service was sufferance , 'twas not voluntary ; no man is beaten voluntary : Ajax was here the voluntary , and you as under an impress . + +Even so ; a great deal of your wit too lies in your sinews , or else there be liars . Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains : a' were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel . + +What , with me too , Thersites ? + +There's Ulysses and old Nestor , whose wit was mouldy ere your grandsires had nails on their toes , yoke you like draught-oxen , and make you plough up the wars . + +What , what ? + +Yes , good sooth : to , Achilles ! to , Ajax ! to ! + +I shall cut out your tongue . + +'Tis no matter ; I shall speak as much as thou afterwards . + +No more words , Thersites ; peace ! + +I will hold my peace when Achilles' brach bids me , shall I ? + +There's for you , Patroclus . + +I will see you hanged , like clotpoles , ere I come any more to your tents : I will keep where there is wit stirring and leave the faction of fools . + + +A good riddance . + +Marry , this , sir , is proclaim'd through all our host : +That Hector , by the fifth hour of the sun , +Will , with a trumpet , 'twixt our tents and Troy +To morrow morning call some knight to arms +That hath a stomach ; and such a one that dare +Maintain I know not what : 'tis trash . Farewell . + +Farewell . Who shall answer him ? + +I know not : it is put to lottery ; otherwise , +He knew his man . + +O , meaning you . I will go learn more of it . + + +After so many hours , lives , speeches spent , +Thus once again says Nestor from the Greeks : +'Deliver Helen , and all damage else , +As honour , loss of time , travail , expense , +Wounds , friends , and what else dear that is consum'd +In hot digestion of this cormorant war , +Shall be struck off .' Hector , what say you to't ? + +Though no man lesser fears the Greeks than I , +As far as toucheth my particular , +Yet , dread Priam , +There is no lady of more softer bowels , +More spongy to suck in the sense of fear , +More ready to cry out 'Who knows what follows ?' +Than Hector is . The wound of peace is surety , +Surety secure ; but modest doubt is call'd +The beacon of the wise , the tent that searches +To the bottom of the worst . Let Helen go : +Since the first sword was drawn about this question , +Every tithe soul , 'mongst many thousand dismes , +Hath been as dear as Helen ; I mean , of ours : +If we have lost so many tenths of ours , +To guard a thing not ours nor worth to us , +Had it our name , the value of one ten , +What merit's in that reason which denies +The yielding of her up ? + +Fie , fie ! my brother , +Weigh you the worth and honour of a king +So great as our dread father in a scale +Of common ounces ? will you with counters sum +The past proportion of his infinite ? +And buckle in a waist most fathomless +With spans and inches so diminutive +As fears and reasons ? fie , for godly shame ! + +No marvel , though you bite so sharp at reasons , +You are so empty of them . Should not our father +Bear the great sway of his affairs with reasons , +Because your speech hath none that tells him so ? + +You are for dreams and slumbers , brother priest ; +You fur your gloves with reason . Here are your reasons : +You know an enemy intends you harm ; +You know a sword employ'd is perilous , +And reason flies the object of all harm : +Who marvels then , when Helenus beholds +A Grecian and his sword , if he do set +The very wings of reason to his heels , +And fly like chidden Mercury from Jove , +Or like a star disorb'd ? Nay , if we talk of reason , +Let's shut our gates and sleep : manhood and honour +Should have hare-hearts , would they but fat their thoughts +With this cramm'd reason : reason and respect +Make livers pale , and lustihood deject . + +Brother , she is not worth what she doth cost +The holding . + +What is aught but as 'tis valu'd ? + +But value dwells not in particular will ; +It holds his estimate and dignity +As well wherein 'tis precious of itself +As in the prizer . 'Tis mad idolatry +To make the service greater than the god ; +And the will dotes that is inclinable +To what infectiously itself affects , +Without some image of the affected merit . + +I take to-day a wife , and my election +Is led on in the conduct of my will ; +My will enkindled by mine eyes and ears , +Two traded pilots 'twixt the dangerous shores +Of will and judgment . How may I avoid , +Although my will distaste what it elected , +The wife I chose ? there can be no evasion +To blench from this and to stand firm by honour . +We turn not back the silks upon the merchant +When we have soil'd them , nor the remainder viands +We do not throw in unrespective sink +Because we now are full . It was thought meet +Paris should do some vengeance on the Greeks : +Your breath of full consent bellied his sails ; +The seas and winds old wranglers took a truce +And did him service : he touch'd the ports desir'd , +And for an old aunt whom the Greeks held captive +He brought a Grecian queen , whose youth and freshness +Wrinkles Apollo's , and makes stale the morning . +Why keep we her ? the Grecians keep our aunt : +Is she worth keeping ? why , she is a pearl , +Whose price hath launch'd above a thousand ships , +And turn'd crown'd kings to merchants . +If you'll avouch 'twas wisdom Paris went , +As you must needs , for you all cried 'Go , go ,' +If you'll confess he brought home noble prize , +As you must needs , for you all clapp'd your hands , +And cry'd 'Inestimable !' why do you now +The issue of your proper wisdoms rate , +And do a deed that Fortune never did , +Beggar the estimation which you priz'd +Richer than sea and land ? O ! theft most base , +That we have stol'n what we do fear to keep ! +But thieves unworthy of a thing so stol'n , +That in their country did them that disgrace +We fear to warrant in our native place . + +Cry , Trojans , cry ! + +What noise ? what shriek ? + +'Tis our mad sister , I do know her voice + +Cry , Trojans ! + +It is Cassandra . + + +Cry , Trojans , cry ! lend me ten thousand eyes , +And I will fill them with prophetic tears . + +Peace , sister , peace ! + +Virgins and boys , mid-age and wrinkled eld , +Soft infancy , that nothing canst but cry , +Add to my clamours ! let us pay betimes +A moiety of that mass of moan to come . +Cry , Trojans , cry ! practise your eyes with tears ! +Troy must not be , nor goodly Ilion stand ; +Our firebrand brother , Paris , burns us all . +Cry , Trojans , cry ! a Helen and a woe ! +Cry , cry ! Troy burns , or else let Helen go . + + +Now , youthful Troilus , do not these high strains +Of divination in our sister work +Some touches of remorse ? or is your blood +So madly hot that no discourse of reason , +Nor fear of bad success in a bad cause , +Can qualify the same ? + +Why , brother Hector , +We may not think the justness of each act +Such and no other than event doth form it , +Nor once deject the courage of our minds , +Because Cassandra's mad : her brain-sick raptures +Cannot distaste the goodness of a quarrel +Which hath our several honours all engag'd +To make it gracious . For my private part , +I am no more touch'd than all Priam's sons ; +And Jove forbid there should be done amongst us +Such things as might offend the weakest spleen +To fight for and maintain . + +Else might the world convince of levity +As well my undertakings as your counsels ; +But I attest the gods , your full consent +Gave wings to my propension and cut off +All fears attending on so dire a project : +For what , alas ! can these my single arms ? +What propugnation is in one man's valour , +To stand the push and enmity of those +This quarrel would excite ? Yet , I protest , +Were I alone to pass the difficulties , +And had as ample power as I have will , +Paris should ne'er retract what he hath done , +Nor faint in the pursuit . + +Paris , you speak +Like one besotted on your sweet delights : +You have the honey still , but these the gall ; +So to be valiant is no praise at all . + +Sir , I propose not merely to myself +The pleasure such a beauty brings with it ; +But I would have the soil of her fair rape +Wip'd off , in honourable keeping her . +What treason were it to the ransack'd queen , +Disgrace to your great worths , and shame to me , +Now to deliver her possession up , +On terms of base compulsion ! Can it be +That so degenerate a strain as this +Should once set footing in your generous bosoms ? +There's not the meanest spirit on our party +Without a heart to dare or sword to draw +When Helen is defended , nor none so noble +Whose life were ill bestow'd or death unfam'd +Where Helen is the subject : then , I say , +Well may we fight for her , whom , we know well , +The world's large spaces cannot parallel . + +Paris and Troilus , you have both said well ; +And on the cause and question now in hand +Have gloz'd , but superficially ; not much +Unlike young men , whom Aristotle thought +Unfit to hear moral philosophy . +The reasons you allege do more conduce +To the hot passion of distemper'd blood +Than to make up a free determination +'Twixt right and wrong ; for pleasure and revenge +Have ears more deaf than adders to the voice +Of any true decision . Nature craves +All dues be render'd to their owners : now , +What nearer debt in all humanity +Than wife is to the husband ? if this law +Of nature be corrupted through affection , +And that great minds , of partial indulgence +To their benumbed wills , resist the saine ; +There is a law in each well-order'd nation +To curb those raging appetites that are +Most disobedient and refractory . +If Helen then be wife to Sparta's king , +As it is known she is , these moral laws +Of nature , and of nations , speak aloud +To have her back return'd : thus to persist +In doing wrong extenuates not wrong , +But makes it much more heavy . Hector's opinion +Is this , in way of truth ; yet , ne'ertheless , +My spritely brethren , I propend to you +In resolution to keep Helen still ; +For 'tis a cause that hath no mean dependance +Upon our joint and several dignities . + +Why , there you touch'd the life of our design : +Were it not glory that we more affected +Than the performance of our heaving spleens , +I would not wish a drop of Trojan blood +Spent more in her defence . But , worthy Hector , +She is a theme of honour and renown , +A spur to valiant and magnanimous deeds , +Whose present courage may beat down our foes , +And fame in time to come canonize us ; +For , I presume , brave Hector would not lose +So rich advantage of a promis'd glory +As smiles upon the forehead of this action +For the wide world's revenue . + +I am yours , +You valiant offspring of great Priamus . +I have a roisting challenge sent amongst +The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks +Will strike amazement to their drowsy spirits . +I was advertis'd their great general slept +Whilst emulation in the army crept : +This , I presume , will wake him . + + +How now , Thersites ! what , lost in the labyrinth of thy fury ! Shall the elephant Ajax carry it thus ? he beats me , and I rail at him : O worthy satisfaction ! Would it were otherwise ; that I could beat him , whilst he railed at me . 'Sfoot , I'll learn to conjure and raise devils , but I'll see some issue of my spiteful execrations . Then there's Achilles , a rare enginer . If Troy be not taken till these two undermine it , the walls will stand till they fall of themselves . O ! thou great thunder-darter of Olympus , forget that thou art Jove the king of gods , and , Mercury , lose all the serpentine craft of thy caduceus , if ye take not that little little less than little wit from them that they have ; which short-armed ignorance itself knows is so abundant scarce it will not in circumvention deliver a fly from a spider , without drawing their massy irons and cutting the web . After this , the vengeance on the whole camp ! or , rather , the Neapolitan bone-ache ! for that , methinks , is the curse dependant on those that war for a placket . I have said my prayers , and devil Envy say Amen . What , ho ! my Lord Achilles ! + + +Who's there ? Thersites ! Good Thersites , come in and rail . + +If I could have remembered a gilt counterfeit , thou wouldst not have slipped out of my contemplation : but it is no matter ; thyself upon thyself ! The common curse of mankind , folly and ignorance , be thine in great revenue ! heaven bless thee from a tutor , and discipline come not near thee ! Let thy blood be thy direction till thy death ! then , if she that lays thee out says thou art a fair corpse , I'll be sworn and sworn upon't she never shrouded any but lazars . Amen . Where's Achilles ? + +What ! art thou devout ? wast thou in prayer ? + +Ay ; the heavens hear me ! + + +Who's there ? + +Thersites , my lord . + +Where , where ? Art thou come ? Why , my cheese , my digestion , why hast thou not served thyself in to my table so many meals ? Come , what's Agamemnon ? + +Thy commander , Achilles . Then tell me , Patroclus , what's Achilles ? + +Thy lord , Thersites . Then tell me , I pray thee , what's thyself ? + +Thy knower , Patroclus . Then tell me , Patroclus , what art thou ? + +Thou mayst tell that knowest . + +O ! tell , tell . + +I'll decline the whole question . Agamemnon commands Achilles ; Achilles is my lord ; I am Patroclus' knower ; and Patroclus is a fool . + +You rascal ! + +Peace , fool ! I have not done . + +He is a privileged man . Proceed , Thersites . + +Agamemnon is a fool ; Achilles is a fool ; Thersites is a fool ; and , as aforesaid , Patroclus is a fool . + +Derive this ; come . + +Agamemnon is a fool to offer to command Achilles ; Achilles is a fool to be commanded of Agamemnon ; Thersites is a fool to serve such a fool ; and Patroclus is a fool positive . + +Why am I a fool ? + +Make that demand to the Creator . It suffices me thou art . Look you , who comes here ? + +Patroclus , I'll speak with nobody . Come in with me , Thersites . + + +Here is such patchery , such juggling , and such knavery ! all the argument is a cuckold and a whore ; a good quarrel to draw emulous factions and bleed to death upon . Now , the dry serpigo on the subject ! and war and lechery confound all ! + +Where is Achilles ? + +Within his tent ; but ill-dispos'd , my lord . + +Let it be known to him that we are here . +He shent our messengers ; and we lay by +Our appertainments , visiting of him : +Let him be told so ; lest perchance he think +We dare not move the question of our place , +Or know not what we are . + +I shall say so to him . + + +We saw him at the opening of his tent : +He is not sick . + +Yes , lion-sick , sick of proud heart : you may call it melancholy if you will favour the man ; but , by my head , 'tis pride : but why , why ? let him show us a cause . A word , my lord . + + +What moves Ajax thus to bay at him ? + +Achilles hath inveigled his fool from him . + +Who , Thersites ? + +He . + +Then will Ajax lack matter , if he have lost his argument . + +No ; you see , he is his argument that has his argument , Achilles . + +All the better ; their fraction is more our wish than their faction : but it was a strong composure a fool could disunite . + +The amity that wisdom knits not folly may easily untie . Here comes Patroclus . + + +No Achilles with him . + +The elephant hath joints , but none for courtesy : his legs are legs for necessity , not for flexure . + +Achilles bids me say , he is much sorry +If any thing more than your sport and pleasure +Did move your greatness and this noble state +To call upon him ; he hopes it is no other +But , for your health and your digestion sake , +An after-dinner's breath . + +Hear you , Patroclus : +We are too well acquainted with these answers : +But his evasion , wing'd thus swift with scorn , +Cannot outfly our apprehensions . +Much attribute he hath , and much the reason +Why we ascribe it to him ; yet all his virtues , +Not virtuously on his own part beheld , +Do in our eyes begin to lose their gloss , +Yea , like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish , +Are like to rot untasted . Go and tell him , +We come to speak with him ; and you shall not sin +If you do say we think him over-proud +And under-honest , in self-assumption greater +Than in the note of judgment ; and worthier than himself +Here tend the savage strangeness he puts on , +Disguise the holy strength of their command , +And underwrite in an observing kind +His humorous predominance ; yea , watch +His pettish lunes , his ebbs , his flows , as if +The passage and whole carriage of this action +Rode on his tide . Go tell him this , and add , +That if he overhold his price so much , +We'll none of him ; but let him , like an engine +Not portable , lie under this report : +'Bring action hither , this cannot go to war :' +A stirring dwarf we do allowance give +Before a sleeping giant : tell him so . + +I shall ; and bring his answer presently . + + +In second voice we'll not be satisfied ; +We come to speak with him . Ulysses , enter you . + + +What is he more than another ? + +No more than what he thinks he is . + +Is he so much ? Do you not think he thinks himself a better man than I am ? + +No question . + +Will you subscribe his thought , and say he is ? + +No , noble Ajax ; you are as strong , as valiant , as wise , no less noble , much more gentle , and altogether more tractable . + +Why should a man be proud ? How doth pride grow ? I know not what pride is . + +Your mind is the clearer , Ajax , and your virtues the fairer . He that is proud eats up himself : pride is his own glass , his own trumpet , his own chronicle ; and whatever praises itself but in the deed , devours the deed in the praise . + +I do hate a proud man , as I hate the engendering of toads . + +Yet he loves himself : is't not strange ? + + +Achilles will not to the field to-morrow . + +What's his excuse ? + +He doth rely on none , +But carries on the stream of his dispose +Without observance or respect of any , +In will peculiar and in self-admission . + +Why will he not upon our fair request +Untent his person and share the air with us ? + +Things small as nothing , for request's sake only , +He makes important : possess'd he is with greatness , +And speaks not to himself but with a pride +That quarrels at self-breath : imagin'd worth +Holds in his blood such swoln and hot discourse , +That 'twixt his mental and his active parts +Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages +And batters down himself : what should I say ? +He is so plaguy proud , that the death-tokens of it +Cry 'No recovery .' + +Let Ajax go to him . +Dear lord , go you and meet him in his tent : +'Tis said he holds you well , and will be led +At your request a little from himself . + +O Agamemnon ! let it not be so . +We'll consecrate the steps that Ajax makes +When they go from Achilles : shall the proud lord +That bastes his arrogance with his own seam , +And never suffers matter of the world +Enter his thoughts , save such as do revolve +And ruminate himself , shall he be worshipp'd +Of that we hold an idol more than he ? +No , this thrice-worthy and right valiant lord +Must not so stale his palm , nobly acquir'd ; +Nor , by my will , assubjugate his merit , +As amply titled as Achilles is , +By going to Achilles : +That were to enlard his fat-already pride , +And add more coals to Cancer when he burns +With entertaining great Hyperion . +This lord go to him ! Jupiter forbid , +And say in thunder , 'Achilles go to him .' + +O ! this is well ; he rubs the vein of him . + +And how his silence drinks up this applause ! + +If I go to him , with my armed fist +I'll pash him o'er the face . + +O , no ! you shall not go . + +An a' be proud with me , I'll pheeze his pride . +Let me go to him . + +Not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel . + +A paltry , insolent fellow ! + +How he describes himself ! + +Can he not be sociable ? + +The raven chides blackness . + +I'll let his humours blood . + +He will be the physician that should be the patient . + +An all men were o' my mind , + +Wit would be out of fashion . + +A' should not bear it so , a' should eat swords first : shall pride carry it ? + +An't would , you'd carry half . + +A' would have ten shares . + +I will knead him ; I will make him supple . + +He's not yet through warm : force him with praises : pour in , pour in ; his ambition is dry . + +My lord , you feed too much on this dislike . + +Our noble general , do not do so . + +You must prepare to fight without Achilles . + +Why , 'tis this naming of him does him harm . +Here is a man but 'tis before his face ; +I will be silent . + +Wherefore should you so ? +He is not emulous , as Achilles is . + +Know the whole world , he is as valiant . + +A whoreson dog , that shall palter thus with us ! Would he were a Trojan ! + +What a vice were it in Ajax now , + +If he were proud , + +Or covetous of praise , + +Ay , or surly borne , + +Or strange , or self-affected ! + +Thank the heavens , lord , thou art of sweet composure ; +Praise him that got thee , her that gave thee suck : +Fam'd be thy tutor , and thy parts of nature +Thrice-fam'd , beyond all erudition : +But he that disciplin'd thy arms to fight , +Let Mars divide eternity in twain , +And give him half : and , for thy vigour , +Bull-bearing Milo his addition yield +To sinewy Ajax . I will not praise thy wisdom , +Which , like a bourn , a pale , a shore , confines +Thy spacious and dilated parts : here's Nestor +Instructed by the antiquary times , +He must , he is , he cannot but be wise ; +But pardon , father Nestor , were your days +As green as Ajax , and your brain so temper'd , +You should not have the eminence of him , +But be as Ajax . + +Shall I call you father ? + +Ay , my good son . + +Be rul'd by him , Lord Ajax . + +There is no tarrying here ; the hart Achilles +Keeps thicket . Please it our great general +To call together all his state of war ; +Fresh kings are come to Troy : to-morrow , +We must with all our main of power stand fast : +And here's a lord ,come knights from east to west , +And cull their flower , Ajax shall cope the best . + +Go we to council . Let Achilles sleep : +Light boats sail swift , though greater hulks draw deep . + + +Friend ! you ! pray you , a word : do not you follow the young Lord Paris ? + +Ay , sir , when he goes before me . + +You depend upon him , I mean ? + +Sir , I do depend upon the Lord . + +You depend upon a noble gentleman ; +I must needs praise him . + +The Lord be praised ! + +You know me , do you not ? + +Faith , sir , superficially . + +Friend , know me better . I am the +Lord Pandarus . + +I hope I shall know your honour better . + +I do desire it . + +You are in the state of grace . + +Grace ! not so , friend ; honour and lordship are my titles . + +What music is this ? + +I do but partly know , sir : it is music in parts . + +Know you the musicians ? + +Wholly , sir . + +Who play they to ? + +To the hearers , sir . + +At whose pleasure , friend ? + +At mine , sir , and theirs that love music . + +Command , I mean , friend . + +Who shall I command , sir ? + +Friend , we understand not one another : +I am too courtly , and thou art too cunning . At whose request do these men play ? + +That's to't , indeed , sir . Marry , sir , at the request of Paris my lord , who is there in person ; with him the mortal Venus , the heartblood of beauty , love's invisible soul . + +Who , my cousin Cressida ? + +No , sir , Helen : could you not find out that by her attributes ? + +It should seem , fellow , that thou hast not seen the Lady Cressida . I come to speak with Paris from the Prince Troilus : I will make a complimental assault upon him , for my business seethes . + +Sodden business : there's a stewed phrase , indeed . + + +Fair be to you , my lord , and to all this fair company ! fair desires , in all fair measures , fairly guide them ! especially to you , fair queen ! fair thoughts be your fair pillow ! + +Dear lord , you are full of fair words . + +You speak your fair pleasure , sweet queen . Fair prince , here is good broken music . + +You have broke it , cousin ; and , by my life , you shall make it whole again : you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance . Nell , he is full of harmony . + +Truly , lady , no . + +O , sir ! + +Rude , in sooth ; in good sooth , very rude . + +Well said , my lord ! Well , you say so in fits . + +I have business to my lord , dear queen . +My lord , will you vouchsafe me a word ? + +Nay , this shall not hedge us out : we'll hear you sing , certainly . + +Well , sweet queen , you are pleasant with me . But , marry , thus , my lord . My dear lord and most esteemed friend , your brother Troilus + +My Lord Pandarus ; honey-sweet lord , + +Go to , sweet queen , go to : commends himself most affectionately to you . + +You shall not bob us out of our melody : if you do , our melancholy upon your head ! + +Sweet queen , sweet queen ! that's a sweet queen , i' faith . + +And to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence . + +Nay , that shall not serve your turn ; that shall it not , in truth , la ! Nay , I care not for such words : no , no . And , my lord , he desires you , that if the king call for him at supper , you will make his excuse . + +My Lord Pandarus , + +What says my sweet queen , my very sweet queen ? + +What exploit's in hand ? where sups he to-night ? + +Nay , but my lord , + +What says my sweet queen ! My cousin will fall out with you . You must know where he sups . + +I'll lay my life , with my disposer Cressida . + +No , no , no such matter ; you are wide . Come , your disposer is sick . + +Well , I'll make excuse . + +Ay , good my lord . Why should you say Cressida ? no , your poor disposer's sick . + +I spy . + +You spy ! what do you spy ? Come , give me an instrument . Now , sweet queen . + +Why , this is kindly done . + +My niece is horribly in love with a thing you have , sweet queen . + +She shall have it , my lord , if it be not my Lord Paris . + +He ! no , she'll none of him ; they two are twain . + +Falling in , after falling out , may make them three . + +Come , come , I'll hear no more of this . +I'll sing you a song now . + +Ay , ay , prithee now . By my troth , sweet lord , thou hast a fine forehead . + +Ay , you may , you may . + +Let thy song be love : this love will undo us all . O Cupid , Cupid , Cupid ! + +Love ! ay , that it shall , i' faith . + +Ay , good now , love , love , nothing but love . + +In good troth , it begins so : + + +Love , love , nothing but love , still more ! +For , oh ! love's bow +Shoots buck and doe : +The shaft confounds , +Not that it wounds , +But tickles still the sore . +These lovers cry O ! O ! they die ! +Yet that which seems the wound to kill , +Doth turn O ! O ! to ha ! ha ! he ! +So dying love lives still : +O ! O ! a while , but ha ! ha ! ha ! +O ! O ! groans out for ha ! ha ! ha ! + +Heigh-ho ! + +In love , i' faith , to the very tip of the nose . + +He eats nothing but doves , love ; and that breeds hot blood , and hot blood begets hot thoughts , and hot thoughts beget hot deeds , and hot deeds is love . + +Is this the generation of love ? hot blood ? hot thoughts , and hot deeds ? Why , they are vipers : is love a generation of vipers ? Sweet lord , who's a-field to-day ? + +Hector , Deiphobus , Helenus , Antenor , and all the gallantry of Troy : I would fain have armed to-day , but my Nell would not have it so . How chance my brother Troilus went not ? + +He hangs the lip at something : you know all , Lord Pandarus . + +Not I , honey-sweet queen . I long to hear how they sped to-day . You'll remember your brother's excuse ? + +To a hair . + +Farewell , sweet queen . + +Commend me to your niece . + +I will , sweet queen . + + +They're come from field : let us to Priam's hall +To greet the warriors . Sweet Helen , I must woo you +To help unarm our Hector : his stubborn buckles , +With these your white enchanting fingers touch'd , +Shall more obey than to the edge of steel +Or force of Greekish sinews ; you shall do more +Than all the island kings ,disarm great Hector . + +'Twill make us proud to be his servant , Paris ; +Yea , what he shall receive of us in duty +Gives us more palm in beauty than we have , +Yea , overshines ourself . + +Sweet , above thought I love thee . + + +How now ! where's thy master ? at my cousin Cressida's ? + +No , sir ; he stays for you to conduct him thither . + + +O ! here he comes . How now , how now ! + +Sirrah , walk off . + + +Have you seen my cousin ? + +No , Pandarus : I stalk about her door , +Like a strange soul upon the Stygian banks +Staying for waftage . O ! be thou my Charon , +And give me swift transportance to those fields +Where I may wallow in the lily-beds +Propos'd for the deserver ! O gentle Pandarus ! +From Cupid's shoulder pluck his painted wings , +And fly with me to Cressid . + +Walk here i' the orchard . I'll bring her straight . + + +I am giddy , expectation whirls me round . +The imaginary relish is so sweet +That it enchants my sense . What will it be +When that the watery palate tastes indeed +Love's thrice-repured nectar ? death , I fear me , +Swounding destruction , or some joy too fine , +Too subtle-potent , tun'd too sharp in sweetness +For the capacity of my ruder powers : +I fear it much ; and I do fear besides +That I shall lose distinction in my joys ; +As doth a battle , when they charge on heaps +The enemy flying . + + +She's making her ready : she'll come straight : you must be witty now . She does so blush , and fetches her wind so short , as if she were frayed with a sprite : I'll fetch her . It is the prettiest villain : she fetches her breath as short as a new-ta'en sparrow . + + +Even such a passion doth embrace my bosom ; +My heart beats thicker than a fev'rous pulse ; +And all my powers do their bestowing lose , +Like vassalage at unawares encountering +The eye of majesty . + + +Come , come , what need you blush ? shame's a baby . Here she is now : swear the oaths now to her that you have sworn to me . What ! are you gone again ? you must be watched ere you be made tame , must you ? Come your ways , come your ways ; an you draw backward , we'll put you i' the fills . Why do you not speak to her ? Come , draw this curtain , and let's see your picture . Alas the day , how loath you are to offend day-light ! an 'twere dark , you'd close sooner . So , so ; rub on , and kiss the mistress . How now ! a kiss in fee-farm ! build there , carpenter ; the air is sweet . Nay , you shall fight your hearts out ere I part you . The falcon as the tercel , for all the ducks i' the river : go to , go to . + +You have bereft me of all words , lady . + +Words pay no debts , give her deeds ; but she'll bereave you of the deeds too if she call your activity in question . What ! billing again ? Here's 'In witness whereof the parties interchangeably' Come in , come in : I'll go get a fire . + + +Will you walk in , my lord ? + +O Cressida ! how often have I wished me thus ! + +Wished , my lord ! The gods grant ,O my lord ! + +What should they grant ? what makes this pretty abruption ? What too curious dreg espies my sweet lady in the fountain of our love ? + +More dregs than water , if my fears have eyes . + +Fears make devils of cherubins ; they never see truly . + +Blind fear , that seeing reason leads , finds safer footing than blind reason stumbling without fear : to fear the worst oft cures the worse . + +O ! let my lady apprehend no fear : in all Cupid's pageant there is presented no monster . + +Nor nothing monstrous neither ? + +Nothing but our undertakings ; when we vow to weep seas , live in fire , eat rocks , tame tigers ; thinking it harder for our mistress to devise imposition enough than for us to undergo any difficulty imposed . This is the monstruosity in love , lady , that the will is infinite , and the execution confined ; that the desire is boundless , and the act a slave to limit . + +They say all lovers swear more performance than they are able , and yet reserve an ability that they never perform ; vowing more than the perfection of ten and discharging less than the tenth part of one . They that have the voice of lions and the act of hares , are they not monsters ? + +Are there such ? such are not we . Praise us as we are tasted , allow us as we prove ; our head shall go bare , till merit crown it . No perfection in reversion shall have a praise in present : we will not name desert before his birth , and , being born , his addition shall be humble . Few words to fair faith : Troilus shall be such to Cressid , as what envy can say worst shall be a mock for his truth ; and what truth can speak truest not truer than Troilus . + +Will you walk in , my lord ? + + +What ! blushing still ? have you not done talking yet ? + +Well , uncle , what folly I commit , I dedicate to you . + +I thank you for that : if my lord get a boy of you , you'll give him me . Be true to my lord ; if he flinch , chide me for it . + +You know now your hostages ; your uncle's word , and my firm faith . + +Nay , I'll give my word for her too . Our kindred , though they be long ere they are wooed , they are constant being won : they are burrs , I can tell you ; they'll stick where they are thrown . + +Boldness comes to me now , and brings me heart : +Prince Troilus , I have lov'd you night and day +For many weary months . + +Why was my Cressid then so hard to win ? + +Hard to seem won ; but I was won , my lord , +With the first glance that ever pardon me +If I confess much you will play the tyrant . +I love you now ; but , till now , not so much +But I might master it : in faith , I lie ; +My thoughts were like unbridled children , grown +Too headstrong for their mother . See , we fools ! +Why have I blabb'd ? who shall be true to us +When we are so unsecret to ourselves ? +But , though I lov'd you well , I woo'd you not ; +And yet , good faith , I wish'd myself a man , +Or that we women had men's privilege +Of speaking first . Sweet , bid me hold my tongue ; +For in this rapture I shall surely speak +The thing I shall repent . See , see ! your silence , +Cunning in dumbness , from my weakness draws +My very soul of counsel . Stop my mouth . + +And shall , albeit sweet music issues thence . + +Pretty , i' faith . + +My lord , I do beseech you , pardon me ; +'Twas not my purpose thus to beg a kiss : +I am asham'd : O heavens ! what have I done ? +For this time will I take my leave , my lord . + +Your leave , sweet Cressid ? + +Leave ! an you take leave till to-morrow morning , + +Pray you , content you . + +What offends you , lady ? + +Sir , mine own company . + +You cannot shun yourself . + +Let me go and try : +I have a kind of self resides with you ; +But an unkind self , that itself will leave , +To be another's fool . I would be gone : +Where is my wit ? I speak I know not what . + +Well know they what they speak that speak so wisely . + +Perchance , my lord , I show more craft than love ; +And fell so roundly to a large confession , +To angle for your thoughts : but you are wise , +Or else you love not , for to be wise , and love , +Exceeds man's might ; that dwells with gods above . + +O ! that I thought it could be in a woman +As if it can I will presume in you +To feed for aye her lamp and flames of love ; +To keep her constancy in plight and youth , +Outliving beauty's outward , with a mind +That doth renew swifter than blood decays : +Or that persuasion could but thus convince me , +That my integrity and truth to you +Might be affronted with the match and weight +Of such a winnow'd purity in love ; +How were I then uplifted ! but , alas ! +I am as true as truth's simplicity , +And simpler than the infancy of truth . + +In that I'll war with you . + +O virtuous fight ! +When right with right wars who shall be most right . +True swains in love shall in the world to come +Approve their truths by Troilus : when their rimes , +Full of protest , of oath , and big compare , +Want similes , truth tir'd with iteration , +As true as steel , as plantage to the moon , +As sun to day , as turtle to her mate , +As iron to adamant , as earth to the centre , +Yet , after all comparisons of truth , +As truth's authentic author to be cited , +'As true as Troilus' shall crown up the verse +And sanctify the numbers . + +Prophet may you be ! +If I be false , or swerve a hair from truth , +When time is old and hath forgot itself , +When waterdrops have worn the stones of Troy , +And blind oblivion swallow'd cities up , +And mighty states characterless are grated +To dusty nothing , yet let memory , +From false to false , among false maids in love +Upbraid my falsehood ! when they have said 'as false +As air , as water , wind , or sandy earth , +As fox to lamb , as wolf to heifer's calf , +Pard to the hind , or stepdame to her son ;' +Yea , let them say , to stick the heart of falsehood , +'As false as Cressid .' + +Go to , a bargain made ; seal it , seal it : I'll be the witness . Here I hold your hand , here my cousin's . If ever you prove false one to another , since I have taken such pains to bring you together , let all pitiful goers-between be called to the world's end after my name ; call them all Pandars ; let all constant men be Troiluses , all false women Cressids , and all brokers-between Pandars ! say , Amen . + +Amen . + +Amen . + +Amen . Whereupon I will show you a chamber and a bed ; which bed , because it shall not speak of your pretty encounters , press it to death : away ! +And Cupid grant all tongue-tied maidens here +Bed , chamber , Pandar to provide this gear ! + + +Now , princes , for the service I have done you , +The advantage of the time prompts me aloud +To call for recompense . Appear it to your mind +That through the sight I bear in things to come , +I have abandon'd Troy , left my possession , +Incurr'd a traitor's name ; expos'd myself , +From certain and possess'd conveniences , +To doubtful fortunes ; sequestering from me all +That time , acquaintance , custom , and condition +Made tame and most familiar to my nature ; +And here , to do you service , have become +As new into the world , strange , unacquainted : +I do beseech you , as in way of taste , +To give me now a little benefit , +Out of those many register'd in promise , +Which , you say , live to come in my behalf . + +What wouldst thou of us , Trojan ? make demand . + +You have a Trojan prisoner , call'd Antenor , +Yesterday took : Troy holds him very dear . +Oft have you often have you thanks therefore +Desir'd my Cressid in right great exchange , +Whom Troy hath still denied ; but this Antenor +I know is such a wrest in their affairs +That their negociations all must slack , +Wanting his manage ; and they will almost +Give us a prince of blood , a son of Priam , +In change of him : let him be sent , great princes , +And he shall buy my daughter ; and her presence +Shall quite strike off all service I have done , +In most accepted pain . + +Let Diomedes bear him , +And bring us Cressid hither : Calchas shall have +What he requests of us . Good Diomed , +Furnish you fairly for this interchange : +Withal bring word if Hector will to-morrow +Be answer'd in his challenge : Ajax is ready . + +This shall I undertake ; and 'tis a burden +Which I am proud to bear . + +Achilles stands in the entrance of his tent : +Please it our general to pass strangely by him , +As if he were forgot ; and , princes all , +Lay negligent and loose regard upon him : +I will come last . 'Tis like he'll question me +Why such unplausive eyes are bent on him : +If so , I have derision med'cinable +To use between your strangeness and his pride , +Which his own will shall have desire to drink . +It may do good : pride hath no other glass +To show itself but pride , for supple knees +Feed arrogance and are the poor man's fees . + +We'll execute your purpose , and put on +A form of strangeness as we pass along : +So do each lord , and either greet him not , +Or else disdainfully , which shall shake him more +Than if not look'd on . I will lead the way . + +What ! comes the general to speak with me ? +You know my mind ; I'll fight no more 'gainst Troy . + +What says Achilles ? would he aught with us ? + +Would you , my lord , aught with the general ? + +No . + +Nothing , my lord . + +The better . + + +Good day , good day . + +How do you ? how do you ? + + +What ! does the cuckold scorn me ? + +How now , Patroclus ? + +Good morrow , Ajax . + +Ha ? + +Good morrow . + +Ay , and good next day too . + + +What mean these fellows ? Know they not Achilles ? + +They pass by strangely : they were us'd to bend , +To send their smiles before them to Achilles ; +To come as humbly as they us'd to creep +To holy altars . + +What ! am I poor of late ? +'Tis certain , greatness , once fall'n out with fortune , +Must fall out with men too : what the declin'd is +He shall as soon read in the eyes of others +As feel in his own fall ; for men , like butterflies , +Show not their mealy wings but to the summer , +And not a man , for being simply man , +Hath any honour , but honour for those honours +That are without him , as places , riches , and favour , +Prizes of accident as oft as merit : +Which when they fall , as being slippery standers , +The love that lean'd on them as slippery too , +Do one pluck down another , and together +Die in the fall . But 'tis not so with me : +Fortune and I are friends : I do enjoy +At ample point all that I did possess , +Save these men's looks ; who do , methinks , find out +Something not worth in me such rich beholding +As they have often given . Here is Ulysses : +I'll interrupt his reading . +How now , Ulysses ! + +Now , great Thetis' son ! + +What are you reading ? + +A strange fellow here +Writes me , +That man , how dearly ever parted , +How much in having , or without or in , +Cannot make boast to have that which he hath , +Nor feels not what he owes but by reflection ; +As when his virtues shining upon others +Heat them , and they retort that heat again +To the first giver . + +This is not strange , Ulysses ! +The beauty that is borne here in the face +The bearer knows not , but commends itself +To others' eyes : nor doth the eye itself +That most pure spirit of sense behold itself , +Not going from itself ; but eye to eye oppos'd +Salutes each other with each other's form ; +For speculation turns not to itself +Till it hath travell'd and is mirror'd there +Where it may see itself . This is not strange at all . + +I do not strain at the position , +It is familiar , but at the author s drift ; +Who in his circumstance expressly proves +That no man is the lord of any thing +Though in and of him there be much consisting +Till he communicate his parts to others : +Nor doth he of himself know them for aught +Till he behold them form'd in the applause +Where they're extended ; who , like an arch , reverberates +The voice again , or , like a gate of steel +Fronting the sun , receives and renders back +His figure and his heat . I was much rapt in this ; +And apprehended here immediately +The unknown Ajax . +Heavens , what a man is there ! a very horse , +That has he knows not what . Nature , what things there are , +Most abject in regard , and dear in use ! +What things again most dear in the esteem +And poor in worth ! Now shall we see to-morrow , +An act that very chance doth throw upon him , +Ajax renown'd . O heavens ! what some men do ; +While some men leave to do . +How some men creep in skittish Fortune's hall , +Whiles others play the idiots in her eyes ! +How one man eats into another's pride , +While pride is fasting in his wantonness ! +To see these Grecian lords ! why , even already +They clap the lubber Ajax on the shoulder , +As if his foot were on brave Hector's breast , +And great Troy shrinking . + +I do believe it ; for they pass'd by me +As misers do by beggars , neither gave to me +Good word or look : what ! are my deeds forgot ? + +Time hath , my lord , a wallet at his back , +Wherein he puts alms for oblivion , +A great-siz'd monster of ingratitudes : +Those scraps are good deeds past ; which are devour'd +As fast as they are made , forgot as soon +As done : perseverance , dear my lord , +Keeps honour bright : to have done , is to hang +Quite out of fashion , like a rusty mail +In monumental mockery . Take the instant way ; +For honour travels in a strait so narrow +Where one but goes abreast : keep , then , the path ; +For emulation hath a thousand sons +That one by one pursue : if you give way , +Or hedge aside from the direct forthright , +Like to an enter'd tide they all rush by +And leave you hindmost ; +Or , like a gallant horse fall'n in first rank , +Lie there for pavement to the abject rear , +O'errun and trampled on : then what they do in present , +Though less than yours in past , must o'ertop yours ; +For time is like a fashionable host , +That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand , +And with his arms outstretch'd , as he would fly , +Grasps in the comer : welcome ever smiles , +And farewell goes out sighing . O ! let not virtue seek +Remuneration for the thing it was ; +For beauty , wit , +High birth , vigour of bone , desert in service , +Love , friendship , charity , are subjects all +To envious and calumniating time . +One touch of nature makes the whole world kin , +That all with one consent praise new-born gawds , +Though they are made and moulded of things past , +And give to dust that is a little gilt +More laud than gilt o'er-dusted . +The present eye praises the present object : +Then marvel not , thou great and complete man , +That all the Greeks begin to worship Ajax ; +Since things in motion sooner catch the eye +Than what not stirs . The cry went once on thee , +And still it might , and yet it may again , +If thou wouldst not entomb thyself alive , +And case thy reputation in thy tent ; +Whose glorious deeds , but in these fields of late , +Made emulous missions 'mongst the gods themselves , +And drave great Mars to faction . + +Of this my privacy +I have strong reasons . + +But 'gainst your privacy +The reasons are more potent and heroical . +'Tis known , Achilles , that you are in love +With one of Priam's daughters . + +Ha ! known ! + +Is that a wonder ? +The providence that's in a watchful state +Knows almost every grain of Plutus' gold , +Finds bottom in the uncomprehensive deeps , +Keeps place with thought , and almost , like the gods , +Does thoughts unveil in their dumb cradles . +There is a mystery with whom relation +Durst never meddle in the soul of state , +Which hath an operation more divine +Than breath or pen can give expressure to . +All the commerce that you have had with Troy +As perfectly is ours as yours , my lord ; +And better would it fit Achilles much +To throw down Hector than Polyxena ; +But it must grieve young Pyrrhus now at home , +When fame shall in our islands sound her trump , +And all the Greekish girls shall tripping sing , +'Great Hector's sister did Achilles win , +But our great Ajax bravely beat down him .' +Farewell , my lord : I as your lover speak ; +The fool slides o'er the ice that you should break . + + +To this effect , Achilles , have I mov'd you . +A woman impudent and mannish grown +Is not more loath'd than an effeminate man +In time of action . I stand condemn'd for this : +They think my little stomach to the war +And your great love to me restrains you thus . +Sweet , rouse yourself ; and the weak wanton Cupid +Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold , +And , like a dew-drop from the lion's mane , +Be shook to air . + +Shall Ajax fight with Hector ? + +Ay ; and perhaps receive much honour by him . + +I see my reputation is at stake ; +My fame is shrewdly gor'd . + +O ! then , beware ; +Those wounds heal ill that men do give themselves : +Omission to do what is necessary +Seals a commission to a blank of danger ; +And danger , like an ague , subtly taints +Even then when we sit idly in the sun . + +Go call Thersites hither , sweet Patroclus : +I'll send the fool to Ajax and desire him +T' invite the Trojan lords after the combat +To see us here unarmed . I have a woman's longing , +An appetite that I am sick withal , +To see great Hector in his weeds of peace ; +To talk with him and to behold his visage , +Even to my full of view . A labour sav'd ! + + +A wonder ! + +What ? + +Ajax goes up and down the field , asking for himself . + +How so ? + +He must fight singly to-morrow with Hector , and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling that he raves in saying nothing . + +How can that be ? + +Why , he stalks up and down like a peacock , a stride and a stand ; ruminates like a hostess that hath no arithmetic but her brain to set down her reckoning ; bites his lip with a politic regard , as who should say 'There were wit in this head , an 'twould out ;' and so there is , but it lies as coldly in him as fire in a flint , which will not show without knocking . The man's undone for ever ; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat , he'll break't himself in vainglory . He knows not me : I said , 'Good morrow , Ajax ;' and he replies , 'Thanks , Agamemnon .' What think you of this man that takes me for the general ? He's grown a very land-fish , languageless , a monster . A plague of opinion ! a man may wear it on both sides , like a leather jerkin . + +Thou must be my ambassador to him , Thersites . + +Who , I ? why , he'll answer nobody ; he professes not answering ; speaking is for beggars ; he wears his tongue in his arms . I will put on his presence : let Patroclus make demands to me , you shall see the pageant of Ajax . + +To him , Patroclus : tell him , I humbly desire the valiant Ajax to invite the most valorous Hector to come unarmed to my tent ; and to procure safe-conduct for his person of the magnanimous and most illustrious , six-or-seven-times-honoured captain-general of the Grecian army , Agamemnon , et c tera . Do this . + +Jove bless great Ajax ! + +Hum ! + +I come from the worthy Achilles , + +Ha ! + +Who most humbly desires you to invite Hector to his tent , + +Hum ! + +And to procure safe-conduct from Agamemnon . + +Agamemnon ! + +Ay , my lord . + +Ha ! + +What say you to't ? + +God be wi' you , with all my heart . + +Your answer , sir . + +If to-morrow be a fair day , by eleven o'clock it will go one way or other ; howsoever , he shall pay for me ere he has me . + +Your answer , sir . + +Fare you well , with all my heart . + +Why , but he is not in this tune , is he ? + +No , but he's out o' tune thus . What music will be in him when Hector has knocked out his brains , I know not ; but , I am sure , none , unless the fiddler Apollo get his sinews to make catlings on . + +Come , thou shalt bear a letter to him straight . + +Let me bear another to his horse , for that's the more capable creature . + +My mind is troubled , like a fountain stirr'd ; +And I myself see not the bottom of it . + + +Would the fountain of your mind were clear again , that I might water an ass at it ! I had rather be a tick in a sheep than such a valiant ignorance . + +See , ho ! who is that there ? + +It is the Lord neas . + +Is the prince there in person ? +Had I so good occasion to lie long +As you , Prince Paris , nothing but heavenly business +Should rob my bed-mate of my company . + +That's my mind too . Good morrow , Lord neas . + +A valiant Greek , neas ; take his hand : +Witness the process of your speech , wherein +You told how Diomed , a whole week by days , +Did haunt you in the field . + +Health to you , valiant sir , +During all question of the gentle truce ; +But when I meet you arm'd , as black defiance +As heart can think or courage execute . + +The one and other Diomed embraces . +Our bloods are now in calm , and , so long , health ! +But when contention and occasion meet , +By Jove , I'll play the hunter for thy life +With all my force , pursuit , and policy . + +And thou shalt hunt a lion , that will fly +With his face backward . In humane gentleness , +Welcome to Troy ! now , by Anchises' life , +Welcome , indeed ! By Venus' hand I swear , +No man alive can love in such a sort +The thing he means to kill more excellently . + +We sympathize . Jove , let neas live , +If to my sword his fate be not the glory , +A thousand complete courses of the sun ! +But , in mine emulous honour , let him die , +With every joint a wound , and that to-morrow ! + +We know each other well . + +We do ; and long to know each other worse . + +This is the most despiteful gentle greeting , +The noblest hateful love , that e'er I heard of . +What business , lord , so early ? + +I was sent for to the king ; but why , I know not . + +His purpose meets you : 'twas to bring this Greek +To Calchas' house , and there to render him , +For the enfreed Antenor , the fair Cressid . +Let's have your company ; or , if you please , +Haste there before us . I constantly do think +Or rather , call my thought a certain knowledge +My brother Troilus lodges there to-night : +Rouse him and give him note of our approach , +With the whole quality wherefore : I fear +We shall be much unwelcome . + +That I assure you : +Troilus had rather Troy were borne to Greece +Than Cressid borne from Troy . + +There is no help ; +The bitter disposition of the time +Will have it so . On , lord ; we'll follow you . + +Good morrow , all . + + +And tell me , noble Diomed ; faith , tell me true , +Even in the soul of sound good-fellowship , +Who , in your thoughts , merits fair Helen best +Myself or Menelaus ? + +Both alike : +He merits well to have her that doth seek her +Not making any scruple of her soilure +With such a hell of pain and world of charge , +And you as well to keep her that defend her +Not palating the taste of her dishonour +With such a costly loss of wealth and friends : +He , like a puling cuckold , would drink up +The lees and dregs of a flat tamed piece ; +You , like a lecher , out of whorish loins +Are pleas'd to breed out your inheritors : +Both merits pois'd , each weighs nor less nor more ; +But he as he , the heavier for a whore . + +You are too bitter to your country-woman . + +She's bitter to her country . Hear me , Paris : +For every false drop in her bawdy veins +A Grecian's life hath sunk ; for every scruple +Of her contaminated carrion weight +A Trojan hath been slain . Since she could speak , +She hath not given so many good words breath +As for her Greeks and Trojans suffer'd death . + +Fair Diomed , you do as chapmen do , +Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy ; +But we in silence hold this virtue well , +We'll not commend what we intend to sell . +Here lies our way . + + +Dear , trouble not yourself : the morn is cold . + +Then , sweet my lord , I'll call mine uncle down : +He shall unbolt the gates . + +Trouble him not ; +To bed , to bed : sleep kill those pretty eyes , +And give as soft attachment to thy senses +As infants' empty of all thought ! + +Good morrow then . + +I prithee now , to bed . + +Are you aweary of me ? + +O Cressida ! but that the busy day , +Wak'd by the lark , hath rous'd the ribald crows , +And dreaming night will hide our joys no longer , +I would not from thee . + +Night hath been too brief . + +Beshrew the witch ! with venomous wights she stays +As tediously as hell , but flies the grasps of love +With wings more momentary-swift than thought . +You will catch cold , and curse me . + +Prithee , tarry : +You men will never tarry . +O foolish Cressid ! I might have still held off , +And then you would have tarried . Hark ! there's one up . + +What ! are all the doors open here ? + +It is your uncle . + +A pestilence on him ! now will he be mocking : I shall have such a life ! + + +How now , how now ! how go maiden-heads ? +Here , you maid ! where's my cousin Cressid ? + +Go hang yourself , you naughty mocking uncle ! +You bring me to do and then you flout me too . + +To do what ? to do what ? let her say what : what have I brought you to do ? + +Come , come ; beshrew your heart ! you'll ne'er be good , +Nor suffer others . + +Ha , ha ! Alas , poor wretch ! a poor capocchia ! hast not slept to-night ? would he not , a naughty man , let it sleep ? a bugbear take him ! + +Did not I tell you ? 'would he were knock'd o' the head ! + +Who's that at door ? good uncle , go and see . +My lord , come you again into my chamber : +You smile , and mock me , as if I meant naughtily . + +Ha , ha ! + +Come , you are deceiv'd , I think of no such thing . + +How earnestly they knock ! Pray you , come in : +I would not for half Troy have you seen here . + + +Who's there ? what's the matter ? will you beat down the door ? How now ! what's the matter ? + + +Good morrow , lord , good morrow . + +Who's there ? my Lord neas ! By my troth , +I knew you not : what news with you so early ? + +Is not Prince Troilus here ? + +Here ! what should he do here ? + +Come , he is here , my lord : do not deny him : it doth import him much to speak with me . + +Is he here , say you ? 'tis more than I know , I'll be sworn : for my own part , I came in late . What should he do here ? + +Who ! nay , then : come , come , you'll do him wrong ere you're 'ware . You'll be so true to him , to be false to him . Do not you know of him , but yet go fetch him hither ; go . + + +How now ! what's the matter ? + +My lord , I scarce have leisure to salute you , +My matter is so rash : there is at hand +Paris your brother , and Deiphobus , +The Grecian Diomed , and our Antenor +Deliver'd to us ; and for him forthwith , +Ere the first sacrifice , within this hour , +We must give up to Diomedes' hand +The Lady Cressida . + +Is it so concluded ? + +By Priam , and the general state of Troy : +They are at hand and ready to effect it . + +How my achievements mock me ! +I will go meet them : and , my Lord neas , +We met by chance ; you did not find me here . + +Good , good , my lord ; the secrets of nature +Have not more gift in taciturnity . + + +Is't possible ? no sooner got but lost ? +The devil take Antenor ! the young prince will go mad : a plague upon Antenor ! I would they had broke's neck ! + + +How now ! What is the matter ? Who was here ? + +Ah ! ah ! + +Why sigh you so profoundly ? where's my lord ? gone ! Tell me , sweet uncle , what's the matter ? + +Would I were as deep under the earth as I am above ! + +O the gods ! what's the matter ? + +Prithee , get thee in . Would thou hadst ne'er been born ! I knew thou wouldst be his death . O poor gentleman ! A plague upon Antenor ! + +Good uncle , I beseech you , on my knees I beseech you , what's the matter ? + +Thou must be gone , wench , thou must be gone ; thou art changed for Antenor . Thou must to thy father , and be gone from Troilus : 'twill be his death ; 'twill be his bane ; he cannot bear it . + +O you immortal gods ! I will not go . + +Thou must . + +I will not , uncle : I have forgot my father ; +I know no touch of consanguinity ; +No kin , no love , no blood , no soul so near me +As the sweet Troilus . O you gods divine ! +Make Cressid's name the very crown of falsehood +If ever she leave Troilus ! Time , force , and death , +Do to this body what extremes you can ; +But the strong base and building of my love +Is as the very centre of the earth , +Drawing all things to it . I'll go in and weep , + +Do , do . + +Tear my bright hair , and scratch my praised cheeks , +Crack my clear voice with sobs , and break my heart +With sounding Troilus . I will not go from Troy . + + +It is great morning , and the hour prefix'd +Of her delivery to this valiant Greek +Comes fast upon . Good my brother Troilus , +Tell you the lady what she is to do , +And haste her to the purpose . + +Walk into her house ; +I'll bring her to the Grecian presently : +And to his hand when I deliver her , +Think it an altar , and thy brother Troilus +A priest , there offering to it his own heart . + + +I know what 'tis to love ; +And would , as I shall pity , I could help ! +Please you walk in , my lords . + + +Be moderate , be moderate . + +Why tell you me of moderation ? +The grief is fine , full , perfect , that I taste , +And violenteth in a sense as strong +As that which causeth it : how can I moderate it ? +If I could temporize with my affection , +Or brew it to a weak and colder palate , +The like allayment could I give my grief : +My love admits no qualifying dross ; +No more my grief , in such a precious loss . + + +Here , here , here he comes . Ah ! sweet ducks . + +O Troilus ! Troilus ! + +What a pair of spectacles is here ! Let me embrace too . 'O heart ,' as the goodly saying is , + +O heart , heavy heart , +Why sigh'st thou without breaking ? + +when he answers again , + +Because thou canst not ease thy smart +By friendship nor by speaking . + +There was never a truer rime . Let us cast away nothing , for we may live to have need of such a verse : we see it , we see it . How now , lambs ! + +Cressid , I love thee in so strain'd a purity , +That the bless'd gods , as angry with my fancy , +More bright in zeal than the devotion which +Cold lips blow to their deities , take thee from me . + +Have the gods envy ? + +Ay , ay , ay , ay ; 'tis too plain a case . + +And is it true that I must go from Troy ? + +A hateful truth . + +What ! and from Troilus too ? + +From Troy and Troilus . + +Is it possible ? + +And suddenly ; where injury of chance +Puts back leave-taking , justles roughly by +All time of pause , rudely beguiles our lips +Of all rejoindure , forcibly prevents +Our lock'd embrasures , strangles our dear vows +Even in the birth of our own labouring breath . +We two , that with so many thousand sighs +Did buy each other , must poorly sell ourselves +With the rude brevity and discharge of one . +Injurious time now with a robber's haste +Crams his rich thievery up , he knows not how : +As many farewells as be stars in heaven , +With distinct breath and consign'd kisses to them , +He fumbles up into a loose adieu , +And scants us with a single famish'd kiss , +Distasted with the salt of broken tears . + +My lord , is the lady ready ? + +Hark ! you are call'd : some say the Genius so +Cries 'Come !' to him that instantly must die . +Bid them have patience ; she shall come anon . + +Where are my tears ? rain , to lay this wind , or my heart will be blown up by the root ! + + +I must then to the Grecians ? + +No remedy . + +A woeful Cressid 'mongst the merry Greeks ! +When shall we see again ? + +Hear me , my love . Be thou but true of heart , + +I true ! how now ! what wicked deem is this ? + +Nay , we must use expostulation kindly , +For it is parting from us : +I speak not 'be thou true ,' as fearing thee , +For I will throw my glove to Death himself , +That there's no maculation in thy heart ; +But , 'be thou true ,' say I , to fashion in +My sequent protestation ; be thou true , +And I will see thee . + +O ! you shall be expos'd , my lord , to dangers +As infinite as imminent ; but I'll be true . + +And I'll grow friend with danger . Wear this sleeve . + +And you this glove . When shall I see you ? + +I will corrupt the Grecian sentinels , +To give thee nightly visitation . +But yet , be true . + +O heavens ! 'be true' again ! + +Hear why I speak it , love : +The Grecian youths are full of quality ; +They're loving , well compos'd , with gifts of nature , +Flowing and swelling o'er with arts and exercise : +How novelty may move , and parts with person , +Alas ! a kind of godly jealousy , +Which , I beseech you , call a virtuous sin , +Makes me afear'd . + +O heavens ! you love me not . + +Die I a villain , then ! +In this I do not call your faith in question +So mainly as my merit : I cannot sing , +Nor heel the high lavolt , nor sweeten talk , +Nor play at subtle games ; fair virtues all , +To which the Grecians are most prompt and pregnant : +But I can tell that in each grace of these +There lurks a still and dumb-discoursive devil +That tempts most cunningly . But be not tempted . + +Do you think I will ? + +No . +But something may be done that we will not : +And sometimes we are devils to ourselves +When we will tempt the frailty of our powers , +Presuming on their changeful potency . + +Nay , good my lord , + +Come , kiss ; and let us part . + +Brother Troilus ! + +Good brother , come you hither ; +And bring neas and the Grecian with you . + +My lord , will you be true ? + +Who , I ? alas , it is my vice , my fault : +While others fish with craft for great opinion , +I with great truth catch mere simplicity ; +Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns , +With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare . +Fear not my truth ; the moral of my wit +Is plain , and true ; there's all the reach of it . + + +Welcome , Sir Diomed ! Here is the lady +Which for Antenor we deliver you : +At the port , lord , I'll give her to thy hand , +And by the way possess thee what she is . +Entreat her fair ; and , by my soul , fair Greek , +If e'er thou stand at mercy of my sword , +Name Cressid , and thy life shall be as safe + +As Priam is in Ilion . + +Fair Lady Cressid , +So please you , save the thanks this prince expects : +The lustre in your eye , heaven in your cheek , +Pleads your fair usage ; and to Diomed +You shall be mistress , and command him wholly . + +Grecian , thou dost not use me courteously , +To shame the zeal of my petition to thee +In praising her : I tell thee , lord of Greece , +She is as far high-soaring o'er thy praises +As thou unworthy to be call'd her servant . +I charge thee use her well , even for my charge ; +For , by the dreadful Pluto , if thou dost not , +Though the great bulk Achilles be thy guard , +I'll cut thy throat . + +O ! be not mov'd , Prince Troilus : +Let me be privileg'd by my place and message +To be a speaker free ; when I am hence , +I'll answer to my lust ; and know you , lord , +I'll nothing do on charge : to her own worth +She shall be priz'd ; but that you say 'be't so ,' +I'll speak it in my spirit and honour , 'no .' + +Come , to the port . I'll tell thee , Diomed , +This brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head . +Lady , give me your hand , and , as you walk , +To our own selves bend we our needful talk . + + +Hark ! Hector's trumpet . + +How have we spent this morning ! +The prince must think me tardy and remiss , +That swore to ride before him to the field . + +'Tis Troilus' fault . Come , come , to field with him . + +Let us make ready straight . + +Yea , with a bridegroom's fresh alacrity , +Let us address to tend on Hector's heels : +The glory of our Troy doth this day lie +On his fair worth and single chivalry . + + +Here art thou in appointment fresh and fair , +Anticipating time with starting courage . +Give with thy trumpet a loud note to Troy , +Thou dreadful Ajax ; that the appalled air +May pierce the head of the great combatant +And hale him hither . + +Thou , trumpet , there's my purse . +Now crack thy lungs , and split thy brazen pipe : +Blow , villain , till thy sphered bias cheek +Outswell the colic of puff'd Aquilon . +Come , stretch thy chest , and let thy eyes spout blood ; +Thou blow'st for Hector . + + +No trumpet answers . + +'Tis but early days . + +Is not yond Diomed with Calchas' daughter ? + +'Tis he , I ken the manner of his gait ; +He rises on the toe : that spirit of his +In aspiration lifts him from the earth . + + +Is this the Lady Cressid ? + +Even she . + +Most dearly welcome to the Greeks , sweet lady . + +Our general doth salute you with a kiss . + +Yet is the kindness but particular ; +'Twere better she were kiss'd in general . + +And very courtly counsel : I'll begin . +So much for Nestor . + +I'll take that winter from your lips , fair lady : +Achilles bids you welcome . + +I had good argument for kissing once . + +But that's no argument for kissing now ; +For thus popp'd Paris in his hardiment , +And parted thus you and your argument . + +O , deadly gall , and theme of all our scorns ! +For which we lose our heads to gild his horns . + +The first was Menelaus' kiss ; this , mine : +Patroclus kisses you . + +O ! this is trim . + +Paris and I , kiss evermore for him . + +I'll have my kiss , sir . Lady , by your leave . + +In kissing , do you render or receive ? + +Both take and give . + +I'll make my match to live , +The kiss you take is better than you give ; +Therefore no kiss . + +I'll give you boot ; I'll give you three for one . + +You're an odd man ; give even , or give none . + +An odd man , lady ! every man is odd . + +No , Paris is not ; for , you know 'tis true , +That you are odd , and he is even with you . + +You fillip me o' the head . + +No , I'll be sworn . + +It were no match , your nail against his horn . +May I , sweet lady , beg a kiss of you ? + +You may . + +I do desire it . + +Why , beg , then . + +Why , then , for Venus' sake , give me a kiss , +When Helen is a maid again , and his . + +I am your debtor ; claim it when 'tis due . + +Never's my day , and then a kiss of you . + +Lady , a word : I'll bring you to your father . + + +A woman of quick sense . + +Fie , fie upon her ! +There's language in her eye , her cheek , her lip , +Nay , her foot speaks ; her wanton spirits look out +At every joint and motive of her body . +O ! these encounterers , so glib of tongue , +That give a coasting welcome ere it comes , +And wide unclasp the tables of their thoughts +To every tickling reader , set them down +For sluttish spoils of opportunity +And daughters of the game . + + +The Trojans' trumpet . + +Yonder comes the troop . + + +Hail , all you state of Greece ! what shall be done +To him that victory commands ? or do you purpose +A victor shall be known ? will you the knights +Shall to the edge of all extremity +Pursue each other , or shall be divided +By any voice or order of the field ? +Hector bade ask . + +Which way would Hector have it ? + +He cares not ; he'll obey conditions . + +'Tis done like Hector ; but securely done , +A little proudly , and great deal misprising +The knight oppos'd . + +If not Achilles , sir . +What is your name ? + +If not Achilles , nothing . + +Therefore Achilles ; but , whate'er , know this : +In the extremity of great and little , +Valour and pride excel themselves in Hector ; +The one almost as infinite as all , +The other blank as nothing . Weigh him well , +And that which looks like pride is courtesy . +This Ajax is half made of Hector's blood : +In love whereof half Hector stays at home ; +Half heart , half hand , half Hector comes to seek +This blended knight , half Trojan , and half Greek . + +A maiden battle , then ? O ! I perceive you . + + +Here is Sir Diomed . Go , gentle knight , +Stand by our Ajax : as you and Lord neas +Consent upon the order of their fight , +So be it ; either to the uttermost , +Or else a breath : the combatants being kin +Half stints their strife before their strokes begin . + + +They are oppos'd already . + +What Trojan is that same that looks so heavy ? + +The youngest son of Priam , a true knight : +Not yet mature , yet matchless ; firm of word , +Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue ; +Not soon provok'd , nor being provok'd soon calm'd : +His heart and hand both open and both free ; +For what he has he gives , what thinks he shows ; +Yet gives he not till judgment guide his bounty , +Nor dignifies an impure thought with breath . +Manly as Hector , but more dangerous ; +For Hector , in his blaze of wrath , subscribes +To tender objects ; but he in heat of action +Is more vindicative than jealous love . +They call him Troilus , and on him erect +A second hope , as fairly built as Hector . +Thus says neas ; one that knows the youth +Even to his inches , and with private soul +Did in great Ilion thus translate him to me . + + +They are in action . + +Now , Ajax , hold thine own ! + +Hector , thou sleep'st ; awake thee ! + +His blows are well dispos'd : there , Ajax ! + +You must no more . + + +Princes , enough , so please you . + +I am not warm yet ; let us fight again . + +As Hector pleases . + +Why , then will I no more : +Thou art , great lord , my father's sister's son , +A cousin-german to great Priam's seed ; +The obligation of our blood forbids +A gory emulation 'twixt us twain . +Were thy commixtion Greek and Trojan so +That thou couldst say , 'This hand is Grecian all , +And this is Trojan ; the sinews of this leg +All Greek , and this all Troy ; my mother's blood +Runs on the dexter cheek , and this sinister +Bounds in my father's ,' by Jove multipotent , +Thou shouldst not bear from me a Greekish member +Wherein my sword had not impressure made +Of our rank feud . But the just gods gainsay +That any drop thou borrow'dst from thy mother , +My sacred aunt , should by my mortal sword +Be drain'd ! Let me embrace thee , Ajax ; +By him that thunders , thou hast lusty arms ; +Hector would have them fall upon him thus : +Cousin , all honour to thee ! + +I thank thee , Hector : +Thou art too gentle and too free a man : +I came to kill thee , cousin , and bear hence +A great addition earned in thy death . + +Not Neoptolemus so mirable , +On whose bright crest Fame with her loud'st byes +Cries , 'This is he !' could promise to himself +A thought of added honour torn from Hector . + +There is expectance here from both the sides , +What further you will do . + +We'll answer it ; +The issue is embracement : Ajax , farewell . + +If I might in entreaties find success , +As seld I have the chance ,I would desire +My famous cousin to our Grecian tents . + +'Tis Agamemnon's wish , and great Achilles +Doth long to see unarm'd the valiant Hector . + +neas , call my brother Troilus to me , +And signify this loving interview +To the expecters of our Trojan part ; +Desire them home . Give me thy hand , my cousin ; +I will go eat with thee and see your knights . + +Great Agamemnon comes to meet us here . + +The worthiest of them tell me name by name ; +But for Achilles , mine own searching eyes +Shall find him by his large and portly size . + +Worthy of arms ! as welcome as to one +That would be rid of such an enemy ; +But that's no welcome ; understand more clear , +What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks +And formless ruin of oblivion ; +But in this extant moment , faith and troth , +Strain'd purely from all hollow bias-drawing , +Bids thee , with most divine integrity , +From heart of very heart , great Hector , welcome . + +I thank thee , most imperious Agamemnon . + +My well-fam'd Lord of Troy , no less to you . + +Let me confirm my princely brother's greeting : +You brace of war-like brothers , welcome hither . + +Whom must we answer ? + +The noble Menelaus . + +O ! you , my lord ? by Mars his gauntlet , thanks ! +Mock not that I affect the untraded oath ; +Your quondam wife swears still by Venus' glove : +She's well , but bade me not commend her to you . + +Name her not now , sir ; she's a deadly theme . + +O ! pardon ; I offend . + +I have , thou gallant Trojan , seen thee oft , +Labouring for destiny , make cruel way +Through ranks of Greekish youth : and I have seen thee , +As hot as Perseus , spur thy Phrygian steed , +Despising many forfeits and subduements , +When thou hast hung thy advanc'd sword i' th' air , +Not letting it decline on the declin'd ; +That I have said to some my standers-by , +'Lo ! Jupiter is yonder , dealing life !' +And I have seen thee pause and take thy breath , +When that a ring of Greeks have hemm'd thee in , +Like an Olympian wrestling : this have I seen ; +But this thy countenance , still lock'd in steel , +I never saw till now . I knew thy grandsire , +And once fought with him : he was a soldier good ; +But , by great Mars , the captain of us all , +Never like thee . Let an old man embrace thee ; +And , worthy warrior , welcome to our tents . + +'Tis the old Nestor . + +Let me embrace thee , good old chronicle , +That hast so long walk'd hand in hand with time : +Most reverend Nestor , I am glad to clasp thee . + +I would my arms could match thee in contention , +As they contend with thee in courtesy . + +I would they could . + +Ha ! +By this white beard , I'd fight with thee to-morrow . +Well , welcome , welcome ! I have seen the time . + +I wonder now how yonder city stands , +When we have here her base and pillar by us . + +I know your favour , Lord Ulysses , well . +Ah ! sir , there's many a Greek and Trojan dead , +Since first I saw yourself and Diomed +In Ilion , on your Greekish embassy . + +Sir , I foretold you then what would ensue : +My prophecy is but half his journey yet ; +For yonder walls , that pertly front your town , +Yond towers , whose wanton tops do buss the clouds , +Must kiss their own feet . + +I must not believe you : +There they stand yet , and modestly I think , +The fall of every Phrygian stone will cost +A drop of Grecian blood : the end crowns all , +And that old common arbitrator , Time , +Will one day end it . + +So to him we leave it . +Most gentle and most valiant Hector , welcome . +After the general , I beseech you next +To feast with me and see me at my tent . + +I shall forestall thee , Lord Ulysses , thou ! +Now , Hector , I have fed mine eyes on thee ; +I have with exact view perus'd thee , Hector , +And quoted joint by joint . + +Is this Achilles ? + +I am Achilles . + +Stand fair , I pray thee : let me look on thee . + +Behold thy fill . + +Nay , I have done already . + +Thou art too brief : I will the second time , +As I would buy thee , view thee limb by limb . + +O ! like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er ; +But there's more in me than thou understand'st . +Why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye ? + +Tell me , you heavens , in which part of his body +Shall I destroy him ? whether there , or there , or there ? +That I may give the local wound a name , +And make distinct the very breach whereout +Hector's great spirit flew . Answer me , heavens ! + +It would discredit the bless'd gods , proud man , +To answer such a question . Stand again : +Think'st thou to catch my life so pleasantly +As to prenominate in nice conjecture +Where thou wilt hit me dead ? + +I tell thee , yea . + +Wert thou an oracle to tell me so , +I'd not believe thee . Henceforth guard thee well , +For I'll not kill thee there , nor there , nor there ; +But , by the forge that stithied Mars his helm , +I'll kill thee every where , yea , o'er and o'er . +You wisest Grecians , pardon me this brag ; +His insolence draws folly from my lips ; +But I'll endeavour deeds to match these words , +Or may I never + +Do not chafe thee , cousin : +And you , Achilles , let these threats alone , +Till accident or purpose bring you to't : +You may have every day enough of Hector , +If you have stomach . The general state , I fear , +Can scarce entreat you to be odd with him . + +I pray you , let us see you in the field ; +We have had pelting wars since you refus'd +The Grecians' cause . + +Dost thou entreat me , Hector ? +To-morrow do I meet thee , fell as death ; +To-night all friends . + +Thy hand upon that match . + +First , all you peers of Greece , go to my tent ; +There in the full convive we afterwards , +As Hector's leisure and your bounties shall +Concur together , severally entreat him . +Beat loud the tabourines , let the trumpets blow , +That this great soldier may his welcome know . + + +My Lord Ulysses , tell me , I beseech you , +In what place of the field doth Calchas keep ? + +At Menelaus' tent , most princely Troilus : +There Diomed doth feast with him to-night ; +Who neither looks upon the heaven nor earth , +But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view +On the fair Cressid . + +Shall I , sweet lord , be bound to thee so much , +After we part from Agamemnon's tent , +To bring me thither ? + +You shall command me , sir . +As gentle tell me , of what honour was +This Cressida in Troy ? Had she no lover there +That wails her absence ? + +O , sir ! to such as boasting show their scars +A mock is due . Will you walk on , my lord ? +She was belov'd , she lov'd ; she is , and doth : +But still sweet love is food for fortune's tooth . + + +I'll heat his blood with Greekish wine to-night , +Which with my scimitar I'll cool to-morrow . +Patroclus , let us feast him to the height . + +Here comes Thersites . + + +How now , thou core of envy ! +Thou crusty batch of nature , what's the news ? + +Why , thou picture of what thou seemest , and idol of idiot-worshippers , here's a letter for thee . + +From whence , fragment ? + +Why , thou full dish of fool , from Troy . + +Who keeps the tent now ? + +The surgeon's box , or the patient's wound . + +Well said , adversity ! and what need these tricks ? + +Prithee , be silent , boy : I profit not by thy talk : thou art thought to be Achilles' male varlet . + +Male varlet , you rogue ! what's that ? + +Why , his masculine whore . Now , the rotten diseases of the south , the guts-griping , ruptures , catarrhs , loads o' gravel i' the back , lethargies , cold palsies , raw eyes , dirt-rotten livers , wheezing lungs , bladders full of imposthume , sciaticas , lime-kilns i' the palm , incurable bone-ache , and the rivelled fee-simple of the tetter , take and take again such preposterous discoveries ! + +Why , thou damnable box of envy , thou , what meanest thou to curse thus ? + +Do I curse thee ? + +Why , no , you ruinous butt , you whoreson indistinguishable cur , no . + +No ! why art thou then exasperate , thou idle immaterial skein of sleave silk , thou green sarcenet flap for a sore eye , thou tassel of a prodigal's purse , thou ? Ah ! how the poor world is pestered with such water-flies , diminutives of nature . + +Out , gall ! + +Finch egg ! + +My sweet Patroclus , I am thwarted quite +From my great purpose in to-morrow's battle . +Here is a letter from Queen Hecuba , +A token from her daughter , my fair love , +Both taxing me and gaging me to keep +An oath that I have sworn . I will not break it : +Fall Greeks ; fail fame ; honour or go or stay ; +My major vow lies here , this I'll obey . +Come , come , Thersites , help to trim my tent ; +This night in banqueting must all be spent . +Away , Patroclus ! + + +With too much blood and too little brain , these two may run mad ; but if with too much brain , and too little blood they do , I'll be a curer of madmen . Here's Agamemnon , an honest fellow enough , and one that loves quails , but he has not so much brain as ear-wax : and the goodly transformation of Jupiter there , his brother , the bull , the primitive statue , and oblique memorial of cuckolds ; a thrifty shoeing-horn in a chain , hanging at his brother's leg , to what form but that he is should wit larded with malice and malice forced with wit turn him to ? To an ass , were nothing : he is both ass and ox ; to an ox , were nothing : he is both ox and ass . To be a dog , a mule , a cat , a fitchew , a toad , a lizard , an owl , a puttock , or a herring without a roe , I would not care ; but to be Menelaus ! I would conspire against destiny . Ask me not what I would be , if I were not Thersites , for I care not to be the louse of a lazar , so I were not Menelaus . Hey-day ! spirits and fires ! + + +We go wrong , we go wrong . + +No , yonder 'tis ; +There , where we see the lights . + +I trouble you . + +No , not a whit . + +Here comes himself to guide you . + + +Welcome , brave Hector ; welcome , princes all . + +So now , fair prince of Troy , I bid good-night . +Ajax commands the guard to tend on you . + +Thanks and good-night to the Greeks' general . + +Good-night , my lord . + +Good-night , sweet Lord Menelaus . + +Sweet draught : 'sweet ,' quoth a' ! sweet sink , sweet sewer . + +Good-night and welcome both at once , to those +That go or tarry . + +Good-night . + + +Old Nestor tarries ; and you too , Diomed , +Keep Hector company an hour or two . + +I cannot , lord ; I have important business , +The tide whereof is now . Good-night , great Hector . + +Give me your hand . + +Follow his torch ; he goes to Calchas' tent . +I'll keep you company . + +Sweet sir , you honour me . + +And so , good-night . + + +Come , come , enter my tent . + + +That same Diomed's a false-hearted rogue , a most unjust knave ; I will no more trust him when he leers than I will a serpent when he hisses . He will spend his mouth , and promise , like Brabbler the hound ; but when he performs , astronomers foretell it : it is prodigious , there will come some change : the sun borrows of the moon when Diomed keeps his word . I will rather leave to see Hector , than not to dog him : they say he keeps a Trojan drab , and uses the traitor Calchas' tent . I'll after . Nothing but lechery ! all incontinent varlets . + + +What , are you up here , ho ! speak . + +Who calls ? + +Diomed . Calchas , I think . Where's your daughter ? + +She comes to you . + + +Stand where the torch may not discover us . + + +Cressid comes forth to him . + +How now , my charge ! + +Now , my sweet guardian ! Hark ! a word with you . + + +Yea , so familiar ! + +She will sing any man at first sight . + +And any man may sing her , if he can take her cliff ; she's noted . + +Will you remember ? + +Remember ! yes . + +Nay , but do , then ; +And let your mind be coupled with your words . + +What should she remember ? + +List ! + +Sweet honey Greek , tempt me no more to folly . + +Roguery ! + +Nay , then , + +I'll tell you what , + +Foh , foh ! come , tell a pin : you are forsworn . + +In faith , I cannot . What would you have me do ? + +A juggling trick ,to be secretly open . + +What did you swear you would bestow on me ? + +I prithee , do not hold me to mine oath ; +Bid me do anything but that , sweet Greek . + +Good-night . + +Hold , patience ! + +How now , Trojan ? + +Diomed , + +No , no , good-night ; I'll be your fool no more . + +Thy better must . + +Hark ! one word in your ear . + +O plague and madness ! + +You are mov'd , prince ; let us depart , I pray you , +Lest your displeasure should enlarge itself +To wrathful terms . This place is dangerous ; +The time right deadly . I beseech you , go . + +Behold , I pray you ! + +Nay , good my lord , go off : +You flow to great distraction ; come , my lord . + +I pray thee , stay . + +You have not patience ; come . + +I pray you , stay . By hell , and all hell's torments , +I will not speak a word ! + +And so , good-night . + +Nay , but you part in anger . + +Doth that grieve thee ? +O wither'd truth ! + +Why , how now , lord ! + +By Jove , +I will be patient . + +Guardian !why , Greek ! + +Foh , foh ! adieu ; you palter . + +In faith , I do not : come hither once again . + +You shake , my lord , at something : will you go ? +You will break out . + +She strokes his cheek ! + +Come , come . + +Nay , stay ; by Jove , I will not speak a word : +There is between my will and all offences +A guard of patience : stay a little while . + +How the devil Luxury , with his fat rump and potato finger , tickles these together ! Fry , lechery , fry ! + +But will you , then ? + +In faith , I will , la ; never trust me else . + +Give me some token for the surety of it . + +I'll fetch you one . + + +You have sworn patience . + +Fear me not , sweet lord ; +I will not be myself , nor have cognition +Of what I feel : I am all patience . + + +Now the pledge ! now , now , now ! + +Here , Diomed , keep this sleeve . + +O beauty ! where is thy faith ? + +My lord , + +I will be patient ; outwardly I will . + +You look upon that sleeve ; behold it well . +He lov'd me O false wench !Give't to me again . + +Whose was't ? + +It is no matter , now I have't again . +I will not meet with you to-morrow night . +I prithee , Diomed , visit me no more . + +Now she sharpens : well said , whetstone ! + +I shall have it . + +What , this ? + +Ay , that . + +O ! all you gods . O pretty , pretty pledge ! +Thy master now lies thinking in his bed +Of thee and me ; and sighs , and takes my glove , +And gives me norial dainty kisses to it , +As I kiss thee . Nay , do not snatch it from me ; +He that takes that doth take my heart withal . + +I had your heart before ; this follows it . + +I did swear patience . + +You shall not have it , Diomed ; faith you shall not ; +I'll give you something else . + +I will have this . Whose was it ? + +'Tis no matter . + +Come , tell me whose it was . + +'Twas one's that loved me better than you will . +But , now you have it , take it . + +Whose was it ? + +By all Diana's waiting-women yond , +And by herself , I will not tell you whose . + +To-morrow will I wear it on my helm , +And grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it . + +Wert thou the devil , and wor'st it on thy horn , +It should be challeng'd . + +Well , well , 'tis done , 'tis past : and yet it is not : +I will not keep my word . + +Why then , farewell ; +Thou never shalt mock Diomed again . + +You shall not go : one cannot speak a word , +But it straight starts you . + +I do not like this fooling . + +Nor I , by Pluto : but that that likes not me +Pleases me best . + +What , shall I come ? the hour ? + +Ay , come :O Jove ! +Do come :I shall be plagu'd . + +Farewell till then . + +Good-night : I prithee , come . + +Troilus , farewell ! one eye yet looks on thee , +But with my heart the other eye doth see . +Ah ! poor our sex ; this fault in us I find , +The error of our eye directs our mind . +What error leads must err . O ! then conclude +Minds sway'd by eyes are full of turpitude . + + +A proof of strength she could not publish more , +Unless she said , 'My mind is now turn'd whore .' + +All's done , my lord . + +It is . + +Why stay we , then ? + +To make a recordation to my soul +Of every syllable that here was spoke . +But if I tell how these two did co-act , +Shall I not lie in publishing a truth ? +Sith yet there is a credence in my heart , +An esperance so obstinately strong , +That doth invert the attest of eyes and ears , +As if those organs had deceptions functions , +Created only to calumniate . +Was Cressid here ? + +I cannot conjure , Trojan . + +She was not , sure . + +Most sure she was . + +Why , my negation hath no taste of madness . + +Nor mine , my lord : Cressid was here but now . + +Let it not be believ'd for womanhood ! +Think we had mothers ; do not give advantage +To stubborn critics , apt , without a theme , +For depravation , to square the general sex +By Cressid's rule : rather think this not Cressid . + +What hath she done , prince , that can soil our mothers ? + +Nothing at all , unless that this were she . + +Will he swagger himself out on's own eyes ? + +This she ? no , this is Diomed's Cressida . +If beauty have a soul , this is not she ; +If souls guide vows , if vows be sanctimony , +If sanctimony be the gods' delight , +If there be rule in unity itself , +This is not she . O madness of discourse , +That cause sets up with and against itself ; +Bi-fold authority ! where reason can revolt +Without perdition , and loss assume all reason +Without revolt : this is , and is not , Cressid . +Within my soul there doth conduce a fight +Of this strange nature that a thing inseparate +Divides more wider than the sky and earth ; +And yet the spacious breadth of this division +Admits no orifice for a point as subtle +As Ariachne's broken woof to enter . +Instance , O instance ! strong as Pluto's gates ; +Cressid is mine , tied with the bonds of heaven : +Instance , O instance ! strong as heaven itself ; +The bonds of heaven are slipp'd , dissolv'd , and loos'd ; +And with another knot , five-finger-tied , +The fractions of her faith , orts of her love , +The fragments , scraps , the bits , and greasy reliques +Of her o'er-eaten faith , are bound to Diomed . + +May worthy Troilus be half attach'd +With that which here his passion doth express ? + +Ay , Greek ; and that shall be divulged well +In characters as red as Mars his heart +Inflam'd with Venus : never did young man fancy +With so eternal and so fix'd a soul . +Hark , Greek : as much as I do Cressid love , +So much by weight hate I her Diomed ; +That sleeve is mine that he'll bear on his helm ; +Were it a casque compos'd by Vulcan's skill , +My sword should bite it . Not the dreadful spout +Which shipmen do the hurricano call , +Constring'd in mass by the almighty sun , +Shall dizzy with more clamour Neptune's ear +In his descent than shall my prompted sword +Falling on Diomed . + +He'll tickle it for his concupy . + +O Cressid ! O false Cressid ! false , false , false ! +Let all untruths stand by thy stained name , +And they'll seem glorious . + +O ! contain yourself ; +Your passion draws ears hither . + + +I have been seeking you this hour , my lord . +Hector , by this , is arming him in Troy : +Ajax , your guard , stays to conduct you home . + +Have with you , prince . My courteous lord , adieu . +Farewell , revolted fair ! and Diomed , +Stand fast , and wear a castle on thy head ! + +I'll bring you to the gates . + +Accept distracted thanks . + + +Would I could meet that rogue Diomed ! I would croak like a raven ; I would bode , I would bode . Patroclus would give me any thing for the intelligence of this whore : the parrot will not do more for an almond than he for a commodious drab . Lechery , lechery ; still , wars and lechery : nothing else holds fashion . A burning devil take them ! + + +When was my lord so much ungently temper'd , +To stop his ears against admonishment ? +Unarm , unarm , and do not fight to-day . + +You train me to offend you ; get you in : +By all the everlasting gods , I'll go . + +My dreams will , sure , prove ominous to the day . + +No more , I say . + + +Where is my brother Hector ? + +Here , sister ; arm'd , and bloody in intent . +Consort with me in loud and dear petition ; +Pursue we him on knees ; for I have dream'd +Of bloody turbulence , and this whole night +Hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter . + +O ! 'tis true . + +Ho ! bid my trumpet sound . + +No notes of sally , for the heavens , sweet brother . + +Be gone , I say : the gods have heard me swear . + +The gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows : +They are polluted offerings , more abhorr'd +Than spotted livers in the sacrifice . + +O ! be persuaded : do not count it holy +To hurt by being just : it is as lawful , +For we would give much , to use violent thefts , +And rob in the behalf of charity . + +It is the purpose that makes strong the vow ; +But vows to every purpose must not hold . +Unarm , sweet Hector . + +Hold you still , I say ; +Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate : +Life every man holds dear ; but the dear man +Holds honour far more precious-dear than life . + +How now , young man ! mean'st thou to fight to-day ? + +Cassandra , call my father to persuade . + + +No , faith , young Troilus ; doff thy harness , youth ; +I am to-day i' the vein of chivalry : +Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong , +And tempt not yet the brushes of the war . +Unarm thee , go , and doubt thou not , brave boy , +I'll stand to-day for thee and me and Troy . + +Brother , you have a vice of mercy in you , +Which better fits a lion than a man . + +What vice is that , good Troilus ? chide me for it . + +When many times the captive Grecian falls , +Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword , +You bid them rise , and live . + +O ! 'tis fair play . + +Fool's play , by heaven , Hector . + +How now ! how now ! + +For the love of all the gods , +Let's leave the hermit pity with our mothers , +And when we have our armours buckled on , +The venom'd vengeance ride upon our swords , +Spur them to ruthful work , rein them from ruth . + +Fie , savage , fie ! + +Hector , then 'tis wars . + +Troilus , I would not have you fight to-day . + +Who should withhold me ? +Not fate , obedience , nor the hand of Mars +Beckoning with fiery truncheon my retire ; +Not Priamus and Hecuba on knees , +Their eyes o'ergalled with recourse of tears ; +Nor you , my brother , with your true sword drawn , +Oppos'd to hinder me , should stop my way , +But by my ruin . + + +Lay hold upon him , Priam , hold him fast : +He is thy crutch ; now if thou lose thy stay , +Thou on him leaning , and all Troy on thee , +Fall all together . + +Come , Hector , come ; go back : +Thy wife hath dream'd ; thy mother hath had visions ; +Cassandra doth foresee ; and I myself +Am like a prophet suddenly enrapt , +To tell thee that this day is ominous : +Therefore , come back . + +neas is a-field ; +And I do stand engag'd to many Greeks , +Even in the faith of valour , to appear +This morning to them . + +Ay , but thou shalt not go . + +I must not break my faith . +You know me dutiful ; therefore , dear sir , +Let me not shame respect , but give me leave +To take that course by your consent and voice , +Which you do here forbid me , royal Priam . + +O Priam ! yield not to him . + +Do not , dear father . + +Andromache , I am offended with you : +Upon the love you bear me , get you in . + + +This foolish , dreaming , superstitious girl +Makes all these bodements . + +O farewell ! dear Hector . +Look ! how thou diest ; look ! how thy eye turns pale ; +Look ! how thy wounds do bleed at many vents : +Hark ! how Troy roars : how Hecuba cries out ! +How poor Andromache shrills her dolours forth ! +Behold , distraction , frenzy , and amazement , +Like witless anticks , one another meet , +And all cry Hector ! Hector's dead ! O Hector ! + +Away ! Away ! + +Farewell . Yet , soft ! Hector , I take my leave : +Thou dost thyself and all our Troy deceive . + + +You are amaz'd , my liege , at her exclaim . +Go in and cheer the town : we'll forth and fight ; +Do deeds worth praise and tell you them at night . + +Farewell : the gods with safety stand about thee ! + + +They are at it , hark ! Proud Diomed , believe , +I come to lose my arm , or win my sleeve . + + +Do you hear , my lord ? do you hear ? + +What now ? + +Here's a letter come from yond poor girl . + +Let me read . + +A whoreson tisick , a whoreson rascally tisick so troubles me , and the foolish fortune of this girl ; and what one thing , what another , that I shall leave you one o' these days : and I have a rheum in mine eyes too , and such an ache in my bones that , unless a man were cursed , I cannot tell what to think on't . What says she there ? + +Words , words , mere words , no matter from the heart ; +The effect doth operate another way . + +Go , wind to wind , there turn and change together . +My love with words and errors still she feeds , +But edifies another with her deeds . + + +Now they are clapper-clawing one another ; I'll go look on . That dissembling abominable varlet , Diomed , has got that same scurvy doting foolish young knave's sleeve of Troy there in his helm : I would fain see them meet ; that that same young Trojan ass , that loves the whore there , might send that Greekish whoremasterly villain , with the sleeve , back to the dissembling luxurious drab , on a sleeveless errand . O' the other side , the policy of those crafty swearing rascals ,that stale old mouse-eaten dry cheese , Nestor , and that same dog-fox , Ulysses , is not proved worth a blackberry : they set me up , in policy , that mongrel cur , Ajax , against that dog of as bad a kind , Achilles ; and now is the cur Ajax prouder than the cur Achilles , and will not arm to-day ; whereupon the Grecians begin to proclaim barbarism , and policy grows into an ill opinion . Soft ! here comes sleeve , and t' other . + + +Fly not ; for shouldst thou take the river Styx , +I would swim after . + +Thou dost miscall retire : +I do not fly ; but advantageous care +Withdrew me from the odds of multitude . +Have at thee ! + +Hold thy whore , Grecian ! now for thy whore , Trojan ! now the sleeve , now the sleeve ! + +What art thou , Greek ? art thou for Hector's match ? +Art thou of blood and honour ? + +No , no , I am a rascal ; a scurvy railing knave ; a very filthy rogue . + +I do believe thee : live . + + +God-a-mercy , that thou wilt believe me ; but a plague break thy neck for frighting me ! What's become of the wenching rogues ? I think they have swallowed one another : I would laugh at that miracle ; yet , in a sort , lechery eats itself . I'll seek them . + + +Go , go , my servant , take thou Troilus' horse ; +Present the fair steed to my Lady Cressid : +Fellow , commend my service to her beauty : +Tell her I have chastis'd the amorous Trojan , +And am her knight by proof . + +I go , my lord . + +Renew , renew ! The fierce Polydamas +Hath beat down Menon ; bastard Margarelon +Hath Doreus prisoner , +And stands colossus-wise , waving his beam , +Upon the pashed corses of the kings +Epistrophus and Cedius ; Polixenes is slain ; +Amphimachus , and Thoas , deadly hurt ; +Patroclus ta'en , or slain ; and Palamedes +Sore hurt and bruis'd ; the dreadful Sagittary +Appals our numbers : haste we , Diomed , +To reinforcement , or we perish all . + + +Go , bear Patroclus' body to Achilles ; +And bid the snail-pac'd Ajax arm for shame . +There is a thousand Hectors in the field : +Now here he fights on Galathe his horse , +And there lacks work ; anon he's there afoot , +And there they fly or die , like scaled sculls +Before the belching whale ; then is he yonder , +And there the strawy Greeks , ripe for his edge , +Fall down before him , like the mower's swath : +Here , there , and everywhere , he leaves and takes , +Dexterity so obeying appetite +That what he will he does ; and does so much +That proof is called impossibility . + + +O ! courage , courage , princes ; great Achilles +Is arming , weeping , cursing , vowing vengeance : +Patroclus' wounds have rous'd his drowsy blood , +Together with his mangled Myrmidons , +That noseless , handless , hack'd and chipp'd , come to him , +Crying on Hector . Ajax hath lost a friend , +And foams at mouth , and he is arm'd and at it , +Roaring for Troilus , who hath done to-day +Mad and fantastic execution , +Engaging and redeeming of himself +With such a careless force and forceless care +As if that luck , in very spite of cunning , +Bade him win all . + + +Troilus ! thou coward Troilus ! + + +Ay , there , there . + +So , so , we draw together . + + +Where is this Hector ? +Come , come , thou boy-queller , show thy face ; +Know what it is to meet Achilles angry : +Hector ! where's Hector ? I will none but Hector . + + +Troilus , thou coward Troilus , show thy head ! + + +Troilus , I say ! where's Troilus ? + +What wouldst thou ? + +I would correct him . + +Were I the general , thou shouldst have my office +Ere that correction . Troilus , I say ! what , Troilus ! + + +O traitor Diomed ! Turn thy false face , thou traitor ! +And pay thy life thou ow'st me for my horse ! + +Ha ! art thou there ? + +I'll fight with him alone : stand , Diomed . + +He is my prize ; I will not look upon . + +Come , both you cogging Greeks ; have at you both ! + +Yea , Troilus ? O , well fought , my youngest brother ! + + +Now I do see thee . Ha ! have at thee , Hector ! + +Pause , if thou wilt . + +I do disdain thy courtesy , proud Trojan . +Be happy that my arms are out of use : +My rest and negligence befriend thee now , +But thou anon shalt hear of me again ; +Till when , go seek thy fortune . + + +Fare thee well : +I would have been much more a fresher man , +Had I expected thee . How now , my brother ! + + +Ajax hath ta'en neas : shall it be ? +No , by the flame of yonder glorious heaven , +He shall not carry him : I'll be ta'en too , +Or bring him off . Fate , hear me what I say ! +I reck not though I end my life to-day . + +Stand , stand , thou Greek ; thou art a goodly mark . +No ? wilt thou not ? I like thy armour well ; +I'll frush it , and unlock the rivets all , +But I'll be master of it . Wilt thou not , beast , abide ? +Why then , fly on , I'll hunt thee for thy hide . + + +Come here about me , you my Myrmidons ; +Mark what I say . Attend me where I wheel : +Strike not a stroke , but keep yourselves in breath : +And when I have the bloody Hector found , +Empale him with your weapons round about ; +In fellest manner execute your aims . +Follow me , sirs , and my proceedings eye : +It is decreed , Hector the great must die . + +The cuckold and the cuckold-maker are at it . Now , bull ! now , dog ! 'Loo , Paris , 'loo ! now , my double-henned sparrow ! 'loo , Paris , 'loo ! The bull has the game : 'ware horns , ho ! + +Turn , slave , and fight . + +What art thou ? + +A bastard son of Priam's . + +I am a bastard too ; I love bastards : I am a bastard begot , bastard instructed , bastard in mind , bastard in valour , in every thing illegitimate . One bear will not bite another , and wherefore should one bastard ? Take heed , the quarrel's most ominous to us : if the son of a whore fight for a whore , he tempts judgment . Farewell , bastard . + + +The devil take thee , coward ! + + +Most putrefied core , so fair without , +Thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life . +Now is my day's work done ; I'll take good breath : +Rest , sword ; thou hast thy fill of blood and death . + +Look , Hector , how the sun begins to set ; +How ugly night comes breathing at his heels : +Even with the vail and darking of the sun , +To close the day up , Hector's life is done . + +I am unarm'd ; forego this vantage , Greek . + +Strike , fellows , strike ! this is the man I seek . + +So , Ilion , fall thou next ! now , Troy , sink down ! +Here lies thy heart , thy sinews , and thy bone . +On ! Myrmidons , and cry you all amain , +'Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain .' + +Hark ! a retreat upon our Grecian part . + +The Trojan trumpets sound the like , my lord . + +The dragon wing of night o'erspreads the earth , +And , stickler-like , the armies separates . +My half-supp'd sword , that frankly would have fed , +Pleas'd with this dainty bait , thus goes to bed . + +Come , tie his body to my horse's tail ; +Along the field I will the Trojan trail . + + +Hark ! hark ! what shout is that ? + +Peace , drums ! + + +Achilles ! +Achilles ! Hector's slain ! Achilles ! + +The bruit is , Hector's slain , and by Achilles . + +If it be so , yet bragless let it be ; +Great Hector was a man as good as he . + +March patiently along . Let one be sent +To pray Achilles see us at our tent . +If in his death the gods have us befriended , +Great Troy is ours , and our sharp wars are ended . + +Stand , ho ! yet are we masters of the field . +Never go home ; here starve we out the night . + + +Hector is slain . + +Hector ! the gods forbid ! + +He's dead ; and at the murderer's horse's tail , +In beastly sort , dragg'd through the shameful field . +Frown on , you heavens , effect your rage with speed ! +Sit , gods , upon your thrones , and smile at Troy ! +I say , at once let your brief plagues be mercy , +And linger not our sure destructions on ! + +My lord , you do discomfort all the host . + +You understand me not that tell me so . +I do not speak of flight , of fear , of death ; +But dare all imminence that gods and men +Address their dangers in . Hector is gone : +Who shall tell Priam so , or Hecuba ? +Let him that will a screech-owl aye be call'd +Go in to Troy , and say there Hector's dead : +There is a word will Priam turn to stone , +Make wells and Niobes of the maids and wives , +Cold statues of the youth ; and , in a word , +Scare Troy out of itself . But march away : +Hector is dead ; there is no more to say . +Stay yet . You vile abominable tents , +Thus proudly pight upon our Phrygian plains , +Let Titan rise as early as he dare , +I'll through and through you ! And , thou great-siz'd coward , +No space of earth shall sunder our two hates : +I'll haunt thee like a wicked conscience still , +That mouldeth goblins swift as frenzy's thoughts . +Strike a free march to Troy ! with comfort go : +Hope of revenge shall hide our inward woe . + +But hear you , hear you ! + +Hence , broker lackey ! ignomy and shame +Pursue thy life , and live aye with thy name ! + + +A goodly medicine for my aching bones ! O world ! world ! world ! thus is the poor agent despised . O traitors and bawds , how earnestly are you set a-work , and how ill requited ! why should our endeavour be so loved , and the performance so loathed ? what verse for it ? what instance for it ?Let me see ! + +Full merrily the humble-bee doth sing , +Till he hath lost his honey and his sting ; +And being once subdu'd in armed tail , +Sweet honey and sweet notes together fail . + +Good traders in the flesh , set this in your painted cloths . + +As many as be here of pander's hall , +Your eyes , half out , weep out at Pandar's fall ; +Or if you cannot weep , yet give some groans , +Though not for me , yet for your aching bones . +Brethren and sisters of the hold-door trade , +Some two months hence my will shall here be made . +It should be now , but that my fear is this , +Some galled goose of Winchester would hiss . +Till then I'll sweat , and seek about for eases ; +And at that time bequeath you my diseases + +TWELFTH-NIGHT; OR WHAT YOU WILL + + +If music be the food of love , play on ; +Give me excess of it , that , surfeiting , +The appetite may sicken , and so die . +That strain again ! it had a dying fall : +O ! it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound +That breathes upon a bank of violets , +Stealing and giving odour . Enough ! no more : +'Tis not so sweet now as it was before . +O spirit of love ! how quick and fresh art thou , +That , notwithstanding thy capacity +Receiveth as the sea , nought enters there , +Of what validity and pitch soe'er , +But falls into abatement and low price , +Even in a minute : so full of shapes is fancy , +That it alone is high fantastical . + +Will you go hunt , my lord ? + +What , Curio ? + +The hart . + +Why , so I do , the noblest that I have . +O ! when mine eyes did see Olivia first , +Methought she purg'd the air of pestilence . +That instant was I turn'd into a hart , +And my desires , like fell and cruel hounds , +E'er since pursue me . + +How now ! what news from her ? + +So please my lord , I might not be admitted ; +But from her handmaid do return this answer : +The element itself , till seven years' heat , +Shall not behold her face at ample view ; +But , like a cloistress , she will veiled walk , +And water once a day her chamber round +With eve-offending brine : all this , to season +A brother's dead love , which she would keep fresh +And lasting in her sad remembrance . + +O ! she that hath a heart of that fine frame +To pay this debt of love but to a brother , +How will she love , when the rich golden shaft +Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else +That live in her ; when liver , brain , and heart , +These sovereign thrones , are all supplied , and fill'd +Her sweet perfections with one self king . +Away before me to sweet beds of flowers ; +Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers . + + +What country , friends , is this ? + +This is Illyria , lady . + +And what should I do in Illyria ? +My brother he is in Elysium . +Perchance he is not drown'd : what think you sailors ? + +It is perchance that you yourself were sav'd . + +O my poor brother ! and so perchance may he be . + +True , madam : and , to comfort you with chance , +Assure yourself , after our ship did split , +When you and those poor number sav'd with you +Hung on our driving boat , I saw your brother , +Most provident in peril , bind himself , +Courage and hope both teaching him the practice , +To a strong mast that liv'd upon the sea ; +Where , like Arion on the dolphin's back , +I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves +So long as I could see . + +For saying so there's gold . +Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope , +Whereto thy speech serves for authority , +The like of him . Know'st thou this country ? + +Ay , madam , well ; for I was bred and born +Not three hours' travel from this very place . + +Who governs here ? + +A noble duke , in nature as in name . + +What is his name ? + +Orsino . + +Orsino ! I have heard my father name him : +He was a bachelor then . + +And so is now , or was so very late ; +For but a month ago I went from hence , +And then 'twas fresh in murmur ,as , you know , +What great ones do the less will prattle of , +That he did seek the love of fair Olivia . + +What's she ? + +A virtuous maid , the daughter of a count +That died some twelvemonth since ; then leaving her +In the protection of his son , her brother , +Who shortly also died : for whose dear love , +They say she hath abjur'd the company +And sight of men . + +O ! that I serv'd that lady , +And might not be deliver'd to the world , +Till I had made mine own occasion mellow , +What my estate is . + +That were hard to compass , +Because she will admit no kind of suit , +No , not the duke's . + +There is a fair behaviour in thee , captain ; +And though that nature with a beauteous wall +Doth oft close in pollution , yet of thee +I will believe thou hast a mind that suits +With this thy fair and outward character . +I prithee ,and I'll pay thee bounteously , +Conceal me what I am , and be my aid +For such disguise as haply shall become +The form of my intent . I'll serve this duke : +Thou shalt present me as a eunuch to him : +It may be worth thy pains ; for I can sing +And speak to him in many sorts of music +That will allow me very worth his service . +What else may hap to time I will commit ; +Only shape thou thy silence to my wit . + +Be you his eunuch , and your mute I'll be : +When my tongue blabs , then let mine eyes not see . + +I thank thee : lead me on . + + +What a plague means my niece , to take the death of her brother thus ? I am sure care's an enemy to life . + +By my troth , Sir Toby , you must come in earlier o' nights : your cousin , my lady , takes great exceptions to your ill hours . + +Why , let her except before excepted . + +Ay , but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order . + +Confine ! I'll confine myself no finer than I am . These clothes are good enough to drink in , and so be these boots too : an they be not , let them hang themselves in their own straps . + +That quaffing and drinking will undo you : I heard my lady talk of it yesterday ; and of a foolish knight that you brought in one night here to be her wooer . + +Who ? Sir Andrew Aguecheek ? + +Ay , he . + +He's as tall a man as any's in Illyria . + +What's that to the purpose ? + +Why , he has three thousand ducats a year . + +Ay , but he'll have but a year in all these ducats : he's a very fool and a prodigal . + +Fie , that you'll say so ! he plays o' the viol-de-gamboys , and speaks three or four languages word for word without book , and hath all the good gifts of nature . + +He hath indeed , almost natural ; for , besides that he's a fool , he's a great quarreller ; and but that he hath the gift of a coward to allay the gust he hath in quarrelling , 'tis thought among the prudent he would quickly have the gift of a grave . + +By this hand , they are scoundrels and substractors that say so of him . Who are they ? + +They that add , moreover , he's drunk nightly in your company . + +With drinking healths to my niece . I'll drink to her as long as there is a passage in my throat and drink in Illyria . He's a coward and a coystril , that will not drink to my niece till his brains turn o' the toe like a parish-top . What , wench ! Castiliano vulgo ! for here comes Sir Andrew Agueface . + + +Sir Toby Belch ! how now , Sir Toby Belch ! + +Sweet Sir Andrew ! + +Bless you , fair shrew . + +And you too , sir . + +Accost , Sir Andrew , accost . + +What's that ? + +My niece's chambermaid . + +Good Mistress Accost , I desire better acquaintance . + +My name is Mary , sir . + +Good Mistress Mary Accost , + +You mistake , knight : 'accost' is , front her , board her , woo her , assail her . + +By my troth , I would not undertake her in this company . Is that the meaning of 'accost ?' + +Fare you well , gentlemen . + +An thou let her part so , Sir Andrew , would thou mightst never draw sword again ! + +An you part so , mistress , I would I might never draw sword again . Fair lady , do you think you have fools in hand ? + +Sir , I have not you by the hand . + +Marry , but you shall have ; and here's my hand . + +Now , sir , 'thought is free :' I pray you , bring your hand to the buttery-bar and let it drink . + +Wherefore , sweetheart ? what's your metaphor ? + +It's dry , sir . + +Why , I think so : I am not such an ass but I can keep my hand dry . But what's your jest ? + +A dry jest , sir . + +Are you full of them ? + +Ay , sir , I have them at my fingers' ends : marry , now I let go your hand , I am barren . + + +O knight ! thou lackest a cup of canary : when did I see thee so put down ? + +Never in your life , I think ; unless you see canary put me down . Methinks sometimes I have no more wit than a Christian or an ordinary man has ; but I am a great eater of beef , and I believe that does harm to my wit . + +No question . + +An I thought that , I'd forswear it . +I'll ride home to-morrow , Sir Toby . + +Pourquoi , my dear knight ? + +What is 'pourquoi ?' do or not do ? I would I had bestowed that time in the tongues that I have in fencing , dancing , and bear-baiting . O ! had I but followed the arts ! + +Then hadst thou had an excellent head of hair . + +Why , would that have mended my hair ? + +Past question ; for thou seest it will not curl by nature . + +But it becomes me well enough , does't not ? + +Excellent ; it hangs like flax on a distaff , and I hope to see a housewife take thee between her legs , and spin it off . + +Faith , I'll home to-morrow , Sir Toby : your niece will not be seen ; or if she be , it's four to one she'll none of me . The count himself here hard by woos her . + +She'll none o' the count ; she'll not match above her degree , neither in estate , years , nor wit ; I have heard her swear it . Tut , there's life in't , man . + +I'll stay a month longer . I am a fellow o' the strangest mind i' the world ; I delight in masques and revels sometimes altogether . + +Art thou good at these kickchawses , knight ? + +As any man in Illyria , whatsoever he be , under the degree of my betters : and yet I will not compare with an old man . + +What is thy excellence in a galliard , knight ? + +Faith , I can cut a caper . + +And I can cut the mutton to't . + +And I think I have the back-trick simply as strong as any man in Illyria . + +Wherefore are these things hid ? wherefore have these gifts a curtain before 'em ? are they like to take dust , like Mistress Mall's picture ? why dost thou not go to church in a galliard , and come home in a coranto ? My very walk should be a jig : I would not so much as make water but in a sink-a-pace . What dost thou mean ? is it a world to hide virtues in ? I did think , by the excellent constitution of thy leg , it was formed under the star of a galliard . + +Ay , 'tis strong , and it does indifferent well in a flame-coloured stock . Shall we set about some revels ? + +What shall we do else ? were we not born under Taurus ? + +Taurus ! that's sides and heart . + +No , sir , it is legs and thighs . Let me see thee caper . Ha ! higher : ha , ha ! excellent ! + + +If the duke continue these favours towards you , Cesario , you are like to be much advanced : he hath known you but three days , and already you are no stranger . + +You either fear his humour or my negligence , that you call in question the continuance of his love . Is he inconstant , sir , in his favours ? + +No , believe me . + +I thank you . Here comes the count . + + +Who saw Cesario ? ho ! + +On your attendance , my lord ; here . + +Stand you awhile aloof . Cesario , +Thou know'st no less but all ; I have unclasp'd +To thee the book even of my secret soul : +Therefore , good youth , address thy gait unto her , +Be not denied access , stand at her doors , +And tell them , there thy fixed foot shall grow +Till thou have audience . + +Sure , my noble lord , +If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow +As it is spoke , she never will admit me . + +Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds +Rather than make unprofited return . + +Say I do speak with her , my lord , what then ? + +O ! then unfold the passion of my love ; +Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith : +It shall become thee well to act my woes ; +She will attend it better in thy youth +Than in a nuncio of more grave aspect . + +I think not so , my lord . + +Dear lad , believe it ; +For they shall yet belie thy happy years +That say thou art a man : Diana's lip +Is not more smooth and rubious ; thy small pipe +Is as the maiden's organ , shrill and sound ; +And all is semblative a woman's part . +I know thy constellation is right apt +For this affair . Some four or five attend him ; +All , if you will ; for I myself am best +When least in company . Prosper well in this , +And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord , +To call his fortunes thine . + +I'll do my best +To woo your lady : + +yet , a barful strife ! +Whoe'er I woo , myself would be his wife . + + +Nay , either tell me where thou hast been , or I will not open my lips so wide as a bristle may enter in way of thy excuse . My lady will hang thee for thy absence . + +Let her hang me : he that is well hanged in this world needs to fear no colours . + +Make that good . + +He shall see none to fear . + +A good lenten answer : I can tell thee where that saying was born , of , 'I fear no colours .' + +Where , good Mistress Mary ? + +In the wars ; and that may you be bold to say in your foolery . + +Well , God give them wisdom that have it ; and those that are fools , let them use their talents . + +Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent ; or , to be turned away , is not that as good as a hanging to you ? + +Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage ; and , for turning away , let summer bear it out . + +You are resolute then ? + +Not so , neither ; but I am resolved on two points . + +That if one break , the other will hold ; or , if both break , your gaskins fall . + +Apt , in good faith ; very apt . Well , go thy way : if Sir Toby would leave drinking , thou wert as witty a piece of Eve's flesh as any in Illyria . + +Peace , you rogue , no more o' that . Here comes my lady : make your excuse wisely , you were best . + + +Wit , an't be thy will , put me into good fooling ! Those wits that think they have thee , do very oft prove fools ; and I , that am sure I lack thee , may pass for a wise man : for what says Quinapalus ? 'Better a witty fool than a foolish wit .' + +God bless thee , lady ! + +Take the fool away . + +Do you not hear , fellows ? Take away the lady . + +Go to , you're a dry fool ; I'll no more of you : besides , you grow dishonest . + +Two faults , madonna , that drink and good counsel will amend : for give the dry fool drink , then is the fool not dry ; bid the dishonest man mend himself : if he mend , he is no longer dishonest ; if he cannot , let the botcher mend him . Any thing that's mended is but patched : virtue that transgresses is but patched with sin ; and sin that amends is but patched with virtue . If that this simple syllogism will serve , so ; if it will not , what remedy ? As there is no true cuckold but calamity , so beauty's a flower . The lady bade take away the fool ; therefore , I say again , take her away . + +Sir , I bade them take away you . + +Misprision in the highest degree ! Lady , cucullus non facit monachum ; that's as much to say as I wear not motley in my brain . Good madonna , give me leave to prove you a fool . + +Can you do it ? + +Dexteriously , good madonna . + +Make your proof . + +I must catechise you for it , madonna : good my mouse of virtue , answer me . + +Well , sir , for want of other idleness , I'll bide your proof . + +Good madonna , why mournest thou ? + +Good fool , for my brother's death . + +I think his soul is in hell , madonna . + +I know his soul is in heaven , fool . + +The more fool , madonna , to mourn for your brother's soul being in heaven . Take away the fool , gentlemen . + +What think you of this fool , Malvolio ? doth he not mend ? + +Yes ; and shall do , till the pangs of death shake him : infirmity , that decays the wise , doth ever make the better fool . + +God send you , sir , a speedy infirmity , for the better increasing your folly ! Sir Toby will be sworn that I am no fox , but he will not pass his word for two pence that you are no fool . + +How say you to that , Malvolio ? + +I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal : I saw him put down the other day with an ordinary fool that has no more brain than a stone . Look you now , he's out of his guard already ; unless you laugh and minister occasion to him , he is gagged . I protest , I take these wise men , that crow so at these set kind of fools , no better than the fools' zanies . + +O ! you are sick of self-love , Malvolio , and taste with a distempered appetite . To be generous , guiltless , and of free disposition , is to take those things for bird-bolts that you deem cannon-bullets . There is no slander in an allowed fool , though he do nothing but rail ; nor no railing in a known discreet man , though he do nothing but reprove . + +Now , Mercury endue thee with leasing , for thou speakest well of fools ! + + +Madam , there is at the gate a young gentleman much desires to speak with you . + +From the Count Orsino , is it ? + +I know not , madam : 'tis a fair young man , and well attended . + +Who of my people hold him in delay ? + +Sir Toby , madam , your kinsman . + +Fetch him off , I pray you : he speaks nothing but madman . Fie on him ! + + +Now you see , sir , how your fooling grows old , and people dislike it . + +Thou hast spoken for us , madonna , as if thy eldest son should be a fool ; whose skull Jove cram with brains ! for here comes one of thy kin has a most weak pia mater . + + +By mine honour , half drunk . What is he at the gate , cousin ? + +A gentleman . + +A gentleman ! what gentleman ? + +'Tis a gentleman here ,a plague o' these pickle herring ! How now , sot ! + +Good Sir Toby . + +Cousin , cousin , how have you come so early by this lethargy ? + +Lechery ! I defy lechery ! There's one at the gate . + +Ay , marry , what is he ? + +Let him be the devil , an he will , I care not : give me faith , say I . Well , it's all one . + + +What's a drunken man like , fool ? + +Like a drowned man , a fool , and a madman : one draught above heat makes him a fool , the second mads him , and a third drowns him . + +Go thou and seek the crowner , and let him sit o' my coz ; for he's in the third degree of drink , he's drowned : go , look after him . + +He is but mad yet , madonna ; and the fool shall look to the madman . + +Madam , yond young fellow swears he will speak with you . I told him you were sick : he takes on him to understand so much , and therefore comes to speak with you . I told him you were asleep : he seems to have a foreknowledge of that too , and therefore comes to speak with you . What is to be said to him , lady ? he's fortified against any denial . + +Tell him he shall not speak with me . + +Ha's been told so ; and he says , he'll stand at your door like a sheriff's post , and be the supporter to a bench , but he'll speak with you . + +What kind o' man is he ? + +Why , of mankind . + +What manner of man ? + +Of very ill manner : he'll speak with you , will you or no . + +Of what personage and years is he ? + +Not yet old enough for a man , nor young enough for a boy ; as a squash is before 'tis a peascod , or a codling when 'tis almost an apple : 'tis with him in standing water , between boy and man . He is very well-favoured , and he speaks very shrewishly : one would think his mother's milk were scarce out of him . + +Let him approach . Call in my gentlewoman . + +Gentlewoman , my lady calls . + +Give me my veil : come , throw it o'er my face . +We'll once more hear Orsino's embassy . + + +The honourable lady of the house , which is she ? + +Speak to me ; I shall answer for her . +Your will ? + +Most radiant , exquisite , and unmatchable beauty ,I pray you tell me if this be the lady of the house , for I never saw her : I would be loath to cast away my speech ; for , besides that it is excellently well penned , I have taken great pains to con it . Good beauties , let me sustain no scorn ; I am very comptible , even to the least sinister usage . + +Whence came you , sir ? + +I can say little more than I have studied , and that question's out of my part . Good gentle one , give me modest assurance if you be the lady of the house , that I may proceed in my speech . + +Are you a comedian ? + +No , my profound heart ; and yet , by the very fangs of malice I swear I am not that I play . Are you the lady of the house ? + +If I do not usurp myself , I am . + +Most certain , if you are she , you do usurp yourself ; for , what is yours to bestow is not yours to reserve . But this is from my commission : I will on with my speech in your praise , and then show you the heart of my message . + +Come to what is important in't : I forgive you the praise . + +Alas ! I took great pains to study it , and 'tis poetical . + +It is the more like to be feigned : I pray you keep it in . I heard you were saucy at my gates , and allowed your approach rather to wonder at you than to hear you . If you be not mad , be gone ; if you have reason , be brief : 'tis not that time of moon with me to make one in so skipping a dialogue . + +Will you hoist sail , sir ? here lies your way . + +No , good swabber ; I am to hull here a little longer . Some mollification for your giant , sweet lady . + +Tell me your mind . + +I am a messenger . + +Sure , you have some hideous matter to deliver , when the courtesy of it is so fearful . Speak your office . + +It alone concerns your ear . I bring no overture of war , no taxation of homage : I hold the olive in my hand ; my words are as full of peace as matter . + +Yet you began rudely . What are you ? what would you ? + +The rudeness that hath appear'd in me have I learn'd from my entertainment . What I am , and what I would , are as secret as maiden-head ; to your ears , divinity ; to any other's , profanation . + +Give us the place alone : we will hear this divinity . + +Now , sir ; what is your text ? + +Most sweet lady , + +A comfortable doctrine , and much may be said of it . Where lies your text ? + +In Orsino's bosom . + +In his bosom ! In what chapter of his bosom ? + +To answer by the method , in the first of his heart . + +O ! I have read it : it is heresy . Have you no more to say ? + +Good madam , let me see your face . + +Have you any commission from your lord to negotiate with my face ? you are now out of your text : but we will draw the curtain and show you the picture . + +Look you , sir , such a one I was as this present : is't not well done ? + +Excellently done , if God did all . + +'Tis in grain , sir ; 'twill endure wind and weather . + +'Tis beauty truly blent , whose red and white +Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on : +Lady , you are tho cruell'st she alive , +If you will lead these graces to the grave +And leave the world no copy . + +O ! sir , I will not be so hard-hearted ; I will give out divers schedules of my beauty : it shall be inventoried , and every particle and utensil labelled to my will : as Item , Two lips , indifferent red ; Item , Two grey eyes , with lids to them ; Item , One neck , one chin , and so forth . Were you sent hither to praise me ? + +I see you what you are : you are too proud ; +But , if you were the devil , you are fair . +My lord and master loves you : O ! such love +Could be but recompens'd , though you were crown'd +The nonpareil of beauty . + +How does he love me ? + +With adorations , with fertile tears , +With groans that thunder love , with sighs of fire . + +Your lord does know my mind ; I cannot love him ; +Yet I suppose him virtuous , know him noble , +Of great estate , of fresh and stainless youth ; +In voices well divulg'd , free , learn'd , and valiant ; +And , in dimension and the shape of nature +A gracious person ; but yet I cannot love him : +He might have took his answer long ago . + +If I did love you in my master's flame , +With such a suffering , such a deadly life , +In your denial I would find no sense ; +I would not understand it . + +Why , what would you ? + +Make me a willow cabin at your gate , +And call upon my soul within the house ; +Write loyal cantons of contemned love , +And sing them loud even in the dead of night ; +Holla your name to the reverberate hills , +And make the babbling gossip of the air +Cry out , 'Olivia !' O ! you should not rest +Between the elements of air and earth , +But you should pity me ! + +You might do much . What is your parentage ? + +Above my fortune , yet my state is well : +I am a gentleman . + +Get you to your lord : +I cannot love him . Let him send no more , +Unless , perchance , you come to me again , +To tell me how he takes it . Fare you well : +I thank you for your pains : spend this for me . + +I am no fee'd post , lady ; keep your purse : +My master , not myself , lacks recompense . +Love make his heart of flint that you shall love , +And let your fervour , like my master's , be +Plac'd in contempt ! Farewell , fair cruelty . + + +'What is your parentage ?' +'Above my fortunes , yet my state is well : +I am a gentleman .' I'll be sworn thou art : +Thy tongue , thy face , thy limbs , actions , and spirit , +Do give thee five-fold blazon . Not too fast : soft ! soft ! +Unless the master were the man . How now ! +Even so quickly may one catch the plague ? +Methinks I feel this youth's perfections +With an invisible and subtle stealth +To creep in at mine eyes . Well , let it be . +What , ho ! Malvolio ! + + +Here , madam , at your service . + +Run after that same peevish messenger , +The county's man : he left this ring behind him , +Would I , or not : tell him I'll none of it . +Desire him not to flatter with his lord , +Nor hold him up with hopes : I'm not for him . +If that the youth will come this way to-morrow , +I'll give him reasons for't . Hie thee , Malvolio . + +Madam , I will . + + +I do I know not what , and fear to find +Mine eye too great a flatterer for my mind . +Fate , show thy force : ourselves we do not owe ; +What is decreed must be , and be this so ! + +Will you stay no longer ? nor will you not that I go with you ? + +By your patience , no . My stars shine darkly over me ; the malignancy of my fate might , perhaps , distemper yours ; therefore I shall crave of you your leave that I may bear my evils alone . It were a bad recompense for your love to lay any of them on you . + +Let me yet know of you whither you are bound . + +No , sooth , sir : my determinate voyage is mere extravagancy . But I perceive in you so excellent a touch of modesty that you will not extort from me what I am willing to keep in ; therefore , it charges me in manners the rather to express myself . You must know of me then , Antonio , my name is Sebastian , which I called Roderigo . My father was that Sebastian of Messaline , whom I know you have heard of . He left behind him myself and a sister , both born in an hour : if the heavens had been pleased , would we had so ended ! but you , sir , altered that ; for some hour before you took me from the breach of the sea was my sister drowned . + +Alas the day ! + +A lady , sir , though it was said she much resembled me , was yet of many accounted beautiful : but , though I could not with such estimable wonder overfar believe that , yet thus far I will boldly publish her : she bore a mind that envy could not but call fair . She is drowned already , sir , with salt water , though I seem to drown her remembrance again with more . + +Pardon me , sir , your bad entertainment . + +O good Antonio ! forgive me your trouble ! + +If you will not murder me for my love , let me be your servant . + +If you will not undo what you have done , that is , kill him whom you have recovered , desire it not . Fare ye well at once : my bosom is full of kindness ; and I am yet so near the manners of my mother , that upon the least occasion more mine eyes will tell tales of me . I am bound to the Count Orsino's court : farewell . + + +The gentleness of all the gods go with thee ! +I have many enemies in Orsino's court , +Else would I very shortly see thee there ; +But , come what may , I do adore thee so , +That danger shall seem sport , and I will go . + + +Were not you even now with the Countess Olivia ? + +Even now , sir : on a moderate pace I have since arrived but hither . + +She returns this ring to you , sir : you might have saved me my pains , to have taken it away yourself . She adds , moreover , that you should put your lord into a desperate assurance she will none of him . And one thing more ; that you be never so hardy to come again in his affairs , unless it be to report your lord's taking of this . Receive it so . + +She took the ring of me ; I'll none of it . + +Come , sir , you peevishly threw it to her ; and her will is it should be so returned : if it be worth stooping for , there it lies in your eye ; if not , be it his that finds it . + + +I left no ring with her : what means this lady ? +Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her ! +She made good view of me ; indeed , so much , +That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue , +For she did speak in starts distractedly . +She loves me , sure ; the cunning of her passion +Invites me in this churlish messenger . +None of my lord's ring ! why , he sent her none . +I am the man : if it be so , as 'tis , +Poor lady , she were better love a dream . +Disguise , I see , thou art a wickedness , +Wherein the pregnant enemy does much . +How easy is it for the proper-false +In women's waxen hearts to set their forms ! +Alas ! our frailty is the cause , not we ! +For such as we are made of , such we be . +How will this fadge ? My master loves her dearly ; +And I , poor monster , fond as much on him ; +And she , mistaken , seems to dote on me . +What will become of this ? As I am man , +My state is desperate for my master's love ; +As I am woman ,now alas the day ! +What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe ! +O time ! thou must untangle this , not I ; +It is too hard a knot for me to untie . + + +Approach , Sir Andrew : not to be a-bed after midnight is to be up betimes ; and diluculo surgere , thou knowest , + +Nay , by my troth , I know not ; but I know , to be up late is to be up late . + +A false conclusion : I hate it as an unfilled can . To be up after midnight and to go to bed then , is early ; so that to go to bed after midnight is to go to bed betimes . Does not our life consist of the four elements ? + +Faith , so they say ; but , I think , it rather consists of eating and drinking . + +Thou art a scholar ; let us therefore eat and drink . Marian , I say ! a stoup of wine ! + + +Here comes the fool , i' faith . + +How now , my hearts ! Did you never see the picture of 'we three ?' + +Welcome , ass . Now let's have a catch . + +By my troth , the fool has an excellent breast . I had rather than forty shillings I had such a leg , and so sweet a breath to sing , as the fool has . In sooth , thou wast in very gracious fooling last night , when thou spokest of Pigrogromitus , of the Vapians passing the equinoctial of Queubus : 'twas very good , i' faith . I sent thee sixpence for thy leman : hadst it ? + +I did impeticos thy gratillity ; for Malvolio's nose is no whipstock : my lady has a white hand , and the Myrmidons are no bottleale houses . + +Excellent ! Why , this is the best fooling , when all is done . Now , a song . + +Come on ; there is sixpence for you : let's have a song . + +There's a testril of me too : if one knight give a + +Would you have a love-song , or a song of good life ? + +A love-song , a love-song . + +Ay , ay ; I care not for good life . + + +O mistress mine ! where are you roaming ? +O ! stay and hear ; your true love's coming , +That can sing both high and low . +Trip no further , pretty sweeting ; +Journeys end in lovers meeting , +Every wise man's son doth know . + + +Excellent good , i' faith . + +Good , good . + + +What is love ? 'tis not hereafter ; +Present mirth hath present laughter ; +What's to come is still unsure : +In delay there lies no plenty ; +Then come kiss me , sweet and twenty , +Youth's a stuff will not endure . + + +A mellifluous voice , as I am true knight . + +A contagious breath . + +Very sweet and contagious , i' faith . + +To hear by the nose , it is dulcet in contagion . But shall we make the welkin dance indeed ? Shall we rouse the night-owl in a catch that will draw three souls out of one weaver ? shall we do that ? + +An you love me , let's do't : I am dog at a catch . + +By'r lady , sir , and some dogs will catch well . + +Most certain . Let our catch be , 'Thou knave .' + +Hold thy peace , thou knave ,' knight ? I shall be constrain'd in't to call thee knave , knight . + +'Tis not the first time I have constrained one to call me knave . Begin , fool : it begins , 'Hold thy peace .' + +I shall never begin if I hold my peace . + +Good , i' faith . Come , begin . + +What a caterwauling do you keep here ! If my lady have not called up her steward Malvolio and bid him turn you out of doors , never trust me . + +My lady's a Cataian ; we are politicians ; Malvolio's a Peg-a-Ramsey , and 'Three merry men be we .' Am not I consanguineous ? am I not of her blood ? Tillyvally , lady ! +There dwelt a man in Babylon , lady , lady ! + +Beshrew me , the knight's in admirable fooling . + +Ay , he does well enough if he be disposed , and so do I too : he does it with a better grace , but I do it more natural . + +O ! the twelfth day of December , + +For the love o' God , peace ! + + +My masters , are you mad ? or what are you ? Have you no wit , manners , nor honesty , but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night ? Do ye make an alehouse of my lady's house , that ye squeak out your coziers' catches without any mitigation or remorse of voice ? Is there no respect of place , persons , nor time , in you ? + +We did keep time , sir , in our catches . Sneck up ! + +Sir Toby , I must be round with you . My lady bade me tell you , that , though she harbours you as her kinsman , she's nothing allied to your disorders . If you can separate yourself and your misdemeanours , you are welcome to the house ; if not , an it would please you to take leave of her , she is very willing to bid you farewell . + +Farewell , dear heart , since I must needs be gone . + +Nay , good Sir Toby . + +His eyes do show his days are almost done . + +Is't even so ? + +But I will never die . + +Sir Toby , there you lie . + +This is much credit to you . + +Shall I bid him go ? + +What an if you do ? + +Shall I bid him go , and spare not ? + +O ! no , no , no , no , you dare not . + +'Out o' time !' Sir , ye lie . Art any more than a steward ? Dost thou think , because thou art virtuous , there shall be no more cakes and ale ? + +Yes , by Saint Anne ; and ginger shall be hot i' the mouth too . + +Thou'rt i' the right . Go , sir , rub your chain with crumbs . A stoup of wine , Maria ! + +Mistress Mary , if you prized my lady's favour at anything more than contempt , you would not give means for this uncivil rule : she shall know of it , by this hand . + + +Go shake your ears . + +'Twere as good a deed as to drink when a man's a-hungry , to challenge him the field , and then to break promise with him and make a fool of him . + +Do't , knight : I'll write thee a challenge ; or I'll deliver thy indignation to him by word of mouth . + +Sweet Sir Toby , be patient for to-night : since the youth of the count's was to-day with my lady , she is much out of quiet . For Monsieur Malvolio , let me alone with him : if I do not gull him into a nayword , and make him a common recreation , do not think I have wit enough to lie straight in my bed . I know I can do it . + +Possess us , possess us ; tell us something of him . + +Marry , sir , sometimes he is a kind of puritan . + +O ! if I thought that , I'd beat him like a dog . + +What , for being a puritan ? thy exquisite reason , dear knight ? + +I have no exquisite reason for't , but I have reason good enough . + +The devil a puritan that he is , or anything constantly but a time-pleaser ; an affectioned ass , that cons state without book , and utters it by great swarths : the best persuaded of himself ; so crammed , as he thinks , with excellences , that it is his ground of faith that all that look on him love him ; and on that vice in him will my revenge find notable cause to work . + +What wilt thou do ? + +I will drop in his way some obscure epistles of love ; wherein , by the colour of his beard , the shape of his leg , the manner of his gait , the expressure of his eye , forehead , and complexion , he shall find himself most feelingly personated . I can write very like my lady your niece ; on a forgotten matter we can hardly make distinction of our hands . + +Excellent ! I smell a device . + +I have't in my nose too . + +He shall think , by the letters that thou wilt drop , that they come from my niece , and that she is in love with him . + +My purpose is , indeed , a horse of that colour . + +And your horse now would make him an ass . + +Ass , I doubt not . + +O ! 'twill be admirable . + +Sport royal , I warrant you : I know my physic will work with him . I will plant you two , and let the fool make a third , where he shall find the letter : observe his construction of it . For this night , to bed , and dream on the event . Farewell . + + +Good night , Penthesilea . + +Before me , she's a good wench . + +She's a beagle , true-bred , and one that adores me : what o' that ? + +I was adored once too . + +Let's to bed , knight . Thou hadst need send for more money . + +If I cannot recover your niece , I am a foul way out . + +Send for money , knight : if thou hast her not i' the end , call me cut . + +If I do not , never trust me , take it how you will . + +Come , come : I'll go burn some sack ; 'tis too late to go to bed now . Come , knight ; come , knight . + + +Give me some music . Now , good morrow , friends : +Now , good Cesario , but that piece of song , +That old and antique song we heard last night ; +Methought it did relieve my passion much , +More than light airs and recollected terms +Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times : +Come ; but one verse . + +He is not here , so please your lordship , that should sing it . + +Who was it ? + +Feste , the jester , my lord ; a fool that the Lady Olivia's father took much delight in . He is about the house . + +Seek him out , and play the tune the while . + +Come hither , boy : if ever thou shalt love , +In the sweet pangs of it remember me ; +For such as I am all true lovers are : +Unstaid and skittish in all motions else +Save in the constant image of the creature +That is belov'd . How dost thou like this tune ? + +It gives a very echo to the seat +Where love is thron'd . + +Thou dost speak masterly . +My life upon't , young though thou art , thine eye +Hath stay'd upon some favour that it loves ; +Hath it not , boy ? + +A little , by your favour . + +What kind of woman is't ? + +Of your complexion . + +She is not worth thee , then . What years , i' faith ? + +About your years , my lord . + +Too old , by heaven . Let still the woman take +An elder than herself , so wears she to him , +So sways she level in her husband's heart : +For , boy , however we do praise ourselves , +Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm , +More longing , wavering , sooner lost and worn , +Than women's are . + +I think it well , my lord . + +Then , let thy love be younger than thyself , +Or thy affection cannot hold the bent ; +For women are as roses , whose fair flower +Being once display'd , doth fall that very hour . + +And so they are : alas , that they are so ; +To die , even when they to perfection grow ! + + +O , fellow ! come , the song we had last night . +Mark it , Cesario ; it is old and plain ; +The spinsters and the knitters in the sun , +And the free maids that weave their thread with bones , +Do use to chant it : it is silly sooth , +And dallies with the innocence of love , +Like the old age . + +Are you ready , sir ? + +Ay ; prithee , sing . + + +Come away , come away , death , +And in sad cypress let me be laid ; +Fly away , fly away , breath ; +I am slain by a fair cruel maid . +My shroud of white , stuck all with yew , +O ! prepare it +My part of death , no one so true +Did share it . + + +Not a flower , not a flower sweet , +On my black coffin let there be strown , +Not a friend , not a friend greet +My poor corse , where my bones shall be thrown . +A thousand thousand sighs to save , +Lay me , O ! where +Sad true lover never find my grave , +To weep there . + + +There's for thy pains . + +No pains , sir ; I take pleasure in singing , sir . + +I'll pay thy pleasure then . + +Truly , sir , and pleasure will be paid , one time or another . + +Give me now leave to leave thee . + +Now , the melancholy god protect thee , and the tailor make thy doublet of changeable taffeta , for thy mind is a very opal ! I would have men of such constancy put to sea , that their business might be everything and their intent everywhere ; for that's it that always makes a good voyage of nothing . Farewell . + + +Let all the rest give place . + +Once more , Cesario , +Get thee to yond same sovereign cruelty : +Tell her , my love , more noble than the world , +Prizes not quantity of dirty lands ; +The parts that fortune hath bestow'd upon her , +Tell her , I hold as giddily as fortune ; +But 'tis that miracle and queen of gems +That nature pranks her in attracts my soul . + +But if she cannot love you , sir ? + +I cannot be so answer'd . + +Sooth , but you must . +Say that some lady , as perhaps , there is , +Hath for your love as great a pang of heart +As you have for Olivia : you cannot love her ; +You tell her so ; must she not then be answer'd ? + +There is no woman's sides +Can bide the beating of so strong a passion +As love doth give my heart ; no woman's heart +So big , to hold so much ; they lack retention . +Alas ! their love may be call'd appetite , +No motion of the liver , but the palate , +That suffer surfeit , cloyment , and revolt ; +But mine is all as hungry as the sea , +And can digest as much . Make no compare +Between that love a woman can bear me +And that I owe Olivia . + +Ay , but I know , + +What dost thou know ? + +Too well what love women to men may owe : +In faith , they are as true of heart as we . +My father had a daughter lov'd a man , +As it might be , perhaps , were I a woman , +I should your lordship . + +And what's her history ? + +A blank , my lord . She never told her love , +But let concealment , like a worm i' the bud , +Feed on her damask cheek : she pin'd in thought , +And with a green and yellow melancholy , +She sat like Patience on a monument , +Smiling at grief . Was not this love indeed ? +We men may say more , swear more ; but indeed +Our shows are more than will , for still we prove +Much in our vows , but little in our love . + +But died thy sister of her love , my boy ? + +I am all the daughters of my father's house , +And all the brothers too ; and yet I know not . +Sir , shall I to this lady ? + +Ay , that's the theme . +To her in haste ; give her this jewel ; say +My love can give no place , bide no denay . + + +Come thy ways , Signior Fabian . + +Nay , I'll come : if I lose a scruple of this sport , let me be boiled to death with melancholy . + +Wouldst thou not be glad to have the niggardly rascally sheep-biter come by some notable shame ? + +I would exult , man : you know he brought me out o' favour with my lady about a bear-baiting here . + +To anger him we'll have the bear again ; and we will fool him black and blue ; shall we not , Sir Andrew ? + +An we do not , it is pity of our lives . + +Here comes the little villain . + +How now , my metal of India ! + +Get ye all three into the box-tree . Malvolio's coming down this walk : he has been yonder i' the sun practising behaviour to his own shadow this half-hour . Observe him , for the love of mockery ; for I know this letter will make a contemplative idiot of him . Close , in the name of jesting ! Lie thou there : + +for here comes the trout that must be caught with tickling . + +'Tis but fortune ; all is fortune . Maria once told me she did affect me ; and I have heard herself come thus near , that should she fancy , it should be one of my complexion . Besides , she uses me with a more exalted respect than anyone else that follows her . What should I think on't ? + +Here's an over-weening rogue ! + +O , peace ! Contemplation makes a rare turkey-cock of him : how he jets under his advanced plumes ! + +'Slight , I could so beat the rogue ! + +Peace ! I say . + +To be Count Malvolio ! + +Ah , rogue ! + +Pistol him , pistol him . + +Peace ! peace ! + +There is example for't : the lady of the Strachy married the yeoman of the wardrobe . + +Fie on him , Jezebel ! + +O , peace ! now he's deeply in ; look how imagination blows him . + +Having been three months married to her , sitting in my state , + +O ! for a stone-bow , to hit him in the eye ! + +Calling my officers about me , in my branched velvet gown ; having come from a daybed , where I have left Olivia sleeping , + +Fire and brimstone ! + +O , peace ! peace ! + +And then to have the humour of state : and after a demure travel of regard , telling them I know my place , as I would they should do theirs , to ask for my kinsman Toby , + +Bolts and shackles ! + +O , peace , peace , peace ! now , now . + +Seven of my people , with an obedient start , make out for him . I frown the while ; and perchance wind up my watch , or play with my some rich jewel . Toby approaches ; curtsies there to me , + +Shall this fellow live ? + +Though our silence be drawn from us with cars , yet peace ! + +I extend my hand to him thus , quenching my familiar smile with an austere regard of control , + +And does not Toby take you a blow o' the lips then ? + +Saying , 'Cousin Toby , my fortunes having cast me on your niece give me this prerogative of speech ,' + +What , what ? + +'You must amend your drunkenness .' + +Out , scab ! + +Nay , patience , or we break the sinews of our plot . + +'Besides , you waste the treasure of your time with a foolish knight ,' + +That's me , I warrant you . + +'One Sir Andrew ,' + +I knew 'twas I ; for many do call me fool . + +What employment have we here ? + +Now is the woodcock near the gin . + +O , peace ! and the spirit of humours intimate reading aloud to him ! + +By my life , this is my lady's hand ! these be her very C's , her U's , and her T's ; and thus makes she her great P's . It is , in contempt of question , her hand . + +Her C's , her U's , and her T's : why that + +To the unknown beloved , this and my good wishes : her very phrases ! By your leave , wax . Soft ! and the impressure her Lucrece , with which she uses to seal : 'tis my lady . To whom should this be ? + +This wins him , liver and all . + + +Jove knows I love ; +But who ? +Lips , do not move +No man must know . + +'No man must know .' What follows ? the numbers altered ! 'No man must know :' if this should be thee , Malvolio ! + +Marry , hang thee , brock ! + + +I may command where I adore ; +But silence , like a Lucrece knife , +With bloodless stroke my heart doth gore : +M , O , A , I , doth sway my life . + + +A fustian riddle ! + +Excellent wench , say I . + +'M , O , A , I , doth sway my life .' Nay , but first , let me see , let me see , let me see . + +What dish o' poison has she dressed him ! + +And with what wing the staniel checks at it ! + +'I may command where I adore .' Why , she may command me : I serve her ; she is my lady . Why , this is evident to any formal capacity ; there is no obstruction in this . And the end , what should that alphabetical position portend ? if I could make that resemble something in me ,Softly !M , O , A , I , + +O ! ay , make up that : he is now at a cold scent . + +Sowter will cry upon 't , for all this , though it be as rank as a fox . + +M , Malvolio ; M , why , that begins my name . + +Did not I say he would work it out ? the cur is excellent at faults . + +M ,But then there is no consonancy in the sequel ; that suffers under probation : A should follow , but O does . + +And O shall end , I hope . + +Ay , or I'll cudgel him , and make him cry , O ! + +And then I comes behind . + +Ay , an you had any eye behind you , you might see more detraction at your heels than fortunes before you . + +M , O , A , I ; this simulation is not as the former ; and yet , to crush this a little , it would bow to me , for every one of these letters are in my name . Soft ! here follows prose . + +If this fall into thy hand , revolve . In my stars I am above thee ; but be not afraid of greatness : some are born great , some achieve greatness , and some have greatness thrust upon them . Thy Fates open their hands ; let thy blood and spirit embrace them ; and to inure thyself to what thou art like to be , cast thy humble slough , and appear fresh . Be opposite with a kinsman , surly with servants ; let thy tongue tang arguments of state ; put thyself into the trick of singularity She thus advises thee that sighs for thee . Remember who commended thy yellow stockings , and wished to see thee ever cross-gartered : I say , remember . Go to , thou art made , if thou desirest to be so ; if not , let me see thee a steward still , the fellow of servants , and not worthy to touch Fortune's fingers . Farewell . She that would alter services with thee . THE FORTUNATE-UNHAPPY . + +Daylight and champian discovers not more : this is open . I will be proud , I will read politic authors , I will baffle Sir Toby , I will wash off gross acquaintance , I will be point-devise the very man . I do not now fool myself , to let imagination jade me , for every reason excites to this , that my lady loves me . She did commend my yellow stockings of late , she did praise my leg being cross-gartered ; and in this she manifests herself to my love , and , with a kind of injunction drives me to these habits of her liking . I thank my stars I am happy . I will be strange , stout , in yellow stockings , and cross-gartered , even with the swiftness of putting on . Jove and my stars be praised ! Here is yet a postscript . + +Thou canst not choose but know who I am . If thou entertainest my love , let it appear in thy smiling ; thy smiles become thee well ; therefore in my presence still smile , dear my sweet , I prithee . + +Jove , I thank thee . I will smile : I will do everything that thou wilt have me . + + +I will not give my part of this sport for a pension of thousands to be paid from the Sophy . + +I could marry this wench for this device . + +So could I too . + +And ask no other dowry with her but such another jest . + +Nor I neither . + +Here comes my noble gull-catcher . + + +Wilt thou set thy foot o' my neck ? + +Or o' mine either ? + +Shall I play my freedom at tray-trip , and become thy bond-slave ? + +I' faith , or I either ? + +Why , thou hast put him in such a dream , that when the image of it leaves him he must run mad . + +Nay , but say true ; does it work upon him ? + +Like aqua-vit with a midwife . + +If you will , then see the fruits of the sport , mark his first approach before my lady ; he will come to her in yellow stockings , and 'tis a colour she abhors ; and cross-gartered , a fashion she detests ; and he will smile upon her , which will now be so unsuitable to her disposition , being addicted to a melancholy as she is , that it cannot but turn him into a notable contempt . If you will see it , follow me . + +To the gates of Tartar , thou most excellent devil of wit ! + +I'll make one too . + +Save thee , friend , and thy music . Dost thou live by thy tabor ? + +No , sir , I live by the church . + +Art thou a churchman ? + +No such matter , sir : I do live by the church ; for I do live at my house , and my house doth stand by the church . + +So thou mayst say , the king lies by a beggar , if a beggar dwell near him ; or , the church stands by thy tabor , if thy tabor stand by the church . + +You have said , sir . To see this age ! +A sentence is but a cheveril glove to a good wit : how quickly the wrong side may be turned outward ! + +Nay , that's certain : they that dally nicely with words may quickly make them wanton . + +I would therefore my sister had had no name , sir . + +Why , man ? + +Why , sir , her name's a word ; and to dally with that word might make my sister wanton . But indeed , words are very rascals since bonds disgraced them . + +Thy reason , man ? + +Troth , sir , I can yield you none without words ; and words are grown so false , I am loath to prove reason with them . + +I warrant thou art a merry fellow , and carest for nothing . + +Not so , sir , I do care for something ; but in my conscience , sir , I do not care for you : if that be to care for nothing , sir , I would it would make you invisible . + +Art not thou the Lady Olivia's fool ? + +No , indeed , sir ; the Lady Olivia has no folly : she will keep no fool , sir , till she be married ; and fools are as like husbands as pilchards are to herrings the husband's the bigger . I am indeed not her fool , but her corrupter of words . + +I saw thee late at the Count Orsino's . + +Foolery , sir , does walk about the orb like the sun ; it shines every where . I would be sorry , sir , but the fool should be as oft with your master as with my mistress . I think I saw your wisdom there . + +Nay , an thou pass upon me , I'll no more with thee . Hold , there's sixpence for thee . + + +Now Jove , in his next commodity of hair , send thee a beard ! + +By my troth , I'll tell thee , I am almost sick for one , though I would not have it grow on my chin . Is thy lady within ? + +Would not a pair of these have bred , sir ? + +Yes , being kept together and put to use . + +I would play Lord Pandarus of Phrygia , sir , to bring a Cressida to this Troilus . + +I understand you , sir ; 'tis well begg'd . + +The matter , I hope , is not great , sir , begging but a beggar : Cressida was a beggar . My lady is within , sir . I will conster to them whence you come ; who you are and what you would are out of my welkin ; I might say 'element ,' but the word is overworn . + + +This fellow's wise enough to play the fool , +And to do that well craves a kind of wit : +He must observe their mood on whom he jests , +The quality of persons , and the time , +And , like the haggard , check at every feather +That comes before his eye . This is a practice +As full of labour as a wise man's art ; +For folly that he wisely shows is fit ; +But wise men folly-fall'n , quite taint their wit . + + +Save you , gentleman . + +And you , sir . + +Dieu vous garde , monsieur . + +Et vous aussi ; votre serviteur . + +I hope , sir , you are ; and I am yours . + +Will you encounter the house ? my niece is desirous you should enter , if your trade be to her . + +I am bound to your niece , sir : I mean , she is the list of my voyage . + +Taste your legs , sir : put them to motion . + +My legs do better understand me , sir , than I understand what you mean by bidding me taste my legs . + +I mean , to go , sir , to enter . + +I will answer you with gait and entrance . But we are prevented . + +Most excellent accomplished lady , the heavens rain odours on you ! + +That youth's a rare courtier . 'Rain odours !' well . + +My matter hath no voice , lady , but to your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear . + +'Odours ,' 'pregnant ,' and 'vouchsafed .' I'll get 'em all three all ready . + +Let the garden door be shut , and leave me to my hearing . + +Give me your hand , sir . + +My duty , madam , and most humble service . + +What is your name ? + +Cesario is your servant's name , fair princess . + +My servant , sir ! 'Twas never merry world +Since lowly feigning was call'd compliment . +You're servant to the Count Orsino , youth . + +And he is yours , and his must needs be yours : +Your servant's servant is your servant , madam . + +For him , I think not on him : for his thoughts , +Would they were blanks rather than fill'd with me ! + +Madam , I come to whet your gentle thoughts +On his behalf . + +O ! by your leave , I pray you , +I bade you never speak again of him : +But , would you undertake another suit , +I had rather hear you to solicit that +Than music from the spheres . + +Dear lady , + +Give me leave , beseech you . I did send , +After the last enchantment you did here , +A ring in chase of you : so did I abuse +Myself , my servant , and , I fear me , you : +Under your hard construction must I sit , +To force that on you , in a shameful cunning , +Which you knew none of yours : what might you think ? +Have you not set mine honour at the stake , +And baited it with all th' unmuzzled thoughts +That tyrannous heart can think ? To one of your receiving +Enough is shown ; a cypress , not a bosom , +Hideth my heart . So , let me hear you speak . + +I pity you . + +That's a degree to love . + +No , not a grize ; for 'tis a vulgar proof +That very oft we pity enemies . + +Why , then methinks 'tis time to smile again . +O world ! how apt the poor are to be proud . +If one should be a prey , how much the better +To fall before the lion than the wolf ! + +The clock upbraids me with the waste of time . +Be not afraid , good youth , I will not have you : +And yet , when wit and youth is come to harvest , +Your wife is like to reap a proper man : +There lies your way , due west . + +Then westward-ho ! +Grace and good disposition attend your ladyship ! +You'll nothing , madam , to my lord by me ? + +Stay : +I prithee , tell me what thou think'st of me . + +That you do think you are not what you are . + +If I think so , I think the same of you . + +Then think you right : I am not what I am . + +I would you were as I would have you be ! + +Would it be better , madam , than I am ? +I wish it might , for now I am your fool . + +O ! what a deal of scorn looks beautiful +In the contempt and anger of his lip . +A murderous guilt shows not itself more soon +Than love that would seem hid ; love's night is noon . +Cesario , by the roses of the spring , +By maidhood , honour , truth , and every thing , +I love thee so , that , maugre all thy pride , +Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide . +Do not extort thy reasons from this clause , +For that I woo , thou therefore hast no cause ; +But rather reason thus with reason fetter , +Love sought is good , but giv'n unsought is better . + +By innocence I swear , and by my youth , +I have one heart , one bosom , and one truth , +And that no woman has ; nor never none +Shall mistress be of it , save I alone . +And so adieu , good madam : never more +Will I my master's tears to you deplore . + +Yet come again , for thou perhaps mayst move +That heart , which now abhors , to like his love . + + +No , faith , I'll not stay a jot longer . + +Thy reason , dear venom ; give thy reason . + +You must needs yield your reason , Sir Andrew . + +Marry , I saw your niece do more favours to the count's serving-man than ever she bestowed upon me ; I saw't i' the orchard . + +Did she see thee the while , old boy ? tell me that . + +As plain as I see you now . + +This was a great argument of love in her toward you . + +'Slight ! will you make an ass o' me ? + +I will prove it legitimate , sir , upon the oaths of judgment and reason . + +And they have been grand-jurymen since before Noah was a sailor . + +She did show favour to the youth in your sight only to exasperate you , to awake your dormouse valour , to put fire in your heart , and brimstone in your liver . You should then have accosted her , and with some excellent jests , firenew from the mint , you should have banged the youth into dumbness . This was looked for at your hand , and this was balked : the double gilt of this opportunity you let time wash off , and you are now sailed into the north of my lady's opinion ; where you will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman's beard , unless you do redeem it by some laudable attempt , either of valour or policy . + +An't be any way , it must be with valour , for policy I hate : I had as lief be a Brownist as a politician . + +Why , then , build me thy fortunes upon the basis of valour : challenge me the count's youth to fight with him ; hurt him in eleven places : my niece shall take note of it ; and assure thyself , there is no love-broker in the world can more prevail in man's commendation with woman than report of valour . + +There is no way but this , Sir Andrew . + +Will either of you bear me a challenge to him ? + +Go , write it in a martial hand ; be curst and brief ; it is no matter how witty , so it be eloquent , and full of invention : taunt him with the licence of ink : if thou thou'st him some thrice , it shall not be amiss ; and as many lies as will lie in thy sheet of paper , although the sheet were big enough for the bed of Ware in England , set 'em down : go , about it . Let there be gall enough in thy ink , though thou write with a goose-pen , no matter : about it . + +Where shall I find you ? + +We'll call thee at the cubiculo : go . + + +This is a dear manakin to you , Sir Toby . + +I have been dear to him , lad , some two thousand strong , or so . + +We shall have a rare letter from him ; but you'll not deliver it . + +Never trust me , then ; and by all means stir on the youth to an answer . I think oxen and wainropes cannot hale them together . For Andrew , if he were opened , and you find so much blood in his liver as will clog the foot of a flea , I'll eat the rest of the anatomy . + +And his opposite , the youth , bears in his visage no great presage of cruelty . + +Look , where the youngest wren of nine comes . + + +If you desire the spleen , and will laugh yourselves into stitches , follow me . Yond gull Malvolio is turned heathen , a very renegado ; for there is no Christian , that means to be saved by believing rightly , can ever believe such impossible passages of grossness . He's in yellow stockings . + +And cross-gartered ? + +Most villanously ; like a pedant that keeps a school i' the church . I have dogged him like his murderer . He does obey every point of the letter that I dropped to betray him : he does smile his face into more lines than are in the new map with the augmentation of the Indies . You have not seen such a thing as 'tis ; I can hardly forbear hurling things at him . I know my lady will strike him : if she do , he'll smile and take't for a great favour . + +Come , bring us , bring us where he is . + + +I would not by my will have troubled you ; +But since you make your pleasure of your pains , +I will no further chide you . + +I could not stay behind you : my desire , +More sharp than filed steel , did spur me forth ; +And not all love to see you ,though so much +As might have drawn one to a longer voyage , +But jealousy what might befall your travel , +Being skilless in these parts ; which to a stranger , +Unguided and unfriended , often prove +Rough and unhospitable : my willing love , +The rather by these arguments of fear , +Set forth in your pursuit . + +My kind Antonio , +I can no other answer make but thanks , +And thanks , and ever thanks ; for oft good turns +Are shuffled off with such uncurrent pay : +But , were my worth , as is my conscience , firm , +You should find better dealing . What's to do ? +Shall we go see the reliques of this town ? + +To-morrow , sir : best first go see your lodging . + +I am not weary , and 'tis long to night : +I pray you , let us satisfy our eyes +With the memorials and the things of fame +That do renown this city . + +Would you'd pardon me ; +I do not without danger walk these streets : +Once , in a sea-fight 'gainst the Count his galleys , +I did some service ; of such note indeed , +That were I ta'en here it would scarce be answer'd . + +Belike you slew great number of his people ? + +The offence is not of such a bloody nature , +Albeit the quality of the time and quarrel +Might well have given us bloody argument . +It might have since been answer'd in repaying +What we took from them ; which , for traffic's sake , +Most of our city did : only myself stood out ; +For which , if I be lapsed in this place , +I shall pay dear . + +Do not then walk too open . + +It doth not fit me . Hold , sir ; here's my purse . +In the south suburbs , at the Elephant , +Is best to lodge : I will bespeak our diet , +Whiles you beguile the time and feed your knowledge +With viewing of the town : there shall you have me . + +Why I your purse ? + +Haply your eye shall light upon some toy +You have desire to purchase ; and your store , +I think , is not for idle markets , sir . + +I'll be your purse-bearer and leave you for an hour . + +To the Elephant . + +I do remember . + + +I have sent after him : he says he'll come ; +How shall I feast him ? what bestow of him ? +For youth is bought more oft than begg'd or borrow'd . +I speak too loud . +Where is Malvolio ? he is sad , and civil , +And suits well for a servant with my fortunes : +Where is Malvolio ? + +He's coming , madam ; but in very strange manner . He is sure possess'd , madam . + +Why , what's the matter ? does he rave ? + +No , madam ; he does nothing but smile : your ladyship were best to have some guard about you if he come , for sure the man is tainted in's wits . + +Go call him hither . + +I am as mad as he , +If sad and merry madness equal be . + +How now , Malvolio ! + +Sweet lady , ho , ho . + +Smil'st thou ? +I sent for thee upon a sad occasion . + +Sad , lady ! I could be sad : this does make some obstruction in the blood , this crossgartering ; but what of that ? if it please the eye of one , it is with me as the very true sonnet is , 'Please one and please all .' + +Why , how dost thou , man ? what is the matter with thee ? + +Not black in my mind , though yellow in my legs . It did come to his hands , and commands shall be executed : I think we do know the sweet Roman hand . + +Wilt thou go to bed , Malvolio ? + +To bed ! ay , sweetheart ; and I'll come to thee . + +God comfort thee ! Why dost thou smile so and kiss thy hand so oft ? + +How do you , Malvolio ? + +At your request ! Yes ; nightingales answer daws . + +Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady ? + +'Be not afraid of greatness :' 'Twas well writ . + +What meanest thou by that , Malvolio ? + +'Some are born great ,' + +Ha ! + +'Some achieve greatness ,' + +What sayst thou ? + +'And some have greatness thrust upon them .' + +Heaven restore thee ! + +'Remember who commended thy yellow stockings ,' + +Thy yellow stockings ! + +'And wished to see thee cross-gartered .' + +Cross-gartered ! + +'Go to , thou art made , if thou desirest to be so ,' + +Am I made ? + +'If not , let me see thee a servant still .' + +Why , this is very midsummer madness . + + +Madam , the young gentleman of the Count Orsino's is returned . I could hardly entreat him back : he attends your ladyship's pleasure . + +I'll come to him . + +Good Maria , let this fellow be looked to . Where's my cousin Toby ? Let some of my people have a special care of him : I would not have him miscarry for the half of my dowry . + + +Oh , ho ! do you come near me now ? no worse man than Sir Toby to look to me ! This concurs directly with the letter : she sends him on purpose , that I may appear stubborn to him ; for she incites me to that in the letter . 'Cast thy humble slough ,' says she ; 'be opposite with a kinsman , surly with servants ; let thy tongue tang with arguments of state ; put thyself into the trick of singularity ;' and consequently sets down the manner how ; as , a sad face , a reverend carriage , a slow tongue , in the habit of some sir of note , and so forth . I have limed her ; but it is Jove's doing , and Jove make me thankful ! And when she went away now , 'Let this fellow be looked to ;' fellow ! not Malvolio , nor after my degree , but fellow . Why , everything adheres together , that no dram of a scruple , no scruple of a scruple , no obstacle , no incredulous or unsafe circumstance What can be said ? Nothing that can be can come between me and the full prospect of my hopes . Well , Jove , not I , is the doer of this , and he is to be thanked . + + +Which way is he , in the name of sanctity ? If all the devils in hell be drawn in little , and Legion himself possess'd him , yet I'll speak to him . + +Here he is , here he is . How is't with you , sir ? how is't with you , man ? + +Go off ; I discard you : let me enjoy my private ; go off . + +Lo , how hollow the fiend speaks within him ! did not I tell you ? Sir Toby , my lady prays you to have a care of him . + +Ah , ha ! does she so ? + +Go to , go to : peace ! peace ! we must deal gently with him ; let me alone . How do you , Malvolio ? how is't with you ? What , man ! defy the devil : consider , he's an enemy to mankind . + +Do you know what you say ? + +La you ! an you speak ill of the devil , how he takes it at heart . Pray God , he be not bewitched ! + +Carry his water to the wise-woman . + +Marry , and it shall be done to-morrow morning , if I live . My lady would not lose him for more than I'll say . + +How now , mistress ! + +O Lord ! + +Prithee , hold thy peace ; this is not the way : do you not see you move him ? let me alone with him . + +No way but gentleness ; gently , gently : the fiend is rough , and will not be roughly used . + +Why , how now , my bawcock ! how dost thou , chuck ? + +Sir ! + +Ay , Biddy , come with me . What , man ! 'tis not for gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan : hang him , foul collier ! + +Get him to say his prayers , good Sir Toby , get him to pray . + +My prayers , minx ! + +No , I warrant you , he will not hear of godliness . + +Go , hang yourselves all ! you are idle shallow things : I am not of your element . You shall know more hereafter . + + +Is't possible ? + +If this were played upon a stage now , I could condemn it as an improbable fiction . + +His very genius hath taken the infection of the device , man . + +Nay , pursue him now , lest the device take air , and taint . + +Why , we shall make him mad indeed . + +The house will be the quieter . + +Come , we'll have him in a dark room , and bound . My niece is already in the belief that he's mad : we may carry it thus , for our pleasure and his penance , till our very pastime , tired out of breath , prompt us to have mercy on him ; at which time we will bring the device to the bar , and crown thee for a finder of madmen . But see , but see . + + +More matter for a May morning . + +Here's the challenge ; read it : I warrant there's vinegar and pepper in't . + +Is't so saucy ? + +Ay , is't , I warrant him : do but read . + +Give me . Youth , whatsoever thou art , thou art but a scurvy fellow . + +Good , and valiant . + +Wonder not , nor admire not in thy mind , why I do call thee so , for I will show thee no reason for't , + +A good note , that keeps you from the blow of the law . + +Thou comest to the Lady Olivia , and in my sight she uses thee kindly : but thou liest in thy throat ; that is not the matter I challenge thee for . + +Very brief , and to exceeding good sense less . + +I will waylay thee going home ; where , if it be thy chance to kill me , + +Good . + +Thou killest me like a rogue and a villain . + +Still you keep o' the windy side of the law : good . + +Fare thee well ; and God have mercy upon one of our souls ! He may have mercy upon mine , but my hope is better ; and so look to thyself . Thy friend , as thou usest him , and thy sworn enemy , +If this letter move him not , his legs cannot . +I'll give't him . + +You may have very fit occasion for for't : he is now in some commerce with my lady , and will by and by depart . + +Go , Sir Andrew ; scout me for him at the corner of the orchard like a bum-baily : so soon as ever thou seest him , draw ; and , as thou drawest , swear horrible ; for it comes to pass oft that a terrible oath , with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off , gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him . Away ! + +Nay , let me alone for swearing . + + +Now will not I deliver his letter : for the behaviour of the young gentleman gives him out to be of good capacity and breeding ; his employment between his lord and my niece confirms no less : therefore this letter , being so excellently ignorant , will breed no terror in the youth : he will find it comes from a clodpole . But , sir , I will deliver his challenge by word of mouth ; set upon Aguecheek a notable report of valour ; and drive the gentleman ,as I know his youth will aptly receive it ,into a most hideous opinion of his rage , skill , fury , and impetuosity . This will so fright them both that they will kill one another by the look , like cockatrices . + +Here he comes with your niece : give them way till he take leave , and presently after him . + +I will meditate the while upon some horrid message for a challenge . + +I have said too much unto a heart of stone , +And laid mine honour too unchary out : +There's something in me that reproves my fault , +But such a headstrong potent fault it is +That it but mocks reproof . + +With the same haviour that your passion bears +Goes on my master's griefs . + +Here ; wear this jewel for me , 'tis my picture ; +Refuse it not ; it hath no tongue to vex you ; +And I beseech you come again to-morrow . +What shall you ask of me that I'll deny , +That honour sav'd may upon asking give ? + +Nothing but this ; your true love for my master . + +How with mine honour may I give him that +Which I have given to you ? + +I will acquit you . + +Well , come again to-morrow : fare thee well : +A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell . + +Gentleman , God save thee . + +And you , sir . + +That defence thou hast , betake thee to't : of what nature the wrongs are thou hast done him , I know not ; but thy intercepter , full of despite , bloody as the hunter , attends thee at the orchard-end . Dismount thy tuck , be yare in thy preparation , for thy assailant is quick , skilful , and deadly . + +You mistake , sir : I am sure no man hath any quarrel to me : my remembrance is very free and clear from any image of offence done to any man . + +You'll find it otherwise , I assure you : therefore , if you hold your life at any price , betake you to your guard ; for your opposite hath in him what youth , strength , skill , and wrath , can furnish man withal . + +I pray you , sir , what is he ? + +He is knight dubbed with unhatched rapier , and on carpet consideration ; but he is a devil in private brawl : souls and bodies hath he divorced three , and his incensement at this moment is so implacable that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre . Hob , nob , is his word : give't or take't . + +I will return again into the house and desire some conduct of the lady : I am no fighter . I have heard of some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on others to taste their valour ; belike this is a man of that quirk . + +Sir , no ; his indignation derives itself out of a very competent injury : therefore get you on and give him his desire . Back you shall not to the house , unless you undertake that with me which with as much safety you might answer him : therefore , on , or strip your sword stark naked ; for meddle you must , that's certain , or forswear to wear iron about you . + +This is as uncivil as strange . I beseech you , do me this courteous office , as to know of the knight what my offence to him is : it is something of my negligence , nothing of my purpose . + +I will do so . Signior Fabian , stay you by this gentleman till my return . + + +Pray you , sir , do you know of this matter ? + +I know the knight is incensed against you , even to a mortal arbitrement , but nothing of the circumstance more . + +I beseech you , what manner of man is he ? + +Nothing of that wonderful promise , to read him by his form , as you are like to find him in the proof of his valour . He is , indeed , sir , the most skilful , bloody , and fatal opposite that you could possibly have found in any part of Illyria . Will you walk towards him ? I will make your peace with him if I can . + +I shall be much bound to you for't : I am one that had rather go with sir priest than sir knight ; I care not who knows so much of my mettle . + +Why , man , he's a very devil ; I have not seen such a firago . I had a pass with him , rapier , scabbard and all , and he gives me the stuck in with such a mortal motion that it is inevitable ; and on the answer , he pays you as surely as your feet hit the ground they step on . They say he has been fencer to the Sophy . + +Pox on't , I'll not meddle with him . + +Ay , but he will not now be pacified : Fabian can scarce hold him yonder . + +Plague on't ; an I thought he had been valiant and so cunning in fence I'd have seen him damned ere I'd have challenged him . Let him let the matter slip , and I'll give him my horse , grey Capilet . + +I'll make the motion . Stand here ; make a good show on't : this shall end without the perdition of souls . + +Marry , I'll ride your horse as well as I ride you . + +I have his horse to take up the quarrel . I have persuaded him the youth's a devil . + +He is as horribly conceited of him ; and pants and looks pale , as if a bear were at his heels . + +There's no remedy , sir : he will fight with you for his oath's sake . Marry , he hath better bethought him of his quarrel , and he finds that now scarce to be worth talking of : therefore draw for the supportance of his vow : he protests he will not hurt you . + +Pray God defend me ! A little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man . + +Give ground , if you see him furious . + +Come , Sir Andrew , there's no remedy : the gentleman will , for his honour's sake , have one bout with you ; he cannot by the duello avoid it : but he has promised me , as he is a gentleman and a soldier , he will not hurt you . Come on ; to't . + +Pray God , he keep his oath ! + + +I do assure you , 'tis against my will . + +Put up your sword . If this young gentleman +Have done offence , I take the fault on me : +If you offend him , I for him defy you . + + +You , sir ! why , what are you ? + +One , sir , that for his love dares yet do more +Than you have heard him brag to you he will . + +Nay , if you be an undertaker , I am for you . + + +O , good sir Toby , hold ! here come the officers . + +I'll be with you anon . + +Pray , sir , put your sword up , if you please . + +Marry , will I , sir ; and , for that I promised you , I'll be as good as my word . He will bear you easily and reins well . + + +This is the man ; do thy office . + +Antonio , I arrest thee at the suit +Of Count Orsino . + +You do mistake me , sir . + +No , sir , no jot : I know your favour well , +Though now you have no sea-cap on your head . +Take him away : he knows I know him well . + +I must obey . + +This comes with seeking you : +But there's no remedy : I shall answer it . +What will you do , now my necessity +Makes me to ask you for my purse ? It grieves me +Much more for what I cannot do for you +Than what befalls myself . You stand amaz'd : +But be of comfort . + +Come , sir , away . + +I must entreat of you some of that money . + +What money , sir ? +For the fair kindness you have show'd me here , +And part , being prompted by your present trouble , +Out of my lean and low ability +I'll lend you something : my having is not much : +I'll make division of my present with you . +Hold , there is half my coffer . + +Will you deny me now ? +Is't possible that my deserts to you +Can lack persuasion ? Do not tempt my misery , +Lest that it make me so unsound a man +As to upbraid you with those kindnesses +That I have done for you . + +I know of none ; +Nor know I you by voice or any feature . +I hate ingratitude more in a man +Than lying , vainness , babbling drunkenness , +Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption +Inhabits our frail blood . + +O heavens themselves ! + +Come , sir : I pray you , go . + +Let me speak a little . This youth that you see here +I snatch'd one-half out of the jaws of death , +Reliev'd him with such sanctity of love , +And to his image , which methought did promise +Most venerable worth , did I devotion . + +What's that to us ? The time goes by : away ! + +But O ! how vile an idol proves this god . +Thou hast , Sebastian , done good feature shame . +In nature there's no blemish but the mind ; +None can be call'd deform'd but the unkind : +Virtue is beauty , but the beauteous evil +Are empty trunks o'erflourish'd by the devil . + +The man grows mad : away with him ! Come , come , sir . + +Lead me on . + + +Methinks his words do from such passion fly , +That he believes himself ; so do not I . +Prove true , imagination , O , prove true , +That I , dear brother , be now ta'en for you ! + +Come hither , knight ; come hither , +Fabian : we'll whisper o'er a couplet or two of most sage saws . + +He nam'd Sebastian : I my brother know +Yet living in my glass ; even such and so +In favour was my brother ; and he went +Still in this fashion , colour , ornament , +For him I imitate . O ! if it prove , +Tempests are kind , and salt waves fresh in love ! + + +A very dishonest paltry boy , and more a coward than a hare . His dishonesty appears in leaving his friend here in necessity , and denying him ; and for his cowardship , ask Fabian . + +A coward , a most devout coward , religious in it . + +'Slid , I'll after him again and beat him . + +Do ; cuff him soundly , but never draw thy sword . + +An I do not , + + +Come , let's see the event . + +I dare lay any money 'twill be nothing yet . + +Will you make me believe that I am not sent for you ? + +Go to , go to ; thou art a foolish fellow : +Let me be clear of thee . + +Well held out , i' faith ! No , I do not know you ; nor I am not sent to you by my lady to bid you come speak with her ; nor your name is not Master Cesario ; nor this is not my nose neither . Nothing that is so is so . + +I prithee , vent thy folly somewhere else : +Thou know'st not me . + +Vent my folly ! He has heard that word of some great man , and now applies it to a fool . Vent my folly ! I am afraid this great lubber , the world , will prove a cockney . I prithee now , ungird thy strangeness and tell me what I shall vent to my lady . Shall I vent to her that thou art coming ? + +I prithee , foolish Greek , depart from me : +There's money for thee : if you tarry longer +I shall give worse payment . + +By my troth , thou hast an open hand . +These wise men that give fools money get themselves a good report after fourteen years' purchase . + + +Now , sir , have I met you again ? there's for you . + + +Why , there's for thee , and there , and there , and there ! + +Are all the people mad ? + + +Hold , sir , or I'll throw your dagger o'er the house . + +This will I tell my lady straight . I would not be in some of your coats for twopence . + + +Come on , sir : hold . + +Nay , let him alone ; I'll go another way to work with him : I'll have an action of battery against him if there be any law in Illyria . Though I struck him first , yet it's no matter for that . + +Let go thy hand . + +Come , sir , I will not let you go . Come , my young soldier , put up your iron : you are well fleshed ; come on . + +I will be free from thee . + +What wouldst thou now ? +If thou dar'st tempt me further , draw thy sword . + +What , what ! Nay then , I must have an ounce or two of this malapert blood from you . + +Hold , Toby ! on thy life I charge thee , hold ! + +Madam ! + +Will it be ever thus ? Ungracious wretch ! +Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves , +Where manners ne'er were preach'd . Out of my sight ! +Be not offended , dear Cesario . +Rudesby , be gone ! + +I prithee , gentle friend , +Let thy fair wisdom , not thy passion , sway +In this uncivil and unjust extent +Against thy peace . Go with me to my house , +And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks +This ruffian hath botch'd up , that thou thereby +Mayst smile at this . Thou shalt not choose but go : +Do not deny . Beshrew his soul for me , +He started one poor heart of mine in thee . + +What relish is in this ? how runs the stream ? +Or I am mad , or else this is a dream : +Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep ; +If it be thus to dream , still let me sleep ! + +Nay ; come , I prithee . Would thou'dst be rul'd by me ! + +Madam , I will . + +O ! say so , and so be ! + + +Nay , I prithee , put on this gown and this beard ; make him believe thou art Sir Topas the curate : do it quickly ; I'll call Sir Toby the whilst . + + +Well , I'll put it on and I will dissemble myself in't : and I would I were the first that ever dissembled in such a gown . I am not tall enough to become the function well , nor lean enough to be thought a good student ; but to be said an honest man and a good housekeeper goes as fairly as to say a careful man and a great scholar . The competitors enter . + + +God bless thee , Master parson . + +Bonos dies , Sir Toby : for , as the old hermit of Prague , that never saw pen and ink , very wittily said to a niece of King Gorboduc , 'That , that is , is ;' so I , being Master parson , am Master parson ; for , what is 'that ,' but 'that ,' and 'is ,' but 'is ?' + +To him , Sir Topas . + +What ho ! I say . Peace in this prison ! + +The knave counterfeits well ; a good knave . + +Who calls there ? + +Sir Topas , the curate , who comes to visit Malvolio the lunatic . + +Sir Topas , Sir Topas , good Sir Topas , go to my lady . + +Out , hyperbolical fiend ! how vexest thou this man ! Talkest thou nothing but of ladies ? + +Well said , Master Parson . + +Sir Topas , never was man thus wronged . Good Sir Topas , do not think I am mad : they have laid me here in hideous darkness . + +Fie , thou dishonest Satan ! I call thee by the most modest terms ; for I am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy . Sayst thou that house is dark ? + +As hell , Sir Topas . + +Why , it hath bay-windows transparent as barricadoes , and the clerestories toward the south-north are as lustrous as ebony ; and yet complainest thou of obstruction ? + +I am not mad , Sir Topas . I say to you , this house is dark . + +Madman , thou errest : I say , there is no darkness but ignorance , in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog . + +I say this house is as dark as ignorance , though ignorance were as dark as hell ; and I say , there was never man thus abused . I am no more mad than you are : make the trial of it in any constant question . + +What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wild fowl ? + +That the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird . + +What thinkest thou of his opinion ? + +I think nobly of the soul , and no way approve his opinion . + +Fare thee well : remain thou still in darkness : thou shalt hold the opinion of Pythagoras ere I will allow of thy wits , and fear to kill a woodcock , lest thou dispossess the soul of thy grandam . Fare thee well . + +Sir Topas ! Sir Topas ! + +My most exquisite Sir Topas ! + +Nay , I am for all waters . + +Thou mightst have done this without thy beard and gown : he sees thee not . + +To him in thine own voice , and bring me word how thou findest him : I would we were well rid of this knavery . If he may be conveniently delivered , I would he were ; for I am now so far in offence with my niece that I cannot pursue with any safety this sport to the upshot . Come by and by to my chamber . + +Hey Robin , jolly Robin , +Tell me how thy lady does . + + +Fool ! + +My lady is unkind , perdy ! + +Fool ! + +Alas , why is she so ? + +Fool , I say ! + +She loves another . +Who calls , ha ? + +Good fool , as ever thou wilt deserve well at my hand , help me to a candle , and pen , ink , and paper . As I am a gentleman , I will live to be thankful to thee for't . + +Master Malvoliol + +Ay , good fool . + +Alas , sir , how fell you beside your five wits ? + +Fool , there was never man so notoriously abused : I am as well in my wits , fool , as thou art . + +But as well ? then you are mad indeed , if you be no better in your wits than a fool . + +They have here propertied me ; keep me in darkness , send ministers to me , asses ! and do all they can to face me out of my wits . + +Advise you what you say : the minister is here . Malvolio , Malvolio , thy wits the heavens restore ! endeavour thyself to sleep , and leave thy vain bibble-babble . + +Sir Topas ! + +Maintain no words with him , good fellow .Who , I , sir ? not I , sir . God be wi' you , good Sir Topas . Marry , amen . I will , sir , I will . + +Fool , fool , fool , I say ! + +Alas , sir , be patient . What say you , sir ? I am shent for speaking to you . + +Good fool , help me to some light and some paper : I tell thee I am as well in my wits as any man in Illyria . + +Well-a-day , that you were , sir ! + +By this hand , I am . Good fool , some ink , paper , and light ; and convey what I will set down to my lady : it shall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did . + +I will help you to't . But tell me true , are you not mad indeed ? or do you but counterfeit ? + +Believe me , I am not : I tell thee true . + +Nay , I'll ne'er believe a madman till I see his brains . I will fetch you light and paper and ink . + +Fool , I'll requite it in the highest degree : I prithee , be gone . + + +I am gone , sir , +And anon , sir , +I'll be with you again +In a trice , +Like to the old Vice , +Your need to sustain ; +Who with dagger of lath , +In his rage and his wrath , +Cries , Ah , ah ! to the devil : +Like a mad lad , +Pare thy nails , dad ; +Adieu , goodman drivel . + +This is the air ; that is the glorious sun ; This pearl she gave me , I do feel't and see't ; +And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus , +Yet 'tis not madness . Where's Antonio then ? +I could not find him at the Elephant ; +Yet there he was , and there I found this credit , +That he did range the town to seek me out . +His counsel now might do me golden service ; +For though my soul disputes well with my sense +That this may be some error , but no madness , +Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune +So far exceed all instance , all discourse , +That I am ready to distrust mine eyes , +And wrangle with my reason that persuades me +To any other trust but that I am mad +Or else the lady's mad : yet , if 'twere so , +She could not sway her house , command her followers , +Take and give back affairs and their dispatch +With such a smooth , discreet , and stable bearing +As I perceive she does . There's something in't +That is deceivable . But here the lady comes . + + +Blame not this haste of mine . If you mean well , +Now go with me and with this holy man +Into the chantry by ; there , before him , +And underneath that consecrated roof , +Plight me the full assurance of your faith ; +That my most jealous and too doubtful soul +May live at peace . He shall conceal it +Whiles you are willing it shall come to note , +What time we will our celebration keep +According to my birth . What do you say ? + +I'll follow this good man , and go with you ; +And , having sworn truth , ever will be true . + +Then lead the way , good father ; and heavens so shine +That they may fairly note this act of mine ! + + +Now , as thou lovest me , let me see his letter . + +Good Master Fabian , grant me another request . + +Anything . + +Do not desire to see this letter . + +This is , to give a dog , and , in recompense desire my dog again . + + +Belong you to the Lady Olivia , friends ? + +Ay , sir ; we are some of her trappings . + +I know thee well : how dost thou , my good fellow ? + +Truly , sir , the better for my foes and the worse for my friends . + +Just the contrary ; the better for thy friends . + +No , sir , the worse . + +How can that be ? + +Marry , sir , they praise me and make an ass of me ; now my foes tell me plainly I am an ass : so that by my foes , sir , I profit in the knowledge of myself , and by my friends I am abused : so that , conclusions to be as kisses , if your four negatives make your two affirmatives , why then , the worse for my friends and the better for my foes . + +Why , this is excellent . + +By my troth , sir , no ; though it please you to be one of my friends . + +Thou shalt not be the worse for me : there's gold . + +But that it would be double-dealing , sir , I would you could make it another . + +O , you give me ill counsel . + +Put your grace in your pocket , sir , for this once , and let your flesh and blood obey it . + +Well , I will be so much a sinner to be a double-dealer : there's another . + +Primo , secundo , tertio , is a good play ; and the old saying is , 'the third pays for all :' the triplex , sir , is a good tripping measure ; or the bells of Saint Bennet , sir , may put you in mind ; one , two , three . + +You can fool no more money out of me at this throw : if you will let your lady know I am here to speak with her , and bring her along with you , it may awake my bounty further . + +Marry , sir , lullaby to your bounty till I come again . I go , sir ; but I would not have you to think that my desire of having is the sin of covetousness ; but as you say , sir , let your bounty take a nap , I will awake it anon . + + +Here comes the man , sir , that did rescue me . + + +That face of his I do remember well ; +Yet when I saw it last , it was besmear'd +As black as Vulcan in the smoke of war . +A bawbling vessel was he captain of , +For shallow draught and hulk unprizable ; +With which such scathful grapple did he make +With the most noble bottom of our fleet , +That very envy and the tongue of loss +Cried fame and honour on him . What's the matter ? + +Orsino , this is that Antonio +That took the Ph nix and her fraught from Candy ; +And this is he that did the Tiger board , +When your young nephew Titus lost his leg . +Here in the streets , desperate of shame and state , +In private brabble did we apprehend him . + +He did me kindness , sir , drew on my side ; +But in conclusion put strange speech upon me : +I know not what 'twas but distraction . + +Notable pirate ! thou salt-water thief ! +What foolish boldness brought thee to their mercies +Whom thou , in terms so bloody and so dear , +Hast made thine enemies ? + +Orsino , noble sir , +Be pleas'd that I shake off these names you give me : +Antonio never yet was thief or pirate , +Though I confess , on base and ground enough , +Orsino's enemy . A witchcraft drew me hither : +That most ingrateful boy there by your side , +From the rude sea's enrag'd and foamy mouth +Did I redeem ; a wrack past hope he was : +His life I gave him , and did thereto add +My love , without retention or restraint , +All his in dedication ; for his sake +Did I expose myself , pure for his love , +Into the danger of this adverse town ; +Drew to defend him when he was beset : +Where being apprehended , his false cunning , +Not meaning to partake with me in danger , +Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance , +And grew a twenty years removed thing +While one would wink , denied me mine own purse , +Which I had recommended to his use +Not half an hour before . + +How can this be ? + +When came he to this town ? + +To-day , my lord ; and for three months before , +No interim , not a minute's vacancy , +Both day and night did we keep company . + + +Here comes the countess : now heaven walks on earth ! +But for thee , fellow ; fellow , thy words are madness : +Three months this youth hath tended upon me ; +But more of that anon . Take him aside . + +What would my lord , but that he may not have , +Wherein Olivia may seem serviceable ? +Cesario , you do not keep promise with me . + +Madam ! + +Gracious Olivia . + +What do you say , Cesario ? Good my lord , + +My lord would speak ; my duty hushes me . + +If it be aught to the old tune , my lord , +It is as fat and fulsome to mine ear +As howling after music . + +Still so cruel ? + +Still so constant , lord . + +What , to perverseness ? you uncivil lady , +To whose ingrate and unauspicious altars +My soul the faithfull'st offerings hath breath'd out +That e'er devotion tender'd ! What shall I do ? + +Even what it please my lord , that shall become him . + +Why should I not , had I the heart to do it , +Like to the Egyptian thief at point of death , +Kill what I love ? a savage jealousy +That sometimes savours nobly . But hear me this : +Since you to non-regardance cast my faith , +And that I partly know the instrument +That screws me from my true place in your favour , +Live you , the marble-breasted tyrant still ; +But this your minion , whom I know you love , +And whom , by heaven I swear , I tender dearly , +Him will I tear out of that cruel eye , +Where he sits crowned in his master's spite . +Come , boy , with me ; my thoughts are ripe in mischief ; +I'll sacrifice the lamb that I do love , +To spite a raven's heart within a dove . + + +And I , most jocund , apt , and willingly , +To do you rest , a thousand deaths would die . + + +Where goes Cesario ? + +After him I love +More than I love these eyes , more than my life , +More , by all mores , than e'er I shall love wife . +If I do feign , you witnesses above +Punish my life for tainting of my love ! + +Ah me , detested ! how am I beguil'd ! + +Who does beguile you ? who does do you wrong ? + +Hast thou forgot thyself ? Is it so long ? +Call forth the holy father . + + +Come away . + +Whither , my lord ? Cesario , husband , stay . + +Husband ? + +Ay , husband : can he that deny ? + +Her husband , sirrah ? + +No , my lord , not I . + +Alas ! it is the baseness of thy fear +That makes thee strangle thy propriety . +Fear not , Cesario ; take thy fortunes up ; +Be that thou know'st thou art , and then thou art +As great as that thou fear'st . + + +O , welcome , father ! +Father , I charge thee , by thy reverence , +Here to unfold ,though lately we intended +To keep in darkness what occasion now +Reveals before 'tis ripe ,what thou dost know + +Hath newly pass'd between this youth and me . + +A contract of eternal bond of love , +Confirm'd by mutual joinder of your hands , +Attested by the holy close of lips , +Strengthen'd by interchangement of your rings ; +And all the ceremony of this compact +Seal'd in my function , by my testimony : +Since when , my watch hath told me , toward my grave +I have travell'd but two hours . + +O , thou dissembling cub ! what wilt thou be +When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case ? +Or will not else thy craft so quickly grow +That thine own trip shall be thine overthrow ? +Farewell , and take her ; but direct thy feet +Where thou and I henceforth may never meet . + +My lord , I do protest , + +O ! do not swear : +Hold little faith , though thou hast too much fear . + + +For the love of God , a surgeon ! send one presently to Sir Toby . + +What's the matter ? + +He has broke my head across , and has given Sir Toby a bloody coxcomb too . For the love of God , your help ! I had rather than forty pound I were at home . + +Who has done this , Sir Andrew ? + +The count's gentleman , one Cesario : we took him for a coward , but he's the very devil incardinate . + +My gentleman , Cesario ? + +Od's lifelings ! here he is . You broke my head for nothing ! and that that I did , I was set on to do't by Sir Toby . + +Why do you speak to me ? I never hurt you : +You drew your sword upon me without cause ; +But I bespake you fair , and hurt you not . + +If a bloody coxcomb be a hurt , you have hurt me : I think you set nothing by a bloody coxcomb . Here comes Sir Toby halting ; + +you shall hear more : but if he had not been in drink he would have tickled you othergates than he did . + +How now , gentleman ! how is't with you ? + +That's all one : he has hurt me , and there's the end on't . Sot , didst see Dick surgeon , sot ? + +O ! he's drunk , Sir Toby , an hour agone : his eyes were set at eight i' the morning . + +Then he's a rogue , and a passy-measures pavin . I hate a drunken rogue . + +Away with him ! Who hath made this havoc with them ? + +I'll help you , Sir Toby , because we'll be dressed together . + +Will you help ? an ass-head and a coxcomb and a knave , a thin-faced knave , a gull ! + +Get him to bed , and let his hurt be look'd to . + +I am sorry , madam , I have hurt your kinsman ; +But , had it been the brother of my blood , +I must have done no less with wit and safety . +You throw a strange regard upon me , and by that +I do perceive it hath offended you : +Pardon me , sweet one , even for the vows +We made each other but so late ago . + +One face , one voice , one habit , and two persons ; +A natural perspective , that is , and is not ! + +Antonio ! O my dear Antonio ! +How have the hours rack'd and tortur'd me +Since I have lost thee ! + +Sebastian are you ? + +Fear'st thou that , Antonio ? + +How have you made division of yourself ? +An apple cleft in two is not more twin +Than these two creatures . Which is Sebastian ? + +Most wonderful ! + +Do I stand there ? I never had a brother ; +Nor can there be that deity in my nature , +Of here and every where . I had a sister , +Whom the blind waves and surges have devour'd . +Of charity , what kin are you to me ? +What countryman ? what name ? what parentage ? + +Of Messaline : Sebastian was my father ; +Such a Sebastian was my brother too , +So went he suited to his watery tomb . +If spirits can assume both form and suit +You come to fright us . + +A spirit I am indeed ; +But am in that dimension grossly clad +Which from the womb I did participate . +Were you a woman , as the rest goes even , +I should my tears let fall upon your cheek , +And say , 'Thrice welcome , drowned Viola !' + +My father had a mole upon his brow . + +And so had mine . + +And died that day when Viola from her birth +Had number'd thirteen years . + +O ! that record is lively in my soul . +He finished indeed his mortal act +That day that made my sister thirteen years . + +If nothing lets to make us happy both +But this my masculine usurp'd attire , +Do not embrace me till each circumstance +Of place , time , fortune , do cohere and jump +That I am Viola : which to confirm , +I'll bring you to a captain in this town , +Where lie my maiden weeds : by whose gentle help +I was preserv'd to serve this noble count . +All the occurrence of my fortune since +Hath been between this lady and this lord . + +So comes it , lady , you have been mistook : +But nature to her bias drew in that . +You would have been contracted to a maid ; +Nor are you therein , by my life , deceiv'd , +You are betroth'd both to a maid and man . + +Be not amaz'd ; right noble is his blood . +If this be so , as yet the glass seems true , +I shall have share in this most happy wrack . + + +Boy , thou hast said to me a thousand times +Thou never shouldst love woman like to me . + +And all those sayings will I over-swear , +And all those swearings keep as true in soul +As doth that orbed continent the fire +That severs day from night . + +Give me thy hand ; +And let me see thee in thy woman's weeds . + +The captain that did bring me first on shore +Hath my maid's garments : he upon some action +Is now in durance at Malvolio's suit , +A gentleman and follower of my lady's . + +He shall enlarge him . Fetch Malvolio hither . +And yet , alas , now I remember me , +They say , poor gentleman , he's much distract . +A most extracting frenzy of mine own +From my remembrance clearly banish'd his . + +How does he , sirrah ? + +Truly , madam , he holds Belzebub at the stave's end as well as a man in his case may do . He has here writ a letter to you : I should have given it to you to-day morning ; but as a madman's epistles are no gospels , so it skills not much when they are delivered . + +Open it , and read it . + +Look then to be well edified , when the fool delivers the madman . +By the Lord , madam , + +How now ! art thou mad ? + +No , madam , I do but read madness : an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be , you must allow vox . + +Prithee , read i' thy right wits . + +So I do , madonna ; but to read his right wits is to read thus : therefore perpend , my princess , and give ear . + +Read it you , sirrah . + + +By the Lord , madam , you wrong me , and the world shall know it : though you have put me into darkness , and given your drunken cousin rule over me , yet have I the benefit of my senses as well as your ladyship . I have your own letter that induced me to the semblance I put on ; with the which I doubt not but to do myself much right , or you much shame . Think of me as you please . I leave my duty a little unthought of , and speak out of my injury . THE MADLY-USED MALVOLIO . + +Did he write this ? + +Ay , madam . + +This savours not much of distraction . + +See him deliver'd , Fabian ; bring him hither . + +My lord , so please you , these things further thought on , +To think me as well a sister as a wife , +One day shall crown the alliance on't , so please you , +Here at my house and at my proper cost . + +Madam , I am most apt to embrace your offer . + + +Your master quits you ; and , for your service done him , +So much against the mettle of your sex , +So far beneath your soft and tender breeding ; +And since you call'd me master for so long , +Here is my hand : you shall from this time be +Your master's mistress . + +A sister ! you are she . + + +Is this the madman ? + +Ay , my lord , this same . +How now , Malvolio ! + +Madam , you have done me wrong , +Notorious wrong . + +Have I , Malvolio ? no . + +Lady , you have . Pray you peruse that letter . +You must not now deny it is your hand : +Write from it , if you can , in hand or phrase , +Or say 'tis not your seal nor your invention : +You can say none of this . Well , grant it then , +And tell me , in the modesty of honour , +Why you have given me such clear lights of favour , +Bade me come smiling and cross-garter'd to you , +To put on yellow stockings , and to frown +Upon Sir Toby and the lighter people ; +And , acting this in an obedient hope , +Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd , +Kept in a dark house , visited by the priest , +And made the most notorious geck and gull +That e'er invention play'd on ? tell me why . + +Alas ! Malvolio , this is not my writing , +Though , I confess , much like the character ; +But , out of question , 'tis Maria's hand : +And now I do bethink me , it was she +First told me thou wast mad ; then cam'st in smiling , +And in such forms which here were presuppos'd +Upon thee in the letter . Prithee , be content : +This practice hath most shrewdly pass'd upon thee ; +But when we know the grounds and authors of it , +Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge +Of thine own cause . + +Good madam , hear me speak , +And let no quarrel nor no brawl to come +Taint the condition of this present hour , +Which I have wonder'd at . In hope it shall not , +Most freely I confess , myself and Toby +Set this device against Malvolio here , +Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts +We had conceiv'd against him . Maria writ +The letter at Sir Toby's great importance ; +In recompense whereof he hath married her . +How with a sportful malice it was follow'd , +May rather pluck on laughter than revenge , +If that the injuries be justly weigh'd +That have on both sides past . + +Alas , poor fool , how have they baffled thee ! + +Why , 'some are born great , some achieve greatness , and some have greatness thrown upon them .' I was one , sir , in this interlude ; one Sir Topas , sir ; but that's all one . 'By the Lord , fool , I am not mad :' But do you remember ? 'Madam , why laugh you at such a barren rascal ? an you smile not , he's gagged :' and thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges . + +I'll be reveng'd on the whole pack of you . + + +He hath been most notoriously abus'd . + +Pursue him , and entreat him to a peace ; +He hath not told us of the captain yet : +When that is known and golden time convents , +A solemn combination shall be made +Of our dear souls . Meantime , sweet sister , +We will not part from hence . Cesario , come ; +For so you shall be , while you are a man ; +But when in other habits you are seen , +Orsino's mistress , and his fancy's queen . + +When that I was and a little tiny boy , +With hey , ho , the wind and the rain ; +A foolish thing was but a toy , +For the rain it raineth every day . + + +But when I came to man's estate , +With hey , ho , the wind and the rain ; +'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gates , +For the rain it raineth every day . + + +But when I came , alas ! to wive , +With hey , ho , the wind and the rain ; +By swaggering could I never thrive , +For the rain it raineth every day . + + +But when I came unto my beds , +With hey , ho , the wind and the rain ; +With toss-pots still had drunken heads , +For the rain it raineth every day . + + +A great while ago the world begun , +With hey , ho , the wind and the rain ; +But that's all one , our play is done , +And we'll strive to please you every day . + + THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF KING HENRY VIII + + +I come no more to make you laugh : things now , +That bear a weighty and a serious brow , +Sad , high , and working , full of state and woe , +Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow , +We now present . Those that can pity , here +May , if they think it well , let fall a tear ; +The subject will deserve it . Such as give +Their money out of hope they may believe , +May here find truth too . Those that come to see +Only a show or two , and so agree +The play may pass , if they be still and willing , +I'll undertake may see away their shilling +Richly in two short hours . Only they +That come to hear a merry , bawdy play , +A noise of targets , or to see a fellow +In a long molley coat guarded with yellow , +Will be deceiv'd ; for , gentle hearers , know , +To rank our chosen truth with such a show +As fool and fight is , besides forfeiting +Our own brains , and the opinion that we bring , +To make that only true we now intend , +Will leave us never an understanding friend . +Therefore , for goodness' sake , and as you are known +The first and happiest hearers of the town , +Be sad , as we would make ye : think ye see +The very persons of our noble story +As they were living ; think you see them great , +And follow'd with the general throng and sweat +Of thousand friends ; then , in a moment see +How soon this mightiness meets misery : +And if you can be merry then , I'll say +A man may weep upon his wedding day . + + +Good morrow , and well met . How have you done , +Since last we saw in France ? + +I thank your Grace , +Healthful ; and ever since a fresh admirer +Of what I saw there . + +An untimely ague +Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber , when +Those suns of glory , those two lights of men , +Met in the vale of Andren . + +'Twixt Guynes and Arde : +I was then present , saw them salute on horseback ; +Beheld them , when they lighted , how they clung +In their embracement , as they grew together ; +Which had they , what four thron'd ones could have weigh'd +Such a compounded one ? + +All the whole time +I was my chamber's prisoner . + +Then you lost +The view of earthly glory : men might say , +Till this time , pomp was single , but now married +To one above itself . Each following day +Became the next day's master , till the last +Made former wonders its . To-day the French +All clinquant , all in gold , like heathen gods , +Shone down the English ; and to-morrow they +Made Britain India : every man that stood +Show'd like a mine . Their dwarfish pages were +As cherubins , all gilt : the madams , too , +Not us'd to toil , did almost sweat to bear +The pride upon them , that their very labour +Was to them as a painting . Now this masque +Was cried incomparable ; and the ensuing night +Made it a fool , and beggar . The two kings , +Equal in lustre , were now best , now worst , +As presence did present them ; him in eye , +Still him in praise ; and , being present both , +'Twas said they saw but one ; and no discerner +Durst wag his tongue in censure . When these suns +For so they phrase 'em by their heralds challeng'd +The noble spirits to arms , they did perform +Beyond thought's compass ; that former fabulous story , +Being now seen possible enough , got credit , +That Bevis was believ'd . + +O ! you go far . + +As I belong to worship , and affect +In honour honesty , the tract of every thing +Would by a good discourser lose some life , +Which action's self was tongue to . All was royal ; +To the disposing of it nought rebell'd , +Order gave each thing view ; the office did +Distinctly his full function . + +Who did guide , +I mean , who set the body and the limbs +Of this great sport together , as you guess ? + +One certes , that promises no element +In such a business . + +I pray you , who , my lord ? + +All this was order'd by the good discretion +Of the right reverend Cardinal of York . + +The devil speed him ! no man's pie is freed +From his ambitious finger . What had he +To do in these fierce vanities ? I wonder +That such a keech can with his very bulk +Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun , +And keep it from the earth . + +Surely , sir , +There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends ; +For , being not propp'd by ancestry , whose grace +Chalks successors their way , nor call'd upon +For high feats done to the crown ; neither allied +To eminent assistants ; but , spider-like , +Out of his self-drawing web , he gives us note , +The force of his own merit makes his way ; +A gift that heaven gives for him , which buys +A place next to the king . + +I cannot tell +What heaven hath given him : let some graver eye +Pierce into that ; but I can see his pride +Peep through each part of him : whence has he that ? +If not from hell , the devil is a niggard , +Or has given all before , and he begins +A new hell in himself . + +Why the devil , +Upon this French going-out , took he upon him , +Without the privity o' the king , to appoint +Who should attend on him ? He makes up the file +Of all the gentry ; for the most part such +To whom as great a charge as little honour +He meant to lay upon : and his own letter , +The honourable board of council out , +Must fetch him in he papers . + +I do know +Kinsmen of mine , three at the least , that have +By this so sicken'd their estates , that never +They shall abound as formerly . + +O ! many +Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em +For this great journey . What did this vanity +But minister communication of +A most poor issue ? + +Grievingly I think , +The peace between the French and us not values +The cost that did conclude it . + +Every man , +After the hideous storm that follow'd , was +A thing inspir'd ; and , not consulting , broke +Into a general prophecy : That this tempest , +Dashing the garment of this peace , aboded +The sudden breach on't . + +Which is budded out ; +For France hath flaw'd the league , and hath attach'd +Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux . + +Is it therefore +The ambassador is silenc'd ? + +Marry , is't . + +A proper title of a peace ; and purchas'd +At a superfluous rate ! + +Why , all this business +Our reverend cardinal carried . + +Like it your Grace , +The state takes notice of the private difference +Betwixt you and the cardinal . I advise you , +And take it from a heart that wishes towards you +Honour and plenteous safety ,that you read +The cardinal's malice and his potency +Together ; to consider further that +What his high hatred would effect wants not +A minister in his power . You know his nature , +That he's revengeful ; and I know his sword +Hath a sharp edge : it's long , and 't may be said , +It reaches far ; and where 'twill not extend , +Thither he darts it . Bosom up my counsel , +You'll find it wholesome . Lo where comes that rock +That I advise your shunning . + +The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor , ha ? +Where's his examination ? + +Here , so please you . + +Is he in person ready ? + +Ay , please your Grace . + +Well , we shall then know more ; and Buckingham +Shall lessen this big look . + + +This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd , and I +Have not the power to muzzle him ; therefore best +Not wake him in his slumber . A beggar's book +Outworths a noble's blood . + +What ! are you chaf'd ? +Ask God for temperance ; that's the appliance only +Which your disease requires . + +I read in's looks +Matter against me ; and his eye revil'd +Me , as his abject object : at this instant +He bores me with some trick : he's gone to the king ; +I'll follow , and out-stare him . + +Stay , my lord , +And let your reason with your choler question +What 'tis you go about . To climb steep hills +Requires slow pace at first : anger is like +A full-hot horse , who being allow'd his way , +Self-mettle tires him . Not a man in England +Can advise me like you : be to yourself +As you would to your friend . + +I'll to the king ; +And from a mouth of honour quite cry down +This Ipswich fellow's insolence , or proclaim +There's difference in no persons . + +Be advis'd ; +Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot +That it do singe yourself . We may outrun +By violent swiftness that which we run at , +And lose by overrunning . Know you not , +The fire that mounts the liquor till it run o'er , +In seeming to augment it wastes it ? Be advis'd : +I say again , there is no English soul +More stronger to direct you than yourself , +If with the sap of reason you would quench , +Or but allay , the fire of passion . + +Sir , +I am thankful to you , and I'll go along +By your prescription : but this top-proud fellow +Whom from the flow of gall I name not , but +From sincere motions ,by intelligence , +And proofs as clear as founts in July , when +We see each grain of gravel ,I do know +To be corrupt and treasonous . + +Say not , 'treasonous .' + +To the king I'll say't ; and make my vouch as strong +As shore of rock . Attend . This holy fox , +Or wolf , or both ,for he is equal ravenous +As he is subtle , and as prone to mischief +As able to perform 't , his mind and place +Infecting one another , yea , reciprocally , +Only to show his pomp as well in France +As here at home , suggests the king our master +To this last costly treaty , the interview , +That swallow'd so much treasure , and like a glass +Did break i' the rinsing . + +Faith , and so it did . + +Praygive me favour , sir . This cunning cardinal +The articles o' the combination drew +As himself pleas'd ; and they were ratified +As he cried , 'Thus let be ,' to as much end +As give a crutch to the dead . But our count-cardinal +Has done this , and 'tis well ; for worthy Wolsey , +Who cannot err , he did it . Now this follows , +Which , as I take it , is a kind of puppy +To the old dam , treason , Charles the emperor , +Under pretence to see the queen his aunt , +For 'twas indeed his colour , but he came +To whisper Wolsey ,here makes visitation : +His fears were , that the interview betwixt +England and France might , through their amity , +Breed him some prejudice ; for from this league +Peep'd harms that menac'd him . He privily +Deals with our cardinal , and , as I trow , +Which I do well ; for , I am sure the emperor +Paid ere he promis'd ; whereby his suit was granted +Ere it was ask'd ; but when the way was made , +And pav'd with gold , the emperor thus desir'd : +That he would please to alter the king's course , +And break the foresaid peace . Let the king know +As soon he shall by me that thus the cardinal +Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases , +And for his own advantage . + +I am sorry +To hear this of him ; and could wish he were +Something mistaken in 't . + +No , not a syllable : +I do pronounce him in that very shape +He shall appear in proof . + + +Your office , sergeant ; execute it . + +Sir , +My Lord the Duke of Buckingham , and Earl +Of Hereford , Stafford , and Northampton , I +Arrest thee of high treason , in the name +Of our most sovereign king . + +Lo you , my lord , +The net has fall'n upon me ! I shall perish +Under device and practice . + +I am sorry +To see you ta'en from liberty , to look on +The business present . 'Tis his highness' pleasure +You shall to the Tower . + +It will help me nothing +To plead mine innocence , for that dye is on me +Which makes my whit'st part black . The will of heaven +Be done in this and all things ! I obey . +O ! my Lord Abergavenny , fare you well ! + +Nay , he must bear you company . + +The king +Is pleas'd you shall to the Tower , till you know +How he determines further . + +As the duke said , +The will of heaven be done , and the king's pleasure +By me obey'd ! + +Here is a warrant from +The king to attach Lord Montacute ; and the bodies +Of the duke's confessor , John de la Car , +One Gilbert Peck , his chancellor , + +So , so ; +These are the limbs o' the plot : no more , I hope . + +A monk o' the Chartreux . + +O ! Nicholas Hopkins ? + +He . + +My surveyor is false ; the o'er-great cardinal +Hath show'd him gold . My life is spann'd already : +I am the shadow of poor Buckingham , +Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on , +By dark'ning my clear sun . My lord , farewell . + + +My life itself , and the best heart of it , +Thanks you for this great care : I stood i' the level +Of a full-charg'd confederacy , and give thanks +To you that chok'd it . Let be call'd before us +That gentleman of Buckingham's ; in person +I'll hear him his confessions justify ; +And point by point the treasons of his master +He shall again relate . + +Nay , we must longer kneel : I am a suitor . + +Arise , and take place by us : half your suit +Never name to us ; you have half our power : +The other moiety , ere you ask , is given ; +Repeat your will , and take it . + +Thank your majesty . +That you would love yourself , and in that love +Not unconsider'd leave your honour , nor +The dignity of your office , is the point +Of my petition . + +Lady mine , proceed . + +I am solicited , not by a few , +And those of true condition , that your subjects +Are in great grievance : there have been commissions +Sent down among 'em , which hath flaw'd the heart +Of all their loyalties : wherein , although , +My good Lord Cardinal , they vent reproaches +Most bitterly on you , as putter-on +Of these exactions , yet the king our master , +Whose honour heaven shield from soil !even he escapes not +Language unmannerly ; yea , such which breaks +The sides of loyalty , and almost appears +In loud rebellion . + +Not almost appears , +It doth appear ; for , upon these taxations , +The clothiers all , not able to maintain +The many to them 'longing , have put off +The spinsters , carders , fullers , weavers , who , +Unfit for other life , compell'd by hunger +And lack of other means , in desperate manner +Daring the event to the teeth , are all in uproar , +And danger serves among them . + +Taxation ! +Wherein ? and what taxation ? My Lord Cardinal , +You that are blam'd for it alike with us , +Know you of this taxation ? + +Please you , sir , +I know but of a single part in aught +Pertains to the state ; and front but in that file +Where others tell steps with me . + +No , my lord , +You know no more than others ; but you frame +Things that are known alike ; which are not wholesome +To those which would not know them , and yet must +Perforce be their acquaintance . These exactions , +Whereof my sov'reign would have note , they are +Most pestilent to the hearing ; and to bear 'em , +The back is sacrifice to the load . They say +They are devis'd by you , or else you suffer +Too hard an exclamation . + +Still exaction ! +The nature of it ? In what kind , let's know , +Is this exaction ? + +I am much too venturous +In tempting of your patience ; but am bolden'd +Under your promis'd pardon . The subjects' grief +Comes through commissions , which compel from each +The sixth part of his substance , to be levied +Without delay ; and the pretence for this +Is nam'd , your wars in France . This makes bold mouths : +Tongues spit their duties out , and cold hearts freeze +Allegiance in them ; their curses now +Live where their prayers did ; and it's come to pass , +This tractable obedience is a slave +To each incensed will . I would your highness +Would give it quick consideration , for +There is no primer business . + +By my life , +This is against our pleasure . + +And for me , +I have no further gone in this than by +A single voice , and that not pass'd me but +By learned approbation of the judges . If I am +Traduc'd by ignorant tongues , which neither know +My faculties nor person , yet will be +The chronicles of my doing , let me say +'Tis but the fate of place , and the rough brake +That virtue must go through . We must not stint +Our necessary actions , in the fear +To cope malicious censurers ; which ever , +As rav'nous fishes , do a vessel follow +That is new-trimm'd , but benefit no further +Than vainly longing . What we oft do best , +By sick interpreters , once weak ones , is +Not ours , or not allow'd ; what worst , as oft , +Hitting a grosser quality , is cried up +For our best act . If we shall stand still , +In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at , +We should take root here where we sit , or sit +State-statues only . + +Things done well , +And with a care , exempt themselves from fear ; +Things done without example , in their issue +Are to be fear'd . Have you a precedent +Of this commission ? I believe , not any . +We must not rend our subjects from our laws , +And stick them in our will . Sixth part of each ? +A trembling contribution ! Why , we take +From every tree , lop , bark , and part o' the timber ; +And , though we leave it with a root , thus hack'd , +The air will drink the sap . To every county +Where this is question'd , send our letters , with +Free pardon to each man that has denied +The force of this commission . Pray , look to 't ; +I put it to your care . + +A word with you . +Let there be letters writ to every shire , +Of the king's grace and pardon . The griev'd commons +Hardly conceive of me ; let it be nois'd +That through our intercession this revokement +And pardon comes : I shall anon advise you +Further in the proceeding . + +I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham +Is run in your displeasure . + +It grieves many : +The gentleman is learn'd , and a most rare speaker , +To nature none more bound ; his training such +That he may furnish and instruct great teachers , +And never seek for aid out of himself . Yet see , +When these so noble benefits shall prove +Not well dispos'd , the mind growing once corrupt , +They turn to vicious forms , ten times more ugly +Than ever they were fair . This man so complete , +Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders , and when we , +Almost with ravish'd listening , could not find +His hour of speech a minute ; he , my lady , +Hath into monstrous habits put the graces +That once were his , and is become as black +As if besmear'd in hell . Sit by us ; you shall hear +This was his gentleman in trust of him +Things to strike honour sad . Bid him recount +The fore-recited practices ; whereof +We cannot feel too little , hear too much . + +Stand forth ; and with bold spirit relate what you , +Most like a careful subject , have collected +Out of the Duke of Buckingham . + +Speak freely . + +First , it was usual with him , every day +It would infect his speech , that if the king +Should without issue die , he'd carry it so +To make the sceptre his . These very words +I've heard him utter to his son-in-law , +Lord Abergavenny , to whom by oath he menac'd +Revenge upon the cardinal . + +Please your highness , note +This dangerous conception in this point . +Not friended by his wish , to your high person +His will is most malignant ; and it stretches +Beyond you , to your friends . + +My learn'd Lord Cardinal , +Deliver all with charity . + +Speak on : +How grounded he his title to the crown +Upon our fail ? to this point hast thou heard him +At any time speak aught ? + +He was brought to this +By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins . + +What was that Hopkins ? + +Sir , a Chartreux friar , +His confessor , who fed him every minute +With words of sovereignty . + +How know'st thou this ? + +Not long before your highness sped to France , +The duke being at the Rose , within the parish +Saint Lawrence Poultney , did of me demand +What was the speech among the Londoners +Concerning the French journey : I replied , +Men fear'd the French would prove perfidious , +To the king's danger . Presently the duke +Said , 'twas the fear , indeed ; and that he doubted +'Twould prove the verity of certain words +Spoke by a holy monk ; 'that oft ,' says he , +'Hath sent to me , wishing me to permit +John de la Car , my chaplain , a choice hour +To hear from him a matter of some moment : +Whom after under the confession's seal +He solemnly had sworn , that what he spoke , +My chaplain to no creature living but +To me should utter , with demure confidence +This pausingly ensu'd : neither the king nor 's heirs +Tell you the duke shall prosper : bid him strive +To gain the love o' the commonalty : the duke +Shall govern England .' + +If I know you well , +You were the duke's surveyor , and lost your office +On the complaint o' the tenants : take good heed +You charge not in your spleen a noble person , +And spoil your nobler soul . I say , take heed ; +Yes , heartily beseech you . + +Let him on . +Go forward . + +On my soul , I'll speak but truth . +I told my lord the duke , by the devil's illusions +The monk might be deceiv'd ; and that 'twas dangerous for him +To ruminate on this so far , until +It forg'd him some design , which , being believ'd , +It was much like to do . He answer'd , 'Tush ! +It can do me no damage ;' adding further , +That had the king in his last sickness fail'd , +The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads +Should have gone off . + +Ha ! what , so rank ? Ah , ha ! +There's mischief in this man . Canst thou say further ? + +I can , my liege . + +Proceed . + +Being at Greenwich , +After your highness had reprov'd the duke +About Sir William Blomer , + +I remember +Of such a time : being my sworn servant , +The duke retain'd him his . But on ; what hence ? + +'If ,' quoth he , 'I for this had been committed , +As , to the Tower , I thought , I would have play'd +The part my father meant to act upon +The usurper Richard ; who , being at Salisbury , +Made suit to come in 's presence ; which if granted , +As he made semblance of his duty , would +Have put his knife into him .' + +A giant traitor ! + +Now , madam , may his highness live in freedom , +And this man out of prison ? + +God mend all ! + +There's something more would out of thee ? what sayst ? + +After 'the duke his father ,' with 'the knife ,' +He stretch'd him , and , with one hand on his dagger , +Another spread on's breast , mounting his eyes , +He did discharge a horrible oath ; whose tenour +Was , were he evil us'd , he would outgo +His father by as much as a performance +Does an irresolute purpose . + +There's his period ; +To sheathe his knife in us . He is attach'd ; +Call him to present trial : if he may +Find mercy in the law , 'tis his ; if none , +Let him not seek't of us : by day and night ! +He's traitor to the height . + + +Is't possible the spells of France should juggle +Men into such strange mysteries ? + +New customs , +Though they be never so ridiculous , +Nay , let 'em be unmanly , yet are follow'd . + +As far as I see , all the good our English +Have got by the late voyage is but merely +A fit or two o' the face ; but they are shrewd ones ; +For when they hold 'em , you would swear directly +Their very noses had been counsellors +To Pepin or Clotharius , they keep state so . + +They have all new legs , and lame ones : one would take it , +That never saw 'em pace before , the spavin +Or springhalt reign'd among 'em . + +Death ! my lord , +Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too , +That , sure , they've worn out Christendom . + + +How now ! + +What news , Sir Thomas Lovell ? + +Faith , my lord , +I hear of none , but the new proclamation +That's clapp'd upon the court-gate . + +What is't for ? + +The reformation of our travell'd gallants , +That fill the court with quarrels , talk , and tailors . + +I am glad 'tis there : now I would pray our monsieurs +To think an English courtier may be wise , +And never see the Louvre . + +They must either +For so run the conditions leave those remnants +Of fool and feather that they got in France , +With all their honourable points of ignorance +Pertaining thereunto ,as fights and fireworks ; +Abusing better men than they can be , +Out of a foreign wisdom ;renouncing clean +The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings , +Short blister'd breeches , and those types of travel , +And understand again like honest men ; +Or pack to their old playfellows : there , I take it , +They may , cum privilegio , wear away +The lag end of their lewdness , and be laugh'd at . + +'Tis time to give 'em physic , their diseases +Are grown so catching . + +What a loss our ladies +Will have of these trim vanities ! + +Ay , marry , +There will be woe indeed , lords : the sly whoresons +Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies ; +A French song and a fiddle has no fellow . + +The devil fiddle 'em ! I am glad they're going : +For , sure , there's no converting of 'em : now +An honest country lord , as I am , beaten +A long time out of play , may bring his plainsong +And have an hour of hearing ; and , by'r lady , +Held current music too . + +Well said , Lord Sands ; +Your colt's tooth is not cast yet . + +No , my lord ; +Nor shall not , while I have a stump . + +Sir Thomas , +Whither were you a-going ? + +To the cardinal's : +Your lordship is a guest too . + +O ! 'tis true : +This night he makes a supper , and a great one , +To many lords and ladies ; there will be +The beauty of this kingdom , I'll assure you . + +That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed , +A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us ; +His dews fall everywhere . + +No doubt he's noble ; +He had a black mouth that said other of him . + +He may , my lord ; he has wherewithal : in him +Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine : +Men of his way should be most liberal ; +They are set here for examples . + +True , they are so ; +But few now give so great ones . My barge stays ; +Your lordship shall along . Come , good Sir Thomas , +We shall be late else ; which I would not be , +For I was spoke to , with Sir Henry Guildford , +This night to be comptrollers . + +I am your lordship's . + +Ladies , a general welcome from his Grace +Salutes ye all ; this night he dedicates +To fair content and you . None here , he hopes , +In all this noble bevy , has brought with her +One care abroad ; he would have all as merry +As , first , good company , good wine , good welcome +Can make good people . + +O , my lord ! you're tardy : +The very thought of this fair company +Clapp'd wings to me . + +You are young , Sir Harry Guildford . + +Sir Thomas Lovell , had the cardinal +But half my lay-thoughts in him , some of these +Should find a running banquet ere they rested , +I think would better please 'em : by my life , +They are a sweet society of fair ones . + +O ! that your lordship were but now confessor +To one or two of these ! + +I would I were ; +They should find easy penance . + +Faith , how easy ? + +As easy as a down-bed would afford it . + +Sweet ladies , will it please you sit ? Sir Harry , +Place you that side , I'll take the charge of this ; +His Grace is ent'ring . Nay you must not freeze ; +Two women plac'd together makes cold weather : +My Lord Sands , you are one will keep 'em waking ; +Pray , sit between these ladies . + +By my faith , +And thank your lordship . By your leave , sweet ladies : + +If I chance to talk a little wild , forgive me ; +I had it from my father . + +Was he mad , sir ? + +O ! very mad , exceeding mad ; in love too : +But he would bite none ; just as I do now , +He would kiss you twenty with a breath . + + +Well said , my lord . +So , now you're fairly seated . Gentlemen , +The penance lies on you , if these fair ladies +Pass away frowning . + +For my little cure , +Let me alone . + + +You're welcome , my fair guests : that noble lady , +Or gentleman , that is not freely merry , +Is not my friend : this , to confirm my welcome ; +And to you all , good health . + + +Your Grace is noble : +Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks , +And save me so much talking . + +My Lord Sands , +I am beholding to you : cheer your neighbours . +Ladies , you are not merry : gentlemen , +Whose fault is this ? + +The red wine first must rise +In their fair cheeks , my lord ; then , we shall have 'em +Talk us to silence . + +You are a merry gamester , +My Lord Sands . + +Yes , if I make my play . +Here's to your ladyship ; and pledge it , madam , +For 'tis to such a thing , + +You cannot show me . + +I told your Grace they would talk anon . + + +What's that ? + +Look out there , some of ye . + + +What war-like voice , +And to what end , is this ? Nay , ladies , fear not ; +By all the laws of war you're privileg'd . + + +How now , what is't ? + +A noble troop of strangers ; +For so they seem : they've left their barge and landed ; +And hither make , as great ambassadors +From foreign princes . + +Good Lord Chamberlain , +Go , give 'em welcome ; you can speak the French tongue ; +And , pray , receive 'em nobly , and conduct 'em +Into our presence , where this heaven of beauty +Shall shine at full upon them . Some attend him . + +You have now a broken banquet ; but we'll mend it . +A good digestion to you all ; and once more +I shower a welcome on ye ; welcome all . + +A noble company ! what are their pleasures ? + +Because they speak no English , thus they pray'd +To tell your Grace : that , having heard by fame +Of this so noble and so fair assembly +This night to meet here , they could do no less , +Out of the great respect they bear to beauty , +But leave their flocks ; and , under your fair conduct , +Crave leave to view these ladies , and entreat +An hour of revels with 'em . + +Say , Lord Chamberlain , +They have done my poor house grace ; for which I pay 'em +A thousand thanks , and pray 'em take their pleasures . + + +The fairest hand I ever touch'd ! O beauty , +Till now I never knew thee ! + + +My lord . + +Your Grace ? + +Pray tell them thus much from me : +There should be one amongst 'em , by his person , +More worthy this place than myself ; to whom , +If I but knew him , with my love and duty +I would surrender it . + +I will , my lord . + + +What say they ? + +Such a one , they all confess , +There is , indeed ; which they would have your Grace +Find out , and he will take it . + +Let me see then . + +By all your good leaves , gentlemen , here I'll make +My royal choice . + +You have found him , cardinal . +You hold a fair assembly ; you do well , lord : +You are a churchman , or , I'll tell you , cardinal , +I should judge now unhappily . + +I am glad +Your Grace is grown so pleasant . + +My Lord Chamberlain , +Prithee , come hither . What fair lady's that ? + +An't please your Grace , Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter , +The Viscount Rochford , one of her highness' women . + +By heaven , she is a dainty one . Sweetheart , +I were unmannerly to take you out , +And not to kiss you . A health , gentlemen ! +Let it go round . + +Sir Thomas Lovell , is the banquest ready +I' the privy chamber ? + +Yes , my lord . + +Your Grace , +I fear , with dancing is a little heated . + +I fear , too much . + +There's fresher air , my lord , +In the next chamber . + +Lead in your ladies , every one . Sweet partner , +I must not yet forsake you . Let's be merry : +Good my Lord Cardinal , I have half a dozen healths +To drink to these fair ladies , and a measure +To lead 'em once again ; and then let's dream +Who's best in favour . Let the music knock it . + + +Whither away so fast ? + +O ! God save ye . +E'en to the hall , to hear what shall become +Of the great Duke of Buckingham . + +I'll save you +That labour , sir . All's now done but the ceremony +Of bringing back the prisoner . + +Were you there ? + +Yes , indeed , was I . + +Pray speak what has happen'd . + +You may guess quickly what . + +Is he found guilty ? + +Yes , truly is he , and condemn'd upon't . + +I am sorry for 't . + +So are a number more . + +But , pray , how pass'd it ? + +I'll tell you in a little . The great duke +Came to the bar ; where , to his accusations +He pleaded still not guilty , and alleg'd +Many sharp reasons to defeat the law . +The king's attorney on the contrary +Urg'd on the examinations , proofs , confessions +Of divers witnesses , which the duke desir'd +To have brought , viv voce , to his face : +At which appear'd against him his surveyor ; +Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor ; and John Car , +Confessor to him ; with that devil-monk , +Hopkins , that made this mischief . + +That was he +That fed him with his prophecies ? + +The same . +All these accus'd him strongly ; which he fain +Would have flung from him , but , indeed , he could not : +And so his peers , upon this evidence , +Have found him guilty of high treason . Much +He spoke , and learnedly , for life ; but all +Was either pitied in him or forgotten . + +After all this how did he bear himself ? + +When he was brought again to the bar , to hear +His knell rung out , his judgment , he was stirr'd +With such an agony , he sweat extremely , +And something spoke in choler , ill , and hasty : +But he fell to himself again , and sweetly +In all the rest show'd a most noble patience . + +I do not think he fears death . + +Sure , he does not ; +He never was so womanish ; the cause +He may a little grieve at . + +Certainly +The cardinal is the end of this . + +'Tis likely +By all conjectures : first , Kildare's attainder , +Then deputy of Ireland ; who , remov'd , +Earl Surrey was sent thither , and in haste too , +Lest he should help his father . + +That trick of state +Was a deep envious one . + +At his return , +No doubt he will requite it . This is noted , +And generally , whoever the king favours , +The cardinal instantly will find employment , +And far enough from court too . + +All the commons +Hate him perniciously , and o' my conscience , +Wish him ten fathom deep : this duke as much +They love and dote on ; call him bounteous Buckingham , +The mirror of all courtesy ; + +Stay there , sir , +And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of . + +Let's stand close , and behold him . + +All good people , +You that thus far have come to pity me , +Hear what I say , and then go home and lose me . +I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment , +And by that name must die : yet , heaven bear witness , +And if I have a conscience , let it sink me , +Even as the axe falls , if I be not faithful ! +The law I bear no malice for my death , +'T has done upon the premises but justice ; +But those that sought it I could wish more Christians : +Be what they will , I heartily forgive 'em . +Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief , +Nor build their evils on the graves of great men ; +For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em . +For further life in this world I ne'er hope , +Nor will I sue , although the king have mercies +More than I dare make faults . You few that lov'd me , +And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham , +His noble friends and fellows , whom to leave +Is only bitter to him , only dying , +Go with me , like good angels , to my end ; +And , as the long divorce of steel falls on me , +Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice , +And lift my soul to heaven . Lead on , o' God's name . + +I do beseech your Grace , for charity , +If ever any malice in your heart +Were hid against me , now to forgive me frankly . + +Sir Thomas Lovell , I as free forgive you +As I would be forgiven : I forgive all . +There cannot be those numberless offences +'Gainst me that I cannot take peace with : no black envy +Shall mark my grave . Commend me to his Grace ; +And , if he speak of Buckingham , pray , tell him +You met him half in heaven . My vows and prayers +Yet are the king's ; and , till my soul forsake , +Shall cry for blessings on him : may he live +Longer than I have time to tell his years ! +Ever belov'd and loving may his rule be ! +And when old time shall lead him to his end , +Goodness and he fill up one monument ! + +To the water side I must conduct your Grace ; +Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux , +Who undertakes you to your end . + +Prepare there ! +The duke is coming : see the barge be ready ; +And fit it with such furniture as suits +The greatness of his person . + +Nay , Sir Nicholas , +Let it alone ; my state now will but mock me . +When I came hither , I was Lord High Constable , +And Duke of Buckingham ; now , poor Edward Bohun : +Yet I am richer than my base accusers , +That never knew what truth meant : I now seal it ; +And with that blood will make them one day groan for't . +My noble father , Henry of Buckingham , +Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard , +Flying for succour to his servant Banister , +Being distress'd , was by that wretch betray'd , +And without trial fell : God's peace be with him ! +Henry the Seventh succeeding , truly pitying +My father's loss , like a most royal prince , +Restor'd me to my honours , and , out of ruins , +Made my name once more noble . Now his son , +Henry the Eighth , life , honour , name , and all +That made me happy , at one stroke has taken +For ever from the world . I had my trial , +And , must needs say , a noble one ; which makes me +A little happier than my wretched father : +Yet thus far we are one in fortunes ; both +Fell by our servants , by those men welov'd most : +A most unnatural and faithless service ! +Heaven has an end in all ; yet , you that hear me , +This from a dying man receive as certain : +Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels +Be sure you be not loose ; for those you make friends +And give your hearts to , when they once perceive +The least rub in your fortunes , fall away +Like water from ye , never found again +But where they mean to sink ye . All good people , +Pray for me ! I must now forsake ye : the last hour +Of my long weary life is come upon me . +Farewell : +And when you would say something that is sad , +Speak how I fell . I have done ; and God forgive me ! + + +O ! this is full of pity ! Sir , it calls , +I fear , too many curses on their heads +That were the authors . + +If the duke be guiltless , +'Tis full of woe ; yet I can give you inkling +Of an ensuing evil , if it fall , +Greater than this . + +Good angels keep it from us ! +What may it be ? You do not doubt my faith , sir ? + +This secret is so weighty , 'twill require +A strong faith to conceal it . + +Let me have it ; +I do not talk much . + +I am confident : +You shall , sir . Did you not of late days hear +A buzzing of a separation +Between the king and Katharine ? + +Yes , but it held not ; +For when the king once heard it , out of anger +He sent command to the lord mayor straight +To stop the rumour , and allay those tongues +That durst disperse it . + +But that slander , sir , +Is found a truth now ; for it grows again +Fresher than e'er it was ; and held for certain +The king will venture at it . Either the cardinal , +Or some about him near , have , out of malice +To the good queen , possess'd him with a scruple +That will undo her : to confirm this too , +Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd , and lately ; +As all think , for this business . + +'Tis the cardinal ; +And merely to revenge him on the emperor +For not bestowing on him , at his asking , +The archbishopric of Toledo , this is purpos'd . + +I think you have hit the mark : but is't not cruel +That she should feel the smart of this ? The cardinal +Will have his will , and she must fall . + +'Tis woeful . +We are too open here to argue this ; +Let's think in private more . + + +My lord , The horses your lordship sent for , with all the care I had , I saw well chosen , ridden , and furnished . They were young and handsome , and of the best breed in the north . When they were ready to set out for London , a man of my Lord Cardinal's , by commission and main power , took them from me ; with this reason : His master would be served before a subject , if not before the king ; which stopped our mouths , sir . +I fear he will indeed . Well , let him have them : +He will have all , I think . + + +Well met , my Lord Chamberlain . + +Good day to both your Graces . + +How is the king employ'd ? + +I left him private , +Full of sad thoughts and troubles . + +What's the cause ? + +It seems the marriage with his brother's wife +Has crept too near his conscience . + +No ; his conscience +Has crept too near another lady . + +'Tis so : +This is the cardinal's doing , the king-cardinal : +That blind priest , like the eldest son of Fortune , +Turns what he list . The king will know him one day . + +Pray God he do ! he'll never know himself else . + +How holily he works in all his business , +And with what zeal ! for , now he has crack'd the league +Between us and the emperor , the queen's great nephew , +He dives into the king's soul , and there scatters +Dangers , doubts , wringing of the conscience , +Fears , and despairs ; and all these for his marriage : +And out of all these , to restore the king , +He counsels a divorce ; a loss of her , +That like a jewel has hung twenty years +About his neck , yet never lost her lustre ; +Of her , that loves him with that excellence +That angels love good men with ; even of her , +That , when the greatest stroke of fortune falls , +Will bless the king : and is not this course pious ? + +Heaven keep me from such counsel ! 'Tis most true +These news are every where ; every tongue speaks 'em , +And every true heart weeps for't . All that dare +Look into these affairs , see this main end , +The French king's sister . Heaven will one day open +The king's eyes , that so long have slept upon +This bold bad man . + +And free us from his slavery . + +We had need pray , +And heartily , for our deliverance ; +Or this imperious man will work us all +From princes into pages . All men's honours +Lie like one lump before him , to be fashion'd +Into what pitch he please . + +For me , my lords , +I love him not , nor fear him ; there's my creed . +As I am made without him , so I'll stand , +If the king please ; his curses and his blessings +Touch me alike , they're breath I not believe in . +I knew him , and I know him ; so I leave him +To him that made him proud , the pope . + +Let's in ; +And with some other business put the king +From these sad thoughts , that work too much upon him . +My lord , you'll bear us company ? + +Excuse me ; +The king hath sent me otherwhere : besides , +You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him : +Health to your lordships . + +Thanks , my good Lord Chamberlain . + +How sad he looks ! sure , he is much afflicted . + +Who is there , ha ? + +Pray God he be not angry . + +Who's there , I say ? How dare you thrust yourselves +Into my private meditations ? +Who am I , ha ? + +A gracious king that pardons all offences +Malice ne'er meant : our breach of duty this way +Is business of estate ; in which we come +To know your royal pleasure . + +Ye are too bold . +Go to ; I'll make ye know your times of business : +Is this an hour for temporal affairs , ha ? + + +Who's there ? my good Lord Cardinal ? O ! my Wolsey , +The quiet of my wounded conscience ; +Thou art a cure fit for a king . + +You're welcome , +Most learned reverend sir , into our kingdom : +Use us , and it . + +My good lord , have great care + +I be not found a talker . + +Sir , you cannot . +I would your Grace would give us but an hour +Of private conference . + +We are busy : go . + +This priest has no pride in him ! + +Not to speak of ; +I would not be so sick though for his place : +But this cannot continue . + +If it do , +I'll venture one have-at-him . + +I another . + + +Your Grace has given a precedent of wisdom +Above all princes , in committing freely +Your scruple to the voice of Christendom . +Who can be angry now ? what envy reach you ? +The Spaniard , tied by blood and favour to her , +Must now confess , if they have any goodness , +The trial just and noble . All the clerks , +I mean the learned ones , in Christian kingdoms +Have their free voices : Rome , the nurse of judgment , +Invited by your noble self , hath sent +One general tongue unto us , this good man , +This just and learned priest , Cardinal Campeius ; +Whom once more I present unto your highness . + +And once more in my arms I bid him welcome , +And thank the holy conclave for their loves : +They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for . + +Your Grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves , +You are so noble . To your highness' hand +I tender my commission , by whose virtue , +The court of Rome commanding ,you , my Lord +Cardinal of York , are join'd with me , their servant , +In the impartial judging of this business . + +Two equal men . The queen shall be acquainted +Forthwith for what you come . Where's Gardiner ? + +I know your majesty has always lov'd her +So dear in heart , not to deny her that +A woman of less place might ask by law , +Scholars , allow'd freely to argue for her . + +Ay , and the best , she shall have ; and my favour +To him that does best : God forbid else . Cardinal , +Prithee , call Gardiner to me , my new secretary : +I find him a fit fellow . + +Give me your hand ; much joy and favour to you ; +You are the king's now . + +But to be commanded +For ever by your Grace , whose hand has rais'd me . + +Come hither , Gardiner . + + +My Lord of York , was not one Doctor Pace +In this man's place before him ? + +Yes , he was . + +Was he not held a learned man ? + +Yes , surely . + +Believe me , there's an ill opinion spread then +Even of yourself , Lord Cardinal . + +How ! of me ? + +They will not stick to say , you envied him , +And fearing he would rise , he was so virtuous , +Kept him a foreign man still ; which so griev'd him +That he ran mad and died . + +Heaven's peace be with him ! +That's Christian care enough : for living murmurers +There's places of rebuke . He was a fool , +For he would needs be virtuous : that good fellow , +If I command him , follows my appointment : +I will have none so near else . Learn this , brother , +We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons . + +Deliver this with modesty to the queen . + +The most convenient place that I can think of +For such receipt of learning , is Black-Friars ; +There ye shall meet about this weighty business . +My Wolsey , see it furnish'd . O my lord ! +Would it not grieve an able man to leave +So sweet a bedfellow ? But , conscience , conscience ! +O ! 'tis a tender place , and I must leave her . + + +Not for that neither : here's the pang that pinches : +His highness having liv'd so long with her , and she +So good a lady that no tongue could ever +Pronounce dishonour of her ; by my life , +She never knew harm-doing ; O ! now , after +So many courses of the sun enthron'd , +Still growing in a majesty and pomp , the which +To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than +'Tis sweet at first to acquire , after this process +To give her the avaunt ! it is a pity +Would move a monster . + +Hearts of most hard temper +Melt and lament for her . + +O ! God's will ; much better +She ne'er had known pomp : though 't be temporal , +Yet , if that quarrel , Fortune , do divorce +It from the bearer , 'tis a sufferance panging +As soul and body's severing . + +Alas ! poor lady , +She's a stranger now again . + +So much the more +Must pity drop upon her . Verily , +I swear , 'tis better to be lowly born , +And range with humble livers in content , +Than to be perk'd up in a glist'ring grief +And wear a golden sorrow . + +Our content +Is our best having . + +By my troth and maidenhead +I would not be a queen . + +Beshrew me , I would , +And venture maidenhead for't ; and so would you , +For all this spice of your hypocrisy . +You , that have so fair parts of woman on you , +Have too a woman's heart ; which ever yet +Affected eminence , wealth , sovereignty : +Which , to say sooth , are blessings , and which gifts +Saving your mincing the capacity +Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive , +If you might please to stretch it . + +Nay , good troth . + +Yes , troth , and troth ; you would not be a queen ? + +No , not for all the riches under heaven . + +'Tis strange : a three-pence bow'd would hire me , +Old as I am , to queen it . But , I pray you , +What think you of a duchess ? have you limbs +To bear that load of title ? + +No , in truth . + +Then you are weakly made . Pluck off a little : +I would not be a young count in your way , +For more than blushing comes to : if your back +Cannot vouchsafe this burden , 'tis too weak +Ever to get a boy . + +How you do talk ! +I swear again , I would not be a queen +For all the world . + +In faith , for little England +You'd venture an emballing : I myself +Would for Carnarvonshire , although there 'long'd +No more to the crown but that . Lo ! who comes here ? + + +Good morrow , ladies . What were't worth to know +The secret of your conference ? + +My good lord , +Not your demand ; it values not your asking : +Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying . + +It was a gentle business , and becoming +The action of good women : there is hope +All will be well . + +Now , I pray God , amen ! + +You bear a gentle mind , and heavenly blessings +Follow such creatures . That you may , fair lady , +Perceive I speak sincerely , and high note's +Ta'en of your many virtues , the king's majesty +Commends his good opinion of you , and +Does purpose honour to you no less flowing +Than Marchioness of Pembroke ; to which title +A thousand pound a year , annual support , +Out of his grace he adds . + +I do not know +What kind of my obedience I should tender ; +More than my all is nothing , nor my prayers +Are not words duly hallow'd , nor my wishes +More worth than empty vanities ; yet prayers and wishes +Are all I can return . Beseech your lordship , +Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience , +As from a blushing handmaid , to his highness , +Whose health and royalty I pray for . + +Lady , +I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit +The king hath of you . + +I have perus'd her well ; +Beauty and honour in her are so mingled +That they have caught the king ; and who knows yet +But from this lady may proceed a gem +To lighten all this isle ? + +I'll to the king , +And say , I spoke with you . + +My honour'd lord . + + +Why , this it is ; see , see ! +I have been begging sixteen years in court , +Am yet a courtier beggarly , nor could +Come pat betwixt too early and too late ; +For any suit of pounds ; and you , O fate ! +A very fresh-fish here ,fie , fie , upon +This compell'd fortune !have your mouth fill'd up +Before you open it . + +This is strange to me . + +How tastes it ? is it bitter ? forty pence , no . +There was a lady once ,'tis an old story , +That would not be a queen , that would she not , +For all the mud in Egypt : have you heard it ? + +Come , you are pleasant . + +With your theme I could +O'ermount the lark . The Marchioness of Pembroke ! +A thousand pounds a year , for pure respect ! +No other obligation ! By my life +That promises more thousands : honour's train +Is longer than his foreskirt . By this time +I know your back will bear a duchess : say , +Are you not stronger than you were ? + +Good lady , +Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy , +And leave me out on't . Would I had no being , +If this salute my blood a jot : it faints me , +To think what follows . +The queen is comfortless , and we forgetful +In our long absence . Pray , do not deliver +What here you've heard to her . + +What do you think me ? + + +Whilst our commission from Rome is read , +Let silence be commanded . + +What's the need ? +It hath already publicly been read , +And on all sides the authority allow'd ; +You may then spare that time . + +Be't so . Proceed . + +Say , Henry King of England , come into the court . + +Henry King of England , come into the court . + +Here . + +Say , Katharine Queen of England , come into the court . + +Katharine Queen of England , come into the court . + +Sir , I desire you do me right and justice ; +And to bestow your pity on me ; for +I am a most poor woman , and a stranger , +Born out of your dominions ; having here +No judge indifferent , nor no more assurance +Of equal friendship and proceeding . Alas ! sir , +In what have I offended you ? what cause +Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure , +That thus you should proceed to put me off +And take your good grace from me ? Heaven witness , +I have been to you a true and humble wife , +At all times to your will conformable ; +Ever in fear to kindle your dislike , +Yea , subject to your countenance , glad or sorry +As I saw it inclin'd . When was the hour +I ever contradicted your desire , +Or made it not mine too ? Or which of your friends +Have I not strove to love , although I knew +He were mine enemy ? what friend of mine +That had to him deriv'd your anger , did I +Continue in my liking ? nay , gave notice +He was from thence discharg'd . Sir , call to mind +That I have been your wife , in this obedience +Upward of twenty years , and have been blest +With many children by you : if , in the course +And process of this time , you can report , +And prove it too , against mine honour aught , +My bond to wedlock , or my love and duty , +Against your sacred person , in God's name +Turn me away ; and let the foul'st contempt +Shut door upon me , and so give me up +To the sharp'st kind of justice . Please you , sir , +The king , your father , was reputed for +A prince most prudent , of an excellent +And unmatch'd wit and judgment : Ferdinand , +My father , King of Spain , was reckon'd one +The wisest prince that there had reign'd by many +A year before : it is not to be question'd +That they had gather'd a wise council to them +Of every realm , that did debate this business , +Who deem'd our marriage lawful . Wherefore I humbly +Beseech you , sir , to spare me , till I may +Be by my friends in Spain advis'd , whose counsel +I will implore : if not , i' the name of God , +Your pleasure be fulfill'd ! + +You have here , lady , +And of your choice ,these reverend fathers ; men +Of singular integrity and learning , +Yea , the elect o' the land , who are assembled +To plead your cause . It shall be therefore bootless +That longer you desire the court , as well +For your own quiet , as to rectify +What is unsettled in the king . + +His Grace +Hath spoken well and justly : therefore , madam , +It's fit this royal session do proceed , +And that , without delay , their arguments +Be now produc'd and heard . + +Lord Cardinal , +To you I speak . + +Your pleasure , madam ? + +Sir , +I am about to weep ; but , thinking that +We are a queen ,or long have dream'd so ,certain +The daughter of a king , my drops of tears +I'll turn to sparks of fire . + +Be patient yet . + +I will , when you are humble ; nay , before , +Or God will punish me . I do believe , +Induc'd by potent circumstances , that +You are mine enemy ; and make my challenge +You shall not be my judge ; for it is you +Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me , +Which God's dew quench ! Therefore I say again , +I utterly abhor , yea , from my soul +Refuse you for my judge , whom , yet once more , +I hold my most malicious foe , and think not +At all a friend to truth . + +I do profess +You speak not like yourself ; who ever yet +Have stood to charity , and display'd the effects +Of disposition gentle , and of wisdom +O'ertopping woman's power . Madam , you do me wrong : +I have no spleen against you ; nor injustice +For you or any : how far I have proceeded , +Or how far further shall , is warranted +By a commission from the consistory , +Yea , the whole consistory of Rome . You charge me +That I have blown this coal : I do deny it . +The king is present : if it be known to him +That I gainsay my deed , how may he wound , +And worthily , my falsehood ; yea , as much +As you have done my truth . If he know +That I am free of your report , he knows +I am not of your wrong . Therefore in him +It lies to cure me ; and the cure is , to +Remove these thoughts from you : the which before +His highness shall speak in , I do beseech +You , gracious madam , to unthink your speaking , +And to say so no more . + +My lord , my lord , +I am a simple woman , much too weak +To oppose your cunning . You're meek and humble-mouth'd ; +You sign your place and calling , in full seeming , +With meekness and humility ; but your heart +Is cramm'd with arrogancy , spleen , and pride . +You have , by fortune and his highness' favours , +Gone slightly o'er low steps , and now are mounted +Where powers are your retainers , and your words , +Domestics to you , serve your will as't please +Yourself pronounce their office . I must tell you , +You tender more your person's honour than +Your high profession spiritual ; that again +I do refuse you for my judge ; and here , +Before you all , appeal unto the pope , +To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness , +And to be judg'd by him . + + +The queen is obstinate , +Stubborn to justice , apt to accuse it , and +Disdainful to be tried by't : 'tis not well . +She's going away . + +Call her again . + +Katharine Queen of England , come into the court . + +Madam , you are call'd back . + +What need you note it ? pray you , keep your way : +When you are call'd , return . Now , the Lord help ! +They vex me past my patience . Pray you , pass on : +I will not tarry ; no , nor ever more +Upon this business my appearance make +In any of their courts . + + +Go thy ways , Kate : +That man i' the world who shall report he has +A better wife , let him in nought be trusted , +For speaking false in that : thou art , alone , +If thy rare qualities , sweet gentleness , +Thy meekness saint-like , wife-like government , +Obeying in commanding , and thy parts +Sovereign and pious else , could speak thee out , +The queen of earthly queens . She's noble born ; +And , like her true nobility , she has +Carried herself towards me . + +Most gracious sir , +In humblest manner I require your highness , +That it shall please you to declare , in hearing +Of all these ears ,for where I am robb'd and bound +There must I be unloos'd , although not there +At once , and fully satisfied ,whether ever I +Did broach this business to your highness , or +Laid any scruple in your way , which might +Induce you to the question on't ? or ever +Have to you , but with thanks to God for such +A royal lady , spake one the least word that might +Be to the prejudice of her present state , +Or touch of her good person ? + +My Lord Cardinal , +I do excuse you ; yea , upon mine honour , +I free you from't . You are not to be taught +That you have many enemies , that know not +Why they are so , but , like to village curs , +Bark when their fellows do : by some of these +The queen is put in anger . You're excus'd : +But will you be more justified ? you ever +Have wish'd the sleeping of this business ; never +Desir'd it to be stirr'd ; but oft have hinder'd , oft , +The passages made toward it . On my honour , +I speak my good Lord Cardinal to this point , +And thus far clear him . Now , what mov'd me to't , +I will be bold with time and your attention : +Then mark the inducement . Thus it came ; give heed to't : +My conscience first receiv'd a tenderness , +Scruple , and prick , on certain speeches utter'd +By the Bishop of Bayonne , then French ambassador , +Who had been hither sent on the debating +A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and +Our daughter Mary . I' the progress of this business , +Ere a determinate resolution , he +I mean , the bishop did require a respite ; +Wherein he might the king his lord advertise +Whether our daughter were legitimate , +Respecting this our marriage with the dowager , +Sometimes our brother's wife . This respite shook +The bosom of my conscience , enter'd me , +Yea , with a splitting power , and made to tremble +The region of my breast ; which forc'd such way , +That many maz'd considerings did throng , +And press'd in with this caution . First , methought +I stood not in the smile of heaven , who had +Commanded nature , that my lady's womb , +If it conceiv'd a male child by me , should +Do no more offices of life to't than +The grave does to the dead ; for her male issue +Or died where they were made , or shortly after +This world had air'd them . Hence I took a thought +This was a judgment on me ; that my kingdom , +Well worthy the best heir o' the world , should not +Be gladded in't by me . Then follows that +I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in +By this my issue's fail ; and that gave to me +Many a groaning throe . Thus hulling in +The wild sea of my conscience , I did steer +Toward this remedy , whereupon we are +Now present here together ; that's to say , +I meant to rectify my conscience , which +I then did feel full sick , and yet not well , +By all the rev'rend fathers of the land +And doctors learn'd . First , I began in private +With you , my Lord of Lincoln ; you remember +How under my oppression I did reek , +When I first mov'd you . + +Very well , my liege . + +I have spoke long : be pleas'd yourself to say +How far you satisfied me . + +So please your highness , +The question did at first so stagger me , +Bearing a state of mighty moment in't , +And consequence of dread , that I committed +The daring'st counsel that I had to doubt ; +And did entreat your highness to this course +Which you are running here . + +Then I mov'd you , +My Lord of Canterbury , and got your leave +To make this present summons . Unsolicited +I left no reverend person in this court ; +But by particular consent proceeded +Under your hands and seals : therefore , go on ; +For no dislike i' the world against the person +Of the good queen , but the sharp thorny points +Of my alleged reasons drive this forward . +Prove but our marriage lawful , by my life +And kingly dignity , we are contented +To wear our mortal state to come with her , +Katharine our queen , before the primest creature +That's paragon'd o' the world . + +So please your highness , +The queen being absent , 'tis a needful fitness +That we adjourn this court till further day : +Mean while must be an earnest motion +Made to the queen , to call back her appeal +She intends unto his holiness . + + +I may perceive +These cardinals trifle with me : I abhor +This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome . +My learn'd and well-beloved servant Cranmer , +Prithee , return : with thy approach , I know , +My comfort comes along . Break up the court : +I say , set on . + + +Take thy lute , wench : my soul grows sad with troubles ; +Sing and disperse 'em , if thou canst . Leave working . + +Orpheus with his lute made trees , +And the mountain tops that freeze , +Bow themselves , when he did sing : +To his music plants and flowers +Ever sprung ; as sun and showers +There had made a lasting spring . +Every thing that heard him play , +Even the billows of the sea , +Hung their heads , and then lay by . +In sweet music is such art , +Killing care and grief of heart +Fall asleep , or hearing , die . + + +How now ! + +An't please your Grace , the two great cardinals +Wait in the presence . + +Would they speak with me ? + +They will'd me say so , madam . + +Pray their Graces +To come near . + +What can be their business +With me , a poor weak woman , fall'n from favour ? +I do not like their coming , now I think on't . +They should be good men , their affairs as righteous ; +But all hoods make not monks . + + +Peace to your highness ! + +Your Graces find me here part of a housewife , +I would be all , against the worst may happen . +What are your pleasures with me , reverend lords ? + +May it please you , noble madam , to withdraw +Into your private chamber , we shall give you +The full cause of our coming . + +Speak it here ; +There's nothing I have done yet , o' my conscience , +Deserves a corner : would all other women +Could speak this with as free a soul as I do ! +My lords , I care not so much I am happy +Above a number if my actions +Were tried by every tongue , every eye saw 'em , +Envy and base opinion set against 'em , +I know my life so even . If your business +Seek me out , and that way I am wife in , +Out with it boldly : truth loves open dealing . + +Tanta est erga te mentis integritas , regina serenissima , + +O , good my lord , no Latin ; +I am not such a truant since my coming +As not to know the language I have liv'd in : +A strange tongue makes my cause more strange , suspicious ; +Pray , speak in English : here are some will thank you , +If you speak truth , for their poor mistress' sake : +Believe me , she has had much wrong . Lord Cardinal , +The willing'st sin I ever yet committed +May be absolv'd in English . + +Noble lady , +I am sorry my integrity should breed , +And service to his majesty and you , +So deep suspicion , where all faith was meant . +We come not by the way of accusation , +To taint that honour every good tongue blesses , +Nor to betray you any way to sorrow , +You have too much , good lady ; but to know +How you stand minded in the weighty difference +Between the king and you ; and to deliver , +Like free and honest men , our just opinions +And comforts to your cause . + +Most honour'd madam , +My Lord of York , out of his noble nature , +Zeal and obedience he still bore your Grace , +Forgetting , like a good man , your late censure +Both of his truth and him ,which was too far , +Offers , as I do , in sign of peace , +His service and his counsel . + +To betray me . +My lords , I thank you both for your good wills ; +Ye speak like honest men ,pray God , ye prove so ! +But how to make ye suddenly an answer , +In such a point of weight , so near mine honour , +More near my life , I fear ,with my weak wit , +And to such men of gravity and learning , +In truth , I know not . I was set at work +Among my maids ; full little , God knows , looking +Either for such men or such business . +For her sake that I have been ,for I feel +The last fit of my greatness ,good your Graces +Let me have time and counsel for my cause : +Alas ! I am a woman , friendless , hopeless . + +Madam , you wrong the king's love with these fears : +Your hopes and friends are infinite . + +In England +But little for my profit . Can you think , lords , +That any Englishman dare give me counsel ? +Or be a known friend , 'gainst his highness' pleasure , +Though he be grown so desperate to be honest , +And live a subject ? Nay , forsooth , my friends , +They that must weigh out my afflictions , +They that my trust must grow to , live not here : +They are , as all my other comforts , far hence +In mine own country , lords . + +I would your Grace +Would leave your griefs , and take my counsel . + +How , sir ? + +Put your main cause into the king's protection ; +He's loving and most gracious : 'twill be much +Both for your honour better and your cause ; +For if the trial of the law o'ertake ye , +You'll part away disgrac'd . + +He tells you rightly . + +Ye tell me what ye wish for both ; my ruin . +Is this your Christian counsel ? out upon ye ! +Heaven is above all yet ; there sits a judge +That no king can corrupt . + +Your rage mistakes us . + +The more shame for ye ! holy men I thought ye , +Upon my soul , two reverend cardinal virtues ; +But cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye . +Mend 'em , for shame , my lords . Is this your comfort ? +The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady , +A woman lost among ye , laugh'd at , scorn'd ? +I will not wish ye half my miseries , +I have more charity ; but say , I warn'd ye : +Take heed , for heaven's sake , take heed , lest at once +The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye . + +Madam , this is a mere distraction ; +You turn the good we offer into envy . + +Ye turn me into nothing : woe upon ye , +And all such false professors ! Would ye have me , +If ye have any justice , any pity ; +If ye be anything but churchmen's habits , +Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me ? +Alas ! he has banish'd me his bed already , +His love , too long ago ! I am old , my lords , +And all the fellowship I hold now with him +Is only my obedience . What can happen +To me above this wretchedness ? all your studies +Make me a curse like this . + +Your fears are worse . + +Have I liv'd thus long let me speak myself , +Since virtue finds no friends a wife , a true one ? +A woman , I dare say without vain-glory , +Never yet branded with suspicion ? +Have I with all my full affections +Still met the king ? lov'd him next heaven ? obey'd him ? +Been , out of fondness , superstitious to him ? +Almost forgot my prayers to content him ? +And am I thus rewarded ? 'tis not well , lords . +Bring me a constant woman to her husband , +One that ne'er dream'd a joy beyond his pleasure , +And to that woman , when she has done most , +Yet will I add an honour , a great patience . + +Madam , you wander from the good we aim at . + +My lord , I dare not make myself so guilty , +To give up willingly that noble title +Your master wed me to : nothing but death +Shall e'er divorce my dignities . + +Pray hear me . + +Would I had never trod this English earth , +Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it ! +Ye have angels' faces , but heaven knows your hearts . +What will become of me now , wretched lady ? +I am the most unhappy woman living . + + +Alas ! poor wenches , where are now your fortunes ? +Shipwrack'd upon a kingdom , where no pity , +No friends , no hope ; no kindred weep for me ; +Almost no grave allow'd me . Like the lily , +That once was mistress of the field and flourish'd , +I'll hang my head and perish . + +If your Grace +Could but be brought to know our ends are honest , +You'd feel more comfort . Why should we , good lady , +Upon what cause , wrong you ? alas ! our places , +The way of our profession is against it : +We are to cure such sorrows , not to sow them . +For goodness' sake , consider what you do ; +How you may hurt yourself , ay , utterly +Grow from the king's acquaintance , by this carriage . +The hearts of princes kiss obedience , +So much they love it ; but to stubborn spirits +They swell , and grow as terrible as storms . +I know you have a gentle , noble temper , +A soul as even as a calm : pray think us +Those we profess , peace-makers , friends , and servants . + +Madam , you'll find it so . You wrong your virtues +With these weak women's fears : a noble spirit , +As yours was put into you , ever casts +Such doubts , as false coin , from it . The king loves you ; +Beware you lose it not : for us , if you please +To trust us in your business , we are ready +To use our utmost studies in your service . + +Do what ye will , my lords : and , pray , forgive me +If I have us'd myself unmannerly . +You know I am a woman , lacking wit +To make a seemly answer to such persons . +Pray do my service to his majesty : +He has my heart yet ; and shall have my prayers +While I shall have my life . Come , reverend fathers , +Bestow your counsels on me : she now begs +That little thought , when she set footing here , +She should have bought her dignities so dear . + + +If you will now unite in your complaints , +And force them with a constancy , the cardinal +Cannot stand under them : if you omit +The offer of this time , I cannot promise +But that you shall sustain moe new disgraces +With these you bear already . + +I am joyful +To meet the least occasion that may give me +Remembrance of my father-in-law , the duke , +To be reveng'd on him . + +Which of the peers +Have uncontemn'd gone by him , or at least +Strangely neglected ? when did he regard +The stamp of nobleness in any person , +Out of himself ? + +My lords , you speak your pleasures : +What he deserves of you and me , I know ; +What we can do to him ,though now the time +Gives way to us ,I much fear . If you cannot +Bar his access to the king , never attempt +Any thing on him , for he hath a witchcraft +Over the king in's tongue . + +O ! fear him not ; +His spell in that is out : the king hath found +Matter against him that for ever mars +The honey of his language . No , he's settled , +Not to come off , in his displeasure . + +Sir , +I should be glad to hear such news as this +Once every hour . + +Believe it , this is true : +In the divorce his contrary proceedings +Are all unfolded ; wherein he appears +As I would wish mine enemy . + +How came +His practices to light ? + +Most strangely . + +O ! how ? how ? + +The cardinal's letter to the pope miscarried , +And came to the eye o' the king ; wherein was read , +That the cardinal did entreat his holiness +To stay the judgment o' the divorce ; for if +It did take place , 'I do ,' quoth he , 'perceive +My king is tangled in affection to +A creature of the queen's , Lady Anne Bullen .' + +Has the king this ? + +Believe it . + +Will this work ? + +The king in this perceives him , how he coasts +And hedges his own way . But in this point +All his tricks founder , and he brings his physic +After his patient's death : the king already +Hath married the fair lady . + +Would he had ! + +May you be happy in your wish , my lord ! +For I profess , you have it . + +Now all my joy +Trace the conjunction ! + +My amen to't ! + +All men's . + +There's order given for her coronation : +Marry , this is yet but young , and may be left +To some ears unrecounted . But , my lords , +She is a gallant creature , and complete +In mind and feature : I persuade me , from her +Will fall some blessing to this land , which shall +In it be memoriz'd . + +But will the king +Digest this letter of the cardinal's ? +The Lord forbid ! + +Marry , amen ! + +No , no ; +There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose +Will make this sting the sooner . Cardinal Campeius +Is stol'n away to Rome ; hath ta'en no leave ; +Has left the cause o' the king unhandled ; and +Is posted , as the agent of our cardinal , +To second all his plot . I do assure you +The king cried Ha ! at this . + +Now , God incense him , +And let him cry Ha ! louder . + +But , my lord , +When returns Cranmer ? + +He is return'd in his opinions , which +Have satisfied the king for his divorce , +Together with all famous colleges +Almost in Christendom . Shortly , I believe , +His second marriage shall be publish'd , and +Her coronation . Katharine no more +Shall be call'd queen , but princess dowager , +And widow to Prince Arthur . + +This same Cranmer's +A worthy fellow , and hath ta'en much pain +In the king's business . + +He has ; and we shall see him +For it an archbishop . + +So I hear . + +'Tis so . +The cardinal ! + + +Observe , observe ; he's moody . + +The packet , Cromwell , +Gave't you the king ? + +To his own hand , in his bedchamber . + +Look'd he o' the inside of the paper ? + +Presently +He did unseal them ; and the first he view'd , +He did it with a serious mind ; a heed +Was in his countenance . You he bade +Attend him here this morning . + +Is he ready +To come abroad ? + +I think , by this he is . + +Leave me awhile . + +It shall be to the Duchess of Alen on , +The French King's sister ; he shall marry her . +Anne Bullen ! No ; I'll no Anne Bullens for him : +There's more in't than fair visage . Bullen ! +No , we'll no Bullens . Speedily I wish +To hear from Rome . The Marchioness of Pembroke ! + +He's discontented . + +May be he hears the king +Does whet his anger to him . + +Sharp enough , +Lord , for thy justice ! + +The late queen's gentlewoman , a knight's daughter , +To be her mistress' mistress ! the queen's queen ! +This candle burns not clear : 'tis I must snuff it ; +Then , out it goes . What though I know her virtuous +And well deserving ? yet I know her for +A spleeny Lutheran ; and not wholesome to +Our cause , that she should lie i' the bosom of +Our hard-rul'd king . Again , there is sprung up +A heretic , an arch one , Cranmer ; one +Hath crawl'd into the favour of the king , +And is his oracle . + +He is vex'd at something . + +I would 'twere something that would fret the string , +The master-cord on's heart ! + + +The king , the king ! + +What piles of wealth hath he accumulated +To his own portion ! and what expense by the hour +Seems to flow from him ! How , i' the name of thrift , +Does he rake this together ? Now , my lords , +Saw you the cardinal ? + +My lord , we have +Stood here observing him ; some strange commotion +Is in his brain : he bites his lip , and starts ; +Stops on a sudden , looks upon the ground , +Then lays his finger on his temple ; straight +Springs out into fast gait ; then stops again , +Strikes his breast hard ; and anon he casts +His eye against the moon : in most strange postures +We have seen him set himself . + +It may well be : +There is a mutiny in 's mind . This morning +Papers of state he sent me to peruse , +As I requir'd ; and wot you what I found +There , on my conscience , put unwittingly ? +Forsooth , an inventory , thus importing ; +The several parcels of his plate , his treasure , +Rich stuffs and ornaments of household , which +I find at such a proud rate that it out-speaks +Possession of a subject . + +It's heaven's will : +Some spirit put this paper in the packet +To bless your eye withal . + +If we did think +His contemplation were above the earth , +And fix'd on spiritual object , he should still +Dwell in his musings : but I am afraid +His thinkings are below the moon , not worth +His serious considering . + + +Heaven forgive me ! +Ever God bless your highness ! + +Good my lord , +You are full of heavenly stuff , and bear the inventory +Of your best graces in your mind , the which +You were now running o'er : you have scarce time +To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span +To keep your earthly audit : sure , in that +I deem you an ill husband , and am glad +To have you therein my companion . + +Sir , +For holy offices I have a time ; a time +To think upon the part of business which +I bear i' the state ; and nature does require +Her times of preservation , which perforce +I , her frail son , amongst my brethren mortal , +Must give my tendance to . + +You have said well . + +And ever may your highness yoke together , +As I will lend you cause , my doing well +With my well saying ! + +'Tis well said again ; +And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well : +And yet words are no deeds . My father lov'd you : +He said he did ; and with his deed did crown +His word upon you . Since I had my office , +I have kept you next my heart ; have not alone +Employ'd you where high profits might come home , +But par'd my present havings , to bestow +My bounties upon you . + +What should this mean ? + +The Lord increase this business ! + +Have I not made you +The prime man of the state ? I pray you , tell me +If what I now pronounce you have found true ; +And if you may confess it , say withal , +If you are bound to us or no . What say you ? + +My sovereign , I confess your royal graces , +Shower'd on me daily , have been more than could +My studied purposes requite ; which went +Beyond all man's endeavours : my endeavours +Have ever come too short of my desires , +Yet fil'd with my abilities . Mine own ends +Have been mine so , that evermore they pointed +To the good of your most sacred person and +The profit of the state . For your great graces +Heap'd upon me , poor undeserver , I +Can nothing render but allegiant thanks , +My prayers to heaven for you , my loyalty , +Which ever has and ever shall be growing , +Till death , that winter , kill it . + +Fairly answer'd ; +A loyal and obedient subject is +Therein illustrated ; the honour of it +Does pay the act of it , as , i' the contrary , +The foulness is the punishment . I presume +That as my hand has open'd bounty to you , +My heart dropp'd love , my power rain'd honour , more +On you than any ; so your hand and heart , +Your brain , and every function of your power , +Should , notwithstanding that your bond of duty , +As 'twere in love's particular , be more +To me , your friend , than any . + +I do profess , +That for your highness' good I ever labour'd +More than mine own ; that am , have , and will be . +Though all the world should crack their duty to you , +And throw it from their soul ; though perils did +Abound as thick as thought could make 'em , and +Appear in forms more horrid , yet my duty , +As doth a rock against the chiding flood , +Should the approach of this wild river break , +And stand unshaken yours . + +'Tis nobly spoken . +Take notice , lords , he has a loyal breast , +For you have seen him open't . Read o'er this ; + +And after , this : and then to breakfast with +What appetite you have . + + +What should this mean ? +What sudden anger's this ? how have I reap'd it ? +He parted frowning from me , as if ruin +Leap'd from his eyes : so looks the chafed lion +Upon the daring huntsman that has gall'd him ; +Then makes him nothing . I must read this paper ; +I fear , the story of his anger . 'Tis so ; +This paper has undone me ! 'Tis the account +Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together +For mine own ends ; indeed , to gain the popedom , +And fee my friends in Rome . O negligence ! +Fit for a fool to fall by : what cross devil +Made me put this main secret in the packet +I sent the king ? Is there no way to cure this ? +No new device to beat this from his brains ? +I know 'twill stir him strongly ; yet I know +A way , if it take right , in spite of fortune +Will bring me off again . What's this ?'To the Pope !' +The letter , as I live , with all the business +I writ to's holiness . Nay then , farewell ! +I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness ; +And from that full meridian of my glory , +I haste now to my setting : I shall fall +Like a bright exhalation in the evening , +And no man see me more . + + +Hear the king's pleasure , cardinal : who commands you +To render up the great seal presently +Into our hands ; and to confine yourself +To Asher-house , my Lord of Winchester's , +Till you hear further from his highness . + +Stay , +Where's your commission , lord ? words cannot carry +Authority so weighty . + +Who dare cross 'em , +Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly ? + +Till I find more than will or words to do it , +I mean your malice , know , officious lords , +I dare and must deny it . Now I feel +Of what coarse metal ye are moulded , envy : +How eagerly ye follow my disgraces , +As if it fed ye ! and how sleek and wanton +Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin +Follow your envious courses , men of malice ; +You have Christian warrant for 'em , and , no doubt , +In time will find their fit rewards . That seal +You ask with such a violence , the king +Mine and your master with his own hand gave me ; +Bade me enjoy it with the place and honours +During my life ; and to confirm his goodness , +Tied it by letters-patents : now who'll take it ? + +The king , that gave it . + +It must be himself then . + +Thou art a proud traitor , priest . + +Proud lord , thou liest : +Within these forty hours Surrey durst better +Have burnt that tongue than said so . + +Thy ambition , +Thou scarlet sin , robb'd this bewailing land +Of noble Buckingham , my father-in-law : +The heads of all thy brother cardinals +With thee and all thy best parts bound together +Weigh'd not a hair of his . Plague of your policy ! +You sent me deputy for Ireland , +Far from his succour , from the king , from all +That might have mercy on the fault thou gav'st him ; +Whilst your great goodness , out of holy pity , +Absolv'd him with an axe . + +This and all else +This talking lord can lay upon my credit , +I answer is most false . The duke by law +Found his deserts : how innocent I was +From any private malice in his end , +His noble jury and foul cause can witness . +If I lov'd many words , lord , I should tell you , +You have as little honesty as honour , +That in the way of loyalty and truth +Toward the king , my ever royal master , +Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be , +And all that love his follies . + +By my soul , +Your long coat , priest , protects you ; thou shouldst feel +My sword i' the life-blood of thee else . My lords , +Can ye endure to hear this arrogance ? +And from this fellow ? If we live thus tamely , +To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet , +Farewell nobility ; let his Grace go forward , +And dare us with his cap like larks . + +All goodness +Is poison to thy stomach . + +Yes , that goodness +Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one , +Into your own hands , cardinal , by extortion ; +The goodness of your intercepted packets , +You writ to the pope against the king ; your goodness , +Since you provoke me , shall be most notorious . +My Lord of Norfolk , as you are truly noble , +As you respect the common good , the state +Of our despis'd nobility , our issues , +Who , if he live , will scarce be gentlemen , +Produce the grand sum of his sins , the articles +Collected from his life ; I'll startle you +Worse than the sacring bell , when the brown wench +Lay kissing in your arms , Lord Cardinal . + +How much , methinks , I could despise this man , +But that I am bound in charity against it ! + +Those articles , my lord , are in the king's hand ; +But , thus much , they are foul ones . + +So much fairer +And spotless shall mine innocence arise +When the king knows my truth . + +This cannot save you : +I thank my memory , I yet remember +Some of these articles ; and out they shall . +Now , if you can blush , and cry 'guilty ,' cardinal , +You'll show a little honesty . + +Speak on , sir ; +I dare your worst objections ; if I blush , +It is to see a nobleman want manners . + +I had rather want those than my head . Have at you ! +First , that , without the king's assent or know ledge , +You wrought to be a legate ; by which power +You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops . + +Then , that in all you writ to Rome , or else +To foreign princes , Ego et Rex meus +Was still inscrib'd ; in which you brought the king +To be your servant . + +Then , that without the knowledge +Either of king or council , when you went +Ambassador to the emperor , you made bold +To carry into Flanders the great seal . + +Item , you sent a large commission +To Gregory de Cassado , to conclude , +Without the king's will or the state's allowance , +A league between his highness and Ferrara . + +That , out of mere ambition , you have caus'd +Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin . + +Then , that you have sent innumerable substance , +By what means got I leave to your own conscience , +To furnish Rome , and to prepare the ways +You have for dignities ; to the mere undoing +Of all the kingdom . Many more there are ; +Which , since they are of you , and odious , +I will not taint my mouth with . + +O my lord ! +Press not a falling man too far ; 'tis virtue : +His faults lie open to the laws ; let them , +Not you , correct him . My heart weeps to see him +So little of his great self . + +I forgive him . + +Lord Cardinal , the king's further pleasure is , +Because all those things you have done of late , +By your power legatine , within this kingdom , +Fall into the compass of a pr munire , +That therefore such a writ be su'd against you ; +To forfeit all your goods , lands , tenements , +Chattels , and whatsoever , and to be +Out of the king's protection . This is my charge . + +And so we'll leave you to your meditations +How to live better . For your stubborn answer +About the giving back the great seal to us , +The king shall know it , and , no doubt , shall thank you . +So fare you well , my little good Lord Cardinal . + + +So farewell to the little good you bear me . +Farewell ! a long farewell , to all my greatness ! +This is the state of man : to-day be puts forth +The tender leaves of hopes ; to-morrow blossoms , +And bears his blushing honours thick upon him ; +The third day comes a frost , a killing frost ; +And , when he thinks , good easy man , full surely +His greatness is a-ripening , nips his root , +And then he falls , as I do . I have ventur'd , +Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders , +This many summers in a sea of glory , +But far beyond my depth : my high-blown pride +At length broke under me , and now has left me , +Weary and old with service , to the mercy +Of a rude stream , that must for ever hide me . +Vain pomp and glory of this world , I hate yo : +I feel my heart new open'd . O ! how wretched +Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favours ! +There is , betwixt that smile we would aspire to , +That sweet aspect of princes , and their ruin , +More pangs and fears than wars or women have ; +And when he falls , he falls like Lucifer , +Never to hope again . + +Why , how now , Cromwell ! + +I have no power to speak , sir . + +What ! amaz'd +At my misfortunes ? can thy spirit wonder +A great man should decline ? Nay , an you weep , +I am fall'n indeed . + +How does your Grace ? + +Why , well ; +Never so truly happy , my good Cromwell . +I know myself now ; and I feel within me +A peace above all earthly dignities , +A still and quiet conscience . The king has cur'd me , +I humbly thank his Grace ; and from these shoulders , +These ruin'd pillars , out of pity taken +A load would sink a navy , too much honour : +O ! 'tis a burden , Cromwell , 'tis a burden +Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven . + +I am glad your Grace has made that right use of it . + +I hope I have : I am able now , methinks , +Out of a fortitude of soul I feel , +To endure more miseries and greater far +Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer . +What news abroad ? + +The heaviest and the worst , +Is your displeasure with the king . + +God bless him ! + +The next is , that Sir Thomas More is chosen +Lord Chancellor in your place . + +That's somewhat sudden : +But he's a learned man . May he continue +Long in his highness' favour , and do justice +For truth's sake and his conscience ; that his bones , +When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings , +May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on 'em ! +What more ? + +That Cranmer is return'd with welcome , +Install'd Lord Archbishop of Canterbury . + +That's news indeed . + +Last , that the Lady Anne , +Whom the king hath in secrecy long married , +This day was view'd in open , as his queen , +Going to chapel ; and the voice is now +Only about her coronation . + +There was the weight that pull'd me down . O Cromwell ! +The king has gone beyond me : all my glories +In that one woman I have lost for ever . +No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours , +Or gild again the noble troops that waited +Upon my smiles . Go , get thee from me , Cromwell ; +I am a poor fall'n man , unworthy now +To be thy lord and master : seek the king ; +That sun , I pray , may never set !I have told him +What , and how true thou art : he will advance thee ; +Some little memory of me will stir him +I know his noble nature not to let +Thy hopeful service perish too . Good Cromwell , +Neglect him not ; make use now , and provide +For thine own future safety . + +O my lord ! +Must I then , leave you ? must I needs forego +So good , so noble , and so true a master ? +Bear witness all that have not hearts of iron , +With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord . +The king shall have my service ; but my prayers +For ever and for ever , shall be yours . + +Cromwell , I did not think to shed a tear +In all my miseries ; but thou hast forc'd me , +Out of thy honest truth , to play the woman . +Let's dry our eyes : and thus far hear me , Cromwell ; +And , when I am forgotten , as I shall be , +And sleep in dull cold marble , where no mention +Of me more must be heard of , say , I taught thee , +Say , Wolsey , that once trod the ways of glory , +And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour , +Found thee a way , out of his wrack , to rise in ; +A sure and safe one , though thy master miss'd it . +Mark but my fall , and that that ruin'd me . +Cromwell , I charge thee , fling away ambition : +By that sin fell the angels ; how can man then , +The image of his Maker , hope to win by't ? +Love thyself last : cherish those hearts that hate thee ; +Corruption wins not more than honesty . +Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace , +To silence envious tongues : be just , and fear not . +Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's , +Thy God's , and truth's ; then if thou fall'st , O Cromwell ! +Thou fall'st a blessed martyr . Serve the king ; +And ,prithee , lead me in : +There take an inventory of all I have , +To the last penny ; 'tis the king's : my robe , +And my integrity to heaven is all +I dare now call mine own . O Cromwell , Cromwell ! +Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal +I serv'd my king , he would not in mine age +Have left me naked to mine enemies . + +Good sir , have patience . + +So I have . Farewell +The hopes of court ! my hopes in heaven do dwell . + + +You're well met once again . + +So are you . + +You come to take your stand here , and behold +The Lady Anne pass from her coronation ? + +'Tis all my business . At our last encounter +The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial . + +'Tis very true : but that time offer'd sorrow ; +This , general joy . + +'Tis well : the citizens , +I am sure , have shown at full their royal minds , +As , let 'em have their rights , they are ever forward , +In celebration of this day with shows , +Pageants , and sights of honour . + +Never greater ; +Nor , I'll assure you , better taken , sir . + +May I be bold to ask what that contains , +That paper in your hand ? + +Yes ; 'tis the list +Of those that claim their offices this day +By custom of the coronation . +The Duke of Suffolk is the first , and claims +To be high-steward ; next , the Duke of Norfolk , +He to be earl marshal : you may read the rest . + +I thank you , sir : had I not known those customs , +I should have been beholding to your paper . +But , I beseech you , what's become of Katharine , +The princess dowager ? how goes her business ? + +That I can tell you too . The Archbishop +Of Canterbury , accompanied with other +Learned and reverend fathers of his order , +Held a late court at Dunstable , six miles off +From Ampthill , where the princess lay ; to which +She was often cited by them , but appear'd not : +And , to be short , for not appearance and +The king's late scruple , by the main assent +Of all these learned men she was divorc'd , +And the late marriage made of none effect : +Since which she was remov'd to Kimbolton , +Where she remains now sick . + +Alas ! good lady ! + +The trumpets sound : stand close , the queen is coming . + +A lively flourish of trumpets . + + +1. Two Judges . +2 Lord Chancellor , with the purse and mace before him . +3. Choristers , singing . + + +4. Mayor of London , bearing the mace . Then Garter , in his coat of arms , and on his head a gilt copper crown . +5. + +6. + +7. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports ; under it , the + +8. The old +9. Certain Ladies or Countesses , with plain circlets of gold without flowers . +They pass over the stage in order and state . + + +A royal train , believe me . These I know ; +Who's that that bears the sceptre ? + +Marquess Dorset : +And that the Earl of Surrey with the rod . + +A bold brave gentleman . That should be +The Duke of Suffolk ? + +'Tis the same ; high-steward . + +And that my Lord of Norfolk ? + +Yes . + +Heaven bless thee ! +Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on . +Sir , as I have a soul , she is an angel ; +Our king has all the Indies in his arms , +And more and richer , when he strains that lady : +I cannot blame his conscience . + +They that bear +The cloth of honour over her , are four barons +Of the Cinque-ports . + +Those men are happy ; and so are all are near her . +I take it , she that carries up the train +Is that old noble lady , Duchess of Norfolk . + +It is ; and all the rest are countesses . + +Their coronets say so . These are stars indeed ; +And sometimes falling ones . + +No more of that . + + +God save you , sir ! Where have you been broiling ? + +Among the crowd i' the Abbey ; where a finger +Could not be wedg'd in more : I am stifled +With the mere rankness of their joy . + +You saw +The ceremony ? + +That I did . + +How was it ? + +Well worth the seeing . + +Good sir , speak it to us . + +As well as I am able . The rich stream +Of lords and ladies , having brought the queen +To a prepar'd place in the choir , fell off +A distance from her ; while her Grace sat down +To rest awhile , some half an hour or so , +In a rich chair of state , opposing freely +The beauty of her person to the people . +Believe me , sir , she is the goodliest woman +That ever lay by man : which when the people +Had the full view of , such a noise arose +As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest , +As loud , and to as many tunes : hats , cloaks , +Doublets , I think ,flew up ; and had their faces +Been loose , this day they had been lost . Such joy +I never saw before . Great-bellied women , +That had not half a week to go , like rams +In the old time of war , would shake the press , +And make 'em reel before them . No man living +Could say , 'This is my wife ,' there ; all were woven +So strangely in one piece . + +But , what follow'd ? + +At length her Grace rose , and with modest paces +Came to the altar ; where she kneel'd , and , saint-like , +Cast her fair eyes to heaven and pray'd devoutly . +Then rose again and bow'd her to the people : +When by the Archbishop of Canterbury +She had all the royal makings of a queen ; +As holy oil , Edward Confessor's crown , +The rod , and bird of peace , and all such emblems +Laid nobly on her : which perform'd , the choir , +With all the choicest music of the kingdom , +Together sung Te Deum . So she parted , +And with the same full state pac'd back again +To York-place , where the feast is held . + +Sir , +You must no more call it York-place , that's past ; +For , since the cardinal fell , that title's lost : +'Tis now the king's , and call'd Whitehall . + +I know it ; +But 'tis so lately alter'd that the old name +Is fresh about me . + +What two reverend bishops +Were those that went on each side of the queen ? + +Stokesly and Gardiner ; the one of Winchester , +Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary , +The other , London . + +He of Winchester +Is held no great good lover of the archbishop's , +The virtuous Cranmer . + +All the land knows that : +However , yet there's no great breach ; when it comes , +Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him . + +Who may that be , I pray you ? + +Thomas Cromwell : +A man in much esteem with the king , and truly +A worthy friend . The king +Has made him master o' the jewel house , +And one , already , of the privy-council . + +He will deserve more . + +Yes , without all doubt . +Come , gentlemen , ye shall go my way , which +Is to the court , and there ye shall be my guests : +Something I can command . As I walk thither , +I'll tell ye more . + +You may command us , sir . + + +How does your Grace ? + +O Griffith ! sick to death ! +My legs , like loaden branches , bow to the earth , +Willing to leave their burden . Reach a chair : +So ; now , methinks , I feel a little ease . +Didst thou not tell me , Griffith , as thou ledd'st me , +That the great child of honour , Cardinal Wolsey , +Was dead ? + +Yes , madam ; but I think your Grace , +Out of the pain you suffer'd , gave no ear to't . + +Prithee , good Griffith , tell me how he died : +If well , he stepp'd before me , happily , +For my example . + +Well , the voice goes , madam : +For after the stout Earl Northumberland +Arrested him at York , and brought him forward , +As a man sorely tainted , to his answer , +He fell sick suddenly , and grew so ill +He could not sit his mule . + +Alas ! poor man . + +At last , with easy roads , he came to Leicester ; +Lodg'd in the abbey , where the reverend abbot , +With all his covent , honourably receiv'd him : +To whom he gave these words : 'O ! father abbot , +An old man , broken with the storms of state , +Is come to lay his weary bones among ye ; +Give him a little earth for charity .' +So went to bed , where eagerly his sickness +Pursu'd him still ; and three nights after this , +About the hour of eight ,which he himself +Foretold should be his last ,full of repentance , +Continual meditations , tears , and sorrows , +He gave his honours to the world again , +His blessed part to heaven , and slept in peace . + +So may he rest ; his faults lie gently on him ! +Yet thus far , Griffith , give me leave to speak him , +And yet with charity . He was a man +Of an unbounded stomach , ever ranking +Himself with princes ; one , that by suggestion +Tied all the kingdom ; simony was fair-play ; +His own opinion was his law ; i' the presence +He would say untruths , and be ever double +Both in his words and meaning . He was never , +But where he meant to ruin , pitiful ; +His promises were , as he then was , mighty ; +But his performance , as he is now , nothing : +Of his own body he was ill , and gave +The clergy ill example . + +Noble madam , +Men's evil manners live in brass ; their virtues +We write in water . May it please your highness +To hear me speak his good now ? + +Yes , good Griffith , +I were malicious else . + +This cardinal , +Though from a humble stock , undoubtedly +Was fashion'd to much honour from his cradle . +He was a scholar , and a ripe and good one ; +Exceeding wise , fair-spoken , and persuading ; +Lofty and sour to them that lov'd him not ; +But , to those men that sought him sweet as summer . +And though he were unsatisfied in getting , +Which was a sin ,yet in bestowing , madam , +He was most princely . Ever witness for him +Those twins of learning that he rais'd in you , +Ipswich , and Oxford ! one of which fell with him , +Unwilling to outlive the good that did it ; +The other , though unfinish'd , yet so famous , +So excellent in art , and still so rising , +That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue . +His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him ; +For then , and not till then , he felt himself , +And found the blessedness of being little : +And , to add greater honours to his age +Than man could give him , he died fearing God . + +After my death I wish no other herald , +No other speaker of my living actions , +To keep mine honour from corruption , +But such an honest chronicler as Griffith . +Whom I most hated living , thou hast made me , +With thy religious truth and modesty , +Now in his ashes honour . Peace be with him ! +Patience , be near me still ; and set me lower : +I have not long to trouble thee . Good Griffith , +Cause the musicians play me that sad note +I nam'd my knell , whilst I sit meditating +On that celestial harmony I go to . + + +She is asleep : good wench , let's sit down quiet , +For fear we wake her : softly , gentle Patience . + + +Spirits of peace , where are ye ? Are ye all gone , +And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye ? + +Madam , we are here . + +It is not you I call for : +Saw ye none enter since I slept ? + +None , madam . + +No ? Saw you not , even now , a blessed troop +Invite me to a banquet ; whose bright faces +Cast thousand beams upon me , like the sun ? +They promis'd me eternal happiness , +And brought me garlands , Griffith , which I feel +I am not worthy yet to wear : I shall assuredly . + +I am most joyful , madam , such good dreams +Possess your fancy . + +Bid the music leave , +They are harsh and heavy to me . + + +Do you note +How much her Grace is alter'd on the sudden ? +How long her face is drawn ? How pale she looks , +And of an earthy cold ? Mark her eyes ! + +She is going , wench . Pray , pray . + +Heaven comfort her ! + + +An't like your Grace , + +You are a saucy fellow : +Deserve we no more reverence ? + +You are to blame , +Knowing she will not lose her wonted greatness , +To use so rude behaviour ; go to , kneel . + +I humbly do entreat your highness pardon ; +My haste made me unmannerly . There is staying +A gentleman , sent from the king , to see you . + +Admit him entrance , Griffith : but this fellow +Let me ne'er see again . + +If my sight fail not , +You should be lord ambassador from the emperor , + +My royal nephew , and your name Capucius . + +Madam , the same ; your servant . + +O my lord ! +The times and titles now are alter'd strangely +With me since first you knew me . But , I pray you , +What is your pleasure with me ? + +Noble lady , +First , mine own service to your Grace ; the next , +The king's request that I would visit you ; +Who grieves much for your weakness , and by me +Sends you his princely commendations , +And heartily entreats you take good comfort . + +O ! my good lord , that comfort comes too late ; +'Tis like a pardon after execution : +That gentle physic , given in time , had cur'd me ; +But now I am past all comforts here but prayers . +How does his highness ? + +Madam , in good health . + +So may he ever do ! and ever flourish , +When I shall dwell with worms , and my poor name +Banish'd the kingdom . Patience , is that letter +I caus'd you write , yet sent away ? + +No , madam . + + +Sir , I most humbly pray you to deliver +This to my lord the king . + +Most willing , madam . + +In which I have commended to his goodness +The model of our chaste loves , his young daughter : +The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her ! +Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding , +She is young , and of a noble modest nature , +I hope she will deserve well ,and a little +To love her for her mother's sake , that lov'd him , +Heaven knows how dearly . My next poor petition +Is , that his noble Grace would have some pity +Upon my wretched women , that so long +Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully : +Of which there is not one , I dare avow , +And now I should not lie ,but will deserve , +For virtue , and true beauty of the soul , +For honesty and decent carriage , +A right good husband , let him be a noble ; +And , sure , those men are happy that shall have 'em . +The last is , for my men : they are the poorest , +But poverty could never draw 'em from me ; +That they may have their wages duly paid 'em , +And something over to remember me by : +If heaven had pleas'd to have given me longer life +And able means , we had not parted thus . +These are the whole contents : and , good my lord , +By that you love the dearest in this world , +As you wish Christian peace to souls departed , +Stand these poor people's friend , and urge the king +To do me this last right . + +By heaven , I will , +Or let me lose the fashion of a man ! + +I thank you , honest lord . Remember me +In all humility unto his highness : +Say his long trouble now is passing +Out of this world ; tell him , in death I bless'd him ; +For so I will . Mine eyes grow dim . Farewell , +My lord . Griffith , farewell . Nay , Patience , +You must not leave me yet : I must to bed ; +Call in more women . When I am dead , good wench , +Let me be us'd with honour : strew me over +With maiden flowers , that all the world may know +I was a chaste wife to my grave : embalm me , +Then lay me forth : although unqueen'd , yet like +A queen , and daughter to a king , inter me . +I can no more . + + +It's one o'clock , boy , is't not ? + +It hath struck . + +These should be hours for necessities , +Not for delights ; times to repair our nature +With comforting repose , and not for us +To waste these times . Good hour of night , Sir Thomas ! +Whither so late ? + +Came you from the king , my lord ? + +I did , Sir Thomas ; and left him at primero +With the Duke of Suffolk . + +I must to him too , +Before he go to bed . I'll take my leave . + +Not yet , Sir Thomas Lovell . What 's the matter ? +It seems you are in haste : an if there be +No great offence belongs to't , give your friend +Some touch of your late business : affairs , that walk +As they say spirits do at midnight , have +In them a wilder nature than the business +That seeks dispatch by day . + +My lord , I love you , +And durst commend a secret to your ear +Much weightier than this work . The queen's in labour , +They say , in great extremity ; and fear'd +She'll with the labour end . + +The fruit she goes with +I pray for heartily , that it may find +Good time , and live : but for the stock , Sir Thomas , +I wish it grubb'd up now . + +Methinks I could +Cry the amen ; and yet my conscience says +She's a good creature , and , sweet lady , does +Deserve our better wishes . + +But , sir , sir , +Hear me , Sir Thomas : you're a gentleman +Of mine own way ; I know you wise , religious ; +And , let me tell you , it will ne'er be well , +'Twill not , Sir Thomas Lovell , take 't of me , +Till Cranmer , Cromwell , her two hands , and she , +Sleep in their graves . + +Now , sir , you speak of two +The most remark'd i' the kingdom . As for Cromwell , +Beside that of the jewel-house , is made master +O' the rolls , and the king's secretary ; further , sir , +Stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments , +With which the time will load him . The archbishop +Is the king's hand and tongue ; and who dare speak +One syllable against him ? + +Yes , yes , Sir Thomas , +There are that dare ; and I myself have ventur'd +To speak my mind of him : and indeed this day , +Sir ,I may tell it you ,I think I have +Incens'd the lords o' the council that he is +For so I know he is , they know he is +A most arch heretic , a pestilence +That does infect the land : with which they mov'd +Have broken with the king ; who hath so far +Given ear to our complaint ,of his great grace +And princely care , foreseeing those fell mischiefs +Our reasons laid before him ,hath commanded +To-morrow morning to the council-board +He be convented . He's a rank weed , Sir Thomas , +And we must root him out . From your affairs +I hinder you too long : good-night , Sir Thomas ! + +Many good-nights , my lord . I rest your servant . + +Charles , I will play no more to-night ; +My mind's not on't ; you are too hard for me . + +Sir , I did never win of you before . + +But little , Charles ; +Nor shall not when my fancy's on my play . +Now , Lovell , from the queen what is the news ? + +I could not personally deliver to her +What you commanded me , but by her woman +I sent your message ; who return'd her thanks +In the great'st humbleness , and desir'd your highness +Most heartily to pray for her . + +What sayst thou , ha ? +To pray for her ? what ! is she crying out ? + +So said her woman ; and that her sufferance made +Almost each pang a death . + +Alas ! good lady . + +God safely quit her of her burden , and +With gentle travail , to the gladding of +Your highness with an heir ! + +'Tis midnight , Charles ; +Prithee , to bed ; and in thy prayers remember +The estate of my poor queen . Leave me alone ; +For I must think of that which company +Would not be friendly to . + +I wish your highness +A quiet night ; and my good mistress will +Remember in my prayers . + +Charles , good-night . + + +Well , Sir , what follows ? + +Sir , I have brought my lord the archbishop , +As you commanded me . + +Ha ! Canterbury ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +'Tis true : where is he , Denny ? + +He attends your highness' pleasure . + +Bring him to us . + + +This is about that which the bishop spake : +I am happily come hither . + + +Avoid the gallery . + +Ha ! I have said . Begone . +What ! + + +I am fearful . Wherefore frowns he thus ? +'Tis his aspect of terror : all's not well . + +How now , my lord ! You do desire to know +Wherefore I sent for you . + +It is my duty +To attend your highness' pleasure . + +Pray you , arise , +My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury . +Come , you and I must walk a turn together ; +I have news to tell you : come , come , give me your hand . +Ah ! my good lord , I grieve at what I speak , +And am right sorry to repeat what follows . +I have , and most unwillingly , of late +Heard many grievous , I do say , my lord , +Grievous complaints of you ; which , being consider'd , +Have mov'd us and our council , that you shall +This morning come before us ; where , I know , +You cannot with such freedom purge yourself , +But that , till further trial in those charges +Which will require your answer , you must take +Your patience to you , and be well contented +To make your house our Tower : you a brother of us , +It fits we thus proceed , or else no witness +Would come against you . + +I humbly thank your highness ; +And am right glad to catch this good occasion +Most throughly to be winnow'd , where my chaff +And corn shall fly asunder ; for I know +There's none stands under more calumnious tongues +Than I myself , poor man . + +Stand up , good Canterbury : +Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted +In us , thy friend : give me thy hand , stand up : +Prithee , let's walk . Now , by my holidame , +What manner of man are you ? My lord , I look'd +You would have given me your petition , that +I should have ta'en some pains to bring together +Yourself and your accusers ; and to have heard you , +Without indurance , further . + +Most dread liege , +The good I stand on is my truth and honesty : +If they shall fail , I , with mine enemies , +Will triumph o'er my person ; which I weigh not , +Being of those virtues vacant . I fear nothing +What can be said against me . + +Know you not +How your state stands i' the world , with the whole world ? +Your enemies are many , and not small ; their practices +Must bear the same proportion ; and not ever +The justice and the truth o' the question carries +The due o' the verdict with it . At what ease +Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt +To swear against you ? such things have been done . +You are potently oppos'd , and with a malice +Of as great size . Ween you of better luck , +I mean in perjur'd witness , than your master , +Whose minister you are , whiles here he liv'd +Upon this naughty earth ? Go to , go to ; +You take a precipice for no leap of danger , +And woo your own destruction . + +God and your majesty +Protect mine innocence ! or I fall into +The trap is laid for me ! + +Be of good cheer ; +They shall no more prevail than we give way to . +Keep comfort to you ; and this morning see +You do appear before them . If they shall chance , +In charging you with matters , to commit you , +The best persuasions to the contrary +Fail not to use , and with what vehemency +The occasion shall instruct you : if entreaties +Will render you no remedy , this ring +Deliver them , and your appeal to us +There make before them . Look ! the good man weeps ; +He's honest , on mine honour . God's blest mother ! +I swear he is true-hearted ; and a soul +None better in my kingdom . Get you gone , +And do as I have bid you . + +He has strangled +His language in his tears . + + +Come back : what mean you ? + +I'll not come back ; the tidings that I bring +Will make my boldness manners . Now , good angels +Fly o'er thy royal head , and shade thy person +Under their blessed wings ! + +Now , by thy looks +I guess thy message . Is the queen deliver'd ? +Say , ay ; and of a boy . + +Ay , ay , my liege ; +And of a lovely boy : the God of heaven +Both now and ever bless her ! 'tis a girl , +Promises boys hereafter . Sir , your queen +Desires your visitation , and to be +Acquainted with this stranger : 'tis as like you +As cherry is to cherry . + +Lovell ! + + +Sir ! + +Give her a hundred marks . I'll to the queen . + + +A hundred marks ! By this light , I'll ha' more . +An ordinary groom is for such payment : +I will have more , or scold it out of him . +Said I for this the girl was like to him ? +I will have more , or else unsay't ; and now , +While it is hot , I'll put it to the issue . + + +I hope I am not too late ; and yet the gentleman , +That was sent to me from the council , pray'd me +To make great haste . All fast ? what means this ? Ho ! +Who waits there ? + +Sure , you know me ? + +Yes , my lord ; +But yet I cannot help you . + +Why ? + +Your Grace must wait till you be call'd for . + + +So . + +This is a piece of malice . I am glad +I came this way so happily : the king +Shall understand it presently . + +'Tis Butts , +The king's physician . As he past along , +How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me . +Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace ! For certain , +This is of purpose laid by some that hate me , +God turn their hearts ! I never sought their malice , +To quench mine honour : they would shame to make me +Wait else at door , a fellow-counsellor , +'Mong boys , grooms , and lackeys . But their pleasures +Must be fulfill'd , and I attend with patience . + + +I'll show your Grace the strangest sight , + +What's that , Butts ? + +I think your highness saw this many a day . + +Body o' me , where is it ? + +There , my lord , +The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury ; +Who holds his state at door , 'mongst pursuivants , +Pages , and footboys . + +Ha ! 'Tis he , indeed : +Is this the honour they do one another ? +'Tis well there's one above 'em yet . I had thought +They had parted so much honesty among 'em , +At least , good manners ,as not thus to suffer +A man of his place , and so near our favour , +To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures , +And at the door too , like a post with packets . +By holy Mary , Butts , there's knavery : +Let 'em alone , and draw the curtain close ; +We shall hear more anon . + + +Speak to the business , Master secretary : +Why are we met in council ? + +Please your honours , +The chief cause concerns his Grace of Canterbury . + +Has he had knowledge of it ? + +Yes . + +Who waits there ? + +Without , my noble lords ? + +Yes . + +My lord archbishop : +And has done half-an-hour , to know your pleasures . + +Let him come in . + +Your Grace may enter now . + + +My good lord archbishop , I'm very sorry +To sit here at this present and behold +That chair stand empty : but we all are men , +In our own natures frail , and capable +Of our flesh ; few are angels : out of which frailty +And want of wisdom , you , that best should teach us , +Have misdemean'd yourself , and not a little , +Toward the king first , then his laws , in filling +The whole realm , by your teaching and your chaplains , +For so we are inform'd ,with new opinions , +Divers and dangerous ; which are heresies , +And , not reform'd , may prove pernicious . + +Which reformation must be sudden too , +My noble lords ; for those that tame wild horses +Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle , +But stop their mouths with stubborn bits , and spur 'em , +Till they obey the manage . If we suffer +Out of our easiness and childish pity +To one man's honour this contagious sickness , +Farewell all physic : and what follows then ? +Commotions , uproars , with a general taint +Of the whole state : as , of late days , our neighbours , +The upper Germany , can dearly witness , +Yet freshly pitied in our memories . + +My good lords , hitherto in all the progress +Both of my life and office , I have labour'd , +And with no little study , that my teaching +And the strong course of my authority +Might go one way , and safely ; and the end +Was ever , to do well : nor is there living , +I speak it with a single heart , my lords , +A man that more detests , more stirs against , +Both in his private conscience and his place , +Defacers of a public peace , than I do . +Pray heaven the king may never find a heart +With less allegiance in it ! Men , that make +Envy and crooked malice nourishment +Dare bite the best . I do beseech your lordships +That , in this case of justice , my accusers , +Be what they will , may stand forth face to face , +And freely urge against me . + +Nay , my lord , +That cannot be : you are a counsellor , +And by that virtue no man dare accuse you . + +My lord , because we have business of more moment , +We will be short with you . 'Tis his highness' pleasure , +And our consent , for better trial of you , +From hence you be committed to the Tower ; +Where , being but a private man again , +You shall know many dare accuse you boldly , +More than , I fear , you are provided for . + +Ah ! my good Lord of Winchester , I thank you ; +You are always my good friend : if your will pass , +I shall both find your lordship judge and juror , +You are so merciful . I see your end ; +'Tis my undoing : love and meekness , lord , +Become a churchman better than ambition : +Win straying souls with modesty again , +Cast none away . That I shall clear myself , +Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience , +I make as little doubt , as you do conscience , +In doing daily wrongs . I could say more , +But reverence to your calling makes me modest . + +My lord , my lord , you are a sectary ; +That's the plain truth : your painted gloss discovers , +To men that understand you , words and weakness . + +My Lord of Winchester , you are a little , +By your good favour , too sharp ; men so noble , +However faulty , yet should find respect +For what they have been : 'tis a cruelty +To load a falling man . + +Good Master secretary , +I cry your honour mercy , you may , worst +Of all this table , say so . + +Why , my lord ? + +Do not I know you for a favourer +Of this new sect ? ye are not sound . + +Not sound ? + +Not sound , I say . + +Would you were half so honest ! +Men's prayers then would seek you , not their fears . + +I shall remember this bold language . + +Do . +Remember your bold life too . + +This is too much ; +Forbear , for shame , my lords . + +I have done . + +And I . + +Then thus for you , my lord : it stands agreed , +I take it , by all voices , that forthwith +You be convey'd to the Tower a prisoner ; +There to remain till the king's further pleasure +Be known unto us . Are you all agreed , lords ? + +We are . + +Is there no other way of mercy , +But I must needs to the Tower , my lords ? + +What other +Would you expect ? You are strangely troublesome . +Let some o' the guard be ready there . + + +For me ? +Must I go like a traitor thither ? + +Receive him , +And see him safe i' the Tower . + +Stay , good my lords ; +I have a little yet to say . Look there , my lords ; +By virtue of that ring I take my cause +Out of the gripes of cruel men , and give it +To a most noble judge , the king my master . + +This is the king's ring . + +'Tis no counterfeit . + +'Tis the right ring , by heaven ! I told ye all , +When we first put this dangerous stone a-rolling , +'Twould fall upon ourselves . + +Do you think , my lords , +The king will suffer but the little finger +Of this man to be vex'd ? + +'Tis now too certain : +How much more is his life in value with him ? +Would I were fairly out on't . + +My mind gave me , +In seeking tales and informations +Against this man whose honesty the devil +And his disciples only envy at +Ye blew the fire that burns ye : now have at ye ! + + +Dread sovereign , how much are we bound to heaven +In daily thanks , that gave us such a prince ; +Not only good and wise , but most religious : +One that in all obedience makes the Church +The chief aim of his honour ; and , to strengthen +That holy duty , out of dear respect , +His royal self in judgment comes to hear +The cause betwixt her and this great offender . + +You were ever good at sudden commendations , +Bishop of Winchester ; but know , I come not +To hear such flattery now , and in my presence ; +They are too thin and bare to hide offences . +To me you cannot reach ; you play the spaniel , +And think with wagging of your tongue to win me ; +But , whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for , I'm sure +Thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody . + + +Good man , sit down . Now let me see the proudest +He , that dares most , but wag his finger at thee : +By all that's holy , he had better starve +Than but once think this place becomes thee not . + +May it please your Grace , + +No , sir , it does not please me . +I had thought I had had men of some understanding +And wisdom of my council ; but I find none . +Was it discretion , lords , to let this man , +This good man ,few of you deserve that title , +This honest man , wait like a lousy footboy +At chamber-door ? and one as great as you are ? +Why , what a shame was this ! Did my commission +Bid ye so far forget yourselves ? I gave ye +Power as he was a counsellor to try him , +Not as a groom . There's some of ye , I see , +More out of malice than integrity , +Would try him to the utmost , had ye mean ; +Which ye shall never have while I live . + +Thus far , +My most dread sov'reign , may it like your Grace +To let my tongue excuse all . What was purpos'd +Concerning his imprisonment , was rather +If there be faith in men meant for his trial +And fair purgation to the world , than malice , +I'm sure , in me . + +Well , well , my lords , respect him ; +Take him , and use him well ; he's worthy of it . +I will say thus much for him , if a prince +May be beholding to a subject , I +Am , for his love and service , so to him . +Make me no more ado , but all embrace him : +Be friends , for shame , my lords ! My Lord of Canterbury , +I have a suit which you must not deny me ; +That is , a fair young maid that yet wants baptism , +You must be godfather , and answer for her . + +The greatest monarch now alive may glory +In such an honour : how may I deserve it , +That am a poor and humble subject to you ? + +Come , come , my lord , you'd spare your spoons : you shall have two noble partners with you ; the old Duchess of Norfolk , and Lady Marquess Dorset : will these please you ? +Once more , my Lord of Winchester , I charge you , +Embrace and love this man . + +With a true heart +And brother-love I do it . + +And let heaven +Witness , how dear I hold this confirmation . + +Good man ! those joyful tears show thy true heart : +The common voice , I see , is verified +Of thee , which says thus , 'Do my Lord of Canterbury +A shrewd turn , and he is your friend for ever .' +Come , lords , we trifle time away ; I long +To have this young one made a Christian . +As I have made ye one , lords , one remain ; +So I grow stronger , you more honour gain . + + +You'll leave your noise anon , ye rascals . +Do you take the court for Paris-garden ? ye rude slaves , leave your gaping . + + +Good Master porter , I belong to the larder . + +Belong to the gallows , and be hanged , you rogue ! Is this a place to roar in ? Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves , and strong ones : these are but switches to 'em . I'll scratch your heads : you must be seeing christenings ! Do you look for ale and cakes here , you rude rascals ? + +Pray , sir , be patient : 'tis as much impossible +Unless we sweep 'em from the door with cannons +To scatter 'em , as 'tis to make 'em sleep +On May-day morning ; which will never be . +We may as well push against Paul's as stir 'em . + +How got they in , and be hang'd ? + +Alas , I know not ; how gets the tide in ? +As much as one sound cudgel of four foot +You see the poor remainder could distribute , +I made no spare , sir . + +You did nothing , sir . + +I am not Samson , nor Sir Guy , nor Colbrand , +To mow 'em down before me ; but if I spar'd any +That had a head to hit , either young or old , +He or she , cuckold or cuckold-maker , +Let me ne'er hope to see a chine again ; +And that I would not for a cow , God save her ! + + +Do you hear , Master porter ? + +I shall be with you presently , good +Master puppy . Keep the door close , sirrah . + +What would you have me do ? + +What should you do , but knock 'em down by the dozens ? Is this Moorfields to muster in ? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court , the women so besiege us ? Bless me , what a fry of fornication is at door ! On my Christian conscience , this one christening will beget a thousand : here will be father , godfather , and all together . + +The spoons will be the bigger , sir . There is a fellow somewhat near the door , he should be a brazier by his face , for , o' my conscience , twenty of the dog days now reign in's nose : all that stand about him are under the line , they need no other penance . That fire-drake did I hit three times on the head , and three times was his nose discharged against me : he stands there , like a mortar-piece , to blow us . There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him , that railed upon me till her pinked porringer fell off her head , for kindling such a combustion in the state . I missed the meteor once , and hit that woman , who cried out , 'Clubs !' when I might see from far some forty truncheoners draw to her succour , which were the hope o' the Strand , where she was quartered . They fell on ; I made good my place ; at length they came to the broomstaff to me ; I defied 'em still ; when suddenly a file of boys behind 'em , loose shot , delivered such a shower of pebbles , that I was fain to draw mine honour in , and let 'em win the work . The devil was amongst 'em , I think , surely . + +These are the youths that thunder at a playhouse , and fight for bitten apples ; that no audience , but the Tribulation of Tower-hill , or the Limbs of Limehouse , their dear brothers , are able to endure . I have some of 'em in Limbo Patrum , and there they are like to dance these three days ; besides the running banquet of two beadles , that is to come . + + +Mercy o' me , what a multitude are here ! +They grow still too , from all parts they are coming , +As if we kept a fair here ! Where are these porters , +These lazy knaves ? Ye have made a fine hand , fellows : +There's a trim rabble let in . Are all these +Your faithful friends o' the suburbs ? We shall have +Great store of room , no doubt , left for the ladies , +When they pass back from the christening . + +An't please your honour , +We are but men ; and what so many may do , +Not being torn a-pieces , we have done : +An army cannot rule 'em . + +As I live , +If the king blame me for't , I'll lay ye all +By the heels , and suddenly ; and on your heads +Clap round fines for neglect : ye're lazy knaves ; +And here ye lie baiting of bombards , when +Ye should do service . Hark ! the trumpets sound ; +They're come already from the christening . +Go , break among the press , and find a way out +To let the troop pass fairly , or I'll find +A Marshalsea shall hold ye play these two months . + +Make way there for the princess . + +You great fellow , +Stand close up , or I'll make your head ache . + +You i' the camlet , get up o' the rail : +I'll pick you o'er the pales else . + +Heaven , from thy endless goodness , send prosperous life , long , and ever happy , to the high and mighty Princess of England , Elizabeth ! + + +And to your royal Grace , and the good queen , +My noble partners , and myself , thus pray : +All comfort , joy , in this most gracious lady , +Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy , +May hourly fall upon ye ! + +Thank you , good lord archbishop : +What is her name ? + +Elizabeth . + +Stand up , lord . + +With this kiss take my blessing ; God protect thee ! +Into whose hand I give thy life . + +Amen . + +My noble gossips , ye have been too prodigal : +I thank ye heartily : so shall this lady +When she has so much English . + +Let me speak , sir , +For heaven now bids me ; and the words I utter +Let none think flattery , for they'll find 'em truth . +This royal infant ,heaven still move about her ! +Though in her cradle , yet now promises +Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings , +Which time shall bring to ripeness : she shall be +But few now living can behold that goodness +A pattern to all princes living with her , +And all that shall succeed : Saba was never +More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue +Than this pure soul shall be : all princely graces , +That mould up such a mighty piece as this is , +With all the virtues that attend the good , +Shall still be doubled on her ; truth shall nurse her ; +Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her ; +She shall be lov'd and fear'd ; her own shall bless her ; +Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn , +And hang their heads with sorrow ; good grows with her . +In her days every man shall eat in safety +Under his own vine what he plants ; and sing +The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours . +God shall be truly known ; and those about her +From her shall read the perfect ways of honour , +And by those claim their greatness , not by blood . +Nor shall this peace sleep with her ; but as when +The bird of wonder dies , the maiden ph nix , +Her ashes new-create another heir +As great in admiration as herself , +So shall she leave her blessedness to one , +When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness , +Who , from the sacred ashes of her honour , +Shall star-like rise , as great in fame as she was , +And so stand fix'd . Peace , plenty , love , truth , terror , +That were the servants to this chosen infant , +Shall then be his , and like a vine grow to him : +Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine , +His honour and the greatness of his name +Shall be , and make new nations ; he shall flourish , +And , like a mountain cedar , reach his branches +To all the plains about him ; our children's children +Shall see this , and bless heaven . + +Thou speakest wonders . + +She shall be , to the happiness of England , +An aged princess ; many days shall see her , +And yet no day without a deed to crown it . +Would I had known no more ! but she must die , +She must , the saints must have her , yet a virgin ; +A most unspotted lily shall she pass +To the ground , and all the world shall mourn her . + +O lord archbishop ! +Thou hast made me now a man : never , before +This happy child , did I get any thing . +This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd me , +That when I am in heaven , I shall desire +To see what this child does , and praise my Maker . +I thank ye all . To you , my good Lord Mayor , +And your good brethren , I am much beholding ; +I have receiv'd much honour by your presence , +And ye shall find me thankful . Lead the way , lords : +Ye must all see the queen , and she must thank ye ; +She will be sick else . This day , no man think +He has business at his house ; for all shall stay : +This little one shall make it holiday . + + +'Tis ten to one , this play can never please +All that are here : some come to take their ease +And sleep an act or two ; but those , we fear , +We've frighted with our trumpets ; so , 'tis clear +They'll say 'tis naught : others , to hear the city +Abus'd extremely , and to cry , 'That's witty !' +Which we have not done neither : that , I fear , +All the expected good we're like to hear +For this play at this time , is only in +The merciful construction of good women ; +For such a one we show'd 'em : if they smile , +And say 'twill do , I know , within a while +All the best men are ours ; for 'tis ill hap +If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap . + +THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY IV + +So shaken as we are , so wan with care , +Find we a time for frighted peace to pant , +And breathe short-winded accents of new broils +To be commenc'd in stronds afar remote . +No more the thirsty entrance of this soil +Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood ; +No more shall trenching war channel her fields , +Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs +Of hostile paces : those opposed eyes , +Which , like the meteors of a troubled heaven , +All of one nature , of one substance bred , +Did lately meet in the intestine shock +And furious close of civil butchery , +Shall now , in mutual well-beseeming ranks , +March all one way , and be no more oppos'd +Against acquaintance , kindred , and allies : +The edge of war , like an ill-sheathed knife , +No more shall cut his master . Therefore , friends , +As far as to the sepulchre of Christ , +Whose soldier now , under whose blessed cross +We are impressed and engag'd to fight , +Forthwith a power of English shall we levy , +Whose arms were moulded in their mother's womb +To chase these pagans in those holy fields +Over whose acres walk'd those blessed feet +Which fourteen hundred years ago were nail'd +For our advantage on the bitter cross . +But this our purpose is a twelvemonth old , +And bootless 'tis to tell you we will go : +Therefore we meet not now . Then let me hear +Of you , my gentle cousin Westmoreland , +What yesternight our council did decree +In forwarding this dear expedience . + +My liege , this haste was hot in question , +And many limits of the charge set down +But yesternight ; when all athwart there came +A post from Wales loaden with heavy news ; +Whose worst was , that the noble Mortimer , +Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight +Against the irregular and wild Glendower , +Was by the rude hands of that Welshman taken , +And a thousand of his people butchered ; +Upon whose dead corpse' there was such misuse , +Such beastly shameless transformation +By those Welshwomen done , as may not be +Without much shame re-told or spoken of . + +It seems then that the tidings of this broil +Brake off our business for the Holy Land . + +This match'd with other like , my gracious lord ; +For more uneven and unwelcome news +Came from the north and thus it did import : +On Holy-rood day , the gallant Hotspur there , +Young Harry Percy and brave Archibald , +That ever-valiant and approved Scot , +At Holmedon met , +Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour ; +As by discharge of their artillery , +And shape of likelihood , the news was told ; +For he that brought them , in the very heat +And pride of their contention did take horse , +Uncertain of the issue any way . + +Here is a dear and true industrious friend , +Sir Walter Blunt , new lighted from his horse , +Stain'd with the variation of each soil +Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours ; +And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news . +The Earl of Douglas is discomfited ; +Ten thousand bold Scots , two and twenty knights , +Balk'd in their own blood did Sir Walter see +On Holmedon's plains : of prisoners Hotspur took +Mordake the Earl of Fife , and eldest son +To beaten Douglas , and the Earls of Athol , +Of Murray , Angus , and Menteith . +And is not this an honourable spoil ? +A gallant prize ? ha , cousin , is it not ? + +In faith , +It is a conquest for a prince to boast of . + +Yea , there thou mak'st me sad and mak'st me sin +In envy that my Lord Northumberland +Should be the father to so blest a son , +A son who is the theme of honour's tongue ; +Amongst a grove the very straightest plant ; +Who is sweet Fortune's minion and her pride : +Whilst I , by looking on the praise of him , +See riot and dishonour stain the brow +Of my young Harry . O ! that it could be prov'd +That some night-tripping fairy had exchang'd +In cradle-clothes our children where they lay , +And call'd mine Percy , his Plantagenet . +Then would I have his Harry , and he mine . +But let him from my thoughts . What think you , coz , +Of this young Percy's pride ? the prisoners , +Which he in this adventure hath surpris'd , +To his own use he keeps , and sends me word , +I shall have none but Mordake Earl of Fife . + +This is his uncle's teaching , this is Worcester , +Malevolent to you in all aspects ; +Which makes him prune himself , and bristle up +The crest of youth against your dignity . + +But I have sent for him to answer this ; +And for this cause a while we must neglect +Our holy purpose to Jerusalem . +Cousin , on Wednesday next our council we +Will hold at Windsor ; so inform the lords : +But come yourself with speed to us again ; +For more is to be said and to be done +Than out of anger can be uttered . + +I will , my hege . + + +Now , Hal , what time of day is it , lad ? + +Thou art so fat-witted , with drinking of old sack , and unbuttoning thee after supper , and sleeping upon benches after noon , that thou hast forgotten to demand that truly which thou wouldst truly know . What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day ? unless hours were cups of sack , and minutes capons , and clocks the tongues of bawds , and dials the signs of leaping-houses , and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame-colour'd taffeta , I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the time of the day . + +Indeed , you come near me now , Hal ; for we that take purses go by the moon and the seven stars , and not by Ph bus , he , 'that wandering knight so fair .' And , I prithee , sweet wag , when thou art king ,as , God save thy Grace ,majesty , I should say , for grace thou wilt have none , + +What ! none ? + +No , by my troth ; not so much as will serve to be prologue to an egg and butter . + +Well , how then ? come , roundly , roundly . + +Marry , then , sweet wag , when thou art king , let not us that are squires of the night's body be called thieves of the day's beauty : let us be Diana's foresters , gentlemen of the shade , minions of the moon ; and let men say , we be men of good government , being governed as the sea is , by our noble and chaste mistress the moon , under whose countenance we steal . + +Thou sayest well , and it holds well too ; for the fortune of us that are the moon's men doth ebb and flow like the sea , being governed as the sea is , by the moon . As for proof now : a purse of gold most resolutely snatched on Monday night and most dissolutely spent on Tuesday morning ; got with swearing 'Lay by ;' and spent with crying 'Bring in :' now in as low an ebb as the foot of the ladder , and by and by in as high a flow as the ridge of the gallows . + +By the Lord , thou sayest true , lad . And is not my hostess of the tavern a most sweet wench ? + +As the honey of Hybla , my old lad of the castle . And is not a buff jerkin a most sweet robe of durance ? + +How now , how now , mad wag ! what , in thy quips and thy quiddities ? what a plague have I to do with a buff jerkin ? + +Why , what a pox have I to do with my hostess of the tavern ? + +Well , thou hast called her to a reckoning many a time and oft . + +Did I ever call for thee to pay thy part ? + +No ; I'll give thee thy due , thou hast paid all there . + +Yea , and elsewhere , so far as my coin would stretch ; and where it would not , I have used my credit . + +Yea , and so used it that , were it not here apparent that thou art their apparent .But , I prithee , sweet wag , shall there be gallows standing in England when thou art king , and resolution thus fobbed as it is with the rusty curb of old father antick the law ? Do not thou , when thou art king , hang a thief . + +No ; thou shalt . + +Shall I ? O rare ! By the Lord , I'll be a brave judge . + +Thou judgest false already ; I mean , thou shalt have the hanging of the thieves and so become a rare hangman . + +Well , Hal , well ; and in some sort it jumps with my humour as well as waiting in the court , I can tell you . + +For obtaining of suits ? + +Yea , for obtaining of suits , whereof the hangman hath no lean wardrobe . 'Sblood , I am as melancholy as a gib cat , or a lugged bear . + +Or an old lion , or a lover's lute . + +Yea , or the drone of a Lincolnshire bagpipe . + +What sayest thou to a hare , or the melancholy of Moor-ditch ? + +Thou hast the most unsavory similes , and art , indeed , the most comparative , rascalliest , sweet young prince ; but , Hal , I prithee , trouble me no more with vanity . I would to God thou and I knew where a commodity of good names were to be bought . An old lord of the council rated me the other day in the street about you , sir , but I marked him not ; and yet he talked very wisely , but I regarded him not ; and yet he talked wisely , and in the street too . + +Thou didst well ; for wisdom cries out in the streets , and no man regards it . + +O ! thou hast damnable iteration , and art indeed able to corrupt a saint . Thou hast done much harm upon me , Hal ; God forgive thee for it ! Before I knew thee , Hal , I knew nothing ; and now am I , if a man should speak truly , little better than one of the wicked . I must give over this life , and I will give it over ; by the Lord , an I do not , I am a villain : I'll be damned for never a king's son in Christendom . + +Where shall we take a purse to-morrow , Jack ? + +Zounds ! where thou wilt , lad , I'll make one ; an I do not , call me a villain and baffle me . + +I see a good amendment of life in thee ; from praying to purse-taking . + + +Why , Hal , 'tis my vocation , Hal ; 'tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation . Poins ! Now shall we know if Gadshill have set a match . O ! if men were to be saved by merit , what hole in hell were hot enough for him ? This is the most omnipotent villain that ever cried 'Stand !' to a true man . + +Good morrow , Ned . + +Good morrow , sweet Hal . What says Monsieur Remorse ? What says Sir John Sack-and-Sugar ? Jack ! how agrees the devil and thee about thy soul , that thou soldest him on Good-Friday last for a cup of Madeira and a cold capon's leg ? + +Sir John stands to his word , the devil shall have his bargain ; for he was never yet a breaker of proverbs : he will give the devil his due . + +Then art thou damned for keeping thy word with the devil . + +Else he had been damned for cozening the devil . + +But my lads , my lads , to-morrow morning , by four o'clock , early at Gadshill ! There are pilgrims going to Canterbury with rich offerings , and traders riding to London with fat purses : I have vizards for you all ; you have horses for yourselves . Gadshill lies to night in Rochester ; I have bespoke supper to-morrow night in Eastcheap : we may do it as secure as sleep . If you will go I will stuff your purses full of crowns ; if you will not , tarry at home and be hanged . + +Hear ye , Yedward : if I tarry at home and go not , I'll hang you for going . + +You will , chops ? + +Hal , wilt thou make one ? + +Who , I rob ? I a thief ? not I , by my faith . + +There's neither honesty , manhood , nor good fellowship in thee , nor thou camest not of the blood royal , if thou darest not stand for ten shillings . + +Well , then , once in my days I'll be a madcap . + +Why , that's well said . + +Well , come what will , I'll tarry at home . + +By the Lord , I'll be a traitor then , when thou art king . + +I care not . + +Sir John , I prithee , leave the prince and me alone : I will lay him down such reasons for this adventure that he shall go . + +Well , God give thee the spirit of persuasion and him the ears of profiting , that what thou speakest may move , and what he hears may be believed , that the true prince may , for recreation sake , prove a false thief ; for the poor abuses of the time want countenance . Farewell : you shall find me in Eastcheap . + +Farewell , thou latter spring ! Farewell , All-hallown summer ! + + +Now , my good sweet honey lord , ride with us to-morrow : I have a jest to execute that I cannot manage alone . Falstaff , Bardolph , Peto , and Gadshill shall rob those men that we have already waylaid ; yourself and I will not be there ; and when they have the booty , if you and I do not rob them , cut this head from my shoulders . + +But how shall we part with them in setting forth ? + +Why , we will set forth before or after them , and appoint them a place of meeting , wherein it is at our pleasure to fail ; and then will they adventure upon the exploit themselves , which they shall have no sooner achieved but we'll set upon them . + +Yea , but 'tis like that they will know us by our horses , by our habits , and by every other appointment , to be ourselves . + +Tut ! our horses they shall not see , I'll tie them in the wood ; our vizards we will change after we leave them ; and , sirrah , I have cases of buckram for the nonce , to inmask our noted outward garments . + +Yea , but I doubt they will be too hard for us . + +Well , for two of them , I know them to be as true-bred cowards as ever turned back ; and for the third , if he fight longer than he sees reason , I'll forswear arms . The virtue of this jest will be , the incomprehensible lies that this same fat rogue will tell us when we meet at supper : how thirty , at least , he fought with ; what wards , what blows , what extremities he endured ; and in the reproof of this lies the jest . + +Well , I'll go with thee : provide us all things necessary and meet me to-morrow night in Eastcheap ; there I'll sup . Farewell . + +Farewell , my lord . + + +I know you all , and will awhile uphold +The unyok'd humour of your idleness : +Yet herein will I imitate the sun , +Who doth permit the base contagious clouds +To smother up his beauty from the world , +That when he please again to be himself , +Being wanted , he may be more wonder'd at , +By breaking through the foul and ugly mists +Of vapours that did seem to strangle him . +If all the year were playing holidays , +To sport would be as tedious as to work ; +But when they seldom come , they wish'd for come , +And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents . +So , when this loose behaviour I throw off , +And pay the debt I never promised , +By how much better than my word I am +By so much shall I falsify men's hopes ; +And like bright metal on a sullen ground , +My reformation , glittering o'er my fault , +Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes +Than that which hath no foil to set it off . +I'll so offend to make offence a skill ; +Redeeming time when men think least I will . + + +My blood hath been too cold and temperate , +Unapt to stir at these indignities , +And you have found me ; for accordingly +You tread upon my patience : but , be sure , +I will from henceforth rather be myself , +Mighty , and to be fear'd , than my condition , +Which hath been smooth as oil , soft as young down , +And therefore lost that title of respect +Which the proud soul ne'er pays but to the proud . + +Our house , my sovereign liege , little deserves +The scourge of greatness to be us'd on it ; +And that same greatness too which our own hands +Have holp to make so portly . + +My lord , + +Worcester , get thee gone ; for I do see +Danger and disobedience in thine eye . +O , sir , your presence is too bold and peremptory , +And majesty might never yet endure +The moody frontier of a servant brow . +You have good leave to leave us ; when we need +Your use and counsel we shall send for you . + +You were about to speak . + +Yea , my good lord . +Those prisoners in your highness' name demanded , +Which Harry Percy here at Holmedon took , +Were , as he says , not with such strength denied +As is deliver'd to your majesty : +Either envy , therefore , or misprision +Is guilty of this fault and not my son . + +My liege , I did deny no prisoners : +But I remember , when the fight was done , +When I was dry with rage and extreme toil , +Breathless and faint , leaning upon my sword , +Came there a certain lord , neat , and trimly dress'd , +Fresh as a bridegroom ; and his chin , new reap'd , +Show'd like a stubble-land at harvest-home : +He was perfumed like a milliner , +And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held +A pouncet-box , which ever and anon +He gave his nose and took't away again ; +Who therewith angry , when it next came there , +Took it in snuff : and still he smil'd and talk'd ; +And as the soldiers bore dead bodies by , +He call'd them untaught knaves , unmannerly , +To bring a slovenly unhandsome corpse +Betwixt the wind and his nobility . +With many holiday and lady terms +He question'd me ; among the rest , demanded +My prisoners in your majesty's behalf . +I then all smarting with my wounds being cold , +To be so pester'd with a popinjay , +Out of my grief and my impatience +Answer'd neglectingly , I know not what , +He should , or he should not ; for he made me mad +To see him shine so brisk and smell so sweet +And talk so like a waiting-gentlewoman +Of guns , and drums , and wounds ,God save the mark ! +And telling me the sovereign'st thing on earth +Was parmaceti for an inward bruise ; +And that it was great pity , so it was , +This villanous saltpetre should be digg'd +Out of the bowels of the harmless earth , +Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd +So cowardly ; and but for these vile guns , +He would himself have been a soldier . +This bald unjointed chat of his , my lord , +I answer'd indirectly , as I said ; +And I beseech you , let not his report +Come current for an accusation +Betwixt my love and your high majesty . + +The circumstance consider'd , good my lord , +Whatever Harry Percy then had said +To such a person and in such a place , +At such a time , with all the rest re-told , +May reasonably die and never rise +To do him wrong , or any way impeach +What then he said , so he unsay it now . + +Why , yet he doth deny his prisoners , +But with proviso and exception , +That we at our own charge shall ransom straight +His brother-in-law , the foolish Mortimer ; +Who , on my soul , hath wilfully betray'd +The lives of those that he did lead to fight +Against the great magician , damn'd Glendower , +Whose daughter , as we hear , the Earl of March +Hath lately married . Shall our coffers then +Be emptied to redeem a traitor home ? +Shall we buy treason , and indent with fears , +When they have lost and forfeited themselves ? +No , on the barren mountains let him starve ; +For I shall never hold that man my friend +Whose tongue shall ask me for one penny cost +To ransom home revolted Mortimer . + +Revolted Mortimer ! +He never did fall off , my sovereign liege , +But by the chance of war : to prove that true +Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds , +Those mouthed wounds , which valiantly he took , +When on the gentle Severn's sedgy bank , +In single opposition , hand to hand , +He did confound the best part of an hour +In changing hardiment with great Glendower . +Three times they breath'd and three times did they drink , +Upon agreement , of swift Severn's flood , +Who then , affrighted with their bloody looks , +Ran fearfully among the trembling reeds , +And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank +Blood-stained with these valiant combatants . +Never did base and rotten policy +Colour her working with such deadly wounds ; +Nor never could the noble Mortimer +Receive so many , and all willingly : +Then let him not be slander'd with revolt . + +Thou dost belie him , Percy , thou dost belie him : +He never did encounter with Glendower : +I tell thee , +He durst as well have met the devil alone +As Owen Glendower for an enemy . +Art thou not asham'd ? But , sirrah , henceforth +Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer : +Send me your prisoners with the speediest means , +Or you shall hear in such a kind from me +As will displease you . My Lord Northumberland , +We license your departure with your son . +Send us your prisoners , or you'll hear of it . + + +An if the devil come and roar for them , +I will not send them : I will after straight +And tell him so ; for I will ease my heart , +Albeit I make a hazard of my head . + +What ! drunk with choler ? stay , and pause awhile : +Here comes your uncle . + + +Speak of Mortimer ! +'Zounds ! I will speak of him ; and let my soul +Want mercy if I do not join with him : +In his behalf I'll empty all these veins , +And shed my dear blood drop by drop i' the dust , +But I will lift the down-trod Mortimer +As high i' the air as this unthankful king , +As this ingrate and canker'd Bolingbroke . + +Brother , the king hath made your nephew mad . + +Who struck this heat up after I was gone ? + +He will , forsooth , have all my prisoners ; +And when I urg'd the ransom once again +Of my wife's brother , then his cheek look'd pale , +And on my face he turn'd an eye of death , +Trembling even at the name of Mortimer . + +I cannot blame him : was he not proclaim'd +By Richard that dead is the next of blood ? + +He was ; I heard the proclamation : +And then it was when the unhappy king , +Whose wrongs in us God pardon !did set forth +Upon his Irish expedition ; +From whence he , intercepted , did return +To be depos'd , and shortly murdered . + +And for whose death we in the world's wide mouth +Live scandaliz'd and foully spoken of . + +But , soft ! I pray you , did King Richard then +Proclaim my brother Edmund Mortimer +Heir to the crown ? + +He did ; myself did hear it . + +Nay , then I cannot blame his cousin king , +That wish'd him on the barren mountains starve . +But shall it be that you , that set the crown +Upon the head of this forgetful man , +And for his sake wear the detested blot +Of murd'rous subornation , shall it be , +That you a world of curses undergo , +Being the agents , or base second means , +The cords , the ladder , or the hangman rather ? +O ! pardon me that I descend so low , +To show the line and the predicament +Wherein you range under this subtle king . +Shall it for shame be spoken in these days , +Or fill up chronicles in time to come , +That men of your nobility and power , +Did gage them both in'an unjust behalf , +As both of you God pardon it !have done , +To put down Richard , that sweet lovely rose , +And plant this thorn , this canker , Bolingbroke ? +And shall it in more shame be further spoken , +That you are fool'd , discarded , and shook off +By him for whom these shames ye underwent ? +No ; yet time serves wherein you may redeem +Your banish'd honours , and restore yourselves +Into the good thoughts of the world again ; +Revenge the jeering and disdain'd contempt +Of this proud king , who studies day and night +To answer all the debt he owes to you , +Even with the bloody payment of your deaths . +Therefore , I say , + +Peace , cousin ! say no more : +And now I will unclasp a secret book , +And to your quick-conceiving discontents +I'll read you matter deep and dangerous , +As full of peril and adventurous spirit +As to o'er-walk a current roaring loud , +On the unsteadfast footing of a spear . + +If he fall in , good night ! or sink or swim : +Send danger from the east unto the west , +So honour cross it from the north to south , +And let them grapple : O ! the blood more stirs +To rouse a lion than to start a hare . + +Imagination of some great exploit +Drives him beyond the bounds of patience . + +By heaven methinks it were an easy leap +To pluck bright honour from the pale-fac'd moon , +Or dive into the bottom of the deep , +Where fathom-line could never touch the ground , +And pluck up drowned honour by the locks ; +So he that doth redeem her thence might wear +Without corrival all her dignities : +But out upon this half-fac'd fellowship ! + +He apprehends a world of figures here , +But not the form of what he should attend . +Good cousin , give me audience for a while . + +I cry you mercy . + +Those same noble Scots +That are your prisoners , + +I'll keep them all ; +By God , he shall not have a Scot of them : +No , if a Scot would save his soul , he shall not : +I'll keep them , by this hand . + +You start away , +And lend no ear unto my purposes . +Those prisoners you shall keep . + +Nay , I will ; that's flat : +He said he would not ransom Mortimer ; +Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer ; +But I will find him when he lies asleep , +And in his ear I'll holla 'Mortimer !' +Nay , +I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak +Nothing but 'Mortimer ,' and give it him , +To keep his anger still in motion . + +Hear you , cousin ; a word . + +All studies here I solemnly defy , +Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke : +And that same sword-and-buckler Prince of Wales , +But that I think his father loves him not , +And would be glad he met with some mischance , +I would have him poison'd with a pot of ale . + +Farewell , kinsman : I will talk to you +When you are better temper'd to attend . + +Why , what a wasp-stung and impatient fool +Art thou to break into this woman's mood , +Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own ! + +Why , look you , I am whipp'd and scourg'd with rods , +Nettled , and stung with pismires , when I hear +Of this vile politician , Bolingbroke . +In Richard's time ,what do ye call the place ? +A plague upon't it is in Gloucestershire ; +'Twas where the madcap duke his uncle kept , +His uncle York ; where I first bow'd my knee +Unto this king of smiles , this Bolingbroke , +'Sblood ! +When you and he came back from Ravenspurgh . + +At Berkeley Castle . + +You say true . +Why , what a candy deal of courtesy +This fawning greyhound then did proffer me ! +Look , 'when his infant fortune came to age ,' +And 'gentle Harry Percy ,' and 'kind cousin .' +O ! the devil take such cozeners . God forgive me ! +Good uncle , tell your tale , for I have done . + +Nay , if you have not , to't again ; +We'll stay your leisure . + +I have done , i' faith . + +Then once more to your Scottish prisoners . +Deliver them up without their ransom straight , +And make the Douglas' son your only mean +For powers in Scotland ; which , for divers reasons +Which I shall send you written , be assur'd , +Will easily be granted . + +You , my lord , +Your son in Scotland being thus employ'd , +Shall secretly into the bosom creep +Of that same noble prelate well belov'd , +The Archbishop . + +Of York , is it not ? + +True ; who bears hard +His brother's death at Bristol , the Lord Scroop . +I speak not this in estimation , +As what I think might be , but what I know +Is ruminated , plotted and set down ; +And only stays but to behold the face +Of that occasion that shall bring it on . + +I smell it . +Upon my life it will do wondrous well . + +Before the game's afoot thou still lett'st slip . + +Why , it cannot choose but be a noble plot : +And then the power of Scotland and of York , +To join with Mortimer , ha ? + +And so they shall . + +In faith , it is exceedingly well aim'd . + +And 'tis no little reason bids us speed , +To save our heads by raising of a head ; +For , bear ourselves as even as we can , +The king will always think him in our debt , +And think we think ourselves unsatisfied , +Till he hath found a time to pay us home . +And see already how he doth begin +To make us strangers to his looks of love . + +He does , he does : we'll be reveng'd on him . + +Cousin , farewell : no further go in this , +Than I by letters shall direct your course . +When time is ripe ,which will be suddenly , +I'll steal to Glendower and Lord Mortimer ; +Where you and Douglas and our powers at once , +As I will fashion it ,shall happily meet , +To bear our fortunes in our own strong arms , +Which now we hold at much uncertainty . + +Farewell , good brother : we shall thrive , I trust . + +Uncle , adieu : O ! let the hours be short , +Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport ! + +Heigh-ho ! An't be not four by the day I'll be hanged : Charles' Wain is over the new chimney , and yet our horse not packed . What , ostler ! + +Anon , anon . + +I prithee , Tom , beat Cut's saddle , put a few flocks in the point ; the poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess . + + +Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog , and that is the next way to give poor jades the bots ; this house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died . + +Poor fellow ! never joyed since the price of oats rose ; it was the death of him . + +I think this be the most villanous house in all London road for fleas : I am stung like a tench . + +Like a tench ! by the mass , there is ne'er a king christen could be better bit than I have been since the first cock . + +Why , they will allow us ne'er a jordan , and then we leak in the chimney ; and your chamber-lie breeds fleas like a loach . + +What , ostler ! come away and be hanged , come away . + +I have a gammon of bacon and two razes of ginger , to be delivered as far as Charing-cross . + +Godsbody ! the turkeys in my pannier are quite starved . What , ostler ! A plague on thee ! hast thou never an eye in thy head ? canst not hear ? An 'twere not as good a deed as drink to break the pate on thee , I am a very villain . Come , and be hanged ! hast no faith in thee ? + + +Good morrow , carriers . What's o'clock ? + +I think it be two o'clock . + +I prithee , lend me thy lanthorn , to see my gelding in the stable . + +Nay , by God , soft : I know a trick worth two of that , i' faith . + +I prithee , lend me thine . + +Ay , when ? canst tell ? Lend me thy lanthorn , quoth a' ? marry , I'll see thee hanged first . + +Sirrah carrier , what time do you mean to come to London ? + +Time enough to go to bed with a candle , I warrant thee . Come , neighbour Mugs , we'll call up the gentlemen : they will along with company , for they have great charge . + + +What , ho ! chamberlain ! + +'At hand , quoth pick-purse .' + +That's even as fair as , 'at hand , quoth the chamberlain' ; for thou variest no more from picking of purses than giving direction doth from labouring ; thou layest the plot how . + + +Good morrow , Master Gadshill . It holds current that I told you yesternight : there's a franklin in the wild of Kent hath brought three hundred marks with him in gold : I heard him tell it to one of his company last night at supper ; a kind of auditor ; one that hath abundance of charge too , God knows what . They are up already and call for eggs and butter : they will away presently . + +Sirrah , if they meet not with Saint Nicholas' clerks , I'll give thee this neck . + +No , I'll none of it : I prithee , keep that for the hangman ; for I know thou worship'st Saint Nicholas as truly as a man of falsehood may . + +What talkest thou to me of the hangman ? If I hang I'll make a fat pair of gallows ; for if I hang , old Sir John hangs with me , and thou knowest he's no starveling . Tut ! there are other Troyans that thou dreamest not of , the which for sport sake are content to do the profession some grace ; that would , if matters should be looked into , for their own credit sake make all whole . I am joined with no foot-land-rakers , no long-staff sixpenny strikers , none of these mad mustachio-purple-hued malt worms ; but with nobility and tranquillity , burgomasters and great oneyers such as can hold in , such as will strike sooner than speak , and speak sooner than drink , and drink sooner than pray : and yet I lie ; for they pray continually to their saint , the commonwealth ; or , rather , not pray to her , but prey on her , for they ride up and down on her and make her their boots . + +What ! the commonwealth their boots ? will she hold out water in foul way ? + +She will , she will ; justice hath liquored her . We steal as in a castle , cock-sure ; we have the receipt of fern-seed , we walk invisible . + +Nay , by my faith , I think you are more beholding to the night than to fern-seed for your walking invisible . + +Give me thy hand : thou shalt have a share in our purchase , as I am a true man . + +Nay , rather let me have it , as you are a false thief . + +Go to ; homo is a common name to all men . Bid the ostler bring my gelding out of the stable . Farewell , you muddy knave . + + +Come , shelter , shelter : I have removed Falstaff's horse , and he frets like a gummed velvet . + +Stand close . + + +Poins ! Poins , and be hanged ! Poins ! + +Peace , ye fat-kidneyed rascal ! What a brawling dost thou keep ! + +Where's Poins , Hal ? + +He is walked up to the top of the hill : I'll go seek him . + + +I am accursed to rob in that thief's company ; the rascal hath removed my horse and tied him I know not where . If I travel but four foot by the squire further afoot I shall break my wind . Well , I doubt not but to die a fair death for all this , if I 'scape hanging for killing that rogue . I have forsworn his company hourly any time this two-and-twenty years , and yet I am bewitched with the rogue's company . If the rascal have not given me medicines to make me love him , I'll be hanged : it could not be else : I have drunk medicines . Poins ! Hal ! a plague upon you both ! Bardolph ! Peto ! I'll starve ere I'll rob a foot further . An 'twere not as good a deed as drink to turn true man and leave these rogues , I am the veriest varlet that ever chewed with a tooth . Eight yards of uneven ground is threescore and ten miles afoot with me , and the stony-hearted villains know it well enough . A plague upon't when thieves cannot be true one to another ! + +Whew ! A plague upon you all ! Give me my horse , you rogues ; give me my horse and be hanged . + +Peace , ye fatguts ! lie down : lay thine ear close to the ground , and list if thou canst hear the tread of travellers . + +Have you any levers to lift me up again , being down ? 'Sblood ! I'll not bear mine own flesh so far afoot again for all the coin in thy father's exchequer . What a plague mean ye to colt me thus ? + +Thou liest : thou art not colted ; thou art uncolted . + +I prithee , good Prince Hal , help me to my horse , good king's son . + +Out , you rogue ! shall I be your ostler ? + +Go , hang thyself in thine own heir apparent garters ! If I be ta'en I'll peach for this . An I have not ballads made on you all , and sung to filthy tunes , let a cup of sack be my poison : when a jest is so forward , and afoot too ! I hate it . + + +Stand . + +So I do , against my will . + +O ! 'tis our setter : I know his voice . + + +What news ? + +Case ye , case ye ; on with your vizards : there's money of the king's coming down the hill ; 'tis going to the king's exchequer . + +You lie , you rogue ; 'tis going to the king's tavern . + +There's enough to make us all . + +To be hanged . + +Sirs , you four shall front them in the narrow lane ; Ned Poins and I will walk lower : if they 'scape from your encounter then they light on us . + +How many be there of them ? + +Some eight or ten . + +'Zounds ! will they not rob us ? + +What ! a coward , Sir John Paunch ? + +Indeed , I am not John of Gaunt , your grandfather ; but yet no coward , Hal . + +Well , we leave that to the proof . + +Sirrah Jack , thy horse stands behind the hedge : when thou needst him there thou shalt find him . Farewell , and stand fast . + +Now cannot I strike him if I should be hanged . + +Ned , where are our disguises ? + +Here , hard by ; stand close . + + +Now my masters , happy man be his dole , say I : every man to his business . + + +Come , neighbour ; the boy shall lead our horses down the hill ; we'll walk afoot awhile , and ease our legs . + +Stand ! + +Jesu bless us ! + +Strike ; down with them ; cut the villains' throats : ah ! whoreson caterpillars ! bacon-fed knaves ! they hate us youth : down with them ; fleece them . + +O ! we are undone , both we and ours for ever . + +Hang ye , gorbellied knaves , are ye undone ? No , ye fat chuffs ; I would your store were here ! On , bacons , on ! What ! ye knaves , young men must live . You are grand-jurors are ye ? We'll jure ye , i' faith . + +The thieves have bound the true men . Now could thou and I rob the thieves and go merrily to London , it would be argument for a week , laughter for a month , and a good jest for ever . + +Stand close ; I hear them coming . + + +Come , my masters ; let us share , and then to horse before day . An the Prince and Poins be not two arrant cowards , there's no equity stirring : there's no more valour in that Poins than in a wild duck . + +Your money ! + +Villains ! + + +Got with much ease . Now merrily to horse : +The thieves are scatter'd and possess'd with fear +So strongly that they dare not meet each other ; +Each takes his fellow for an officer . +Away , good Ned . Falstaff sweats to death +And lards the lean earth as he walks along : +Were't not for laughing I should pity him . + +How the rogue roar'd ! + + +But for mine own part , my lord , I could be well contented to be there , in respect of the love I bear your house . + +He could be contented ; why is he not then ? In respect of the love he bears our house : he shows in this he loves his own barn better than he loves our house . Let me see some more . + +The purpose you undertake is dangerous ; + +Why , that's certain : 'tis dangerous to take a cold , to sleep , to drink ; but I tell you , my lord fool , out of this nettle , danger , we pluck this flower , safety . + +The purpose you undertake is dangerous ; the friends you have named uncertain ; the time itself unsorted ; and your whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so great an opposition . + +Say you so , say you so ? I say unto you again , you are a shallow cowardly hind , and you lie . What a lack-brain is this ! By the Lord , our plot is a good plot as ever was laid ; our friends true and constant : a good plot , good friends , and full of expectation ; an excellent plot , very good friends . What a frosty-spirited rogue is this ! Why , my Lord of York commends the plot and the general course of the action . 'Zounds ! an I were now by this rascal , I could brain him with his lady's fan . Is there not my father , my uncle , and myself ? Lord Edmund Mortimer , my Lord of York , and Owen Glendower ? Is there not besides the Douglas ? Have I not all their letters to meet me in arms by the ninth of the next month , and are they not some of them set forward already ? What a pagan rascal is this ! an infidel ! Ha ! you shall see now in very sincerity of fear and cold heart , will he to the king and lay open all our proceedings . O ! I could divide myself and go to buffets , for moving such a dish of skim milk with so honourable an action . Hang him ! let him tell the king ; we are prepared . I will set forward to-night . + +How now , Kate ! I must leave you within these two hours . + +O , my good lord ! why are you thus alone ? +For what offence have I this fortnight been +A banish'd woman from my Harry's bed ? +Tell me , sweet lord , what is't that takes from thee +Thy stomach , pleasure , and thy golden sleep ? +Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth , +And start so often when thou sitt'st alone ? +Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks , +And given my treasures and my rights of thee +To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy ? +In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch'd , +And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars , +Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed , +Cry , 'Courage ! to the field !' And thou hast talk'd +Of sallies and retires , of trenches , tents , +Of palisadoes , frontiers , parapets , +Of basilisks , of cannon , culverin , +Of prisoners' ransom , and of soldiers slain , +And all the currents of a heady fight . +Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war , +And thus hath so bestirr'd thee in thy sleep , +That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow , +Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream ; +And in thy face strange motions have appear'd , +Such as we see when men restrain their breath +On some great sudden hest . O ! what portents are these ? +Some heavy business hath my lord in hand , +And I must know it , else he loves me not . + +What , ho ! + +Is Gilliams with the packet gone ? + +He is , my lord , an hour ago . + +Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff ? + +One horse , my lord , he brought even now . + +What horse ? a roan , a crop-ear , is it not ? + +It is , my lord . + +That roan shall be my throne . +Well , I will back him straight : O , Esperance ! +Bid Butler lead him forth into the park . + + +But hear you , my lord . + +What sayst thou , my lady ? + +What is it carries you away ? + +Why , my horse , my love , my horse . + +Out , you mad-headed ape ! +A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen +As you are toss'd with . In faith , +I'll know your business , Harry , that I will . +I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir +About his title , and hath sent for you +To line his enterprise . But if you go + +So far afoot , I shall be weary , love . + +Come , come , you paraquito , answer me +Directly unto this question that I ask . +In faith , I'll break thy little finger , Harry , +An if thou wilt not tell me all things true . + +Away , +Away , you trifler ! Love ! I love thee not , +I care not for thee , Kate : this is no world +To play with mammets and to tilt with lips : +We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns , +And pass them current too . God's me , my horse ! +What sayst thou , Kate ? what wouldst thou have with me ? + +Do you not love me ? do you not , indeed ? +Well , do not , then ; for since you love me not , +I will not love myself . Do you not love me ? +Nay , tell me if you speak in jest or no . + +Come , wilt thou see me ride ? +And when I am o' horseback , I will swear +I love thee infinitely . But hark you , Kate ; +I must not have you henceforth question me +Whither I go , nor reason whereabout . +Whither I must , I must ; and , to conclude , +This evening must I leave you , gentle Kate . +I know you wise ; but yet no further wise +Than Harry Percy's wife : constant you are , +But yet a woman : and for secrecy , +No lady closer ; for I well believe +Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know ; +And so far will I trust thee , gentle Kate . + +How ! so far ? + +Not an inch further . But , hark you , Kate ; +Whither I go , thither shall you go too ; +To-day will I set forth , to-morrow you . +Will this content you , Kate ? + +It must , of force . + + +Ned , prithee , come out of that fat room , and lend me thy hand to laugh a little . + +Where hast been , Hal ? + +With three or four loggerheads amongst three or four score hogsheads . I have sounded the very base string of humility . Sirrah , I am sworn brother to a leash of drawers , and can call them all by their christen names , as Tom , Dick , and Francis . They take it already upon their salvation , that though I be but Prince of Wales , yet I am the king of courtesy ; and tell me flatly I am no proud Jack , like Falstaff , but a Corinthian , a lad of mettle , a good boy ,by the Lord , so they call me ,and when I am king of England , I shall command all the good lads in Eastcheap . They call drinking deep , dyeing scarlet ; and when you breathe in your watering , they cry 'hem !' and bid you play it off . To conclude , I am so good a proficient in one quarter of an hour , that I can drink with any tinker in his own language during my life . I tell thee , Ned , thou hast lost much honour that thou wert not with me in this action . But , sweet Ned ,to sweeten which name of Ned , I give thee this pennyworth of sugar , clapped even now into my hand by an underskinker , one that never spake other English in his life than 'Eight shillings and sixpence ,' and 'You are welcome ,' with this shrill addition ,'Anon , anon , sir ! Score a pint of bastard in the Half-moon ,' or so . But , Ned , to drive away the time till Falstaff come , I prithee do thou stand in some by-room , while I question my puny drawer to what end he gave me the sugar ; and do thou never leave calling 'Francis !' that his tale to me may be nothing but 'Anon .' Step aside , and I'll show thee a precedent . + +Francis ! + +Thou art perfect . + +Francis ! + +Anon , anon , sir . Look down into the Pomgarnet , Ralph . + +Come hither , Francis . + +My lord . + +How long hast thou to serve , Francis ? + +Forsooth , five years , and as much as to + +Francis ! + +Anon , anon , sir . + +Five years ! by'r lady a long lease for the clinking of pewter . But , Francis , darest thou be so valiant as to play the coward with thy indenture and show it a fair pair of heels and run from it ? + +O Lord , sir ! I'll be sworn upon all the books in England , I could find in my heart + +Francis ! + +Anon , sir . + +How old art thou , Francis ? + +Let me see about Michaelmas next I shall be + +Francis ! + +Anon , sir . Pray you , stay a little , my lord . + +Nay , but hark you , Francis . For the sugar thou gavest me , 'twas a pennyworth , was't not ? + +O Lord , sir ! I would it had been two . + +I will give thee for it a thousand pound : ask me when thou wilt and thou shalt have it . + +Francis ! + +Anon , anon . + +Anon , Francis ? No , Francis ; but to-morrow , Francis ; or , Francis , o' Thursday ; or , indeed , Francis , when thou wilt . But , Francis ! + +My lord ? + +Wilt thou rob this leathern-jerkin , crystal-button , knot-pated , agate-ring , pukestocking , caddis-garter , smooth-tongue , Spanish-pouch , + +O Lord , sir , who do you mean ? + +Why then , your brown bastard is your only drink ; for , look you , Francis , your white canvas doublet will sully . In Barbary , sir , it cannot come to so much . + +What , sir ? + +Francis ! + +Away , you rogue ! Dost thou not hear them call ? + +What ! standest thou still , and hearest such a calling ? Look to the guests within . + +My lord , old Sir John , with half a dozen more , are at the door : shall I let them in ? + +Let them alone awhile , and then open the door . + +Poins ! + + +Anon , anon , sir . + +Sirrah , Falstaff and the rest of the thieves are at the door : shall we be merry ? + +As merry as crickets , my lad . But hark ye ; what cunning match have you made with this jest of the drawer ? come , what's the issue ? + +I am now of all humours that have show'd themselves humours since the old days of goodman Adam to the pupil age of this present twelve o'clock at midnight . + +What's o'clock , Francis ? + +Anon , anon , sir . + + +That ever this fellow should have fewer words than a parrot , and yet the son of a woman ! His industry is up-stairs and down-stairs ; his eloquence the parcel of a reckoning . I am not yet of Percy's mind , the Hotspur of the North ; he that kills me some six or seven dozen of Scots at a breakfast , washes his hands , and says to his wife , 'Fie upon this quiet life ! I want work .' 'O my sweet Harry ,' says she , 'how many hast thou killed to-day ?' 'Give my roan horse a drench ,' says he , and answers , 'Some fourteen ,' an hour after , 'a trifle , a trifle .' I prithee call in Falstaff : I'll play Percy , and that damned brawn shall play Dame Mortimer his wife . 'Rivo !' says the drunkard . Call in ribs , call in tallow . + + +Welcome , Jack : where hast thou been ? + +A plague of all cowards , I say , and a vengeance too ! marry , and amen ! Give me a cup of sack , boy . Ere I lead this life long , I'll sew nether-stocks and mend them and foot them too . A plague of all cowards ! Give me a cup of sack , rogue .Is there no virtue extant ? + + +Didst thou never see Titan kiss a dish of butter pitiful-hearted Titan , that melted at the sweet tale of the sun ? if thou didst then behold that compound . + +You rogue , here's lime in this sack too : there is nothing but roguery to be found in villanous man : yet a coward is worse than a cup of sack with lime in it , a villanous coward ! Go thy ways , old Jack ; die when thou wilt . If manhood , good manhood , be not forgot upon the face of the earth , then am I a shotten herring . There live not three good men unhanged in England , and one of them is fat and grows old : God help the while ! a bad world , I say . I would I were a weaver ; I could sing psalms or anything . A plague of all cowards , I say still . + +How now , wool-sack ! what mutter you ? + +A king's son ! If I do not beat thee out of thy kingdom with a dagger of lath , and drive all thy subjects afore thee like a flock of wild geese , I'll never wear hair on my face more . You Prince of Wales ! + +Why , you whoreson round man , what's the matter ? + +Are you not a coward ? answer me to that ; and Poins there ? + +'Zounds ! ye fat paunch , an ye call me coward , I'll stab thee . + +I call thee coward ! I'll see thee damned ere I call thee coward ; but I would give a thousand pound I could run as fast as thou canst . You are straight enough in the shoulders ; you care not who sees your back : call you that backing of your friends ? A plague upon such backing ! give me them that will face me . Give me a cup of sack : I am a rogue if I drunk to-day . + +O villain ! thy lips are scarce wiped since thou drunkest last . + +All's one for that . + +A plague of all cowards , still say I . + +What's the matter ? + +What's the matter ? there be four of us here have ta'en a thousand pound this day morning . + +Where is it , Jack ? where is it ? + +Where is it ! taken from us it is : a hundred upon poor four of us . + +What , a hundred , man ? + +I am a rogue , if I were not at half-sword with a dozen of them two hours together . I have 'scap'd by miracle . I am eight times thrust through the doublet , four through the hose ; my buckler out through and through ; my sword hacked like a hand-saw : ecce signum ! I never dealt better since I was a man : all would not do . A plague of all cowards ! Let them speak : if they speak more or less than truth , they are villains and the sons of darkness . + +Speak , sirs ; how was it ? + +We four set upon some dozen , + +Sixteen , at least , my lord . + +And bound them . + +No , no , they were not bound . + +You rogue , they were bound , every man of them ; or I am a Jew else , an Ebrew Jew . + +As we were sharing , some six or seven fresh men set upon us , + +And unbound the rest , and then come in the other . + +What , fought ye with them all ? + +All ! I know not what ye call all ; but if I fought not with fifty of them , I am a bunch of radish : if there were not two or three and fifty upon poor old Jack , then am I no two-legged creature . + +Pray God you have not murdered some of them . + +Nay , that's past praying for : I have peppered two of them : two I am sure I have paid , two rogues in buckram suits . I tell thee what , Hal , if I tell thee a lie , spit in my face , call me horse . Thou knowest my old ward ; here I lay , and thus I bore my point . Four rogues in buckram let drive at me , + +What , four ? thou saidst but two even now . + +Four , Hal ; I told thee four . + +Ay , ay , he said four . + +These four came all a-front , and mainly thrust at me . I made me no more ado but took all their seven points in my target , thus . + +Seven ? why , there were but four even now . + +In buckram . + +Ay , four , in buckram suits . + +Seven , by these hilts , or I am a villain else . + +Prithee , let him alone ; we shall have more anon . + +Dost thou hear me , Hal ? + +Ay , and mark thee too , Jack . + +Do so , for it is worth the listening to . +These nine in buckram that I told thee of , + +So , two more already . + +Their points being broken , + +Down fell their hose . + +Began to give me ground ; but I followed me close , came in foot and hand and with a thought seven of the eleven I paid . + +O monstrous ! eleven buckram men grown out of two . + +But , as the devil would have it , three misbegotten knaves in Kendal-green came at my back and let drive at me ; for it was so dark , Hal , that thou couldst not see thy hand . + +These lies are like the father that begets them ; gross as a mountain , open , palpable . Why , thou clay-brained guts , thou knotty-pated fool , thou whoreson , obscene , greasy tallowketch , + +What , art thou mad ? art thou mad ? is not the truth the truth ? + +Why , how couldst thou know these men in Kendal-green , when it was so dark thou couldst not see thy hand ? come , tell us your reason : what sayest thou to this ? + +Come , your reason , Jack , your reason . + +What , upon compulsion ? 'Zounds ! an I were at the strappado , or all the racks in the world , I would not tell you on compulsion . Give you a reason on compulsion ! If reasons were as plenty as blackberries I would give no man a reason upon compulsion , I . + +I'll be no longer guilty of this sin : this sanguine coward , this bed-presser , this horseback-breaker , this huge hill of flesh ; + +'Sblood , you starveling , you elf-skin , you dried neat's-tongue , you bull's pizzle , you stock-fish ! O ! for breath to utter what is like thee ; you tailor's yard , you sheath , you bow-case , you vile standing-tuck ; + +Well , breathe awhile , and then to it again ; and when thou hast tired thyself in base comparisons , hear me speak but this . + +Mark , Jack . + +We two saw you four set on four and you bound them , and were masters of their wealth . Mark now , how a plain tale shall put you down . Then did we two set on you four , and , with a word , out-faced you from your prize , and have it ; yea , and can show it you here in the house . And , Falstaff , you carried your guts away as nimbly , with as quick dexterity , and roared for mercy , and still ran and roared , as ever I heard bull-calf . What a slave art thou , to hack thy sword as thou hast done , and then say it was in fight ! What trick , what device , what starting-hole canst thou now find out to hide thee from this open and apparent shame ? + +Come , let's hear , Jack ; what trick hast thou now ? + +By the Lord , I knew ye as well as he that made ye . Why , hear you , my masters : was it for me to kill the heir-apparent ? Should I turn upon the true prince ? Why , thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules ; but beware instinct ; the lion will not touch the true prince . Instinct is a great matter , I was a coward on instinct . I shall think the better of myself and thee during my life ; I for a valiant lion , and thou for a true prince . But , by the Lord , lads , I am glad you have the money . Hostess , clap to the doors : watch to-night , pray to-morrow . Gallants , lads , boys , hearts of gold , all the titles of good fellowship come to you ! What ! shall we be merry ? shall we have a play extempore ? + +Content ; and the argument shall be thy running away . + +Ah ! no more of that , Hal , an thou lovest me ! + + +O Jesu ! my lord the prince ! + +How now , my lady the hostess ! what sayest thou to me ? + +Marry , my lord , there is a nobleman of the court at door would speak with you : he says he comes from your father . + +Give him as much as will make him a royal man , and send him back again to my mother . + +What manner of man is he ? + +An old man . + +What doth gravity out of his bed at midnight ? Shall I give him his answer ? + +Prithee , do , Jack . + +Faith , and I'll send him packing . + + +Now , sirs : by'r lady , you fought fair ; so did you , Peto ; so did you , Bardolph : you are lions too , you ran away upon instinct , you will not touch the true prince ; no , fie ! + +Faith , I ran when I saw others run . + +Faith , tell me now in earnest , how came Falstaff's sword so hacked ? + +Why he hacked it with his dagger , and said he would swear truth out of England but he would make you believe it was done in fight , and persuaded us to do the like . + +Yea , and to tickle our noses with spear-grass to make them bleed , and then to beslubber our garments with it and swear it was the blood of true men . I did that I did not this seven year before ; I blushed to hear his monstrous devices . + +O villain ! thou stolest a cup of sack eighteen years ago , and wert taken with the manner , and ever since thou hast blushed extempore . Thou hadst fire and sword on thy side , and yet thou rannest away . What instinct hadst thou for it ? + +My lord , do you see these meteors ? do you behold these exhalations ? + +I do . + +What think you they portend ? + +Hot livers and cold purses . + +Choler , my lord , if rightly taken . + +No , if rightly taken , halter . + +Here comes lean Jack , here comes bare-bone .How now , my sweet creature of bombast ! How long is't ago , Jack , since thou sawest thine own knee ? + +My own knee ! when I was about thy years , Hal , I was not an eagle's talon in the waist ; I could have crept into any alderman's thumb-ring . A plague of sighing and grief ! it blows a man up like a bladder . There's villanous news abroad : here was Sir John Bracy from your father : you must to the court in the morning . That same mad fellow of the north , Percy , and he of Wales , that gave Amaimon the bastinado and made Lucifer cuckold , and swore the devil his true liegeman upon the cross of a Welsh hook what a plague call you him ? + +Owen Glendower . + +Owen , Owen , the same ; and his son-in-law Mortimer and old Northumberland ; and that sprightly Scot of Scots , Douglas , that runs o' horseback up a hill perpendicular . + +He that rides at high speed and with his pistol kills a sparrow flying . + +You have hit it . + +So did he never the sparrow . + +Well , that rascal hath good mettle in him ; he will not run . + +Why , what a rascal art thou then to praise him so for running ! + +O' horseback , ye cuckoo ! but , afoot he will not budge a foot . + +Yes , Jack , upon instinct . + +I grant ye , upon instinct . Well , he is there too , and one Mordake , and a thousand blue-caps more . Worcester is stolen away to-night ; thy father's beard is turned white with the news : you may buy land now as cheap as stinking mackerel . + +Why then , it is like , if there come a hot June and this civil buffeting hold , we shall buy maidenheads as they buy hob-nails , by the hundreds . + +By the mass , lad , thou sayest true ; it is like we shall have good trading that way . But tell me , Hal , art thou not horribly afeard ? thou being heir apparent , could the world pick thee out three such enemies again as that fiend Douglas , that spirit Percy , and that devil Glendower ? Art thou not horribly afraid ? doth not thy blood thrill at it ? + +Not a whit , i' faith ; I lack some of thy instinct . + +Well , thou wilt be horribly chid to-morrow when thou comest to thy father : if thou love me , practise an answer . + +Do thou stand for my father , and examine me upon the particulars of my life . + +Shall I ? content : this chair shall be my state , this dagger my sceptre , and this cushion my crown . + +Thy state is taken for a joint-stool , thy golden sceptre for a leaden dagger , and thy precious rich crown for a pitiful bald crown ! + +Well , an the fire of grace be not quite out of thee , now shalt thou be moved . Give me a cup of sack to make mine eyes look red , that it may be thought I have wept ; for I must speak in passion , and I will do it in King Cambyses' vein . + + +Well , here is my leg . + + +And here is my speech . Stand aside , nobility . + +O Jesu ! This is excellent sport , i' faith ! + +Weep not , sweet queen , for trickling tears are vain . + +O , the father ! how he holds his countenance . + +For God's sake , lords , convey my tristful queen , +For tears do stop the flood-gates of her eyes . + +O Jesu ! he doth it as like one of these harlotry players as ever I see ! + +Peace , good pint-pot ! peace , good tickle-brain ! Harry , I do not only marvel where thou spendest thy time , but also how thou art accompanied : for though the camomile , the more it is trodden on the faster it grows , yet youth , the more it is wasted the sooner it wears . That thou art my son , I have partly thy mother's word , partly my own opinion ; but chiefly , a villanous trick of thine eye and a foolish hanging of thy nether lip , that doth warrant me . If then thou be son to me , here lies the point ; why , being son to me , art thou so pointed at ? Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a micher and eat blackberries ? a question not to be asked . Shall the son of England prove a thief and take purses ? a question to be asked . There is a thing , Harry , which thou hast often heard of , and it is known to many in our land by the name of pitch : this pitch , as ancient writers do report , doth defile ; so doth the company thou keepest ; for , Harry , now I do not speak to thee in drink , but in tears , not in pleasure but in passion , not in words only , but in woes also . And yet there is a virtuous man whom I have often noted in thy company , but I know not his name . + +What manner of man , an it like your majesty ? + +A goodly portly man , i' faith , and a corpulent ; of a cheerful look , a pleasing eye , and a most noble carriage ; and , as I think , his age some fifty , or by'r lady , inclining to threescore ; and now I remember me , his name is Falstaff : if that man should be lewdly given , he deceiveth me ; for , Harry , I see virtue in his looks . If then the tree may be known by the fruit , as the fruit by the tree , then , peremptorily I speak it , there is virtue in that Falstaff : him keep with , the rest banish . And tell me now , thou naughty varlet , tell me , where hast thou been this month ? + +Dost thou speak like a king ? Do thou stand for me , and I'll play my father . + +Depose me ? if thou dost it half so gravely , so majestically , both in word and matter , hang me up by the heels for a rabbit-sucker or a poulter's hare . + +Well , here I am set . + +And here I stand . Judge , my masters . + +Now , Harry ! whence come you ? + +My noble lord , from Eastcheap . + +The complaints I hear of thee are grievous . + +'Sblood , my lord , they are false : nay , +I'll tickle ye for a young prince , i' faith . + +Swearest thou , ungracious boy ? henceforth ne'er look on me . Thou art violently carried away from grace : there is a devil haunts thee in the likeness of a fat old man ; a tun of man is thy companion . Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours , that bolting-hutch of beastliness , that swoln parcel of dropsies , that huge bombard of sack , that stuffed cloak-bag of guts , that roasted Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly , that reverend vice , that grey iniquity , that father ruffian , that vanity in years ? Wherein is he good but to taste sack and drink it ? wherein neat and cleanly but to carve a capon and eat it ? wherein cunning but in craft ? wherein crafty but in villany ? wherein villanous but in all things ? wherein worthy but in nothing ? + +I would your Grace would take me with you : whom means your Grace ? + +That villanous abominable misleader of youth , Falstaff , that old white-bearded Satan . + +My lord , the man I know . + +I know thou dost . + +But to say I know more harm in him than in myself were to say more than I know . That he is old , the more the pity , his white hairs do witness it ; but that he is , saving your reverence , a whoremaster , that I utterly deny . If sack and sugar be a fault , God help the wicked ! If to be old and merry be a sin , then many an old host that I know is damned : if to be fat be to be hated , then Pharaoh's lean kine are to be loved . No , my good lord ; banish Peto , banish Bardolph , banish Poins ; but for sweet Jack Falstaff , kind Jack Falstaff , true Jack Falstaff , valiant Jack Falstaff , and therefore more valiant , being , as he is , old Jack Falstaff , banish not him thy Harry's company : banish not him thy Harry's company : banish plump Jack , and banish all the world . + +I do , I will . + + +O ! my lord , my lord , the sheriff with a most monstrous watch is at the door . + +Out , ye rogue ! Play out the play : I have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff . + + +O Jesu ! my lord , my lord ! + +Heigh , heigh ! the devil rides upon a fiddle-stick : what's the matter ? + +The sheriff and all the watch are at the door : they are come to search the house . Shall I let them in ? + +Dost thou hear , Hal ? never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit : thou art essentially mad without seeming so . + +And thou a natural coward without instinct . + +I deny your major . If you will deny the sheriff , so ; if not , let him enter : if I become not a cart as well as another man , a plague on my bringing up ! I hope I shall as soon be strangled with a halter as another . + +Go , hide thee behind the arras : the rest walk up above . Now , my masters , for a true face and good conscience . + +Both which I have had ; but their date is out , and therefore I'll hide me . + + +Call in the sheriff . + +Now , master sheriff , what's your will with me ? + +First , pardon me , my lord . A hue and cry +Hath follow'd certain men unto this house . + +What men ? + +One of them is well known , my gracious lord , +A gross fat man . + +As fat as butter . + +The man , I do assure you , is not here , +For I myself at this time have employ'd him . +And , sheriff , I will engage my word to thee , +That I will , by to-morrow dinner-time , +Send him to answer thee , or any man , +For anything he shall be charg'd withal : +And so let me entreat you leave the house . + +I will , my lord . There are two gentlemen +Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks . + +It may be so : if he have robb'd these men , +He shall be answerable ; and so farewell . + +Good night , my noble lord . + +I think it is good morrow , is it not ? + +Indeed , my lord , I think it be two o'clock . + + +This oily rascal is known as well as Paul's . +Go , call him forth . + +Falstaff ! fast asleep behind the arras , and snorting like a horse . + +Hark , how hard he fetches breath . +Search his pockets . + +What hast thou found ? + +Nothing but papers , my lord . + +Let's see what they be : read them . + + +O monstrous ! but one half-pennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack ! What there is else , keep close ; we'll read it at more advantage . There let him sleep till day . I'll to the court in the morning . We must all to the wars , and thy place shall be honourable . I'll procure this fat rogue a charge of foot ; and , I know , his death will be a march of twelve-score . The money shall be paid back again with advantage . Be with me betimes in the morning ; and so good morrow , Peto . + +Good morrow , good my lord . + +These promises are fair , the parties sure , +And our induction full of prosperous hope . + +Lord Mortimer , and cousin Glendower , +Will you sit down ? +And uncle Worcester : a plague upon it ! +I have forgot the map . + +No , here it is . +Sit , cousin Percy ; sit , good cousin Hotspur ; +For by that name as oft as Lancaster +Doth speak of you , his cheek looks pale and with +A rising sigh he wishes you in heaven . + +And you in hell , as often as he hears +Owen Glendower spoke of . + +I cannot blame him : at my nativity +The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes , +Of burning cressets ; and at my birth +The frame and huge foundation of the earth +Shak'd like a coward . + +Why , so it would have done at the same season , if your mother's cat had but kittened , though yourself had never been born . + +I say the earth did shake when I was born . + +And I say the earth was not of my mind , +If you suppose as fearing you it shook . + +The heavens were all on fire , the earth did tremble . + +O ! then the earth shook to see the heavens on fire , +And not in fear of your nativity . +Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth +In strange eruptions ; oft the teeming earth +Is with a kind of colic pinch'd and vex'd +By the imprisoning of unruly wind +Within her womb ; which , for enlargement striving , +Shakes the old beldam earth , and topples down +Steeples and moss-grown towers . At your birth +Our grandam earth , having this distemperature , +In passion shook . + +Cousin , of many men +I do not bear these crossings . Give me leave +To tell you once again that at my birth +The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes , +The goats ran from the mountains , and the herds +Were strangely clamorous to the frighted fields . +These signs have mark'd me extraordinary ; +And all the courses of my life do show +I am not in the roll of common men . +Where is he living , clipp'd in with the sea +That chides the banks of England , Scotland , Wales , +Which calls me pupil , or hath read to me ? +And bring him out that is but woman's son +Can trace me in the tedious ways of art +And hold me pace in deep experiments . + +I think there's no man speaks better Welsh . +I'll to dinner . + +Peace , cousin Percy ! you will make him mad . + +I can call spirits from the vasty deep . + +Why , so can I , or so can any man ; +But will they come when you do call for them ? + +Why , I can teach thee , cousin , to command +The devil . + +And I can teach thee , coz , to shame the devil +By telling truth : tell truth and shame the devil . +If thou have power to raise him , bring him hither , +And I'll be sworn I have power to shame him hence . +O ! while you live , tell truth and shame the devil ! + +Come , come ; +No more of this unprofitable chat . + +Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head +Against my power ; thrice from the banks of Wye +And sandy-bottom'd Severn have I sent him +Bootless home and weather-beaten back . + +Home without boots , and in foul weather too ! +How 'scapes he agues , in the devil's name ? + +Come , here's the map : shall we divide our right +According to our threefold order ta'en ? + +The archdeacon hath divided it +Into three limits very equally . +England , from Trent and Severn hitherto , +By south and east , is to my part assign'd : +All westward , Wales beyond the Severn shore , +And all the fertile land within that bound , +To Owen Glendower : and , dear coz , to you +The remnant northward , lying off from Trent . +And our indentures tripartite are drawn , +Which being sealed interchangeably , +A business that this night may execute , +To-morrow , cousin Percy , you and I +And my good Lord of Worcester will set forth +To meet your father and the Scottish power , +As is appointed us , at Shrewsbury . +My father Glendower is not ready yet , +Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days . + + +Within that space you may have drawn together +Your tenants , friends , and neighbouring gentlemen . + +A shorter time shall send me to you , lords ; +And in my conduct shall your ladies come , +From whom you now must steal and take no leave ; +For there will be a world of water shed +Upon the parting of your wives and you . + +Methinks my moiety , north from Burton here , +In quantity equals not one of yours : +See how this river comes me cranking in , +And cuts me from the best of all my land +A huge half-moon , a monstrous cantle out . +I'll have the current in this place damm'd up , +And here the smug and silver Trent shall run +In a new channel , fair and evenly : +It shall not wind with such a deep indent , +To rob me of so rich a bottom here . + +Not wind ! it shall , it must ; you see it doth . + +Yea , but +Mark how he bears his course , and runs me up +With like advantage on the other side ; +Gelding the opposed continent as much , +As on the other side it takes from you . + +Yea , but a little charge will trench him here , +And on this north side win this cape of land ; +And then he runs straight and even . + +I'll have it so ; a little charge will do it . + +I will not have it alter'd . + +Will not you ? + +No , nor you shall not . + +Who shall say me nay ? + +Why , that will I . + +Let me not understand you then : +Speak it in Welsh . + +I can speak English , lord , as well as you , +For I was train'd up in the English court ; +Where , being but young , I framed to the harp +Many an English ditty lovely well , +And gave the tongue an helpful ornament ; +A virtue that was never seen in you . + +Marry , and I'm glad of it with all my heart . +I had rather be a kitten , and cry mew +Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers ; +I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn'd , +Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree ; +And that would set my teeth nothing on edge , +Nothing so much as mincing poetry : +'Tis like the forc'd gait of a shuffling nag . + +Come , you shall have Trent turn'd . + +I do not care : I'll give thrice so much land +To any well-deserving friend ; +But in the way of bargain , mark you me , +I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair . +Are the indentures drawn ? shall we be gone ? + +The moon shines fair , you may away by night : +I'll haste the writer and withal +Break with your wives of your departure hence : +I am afraid my daughter will run mad , +So much she doteth on her Mortimer . + + +Fie , cousin Percy ! how you cross my father ! + +I cannot choose : sometimes he angers me +With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant , +Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies , +And of a dragon , and a finless fish , +A clip-wing'd griffin , and a moulten raven , +A couching lion , and a ramping cat , +And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff +As puts me from my faith . I'll tell thee what ; +He held me last night at least nine hours +In reckoning up the several devils' names +That were his lackeys : I cried 'hum !' and 'well , go to .' +But mark'd him not a word . O ! he's as tedious +As a tired horse , a railing wife ; +Worse than a smoky house . I had rather live +With cheese and garlick in a windmill , far , +Than feed on cates and have him talk to me +In any summer-house in Christendom . + +In faith , he is a worthy gentleman , +Exceedingly well read , and profited +In strange concealments , valiant as a lion +And wondrous affable , and as bountiful +As mines of India . Shall I tell you , cousin ? +He holds your temper in a high respect , +And curbs himself even of his natural scope +When you do cross his humour ; faith , he does . +I warrant you , that man is not alive +Might so have tempted him as you have done , +Without the taste of danger and reproof : +But do not use it oft , let me entreat you . + +In faith , my lord , you are too wilfulblame ; +And since your coming hither have done enough +To put him quite beside his patience . +You must needs learn , lord , to amend this fault : +Though sometimes it show greatness , courage , blood , +And that's the dearest grace it renders you , +Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage , +Defect of manners , want of government , +Pride , haughtiness , opinion , and disdain : +The least of which haunting a nobleman +Loseth men's hearts and leaves behind a stain +Upon the beauty of all parts besides , +Beguiling them of commendation . + +Well , I am school'd ; good manners be your speed ! +Here come our wives , and let us take our leave . + + +This is the deadly spite that angers me , +My wife can speak no English , I no Welsh . + +My daughter weeps ; she will not part with you : +She'll be a soldier too : she'll to the wars . + +Good father , tell her that she and my aunt Percy , +Shall follow in your conduct speedily . + + +She's desperate here ; a peevish self-will'd harlotry , one that no persuasion can do good upon . + + +I understand thy looks : that pretty Welsh +Which thou pour'st down from these swelling heavens +I am too perfect in ; and , but for shame , +In such a parley would I answer thee . + +I understand thy kisses and thou mine , +And that's a feeling disputation : +But I will never be a truant , love , +Till I have learn'd thy language ; for thy tongue +Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penn'd , +Sung by a fair queen in a summer's bower , +With ravishing division , to her lute . + +Nay , if you melt , then will she run mad . + + +O ! I am ignorance itself in this . + +She bids you +Upon the wanton rushes lay you down +And rest your gentle head upon her lap , +And she will sing the song that pleaseth you , +And on your eye-lids crown the god of sleep , +Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness , +Making such difference 'twixt wake and sleep +As is the difference between day and night +The hour before the heavenly-harness'd team +Begins his golden progress in the east . + +With all my heart I'll sit and hear her sing : +By that time will our book , I think , be drawn . + +Do so ; +And those musicians that shall play to you +Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence , +And straight they shall be here : sit , and attend . + +Come , Kate , thou art perfect in lying down : come , quick , quick , that I may lay my head in thy lap . + +Go , ye giddy goose . + + +Now I perceive the devil understands Welsh ; +And 'tis no marvel he is so humorous . +By'r lady , he's a good musician . + +Then should you be nothing but musical for you are altogether governed by humours . Lie still , ye thief , and hear the lady sing in Welsh . + +I had rather hear Lady , my brach , how ! in Irish . + +Wouldst thou have thy head broken ? + +No . + +Then be still . + +Neither ; 'tis a woman's fault . + +Now , God help thee ! + +To the Welsh lady's bed . + +What's that ? + +Peace ! she sings . + + +Come , Kate , I'll have your song too . + +Not mine , in good sooth . + +Not yours , 'in good sooth !' Heart ! you swear like a comfit-maker's wife ! Not you , 'in good sooth ;' and , 'as true as I live ;' and , 'as God shall mend me ;' and , 'as sure as day :' +And giv'st such sarcenet surety for thy oaths , +As if thou never walk'dst further than Finsbury . +Swear me , Kate , like a lady as thou art , +A good mouth-filling oath ; and leave 'in sooth ,' +And such protest of pepper-gingerbread , +To velvet-guards and Sunday-citizens . +Come , sing . + +I will not sing . + +'Tis the next way to turn tailor or be red-breast teacher . An the indentures be drawn , I'll away within these two hours ; and so , come in when ye will . + + +Come , come , Lord Mortimer ; you are as slow +As hot Lord Percy is on fire to go . +By this our book is drawn ; we will but seal , +And then to horse immediately . + +With all my heart . + + +Lords , give us leave ; the Prince of Wales and I +Must have some private conference : but be near at hand , +For we shall presently have need of you . + +I know not whether God will have it so , +For some displeasing service I have done , +That , in his secret doom , out of my blood +He'll breed revengement and a scourge for me ; +But thou dost in thy passages of life +Make me believe that thou art only mark'd +For the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven +To punish my mistreadings . Tell me else , +Could such inordinate and low desires , +Such poor , such bare , such lewd , such mean attempts , +Such barren pleasures , rude society , +As thou art match'd withal and grafted to , +Accompany the greatness of thy blood +And hold their level with thy princely heart ? + +So please your majesty , I would I could +Quit all offences with as clear excuse +As well as I am doubtless I can purge +Myself of many I am charg'd withal : +Yet such extenuation let me beg , +As , in reproof of many tales devis'd , +Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear , +By smiling pick-thanks and base newsmongers , +I may , for some things true , wherein my youth +Hath faulty wander'd and irregular , +Find pardon on my true submission . + +God pardon thee ! yet let me wonder , Harry , +At thy affections , which do hold a wing +Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors . +Thy place in council thou hast rudely lost , +Which by thy younger brother is supplied , +And art almost an alien to the hearts +Of all the court and princes of my blood . +The hope and expectation of thy time +Is ruin'd , and the soul of every man +Prophetically do forethink thy fall . +Had I so lavish of my presence been , +So common-hackney'd in the eyes of men , +So stale and cheap to vulgar company , +Opinion , that did help me to the crown , +Had still kept loyal to possession +And left me in reputeless banishment , +A fellow of no mark nor likelihood . +By being seldom seen , I could not stir , +But like a comet I was wonder'd at ; +That men would tell their children , 'This is he ;' +Others would say , 'Where ? which is Bolingbroke ?' +And then I stole all courtesy from heaven , +And dress'd myself in such humility +That I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts , +Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths , +Even in the presence of the crowned king . +Thus did I keep my person fresh and new ; +My presence , like a robe pontifical , +Ne'er seen but wonder'd at : and so my state , +Seldom but sumptuous , showed like a feast , +And won by rareness such solemnity . +The skipping king , he ambled up and down +With shallow jesters and rash bavin wits , +Soon kindled and soon burnt ; carded his state , +Mingled his royalty with capering fools , +Had his great name profaned with their scorns , +And gave his countenance , against his name , +To laugh at gibing boys and stand the push +Of every beardless vain comparative ; +Grew a companion to the common streets , +Enfeoff'd himself to popularity ; +That , being daily swallow'd by men's eyes , +They surfeited with honey and began +To loathe the taste of sweetness , whereof a little +More than a little is by much too much . +So , when he had occasion to be seen , +He was but as the cuckoo is in June , +Heard , not regarded ; seen , but with such eyes +As , sick and blunted with community , +Afford no extraordinary gaze , +Such as is bent on sun-like majesty +When it shines seldom in admiring eyes ; +But rather drows'd and hung their eyelids down , +Slept in his face , and render'd such aspect +As cloudy men use to their adversaries , +Being with his presence glutted , gorg'd , and full . +And in that very line , Harry , stand'st thou ; +For thou hast lost thy princely privilege +With vile participation : not an eye +But is aweary of thy common sight , +Save mine , which hath desir'd to see thee more ; +Which now doth that I would not have it do , +Make blind itself with foolish tenderness . + +I shall hereafter , my thrice gracious lord , +Be more myself . + +For all the world , +As thou art to this hour was Richard then +When I from France set foot at Ravenspurgh ; +And even as I was then is Percy now . +Now , by my sceptre and my soul to boot , +He hath more worthy interest to the state +Than thou the shadow of succession ; +For of no right , nor colour like to right , +He doth fill fields with harness in the realm , +Turns head against the lion's armed jaws , +And , being no more in debt to years than thou , +Leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on +To bloody battles and to bruising arms . +What never-dying honour hath he got +Against renowned Douglas ! whose high deeds , +Whose hot incursions and great name in arms , +Holds from all soldiers chief majority , +And military title capital , +Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ . +Thrice hath this Hotspur , Mars in swathling clothes , +This infant warrior , in his enterprises +Discomfited great Douglas ; ta'en him once , +Enlarged him and made a friend of him , +To fill the mouth of deep defiance up +And shake the peace and safety of our throne . +And what say you to this ? Percy , Northumberland , +The Archbishop's Grace of York , Douglas , Mortimer , +Capitulate against us and are up . +But wherefore do I tell these news to thee ? +Why , Harry , do I tell thee of my foes , +Which art my near'st and dearest enemy ? +Thou that art like enough , through vassal fear , +Base inclination , and the start of spleen , +To fight against me under Percy's pay , +To dog his heels , and curtsy at his frowns , +To show how much thou art degenerate . + +Do not think so ; you shall not find it so : +And God forgive them , that so much have sway'd +Your majesty's good thoughts away from me ! +I will redeem all this on Percy's head , +And in the closing of some glorious day +Be bold to tell you that I am your son ; +When I will wear a garment all of blood +And stain my favours in a bloody mask , +Which , wash'd away , shall scour my shame with it : +And that shall be the day , whene'er it lights , +That this same child of honour and renown , +This gallant Hotspur , this all-praised knight , +And your unthought of Harry chance to meet . +For every honour sitting on his helm , +Would they were multitudes , and on my head +My shames redoubled !for the time will come +That I shall make this northern youth exchange +His glorious deeds for my indignities . +Percy is but my factor , good my lord , +To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf ; +And I will call him to so strict account +That he shall render every glory up , +Yea , even the slightest worship of his time , +Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart . +This , in the name of God , I promise here : +The which , if he be pleas'd I shall perform , +I do beseech your majesty may salve +The long-grown wounds of my intemperance : +If not , the end of life cancels all bands , +And I will die a hundred thousand deaths +Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow . + +A hundred thousand rebels die in this : +Thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein . + +How now , good Blunt ! thy looks are full of speed . + +So hath the business that I come to speak of . +Lord Mortimer of Scotland hath sent word +That Douglas and the English rebels met , +The eleventh of this month at Shrewsbury . +A mighty and a fearful head they are , +If promises be kept on every hand , +As ever offer'd foul play in a state . + +The Earl of Westmoreland set forth to-day , +With him my son , Lord John of Lancaster ; +For this advertisement is five days old . +On Wednesday next , Harry , you shall set forward ; +On Thursday we ourselves will march : our meeting +Is Bridgenorth ; and Harry , you shall march +Through Gloucestershire ; by which account , +Our business valued , some twelve days hence +Our general forces at Bridgenorth shall meet . +Our hands are full of business : let's away ; +Advantage feeds him fat while men delay . + + +Bardolph , am I not fallen away vilely since this last action ? do I not bate ? do I not dwindle ? Why , my skin hangs about me like an old lady's loose gown ; I am withered like an old apple-john . Well , I'll repent , and that suddenly , while I am in some liking ; I shall be out of heart shortly , and then I shall have no strength to repent . An I have not forgotten what the inside of a church is made of , I am a peppercorn , a brewer's horse : the inside of a church ! Company , villanous company , hath been the spoil of me . + +Sir John , you are so fretful , you cannot live long . + +Why , there is it : come , sing me a bawdy song ; make me merry . I was as virtuously given as a gentleman need to be ; virtuous enough : swore little ; diced not above seven times a week ; went to a bawdy-house not above once in a quarter of an hour ; paid money that I borrowed three or four times ; lived well and in good compass ; and now I live out of all order , out of all compass . + +Why , you are so fat , Sir John , that you must needs be out of all compass , out of all reasonable compass , Sir John . + +Do thou amend thy face , and I'll amend my life : thou art our admiral , thou bearest the lanthorn in the poop , but 'tis in the nose of thee : thou art the Knight of the Burning Lamp . + +Why , Sir John , my face does you no harm . + +No , I'll be sworn ; I make as good use of it as many a man doth of a Death's head , or a memento mori : I never see thy face but I think upon hell-fire and Dives that lived in purple ; for there he is in his robes , burning , burning . If thou wert any way given to virtue , I would swear by thy face ; my oath should be , 'By this fire , that's God's angel :' but thou art altogether given over , and wert indeed , but for the light in thy face , the son of utter darkness . When thou rannest up Gadshill in the night to catch my horse , if I did not think thou hadst been an igius fatuus or a ball of wildfire , there's no purchase in money . O ! thou art a perpetual triumph , an everlasting bonfire-light . Thou hast saved me a thousand marks in links and torches , walking with thee in the night betwixt tavern and tavern : but the sack that thou hast drunk me would have bought me lights as good cheap at the dearest chandler's in Europe . I have maintained that salamander of yours with fire any time this two-and-thirty years ; God reward me for it ! + +'Sblood , I would my face were in your belly . + +God-a-mercy ! so should I be sure to be heart-burned . + +How now , Dame Partlet the hen ! have you inquired yet who picked my pocket ? + +Why , Sir John , what do you think , Sir John ? Do you think I keep thieves in my house ? I have searched , I have inquired , so has my husband , man by man , boy by boy , servant by servant : the tithe of a hair was never lost in my house before . + +You lie , hostess : Bardolph was shaved and lost many a hair ; and I'll be sworn my pocket was picked . Go to , you are a woman ; go . + +Who , I ? No ; I defy thee : God's light ! +I was never called so in my own house before . + +Go to , I know you well enough . + +No , Sir John ; you do not know me , Sir John : I know you , Sir John : you owe me money , Sir John , and now you pick a quarrel to beguile me of it : I bought you a dozen of shirts to your back . + +Dowlas , filthy dowlas : I have given them away to bakers' wives , and they have made bolters of them . + +Now , as I am true woman , holland of eight shillings an ell . You owe money here besides , Sir John , for your diet and by-drinkings , and money lent you , four-and-twenty pound . + +He had his part of it ; let him pay . + +He ! alas ! he is poor ; he hath nothing . + +How ! poor ? look upon his face ; what call you rich ? let them coin his nose , let them coin his cheeks . I'll not pay a denier . What ! will you make a younker of me ? shall I not take mine ease in mine inn but I shall have my pocket picked ? I have lost a seal-ring of my grandfather's worth forty mark . + +O Jesu ! I have heard the prince tell him , I know not how oft , that that ring was copper . + +How ! the prince is a Jack , a sneak-cup ; 'sblood ! an he were here , I would cudgel him like a dog , if he would say so . + + +How now , lad ! is the wind in that door , i' faith ? must we all march ? + +Yea , two and two , Newgate fashion . + +My lord , I pray you , hear me . + +What sayest thou , Mistress Quickly ? +How does thy husband ? I love him well , he is an honest man . + +Good my lord , hear me . + +Prithee , let her alone , and list to me . + +What sayest thou , Jack ? + +The other night I fell asleep here behind the arras and had my pocket picked : this house is turned bawdy-house ; they pick pockets . + +What didst thou lose , Jack ? + +Wilt thou believe me , Hal ? three or four bonds of forty pound a-piece , and a seal-ring of my grandfather's . + +A trifle ; some eight-penny matter . + +So I told him , my lord ; and I said I heard your Grace say so : and , my lord , he speaks most vilely of you , like a foul-mouthed man as he is , and said he would cudgel you . + +What ! he did not ? + +There's neither faith , truth , nor womanhood in me else . + +There's no more faith in thee than in a stewed prune ; nor no more truth in thee than in a drawn fox ; and for womanhood , Maid Marian may be the deputy's wife of the ward to thee . Go , you thing , go . + +Say , what thing ? what thing ? + +What thing ! why , a thing to thank God on . + +I am no thing to thank God on , I would thou shouldst know it ; I am an honest man's wife ; and , setting thy knighthood aside , thou art a knave to call me so . + +Setting thy womanhood aside , thou art a beast to say otherwise . + +Say , what beast , thou knave thou ? + +What beast ! why , an otter . + +An otter , Sir John ! why , an otter ? + +Why ? she's neither fish nor flesh ; a man knows not where to have her . + +Thou art an unjust man in saying so : thou or any man knows where to have me , thou knave thou ! + +Thou sayest true , hostess ; and he slanders thee most grossly . + +So he doth you , my lord ; and said this other day you ought him a thousand pound . + +Sirrah ! do I owe you a thousand pound ? + +A thousand pound , Hal ! a million : thy love is worth a million ; thou owest me thy love . + +Nay , my lord , he called you Jack , and said he would cudgel you . + +Did I , Bardolph ? + +Indeed , Sir John , you said so . + +Yea ; if he said my ring was copper . + +I say 'tis copper : darest thou be as good as thy word now ? + +Why , Hal , thou knowest , as thou art but man , I dare ; but as thou art prince , I fear thee as I fear the roaring of the lion s whelp . + +And why not as the lion ? + +The king himself is to be feared as the lion : dost thou think I'll fear thee as I fear thy father ? nay , an I do , I pray God my girdle break ! + +O ! if it should , how would thy guts fall about thy knees . But , sirrah , there's no room for faith , truth , or honesty in this bosom of thine ; it is all filled up with guts and midriff . Charge an honest woman with picking thy pocket ! Why , thou whoreson , impudent , embossed rascal , if there were any thing in thy pocket but tavern reckonings , memorandums of bawdy-houses , and one poor pennyworth of sugar-candy to make thee long-winded ; if thy pocket were enriched with any other injuries but these , I am a villain . And yet you will stand to it , you will not pocket up wrong . Art thou not ashamed ? + +Dost thou hear , Hal ? thou knowest in the state of innocency Adam fell ; and what should poor Jack Falstaff do in the days of villany ? Thou seest I have more flesh than another man , and therefore more frailty . You confess then , you picked my pocket ? + +It appears so by the story . + +Hostess , I forgive thee . Go make ready breakfast ; love thy husband , look to thy servants , cherish thy guests : thou shalt find me tractable to any honest reason : thou seest I am pacified . Still ! Nay prithee , be gone . + +Now , Hal , to the news at court : for the robbery , lad , how is that answered ? + +O ! my sweet beef , I must still be good angel to thee : the money is paid back again . + +O ! I do not like that paying back ; 'tis a double labour . + +I am good friends with my father and may do anything . + +Rob me the exchequer the first thing thou dost , and do it with unwashed hands too . + +Do , my lord . + +I have procured thee , Jack , a charge of foot . + +I would it had been of horse . Where shall I find one that can steal well ? O ! for a fine thief , of the age of two-and-twenty , or thereabouts ; I am heinously unprovided . Well , God be thanked for these rebels ; they offend none but the virtuous : I laud them , I praise them . + +Bardolph ! + +My lord ? + +Go bear this letter to Lord John of Lancaster , +To my brother John ; this to my Lord of Westmoreland . +Go , Poins , to horse , to horse ! for thou and I +Have thirty miles to ride ere dinner-time . +Jack , meet me to-morrow in the Temple-hall +At two o'clock in the afternoon : +There shalt thou know thy charge , and there receive +Money and order for their furniture . +The land is burning ; Percy stands on high ; +And either we or they must lower lie . + + +Rare words ! brave world ! Hostess , my breakfast ; come ! +O ! I could wish this tavern were my drum . + +Well said , my noble Scot : if speaking truth +In this fine age were not thought flattery , +Such attribution should the Douglas have , +As not a soldier of this season's stamp +Should go so general current through the world . +By God , I cannot flatter ; do defy +The tongues of soothers ; but a braver place +In my heart's love hath no man than yourself . +Nay , task me to my word ; approve me , lord . + +Thou art the king of honour : +No man so potent breathes upon the ground +But I will beard him . + +Do so , and 'tis well . + + +What letters hast thou there ? + + +I can but thank you . + +These letters come from your father . + +Letters from him ! why comes he not himself ? + +He cannot come , my lord : he's grievous sick . + +'Zounds ! how has he the leisure to be sick +In such a justling time ? Who leads his power ? +Under whose government come they along ? + +His letters bear his mind , not I , my lord . + +I prithee , tell me , doth he keep his bed ? + +He did , my lord , four days ere I set forth ; +And at the time of my departure thence +He was much fear'd by his physicians . + +I would the state of time had first been whole +Ere he by sickness had been visited : +His health was never better worth than now . + +Sick now ! droop now ! this sickness doth infect +The very life-blood of our enterprise ; +'Tis catching hither , even to our camp , +He writes me here , that inward sickness +And that his friends by deputation could not +So soon be drawn ; nor did he think it meet +To lay so dangerous and dear a trust +On any soul remov'd but on his own . +Yet doth he give us bold advertisement , +That with our small conjunction we should on , +To see how fortune is dispos'd to us ; +For , as he writes , there is no quailing now , +Because the king is certainly possess'd +Of all our purposes . What say you to it ? + +Your father's sickness is a maim to us . + +A perilous gash , a very limb lopp'd off : +And yet , in faith , 'tis not ; his present want +Seems more than we shall find it . Were it good +To set the exact wealth of all our states +All at one cast ? to set so rich a main +On the nice hazard of one doubtful hour ? +It were not good ; for therein should we read +The very bottom and the soul of hope , +The very list , the very utmost bound +Of all our fortunes . + +Faith , and so we should ; +Where now remains a sweet reversion : +We may boldly spend upon the hope of what +Is to come in : +A comfort of retirement lives in this . + +A rendezvous , a home to fly unto , +If that the devil and mischance look big +Upon the maidenhead of our affairs . + +But yet , I would your father had been here . +The quality and hair of our attempt +Brooks no division . It will be thought +By some , that know not why he is away , +That wisdom , loyalty , and mere dislike +Of our proceedings , kept the earl from hence . +And think how such an apprehension +May turn the tide of fearful faction +And breed a kind of question in our cause ; +For well you know we of the offering side +Must keep aloof from strict arbitrement , +And stop all sight-holes , every loop from whence +The eye of reason may pry in upon us : +This absence of your father's draws a curtain , +That shows the ignorant a kind of fear +Before not dreamt of . + +You strain too far . +I rather of his absence make this use : +It lends a lustre and more great opinion , +A larger dare to our great enterprise , +Than if the earl were here ; for men must think , +If we without his help , can make a head +To push against the kingdom , with his help +We shall o'erturn it topsy-turvy down . +Yet all goes well , yet all our joints are whole . + +As heart can think : there is not such a word +Spoke of in Scotland as this term of fear . + + +My cousin Vernon ! welcome , by my soul . + +Pray God my news be worth a welcome , lord . +The Earl of Westmoreland , seven thousand strong , +Is marching hitherwards ; with him Prince John . + +No harm : what more ? + +And further , I have learn'd , +The king himself in person is set forth , +Or hitherwards intended speedily , +With strong and mighty preparation . + +He shall be welcome too . Where is his son , +The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales , +And his comrades , that daff'd the world aside , +And bid it pass ? + +All furnish'd , all in arms , +All plum'd like estridges that wing the wind , +Baited like eagles having lately bath'd , +Glittering in golden coats , like images , +As full of spirit as the month of May , +And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer , +Wanton as youthful goats , wild as young bulls . +I saw young Harry , with his beaver on , +His cushes on his thighs , gallantly arm'd , +Rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury , +And vaulted with such ease into his seat , +As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds , +To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus +And witch the world with noble horsemanship . + +No more , no more : worse than the sun in March +This praise doth nourish agues . Let them come ; +They come like sacrifices in their trim , +And to the fire-ey'd maid of smoky war +All hot and bleeding will we offer them : +The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit +Up to the ears in blood . I am on fire +To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh +And yet not ours . Come , let me taste my horse , +Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt +Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales : +Harry to Harry shall , hot horse to horse , +Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse . +O ! that Glendower were come . + +There is more news : +I learn'd in Worcester , as I rode along , +He cannot draw his power these fourteen days . + +That's the worst tidings that I hear of yet . + +Ay , by my faith , that bears a frosty sound . + +What may the king's whole battle reach unto ? + +To thirty thousand . + +Forty let it be : +My father and Glendower being both away , +The powers of us may serve so great a day . +Come , let us take a muster speedily : +Doomsday is near ; die all , die merrily . + +Talk not of dying : I am out of fear +Of death or death's hand for this one half year . + + +Bardolph , get thee before to Coventry ; fill me a bottle of sack : our soldiers shall march through : we'll to Sutton-Co'fil' to-night . + +Will you give me money , captain ? + +Lay out , lay out . + +This bottle makes an angel . + +An if it do , take it for thy labour ; and if it make twenty , take them all , I'll answer the coinage . Bid my Lieutenant Peto meet me at the town's end . + +I will , captain : farewell . + + +If I be not ashamed of my soldiers , I am a soused gurnet . I have misused the king's press damnably . I have got , in exchange of a hundred and fifty soldiers , three hundred and odd pounds . I press me none but good householders , yeomen's sons ; inquire me out contracted bachelors , such as had been asked twice on the banns ; such a commodity of warm slaves , as had as lief hear the devil as a drum ; such as fear the report of a caliver worse than a struck fowl or a hurt wild-duck . I pressed me none but such toasts-and-butter , with hearts in their bellies no bigger than pins' heads , and they have bought out their services ; and now my whole charge consists of ancients , corporals , lieutenants , gentlemen of companies , slaves as ragged as Lazarus in the painted cloth , where the glutton's dogs licked his sores ; and such as indeed were never soldiers , but discarded unjust serving-men , younger sons to younger brothers , revolted tapsters and ostlers trade-fallen , the cankers of a calm world and a long peace ; ten times more dishonourable ragged than an old faced ancient : and such have I , to fill up the rooms of them that have bought out their services , that you would think that I had a hundred and fifty tattered prodigals , lately come from swine-keeping , from eating draff and husks . A mad fellow met me on the way and told me I had unloaded all the gibbets and pressed the dead bodies . No eye hath seen such scarecrows . I'll not march through Coventry with them , that's flat : nay , and the villains march wide betwixt the legs , as if they had gyves on ; for , indeed I had the most of them out of prison . There's but a shirt and a half in all my company ; and the half shirt is two napkins tacked together and thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without sleeves ; and the shirt , to say the truth , stolen from my host at Saint Alban's , or the red-nose inn-keeper of Daventry . But that's all one ; they'll find linen enough on every hedge . + + +How now , blown Jack ! how now , quilt ! + +What , Hal ! How now , mad wag ! what a devil dost thou in Warwickshire ? My good Lord of Westmoreland , I cry you mercy : I thought your honour had already been at Shrewsbury . + +Faith , Sir John , 'tis more than time that I were there , and you too ; but my powers are there already . The king , I can tell you , looks for us all : we must away all night . + +Tut , never fear me : I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream . + +I think to steal cream indeed , for thy theft hath already made thee butter . But tell me , Jack , whose fellows are these that come after ? + +Mine , Hal , mine . + +I did never see such pitiful rascals . + +Tut , tut ; good enough to toss ; food for powder , food for powder ; they'll fill a pit as well as better : tush , man , mortal men , mortal men . + +Ay , but , Sir John , methinks they are exceeding poor and bare ; too beggarly . + +Faith , for their poverty , I know not where they had that ; and for their bareness , I am sure they never learned that of me . + +No , I'll be sworn ; unless you call three fingers on the ribs bare . But sirrah , make haste : Percy is already in the field . + +What , is the king encamped ? + +He is , Sir John : I fear we shall stay too long . + +Well , +To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast +Fits a dull fighter and a keen guest . + + +We'll fight with him to-night . + +It may not be . + +You give him then advantage . + +Not a whit . + +Why say you so ? looks he not for supply ? + +So do we . + +His is certain , ours is doubtful . + +Good cousin , be advis'd : stir not to-night . + +Do not , my lord . + +You do not counsel well : +You speak it out of fear and cold heart . + +Do me no slander , Douglas : by my life , +And I dare well maintain it with my life , +If well-respected honour bid me on , +I hold as little counsel with weak fear +As you , my lord , or any Scot that this day lives : +Let it be seen to-morrow in the battle +Which of us fears . + +Yea , or to-night . + +Content . + +To-night , say I . + +Come , come , it may not be . I wonder much , +Being men of such great leading as you are , +That you foresee not what impediments +Drag back our expedition : certain horse +Of my cousin Vernon's are not yet come up : +Your uncle Worcester's horse came but to-day ; +And now their pride and mettle is asleep , +Their courage with hard labour tame and dull , +That not a horse is half the half of himself . + +So are the horses of the enemy +In general , journey-bated and brought low : +The better part of ours are full of rest . + +The number of the king exceedeth ours : +For God's sake , cousin , stay till all come in . + +I come with gracious offers from the king , +If you vouchsafe me hearing and respect . + +Welcome , Sir Walter Blunt ; and would to God +You were of our determination ! +Some of us love you well ; and even those some +Envy your great deservings and good name , +Because you are not of our quality , +But stand against us like an enemy . + +And God defend but still I should stand so , +So long as out of limit and true rule +You stand against anointed majesty . +But , to my charge . The king hath sent to know +The nature of your griefs , and whereupon +You conjure from the breast of civil peace +Such bold hostility , teaching his duteous land +Audacious cruelty . If that the king +Have any way your good deserts forgot , +Which he confesseth to be manifold , +He bids you name your griefs ; and with all speed +You shall have your desires with interest , +And pardon absolute for yourself and these +Herein misled by your suggestion . + +The king is kind ; and well we know the king +Knows at what time to promise , when to pay . +My father and my uncle and myself +Did give him that same royalty he wears ; +And when he was not six-and-twenty strong , +Sick in the world's regard , wretched and low , +A poor unminded outlaw sneaking home , +My father gave him welcome to the shore ; +And when he heard him swear and vow to God +He came but to be Duke of Lancaster , +To sue his livery and beg his peace , +With tears of innocency and terms of zeal , +My father , in kind heart and pity mov'd , +Swore him assistance and perform'd it too . +Now when the lords and barons of the realm +Perceiv'd Northumberland did lean to him , +The more and less came in with cap and knee ; +Met him in boroughs , cities , villages , +Attended him on bridges , stood in lanes , +Laid gifts before him , proffer'd him their oaths , +Gave him their heirs as pages , follow'd him +Even at the heels in golden multitudes . +He presently , as greatness knows itself , +Steps me a little higher than his vow +Made to my father , while his blood was poor , +Upon the naked shore at Ravenspurgh ; +And now , forsooth , takes on him to reform +Some certain edicts and some strait decrees +That lie too heavy on the commonwealth , +Cries out upon abuses , seems to weep +Over his country's wrongs ; and by this face , +This seeming brow of justice , did he win +The hearts of all that he did angle for ; +Proceeded further ; cut me off the heads +Of all the favourites that the absent king +In deputation left behind him here , +When he was personal in the Irish war . + +Tut , I came not to hear this . + +Then to the point . +In short time after , he depos'd the king ; +Soon after that , depriv'd him of his life ; +And , in the neck of that , task'd the whole state ; +To make that worse , suffer'd his kinsman March +Who is , if every owner were well plac'd , +Indeed his king to be engag'd in Wales , +There without ransom to lie forfeited ; +Disgrac'd me in my happy victories ; +Sought to entrap me by intelligence ; +Rated my uncle from the council-board ; +In rage dismiss'd my father from the court ; +Broke oath on oath , committed wrong on wrong ; +And in conclusion drove us to seek out +This head of safety ; and withal to pry +Into his title , the which we find +Too indirect for long continuance . + +Shall I return this answer to the king ? + +Not so , Sir Walter : we'll withdraw awhile . +Go to the king ; and let there be impawn'd +Some surety for a safe return again , +And in the morning early shall my uncle +Bring him our purposes ; and so farewell . + +I would you would accept of grace and love . + +And may be so we shall . + +Pray God , you do ! + + +Hie , good Sir Michael ; bear this sealed brief +With winged haste to the lord marshal ; +This to my cousin Scroop , and all the rest +To whom they are directed . If you knew +How much they do import , you would make haste . + +My good lord , +I guess their tenour . + +Like enough you do . +To-morrow , good Sir Michael , is a day +Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men +Must bide the touch ; for , sir , at Shrewsbury , +As I am truly given to understand , +The king with mighty and quick-raised power +Meets with Lord Harry : and , I fear , Sir Michael , +What with the sickness of Northumberland , +Whose power was in the first proportion , +And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence , +Who with them was a rated sinew too , +And comes not in , o'er-rul'd by prophecies , +I fear the power of Percy is too weak +To wage an instant trial with the king . + +Why , my good lord , you need not fear : +There is the Douglas and Lord Mortimer . + +No , Mortimer is not there . + +But there is Mordake , Vernon , Lord Harry Percy , +And there's my Lord of Worcester , and a head +Of gallant warriors , noble gentlemen . + +And so there is ; but yet the king hath drawn +The special head of all the land together : +The Prince of Wales , Lord John of Lancaster , +The noble Westmoreland , and war-like Blunt ; +And many moe corrivals and dear men +Of estimation and command in arms . + +Doubt not , my lord , they shall be well oppos'd . + +I hope no less , yet needful 'tis to fear ; +And , to prevent the worse , Sir Michael , speed : +For if Lord Percy thrive not , ere the king +Dismiss his power , he means to visit us , +For he hath heard of our confederacy , +And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him : +Therefore make haste . I must go write again +To other friends ; and so farewell , Sir Michael . + +How bloodily the sun begins to peer +Above yon busky hill ! the day looks pale +At his distemperature . + +The southern wind +Doth play the trumpet to his purposes , +And by his hollow whistling in the leaves +Foretells a tempest and a blustering day . + +Then with the losers let it sympathize , +For nothing can seem foul to those that win . + +How now , my Lord of Worcester ! 'tis not well +That you and I should meet upon such terms +As now we meet . You have deceiv'd our trust , +And made us doff our easy robes of peace , +To crush our old limbs in ungentle steel : +This is not well , my lord ; this is not well . +What say you to it ? will you again unknit +This churlish knot of all-abhorred war , +And move in that obedient orb again +Where you did give a fair and natural light , +And be no more an exhal'd meteor , +A prodigy of fear and a portent + +Of broached mischief to the unborn times ? + +Hear me , my liege . +For mine own part , I could be well content +To entertain the lag-end of my life +With quiet hours ; for I do protest +I have not sought the day of this dislike . + +You have not sought it ! how comes it then ? + +Rebellion lay in his way , and he found it . + +Peace , chewet , peace ! + +It pleas'd your majesty to turn your looks +Of favour from myself and all our house ; +And yet I must remember you , my lord , +We were the first and dearest of your friends . +For you my staff of office did I break +In Richard's time ; and posted day and night +To meet you on the way , and kiss your hand , +When yet you were in place and in account +Nothing so strong and fortunate as I . +It was myself , my brother , and his son , +That brought you home and boldly did outdare +The dangers of the time . You swore to us , +And you did swear that oath at Doncaster , +That you did nothing purpose 'gainst the state , +Nor claim no further than your new-fall'n right , +The seat of Gaunt , dukedom of Lancaster . +To this we swore our aid : but , in short space +It rain'd down fortune showering on your head , +And such a flood of greatness fell on you , +What with our help , what with the absent king , +What with the injuries of a wanton time , +The seeming sufferances that you had borne , +And the contrarious winds that held the king +So long in his unlucky Irish wars , +That all in England did repute him dead : +And from this swarm of fair advantages +You took occasion to be quickly woo'd +To gripe the general sway into your hand ; +Forgot your oath to us at Doncaster ; +And being fed by us you us'd us so +As that ungentle gull , the cuckoo's bird , +Useth the sparrow : did oppress our nest , +Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk +That even our love durst not come near your sight +For fear of swallowing ; but with nimble wing +We were enforc'd , for safety's sake , to fly +Out of your sight and raise this present head ; +Whereby we stand opposed by such means +As you yourself have forg'd against yourself +By unkind usage , dangerous countenance , +And violation of all faith and troth +Sworn to us in your younger enterprise . + +These things indeed , you have articulate , +Proclaim'd at market-crosses , read in churches , +To face the garment of rebellion +With some fine colour that may please the eye +Of fickle changelings and poor discontents , +Which gape and rub the elbow at the news +Of hurlyburly innovation : +And never yet did insurrection want +Such water-colours to impaint his cause ; +Nor moody beggars , starving for a time +Of pell-mell havoc and confusion . + +In both our armies there is many a soul +Shall pay full dearly for this encounter , +If once they join in trial . Tell your nephew , +The Prince of Wales doth join with all the world +In praise of Henry Percy : by my hopes , +This present enterprise set off his head , +I do not think a braver gentleman , +More active-valiant or more valiant-young , +More daring or more bold , is now alive +To grace this latter age with noble deeds . +For my part , I may speak it to my shame , +I have a truant been to chivalry ; +And so I hear he doth account me too ; +Yet this before my father's majesty +I am content that he shall take the odds +Of his great name and estimation , +And will , to save the blood on either side , +Try fortune with him in a single fight . + +And , Prince of Wales , so dare we venture thee , +Albeit considerations infinite +Do make against it . No , good Worcester , no , +We love our people well ; even those we love +That are misled upon your cousin's part ; +And , will they take the offer of our grace , +Both he and they and you , yea , every man +Shall be my friend again , and I'll be his . +So tell your cousin , and bring me word +What he will do ; but if he will not yield , +Rebuke and dread correction wait on us , +And they shall do their office . So , be gone : +We will not now be troubled with reply ; +We offer fair , take it advisedly . + + +It will not be accepted , on my life . +The Douglas and the Hotspur both together +Are confident against the world in arms . + +Hence , therefore , every leader to his charge ; +For , on their answer , will we set on them ; +And God befriend us , as our cause is just ! + + +Hal , if thou see me down in the battle , and bestride me , so ; 'tis a point of friendship . + +Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship . Say thy prayers , and farewell . + +I would it were bed-time , Hal , and all well . + +Why , thou owest God a death . + + +'Tis not due yet : I would be loath to pay him before his day . What need I be so forward with him that calls not on me ? Well , 'tis no matter ; honour pricks me on . Yea , but how if honour prick me off when I come on ? how then ? Can honour set to a leg ? No . Or an arm ? No . Or take away the grief of a wound ? No . Honour hath no skill in surgery then ? No . What is honour ? a word . What is that word , honour ? Air . A trim reckoning ! Who hath it ? he that died o' Wednesday . Doth he feel it ? No . Doth he hear it ? No . It is insensible then ? Yea , to the dead . But will it not live with the living ? No . Why ? Detraction will not suffer it . Therefore I'll none of it : honour is a mere scutcheon ; and so ends my catechism . + + +O , no ! my nephew must not know , Sir Richard , +The liberal kind offer of the king . + +'Twere best he did . + +Then are we all undone . +It is not possible , it cannot be , +The king should keep his word in loving us ; +He will suspect us still , and find a time +To punish this offence in other faults : +Suspicion all our lives shall be stuck full of eyes ; +For treason is but trusted like the fox , +Who , ne'er so tame , so cherish'd , and lock'd up , +Will have a wild trick of his ancestors . +Look how we can , or sad or merrily , +Interpretation will misquote our looks , +And we shall feed like oxen at a stall , +The better cherish'd , still the nearer death . +My nephew's trespass may be well forgot , +It hath the excuse of youth and heat of blood ; +And an adopted name of privilege , +A hare-brain'd Hotspur , govern'd by a spleen . +All his offences live upon my head +And on his father's : we did train him on ; +And , his corruption being ta'en from us , +We , as the spring of all , shall pay for all . +Therefore , good cousin , let not Harry know +In any case the offer of the king . + +Deliver what you will , I'll say 'tis so . +Here comes your cousin . + + +My uncle is return'd : deliver up +My Lord of Westmoreland . Uncle , what news ? + +The king will bid you battle presently . + +Defy him by the Lord of Westmoreland . + +Lord Douglas , go you and tell him so . + +Marry , and shall , and very willingly . + + +There is no seeming mercy in the king . + +Did you beg any ? God forbid ! + +I told him gently of our grievances , +Of his oath-breaking ; which he mended thus , +By now forswearing that he is forsworn : +He calls us rebels , traitors ; and will scourge +With haughty arms this hateful name in us . + + +Arm , gentlemen ! to arms ! for I have thrown +A brave defiance in King Henry's teeth , +And Westmoreland , that was engag'd , did bear it ; +Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on . + +The Prince of Wales stepp'd forth before the king , +And , nephew , challeng'd you to single fight . + +O ! would the quarrel lay upon our heads , +And that no man might draw short breath to-day +But I and Harry Monmouth . Tell me , tell me , +How show'd his tasking ? seem'd it in contempt ? + +No , by my soul ; I never in my life +Did hear a challenge urg'd more modestly , +Unless a brother should a brother dare +To gentle exercise and proof of arms . +He gave you all the duties of a man , +Trimm'd up your praises with a princely tongue , +Spoke your deservings like a chronicle , +Making you ever better than his praise , +By still dispraising praise valu'd with you ; +And , which became him like a prince indeed , +He made a blushing cital of himself , +And chid his truant youth with such a grace +As if he master'd there a double spirit +Of teaching and of learning instantly . +There did he pause . But let me tell the world , +If he outlive the envy of this day , +England did never owe so sweet a hope , +So much misconstru'd in his wantonness . + +Cousin , I think thou art enamoured +On his follies : never did I hear +Of any prince so wild a libertine . +But be he as he will , yet once ere night +I will embrace him with a soldier's arm , +That he shall shrink under my courtesy . +Arm , arm , with speed ! And , fellows , soldiers , friends , +Better consider what you have to do , +Than I , that have not well the gift of tongue , +Can lift your blood up with persuasion . + + +My lord , here are letters for you . + +I cannot read them now . +O gentlemen ! the time of life is short ; +To spend that shortness basely were too long , +If life did ride upon a dial's point , +Still ending at the arrival of an hour . +An if we live , we live to tread on kings ; +If die , brave death , when princes die with us ! +Now , for our consciences , the arms are fair , +When the intent of bearing them is just . + + +My lord , prepare ; the king comes on apace . + +I thank him that he cuts me from my tale , +For I profess not talking . Only this , +Let each man do his best : and here draw I +A sword , whose temper I intend to stain +With the best blood that I can meet withal +In the adventure of this perilous day . +Now , Esperance ! Percy ! and set on . +Sound all the lofty instruments of war , +And by that music let us all embrace ; +For , heaven to earth , some of us never shall +A second time do such a courtesy . + +What is thy name , that in the battle thus +Thou crossest me ? what honour dost thou seek +Upon my head ? + +Know then , my name is Douglas ; +And I do haunt thee in the battle thus +Because some tell me that thou art a king . + +They tell thee true . + +The Lord of Stafford dear to-day hath bought +Thy likeness ; for , instead of thee , King Harry , +This sword hath ended him : so shall it thee , +Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner . + +I was not born a yielder , thou proud Scot ; +And thou shalt find a king that will revenge +Lord Stafford's death . + +O , Douglas ! hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus , +I never had triumph'd upon a Scot . + +All's done , all's won : here breathless lies the king . + +Where ? + +Here . + +This , Douglas ! no ; I know this face full well ; +A gallant knight he was , his name was Blunt ; +Semblably furnish'd like the king himself . + +A fool go with thy soul , whither it goes ! +A borrow'd title hast thou bought too dear : +Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king ? + +The king hath many marching in his coats . + +Now , by my sword , I will kill all his coats ; +I'll murder all his wardrobe , piece by piece , +Until I meet the king . + +Up , and away ! +Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day . + +Though I could 'scape shot-free at London , I fear the shot here ; here's no scoring but upon the pate . Soft ! who art thou ? Sir Walter Blunt : there's honour for you ! here's no vanity ! I am as hot as molten lead , and as heavy too : God keep lead out of me ! I need no more weight than mine own bowels . I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered : there's not three of my hundred and fifty left alive , and they are for the town's end , to beg during life . But who comes here ? + + +What ! stand'st thou idle here ? lend me thy sword : +Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff +Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies , +Whose deaths are unreveng'd : prithee , lend me thy sword . + +O Hal ! I prithee , give me leave to breathe awhile . Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this day . I have paid Percy , I have made him sure . + +He is , indeed ; and living to kill thee . +I prithee , lend me thy sword . + +Nay , before God , Hal , if Percy be alive , thou gett'st not my sword ; but take my pistol , if thou wilt . + +Give it me . What ! is it in the case ? + +Ay , Hal ; 'tis hot , 'tis hot : there's that will sack a city . + + +What ! is't a time to jest and dally now ? + + +Well , if Percy be alive , I'll pierce him . If he do come in my way , so : if he do not , if I come in his , willingly , let him make a carbonado of me . I like not such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath : give me life ; which if I can save , so ; if not , honour comes unlooked for , and there's an end . + + +I prithee , +Harry , withdraw thyself ; thou bleed'st too much . +Lord John of Lancaster , go you with him . + +Not I , my lord , unless I did bleed too . + +I beseech your majesty , make up , +Lest your retirement do amaze your friends . + +I will do so . +My Lord of Westmoreland , lead him to his tent . + +Come , my lord , I'll lead you to your tent . + +Lead me , my lord ? I do not need your help : +And God forbid a shallow scratch should drive +The Prince of Wales from such a field as this , +Where stain'd nobility lies trodden on , +And rebels' arms triumph in massacres ! + +We breathe too long : come , cousin Westmoreland , +Our duty this way lies : for God's sake , come . + + +By God , thou hast deceiv'd me , Lancaster ; +I did not think thee lord of such a spirit : +Before , I lov'd thee as a brother , John ; +But now , I do respect thee as my soul . + +I saw him hold Lord Percy at the point +With lustier maintenance than I did look for +Of such an ungrown warrior . + +O ! this boy +Lends mettle to us all . + +Another king ! they grow like Hydra's heads : +I am the Douglas , fatal to all those +That wear those colours on them : what art thou , +That counterfeit'st the person of a king ? + +The king himself ; who , Douglas , grieves at heart +So many of his shadows thou hast met +And not the very king . I have two boys +Seek Percy and thyself about the field : +But , seeing thou fall'st on me so luckily , +I will assay thee ; so defend thyself . + +I fear thou art another counterfeit ; +And yet , in faith , thou bear'st thee like a king : +But mine I am sure thou art , whoe'er thou be , +And thus I win thee . + + +Hold up thy head , vile Scot , or thou art like +Never to hold it up again ! the spirits +Of valiant Shirley , Stafford , Blunt , are in my arms : +It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee , +Who never promiseth but he means to pay . + +Cheerly , my lord : how fares your Grace ? +Sir Nicholas Gawsey hath for succour sent , +And so hath Clifton : I'll to Clifton straight . + +Stay , and breathe awhile . +Thou hast redeem'd thy lost opinion , +And show'd thou mak'st some tender of my life , +In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me . + +O God ! they did me too much injury +That ever said I hearken'd for your death . +If it were so , I might have let alone +The insulting hand of Douglas over you ; +Which would have been as speedy in your end +As all the poisonous potions in the world , +And sav'd the treacherous labour of your son . + +Make up to Clifton : I'll to Sir Nicholas Gawsey . + +If I mistake not , thou art Harry Monmouth . + +Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name . + +My name is Harry Percy . + +Why , then , I see +A very valiant rebel of that name . +I am the Prince of Wales ; and think not , Percy , +To share with me in glory any more : +Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere ; +Nor can one England brook a double reign , +Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales . + +Nor shall it , Harry ; for the hour is come +To end the one of us ; and would to God +Thy name in arms were now as great as mine ! + +I'll make it greater ere I part from thee ; +And all the budding honours on thy crest +I'll crop , to make a garland for my head . + +I can no longer brook thy vanities . + +Well said , Hal ! to it , Hal ! Nay , you shall find no boy's play here , I can tell you . + +O , Harry ! thou hast robb'd me of my youth . +I better brook the loss of brittle life +Than those proud titles thou hast won of me ; +They wound my thoughts worse than thy sword my flesh : +But thought's the slave of life , and life time's fool ; +And time , that takes survey of all the world , +Must have a stop . O ! I could prophesy , +But that the earthy and cold hand of death +Lies on my tongue . No , Percy , thou art dust , +And food for + + +For worms , brave Percy . Fare thee well , great heart ! +Ill-weav'd ambition , how much art thou shrunk ! +When that this body did contain a spirit , +A kingdom for it was too small a bound ; +But now , two paces of the vilest earth +Is room enough : this earth , that bears thee dead , +Bears not alive so stout a gentleman . +If thou wert sensible of courtesy , +I should not make so dear a show of zeal : +But let my favours hide thy mangled face , +And , even in thy behalf , I'll thank myself +For doing these fair rites of tenderness . +Adieu , and take thy praise with thee to heaven ! +Thy ignomy sleep with thee in the grave , +But not remember'd in thy epitaph ! + +What ! old acquaintance ! could not all this flesh +Keep in a little life ? Poor Jack , farewell ! +I could have better spar'd a better man . +O ! I should have a heavy miss of thee +If I were much in love with vanity . +Death hath not struck so fat a deer to-day , +Though many dearer , in this bloody fray . +Embowell'd will I see thee by and by : +Till then in blood by noble Percy lie . + + +Embowelled ! if thou embowel me to-day , I'll give you leave to powder me and eat me too , to-morrow . 'Sblood ! 'twas time to counterfeit , or that hot termagant Scot had paid me scot and lot too . Counterfeit ? I lie , I am no counterfeit : to die , is to be a counterfeit ; for he is but the counterfeit of a man , who hath not the life of a man ; but to counterfeit dying , when a man thereby liveth , is to be no counterfeit , but the true and perfect image of life indeed . The better part of valour is discretion ; in the which better part , I have saved my life . 'Zounds ! I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy though he be dead : how , if he should counterfeit too and rise ? By my faith I am afraid he would prove the better counterfeit . Therefore I'll make him sure ; yea , and I'll swear I killed him . Why may not he rise as well as I ? Nothing confutes me but eyes , and nobody sees me : therefore , sirrah [stabbing him] , with a new wound in your thigh come you along with me . + +Come , brother John ; full bravely hast thou flesh'd +Thy maiden sword . + +But , soft ! whom have we here ? +Did you not tell me this fat man was dead ? + +I did ; I saw him dead , +Breathless and bleeding on the ground . +Art thou alive ? or is it fantasy +That plays upon our eyesight ? I prithee , speak ; +We will not trust our eyes without our ears : +Thou art not what thou seem'st . + +No , that's certain ; I am not a double man : but if I be not Jack Falstaff , then am I a Jack . There is Percy + +: if your father will do me any honour , so ; if not , let him kill the next Percy himself . I look to be either earl or duke , I can assure you . + +Why , Percy I killed myself , and saw thee dead . + +Didst thou ? Lord , Lord ! how this world is given to lying . I grant you I was down and out of breath , and so was he ; but we rose both at an instant , and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock . If I may be believed , so ; if not , let them that should reward valour bear the sin upon their own heads . I'll take it upon my death , I gave him this wound in the thigh : if the man were alive and would deny it , 'zounds , I would make him eat a piece of my sword . + +This is the strangest tale that e'er I heard . + +This is the strangest fellow , brother John . +Come , bring your luggage nobly on your back : +For my part , if a lie may do thee grace , +I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have . + +The trumpet sounds retreat ; the day is ours . +Come , brother , let us to the highest of the field , +To see what friends are living , who are dead . + + +I'll follow , as they say , for reward . He that rewards me , God reward him ! If I do grow great , I'll grow less ; for I'll purge , and leave sack , and live cleanly , as a nobleman should do . + +Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke . +Ill-spirited Worcester ! did we not send grace , +Pardon , and terms of love to all of you ? +And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary ? +Misuse the tenour of thy kinsman's trust ? +Three knights upon our party slain to-day , +A noble earl and many a creature else +Had been alive this hour , +If like a Christian , thou hadst truly borne +Betwixt our armies true intelligence . + +What I have done my safety urg'd me to ; +And I embrace this fortune patiently , +Since not to be avoided it falls on me . + +Bear Worcester to the death and Vernon too : +Other offenders we will pause upon . + +How goes the field ? + +The noble Scot , Lord Douglas , when he saw +The fortune of the day quite turn'd from him , +The noble Percy slain , and all his men +Upon the foot of fear , fled with the rest ; +And falling from a hill he was so bruis'd +That the pursuers took him . At my tent +The Douglas is , and I beseech your Grace +I may dispose of him . + +With all my heart . + +Then , brother John of Lancaster , to you +This honourable bounty shall belong . +Go to the Douglas , and deliver him +Up to his pleasure , ransomless , and free : +His valour shown upon our crests to-day +Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds , +Even in the bosom of our adversaries . + +I thank your Grace for this high courtesy , +Which I shall give away immediately . + +Then this remains , that we divide our power . +You , son John , and my cousin Westmoreland +Towards York shall bend you , with your dearest speed , +To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop , +Who , as we hear , are busily in arms : +Myself and you , son Harry , will towards Wales , +To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March . +Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway , +Meeting the check of such another day : +And since this business so fair is done , +Let us not leave till all our own be won . + +THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI + +Fiends appearing to La Pucelle . + + +Hung be the heavens with black , yield day to night ! +Comets , importing change of times and states , +Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky , +And with them scourge the bad revolting stars , +That have consented unto Henry's death ! +King Henry the Fifth , too famous to live long ! +England ne'er lost a king of so much worth . + +England ne'er had a king until his time . +Virtue he had , deserving to command : +His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams ; +His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings ; +His sparkling eyes , replete with wrathful fire , +More dazzled and drove back his enemies +Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces . +What should I say ? his deeds exceed all speech : +He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered . + +We mourn in black : why mourn we not in blood ? +Henry is dead and never shall revive . +Upon a wooden coffin we attend , +And death's dishonourable victory +We with our stately presence glorify , +Like captives bound to a triumphant car . +What ! shall we curse the planets of mishap +That plotted thus our glory's overthrow ? +Or shall we think the subtle-witted French +Conjurers and sorcerers , that , afraid of him , +By magic verses have contriv'd his end ? + +He was a king bless'd of the King of kings . +Unto the French the dreadful judgment-day +So dreadful will not be as was his sight . +The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought : +The church's prayers made him so prosperous . + +The church ! where is it ? Had not churchmen pray'd +His thread of life had not so soon decay'd : +None do you like but an effeminate prince , +Whom like a school-boy you may over-awe . + +Gloucester , whate'er we like thou art protector , +And lookest to command the prince and realm . +Thy wife is proud ; she holdeth thee in awe , +More than God or religious churchmen may . + +Name not religion , for thou lov'st the flesh , +And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st , +Except it be to pray against thy foes . + +Cease , cease these jars and rest your minds in peace ! +Let's to the altar : heralds , wait on us : +Instead of gold we'll offer up our arms , +Since arms avail not , now that Henry's dead . +Posterity , await for wretched years , +When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck , +Our isle be made a marish of salt tears , +And none but women left to wail the dead . +Henry the Fifth ! thy ghost I invocate : +Prosper this realm , keep it from civil broils ! +Combat with adverse planets in the heavens ! +A far more glorious star thy soul will make , +Than Julius C sar , or bright + + +My honourable lords , health to you all ! +Sad tidings bring I to you out of France , +Of loss , of slaughter , and discomfiture : +Guienne , Champaigne , Rheims , Orleans , +Paris , Guysors , Poictiers , are all quite lost . + +What sayst thou , man , before dead Henry's corse ? +Speak softly ; or the loss of those great towns +Will make him burst his lead and rise from death . + +Is Paris lost ? is Roan yielded up ? +If Henry were recall'd to life again +These news would cause him once more yield the ghost . + +How were they lost ? what treachery was us'd ? + +No treachery ; but want of men and money . +Among the soldiers this is muttered , +That here you maintain several factions ; +And , whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought , +You are disputing of your generals . +One would have lingering wars with little cost ; +Another would fly swift , but wanteth wings ; +A third thinks , without expense at all , +By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd . +Awake , awake , English nobility ! +Let not sloth dim your honours new-begot : +Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms ; +Of England's coat one half is cut away . + +Were our tears wanting to this funeral +These tidings would call forth their flowing tides . + +Me they concern ; Regent I am of France . +Give me my steeled coat : I'll fight for France . +Away with these disgraceful wailing robes ! +Wounds will I lend the French instead of eyes , +To weep their intermissive miseries . + + +Lords , view these letters , full of bad mischance . +France is revolted from the English quite , +Except some petty towns of no import : +The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims ; +The Bastard of Orleans with him is join'd ; +Reignier , Duke of Anjou , doth take his part ; +The Duke of Alen on flieth to his side . + +The Dauphin crowned king ! all fly to him ! +O ! whither shall we fly from this reproach ? + +We will not fly , but to our enemies' throats . +Bedford , if thou be slack , I'll fight it out . + +Gloucester , why doubt'st thou of my forwardness ? +An army have I muster'd in my thoughts , +Wherewith already France is overrun . + + +My gracious lords , to add to your laments , +Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse , +I must inform you of a dismal fight +Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French . + +What ! wherein Talbot overcame ? is't so ? + +O , no ! wherein Lord Talbot was o'erthrown : +The circumstance I'll tell you more at large . +The tenth of August last this dreadful lord , +Retiring from the siege of Orleans , +Having full scarce six thousand in his troop , +By three-and-twenty thousand of the French +Was round encompassed and set upon . +No leisure had he to enrank his men ; +He wanted pikes to set before his archers ; +Instead whereof sharp stakes pluck'd out of hedges +They pitched in the ground confusedly , +To keep the horsemen off from breaking in . +More than three hours the fight continued ; +Where valiant Talbot above human thought +Enacted wonders with his sword and lance . +Hundreds he sent to hell , and none durst stand him ; +Here , there , and every where , enrag'd he flew : +The French exclaim'd the devil was in arms ; +All the whole army stood agaz'd on him . +His soldiers , spying his undaunted spirit , +A Talbot ! A Talbot ! cried out amain , +And rush'd into the bowels of the battle . +Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up , +If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward . +He , being in the vaward ,plac'd behind , +With purpose to relieve and follow them , +Cowardly fled , not having struck one stroke . +Hence grew the general wrack and massacre ; +Enclosed were they with their enemies . +A base Walloon , to win the Dauphin's grace , +Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back ; +Whom all France , with their chief assembled strength , +Durst not presume to look once in the face . + +Is Talbot slain ? then I will slay myself , +For living idly here in pomp and ease +Whilst such a worthy leader , wanting aid , +Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd . + +O no ! he lives ; but is took prisoner , +And Lord Scales with him , and Lord Hungerford : +Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise . + +His ransom there is none but I shall pay : +I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne ; +His crown shall be the ransom of my friend ; +Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours . +Farewell , my masters ; to my task will I ; +Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make , +To keep our great Saint George's feast withal : +Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take , +Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake . + +So you had need ; for Orleans is besieg'd ; +The English army is grown weak and faint ; +The Earl of Salisbury craveth supply , +And hardly keeps his men from mutiny , +Since they , so few , watch such a multitude . + +Remember , lords , your oaths to Henry sworn , +Either to quell the Dauphin utterly , +Or bring him in obedience to your yoke . + +I do remember it ; and here take my leave , +To go about my preparation . + + +I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can , +To view the artillery and munition ; +And then I will proclaim young Henry king . + + +To Eltham will I , where the young king is , +Being ordain'd his special governor ; +And for his safety there I'll best devise . + + +Each hath his place and function to attend : +I am left out ; for me nothing remains . +But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office . +The king from Eltham I intend to steal , +And sit at chiefest stern of public weal . + + +Mars his true moving , even as in the heavens +So in the earth , to this day is not known . +Late did he shine upon the English side ; +Now we are victors ; upon us he smiles . +What towns of any moment but we have ? +At pleasure here we lie near Orleans ; +Otherwhiles the famish'd English , like pale ghosts , +Faintly besiege us one hour in a month . + +They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves : +Either they must be dieted like mules +And have their provender tied to their mouths , +Or piteous they will look , like drowned mice . + +Let's raise the siege : why live we idly here ? +Talbot is taken , whom we wont to fear : +Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury , +And he may well in fretting spend his gall ; +Nor men nor money hath he to make war . + +Sound , sound alarum ! we will rush on them . +Now for the honour of the forlorn French ! +Him I forgive my death that killeth me +When he sees me go back one foot or fly . + +Who ever saw the like ? what men have I ! +Dogs ! cowards ! dastards ! I would ne'er have fled +But that they left me 'midst my enemies . + +Salisbury is a desperate homicide ; +He fighteth as one weary of his life : +The other lords , like lions wanting food , +Do rush upon us as their hungry prey . + +Froissart , a countryman of ours , records , +England all Olivers and Rowlands bred +During the time Edward the Third did reign . +More truly now may this be verified ; +For none but Samsons and Goliases , +It sendeth forth to skirmish . One to ten ! +Lean raw-bon'd rascals ! who would e'er suppose +They had such courage and audacity ? + +Let's leave this town ; for they are hare-brain'd slaves , +And hunger will enforce them to be more eager : +Of old I know them ; rather with their teeth +The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege . + +I think , by some odd gimmals or device , +Their arms are set like clocks , still to strike on ; +Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do . +By my consent , we'll e'en let them alone . + +Be it so . + + +Where's the prince Dauphin ? I have news for him . + +Bastard of Orleans , thrice welcome to us . + +Methinks your looks are sad , your cheer appall'd : +Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence ? +Be not dismay'd , for succour is at hand : +A holy maid hither with me I bring , +Which by a vision sent to her from heaven +Ordained is to raise this tedious siege , +And drive the English forth the bounds of France . +The spirit of deep prophecy she hath , +Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome ; +What's past and what's to come she can descry . +Speak , shall I call her in ? Believe my words , +For they are certain and unfallible . + +Go , call her in . + +But first , to try her skill , +Reignier , stand thou as Dauphin in my place : +Question her proudly ; let thy looks be stern : +By this means shall we sound what skill she hath . + +Fair maid , is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats ? + +Reignier , is't thou that thinkest to beguile me ? +Where is the Dauphin ? Come , come from behind ; +I know thee well , though never seen before . +Be not amaz'd , there's nothing hid from me : +In private will I talk with thee apart . +Stand back , you lords , and give us leave a while . + +She takes upon her bravely at first dash . + +Dauphin , I am by birth a shepherd's daughter , +My wit untrain'd in any kind of art . +Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd +To shine on my contemptible estate : +Lo ! whilst I waited on my tender lambs , +And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks , +God's mother deigned to appear to me , +And in a vision full of majesty +Will'd me to leave my base vocation +And free my country from calamity : +Her aid she promis'd and assur'd success ; +In complete glory she reveal'd herself ; +And , whereas I was black and swart before , +With those clear rays which she infus'd on me , +That beauty am I bless'd with which you see . +Ask me what question thou canst possible +And I will answer unpremeditated : +My courage try by combat , if thou dar'st , +And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex . +Resolve on this , thou shalt be fortunate +If thou receive me for thy war-like mate . + +Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms . +Only this proof I'll of thy valour make , +In single combat thou shalt buckle with me , +And if thou vanquishest , thy words are true ; +Otherwise I renounce all confidence . + +I am prepar'd : here is my keen-edg'd sword , +Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side ; +The which at Touraine , in Saint Katharine's churchyard , +Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth . + +Then come , o' God's name ; I fear no woman . + +And , while I live , I'll ne'er fly from a man . + + +Stay , stay thy hands ! thou art an Amazon , +And fightest with the sword of Deborah . + +Christ's mother helps me , else I were too weak . + +Whoe'er helps thee , 'tis thou that must help me : +Impatiently I burn with thy desire ; +My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd . +Excellent Pucelle , if thy name be so , +Let me thy servant and not sovereign be ; +'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus . + +I must not yield to any rites of love , +For my profession's sacred from above : +When I have chased all thy foes from hence , +Then will I think upon a recompense . + +Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall . + +My lord , methinks , is very long in talk . + +Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock ; +Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech . + +Shall we disturb him , since he keeps no mean ? + +He may mean more than we poor men do know : +These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues . + +My lord , where are you ? what devise you on ? +Shall we give over Orleans , or no ? + +Why , no , I say , distrustful recreants ! +Fight till the last gasp ; I will be your guard . + +What she says , I'll confirm : we'll fight it out . + +Assign'd am I to be the English scourge . +This night the siege assuredly I'll raise : +Expect Saint Martin's summer , halcyon days , +Since I have entered into these wars . +Glory is like a circle in the water , +Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself , +Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought . +With Henry's death the English circle ends ; +Dispersed are the glories it included . +Now am I like that proud insulting ship +Which C sar and his fortune bare at once . + +Was Mahomet inspired with a dove ? +Thou with an eagle art inspired then . +Helen , the mother of great Constantine , +Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters were like thee . +Bright star of Venus , fall'n down on the earth , +How may I reverently worship thee enough ? + +Leave off delays and let us raise the siege . + +Woman , do what thou canst to save our honours ; +Drive them from Orleans and be immortalis'd . + +Presently we'll try . Come , let's away about it : +No prophet will I trust if she prove false . + + +I am come to survey the Tower this day ; +Since Henry's death , I fear , there is conveyance . +Where be these warders that they wait not here ? +Open the gates ! 'Tis Gloucester that calls . + + +Who's there that knocks so imperiously ? + +It is the noble Duke of Gloucester . + +Whoe'er he be , you may not be let in . + +Villains , answer you so the Lord Protector ? + +The Lord protect him ! so we answer him : +We do not otherwise than we are will'd . + +Who willed you ? or whose will stands but mine ? +There's none protector of the realm but I . +Break up the gates , I'll be your warrantize : +Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms ? + +Lieutenant , is it you whose voice I hear ? +Open the gates ! here's Gloucester that would enter . + +Have patience , noble Duke ; I may not open ; +The Cardinal of Winchester forbids : +From him I have express commandment +That thou nor none of thine shall be let in . + +Faint-hearted Woodvile , prizest him 'fore me ? +Arrogant Winchester , that haughty prelate , +Whom Henry , our late sovereign , ne'er could brook ? +Thou art no friend to God or to the king : +Open the gates , or I'll shut thee out shortly . + +Open the gates unto the Lord Protector ; +Or we'll burst them open , if that you come not quickly . + + +How now , ambitious Humphrey ! what means this ? + +Peel'd priest , dost thou command me to be shut out ? + +I do , thou most usurping proditor , +And not protector , of the king or realm . + +Stand back , thou manifest conspirator , +Thou that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord ; +Thou that giv'st whores indulgences to sin : +I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat , +If thou proceed in this thy insolence . + +Nay , stand thou back ; I will not budge a foot : +This be Damascus , be thou cursed Cam , +To slay thy brother Abel , if thou wilt . + +I will not slay thee , but I'll drive thee back : +Thy scarlet robes as a child's bearing-cloth +I'll use to carry thee out of this place . + +Do what thou dar'st ; I'll beard thee to thy face . + +What ! am I dar'd and bearded to my face ? +Draw , men , for all this privileged place ; +Blue coats to tawny-coats . Priest , beware your beard ; + +I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly . +Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat , +In spite of pope or dignities of church , +Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down . + +Gloucester , thou'lt answer this before the pope . + +Winchester goose ! I cry a rope ! a rope ! +Now beat them hence ; why do you let them stay ? +Thee I'll chase hence , thou wolf in sheep's array . +Out , tawny coats ! out , scarlet hypocrite ! + +Fie , lords ! that you , being supreme magistrates , +Thus contumeliously should break the peace ! + +Peace , mayor ! thou know'st little of my wrongs : +Here's Beaufort , that regards nor God nor King , +Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use . + +Here's Gloucester , a foe to citizens ; +One that still motions war and never peace , +O'ercharging your free purses with large fines , +That seeks to overthrow religion +Because he is protector of the realm , +And would have armour here out of the Tower , +To crown himself king and suppress the prince . + +I will not answer thee with words , but blows . + + +Nought rests for me , in this tumultuous strife +But to make open proclamation . +Come , officer : as loud as e'er thou canst ; +Cry . + +All manner of men , assembled here in arms this day , against God's peace and the king's , we charge and command you , in his highness' name , to repair to your several dwelling-places ; and not to wear , handle , or use , any sword , weapon , or dagger , henceforward , upon pain of death . + +Cardinal , I'll be no breaker of the law ; +But we shall meet and break our minds at large . + +Gloucester , we will meet ; to thy cost , be sure : +Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work . + +I'll call for clubs if you will not away . +This cardinal's more haughty than the devil . + +Mayor , farewell : thou dost but what thou mayst . + +Abominable Gloucester ! guard thy head ; +For I intend to have it ere long . + + +See the coast clear'd , and then we will depart . +Good God ! these nobles should such stomachs bear ; +I myself fight not once in forty year . + + +Sirrah , thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd , +And how the English have the suburbs won . + +Father , I know ; and oft have shot at them , +Howe'er unfortunate I miss'd my aim . + +But now thou shalt not . Be thou rul'd by me : +Chief master-gunner am I of this town ; +Something I must do to procure me grace . +The prince's espials have informed me +How the English , in the suburbs close entrench'd , +Wont through a secret gate of iron bars +In yonder tower to overpeer the city , +And thence discover how with most advantage +They may vex us with shot or with assault . +To intercept this inconvenience , +A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd ; +And fully even these three days have I watch'd +If I could see them . Now , boy , do thou watch , +For I can stay no longer . +If thou spy'st any , run and bring me word ; +And thou shalt find me at the Governor's . + + +Father , I warrant you ; take you no care ; +I'll never trouble you if I may spy them . + + +Talbot , my life , my joy ! again return'd ! +How wert thou handled being prisoner ? +Or by what means got'st thou to be releas'd , +Discourse , I prithee , on this turret's top . + +The Duke of Bedford had a prisoner +Called the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles ; +For him I was exchang'd and ransomed . +But with a baser man at arms by far +Once in contempt they would have barter'd me : +Which I disdaining scorn'd , and craved death +Rather than I would be so vile-esteem'd . +In fine , redeem'd I was as I desir'd . +But , O ! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart : +Whom with my bare fists I would execute +If I now had him brought into my power . + +Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert entertain'd . + +With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts . +In open market-place produc'd they me , +To be a public spectacle to all : +Here , said they , is the terror of the French , +The scarecrow that affrights our children so . +Then broke I from the officers that led me , +And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground +To hurl at the beholders of my shame . +My grisly countenance made others fly . +None durst come near for fear of sudden death . +In iron walls they deem'd me not secure ; +So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread +That they suppos'd I could rend bars of steel +And spurn in pieces posts of adamant : +Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had , +That walk'd about me every minute-while ; +And if I did but stir out of my bed +Ready they were to shoot me to the heart . + + +I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd ; +But we will be reveng'd sufficiently . +Now it is supper-time in Orleans : +Here , through this grate , I count each one , +And view the Frenchmen how they fortify : +Let us look in ; the sight will much delight thee . +Sir Thomas Gargrave , and Sir William Glansdale , +Let me have your express opinions +Where is best place to make our battery next . + +I think at the North gate ; for there stand lords . + +And I , here , at the bulwark of the bridge . + +For aught I see , this city must be famish'd , +Or with light skirmishes enfeebled . + + +O Lord ! have mercy on us , wretched sinners . + +O Lord ! have mercy on me , woeful man . + +What chance is this that suddenly hath cross'd us ? +Speak , Salisbury ; at least , if thou canst speak : +How far'st thou , mirror of all martial men ? +One of thy eyes and thy cheek's side struck off ! +Accursed tower ! accursed fatal hand +That hath contriv'd this woeful tragedy ! +In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame ; +Henry the Fifth he first train'd to the wars ; +Whilst any trump did sound or drum struck up , +His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field . +Yet liv'st thou , Salisbury ? though thy speech doth fail , +One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace : +The sun with one eye vieweth all the world . +Heaven , be thou gracious to none alive , +If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands ! +Bear hence his body ; I will help to bury it . +Sir Thomas Gargrave , hast thou any life ? +Speak unto Talbot ; nay , look up to him . +Salisbury , cheer thy spirit with this comfort ; +Thou shalt not die , whiles +He beckons with his hand and smiles on me , +As who should say , 'When I am dead and gone , +Remember to avenge me on the French .' +Plantagenet , I will ; and like thee , Nero , +Play on the lute , beholding the towns burn : +Wretched shall France be only in my name . + +What stir is this ? What tumult's in the heavens ? +Whence cometh this alarum and the noise ? + + +My lord , my lord ! the French have gather'd head : +The Dauphin , with one Joan la Pucelle join'd , +A holy prophetess new risen up +Is come with a great power to raise the siege . + + +Hear , hear how dying Salisbury doth groan ! +It irks his heart he cannot be reveng'd . +Frenchmen , I'll be a Salisbury to you : +Pucelle or puzzel , dolphin or dogfish , +Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels +And make a quagmire of your mingled brains . +Convey me Salisbury into his tent , +And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare . + + +Where is my strength , my valour , and my force ? +Our English troops retire , I cannot stay them ; +A woman clad in armour chaseth them . + + +Here , here she comes . I'll have a bout with thee : +Devil , or devil's dam , I'll conjure thee : +Blood will I draw on thee , thou art a witch , + +And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st . + +Come , come ; 'tis only I that must disgrace thee . + + +Heavens , can you suffer hell so to prevail ? +My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage , +And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder , +But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet . + + +Talbot , farewell ; thy hour is not yet come : +I must go victual Orleans forthwith . + +O'ertake me if thou canst ; I scorn thy strength . +Go , go , cheer up thy hunger-starved men ; +Help Salisbury to make his testament : +This day is ours , as many more shall be . + + +My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel ; +I know not where I am , nor what I do : +A witch , by fear , not force , like Hannibal , +Drives back our troops and conquers as she lists : +So bees with smoke , and doves with noisome stench , +Are from their hives and houses driven away . +They call'd us for our fierceness English dogs ; +Now , like to whelps , we crying run away . + +Hark , countrymen ! either renew the fight , +Or tear the lions out of England's coat ; +Renounce your soil , give sheep in lions' stead : +Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf , +Or horse or oxen from the leopard , +As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves . + +It will not be : retire into your trenches : +You all consented unto Salisbury's death , +For none would strike a stroke in his revenge . +Pucelle is entered into Orleans +In spite of us or aught that we could do . +O ! would I were to die with Salisbury . +The shame hereof will make me hide my head . + + +Advance our waving colours on the walls ; +Rescu'd is Orleans from the English : +Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word . + +Divinest creature , Astr a's daughter , +How shall I honour thee for this success ? +Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens , +That one day bloom'd and fruitful were the next . +France , triumph in thy glorious prophetess ! +Recover'd is the town of Orleans : +More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state . + +Why ring not out the bells throughout the town ? +Dauphin , command the citizens make bonfires +And feast and banquet in the open streets , +To celebrate the joy that God hath given us . + +All France will be replete with mirth and joy , +When they shall hear how we have play'd the men . + +'Tis Joan , not we , by whom the day is won ; +For which I will divide my crown with her ; +And all the priests and friars in my realm +Shall in procession sing her endless praise . +A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear +Than Rhodope's or Memphis ever was : +In memory of her when she is dead , +Her ashes , in an urn more precious +Than the rich-jewell'd coffer of Darius , +Transported shall be at high festivals +Before the kings and queens of France . +No longer on Saint Denis will we cry , +But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint . +Come in , and let us banquet royally , +After this golden day of victory . + +Sirs , take your places and be vigilant . +If any noise or soldier you perceive +Near to the walls , by some apparent sign +Let us have knowledge at the court of guard . + +Sergeant , you shall . + +Thus are poor servitors +When others sleep upon their quiet beds +Constrain'd to watch in darkness , rain , and cold . + + +Lord regent , and redoubted Burgundy , +By whose approach the regions of Artois , +Walloon , and Picardy , are friends to us , +This happy night the Frenchmen are secure , +Having all day carous'd and banqueted : +Embrace we then this opportunity , +As fitting best to quittance their deceit +Contriv'd by art and baleful sorcery . + +Coward of France ! how much he wrongs his fame , +Despairing of his own arm's fortitude , +To join with witches and the help of hell ! + +Traitors have never other company . +But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure ? + +A maid , they say . + +A maid , and be so martial ! + +Pray God she prove not masculine ere long ; +If underneath the standard of the French +She carry armour , as she hath begun . + +Well , let them practise and converse with spirits ; +God is our fortress , in whose conquering name +Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks . + +Ascend , brave Talbot ; we will follow thee . + +Not all together : better far , I guess , +That we do make our entrance several ways , +That if it chance the one of us do fail , +The other yet may rise against their force . + +Agreed . I'll to yond corner . + +And I to this . + +And here will Talbot mount , or make his grave . +Now , Salisbury , for thee , and for the right +Of English Henry , shall this night appear +How much in duty I am bound to both . + + +Arm , arm ! the enemy doth make assault ! + +How now , my lords ! what ! all unready so ? + +Unready ! ay , and glad we 'scap'd so well . + +'Twas time , I trow , to wake and leave our beds , +Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors . + +Of all exploits since first I follow'd arms , +Ne'er heard I of a war-like enterprise +More venturous or desperate than this . + +I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell . + +If not of hell , the heavens , sure , favour him . + +Here cometh Charles : I marvel how he sped . + +Tut ! holy Joan was his defensive guard . + + +Is this thy cunning , thou deceitful dame ? +Didst thou at first , to flatter us withal , +Make us partakers of a little gain , +That now our loss might be ten times so much ? + +Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend ? +At all times will you have my power alike ? +Sleeping or waking must I still prevail , +Or will you blame and lay the fault on me ? +Improvident soldiers ! had your watch been good , +This sudden mischief never could have fall'n . + +Duke of Alen on , this was your default , +That , being captain of the watch to-night , +Did look no better to that weighty charge . + +Had all your quarters been so safely kept +As that whereof I had the government , +We had not been thus shamefully surpris'd . + +Mine was secure . + +And so was mine , my lord . + +And for myself , most part of all this night , +Within her quarter and mine own precinct +I was employ'd in passing to and fro , +About relieving of the sentinels : +Then how or which way should they first break in ? + +Question , my lords , no further of the case , +How or which way : 'tis sure they found some place +But weakly guarded , where the breach was made . +And now there rests no other shift but this ; +To gather our soldiers , scatter'd and dispers'd , +And lay new platforms to endamage them . + +I'll be so bold to take what they have left . +The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword ; +For I have loaden me with many spoils , +Using no other weapon but his name . + + +The day begins to break , and night is fled , +Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth . +Here sound retreat , and cease our hot pursuit . + + +Bring forth the body of old Salisbury , +And here advance it in the market-place , +The middle centre of this cursed town . +Now have I paid my vow unto his soul ; +For every drop of blood was drawn from him +There hath at least five Frenchmen died to-night . +And that hereafter ages may behold +What ruin happen'd in revenge of him , +Within their chiefest temple I'll erect +A tomb wherein his corse shall be interr'd : +Upon the which , that every one may read , +Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans , +The treacherous manner of his mournful death , +And what a terror he had been to France . +But , lords , in all our bloody massacre , +I muse we met not with the Dauphin's grace , +His new-come champion , virtuous Joan of Arc , +Nor any of his false confederates . + +'Tis thought , Lord Talbot , when the fight began , +Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds , +They did amongst the troops of armed men +Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field . + +Myself as far as I could well discern +For smoke and dusky vapours of the night +Am sure I scar'd the Dauphin and his trull , +When arm in arm they both came swiftly running , +Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves +That could not live asunder day or night . +After that things are set in order here , +We'll follow them with all the power we have . + + +All hail , my lords ! Which of this princely train +Call ye the war-like Talbot , for his acts +So much applauded through the realm of France ? + +Here is the Talbot : who would speak with him ? + +The virtuous lady , Countess of Auvergne , +With modesty admiring thy renown , +By me entreats , great lord , thou wouldst vouchsafe +To visit her poor castle where she lies , +That she may boast she hath beheld the man +Whose glory fills the world with loud report . + +Is it even so ? Nay , then , I see our wars +Will turn into a peaceful comic sport , +When ladies crave to be encounter'd with . +You may not , my lord , despise her gentle suit . + +Ne'er trust me then ; for when a world of men +Could not prevail with all their oratory , +Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd : +And therefore tell her I return great thanks , +And in submission will attend on her . +Will not your honours bear me company ? + +No , truly ; it is more than manners will ; +And I have heard it said , unbidden guests +Are often welcomest when they are gone . + +Well then , alone ,since there's no remedy , +I mean to prove this lady's courtesy . +Come hither , captain . + +You perceive my mind . + +I do , my lord , and mean accordingly . + + +Porter , remember what I gave in charge ; +And when you have done so , bring the keys to me . + +Madam , I will . + + +The plot is laid : if all things fall out right , +I shall as famous be by this exploit +As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death . +Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight , +And his achievements of no less account : +Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears , +To give their censure of these rare reports . + + +Madam , +According as your ladyship desir'd , +By message crav'd , so is Lord Talbot come . + +And he is welcome . What ! is this the man ? + +Madam , it is . + +Is this the scourge of France ? +Is this the Talbot , so much fear'd abroad , +That with his name the mothers still their babes ? +I see report is fabulous and false : +I thought I should have seen some Hercules , +A second Hector , for his grim aspect , +And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs . +Alas ! this is a child , a silly dwarf : +It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp +Should strike such terror to his enemies . + +Madam , I have been bold to trouble you ; +But since your ladyship is not at leisure , +I'll sort some other time to visit you . + +What means he now ? Go ask him whither he goes . + +Stay , my Lord Talbot ; for my lady craves +To know the cause of your abrupt departure . + +Marry , for that she's in a wrong belief , +I go to certify her Talbot's here . + + +If thou be he , then art thou prisoner . + +Prisoner ! to whom ? + +To me , blood-thirsty lord ; +And for that cause I train'd thee to my house . +Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me , +For in my gallery thy picture hangs : +But now the substance shall endure the like , +And I will chain these legs and arms of thine , +That hast by tyranny , these many years +Wasted our country , slain our citizens , +And sent our sons and husbands captivate . + +Ha , ha , ha ! + +Laughest thou , wretch ? thy mirth shall turn to moan . + +I laugh to see your ladyship so fond +To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow , +Whereon to practise your severity . + +Why , art not thou the man ? + +I am , indeed . + +Then have I substance too . + +No , no , I am but shadow of myself : +You are deceiv'd , my substance is not here ; +For what you see is but the smallest part +And least proportion of humanity . +I tell you , madam , were the whole frame here , +It is of such a spacious lofty pitch , +Your roof were not sufficient to contain it . + +This is a riddling merchant for the nonce ; +He will be here , and yet he is not here : +How can these contrarieties agree ? + +That will I show you presently . + + +How say you , madam ? are you now persuaded +That Talbot is but shadow of himself ? +These are his substance , sinews , arms , and strength , +With which he yoketh your rebellious necks , +Razeth your cities , and subverts your towns , + +And in a moment makes them desolate . + +Victorious Talbot ! pardon my abuse : +I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited , +And more than may be gather'd by thy shape . +Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath ; +For I am sorry that with reverence +I did not entertain thee as thou art . + +Be not dismay'd , fair lady ; nor misconster +The mind of Talbot as you did mistake +The outward composition of his body . +What you have done hath not offended me ; +Nor other satisfaction do I crave , +But only , with your patience , that we may +Taste of your wine and see what cates you have ; +For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well . + +With all my heart , and think me honoured +To feast so great a warrior in my house . + + +Great lords , and gentlemen , what means this silence ? +Dare no man answer in a case of truth ? + +Within the Temple hall we were too loud ; +The garden here is more convenient . + +Then say at once if I maintain'd the truth , +Or else was wrangling Somerset in the error ? + +Faith , I have been a truant in the law , +And never yet could frame my will to it ; +And therefore frame the law unto my will . + +Judge you , my Lord of Warwick , then , between us . + +Between two hawks , which flies the higher pitch ; +Between two dogs , which hath the deeper mouth ; +Between two blades , which bears the better temper ; +Between two horses , which doth bear him best ; +Between two girls , which hath the merriest eye ; +I have perhaps , some shallow spirit of judgment ; +But in these nice sharp quillets of the law , +Good faith , I am no wiser than a daw . + +Tut , tut ! here is a mannerly forbearance : +The truth appears so naked on my side , +That any purblind eye may find it out . + +And on my side it is so well apparell'd , +So clear , so shining , and so evident , +That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye . + +Since you are tongue-tied , and so loath to speak , +In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts : +Let him that is a true-born gentleman , +And stands upon the honour of his birth , +If he suppose that I have pleaded truth , +From off this brier pluck a white rose with me . + +Let him that is no coward nor no flatterer , +But dare maintain the party of the truth , +Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me . + +I love no colours , and , without all colour +Of base insinuating flattery +I pluck this white rose with Plantagenet . + +I pluck this red rose with young Somerset : +And say withal I think he held the right . + +Stay , lords and gentlemen , and pluck no more , +Till you conclude that he , upon whose side +The fewest roses are cropp'd from the tree , +Shall yield the other in the right opinion . + +Good Master Vernon , it is well objected : +If I have fewest I subscribe in silence . + +And I . + +Then for the truth and plainness of the case , +I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here , +Giving my verdict on the white rose side . + +Prick not your finger as you pluck it off , +Lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red , +And fall on my side so , against your will . + +If I , my lord , for my opinion bleed , +Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt , +And keep me on the side where still I am . + +Well , well , come on : who else ? + +Unless my study and my books be false , +The argument you held was wrong in you , +In sign whereof I pluck a white rose too . + +Now , Somerset , where is your argument ? + +Here , in my scabbard ; meditating that +Shall dye your white rose in a bloody red . + +Meantime , your cheeks do counterfeit our roses ; +For pale they look with fear , as witnessing +The truth on our side . + +No , Plantagenet , +'Tis not for fear but anger that thy cheeks +Blush for pure shame to counterfeit our roses , +And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error . + +Hath not thy rose a canker , Somerset ? + +Hath not thy rose a thorn , Plantagenet ? + +Ay , sharp and piercing , to maintain his truth ; +Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood . + +Well , I'll find friends to wear my bleeding roses , +That shall maintain what I have said is true , +Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen . + +Now , by this maiden blossom in my hand , +I scorn thee and thy faction , peevish boy . + +Turn not thy scorns this way , Plantagenet . + +Proud Pole , I will , and scorn both him and thee . + +I'll turn my part thereof into thy throat . + +Away , away ! good William de la Pole : +We grace the yeoman by conversing with him . + +Now , by God's will , thou wrong'st him , Somerset : +His grandfather was Lionel , Duke of Clarence , +Third son to the third Edward , King of England . +Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root ? + +He bears him on the place's privilege , +Or durst not , for his craven heart , say thus . + +By Him that made me , I'll maintain my words +On any plot of ground in Christendom . +Was not thy father , Richard Earl of Cambridge , +For treason executed in our late king's days ? +And , by his treason stand'st not thou attainted , +Corrupted , and exempt from ancient gentry ? +His trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood ; +And , till thou be restor'd , thou art a yeoman . + +My father was attached , not attained ; +Condemn'd to die for treason , but no traitor ; +And that I'll prove on better men than Somerset , +Were growing time once ripen'd to my will . +For your partaker Pole and you yourself , +I'll note you in my book of memory , +To scourge you for this apprehension : +Look to it well and say you are well warn'd . + +Ah , thou shalt find us ready for thee still , +And know us by these colours for thy foes ; +For these my friends in spite of thee shall wear . + +And , by my soul , this pale and angry rose , +As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate , +Will I for ever and my faction wear , +Until it wither with me to my grave +Or flourish to the height of my degree . + +Go forward , and be chok'd with thy ambition : +And so farewell until I meet thee next . + + +Have with thee , Pole . Farewell , ambitious Richard . + + +How I am brav'd and must perforce endure it ! + +This blot that they object against your house +Shall be wip'd out in the next parliament , +Call'd for the truce of Winchester and Gloucester ; +And if thou be not then created York , +I will not live to be accounted Warwick . +Meantime in signal of my love to thee , +Against proud Somerset and William Pole , +Will I upon thy party wear this rose . +And here I prophesy : this brawl to-day , +Grown to this faction in the Temple garden , +Shall send between the red rose and the white +A thousand souls to death and deadly night . + +Good Master Vernon , I am bound to you , +That you on my behalf would pluck a flower . + +In your behalf still would I wear the same . + +And so will I . + +Thanks , gentle sir . +Come , let us four to dinner : I dare say +This quarrel will drink blood another day . + + +Kind keepers of my weak decaying age , +Let dying Mortimer here rest himself . +Even like a man new haled from the rack , +So fare my limbs with long imprisonment ; +And these gray locks , the pursuivants of death , +Nestor-like aged , in an age of care , +Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer . +These eyes , like lamps whose wasting oil is spent , +Wax dim , as drawing to their exigent ; +Weak shoulders , overborne with burdening grief , +And pithless arms , like to a wither'd vine +That droops his sapless branches to the ground : +Yet are these feet , whose strengthless stay is numb , +Unable to support this lump of clay , +Swift-winged with desire to get a grave , +As witting I no other comfort have . +But tell me , keeper , will my nephew come ? + +Richard Plantagenet , my lord , will come : +We sent unto the Temple , unto his chamber . +And answer was return'd that he will come . + +Enough : my soul shall then be satisfied . +Poor gentleman ! his wrong doth equal mine . +Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign , +Before whose glory I was great in arms , +This loathsome sequestration have I had ; +And even since then hath Richard been obscur'd , +Depriv'd of honour and inheritance . +But now the arbitrator of despairs , +Just death , kind umpire of men's miseries , +With sweet enlargement doth dismiss me hence : +I would his troubles likewise were expir'd , +That so he might recover what was lost . + + +My lord , your loving nephew now is come . + +Richard Plantagenet , my friend , is he come ? + +Ay , noble uncle , thus ignobly us'd , +Your nephew , late despised Richard , comes . + +Direct mine arms I may embrace his neck , +And in his bosom spend my latter gasp : +O ! tell me when my lips do touch his cheeks , +That I may kindly give one fainting kiss . +And now declare , sweet stem from York's great stock , +Why didst thou say of late thou wert despis'd ? + +First , lean thine aged back against mine arm ; +And in that ease , I'll tell thee my disease . +This day , in argument upon a case , +Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and me ; +Among which terms he us'd a lavish tongue +And did upbraid me with my father's death : +Which obloquy set bars before my tongue , +Else with the like I had requited him . +Therefore , good uncle , for my father's sake , +In honour of a true Plantagenet , +And for alliance sake , declare the cause +My father , Earl of Cambridge , lost his head . + +That cause , fair nephew , that imprison'd me , +And hath detain'd me all my flow'ring youth +Within a loathsome dungeon , there to pine , +Was cursed instrument of his decease . + +Discover more at large what cause that was , +For I am ignorant and cannot guess . + +I will , if that my fading breath permit , +And death approach not ere my tale be done . +Henry the Fourth , grandfather to this king , +Depos'd his nephew Richard , Edward's son , +The first-begotten , and the lawful heir +Of Edward king , the third of that descent : +During whose reign the Percies of the North , +Finding his usurpation most unjust , +Endeavour'd my advancement to the throne . +The reason mov'd these warlike lords to this +Was , for that young King Richard thus remov'd , +Leaving no heir begotten of his body +I was the next by birth and parentage ; +For by my mother I derived am +From Lionel Duke of Clarence , the third son +To King Edward the Third ; whereas he +From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree , +Being but fourth of that heroic line . +But mark : as , in this haughty great attempt +They laboured to plant the rightful heir , +I lost my liberty , and they their lives . +Long after this , when Henry the Fifth +Succeeding his father Bolingbroke , did reign , +Thy father , Earl of Cambridge , then deriv'd +From famous Edmund Langley , Duke of York , +Marrying my sister that thy mother was , +Again in pity of my hard distress +Levied an army , weening to redeem +And have install'd me in the diadem ; +But , as the rest , so fell that noble earl , +And was beheaded . Thus the Mortimers , +In whom the title rested , were suppress'd . + +Of which , my lord , your honour is the last . + +True ; and thou seest that I no issue have , +And that my fainting words do warrant death : +Thou art my heir ; the rest I wish thee gather : +But yet be wary in thy studious care . + +Thy grave admonishments prevail with me . +But yet methinks my father's execution +Was nothing less than bloody tyranny . + +With silence , nephew , be thou politic : +Strong-fixed is the house of Lancaster , +And like a mountain , not to be remov'd . +But now thy uncle is removing hence , +As princes do their courts , when they are cloy'd +With long continuance in a settled place . + +O uncle ! would some part of my young years +Might but redeem the passage of your age . + +Thou dost then wrong me ,as the slaughterer doth , +Which giveth many wounds when one will kill . +Mourn not , except thou sorrow for my good ; +Only give order for my funeral : +And so farewell ; and fair be all thy hopes , +And prosperous be thy life in peace and war ! + + +And peace , no war , befall thy parting soul ! +In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage , +And like a hermit overpass'd thy days . +Well , I will lock his counsel in my breast ; +And what I do imagine let that rest . +Keepers , convey him hence ; and I myself +Will see his burial better than his life . + +Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer , +Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort : +And , for those wrongs , those bitter injuries , +Which Somerset hath offer'd to my house , +I doubt not but with honour to redress ; +And therefore haste I to the parliament , +Either to be restored to my blood , +Or make my ill the advantage of my good . + + +Com'st thou with deep premeditated lines , +With written pamphlets studiously devis'd , +Humphrey of Gloucester ? If thou canst accuse , +Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge , +Do it without invention , suddenly ; +As I , with sudden and extemporal speech +Purpose to answer what thou canst object . + +Presumptuous priest ! this place commands my patience +Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonour'd me . +Think not , although in writing I preferr'd +The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes , +That therefore I have forg'd , or am not able +Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen : +No , prelate ; such is thy audacious wickedness , +Thy lewd , pestiferous , and dissentious pranks , +As very infants prattle of thy pride . +Thou art a most pernicious usurer , +Froward by nature , enemy to peace ; +Lascivious , wanton , more than well beseems +A man of thy profession and degree ; +And for thy treachery , what's more manifest ? +In that thou laid'st a trap to take my life +As well at London Bridge as at the Tower . +Beside , I fear me , if thy thoughts were sifted , +The king , thy sov'reign , is not quite exempt +From envious malice of thy swelling heart . + +Gloucester , I do defy thee . Lords , vouchsafe +To give me hearing what I shall reply . +If I were covetous , ambitious , or perverse , +As he will have me , how am I so poor ? +Or how haps it I seek not to advance +Or raise myself , but keep my wonted calling ? +And for dissension , who preferreth peace +More than I do , except I be provok'd ? +No , my good lords , it is not that offends ; +It is not that that hath incens'd the duke : +It is , because no one should sway but he ; +No one but he should be about the king ; +And that engenders thunder in his breast , +And makes him roar these accusations forth . +But he shall know I am as good + +As good ! +Thou bastard of my grandfather ! + +Ay , lordly sir ; for what are you , I pray , +But one imperious in another's throne ? + +Am I not protector , saucy priest ? + +And am not I a prelate of the church ? + +Yes , as an outlaw in a castle keeps , +And useth it to patronage his theft . + +Unreverent Gloucester ! + +Thou art reverent , +Touching thy spiritual function , not thy life . + +Rome shall remedy this . + +Roam thither then . + +My lord , it were your duty to forbear . + +Ay , see the bishop be not overborne . + +Methinks my lord should be religious , +And know the office that belongs to such . + +Methinks his lordship should be humbler ; +It fitteth not a prelate so to plead . + +Yes , when his holy state is touch'd so near . + +State holy , or unhallow'd , what of that ? +Is not his Grace protector to the king ? + +Plantagenet , I see , must hold his tongue , +Lest it be said , 'Speak , sirrah , when you should ; +Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords ?' +Else would I have a fling at Winchester . + +Uncles of Gloucester and of Winchester , +The special watchmen of our English weal , +I would prevail , if prayers might prevail , +To join your hearts in love and amity . +O ! what a scandal is it to our crown , +That two such noble peers as ye should jar . +Believe me , lords , my tender years can tell +Civil dissension is a viperous worm , +That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth . + +What tumult's this ? + +An uproar , I dare warrant , +Begun through malice of the bishop's men . + +O , my good lords , and virtuous Henry , +Pity the city of London , pity us ! +The bishop and the Duke of Gloucester's men , +Forbidden late to carry any weapon , +Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble stones , +And banding themselves in contrary parts +Do pelt so fast at one another's pate , +That many have their giddy brains knock'd out : +Our windows are broke down in every street , +And we for fear compell'd to shut our shops . + + +We charge you , on allegiance to ourself , +To hold your slaught'ring hands , and keep the peace . +Pray , uncle Gloucester , mitigate this strife . + +Nay , if we be forbidden stones , we'll fall to it with our teeth . + +Do what ye dare , we are as resolute . + + +You of my household , leave this peevish broil , +And set this unaccustom'd fight aside . + +My lord , we know your Grace to be a man +Just and upright , and , for your royal birth , +Inferior to none but to his majesty ; +And ere that we will suffer such a prince , +So kind a father of the commonweal , +To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate , +We and our wives and children all will fight , +And have our bodies slaught'red by thy foes . + +Ay , and the very parings of our nails +Shall pitch a field when we are dead . + + +Stay , stay , I say ! +And , if you love me , as you say you do , +Let me persuade you to forbear a while . + +O ! how this discord doth afflict my soul ! +Can you , my Lord of Winchester , behold +My sighs and tears and will not once relent ? +Who should be pitiful if you be not ? +Or who should study to prefer a peace +If holy churchmen take delight in broils ? + +Yield , my Lord Protector ; yield , Winchester ; +Except you mean with obstinate repulse +To slay your sov'reign and destroy the realm . +You see what mischief and what murder too +Hath been enacted through your enmity : +Then be at peace , except ye thirst for blood . + +He shall submit or I will never yield . + +Compassion on the king commands me stoop ; +Or I would see his heart out ere the priest +Should ever get that privilege of me . + +Behold , my Lord of Winchester , the duke +Hath banish'd moody discontented fury , +As by his smoothed brows it doth appear : +Why look you still so stern and tragical ? + +Here , Winchester , I offer thee my hand . + +Fie , uncle Beaufort ! I have heard you preach , +That malice was a great and grievous sin ; +And will not you maintain the thing you teach , +But prove a chief offender in the same ? + +Sweet king ! the bishop hath a kindly gird . +For shame , my Lord of Winchester , relent ! +What ! shall a child instruct you what to do ? + +Well , Duke of Gloucester , I will yield to thee ; +Love for thy love and hand for hand I give . + +Ay ; but I fear me , with a hollow heart . +See here , my friends and loving countrymen , +This token serveth for a flag of truce , +Betwixt ourselves and all our followers . +So help me God , as I dissemble not ! + +So help me God , as I intend it not ! + +O loving uncle , kind Duke of Gloucester , +How joyful am I made by this contract ! +Away , my masters ! trouble us no more ; +But join in friendship , as your lords have done . + +Content : I'll to the surgeon's . + +And so will I . + +And I will see what physic the tavern affords . + + +Accept this scroll , most gracious sovereign , +Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet +We do exhibit to your majesty . + +Well urg'd , my Lord of Warwick : for , sweet prince , +An if your Grace mark every circumstance , +You have great reason to do Richard right ; +Especially for those occasions +At Eltham-place I told your majesty . + +And those occasions , uncle , were of force : +Therefore , my loving lords , our pleasure is +That Richard be restored to his blood . + +Let Richard be restored to his blood ; +So shall his father's wrongs be recompens'd . + +As will the rest , so willeth Winchester . + +If Richard will be true , not that alone , +But all the whole inheritance I give +That doth belong unto the house of York , +From whence you spring by lineal descent . + +Thy humble servant vows obedience , +And humble service till the point of death . + +Stoop then and set your knee against my foot ; +And , in reguerdon of that duty done , +I girt thee with the valiant sword of York : +Rise , Richard , like a true Plantagenet , +And rise created princely Duke of York . + +And so thrive Richard as thy foes may fall ! +And as my duty springs , so perish they +That grudge one thought against your majesty ! + +Welcome , high prince , the mighty Duke of York ! + +Perish , base prince , ignoble Duke of York ! + +Now , will it best avail your majesty +To cross the seas and to be crown'd in France . +The presence of a king engenders love +Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends , +As it disanimates his enemies . + +When Gloucester says the word , King Henry goes ; +For friendly counsel cuts off many foes . + +Your ships already are in readiness . + + +Ay , we may march in England or in France , +Not seeing what is likely to ensue . +This late dissension grown betwixt the peers +Burns under feigned ashes of forg'd love , +And will at last break out into a flame : +As fester'd members rot but by degree , +Till bones and flesh and sinews fall away , +So will this base and envious discord breed . +And now I fear that fatal prophecy +Which in the time of Henry , nam'd the Fifth , +Was in the mouth of every sucking babe ; +That Henry born at Monmouth should win all ; +And Henry born at Windsor should lose all : +Which is so plain that Exeter doth wish +His days may finish ere that hapless time . + +These are the city gates , the gates of Roan , +Through which our policy must make a breach : +Take heed , be wary how you place your words ; +Talk like the vulgar sort of market-men +That come to gather money for their corn . +If we have entrance ,as I hope we shall , +And that we find the slothful watch but weak , +I'll by a sign give notice to our friends , +That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them . + +Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city , +And we be lords and rulers over Roan ; +Therefore we'll knock . + + +Qui est l ? + +Paisans , pauvres gens de France : +Poor market-folks that come to sell their corn . + +Enter , go in ; the market-bell is rung . + +Now , Roan , I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground . + +Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem ! +And once again we'll sleep secure in Roan . + +Here enter'd Pucelle and her practisants ; +Now she is there how will she specify +Where is the best and safest passage in ? + +By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower ; +Which , once discern'd , shows that her meaning is , +No way to that , for weakness , which she enter'd . + + +Behold ! this is the happy wedding torch +That joineth Roan unto her countrymen , +But burning fatal to the Talbotites ! + + +See , noble Charles , the beacon of our friend , +The burning torch in yonder turret stands . + +Now shine it like a comet of revenge , +A prophet to the fall of all our foes ! + +Defer no time , delays have dangerous ends ; +Enter , and cry 'The Dauphin !' presently , +And then do execution on the watch . + +France , thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears , +If Talbot but survive thy treachery . +Pucelle , that witch , that damned sorceress , +Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares , +That hardly we escap'd the pride of France . + + +Good morrow , gallants ! Want ye corn for bread ? +I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast +Before he'll buy again at such a rate . +'Twas full of darnel ; do you like the taste ? + +Scoff on , vile fiend and shameless courtezan ! +I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own , +And make thee curse the harvest of that corn . + +Your Grace may starve perhaps , before that time . + +O ! let no words , but deeds , revenge this treason ! + +What will you do , good grey-beard ? break a lance , +And run a tilt at death within a chair ? + +Foul fiend of France , and hag of all despite , +Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours ! +Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age +And twit with cowardice a man half dead ? +Damsel , I'll have a bout with you again , +Or else let Talbot perish with this shame . + +Are you so hot , sir ? Yet , Pucelle , hold thy peace ; +If Talbot do but thunder , rain will follow . + +God speed the parliament ! who shall be the speaker ? + +Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field ? + +Belike your lordship takes us then for fools , +To try if that our own be ours or no . + +I speak not to that railing Hecate , +But unto thee , Alen on , and the rest ; +Will ye , like soldiers , come and fight it out ? + +Signior , no . + +Signior , hang ! base muleters of France ! +Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls , +And dare not take up arms like gentlemen . + +Away , captains ! let's get us from the walls ; +For Talbot means no-goodness , by his looks . +God be wi' you , my lord ! we came but to tell you +That we are here . + + +And there will we be too , ere it be long , +Or else reproach be Talbot's greatest fame ! +Vow , Burgundy , by honour of thy house , +Prick'd on by public wrongs sustain'd in France , +Either to get the town again , or die ; +And I , as sure as English Henry lives , +And as his father here was conqueror , +As sure as in this late-betrayed town +Great C ur-de-lion's heart was buried , +So sure I swear to get the town or die . + +My vows are equal partners with thy vows . + +But , ere we go , regard this dying prince , +The valiant Duke of Bedford . Come , my lord , +We will bestow you in some better place , +Fitter for sickness and for crazy age . + +Lord Talbot , do not so dishonour me : +Here will I sit before the walls of Roan , +And will be partner of your weal or woe . + +Courageous Bedford , let us now persuade you . + +Not to be gone from hence ; for once I read , +That stout Pendragon in his litter , sick , +Came to the field and vanquished his foes : +Methinks I should revive the soldiers' hearts , +Because I ever found them as myself . + +Undaunted spirit in a dying breast ! +Then be it so : heavens keep old Bedford safe ! +And now no more ado , brave Burgundy , +But gather we our forces out of hand , +And set upon our boasting enemy . + +Whither away , Sir John Fastolfe , in such haste ? + +Whither away ! to save myself by flight : +We are like to have the overthrow again . + +What ! will you fly , and leave Lord Talbot ? + +Ay , +All the Talbots in the world , to save my life . + + +Cowardly knight ! ill fortune follow thee ! + + +Now , quiet soul , depart when Heaven please , +For I have seen our enemies' overthrow . +What is the trust or strength of foolish man ? +They , that of late were daring with their scoffs +Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves . + +Lost , and recover'd in a day again ! +This is a double honour , Burgundy : +Yet heavens have glory for this victory ! + +Warlike and martial Talbot , Burgundy +Enshrines thee in his heart , and there erects +Thy noble deeds as valour's monument . + +Thanks , gentle duke . But where is Pucelle now ? +I think her old familiar is asleep . +Now where's the Bastard's braves , and Charles his gleeks ? +What ! all amort ? Roan hangs her head for grief , +That such a valiant company are fled . +Now will we take some order in the town , +Placing therein some expert officers , +And then depart to Paris to the king ; +For there young Henry with his nobles lie . + +What wills Lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy . + +But yet , before we go , let's not forget +The noble Duke of Bedford late deceas'd , +But see his exequies fulfill'd in Roan : +A braver soldier never couched lance , +A gentler heart did never sway in court ; +But kings and mightiest potentates must die , +For that's the end of human misery . + + +Dismay not , princes , at this accident , +Nor grieve that Roan is so recovered : +Care is no cure , but rather corrosive , +For things that are not to be remedied . +Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while , +And like a peacock sweep along his tail ; +We'll pull his plumes and take away his train , +If Dauphin and the rest will be but rul'd . + +We have been guided by thee hitherto , +And of thy cunning had no diffidence : +One sudden foil shall never breed distrust . + +Search out thy wit for secret policies , +And we will make thee famous through the world . + +We'll set thy statue in some holy place +And have thee reverenc'd like a blessed saint : +Employ thee , then , sweet virgin , for our good . + +Then thus it must be ; this doth Joan devise : +By fair persuasions , mix'd with sugar'd words , +We will entice the Duke of Burgundy +To leave the Talbot and to follow us . + +Ay , marry , sweeting , if we could do that , +France were no place for Henry's warriors ; +Nor should that nation boast it so with us , +But be extirped from our provinces . + +For ever should they be expuls'd from France , +And not have title of an earldom here . + +Your honours shall perceive how I will work +To bring this matter to the wished end . + +Hark ! by the sound of drum you may perceive +Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward . + + +There goes the Talbot , with his colours spread , +And all the troops of English after him . + +Now in the rearward comes the duke and his : +Fortune in favour makes him lag behind . +Summon a parley ; we will talk with him . + +A parley with the Duke of Burgundy ! + +Who craves a parley with the Burgundy ? + +The princely Charles of France , thy countryman . + +What sayst thou , Charles ? for I am marching hence . + +Speak , Pucelle , and enchant him with thy words . + +Brave Burgundy , undoubted hope of France ! +Stay , let thy humble handmaid speak to thee . + +Speak on ; but be not over-tedious . + +Look on thy country , look on fertile France , +And see the cities and the towns defac'd +By wasting ruin of the cruel foe . +As looks the mother on her lowly babe +When death doth close his tender dying eyes , +See , see the pining malady of France ; +Behold the wounds , the most unnatural wounds , +Which thou thyself hast giv'n her woeful breast . +O ! turn thy edged sword another way ; +Strike those that hurt , and hurt not those that help . +One drop of blood drawn from thy country's bosom , +Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore : +Return thee therefore , with a flood of tears , +And wash away thy country's stained spots . + +Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words , +Or nature makes me suddenly relent . + +Besides , all French and France exclaims on thee , +Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny . +Who join'st thou with but with a lordly nation +That will not trust thee but for profit's sake ? +When Talbot hath set footing once in France , +And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill , +Who then but English Henry will be lord , +And thou be thrust out like a fugitive ? +Call we to mind , and mark but this for proof , +Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe , +And was he not in England prisoner ? +But when they heard he was thine enemy , +They set him free , without his ransom paid , +In spite of Burgundy and all his friends . +See then , thou fight'st against thy countrymen ! +And join'st with them will be thy slaughtermen . +Come , come , return ; return thou wand'ring lord ; +Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms . + +I am vanquished ; these haughty words of hers +Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot , +And made me almost yield upon my knees . +Forgive me , country , and sweet countrymen ! +And , lords , accept this hearty kind embrace : +My forces and my power of men are yours . +So , farewell , Talbot ; I'll no longer trust thee . + +Done like a Frenchman : turn , and turn again ! + +Welcome , brave duke ! thy friendship makes us fresh . + +And doth beget new courage in our breasts . + +Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part in this , +And doth deserve a coronet of gold . + +Now let us on , my lords , and join our powers : +And seek how we may prejudice the foe . + + +My gracious prince , and honourable peers , +Hearing of your arrival in this realm , +I have a while giv'n truce unto my wars , +To do my duty to my sovereign : +In sign whereof , this arm ,that hath reclaim'd +To your obedience fifty fortresses , +Twelve cities , and seven walled towns of strength , +Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem , +Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet , + +And with submissive loyalty of heart , +Ascribes the glory of his conquest got , +First to my God , and next unto your Grace . + +Is this the Lord Talbot , uncle Gloucester , +That hath so long been resident in France ? + +Yes , if it please your majesty , my liege . + +Welcome , brave captain and victorious lord ! +When I was young ,as yet I am not old , +I do remember how my father said , +A stouter champion never handled sword . +Long since we were resolved of your truth , +Your faithful service and your toil in war ; +Yet never have you tasted our reward , +Or been reguerdon'd with so much as thanks , +Because till now we never saw your face : +Therefore , stand up ; and for these good deserts , +We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury ; +And in our coronation take your place . + + +Now , sir , to you , that were so hot at sea , +Disgracing of these colours that I wear +In honour of my noble Lord of York , +Dar'st thou maintain the former words thou spak'st ? + +Yes , sir : as well as you dare patronage +The envious barking of your saucy tongue +Against my lord the Duke of Somerset . + +Sirrah , thy lord I honour as he is . + +Why , what is he ? as good a man as York . + +Hark ye ; not so : in witness , take ye that . + + +Villain , thou know'st the law of arms is such +That , whoso draws a sword , 'tis present death , +Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood . +But I'll unto his majesty , and crave +I may have liberty to venge this wrong ; +When thou shalt see I'll meet thee to thy cost . + +Well , miscreant , I'll be there as soon as you ; +And , after , meet you sooner than you would . + + +Lord bishop , set the crown upon his head . + +God save King Henry , of that name the sixth . + +Now , Governor of Paris , take your oath , + +That you elect no other king but him , +Esteem none friends but such as are his friends , +And none your foes but such as shall pretend +Malicious practices against his state : +This shall ye do , so help you righteous God ! + +My gracious sovereign ; as I rode from Calais , +To haste unto your coronation , +A letter was deliver'd to my hands , +Writ to your Grace from the Duke of Burgundy . + +Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee ! +I vow'd , base knight , when I did meet thee next , +To tear the garter from thy craven's leg ; + +Which I have done , because unworthily +Thou wast installed in that high degree . +Pardon me , princely Henry , and the rest : +This dastard , at the battle of Patay , +When but in all I was six thousand strong , +And that the French were almost ten to one , +Before we met or that a stroke was given , +Like to a trusty squire did run away : +In which assault we lost twelve hundred men ; +Myself , and divers gentlemen beside , +Were there surpris'd and taken prisoners . +Then judge , great lords , if I have done amiss ; +Or whether that such cowards ought to wear +This ornament of knighthood , yea , or no ? + +To say the truth , this fact was infamous +And ill beseeming any common man , +Much more a knight , a captain and a leader . + +When first this order was ordain'd , my lords , +Knights of the garter were of noble birth , +Valiant and virtuous , full of haughty courage , +Such as were grown to credit by the wars ; +Not fearing death , nor shrinking for distress , +But always resolute in most extremes . +He then that is not furnish'd in this sort +Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight , +Profaning this most honourable order ; +And should if I were worthy to be judge +Be quite degraded , like a hedge-born swain +That doth presume to boast of gentle blood . + +Stain to thy countrymen ! thou hear'st thy doom . +Be packing therefore , thou that wast a knight ; +Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death . + +And now , my Lord Protector , view the letter +Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy . + +What means his Grace , that he hath chang'd his style ? +No more , but plain and bluntly , To the King ! +Hath he forgot he is his sovereign ? +Or doth this churlish superscription +Pretend some alteration in good will ? +What's here ? I have , upon especial cause , +Mov'd with compassion of my country's wrack , +Together with the pitiful complaints +Of such as your oppression feeds upon , +Forsaken your pernicious faction , +And join'd with Charles , the rightful King of France . +O , monstrous treachery ! Can this be so , +That in alliance , amity , and oaths , +There should be found such false dissembling guile ? + +What ! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt ? + +He doth , my lord , and is become your foe . + +Is that the worst this letter doth contain ? + +It is the worst , and all , my lord , he writes . + +Why then , Lord Talbot there shall talk with him , +And give him chastisement for this abuse . +How say you , my lord ? are you not content ? + +Content , my liege ! Yes : but that I am prevented , +I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd . + +Then gather strength , and march unto him straight : +Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason , +And what offence it is to flout his friends . + +I go , my lord ; in heart desiring still +You may behold confusion of your foes . + +Grant me the combat , gracious sovereign ! + +And me , my lord ; grant me the combat too ! + +This is my servant : hear him , noble prince ! + +And this is mine : sweet Henry , favour him ! + +Be patient , lords ; and give them leave to speak . +Say , gentlemen , what makes you thus exclaim ? +And wherefore crave you combat ? or with whom ? + +With him , my lord ; for he hath done me wrong . + +And I with him ; for he hath done me wrong . + +What is that wrong whereof you both complain ? +First let me know , and then I'll answer you . + +Crossing the sea from England into France , +This fellow here , with envious carping tongue , +Upbraided me about the rose I wear ; +Saying , the sanguine colour of the leaves +Did represent my master's blushing cheeks , +When stubbornly he did repugn the truth +About a certain question in the law +Argu'd betwixt the Duke of York and him ; +With other vile and ignominious terms : +In confutation of which rude reproach , +And in defence of my lord's worthiness , +I crave the benefit of law of arms . + +And that is my petition , noble lord : +For though he seem with forged quaint conceit , +To set a gloss upon his bold intent , +Yet know , my lord , I was provok'd by him ; +And he first took exceptions at this badge , +Pronouncing , that the paleness of this flower +Bewray'd the faintness of my master's heart . + +Will not this malice , Somerset , be left ? + +Your private grudge , my Lord of York , will out , +Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it . + +Good Lord ! what madness rules in brain-sick men , +When , for so slight and frivolous a cause , +Such factious emulations shall arise ! +Good cousins both , of York and Somerset , +Quiet yourselves , I pray , and be at peace . + +Let this dissension first be tried by fight , +And then your highness shall command a peace . + +The quarrel toucheth none but us alone ; +Betwixt ourselves let us decide it , then . + +There is my pledge ; accept it , Somerset . + +Nay , let it rest where it began at first . + +Confirm it so , mine honourable lord . + +Confirm it so ! Confounded be your strife ! +And perish ye , with your audacious prate ! +Presumptuous vassals ! are you not asham'd , +With this immodest clamorous outrage +To trouble and disturb the king and us ? +And you , my lords , methinks you do not well +To bear with their perverse objections ; +Much less to take occasion from their mouths +To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves : +Let me persuade you take a better course . + +It grieves his highness : good my lords , be friends . + +Come hither , you that would be combatants . +Henceforth I charge you , as you love our favour , +Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause . +And you , my lords , remember where we are ; +In France , amongst a fickle wav'ring nation . +If they perceive dissension in our looks , +And that within ourselves we disagree , +How will their grudging stomachs be provok'd +To wilful disobedience , and rebel ! +Beside , what infamy will there arise , +When foreign princes shall be certified +That for a toy , a thing of no regard , +King Henry's peers and chief nobility +Destroy'd themselves , and lost the realm of France ! +O ! think upon the conquest of my father , +My tender years , and let us not forego +That for a trifle that was bought with blood ! +Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife . +I see no reason , if I wear this rose , + +That any one should therefore be suspicious +I more incline to Somerset than York : +Both are my kinsmen , and I love them both . +As well they may upbraid me with my crown , +Because , forsooth , the King of Scots is crown'd . +But your discretions better can persuade +Than I am able to instruct or teach : +And therefore , as we hither came in peace , +So let us still continue peace and love . +Cousin of York , we institute your Grace +To be our regent in these parts of France : +And , good my Lord of Somerset , unite +Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot ; +And like true subjects , sons of your progenitors , +Go cheerfully together and digest +Your angry choler on your enemies . +Ourself , my Lord Protector , and the rest , +After some respite will return to Calais ; +From thence to England ; where I hope ere long +To be presented by your victories , +With Charles , Alen on , and that traitorous rout . + + +My Lord of York , I promise you , the king Prettily , methought , did play the orator . + +And so he did ; but yet I like it not , +In that he wears the badge of Somerset . + +Tush ! that was but his fancy , blame him not ; +I dare presume , sweet prince , he thought no harm . + +An if I wist he did ,But let it rest ; +Other affairs must now be managed . + + +Well didst thou , Richard , to suppress thy voice ; +For had the passions of thy heart burst out , +I fear we should have seen decipher'd there +More rancorous spite , more furious raging broils , +Than yet can be imagin'd or suppos'd . +But howsoe'er , no simple man that sees +This jarring discord of nobility , +This shouldering of each other in the court , +This factious bandying of their favourites , +But that it doth presage some ill event . +'Tis much when sceptres are in children's hands ; +But more , when envy breeds unkind division : +There comes the ruin , there begins confusion . + + +Go to the gates of Bourdeaux , trumpeter ; +Summon their general unto the wall . + + +English John Talbot , captains , calls you forth , +Servant in arms to Harry King of England ; +And thus he would : Open your city gates , +Be humble to us , call my sov'reign yours , +And do him homage as obedient subjects , +And I'll withdraw me and my bloody power ; +But , if you frown upon this proffer'd peace , +You tempt the fury of my three attendants , +Lean famine , quartering steel , and climbing fire ; +Who in a moment even with the earth +Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers , + +If you forsake the offer of their love . + +Thou ominous and fearful owl of death , +Our nation's terror and their bloody scourge ! +The period of thy tyranny approacheth . +On us thou canst not enter but by death ; +For , I protest , we are well fortified , +And strong enough to issue out and fight : +If thou retire , the Dauphin , well appointed , +Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee : +On either hand thee there are squadrons pitch'd , +To wall thee from the liberty of flight ; +And no way canst thou turn thee for redress +But death doth front thee with apparent spoil , +And pale destruction meets thee in the face . +Ten thousand French have ta'en the sacrament , +To rive their dangerous artillery +Upon no Christian soul but English Talbot . +Lo ! there thou stand'st , a breathing valiant man , +Of an invincible unconquer'd spirit : +This is the latest glory of thy praise , +That I , thy enemy , 'due thee withal ; +For ere the glass , that now begins to run , +Finish the process of his sandy hour , +These eyes , that see thee now well coloured , +Shall see thee wither'd , bloody , pale , and dead . + +Hark ! hark ! the Dauphin's drum , a warning bell , +Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul ; +And mine shall ring thy dire departure out . + + +He fables not ; I hear the enemy : +Out , some light horsemen , and peruse their wings . +O ! negligent and heedless discipline ; +How are we park'd and bounded in a pale , +A little herd of England's timorous deer , +Maz'd with a yelping kennel of French curs ! +If we be English deer , be then , in blood ; +Not rascal-like , to fall down with a pinch , +But rather moody-mad and desperate stags , +Turn on the bloody hounds with heads of steel , +And make the cowards stand aloof at bay : +Sell every man his life as dear as mine , +And they shall find dear deer of us , my friends . +God and Saint George , Talbot and England's right , +Prosper our colours in this dangerous fight ! + + +Are not the speedy scouts return'd again , +That dogg'd the mighty army of the Dauphin ? + +They are return'd , my lord ; and give it out , +That he is march'd to Bourdeaux with his power , +To fight with Talbot . As he march'd along , +By your espials were discovered +Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led , +Which join'd with him and made their march for Bourdeaux . + +A plague upon that villain Somerset , +That thus delays my promised supply +Of horsemen that were levied for this siege ! +Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid , +And I am louted by a traitor villain , +And cannot help the noble chevalier . +God comfort him in this necessity ! +If he miscarry , farewell wars in France . + + +Thou princely leader of our English strength , +Never so needful on the earth of France , +Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot , +Who now is girdled with a waist of iron +And hemm'd about with grim destruction . +To Bourdeaux , war-like duke ! To Bourdeaux , York ! +Else , farewell Talbot , France , and England's honour . + +O God ! that Somerset , who in proud heart +Doth stop my cornets , were in Talbot's place ! +So should we save a valiant gentleman +By forfeiting a traitor and a coward . +Mad ire and wrathful fury , make me weep +That thus we die , while remiss traitors sleep . + +O ! send some succour to the distress'd lord . + +He dies , we lose ; I break my war-like word ; +We mourn , France smiles ; we lose , they daily get ; +All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset . + +Then God take mercy on brave Talbot's soul ; +And on his son young John , whom two hours since +I met in travel toward his war-like father . +This seven years did not Talbot see his son ; +And now they meet where both their lives are done . + +Alas ! what joy shall noble Talbot have , +To bid his young son welcome to his grave ? +Away ! vexation almost stops my breath +That sunder'd friends greet in the hour of death . +Lucy , farewell : no more my fortune can , +But curse the cause I cannot aid the man . +Maine , Blois , Poictiers , and Tours , are won away , +'Long all of Somerset and his delay . + + +Thus , while the vulture of sedition +Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders , +Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss +The conquest of our scarce cold conqueror , +That ever living man of memory , +Henry the Fifth : Whiles they each other cross , +Lives , honours , lands , and all hurry to loss . + + +It is too late ; I cannot send them now : +This expedition was by York and Talbot +Too rashly plotted : all our general force +Might with a sally of the very town +Be buckled with : the over-daring Talbot +Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour +By this unheedful , desperate , wild adventure : +York set him on to fight and die in shame , +That , Talbot dead , great York might bear the name . + +Here is Sir William Lucy , who with me +Set from our o'ermatch'd forces forth for aid . + + +How now , Sir William ! whither were you sent ? + +Whither , my lord ? from bought and sold Lord Talbot ; +Who , ring'd about with bold adversity , +Cries out for noble York and Somerset , +To beat assailing death from his weak legions : +And whiles the honourable captain there +Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs , +And , in advantage lingering , looks for rescue , +You , his false hopes , the trust of England's honour , +Keep off aloof with worthless emulation . +Let not your private discord keep away +The levied succours that should lend him aid , +While he , renowned noble gentleman , +Yields up his life unto a world of odds : +Orleans the Bastard , Charles , Burgundy , +Alen on , Reignier , compass him about , +And Talbot perisheth by your default . + +York set him on ; York should have sent him aid . + +And York as fast upon your Grace exclaims ; +Swearing that you withhold his levied host +Collected for this expedition . + +York lies ; he might have sent and had the horse : +I owe him little duty , and less love ; +And take foul scorn to fawn on him by sending . + +The fraud of England , not the force of France , +Hath now entrapp'd the noble-minded Talbot . +Never to England shall he bear his life , +But dies , betray'd to fortune by your strife . + +Come , go ; I will dispatch the horsemen straight : +Within six hours they will be at his aid . + +Too late comes rescue : he is ta'en or slain , +For fly he could not if he would have fled ; +And fly would Talbot never , though he might . + +If he be dead , brave Talbot , then adieu ! + +His fame lives in the world , his shame in you . + + +O young John Talbot ! I did send for thee +To tutor thee in stratagems of war , +That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd +When sapless age , and weak unable limbs +Should bring thy father to his drooping chair . +But ,O malignant and ill-boding stars ! +Now thou art come unto a feast of death , +A terrible and unavoided danger : +Therefore , dear boy , mount on my swiftest horse , +And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape +By sudden flight : come , dally not , be gone . + +Is my name Talbot ? and am I your son ? +And shall I fly ? O ! if you love my mother , +Dishonour not her honourable name , +To make a bastard and a slave of me : +The world will say he is not Talbot's blood +That basely fled when noble Talbot stood . + +Fly , to revenge my death , if I be slain . + +He that flies so will ne'er return again . + +If we both stay , we both are sure to die . + +Then let me stay ; and , father , do you fly : +Your loss is great , so your regard should be ; +My worth unknown , no loss is known in me . +Upon my death the French can little boast ; +In yours they will , in you all hopes are lost . +Flight cannot stain the honour you have won ; +But mine it will that no exploit have done : +You fled for vantage everyone will swear ; +But if I bow , they'll say it was for fear . +There is no hope that ever I will stay +If the first hour I shrink and run away . +Here , on my knee , I beg mortality , +Rather than life preserv'd with infamy . + +Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb ? + +Ay , rather than I'll shame my mother's womb . + +Upon my blessing I command thee go . + +To fight I will , but not to fly the foe . + +Part of thy father may be sav'd in thee . + +No part of him but will be shame in me . + +Thou never hadst renown , nor canst not lose it . + +Yes , your renowned name : shall flight abuse it ? + +Thy father's charge shall clear thee from that stain . + +You cannot witness for me , being slain . +If death be so apparent , then both fly . + +And leave my followers here to fight and die ? +My age was never tainted with such shame . + +And shall my youth be guilty of such blame ? +No more can I be sever'd from your side +Than can yourself yourself in twain divide . +Stay , go , do what you will , the like do I ; +For live I will not if my father die . + +Then here I take my leave of thee , fair son , +Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon . +Come , side by side together live and die , +And soul with soul from France to heaven fly . + +Saint George and victory ! fight , soldiers , fight ! +The regent hath with Talbot broke his word , +And left us to the rage of France his sword . +Where is John Talbot ? Pause , and take thy breath : +I gave thee life and rescu'd thee from death . + +O ! twice my father , twice am I thy son : +The life thou gav'st me first was lost and done , +Till with thy war-like sword , despite of fate , +To my determin'd time thou gav'st new date . + +When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire , +It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire +Of bold-fac'd victory . Then leaden age , +Quicken'd with youthful spleen and war-like rage , +Beat down Alen on , Orleans , Burgundy , +And from the pride of Gallia rescu'd thee . +The ireful bastard Orleans ,that drew blood +From thee , my boy , and had the maidenhood +Of thy first fight ,I soon encountered +And , interchanging blows , I quickly shed +Some of his bastard blood ; and , in disgrace , +Bespoke him thus , 'Contaminated , base , +And misbegotten blood I spill of thine , +Mean and right poor , for that pure blood of mine +Which thou didst force from Talbot , my brave boy :' +Here , purposing the Bastard to destroy , +Came in strong rescue . Speak , thy father's care , +Art thou not weary , John ? How dost thou fare ? +Wilt thou yet leave the battle , boy , and fly , +Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry ? +Fly , to revenge my death when I am dead ; +The help of one stands me in little stead . +O ! too much folly is it , well I wot , +To hazard all our lives in one small boat . +If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage , +To-morrow I shall die with mickle age : +By me they nothing gain an if I stay ; +'Tis but the short'ning of my life one day . +In thee thy mother dies , our household's name , +My death's revenge , thy youth , and England's fame . +All these and more we hazard by thy stay ; +All these are sav'd if thou wilt fly away . + +The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart ; +These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart . +On that advantage , bought with such a shame , +To save a paltry life and slay bright fame , +Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly , +The coward horse that bears me fall and die ! +And like me to the peasant boys of France , +To be shame's scorn and subject of mischance ! +Surely , by all the glory you have won , +An if I fly , I am not Talbot's son : +Then talk no more of flight , it is no boot ; +If son to Talbot , die at Talbot's foot . + +Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete , +Thou Icarus . Thy life to me is sweet : +If thou wilt fight , fight by thy father's side , +And , commendable prov'd , let's die in pride . + + +Where is my other life ?mine own is gone ; +O ! where's young Talbot ? where is valiant John ? +Triumphant death , smear'd with captivity , +Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee . +When he perceiv'd me shrink and on my knee , +His bloody sword he brandish'd over me , +And like a hungry lion did commence +Rough deeds of rage and stern impatience ; +But when my angry guardant stood alone , +Tendering my ruin and assail'd of none , +Dizzy-ey'd fury and great rage of heart +Suddenly made him from my side to start +Into the clust'ring battle of the French ; +And in that sea of blood my boy did drench +His overmounting spirit ; and there died +My Icarus , my blossom , in his pride . + + +O , my dear lord ! lo , where your son is borne ! + +Thou antick , death , which laugh'st us here to scorn , +Anon , from thy insulting tyranny , +Coupled in bonds of perpetuity , +Two Talbots , winged through the lither sky , +In thy despite shall 'scape mortality . +O ! thou , whose wounds become hard-favour'd death , +Speak to thy father ere thou yield thy breath ; +Brave death by speaking whe'r he will or no ; +Imagine him a Frenchman and thy foe . +Poor boy ! he smiles , methinks , as who should say , +Had death been French , then death had died to-day . +Come , come , and lay him in his father's arms : +My spirit can no longer bear these harms . +Soldiers , adieu ! I have what I would have , +Now my old arms are young John Talbot's grave . + +Had York and Somerset brought rescue in +We should have found a bloody day of this . + +How the young whelp of Talbot's , raging-wood , +Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood ! + +Once I encounter'd him , and thus I said : +'Thou maiden youth , be vanquish'd by a maid :' +But with a proud majestical high scorn , +He answer'd thus : 'Young Talbot was not born +To be the pillage of a giglot wench .' +So , rushing in the bowels of the French , +He left me proudly , as unworthy fight . + +Doubtless he would have made a noble knight ; +See , where he lies inhearsed in the arms +Of the most bloody nurser of his harms . + +Hew them to pieces , hack their bones asunder , +Whose life was England's glory , Gallia's wonder . + +O , no ! forbear ; for that which we have fled +During the life , let us not wrong it dead . + + +Herald , conduct me to the Dauphin's tent , +To know who hath obtain'd the glory of the day . + +On what submissive message art thou sent ? + +Submission , Dauphin ! 'tis a mere French word ; +We English warriors wot not what it means . +I come to know what prisoners thou hast ta'en , +And to survey the bodies of the dead . + +For prisoners ask'st thou ? hell our prison is . +But tell me whom thou seek'st . + +Where is the great Alcides of the field , +Valiant Lord Talbot , Earl of Shrewsbury ? +Created , for his rare success in arms , +Great Earl of Washford , Waterford , and Valence ; +Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield , +Lord Strange of Blackmere , Lord Vordun of Alton , +Lord Cromwell of Wingfield , Lord Furnival of Sheffield , +The thrice-victorious Lord of Falconbridge ; +Knight of the noble order of Saint George , +Worthy Saint Michael and the Golden Fleece ; +Great mareschal to Henry the Sixth +Of all his wars within the realm of France ? + +Here is a silly stately style indeed ! +The Turk , that two-and-fifty kingdoms hath , +Writes not so tedious a style as this . +Him that thou magnifiest with all these titles , +Stinking and fly-blown lies here at our feet . + +Is Talbot slain , the Frenchmen's only scourge , +Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis ? +O ! were mine eye-balls into bullets turn'd , +That I in rage might shoot them at your faces ! +O ! that I could but call these dead to life ! +It were enough to fright the realm of France . +Were but his picture left among you here +It would amaze the proudest of you all . +Give me their bodies , that I may bear them hence , +And give them burial as beseems their worth . + +I think this upstart is old Talbot's ghost , +He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit . +For God's sake , let him have 'em ; to keep them here +They would but stink and putrefy the air . + +Go , take their bodies hence . + +I'll bear them hence : +But from their ashes shall be rear'd +A ph nix that shall make all France afeard . + +So we be rid of them , do with 'em what thou wilt . +And now to Paris , in this conquering vein : +All will be ours now bloody Talbot's slain . + +Have you perus'd the letters from the pope , +The emperor , and the Earl of Armagnac ? + +I have , my lord ; and their intent is this : +They humbly sue unto your excellence +To have a godly peace concluded of +Between the realms of England and of France . + +How doth your Grace affect their motion ? + +Well , my good lord ; and as the only means +To stop effusion of our Christian blood , +And stablish quietness on every side . + +Ay , marry , uncle ; for I always thought +It was both impious and unnatural +That such immanity and bloody strife +Should reign among professors of one faith . + +Beside , my lord , the sooner to effect +And surer bind this knot of amity , +The Earl of Armagnac , near knit to Charles , +A man of great authority in France , +Proffers his only daughter to your Grace +In marriage , with a large and sumptuous dowry . + +Marriage , uncle ! alas ! my years are young , +And fitter is my study and my books +Than wanton dalliance with a paramour . +Yet call the ambassadors ; and , as you please , +So let them have their answers every one : +I shall be well content with any choice +Tends to God's glory and my country's weal . + +What ! is my Lord of Winchester install'd , +And call'd unto a cardinal's degree ? +Then , I perceive that will be verified +Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy , +'If once he come to be a cardinal , +He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown .' + +My lords ambassadors , your several suits +Have been consider'd , and debated on . +Your purpose is both good and reasonable ; +And therefore are we certainly resolv'd +To draw conditions of a friendly peace ; +Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean +Shall be transported presently to France . + +And for the proffer of my lord your master , +I have inform'd his highness so at large , +As ,liking of the lady's virtuous gifts , +Her beauty , and the value of her dower , +He doth intend she shall be England's queen . + +In argument and proof of which contract , +Bear her this jewel , pledge of my affection . +And so , my lord protector , see them guarded , +And safely brought to Dover ; where inshipp'd +Commit them to the fortune of the sea . + + +Stay , my lord legate : you shall first receive +The sum of money which I promised +Should be deliver'd to his holiness +For clothing me in these grave ornaments . + +I will attend upon your lordship's leisure . + +Now Winchester will not submit , I trow , +Or be inferior to the proudest peer . +Humphrey of Gloucester , thou shalt well perceive +That neither in birth or for authority +The bishop will be overborne by thee : +I'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee , +Or sack this country with a mutiny . + + +These news , my lord , may cheer our drooping spirits ; +'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt , +And turn again unto the war-like French . + +Then , march to Paris , royal Charles of France , +And keep not back your powers in dalliance . + +Peace be amongst them if they turn to us ; +Else , ruin combat with their palaces ! + + +Success unto our valiant general , +And happiness to his accomplices ! + +What tidings send our scouts ? I prithee speak . + +The English army , that divided was +Into two parties , is now conjoin'd in one , +And means to give you battle presently . + +Somewhat too sudden , sirs , the warning is : +But we will presently provide for them . + +I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there : +Now he is gone , my lord , you need not fear . + +Of all base passions , fear is most accurs'd . +Command the conquest , Charles , it shall be thine ; +Let Henry fret and all the world repine . + +Then on , my lords ; and France be fortunate ! + + +The regent conquers and the Frenchmen fly . +Now help , ye charming spells and periapts ; +And ye choice spirits that admonish me +And give me signs of future accidents : + +You speedy helpers , that are substitutes +Under the lordly monarch of the north , +Appear , and aid me in this enterprise ! + + +This speedy and quick appearance argues proof +Of your accustom'd diligence to me . +Now , ye familiar spirits , that are cull'd +Out of the powerful regions under earth , +Help me this once , that France may get the field . + +O ! hold me not with silence over-long . +Where I was wont to feed you with my blood , +I'll lop a member off and give it you , +In earnest of a further benefit , +So you do condescend to help me now . + +No hope to have redress ? My body shall +Pay recompense , if you will grant my suit . + +Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice +Entreat you to your wonted furtherance ? +Then take my soul ; my body , soul , and all , +Before that England give the French the foil . + +See ! they forsake me . Now the time is come , +That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest , +And let her head fall into England's lap . +My ancient incantations are too weak , +And hell too strong for me to buckle with : +Now , France , thy glory droopeth to the dust . + +Damsel of France , I think I have you fast : +Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms , +And try if they can gain your liberty . +A goodly prize , fit for the devil's grace ! +See how the ugly witch doth bend her brows , +As if with Circe she would change my shape . + +Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be . + +O ! Charles the Dauphin is a proper man ; +No shape but his can please your dainty eye . + +A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee ! +And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd +By bloody hands , in sleeping on your beds ! + +Fell banning hag , enchantress , hold thy tongue ! + +I prithee , give me leave to curse a while . + +Curse , miscreant , when thou comest to the stake . + +Be what thou wilt , thou art my prisoner . + +O fairest beauty ! do not fear nor fly , +For I will touch thee but with reverent hands . +I kiss these fingers for eternal peace , +And lay them gently on thy tender side . +What art thou ? say , that I may honour thee . + +Margaret my name , and daughter to a king , +The King of Naples , whosoe'er thou art . + +An earl I am , and Suffolk am I call'd . +Be not offended , nature's miracle , +Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me : +So doth the swan her downy cygnets save , +Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings . +Yet if this servile usage once offend , +Go and be free again , as Suffolk's friend . + +O stay ! I have no power to let her pass ; +My hand would free her , but my heart says no . +As plays the sun upon the glassy streams , +Twinkling another counterfeited beam , +So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes . +Fain would I woo her , yet I dare not speak : +I'll call for pen and ink and write my mind . +Fie , De la Pole ! disable not thyself ; +Hast not a tongue ? is she not here thy prisoner ? +Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight ? +Ay ; beauty's princely majesty is such +Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough . + +Say , Earl of Suffolk ,if thy name be so , +What ransom must I pay before I pass ? +For I perceive , I am thy prisoner . + +How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit , +Before thou make a trial of her love ? + +Why speak'st thou not ? what ransom must I pay ? + +She's beautiful and therefore to be woo'd , +She is a woman , therefore to be won . + +Wilt thou accept of ransom , yea or no ? + +Fond man ! remember that thou hast a wife ; +Then how can Margaret be thy paramour ? + +I were best to leave him , for he will not hear . + +There all is marr'd ; there lies a cooling card . + +He talks at random ; sure , the man is mad . + +And yet a dispensation may be had . + +And yet I would that you would answer me . + +I'll win this Lady Margaret . For whom ? +Why , for my king : tush ! that's a wooden thing . + +He talks of wood : it is some carpenter . + +Yet so my fancy may be satisfied , +And peace established between these realms . +But there remains a scruple in that too ; +For though her father be the King of Naples , +Duke of Anjou and Maine , yet is he poor , +And our nobility will scorn the match . + +Hear ye , captain ? Are you not at leisure ? + +It shall be so , disdain they ne'er so much : +Henry is youthful and will quickly yield . +Madam , I have a secret to reveal . + +What though I be enthrall'd ? he seems a knight , +And will not any way dishonour me . + +Lady , vouchsafe to listen what I say . + +Perhaps I shall be rescu'd by the French ; +And then I need not crave his courtesy . + +Sweet madam , give me hearing in a cause + +Tush , women have been captivate ere now . + +Lady , wherefore talk you so ? + +I cry you mercy , 'tis but quid for quo . + +Say , gentle princess , would you not suppose +Your bondage happy to be made a queen ? + +To be a queen in bondage is more vile +Than is a slave in base servility ; +For princes should be free . + +And so shall you , +If happy England's royal king be free . + +Why , what concerns his freedom unto me ? + +I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen , +To put a golden sceptre in thy hand +And set a precious crown upon thy head , +If thou wilt condescend to be my + +What ? + +His love . + +I am unworthy to be Henry's wife . + +No , gentle madam ; I unworthy am +To woo so fair a dame to be his wife +And have no portion in the choice myself . +How say you , madam , are you so content ? + +An if my father please , I am content . + +Then call our captains and our colours forth ! +And , madam , at your father's castle walls +We'll crave a parley , to confer with him . + +See , Reignier , see thy daughter prisoner ! + +To whom ? + +To me . + +Suffolk , what remedy ? +I am a soldier , and unapt to weep , +Or to exclaim on Fortune's fickleness . + +Yes , there is remedy enough ; my lord : +Consent , and for thy honour , give consent , +Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king , +Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto ; +And this her easy-held imprisonment +Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty . + +Speaks Suffolk as he thinks ? + +Fair Margaret knows +That Suffolk doth not flatter , face , or feign . + +Upon thy princely warrant , I descend +To give thee answer of thy just demand . + + +And here I will expect thy coming . + + +Welcome , brave earl , into our territories : +Command in Anjou what your honour pleases . + +Thanks , Reignier , happy for so sweet a child , +Fit to be made companion with a king . +What answer makes your Grace unto my suit ? + +Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth +To be the princely bride of such a lord , +Upon condition I may quietly +Enjoy mine own , the county Maine and Anjou , +Free from oppression or the stroke of war , +My daughter shall be Henry's if he please . + +That is her ransom ; I deliver her ; +And those two counties I will undertake +Your Grace shall well and quietly enjoy . + +And I again , in Henry's royal name , +As deputy unto that gracious king , +Give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith . + +Reignier of France , I give thee kingly thanks , +Because this is in traffic of a king : + + +And yet , methinks , I could be well content +To be mine own attorney in this case . +I'll over then , to England with this news , +And make this marriage to be solemniz'd . +So farewell , Reignier : set this diamond safe , +In golden palaces , as it becomes . + +I do embrace thee , as I would embrace +The Christian prince , King Henry , were he here . + +Farewell , my lord . Good wishes , praise , and prayers +Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret . + + +Farewell , sweet madam ! but hark you , Margaret ; +No princely commendations to my king ? + +Such commendations as become a maid , +A virgin , and his servant , say to him . + +Words sweetly plac'd and modestly directed . +But madam , I must trouble you again , +No loving token to his majesty ? + +Yes , my good lord ; a pure unspotted heart , +Never yet taint with love , I send the king . + +And this withal . + + +That for thyself : I will not so presume , +To send such peevish tokens to a king . + + +O ! wert thou for myself ! But Suffolk , stay ; +Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth ; +There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk . +Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise : +Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount +And natural graces that extinguish art ; +Repeat their semblance often on the seas , +That , when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet , +Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder . + + +Bring forth that sorceress , condemn'd to burn . + + +Ah , Joan ! this kills thy father's heart outright . +Have I sought every country far and near , +And , now it is my chance to find thee out , +Must I behold thy timeless cruel death ? +Ah , Joan ! sweet daughter Joan , I'll die with thee . + +Decrepit miser ! base ignoble wretch ! +I am descended of a gentler blood : +Thou art no father nor no friend of mine . + +Out , out ! My lords , an please you , 'tis not so ; +I did beget her all the parish knows : +Her mother liveth yet , can testify +She was the first fruit of my bachelorship . + +Graceless ! wilt thou deny thy parentage ? + +This argues what her kind of life hath been : +Wicked and vile ; and so her death concludes . + +Fie , Joan , that thou wilt be so obstacle ! +God knows , thou art a collop of my flesh ; +And for thy sake have I shed many a tear : +Deny me not , I prithee , gentle Joan . + +Peasant , avaunt ! You have suborn'd this man , +Of purpose to obscure my noble birth . + +'Tis true , I gave a noble to the priest , +The morn that I was wedded to her mother . +Kneel down and take my blessing , good my girl . +Wilt thou not stoop ? Now cursed be the time +Of thy nativity ! I would the milk +Thy mother gave thee , when thou suck'dst her breast , +Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake ! +Or else , when thou didst keep my lambs a-field +I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee ! +Dost thou deny thy father , cursed drab ? +O ! burn her , burn her ! hanging is too good . + + +Take her away ; for she hath liv'd too long , +To fill the world with vicious qualities . + +First , let me tell you whom you have condemn'd : +Not me begotten of a shepherd swain , +But issu'd from the progeny of kings ; +Virtuous and holy ; chosen from above , +By inspiration of celestial grace , +To work exceeding miracles on earth . +I never had to do with wicked spirits : +But you ,that are polluted with your lusts , +Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents , +Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices , +Because you want the grace that others have , +You judge it straight a thing impossible +To compass wonders but by help of devils . +No misconceived ! Joan of Arc hath been +A virgin from her tender infancy , +Chaste and immaculate in very thought ; +Whose maiden blood , thus rigorously effus'd , +Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven . + +Ay , ay : away with her to execution ! + +And hark ye , sirs ; because she is a maid , +Spare for no fagots , let there be enow : +Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake , +That so her torture may be shortened . + +Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts ? +Then , Joan , discover thine infirmity ; +That warranteth by law to be thy privilege . +I am with child , ye bloody homicides : +Murder not then the fruit within my womb , +Although ye hale me to a violent death . + +Now , heaven forefend ! the holy maid with child ! + +The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought ! +Is all your strict preciseness come to this ? + +She and the Dauphin have been juggling : +I did imagine what would be her refuge . + +Well , go to ; we will have no bastards live ; +Especially since Charles must father it . + +You are deceiv'd ; my child is none of his : +It was Alen on that enjoy'd my love . + +Alen on ! that notorious Machiavel ! +It dies an if it had a thousand lives . + +O ! give me leave , I have deluded you : +'Twas neither Charles , nor yet the duke I nam'd , +But Reignier , King of Naples , that prevail'd . + +A married man : that's most intolerable . + +Why , here's a girl ! I think she knows not well , +There were so many , whom she may accuse . + +It's sign she hath been liberal and free . + +And yet , forsooth , she is a virgin pure . +Strumpet , thy words condemn thy brat and thee : +Use no entreaty , for it is in vain . + +Then lead me hence ; with whom I leave my curse : +May never glorious sun reflex his beams +Upon the country where you make abode ; +But darkness and the gloomy shade of death +Environ you , till mischief and despair +Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves ! + + +Break thou in pieces and consume to ashes , +Thou foul accursed minister of hell ! + + +Lord regent , I do greet your excellence +With letters of commission from the king . +For know , my lords , the states of Christendom , +Mov'd with remorse of these outrageous broils , +Have earnestly implor'd a general peace +Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French ; +And here at hand the Dauphin , and his train , +Approacheth to confer about some matter . + +Is all our travail turn'd to this effect ? +After the slaughter of so many peers , +So many captains , gentlemen , and soldiers , +That in this quarrel have been overthrown , +And sold their bodies for their country's benefit , +Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace ? +Have we not lost most part of all the towns , +By treason , falsehood , and by treachery , +Our great progenitors had conquered ? +O ! Warwick , Warwick ! I foresee with grief +The utter loss of all the realm of France . + +Be patient , York : if we conclude a peace , +It shall be with such strict and severe covenants +As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby . + + +Since , lords of England , it is thus agreed , +That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France , +We come to be informed by yourselves +What the conditions of that league must be . + +Speak , Winchester ; for boiling choler chokes +The hollow passage of my poison'd voice , +By sight of these our baleful enemies . + +Charles , and the rest , it is enacted thus : +That , in regard King Henry gives consent , +Of mere compassion and of lenity , +To ease your country of distressful war , +And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace , +You shall become true liegemen to his crown : +And , Charles , upon-condition thou wilt swear +To pay him tribute , and submit thyself , +Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him , +And still enjoy thy regal dignity . + +Must he be then , as shadow of himself ? +Adorn his temples with a coronet , +And yet , in substance and authority , +Retain but privilege of a private man ? +This proffer is absurd and reasonless . + +'Tis known already that I am possess'd +With more than half the Gallian territories , +And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king : +Shall I , for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd , +Detract so much from that prerogative +As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole ? +No , lord ambassador ; I'll rather keep +That which I have than , coveting for more , +Be cast from possibility of all . + +Insulting Charles ! hast thou by secret means +Us'd intercession to obtain a league , +And now the matter grows to compromise , +Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison ? +Either accept the title thou usurp'st , +Of benefit proceeding from our king +And not of any challenge of desert , +Or we will plague thee with incessant wars . + +My lord , you do not well in obstinacy +To cavil in the course of this contract : +If once it be neglected , ten to one , +We shall not find like opportunity . + +To say the truth , it is your policy +To save your subjects from such massacre +And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen +By our proceeding in hostility ; +And therefore take this compact of a truce , +Although you break it when your pleasure serves . + +How sayst thou , Charles ? shall our condition stand ? + +It shall ; +Only reserv'd , you claim no interest +In any of our towns of garrison . + +Then swear allegiance to his majesty ; +As thou art knight , never to disobey +Nor be rebellious to the crown of England , +Thou , nor thy nobles , to the crown of England . + +So , now dismiss your army when ye please ; +Hang up your ensigns , let your drums be still , +For here we entertain a solemn peace . + + +Your wondrous rare description , noble earl , +Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me : +Her virtues , graced with external gifts +Do breed love's settled passions in my heart : +And like as rigour of tempestuous gusts +Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide , +So am I driven by breath of her renown +Either to suffer shipwrack , or arrive +Where I may have fruition of her love . + +Tush ! my good lord , this superficial tale +Is but a preface of her worthy praise : +The chief perfections of that lovely dame +Had I sufficient skill to utter them +Would make a volume of enticing lines , +Able to ravish any dull conceit : +And , which is more , she is not so divine , +So full replete with choice of all delights , +But with as humble lowliness of mind +She is content to be at your command ; +Command , I mean , of virtuous chaste intents , +To love and honour Henry as her lord . + +And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume . +Therefore , my Lord Protector , give consent +That Margaret may be England's royal queen . + +So should I give consent to flatter sin . +You know , my lord , your highness is betroth'd +Unto another lady of esteem ; +How shall we then dispense with that contract , +And not deface your honour with reproach ? + +As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths ; +Or one that , at a triumph having vow'd +To try his strength , forsaketh yet the lists +By reason of his adversary's odds . +A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds , +And therefore may be broke without offence . + +Why , what , I pray , is Margaret more than that ? +Her father is no better than an earl , +Although in glorious titles he excel . + +Yes , my good lord , her father is a king , +The King of Naples and Jerusalem ; +And of such great authority in France +As his alliance will confirm our peace , +And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance . + +And so the Earl of Armagnac may do , +Because he is near kinsman unto Charles . + +Beside , his wealth doth warrant liberal dower , +Where Reignier sooner will receive than give . + +A dower , my lords ! disgrace not so your king , +That he should be so abject , base , and poor , +To choose for wealth and not for perfect love . +Henry is able to enrich his queen , +And not to seek a queen to make him rich : +So worthless peasants bargain for their wives , +As market-men for oxen , sheep , or horse . +Marriage is a matter of more worth +Than to be dealt in by attorneyship : +Not whom we will , but whom his Grace affects , +Must be companion of his nuptial bed ; +And therefore , lords , since he affects her most +It most of all these reasons bindeth us , +In our opinions she should be preferr'd . +For what is wedlock forced , but a hell , +An age of discord and continual strife ? +Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss , +And is a pattern of celestial peace . +Whom should we match with Henry , being a king , +But Margaret , that is daughter to a king ? +Her peerless feature , joined with her birth , +Approves her fit for none but for a king : +Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit +More than in women commonly is seen +Will answer our hope in issue of a king ; +For Henry , son unto a conqueror , +Is likely to beget more conquerors , +If with a lady of so high resolve +As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love . +Then yield , my lords ; and here conclude with me +That Margaret shall be queen , and none but she . + +Whether it be through force of your report , +My noble lord of Suffolk , or for that +My tender youth was never yet attaint +With any passion of inflaming love , +I cannot tell ; but this I am assur'd , +I feel such sharp dissension in my breast , +Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear , +As I am sick with working of my thoughts . +Take , therefore , shipping ; post , my lord , to France ; +Agree to any covenants , and procure +That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come +To cross the seas to England and be crown'd +King Henry's faithful and anointed queen : +For your expenses and sufficient charge , +Among the people gather up a tenth . +Be gone , I say ; for till you do return +I rest perplexed with a thousand cares . +And you , good uncle , banish all offence : +If you do censure me by what you were , +Not what you are , I know it will excuse +This sudden execution of my will . +And so , conduct me , where , from company +I may revolve and ruminate my grief . + + +Ay , grief , I fear me , both at first and last . + + +Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd ; and thus he goes , +As did the youthful Paris once to Greece ; +With hope to find the like event in love , +But prosper better than the Trojan did . +Margaret shall now be queen , and rule the king ; +But I will rule both her , the king , and realm . + +THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING JOHN + +Now , say , Chatillon , what would France with us ? + +Thus , after greeting , speaks the King of France , +In my behaviour , to the majesty , +The borrow'd majesty of England here . + +A strange beginning ; 'borrow'd majesty !' + +Silence , good mother ; hear the embassy . + +Philip of France , in right and true behalf +Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son , +Arthur Plantagenet , lays most lawful claim +To this fair island and the territories , +To Ireland , Poictiers , Anjou , Touraine , Maine ; +Desiring thee to lay aside the sword +Which sways usurpingly these several titles , +And put the same into young Arthur's hand , +Thy nephew and right royal sovereign . + +What follows if we disallow of this ? + +The proud control of fierce and bloody war , +To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld . + +Here have we war for war , and blood for blood , +Controlment for controlment : so answer France . + +Then take my king's defiance from my mouth , +The furthest limit of my embassy . + +Bear mine to him , and so depart in peace : +Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France ; +For ere thou canst report I will be there , +The thunder of my cannon shall be heard . +So , hence ! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath +And sullen presage of your own decay . +An honourable conduct let him have : +Pembroke , look to't . Farewell , Chatillon . + + +What now , my son ! have I not ever said +How that ambitious Constance would not cease +Till she had kindled France and all the world +Upon the right and party of her son ? +This might have been prevented and made whole +With very easy arguments of love , +Which now the manage of two kingdoms must +With fearful bloody issue arbitrate . + +Our strong possession and our right for us . + +Your strong possession much more than your right , +Or else it must go wrong , with you and me : +So much my conscience whispers in your ear , +Which none but heaven and you and I shall hear . + + +My liege , here is the strangest controversy , +Come from the country to be judg'd by you , +That e'er I heard : shall I produce the men ? + +Let them approach . + +Our abbeys and our priories shall pay +This expedition's charge . + +What men are you ? + +Your faithful subject I , a gentleman +Born in Northamptonshire , and eldest son , +As I suppose , to Robert Faulconbridge , +A soldier , by the honour-giving hand +Of C ur-de-Lion knighted in the field . + +What art thou ? + +The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge . + +Is that the elder , and art thou the heir ? +You came not of one mother then , it seems . + +Most certain of one mother , mighty king , +That is well known : and , as I think , one father : +But for the certain knowledge of that truth +I put you o'er to heaven and to my mother : +Of that I doubt , as all men's children may . + +Out on thee , rude man ! thou dost shame thy mother +And wound her honour with this diffidence . + +I , madam ? no , I have no reason for it ; +That is my brother's plea and none of mine ; +The which if he can prove , a' pops me out +At least from fair five hundred pound a year : +Heaven guard my mother's honour and my land ! + +A good blunt fellow . Why , being younger born , +Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance ? + +I know not why , except to get the land . +But once he slander'd me with bastardy : +But whe'r I be as true-begot or no , +That still I lay upon my mother's head ; +But that I am as well-begot , my liege , +Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me ! +Compare our faces and be judge yourself . +If old Sir Robert did beget us both , +And were our father , and this son like him ; +O old Sir Robert , father , on my knee +I give heaven thanks I was not like to thee ! + +Why , what a madcap hath heaven lent us here ! + +He hath a trick of C ur-de-Lion's face ; +The accent of his tongue affecteth him . +Do you not read some tokens of my son +In the large composition of this man ? + +Mine eye hath well examined his parts , +And finds them perfect Richard . Sirrah , speak : +What doth move you to claim your brother's land ? + +Because he hath a half-face , like my father . +With half that face would he have all my land ; +A half-fac'd groat five hundred pound a year ! + +My gracious liege , when that my father liv'd , +Your brother did employ my father much , + +Well , sir , by this you cannot get my land : +Your tale must be how he employ'd my mother . + +And once dispatch'd him in an embassy +To Germany , there with the emperor +To treat of high affairs touching that time . +The advantage of his absence took the king , +And in the mean time sojourn'd at my father's ; +Where how he did prevail I shame to speak , +But truth is truth : large lengths of seas and shores +Between my father and my mother lay , +As I have heard my father speak himself , +When this same lusty gentleman was got . +Upon his death-bed he by will bequeath'd +His lands to me , and took it on his death +That this my mother's son was none of his ; +An if he were , he came into the world +Full fourteen weeks before the course of time . +Then , good my liege , let me have what is mine , +My father's land , as was my father's will . + +Sirrah , your brother is legitimate ; +Your father's wife did after wedlock bear him , +And if she did play false , the fault was hers ; +Which fault lies on the hazards of all husbands +That marry wives . Tell me , how if my brother , +Who , as you say , took pains to get this son , +Had of your father claim'd this son for his ? +In sooth , good friend , your father might have kept +This calf bred from his cow from all the world ; +In sooth he might : then , if he were my brother's , +My brother might not claim him ; nor your father , +Being none of his , refuse him : this concludes ; +My mother's son did get your father's heir ; +Your father's heir must have your father's land . + +Shall then my father's will be of no force +To dispossess that child which is not his ? + +Of no more force to dispossess me , sir , +Than was his will to get me , as I think . + +Whe'r hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge +And like thy brother , to enjoy thy land , +Or the reputed son of C ur-de-Lion , +Lord of thy presence and no land beside ? + +Madam , an if my brother had my shape , +And I had his , Sir Robert his , like him ; +And if my legs were two such riding-rods , +My arms such eel-skins stuff'd , my face so thin +That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose +Lest men should say , 'Look , where three-far-things goes !' +And , to his shape , were heir to all this land , +Would I might never stir from off this place , +I'd give it every foot to have this face : +I would not be Sir Nob in any case . + +I like thee well : wilt thou forsake thy fortune , +Bequeath thy land to him , and follow me ? +I am a soldier and now bound to France . + +Brother , take you my land , I'll take my chance . +Your face hath got five hundred pounds a year , +Yet sell your face for five pence and 'tis dear . +Madam , I'll follow you unto the death . + +Nay , I would have you go before me thither . + +Our country manners give our betters way . + +What is thy name ? + +Philip , my liege , so is my name begun ; +Philip , good old Sir Robert's wife's eldest son . + +From henceforth bear his name whose form thou bearest : +Kneel thou down Philip , but arise more great ; +Arise Sir Richard , and Plantagenet . + +Brother by the mother's side , give me your hand : +My father gave me honour , yours gave land . +Now blessed be the hour , by night or day , +When I was got , Sir Robert was away ! + +The very spirit of Plantagenet ! +I am thy grandam , Richard : call me so . + +Madam , by chance but not by truth ; what though ? +Something about , a little from the right , +In at the window , or else o'er the hatch : +Who dares not stir by day must walk by night , +And have is have , however men do catch . +Near or far off , well won is still well shot , +And I am I , howe'er I was begot . + +Go , Faulconbridge : now hast thou thy desire ; +A landless knight makes thee a landed squire . +Come , madam , and come , Richard : we must speed +For France , for France , for it is more than need . + +Brother , adieu : good fortune come to thee ! +For thou wast got i' the way of honesty . + +A foot of honour better than I was , +But many a many foot of land the worse . +Well , now can I make any Joan a lady . +'Good den , Sir Richard !' 'God-a-mercy , fellow !' +And if his name be George , I'll call him Peter ; +For new-made honour doth forget men's names : +'Tis too respective and too sociable +For your conversion . Now your traveller , +He and his toothpick at my worship's mess , +And when my knightly stomach is suffic'd , +Why then I suck my teeth , and catechize +My picked man of countries : 'My dear sir ,' +Thus , leaning on mine elbow , I begin , +'I shall beseech you ,' that is question now ; +And then comes answer like an absey-book : +'O , sir ,' says answer , 'at your best command ; +At your employment ; at your service , sir :' +'No , sir ,' says question , 'I , sweet sir , at yours :' +And so , ere answer knows what question would , +Saving in dialogue of compliment , +And talking of the Alps and Apennines , +The Pyrenean and the river Po , +It draws toward supper in conclusion so . +But this is worshipful society +And fits the mounting spirit like myself ; +For he is but a bastard to the time , +That doth not smack of observation ; +And so am I , whether I smack or no ; +And not alone in habit and device , +Exterior form , outward accoutrement , +But from the inward motion to deliver +Sweet , sweet , sweet poison for the age's tooth : +Which , though I will not practise to deceive , +Yet , to avoid deceit , I mean to learn ; +For it shall strew the footsteps of my rising . +But who comes in such haste in riding-robes ? +What woman-post is this ? hath she no husband +That will take pains to blow a horn before her ? + + +O me ! it is my mother . How now , good lady ! + +What brings you here to court so hastily ? + +Where is that slave , thy brother ? where is he , +That holds in chase mine honour up and down ? + +My brother Robert ? old Sir Robert's son ? +Colbrand the giant , that same mighty man ? +Is it Sir Robert's son that you seek so ? + +Sir Robert's son ! Ay , thou unreverend boy , +Sir Robert's son : why scorn'st thou at Sir Robert ? +He is Sir Robert's son , and so art thou . + +James Gurney , wilt thou give us leave awhile ? + +Good leave , good Philip . + +Philip ! sparrow ! James , +There's toys abroad : anon I'll tell thee more . + +Madam , I was not old Sir Robert's son : +Sir Robert might have eat his part in me +Upon Good-Friday and ne'er broke his fast . +Sir Robert could do well : marry , to confess , +Could he get me ? Sir Robert could not do it : +We know his handiwork : therefore , good mother , +To whom am I beholding for these limbs ? +Sir Robert never holp to make this leg . + +Hast thou conspired with thy brother too , +That for thine own gain shouldst defend mine honour ? +What means this scorn , thou most untoward knave ? + +Knight , knight , good mother , Basilisco-like . +What ! I am dubb'd ; I have it on my shoulder . +But , mother , I am not Sir Robert's son ; +I have disclaim'd Sir Robert and my land ; +Legitimation , name , and all is gone . +Then , good my mother , let me know my father ; +Some proper man , I hope ; who was it , mother ? + +Hast thou denied thyself a Faulconbridge ? + +As faithfully as I deny the devil . + +King Richard C ur-de-Lion was thy father : +By long and vehement suit I was seduc'd +To make room for him in my husband's bed . +Heaven lay not my transgression to my charge ! +Thou art the issue of my dear offence , +Which was so strongly urg'd past my defence . + +Now , by this light , were I to get again , +Madam , I would not wish a better father . +Some sins do bear their privilege on earth , +And so doth yours ; your fault was not your folly : +Needs must you lay your heart at his dispose , +Subjected tribute to commanding love , +Against whose fury and unmatched force +The aweless lion could not wage the fight , +Nor keep his princely heart from Richard's hand . +He that perforce robs lions of their hearts +May easily win a woman's . Ay , my mother , +With all my heart I thank thee for my father ! +Who lives and dares but say thou didst not well +When I was got , I'll send his soul to hell . +Come , lady , I will show thee to my kin ; +And they shall say , when Richard me begot , +If thou hadst said him nay , it had been sin : +Who says it was , he lies : I say , 'twas not . + + +Before Angiers well met , brave Austria . +Arthur , that great forerunner of thy blood , +Richard , that robb'd the lion of his heart +And fought the holy wars in Palestine , +By this brave duke came early to his grave : +And , for amends to his posterity , +At our importance hither is he come , +To spread his colours , boy , in thy behalf , +And to rebuke the usurpation +Of thy unnatural uncle , English John : +Embrace him , love him , give him welcome hither . + +God shall forgive you C ur-de-Lion's death +The rather that you give his offspring life , +Shadowing their right under your wings of war . +I give you welcome with a powerless hand , +But with a heart full of unstained love : +Welcome before the gates of Angiers , duke . + +A noble boy ! Who would not do thee right ? + +Upon thy cheek lay I this zealous kiss , +As seal to this indenture of my love , +That to my home I will no more return +Till Angiers , and the right thou hast in France , +Together with that pale , that white-fac'd shore , +Whose foot spurns back the ocean's roaring tides +And coops from other lands her islanders , +Even till that England , hedg'd in with the main , +That water-walled bulwark , still secure +And confident from foreign purposes , +Even till that utmost corner of the west +Salute thee for her king : till then , fair boy , +Will I not think of home , but follow arms . + +O ! take his mother's thanks , a widow's thanks , +Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength +To make a more requital to your love . + +The peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords +In such a just and charitable war . + +Well then , to work : our cannon shall be bent +Against the brows of this resisting town . +Call for our chiefest men of discipline , +To cull the plots of best advantages : +We'll lay before this town our royal bones , +Wade to the market-place in Frenchmen's blood , +But we will make it subject to this boy . + +Stay for an answer to your embassy , +Lest unadvis'd you stain your swords with blood . +My Lord Chatillon may from England bring +That right in peace which here we urge in war ; +And then we shall repent each drop of blood +That hot rash haste so indirectly shed . + + +A wonder , lady ! lo , upon thy wish , +Our messenger , Chatillon , is arriv'd ! +What England says , say briefly , gentle lord ; +We coldly pause for thee ; Chatillon , speak . + +Then turn your forces from this paltry siege +And stir them up against a mightier task . +England , impatient of your just demands , +Hath put himself in arms : the adverse winds , +Whose leisure I have stay'd , have given him time +To land his legions all as soon as I ; +His marches are expedient to this town , +His forces strong , his soldiers confident . +With him along is come the mother-queen , +An Ate , stirring him to blood and strife ; +With her her niece , the Lady Blanch of Spain ; +With them a bastard of the king's deceas'd ; +And all the unsettled humours of the land , +Rash , inconsiderate , fiery voluntaries , +With ladies' faces and fierce dragons' spleens , +Have sold their fortunes at their native homes , +Bearing their birthrights proudly on their backs , +To make a hazard of new fortunes here . +In brief , a braver choice of dauntless spirits +Than now the English bottoms have waft o'er +Did never float upon the swelling tide , +To do offence and scathe in Christendom . + +The interruption of their churlish drums +Cuts off more circumstance : they are at hand , +To parley or to fight ; therefore prepare . + +How much unlook'd for is this expedition ! + +By how much unexpected , by so much +We must awake endeavour for defence , +For courage mounteth with occasion : +Let them be welcome then , we are prepar'd . + + +Peace be to France , if France in peace permit +Our just and lineal entrance to our own ; +If not , bleed France , and peace ascend to heaven , +Whiles we , God's wrathful agent , do correct +Their proud contempt that beats his peace to heaven . + +Peace be to England , if that war return +From France to England , there to live in peace . +England we love ; and , for that England's sake +With burden of our armour here we sweat : +This toil of ours should be a work of thine ; +But thou from loving England art so far +That thou hast under-wrought his lawful king , +Cut off the sequence of posterity , +Out-faced infant state , and done a rape +Upon the maiden virtue of the crown . +Look here upon thy brother Geffrey's face : +These eyes , these brows , were moulded out of his ; +This little abstract doth contain that large +Which died in Geffrey , and the hand of time +Shall draw this brief into as huge a volume . +That Geffrey was thy elder brother born , +And this his son ; England was Geffrey's right +And this is Geffrey's . In the name of God +How comes it then that thou art call'd a king , +When living blood doth in these temples beat , +Which owe the crown that thou o'ermasterest ? + +From whom hast thou this great commission , France , +To draw my answer from thy articles ? + +From that supernal judge , that stirs good thoughts +In any breast of strong authority , +To look into the blots and stains of right : +That judge hath made me guardian to this boy : +Under whose warrant I impeach thy wrong , +And by whose help I mean to chastise it . + +Alack ! thou dost usurp authority . + +Excuse ; it is to beat usurping down . + +Who is it thou dost call usurper , France ? + +Let me make answer ; thy usurping son . + +Out , insolent ! thy bastard shall be king , +That thou mayst be a queen , and check the world ! + +My bed was ever to thy son as true +As thine was to thy husband , and this boy +Liker in feature to his father Geffrey +Than thou and John in manners ; being as like +As rain to water , or devil to his dam . +My boy a bastard ! By my soul I think +His father never was so true begot : +It cannot be an if thou wert his mother . + +There's a good mother , boy , that blots thy father . + +There's a good grandam , boy , that would blot thee . + +Peace ! + +Hear the crier . + +What the devil art thou ? + +One that will play the devil , sir , with you , +An a' may catch your hide and you alone . +You are the hare of whom the proverb goes , +Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard . +I'll smoke your skin coat , an I catch you right . +Sirrah , look to't ; i' faith , I will , i' faith . + +O ! well did he become that lion's robe , +That did disrobe the lion of that robe . + +It lies as sightly on the back of him +As great Alcides' shows upon an ass : +But , ass , I'll take that burden from your back , +Or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack . + +What cracker is this same that deafs our ears +With this abundance of superfluous breath ? +King ,Lewis , determine what we shall do straight . + +Women and fools , break off your conference . +King John , this is the very sum of all : +England and Ireland , Anjou , Touraine , Maine , +In right of Arthur do I claim of thee . +Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms ? + +My life as soon : I do defy thee , France . +Arthur of Britaine , yield thee to my hand ; +And out of my dear love I'll give thee more +Than e'er the coward hand of France can win . +Submit thee , boy . + +Come to thy grandam , child . + +Do , child , go to it grandam , child ; +Give grandam kingdom , and it grandam will +Give it a plum , a cherry , and a fig : +There's a good grandam . + +Good my mother , peace ! +I would that I were low laid in my grave : +I am not worth this coil that's made for me . + +His mother shames him so , poor boy , he weeps . + +Now shame upon you , whe'r she does or no ! +His grandam's wrongs , and not his mother's shames , +Draw those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes , +Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee ; +Ay , with these crystal beads heaven shall be brib'd +To do him justice and revenge on you . + +Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth ! + +Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth ! +Call not me slanderer ; thou and thine usurp +The dominations , royalties , and rights +Of this oppressed boy : this is thy eld'st son's son , +Infortunate in nothing but in thee : +Thy sins are visited in this poor child ; +The canon of the law is laid on him , +Being but the second generation +Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb . + +Bedlam , have done . + +I have but this to say , +That he's not only plagued for her sin , +But God hath made her sin and her the plague +On this removed issue , plagu'd for her , +And with her plague , her sin ; his injury +Her injury , the beadle to her sin , +All punish'd in the person of this child , +And all for her . A plague upon her ! + +Thou unadvised scold , I can produce +A will that bars the title of thy son . + +Ay , who doubts that ? a will ! a wicked will ; +A woman's will ; a canker'd grandam's will ! + +Peace , lady ! pause , or be more temperate : +It ill beseems this presence to cry aim +To these ill-tuned repetitions . +Some trumpet summon hither to the walls +These men of Angiers : let us hear them speak +Whose title they admit , Arthur's or John's . + + +Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls ? + +'Tis France , for England . + +England for itself . +You men of Angiers , and my loving subjects , + +You loving men of Angiers , Arthur's subjects , +Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle , + +For our advantage ; therefore hear us first . +These flags of France , that are advanced here +Before the eye and prospect of your town , +Have hither march'd to your endamagement : +The cannons have their bowels full of wrath , +And ready mounted are they to spit forth +Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls : +All preparation for a bloody siege +And merciless proceeding by these French +Confronts your city's eyes , your winking gates ; +And but for our approach those sleeping stones , +That as a waist do girdle you about , +By the compulsion of their ordinance +By this time from their fixed beds of lime +Had been dishabited , and wide havoc made +For bloody power to rush upon your peace . +But on the sight of us your lawful king , +Who painfully with much expedient march +Have brought a countercheck before your gates , +To save unscratch'd your city's threaten'd cheeks , +Behold , the French amaz'd vouchsafe a parle ; +And now , instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire , +To make a shaking fever in your walls , +They shoot but calm words folded up in smoke , +To make a faithless error in your ears : +Which trust accordingly , kind citizens , +And let us in , your king , whose labour'd spirits , +Forwearied in this action of swift speed , +Crave harbourage within your city walls . + +When I have said , make answer to us both . +Lo ! in this right hand , whose protection +Is most divinely vow'd upon the right +Of him it holds , stands young Plantagenet , +Son to the elder brother of this man , +And king o'er him and all that he enjoys : +For this down-trodden equity , we tread +In war-like march these greens before your town , +Being no further enemy to you +Than the constraint of hospitable zeal , +In the relief of this oppressed child , +Religiously provokes . Be pleased then +To pay that duty which you truly owe +To him that owes it , namely , this young prince ; +And then our arms , like to a muzzled bear , +Save in aspect , have all offence seal'd up ; +Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent +Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven ; +And with a blessed and unvex'd retire , +With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruis'd , +We will bear home that lusty blood again +Which here we came to spout against your town , +And leave your children , wives , and you , in peace . +But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer , +'Tis not the roundure of your old-fac'd walls +Can hide you from our messengers of war , +Though all these English and their discipline +Were harbour'd in their rude circumference . +Then tell us , shall your city call us lord , +In that behalf which we have challeng'd it ? +Or shall we give the signal to our rage +And stalk in blood to our possession ? + +In brief , we are the King of England's subjects : +For him , and in his right , we hold this town . + +Acknowledge then the king , and let me in . + +That can we not ; but he that proves the king , +To him will we prove loyal : till that time +Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world . + +Doth not the crown of England prove the king ? +And if not that , I bring you witnesses , +Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed , + +Bastards , and else . + +To verify our title with their lives . + +As many and as well-born bloods as those , + +Some bastards too . + +Stand in his face to contradict his claim . + +Till thou compound whose right is worthiest , +We for the worthiest hold the right from both . + +Then God forgive the sins of all those souls +That to their everlasting residence , +Before the dew of evening fall , shall fleet , +In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king ! + +Amen , Amen ! Mount , chevaliers ! to arms ! + +Saint George , that swing'd the dragon , and e'er since +Sits on his horse back at mine hostess' door , +Teach us some fence ! + +Sirrah , were I at home , +At your den , sirrah , with your lioness , +I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide , +And make a monster of you . + +Peace ! no more . + +O ! tremble , for you hear the lion roar . + +Up higher to the plain ; where we'll set forth +In best appointment all our regiments . + +Speed then , to take advantage of the field . + +It shall be so ; + +and at the other hill +Command the rest to stand . God , and our right ! + +You men of Angiers , open wide your gates , +And let young Arthur , Duke of Britaine , in , +Who , by the hand of France this day hath made +Much work for tears in many an English mother , +Whose sons he scatter'd on the bleeding ground ; +Many a widow's husband grovelling lies , +Coldly embracing the discolour'd earth ; +And victory , with little loss , doth play +Upon the dancing banners of the French , +Who are at hand , triumphantly display'd , +To enter conquerors and to proclaim +Arthur of Britaine England's king and yours . + + +Rejoice , you men of Angiers , ring your bells ; +King John , your king and England's , doth approach , +Commander of this hot malicious day . +Their armours , that march'd hence so silver-bright , +Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood ; +There stuck no plume in any English crest +That is removed by a staff of France ; +Our colours do return in those same hands +That did display them when we first march'd forth ; +And , like a jolly troop of huntsmen , come +Our lusty English , all with purpled hands +Dy'd in the dying slaughter of their foes . +Open your gates and give the victors way . + +Heralds , from off our towers we might behold , +From first to last , the onset and retire +Of both your armies ; whose equality +By our best eyes cannot be censured : +Blood hath bought blood , and blows have answer'd blows ; +Strength match'd with strength , and power confronted power : +Both are alike ; and both alike we like . +One must prove greatest : while they weigh so even , +We hold our town for neither , yet for both . + + +France , hast thou yet more blood to cast away ? +Say , shall the current of our right run on ? +Whose passage , vex'd with thy impediment , +Shall leave his native channel and o'erswell +With course disturb'd even thy conflning shores , +Unless thou let his silver water keep +A peaceful progress to the ocean . + +England , thou hast not sav'd one drop of blood , +In this hot trial , more than we of France ; +Rather , lost more : and by this hand I swear , +That sways the earth this climate overlooks , +Before we will lay down our just-borne arms , +We'll put thee down , 'gainst whom these arms we bear , +Or add a royal number to the dead , +Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss +With slaughter coupled to the name of kings . + +Ha , majesty ! how high thy glory towers +When the rich blood of kings is set on fire ! +O ! now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel ; +The swords of soldiers are his teeth , his fangs ; +And now he feasts , mousing the flesh of men , +In undetermin'd differences of kings . +Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus ? +Cry 'havoc !' kings ; back to the stained field , +You equal-potents , fiery-kindled spirits ! +Then let confusion of one part confirm +The other's peace ; till then , blows , blood , and death ! + +Whose party do the townsmen yet admit ? + +Speak , citizens , for England ; who's your king ? + +The King of England , when we know the king . + +Know him in us , that here hold up his right . + +In us , that are our own great deputy , +And bear possession of our person here , +Lord of our presence , Angiers , and of you . + +A greater power than we denies all this ; +And , till it be undoubted , we do lock +Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates , +Kings of ourselves ; until our fears , resolv'd , +Be by some certain king purg'd and depos'd . + +By heaven , these scroyles of Angiers flout you , kings , +And stand securely on their battlements +As in a theatre , whence they gape and point +At your industrious scenes and acts of death . +Your royal presences be rul'd by me : +Do like the mutines of Jerusalem , +Be friends awhile and both conjointly bend +Your sharpest deeds of malice on this town . +By east and west let France and England mount +Their battering cannon charged to the mouths , +Till their soul-fearing clamours have brawl'd down +The flinty ribs of this contemptuous city : +I'd play incessantly upon these jades , +Even till unfenced desolation +Leave them as naked as the vulgar air . +That done , dissever your united strengths , +And part your mingled colours once again ; +Turn face to face and bloody point to point ; +Then , in a moment , Fortune shall cull forth +Out of one side her happy minion , +To whom in favour she shall give the day , +And kiss him with a glorious victory . +How like you this wild counsel , mighty states ? +Smacks it not something of the policy ? + +Now , by the sky that hangs above our heads , +I like it well . France , shall we knit our powers +And lay this Angiers even with the ground ; +Then after fight who shall be king of it ? + +An if thou hast the mettle of a king , +Being wrong'd as we are by this peevish town , +Turn thou the mouth of thy artillery , +As we will ours , against these saucy walls ; +And when that we have dash'd them to the ground , +Why then defy each other , and , pell-mell , +Make work upon ourselves , for heaven or hell . + +Let it be so . Say , where will you assault ? + +We from the west will send destruction +Into this city's bosom . + +I from the north . + +Our thunder from the south +Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town . + +O , prudent discipline ! From north to south +Austria and France shoot in each other's mouth : +I'll stir them to it . Come , away , away ! + +Hear us , great kings : vouchsafe a while to stay , +And I shall show you peace and fair-fac'd league ; +Win you this city without stroke or wound ; +Rescue those breathing lives to die in beds , +That here come sacrifices for the field . +Persever not , but hear me , mighty kings . + +Speak on with favour : we are bent to hear . + +That daughter there of Spain , the Lady Blanch , +Is near to England : look upon the years +Of Lewis the Dauphin and that lovely maid . +If lusty love should go in quest of beauty , +Where should he find it fairer than in Blanch ? +If zealous love should go in search of virtue , +Where should he find it purer than in Blanch ? +If love ambitious sought a match of birth , +Whose veins bound richer blood than Lady Blanch ? +Such as she is , in beauty , virtue , birth , +Is the young Dauphin every way complete : +If not complete of , say he is not she ; +And she again wants nothing , to name want , +If want it be not that she is not he : +He is the half part of a blessed man , +Left to be finished by such a she ; +And she a fair divided excellence , +Whose fulness of perfection lies in him . +O ! two such silver currents , when they join , +Do glorify the banks that bound them in ; +And two such shores to two such streams made one , +Two such controlling bounds shall you be , kings , +To these two princes , if you marry them . +This union shall do more than battery can +To our fast-closed gates ; for at this match , +With swifter spleen than powder can enforce , +The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope , +And give you entrance ; but without this match , +The sea enraged is not half so deaf , +Lions more confident , mountains and rocks +More free from motion , no , not death himself +In mortal fury half so peremptory , +As we to keep this city . + +Here's a stay , +That shakes the rotten carcase of old Death +Out of his rags ! Here's a large mouth , indeed , +That spits forth death and mountains , rocks and seas , +Talks as familiarly of roaring lions +As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs . +What cannoneer begot this lusty blood ? +He speaks plain cannon fire , and smoke and bounce ; +He gives the bastinado with his tongue ; +Our ears are cudgell'd ; not a word of his +But buffets better than a fist of France . +'Zounds ! I was never so bethump'd with words +Since I first call'd my brother's father dad . + +Son , list to this conjunction , make this match ; +Give with our niece a dowry large enough ; +For by this knot thou shalt so surely tie +Thy now unsur'd assurance to the crown , +That yon green boy shall have no sun to ripe +The bloom that promiseth a mighty fruit . +I see a yielding in the looks of France ; +Mark how they whisper : urge them while their souls +Are capable of this ambition , +Lest zeal , now melted by the windy breath +Of soft petitions , pity and remorse , +Cool and congeal again to what it was . + +Why answer not the double majesties +This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town ? + +Speak England first , that hath been forward first +To speak unto this city : what say you ? + +If that the Dauphin there , thy princely son , +Can in this book of beauty read 'I love ,' +Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen : +For Anjou , and fair Touraine , Maine , Poictiers , +And all that we upon this side the sea , +Except this city now by us besieg'd , +Find liable to our crown and dignity , +Shall gild her bridal bed and make her rich +In titles , honours , and promotions , +As she in beauty , education , blood , +Holds hand with any princess of the world . + +What sayst thou , boy ? look in the lady's face . + +I do , my lord ; and in her eye I find +A wonder , or a wondrous miracle , +The shadow of myself form'd in her eye ; +Which , being but the shadow of your son +Becomes a sun , and makes your son a shadow : +I do protest I never lov'd myself +Till now infixed I beheld myself , +Drawn in the flattering table of her eye . + + +Drawn in the flattering table of her eye ! +Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow ! +And quarter'd in her heart ! he doth espy +Himself love's traitor : this is pity now , +That hang'd and drawn and quarter'd , there should be +In such a love so vile a lout as he . + +My uncle's will in this respect is mine : +If he see aught in you that makes him like , +That anything he sees , which moves his liking , +I can with ease translate it to my will ; +Or if you will , to speak more properly , +I will enforce it easily to my love . +Further I will not flatter you , my lord , +That all I see in you is worthy love , +Than this : that nothing do I see in you , +Though churlish thoughts themselves should be your judge , +That I can find should merit any hate . + +What say these young ones ? What say you , my niece ? + +That she is bound in honour still to do +What you in wisdom still vouchsafe to say . + +Speak then , Prince Dauphin ; can you love this lady ? + +Nay , ask me if I can refrain from love ; +For I do love her most unfeignedly . + +Then do I give Volquessen , Touraine , Maine , +Poictiers , and Anjou , these five provinces , +With her to thee ; and this addition more , +Full thirty thousand marks of English coin . +Philip of France , if thou be pleas'd withal , +Command thy son and daughter to join hands . + +It likes us well . Young princes , close your hands . + +And your lips too ; for I am well assur'd +That I did so when I was first assur'd . + +Now , citizens of Angiers , ope your gates , +Let in that amity which you have made ; +For at Saint Mary's chapel presently +The rites of marriage shall be solemniz'd . +Is not the Lady Constance in this troop ? +I know she is not ; for this match made up +Her presence would have interrupted much : +Where is she and her son ? tell me , who knows . + +She is sad and passionate at your highness' tent . + +And , by my faith , this league that we have made +Will give her sadness very little cure . +Brother of England , how may we content +This widow lady ? In her right we came ; +Which we , God knows , have turn'd another way , +To our own vantage . + +We will heal up all ; +For we'll create young Arthur Duke of Britaine +And Earl of Richmond ; and this rich fair town +We make him lord of . Call the Lady Constance : +Some speedy messenger bid her repair +To our solemnity : I trust we shall , +If not fill up the measure of her will , +Yet in some measure satisfy her so , +That we shall stop her exclamation . +Go we , as well as haste will suffer us , +To this unlook'd-for unprepared pomp . + + +Mad world ! mad kings ! mad composition ! +John , to stop Arthur's title in the whole , +Hath willingly departed with a part ; +And France , whose armour conscience buckled on , +Whom zeal and charity brought to the field +As God's own soldier , rounded in the ear +With that same purpose-changer , that sly devil , +That broker , that still breaks the pate of faith , +That daily break-vow , he that wins of all , +Of kings , of beggars , old men , young men , maids , +Who having no external thing to lose +But the word 'maid ,' cheats the poor maid of that , +That smooth-fac'd gentleman , tickling Commodity , +Commodity , the bias of the world ; +The world , who of itself is peized well , +Made to run even upon even ground , +Till this advantage , this vile-drawing bias , +This sway of motion , this Commodity , +Makes it take head from all indifferency , +From all direction , purpose , course , intent : +And this same bias , this Commodity , +This bawd , this broker , this all-changing word , +Clapp'd on the outward eye of fickle France , +Hath drawn him from his own determin'd aid , +From a resolv'd and honourable war , +To a most base and vile-concluded peace . +And why rail I on this Commodity ? +But for because he hath not woo'd me yet . +Not that I have the power to clutch my hand +When his fair angels would salute my palm ; +But for my hand , as unattempted yet , +Like a poor beggar , raileth on the rich . +Well , whiles I am a beggar , I will rail , +And say there is no sin but to be rich ; +And being rich , my virtue then shall be +To say there is no vice but beggary . +Since kings break faith upon Commodity , +Gain , be my lord , for I will worship thee ! + +Gone to be married ! gone to swear a peace ! +False blood to false blood join'd ! gone to be friends ! +Shall Lewis have Blanch , and Blanch those provinces ? +It is not so ; thou hast misspoke , misheard ; +Be well advis'd , tell o'er thy tale again : +It cannot be ; thou dost but say 'tis so . +I trust I may not trust thee , for thy word +Is but the vain breath of a common man : +Believe me , I do not believe thee , man ; +I have a king's oath to the contrary . +Thou shalt be punish'd for thus frighting me , +For I am sick and capable of fears ; +Oppress'd with wrongs , and therefore full of fears ; +A widow , husbandless , subject to fears ; +A woman , naturally born to fears ; +And though thou now confess thou didst but jest , +With my vex'd spirits I cannot take a truce , +But they will quake and tremble all this day . +What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head ? +Why dost thou look so sadly on my son ? +What means that hand upon that breast of thine ? +Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum , +Like a proud river peering o'er his bounds ? +Be these sad signs confirmers of thy words ? +Then speak again ; not all thy former tale , +But this one word , whether thy tale be true . + +As true as I believe you think them false +That give you cause to prove my saying true . + +O ! if thou teach me to believe this sorrow , +Teach thou this sorrow how to make me die ; +And let belief and life encounter so +As doth the fury of two desperate men +Which in the very meeting fall and die . +Lewis marry Blanch ! O boy ! then where art thou ? +France friend with England what becomes of me ? +Fellow , be gone ! I cannot brook thy sight : +This news hath made thee a most ugly man . + +What other harm have I , good lady , done , +But spoke the harm that is by others done ? + +Which harm within itself so heinous is +As it makes harmful all that speak of it . + +I do beseech you , madam , be content . + +If thou , that bidd'st me be content , wert grim , +Ugly and slanderous to thy mother's womb , +Full of unpleasing blots and sightless stains , +Lame , foolish , crooked , swart , prodigious , +Patch'd with foul moles and eye-offending marks , +I would not care , I then would be content ; +For then I should not love thee , no , nor thou +Become thy great birth , nor deserve a crown . +But thou art fair ; and at thy birth , dear boy , +Nature and Fortune join'd to make thee great : +Of Nature's gifts thou mayst with lilies boast +And with the half-blown rose . But Fortune , O ! +She is corrupted , chang'd , and won from thee : +She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John , +And with her golden hand hath pluck'd on France +To tread down fair respect of sovereignty , +And made his majesty the bawd to theirs . +France is a bawd to Fortune and King John , +That strumpet Fortune , that usurping John ! +Tell me , thou fellow , is not France forsworn ? +Envenom him with words , or get thee gone +And leave those woes alone which I alone +Am bound to underbear . + +Pardon me , madam , +I may not go without you to the kings . + +Thou mayst , thou shalt : I will not go with thee . +I will instruct my sorrows to be proud ; +For grief is proud and makes his owner stoop . +To me and to the state of my great grief +Let kings assemble ; for my grief's so great +That no supporter but the huge firm earth +Can hold it up : here I and sorrows sit ; +Here is my throne , bid kings come bow to it . + +'Tis true , fair daughter ; and this blessed day +Ever in France shall be kept festival : +To solemnize this day the glorious sun +Stays in his course and plays the alchemist , +Turning with splendour of his precious eye +The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold : +The yearly course that brings this day about +Shall never see it but a holiday . + +A wicked day , and not a holy day ! +What hath this day deserv'd ? what hath it done +That it in golden letters should be set +Among the high tides in the calendar ? +Nay , rather turn this day out of the week , +This day of shame , oppression , perjury : +Or , if it must stand still , let wives with child +Pray that their burdens may not fall this day , +Lest that their hopes prodigiously be cross'd : +But on this day let seamen fear no wrack ; +No bargains break that are not this day made ; +This day all things begun come to ill end ; +Yea , faith itself to hollow falsehood change ! + +By heaven , lady , you shall have no cause +To curse the fair proceedings of this day : +Have I not pawn'd to you my majesty ? + +You have beguil'd me with a counterfeit +Resembling majesty , which , being touch'd and tried , +Proves valueless : you are forsworn , forsworn ; +You came in arms to spill mine enemies' blood , +But now in arms you strengthen it with yours : +The grappling vigour and rough frown of war +Is cold in amity and painted peace , +And our oppression hath made up this league . +Arm , arm , you heavens , against these perjur'd kings ! +A widow cries ; be husband to me , heavens ! +Let not the hours of this ungodly day +Wear out the day in peace ; but , ere sunset , +Set armed discord 'twixt these perjur'd kings ! +Hear me ! O , hear me ! + +Lady Constance , peace ! + +War ! war ! no peace ! peace is to me a war . +O , Lymoges ! O , Austria ! thou dost shame +That bloody spoil . thou slave , thou wretch , thou coward ! +Thou little valiant , great in villany ! +Thou ever strong upon the stronger side ! +Thou Fortune's champion , that dost never fight +But when her humorous ladyship is by +To teach thee safety ! thou art perjur'd too , +And sooth'st up greatness . What a fool art thou , +A ramping fool , to brag , and stamp and swear +Upon my party ! Thou cold-blooded slave , +Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side ? +Been sworn my soldier ? bidding me depend +Upon thy stars , thy fortune , and thy strength ? +And dost thou now fall over to my foes ? +Thou wear a hon's hide ! doff it for shame , +And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs . + +O ! that a man should speak those words to me . + +And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs . + +Thou dar'st not say so , villain , for thy life . + +And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs . + +We like not this ; thou dost forget thyself . + + +Here comes the holy legate of the pope . + +Hail , you anointed deputies of heaven ! +To thee , King John , my holy errand is . +I Pandulph , of fair Milan cardinal , +And from Pope Innocent the legate here , +Do in his name religiously demand +Why thou against the church , our holy mother , +So wilfully dost spurn ; and , force perforce , +Keep Stephen Langton , chosen Archbishop +Of Canterbury , from that holy see ? +This , in our foresaid holy father's name , +Pope Innocent , I do demand of thee . + +What earthly name to interrogatories +Can task the free breath of a sacred king ? +Thou canst not , cardinal , devise a name +So slight , unworthy and ridiculous , +To charge me to an answer , as the pope . +Tell him this tale ; and from the mouth of England +Add thus much more : that no Italian priest +Shall tithe or toll in our dominions ; +But as we under heaven are supreme head , +So under him that great supremacy , +Where we do reign , we will alone uphold , +Without the assistance of a mortal hand : +So tell the pope ; all reverence set apart +To him , and his usurp'd authority . + +Brother of England , you blaspheme in this . + +Though you and all the kings of Christendom +Are led so grossly by this meddling priest , +Dreading the curse that money may buy out ; +And , by the merit of vile gold , dross , dust , +Purchase corrupted pardon of a man , +Who in that sale sells pardon from himself ; +Though you and all the rest so grossly led +This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish ; +Yet I alone , alone do me oppose +Against the pope , and count his friends my foes . + +Then , by the lawful power that I have , +Thou shalt stand curs'd and excommunicate : +And blessed shall he be that doth revolt +From his allegiance to a heretic ; +And meritorious shall that hand be call'd , +Canonized and worshipp'd as a saint , +That takes away by any secret course +Thy hateful life . + +O ! lawful let it be +That I have room with Rome to curse awhile . +Good father cardinal , cry thou amen +To my keen curses ; for without my wrong +There is no tongue hath power to curse him right . + +There's law and warrant , lady , for my curse . + +And for mine too : when law can do no right , +Let it be lawful that law bar no wrong . +Law cannot give my child his kingdom here , +For he that holds his kingdom holds the law : +Therefore , since law itself is perfect wrong , +How can the law forbid my tongue to curse ? + +Philip of France , on peril of a curse , +Let go the hand of that arch-heretic , +And raise the power of France upon his head , +Unless he do submit himself to Rome . + +Look'st thou pale , France ? do not let go thy hand . + +Look to that , devil , lest that France repent , +And by disjoining hands , hell lose a soul . + +King Philip , listen to the cardinal . + +And hang a calf's-skin on his recreant limbs . + +Well , ruffian , I must pocket up these wrongs , +Because + +Your breeches best may carry them . + +Philip , what sayst thou to the cardinal ? + +What should he say , but as the cardinal ? + +Bethink you , father ; for the difference +Is purchase of a heavy curse from Rome , +Or the light loss of England for a friend : +Forego the easier . + +That's the curse of Rome . + +O Lewis , stand fast ! the devil tempts thee here , +In likeness of a new untrimmed bride . + +The Lady Constance speaks not from her faith , +But from her need . + +O ! if thou grant my need , +Which only lives but by the death of faith , +That need must needs infer this principle , +That faith would live again by death of need : +O ! then , tread down my need , and faith mounts up ; +Keep my need up , and faith is trodden down . + +The king is mov'd , and answers not to this . + +O ! be remov'd from him , and answer well . + +Do so , King Philip : hang no more in doubt . + +Hang nothing but a calf's-skin , most sweet lout . + +I am perplex'd , and know not what to say . + +What canst thou say but will perplex thee more , +If thou stand excommunicate and curs'd ? + +Good reverend father , make my person yours , +And tell me how you would bestow yourself . +This royal hand and mine are newly knit , +And the conjunction of our inward souls +Married in league , coupled and link'd together +With all religious strength of sacred vows ; +The latest breath that gave the sound of words +Was deep-sworn faith , peace , amity , true love , +Between our kingdoms and our royal selves ; +And even before this truce , but new before , +No longer than we well could wash our hands +To clap this royal bargain up of peace , +Heaven knows , they were besmear'd and overstain'd +With slaughter's pencil , where revenge did paint +The fearful difference of incensed kings : +And shall these hands , so lately purg'd of blood , +So newly join'd in love , so strong in both , +Unyoke this seizure and this kind regreet ? +Play fast and loose with faith ? so jest with heaven , +Make such unconstant children of ourselves , +As now again to snatch our palm from palm , +Unswear faith sworn , and on the marriage-bed +Of smiling peace to march a bloody host , +And make a riot on the gentle brow +Of true sincerity ? O ! holy sir , +My reverend father , let it not be so ! +Out of your grace , devise , ordain , impose +Some gentle order , and then we shall be bless'd +To do your pleasure and continue friends . + +All form is formless , order orderless , +Save what is opposite to England's love . +Therefore to arms ! be champion of our church , +Or let the church , our mother , breathe her curse , +A mother's curse , on her revolting son . +France , thou mayst hold a serpent by the tongue , +A chafed lion by the mortal paw , +A fasting tiger safer by the tooth , +Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold . + +I may disjoin my hand , but not my faith . + +So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith : +And like a civil war sett'st oath to oath , +Thy tongue against thy tongue . O ! let thy vow +First made to heaven , first be to heaven perform'd ; +That is , to be the champion of our church . +What since thou swor'st is sworn against thyself +And may not be performed by thyself ; +For that which thou hast sworn to do amiss +Is not amiss when it is truly done ; +And being not done , where doing tends to ill , +The truth is then most done not doing it . +The better act of purposes mistook +Is to mistake again ; though indirect , +Yet indirection thereby grows direct , +And falsehood falsehood cures , as fire cools fire +Within the scorched veins of one new-burn'd . +It is religion that doth make vows kept ; +But thou hast sworn against religion +By what thou swear'st , against the thing thou swear'st , +And mak'st an oath the surety for thy truth +Against an oath : the truth thou art unsure +To swear , swears only not to be forsworn ; +Else what a mockery should it be to swear ! +But thou dost swear only to be forsworn ; +And most forsworn , to keep what thou dost swear . +Therefore thy later vows against thy first +Is in thyself rebellion to thyself ; +And better conquest never canst thou make +Than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts +Against these giddy loose suggestions : +Upon which better part our prayers come in , +If thou vouchsafe them ; but , if not , then know +The peril of our curses light on thee +So heavy as thou shalt not shake them off , +But in despair die under their black weight . + +Rebellion , flat rebellion ! + +Will't not be ? +Will not a calf's-skin stop that mouth of thine ? + +Father , to arms ! + +Upon thy wedding-day ? +Against the blood that thou hast married ? +What ! shall our feast be kept with slaughter'd men ? +Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums , +Clamours of hell , be measures to our pomp ? +O husband , hear me ! ay , alack ! how new +Is husband in my mouth ; even for that name , +Which till this time my tongue did ne'er pronounce , +Upon my knee I beg , go not to arms +Against mine uncle . + +O ! upon my knee , +Made hard with kneeling , I do pray to thee , +Thou virtuous Dauphin , alter not the doom +Forethought by heaven . + +Now shall I see thy love : what motive may +Be stronger with thee than the name of wife ? + +That which upholdeth him that thee upholds , +His honour : O ! thine honour , Lewis , thine honour . + +I muse your majesty doth seem so cold , +When such profound respects do pull you on . + +I will denounce a curse upon his head . + +Thou shalt not need . England , I'll fall from thee . + +O fair return of banish'd majesty ! + +O foul revolt of French inconstancy ! + +France , thou shalt rue this hour within this hour . + +Old Time the clock-setter , that bald sexton Time , +Is it as he will ? well then , France shall rue . + +The sun's o'ercast with blood : fair day , adieu ! +Which is the side that I must go withal ? +I am with both : each army hath a hand ; +And in their rage , I having hold of both , +They whirl asunder and dismember me . +Husband , I cannot pray that thou mayst win ; +Uncle , I needs must pray that thou mayst lose ; +Father , I may not wish the fortune thine ; +Grandam , I will not wish thy wishes thrive : +Whoever wins , on that side shall I lose ; +Assured loss before the match be play'd . + +Lady , with me ; with me thy fortune lies . + +There where my fortune lives , there my life dies . + +Cousin , go draw our puissance together . + +France , I am burn'd up with inflaming wrath ; +A rage whose heat hath this condition , +That nothing can allay , nothing but blood , +The blood , and dearest-valu'd blood of France . + +Thy rage shall burn thee up , and thou shalt turn +To ashes , ere our blood shall quench that fire : +Look to thyself , thou art in jeopardy . + +No more than he that threats . To arms let's hie ! + + +Now , by my life , this day grows wondrous hot ; +Some airy devil hovers in the sky +And pours down mischief . Austria's head lie there , +While Philip breathes . + + +Hubert , keep this boy . Philip , make up , +My mother is assailed in our tent , +And ta'en , I fear . + +My lord , I rescu'd her ; +Her highness is in safety , fear you not : +But on , my liege ; for very little pains +Will bring this labour to a happy end . + + +So shall it be ; your grace shall stay behind +So strongly guarded . + +Cousin , look not sad : +Thy grandam loves thee ; and thy uncle will +As dear be to thee as thy father was . + +O ! this will make my mother die with grief . + +Cousin , away for England ! haste before ; +And , ere our coming , see thou shake the bags +Of hoarding abbots ; set at liberty +Imprison'd angels : the fat ribs of peace +Must by the hungry now be fed upon : +Use our commission in his utmost force . + +Bell , book , and candle shall not drive me back +When gold and silver becks me to come on . +I leave your highness . Grandam , I will pray , +If ever I remember to be holy , +For your fair safety ; so I kiss your hand . + +Farewell , gentle cousin . + +Coz , farewell . + + +Come hither , little kinsman ; hark , a word . + + +Come hither , Hubert . O my gentle Hubert , +We owe thee much : within this wall of flesh +There is a soul counts thee her creditor , +And with advantage means to pay thy love : +And , my good friend , thy voluntary oath +Lives in this bosom , dearly cherished . +Give me thy hand . I had a thing to say , +But I will fit it with some better time . +By heaven , Hubert , I am almost asham'd +To say what good respect I have of thee . + +I am much bounden to your majesty . + +Good friend , thou hast no cause to say so yet ; +But thou shalt have ; and creep time ne'er so slow , +Yet it shall come for me to do thee good . +I had a thing to say , but let it go : +The sun is in the heaven , and the proud day , +Attended with the pleasures of the world , +Is all too wanton and too full of gawds +To give me audience : if the midnight bell +Did , with his iron tongue and brazen mouth , +Sound one into the drowsy race of night ; +If this same were a churchyard where we stand , +And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs ; +Or if that surly spirit , melancholy , +Had bak'd thy blood and made it heavy-thick , +Which else runs tickling up and down the veins , +Making that idiot , laughter , keep men's eyes +And strain their cheeks to idle merriment , +A passion hateful to my purposes ; +Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes , +Hear me without thine ears , and make reply +Without a tongue , using conceit alone , +Without eyes , ears , and harmful sound of words ; +Then , in despite of brooded watchful day , +I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts : +But ah ! I will not : yet I love thee well ; +And , by my troth , I think thou lov'st me well . + +So well , that what you bid me undertake , +Though that my death were adjunct to my act , +By heaven , I would do it . + +Do not I know thou wouldst ? +Good Hubert ! Hubert , Hubert , throw thine eye +On yon young boy : I'll tell thee what , my friend , +He is a very serpent in my way ; +And wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread +He lies before me : dost thou understand me ? +Thou art his keeper . + +And I'll keep him so +That he shall not offend your majesty . + +Death . + +My lord ? + +A grave . + +He shall not live . + +Enough . +I could be merry now . Hubert , I love thee ; +Well , I'll not say what I intend for thee : +Remember . Madam , fare you well : +I'll send those powers o'er to your majesty . + +My blessing go with thee ! + +For England , cousin ; go : +Hubert shall be your man , attend on you +With all true duty . On toward Calais , ho ! + + +So , by a roaring tempest on the flood , +A whole armado of convicted sail +Is scatter'd and disjoin'd from fellowship . + +Courage and comfort ! all shall yet go well . + +What can go well when we have run so ill ? +Are we not beaten ? Is not Angiers lost ? +Arthur ta'en prisoner ? divers dear friends slain ? +And bloody England into England gone , +O'erbearing interruption , spite of France ? + +What he hath won that hath he fortified : +So hot a speed with such advice dispos'd , +Such temperate order in so fierce a cause , +Doth want example : who hath read or heard +Of any kindred action like to this ? + +Well could I bear that England had this praise , +So we could find some pattern of our shame . + + +Look , who comes here ! a grave unto a soul ; +Holding the eternal spirit , against her will , +In the vile prison of afflicted breath . + +I prithee lady , go away with me . + +Lo now ! now see the issue of your peace . + +Patience , good lady ! comfort , gentle Constance ! + +No , I defy all counsel , all redress , +But that which ends all counsel , true redress , +Death , death : O , amiable lovely death ! +Thou odoriferous stench ! sound rottenness ! +Arise forth from the couch of lasting night , +Thou hate and terror to prosperity , +And I will kiss thy detestable bones , +And put my eyeballs in thy vaulty brows , +And ring these fingers with thy household worms , +And stop this gap of breath with fulsome dust , +And be a carrion monster like thyself : +Come , grin on me ; and I will think thou smil'st +And buss thee as thy wife ! Misery's love , +O ! come to me . + +O fair affliction , peace ! + +No , no , I will not , having breath to cry : +O ! that my tongue were in the thunder's mouth ! +Then with a passion would I shake the world , +And rouse from sleep that fell anatomy +Which cannot hear a lady's feeble voice , +Which scorns a modern invocation . + +Lady , you utter madness , and not sorrow . + +Thou art not holy to belie me so ; +I am not mad : this hair I tear is mine ; +My name is Constance ; I was Geffrey's wife ; +Young Arthur is my son , and he is lost ! +I am not mad : I would to heaven I were ! +For then 'tis like I should forget myself : +O ! if I could , what grief should I forget . +Preach some philosophy to make me mad , +And thou shalt be canoniz'd , cardinal ; +For being not mad but sensible of grief , +My reasonable part produces reason +How I may be deliver'd of these woes , +And teaches me to kill or hang myself : +If I were mad , I should forget my son , +Or madly think a babe of clouts were he . +I am not mad : too well , too well I feel +The different plague of each calamity . + +Bind up those tresses . O ! what love I note +In the fair multitude of those her hairs : +Where but by chance a silver drop hath fallen , +Even to that drop ten thousand wiry friends +Do glue themselves in sociable grief ; +Like true , inseparable , faithful loves , +Sticking together in calamity . + +To England , if you will . + +Bind up your hairs . + +Yes , that I will ; and wherefore will I do it ? +I tore them from their bonds , and cried aloud +'O ! that these hands could so redeem my son , +As they have given these hairs their liberty !' +But now I envy at their liberty , +And will again commit them to their bonds , +Because my poor child is a prisoner . +And , father cardinal , I have heard you say +That we shall see and know our friends in heaven . +If that be true , I shall see my boy again ; +For since the birth of Cain , the first male child , +To him that did but yesterday suspire , +There was not such a gracious creature born . +But now will canker-sorrow eat my bud +And chase the native beauty from his cheek , +And he will look as hollow as a ghost , +As dim and meagre as an ague's fit , +And so he'll die ; and , rising so again , +When I shall meet him in the court of heaven +I shall not know him : therefore never , never +Must I behold my pretty Arthur more . + +You hold too heinous a respect of grief . + +He talks to me , that never had a son . + +You are as fond of grief as of your child . + +Grief fills the room up of my absent child , +Lies in his bed , walks up and down with me , +Puts on his pretty looks , repeats his words , +Remembers me of all his gracious parts , +Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form : +Then have I reason to be fond of grief . +Fare you well : had you such a loss as I , +I could give better comfort than you do . +I will not keep this form upon my head +When there is such disorder in my wit . +O Lord ! my boy , my Arthur , my fair son ! +My life , my joy , my food , my all the world ! +My widow-comfort , and my sorrows' cure ! + + +I fear some outrage , and I'll follow her . + + +There's nothing in this world can make me joy : +Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale , +Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man ; +And bitter shame hath spoil'd the sweet world's taste , +That it yields nought but shame and bitterness . + +Before the curing of a strong disease , +Even in the instant of repair and health , +The fit is strongest : evils that take leave , +On their departure most of all show evil . +What have you lost by losing of this day ? + +All days of glory , joy , and happiness . + +If you had won it , certainly you had . +No , no ; when Fortune means to men most good , +She looks upon them with a threatening eye . +'Tis strange to think how much King John hath lost +In this which he accounts so clearly won . +Are not you griev'd that Arthur is his prisoner ? + +As heartily as he is glad he hath him . + +Your mind is all as youthful as your blood . +Now hear me speak with a prophetic spirit ; +For even the breath of what I mean to speak +Shall blow each dust , each straw , each little rub , +Out of the path which shall directly lead +Thy foot to England's throne ; and therefore mark . +John hath seiz'd Arthur ; and it cannot be , +That whiles warm life plays in that infant's veins +The misplac'd John should entertain an hour , +One minute , nay , one quiet breath of rest . +A sceptre snatch'd with an unruly hand +Must be as boisterously maintain'd as gain'd ; +And he that stands upon a slippery place +Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up : +That John may stand , then Arthur needs must fall ; +So be it , for it cannot be but so . + +But what shall I gain by young Arthur's fall ? + +You , in the right of Lady Blanch your wife , +May then make all the claim that Arthur did . + +And lose it , life and all , as Arthur did . + +How green you are and fresh in this old world ! +John lays you plots ; the times conspire with you ; +For he that steeps his safety in true blood +Shall find but bloody safety and untrue . +This act so evilly borne shall cool the hearts +Of all his people and freeze up their zeal , +That none so small advantage shall step forth +To check his reign , but they will cherish it ; +No natural exhalation in the sky , +No scope of nature , no distemper'd day , +No common wind , no customed event , +But they will pluck away his natural cause +And call them meteors , prodigies , and signs , +Abortives , presages , and tongues of heaven , +Plainly denouncing vengeance upon John . + +May be he will not touch young Arthur's life , +But hold himself safe in his prisonment . + +O ! sir , when he shall hear of your approach , +If that young Arthur be not gone already , +Even at that news he dies ; and then the hearts +Of all his people shall revolt from him +And kiss the lips of unacquainted change , +And pick strong matter of revolt and wrath +Out of the bloody fingers' ends of John . +Methinks I see this hurly all on foot : +And , O ! what better matter breeds for you +Than I have nam'd . The bastard Faulconbridge +Is now in England ransacking the church , +Offending charity : if but a dozen French +Were there in arms , they would be as a call +To train ten thousand English to their side ; +Or as a little snow , tumbled about , +Anon becomes a mountain . O noble Dauphin ! +Go with me to the king . 'Tis wonderful +What may be wrought out of their discontent +Now that their souls are topful of offence . +For England go ; I will whet on the king . + +Strong reasons make strong actions . Let us go : +If you say ay , the king will not say no . + +Heat me these irons hot ; and look thou stand +Within the arras : when I strike my foot +Upon the bosom of the ground , rush forth , +And bind the boy which you shall find with me +Fast to the chair : be heedful . Hence , and watch . + +I hope your warrant will bear out the deed . + +Uncleanly scruples ! fear not you : look to't . + +Young lad , come forth ; I have to say with you . + + +Good morrow , Hubert . + +Good morrow , little prince . + +As little prince ,having so great a title +To be more prince ,as may be . You are sad . + +Indeed , I have been merrier . + +Mercy on me ! +Methinks nobody should be sad but I : +Yet I remember , when I was in France , +Young gentlemen would be as sad as night , +Only for wantonness . By my christendom , +So I were out of prison and kept sheep , +I should be as merry as the day is long ; +And so I would be here , but that I doubt +My uncle practises more harm to me : +He is afraid of me , and I of him . +Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son ? +No , indeed , is't not ; and I would to heaven +I were your son , so you would love me , Hubert . + +If I talk to him with his innocent prate +He will awake my mercy which lies dead : +Therefore I will be sudden and dispatch . + +Are you sick , Hubert ? you look pale to-day : +In sooth , I would you were a little sick , +That I might sit all night and watch with you : +I warrant I love you more than you do me . + +His words do take possession of my bosom . +Read here , young Arthur . + +How now , foolish rheum ! +Turning dispiteous torture out of door ! +I must be brief , lest resolution drop +Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears . +Can you not read it ? is it not fair writ ? + +Too fairly , Hubert , for so foul effect . +Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes ? + +Young boy , I must . + +And will you ? + +And I will . + +Have you the heart ? When your head did but ache , +I knit my handkercher about your brows , +The best I had , a princess wrought it me , +And I did never ask it you again ; +And with my hand at midnight held your head , +And like the watchful minutes to the hour , +Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time , +Saying , 'What lack you ?' and , 'Where lies your grief ?' +Or , 'What good love may I perform for you ?' +Many a poor man's son would have lain still , +And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you ; +But you at your sick-service had a prince . +Nay , you may think my love was crafty love , +And call it cunning : do an if you will . +If heaven be pleas'd that you must use me ill , +Why then you must . Will you put out mine eyes ? +These eyes that never did nor never shall +So much as frown on you ? + +I have sworn to do it ; +And with hot irons must I burn them out . + +Ah ! none but in this iron age would do it ! +The iron of itself , though heat red-hot , +Approaching near these eyes , would drink my tears +And quench this fiery indignation +Even in the matter of mine innocence ; +Nay , after that , consume away in rust , +But for containing fire to harm mine eye . +Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron ? +An if an angel should have come to me +And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes , +I would not have believ'd him ; no tongue but Hubert's . + +Come forth . + +Do as I bid you do . + +O ! save me , Hubert , save me ! my eyes are out +Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men . + +Give me the iron , I say , and bind him here . + +Alas ! what need you be so boisterousrough ? +I will not struggle ; I will stand stone-still . +For heaven's sake , Hubert , let me not be bound ! +Nay , hear me , Hubert : drive these men away , +And I will sit as quiet as a lamb ; +I will not stir , nor wince , nor speak a word , +Nor look upon the iron angerly . +Thrust but these men away , and I'll forgive you , +Whatever torment you do put me to . + +Go , stand within : let me alone with him . + +I am best pleas'd to be from such a deed . + + +Alas ! I then have chid away my friend : +He hath a stern look , but a gentle heart . +Let him come back , that his compassion may +Give life to yours . + +Come , boy , prepare yourself . + +Is there no remedy ? + +None , but to lose your eyes . + +O heaven ! that there were but a mote in yours , +A grain , a dust , a gnat , a wandering hair , +Any annoyance in that precious sense ; +Then feeling what small things are boisterous there , +Your vile intent must needs seem horrible . + +Is this your promise ? go to , hold your tongue . + +Hubert , the utterance of a brace of tongues +Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes : +Let me not hold my tongue ; let me not , Hubert : +Or Hubert , if you will , cut out my tongue , +So I may keep mine eyes : O ! spare mine eyes , +Though to no use but still to look on you : +Lo ! by my troth , the instrument is cold +And would not harm me . + +I can heat it , boy . + +No , in good sooth ; the fire is dead with grief , +Being create for comfort , to be us'd +In undeserv'd extremes : see else yourself ; +There is no malice in this burning coal ; +The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out +And strew'd repentant ashes on his head . + +But with my breath I can revive it , boy . + +An if you do you will but make it blush +And glow with shame of your proceedings , Hubert : +Nay , it perchance will sparkle in your eyes ; +And like a dog that is compell'd to fight , +Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on . +All things that you should use to do me wrong +Deny their office : only you do lack +That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends , +Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses . + +Well , see to live ; I will not touch thine eyes +For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : +Yet am I sworn and I did purpose , boy , +With this same very iron to burn them out . + +O ! now you look like Hubert , all this while +You were disguised . + +Peace ! no more . Adieu . +Your uncle must not know but you are dead ; +I'll fill these dogged spies with false reports : +And , pretty child , sleep doubtless and secure , +That Hubert for the wealth of all the world +Will not offend thee . + +O heaven ! I thank you , Hubert . + +Silence ! no more , go closely in with me : +Much danger do I undergo for thee . + + +Here once again we sit , once again crown'd , +And look'd upon , I hope , with cheerful eyes . + +This 'once again ,' but that your highness pleas'd , +Was once superfluous : you were crown'd before , +And that high royalty was ne'er pluck'd off , +The faiths of men ne'er stained with revolt ; +Fresh expectation troubled not the land +With any long'd-for change or better state . + +Therefore , to be possess'd with double pomp , +To guard a title that was rich before , +To gild refined gold , to paint the lily , +To throw a perfume on the violet , +To smooth the ice , or add another hue +Unto the rainbow , or with taper-light +To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish , +Is wasteful and ridiculous excess . + +But that your royal pleasure must be done , +This act is as an ancient tale new told , +And in the last repeating troublesome , +Being urged at a time unseasonable . + +In this the antique and well-noted face +Of plain old form is much disfigured ; +And , like a shifted wind unto a sail , +It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about , +Startles and frights consideration , +Makes sound opinion sick and truth suspected , +For putting on so new a fashion'd robe . + +When workmen strive to do better than well +They do confound their skill in covetousness ; +And oftentimes excusing of a fault +Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse : +As patches set upon a little breach +Discredit more in hiding of the fault +Than did the fault before it was so patch'd . + +To this effect , before you were newcrown'd , +We breath'd our counsel : but it pleas'd your highness +To overbear it , and we are all well pleas'd ; +Since all and every part of what we would +Doth make a stand at what your highness will . + +Some reasons of this double coronation +I have possess'd you with and think them strong ; +And more , more strong ,when lesser is my fear , +I shall indue you with : meantime but ask +What you would have reform'd that is not well ; +And well shall you perceive how willingly +I will both hear and grant you your requests . + +Then I ,as one that am the tongue of these +To sound the purposes of all their hearts , +Both for myself and them ,but , chief of all , +Your safety , for the which myself and them +Bend their best studies ,heartily request +The enfranchisement of Arthur ; whose restraint +Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent +To break into this dangerous argument : +If what in rest you have in right you hold , +Why then your fears ,which , as they say , attend +The steps of wrong ,should move you to mew up +Your tender kinsman , and to choke his days +With barbarous ignorance , and deny his youth +The rich advantage of good exercise ? +That the time's enemies may not have this +To grace occasions , let it be our suit +That you have bid us ask , his liberty ; +Which for our goods we do no further ask +Than whereupon our weal , on you depending , +Counts it your weal he have his liberty . + + +Let it be so : I do commit his youth +To your direction . Hubert , what news with you ? + + +This is the man should do the bloody deed ; +He show'd his warrant to a friend of mine : +The image of a wicked hemous fault +Lives in his eye ; that close aspect of his +Does show the mood of a much troubled breast ; +And I do fearfully believe 'tis done , +What we so fear'd he had a charge to do . + +The colour of the king doth come and go +Between his purpose and his conscience , +Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set : +His passion is so ripe it needs must break . + +And when it breaks , I fear will issue thence +The foul corruption of a sweet child's death . + +We cannot hold mortality's strong hand : +Good lords , although my will to give is living , +The suit which you demand is gone and dead : +He tells us Arthur is deceas'd to-night . + +Indeed we fear'd his sickness was past cure . + +Indeed we heard how near his death he was +Before the child himself felt he was sick : +This must be answer'd , either here or hence . + +Why do you bend such solemn brows on me ? +Think you I bear the shears of destiny ? +Have I commandment on the pulse of life ? + +It is apparent foul play ; and 'tis shame +That greatness should so grossly offer it : +So thrive it in your game ! and so , farewell . + +Stay yet , Lord Salisbury ; I'll go with thee , +And find the inheritance of this poor child , +His little kingdom of a forced grave . +That blood which ow'd the breadth of all this isle , +Three foot of it doth hold : bad world the while ! +This must not be thus borne : this will break out +To all our sorrows , and ere long I doubt . + + +They burn in indignation . I repent : +There is no sure foundation set on blood , +No certain life achiev'd by others' death . + + +A fearful eye thou hast : where is that blood +That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks ? +So foul a sky clears not without a storm : + +Pour down thy weather : how goes all in France ? + +From France to England . Never such a power +For any foreign preparation +Was levied in the body of a land . +The copy of your speed is learn'd by them ; +For when you should be told they do prepare , +The tidings come that they are all arriv'd . + +O ! where hath our intelligence been drunk ? +Where hath it slept ? Where is my mother's care +That such an army could be drawn in France , +And she not hear of it ? + +My liege , her ear +Is stopp'd with dust : the first of April died +Your noble mother ; and , as I hear , my lord , +The Lady Constance in a frenzy died +Three days before : but this from rumour's tongue +I idly heard ; if true or false I know not . + +Withhold thy speed , dreadful occasion ! +O ! make a league with me , till I have pleas'd +My discontented peers . What ! mother dead ! +How wildly then walks my estate in France ! +Under whose conduct came those powers of France +That thou for truth giv'st out are landed here ? + +Under the Dauphin . + +Thou hast made me giddy +With these ill tidings . + + +Now , what says the world +To your proceedings ? do not seek to stuff + +My head with more ill news , for it is full . + +But if you be afeard to hear the worst , +Then let the worst unheard fall on your head . + +Bear with me , cousin , for I was amaz'd +Under the tide ; but now I breathe again +Aloft the flood , and can give audience +To any tongue , speak it of what it will . + +How I have sped among the clergymen , +The sums I have collected shall express . +But as I travell'd hither through the land , +I find the people strangely fantasied , +Possess'd with rumours , full of idle dreams , +Not knowing what they fear , but full of fear . +And here's a prophet that I brought with me +From forth the streets of Pomfret , whom I found +With many hundreds treading on his heels ; +To whom he sung , in rude harsh-sounding rimes , +That , ere the next Ascension-day at noon , +Your highness should deliver up your crown . + +Thou idle dreamer , wherefore didst thou so ? + +Foreknowing that the truth will fall out so . + +Hubert , away with him ; imprison him : +And on that day at noon , whereon , he says , +I shall yield up my crown , let him be hang'd . +Deliver him to safety , and return , +For I must use thee . + +O my gentle cousin , +Hear'st thou the news abroad , who are arriv'd ? + +The French , my lord ; men's mouths are full of it : +Besides , I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury , +With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire , +And others more , going to seek the grave +Of Arthur , whom they say is kill'd to-night +On your suggestion . + +Gentle kinsman , go , +And thrust thyself into their companies . +I have a way to win their loves again ; +Bring them before me . + +I will seek them out . + +Nay , but make haste ; the better foot before . +O ! let me have no subject enemies +When adverse foreigners affright my towns +With dreadful pomp of stout invasion . +Be Mercury , set feathers to thy heels , +And fly like thought from them to me again . + +The spirit of the time shall teach me speed . + +Spoke like a sprightful noble gentleman . + +Go after him ; for he perhaps shall need +Some messenger betwixt me and the peers ; +And be thou he . + +With all my heart , my liege . + + +My mother dead ! + + +My lord , they say five moons were seen to-night : +Four fixed , and the fifth did whirl about +The other four in wondrous motion . + +Five moons ! + +Old men and beldams in the streets +Do prophesy upon it dangerously : +Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths ; +And when they talk of him , they shake their heads +And whisper one another in the ear ; +And he that speaks , doth gripe the hearer's wrist +Whilst he that hears makes fearful action , +With wrinkled brows , with nods , with rolling eyes . +I saw a smith stand with his hammer , thus , +The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool , +With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news ; +Who , with his shears and measure in his hand , +Standing on slippers ,which his nimble haste +Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet , +Told of a many thousand warlike French , +That were embattailed and rank'd in Kent . +Another lean unwash'd artificer +Cuts off his tale and talks of Arthur's death . + +Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears ? +Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death ? +Thy hand hath murder'd him : I had a mighty cause +To wish him dead , but thou hadst none to kill him . + +No had , my lord ! why , did you not provoke me ? + +It is the curse of kings to be attended +By slaves that take their humours for a warrant +To break within the bloody house of life , +And on the winking of authority +To understand a law , to know the meaning +Of dangerous majesty , when , perchance , it frowns +More upon humour than advis'd respect . + +Here is your hand and seal for what I did . + +O ! when the last account 'twixt heaven and earth +Is to be made , then shall this hand and seal +Witness against us to damnation . +How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds +Makes ill deeds done ! Hadst not thou been by , +A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd , +Quoted and sign'd to do a deed of shame , +This murder had not come into my mind ; +But taking note of thy abhorr'd aspect , +Finding thee fit for bloody villany , +Apt , liable to be employ'd in danger , +I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death ; +And thou , to be endeared to a king , +Made it no conscience to destroy a prince . + +My lord , + +Hadst thou but shook thy head or made a pause +When I spake darkly what I purposed , +Or turn'd an eye of doubt upon my face , +As bid me tell my tale in express words , +Deep shame had struck me dumb , made me break off , +And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me : +But thou didst understand me by my signs +And didst in signs again parley with sin ; +Yea , without stop , didst let thy heart consent , +And consequently thy rude hand to act +The deed which both our tongues held vile to name . +Out of my sight , and never see me more ! +My nobles leave me ; and my state is brav'd , +Even at my gates , with ranks of foreign powers : +Nay , in the body of this fleshly land , +This kingdom , this confine of blood and breath , +Hostility and civil tumult reigns +Between my conscience and my cousin's death . + +Arm you against your other enemies , +I'll make a peace between your soul and you . +Young Arthur is alive : this hand of mine +Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand , +Not painted with the crimson spots of blood . +Within this bosom never enter'd yet +The dreadful motion of a murderous thought ; +And you have slander'd nature in my form , +Which , howsoever rude exteriorly , +Is yet the cover of a fairer mind +Than to be butcher of an innocent child . + +Doth Arthur live ? O ! haste thee to the peers , +Throw this report on their incensed rage , +And make them tame to their obedience . +Forgive the comment that my passion made +Upon thy feature ; for my rage was blind , +And foul imaginary eyes of blood +Presented thee more hideous than thou art . +O ! answer not ; but to my closet bring +The angry lords , with all expedient haste . +I conjure thee but slowly ; run more fast . + + +The wall is high ; and yet will I leap down +Good ground , be pitiful and hurt me not ! +There's few or none do know me ; if they did , +This ship-boy's semblance hath disguis'd me quite . +I am afraid ; and yet I'll venture it . +If I get down , and do not break my limbs , +I'll find a thousand shifts to get away : +As good to die and go , as die and stay . + +O me ! my uncle's spirit is in these stones : +Heaven take my soul , and England keep my bones ! + +Lords , I will meet him at Saint Edmundsbury . +It is our safety , and we must embrace +This gentle offer of the perilous time . + +Who brought that letter from the cardinal ? + +The Count Melun , a noble lord of France ; +Whose private with me of the Dauphin's love , +Is much more general than these lines import . + +To-morrow morning let us meet him then . + +Or rather then set forward ; for 'twill be +Two long days' journey , lords , or e'er we meet . + + +Once more to-day well met , distemper'd lords ! +The king by me requests your presence straight . + +The king hath dispossess'd himself of us : +We will not line his thin bestained cloak +With our pure honours , nor attend the foot +That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks . +Return and tell him so : we know the worst . + +Whate'er you think , good words , I think , were best . + +Our griefs , and not our manners , reason now . + +But there is little reason in your grief ; +Therefore 'twere reason you had manners now . + +Sir , sir , impatience hath his privilege . + +'Tis true ; to hurt his master , no man else . + +This is the prison . + +What is he lies here ? + +O death , made proud with pure and princely beauty ! +The earth had not a hole to hide this deed . + +Murder , as hating what himself hath done , +Doth lay it open to urge on revenge . + +Or when he doom'd this beauty to a grave , +Found it too precious-princely for a grave . + +Sir Richard , what think you ? Have you beheld , +Or have you read , or heard ? or could you think ? +Or do you almost think , although you see , +That you do see ? could thought , without this object , +Form such another ? This is the very top , +The height , the crest , or crest unto the crest , +Of murder's arms : this is the bloodiest shame , +The wildest savagery , the vilest stroke , +That ever wall-eyed wrath or staring rage +Presented to the tears of soft remorse . + +All murders past do stand excus'd in this : +And this , so sole and so unmatchable , +Shall give a holiness , a purity , +To the yet unbegotten sin of times ; +And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest , +Exampled by this heinous spectacle . + +It is a damned and a bloody work ; +The graceless action of a heavy hand , +If that it be the work of any hand . + +If that it be the work of any hand ! +We had a kind of light what would ensue : +It is the shameful work of Hubert's hand ; +The practice and the purpose of the king : +From whose obedience I forbid my soul , +Kneeling before this ruin of sweet life , +And breathing to his breathless excellence +The incense of a vow , a holy vow , +Never to taste the pleasures of the world , +Never to be infected with delight , +Nor conversant with ease and idleness , +Till I have set a glory to this hand , +By giving it the worship of revenge . + +Our souls religiously confirm thy words . + +Our souls religiously confirm thy words . + + +Lords , I am hot with haste in seeking you : +Arthur doth live : the king hath sent for you . + +O ! he is bold and blushes not at death . +Avaunt , thou hateful villain ! get thee gone . + +I am no villain . + +Must I rob the law ? + +Your sword is bright , sir ; put it up again . + +Not till I sheathe it in a murderer's skin . + +Stand back , Lord Salisbury , stand back , I say : +By heaven , I think my sword's as sharp as yours . +I would not have you , lord , forget yourself , +Nor tempt the danger of my true defence ; +Lest I , by marking of your rage , forget +Your worth , your greatness , and nobility . + +Out , dunghill ! dar'st thou brave a nobleman ? + +Not for my life ; but yet I dare defend +My innocent life against an emperor . + +Thou art a murderer . + +Do not prove me so ; +Yet I am none . Whose tongue soe'er speaks false , +Not truly speaks ; who speaks not truly , lies . + +Cut him to pieces . + +Keep the peace , I say . + +Stand by , or I shall gall you , Faulconbridge . + +Thou wert better gall the devil , Salisbury : +If thou but frown on me , or stir thy foot , +Or teach thy hasty spleen to do me shame , +I'll strike thee dead . Put up thy sword betime : +Or I'll so maul you and your toasting-iron , +That you shall think the devil is come from hell . + +What wilt thou do , renowned Faulconbridge ? +Second a villain and a murderer ? + +Lord Bigot , I am none . + +Who kill'd this prince ? + +'Tis not an hour since I left him well : +I honour'd him , I lov'd him ; and will weep +My date of life out for his sweet life's loss . + +Trust not those cunning waters of his eyes , +For villany is not without such rheum ; +And he , long traded in it , makes it seem +Like rivers of remorse and innocency . +Away with me , all you whose souls abhor +The uncleanly savours of a slaughter-house ; +For I am stifled with this smell of sin . + +Away toward Bury ; to the Dauphin there ! + +There tell the king he may inquire us out . + + +Here's a good world ! Knew you of this fair work ? +Beyond the infinite and boundless reach +Of mercy , if thou didst this deed of death , +Art thou damn'd , Hubert . + +Do but hear me , sir . + +Ha ! I'll tell thee what ; +Thou art damn'd as black nay , nothing is so black ; +Thou art more deep damn'd than Prince Lucifer : +There is not yet so ugly a fiend of hell +As thou shalt be , if thou didst kill this child . + +Upon my soul , + +If thou didst but consent +To this most cruel act , do but despair ; +And if thou want'st a cord , the smallest thread +That ever spider twisted from her womb +Will serve to strangle thee ; a rush will be a beam +To hang thee on ; or wouldst thou drown thyself , +Put but a little water in a spoon , +And it shall be as all the ocean , +Enough to stifle such a villain up . +I do suspect thee very grievously . + +If I in act , consent , or sin of thought , +Be guilty of the stealing that sweet breath +Which was embounded in this beauteous clay , +Let hell want pains enough to torture me . +I left him well . + +Go , bear him in thine arms . +I am amaz'd , methinks , and lose my way +Among the thorns and dangers of this world . +How easy dost thou take all England up ! +From forth this morsel of dead royalty , +The life , the right and truth of all this realm +Is fled to heaven ; and England now is left +To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth +The unow'd interest of proud swelling state . +Now for the bare-pick'd bone of majesty +Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest , +And snarleth in the gentle eyes of peace : +Now powers from home and discontents at home +Meet in one line ; and vast confusion waits , +As doth a raven on a sick-fallen beast , +The imminent decay of wrested pomp . +Now happy he whose cloak and ceinture can +Hold out this tempest . Bear away that child +And follow me with speed : I'll to the king : +A thousand businesses are brief in hand , +And heaven itself doth frown upon the land . + +Thus have I yielded up into your hand +The circle of my glory . + +Take again +From this my hand , as holding of the pope , +Your sovereign greatness and authority . + +Now keep your holy word : go meet the French , +And from his holiness use all your power +To stop their marches 'fore we are inflam'd . +Our discontented counties do revolt , +Our people quarrel with obedience , +Swearing allegiance and the love of soul +To stranger blood , to foreign royalty . +This inundation of mistemper'd humour +Rests by you only to be qualified : +Then pause not ; for the present time's so sick , +That present medicine must be minister'd , +Or overthrow incurable ensues . + +It was my breath that blew this tempest up +Upon your stubborn usage of the pope ; +But since you are a gentle convertite , +My tongue shall hush again this storm of war +And make fair weather in your blustering land . +On this Ascension-day , remember well , +Upon your oath of service to the pope , +Go I to make the French lay down their arms . + + +Is this Ascension-day ? Did not the prophet +Say that before Ascension-day at noon +My crown I should give off ? Even so I have : +I did suppose it should be on constraint ; +But , heaven be thank'd , it is but voluntary . + + +All Kent hath yielded ; nothing there holds out +But Dover Castle : London hath receiv'd , +Like a kind host , the Dauphin and his powers : +Your nobles will not hear you , but are gone +To offer service to your enemy ; +And wild amazement hurries up and down +The little number of your doubtful friends . + +Would not my lords return to me again +After they heard young Arthur was alive ? + +They found him dead and cast into the streets , +An empty casket , where the jewel of life +By some damn'd hand was robb'd and ta'en away . + +That villain Hubert told me he did live . + +So , on my soul , he did , for aught he knew . +But wherefore do you droop ? why look you sad ? +Be great in act , as you have been in thought ; +Let not the world see fear and sad distrust +Govern the motion of a kingly eye : +Be stirring as the time ; be fire with fire ; +Threaten the threatener , and outface the brow +Of bragging horror : so shall inferior eyes , +That borrow their behaviours from the great , +Grow great by your example and put on +The dauntless spirit of resolution . +Away ! and glister like the god of war +When he intendeth to become the field : +Show boldness and aspiring confidence . +What ! shall they seek the lion in his den +And fright him there ? and make him tremble there ? +O ! let it not be said . Forage , and run +To meet displeasure further from the doors , +And grapple with him ere he comes so nigh . + +The legate of the pope hath been with me , +And I have made a happy peace with him ; +And he hath promis'd to dismiss the powers +Led by the Dauphin . + +O inglorious league ! +Shall we , upon the footing of our land , +Send fair-play orders and make compromise , +Insinuation , parley and base truce +To arms invasive ? shall a beardless boy , +A cocker'd silken wanton , brave our fields , +And flesh his spirit in a war-like soul , +Mocking the air with colours idly spread , +And find no check ? Let us , my liege , to arms : +Perchance the cardinal cannot make your peace ; +Or if he do , let it at least be said +They saw we had a purpose of defence . + +Have thou the ordering of this present time . + +Away then , with good courage ! yet , I know , +Our party may well meet a prouder foe . + + +My Lord Melun , let this be copied out , +And keep it safe for our remembrance . +Return the precedent to these lords again ; +That , having our fair order written down , +Both they and we , perusing o'er these notes , +May know wherefore we took the sacrament , +And keep our faiths firm and inviolable . + +Upon our sides it never shall be broken . +And , noble Dauphin , albeit we swear +A voluntary zeal , an unurg'd faith +To your proceedings ; yet , believe me , prince , +I am not glad that such a sore of time +Should seek a plaster by contemn'd revolt , +And heal the inveterate canker of one wound +By making many . O ! it grieves my soul +That I must draw this metal from my side +To be a widow-maker ! O ! and there +Where honourable rescue and defence +Cries out upon the name of Salisbury . +But such is the infection of the time , +That , for the health and physic of our right , +We cannot deal but with the very hand +Of stern injustice and confused wrong . +And is't not pity , O my grieved friends ! +That we , the sons and children of this isle , +Were born to see so sad an hour as this ; +Wherein we step after a stranger march +Upon her gentle bosom , and fill up +Her enemies' ranks ,I must withdraw and weep +Upon the spot of this enforced cause , +To grace the gentry of a land remote , +And follow unacquainted colours here ? +What , here ? O nation ! that thou couldst remove ; +That Neptune's arms , who clippeth thee about , +Would bear thee from the knowledge of thyself , +And gripple thee unto a pagan shore ; +Where these two Christian armies might combine +The blood of malice in a vein of league , +And not to spend it so unneighbourly ! + +A noble temper dost thou show in this ; +And great affections wrestling in thy bosom +Do make an earthquake of nobility . +O ! what a noble combat hast thou fought +Between compulsion and a brave respect . +Let me wipe off this honourable dew , +That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks : +My heart hath melted at a lady's tears , +Being an ordinary inundation ; +But this effusion of such manly drops , +This shower , blown up by tempest of the soul , +Startles mine eyes , and makes me more amaz'd +Than had I seen the vaulty top of heaven +Figur'd quite o'er with burning meteors . +Lift up thy brow , renowned Salisbury , +And with a great heart heave away this storm : +Commend these waters to those baby eyes +That never saw the giant world enrag'd ; +Nor met with fortune other than at feasts , +Full warm of blood , of mirth , of gossiping . +Come , come ; for thou shalt thrust thy hand as deep +Into the purse of rich prosperity +As Lewis himself : so , nobles , shall you all , +That knit your sinews to the strength of mine . + + +And even there , methinks , an angel spake : +Look , where the holy legate comes apace , +To give us warrant from the hand of heaven , +And on our actions set the name of right + +With holy breath . + +Hail , noble prince of France ! +The next is this : King John hath reconcil'd +Himself to Rome ; his spirit is come in +That so stood out against the holy church , +The great metropolis and see of Rome . +Therefore thy threat'ning colours now wind up , +And tame the savage spirit of wild war , +That , like a lion foster'd up at hand , +It may lie gently at the foot of peace , +And be no further harmful than in show . + +Your grace shall pardon me ; I will not back : +I am too high-born to be propertied , +To be a secondary at control , +Or useful serving-man and instrument +To any sovereign state throughout the world . +Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars +Between this chastis'd kingdom and myself , +And brought in matter that should feed this fire ; +And now 'tis far too huge to be blown out +With that same weak wind which enkindled it . +You taught me how to know the face of right , +Acquainted me with interest to this land , +Yea , thrust this enterprise into my heart ; +And come you now to tell me John hath made +His peace with Rome ? What is that peace to me ? +I , by the honour of my marriage-bed , +After young Arthur , claim this land for mine ; +And , now it is half-conquer'd , must I back +Because that John hath made his peace with Rome ? +Am I Rome's slave ? What penny hath Rome borne , +What men provided , what munition sent , +To underprop this action ? is't not I +That undergo this charge ? who else but I , +And such as to my claim are liable , +Sweat in this business and maintain this war ? +Have I not heard these islanders shout out , +Vive le roy ! as I have bank'd their towns ? +Have I not here the best cards for the game +To win this easy match play'd for a crown ? +And shall I now give o'er the yielded set ? +No , no , on my soul , it never shall be said . + +You look but on the outside of this work . + +Outside or inside , I will not return +Till my attempt so much be glorified +As to my ample hope was promised +Before I drew this gallant head of war , +And cull'd these fiery spirits from the world , +To outlook conquest and to win renown +Even in the jaws of danger and of death . + +What lusty trumpet thus doth summon us ? + + +According to the fair play of the world , +Let me have audience ; I am sent to speak : +My holy Lord of Milan , from the king +I come , to learn how you have dealt for him ; +And , as you answer , I do know the scope +And warrant limited unto my tongue . + +The Dauphin is too wilful-opposite , +And will not temporize with my entreaties : +He flatly says he'll not lay down his arms . + +By all the blood that ever fury breath'd , +The youth says well . Now hear our English king ; +For thus his royalty doth speak in me . +He is prepar'd ; and reason too he should : +This apish and unmannerly approach , +This harness'd masque and unadvised revel , +This unhair'd sauciness and boyish troops , +The king doth smile at ; and is well prepar'd +To whip this dwarfish war , these pigmy arms , +From out the circle of his territories . +That hand which had the strength , even at your door , +To cudgel you and make you take the hatch ; +To dive , like buckets , in concealed wells ; +To crouch in litter of your stable planks : +To lie like pawns lock'd up in chests and trunks ; +To hug with swine ; to seek sweet safety out +In vaults and prisons ; and to thrill and shake , +Even at the crying of your nation's crow , +Thinking this voice an armed Englishman : +Shall that victorious hand be feebled here +That in your chambers gave you chastisement ? +No ! Know , the gallant monarch is in arms , +And like an eagle o'er his aiery towers , +To souse annoyance that comes near his nest . +And you degenerate , you ingrate revolts , +You bloody Neroes , ripping up the womb +Of your dear mother England , blush for shame : +For your own ladies and pale-visag'd maids +Like Amazons come tripping after drums , +Their thimbles into armed gauntlets change , +Their neelds to lances , and their gentle hearts +To fierce and bloody inclination . + +There end thy brave , and turn thy face in peace ; +We grant thou canst outscold us : fare thee well ; +We hold our time too precious to be spent +With such a brabbler . + +Give me leave to speak . + +No , I will speak . + +We will attend to neither . +Strike up the drums ; and let the tongue of war +Plead for our interest and our being here . + +Indeed , your drums , being beaten , will cry out ; +And so shall you , being beaten . Do but start +An echo with the clamour of thy drum , +And even at hand a drum is ready brac'd +That shall reverberate all as loud as thine ; +Sound but another , and another shall +As loud as thine rattle the welkin's ear +And mock the deep-mouth'd thunder : for at hand , +Not trusting to this halting legate here , +Whom he hath us'd rather for sport than need , +Is warlike John ; and in his forehead sits +A bare-ribb'd death , whose office is this day +To feast upon whole thousands of the French . + +Strike up our drums , to find this danger out . + +And thou shalt find it , Dauphin , do not doubt . + + +How goes the day with us ? O ! tell me , Hubert . + +Badly , I fear . How fares your majesty ? + +This fever , that hath troubled me so long , +Lies heavy on me : O ! my heart is sick . + + +My lord , your valiant kinsman , Faulconbridge , +Desires your majesty to leave the field , +And send him word by me which way you go . + +Tell him , toward Swinstead , to the abbey there . + +Be of good comfort : for the great supply +That was expected by the Dauphin here , +Are wrack'd three nights ago on Goodwin sands . +This news was brought to Richard but even now . +The French fight coldly , and retire themselves . + +Ay me ! this tyrant fever burns me up , +And will not let me welcome this good news . +Set on toward Swinstead : to my litter straight ; +Weakness possesseth me , and I am faint . + + +I did not think the king so stor'd with friends . + +Up once again ; put spirit in the French : +If they miscarry we miscarry too . + +That misbegotten devil , Faulconbridge , +In spite of spite , alone upholds the day . + +They say King John , sore sick , hath left the field . + + +Lead me to the revolts of England here . + +When we were happy we had other names . + +It is the Count Melun . + +Wounded to death . + +Fly , noble English ; you are bought and sold ; +Unthread the rude eye of rebellion , +And welcome home again discarded faith . +Seek out King John and fall before his feet ; +For if the French be lords of this loud day , +He means to recompense the pains you take +By cutting off your heads . Thus hath he sworn , +And I with him , and many moe with me , +Upon the altar at Saint Edmundsbury ; +Even on that altar where we swore to you +Dear amity and everlasting love . + +May this be possible ? may this be true ? + +Have I not hideous death within my view , +Retaining but a quantity of life , +Which bleeds away , even as a form of wax +Resolveth from his figure 'gainst the fire ? +What in the world should make me now deceive , +Since I must lose the use of all deceit ? +Why should I then be false , since it is true +That I must die here and live hence by truth ? +I say again , if Lewis do win the day , +He is forsworn , if e'er those eyes of yours +Behold another day break in the east : +But even this night , whose black contagious breath +Already smokes about the burning crest +Of the old , feeble , and day-wearied sun , +Even this ill night , your breathing shall expire , +Paying the fine of rated treachery +Even with a treacherous fine of all your lives , +If Lewis by your assistance win the day . +Commend me to one Hubert with your king ; +The love of him , and this respect besides , +For that my grandsire was an Englishman , +Awakes my conscience to confess all this . +In lieu whereof , I pray you , bear me hence +From forth the noise and rumour of the field , +Where I may think the remnant of my thoughts +In peace , and part this body and my soul +With contemplation and devout desires . + +We do believe thee : and beshrew my soul +But I do love the favour and the form +Of this most fair occasion , by the which +We will untread the steps of damned flight , +And like a bated and retired flood , +Leaving our rankness and irregular course , +Stoop low within those bounds we have o'erlook'd , +And calmly run on in obedience , +Even to our ocean , to our great King John . +My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence , +For I do see the cruel pangs of death +Right in thine eye . Away , my friends ! New flight ; +And happy newness , that intends old right . + + +The sun of heaven methought was loath to set , +But stay'd and made the western welkin blush , +When the English measur'd backward their own ground +In faint retire . O ! bravely came we off , +When with a volley of our needless shot , +After such bloody toil , we bid good night , +And wound our tottering colours clearly up , +Last in the field , and almost lords of it ! + + +Where is my prince , the Dauphin ? + +Here : what news ? + +The Count Melun is slain ; the English lords , +By his persuasion , are again fall'n off ; +And your supply , which you have wish'd so long , +Are cast away and sunk , on Goodwin sands . + +Ah , foul shrewd news ! Beshrew thy very heart ! +I did not think to be so sad to-night +As this hath made me . Who was he that said +King John did fly an hour or two before +The stumbling night did part our weary powers ? + +Whoever spoke it , it is true , my lord . + +Well ; keep good quarter and good care to-night : +The day shall not be up so soon as I , +To try the fair adventure of to-morrow . + + +Who's there ? speak , ho ! speak quickly , or I shoot . + +A friend . What art thou ? + +Of the part of England . + +Whither dost thou go ? + +What's that to thee ? Why may not I demand +Of thine affairs as well as thou of mine ? + +Hubert , I think ? + +Thou hast a perfect thought : +I will upon all hazards well believe +Thou art my friend , that know'st my tongue so well . +Who art thou ? + +Who thou wilt : and if thou please , +Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think +I come one way of the Plantagenets . + +Unkind remembrance ! thou and eyeless night +Have done me shame : brave soldier , pardon me , +That any accent breaking from thy tongue +Should 'scape the true acquaintance of mine ear . + +Come , come ; sans compliment , what news abroad ? + +Why , here walk I in the black brow of night , +To find you out . + +Brief , then ; and what's the news ? + +O ! my sweet sir , news fitting to the night , +Black , fearful , comfortless , and horrible . + +Show me the very wound of this ill news : +I am no woman ; I'll not swound at it . + +The king , I fear , is poison'd by a monk : +I left him almost speechless ; and broke out +To acquaint you with this evil , that you might +The better arm you to the sudden time +Than if you had at leisure known of this . + +How did he take it ? who did taste to him ? + +A monk , I tell you ; a resolved villain , +Whose bowels suddenly burst out : the king +Yet speaks , and peradventure may recover . + +Whom didst thou leave to tend his majesty ? + +Why , know you not ? the lords are all come back , +And brought Prince Henry in their company ; +At whose request the king hath pardon'd them , +And they are all about his majesty . + +Withhold thine indignation , mighty heaven , +And tempt us not to bear above our power ! +I'll tell thee , Hubert , half my power this night , +Passing these flats , are taken by the tide ; +These Lincoln Washes have devoured them : +Myself , well-mounted , hardly have escap'd . +Away before ! conduct me to the king ; +I doubt he will be dead or ere I come . + + +It is too late : the life of all his blood +Is touch'd corruptibly ; and his pure brain , +Which some suppose the soul's frail dwelling-house , +Doth , by the idle comments that it makes , +Foretell the ending of mortality . + + +His highness yet doth speak ; and holds belief +That , being brought into the open air , +It would allay the burning quality +Of that fell poison which assaileth him . + +Let him be brought into the orchard here . +Doth he still rage ? + + +He is more patient +Than when you left him : even now he sung . + +O , vanity of sickness ! fierce extremes +In their continuance will not feel themselves . +Death , having prey'd upon the outward parts , +Leaves them invisible ; and his siege is now +Against the mind , the which he pricks and wounds +With many legions of strange fantasies , +Which , in their throng and press to that last hold , +Confound themselves . 'Tis strange that death should sing . +I am the cygnet to this pale faint swan , +Who chants a doleful hymn to his own death , +And from the organ-pipe of frailty sings +His soul and body to their lasting rest + +Be of good comfort , prince ; for you are born +To set a form upon that indigest +Which he hath left so shapeless and so rude . + + +Ay , marry , now my soul hath elbow-room ; +It would not out at windows , nor at doors . +There is so hot a summer in my bosom +That all my bowels crumble up to dust : +I am a scribbled form , drawn with a pen +Upon a parchment , and against this fire +Do I shrink up . + +How fares your majesty ? + +Poison'd , ill-fare ; dead , forsook , cast off ; +And none of you will bid the winter come +To thrust his icy fingers in my maw ; +Nor let my kingdom's rivers take their course +Through my burn'd bosom ; nor entreat the north +To make his bleak winds kiss my parched lips +And comfort me with cold . I do not ask you much : +I beg cold comfort ; and you are so strait +And so ingrateful you deny me that . + +O ! that there were some virtue in my tears , +That might relieve you . + +The salt in them is hot . +Within me is a hell ; and there the poison +Is as a fiend confin'd to tyrannize +On unreprievable condemned blood . + + +O ! I am scalded with my violent motion +And spleen of speed to see your majesty . + +O cousin ! thou art come to set mine eye : +The tackle of my heart is crack'd and burn'd , +And all the shrouds wherewith my life should sail +Are turned to one thread , one little hair ; +My heart hath one poor string to stay it by , +Which holds but till thy news be uttered ; +And then all this thou seest is but a clod +And module of confounded royalty . + +The Dauphin is preparing hitherward , +Where heaven he knows how we shall answer him : +For in a night the best part of my power , +As I upon advantage did remove , +Were in the Washes all unwarily +Devoured by the unexpected flood . + + +You breathe these dead news in as dead an ear . +My liege ! my lord ! But now a king , now thus . + +Even so must I run on , and even so stop . +What surety of the world , what hope , what stay , +When this was now a king , and now is clay ? + +Art thou gone so ? I do but stay behind +To do the office for thee of revenge , +And then my soul shall wait on thee to heaven , +As it on earth hath been thy servant still . +Now , now , you stars , that move in your right spheres , +Where be your powers ? Show now your mended faiths , +And instantly return with me again , +To push destruction and perpetual shame +Out of the weak door of our fainting land . +Straight let us seek , or straight we shall be sought : +The Dauphin rages at our very heels . + +It seems you know not then so much as we . +The Cardinal Pandulph is within at rest , +Who half an hour since came from the Dauphin , +And brings from him such offers of our peace +As we with honour and respect may take , +With purpose presently to leave this war . + +He will the rather do it when he sees +Ourselves well sinewed to our defence . + +Nay , it is in a manner done already ; +For many carriages he hath dispatch'd +To the sea-side , and put his cause and quarrel +To the disposing of the cardinal : +With whom yourself , myself , and other lords , +If you think meet , this afternoon will post +To consummate this business happily . + +Let it be so . And you , my noble prince , +With other princes that may best be spar'd , +Shall wait upon your father's funeral . + +At Worcester must his body be interr'd ; +For so he will'd it . + +Thither shall it then . +And happily may your sweet self put on +The lineal state and glory of the land ! +To whom , with all submission , on my knee , +I do bequeath my faithful services +And true subjection everlastingly . + +And the like tender of our love we make , +To rest without a spot for evermore . + +I have a kind soul that would give you thanks , +And knows not how to do it but with tears . + +O ! let us pay the time but needful woe +Since it hath been beforehand with our griefs . +This England never did , nor never shall , +Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror , +But when it first did help to wound itself . +Now these her princes are come home again , +Come the three corners of the world in arms , +And we shall shock them . Nought shall make us rue , +If England to itself do rest but true . + +THE LIFE OF KING HENRY V + +Chorus . + +O ! for a Muse of fire , that would ascend +The brightest heaven of invention ; +A kingdom for a stage , princes to act +And monarchs to behold the swelling scene . +Then should the war-like Harry , like himself , +Assume the port of Mars ; and at his heels , +Leash'd in like hounds , should famine , sword , and fire +Crouch for employment . But pardon , gentles all , +The flat unraised spirits that hath dar'd +On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth +So great an object : can this cockpit hold +The vasty fields of France ? or may we cram +Within this wooden O the very casques +That did affright the air at Agincourt ? +O , pardon ! since a crooked figure may +Attest in little place a million ; +And let us , ciphers to this great accompt , +On your imaginary forces work . +Suppose within the girdle of these walls +Are now confin'd two mighty monarchies , +Whose high upreared and abutting fronts +The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder : +Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts : +Into a thousand parts divide one man , +And make imaginary puissance ; +Think when we talk of horses that you see them +Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth ; +For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings , +Carry them here and there , jumping o'er times , +Turning the accomplishment of many years +Into an hour-glass : for the which supply , +Admit me Chorus to this history ; +Who prologue-like your humble patience pray , +Gently to hear , kindly to judge , our play . + + +My lord , I'll tell you ; that self bill is urg'd , +Which in th' eleventh year of the last king's reign +Was like , and had indeed against us pass'd , +But that the scambling and unquiet time +Did push it out of further question . + +But how , my lord , shall we resist it now ? + +It must be thought on . If it pass against us , +We lose the better half of our possession ; +For all the temporal lands which men devout +By testament have given to the church +Would they strip from us ; being valu'd thus : +As much as would maintain , to the king's honour , +Full fifteen earls and fifteen hundred knights , +Six thousand and two hundred good esquires ; +And , to relief of lazars and weak age , +Of indigent faint souls past corporal toil , +A hundred almshouses right well supplied ; +And to the coffers of the king beside , +A thousand pounds by the year . Thus runs the bill . + +This would drink deep . + +'Twould drink the cup and all . + +But what prevention ? + +The king is full of grace and fair regard . + +And a true lover of the holy church . + +The courses of his youth promis'd it not . +The breath no sooner left his father's body +But that his wildness , mortified in him , +Seem'd to die too ; yea , at that very moment , +Consideration like an angel came , +And whipp'd the offending Adam out of him , +Leaving his body as a paradise , +To envelop and contain celestial spirits . +Never was such a sudden scholar made ; +Never came reformation in a flood , +With such a heady currance , scouring faults ; +Nor never Hydra-headed wilfulness +So soon did lose his seat and all at once +As in this king . + +We are blessed in the change . + +Hear him but reason in divinity , +And , all-admiring , with an inward wish +You would desire the king were made a prelate : +Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs , +You would say it hath been all in all his study : +List his discourse of war , and you shall hear +A fearful battle render'd you in music : +Turn him to any cause of policy , +The Gordian knot of it he will unloose , +Familiar as his garter ; that , when he speaks , +The air , a charter'd libertine , is still , +And the mute wonder lurketh in men's ears , +To steal his sweet and honey'd sentences ; +So that the art and practic part of life +Must be the mistress to this theoric : +Which is a wonder how his Grace should glean it , +Since his addiction was to courses vain ; +His companies unletter'd , rude , and shallow ; +His hours fill'd up with riots , banquets , sports ; +And never noted in him any study , +Any retirement , any sequestration +From open haunts and popularity . + +The strawberry grows underneath the nettle , +And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best +Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality : +And so the prince obscur'd his contemplation +Under the veil of wildness ; which , no doubt , +Grew like the summer grass , fastest by night , +Unseen , yet crescive in his faculty . + +It must be so ; for miracles are ceas'd ; +And therefore we must needs admit the means +How things are perfected . + +But , my good lord , +How now for mitigation of this bill +Urg'd by the commons ? Doth his majesty +Incline to it , or no ? + +He seems indifferent , +Or rather swaying more upon our part +Than cherishing the exhibiters against us ; +For I have made an offer to his majesty , +Upon our spiritual convocation , +And in regard of causes now in hand , +Which I have open'd to his Grace at large , +As touching France , to give a greater sum +Than ever at one time the clergy yet +Did to his predecessors part withal . + +How did this offer seem receiv'd , my lord ? + +With good acceptance of his majesty ; +Save that there was not time enough to hear , +As I perceiv'd his Grace would fain have done , +The severals and unhidden passages +Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms , +And generally to the crown and seat of France , +Deriv'd from Edward , his great-grandfather . + +What was the impediment that broke this off ? + +The French ambassador upon that instant +Crav'd audience ; and the hour I think is come +To give him hearing : is it four o'clock ? + +It is . + +Then go we in to know his embassy ; +Which I could with a ready guess declare +Before the Frenchman speak a word of it . + +I'll wait upon you , and I long to hear it . + + +Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury ? + +Not here in presence . + +Send for him , good uncle . + +Shall we call in the ambassador , my liege ? + +Not yet , my cousin : we would be resolv'd , +Before we hear him , of some things of weight +That task our thoughts , concerning us and France . + + +God and his angels guard your sacred throne , +And make you long become it ! + +Sure , we thank you . +My learned lord , we pray you to proceed , +And justly and religiously unfold +Why the law Salique that they have in France +Or should , or should not , bar us in our claim . +And God forbid , my dear and faithful lord , +That you should fashion , wrest , or bow your reading , +Or nicely charge your understanding soul +With opening titles miscreate , whose right +Suits not in native colours with the truth ; +For God doth know how many now in health +Shall drop their blood in approbation +Of what your reverence shall incite us to . +Therefore take heed how you impawn our person , +How you awake the sleeping sword of war : +We charge you in the name of God , take heed ; +For never two such kingdoms did contend +Without much fall of blood ; whose guiltless drops +Are every one a woe , a sore complaint , +'Gainst him whose wrongs give edge unto the swords +That make such waste in brief mortality . +Under this conjuration speak , my lord , +And we will hear , note , and believe in heart , +That what you speak is in your conscience wash'd +As pure as sin with baptism . + +Then hear me , gracious sovereign , and you peers , +That owe yourselves , your lives , and services +To this imperial throne . There is no bar +To make against your highness' claim to France +But this , which they produce from Pharamond , +In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant , +'No woman shall succeed in Salique land :' +Which Salique land the French unjustly gloze +To be the realm of France , and Pharamond +The founder of this law and female bar . +Yet their own authors faithfully affirm +That the land Salique is in Germany , +Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe ; +Where Charles the Great , having subdu'd the Saxons , +There left behind and settled certain French ; +Who , holding in disdain the German women +For some dishonest manners of their life , +Establish'd then this law ; to wit , no female +Should be inheritrix in Salique land : +Which Salique , as I said , 'twixt Elbe and Sala , +Is at this day in Germany call'd Meisen . +Then doth it well appear the Salique law +Was not devised for the realm of France ; +Nor did the French possess the Salique land +Until four hundred one-and-twenty years +After defunction of King Pharamond , +Idly suppos'd the founder of this law ; +Who died within the year of our redemption +Four hundred twenty-six ; and Charles the Great +Subdu'd the Saxons , and did seat the French +Beyond the river Sala , in the year +Eight hundred five . Besides , their writers say , +King Pepin , which deposed Childeric , +Did , as heir general , being descended +Of Blithild , which was daughter to King Clothair , +Make claim and title to the crown of France . +Hugh Capet also , who usurp'd the crown +Of Charles the Duke of Loraine , sole heir male +Of the true line and stock of Charles the Great , +To find his title with some shows of truth , +Though in pure truth , it was corrupt and naught , +Convey'd himself as heir to the Lady Lingare , +Daughter to Charlemain , who was the son +To Lewis the emperor , and Lewis the son +Of Charles the Great . Also King Lewis the Tenth , +Who was sole heir to the usurper Capet , +Could not keep quiet in his conscience , +Wearing the crown of France , till satisfied +That fair Queen Isabel , his grandmother , +Was lineal of the Lady Ermengare , +Daughter to Charles the aforesaid Duke of Loraine : +By the which marriage the line of Charles the Great +Was re-united to the crown of France . +So that , as clear as is the summer's sun , +King Pepin's title , and Hugh Capet's claim , +King Lewis his satisfaction , all appear +To hold in right and title of the female : +So do the kings of France unto this day ; +Howbeit they would hold up this Salique law +To bar your highness claiming from the female ; +And rather choose to hide them in a net +Than amply to imbar their crooked titles +Usurp'd from you and your progenitors . + +May I with right and conscience make this claim ? + +The sin upon my head , dread sovereign ! +For in the book of Numbers is it writ : +'When the son dies , let the inheritance +Descend unto the daughter .' Gracious lord , +Stand for your own ; unwind your bloody flag ; +Look back into your mighty ancestors : +Go , my dread lord , to your great-grandsire's tomb , +From whom you claim ; invoke his war-like spirit , +And your great-uncle's , Edward the Black Prince , +Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy , +Making defeat on the full power of France ; +Whiles his most mighty father on a hill +Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp +Forage in blood of French nobility . +O noble English ! that could entertain +With half their forces the full pride of France , +And let another half stand laughing by , +All out of work , and cold for action . + +Awake remembrance of these valiant dead , +And with your puissant arm renew their feats : +You are their heir , you sit upon their throne , +The blood and courage that renowned them +Runs in your veins ; and my thrice-puissantliege +Is in the very May-morn of his youth , +Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises . + +Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth +Do all expect that you should rouse yourself , +As did the former lions of your blood . + +They know your Grace hath cause and means and might ; +So hath your highness ; never King of England +Had nobles richer , and more loyal subjects , +Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England +And lie pavilion'd in the fields of France . + +O ! let their bodies follow , my dear liege , +With blood and sword and fire to win your right ; +In aid whereof we of the spiritualty +Will raise your highness such a mighty sum +As never did the clergy at one time +Bring in to any of your ancestors . + +We must not only arm to invade the French , +But lay down our proportions to defend +Against the Scot , who will make road upon us +With all advantages . + +They of those marches , gracious sovereign , +Shall be a wall sufficient to defend +Our inland from the pilfering borderers . + +We do not mean the coursing snatchers only , +But fear the main intendment of the Scot , +Who hath been still a giddy neighbour to us ; +For you shall read that my great-grandfather +Never went with his forces into France +But that the Scot on his unfurnish'd kingdom +Came pouring , like the tide into a breach , +With ample and brim fulness of his force , +Galling the gleaned land with hot essays , +Girding with grievous siege castles and towns ; +That England , being empty of defence , +Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood . + +She hath been then more fear'd than harm'd , my liege ; +For hear her but exampled by herself : +When all her chivalry hath been in France +And she a mourning widow of her nobles , +She hath herself not only well defended , +But taken and impounded as a stray +The King of Scots ; whom she did send to France , +To fill King Edward's fame with prisoner kings , +And make your chronicle as rich with praise +As is the owse and bottom of the sea +With sunken wrack and sumless treasuries . + +But there's a saying very old and true ; + +If that you will France win , +Then with Scotland first begin : + +For once the eagle England being in prey , +To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot +Comes sneaking and so sucks her princely eggs , +Playing the mouse in absence of the cat , +To tear and havoc more than she can eat . + +It follows then the cat must stay at home : +Yet that is but a crush'd necessity ; +Since we have locks to safeguard necessaries +And pretty traps to catch the petty thieves . +While that the armed hand doth fight abroad +The advised head defends itself at home : +For government , though high and low and lower , +Put into parts , doth keep in one consent , +Congreeing in a full and natural close , +Like music . + +Therefore doth heaven divide +The state of man in divers functions , +Setting endeavour in continual motion ; +To which is fixed , as an aim or butt , +Obedience : for so work the honey-bees , +Creatures that by a rule in nature teach +The act of order to a peopled kingdom . +They have a king and officers of sorts ; +Where some , like magistrates , correct at home , +Others , like merchants , venture trade abroad , +Others , like soldiers , armed in their stings , +Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds ; +Which pillage they with merry march bring home +To the tent-royal of their emperor : +Who , busied in his majesty , surveys +The singing masons building roofs of gold , +The civil citizens kneading up the honey , +The poor mechanic porters crowding in +Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate , +The sad-ey'd justice , with his surly hum , +Delivering o'er to executors pale +The lazy yawning drone . I this infer , +That many things , having full reference +To one consent , may work contrariously ; +As many arrows , loosed several ways , +Fly to one mark ; as many ways meet in one town ; +As many fresh streams meet in one salt sea ; +As many lines close in the dial's centre ; +So may a thousand actions , once afoot , +End in one purpose , and be all well borne +Without defeat . Therefore to France , my liege . +Divide your happy England into four ; +Whereof take you one quarter into France , +And you withal shall make all Gallia shake . +If we , with thrice such powers left at home , +Cannot defend our own doors from the dog , +Let us be worried and our nation lose +The name of hardiness and policy . + +Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin . + +Now are we well resolv'd ; and by God's help , +And yours , the noble sinews of our power , +France being ours , we'll bend it to our awe +Or break it all to pieces : or there we'll sit , +Ruling in large and ample empery +O'er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms , +Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn , +Tombless , with no remembrance over them : +Either our history shall with full mouth +Speak freely of our acts , or else our grave , +Like Turkish mute , shall have a tongueless mouth , +Not worshipp'd with a waxen epitaph . + + +Now are we well prepar'd to know the pleasure +Of our fair cousin Dauphin ; for we hear + +Your greeting is from him , not from the king . + +May't please your majesty to give us leave +Freely to render what we have in charge ; +Or shall we sparingly show you far off +The Dauphin's meaning and our embassy ? + +We are no tyrant , but a Christian king ; +Unto whose grace our passion is as subject +As are our wretches fetter'd in our prisons : +Therefore with frank and with uncurbed plainness +Tell us the Dauphin's mind . + +Thus then , in few . +Your highness , lately sending into France , +Did claim some certain dukedoms , in the right +Of your great predecessor , King Edward the Third . +In answer of which claim , the prince our master +Says that you savour too much of your youth , +And bids you be advis'd there's nought in France +That can be with a nimble galliard won ; +You cannot revel into dukedoms there . +He therefore sends you , meeter for your spirit , +This tun of treasure ; and , in lieu of this , +Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim +Hear no more of you . This the Dauphin speaks . + +What treasure , uncle ? + +Tennis-balls , my liege . + +We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us : +His present and your pains we thank you for : +When we have match'd our rackets to these balls , +We will in France , by God's grace , play a set +Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard . +Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler +That all the courts of France will be disturb'd +With chaces . And we understand him well , +How he comes o'er us with our wilder days , +Not measuring what use we made of them . +We never valu'd this poor seat of England ; +And therefore , living hence , did give ourself +To barbarous licence ; as 'tis ever common +That men are merriest when they are from home . +But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state , +Be like a king and show my sail of greatness +When I do rouse me in my throne of France : +For that I have laid by my majesty +And plodded like a man for working-days , +But I will rise there with so full a glory +That I will dazzle all the eyes of France , +Yea , strike the Dauphin blind to look on us . +And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his +Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones ; and his soul +Shall stand sore-charged for the wasteful vengeance +That shall fly with them : for many a thousand widows +Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands ; +Mock mothers from their sons , mock castles down ; +And some are yet ungotten and unborn +That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn . +But this lies all within the will of God , +To whom I do appeal ; and in whose name +Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on , +To venge me as I may and to put forth +My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause . +So get you hence in peace ; and tell the Dauphin +His jest will savour but of shallow wit +When thousands weep more than did laugh at it . +Convey them with safe conduct . Fare you well . + + +This was a merry message . + +We hope to make the sender blush at it . +Therefore , my lords , omit no happy hour +That may give furtherance to our expedition ; +For we have now no thought in us but France , +Save those to God , that run before our business . +Therefore let our proportions for these wars +Be soon collected , and all things thought upon +That may with reasonable swiftness add +More feathers to our wings ; for , God before , +We'll chide this Dauphin at his father's door . +Therefore let every man now task his thought , +That this fair action may on foot be brought . + +Now all the youth of England are on fire , +And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies ; +Now thrive the armourers , and honour's thought +Reigns solely in the breast of every man : +They sell the pasture now to buy the horse , +Following the mirror of all Christian kings , +With winged heels , as English Mercuries . +For now sits Expectation in the air +And hides a sword from hilts unto the point +With crowns imperial , crowns and coronets , +Promis'd to Harry and his followers . +The French , advis'd by good intelligence +Of this most dreadful preparation , +Shake in their fear , and with pale policy +Seek to divert the English purposes . +O England ! model to thy inward greatness , +Like little body with a mighty heart , +What mightst thou do , that honour would thee do , +Were all thy children kind and natural ! +But see thy fault ! France hath in thee found out +A nest of hollow bosoms , which he fills +With treacherous crowns ; and three corrupted men , +One , Richard Earl of Cambridge , and the second , +Henry Lord Scroop of Masham , and the third , +Sir Thomas Grey , knight , of Northumberland , +Have , for the gilt of France ,O guilt , indeed ! +Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France ; +And by their hands this grace of kings must die , +If hell and treason hold their promises , +Ere he take ship for France , and in Southampton . +Linger your patience on ; and well digest +The abuse of distance while we force a play . +The sum is paid ; the traitors are agreed ; +The king is set from London ; and the scene +Is now transported , gentles , to Southampton : +There is the playhouse now , there must you sit : +And thence to France shall we convey you safe , +And bring you back , charming the narrow seas +To give you gentle pass ; for , if we may , +We'll not offend one stomach with our play . +But , till the king come forth and not till then , +Unto Southampton do we shift our scene . + +Well met , Corporal Nym . + +Good morrow , Lieutenant Bardolph . + +What , are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet ? + +For my part , I care not : I say little ; but when time shall serve , there shall be smiles ; but that shall be as it may . I dare not fight ; but I will wink and hold out mine iron . It is a simple one ; but what though ? it will toast cheese , and it will endure cold as another man's sword will : and there's an end . + +I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends , and we'll be all three sworn brothers to France : let it be so , good Corporal Nym . + +Faith , I will live so long as I may , that's the certain of it ; and when I cannot live any longer , I will do as I may : that is my rest , that is the rendezvous of it . + +It is certain , corporal , that he is married to Nell Quickly ; and , certainly she did you wrong , for you were troth-plight to her . + +I cannot tell ; things must be as they may : men may sleep , and they may have their throats about them at that time ; and , some say , knives have edges . It must be as it may : though patience be a tired mare , yet she will plod . There must be conclusions . Well , I cannot tell . + + +Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife . Good corporal , be patient here . How now , mine host Pistol ! + +Base tike , call'st thou me host ? +Now , by this hand , I swear , I scorn the term ; +Nor shall my Nell keep lodgers . + +No , by my troth , not long ; for we cannot lodge and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen that live honestly by the prick of their needles , but it will be thought we keep a bawdy-house straight . [ + +Good lieutenant ! good corporal ! offer nothing here . + +Pish ! + +Pish for thee , Iceland dog ! thou prickeared cur of Iceland ! + +Good Corporal Nym , show thy valour and put up your sword . + +Will you shog off ? I would have you solus . + + +Solus , egregious dog ? O viper vile ! +The solus in thy most mervailous face ; +The solus in thy teeth , and in thy throat , +And in thy hateful lungs , yea , in thy maw , perdy ; +And , which is worse , within thy nasty mouth ! +I do retort the solus in thy bowels ; +For I can take , and Pistol's cock is up , +And flashing fire will follow . + +I am not Barbason ; you cannot conjure me . I have an humour to knock you indifferently well . If you grow foul with me , Pistol , I will scour you with my rapier , as I may , in fair terms : if you would walk off , I would prick your guts a little , in good terms , as I may ; and that's the humour of it . + +O braggart vile and damned furious wight ! +The grave doth gape , and doting death is near ; +Therefore exhale . + +Hear me , hear me what I say : he that strikes the first stroke , I'll run him up to the hilts , as I am a soldier . + + +An oath of mickle might , and fury shall abate . +Give me thy fist , thy fore-foot to me give ; +Thy spirits are most tall . + +I will cut thy throat , one time or other , in fair terms ; that is the humour of it . + +Coupe le gorge ! +That is the word . I thee defy again . +O hound of Crete , think'st thou my spouse to get ? +No ; to the spital go , +And from the powdering-tub of infamy +Fetch forth the lazar kite of Cressid's kind , +Doll Tearsheet she by name , and her espouse : +I have , and I will hold , the quondam Quickly +For the only she ; and pauca , there's enough . +Go to + + +Mine host Pistol , you must come to my master , and your hostess : he is very sick , and would to bed . Good Bardolph , put thy face between his sheets and do the office of a warming-pan . Faith , he's very ill . + +Away , you rogue ! + +By my troth , he'll yield the crow a pudding one of these days . The king has killed his heart . Good husband , come home presently . + + +Come , shall I make you two friends ? We must to France together . Why the devil should we keep knives to cut one another's throats ? + +Let floods o'erswell , and fiends for food howl on ! + +You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you at betting ? + +Base is the slave that pays . + +That now I will have ; that's the humour of it . + +As manhood shall compound : push home . + + +By this sword , he that makes the first thrust , I'll kill him ; by this sword , I will . + +Sword is an oath , and oaths must have their course . + +Corporal Nym , an thou wilt be friends , be friends : an thou wilt not , why then , be enemies with me too . Prithee , put up . + +I shall have my eight shillings I won of you at betting ? + +A noble shalt thou have , and present pay ; +And liquor likewise will I give to thee , +And friendship shall combine , and brotherhood : +I'll live by Nym , and Nym shall live by me . +Is not this just ? for I shall sutler be +Unto the camp , and profits will accrue . +Give me thy hand . + +I shall have my noble ? + +In cash most justly paid . + + +Well then , that's the humour of it . + + +As ever you came of women , come in quickly to Sir John . Ah , poor heart ! he is so shaked of a burning quotidian tertian , that it is most lamentable to behold . Sweet men , come to him . + +The king hath run bad humours on the knight ; that's the even of it . + +Nym , thou hast spoke the right ; +His heart is fracted and corroborate . + +The king is a good king : but it must be as it may ; he passes some humours and careers . + +Let us condole the knight ; for , lambkins , we will live . + + +'Fore God , his Grace is bold to trust these traitors . + +They shall be apprehended by and by . + +How smooth and even they do bear themselves ! +As if allegiance in their bosoms sat , +Crowned with faith and constant loyalty . + +The king hath note of all that they intend , +By interception which they dream not of . + +Nay , but the man that was his bedfellow , +Whom he hath dull'd and cloy'd with gracious favours , +That he should , for a foreign purse , so sell +His sovereign's life to death and treachery ! + + +Now sits the wind fair , and we will aboard . +My Lord of Cambridge , and my kind Lord of Masham , +And you , my gentle knight , give me your thoughts : +Think you not that the powers we bear with us +Will cut their passage through the force of France , +Doing the execution and the act +For which we have in head assembled them ? + +No doubt , my liege , if each man do his best . + +I doubt not that ; since we are well persuaded +We carry not a heart with us from hence +That grows not in a fair consent with ours ; +Nor leave not one behind that doth not wish +Success and conquest to attend on us . + +Never was monarch better fear'd and lov'd +Than is your majesty : there's not , I think , a subject +That sits in heart-grief and uneasiness +Under the sweet shade of your government . + +True : those that were your father's enemies +Have steep'd their galls in honey , and do serve you +With hearts create of duty and of zeal . + +We therefore have great cause of thankfulness , +And shall forget the office of our hand , +Sooner than quittance of desert and merit +According to the weight and worthiness . + +So service shall with steeled sinews toil , +And labour shall refresh itself with hope , +To do your Grace incessant services . + +We judge no less . Uncle of Exeter , +Enlarge the man committed yesterday +That rail'd against our person : we consider +It was excess of wine that set him on ; +And on his more advice we pardon him . + +That's mercy , but too much security : +Let him be punish'd , sovereign , lest example +Breed , by his sufference , more of such a kind . + +O ! let us yet be merciful . + +So may your highness , and yet punish too . + +Sir , +You show great mercy , if you give him life +After the taste of much correction . + +Alas ! your too much love and care of me +Are heavy orisons 'gainst this poor wretch . +If little faults , proceeding on distemper , +Shall not be wink'd at , how shall we stretch our eye +When capital crimes , chew'd , swallow'd , and digested , +Appear before us ? We'll yet enlarge that man , +Though Cambridge , Scroop , and Grey , in their dear care , +And tender preservation of our person , +Would have him punish'd . And now to our French causes : +Who are the late commissioners ? + +I one , my lord : +Your highness bade me ask for it to-day . + +So did you me , my liege . + +And I , my royal sovereign . + +Then , Richard , Earl of Cambridge , there is yours ; +There yours , Lord Scroop of Masham ; and , sir knight , +Grey of Northumberland , this same is yours : +Read them ; and know , I know your worthiness . +My Lord of Westmoreland , and uncle Exeter , +We will aboard to-night . Why , how now , gentlemen ! +What see you in those papers that you lose +So much complexion ? Look ye , how they change ! +Their cheeks are paper . Why , what read you there , +That hath so cowarded and chas'd your blood +Out of appearance ? + +I do confess my fault , +And do submit me to your highness' mercy . + +To which we all appeal . + +To which we all appeal . + +The mercy that was quick in us but late +By your own counsel is suppress'd and kill'd : +You must not dare , for shame , to talk of mercy ; +For your own reasons turn into your bosoms , +As dogs upon their masters , worrying you . +See you , my princes and my noble peers , +These English monsters ! My Lord of Cambridge here , +You know how apt our love was to accord +To furnish him with all appertinents +Belonging to his honour ; and this man +Hath , for a few light crowns , lightly conspir'd , +And sworn unto the practices of France , +To kill us here in Hampton : to the which +This knight , no less for bounty bound to us +Than Cambridge is , hath likewise sworn . But O ! +What shall I say to thee , Lord Scroop ? thou cruel , +Ingrateful , savage and inhuman creature ! +Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels , +That knew'st the very bottom of my soul , +That almost mightst have coin'd me into gold +Wouldst thou have practis'd on me for thy use ! +May it be possible that foreign hire +Could out of thee extract one spark of evil +That might annoy my finger ? 'tis so strange +That , though the truth of it stands off as gross +As black from white , my eye will scarcely see it . +Treason and murder ever kept together , +As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose , +Working so grossly in a natural cause +That admiration did not whoop at them : +But thou , 'gainst all proportion , didst bring in +Wonder to wait on treason and on murder : +And whatsoever cunning fiend it was +That wrought upon thee so preposterously +Hath got the voice in hell for excellence : +And other devils that suggest by treasons +Do botch and bungle up damnation +With patches , colours , and with forms , being fetch'd +From glistering semblances of piety ; +But he that temper'd thee bade thee stand up , +Gave thee no instance why thou shouldst do treason , +Unless to dub thee with the name of traitor . +If that same demon that hath gull'd thee thus +Should with his lion gait walk the whole world , +He might return to vasty Tartar back , +And tell the legions , 'I can never win +A soul so easy as that Englishman's .' +O ! how hast thou with jealousy infected +The sweetness of affiance . Show men dutiful ? +Why , so didst thou : seem they grave and learned ? +Why , so didst thou : come they of noble family ? +Why , so didst thou : seem they religious ? +Why , so didst thou : or are they spare in diet , +Free from gross passion or of mirth or anger , +Constant in spirit , not swerving with the blood , +Garnish'd and deck'd in modest complement , +Not working with the eye without the ear , +And but in purged judgment trusting neither ? +Such and so finely bolted didst thou seem : +And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot , +To mark the full-fraught man and best indu'd +With some suspicion . I will weep for thee ; +For this revolt of thine , methinks , is like +Another fall of man . Their faults are open : +Arrest them to the answer of the law ; +And God acquit them of their practices ! + +I arrest thee of high treason , by the name of Richard Earl of Cambridge . +I arrest thee of high treason , by the name of Henry Lord Scroop of Masham . +I arrest thee of high treason , by the name of Thomas Grey , knight , of Northumberland . + +Our purposes God justly hath discover'd , +And I repent my fault more than my death ; +Which I beseech your highness to forgive , +Although my body pay the price of it . + +For me , the gold of France did not seduce , +Although I did admit it as a motive +The sooner to effect what I intended : +But God be thanked for prevention ; +Which I in sufference heartily will rejoice , +Beseeching God and you to pardon me . + +Never did faithful subject more rejoice +At the discovery of most dangerous treason +Than I do at this hour joy o'er myself , +Prevented from a damned enterprise . +My fault , but not my body ; pardon , sovereign . + +God quit you in his mercy ! Hear your sentence . +You have conspir'd against our royal person , +Join'd with an enemy proclaim'd , and from his coffers +Receiv'd the golden earnest of our death ; +Wherein you would have sold your king to slaughter , +His princes and his peers to servitude , +His subjects to oppression and contempt , +And his whole kingdom into desolation . +Touching our person seek we no revenge ; +But we our kingdom's safety must so tender , +Whose ruin you have sought , that to her laws +We do deliver you . Get you therefore hence , +Poor miserable wretches , to your death ; +The taste whereof , God of his mercy give you +Patience to endure , and true repentance +Of all your dear offences ! Bear them hence . + +Now , lords , for France ! the enterprise whereof +Shall be to you , as us , like glorious . +We doubt not of a fair and lucky war , +Since God so graciously hath brought to light +This dangerous treason lurking in our way +To hinder our beginnings . We doubt not now +But every rub is smoothed on our way . +Then forth , dear countrymen : let us deliver +Our puissance into the hand of God , +Putting it straight in expedition . +Cheerly to sea ! the signs of war advance : +No king of England , if not king of France . + + +Prithee , honey-sweet husband , let me bring thee to Staines . + +No ; for my manly heart doth yearn . +Bardolph , be blithe ; Nym , rouse thy vaunting veins ; +Boy , bristle thy courage up ; for Falstaff he is dead , +And we must yearn therefore . + +Would I were with him , wheresome'er he is , either in heaven or in hell ! + +Nay , sure , he's not in hell : he's in Arthur's bosom , if ever man went to Arthur's bosom . A' made a finer end and went away an it had been any christom child ; a' parted even just between twelve and one , even at the turning o' the tide : for after I saw him fumble with the sheets and play with flowers and smile upon his fingers' ends , I knew there was but one way ; for his nose was as sharp as a pen , and a' babbled of green fields . 'How now , Sir John !' quoth I : 'what man ! be of good cheer .' So a' cried out 'God , God , God !' three or four times : now I , to comfort him , bid him a' should not think of God , I hoped there was no need to trouble himself with any such thoughts yet . So a' bade me lay more clothes on his feet : I put my hand into the bed and felt them , and they were as cold as any stone ; then I felt to his knees , and so upward , and upward , and all was as cold as any stone . + +They say he cried out of sack . + +Ay , that a' did . + +And of women . + +Nay , that a' did not . + +Yes , that a' did ; and said they were devils incarnate . + +A' could never abide carnation ; 'twas a colour he never liked . + +A' said once , the devil would have him about women . + +A' did in some sort , indeed , handle women ; but then he was rheumatic , and talked of the whore of Babylon . + +Do you not remember a' saw a flea stick upon Bardolph's nose , and a' said it was a black soul burning in hell-fire ? + +Well , the fuel is gone that maintained that fire : that's all the riches I got in his service . + +Shall we shog ? the king will be gone from Southampton . + +Come , let's away . My love , give me thy lips . +Look to my chattels and my moveables : +Let senses rule , the word is , 'Pitch and pay ;' +Trust none ; +For oaths are straws , men's faiths are wafercakes , +And hold-fast is the only dog , my duck : +Therefore , caveto be thy counsellor . +Go , clear thy crystals . Yoke-fellows in arms , +Let us to France ; like horse-leeches , my boys , +To suck , to suck , the very blood to suck ! + +And that's but unwholesome food , they say . + +Touch her soft mouth , and march . + +Farewell , hostess . + + +I cannot kiss , that is the humour of it ; but , adieu . + +Let housewifery appear : keep close , I thee command . + +Farewell ; adieu . + +Thus come the English with full power upon us ; +And more than carefully it us concerns +To answer royally in our defences . +Therefore the Dukes of Berri and Britaine , +Of Brabant and of Orleans , shall make forth , +And you , Prince Dauphin , with all swift dispatch , +To line and new repair our towns of war +With men of courage and with means defendant : +For England his approaches makes as fierce +As waters to the sucking of a gulf . +It fits us then to be as provident +As fear may teach us , out of late examples +Left by the fatal and neglected English +Upon our fields . + +My most redoubted father , +It is most meet we arm us 'gainst the foe ; +For peace itself should not so dull a kingdom , +Though war nor no known quarrel were in question , +But that defences , musters , preparations , +Should be maintain'd , assembled , and collected , +As were a war in expectation . +Therefore , I say 'tis meet we all go forth +To view the sick and feeble parts of France : +And let us do it with no show of fear ; +No , with no more than if we heard that England +Were busied with a Whitsun morris-dance : +For , my good liege , she is so idly king'd , +Her sceptre so fantastically borne +By a vain , giddy , shallow , humorous youth , +That fear attends her not . + +O peace , Prince Dauphin ! +You are too much mistaken in this king . +Question your Grace the late ambassadors , +With what great state he heard their embassy , +How well supplied with noble counsellors , +How modest in exception , and , withal +How terrible in constant resolution , +And you shall find his vanities forespent +Were but the outside of the Roman Brutus , +Covering discretion with a coat of folly ; +As gardeners do with ordure hide those roots +That shall first spring and be most delicate . + +Well , 'tis not so , my lord high constable ; +But though we think it so , it is no matter : +In cases of defence 'tis best to weigh +The enemy more mighty than he seems : +So the proportions of defence are fill'd ; +Which of a weak and niggardly projection +Doth like a miser spoil his coat with scanting +A little cloth . + +Think we King Harry strong ; +And , princes , look you strongly arm to meet him . +The kindred of him hath been flesh'd upon us , +And he is bred out of that bloody strain +That haunted us in our familiar paths : +Witness our too much memorable shame +When Cressy battle fatally was struck +And all our princes captiv'd by the hand +Of that black name , Edward Black Prince of Wales ; +Whiles that his mounting sire , on mountain standing , +Up in the air , crown'd with the golden sun , +Saw his heroical seed , and smil'd to see him +Mangle the work of nature , and deface +The patterns that by God and by French fathers +Had twenty years been made . This is a stem +Of that victorious stock ; and let us fear +The native mightiness and fate of him . + + +Ambassadors from Harry King of England +Do crave admittance to your majesty . + +We'll give them present audience . Go , and bring them . + +You see this chase is hotly follow'd , friends . + +Turn head , and stop pursuit ; for coward dogs +Most spend their mouths when what they seem to threaten +Runs far before them . Good my sovereign , +Take up the English short , and let them know +Of what a monarchy you are the head : +Self-love , my liege , is not so vile a sin +As self-neglecting . + + +From our brother England ? + +From him ; and thus he greets your majesty . +He wills you , in the name of God Almighty , +That you divest yourself , and lay apart +The borrow'd glories that by gift of heaven , +By law of nature and of nations 'long +To him and to his heirs ; namely , the crown +And all wide-stretched honours that pertain +By custom and the ordinance of times +Unto the crown of France . That you may know +'Tis no sinister nor no awkward claim , +Pick'd from the worm-holes of long-vanish'd days , +Nor from the dust of old oblivion rak'd , +He sends you this most memorable line , + +In every branch truly demonstrative ; +Willing you overlook this pedigree ; +And when you find him evenly deriv'd +From his most fam'd of famous ancestors , +Edward the Third , he bids you then resign +Your crown and kingdom , indirectly held +From him the native and true challenger . + +Or else what follows ? + +Bloody constraint ; for if you hide the crown +Even in your hearts , there will he rake for it : +Therefore in fierce tempest is he coming , +In thunder and in earthquake like a Jove , +That , if requiring fail , he will compel ; +And bids you , in the bowels of the Lord , +Deliver up the crown , and to take mercy +On the poor souls for whom this hungry war +Opens his vasty jaws ; and on your head +Turning the widows' tears , the orphans' cries , +The dead men's blood , the pining maidens' groans , +For husbands , fathers , and betrothed lovers , +That shall be swallow'd in this controversy . +This is his claim , his threat'ning , and my message ; +Unless the Dauphin be in presence here , +To whom expressly I bring greeting too . + +For us , we will consider of this further : +To-morrow shall you bear our full intent +Back to our brother England . + +For the Dauphin , +I stand here for him : what to him from England ? + +Scorn and defiance , slight regard , contempt , +And anything that may not misbecome +The mighty sender , doth he prize you at . +Thus says my king : an if your father's highness +Do not , in grant of all demands at large , +Sweeten the bitter mock you sent his majesty , +He'll call you to so hot an answer of it , +That caves and womby vaultages of France +Shall chide your trespass and return your mock +In second accent of his ordinance . + +Say , if my father render fair return , +It is against my will ; for I desire +Nothing but odds with England : to that end , +As matching to his youth and vanity , +I did present him with the Paris balls . + +He'll make your Paris Louvre shake for it , +Were it the mistress-court of mighty Europe : +And , be assur'd , you'll find a difference +As we his subjects have in wonder found +Between the promise of his greener days +And these he masters now . Now he weighs time +Even to the utmost grain ; that you shall read +In your own losses , if he stay in France . + +To-morrow shall you know our mind at full . + +Dispatch us with all speed , lest that our king +Come here himself to question our delay ; +For he is footed in this land already . + +You shall be soon dispatch'd with fair conditions : +A night is but small breath and little pause +To answer matters of this consequence . + +Thus with imagin'd wing our swift scene flies +In motion of no less celerity +Than that of thought . Suppose that you have seen +The well-appointed king at Hampton pier +Embark his royalty ; and his brave fleet +With silken streamers the young Ph bus fanning : +Play with your fancies , and in them behold +Upon the hempen tackle ship-boys climbing ; +Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give +To sounds confus'd ; behold the threaden sails , +Borne with the invisible and creeping wind , +Draw the huge bottoms through the furrow'd sea , +Breasting the lofty surge . O ! do but think +You stand upon the rivage and behold +A city on the inconstant billows dancing ; +For so appears this fleet majestical , +Holding due course to Harfleur . Follow , follow ! +Grapple your minds to sternage of this navy , +And leave your England , as dead midnight still , +Guarded with grandsires , babies , and old women , +Either past or not arriv'd to pith and puissance : +For who is he , whose chin is but enrich'd +With one appearing hair , that will not follow +Those call'd and choice-drawn cavaliers to France ? +Work , work your thoughts , and therein see a siege ; +Behold the ordenance on their carriages , +With fatal mouths gaping on girded Harfleur . +Suppose the ambassador from the French comes back ; +Tells Harry that the king doth offer him +Katharine his daughter ; and with her , to dowry , +Some petty and unprofitable dukedoms : +The offer likes not : and the nimble gunner +With linstock now the devilish cannon touches , + +And down goes all before them . Still be kind , +And eke out our performance with your mind . + +Once more unto the breach , dear friends , once more ; +Or close the wall up with our English dead ! +In peace there's nothing so becomes a man +As modest stillness and humility : +But when the blast of war blows in our ears , +Then imitate the action of the tiger ; +Stiffen the sinews , summon up the blood , +Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage ; +Then lend the eye a terrible aspect ; +Let it pry through the portage of the head +Like the brass cannon ; let the brow o'erwhelm it +As fearfully as doth a galled rock +O'erhang and jutty his confounded base , +Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean . +Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide , +Hold hard the breath , and bend up every spirit +To his full height ! On , on , you noblest English ! +Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof ; +Fathers that , like so many Alexanders , +Have in these parts from morn till even fought , +And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument . +Dishonour not your mothers ; now attest +That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you . +Be copy now to men of grosser blood , +And teach them how to war . And you , good yeomen , +Whose limbs were made in England , show us here +The mettle of your pasture ; let us swear +That you are worth your breeding ; which I doubt not ; +For there is none of you so mean and base +That hath not noble lustre in your eyes . +I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips , +Straining upon the start . The game's afoot : +Follow your spirit ; and , upon this charge +Cry 'God for Harry ! England and Saint George !' + + +On , on , on , on , on ! to the breach , to the breach ! + +Pray thee , corporal , stay : the knocks are too hot ; and for mine own part , I have not a case of lives : the humour of it is too hot , that is the very plain-song of it . + +The plain-song is most just , for humours do abound : + +Knocks go and come : God's vassals drop and die ; +And sword and shield +In bloody field +Doth win immortal fame . + + +Would I were in an alehouse in London ! I would give all my fame for a pot of ale , and safety . + +And I : + +If wishes would prevail with me , +My purpose should not fail with me , +But thither would I hie . + +As duly , +But not as truly , +As bird doth sing on bough . + +Up to the breach , you dogs ! avaunt , you cullions ! + + +Be merciful , great duke , to men of mould ! +Abate thy rage , abate thy manly rage ! +Abate thy rage , great duke ! +Good bawcock , bate thy rage ; use lenity , sweet chuck ! + +These be good humours ! your honour wins bad humours . + + +As young as I am , I have observed these three swashers . I am boy to them all three , but all they three , though they would serve me , could not be man to me ; for , indeed three such antiques do not amount to a man . For Bardolph , he is white-livered and red-faced ; by the means whereof , a' faces it out , but fights not . For Pistol , he hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword ; by the means whereof a' breaks words , and keeps whole weapons . For Nym , he hath heard that men of few words are the best men ; and therefore he scorns to say his prayers , lest a' should be thought a coward : but his few bad words are matched with as few good deeds ; for a' never broke any man's head but his own , and that was against a post when he was drunk . They will steal any thing and call it purchase . Bardolph stole a lute-case , bore it twelve leagues , and sold it for three half-pence . Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in filching , and in Calais they stole a fire-shovel ;I knew by that piece of service the men would carry coals ,they would have me as familiar with men's pockets as their gloves or their handkerchers : which makes much against my manhood if I should take from another's pocket to put into mine ; for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs . I must leave them and seek some better service : their villany goes against my weak stomach , and therefore I must cast it up . + +Captain Fluellen , you must come presently to the mines : the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you . + +To the mines ! tell you the duke it is not so good to come to the mines . For look you , the mines is not according to the disciplines of the war ; the concavities of it is not sufficient ; for , look you , th' athversary you may discuss unto the duke , look you is digt himself four yards under the countermines ; by Cheshu , I think , a' will plow up all if there is not better directions . + +The Duke of Gloucester , to whom the order of the siege is given , is altogether directed by an Irishman , a very valiant gentleman , i' faith . + +It is Captain Macmorris , is it not ? + +I think it be . + +By Cheshu , he is an ass , as in the world : +I will verify as much in his peard : he has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars , look you , of the Roman disciplines , than is a puppy-dog . + + +Here a' comes ; and the Scots captain , Captain Jamy , with him . + +Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman , that is certain ; and of great expedition and knowledge in th' aunchient wars , upon my particular knowledge of his directions : by Cheshu , he will maintain his argument as well as any military man in the world , in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans . + +I say gud day , Captain Fluellen . + +God-den to your worship , good Captain James . + +How now , Captain Macmorris ! have you quit the mines ? have the pioners given o'er ? + +By Chrish , la ! tish ill done : the work ish give over , the trumpet sound the retreat . By my hand , I swear , and my father's soul , the work ish ill done ; it ish give over : I would have blowed up the town , so Chrish save me , la ! in an hour : O ! tish ill done , tish ill done ; by my hand , tish ill done ! + +Captain Macmorris , I beseech you now , will you voutsafe me , look you , a few disputations with you , as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of the war , the Roman wars , in the way of argument , look you , and friendly communication ; partly to satisfy my opinion , and partly for the satisfaction , look you , of my mind , as touching the direction of the military discipline : that is the point . + +It sall be vary gud , gud feith , gud captains bath : + +and I sall quit you with gud leve , as I may pick occasion ; that sall I , marry . + +It is no time to discourse , so Chrish save me : the day is hot , and the weather , and the wars , and the king , and the dukes : it is no time to discourse . The town is beseeched , and the trumpet calls us to the breach ; and we talk , and be Chrish , do nothing : 'tis shame for us all ; so God sa' me , 'tis shame to stand still ; it is shame , by my hand ; and there is throats to be cut , and works to be done ; and there ish nothing done , so Chrish sa' me , la ! + +By the mess , ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slumber , aile do gud service , or aile lig i' the grund for it ; ay , or go to death ; and aile pay it as valorously as I may , that sal I suerly do , that is the breff and the long . Marry , I wad full fain heard some question 'tween you tway . + +Captain Macmorris , I think , look you , under your correction , there is not many of your nation + +Of my nation ! What ish my nation ? ish a villain , and a bastard , and a knave , and a rascal ? What ish my nation ? Who talks of my nation ? + +Look you , if you take the matter otherwise than is meant , Captain Macmorris , peradventure I shall think you do not use me with that affability as in discretion you ought to use me , look you ; being as good a man as yourself , both in the disciplines of wars , and in the derivation of my birth , and in other particularities . + +I do not know you so good a man as myself : so Chrish save me , I will cut off your head . + +Gentlemen both , you will mistake each other . + +A ! that's a foul fault . + + +The town sounds a parley . + +Captain Macmorris , when there is more better opportunity to be required , look you , I will be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of wars ; and there is an end . + +How yet resolves the governor of the town ? +This is the latest parle we will admit : +Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves ; +Or like to men proud of destruction +Defy us to our worst : for , as I am a soldier , +A name that in my thoughts , becomes me best , +If I begin the battery once again , +I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur +Till in her ashes she lie buried . +The gates of mercy shall be all shut up , +And the flesh'd soldier , rough and hard of heart , +In liberty of bloody hand shall range +With conscience wide as hell , mowing like grass +Your fresh-fair virgins and your flowering infants . +What is it then to me , if impious war , +Array'd in flames like to the prince of fiends , +Do , with his smirch'd complexion , all fell feats +Enlink'd to waste and desolation ? +What is't to me , when you yourselves are cause , +If your pure maidens fall into the hand +Of hot and forcing violation ? +What rein can hold licentious wickedness +When down the hill he holds his fierce career ? +We may as bootless spend our vain command +Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil +As send precepts to the leviathan +To come ashore . Therefore , you men of Harfleur , +Take pity of your town and of your people , +Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command ; +Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace +O'erblows the filthy and contagious clouds +Of heady murder , spoil , and villany . +If not , why , in a moment , look to see +The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand +Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters ; +Your fathers taken by the silver beards , +And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls ; +Your naked infants spitted upon pikes , +Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confus'd +Do break the clouds , as did the wives of Jewry +At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen . +What say you ? will you yield , and this avoid ? +Or , guilty in defence , be thus destroy'd ? + +Our expectation hath this day an end . +The Dauphin , whom of succour we entreated , +Returns us that his powers are yet not ready +To raise so great a siege . Therefore , great king , +We yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy . +Enter our gates ; dispose of us and ours ; +For we no longer are defensible . + +Open your gates ! Come , uncle Exeter , +Go you and enter Harfleur ; there remain , +And fortify it strongly 'gainst the French : +Use mercy to them all . For us , dear uncle , +The winter coming on and sickness growing +Upon our soldiers , we will retire to Calais . +To-night in Harfleur will we be your guest ; +To-morrow for the march are we addrest . + + +Alice , tu as est en Angleterre , et tu parles bien le langage . + +Un peu , madame . + +Je te prie , m'enseignez ; il faut que j'apprenne parler . Comment appellez vous la main en Anglois ? + +La main ? elle est appell e , de hand . + +De hand . Et les doigts ? + +Les doigts ? ma foy , je oublie les doigts ; mais je me souviendray . Les doigts ? je pense qu'ils sont appell s de fingres ; ouy , de fingres . + +La main , de hand ; les doigts , de fingres . Je pense que je suis le bon escolier . J'ai gagn deux mots d'Anglois vistement . Comment appellez vous les ongles ? + +Lesongles ? nous les appellons , de nails . + +De nails . Escoutez ; dites moy , si je parle bien : de hands , de fingres , et de nails . + +C'est bien dict , madame ; il est fort bon Anglois . + +Dites moy l'Anglois pour le bras . + +De arm , madame . + +Et le coude ? + +De elbow . + +De elbow . Je m'en fais la r p tition de tous les mots que vous m'avez appris d s pr sent . + +Il est trop difficile , madame , comme je pense . + +Excusez moy , Alice ; escoutez : de hand , de fingres , de nails , de arma , de bilbow . + +De elbow , madame . + +O Seigneur Dieu ! je m'en oublie ; de elbow . Comment appellez vous le col ? + +De nick , madame . + +De nick . Et le menton ? + +De chin . + +De sin . Le col , de nick : le menton , de sin . + +Ouy . Sauf vostre honneur , en v rit vous prononcez les mots aussi droict que les natifs d'Angleterre . + +Je ne doute point d'apprendre par la grace de Dieu , et en peu de temps . + +N'avez vous d j oubli ce que je vous ay enseign e ? + +Non , je reciteray vous promptement . +De hand , de fingre , de mails , + +De nails , madame . + +De nails , de arme , de ilbow . + +Sauf vostre honneur , d'elbow . + +Ainsi dis je ; d'elbow , de nick , et de sin . Comment appellez vous le pied et la robe ? + +De foot , madame ; et de coun . + +De foot , et de coun ? O Seigneur Dieu ! ces sont mots de son mauvais , corruptible , gros , et impudique , et non pour les dames d'honneur d'user . Je ne voudrois prononcer ces mots devant les seigneurs de France , pour tout le monde . Foh ! le foot , et le coun . N antmoins je reciterai une autre fois ma le on ensemble : de hand , de fingre , de nails , d'arm , d'elbow , de nick , de sin , de foot , de coun . + +Excellent , madame ! + +C'est assez pour une fois : allons nous diner . + + +'Tis certain , he hath pass'd the river Somme . + +And if he be not fought withal , my lord , +Let us not live in France ; let us quit all , +And give our vineyards to a barbarous people . + +O Dieu vivant ! shall a few sprays of us , +The emptying of our fathers' luxury , +Our scions , put in wild and savage stock , +Spirt up so suddenly into the clouds , +And overlook their grafters ? + +Normans , but bastard Normans , Norman bastards ! +Mort de ma vie ! if they march along +Unfought withal , but I will sell my dukedom , +To buy a slobbery and a dirty farm +In that nook-shotten isle of Albion . + +Dieu de battailes ! where have they this mettle ? +Is not their climate foggy , raw , and dull , +On whom , as in despite , the sun looks pale , +Killing their fruit with frowns ? Can sodden water , +A drench for sur-rein'd jades , their barley-broth , +Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat ? +And shall our quick blood , spirited with wine , +Seem frosty ? O ! for honour of our land , +Let us not hang like roping icicles +Upon our houses' thatch , whiles a more frosty people +Sweat drops of gallant youth in our rich fields ; +Poor we may call them in their native lords . + +By faith and honour , +Our madams mock at us , and plainly say +Our mettle is bred out ; and they will give +Their bodies to the lust of English youth +To new-store France with bastard warriors . + +They bid us to the English dancing-schools , +And teach lavoltas high and swift corantos ; +Saying our grace is only in our heels , +And that we are most lofty runaways . + +Where is Montjoy the herald ? speed him hence : +Let him greet England with our sharp defiance . +Up , princes ! and , with spirit of honour edg'd +More sharper than your swords , hie to the field : +Charles Delabreth , High Constable of France ; +You Dukes of Orleans , Bourbon , and Berri , +Alen on , Brabant , Bar , and Burgundy ; +Jaques Chatillon , Rambures , Vaudemont , +Beaumont , Grandpr , Roussi , and Fauconberg , +Foix , Lestrale , Bouciqualt , and Charolois ; +High dukes , great princes , barons , lords , and knights , +For your great seats now quit you of great shames . +Bar Harry England , that sweeps through our land +With pennons painted in the blood of Harfleur : +Rush on his host , as doth the melted snow +Upon the valleys , whose low vassal seat +The Alps doth spit and void his rheum upon : +Go down upon him , you have power enough , +And in a captive chariot into Roan +Bring him our prisoner . + +This becomes the great . +Sorry am I his numbers are so few , +His soldiers sick and famish'd in their march , +For I am sure when he shall see our army +He'll drop his heart into the sink of fear , +And for achievement offer us his ransom . + +Therefore , lord constable , haste on Montjoy , +And let him say to England that we send +To know what willing ransom he will give . +Prince Dauphin , you shall stay with us in Roan . + +Not so , I do beseech your majesty . + +Be patient , for you shall remain with us . +Now forth , lord constable and princes all , +And quickly bring us word of England's fall . + + +How now , Captain Fluellen ! come you from the bridge ? + +I assure you , there is very excellent services committed at the pridge . + +Is the Duke of Exeter safe ? + +The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Agamemnon ; and a man that I love and honour with my soul , and my heart , and my duty , and my life , and my living , and my uttermost power : he is not God be praised and plessed !any hurt in the world ; but keeps the pridge most valiantly , with excellent discipline . There is an aunchient lieutenant there at the pridge , I think , in my very conscience , he is as valiant a man as Mark Antony ; and he is a man of no estimation in the world ; but I did see him do as gallant service . + +What do you call him ? + +He is called Aunchient Pistol . + +I know him not . + + +Here is the man . + +Captain , I thee beseech to do me favours : +The Duke of Exeter doth love thee well . + +Ay , I praise God ; and I have merited some love at his hands . + +Bardolph , a soldier firm and sound of heart , +And of buxom valour , hath , by cruel fate +And giddy Fortune's furious fickle wheel , +That goddess blind , +That stands upon the rolling restless stone , + +By your patience , Aunchient Pistol . Fortune is painted plind , with a muffler afore her eyes , to signify to you that Fortune is plind : and she is painted also with a wheel , to signify to you , which is the moral of it , that she is turning , and inconstant , and mutability , and variation : and her foot , look you , is fixed upon a spherical stone , which rolls , and rolls , and rolls : in good truth , the poet makes a most excellent description of it : Fortune is an excellent moral . + +Fortune is Bardolph's foe , and frowns on him ; +For he hath stol'n a pax , and hanged must a' be , +A damned death ! +Let gallows gape for dog , let man go free +And let not hemp his wind-pipe suffocate . +But Exeter hath given the doom of death +For pax of little price . +Therefore , go speak ; the duke will hear thy voice ; +And let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut +With edge of penny cord and vile reproach : +Speak , captain , for his life , and I will thee requite . + +Aunchient Pistol , I do partly understand your meaning . + +Why then , rejoice therefore . + +Certainly , aunchient , it is not a thing to rejoice at ; for , if , look you , he were my brother , I would desire the duke to use his good pleasure and put him to execution ; for discipline ought to be used . + +Die and be damn'd ; and figo for thy friendship ! + +It is well . + +The fig of Spain ! + + +Very good . + +Why , this is an arrant counterfeit rascal : I remember him now ; a bawd , a cutpurse . + +I'll assure you a' uttered as prave words at the pridge as you shall see in a summer's day . But it is very well ; what he has spoke to me , that is well , I warrant you , when time is serve . + +Why , 'tis a gull , a fool , a rogue , that now and then goes to the wars to grace himself at his return into London under the form of a soldier . And such fellows are perfect in the great commanders' names , and they will learn you by rote where services were done ; at such and such a sconce , at such a breach , at such a convoy ; who came off bravely , who was shot , who disgraced , what terms the enemy stood on ; and this they con perfectly in the phrase of war , which they trick up with new-tuned oaths : and what a beard of the general's cut and a horrid suit of the camp will do among foaming bottles and ale-washed wits , is wonderful to be thought on . But you must learn to know such slanders of the age , or else you may be marvellously mistook . + +I tell you what , Captain Gower ; I do perceive , he is not the man that he would gladly make show to the world he is : if I find a hole in his coat I will tell him my mind . + +Hark you , the king is coming ; and I must speak with him from the pridgo . + + +God pless your majesty ! + +How now , Fluellen ! cam'st thou from the bridge ? + +Ay , so please your majesty . The Duke of Exeter hath very gallantly maintained the pridge : the French is gone off , look you , and there is gallant and most prave passages . Marry , th' athversary was have possession of the pridge , but he is enforced to retire , and the Duke of Exeter is master of the pridge . I can tell your majesty the duke is a prave man . + +What men have you lost , Fluellen ? + +The perdition of th' athversary hath been very great , reasonable great : marry , for my part , I think the duke hath lost never a man but one that is like to be executed for robbing a church ; one Bardolph , if your majesty know the man : his face is all bubukles , and whelks , and knobs , and flames o' fire ; and his lips blows at his nose , and it is like a coal of fire , sometimes plue and sometimes red ; but his nose is executed , and his fire's out . + +We would have all such offenders so cut off : and we give express charge that in our marches through the country there be nothing compelled from the villages , nothing taken but paid for , none of the French upbraided or abused in disdainful language ; for when lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom , the gentler gamester is the soonest winner . + + +You know me by my habit . + +Well then I know thee : what shall I know of thee ? + +My master's mind . + +Unfold it . + +Thus says my king : Say thou to Harry of England : Though we seemed dead , we did but sleep : advantage is a better soldier than rashness . Tell him , we could have rebuked him at Harfleur , but that we thought not good to bruise an injury till it were full ripe : now we speak upon our cue , and our voice is imperial : England shall repent his folly , see his weakness , and admire our sufferance . Bid him therefore consider of his ransom ; which must proportion the losses we have borne , the subjects we have lost , the disgrace we have digested ; which , in weight to re-answer , his pettiness would bow under . For our losses , his exchequer is too poor ; for the effusion of our blood , the muster of his kingdom too faint a number ; and for our disgrace , his own person , kneeling at our feet , but a weak and worthless satisfaction . To this add defiance : and tell him , for conclusion , he hath betrayed his followers , whose condemnation is pronounced . So far my king and master , so much my office . + +What is thy name ? I know thy quality . + +Montjoy . + +Thou dost thy office fairly . Turn thee back , +And tell thy king I do not seek him now , +But could be willing to march on to Calais +Without impeachment ; for , to say the sooth , +Though 'tis no wisdom to confess so much +Unto an enemy of craft and vantage , +My people are with sickness much enfeebled , +My numbers lessen'd , and those few I have +Almost no better than so many French : +Who , when they were in health , I tell thee , herald , +I thought upon one pair of English legs +Did march three Frenchmen . Yet , forgive me , God , +That I do brag thus ! this your air of France +Hath blown that vice in me ; I must repent . +Go therefore , tell thy master here I am : +My ransom is this frail and worthless trunk , +My army but a weak and sickly guard ; +Yet , God before , tell him we will come on , +Though France himself and such another neighbour +Stand in our way . There's for thy labour , Montjoy . +Go , bid thy master well advise himself : +If we may pass , we will ; if we be hinder'd , +We shall your tawny ground with your red blood +Discolour : and so , Montjoy , fare you well . +The sum of all our answer is but this : +We would not seek a battle as we are ; +Nor , as we are , we say we will not shun it : +So tell your master . + +I shall deliver so . Thanks to your highness . + + +I hope they will not come upon us now . + +We are in God's hand , brother , not in theirs . +March to the bridge ; it now draws toward night : +Beyond the river we'll encamp ourselves , +And on to-morrow bid them march away . + + +Tut ! I have the best armour of the world . Would it were day ! + +You have an excellent armour ; but let my horse have his due . + +It is the best horse of Europe . + +Will it never be morning ? + +My Lord of Orleans , and my lord high constable , you talk of horse and armour + +You are as well provided of both as any prince in the world . + +What a long night is this ! I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns . a , ha ! He bounds from the earth as if his entrails were hairs : le cheval volant , the Pegasus , qui a les narines de feu ! When I bestride him , I soar , I am a hawk : he trots the air ; the earth sings when he touches it ; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes . + +He's of the colour of the nutmeg . + +And of the heat of the ginger . It is a beast for Perseus : he is pure air and fire ; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him : he is indeed a horse ; and all other jades you may call beasts . + +Indeed , my lord , it is a most absolute and excellent horse . + +It is the prince of palfreys ; his neigh is like the bidding of a monarch and his countenance enforces homage . + +No more , cousin . + +Nay , the man hath no wit that cannot , from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb , vary deserved praise on my palfrey : it is a theme as fluent as the sea ; turn the sands into eloquent tongues , and my horse is argument for them all . 'Tis a subject for a sovereign to reason on , and for a sovereign's sovereign to ride on ; and for the world familiar to us , and unknown to lay apart their particular functions and wonder at him . I once writ a sonnet in his praise and began thus : 'Wonder of nature !' + +I have heard a sonnet begin so to one's mistress . + +Then did they imitate that which I composed to my courser ; for my horse is my mistress . + +Your mistress bears well . + +Me well ; which is the prescript praise and perfection of a good and particular mistress . + +Ma foi , methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back . + +So perhaps did yours . + +Mine was not bridled . + +O ! then belike she was old and gentle ; and you rode , like a kern of Ireland , your French hose off and in your straight strossers . + +You have good judgment in horsemanship . + +Be warned by me , then : they that ride so , and ride not warily , fall into foul bogs . I had rather have my horse to my mistress . + +I had as lief have my mistress a jade . + +I tell thee , constable , my mistress wears his own hair . + +I could make as true a boast as that if I had a sow to my mistress . + +Le chien est retourn son propre vomissement , et la truie lav e au bourbier : thou makest use of any thing . + +Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress : or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose . + +My lord constable , the armour that I saw in your tent to-night , are those stars or suns upon it ? + +Stars , my lord . + +Some of them will fall to-morrow , I hope . + +And yet my sky shall not want . + +That may be , for you bear a many superfluously , and 'twere more honour some were away . + +Even as your horse bears your praises ; who would trot as well were some of your brags dismounted . + +Would I were able to load him with his desert ! Will it never be day ? I will trot to-morrow a mile , and my way shall be paved with English faces . + +I will not say so for fear I should be faced out of my way . But I would it were morning , for I would fain be about the ears of the English . + +Who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners ? + +You must first go yourself to hazard , ere you have them . + +'Tis midnight : I'll go arm myself . + + +The Dauphin longs for morning . + +He longs to eat the English . + +I think he will eat all he kills . + +By the white hand of my lady , he's a gallant prince . + +Swear by her foot , that she may tread out the oath . + +He is simply the most active gentleman of France . + +Doing is activity , and he will still be doing . + +He never did harm , that I heard of . + +Nor will do none to-morrow : he will keep that good name still . + +I know him to be valiant . + +I was told that by one that knows him better than you . + +What's he ? + +Marry , he told me so himself ; and he said he cared not who knew it . + +He needs not ; it is no hidden virtue in him . + +By my faith , sir , but it is ; never any body saw it but his lackey : 'tis a hooded valour ; and when it appears , it will bate . + +'Ill will never said well .' + +I will cap that proverb with 'There is flattery in friendship .' + +And I will take up that with 'Give the devil his due .' + +Well placed : there stands your friend for the devil : have at the very eye of that proverb , with 'A pox of the devil .' + +You are the better at proverbs , by how much 'A fool's bolt is soon shot .' + +You have shot over . + +'Tis not the first time you were overshot . + + +My lord high constable , the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents . + +Who hath measured the ground ? + +The Lord Grandpr . + +A valiant and most expert gentleman . Would it were day ! Alas ! poor Harry of England , he longs not for the dawning as we do . + +What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England , to mope with his fatbrained followers so far out of his knowledge ! + +If the English had any apprehension they would run away . + +That they lack ; for if their heads had any intellectual armour they could never wear such heavy head-pieces . + +That island of England breeds very valiant creatures : their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage . + +Foolish curs ! that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crushed like rotten apples . You may as well say that's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion . + +Just , just ; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in robustious and rough coming on , leaving their wits with their wives : and then give them great meals of beef and iron and steel , they will eat like wolves and fight like devils . + +Ay , but these English are shrewdly out of beef . + +Then shall we find to-morrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to fight . Now is it time to arm ; come , shall we about it ? + +It is now two o'clock : but , let me see , by ten +We shall have each a hundred Englishmen . + + +Now entertain conjecture of a time +When creeping murmur and the poring dark +Fills the wide vessel of the universe . +From camp to camp , through the foul womb of night , +The hum of either army stilly sounds , +That the fix'd sentinels almost receive +The secret whispers of each other's watch : +Fire answers fire , and through their paly flames +Each battle sees the other's umber'd face : +Steed threatens steed , in high and boastful neighs +Piercing the night's dull ear ; and from the tents +The armourers , accomplishing the knights , +With busy hammers closing rivets up , +Give dreadful note of preparation . +The country cocks do crow , the clocks do toll , +And the third hour of drowsy morning name . +Proud of their numbers , and secure in soul , +The confident and over-lusty French +Do the low-rated English play at dice ; +And chide the cripple tardy-gaited night +Who , like a foul and ugly witch , doth limp +So tediously away . The poor condemned English , +Like sacrifices , by their watchful fires +Sit patiently , and inly ruminate +The morning's danger , and their gesture sad +Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats +Presenteth them unto the gazing moon +So many horrid ghosts . O ! now , who will behold +The royal captain of this ruin'd band +Walking from watch to watch , from tent to tent , +Let him cry 'Praise and glory on his head !' +For forth he goes and visits all his host , +Bids them good morrow with a modest smile , +And calls them brothers , friends , and countrymen . +Upon his royal face there is no note +How dread an army hath enrounded him ; +Nor doth he dedicate one jot of colour +Unto the weary and all-watched night : +But freshly looks and overbears attaint +With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty ; +That every wretch , pining and pale before , +Beholding him , plucks comfort from his looks , +A largess universal , like the sun +His liberal eye doth give to every one , +Thawing cold fear . Then mean and gentle all , +Behold , as may unworthiness define , +A little touch of Harry in the night . +And so our scene must to the battle fly ; +Where ,O for pity ,we shall much disgrace , +With four or five most vile and ragged foils , +Right ill dispos'd in brawl ridiculous , +The name of Agincourt . Yet sit and see ; +Minding true things by what their mockeries be . + +Gloucester , 'tis true that we are in great danger ; +The greater therefore should our courage be . +Good morrow , brother Bedford . God Almighty ! +There is some soul of goodness in things evil , +Would men observingly distil it out ; +For our bad neighbour makes us early stirrers , +Which is both healthful , and good husbandry : +Besides , they are our outward consciences , +And preachers to us all ; admonishing +That we should dress us fairly for our end . +Thus may we gather honey from the weed , +And make a moral of the devil himself . + + +Good morrow , old Sir Thomas Erpingham : +A good soft pillow for that good white head + +Were better than a churlish turf of France . + +Not so , my liege : this lodging likes me better , +Since I may say , 'Now lie I like a king .' + +'Tis good for men to love their present pains +Upon example ; so the spirit is eas'd : +And when the mind is quicken'd , out of doubt , +The organs , though defunct and dead before , +Break up their drowsy grave , and newly move +With casted slough and fresh legerity . +Lend me thy cloak , Sir Thomas . Brothers both , +Commend me to the princes in our camp ; +Do my good morrow to them ; and anon +Desire them all to my pavilion . + +We shall , my liege . + + +Shall I attend your Grace ? + +No , my good knight ; +Go with my brothers to my lords of England : +I and my bosom must debate awhile , +And then I would no other company . + +The Lord in heaven bless thee , noble Harry ! + + +God-a-mercy , old heart ! thou speak'st cheerfully . + + +Qui va l ? + +A friend . + +Discuss unto me ; art thou officer ? +Or art thou base , common and popular ? + +I am a gentleman of a company . + +Trail'st thou the puissant pike ? + +Even so . What are you ? + +As good a gentleman as the emperor . + +Then you are a better than the king . + +The king's a bawcock , and a heart of gold , +A lad of life , an imp of fame : +Of parents good , of fist most valiant : +I kiss his dirty shoe , and from my heart-string +I love the lovely bully . What's thy name ? + +Harry le Roy . + +Le Roy ! a Cornish name : art thou of Cornish crew ? + +No , I am a Welshman . + +Know'st thou Fluellen ? + +Yes . + +Tell him , I'll knock his leek about his pate +Upon Saint Davy's day . + +Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day , lest he knock that about yours . + +Art thou his friend ? + +And his kinsman too . + +The figo for thee then ! + +I thank you . God be with you ! + +My name is Pistol called . + + +It sorts well with your fierceness . + +Captain Fluellen ! + +Sol in the name of Cheshu Christ , speak lower . It is the greatest admiration in the universal world , when the true and auncient prerogatifes and laws of the wars is not kept . If you would take the pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the Great , you shall find , I warrant you , that there is no tiddle-taddle nor pibble-pabble in Pompey's camp ; I warrant you , you shall find the ceremonies of the wars , and the cares of it , and the forms of it , and the sobriety of it , and the modesty of it , to be otherwise . + +Why , the enemy is loud ; you heard him all night . + +If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb , is it meet , think you , that we should also , look you , be an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb , in your own conscience now ? + +I will speak lower . + +I pray you and peseech you that you will . + + +Though it appear a little out of fashion , +There is much care and valour in this Welshman . + + +Brother John Bates , is not that the morning which breaks yonder ? + +I think it be ; but we have no great cause to desire the approach of day . + +We see yonder the beginning of the day , but I think we shall never see the end of it . Who goes there ? + +A friend . + +Under what captain serve you ? + +Under Sir Thomas Erpingham . + +A good old commander and a most kind gentleman : I pray you , what thinks he of our estate ? + +Even as men wracked upon a sand , that look to be washed off the next tide . + +He hath not told his thought to the king ? + +No ; nor it is not meet he should . For , though I speak it to you , I think the king is but a man , as I am : the violet smells to him as it doth to me ; the element shows to him as it doth to me ; all his senses have but human conditions : his ceremonies laid by , in his nakedness he appears but a man ; and though his affections are higher mounted than ours , yet when they stoop , they stoop with the like wing . Therefore when he sees reason of fears , as we do , his fears , out of doubt , be of the same relish as ours are : yet , in reason , no man should possess him with any appearance of fear , lest he , by showing it , should dishearten his army . + +He may show what outward courage he will , but I believe , as cold a night as 'tis , he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck , and so I would he were , and I by him , at all adventures , so we were quit here . + +By my troth , I will speak my conscience of the king : I think he would not wish himself any where but where he is . + +Then I would he were here alone ; so should he be sure to be ransomed , and a many poor men's lives saved . + +I dare say you love him not so ill to wish him here alone , howsoever you speak this to feel other men's minds . Methinks I could not die any where so contented as in the king's company , his cause being just and his quarrel honourable . + +That's more than we know . + +Ay , or more than we should seek after ; for we know enough if we know we are the king's subjects . If his cause be wrong , our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us . + +But if the cause be not good , the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make ; when all those legs and arms and heads , chopped off in a battle , shall join together at the latter day , and cry all , 'We died at such a place ;' some swearing , some crying for a surgeon , some upon their wives left poor behind them , some upon the debts they owe , some upon their children rawly left . I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle ; for how can they charitably dispose of any thing when blood is their argument ? Now , if these men do not die well , it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it , whom to disobey were against all proportion of subjection . + +So , if a son that is by his father sent about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea , the imputation of his wickedness , by your rule , should be imposed upon his father that sent him : or if a servant , under his master's command transporting a sum of money , be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconciled iniquities , you may call the business of the master the author of the servant's damnation . But this is not so : the king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers , the father of his son , nor the master of his servant ; for they purpose not their death when they purpose their services . Besides , there is no king , be his cause never so spotless , if it come to the arbitrement of swords , can try it out with all unspotted soldiers . Some , peradventure , have on them the guilt of premeditated and contrived murder ; some , of beguiling virgins with the broken seals of perjury ; some , making the wars their bulwark , that have before gored the gentle bosom of peace with pillage and robbery . Now , if these men have defeated the law and outrun native punishment , though they can outstrip men , they have no wings to fly from God : war is his beadle , war is his vengeance ; so that here men are punished for before-breach of the king's laws in now the king's quarrel : where they feared the death they have borne life away , and where they would be safe they perish . Then , if they die unprovided , no more is the king guilty of their damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties for the which they are now visited . Every subject's duty is the king's ; but every subject's soul is his own . Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his bed , wash every mote out of his conscience ; and dying so , death is to him advantage ; or not dying , the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained : and in him that escapes , it were not sin to think , that making God so free an offer , he let him outlive that day to see his greatness , and to teach others how they should prepare . + +'Tis certain , every man that dies ill , the ill upon his own head : the king is not to answer it . + +I do not desire he should answer for me ; and yet I determine to fight lustily for him . + +I myself heard the king say he would not be ransomed . + +Ay , he said so , to make us fight cheerfully ; but when our throats are cut he may be ransomed , and we ne'er the wiser . + +If I live to see it , I will never trust his word after . + +You pay him then . That's a perilous shot out of an elder-gun , that a poor and a private displeasure can do against a monarch . You may as well go about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather . You'll never trust his word after ! come , 'tis a foolish saying . + +Your reproof is something too round ; I should be angry with you if the time were convenient . + +Let it be a quarrel between us , if you live . + +I embrace it . + +How shall I know thee again ? + +Give me any gage of thine , and I will wear it in my bonnet : then , if ever thou darest acknowledge it , I will make it my quarrel . + +Here's my glove : give me another of thine . + +There . + +This will I also wear in my cap : if ever thou come to me and say after to-morrow , 'This is my glove ,' by this hand I will take thee a box on the ear . + +If ever I live to see it , I will challenge it . + +Thou darest as well be hanged . + +Well , I will do it , though I take thee in the king's company . + +Keep thy word : fare thee well . + +Be friends , you English fools , be friends : we have French quarrels enow , if you could tell how to reckon . + +Indeed , the French may lay twenty French crowns to one , they will beat us ; for they bear them on their shoulders : but it is no English treason to cut French crowns , and to-morrow the king himself will be a clipper . + +Upon the king ! let us our lives , our souls , +Our debts , our careful wives , +Our children , and our sins lay on the king ! +We must bear all . O hard condition ! +Twin-born with greatness , subject to the breath +Of every fool , whose sense no more can feel +But his own wringing . What infinite heart's ease +Must kings neglect that private men enjoy ! +And what have kings that privates have not too , +Save ceremony , save general ceremony ? +And what art thou , thou idle ceremony ? +What kind of god art thou , that suffer'st more +Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers ? +What are thy rents ? what are thy comings-in ? +O ceremony ! show me but thy worth : +What is thy soul of adoration ? +Art thou aught else but place , degree , and form , +Creating awe and fear in other men ? +Wherein thou art less happy , being fear'd , +Than they in fearing . +What drink'st thou oft , instead of homage sweet , +But poison'd flattery ? O ! be sick , great greatness , +And bid thy ceremony give thee cure . +Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out +With titles blown from adulation ? +Will it give place to flexure and low-bending ? +Canst thou , when thou command'st the beggar's knee , +Command the health of it ? No , thou proud dream , +That play'st so subtly with a king's repose ; +I am a king that find thee ; and I know +'Tis not the balm , the sceptre and the ball , +The sword , the mace , the crown imperial , +The intertissued robe of gold and pearl , +The farced title running 'fore the king , +The throne he sits on , nor the tide of pomp +That beats upon the high shore of this world , +No , not all these , thrice-gorgeous ceremony , +Not all these , laid in bed majestical , +Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave , +Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind +Gets him to rest , cramm'd with distressful bread ; +Never sees horrid night , the child of hell , +But , like a lackey , from the rise to set +Sweats in the eye of Ph bus , and all night +Sleeps in Elysium ; next day after dawn , +Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse , +And follows so the ever-running year +With profitable labour to his grave : +And , but for ceremony , such a wretch , +Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep , +Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king . +The slave , a member of the country's peace , +Enjoys it ; but in gross brain little wots +What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace , +Whose hours the peasant best advantages . + + +My lord , your nobles , jealous of your absence , +Seek through your camp to find you . + +Good old knight , +Collect them all together at my tent : +I'll be before thee . + +I shall do't , my lord . + + +O God of battles ! steel my soldiers' hearts ; +Possess them not with fear ; take from them now +The sense of reckoning , if the opposed numbers +Pluck their hearts from them . Not to-day , O Lord ! +O ! not to-day , think not upon the fault +My father made in compassing the crown . +I Richard's body have interr'd anew , +And on it have bestow'd more contrite tears +Than from it issu'd forced drops of blood . +Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay , +Who twice a day their wither'd hands hold up +Toward heaven , to pardon blood ; and I have built +Two chantries , where the sad and solemn priests +Sing still for Richard's soul . More will I do ; +Though all that I can do is nothing worth , +Since that my penitence comes after all , +Imploring pardon . + + +My liege ! + +My brother Gloucester's voice ! Ay ; +I know thy errand , I will go with thee : +The day , my friends , and all things stay for me . + + +The sun doth gild our armour : up , my lords ! + +Montez cheval ! My horse ! varlet ! lacquais ! ha ! + +O brave spirit ! + +Via ! les eaux et la terre ! + +Rien puis ? l'air et le feu . + +Ciel ! cousin Orleans . + +Now , my lord constable ! + +Hark how our steeds for present service neigh ! + +Mount them , and make incision in their hides , +That their hot blood may spin in English eyes , +And dout them with superfluous courage : ha ! + +What ! will you have them weep our horses' blood ? +How shall we then behold their natural tears ? + + +The English are embattail'd , you French peers . + +To horse , you gallant princes ! straight to horse ! +Do but behold yon poor and starved band , +And your fair show shall suck away their souls , +Leaving them but the shales and husks of men . +There is not work enough for all our hands ; +Scarce blood enough in all their sickly veins +To give each naked curtal-axe a stain , +That our French gallants shall to-day draw out , +And sheathe for lack of sport : let us but blow on them , +The vapour of our valour will o'erturn them . +'Tis positive 'gainst all exceptions , lords , +That our superfluous lackeys and our peasants , +Who in unnecessary action swarm +About our squares of battle , were enow +To purge this field of such a hilding foe , +Though we upon this mountain's basis by +Took stand for idle speculation : +But that our honours must not . What's to say ? +A very little little let us do , +And all is done . Then let the trumpets sound +The tucket sonance and the note to mount : +For our approach shall so much dare the field , +That England shall couch down in fear and yield . + + +Why do you stay so long , my lords of France ? +Yon island carrions desperate of their bones , +Ill-favour'dly become the morning field : +Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose , +And our air shakes them passing scornfully : +Big Mars seems bankrupt in their beggar'd host , +And faintly through a rusty beaver peeps : +The horsemen sit like fixed candlesticks , +With torch-staves in their hand ; and their poor jades +Lob down their heads , dropping the hides and hips , +The gum down-roping from their pale-dead eyes , +And in their pale dull mouths the gimmal bit +Lies foul with chew'd grass , still and motionless ; +And their executors , the knavish crows , +Fly o'er them , all impatient for their hour . +Description cannot suit itself in words +To demonstrate the life of such a battle +In life so lifeless as it shows itself . + +They have said their prayers , and they stay for death . + +Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits , +And give their fasting horses provender , +And after fight with them ? + +I stay but for my guard : on , to the field ! +I will the banner from a trumpet take , +And use it for my haste . Come , come , away ! +The sun is high , and we outwear the day . + + +Where is the king ? + +The king himself is rode to view their battle . + +Of fighting men they have full three-score thousand . + +There's five to one ; besides , they all are fresh . + +God's arm strike with us ! 'tis a fearful odds . +God be wi' you , princes all ; I'll to my charge : +If we no more meet till we meet in heaven , +Then , joyfully , my noble Lord of Bedford , +My dear Lord Gloucester , and my good Lord Exeter , +And my kind kinsman , warriors all , adieu ! + +Farewell , good Salisbury ; and good luck go with thee ! + +Farewell , kind lord . Fight valiantly to-day : +And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it , +For thou art fram'd of the firm truth of valour . + + +He is as full of valour as of kindness ; +Princely in both . + + +O ! that we now had here +But one ten thousand of those men in England +That do no work to-day . + +What's he that wishes so ? +My cousin Westmoreland ? No , my fair cousin : +If we are mark'd to die , we are enow +To do our country loss ; and if to live , +The fewer men , the greater share of honour . +God's will ! I pray thee , wish not one man more . +By Jove , I am not covetous for gold , +Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost ; +It yearns me not if men my garments wear ; +Such outward things dwell not in my desires : +But if it be a sin to covet honour , +I am the most offending soul alive . +No , faith , my coz , wish not a man from England : +God's peace ! I would not lose so great an honour +As one man more , methinks , would share from me , +For the best hope I have . O ! do not wish one more : +Rather proclaim it , Westmoreland , through my host , +That he which hath no stomach to this fight , +Let him depart ; his passport shall be made , +And crowns for convoy put into his purse : +We would not die in that man's company +That fears his fellowship to die with us . +This day is call'd the feast of Crispian : +He that outlives this day , and comes safe home , +Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd , +And rouse him at the name of Crispian . +He that shall live this day , and see old age , +Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours , +And say , 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian :' +Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars , +And say , 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day .' +Old men forget : yet all shall be forgot , +But he'll remember with advantages +What feats he did that day . Then shall our names , +Familiar in his mouth as household words , +Harry the king , Bedford and Exeter , +Warwick and Talbot , Salisbury and Gloucester , +Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd . +This story shall the good man teach his son ; +And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by , +From this day to the ending of the world , +But we in it shall be remembered ; +We few , we happy few , we band of brothers ; +For he to-day that sheds his blood with me +Shall be my brother ; be he ne'er so vile +This day shall gentle his condition : +And gentlemen in England , now a-bed +Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here , +And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks +That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day . + + +My sov'reign lord , bestow yourself with speed : +The French are bravely in their battles set , +And will with all expedience charge on us . + +All things are ready , if our minds be so . + +Perish the man whose mind is backward now ! + +Thou dost not wish more help from England , coz ? + +God's will ! my liege , would you and I alone , +Without more help , could fight this royal battle ! + +Why , now thou hast unwish'd five thousand men ; +Which likes me better than to wish us one . +You know your places : God be with you all ! + + +Once more I come to know of thee , King Harry , +If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound , +Before thy most assured overthrow : +For certainly thou art so near the gulf +Thou needs must be englutted . Besides , in mercy , +The constable desires thee thou wilt mind +Thy followers of repentance ; that their souls +May make a peaceful and a sweet retire +From off these fields , where , wretches , their poor bodies +Must lie and fester . + +Who hath sent thee now ? + +The Constable of France . + +I pray thee , bear my former answer back : +Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones . +Good God ! why should they mock poor fellows thus ? +The man that once did sell the lion's skin +While the beast liv'd , was kill'd with hunting him . +A many of our bodies shall no doubt +Find native graves ; upon the which , I trust , +Shall witness live in brass of this day's work ; +And those that leave their valiant bones in France , +Dying like men , though buried in your dung-hills , +They shall be fam'd ; for there the sun shall greet them , +And draw their honours reeking up to heaven , +Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime , +The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France . +Mark then abounding valour in our English , +That being dead , like to the bullet's grazing , +Break out into a second course of mischief , +Killing in relapse of mortality . +Let me speak proudly : tell the constable , +We are but warriors for the working-day ; +Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd +With rainy marching in the painful field ; +There's not a piece of feather in our host +Good argument , I hope , we will not fly +And time hath worn us into slovenry : +But , by the mass , our hearts are in the trim ; +And my poor soldiers tell me , yet ere night +They'll be in fresher robes , or they will pluck +The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads , +And turn them out of service . If they do this , +As , if God please , they shall ,my ransom then +Will soon be levied . Herald , save thou thy labour ; +Come thou no more for ransom , gentle herald : +They shall have none , I swear , but these my joints ; +Which if they have as I will leave 'em them , +Shall yield them little , tell the constable . + +I shall , King Harry . And so , fare thee well : +Thou never shalt hear herald any more . + + +I fear thou'lt once more come again for ransom . + + +My lord , most humbly on my knee I beg +The leading of the vaward . + +Take it , brave York . Now , soldiers , march away : +And how thou pleasest , God , dispose the day ! + + +Yield , cur ! + +Je pense que vous estes le gentilhomme de bonne qualit . + +Quality ? Calen O custure me ! Art thou a gentleman ? +What is thy name ? discuss . + +O Seigneur Dieu ! + +O Signieur Dew should be a gentleman : +Perpend my words , O Signieur Dew , and mark : +O Signieur Dew , thou diest on point of fox +Except , O signieur , thou do give to me +Egregious ransom . + +O , prenez misericorde ! ayez piti de moy ! + +Moy shall not serve ; I will have forty moys ; +Or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat +In drops of crimson blood . + +Est-il impossible d'eschapper la force de ton bras ? + +Brass , cur ! +Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat , +Offer'st me brass ? + +O pardonnez moy ! + +Sayst thou me so ? is that a ton of moys ? +Come hither , boy : ask me this slave in French +What is his name . + +Escoutez : comment estes vous appell ? + +Monsieur le Fer . + +He says his name is Master Fer . + +Master Fer ! I'll fer him , and firk him , and ferret him . Discuss the same in French unto him . + +I do not know the French for fer , and ferret , and firk . + +Bid him prepare , for I will cut his throat . + +Que dit-il , monsieur ? + +Il me commande vous dire que vous faites vous prest ; car ce soldat icy est dispos tout cette heure de couper vostre gorge . + +Ouy , cuppele gorge , permafoy . +Peasant , unless thou give me crowns , brave crowns ; +Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword . + +O ! je vous supplie pour l'amour de +Dieu , me pardonner ! Je suis le gentilhomme de bonne maison : gardez ma vie , et je vous donneray deux cents escus . + +What are his words ? + +He prays you to save his life : he is a gentleman of a good house ; and , for his ransom he will give you two hundred crowns . + +Tell him , my fury shall abate , and I +The crowns will take . + +Petit monsieur , que dit-il ? + +Encore qu'il est contre son jurement de pardonner aucan prisonnier ; neant-moins , pour les escus que vous l'avez promis , il est content de vous donner la liberte , le franchisement . + +Sur mes genoux , je vous donne mille remerciemens ; et je m'estime heureux que je suis tomb entre les mains d'un chevalier , je pense , le plus brave , valiant , et tr s distingu seigneur d'Angleterre . + +Expound unto me , boy . + +He gives you , upon his knees , a thousand thanks ; and he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the hands of one as he thinks the most brave , valorous , and thrice-worthy signieur of England . + +As I suck blood , I will some mercy show . +Follow me ! + + +Suivez vous le grand capitaine . I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart : but the saying is true , 'The empty vessel makes the greatest sound .' Bardolph and Nym had ten times more valour than this roaring devil i' the old play , that every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger ; and they are both hanged ; and so would this be if he durst steal anything adventurously . I must stay with the lackeys , with the luggage of our camp : the French might have a good prey of us , if he knew of it ; for there is none to guard it but boys . + + +O seigneur ! le jour est perdu ! tout est perdu ! + +Mort de ma vie ! all is confounded , all ! +Reproach and everlasting shame +Sit mocking in our plumes . O meschante fortune ! +Do not run away . + + +Why , all our ranks are broke . + +O perdurable shame ! let's stab ourselves . +Be these the wretches that we play'd at dice for ? + +Is this the king we sent to for his ransom ? + +Shame , and eternal shame , nothing but shame ! +Let's die in honour ! once more back again ; +And he that will not follow Bourbon now , +Let him go hence , and with his cap in hand , +Like a base pander , hold the chamber-door +Whilst by a slave , no gentler than my dog , +His fairest daughter is contaminated . + +Disorder , that hath spoil'd us , friend us now ! +Let us on heaps go offer up our lives . + +We are enough yet living in the field +To smother up the English in our throngs , +If any order might be thought upon . + +The devil take order now ! I'll to the throng : +Let life be short , else shame will be too long . + + +Well have we done , thrice-valiant countrymen : +But all's not done ; yet keep the French the field . + +The Duke of York commends him to your majesty . + +Lives he , good uncle ? thrice within this hour +I saw him down ; thrice up again , and fighting ; +From helmet to the spur all blood he was . + +In which array , brave soldier , doth he lie , +Larding the plain ; and by his bloody side , +Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing wounds , +The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies . +Suffolk first died : and York , all haggled over , +Comes to him , where in gore he lay insteep'd , +And takes him by the beard , kisses the gashes +That bloodily did yawn upon his face ; +And cries aloud , 'Tarry , dear cousin Suffolk ! +My soul shall thine keep company to heaven ; +Tarry , sweet soul , for mine , then fly abreast , +As in this glorious and well-foughten field , +We kept together in our chivalry !' +Upon these words I came and cheer'd him up : +He smil'd me in the face , raught me his hand , +And with a feeble gripe says , 'Dear my lord , +Commend my service to my sovereign .' +So did he turn , and over Suffolk's neck +He threw his wounded arm , and kiss'd his lips ; +And so espous'd to death , with blood he seal'd +A testament of noble-ending love . +The pretty and sweet manner of it forc'd +Those waters from me which I would have stopp'd ; +But I had not so much of man in me , +And all my mother came into mine eyes +And gave me up to tears . + +I blame you not ; +For , hearing this , I must perforce compound +With mistful eyes , or they will issue too . + +But hark ! what new alarum is this same ? +The French have reinforc'd their scatter'd men : +Then every soldier kill his prisoners ! +Give the word through . + + +Kill the poys and the luggage ! 'tis expressly against the law of arms : 'tis as arrant a piece of knavery , mark you now , as can be offer't : in your conscience now , is it not ? + +'Tis certain , there's not a boy left alive ; and the cowardly rascals that ran from the battle have done this slaughter : besides , they have burned and carried away all that was in the king's tent ; wherefore the king most worthily hath caused every soldier to cut his prisoner's throat . O ! 'tis a gallant king . + +Ay , he was porn at Monmouth , Captain Gower . What call you the town's name where Alexander the Pig was born ? + +Alexander the Great . + +Why , I pray you , is not pig great ? The pig , or the great , or the mighty , or the huge , or the magnanimous , are all one reckonings , save the phrase is a little variations . + +I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon : his father was called Philip of Macedon , as I take it . + +I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is porn . I tell you , captain , if you look in the maps of the 'orld , I warrant you sall find , in the comparisons between Macedon and Monmouth , that the situations , look you , is both alike . There is a river in Macedon , and there is also moreover a river at Monmouth : it is called Wye at Monmouth ; but it is out of my prains what is the name of the other river ; but 'tis all one , 'tis alike as my fingers is to my fingers , and there is salmons in both . If you mark Alexander's life well , Harry of Monmouth's life is come after it indifferent well ; for there is figures in all things . Alexander ,God knows , and you know ,in his rages , and his furies , and his wraths , and his cholers , and his moods , and his displeasures , and his indignations , and also being a little intoxicates in his prains , did , in his ales and his angers , look you , kill his pest friend , Cleitus . + +Our king is not like him in that : he never killed any of his friends . + +It is not well done , mark you now , to take the tales out of my mouth , ere it is made and finished . I speak but in the figures and comparisons of it : as Alexander killed his friend Cleitus , being in his ales and his cups , so also Harry Monmouth , being in his right wits and his good judgments , turned away the fat knight with the great belly-doublet : he was full of jests , and gipes , and knaveries , and mocks ; I have forgot his name . + +Sir John Falstaff . + +That is he . I'll tell you , there is goot men porn at Monmouth . + +Here comes his majesty . + +I was not angry since I came to France +Until this instant . Take a trumpet , herald ; +Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill : +If they will fight with us , bid them come down , +Or void the field ; they do offend our sight . +If they'll do neither , we will come to them , +And make them skirr away , as swift as stones +Enforced from the old Assyrian slings . +Besides , we'll cut the throats of those we have , +And not a man of them that we shall take +Shall taste our mercy . Go and tell them so . + + +Here comes the herald of the French , my liege . + +His eyes are humbler than they us'd to be . + +How now ! what means this , herald ? know'st thou not +That I have fin'd these bones of mine for ransom ? +Com'st thou again for ransom ? + +No , great king . +I come to thee for charitable licence , +That we may wander o'er this bloody field +To book our dead , and then to bury them ; +To sort our nobles from our common men ; +For many of our princes woe the while ! +Lie drown'd and soak'd in mercenary blood ; +So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs +In blood of princes ; and their wounded steeds +Fret fetlock-deep in gore , and with wild rage +Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters , +Killing them twice . O ! give us leave , great king , +To view the field in safety and dispose +Of their dead bodies . + +I tell thee truly , herald , +I know not if the day be ours or no ; +For yet a many of your horsemen peer +And gallop o'er the field . + +The day is yours . + +Praised be God , and not our strength , for it ! +What is this castle call'd that stands hard by ? + +They call it Agincourt . + +Then call we this the field of Agincourt , +Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus . + +Your grandfather of famous memory , an't please your majesty , and your great-uncle Edward the Plack Prince of Wales , as I have read in the chronicles , fought a most prave pattle here in France . + +They did , Fluellen . + +Your majesty says very true . If your majesties is remembered of it , the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow , wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps ; which , your majesty know , to this hour is an honourable badge of the service ; and I do believe , your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day . + +I wear it for a memorable honour ; For I am Welsh , you know , good countryman . + +All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody , I can tell you that : Got pless it and preserve it , as long as it pleases his grace , and his majesty too ! + +Thanks , good my countryman . + +By Jeshu , I am your majesty's countryman , I care not who know it ; I will confess it to all the 'orld : I need not be ashamed of your majesty , praised be God , so long as your majesty is an honest man . + +God keep me so ! Our heralds go with him : +Bring me just notice of the numbers dead +On both our parts . Call yonder fellow hither . + + +Soldier , you must come to the king . + +Soldier , why wear'st thou that glove in thy cap ? + +An't please your majesty , 'tis the gage of one that I should fight withal , if he be alive . + +An Englishman ? + +An't please your majesty , a rascal that swaggered with me last night ; who , if a' live and ever dare to challenge this glove , I have sworn to take him a box o' the ear : or , if I can see my glove in his cap ,which he swore as he was a soldier he would wear if alive ,I will strike it out soundly . + +What think you , Captain Fluellen ? is it fit this soldier keep his oath ? + +He is a craven and a villain else , an't please your majesty , in my conscience . + +It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort , quite from the answer of his degree . + +Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is , as Lucifer and Belzebub himself , it is necessary , look your Grace , that he keep his vow and his oath . If he be perjured , see you now , his reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jack-sauce as ever his black shoe trod upon God's ground and his earth , in my conscience , la ! + +Then keep thy vow , sirrah , when thou meetest the fellow . + +So I will , my liege , as I live . + +Who servest thou under ? + +Under Captain Gower , my liege . + +Gower is a goot captain , and is good knowledge and literatured in the wars . + +Call him hither to me , soldier . + +I will , my liege . + + +Here , Fluellen ; wear thou this favour for me and stick it in thy cap . When Alen on and myself were down together I plucked this glove from his helm : if any man challenge this , he is a friend to Alen on , and an enemy to our person ; if thou encounter any such , apprehend him , an thou dost me love . + +Your Grace does me as great honours as can be desired in the hearts of his subjects : I would fain see the man that has but two legs that shall find himself aggriefed at this glove , that is all ; but I would fain see it once , and please God of his grace that I might see . + +Knowest thou Gower ? + +He is my dear friend , an't please you . + +Pray thee , go seek him , and bring him to my tent . + +I will fetch him . + + +My Lord of Warwick , and my brother Gloucester , +Follow Fluellen closely at the heels . +The glove which I have given him for a favour , +May haply purchase him a box o' the ear ; +It is the soldier's ; I by bargain should +Wear it myself . Follow , good cousin Warwick : +If that the soldier strike him ,as , I judge +By his blunt bearing he will keep his word , +Some sudden mischief may arise of it ; +For I do know Fluellen valiant , +And touch'd with choler , hot as gunpowder , +And quickly will return an injury : +Follow and see there be no harm between them . +Go you with me , uncle of Exeter . + + +I warrant it is to knight you , captain . + + +God's will and his pleasure , captain , I peseech you now come apace to the king : there is more good toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of . + +Sir , know you this glove ? + +Know the glove ! I know the glove is a glove . + +I know this ; and thus I challenge it . + + +'Sblood ! an arrant traitor as any's in the universal 'orld , or in France , or in England + +How now , sir ! you villain ! + +Do you think I'll be forsworn ? + +Stand away , Captain Gower ; I will give treason his payment into plows , I warrant you . + +I am no traitor . + +That's a lie in thy throat . I charge you in his majesty's name , apprehend him : he is a friend of the Duke Alen on's . + + +How now , how now ! what's the matter ? + +My Lord of Warwick , here is ,praised be God for it !a most contagious treason come to light , look you , as you shall desire in a summer's day . Here is his majesty . + + +How now ! what's the matter ? + +My liege , here is a villain and a traitor , that , look your Grace , has struck the glove which your majesty is take out of the helmet of Alen on . + +My liege , this was my glove ; here is the fellow of it ; and he that I gave it to in change promised to wear it in his cap : I promised to strike him , if he did : I met this man with my glove in his cap , and I have been as good as my word . + +Your majesty hear now ,saving your majesty's manhood ,what an arrant , rascally , beggarly , lousy knave it is . I hope your majesty is pear me testimony and witness , and avouchments , that this is the glove of Alen on that your majesty is give me ; in your conscience now . + +Give me thy glove , soldier : look , here is the fellow of it . +'Twas I , indeed , thou promisedst to strike ; +And thou hast given me most bitter terms . + +An't please your majesty , let his neck answer for it , if there is any martial law in the 'orld . + +How canst thou make me satisfaction ? + +All offences , my lord , come from the heart : never came any from mine that might offend your majesty . + +It was ourself thou didst abuse . + +Your majesty came not like yourself : you appeared to me but as a common man ; witness the night , your garments , your lowliness ; and what your highness suffered under that shape , I beseech you , take it for your own fault and not mine : for had you been as I took you for I made no offence ; therefore , I beseech your highness , pardon me . + +Here , uncle Exeter , fill this glove with crowns , +And give it to this fellow . Keep it , fellow ; +And wear it for an honour in thy cap +Till I do challenge it . Give him the crowns : +And , captain , you must needs be friends with him . + +By this day and this light , the fellow has mettle enough in his belly . Hold , there is twelve pence for you , and I pray you to serve God , and keep you out of prawls , and prabbles , and quarrels , and dissensions , and , I warrant you , it is the better for you . + +I will none of your money . + +It is with a good will ; I can tell you it will serve you to mend your shoes : come , wherefore should you be so pashful ? your shoes is not so good : 'tis a good shilling , I warrant you , or I will change it . + + +Now , herald , are the dead number'd ? + +Here is the number of the slaughter'd French . + + +What prisoners of good sort are taken , uncle ? + +Charles Duke of Orleans , nephew to the king ; +John Duke of Bourbon , and Lord Bouciqualt : +Of other lords and barons , knights and squires , +Full fifteen hundred , besides common men . + +This note doth tell me of ten thousand French +That in the field lie slain : of princes , in this number , +And nobles bearing banners , there lie dead +One hundred twenty-six : added to these , +Of knights , esquires , and gallant gentlemen , +Eight thousand and four hundred ; of the which +Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights : +So that , in these ten thousand they have lost , +There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries ; +The rest are princes , barons , lords , knights , squires , +And gentlemen of blood and quality . +The names of those their nobles that lie dead : +Charles Delabreth , High Constable of France ; +Jaques of Chatillon , Admiral of France ; +The master of the cross-bows , Lord Rambures ; +Great-master of France , the brave Sir Guischard Dauphin ; +John Duke of Alen on ; Antony Duke of Brabant , +The brother to the Duke of Burgundy , +And Edward Duke of Bar : of lusty earls , +Grandpr and Roussi , Fauconberg and Foix , +Beaumont and Marle , Vaudemont and Lestrale . +Here was a royal fellowship of death ! +Where is the number of our English dead ? + +Edward the Duke of York , the Earl of Suffolk , +Sir Richard Ketly , Davy Gam , esquire : +None else of name : and of all other men +But five and twenty . O God ! thy arm was here ; +And not to us , but to thy arm alone , +Ascribe we all . When , without stratagem , +But in plain shock and even play of battle , +Was ever known so great and little loss +On one part and on the other ? Take it , God , +For it is none but thine ! + +'Tis wonderful ! + +Come , go we in procession to the village : +And be it death proclaimed through our host +To boast of this or take the praise from God +Which is his only . + +Is it not lawful , an please your majesty , to tell how many is killed ? + +Yes , captain ; but with this acknowledgment , +That God fought for us . + +Yes , my conscience , he did us great good . + +Do we all holy rites : +Let there be sung Non nobis and Te Deum ; +The dead with charity enclos'd in clay . +We'll then to Calais ; and to England then , +Where ne'er from France arriv'd more happy men . + +Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story , +That I may prompt them : and of such as have , +I humbly pray them to admit the excuse +Of time , of numbers , and due course of things , +Which cannot in their huge and proper life +Be here presented . Now we bear the king +Toward Calais : grant him there ; there seen , +Heave him away upon your winged thoughts +Athwart the sea . Behold , the English beach +Pales in the flood with men , with wives , and boys , +Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep-mouth'd sea , +Which , like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king , +Seems to prepare his way : so let him land +And solemnly see him set on to London . +So swift a pace hath thought that even now +You may imagine him upon Blackheath ; +Where that his lords desire him to have borne +His bruised helmet and his bended sword +Before him through the city : he forbids it , +Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride ; +Giving full trophy , signal and ostent , +Quite from himself , to God . But now behold , +In the quick forge and working-house of thought , +How London doth pour out her citizens . +The mayor and all his brethren in best sort , +Like to the senators of the antique Rome , +With the plebeians swarming at their heels , +Go forth and fetch their conquering C sar in : +As , by a lower but loving likelihood , +Were now the general of our gracious empress , +As in good time he may ,from Ireland coming , +Bringing rebellion broached on his sword , +How many would the peaceful city quit +To welcome him ! much more , and much more cause , +Did they this Harry . Now in London place him ; +As yet the lamentation of the French +Invites the King of England's stay at home , +The emperor's coming in behalf of France , +To order peace between them ;and omit +All the occurrences , whatever chanc'd , +Till Harry's back-return again to France : +There must we bring him ; and myself have play'd +The interim , by remembering you 'tis past . +Then brook abridgment , and your eyes advance , +After your thoughts , straight back again to France . + +Nay , that's right ; but why wear you your leek to-day ? Saint Davy's day is past . + +There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things : I will tell you , asse my friend , Captain Gower . The rascally , scald , beggarly , lousy , pragging knave , Pistol ,which you and yourself and all the 'orld know to be no petter than a fellow ,look you now , of no merits , he is come to me and prings me pread and salt yesterday , look you , and pid me eat my leek . It was in a place where I could not preed no contention with him ; but I will be so pold as to wear it in my cap till I see him once again , and then I will tell him a little piece of my desires . + +Why , here he comes , swelling like a turkey-cock . + + +'Tis no matter for his swellings nor his turkey-cocks . God pless you , Aunchient Pistol ! you scurvy , lousy knave , God pless you ! + +Ha ! art thou bedlam ? dost thou thirst , base Troyan , +To have me fold up Parca's fatal web ? +Hence ! I am qualmish at the smell of leek . + +I peseech you heartily , scurvy lousy knave , at my desires and my requests and my petitions to eat , look you , this leek ; pecause , look you , you do not love it , nor your affections and your appetites and your digestions does not agree with it , I would desire you to eat it . + +Not for Cadwallader and all his goats . + +There is one goat for you . +Will you be so good , scald knave , as eat it ? + +Base Troyan , thou shalt die . + +You say very true , scald knave , when +God's will is . I will desire you to live in the mean time and eat your victuals ; come , there is sauce for it . + +You called me yesterday mountain-squire , but I will make you to-day a squire of low degree . I pray you , fall to : if you can mock a leek you can eat a leek . + +Enough , captain : you have astonished him . + +I say , I will make him eat some part of my leek , or I will peat his pate four days . Bite , I pray you ; it is good for your green wound and your ploody coxcomb . + +Must I bite ? + +Yes , certainly , and out of doubt and out of question too and ambiguities . + +By this leek , I will most horribly revenge . I eat and eat , I swear + +Eat , I pray you : will you have some more sauce to your leek ? there is not enough leek to swear by . + +Quiet thy cudgel : thou dost see I eat . + +Much good do you , scald knave , heartily . Nay , pray you , throw none away ; the skin is good for your broken coxcomb . When you take occasions to see leeks hereafter , I pray you , mock at 'em ; that is all . + +Good . + +Ay , leeks is good . Hold you , there is a groat to heal your pate . + +Me a groat ! + +Yes , verily and in truth , you shall take it ; or I have another leek in my pocket , which you shall eat . + +I take thy groat in earnest of revenge . + +If I owe you anything I will pay you in cudgels : you shall be a woodmonger , and buy nothing of me but cudgels . God be wi' you , and keep you , and heal your pate . + + +All hell shall stir for this . + +Go , go ; you are a counterfeit cowardly knave . Will you mock at an ancient tradition , begun upon an honourable respect , and worn as a memorable trophy of predeceased valour , and dare not a vouch in your deeds any of your words ? I have seen you gleeking and galling at this gentleman twice or thrice . You thought , because he could not speak English in the native garb , he could not therefore handle an English cudgel : you find it otherwise ; and henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good English condition . Fare ye well . + + +Doth Fortune play the huswife with me now ? +News have I that my Nell is dead i' the spital +Of malady of France : +And there my rendezvous is quite cut off . +Old I do wax , and from my weary limbs +Honour is cudgelled . Well , bawd I'll turn , +And something lean to cutpurse of quick hand . +To England will I steal , and there I'll steal : +And patches will I get unto these cudgell'd scars , +And swear I got them in the Gallia wars . + +Peace to this meeting , wherefore we are met ! +Unto our brother France , and to our sister , +Health and fair time of day ; joy and good wishes +To our most fair and princely cousin Katharine ; +And , as a branch and member of this royalty , +By whom this great assembly is contriv'd , +We do salute you , Duke of Burgundy ; +And , princes French , and peers , health to you all ! + +Right joyous are we to behold your face , +Most worthy brother England ; fairly met : +So are you , princes English , every one . + +So happy be the issue , brother England , +Of this good day and of this gracious meeting , +As we are now glad to behold your eyes ; +Your eyes , which hitherto have borne in them +Against the French , that met them in their bent , +The fatal balls of murdering basilisks : +The venom of such looks , we fairly hope , +Have lost their quality , and that this day +Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love . + +To cry amen to that , thus we appear . + +You English princes all , I do salute you . + +My duty to you both , on equal love , +Great Kings of France and England ! That I have labour'd +With all my wits , my pains , and strong endeavours , +To bring your most imperial majesties +Unto this bar and royal interview , +Your mightiness on both parts best can witness . +Since then my office hath so far prevail'd +That face to face , and royal eye to eye , +You have congreeted , let it not disgrace me +If I demand before this royal view , +What rub or what impediment there is , +Why that the naked , poor , and mangled Peace , +Dear nurse of arts , plenties , and joyful births , +Should not in this best garden of the world , +Our fertile France , put up her lovely visage ? +Alas ! she hath from France too long been chas'd , +And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps , +Corrupting in its own fertility . +Her vine , the merry cheerer of the heart , +Unpruned dies ; her hedges even-pleach'd , +Like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair , +Put forth disorder'd twigs ; her fallow leas +The darnel , hemlock and rank fumitory +Doth root upon , while that the coulter rusts +That should deracinate such savagery ; +The even mead , that erst brought sweetly forth +The freckled cowslip , burnet , and green clover , +Wanting the scythe , all uncorrected , rank , +Conceives by idleness , and nothing teems +But hateful docks , rough thistles , kecksies , burs , +Losing both beauty and utility ; +And as our vineyards , fallows , meads , and hedges , +Defective in their natures , grow to wildness , +Even so our houses and ourselves and children +Have lost , or do not learn for want of time , +The sciences that should become our country , +But grow like savages ,as soldiers will , +That nothing do but meditate on blood , +To swearing and stern looks , diffus'd attire , +And every thing that seems unnatural . +Which to reduce into our former favour +You are assembled ; and my speech entreats +That I may know the let why gentle Peace +Should not expel these inconveniences , +And bless us with her former qualities . + +If , Duke of Burgundy , you would the peace , +Whose want gives growth to the imperfections +Which you have cited , you must buy that peace +With full accord to all our just demands ; +Whose tenours and particular effects +You have , enschedul'd briefly , in your hands . + +The king hath heard them ; to the which as yet , +There is no answer made . + +Well then the peace , +Which you before so urg'd , lies in his answer . + +I have but with a cursorary eye +O'erglanc'd the articles : pleaseth your Grace +To appoint some of your council presently +To sit with us once more , with better heed +To re-survey them , we will suddenly +Pass our accept and peremptory answer . + +Brother , we shall . Go , uncle Exeter , +And brother Clarence , and you , brother Gloucester , +Warwick and Huntingdon , go with the king ; +And take with you free power to ratify , +Augment , or alter , as your wisdoms best +Shall see advantageable for our dignity , +Anything in or out of our demands , +And we'll consign thereto . Will you , fair sister , +Go with the princes , or stay here with us ? + +Our gracious brother , I will go with them . +Haply a woman's voice may do some good +When articles too nicely urg'd be stood on . + +Yet leave our cousin Katharine here with us : +She is our capital demand , compris'd +Within the fore-rank of our articles . + +She hath good leave . + + +Fair Katharine , and most fair ! +Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms , +Such as will enter at a lady's ear , +And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart ? + +Your majesty sall mock at me ; I cannot speak your England . + +O fair Katharine ! if you will love me soundly with your French heart , I will be glad to hear you confess it brokenly with your English tongue . Do you like me , Kate ? + +Pardonnez moy , I cannot tell vat is 'like me .' + +An angel is like you , Kate ; and you are like an angel . + +Que dit-il ? que je suis semblable les anges ? + +Ouy , vrayment , sauf vostre grace , ainsi dit-il . + +I said so , dear Katharine ; and I must not blush to affirm it . + +O bon Dieu ! les langues des hommes sont pleines des tromperies . + +What says she , fair one ? that the tongues of men are full of deceits ? + +Ouy , dat de tongues of de mans is be full of deceits : dat is de princess . + +The princess is the better Englishwoman . I' faith , Kate , my wooing is fit for thy understanding : I am glad thou canst speak no better English ; for , if thou couldst , thou wouldst find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I had sold my farm to buy my crown . I know no ways to mince it in love , but directly to say 'I love you :' then , if you urge me further than to say 'Do you in faith ?' I wear out my suit . Give me your answer ; i' faith do : and so clap hands and a bargain . How say you , lady ? + +Sauf vostre honneur , me understand vell . + +Marry , if you would put me to verses , or to dance for your sake , Kate , why you undid me : for the one , I have neither words nor measure , and for the other , I have no strength in measure , yet a reasonable measure in strength . If I could win a lady at leap-frog , or by vaulting into my saddle with my armour on my back , under the correction of bragging be it spoken , I should quickly leap into a wife . Or if I might buffet for my love , or bound my horse for her favours , I could lay on like a butcher and sit like a jack-an-apes , never off . But before God , Kate , I cannot look greenly nor gasp out my eloquence , nor I have no cunning in protestation ; only downright oaths , which I never use till urged , nor never break for urging . If thou caust love a fellow of this temper , Kate . whose face is not worth sun-burning , that never looks in his glass for love of anything he sees there , let thine eye be thy cook . I speak to thee plain soldier : if thou canst love me for this , take me ; if not , to say to thee that I shall die , is true ; but for thy love , by the Lord , no ; yet I love thee too . And while thou livest , dear Kate , take a fellow of plain and uncoined constancy , for he perforce must do thee right , because he hath not the gift to woo in other places ; for these fellows of infinite tongue , that can rime themselves into ladies' favours , they do always reason themselves out again . What ! a speaker is but a prater ; a rime is but a ballad . A good leg will fall , a straight back will stoop , a black beard will turn white , a curled pate will grow bald , a fair face will wither , a full eye will wax hollow , but a good heart , Kate , is the sun and the moon ; or , rather , the sun , and not the moon ; for it shines bright and never changes , but keeps his course truly . If thou would have such a one , take me ; and take me , take a soldier ; take a soldier , take a king . And what sayest thou then to my love ? speak , my fair , and fairly , I pray thee . + +Is it possible dat I sould love de enemy of France ? + +No ; it is not possible you should love the enemy of France , Kate ; but , in loving me , you should love the friend of France ; for I love France so well , that I will not part with a village of it ; I will have it all mine : and , Kate , when France is mine and I am yours , then yours is France and you are mine . + +I cannot tell vat is dat . + +No , Kate ? I will tell thee in French , which I am sure will hang upon my tongue like a new-married wife about her husband's neck , hardly to be shook off . Je quand sur le possession de France , et quand vous avez le possession de moy ,let me see , what then ? Saint Denis be my speed !donc vostre est France , et vous estes mienne . It is as easy for me , Kate , to conquer the kingdom , as to speak so much more French : I shall never move thee in French , unless it be to laugh at me . + +Sauf vostre honneur , le Fran ois que vous parlez est meilleur que l'Anglois lequel je parle . + +No , faith , is't not , Kate ; but thy speaking of my tongue , and I thine , most truly falsely , must needs be granted to be much at one . But , Kate , dost thou understand thus much English , Canst thou love me ? + +I cannot tell . + +Can any of your neighbours tell , Kate ? I'll ask them . Come , I know thou lovest me ; and at night when you come into your closet you'll question this gentlewoman about me ; and I know , Kate , you will to her dispraise those parts in me that you love with your heart : but , good Kate , mock me mercifully ; the rather , gentle princess , because I love thee cruelly . If ever thou be'st mine , Kate ,as I have a saving faith within me tells me thou shalt ,I get thee with scambling , and thou must therefore needs prove a good soldier-breeder . Shall not thou and I , between Saint Denis and Saint George , compound a boy , half French , half English , that shall go to Constantinople and take the Turk by the beard ? shall we not ? what sayest thou , my fair flower-de-luce ? + +I do not know dat . + +No ; 'tis hereafter to know , but now to promise : do but now promise , Kate , you will endeavour for your French part of such a boy , and for my English moiety take the word of a king and a bachelor . How answer you , la plus belle Katharine du monde , mon tr s cher et divine d esse ? + +Your majest ave fausse French enough to deceive de most sage demoiselle dat is en France . + +Now , fie upon my false French ! By mine honour , in true English I love thee , Kate : by which honour I dare not swear thou lovest me ; yet my blood begins to flatter me that thou dost , notwithstanding the poor and untempering effect of my visage . Now beshrew my father's ambition ! he was thinking of civil wars when he got me : therefore was I created with a stubborn outside , with an aspect of iron , that , when I come to woo ladies I fright them . But , in faith , Kate , the elder I wax the better I shall appear : my comfort is , that old age , that ill layer-up of beauty , can do no more spoil upon my face : thou hast me , if thou hast me , at the worst ; and thou shalt wear me , if thou wear me , better and better . And therefore tell me , most fair Katharine , will you have me ? Put off your maiden blushes ; avouch the thoughts of your heart with the looks of an empress ; take me by the hand , and say 'Harry of England , I am thine :' which word thou shalt no sooner bless mine ear withal , but I will tell thee aloud 'England is thine , Ireland is thine , France is thine , and Henry Plantagenet is thine ;' who , though I speak it before his face , if he be not fellow with the best king , thou shalt find the best king of good fellows . Come , your answer in broken music ; for thy voice is music , and thy English broken ; therefore , queen of all , Katharine , break thy mind to me in broken English : wilt thou have me ? + +Dat is as it sall please de roy mon p re . + +Nay , it will please him well , Kate ; it shall please him , Kate . + +Den it sall also content me . + +Upon that I kiss your hand , and I call you my queen . + +Laissez , mon seigneur , laissez , laissez ! Ma foy , je ne veux point que vous abaissez vostre grandeur , en baisant la main d'une vostre indigne serviteure : excusez moy , je vous supplie , mon tr s puissant seigneur . + +Then I will kiss your lips , Kate . + +Les dames , et demoiselles , pour estre bais es devant leur noces , il n'est pas la coutume de France . + +Madam my interpreter , what says she ? + +Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies of France ,I cannot tell what is baiser in English . + +To kiss . + +Your majesty entendre bettre que moy . + +It is not a fashion for the maids in France to kiss before they are married , would she say ? + +Ouy , vrayment . + +O Kate ! nice customs curtsy to great kings . Dear Kate , you and I cannot be confined within the weak list of a country's fashion : we are the makers of manners , Kate ; and the liberty that follows our places stops the mouths of all find-faults , as I will do yours , for upholding the nice fashion of your country in denying me a kiss : therefore , patiently , and yielding + +. You have witchcraft in your lips , Kate : there is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them , than in the tongues of the French council ; and they should sooner persuade Harry of England than a general petition of monarchs . Here comes your father . + +God save your majesty ! My royal cousin , teach you our princess English ? + +I would have her learn , my fair cousin , how perfectly I love her ; and that is good English . + +Is she not apt ? + +Our tongue is rough , coz , and my condition is not smooth ; so that , having neither the voice nor the heart of flattery about me , I cannot so conjure up the spirit of love in her , that he will appear in his true likeness . + +Pardon the frankness of my mirth if I answer you for that . If you would conjure in her , you must make a circle ; if conjure up Love in her in his true likeness , he must appear naked and blind . Can you blame her then , being a maid yet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty , if she deny the appearance of a naked blind boy in her naked seeing self ? It were , my lord , a hard condition for a maid to consign to . + +Yet they do wink and yield , as love is blind and enforces . + +They are then excused , my lord , when they see not what they do . + +Then , good my lord , teach your cousin to consent winking . + +I will wink on her to consent , my lord , if you will teach her to know my meaning : for maids , well summered and warm kept , are like flies at Bartholomew-tide , blind , though they have their eyes ; and then they will endure handling , which before would not abide looking on . + +This moral ties me over to time and a hot summer ; and so I shall catch the fly , your cousin , in the latter end , and she must be blind too . + +As love is , my lord , before it loves . + +It is so : and you may , some of you , thank love for my blindness , who cannot see many a fair French city for one fair French maid that stands in my way . + +Yes , my lord , you see them perspectively , the cities turned into a maid ; for they are all girdled with maiden walls that war hath never entered . + +Shall Kate be my wife ? + +So please you . + +I am content ; so the maiden cities you talk of may wait on her : so the maid that stood in the way for my wish shall show me the way to my will . + +We have consented to all terms of reason . + +Is't so , my lords of England ? + +The king hath granted every article : +His daughter first , and then in sequel all , +According to their firm proposed natures . + +Only he hath not yet subscribed this : +Where your majesty demands , that the King of France , having any occasion to write for matter of grant , shall name your highness in this form , and with this addition , in French , Notre tr s cher filz Henry roy d'Angleterre , H retier de France ; and thus in Latin , Pr clarissimus filius noster Henricus , Rex Angli , et H res Franci . + +Nor this I have not , brother , so denied , +But your request shall make me let it pass . + +I pray you then , in love and dear alliance , +Let that one article rank with the rest ; +And thereupon give me your daughter . + +Take her , fair son ; and from her blood raise up +Issue to me ; that the contending kingdoms +Of France and England , whose very shores look pale +With envy of each other's happiness , +May cease their hatred , and this dear conjunction +Plant neighbourhood and Christian-like accord +In their sweet bosoms , that never war advance +His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair France . + +Amen ! + +Now , welcome , Kate : and bear me witness all , +That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen . + + +God , the best maker of all marriages , +Combine your hearts in one , your realms in one ! +As man and wife , being two , are one in love , +So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal +That never may ill office , or fell jealousy , +Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage , +Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms , +To make divorce of their incorporate league ; +That English may as French , French Englishmen , +Receive each other ! God speak this Amen ! + +Amen ! + +Prepare we for our marriage : on which day , +My Lord of Burgundy , we'll take your oath , +And all the peers' , for surety of our leagues . +Then shall I swear to Kate , and you to me ; +And may our oaths well kept and prosperous be ! + +Thus far , with rough and all-unable pen , +Our bending author hath pursu'd the story ; +In little room confining mighty men , +Mangling by starts the full course of their glory . +Small time , but in that small most greatly liv'd +This star of England : Fortune made his sword , +By which the world's best garden he achiev'd , +And of it left his son imperial lord . +Henry the Sixth , in infant bands crown'd King +Of France and England , did this king succeed ; +Whose state so many had the managing , +That they lost France and made his England bleed : +Which oft our stage hath shown ; and , for their sake , +In your fair minds let this acceptance take . + +THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV + + +Open your ears ; for which of you will stop +The vent of hearing when loud Rumour speaks ? +I , from the orient to the drooping west , +Making the wind my post-horse , still unfold +The acts commenced on this ball of earth : +Upon my tongues continual slanders ride , +The which in every language I pronounce , +Stuffing the ears of men with false reports . +I speak of peace , while covert enmity +Under the smile of safety wounds the world : +And who but Rumour , who but only I , +Make fearful musters and prepar'd defence , +Whilst the big year , swoln with some other grief , +Is thought with child by the stern tyrant war , +And no such matter ? Rumour is a pipe +Blown by surmises , jealousies , conjectures , +And of so easy and so plain a stop +That the blunt monster with uncounted heads , +The still-discordant wavering multitude , +Can play upon it . But what need I thus +My well-known body to anatomize +Among my household ? Why is Rumour here ? +I run before King Harry's victory ; +Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury +Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops , +Quenching the flame of bold rebellion +Even with the rebels' blood . But what mean I +To speak so true at first ? my office is +To noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell +Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword , +And that the king before the Douglas' rage +Stoop'd his anointed head as low as death . +This have I rumour'd through the peasant towns +Between the royal field of Shrewsbury +And this worm-eaten hold of ragged stone , +Where Hotspur's father , old Northumberland , +Lies crafty-sick . The posts come tiring on , +And not a man of them brings other news +Than they have learn'd of me : from Rumour's tongues +They bring smooth comforts false , worse than true wrongs . + + +Who keeps the gate here ? ho ! + +Where is the earl ? + +What shall I say you are ? + +Tell thou the earl +That the Lord Bardolph doth attend him here . + +His Lordship is walk'd forth into the orchard : +Please it your honour knock but at the gate , +And he himself will answer . + + +Here comes the earl . + + +What news , Lord Bardolph ? every minute now +Should be the father of some stratagem . +The times are wild ; contention , like a horse +Full of high feeding , madly hath broke loose +And bears down all before him . + +Noble earl , +I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury . + +Good , an God will ! + +As good as heart can wish . +The king is almost wounded to the death ; +And , in the fortune of my lord your son , +Prince Harry slain outright ; and both the Blunts +Kill'd by the hand of Douglas ; young Prince John +And Westmoreland and Stafford fled the field . +And Harry Monmouth's brawn , the hulk Sir John , +Is prisoner to your son : O ! such a day , +So fought , so follow'd , and so fairly won , +Came not till now to dignify the times +Since C sar's fortunes . + +How is this deriv'd ? +Saw you the field ? came you from Shrewsbury ? + +I spake with one , my lord , that came from thence ; +A gentleman well bred and of good name , +That freely render'd me these news for true . + +Here comes my servant Travers , whom I sent +On Tuesday last to listen after news . + +My lord , I over-rode him on the way ; +And he is furnish'd with no certainties +More than he haply may retail from me . + + +Now , Travers , what good tidings come with you ? + +My lord , Sir John Umfrevile turn'd me back +With joyful tidings ; and , being better hors'd , +Out-rode me . After him came spurring hard +A gentleman , almost forspent with speed , +That stopp'd by me to breathe his bloodied horse . +He ask'd the way to Chester ; and of him +I did demand what news from Shrewsbury . +He told me that rebellion had bad luck , +And that young Harry Percy's spur was cold . +With that he gave his able horse the head , +And , bending forward struck his armed heels +Against the panting sides of his poor jade +Up to the rowel-head , and , starting so , +He seem'd in running to devour the way , +Staying no longer question . + +Ha ! Again : +Said he young Harry Percy's spur was cold ? +Of Hotspur , Coldspur ? that rebellion +Had met ill luck ? + +My lord , I'll tell you what : +If my young lord your son have not the day , +Upon mine honour , for a silken point +I'll give my barony : never talk of it . + +Why should the gentleman that rode by Travers +Give then such instances of loss ? + +Who , he ? +He was some hilding fellow that had stolen +The horse he rode on , and , upon my life , +Spoke at a venture . Look , here comes more news . + + +Yea , this man's brow , like to a title-leaf , +Foretells the nature of a tragic volume : +So looks the strond , whereon the imperious flood +Hath left a witness'd usurpation . +Say , Morton , didst thou come from Shrewsbury ? + +I ran from Shrewsbury , my noble lord ; +Where hateful death put on his ugliest mask +To fright our party . + +How doth my son and brother ? +Thou tremblest , and the whiteness in thy cheek +Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand . +Even such a man , so faint , so spiritless , +So dull , so dead in look , so woe-begone , +Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night , +And would have told him half his Troy was burn'd ; +But Priam found the fire ere he his tongue , +And I my Percy's death ere thou report'st it . +This thou wouldst say , 'Your son did thus and thus ; +Your brother thus ; so fought the noble Douglas ;' +Stopping my greedy ear with their bold deeds : +But in the end , to stop mine ear indeed , +Thou hast a sigh to blow away this praise , +Ending with 'Brother , son , and all are dead .' + +Douglas is living , and your brother , yet ; +But , for my lord your son , + +Why , he is dead . +See , what a ready tongue suspicion hath ! +He that but fears the thing he would not know +Hath by instinct knowledge from others' eyes +That what he fear'd is chanced . Yet speak , Morton : +Tell thou thy earl his divination lies , +And I will take it as a sweet disgrace +And make thee rich for doing me such wrong . + +You are too great to be by me gainsaid ; +Your spirit is too true , your fears too certain . + +Yet , for all this , say not that Percy's dead . +I see a strange confession in thine eye : +Thou shak'st thy head , and hold'st it fear or sin +To speak a truth . If he be slain , say so ; +The tongue offends not that reports his death : +And he doth sin that doth belie the dead , +Not he which says the dead is not alive . +Yet the first bringer of unwelcome news +Hath but a losing office , and his tongue +Sounds ever after as a sullen bell , +Remember'd knolling a departing friend . + +I cannot think , my lord , your son is dead . + +I am sorry I should force you to believe +That which I would to God I had not seen ; +But these mine eyes saw him in bloody state , +Rendering faint quittance , wearied and outbreath'd , +To Harry Monmouth ; whose swift wrath beat down +The never-daunted Percy to the earth , +From whence with life he never more sprung up . +In few , his death ,whose spirit lent a fire +Even to the dullest peasant in his camp , +Being bruited once , took fire and heat away +From the best-temper'd courage in his troops ; +For from his metal was his party steel'd ; +Which once in him abated , all the rest +Turn'd on themselves , like dull and heavy lead : +And as the thing that's heavy in itself , +Upon enforcement flies with greatest speed , +So did our men , heavy in Hotspur's loss , +Lend to this weight such lightness with their fear +That arrows fled not swifter toward their aim +Than did our soldiers , aiming at their safety , +Fly from the field . Then was that noble Worcester +Too soon ta'en prisoner ; and that furious Scot , +The bloody Douglas , whose well-labouring sword +Had three times slain the appearance of the king , +'Gan vail his stomach , and did grace the shame +Of those that turn'd their backs ; and in his flight , +Stumbling in fear , was took . The sum of all +Is , that the king hath won , and hath sent out +A speedy power to encounter you , my lord , +Under the conduct of young Lancaster +And Westmoreland . This is the news at full . + +For this I shall have time enough to mourn . +In poison there is physic ; and these news , +Having been well , that would have made me sick , +Being sick , have in some measure made me well : +And as the wretch , whose fever-weaken'd joints , +Like strengthless hinges , buckle under life , +Impatient of his fit , breaks like a fire +Out of his keeper's arms , even so my limbs , +Weaken'd with grief , being now enrag'd with grief , +Are thrice themselves . Hence , therefore , thou nice crutch ! +A scaly gauntlet now , with joints of steel +Must glove this hand : and hence , thou sickly quoif ! +Thou art a guard too wanton for the head +Which princes , flesh'd with conquest , aim to hit . +Now bind my brows with iron ; and approach +The ragged'st hour that time and spite dare bring +To frown upon the enrag'd Northumberland ! +Let heaven kiss earth ! now let not nature's hand +Keep the wild flood confin'd ! let order die ! +And let this world no longer be a stage +To feed contention in a lingering act ; +But let one spirit of the first-born Cain +Reign in all bosoms , that , each heart being set +On bloody courses , the rude scene may end , +And darkness be the burier of the dead ! + +This strained passion doth you wrong , my lord . + +Sweet earl , divorce not wisdom from your honour . + +The lives of all your loving complices +Lean on your health ; the which , if you give o'er +To stormy passion must perforce decay . +You cast the event of war , my noble lord , +And summ'd the account of chance , before you said , +'Let us make head .' It was your presurmise +That in the dole of blows your son might drop : +You knew he walk'd o'er perils , on an edge , +More likely to fall in than to get o'er ; +You were advis'd his flesh was capable +Of wounds and scars , and that his forward spirit +Would lift him where most trade of danger rang'd : +Yet did you say , 'Go forth ;' and none of this , +Though strongly apprehended , could restrain +The stiff-borne action : what hath then befallen , +Or what hath this bold enterprise brought forth , +More than that being which was like to be ? + +We all that are engaged to this loss +Knew that we ventur'd on such dangerous seas +That if we wrought out life 'twas ten to one ; +And yet we ventur'd , for the gain propos'd +Chok'd the respect of likely peril fear'd ; +And since we are o'erset , venture again . +Come , we will all put forth , body and goods . + +'Tis more than time : and , my most noble lord , +I hear for certain , and do speak the truth , +The gentle Archbishop of York is up , +With well-appointed powers : he is a man +Who with a double surety binds his followers . +My lord your son had only but the corpse' , +But shadows and the shows of men to fight ; +For that same word , rebellion , did divide +The action of their bodies from their souls ; +And they did fight with queasiness , constrain'd , +As men drink potions , that their weapons only +Seem'd on our side : but , for their spirits and souls , +This word , rebellion , it had froze them up , +As fish are in a pond . But now the bishop +Turns insurrection to religion : +Suppos'd sincere and holy in his thoughts , +He's follow'd both with body and with mind , +And doth enlarge his rising with the blood +Of fair King Richard , scrap'd from Pomfret stones ; +Derives from heaven his quarrel and his cause ; +Tells them he doth bestride a bleeding land , +Gasping for life under great Bolingbroke ; +And more and less do flock to follow him . + +I knew of this before ; but , to speak truth , +This present grief had wip'd it from my mind . +Go in with me ; and counsel every man +The aptest way for safety and revenge : +Get posts and letters , and make friends with speed : +Never so few , and never yet more need . + + +Sirrah , you giant , what says the doctor to my water ? + +He said , sir , the water itself was a good healthy water ; but , for the party that owed it , he might have more diseases than he knew for . + +Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me : the brain of this foolish-compounded clay , man , is not able to invent anything that tends to laughter , more than I invent or is invented on me : I am not only witty in myself , but the cause that wit is in other men . I do here walk before thee like a sow that hath overwhelmed all her litter but one . If the prince put thee into my service for any other reason than to set me off , why then I have no judgment . Thou whoreson mandrake , thou art fitter to be worn in my cap than to wait at my heels . I was never manned with an agate till now ; but I will set you neither in gold nor silver , but in vile apparel , and send you back again to your master , for a jewel ; the juvenal , the prince your master , whose chin is not yet fledged . I will sooner have a beard grow in the palm of my hand than he shall get one on his cheek ; and yet he will not stick to say , his face is a face-royal : God may finish it when he will , it is not a hair amiss yet : he may keep it still as a face-royal , for a barber shall never earn sixpence out of it ; and yet he will be crowing as if he had writ man ever since his father was a bachelor . He may keep his own grace , but he is almost out of mine , I can assure him . What said Master Dombledon about the satin for my short cloak and my slops ? + +He said , sir , you should procure him better assurance than Bardolph ; he would not take his bond and yours : he liked not the security . + +Let him be damned like the glutton ! may his tongue be hotter ! A whoreson Achitophel ! a rascally yea-forsooth knave ! to bear a gentleman in hand , and then stand upon security . The whoreson smooth-pates do now wear nothing but high shoes , and bunches of keys at their girdles ; and if a man is thorough with them in honest taking up , then they must stand upon security . I had as lief they would put ratsbane in my mouth as offer to stop it with security . I looked a' should have sent me two and twenty yards of satin , as I am a true knight , and he sends me security . Well , he may sleep in security ; for he hath the horn of abundance , and the lightness of his wife shines through it : and yet cannot he see , though he have his own lanthorn to light him . Where's Bardolph ? + +He's gone into Smithfield to buy your worship a horse . + +I bought him in Paul's , and he'll buy me a horse in Smithfield : an I could get me but a wife in the stews , I were manned , horsed , and wived . + + +Sir , here comes the nobleman that committed the prince for striking him about Bardolph . + +Wait close ; I will not see him . + +What's he that goes there ? + +Falstaff , an't please your lordship . + +He that was in question for the robbery ? + +He , my lord ; but he hath since done good service at Shrewsbury , and , as I hear , is now going with some charge to the Lord John of Lancaster . + +What , to York ? Call him back again . + +Sir John Falstaff ! + +Boy , tell him I am deaf . + +You must speak louder , my master is deaf . + +I am sure he is , to the hearing of anything good . Go , pluck him by the elbow ; I must speak with him . + +Sir John ! + +What ! a young knave , and beg ! Is there not wars ? is there not employment ? doth not the king lack subjects ? do not the rebels want soldiers ? Though it be a shame to be on any side but one , it is worse shame to beg than to be on the worst side , were it worse than the name of rebellion can tell how to make it . + +You mistake me , sir . + +Why , sir , did I say you were an honest man ? setting my knighthood and my soldiership aside , I had lied in my throat if I had said so . + +I pray you , sir , then set your knighthood and your soldiership aside , and give me leave to tell you you lie in your throat if you say I am any other than an honest man . + +I give thee leave to tell me so ! I lay aside that which grows to me ! If thou gett'st any leave of me , hang me : if thou takest leave , thou wert better be hanged . You hunt-counter : hence ! avaunt ! + +Sir , my lord would speak with you . + +Sir John Falstaff , a word with you . + +My good lord ! God give your lordship good time of day . I am glad to see your lordship abroad ; I heard say your lordship was sick : I hope your lordship goes abroad by advice . Your lordship , though not clean past your youth , hath yet some smack of age in you , some relish of the saltness of time ; and I most humbly beseech your lordship to have a reverend care of your health . + +Sir John , I sent for you before your expedition to Shrewsbury . + +An't please your lordship , I hear his majesty is returned with some discomfort from Wales . + +I talk not of his majesty . You would not come when I sent for you . + +And I hear , moreover , his highness is fallen into this same whoreson apoplexy . + +Well , heaven mend him ! I pray you , let me speak with you . + +This apoplexy is , as I take it , a kind of lethargy , an't please your lordship ; a kind of sleeping in the blood , a whoreson tingling . + +What tell you me of it ? be it as it is . + +It hath its original from much grief , from study and perturbation of the brain . I have read the cause of his effects in Galen : it is a kind of deafness . + +I think you are fallen into the disease , for you hear not what I say to you . + +Very well , my lord , very well : rather , an't please you , it is the disease of not listening , the malady of not marking , that I am troubled withal . + +To punish you by the heels would amend the attention of your ears ; and I care not if I do become your physician . + +I am as poor as Job , my lord , but not so patient : your lordship may minister the potion of imprisonment to me in respect of poverty ; but how I should be your patient to follow your prescriptions , the wise may make some dram of a scruple , or indeed a scruple itself . + +I sent for you , when there were matters against you for your life , to come speak with me . + +As I was then advised by my learned counsel in the laws of this land-service , I did not come . + +Well , the truth is , Sir John , you live in great infamy . + +He that buckles him in my belt cannot live in less . + +Your means are very slender , and your waste is great . + +I would it were otherwise : I would my means were greater and my waist slenderer . + +You have misled the youthful prince . + +The young prince hath misled me : I am the fellow with the great belly , and he my dog . + +Well , I am loath to gall a new-healed wound : your day's service at Shrewsbury hath a little gilded over your night's exploit on Gadshill : you may thank the unquiet time for your quiet o'er-posting that action . + +My lord ! + +But since all is well , keep it so : wake not a sleeping wolf . + +To wake a wolf is as bad as to smell a fox . + +What ! you are as a candle , the better part burnt out . + +A wassail candle , my lord ; all tallow : if I did say of wax , my growth would approve the truth . + +There is not a white hair on your face but should have his effect of gravity . + +His effect of gravy , gravy , gravy . + +You follow the young prince up and down , like his ill angel . + +Not so , my lord ; your ill angel is light , but I hope he that looks upon me will take me without weighing : and yet , in some respects , I grant , I cannot go , I cannot tell . Virtue is of so little regard in these costermonger times that true valour is turned bear-herd : pregnancy is made a tapster , and hath his quick wit wasted in giving reckonings : all the other gifts appertinent to man , as the malice of this age shapes them , are not worth a gooseberry . You that are old consider not the capacities of us that are young ; you measure the heat of our livers with the bitterness of your galls ; and we that are in the vaward of our youth , I must confess , are wags too . + +Do you set down your name in the scroll of youth , that are written down old with all the characters of age ? Have you not a moist eye , a dry hand , a yellow cheek , a white beard , a decreasing leg , an increasing belly ? Is not your voice broken , your wind short , your chin double , your wit single , and every part about you blasted with antiquity , and will you yet call yourself young ? Fie , fie , fie , Sir John ! + +My lord , I was born about three of the clock in the afternoon , with a white head , and something a round belly . For my voice , I have lost it with hollaing , and singing of anthems . To approve my youth further , I will not : the truth is , I am only old in judgment and understanding ; and he that will caper with me for a thousand marks , let him lend me the money , and have at him ! For the box o' the ear that the prince gave you , he gave it like a rude prince , and you took it like a sensible lord . I have checked him for it , and the young lion repents ; marry , not in ashes and sackcloth , but in new silk and old sack . + +Well , God send the prince a better companion ! + +God send the companion a better prince ! I cannot rid my hands of him . + +Well , the king hath severed you and Prince Harry . I hear you are going with Lord John of Lancaster against the archbishop and the Earl of Northumberland . + +Yea ; I thank your pretty sweet wit for it . But look you pray , all you that kiss my lady Peace at home , that our armies join not in a hot day ; for , by the Lord , I take but two shirts out with me , and I mean not to sweat extraordinarily : if it be a hot day , and I brandish anything but my bottle , I would I might never spit white again . There is not a dangerous action can peep out his head but I am thrust upon it . Well , I cannot last ever . But it was always yet the trick of our English nation , if they have a good thing , to make it too common . If you will needs say I am an old man , you should give me rest . I would to God my name were not so terrible to the enemy as it is : I were better to be eaten to death with rust than to be scoured to nothing with perpetual motion . + +Well , be honest , be honest ; and God bless your expedition . + +Will your lordship lend me a thousand pound to furnish me forth ? + +Not a penny ; not a penny ; you are too impatient to bear crosses . Fare you well : commend me to my cousin Westmoreland . + + +If I do , fillip me with a three-man beetle . A man can no more separate age and covetousness than he can part young limbs and lechery ; but the gout galls the one , and the pox pinches the other ; and so both the degrees prevent my curses . Boy ! + +Sir ! + +What money is in my purse ? + +Seven groats and twopence . + +I can get no remedy against this consumption of the purse : borrowing only lingers and lingers it out , but the disease is incurable . Go bear this letter to my Lord of Lancaster ; this to the prince ; this to the Earl of Westmoreland ; and this to old Mistress Ursula , whom I have weekly sworn to marry since I perceived the first white hair on my chin . About it : you know where to find me . + +A pox of this gout ! or , a gout of this pox ! for the one or the other plays the rogue with my great toe . 'Tis no matter if I do halt ; I have the wars for my colour , and my pension shall seem the more reasonable . A good wit will make use of anything ; I will turn diseases to commodity . + + +Thus have you heard our cause and known our means ; +And , my most noble friends , I pray you all , +Speak plainly your opinions of our hopes : +And first , Lord Marshal , what say you to it ? + +I well allow the occasion of our arms ; +But gladly would be better satisfied +How in our means we should advance ourselves +To look with forehead bold and big enough +Upon the power and puissance of the king . + +Our present musters grow upon the file +To five-and-twenty thousand men of choice ; +And our supplies live largely in the hope +Of great Northumberland , whose bosom burns +With an incensed fire of injuries . + +The question , then , Lord Hastings , standeth thus : +Whether our present five-and-twenty thousand +May hold up head without Northumberland . + +With him , we may . + +Ay , marry , there's the point : +But if without him we be thought too feeble , +My judgment is , we should not step too far +Till we had his assistance by the hand ; +For in a theme so bloody-fao'd as this , +Conjecture , expectation , and surmise +Of aids incertain should not be admitted . + +'Tis very true , Lord Bardolph ; for , indeed +It was young Hotspur's case at Shrewsbury . + +It was , my lord ; who lin'd himself with hope , +Eating the air on promise of supply , +Flattering himself with project of a power +Much smaller than the smallest of his thoughts ; +And so , with great imagination +Proper to madmen , led his powers to death , +And winking leap'd into destruction . + +But , by your leave , it never yet did hurt +To lay down likelihoods and forms of hope . + +Yes , if this present quality of war , +Indeed the instant action ,a cause on foot , +Lives so in hope , as in an early spring +We see the appearing buds ; which , to prove fruit , +Hope gives not so much warrant as despair +That frosts will bite them . When we mean to build , +We first survey the plot , then draw the model ; +And when we see the figure of the house , +Then must we rate the cost of the erection ; +Which if we find outweighs ability , +What do we then but draw anew the model +In fewer offices , or at last desist +To build at all ? Much more , in this great work , +Which is almost to pluck a kingdom down +And set another up ,should we survey +The plot of situation and the model , +Consent upon a sure foundation , +Question surveyors , know our own estate , +How able such a work to undergo , +To weigh against his opposite ; or else , +We fortify in paper , and in figures , +Using the names of men instead of men : +Like one that draws the model of a house +Beyond his power to build it ; who , half through , +Gives o'er and leaves his part-created cost +A naked-subject to the weeping clouds , +And waste for churlish winter's tyranny . + +Grant that our hopes , yet likely of fair birth , +Should be still-born , and that we now possess'd +The utmost man of expectation ; +I think we are a body strong enough , +Even as we are , to equal with the king . + +What ! is the king but five-and-twenty thousand ? + +To us no more ; nay , not so much , Lord Bardolph . +For his divisions , as the times do brawl , +Are in three heads : one power against the French , +And one against Glendower ; perforce , a third +Must take up us : so is the unfirm king +In three divided , and his coffers sound +With hollow poverty and emptiness . + +That he should draw his several strengths together +And come against us in full puissance , +Need not be dreaded . + +If he should do so , +He leaves his back unarm'd , the French and Welsh +Baying him at the heels : never fear that . + +Who is it like should lead his forces hither ? + +The Duke of Lancaster and Westmoreland ; +Against the Welsh , himself and Harry Monmouth : +But who is substituted 'gainst the French +I have no certain notice . + +Let us on +And publish the occasion of our arms . +The commonwealth is sick of their own choice ; +Their over-greedy love hath surfeited . +A habitation giddy and unsure +Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart . +O thou fond many ! with what loud applause +Didst thou beat heaven with blessing Bolingbroke +Before he was what thou wouldst have him be : +And being now trimm'd in thine own desires , +Thou , beastly feeder , art so full of him +That thou provok'st thyself to cast him up . +So , so , thou common dog , didst thou disgorge +Thy glutton bosom of the royal Richard , +And now thou wouldst eat thy dead vomit up , +And howl'st to find it . What trust is in these times ? +They that , when Richard liv'd , would have him die , +Are now become enamour'd on his grave : +Thou , that threw'st dust upon his goodly head , +When through proud London he came sighing on +After the admired heels of Bolingbroke , +Cry'st now , 'O earth ! yield us that king again , +And take thou this !' O , thoughts of men accurst ! +Past and to come seem best ; things present worst . + +Shall we go draw our numbers and set on ? + +We are time's subjects , and time bids be gone . + +Master Fang , have you entered the exion ? + +It is entered . + +Where's your yeoman ? Is it a lusty yeoman ? will a' stand to't ? + +Sirrah , where's Snare ? + +O Lord , ay ! good Master Snare . + +Here , here . + +Snare , we must arrest Sir John Falstaff . + +Yea , good Master Snare ; I have entered him and all . + +It may chance cost some of us our lives , for he will stab . + +Alas the day ! take heed of him : he stabbed me in mine own house , and that most beastly . In good faith , he cares not what mischief he doth if his weapon be out : he will foin like any devil , he will spare neither man , woman , nor child . + +If I can close with him I care not for his thrust . + +No , nor I neither : I'll be at your elbow . + +An I but fist him once ; an a' come but within my vice , + +I am undone by his going ; I warrant you , he's an infinitive thing upon my score . Good Master Fang , hold him sure : good Master Snare , let him not 'scape . A' comes continuantly to Pie-corner saving your manhoods to buy a saddle , and he's indited to dinner to the Lubber's Head in Lumbert-Street , to Master Smooth's the silkman : I pray ye , since my exion is entered , and my case so openly known to the world , let him be brought in to his answer . A hundred mark is a long one for a poor lone woman to bear ; and I have borne , and borne , and borne ; and have been fubbed off , and fubbed off , and fubbed off , from this day to that day , that it is a shame to be thought on . There is no honesty in such dealing ; unless a woman should be made an ass , and a beast , to bear every knave's wrong . Yonder he comes ; and that arrant malmseynose knave , Bardolph , with him . Do your offices , do your offices , Master Fang and Master Snare ; do me , do me , do me your offices . + + +How now ! whose mare's dead ? what's the matter ? + +Sir John , I arrest you at the suit of Mistress Quickly . + +Away , varlets ! Draw , Bardolph : cut me off the villain's head ; throw the quean in the channel . + +Throw me in the channel ! I'll throw thee in the channel . Wilt thou ? wilt thou ? thou bastardly rogue ! Murder , murder ! Ah , thou honey-suckle villain ! wilt thou kill God's officers and the king's ? Ah , thou honey-seed rogue ! thou art a honey-seed , a man-queller , and a woman-queller . + +Keep them off , Bardolph . + +A rescue ! a rescue ! + +Good people , bring a rescue or two ! Thou wo't , wo't thou ? thou wo't , wo't ta ? do , do , thou rogue ! do , thou hemp-seed ! + +Away , you scullion ! you rampallian ! you fustilarian ! I'll tickle your catastrophe . + + +What is the matter ? keep the peace here , ho ! + +Good my lord , be good to me ! I beseech you , stand to me ! + +How now , Sir John ! what ! are you brawling here ? +Doth this become your place , your time and business ? +You should have been well on your way to York . +Stand from him , fellow : wherefore hang'st upon him ? + +O , my most worshipful lord , an't please your grace , I am a poor widow of Eastcheap , and he is arrested at my suit . + +For what sum ? + +It is more than for some , my lord ; it is for all , all I have . He hath eaten me out of house and home ; he hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his : but I will have some of it out again , or I will ride thee o' nights like the mare . + +I think I am as like to ride the mare if I have any vantage of ground to get up . + +How comes this , Sir John ? Fie ! what man of good temper would endure this tempest of exclamation ? Are you not ashamed to enforce a poor widow to so rough a course to come by her own ? + +What is the gross sum that I owe thee ? + +Marry , if thou wert an honest man , thyself and the money too . Thou didst swear to me upon a parcel-gilt goblet , sitting in my Dolphin-chamber , at the round table , by a seacoal fire , upon Wednesday in Wheeson week , when the prince broke thy head for liking his father to a singing-man of Windsor , thou didst swear to me then , as I was washing thy wound , to marry me and make me my lady thy wife . Canst thou deny it ? Did not goodwife Keech , the butcher's wife , come in then and call me gossip Quickly ? coming in to borrow a mess of vinegar ; telling us she had a good dish of prawns ; whereby thou didst desire to eat some , whereby I told thee they were ill for a green wound ? And didst thou not , when she was gone down-stairs , desire me to be no more so familiarity with such poor people ; saying that ere long they should call me madam ? And didst thou not kiss me and bid me fetch thee thirty shillings ? I put thee now to thy book-oath : deny it if thou canst . + +My lord , this is a poor mad soul ; and she says up and down the town that her eldest son is like you . She hath been in good case , and the truth is , poverty hath distracted her . But for these foolish officers , I beseech you I may have redress against them . + +Sir John , Sir John , I am well acquainted with your manner of wrenching the true cause the false way . It is not a confident brow , nor the throng of words that come with such more than impudent sauciness from you , can thrust me from a level consideration ; you have , as it appears to me , practised upon the easy-yielding spirit of this woman , and made her serve your uses both in purse and in person . + +Yea , in troth , my lord . + +Prithee , peace . Pay her the debt you owe her , and unpay the villany you have done her : the one you may do with sterling money , and the other with current repentance . + +My lord , I will not undergo this sneap without reply . You call honourable boldness impudent sauciness : if a man will make curtsy , and say nothing , he is virtuous . No , my lord , my humble duty remembered , I will not be your suitor : I say to you , I do desire deliverance from these officers , being upon hasty employment in the king's affairs . + +You speak as having power to do wrong : but answer in the effect of your reputation , and satisfy the poor woman . + +Come hither , hostess . + +Now , Master Gower ! what news ? + +The king , my lord , and Harry Prince of Wales +Are near at hand : the rest the paper tells . + + +As I am a gentleman . + +Nay , you said so before . + +As I am a gentleman . Come , no more words of it . + +By this heavenly ground I tread on , I must be fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my dining-chambers . + +Glasses , glasses , is the only drinking : and for thy walls , a pretty slight drollery , or the story of the Prodigal , or the German hunting in water-work , is worth a thousand of these bed-hangings and these fly-bitten tapestries . Let it be ten pound if thou canst . Come , an it were not for thy humours , there is not a better wench in England . Go , wash thy face , and draw thy action . Come , thou must not be in this humour with me ; dost not know me ? Come , come , I know thou wast set on to this . + +Prithee , Sir John , let it be but twenty nobles : i' faith , I am loath to pawn my plate , so God save me , la ! + +Let it alone ; I'll make other shift : you'll be a fool still . + +Well , you shall have it , though I pawn my gown . I hope you'll come to supper . You'll pay me all together ? + +Will I live ? + +Go , with her , with her ; hook on , hook on . + +Will you have Doll Tearsheet meet you at supper ? + +No more words ; let's have her . + + +I have heard better news . + +What's the news , my good lord ? + +Where lay the king last night ? + +At Basingstoke , my lord . + +I hope , my lord , all's well : what is the news , my lord ? + +Come all his forces back ? + +No ; fifteen hundred foot , five hundred horse , +Are march'd up to my Lord of Lancaster , +Against Northumberland and the archbishop . + +Comes the king back from Wales , my noble lord ? + +You shall have letters of me presently . +Come , go along with me , good Master Gower . + +My lord ! + +What's the matter ? + +Master Gower , shall I entreat you with me to dinner ? + +I must wait upon my good lord here ; +I thank you , good Sir John . + +Sir John , you loiter here too long , being you are to take soldiers up in counties as you go . + +Will you sup with me , Master Gower ? + +What foolish master taught you these manners , Sir John ? + +Master Gower , if they become me not , he was a fool that taught them me . This is the right fencing grace , my lord ; tap for tap , and so part fair . + +Now the Lord lighten thee ! thou art a great fool . + + +Before God , I am exceeding weary . + +Is it come to that ? I had thought weariness durst not have attached one of so high blood . + +Faith , it does me , though it discolours the complexion of my greatness to acknowledge it . Doth it not show vilely in me to desire small beer ? + +Why , a prince should not be so loosely studied as to remember so weak a composition . + +Belike then my appetite was not princely got ; for , by my troth , I do now remember the poor creature , small beer . But , indeed , these humble considerations make me out of love with my greatness . What a disgrace is it to me to remember thy name , or to know thy face to-morrow ! or to take note how many pair of silk stockings thou hast ; viz . these , and those that were thy peach-coloured ones ! or to bear the inventory of thy shirts ; as , one for superfluity , and one other for use ! But that the tennis-court-keeper knows better than I , for it is a low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest not racket there ; as thou hast not done a great while , because the rest of thy low-countries have made a shift to eat up thy holland : and God knows whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen shall inherit his kingdom ; but the midwives say the children are not in the fault ; whereupon the world increases , and kindreds are mightily strengthened . + +How ill it follows , after you have laboured so hard , you should talk so idly ! Tell me , how many good young princes would do so , their fathers being so sick as yours at this time is ? + +Shall I tell thee one thing , Poins ? + +Yes , faith , and let it be an excellent good thing . + +It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine . + +Go to ; I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell . + +Marry , I tell thee , it is not meet that I should be sad , now my father is sick : albeit I could tell to thee ,as to one it pleases me , for fault of a better , to call my friend ,I could be sad , and sad indeed too . + +Very hardly upon such a subject . + +By this hand , thou thinkest me as far in the devil's book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency : let the end try the man . But I tell thee my heart bleeds inwardly that my father is so sick ; and keeping such vile company as thou art hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow . + +The reason ? + +What wouldst thou think of me if I should weep ? + +I would think thee a most princely hypocrite . + +It would be every man's thought ; and thou art a blessed fellow to think as every man thinks : never a man's thought in the world keeps the road-way better than thine : every man would think me a hypocrite indeed . And what accites your most worshipful thought to think so ? + +Why , because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed to Falstaff . + +And to thee . + +By this light , I am well spoke on ; I can hear it with mine own ears : the worst that they can say of me is that I am a second brother and that I am a proper fellow of my hands ; and these two things I confess I cannot help . By the mass , here comes Bardolph . + + +And the boy that I gave Falstaff : a' had him from me Christian ; and look , if the fat villain have not transformed him ape . + +God save your Grace ! + +And yours , most noble Bardolph . + +Come , you virtuous ass , you bashful fool , must you be blushing ? wherefore blush you now ? What a maidenly man-at-arms are you become ! Is it such a matter to get a pottle-pot's maidenhead ? + +A' calls me even now , my lord , through a red lattice , and I could discern no part of his face from the window : at last , I spied his eyes , and methought he had made two holes in the ale-wife's new petticoat , and peeped through . + +Hath not the boy profited ? + +Away , you whoreson upright rabbit , away ! + +Away , you rascally Althea's dream , away ! + +Instruct us , boy ; what dream , boy ? + +Marry , my lord , Althea dreamed she was delivered of a firebrand ; and therefore I call him her dream . + +A crown's worth of good interpretation . There it is , boy . + + +O ! that this good blossom could be kept from cankers . Well , there is sixpence to preserve thee . + +An you do not make him be hanged among you , the gallows shall have wrong . + +And how doth thy master , Bardolph ? + +Well , my lord . He heard of your Grace's coming to town : there's a letter for you . + +Delivered with good respect . And how doth the martlemas , your master ? + +In bodily health , sir . + +Marry , the immortal part needs a physician ; but that moves not him : though that be sick , it dies not . + +I do allow this wen to be as familiar with me as my dog ; and he holds his place , for look you how he writes . + +'John Falstaff , knight ,' every man must know that , as oft as he has occasion to name himself : even like those that are akin to the king , for they never prick their finger but they say , 'There is some of the king's blood spilt .' 'How comes that ?' says he that takes upon him not to conceive . The answer is as ready as a borrower's cap , 'I am the king's poor cousin , sir .' + +Nay , they will be kin to us , or they will fetch it from Japhet . But to the letter : + +Sir John Falstaff , knight , to the son of the king nearest his father , Harry Prince of Wales , greeting . Why , this is a certificate . + +Peace ! + +I will imitate the honourable Romans in brevity : sure he means brevity in breath , short-winded .I commend me to thee , I commend thee , and I leave thee . Be not too familiar with Poins ; for he misuses thy favours so much that he swears thou art to marry his sister Nell . Repent at idle times as thou mayest , and so farewell . + +My lord , I'll steep this letter in sack and make him eat it . + +That's to make him eat twenty of his words . But do you use me thus , Ned ? must I marry your sister ? + +God send the wench no worse fortune ! but I never said so . + +Well , thus we play the fools with the time , and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us . Is your master here in London ? + +Yes , my lord . + +Where sups he ? doth the old boar feed in the old frank ? + +At the old place , my lord , in Eastcheap . + +What company ? + +Ephesians , my lord , of the old church . + +Sup any women with him ? + +None , my lord , but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll Tearsheet . + +What pagan may that be ? + +A proper gentlewoman , sir , and a kinswoman of my master's . + +Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull . Shall we steal upon them , Ned , at supper ? + +I am your shadow , my lord ; I'll follow you . + +Sirrah , you boy , and Bardolph ; no word to your master that I am yet come to town : there's for your silence . + + +I have no tongue , sir . + +And for mine , sir , I will govern it . + +Fare ye well ; go . + +This Doll Tearsheet should be some road . + +I warrant you , as common as the way between Saint Alban's and London . + +How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his true colours , and not ourselves be seen ? + +Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons , and wait upon him at his table as drawers . + +From a god to a bull ! a heavy descension ! it was Jove's case . From a prince to a prentice ! a low transformation ! that shall be mine ; for in every thing the purpose must weigh with the folly . Follow me , Ned . + + +I pray thee , loving wife , and gentle daughter , +Give even way unto my rough affairs : +Put not you on the visage of the times , +And be like them to Percy troublesome . + +I have given over , I will speak no more : +Do what you will ; your wisdom be your guide . + +Alas ! sweet wife , my honour is at pawn ; +And , but my going , nothing can redeem it . + +O ! yet for God's sake , go not to these wars . +The time was , father , that you broke your word +When you were more endear'd to it than now ; +When your own Percy , when my heart's dear Harry , +Threw many a northward look to see his father +Bring up his powers ; but he did long in vain . +Who then persuaded you to stay at home ? +There were two honours lost , yours and your son's : +For yours , the God of heaven brighten it ! +For his , it stuck upon him as the sun +In the grey vault of heaven ; and by his light +Did all the chivalry of England move +To do brave acts : he was indeed the glass +Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves : +He had no legs , that practis'd not his gait ; +And speaking thick , which nature made his blemish , +Became the accents of the valiant ; +For those that could speak low and tardily , +Would turn their own perfection to abuse , +To seem like him : so that , in speech , in gait , +In diet , in affections of delight , +In military rules , humours of blood , +He was the mark and glass , copy and book , +That fashion'd others . And him , O wondrous him ! +O miracle of men ! him did you leave , +Second to none , unseconded by you , +To look upon the hideous god of war +In disadvantage ; to abide a field +Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name +Did seem defensible : so you left him . +Never , O ! never , do his ghost the wrong +To hold your honour more precise and nice +With others than with him : let them alone . +The marshal and the archbishop are strong : +Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers , +To-day might I , hanging on Hotspur's neck , +Have talk'd of Monmouth's grave . + +Beshrew your heart , +Fair daughter ! you do draw my spirits from me +With new lamenting ancient oversights . +But I must go and meet with danger there , +Or it will seek me in another place , +And find me worse provided . + +O ! fly to Scotland , +Till that the nobles and the armed commons +Have of their puissance made a little taste . + +If they get ground and vantage of the king , +Then join you with them , like a rib of steel , +To make strength stronger ; but , for all our loves , +First let them try themselves . So did your son ; +He was so suffer'd : so came I a widow ; +And never shall have length of life enough +To rain upon remembrance with mine eyes , +That it may grow and sprout as high as heaven , +For recordation to my noble husband . + +Come , come , go in with me . 'Tis with my mind +As with the tide swell'd up unto its height , +That makes a still-stand , running neither way : +Fain would I go to meet the archbishop , +But many thousand reasons hold me back . +I will resolve for Scotland : there am I , +Till time and vantage crave my company . + + +What the devil hast thou brought there ? apple-johns ? thou knowest Sir John cannot endure an apple-john . + +Mass , thou sayst true . The prince once set a dish of apple-johns before him , and told him there were five more Sir Johns ; and , putting off his hat , said , 'I will now take my leave of these six dry , round , old withered knights .' It angered him to the heart ; but he hath forgot that . + +Why then , cover , and set them down : and see if thou canst find out Sneak's noise ; Mistress Tearsheet would fain hear some music . Dispatch : the room where they supped is too hot ; they'll come in straight . + +Sirrah , here will be the prince and Master Poins anon ; and they will put on two of our jerkins and aprons ; and Sir John must not know of it : Bardolph hath brought word . + +By the mass , here will be old utis : it will be an excellent stratagem . + +I'll see if I can find out Sneak . + +I'faith , sweetheart , methinks now you are in an excellent good temperality : your pulsidge beats as extraordinarily as heart would desire ; and your colour , I warrant you , is as red as any rose ; in good truth , la ! But , i' faith , you have drunk too much canaries , and that's a marvellous searching wine , and it perfumes the blood ere one can say , What's this ? How do you now ? + +Better than I was : hem ! + +Why , that's well said ; a good heart's worth gold . Lo ! here comes Sir John . + + +When Arthur first in court Empty the jordan . + +And was a worthy king . How now , Mistress Doll ! + +Sick of a calm : yea , good sooth . + +So is all her sect ; an they be once in a calm they are sick . + +You muddy rascal , is that all the comfort you give me ? + +You make fat rascals , Mistress Doll . + +I make them ! gluttony and diseases make them ; I make them not . + +If the cook help to make the gluttony , you help to make the diseases , Doll : we catch of you , Doll , we catch of you ; grant that , my poor virtue , grant that . + +Ay , marry ; our chains and our jewels . + +'Your brooches , pearls , and owches :' for to serve bravely is to come halting off you know : to come off the breach with his pike bent bravely , and to surgery bravely ; to venture upon the charged chambers bravely , + +Hang yourself , you muddy conger , hang yourself ! + +By my troth , this is the old fashion ; you two never meet but you fall to some discord : you are both , in good troth , as rheumatic as two dry toasts ; you cannot one bear with another's confirmities . What the good-year ! one must bear , and that must be you : you are the weaker vessel , as they say , the emptier vessel . + +Can a weak empty vessel bear such a huge full hogshead ? there's a whole merchant's venture of Bourdeaux stuff in him : you have not seen a hulk better stuffed in the hold . Come , I'll be friends with thee , Jack : thou art going to the wars ; and whether I shall ever see thee again or no , there is nobody cares . + + +Sir , Ancient Pistol's below , and would speak with you . + +Hang him , swaggering rascal ! let him not come hither : it is the foul-mouthedest rogue in England . + +If he swagger , let him not come here : no , by my faith ; I must live amongst my neighbours ; I'll no swaggerers : I am in good name and fame with the very best . Shut the door ; there comes no swaggerers here : I have not lived all this while to have swaggering now : shut the door , I pray you . + +Dost thou hear , hostess ? + +Pray you , pacify yourself , Sir John : there comes no swaggerers here . + +Dost thou hear ? it is mine ancient . + +Tilly-fally , Sir John , never tell me : your ancient swaggerer comes not in my doors . I was before Master Tisick , the deputy , t'other day ; and , as he said to me ,'twas no longer ago than Wednesday last ,'Neighbour Quickly ,' says he ;Master Dumbe , our minister , was by then ;'Neighbour Quickly ,' says he , 'receive those that are civil , for ,' said he , 'you are in an ill name ;' now , a' said so , I can tell whereupon ; 'for ,' says he , 'you are an honest woman , and well thought on ; therefore take heed what guests you receive : receive ,' says he , 'no swaggering companions .' There comes none here :you would bless you to hear what he said . No , I'll no swaggerers . + +He's no swaggerer , hostess ; a tame cheater , i' faith ; you may stroke him as gently as a puppy greyhound : he will not swagger with a Barbary hen if her feathers turn back in any show of resistance . Call him up , drawer . + + +Cheater , call you him ? I will bar no honest man my house , nor no cheater ; but I do not love swaggering , by my troth ; I am the worse , when one says swagger . Feel , masters , how I shake ; look you , I warrant you . + +So you do , hostess . + +Do I ? yea , in very truth , do I , an 'twere an aspen leaf : I cannot abide swaggerers . + + +God save you , Sir John ! + +Welcome , Ancient Pistol . Here , Pistol , I charge you with a cup of sack : do you discharge upon mine hostess . + +I will discharge upon her , Sir John , with two bullets . + +She is pistol-proof , sir ; you shall hardly offend her . + +Come , I'll drink no proofs nor no bullets : I'll drink no more than will do me good , for no man's pleasure , I . + +Then to you , Mistress Dorothy ; I will charge you . + +Charge me ! I scorn you , scurvy companion . What ! you poor , base , rascally , cheating , lack-linen mate ! Away , you mouldy rogue , away ! I am meat for your master . + +I know you , Mistress Dorothy . + +Away , you cut-purse rascal ! you filthy bung , away ! By this wine , I'll thrust my knife in your mouldy chaps an you play the saucy cuttle with me . Away , you bottle-ale rascal ! you basket-hilt stale juggler , you ! Since when , I pray you , sir ? God's light ! with two points on your shoulder ? much ! + +God let me not live . I will murder your ruff for this ! + +No more , Pistol : I would not have you go off here . Discharge yourself of our company , Pistol . + +No , good captain Pistol ; not here , sweet captain . + +Captain ! thou abominable damned cheater , art thou not ashamed to be called captain ? An captains were of my mind , they would truncheon you out for taking their names upon you before you have earned them . You a captain , you slave ! for what ? for tearing a poor whore's ruff in a bawdy-house ? He a captain ! Hang him , rogue ! He lives upon mouldy stewed prunes and dried cakes . A captain ! God's light , these villains will make the word captain as odious as the word 'occupy ,' which was an excellent good word before it was ill sorted : therefore captains had need look to it . + +Pray thee , go down , good ancient . + +Hark thee hither , Mistress Doll . + +Not I ; I tell thee what , Corporal Bardolph ; I could tear her . I'll be revenged of her . + +Pray thee , go down . + +I'll see her damned first ; to Pluto's damned lake , by this hand , to the infernal deep , with Erebus and tortures vile also . Hold hook and line , say I . Down , down , dogs ! down fates ! Have we not Hiren here ? + +Good Captain Peesel , be quiet ; it is very late , i' faith . I beseek you now , aggravate your choler . + +These be good humours , indeed ! Shall pack-horses , +And hollow pamper'd jades of Asia , +Which cannot go but thirty miles a day , +Compare with C sars , and with Cannibals , +And Trojan Greeks ? nay , rather damn them with +King Cerberus ; and let the welkin roar . +Shall we fall foul for toys ? + +By my troth , captain , these are very bitter words . + +Be gone , good ancient : this will grow to a brawl anon . + +Dio men like dogs ! give crowns like pins ! Have we not Hiren here ? + +O' my word , captain , there's none such here . What the good-year ! do you think I would deny her ? for God's sake ! be quiet . + +Then feed , and be fat , my fair Calipolis . +Come , give's some sack . +Si fortuna me tormente , sperato me contento . +Fear we broadsides ? no , let the fiend give fire : +Give me some sack ; and , sweetheart , lie thou there . + +Come we to full points here , and are et ceteras nothing ? + +Pistol , I would be quiet . + +Sweet knight , I kiss thy neif . What ! we have seen the seven stars . + +For God's sake , thrust him down stairs ! I cannot endure such a fustian rascal . + +'Thrust him down stairs !' know we not Galloway nags ? + +Quoit him down , Bardolph , like a shovegroat shilling : nay , an a' do nothing but speak nothing , a' shall be nothing here . + +Come , get you down stairs . + +What ! shall we have incision ? Shall we imbrue ? + +Then death rock me asleep , abridge my doleful days ! +Why then , let grievous , ghastly , gaping wounds +Untwine the Sisters Three ! Come , Atropos , I say ! + +Here's goodly stuff toward ! + +Give me my rapier , boy . + +I pray thee , Jack , I pray thee , do not draw . + +Get you down stairs . + + +Here's a goodly tumult ! I'll forswear keeping house , afore I'll be in these tirrits and frights . So ; murder , I warrant now . Alas , alas ! put up your naked weapons ; put up your naked weapons . + + +I pray thee , Jack , be quiet ; the rascal's gone . Ah ! you whoreson little valiant villain , you ! + +Are you not hurt i' the groin ? methought a' made a shrewd thrust at your belly . + + +Have you turned him out o' doors ? + +Yes , sir : the rascal's drunk . You have hurt him , sir , i' the shoulder . + +A rascal , to brave me ! + +Ah , you sweet little rogue , you ! Alas , poor ape , how thou sweatest ! Come , let me wipe thy face ; come on , you whoreson chops . Ah , rogue ! i' faith , I love thee . Thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy , worth five of Agamemnon , and ten times better than the Nine Worthies . Ah , villain ! + +A rascally slave ! I will toss the rogue in a blanket . + +Do , an thou darest for thy heart : an thou dost , I'll canvass thee between a pair of sheets . + + +The music is come , sir . + +Let them play . Play , sirs . Sit on my knee , Doll . A rascal bragging slave ! the rogue fled from me like quicksilver . + +I' faith , and thou followedst him like a church . Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew boar-pig , when wilt thou leave fighting o' days , and foining o' nights , and begin to patch up thine old body for heaven ? + + +Peace , good Doll ! do not speak like a death's head : do not bid me remember mine end . + +Sirrah , what humour is the prince of ? + +A good shallow young fellow : a' would have made a good pantler , a' would have chipped bread well . + +They say , Poins has a good wit . + +He a good wit ! hang him , baboon ! his wit is as thick as Tewksbury mustard : there is no more conceit in him than is in a mallet . + +Why does the prince love him so , then ? + +Because their legs are both of a bigness , and he plays at quoits well , and eats conger and fennel , and drinks off candles' ends for flapdragons , and rides the wild mare with the boys , and jumps upon joint-stools , and swears with a good grace , and wears his boots very smooth , like unto the sign of the leg , and breeds no bate with telling of discreet stories ; and such other gambol faculties a' has , that show a weak mind and an able body , for the which the prince admits him : for the prince himself is such another ; the weight of a hair will turn the scales between their avoirdupois . + +Would not this nave of a wheel have his ears cut off ? + +Let's beat him before his whore . + +Look , whether the withered elder hath not his poll clawed like a parrot . + +Is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance ? + +Kiss me , Doll . + +Saturn and Venus this year in conjunction ! what says the almanack to that ? + +And , look , whether the fiery Trigon , his man , be not lisping to his master's old tables , his note-book , his counsel-keeper . + +Thou dost give me flattering busses . + +By my troth , I kiss thee with a most constant heart . + +I am old , I am old . + +I love thee better than I love e'er a scurvy young boy of them all . + +What stuff wilt have a kirtle of ? I shall receive money o' Thursday ; thou shalt have a cap to-morrow . A merry song ! come : it grows late ; we'll to bed . Thou'lt forget me when I am gone . + +By my troth , thou'lt set me a-weeping an thou sayst so : prove that ever I dress myself handsome till thy return . Well , hearken at the end . + +Some sack , Francis ! + +Anon , anon , sir . + +Anon , anon , sir . + +Ha ! a bastard son of the king's ? And art not thou Poins his brother ? + +Why , thou globe of sinful cntinents , what a life dost thou lead ! + +A better than thou : I am a gentleman ; thou art a drawer . + +Very true , sir ; and I come to draw you out by the ears . + +O ! the Lord preserve thy good Grace ; by my troth , welcome to London . Now , the Lord bless that sweet face of thine ! O Jesu ! are you come from Wales ? + +Thou whoreson mad compound of majesty , by this light flesh and corrupt blood + +thou art welcome . + +How , you fat fool ! I scorn you . + +My lord , he will drive you out of your revenge and turn all to a merriment , if you take not the heat . + +You whoreson candle-mine , you , how vilely did you speak of me even now before this honest , virtuous , civil gentlewoman ! + +Blessing on your good heart ! and so she is , by my troth . + +Didst thou hear me ? + +Yea ; and you knew me , as you did when you ran away by Gadshill : you knew I was at your back , and spoke it on purpose to try my patience . + +No , no , no ; not so ; I did not think thou wast within hearing . + +I shall drive you then to confess the wilful abuse ; and then I know how to handle you . + +No abuse , Hal , o' mine honour ; no abuse . + +Not to dispraise me , and call me pantler and bread-chipper and I know not what ? + +No abuse , Hal . + +No abuse ! + +No abuse , Ned , in the world ; honest Ned , none . I dispraised him before the wicked , that the wicked might not fall in love with him ; in which doing I have done the part of a careful friend and a true subject , and thy father is to give me thanks for it . No abuse , Hal ; none , Ned , none : no , faith , boys , none . + +See now , whether pure fear and entire cowardice doth not make thee wrong this virtuous gentlewoman to close with us ? Is she of the wicked ? Is thine hostess here of the wicked ? Or is thy boy of the wicked ? Or honest Bardolph , whose zeal burns in his nose , of the wicked ? + +Answer , thou dead elm , answer . + +The fiend hath pricked down Bardolph irrecoverable ; and his face is Lucifer's privykitchen , where he doth nothing but roast maltworms . For the boy , there is a good angel about him ; but the devil outbids him too . + +For the women ? + +For one of them , she is in hell already , and burns poor souls . For the other , I owe her money ; and whether she be damned for that , I know not . + +No , I warrant you . + +No , I think thou art not ; I think thou art quit for that . Marry , there is another indictment upon thee , for suffering flesh to be eaten in thy house , contrary to the law ; for the which I think thou wilt howl . + +All victuallers do so : what's a joint of mutton or two in a whole Lent ? + +You , gentlewoman , + +What says your Grace ? + +His Grace says that which his flesh rebels against . + + +Who knocks so loud at door ? Look to the door there , Francis . + + +Peto , how now ! what news ? + +The king your father is at Westminster ; +And there are twenty weak and wearied posts +Come from the north : and as I came along , +I met and overtook a dozen captains , +Bare-headed , sweating , knocking at the taverns , +And asking every one for Sir John Falstaff . + +By heaven , Poins , I feel me much to blame , +So idly to profane the precious time , +When tempest of commotion , like the south , +Borne with black vapour , doth begin to melt +And drop upon our bare unarmed heads . +Give me my sword and cloak . Falstaff , good night . + + +Now comes in the sweetest morsel of the night , and we must hence and leave it unpicked . + +More knocking at the door ! + +How now ! what's the matter ? + +You must away to court , sir , presently ; +A dozen captains stay at door for you . + +Pay the musicians , sirrah . Farewell , hostess ; farewell , Doll . You see , my good wenches , how men of merit are sought after : the undeserver may sleep when the man of action is called on . Farewell , good wenches . If I be not sent away post , I will see you again ere I go . + +I cannot speak ; if my heart be not ready to burst ,well , sweet Jack , have a care of thyself . + +Farewell , farewell . + + +Well , fare thee well : I have known thee these twenty-nine years , come peascod-time ; but an honester , and truer-hearted man ,well , fare thee well . + +Mistress Tearsheet ! + +What's the matter ? + +Bid Mistress Tearsheet come to my master . + +O ! run , Doll , run ; run , good Doll . + +Go , call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick ; +But , ere they come , bid them o'er-read these letters , +And well consider of them . Make good speed . + +How many thousand of my poorest subjects +Are at this hour asleep ! O sleep ! O gentle sleep ! +Nature's soft nurse , how have I frighted thee , +That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down +And steep my senses in forgetfulness ? +Why rather , sleep , liest thou in smoky cribs , +Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee , +And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber , +Than in the perfum'd chambers of the great , +Under the canopies of costly state , +And lull'd with sound of sweetest melody ? +O thou dull god ! why liest thou with the vile +In loathsome beds , and leav'st the kingly couch +A watch-case or a common 'larum bell ? +Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast +Seel up the ship-boy's eyes , and rock his brains +In cradle of the rude imperious surge , +And in the visitation of the winds , +Who take the ruffian billows by the top , +Curling their monstrous heads , and hanging them +With deaf'ning clamour in the slippery clouds , +That with the hurly death itself awakes ? +Canst thou , O partial sleep ! give thy repose +To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude , +And in the calmest and most stillest night , +With all appliances and means to boot , +Deny it to a king ? Then , happy low , lie down ! +Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown . + + +Many good morrows to your majesty ! + +Is it good morrow , lords ? + +'Tis one o'clock , and past . + +Why then , good morrow to you all , my lords . +Have you read o'er the letters that I sent you ? + +We have , my liege . + +Then you perceive the body of our kingdom , +How foul it is ; what rank diseases grow , +And with what danger , near the heart of it . + +It is but as a body , yet , distemper'd , +Which to his former strength may be restor'd +With good advice and little medicine : +My Lord Northumberland will soon be cool'd . + +O God ! that one might read the book of fate , +And see the revolution of the times +Make mountains level , and the continent , +Weary of solid firmness ,melt itself +Into the sea ! and , other times , to see +The beachy girdle of the ocean +Too wide for Neptune's hips ; how chances mock , +And changes fill the cup of alteration +With divers liquors ! O ! if this were seen , +The happiest youth , viewing his progress through , +What perils past , what crosses to ensue , +Would shut the book , and sit him down and die . +'Tis not ten years gone +Since Richard and Northumberland , great friends , +Did feast together , and in two years after +Were they at wars : it is but eight years since +This Percy was the man nearest my soul , +Who like a brother toil'd in my affairs +And laid his love and life under my foot ; +Yea , for my sake , even to the eyes of Richard +Gave him defiance . But which of you was by , + + +You , cousin Nevil , as I may remember , +When Richard , with his eye brimful of tears , +Then check'd and rated by Northumberland , +Did speak these words , now prov'd a prophecy ? +'Northumberland , thou ladder , by the which +My cousin Bolingbroke ascends my throne ;' +Though then , God knows , I had no such intent , +But that necessity so bow'd the state +That I and greatness were compelled to kiss : +'The time shall come ,' thus did he follow it , +'The time will come , that foul sin , gathering head , +Shall break into corruption :' so went on , +Foretelling this same time's condition +And the division of our amity . + +There is a history in all men's lives , +Figuring the nature of the times deceas'd ; +The which observ'd , a man may prophesy , +With a near aim , of the main chance of things +As yet not come to life , which in their seeds +And weak leginnings lie intreasured . +Such things become the hatch and brood of time ; +And by the necessary form of this +King Richard might create a perfect guess +That great Northumberland , then false to him , +Would of that seed grow to a greater falseness , +Which should not find a ground to root upon , +Unless on you . + +Are these things then necessities ? +Then let us meet them like necessities ; +And that same word even now cries out on us . +They say the bishop and Northumberland +Are fifty thousand strong . + +It cannot be , my lord ! +Rumour doth double , like the voice and echo , +The numbers of the fear'd . Please it your Grace +To go to bed : upon my soul , my lord , +The powers that you already have sent forth +Shall bring this prize in very easily . +To comfort you the more , I have receiv'd +A certain instance that Glendower is dead . +Your majesty hath been this fortnight ill , +And these unseason'd hours perforce must add +Unto your sickness . + +I will take your counsel : +And were these inward wars once out of hand , +We would , dear lords , unto the Holy Land . + + +Come on , come on , come on , sir ; give me your hand , sir , give me your hand , sir : an early stirrer , by the rood ! And how doth my good cousin Silence ? + +Good morrow , good cousin Shallow . + +And how doth my cousin , your bed-fellow ? and your fairest daughter and mine , my god-daughter Ellen ? + +Alas ! a black ousel , cousin Shallow ! + +By yea and nay , sir , I dare say my cousin William is become a good scholar . He is at Oxford still , is he not ? + +Indeed , sir , to my cost . + +A' must , then , to the inns o' court shortly . I was once of Clement's Inn ; where I think they will talk of mad Shallow yet . + +You were called 'lusty Shallow' then , cousin . + +By the mass , I was called any thing ; and I would have done any thing indeed too , and roundly too . There was I , and Little John Doit of Staffordshire , and black George Barnes , and Francis Pickbone , and Will Squele a Cotswold man ; you had not four such swinge-bucklers in all the inns of court again : and , I may say to you , we knew where the bona-robas were , and had the best of them all at commandment . Then was Jack Falstaff , now Sir John , a boy , and page to Thomas Mowbray , Duke of Norfolk . + +This Sir John , cousin , that comes hither anon about soldiers ? + +The same Sir John , the very same . I saw him break Skogan's head at the court gate , when a' was a crack not thus high : and the very same day did I fight with one Sampson Stockfish , a fruiterer , behind Gray's Inn . Jesu ! Jesu ! the mad days that I have spent ; and to see how many of mine old acquaintance are dead ! + +We shall all follow , cousin . + +Certain , 'tis certain ; very sure , very sure : death , as the Psalmist saith , is certain to all ; all shall die . How a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford fair ? + +Truly , cousin , I was not there . + +Death is certain . Is old Double of your town living yet ? + +Dead , sir . + +Jesu ! Jesu ! dead ! a' drew a good bow ; and dead ! a' shot a fine shoot : John a Gaunt loved him well , and betted much money on his head . Dead ! a' would have clapped i' the clout at twelve score ; and carried you a forehand shaft a fourteen and fourteen and a half , that it would have done a man's heart good to see . How a score of ewes now ? + +Thereafter as they be : a score of good ewes may be worth ten pounds . + +And is old Double dead ? + +Here come two of Sir John Falstaff's men , as I think . + + +Good morrow , honest gentlemen : I beseech you , which is Justice Shallow ? + +I am Robert Shallow , sir ; a poor esquire of this county , and one of the king's justices of the peace : what is your good pleasure with me ? + +My captain , sir , commends him to you ; my captain , Sir John Falstaff : a tall gentleman , by heaven , and a most gallant leader . + +He greets me well , sir . I knew him a good backsword man . How doth the good knight ? may I ask how my lady his wife doth ? + +Sir , pardon ; a soldier is better accommodated than with a wife . + +It is well said , in faith , sir ; and it is well said indeed too . 'Better accommodated !' it is good ; yea indeed , is it : good phrases are surely and ever were , very commendable . Accommodated ! it comes of accommodo : very good ; a good phrase . + +Pardon me , sir ; I have heard the word . 'Phrase ,' call you it ? By this good day , I know not the phrase ; but I will maintain the word with my sword to be a soldier-like word , and a word of exceeding good command , by heaven . Accommodated ; that is , when a man is , as they say , accommodated ; or , when a man is , being , whereby , a' may be thought to be accommodated , which is an excellent thing . + + +It is very just . Look , here comes good Sir John . Give me your good hand , give me your worship's good hand . By my troth , you look well and bear your years very well : welcome , good Sir John . + +I am glad to see you well , good Master Robert Shallow . Master Surecard , as I think . + +No , Sir John ; it is my cousin , Silence , in commission with me . + +Good Master Silence , it well befits you should be of the peace . + +Your good worship is welcome . + +Fie ! this is hot weather , gentlemen . +Have you provided me here half a dozen sufficient men ? + +Marry , have we , sir . Will you sit ? + +Let me see them , I beseech you . + +Where's the roll ? where's the roll ? where's the roll ? Let me see , let me see , let me see . So , so , so , so , so , so , so : yea , marry , sir : Ralph Mouldy ! let them appear as I call ; let them do so , let them do so . Let me see ; where is Mouldy ? + +Here , an't please you . + +What think you , Sir John ? a goodlimbed fellow ; young , strong , and of good friends . + +Is thy name Mouldy ? + +Yea , an't please you . + +'Tis the more time thou wert used . + +Ha , ha , ha ! most excellent , i' faith ! things that are mouldy lack use : very singular good . In faith , well said , Sir John ; very well said . + +Prick him . + +I was pricked well enough before , an you could have let me alone : my old dame will be undone now for one to do her husbandry and her drudgery : you need not to have pricked me ; there are other men fitter to go out than I . + +Go to : peace , Mouldy ! you shall go . Mouldy , it is time you were spent . + +Spent ! + +Peace , fellow , peace ! stand aside : know you where you are ? For the other , Sir John : let me see . Simon Shadow ! + +Yea , marry , let me have him to sit under : he's like to be a cold soldier . + +Where's Shadow ? + +Here , sir . + +Shadow , whose son art thou ? + +My mother's son , sir . + +Thy mother's son ! like enough , and thy father's shadow : so the son of the female is the shadow of the male : it is often so , indeed ; but not of the father's substance . + +Do you like him , Sir John ? + +Shadow will serve for summer ; prick him , for we have a number of shadows to fill up the muster-book . + +Thomas Wart ? + +Where's he ? + +Here , sir . + +Is thy name Wart ? + +Yea , sir . + +Thou art a very ragged wart . + +Shall I prick him , Sir John ? + +It were superfluous ; for his apparel is built upon his back , and the whole frame stands upon pins : prick him no more . + +Ha , ha , ha ! you can do it , sir ; you can do it : I commend you well . Francis Feeble ! + +Here , sir . + +What trade art thou , Feeble ? + +A woman's tailor , sir . + +Shall I prick him , sir ? + +You may ; but if he had been a man's tailor he'd have pricked you . Wilt thou make as many holes in an enemy's battle as thou hast done in a woman's petticoat ? + +I will do my good will , sir : you can have no more . + +Well said , good woman's tailor ! well said , courageous Feeble ! Thou wilt be as valiant as the wrathful dove or most magnanimous mouse . Prick the woman's tailor ; well , Master Shallow ; deep , Master Shallow . + +I would Wart might have gone , sir . + +I would thou wert a man's tailor , that thou mightst mend him , and make him fit to go . I cannot put him to a private soldier that is the leader of so many thousands : let that suffice , most forcible Feeble . + +It shall suffice , sir . + +I am bound to thee , reverend Feeble . +Who is next ? + +Peter Bullcalf o' the green ! + +Yea , marry , let's see Bullcalf . + +Here , sir . + +'Fore God , a likely fellow ! Come , prick me Bullcalf till he roar again . + +O Lord ! good my lord captain , + +What ! dost thou roar before thou art pricked ? + +O Lord , sir ! I am a diseased man . + +What disease hast thou ? + +A whoreson cold , sir ; a cough , sir , which I caught with ringing in the king's affairs upon his coronation day , sir . + +Come , thou shalt go to the wars in a gown ; we will have away thy cold ; and I will take such order that thy friends shall ring for thee . Is here all ? + +Here is two more called than your number ; you must have but four here , sir : and so , I pray you , go in with me to dinner . + +Come , I will go drink with you , but I cannot tarry dinner . I am glad to see you , by my troth , Master Shallow . + +O , Sir John , do you remember since we lay all night in the windmill in Saint George's fields ? + +No more of that , good Master Shallow , no more of that . + +Ha ! it was a merry night . And is Jane Nightwork alive ? + +She lives , Master Shallow . + +She never could away with me . + +Never , never ; she would always say she could not abide Master Shallow . + +By the mass , I could anger her to the heart . She was then a bona-roba . Doth she hold her own well ? + +Old , old , Master Shallow . + +Nay she must be old ; she cannot choose but be old ; certain she's old ; and had Robin Nightwork by old Nightwork before I came to Clement's Inn . + +That's fifty-five year ago . + +Ha ! cousin Silence , that thou hadst seen that that this knight and I have seen . Ha ! Sir John , said I well ? + +We have heard the chimes at midnight , Master Shallow . + +That we have , that we have , that we have ; in faith , Sir John , we have . Our watchword was , 'Hem , boys !' Come , let's to dinner ; come , let's to dinner . Jesus , the days that we have seen ! Come , come . + + +Good Master Corporate Bardolph , stand my friend , and here's four Harry ten shillings in French crowns for you . In very truth , sir , I had as lief be hanged , sir , as go : and yet , for mine own part , sir , I do not care ; but rather , because I am unwilling , and , for mine own part , have a desire to stay with my friends : else , sir , I did not care , for mine own part , so much . + +Go to ; stand aside . + +And , good Master corporal captain , for my old dame's sake , stand my friend : she has nobody to do any thing about her , when I am gone ; and she is old , and cannot help herself . You shall have forty , sir . + +Go to ; stand aside . + +By my troth , I care not ; a man can die but once ; we owe God a death . I'll ne'er bear a base mind : an't be my destiny , so ; an't be not , so . No man's too good to serve's prince ; and let it go which way it will , he that dies this year is quit for the next . + +Well said ; thou'rt a good fellow . + +Faith , I'll bear no base mind . + + +Come , sir , which men shall I have ? + +Four , of which you please . + +Sir , a word with you . I have three pound to free Mouldy and Bullcalf . + +Go to ; well . + +Come , Sir John , which four will you have ? + +Do you choose for me . + +Marry , then , Mouldy , Bullcalf , Feeble , and Shadow . + +Mouldy , and Bullcalf : for you , Mouldy , stay at home till you are past service : and for your part , Bullcalf , grow till you come unto it : I will none of you . + +Sir John , Sir John , do not yourself wrong : they are your likeliest men , and I would have you served with the best . + +Will you tell me , Master Shallow , how to choose a man ? Care I for the limb , the thewes , the stature , bulk , and big assemblance of a man ! Give me the spirit , Master Shallow . Here's Wart ; you see what a ragged appearance it is : a' shall charge you and discharge you with the motion of a pewterer's hammer , come off and on swifter than he that gibbets on the brewer's bucket . And this same half-faced fellow , Shadow , give me this man : he presents no mark to the enemy ; the foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife . And , for a retreat ; how swiftly will this Feeble the woman's tailor run off ! O ! give me the spare men , and spare me the great ones . Put me a caliver into Wart's hand , Bardolph . + +Hold , Wart , traverse ; thus , thus , thus . + +Come , manage me your caliver . So : very well : go to : very good : exceeding good . O , give me always a little , lean , old , chopp'd , bald shot . Well said , i' faith , Wart ; thou'rt a good scab : hold , there's a tester for thee . + +He is not his craft's master , he doth not do it right . I remember at Mile-end Green , when I lay at Clement's Inn ,I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthur's show ,there was a little quiver fellow , and a' would manage you his piece thus : and a' would about and about , and come you in , and come you in ; 'rah , tah , tah ,' would a' say ; 'bounce ,' would a' say ; and away again would a' go , and again would a' come : I shall never see such a fellow . + +These fellows will do well , Master Shallow . God keep you , Master Silence : I will not use many words with you . Fare you well , gentlemen both : I thank you : I must a dozen mile to-night . Bardolph , give the soldiers coats . + +Sir John , the Lord bless you ! and prosper your affairs ! God send us peace ! At your return visit our house ; let our old acquaintance be renewed : peradventure I will with ye to the court . + +'Fore God I would you would , Master Shallow . + +Go to ; I have spoke at a word . God keep you . + +Fare you well , gentle gentlemen . + +As I return , I will fetch off these justices : I do see the bottom of Justice Shallow . Lord , Lord ! how subject we old men are to this vice of lying . This same starved justice hath done nothing but prate to me of the wildness of his youth and the feats he hath done about Turnbull Street ; and every third word a lie , duer paid to the hearer than the Turk's tribute . I do remember him at Clement's Inn like a man made after supper of a cheese-paring : when a' was naked he was for all the world like a forked radish , with a head fantastically carved upon it with a knife : a' was so forlorn that his dimensions to any thick sight were invincible : a' was the very genius of famine ; yet lecherous as a monkey , and the whores called him mandrake : a' came ever in the rearward of the fashion and sung those tunes to the over-scutched huswives that he heard the carmen whistle , and sware they were his fancies or his good-nights . And now is this Vice's dagger become a squire , and talks as familiarly of John a Gaunt as if he had been sworn brother to him ; and I'll be sworn a' never saw him but once in the Tilt-yard , and then he burst his head for crowding among the marshal's men . I saw it and told John a Gaunt he beat his own name ; for you might have thrust him and all his apparel into an eel-skin ; the case of a treble hautboy was a mansion for him , a court ; and now has he land and beefs . Well , I will be acquainted with him , if I return ; and it shall go hard but I will make him a philosopher's two stones to me . If the young dace be a bait for the old pike , I see no reason in the law of nature but I may snap at him . Let time shape , and there an end . + +What is this forest call'd ? + +'Tis Gaultree Forest , an't shall please your Grace . + +Here stand , my lords , and send discovers forth , +To know the numbers of our enemies . + +We have sent forth already . + +'Tis well done . +My friends and brethren in these great affairs , +I must acquaint you that I have receiv'd +New-dated letters from Northumberland ; +Their cold intent , tenour and substance , thus : +Here doth he wish his person , with such powers +As might hold sortance with his quality ; +The which he could not levy ; whereupon +He is retir'd , to ripe his growing fortunes , +To Scotland ; and concludes in hearty prayers +That your attempts may overlive the hazard +And fearful meeting of their opposite . + +Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground +And dash themselves to pieces . + + +Now , what news ? + +West of this forest , scarcely off a mile , +In goodly form comes on the enemy ; +And , by the ground they hide , I judge their number +Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand . + +The just proportion that we gave them out . +Let us sway on and face them in the field . + + +What well-appointed leader fronts us here ? + +I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland . + +Health and fair greeting from our general . +The Prince , Lord John and Duke of Lancaster . + +Say on , my Lord of Westmoreland , in peace , +What doth concern your coming . + +Then , my lord , +Unto your Grace do I in chief address +The substance of my speech . If that rebellion +Came like itself , in base and abject routs , +Led on by bloody youth , guarded with rags , +And countenanc'd by boys and beggary ; +I say , if damn'd commotion so appear'd , +In his true , native , and most proper shape , +You , reverend father , and these noble lords +Had not been here , to dress the ugly form +Of base and bloody insurrection +With your fair honours . You , lord archbishop , +Whose see is by a civil peace maintain'd , +Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touch'd , +Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutor'd , +Whose white investments figure innocence , +The dove and very blessed spirit of peace , +Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself +Out of the speech of peace that bears such grace +Into the harsh and boisterous tongue of war ; +Turning your books to greaves , your ink to blood , +Your pens to lances , and your tongue divine +To a loud trumpet and a point of war ? + +Wherefore do I this ? so the question stands . +Briefly to this end : we are all diseas'd ; +And , with our surfeiting and wanton hours +Have brought ourselves into a burning fever , +And we must bleed for it : of which disease +Our late king , Richard , being infected , died . +But , my most noble Lord of Westmoreland , +I take not on me here as a physician , +Nor do I as an enemy to peace +Troop in the throngs of military men ; +But rather show a while like fearful war , +To diet rank minds sick of happiness +And purge the obstructions which begin to stop +Our very veins of life . Hear me more plainly : +I have in equal balance justly weigh'd +What wrongs our arms may do , what wrongs we suffer , +And find our griefs heavier than our offences . +We see which way the stream of time doth run +And are enforc'd from our most quiet sphere +By the rough torrent of occasion ; +And have the summary of all our griefs , +When time shall serve , to show in articles , +Which long ere this we offer'd to the king , +And might by no suit gain our audience . +When we are wrong'd and would unfold our griefs , +We are denied access unto his person +Even by those men that most have done us wrong . +The dangers of the days but newly gone , +Whose memory is written on the earth +With yet appearing blood ,and the examples +Of every minute's instance , present now , +Have put us in these ill-beseeming arms ; +Not to break peace , or any branch of it , +But to establish here a peace indeed , +Concurring both in name and quality . + +When ever yet was your appeal denied ? +Wherein have you been galled by the king ? +What peer hath been suborn'd to grate on you , +That you should seal this lawless bloody book +Of forg'd rebellion with a seal divine , +And consecrate commotion's bitter edge ? + +My brother general , the commonwealth , +To brother born an household cruelty , +I make my quarrel in particular . + +There is no need of any such redress ; +Or if there were , it not belongs to you . + +Why not to him in part , and to us all +That feel the bruises of the days before , +And suffer the condition of these times +To lay a heavy and unequal hand +Upon our honours ? + +O ! my good Lord Mowbray , +Construe the times to their necessities , +And you shall say indeed , it is the time , +And not the king , that doth you injuries . +Yet , for your part , it not appears to me +Either from the king or in the present time +That you should have an inch of any ground +To build a grief on : were you not restor'd +To all the Duke of Norfolk's signories , +Your noble and right well-remember'd father's ? + +What thing , in honour , had my father lost , +That need to be reviv'd and breath'd in me ? +The king that lov'd him as the state stood then , +Was force perforce compell'd to banish him : +And then that Harry Bolingbroke and he , +Being mounted and both roused in their seats , +Their neighing coursers daring of the spur , +Their armed staves in charge , their beavers down , +Their eyes of fire sparkling through sights of steel , +And the loud trumpet blowing them together , +Then , then , when there was nothing could have stay'd +My father from the breast of Bolingbroke , +O ! when the king did throw his warder down , +His own life hung upon the staff he threw ; +Then threw he down himself and all their lives +That by indictment and by dint of sword +Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke . + +You speak , Lord Mowbray , now you know not what . +The Earl of Hereford was reputed then +In England the most valiant gentleman : +Who knows on whom Fortune would then have smil'd ? +But if your father had been victor there , +He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry ; +For all the country in a general voice +Cried hate upon him ; and all their prayers and love +Were set on Hereford , whom they doted on +And bless'd and grac'd indeed , more than the king . +But this is mere digression from my purpose . +Here come I from our princely general +To know your griefs ; to tell you from his Grace +That he will give you audience ; and wherein +It shall appear that your demands are just , +You shall enjoy them ; every thing set off +That might so much as think you enemies . + +But he hath forc'd us to compel this offer , +And it proceeds from policy , not love . + +Mowbray , you overween to take it so . +This offer comes from mercy , not from fear : +For , lo ! within a ken our army lies +Upon mine honour , all too confident +To give admittance to a thought of fear . +Our battle is more full of names than yours , +Our men more perfect in the use of arms , +Our armour all as strong , our cause the best ; +Then reason will our hearts should be as good : +Say you not then our offer is compell'd . + +Well , by my will we shall admit no parley . + +That argues but the shame of your offence : +A rotten case abides no handling . + +Hath the Prince John a full commission , +In very ample virtue of his father , +To hear and absolutely to determine +Of what conditions we shall stand upon ? + +That is intended in the general's name . +I muse you make so slight a question . + +Then take , my Lord of Westmoreland , this schedule , +For this contains our general grievances : +Each several article herein redress'd ; +All members of our cause , both here and hence , +That are insinew'd to this action , +Acquitted by a true substantial form +And present execution of our wills +To us and to our purposes consign'd ; +We come within our awful banks again +And knit our powers to the arm of peace . + +This will I show the general . Please you , lords , +In sight of both our battles we may meet ; +And either end in peace , which God so frame ! +Or to the place of difference call the swords +Which must decide it . + +My lord , we will do so . + + +There is a thing within my bosom tells me +That no conditions of our peace can stand . + +Fear you not that : if we can make our peace +Upon such large terms , and so absolute +As our condition shall consist upon , +Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains . + +Yea , but our valuation shall be such +That every slight and false-derived cause , +Yea , every idle , nice , and wanton reason +Shall to the king taste of this action ; +That , were our royal faiths martyrs in love , +We shall be winnow'd with so rough a wind +That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff +And good from bad find no partition . + +No , no , my lord . Note this ; the king is weary +Of dainty and such picking grievances : +For he hath found to end one doubt by death +Revives two greater in the heirs of life ; +And therefore will he wipe his tables clean , +And keep no tell-tale to his memory +That may repeat and history his loss +To new remembrance ; for full well he knows +He cannot so precisely weed this land +As his misdoubts present occasion : +His foes are so enrooted with his friends +That , plucking to unfix an enemy , +He doth unfasten so and shake a friend . +So that this land , like an offensive wife , +That hath enrag'd him on to offer strokes , +As he is striking , holds his infant up +And hangs resolv'd correction in the arm +That was uprear'd to execution . + +Besides , the king hath wasted all his rods +On late offenders , that he now doth lack +The very instruments of chastisement ; +So that his power , like to a fangless lion , +May offer , but not hold . + +'Tis very true : +And therefore be assur'd , my good lord marshal , +If we do now make our atonement well , +Our peace will , like a broken limb united , +Grow stronger for the breaking . + +Be it so . +Here is return'd my Lord of Westmoreland . + + +The prince is here at hand : pleaseth your lordship , +To meet his Grace just distance 'tween our armies ? + +Your Grace of York , in God's name then , set forward . + +Before , and greet his Grace : my lord , we come . + +You are well encounter'd here , my cousin Mowbray : +Good day to you , gentle lord archbishop ; +And so to you , Lord Hastings , and to all . +My Lord of York , it better show'd with you , +When that your flock , assembled by the bell , +Encircled you to hear with reverence +Your exposition on the holy text +Than now to see you here an iron man , +Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum , +Turning the word to sword and life to death . +That man that sits within a monarch's heart +And ripens in the sunshine of his favour , +Would he abuse the countenance of the king , +Alack ! what mischief might he set abroach +In shadow of such greatness . With you , lord bishop , +It is even so . Who hath not heard it spoken +How deep you were within the books of God ? +To us , the speaker in his parliament ; +To us the imagin'd voice of God himself ; +The very opener and intelligencer +Between the grace , the sanctities of heaven , +And our dull workings . O ! who shall believe +But you misuse the reverence of your place , +Employ the countenance and grace of heaven , +As a false favourite doth his prince's name , +In deeds dishonourable ? You have taken up , +Under the counterfeited zeal of God , +The subjects of his substitute , my father ; +And both against the peace of heaven and him +Have here upswarm'd them . + +Good my Lord of Lancaster , +I am not here against your father's peace ; +But , as I told my Lord of Westmoreland , +The time misorder'd doth , in common sense , +Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form , +To hold our safety up . I sent your Grace +The parcels and particulars of our grief , +The which hath been with scorn shov'd from the court , +Whereon this Hydra son of war is born ; +Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleep +With grant of our most just and right desires , +And true obedience , of this madness cur'd , +Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty . + +If not , we ready are to try our fortunes +To the last man . + +And though we here fall down , +We have supplies to second our attempt : +If they miscarry , theirs shall second them ; +And so success of mischief shall be born , +And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up +Whiles England shall have generation . + +You are too shallow , Hastings , much too shallow , +To sound the bottom of the after-times . + +Pleaseth your Grace , to answer them directly +How far forth you do like their articles . + +I like them all , and do allow them well ; +And swear here , by the honour of my blood , +My father's purposes have been mistook , +And some about him have too lavishly +Wrested his meaning and authority . +My lord , these griefs shall be with speed redress'd ; +Upon my soul , they shall . If this may please you , +Discharge your powers unto their several counties , +As we will ours : and here between the armies +Let's drink together friendly and embrace , +That all their eyes may bear those tokens home +Of our restored love and amity . + +I take your princely word for these redresses . + +I give it you , and will maintain my word : +And thereupon I drink unto your Grace . + +Go , captain , and deliver to the army +This news of peace : let them have pay , and part : +I know it will well please them : hie thee , captain . + + +To you , my noble Lord of Westmoreland . + +I pledge your Grace : and , if you knew what pains +I have bestow'd to breed this present peace , +You would drink freely ; but my love to you +Shall show itself more openly hereafter . + +I do not doubt you . + +I am glad of it . +Health to my lord and gentle cousin , Mowbray . + +You wish me health in very happy season ; +For I am , on the sudden , something ill . + +Against ill chances men are ever merry , +But heaviness foreruns the good event . + +Therefore be merry , coz ; since sudden sorrow +Serves to say thus , Some good thing comes to morrow . + +Believe me , I am passing light in spirit . + +So much the worse if your own rule be true . + + +The word of peace is render'd : hark , how they shout ! + +This had been cheerful , after victory . + +A peace is of the nature of a conquest ; +For then both parties nobly are subdu'd , +And neither party loser . + +Go , my lord , +And let our army be discharged too . + +And , good my lord , so please you , let our trains +March by us , that we may peruse the men +We should have cop'd withal . + +Go , good Lord Hastings , +And , ere they be dismiss'd , let them march by . + + +I trust , lords , we shall lie to-night together . + +Now , cousin , wherefore stands our army still ? + +The leaders , having charge from you to stand , +Will not go off until they hear you speak . + +They know their duties . + + +My lord , our army is dispers'd already : +Like youthful steers unyok'd , they take their courses +East , west , north , south ; or , like a school broke up , +Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place . + +Good tidings , my Lord Hastings ; for the which +I do arrest thee , traitor , of high treason : +And you , lord archbishop , and you , Lord Mowbray , +Of capital treason I attach you both . + +Is this proceeding just and honourable ? + +Is your assembly so ? + +Will you thus break your faith ? + +I pawn'd thee none . +I promis'd you redress of these same grievances +Whereof you did complain ; which , by mine honour , +I will perform with a most Christian care . +But for you , rebels , look to taste the due +Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours . +Most shallowly did you these arms commence , +Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence . +Strike up our drums ! pursue the scatter'd stray : +God , and not we , hath safely fought to-day . +Some guard these traitors to the block of death ; +Treason's true bed , and yielder up of breath . + + +What's your name , sir ? of what condition are you , and of what place , I pray ? + +I am a knight , sir ; and my name is Colevile of the dale . + +Well then , Colevile is your name , a knight is your degree , and your place the dale : Colevile shall still be your name , a traitor your degree , and the dungeon your place , a place deep enough ; so shall you be still Colevile of the dale . + +Are not you Sir John Falstaff ? + +As good a man as he , sir , whoe'er I am . Do ye yield , sir , or shall I sweat for you ? If I do sweat , they are the drops of thy lovers , and they weep for thy death : therefore rouse up fear and trembling , and do observance to my mercy . + +I think you are Sir John Falstaff , and in that thought yield me . + +I have a whole school of tongues in this belly of mine , and not a tongue of them all speaks any other word but my name . An I had but a belly of any indifferency , I were simply the most active fellow in Europe : my womb , my womb , my womb undoes me . Here comes our general . + + +The heat is past , follow no further now . +Call in the powers , good cousin Westmoreland . + +Now , Falstaff , where have you been all this while ? +When everything is ended , then you come : +These tardy tricks of yours will , on my life , +One time or other break some gallows' back . + +I would be sorry , my lord , but it should be thus : I never knew yet but rebuke and check was the reward of valour . Do you think me a swallow , an arrow , or a bullet ? have I , in my poor and old motion , the expedition of thought ? I have speeded hither with the very extremest inch of possibility ; I have foundered nine score and odd posts ; and here , travel-tainted as I am , have , in my pure and immaculate valour , taken Sir John Colevile of the dale , a most furious knight and valorous enemy . But what of that ? he saw me , and yielded ; that I may justly say with the hook-nosed fellow of Rome , 'I came , saw , and overcame .' + +It was more of his courtesy than your deserving . + +I know not : here he is , and here I yield him ; and I beseech your Grace , let it be booked with the rest of this day's deeds ; or , by the Lord , I will have it in a particular ballad else , with mine own picture on the top on't , Colevile kissing my foot . To the which course if I be enforced , if you do not all show like gilt two-pences to me , and I in the clear sky of fame o'ershine you as much as the full moon doth the cinders of the element , which show like pins' heads to her , believe not the word of the noble . Therefore let me have right , and let desert mount . + +Thine's too heavy to mount . + +Let it shine then . + +Thine's too thick to shine . + +Let it do something , my good lord , that may do me good , and call it what you will . + +Is thy name Colevile ? + +It is , my lord . + +A famous rebel art thou , Colevile . + +And a famous true subject took him . + +I am , my lord , but as my betters are +That led me hither : had they been rul'd by me +You should have won them dearer than you have . + +I know not how they sold themselves : but thou , like a kind fellow , gavest thyself away gratis , and I thank thee for thee . + + +Have you left pursuit ? + +Retreat is made and execution stay'd . + +Send Colevile with his confederates +To York , to present execution . +Blunt , lead him hence , and see you guard him sure . + +And now dispatch we toward the court , my lords : +I hear , the king my father is sore sick : +Our news shall go before us to his majesty , +Which , cousin + +, you shall bear , to comfort him ; +And we with sober speed will follow you . + +My lord , I beseech you , give me leave to go , +Through Gloucestershire , and when you come to court +Stand my good lord , pray , in your good report . + +Fare you well , Falstaff : I , in my condition , +Shall better speak of you than you deserve . + + +I would you had but the wit : 'twere better than your dukedom . Good faith , this same young sober-blooded boy doth not love me ; nor a man cannot make him laugh ; but that's no marvel , he drinks no wine . There's never none of these demure boys come to any proof ; for thin drink doth so over-cool their blood , and making many fish-meals , that they fall into a kind of male green-sickness ; and then , when they marry , they get wenches . They are generally fools and cowards , which some of us should be too but for inflammation . A good sherris-sack hath a two-fold operation in it . It ascends me into the brain ; dries me there all the foolish and dull and crudy vapours which environ it ; makes it apprehensive , quick , forgetive , full of nimble fiery and delectable shapes ; which , deliver'd o'er to the voice , the tongue , which is the birth , becomes excellent wit . The second property of your excellent sherris is , the warming of the blood ; which , before cold and settled , left the liver white and pale , which is the badge of pusillanimity and cowardice : but the sherris warms it and makes it course from the inwards to the parts extreme . It illumineth the face , which , as a beacon , gives warning to all the rest of this little kingdom , man , to arm ; and then the vital commoners and inland petty spirits muster me all to their captain , the heart , who , great and puffed up with this retinue , doth any deed of courage ; and this valour comes of sherris . So that skill in the weapon is nothing without sack , for that sets it a-work ; and leaining , a mere hoard of gold kept by a devil till sack commences it and sets it in act and use . Hereof comes it that Prince Harry is valiant ; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father , he hath , like lean , sterile , and bare land , manured , husbanded , and tilled , with excellent endeavour of drinking good and good store of fertile sherris , that he is become very hot and valiant . If I had a thousand sons , the first human principle I would teach them should be , to forswear thin potations and to addict themselves to sack . + +How now , Bardolph ? + +The army is discharged all and gone . + +Let them go . I'll through Gloucestershire ; and there will I visit Master Robert Shallow , esquire : I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb , and shortly will I seal with him . Come away . + + +Now , lords , if God doth give successful end +To this debate that bleedeth at our doors , +We will our youth lead on to higher fields +And draw no swords but what are sanctified . +Our navy is address'd , our power collected , +Our substitutes in absence well invested , +And everything lies level to our wish : +Only , we want a little personal strength ; +And pause us , till these rebels , now afoot , +Come underneath the yoke of government . + +Both which we doubt not but your majesty +Shall soon enjoy . + +Humphrey , my son of Gloucester , +Where is the prince your brother ? + +I think he's gone to hunt , my lord , at Windsor . + +And how accompanied ? + +I do not know , my lord . + +Is not his brother Thomas of Clarence with him ? + +No , my good lord ; he is in presence here . + +What would my lord and father ? + +Nothing but well to thee , Thomas of Clarence . +How chance thou art not with the prince thy brother ? +He loves thee , and thou dost neglect him , Thomas ; +Thou hast a better place in his affection +Than all thy brothers : cherish it , my boy , +And noble offices thou mayst effect +Of mediation , after I am dead , +Between his greatness and thy other brethren : +Therefore omit him not ; blunt not his love , +Nor lose the good advantage of his grace +By seeming cold or careless of his will ; +For he is gracious , if he be observ'd : +He hath a tear for pity and a hand +Open as day for melting charity ; +Yet , notwithstanding , being incens'd , he's flint ; +As humorous as winter , and as sudden +As flaws congealed in the spring of day . +His temper therefore must be well observ'd : +Chide him for faults , and do it reverently , +When you perceive his blood inclin'd to mirth ; +But , being moody , give him line and scope , +Till that his passions , like a whale on ground , +Confound themselves with working . Learn this , Thomas , +And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends , +A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in , +That the united vessel of their blood , +Mingled with venom of suggestion +As , force perforce , the age will pour it in +Shall never leak , though it do work as strong +As aconitum or rash gunpowder . + +I shall observe him with all care and love . + +Why art thou not at Windsor with him , Thomas ? + +He is not there to-day ; he dines in London . + +And how accompanied ? canst thou tell that ? + +With Poins and other his continual followers . + +Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds ; +And he , the noble image of my youth , +Is overspread with them : therefore my grief +Stretches itself beyond the hour of death : +The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape +In forms imaginary the unguided days +And rotten times that you shall look upon +When I am sleeping with my ancestors . +For when his headstrong riot hath no curb , +When rage and hot blood are his counsellors , +When means and lavish manners meet together , +O ! with what wings shall his affections fly +Towards fronting peril and oppos'd decay . + +My gracious lord , you look beyond him quite : +The prince but studies his companions +Like a strange tongue , wherein , to gain the language , +'Tis needful that the most immodest word +Be look'd upon , and learn'd ; which once attain'd , +Your highness knows , comes to no further use +But to be known and hated . So , like gross terms , +The prince will in the perfectness of time +Cast off his followers ; and their memory +Shall as a pattern or a measure live , +By which his Grace must mete the lives of others , +Turning past evils to advantages . + +'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb +In the dead carrion . + +Who's here ? Westmoreland ! + +Health to my sovereign , and new happiness +Added to that that I am to deliver ! +Prince John your son doth kiss your Grace's hand : +Mowbray , the Bishop Scroop , Hastings and all +Are brought to the correction of your law . +There is not now a rebel's sword unsheath'd , +But Peace puts forth her olive everywhere . +The manner how this action hath been borne +Here at more leisure may your highness read , +With every course in his particular . + +O Westmoreland ! thou art a summer bird , +Which ever in the haunch of winter sings +The lifting up of day . + +Look ! here's more news . + +From enemies heaven keep your majesty ; +And , when they stand against you , may they fall +As those that I am come to tell you of ! +The Earl Northumberland , and the Lord Bardolph , +With a great power of English and of Scots , +Are by the sheriff of Yorkshire overthrown . +The manner and true order of the fight +This packet , please it you , contains at large . + +And wherefore should these good news make me sick ? +Will Fortune never come with both hands full +But write her fair words still in foulest letters ? +She either gives a stomach and no food ; +Such are the poor , in health ; or else a feast +And takes away the stomach ; such are the rich , +That have abundance and enjoy it not . +I should rejoice now at this happy news , +And now my sight fails , and my brain is giddy . +O me ! come near me , now I am much ill . + +Comfort , your majesty ! + +O my royal father ! + +My sovereign lord , cheer up yourself : look up ! + +Be patient , princes : you do know these fits +Are with his highness very ordinary : +Stand from him , give him air ; he'll straight be well . + +No , no ; he cannot long hold out these pangs : +The incessant care and labour of his mind +Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in +So thin , that life looks through and will break out . + +The people fear me ; for they do observe +Unfather'd heirs and loathly births of nature : +The seasons change their manners , as the year +Had found some months asleep and leap'd them over . + +The river hath thrice flow'd , no ebb between ; +And the old folk , time's doting chronicles , +Say it did so a little time before +That our great-grandsire , Edward , sick'd and died . + +Speak lower , princes , for the king recovers . + +This apoplexy will certain be his end . + +I pray you take me up , and bear me hence +Into some other chamber : softly , pray . + +Let there be no noise made , my gentle friends ; +Unless some dull and favourable hand +Will whisper music to my weary spirit . + +Call for the music in the other room . + +Set me the crown upon my pillow here . + +His eye is hollow , and he changes much . + +Less noise , less noise ! + + +Who saw the Duke of Clarence ? + +I am here , brother , full of heaviness . + +How now ! rain within doors , and none abroad ! +How doth the king ? + +Exceeding ill . + +Heard he the good news yet ? +Tell it him . + +He alter'd much upon the hearing it . + +If he be sick with joy , he will recover without physic . + +Not so much noise , my lords . Sweet prince , speak low ; +The king your father is dispos'd to sleep . + +Let us withdraw into the other room . + +Will't please your Grace to go along with us ? + +No ; I will sit and watch here by the king . + +Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow , +Being so troublesome a bedfellow ? +O polish'd perturbation ! golden care ! +That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide +To many a watchful night ! Sleep with it now ! +Yet not so sound , and half so deeply sweet +As he whose brow with homely biggin bound +Snores out the watch of night . O majesty ! +When thou dost pinch thy bearer , thou dost sit +Like a rich armour worn in heat of day , +That scalds with safety . By his gates of breath +There lies a downy feather which stirs not : +Did he suspire , that light and weightless down +Perforce must move . My gracious lord ! my father ! +This sleep is sound indeed ; this is a sleep +That from this golden rigol hath divorc'd +So many English kings . Thy due from me +Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood , +Which nature , love , and filial tenderness +Shall , O dear father ! pay thee plenteously : +My due from thee is this imperial crown , +Which , as immediate from thy place and blood , +Derives itself to me . Lo ! here it sits , + +Which heaven shall guard ; and put the world's whole strength +Into one giant arm , it shall not force +This lineal honour from me . This from thee +Will I to mine leave , as 'tis left to me . + + +Warwick ! Gloucester ! Clarence ! + + +Doth the king call ? + +What would your majesty ? How fares your Grace ? + +Why did you leave me here alone , my lords ? + +We left the prince my brother here , my liege , +Who undertook to sit and watch by you . + +The Prince of Wales ! Where is he ? let me see him : +He is not here . + +This door is open ; he is gone this way . + +He came not through the chamber where we stay'd . + +Where is the crown ? who took it from my pillow ? + +When we withdrew , my liege , we left it here . + +The prince hath ta'en it hence : go , seek him out . +Is he so hasty that he doth suppose +My sleep my death ? +Find him , my Lord of Warwick ; chide him hither . + +This part of his conjoins with my disease , +And helps to end me . See , sons , what things you are ! +How quickly nature falls into revolt +When gold becomes her object ! +For this the foolish over-careful fathers +Have broke their sleeps with thoughts , +Their brains with care , their bones with industry ; +For this they have engrossed and pil'd up +The canker'd heaps of strange-achieved gold ; +For this they have been thoughtful to invest +Their sons with arts and martial exercises : +When , like the bee , culling from every flower +The virtuous sweets , +Our thighs packed with wax , our mouths with honey , +We bring it to the hive , and like the bees , +Are murder'd for our pains . This bitter taste +Yield his engrossments to the ending father . + + +Now , where is he that will not stay so long + +Till his friend sickness hath determin'd me ? + +My lord , I found the prince in the next room , +Washing with kindly tears his gentle cheeks , +With such a deep demeanour in great sorrow +That tyranny , which never quaff'd but blood , +Would , by beholding him , have wash'd his knife +With gentle eye-drops . He is coming hither . + +But wherefore did he take away the crown ? + + +Lo , where he comes . Come hither to me , Harry . +Depart the chamber , leave us here alone . + +I never thought to hear you speak again . + +Thy wish was father , Harry , to that thought : +I stay too long by thee , I weary thee . +Dost thou so hunger for my empty chair +That thou wilt needs invest thee with mine honours +Before thy hour be ripe ? O foolish youth ! +Thou seek'st the greatness that will overwhelm thee . +Stay but a little ; for my cloud of dignity +Is held from falling with so weak a wind +That it will quickly drop : my day is dim . +Thou hast stol'n that which after some few hours +Were thine without offence ; and at my death +Thou hast seal'd up my expectation : +Thy life did manifest thou lov'dst me not , +And thou wilt have me die assur'd of it . +Thou hid'st a thousand daggers in thy thoughts , +Which thou hast whetted on thy stony heart , +To stab at half an hour of my life . +What ! canst thou not forbear me half an hour ? +Then get thee gone and dig my grave thyself , +And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear +That thou art crowned , not that I am dead . +Let all the tears that should bedew my hearse +Be drops of balm to sanctify thy head : +Only compound me with forgotten dust ; +Give that which gave thee life unto the worms . +Pluck down my officers , break my decrees ; +For now a time is come to mock at form . +Harry the Fifth is crown'd ! Up , vanity ! +Down , royal state ! all you sage counsellors , hence ! +And to the English court assemble now , +From every region , apes of idleness ! +Now , neighbour confines , purge you of your scum : +Have you a ruffian that will swear , drink , dance , +Revel the night , rob , murder , and commit +The oldest sins the newest kind of ways ? +Be happy , he will trouble you no more : +England shall double gild his treble guilt . +England shall give him office , honour , might ; +For the fifth Harry from curb'd licence plucks +The muzzle of restraint , and the wild dog +Shall flesh his tooth in every innocent . +O my poor kingdom ! sick with civil blows . +When that my care could not withhold thy riots , +What wilt thou do when riot is thy care ? +O ! thou wilt be a wilderness again , +Peopled with wolves , thy old inhabitants . + +O ! pardon me , my liege ; but for my tears , +The moist impediments unto my speech , +I had forestall'd this dear and deep rebuke +Ere you with grief had spoke and I had heard +The course of it so far . There is your crown ; +And he that wears the crown immortally +Long guard it yours ! If I affect it more +Than as your honour and as your renown , +Let me no more from this obedience rise , +Which my most true and inward duteous spirit +Teacheth ,this prostrate and exterior bending . +God witness with me , when I here came in , +And found no course of breath within your majesty , +How cold it struck my heart ! if I do feign , +O ! let me in my present wildness die +And never live to show the incredulous world +The noble change that I have purposed . +Coming to look on you , thinking you dead , +And dead almost , my liege , to think you were , +I spake unto the crown as having sense , +And thus upbraided it : 'The care on thee depending +Hath fed upon the body of my father ; +Therefore , thou best of gold art worst of gold : +Other , less fine in carat , is more precious , +Preserving life in medicine potable : +But thou most fine , most honour'd , most renown'd , +Hast eat thy bearer up .' Thus , my most royal liege , +Accusing it , I put it on my head , +To try with it , as with an enemy +That had before my face murder'd my father , +The quarrel of a true inheritor . +But if it did infect my blood with joy , +Or swell my thoughts to any strain of pride ; +If any rebel or vain spirit of mine +Did with the least affection of a welcome +Give entertainment to the might of it , +Let God for ever keep it from my head , +And make me as the poorest vassal is +That doth with awe and terror kneel to it ! + +O my son ! +God put it in thy mind to take it hence , +That thou mightst win the more thy father's love , +Pleading so wisely in excuse of it . +Come hither , Harry : sit thou by my bed ; +And hear , I think , the very latest counsel +That ever I shall breathe . God knows , my son , +By what by-paths and indirect crook'd ways +I met this crown ; and I myself know well +How troublesome it sat upon my head : +To thee it shall descend with better quiet , +Better opinion , better confirmation ; +For all the soil of the achievement goes +With me into the earth . It seem'd in me +But as an honour snatch'd with boisterous hand , +And I had many living to upbraid +My gain of it by their assistances ; +Which daily grew to quarrel and to bloodshed , +Wounding supposed peace . All these bold fears +Thou seest with peril I have answered ; +For all my reign hath been but as a scene +Acting that argument ; and now my death +Changes the mode : for what in me was purchas'd , +Falls upon thee in a more fairer sort ; +So thou the garment wear'st successively . +Yet , though thou stand'st more sure than I could do , +Thou art not firm enough , since griefs are green ; +And all my friends , which thou must make thy friends , +Have but their stings and teeth newly ta'en out ; +By whose fell working I was first advanc'd , +And by whose power I well might lodge a fear +To be again displac'd : which to avoid , +I cut them off ; and had a purpose now +To lead out many to the Holy Land , +Lest rest and lying still might make them look +Too near unto my state . Therefore , my Harry , +Be it thy course to busy giddy minds +With foreign quarrels ; that action , hence borne out , +May waste the memory of the former days . +More would I , but my lungs are wasted so +That strength of speech is utterly denied me . +How I came by the crown , O God , forgive ! +And grant it may with thee in true peace live . + +My gracious liege , +You won it , wore it , kept it , gave it me ; +Then plain and right must my possession be : +Which I with more than with a common pain +'Gainst all the world will rightfully maintain . + + +Look , look , here comes my John of Lancaster . + +Health , peace , and happiness to my royal father ! + +Thou bring'st me happiness and peace , son John ; +But health , alack , with youthful wings is flown +From this bare wither'd trunk : upon thy sight +My worldly business makes a period . +Where is my Lord of Warwick ? + +My Lord of Warwick ! + + +Doth any name particular belong +Unto the lodging where I first did swound ? + +'Tis call'd Jerusalem , my noble lord . + +Laud be to God ! even there my life must end . +It hath been prophesied to me many years +I should not die but in Jerusalem , +Which vainly I suppos'd the Holy Land . +But bear me to that chamber ; there I'll lie : +In that Jerusalem shall Harry die . + +By cock and pie , sir , you shall not away to-night . What ! Davy , I say . + +You must excuse me , Master Robert Shallow . + +I will not excuse you ; you shall not be excused ; excuses shall not be admitted ; there is no excuse shall serve ; you shall not be excused . Why , Davy ! + + +Here , sir . + +Davy , Davy , Davy , Davy , let me see , Davy ; let me see : yea , marry , William cook , bid him come hither . Sir John , you shall not be excused . + +Marry , sir , thus ; those precepts cannot be served : and again , sir , shall we sow the headland with wheat ? + +With red wheat , Davy . But for William cook : are there no young pigeons ? + +Yes , sir . Here is now the smith's note for shoeing and plough-irons . + +Let it be cast and paid . Sir John , you shall not be excused . + +Now , sir , a new link to the bucket must needs be had : and , sir , do you mean to stop any of William's wages , about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair ? + +A' shall answer it . Some pigeons , Davy , a couple of short-legged hens , a joint of mutton , and any pretty little tiny kickshaws , tell William cook . + +Doth the man of war stay all night , sir ? + +Yea , Davy . I will use him well . A friend i' the court is better than a penny in purse . Use his men well , Davy , for they are arrant knaves , and will backbite . + +No worse than they are back-bitten , sir ; for they have marvellous foul linen . + +Well conceited , Davy : about thy business , Davy . + +I beseech you , sir , to countenance William Visor of Wincot against Clement Perkes of the hill . + +There are many complaints , Davy , against that Visor : that Visor is an arrant knave , on my knowledge . + +I grant your worship that he is a knave , sir ; but yet , God forbid , sir , but a knave should have some countenance at his friend's request . An honest man , sir , is able to speak for himself , when a knave is not . I have served your worship truly , sir , this eight years ; and if I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man , I have but a very little credit with your worship . The knave is mine honest friend , sir ; therefore , I beseech your worship , let him be countenanced . + +Go to ; I say he shall have no wrong . Look about , Davy . + +Where are you , Sir John ? Come , come , come ; off with your boots . Give me your hand , Master Bardolph . + +I am glad to see your worship . + +I thank thee with all my heart , kind Master Bardolph : + +and welcome , my tall fellow . Come , Sir John . + +I'll follow you , good Master Robert Shallow . + +If I were sawed into quantities , I should make four dozen of such bearded hermit's staves as Master Shallow . It is a wonderful thing to see the semblable coherence of his men's spirits and his : they , by observing him , do bear themselves like foolish justices ; he , by conversing with them , is turned into a justice-like serving-man . Their spirits are so married in conjunction with the participation of society that they flock together in consent , like so many wild-geese . If I had a suit to Master Shallow , I would humour his men with the imputation of being near their master : if to his men , I would curry with Master Shallow that no man could better command his servants . It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught , as men take diseases , one of another : therefore let men take heed of their company . I will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions ,which is four terms , or two actions ,and a' shall laugh without intervallums . O ! it is much that a lie with a slight oath and a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that never had the ache in his shoulders . O ! you shall see him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up ! + +Sir John ! + +I come , Master Shallow : I come , Master Shallow . + + +How now , my Lord Chief Justice ! whither away ? + +How doth the king ? + +Exceeding well : his cares are now all ended . + +I hope not dead . + +He's walk'd the way of nature ; +And to our purposes he lives no more . + +I would his majesty had call'd me with him : +The service that I truly did his life +Hath left me open to all injuries . + +Indeed I think the young king loves you not . + +I know he doth not , and do arm myself , +To welcome the condition of the time ; +Which cannot look more hideously upon me +Than I have drawn it in my fantasy . + + +Here come the heavy issue of dead Harry : +O ! that the living Harry had the temper +Of him , the worst of these three gentlemen . +How many nobles then should hold their places , +That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort ! + +O God ! I fear all will be overturn'd . + +Good morrow , cousin Warwick , good morrow . + +Good morrow , cousin . + +Good morrow , cousin . + +We meet like men that had forgot to speak . + +We do remember ; but our argument +Is all too heavy to admit much talk . + +Well , peace be with him that hath made us heavy ! + +Peace be with us , lest we be heavier ! + +O ! good my lord , you have lost a friend indeed ; +And I dare swear you borrow not that face +Of seeming sorrow ; it is sure your own . + +Though no man be assur'd what grace to find , +You stand in coldest expectation . +I am the sorrier ; would 'twere otherwise . + +Well , you must now speak Sir John Falstaff fair , +Which swims against your stream of quality . + +Sweet princes , what I did , I did in honour , +Led by the impartial conduct of my soul ; +And never shall you see that I will beg +A ragged and forestall'd remission . +If truth and upright innocency fail me , +I'll to the king my master that is dead , +And tell him who hath sent me after him . + +Here comes the prince . + + +Good morrow , and God save your majesty ! + +This new and gorgeous garment , majesty , +Sits not so easy on me as you think . +Brothers , you mix your sadness with some fear : +This is the English , not the Turkish court ; +Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds , +But Harry Harry . Yet be sad , good brothers , +For , to speak truth , it very well becomes you : +Sorrow so royally in you appears +That I will deeply put the fashion on +And wear it in my heart . Why then , be sad ; +But entertain no more of it , good brothers , +Than a joint burden laid upon us all . +For me , by heaven , I bid you be assur'd , +I'll be your father and your brother too ; +Let me but bear your love , I'll bear your cares : +Yet weep that Harry's dead , and so will I ; +But Harry lives that shall convert those tears +By number into hours of happiness . + +We hope no other from your majesty . + +You all look strangely on me : + +and you most ; +You are , I think , assur'd I love you not . + +I am assur'd , if I be measur'd rightly , +Your majesty hath no just cause to hate me . + +No ! +How might a prince of my great hopes forget +So great indignities you laid upon me ? +What ! rate , rebuke , and roughly send to prison +The immediate heir of England ! Was this easy ? +May this be wash'd in Lethe , and forgotten ? + +I then did use the person of your father ; +The image of his power lay then in me : +And , in the administration of his law , +Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth , +Your highness pleased to forget my place , +The majesty and power of law and justice , +The image of the king whom I presented , +And struck me in my very seat of judgment ; +Whereon , as an offender to your father , +I gave bold way to my authority , +And did commit you . If the deed were ill , +Be you contented , wearing now the garland , +To have a son set your decrees at nought , +To pluck down justice from your awful bench , +To trip the course of law , and blunt the sword +That guards the peace and safety of your person : +Nay , more , to spurn at your most royal image +And mock your workings in a second body . +Question your royal thoughts , make the case yours ; +Be now the father and propose a son , +Hear your own dignity so much profan'd , +See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted , +Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd ; +And then imagine me taking your part , +And in your power soft silencing your son : +After this cold considerance , sentence me ; +And , as you are a king , speak in your state +What I have done that misbecame my place , +My person , or my liege's sov'reignty . + +You are right , justice ; and you weigh this well ; +Therefore still bear the balance and the sword : +And I do wish your honours may increase +Till you do live to see a son of mine +Offend you and obey you , as I did . +So shall I live to speak my father's words : +'Happy am I , that have a man so bold +That dares do justice on my proper son ; +And not less happy , having such a son , +That would deliver up his greatness so +Into the hands of justice .' You did commit me : +For which , I do commit into your hand +The unstained sword that you have us'd to bear ; +With this remembrance , that you use the same +With the like bold , just , and impartial spirit +As you have done 'gainst me . There is my hand : +You shall be as a father to my youth ; +My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear , +And I will stoop and humble my intents +To your well-practis'd wise directions . +And , princes all , believe me , I beseech you ; +My father is gone wild into his grave , +For in his tomb lie my affections ; +And with his spirit sadly I survive , +To mock the expectation of the world , +To frustrate prophecies , and to raze out +Rotten opinion , who hath writ me down +After my seeming . The tide of blood in me +Hath proudly flow'd in vanity till now : +Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea , +Where it shall mingle with the state of floods +And flow henceforth in formal majesty . +Now call we our high court of parliament ; +And let us choose such limbs of noble counsel , +That the great body of our state may go +In equal rank with the best govern'd nation ; +That war or peace , or both at once , may be +As things acquainted and familiar to us ; +In which you , father , shall have foremost hand . +Our coronation done , we will accite , +As I before remember'd , all our state : +And , God consigning to my good intents , +No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say , +God shorten Harry's happy life one day . + + +Nay , you shall see mine orchard , where , in an arbour , we will eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing , with a dish of caraways , and so forth ; come , cousin Silence ; and then to bed . + +'Fore God , you have here a goodly dwelling , and a rich . + +Barren , barren , barren ; beggars all , beggars all , Sir John : marry , good air . Spread , Davy ; spread , Davy : well said , Davy . + +This Davy serves you for good uses ; he is your serving-man and your husband . + +A good varlet , a good varlet , a very good varlet , Sir John : by the mass , I have drunk too much sack at supper : a good varlet . Now sit down , now sit down . Come , cousin . + +Ah , sirrah ! quoth a' , we shall + +Do nothing but eat , and make good cheer , +And praise God for the merry year ; +When flesh is cheap and females dear , +And lusty lads roam here and there , +So merrily +And ever among so merrily . + + +There's a merry heart ! Good Master Silence , I'll give you a health for that anon . + +Give Master Bardolph some wine , Davy . + +Sweet sir , sit ; I'll be with you anon : most sweet sir , sit . Master page , good master page , sit . Proface ! What you want in meat we'll have in drink : but you must bear : the heart's all . + + +Be merry , Master Bardolph ; and my little soldier there , be merry . + + +Be merry , be merry , my wife has all ; +For women are shrews , both short and tall : +'Tis merry in hall when beards wag all , +And welcome merry Shrove-tide . +Be merry , be merry . + + +I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this mettle . + +Who , I ? I have been merry twice and once ere now . + + +There's a dish of leather-coats for you . + + +Davy ! + +Your worship ! I'll be with you straight . A cup of wine , sir ? + + +A cup of wine that's brisk and fine +And drink unto the leman mine ; +And a merry heart lives long-a . + + +Well said , Master Silence . + +And we shall be merry , now comes in the sweet o' the night . + +Health and long life to you , Master Silence . + + +Fill the cup , and let it come ; +I'll pledge you a mile to the bottom . + + +Honest Bardolph , welcome : if thou wantest anything and wilt not call , beshrew thy heart . + +Welcome , my little tiny thief ; and welcome indeed too . I'll drink to Master Bardolph and to all the cavaleiroes about London . + +I hope to see London once ere I die . + +An I might see you there , Davy , + +By the mass , you'll crack a quart together : ha ! will you not , Master Bardolph ? + +Yea , sir , in a pottle-pot . + +By God's liggens , I thank thee . The knave will stick by thee , I can assure thee that : a' will not out ; he is true bred . + +And I'll stick by him , sir . + +Why , there spoke a king . Lack nothing : be merry . + +Look who's at door there . Ho ! who knocks ? + +Why , now you have done me right . + + +Do me right , +And dub me knight : +Samingo + +Is't not so ? + +'Tis so . + +Is't so ? Why , then , say an old man can do somewhat . + + +An't please your worship , there's one Pistol come from the court with news . + +From the court ! let him come in . + +How now , Pistol ! + +Sir John , God save you , sir ! + +What wind blew you hither , Pistol ? + +Not the ill wind which blows no man to good . +Sweet knight , thou art now one of the greatest men in this realm . + +By'r lady , I think a' be , but goodman Puff of Barson . + +Puff ! +Puff in thy teeth , most recreant coward base ! +Sir John , I am thy Pistol and thy friend , +And helter-skelter have I rode to thee , +And tidings do I bring and lucky joys +And golden times and happy news of price . + +I prithee now , deliver them like a man of this world . + +A foutra for the world and worldlings base ! +I speak of Africa and golden joys . + +O base Assyrian knight , what is thy news ? +Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof . + + +And Robin Hood , Scarlet , and John . + + +Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons ? +And shall good news be baffled ? +Then , Pistol , lay thy head in Furies' lap . + +Honest gentleman , I know not your breeding . + +Why then , lament therefore . + +Give me pardon , sir : if , sir , you come with news from the court , I take it there is but two ways : either to utter them , or to conceal them . I am , sir , under the king , in some authority . + +Under which king , Bezonian ? speak , or die . + +Under King Harry . + +Harry the Fourth ? or Fifth ? + +Harry the Fourth . + +A foutra for thine office ! +Sir John , thy tender lambkin now is king ; +Harry the Fifth's the man . I speak the truth : +When Pistol lies , do this ; and fig me , like +The bragging Spaniard . + +What ! is the old king dead ? + +As nail in door : the things I speak are just . + +Away , Bardolph ! saddle my horse . Master Robert Shallow , choose what office thou wilt in the land , 'tis thine . Pistol , I will double-charge thee with dignities . + +O joyful day ! +I would not take a knighthood for my fortune . + +What ! I do bring good news . + +Carry Master Silence to bed . Master Shallow , my Lord Shallow , be what thou wilt , I am Fortune's steward . Get on thy boots : we'll ride all night . O sweet Pistol ! Away , Bardolph ! + +Come , Pistol , utter more to me ; and , withal devise something to do thyself good . Boot , boot , Master Shallow : I know the young king is sick for me . Let us take any man's horses ; the laws of England are at my commandment . Happy are they which have been my friends , and woe unto my lord chief justice ! + +Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also ! +'Where is the life that late I led ?' say they : +Why , here it is : welcome these pleasant days ! + + +No , thou arrant knave : I would to God I might die that I might have thee hanged ; thou hast drawn my shoulder out of joint . + +The constables have delivered her over to me , and she shall have whipping-cheer enough , I warrant her : there hath been a man or two lately killed about her . + +Nut-hook , nut-hook , you lie . Come on ; I'll tell thee what , thou damned tripe-visaged rascal , an the child I now go with do miscarry , thou hadst better thou hadst struck thy mother , thou paper-faced villain . + +O the Lord ! that Sir John were come ; he would make this a bloody day to somebody . But I pray God the fruit of her womb miscarry ! + +If it do , you shall have a dozen of cushions again ; you have but eleven now . Come , I charge you both go with me ; for the man is dead that you and Pistol beat among you . + +I'll tell thee what , thou thin man in a censer , I will have you as soundly swinged for this , you blue-bottle rogue ! you filthy famished correctioner ! if you be not swinged , I'll forswear half-kirtles . + +Come , come , you she knighterrant , come . + +O , that right should thus overcome might ! Well , of sufferance comes ease . + +Come , you rogue , come : bring me to a justice . + +Ay ; come , you starved blood-hound . + +Goodman death ! goodman bones ! + +Thou atomy , thou ! + +Come , you thin thing ; come , you rascal ! + +Very well . + + +More rushes , more rushes . + +The trumpets have sounded twice . + +It will be two o'clock ere they come from the coronation . Dispatch , dispatch . + +Stand here by me , Master Robert Shallow ; I will make the king do you grace . I will leer upon him , as a' comes by ; and do but mark the countenance that he will give me . + +God bless thy lungs , good knight . + +Come here , Pistol ; stand behind me . O ! if I had had time to have made new liveries , I would have bestowed the thousand pound I borrowed of you . But 'tis no matter ; this poor show doth better : this doth infer the zeal I had to see him . + +It doth so . + +It shows my earnestness of affection . + +It doth so . + +My devotion . + +It doth , it doth , it doth . + +As it were , to ride day and night ; and not to deliberate , not to remember , not to have patience to shift me . + +It is most certain . + +But to stand stained with travel , and sweating with desire to see him ; thinking of nothing else ; putting all affairs else in oblivion , as if there were nothing else to be done but to see him . + +'Tis semper idem , for absque hoc nihil est : +'Tis all in every part . + +'Tis so , indeed . + +My knight , I will inflame thy noble liver , +And make thee rage . +Thy Doll , and Helen of thy noble thoughts , +Is in base durance and contagious prison ; +Hal'd thither +By most mechanical and dirty hand : +Rouse up revenge from ebon den with fell Alecto's snake , +For Doll is in : Pistol speaks nought but truth . + +I will deliver her . + + +There roar'd the sea , and trumpetclangor sounds . + + +God save thy grace , King Hal ! my royal Hal ! + +The heavens thee guard and keep , most royal imp of fame ! + +God save thee , my sweet boy ! + +My lord chief justice , speak to that vain man . + +Have you your wits ? know you what 'tis you speak ? + +My king ! my Jove ! I speak to thee , my heart ! + +I know thee not , old man : fall to thy prayers ; +How ill white hairs become a fool and jester ! +I have long dream'd of such a kind of man , +So surfeit-swell'd , so old , and so profane ; +But , being awak'd , I do despise my dream . +Make less thy body hence , and more thy grace ; +Leave gormandising ; know the grave doth gape +For thee thrice wider than for other men . +Reply not to me with a fool-born jest : +Presume not that I am the thing I was ; +For God doth know , so shall the world perceive , +That I have turn'd away my former self ; +So will I those that kept me company . +When thou dost hear I am as I have been , +Approach me , and thou shalt be as thou wast , +The tutor and the feeder of my riots : +Till then , I banish thee , on pain of death , +As I have done the rest of my misleaders , +Not to come near our person by ten mile . +For competence of life I will allow you , +That lack of means enforce you not to evil : +And , as we hear you do reform yourselves , +We will , according to your strength and qualities , +Give you advancement . Be it your charge , my lord , +To see perform'd the tenour of our word . +Set on . + + +Master Shallow , I owe you a thousand pound . + +Ay , marry , Sir John ; which I beseech you to let me have home with me . + +That can hardly be , Master Shallow . Do not you grieve at this : I shall be sent for in private to him . Look you , he must seem thus to the world . Fear not your advancements ; I will be the man yet that shall make you great . + +I cannot perceive how , unless you should give me your doublet and stuff me out with straw . I beseech you , good Sir John , let me have five hundred of my thousand . + +Sir , I will be as good as my word : this that you heard was but a colour . + +A colour that I fear you will die in , Sir John . + +Fear no colours : go with me to dinner . Come , Lieutenant Pistol ; come , Bardolph : I shall be sent for soon at night . + + +Go , carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet ; +Take all his company along with him . + +My lord , my lord ! + +I cannot now speak : I will hear you soon . +Take them away . + +Si fortuna me tormenta , spero contenta . + + +I like this fair proceeding of the king's . +He hath intent his wonted followers +Shall all be very well provided for ; +But all are banish'd till their conversations +Appear more wise and modest to the world . + +And so they are . + +The king hath call'd his parliament , my lord . + +He hath . + +I will lay odds , that , ere this year expire , +We bear our civil swords and native fire +As far as France . I heard a bird so sing , +Whose music , to my thinking , pleas'd the king . +Come , will you hence ? + + +First , my fear ; then , my curtsy ; last my speech . My fear is , your displeasure , my curtsy , my duty , and my speech , to beg your pardon . If you look for a good speech now , you undo me ; for what I have to say is of mine own making ; and what indeed I should say will , I doubt , prove mine own marring . But to the purpose , and so to the venture . Be it known to you ,as it is very well ,I was lately here in the end of a displeasing play , to pray your patience for it and to promise you a better . I did mean indeed to pay you with this ; which , if like an ill venture it come unluckily home , I break , and you , my gentle creditors , lose . Here , I promised you I would be , and here I commit my body to your mercies : bate me some and I will pay you some ; and , as most debtors do , promise you infinitely . +If my tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me , will you command me to use my legs ? and yet that were but light payment , to dance out of your debt . But a good conscience will make any possible satisfaction , and so will I . All the gentlewomen here have forgiven me : if the gentlemen will not , then the gentlemen do not agree with the gentlewomen , which was never seen before in such an assembly . +One word more , I beseech you . If you be not too much cloyed with fat meat , our humble author will continue the story , with Sir John in it , and make you merry with fair Katharine of France : where , for anything I know , Falstaff shall die of a sweat , unless already a' be killed with your hard opinions ; for Oldcastle died a martyr , and this is not the man . My tongue is weary ; when my legs are too , I will bid you good night : and so kneel down before you ; but , indeed , to pray for the queen . + +THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI + + +As by your high imperial majesty +I had in charge at my depart for France , +As procurator to your excellence , +To marry Princess Margaret for your Grace ; +So , in the famous ancient city , Tours , +In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil , +The Dukes of Orleans , Calaber , Britaine , and Alen on , +Seven earls , twelve barons , and twenty reverend bishops , +I have perform'd my task , and was espous'd : +And humbly now upon my bended knee , +In sight of England and her lordly peers , +Deliver up my title in the queen +To your most gracious hands , that are the substance +Of that great shadow I did represent ; +The happiest gift that ever marquess gave , +The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd . + +Suffolk , arise . Welcome , Queen Margaret : +I can express no kinder sign of love +Than this kind kiss . O Lord ! that lends me life , +Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness ! +For thou hast given me in this beauteous face +A world of earthly blessings to my soul , +If sympathy of love unite our thoughts . + +Great King of England and my gracious lord , +The mutual conference that my mind hath had +By day , by night , waking , and in my dreams , +In courtly company , or at my beads , +With you , mine alderliefest sovereign , +Makes me the bolder to salute my king +With ruder terms , such as my wit affords , +And over-joy of heart doth minister . + +Her sight did ravish , but her grace in speech , +Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty , +Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys ; +Such is the fulness of my heart's content . +Lords , with one cheerful voice welcome my love . + +Long live Queen Margaret , England's happiness ! + +We thank you all . + + +My Lord Protector , so it please your Grace , +Here are the articles of contracted peace +Between our sovereign and the French King Charles , +For eighteen months concluded by consent . + +Imprimis , It is agreed between the French king , Charles , and William De la Pole , Marquess of Suffolk , ambassador for Henry King of England , that the said Henry shall espouse the Lady Margaret , daughter unto Reignier King of Naples , Sicilia , and Jerusalem , and crown her Queen of England ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing . +Item , That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father . + + +Uncle , how now ! + +Pardon me , gracious lord ; +Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart +And dimm'd mine eyes , that I can read no further . + +Uncle of Winchester , I pray , read on . + +Item , It is further agreed between them , that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father ; and she sent over of the King of England's own proper cost and charges , without having any dowry . + +They please us well . Lord marquess , kneel down : +We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk , +And girt thee with the sword . Cousin of York , +We here discharge your Grace from being regent +I' the parts of France , till term of eighteen months +Be full expir'd . Thanks , uncle Winchester , +Gloucester , York , Buckingham , Somerset , +Salisbury , and Warwick ; +We thank you all for this great favour done , +In entertainment to my princely queen . +Come , let us in , and with all speed provide +To see her coronation be perform'd . + + +Brave peers of England , pillars of the state , +To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief , +Your grief , the common grief of all the land . +What ! did my brother Henry spend his youth , +His valour , coin , and people , in the wars ? +Did he so often lodge in open field , +In winter's cold , and summer's parching heat , +To conquer France , his true inheritance ? +And did my brother Bedford toil his wits , +To keep by policy what Henry got ? +Have you yourselves , Somerset , Buckingham , +Brave York , Salisbury , and victorious Warwick , +Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy ? +Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself , +With all the learned council of the realm , +Studied so long , sat in the council-house +Early and late , debating to and fro +How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe ? +And hath his highness in his infancy +Been crown'd in Paris , in despite of foes ? +And shall these labours and these honours die ? +Shall Henry's conquest , Bedford's vigilance , +Your deeds of war and all our counsel die ? +O peers of England ! shameful is this league , +Fatal this marriage , cancelling your fame , +Blotting your names from books of memory , +Razing the characters of your renown , +Defacing monuments of conquer'd France , +Undoing all , as all had never been . + +Nephew , what means this passionate discourse , +This peroration with such circumstance ? +For France , 'tis ours ; and we will keep it still . + +Ay , uncle ; we will keep it , if we can ; +But now it is impossible we should . +Suffolk , the new-made duke that rules the roast , +Hath given the duchies of Anjou and Maine +Unto the poor King Reignier , whose large style +Agrees not with the leanness of his purse . + +Now , by the death of him who died for all , +These counties were the keys of Normandy . +But wherefore weeps Warwick , my valiant son ? + +For grief that they are past recovery : +For , were there hope to conquer them again , +My sword should shed hot blood , mine eyes no tears . +Anjou and Maine ! myself did win them both ; +Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer : +And are the cities , that I got with wounds , +Deliver'd up again with peaceful words ? +Mort Dieu ! + +For Suffolk's duke , may he be suffocate , +That dims the honour of this war-like isle ! +France should have torn and rent my very heart +Before I would have yielded to this league . +I never read but England's kings have had +Large sums of gold and dowries with their wives ; +And our King Henry gives away his own , +To match with her that brings no vantages . + +A proper jest , and never heard before , +That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth +For costs and charges in transporting her ! +She should have stay'd in France , and starv'd in France , +Before + +My Lord of Gloucester , now you grow too hot : +It was the pleasure of my lord the king . + +My Lord of Winchester , I know your mind : +'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike , +But 'tis my presence that doth trouble ye . +Rancour will out : proud prelate , in thy face +I see thy fury . If I longer stay +We shall begin our ancient bickerings . +Lordings , farewell ; and say , when I am gone , +I prophesied France will be lost ere long . + + +So , there goes our protector in a rage . +'Tis known to you he is mine enemy , +Nay , more , an enemy unto you all , +And no great friend , I fear me , to the king . +Consider lords , he is the next of blood , +And heir apparent to the English crown : +Had Henry got an empire by his marriage , +And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west , +There's reason he should be displeas'd at it . +Look to it , lords ; let not his smoothing words +Bewitch your hearts ; be wise and circumspect . +What though the common people favour him , +Calling him , 'Humphrey , the good Duke of Gloucester ;' +Clapping their hands , and crying with loud voice , +'Jesu maintain your royal excellence !' +With 'God preserve the good Duke Humphrey !' +I fear me , lords , for all this flattering gloss , +He will be found a dangerous protector . + +Why should he then protect our sovereign , +He being of age to govern of himself ? +Cousin of Somerset , join you with me , +And all together , with the Duke of Suffolk , +We'll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat . + +This weighty business will not brook delay ; +I'll to the Duke of Suffolk presently . + + +Cousin of Buckingham , though Humphrey's pride +And greatness of his place be grief to us , +Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal : +His insolence is more intolerable +Than all the princes in the land beside : +If Gloucester be displac'd , he'll be protector . + +Or thou , or I , Somerset , will be protector , +Despite Duke Humphrey or the cardinal . + + +Pride went before , ambition follows him . +While these do labour for their own preferment , +Behoves it us to labour for the realm . +I never saw but Humphrey , Duke of Gloucester , +Did bear him like a noble gentleman . +Oft have I seen the haughty cardinal +More like a soldier than a man o' the church , +As stout and proud as he were lord of all , +Swear like a ruffian and demean himself +Unlike the ruler of a commonweal . +Warwick , my son , the comfort of my age , +Thy deeds , thy plainness , and thy house-keeping , +Have won the greatest favour of the commons , +Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey : +And , brother York , thy acts in Ireland , +In bringing them to civil discipline , +Thy late exploits done in the heart of France , +When thou wert regent for our sovereign , +Have made thee fear'd and honour'd of the people . +Join we together for the public good , +In what we can to bridle and suppress +The pride of Suffolk and the cardinal , +With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition ; +And , as we may , cherish Duke Humphrey's deeds , +While they do tend the profit of the land . + +So God help Warwick , as he loves the land , +And common profit of his country ! + +And so says York , for he hath greatest cause . + +Then let's make haste away , and look unto the main . + +Unto the main ! O father , Maine is lost ! +That Maine which by main force Warwick did win , +And would have kept so long as breath did last : +Main chance , father , you meant ; but I meant Maine , +Which I will win from France , or else be slain . + + +Anjou and Maine are given to the French ; +Paris is lost ; the state of Normandy +Stands on a tickle point now they are gone . +Suffolk concluded on the articles , +The peers agreed , and Henry was well pleas'd +To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter . +I cannot blame them all : what is't to them ? +'Tis thine they give away , and not their own . +Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage , +And purchase friends , and give to courtezans , +Still revelling like lords till all be gone ; +While as the silly owner of the goods +Weeps over them , and wrings his hapless hands , +And shakes his head , and trembling stands aloof , +While all is shar'd and all is borne away , +Ready to starve and dare not touch his own : +So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue +While his own lands are bargain'd for and sold . +Methinks the realms of England , France , and Ireland +Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood +As did the fatal brand Alth a burn'd +Unto the prince's heart of Calydon . +Anjou and Maine both given unto the French ! +Cold news for me , for I had hope of France , +Even as I have of fertile England's soil . +A day will come when York shall claim his own ; +And therefore I will take the Nevils' parts +And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey , +And , when I spy advantage , claim the crown , +For that's the golden mark I seek to hit . +Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right . +Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist , +Nor wear the diadem upon his head , +Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown . +Then , York , be still awhile , till time do serve : +Watch thou and wake when others be asleep , +To pry into the secrets of the state ; +Till Henry , surfeiting in joys of love , +With his new bride and England's dear-bought queen , +And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars : +Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose , +With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd , +And in my standard bear the arms of York , +To grapple with the house of Lancaster ; +And , force perforce , I'll make him yield the crown , +Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down . + + +Why droops my lord , like over-ripen'd corn +Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load ? +Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows , +As frowning at the favours of the world ? +Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth , +Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight ? +What seest thou there ? King Henry's diadem +Enchas'd with all the honours of the world ? +If so , gaze on , and grovel on thy face , +Until thy head be circled with the same . +Put forth thy hand , reach at the glorious gold : +What ! is't too short ? I'll lengthen it with mine ; +And having both together heav'd it up , +We'll both together lift our heads to heaven , +And never more abase our sight so low +As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground . + +O Nell , sweet Nell , if thou dost love thy lord , +Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts : +And may that thought , when I imagine ill +Against my king and nephew , virtuous Henry , +Be my last breathing in this mortal world ! +My troublous dream this night doth make me sad . + +What dream'd my lord ? tell me , and I'll requite it +With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream . + +Methought this staff , mine office-badge in court , +Was broke in twain ; by whom I have forgot , +But , as I think , it was by the cardinal ; +And on the pieces of the broken wand +Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset , +And William De la Pole , first Duke of Suffolk . +This was my dream : what it doth bode , God knows . + +Tut ! this was nothing but an argument +That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester's grove +Shall lose his head for his presumption . +But list to me , my Humphrey , my sweet duke : +Methought I sat in seat of majesty +In the cathedral church of Westminster , +And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd ; +Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneel'd to me , +And on my head did set the diadem . + +Nay , Eleanor , then must I chide outright : +Presumptuous dame ! ill-nurtur'd Eleanor ! +Art thou not second woman in the realm , +And the protector's wife , belov'd of him ? +Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command , +Above the reach or compass of thy thought ? +And wilt thou still be hammering treachery , +To tumble down thy husband and thyself +From top of honour to disgrace's feet ? +Away from me , and let me hear no more . + +What , what , my lord ! are you so choleric +With Eleanor , for telling but her dream ? +Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself , +And not be check'd . + +Nay , be not angry ; I am pleas'd again . + + +My Lord Protector , 'tis his highness' pleasure +You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's , +Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk . + +I go . Come , Nell , thou wilt ride with us ? + +Yes , my good lord , I'll follow presently . + +Follow I must ; I cannot go before , +While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind . +Were I a man , a duke , and next of blood , +I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks +And smooth my way upon their headless necks ; +And , being a woman , I will not be slack +To play my part in Fortune's pageant . +Where are you there ? Sir John ! nay , fear not , man , +We are alone ; here's none but thee and I . + + +Jesus preserve your royal majesty ! + +What sayst thou ? majesty ! I am but Grace . + +But , by the grace of God , and Hume's advice , +Your Grace's title shall be multiplied . + +What sayst thou , man ? hast thou as yet conferr'd +With Margery Jourdain , the cunning witch , +With Roger Bolingbroke , the conjurer ? +And will they undertake to do me good ? + +This they have promised , to show your highness +A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground , +That shall make answer to such questions +As by your Grace shall be propounded him . + +It is enough : I'll think upon the questions . +When from Saint Alban's we do make return +We'll see these things effected to the full . +Here , Hume , take this reward ; make merry , man , +With thy confed'rates in this weighty cause . + + +Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold ; +Marry and shall . But how now , Sir John Hume ! +Seal up your lips , and give no words but mum : +The business asketh silent secrecy . +Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch : +Gold cannot come amiss , were she a devil . +Yet have I gold flies from another coast : +I dare not say from the rich cardinal +And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk ; +Yet I do find it so : for , to be plain , +They , knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour , +Have hired me to undermine the duchess +And buzz these conjurations in her brain . +They say , 'A crafty knave does need no broker ;' +Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker . +Hume , if you take not heed , you shall go near +To call them both a pair of crafty knaves . +Well , so it stands ; and thus , I fear , at last +Hume's knavery will be the duchess' wrack , +And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall . +Sort how it will I shall have gold for all . + + +My masters , let's stand close : my Lord Protector will come this way by and by , and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill . + +Marry , the Lord protect him , for he's a good man ! Jesu bless him ! + + +Here a' comes , methinks , and the queen with him . I'll be the first , sure . + +Come back , fool ! this is the Duke of Suffolk and not my Lord Protector . + +How now , fellow ! wouldst anything with me ? + +I pray , my lord , pardon me : I took ye for my Lord Protector . + +To my Lord Protector ! are your supplications to his lordship ? Let me see them : what is thine ? + +Mine is , an't please your Grace , against John Goodman , my Lord Cardinal's man , for keeping my house , and lands , my wife and all , from me . + +Thy wife too ! that is some wrong indeed . What's yours ? What's here ? Against the Duke of Suffolk , for enclosing the commons of Melford ! How now , sir knave ! + +Alas ! sir , I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township . + +Against my master , Thomas Horner , for saying that the Duke of York was rightful heir to the crown . + +What sayst thou ? Did the Duke of York say he was rightful heir to the crown ? + +That my master was ? No , forsooth : my master said that he was ; and that the king was an usurper . + +Who is there ? + + +Take this fellow in , and send for his master with a pursuivant presently . We'll hear more of your matter before the king . + +And as for you , that love to be protected +Under the wings of our protector's grace , +Begin your suits anew and sue to him . + +Away , base cullions ! Suffolk , let them go . + +Come , let's be gone . + + +My Lord of Suffolk , say , is this the guise , +Is this the fashion of the court of England ? +Is this the government of Britain's isle , +And this the royalty of Albion's king ? +What ! shall King Henry be a pupil still +Under the surly Gloucester's governance ? +Am I a queen in title and in style , +And must be made a subject to a duke ? +I tell thee , Pole , when in the city Tours +Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love , +And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France , +I thought King Henry had resembled thee +In courage , courtship , and proportion : +But all his mind is bent to holiness , +To number Ave-Maries on his beads ; +His champions are the prophets and apostles ; +His weapons holy saws of sacred writ ; +His study is his tilt-yard , and his loves +Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints . +I would the college of the cardinals +Would choose him pope , and carry him to Rome , +And set the triple crown upon his head : +That were a state fit for his holiness . + +Madam , be patient ; as I was cause +Your highness came to England , so will I +In England work your Grace's full content . + +Beside the haught protector , have we Beaufort +The imperious churchman , Somerset , Buckingham , +And grumbling York ; and not the least of these +But can do more in England than the king . + +And he of these that can do most of all +Cannot do more in England than the Nevils : +Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers . + +Not all these lords do vex me half so much +As that proud dame , the Lord Protector's wife : +She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies , +More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife . +Strangers in court do take her for the queen : +She bears a duke's revenues on her back , +And in her heart she scorns our poverty . +Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her ? +Contemptuous base-born callot as she is , +She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day +The very train of her worst wearing gown +Was better worth than all my father's lands , +Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter . + +Madam , myself have lim'd a bush for her , +And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds +That she will light to listen to the lays , +And never mount to trouble you again . +So , let her rest : and , madam , list to me ; +For I am bold to counsel you in this . +Although we fancy not the cardinal , +Yet must we join with him and with the lords +Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace . +As for the Duke of York , this late complaint +Will make but little for his benefit : +So , one by one , we'll weed them all at last , +And you yourself shall steer the happy helm . + +For my part , noble lords , I care not which ; +Or Somerset or York , all's one to me . + +If York have ill demean'd himself in France , +Then let him be denay'd the regentship . + +If Somerset be unworthy of the place , +Let York be regent ; I will yield to him . + +Whether your Grace be worthy , yea or no , +Dispute not that : York is the worthier . + +Ambitious Warwick , let thy betters speak . + +The cardinal's not my better in the field . + +All in this presence are thy betters , Warwick . + +Warwick may live to be the best of all . + +Peace , son ! and show some reason , Buckingham , +Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this . + +Because the king , forsooth , will have it so . + +Madam , the king is old enough himself +To give his censure : these are no women's matters . + +If he be old enough , what needs your Grace +To be protector of his excellence ? + +Madam , I am protector of the realm ; +And at his pleasure will resign my place . + +Resign it then and leave thine insolence . +Since thou wertking ,as who is king but thou ? +The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack ; +The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas ; +And all the peers and nobles of the realm +Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty . + +The commons hast thou rack'd ; the clergy's bags +Are lank and lean with thy extortions . + +Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire +Have cost a mass of public treasury . + +Thy cruelty in execution +Upon offenders hath exceeded law , +And left thee to the mercy of the law . + +Thy sale of offices and towns in France , +If they were known , as the suspect is great , +Would make thee quickly hop without thy head . + +Give me my fan : what , minion ! can ye not ? + +I cry you mercy , madam , was it you ? + +Was't I ? yea , I it was , proud Frenchwoman : +Could I come near your beauty with my nails +I'd set my ten commandments in your face . + +Sweet aunt , be quiet ; 'twas against her will . + +Against her will ! Good king , look to't in time ; +She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby : +Though in this place most master wear no breeches , +She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unreveng'd . + + +Lord Cardinal , I will follow Eleanor , +And listen after Humphrey , how he proceeds : +She's tickled now ; her fume can need no spurs , +She'll gallop far enough to her destruction . + +Now , lords , my choler being over-blown +With walking once about the quadrangle , +I come to talk of commonwealth affairs . +As for your spiteful false objections , +Prove them , and I lie open to the law : +But God in mercy so deal with my soul +As I in duty love my king and country ! +But to the matter that we have in hand . +I say , my sov'reign , York is meetest man +To be your regent in the realm of France . + +Before we make election , give me leave +To show some reason , of no little force , +That York is most unmeet of any man . + +I'll tell thee , Suffolk , why I am unmeet : +First , for I cannot flatter thee in pride ; +Next , if I be appointed for the place , +My Lord of Somerset will keep me here , +Without discharge , money , or furniture , +Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands . +Last time I danc'd attendance on his will +Till Paris was besieg'd , famish'd , and lost . + +That can I witness ; and a fouler fact +Did never traitor in the land commit . + +Peace , headstrong Warwick ! + +Image of pride , why should I hold my peace ? + + +Because here is a man accus'd of treason : +Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself ! + +Doth any one accuse York for a traitor ? + +What mean'st thou , Suffolk ? tell me , what are these ? + +Please it your majesty , this is the man +That doth accuse his master of high treason . +His words were these : that Richard , Duke of York , +Was rightful heir unto the English crown , +And that your majesty was a usurper . + +Say , man , were these thy words ? + +An't shall please your majesty , I never said nor thought any such matter : God is my witness , I am falsely accused by the villain . + +By these ten bones , my lords , he did speak them to me in the garret one night , as we were scouring my Lord of York's armour . + +Base dunghill villain , and mechanical , +I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech . +I do beseech your royal majesty +Let him have all the rigour of the law . + +Alas ! my lord , hang me if ever I spake the words . My accuser is my prentice ; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day , he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me : I have good witness of this : therefore I beseech your majesty , do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation . + +Uncle , what shall we say to this in law ? + +This doom , my lord , if I may judge . +Let Somerset be regent o'er the French , +Because in York this breeds suspicion ; +And let these have a day appointed them +For single combat in convenient place ; +For he hath witness of his servant's malice . +This is the law , and this Duke Humphrey's doom . + +Then be it so . My Lord of Somerset , +We make your Grace lord regent o'er the French . + +I humbly thank your royal majesty . + +And I accept the combat willingly . + +Alas ! my lord , I cannot fight : for God's sake , pity my case ! the spite of man prevaileth against me . O Lord , have mercy upon me ! I shall never be able to fight a blow . O Lord , my heart ! + +Sirrah , or you must fight , or else be hang'd . + +Away with them to prison ; and the day +Of combat shall be the last of the next month . +Come , Somerset , we'll see thee sent away . + + +Come , my masters ; the duchess , I tell you , expects performance of your promises . + +Master Hume , we are therefore provided . Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms ? + +Ay ; what else ? fear you not her courage . + +I have heard her reported to be a woman of invincible spirit : but it shall be convenient , Master Hume , that you be by her aloft while we be busy below ; and so , I pray you , go in God's name , and leave us . + +Mother Jourdain , be you prostrate , and grovel on the earth ; John Southwell , read you ; and let us to our work . + + +Well said , my masters , and welcome all . +To this gear the sooner the better . + +Patience , good lady ; wizards know their times : +Deep night , dark night , the silent of the night , +The time of night when Troy was set on fire ; +The time when screech-owls cry , and ban-dogs howl , +And spirits walk , and ghosts break up their graves , +That time best fits the work we have in hand . +Madam , sit you , and fear not : whom we raise +We will make fast within a hallow'd verge . + + +Adsum . + +Asmath ! +By the eternal God , whose name and power +Thou tremblest at , answer that I shall ask ; +For till thou speak , thou shalt not pass from hence . + +Ask what thou wilt . That I had said and done ! + +First , of the king : what shall of him become ? + +The Duke yet lives that Henry shall depose ; +But him outlive , and die a violent death . + + +What fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk ? + +By water shall he die and take his end . + +What shall befall the Duke of Somerset ? + +Let him shun castles : +Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains +Than where castles mounted stand . +Have done , for more I hardly can endure . + +Descend to darkness and the burning lake ! +False fiend , avoid ! + +Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash . +Beldam , I think we watch'd you at an inch . +What ! madam , are you there ? the king and commonweal +Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains : +My Lord Protector will , I doubt it not , +See you well guerdon'd for these good deserts . + +Not half so bad as thine to England's king , +Injurious duke , that threat'st where is no cause . + +True , madam , none at all . What call you this ? + +Away with them ! let them be clapp'd up close +And kept asunder . You , madam , shall with us : +Stafford , take her to thee . + +We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming . +All , away ! + + +Lord Buckingham , methinks you watch'd her well : +A pretty plot , well chosen to build upon ! +Now , pray , my lord , let's see the devil's writ . +What have we here ? +The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose ; +But him outlive , and die a violent death . +Why , this is just , +Aio te , acida , Romanos vincere posse . +Well , to the rest : +Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk ? +By water shall he die and take his end . +What shall betide the Duke of Somerset ? +Let him shun castles : +Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains +Than where castles mounted stand . +Come , come , my lords ; these oracles +Are hardly attain'd , and hardly understood . +The king is now in progress towards Saint Alban's ; +With him , the husband of this lovely lady : +Thither go these news as fast as horse can carry them , +A sorry breakfast for my Lord Protector . + +Your Grace shall give me leave , my Lord of York , +To be the post , in hope of his reward . + +At your pleasure , my good lord . Who's within there , ho ! + + +Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick +To sup with me to-morrow night . Away ! + + +Believe me , lords , for flying at the brook , +I saw not better sport these seven years' day : +Yet , by your leave , the wind was very high , +And , ten to one , old Joan had not gone out . + +But what a point , my lord , your falcon made , +And what a pitch she flew above the rest ! +To see how God in all his creatures works ! +Yea , man and birds are fain of climbing high . + +No marvel , an it like your majesty , +My Lord Protector's hawks do tower so well ; +They know their master loves to be aloft , +And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch . + +My lord , 'tis but a base ignoble mind +That mounts no higher than a bird can soar . + +I thought as much ; he'd be above the clouds . + +Ay , my Lord Cardinal ; how think you by that ? +Were it not good your Grace could fly to heaven ? + +The treasury of everlasting joy . + +Thy heaven is on earth ; thine eyes and thoughts +Beat on a crown , the treasure of thy heart ; +Pernicious protector , dangerous peer , +That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal ! + +What ! cardinal , is your priesthood grown peremptory ? +Tant ne animis c lestibus ir ? +Churchmen so hot ? good uncle , hide such malice ; +With such holiness can you do it ? + +No malice , sir ; no more than well becomes +So good a quarrel and so bad a peer . + +As who , my lord ? + +Why , as you , my lord , +An't like your lordly lord-protectorship . + +Why , Suffolk , England knows thine insolence . + +And thy ambition , Gloucester . + +I prithee , peace , +Good queen , and whet not on these furious peers ; +For blessed are the peacemakers on earth . + +Let me be blessed for the peace I make +Against this proud protector with my sword ! + +Faith , holy uncle , would 'twere come to that ! + +Marry , when thou dar'st . + +Make up no factious numbers for the matter ; +In thine own person answer thy abuse . + +Ay , where thou dar'st not peep : an if thou dar'st , +This evening on the east side of the grove . + +How now , my lords ! + +Believe me , cousin Gloucester , +Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly , +We had had more sport . + +Come with thy two-hand sword . + +True , uncle . + +Are you advis'd ? + +the east side of the grove . + +Cardinal , I am with you . + +Why , how now , uncle Gloucester ! + +Talking of hawking ; nothing else , my lord . + + +Now , by God's mother , priest , I'll shave your crown +For this , or all my fence shall fail . + +Medice teipsum ; +Protector , see to't well , protect yourself . + +The winds grow high ; so do your stomachs , lords . +How irksome is this music to my heart ! +When such strings jar , what hope of harmony ? +I pray , my lords , let me compound this strife . + + +What means this noise ? +Fellow , what miracle dost thou proclaim ? + +A miracle ! a miracle ! + +Come to the king , and tell him what miracle . + +Forsooth , a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine , +Within this half hour hath receiv'd his sight ; +A man that ne'er saw in his life before . + +Now , God be prais'd , that to believing souls +Gives light in darkness , comfort in despair ! + +Here comes the townsmen on procession , +To present your highness with the man . + +Great is his comfort in this earthly vale , +Although by his sight his sin be multiplied . + +Stand by , my masters ; bring him near the king : +His highness' pleasure is to talk with him . + +Good fellow , tell us here the circumstance , +That we for thee may glorify the Lord . +What ! hast thou been long blind , and now restor'd ? + +Born blind , an't please your Grace . + +Ay , indeed , was he . + +What woman is this ? + +His wife , an't like your worship . + +Hadst thou been his mother , thou couldst have better told . + +Where wert thou born ? + +At Berwick in the north , an't like your Grace . + +Poor soul ! God's goodness hath been great to thee : +Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass , +But still remember what the Lord hath done . + +Tell me , good fellow , cam'st thou here by chance , +Or of devotion , to this holy shrine ? + +God knows , of pure devotion ; being call'd +A hundred times and oft'ner in my sleep , +By good Saint Alban ; who said , 'Simpcox , come ; +Come , offer at my shrine , and I will help thee .' + +Most true , forsooth ; and many time and oft +Myself have heard a voice to call him so . + +What ! art thou lame ? + +Ay , God Almighty help me ! + +How cam'st thou so ? + +A fall off of a tree . + +A plum-tree , master . + +How long hast thou been blind ? + +O ! born so , master . + +What ! and wouldst climb a tree ? + +But that in all my life , when I was a youth . + +Too true ; and bought his climbing very dear . + +Mass , thou lov'dst plums well , that wouldst venture so . + +Alas ! master , my wife desir'd some damsons , +And made me climb with danger of my life . + +A subtle knave ! but yet it shall not serve . +Let me see thine eyes : wink now : now open them : +In my opinion yet thou seest not well . + +Yes , master , clear as day ; I thank God and Saint Alban . + +Sayst thou me so ? What colour is this cloak of ? + +Red , master ; red as blood . + +Why , that's well said . What colour is my gown of ? + +Black , forsooth ; coal-black , as jet . + +Why then , thou know'st what colour jet is of ? + +And yet , I think , jet did he never see . + +But cloaks and gowns before this day a many . + +Never , before this day , in all his life . + +Tell me , sirrah , what's my name ? + +Alas ! master , I know not . + +What's his name ? + +I know not . + +Nor his ? + +No , indeed , master . + +What's thine own name ? + +Saunder Simpcox , an if it please you , master . + +Then , Saunder , sit there , the lyingest knave in Christendom . If thou hadst been born blind , thou mightst as well have known all our names as thus to name the several colours we do wear . Sight may distinguish of colours , but suddenly to nominate them all , it is impossible . My lords , Saint Alban here hath done a miracle ; and would ye not think that cunning to be great , that could restore this cripple to his legs again ? + +O , master , that you could ! + +My masters of Saint Alban's , have you not beadles in your town , and things called whips ? + +Yes , my lord , if it please your Grace . + +Then send for one presently . + +Sirrah , go fetch the beadle hither straight . + + +Now fetch me a stool hither by and by . + + +Now , sirrah , if you mean to save yourself from whipping , leap me over this stool and run away . + +Alas ! master , I am not able to stand alone : +You go about to torture me in vain . + + +Well , sir , we must have you find your legs . Sirrah beadle , whip him till he leap over that same stool . + +I will , my lord . Come on , sirrah ; off with your doublet quickly . + +Alas ! master , what shall I do ? I am not able to stand . + +O God ! seest thou this , and bear'st so long ? + +It made me laugh to see the villain run . + +Follow the knave ; and take this drab away . + +Alas ! sir , we did it for pure need . + +Let them be whipp'd through every market town +Till they come to Berwick , from whence they came . + + +Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day . + +True ; made the lame to leap and fly away . + +But you have done more miracles than I ; +You made in a day , my lord , whole towns to fly . + + +What tidings with our cousin Buckingham ? + +Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold . +A sort of naughty persons , lewdly bent , +Under the countenance and confederacy +Of Lady Eleanor , the protector's wife , +The ringleader and head of all this rout , +Have practis'd dangerously against your state , +Dealing with witches and with conjurers : +Whom we have apprehended in the fact ; +Raising up wicked spirits from under-ground , +Demanding of King Henry's life and death , +And other of your highness' privy council , +As more at large your Grace shall understand . + +And so , my Lord Protector , by this means +Your lady is forthcoming yet at London . +This news , I think , hath turn'd your weapon's edge ; +'Tis like , my lord , you will not keep your hour . + +Ambitious churchman , leave to afflict my heart : +Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers ; +And , vanquish'd as I am , I yield to thee , +Or to the meanest groom . + +O God ! what mischiefs work the wicked ones , +Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby . + +Gloucester , see here the tainture of thy nest ; +And look thyself be faultless , thou wert best . + +Madam , for myself , to heaven I do appeal , +How I have lov'd my king and commonweal ; +And , for my wife , I know not how it stands . +Sorry I am to hear what I have heard : +Noble she is , but if she have forgot +Honour and virtue , and convers'd with such +As , like to pitch , defile nobility , +I banish her my bed and company , +And give her , as a prey , to law and shame , +That hath dishonour'd Gloucester's honest name . + +Well , for this night we will repose us here : +To-morrow toward London back again , +To look into this business thoroughly , +And call these foul offenders to their answers ; +And poise the cause in justice' equal scales , +Whose beam stands sure , whose rightful cause prevails . + + +Now , my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick , +Our simple supper ended , give me leave , +In this close walk to satisfy myself , +In craving your opinion of my title , +Which is infallible to England's crown . + +My lord , I long to hear it at full . + +Sweet York , begin ; and if thy claim be good , +The Nevils are thy subjects to command . + +Then thus : +Edward the Third , my lords , had seven sons : +The first , Edward the Black Prince , Prince of Wales ; +The second , William of Hatfield ; and the third , +Lionel , Duke of Clarence ; next to whom +Was John of Gaunt , the Duke of Lancaster ; +The fifth was Edmund Langley , Duke of York ; +The sixth was Thomas of Woodstock , Duke of Gloucester ; +William of Windsor was the seventh and last . +Edward the Black Prince died before his father , +And left behind him Richard , his only son , +Who after Edward the Third's death , reign'd as king ; +Till Henry Bolingbroke , Duke of Lancaster , +The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt , +Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth , +Seiz'd on the realm , depos'd the rightful king , +Sent his poor queen to France , from whence she came , +And him to Pomfret ; where as all you know , +Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously . + +Father , the duke hath told the truth ; +Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown . + +Which now they hold by force and not by right ; +For Richard , the first son's heir , being dead , +The issue of the next son should have reign'd . + +But William of Hatfield died without an heir . + +The third son , Duke of Clarence , from whose line +I claim the crown , had issue , Philippe a daughter , +Who married Edmund Mortimer , Earl of March : +Edmund had issue Roger , Earl of March : +Roger had issue Edmund , Anne , and Eleanor . + +This Edmund , in the reign of Bolingbroke , +As I have read , laid claim unto the crown ; +And but for Owen Glendower , had been king , +Who kept him in captivity till he died . +But , to the rest . + +His eldest sister , Anne , +My mother , being heir unto the crown , +Married Richard , Earl of Cambridge , who was son +To Edmund Langley , Edward the Third's fifth son . +By her I claim the kingdom : she was heir +To Roger , Earl of March ; who was the son +Of Edmund Mortimer ; who married Philippe , +Sole daughter unto Lionel , Duke of Clarence : +So , if the issue of the eldest son +Succeed before the younger , I am king . + +What plain proceeding is more plain than this ? +Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt , +The fourth son ; York claims it from the third . +Till Lionel's issue fails , his should not reign : +It fails not yet , but flourishes in thee , +And in thy sons , fair slips of such a stock . +Then , father Salisbury , kneel we together , +And in this private plot be we the first +That shall salute our rightful sovereign +With honour of his birthright to the crown . + +Long live our sovereign Richard , England's king ! + +We thank you , lords ! But I am not your king +Till I be crown'd , and that my sword be stain'd +With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster ; +And that's not suddenly to be perform'd , +But with advice and silent secrecy . +Do you as I do in these dangerous days , +Wink at the Duke of Suffolk's insolence , +At Beaufort's pride , at Somerset's ambition , +At Buckingham and all the crew of them , +Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock , +That virtuous prince , the good Duke Humphrey : +'Tis that they seek ; and they , in seeking that +Shall find their deaths , if York can prophesy . + +My lord , break we off ; we know your mind at full . + +My heart assures me that the Earl of Warwick +Shall one day make the Duke of York a king . + +And , Nevil , this I do assure myself , +Richard shall live to make the Earl of Warwick +The greatest man in England but the king . + + +Stand forth , Dame Eleanor Cobham , Gloucester's wife . +In sight of God and us , your guilt is great : +Receive the sentence of the law for sins +Such as by God's book are adjudg'd to death . +You four , from hence to prison back again ; +From thence , unto the place of execution : +The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes , +And you three shall be strangled on the gallows . +You , madam , for you are more nobly born , +Despoiled of your honour in your life , +Shall , after three days' open penance done , +Live in your country here , in banishment , +With Sir John Stanley , in the Isle of Man . + +Welcome is banishment ; welcome were my death . + +Eleanor , the law , thou seest , hath judged thee : +I cannot justify whom the law condemns . + +Mine eyes are full of tears , my heart of grief . +Ah , Humphrey ! this dishonour in thine age +Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground . +I beseech your majesty , give me leave to go ; +Sorrow would solace and mine age would ease . + +Stay , Humphrey , Duke of Gloucester : ere thou go , +Give up thy staff : Henry will to himself +Protector be ; and God shall be my hope , +My stay , my guide , and lantern to my feet . +And go in peace , Humphrey ; no less belov'd +Than when thou wert protector to thy king . + +I see no reason why a king of years +Should be to be protected like a child . +God and King Henry govern England's helm ! +Give up your staff , sir , and the king his realm . + +My staff ! here , noble Henry , is my staff : +As willingly do I the same resign +As e'er thy father Henry made it mine ; +And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it +As others would ambitiously receive it . +Farewell , good king ! when I am dead and gone , +May honourable peace attend thy throne . + + +Why , now is Henry king , and Margaret queen ; +And Humphrey , Duke of Gloucester , scarce himself , +That bears so shrewd a maim : two pulls at once ; +His lady banish'd , and a limb lopp'd off ; +This staff of honour raught : there let it stand , +Where it best fits to be , in Henry's hand . + +Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays ; +Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days . + +Lords , let him go . Please it your majesty +This is the day appointed for the combat ; +And ready are the appellant and defendant , +The armourer and his man , to enter the lists , +So please your highness to behold the fight . + +Ay , good my lord ; for purposely therefore +Left I the court , to see this quarrel tried . + +O' God's name , see the lists and all things fit : +Here let them end it ; and God defend the right ! + +I never saw a fellow worse bested , +Or more afraid to fight , than is the appellant , +The servant of this armourer , my lords . + + +Here , neighbour Horner , I drink to you in a cup of sack : and fear not , neighbour , you shall do well enough . + +And here , neighbour , here's a cup of charneco . + +And here's a pot of good double beer , neighbour : drink , and fear not your man . + +Let it come , i' faith , and I'll pledge you all ; and a fig for Peter ! + +Here , Peter , I drink to thee ; and be not afraid . + +Be merry , Peter , and fear not thy master : fight for credit of the prentices . + +I thank you all : drink , and pray for me , I pray you ; for , I think , I have taken my last draught in this world . Here , Robin , an if I die , I give thee my apron : and , Will , thou shalt have my hammer : and here , Tom , take all the money that I have . O Lord bless me ! I pray God , for I am never able to deal with my master , he hath learnt so much fence already . + +Come , leave your drinking and fall to blows . Sirrah , what's thy name ? + +Peter , forsooth . + +Peter ! what more ? + +Thump . + +Thump ! then see thou thump thy master well . + +Masters , I am come hither , as it were , upon my man's instigation , to prove him a knave , and myself an honest man : and touching the Duke of York , I will take my death I never meant him any ill , nor the king , nor the queen ; and therefore , Peter , have at thee with a downright blow ! + +Dispatch : this knave's tongue begins to double . +Sound , trumpets , alarum to the combatants . + + +Hold , Peter , hold ! I confess , I confess treason . + + +Take away his weapon . Fellow , thank +God , and the good wine in thy master's way . + +O God ! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence ? O Peter ! thou hast prevailed in right ! + +Go , take hence that traitor from our sight ; +For by his death we do perceive his guilt : +And God in justice hath reveal'd to us +The truth and innocence of this poor fellow , +Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully . +Come , fellow , follow us for thy reward . + + +Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud ; +And after summer evermore succeeds +Barren winter , with his wrathful nipping cold : +So cares and joys abound , as seasons fleet . +Sirs , what's o'clock ? + +Ten , my lord . + +Ten is the hour that was appointed me +To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess : +Uneath may she endure the flinty streets , +To tread them with her tender-feeling feet . +Sweet Nell , ill can thy noble mind abrook +The abject people , gazing on thy face +With envious looks still laughing at thy shame , +That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels +When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets . +But , soft ! I think she comes ; and I'll prepare +My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries . + + +So please your Grace , we'll take her from the sheriff . + +No , stir not , for your lives ; let her pass by . + +Come you , my lord , to see my open shame ? +Now thou dost penance too . Look ! how they gaze . +See ! how the giddy multitude do point , +And nod their heads , and throw their eyes on thee . +Ah , Gloucester , hide thee from their hateful looks , +And , in thy closet pent up , rue my shame , +And ban thine enemies , both mine and thine ! + +Be patient , gentle Nell ; forget this grief . + +Ay , Gloucester , teach me to forget myself ; +For whilst I think I am thy wedded wife , +And thou a prince , protector of this land , +Methinks I should not thus be led along , +Mail'd up in shame , with papers on my back , +And follow'd with a rabble that rejoice +To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans . +The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet , +And when I start , the envious people laugh , +And bid me be advised how I tread . +Ah , Humphrey ! can I bear this shameful yoke ? +Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world , +Or count them happy that enjoy the sun ? +No ; dark shall be my light , and night my day ; +To think upon my pomp shall be my hell . +Sometime I'll say , I am Duke Humphrey's wife ; +And he a prince and ruler of the land : +Yet so he rul'd and such a prince he was +As he stood by whilst I , his forlorn duchess , +Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock +To every idle rascal follower . +But be thou mild and blush not at my shame ; +Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death +Hang over thee , as , sure , it shortly will ; +For Suffolk , he that can do all in all +With her that hateth thee , and hates us all , +And York , and impious Beaufort , that false priest , +Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings ; +And , fly thou how thou canst , they'll tangle thee : +But fear not thou , until thy foot be snar'd , +Nor never seek prevention of thy foes . + +Ah , Nell ! forbear : thou aimest all awry ; +I must offend before I be attainted ; +And had I twenty times so many foes , +And each of them had twenty times their power , +All these could not procure me any scath , +So long as I am loyal , true , and crimeless . +Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach ? +Why , yet thy scandal were not wip'd away , +But I in danger for the breach of law . +Thy greatest help is quiet , gentle Nell : +I pray thee , sort thy heart to patience ; +These few days' wonder will be quickly worn . + + +I summon your Grace to his majesty's parliament , holden at Bury the first of this next month . + +And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before ! +This is close dealing . Well , I will be there . + +My Nell , I take my leave : and , master sheriff , +Let not her penance exceed the king's commission . + +An't please your Grace , here my commission stays ; +And Sir John Stanley is appointed now +To take her with him to the Isle of Man . + +Must you , Sir John , protect my lady here ? + +So am I given in charge , may't please your Grace . + +Entreat her not the worse in that I pray +You use her well . The world may laugh again ; +And I may live to do you kindness if +You do it her : and so , Sir John , farewell . + +What ! gone , my lord , and bid me not farewell ! + +Witness my tears , I cannot stay to speak . + + +Art thou gone too ? All comfort go with thee ! +For none abides with me : my joy is death ; +Death , at whose name I oft have been afear'd , +Because I wish'd this world's eternity . +Stanley , I prithee , go , and take me hence ; +I care not whither , for I beg no favour , +Only convey me where thou art commanded . + +Why , madam , that is to the Isle of Man ; +There to be us'd according to your state . + +That's bad enough , for I am but reproach : +And shall I then be us'd reproachfully ? + +Like to a duchess , and Duke Humphrey's lady : +According to that state you shall be us'd . + +Sheriff , farewell , and better than I fare , +Although thou hast been conduct of my shame . + +It is my office ; and , madam , pardon me . + +Ay , ay , farewell ; thy office is discharg'd . +Come , Stanley , shall we go ? + +Madam , your penance done , throw off this sheet , +And go we to attire you for our journey . + +My shame will not be shifted with my sheet : +No ; it will hang upon my richest robes , +And show itself , attire me how I can . +Go , lead the way ; I long to see my prison . + + +I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come : +'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man , +Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now . + +Can you not see ? or will ye not observe +The strangeness of his alter'd countenance ? +With what a majesty he bears himself , +How insolent of late he is become , +How proud , how peremptory , and unlike himself ? +We know the time since he was mild and affable , +An if we did but glance a far-off look , +Immediately he was upon his knee , +That all the court admir'd him for submission : +But meet him now , and , be it in the morn , +When everyone will give the time of day , +He knits his brow and shows an angry eye , +And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee , +Disdaining duty that to us belongs . +Small curs are not regarded when they grin , +But great men tremble when the lion roars ; +And Humphrey is no little man in England . +First note that he is near you in descent , +And should you fall , he is the next will mount . +Me seemeth then it is no policy , +Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears , +And his advantage following your decease , +That he should come about your royal person +Or be admitted to your highness' council . +By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts , +And when he please to make commotion , +'Tis to be fear'd they all will follow him . +Now 'tis the spring , and weeds are shallow-rooted ; +Suffer them now and they'll o'ergrow the garden , +And choke the herbs for want of husbandry . +The reverent care I bear unto my lord +Made me collect these dangers in the duke . +If it be fond , call it a woman's fear ; +Which fear if better reasons can supplant , +I will subscribe and say I wrong'd the duke . +My Lord of Suffolk , Buckingham , and York , +Reprove my allegation if you can +Or else conclude my words effectual . + +Well hath your highness seen into this duke ; +And had I first been put to speak my mind , +I think I should have told your Grace's tale . +The duchess , by his subornation , +Upon my life , began her devilish practices : +Or if he were not privy to those faults , +Yet , by reputing of his high descent , +As , next the king he was successive heir , +And such high vaunts of his nobility , +Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess , +By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall . +Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep , +And in his simple show he harbours treason . +The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb : +No , no , my sov'reign ; Gloucester is a man +Unsounded yet , and full of deep deceit . + +Did he not , contrary to form of law , +Devise strange deaths for small offences done ? + +And did he not , in his protectorship , +Levy great sums of money through the realm +For soldiers' pay in France , and never sent it ? +By means whereof the towns each day revolted . + +Tut ! these are petty faults to faults unknown , +Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey . + +My lords , at once : the care you have of us , +To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot , +Is worthy praise ; but shall I speak my conscience , +Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent +From meaning treason to our royal person , +As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove . +The duke is virtuous , mild , and too well given +To dream on evil , or to work my downfall . + +Ah ! what's more dangerous than this fond affiance ! +Seems he a dove ? his feathers are but borrow'd , +For he's disposed as the hateful raven : +Is he a lamb ? his skin is surely lent him , +For he's inclin'd as is the ravenous wolf . +Who cannot steal a shape that means deceit ? +Take heed , my lord ; the welfare of us all +Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man . + + +All health unto my gracious sovereign ! + +Welcome , Lord Somerset . What news from France ? + +That all your interest in those territories +Is utterly bereft you ; all is lost . + +Cold news , Lord Somerset : but God's will be done ! + +Cold news for me ; for I had hope of France , +As firmly as I hope for fertile England . +Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud , +And caterpillars eat my leaves away ; +But I will remedy this gear ere long , +Or sell my title for a glorious grave . + + +All happiness unto my lord the king ! +Pardon , my liege , that I have stay'd so long . + +Nay , Gloucester , know that thou art come too soon , +Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art : +I do arrest thee of high treason here . + +Well , Suffolk's duke , thou shalt not see me blush , +Nor change my countenance for this arrest : +A heart unspotted is not easily daunted . +The purest spring is not so free from mud +As I am clear from treason to my sovereign . +Who can accuse me ? wherein am I guilty ? + +'Tis thought , my lord , that you took bribes of France , +And , being protector , stay'd the soldiers' pay ; +By means whereof his highness hath lost France . + +Is it but thought so ? What are they that think it ? +I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay , +Nor ever had one penny bribe from France . +So help me God , as I have watch'd the night , +Ay , night by night , in studying good for England , +That doit that e'er I wrested from the king , +Or any groat I hoarded to my use , +Be brought against me at my trial-day ! +No ; many a pound of mine own proper store , +Because I would not tax the needy commons , +Have I disbursed to the garrisons , +And never ask'd for restitution . + +It serves you well , my lord , to say so much . + +I say no more than truth , so help me God ! + +In your protectorship you did devise +Strange tortures for offenders , never heard of , +That England was defam'd by tyranny . + +Why , 'tis well known that , whiles I was protector , +Pity was all the fault that was in me ; +For I should melt at an offender's tears , +And lowly words were ransom for their fault . +Unless it were a bloody murderer , +Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers , +I never gave them condign punishment : +Murder , indeed , that bloody sin , I tortur'd +Above the felon or what trespass else . + +My lord , these faults are easy , quickly answer'd : +But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge , +Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself . +I do arrest you in his highness' name ; +And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal +To keep until your further time of trial . + +My Lord of Gloucester , 'tis my special hope +That you will clear yourself from all suspect : +My conscience tells me you are innocent . + +Ah ! gracious lord , these days are dangerous . +Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition , +And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand ; +Foul subornation is predominant , +And equity exil'd your highness' land . +I know their complot is to have my life ; +And if my death might make this island happy , +And prove the period of their tyranny , +I would expend it with all willingness ; +But mine is made the prologue to their play ; +For thousands more , that yet suspect no peril , +Will not conclude their plotted tragedy . +Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice , +And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate ; +Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue +The envious load that lies upon his heart ; +And dogged York , that reaches at the moon , +Whose overweening arm I have pluck'd back , +By false accuse doth level at my life : +And you , my sov'reign lady , with the rest , +Causeless have laid disgraces on my head , +And with your best endeavour have stirr'd up +My liefest liege to be mine enemy . +Ay , all of you have laid your heads together ; +Myself had notice of your conventicles ; +And all to make away my guiltless life . +I shall not want false witness to condemn me , +Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt ; +The ancient proverb will be well effected : +'A staff is quickly found to beat a dog .' + +My liege , his railing is intolerable . +If those that care to keep your royal person +From treason's secret knife and traitor's rage +Be thus upbraided , chid , and rated at , +And the offender granted scope of speech , +'Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace . + +Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here +With ignominious words , though clerkly couch'd , +As if she had suborned some to swear +False allegations to o'erthrow his state ? + +But I can give the loser leave to chide . + +Far truer spoke than meant : I lose , indeed ; +Beshrew the winners , for they play'd me false ! +And well such losers may have leave to speak . + +He'll wrest the sense and hold us here all day . +Lord Cardinal , he is your prisoner . + +Sirs , take away the duke , and guard him sure . + +Ah ! thus King Henry throws away his crutch +Before his legs be firm to bear his body : +Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side , +And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first . +Ah ! that my fear were false , ah ! that it were ; +For , good King Henry , thy decay I fear . + + +My lords , what to your wisdoms seemeth best +Do or undo , as if ourself were here . + +What ! will your highness leave the parliament ? + +Ay , Margaret ; my heart is drown'd with grief , +Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes , +My body round engirt with misery , +For what's more miserable than discontent ? +Ah ! uncle Humphrey , in thy face I see +The map of honour , truth , and loyalty ; +And yet , good Humphrey , is the hour to come +That e'er I prov'd thee false , or fear'd thy faith . +What low'ring star now envies thy estate , +That these great lords , and Margaret our queen , +Do seek subversion of thy harmless life ? +Thou never didst them wrong , nor no man wrong ; +And as the butcher takes away the calf , +And binds the wretch , and beats it when it strays , +Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house , +Even so , remorseless , have they borne him hence ; +And as the dam runs lowing up and down , +Looking the way her harmless young one went , +And can do nought but wail her darling's loss ; +Even so myself bewails good Gloucester's case , +With sad unhelpful tears , and with dimm'd eyes +Look after him , and cannot do him good ; +So mighty are his vowed enemies . +His fortunes I will weep ; and , 'twixt each groan , +Say 'Who's a traitor , Gloucester he is none .' + + +Fair lords , cold snow melts with the sun's hot beams . +Henry my lord is cold in great affairs , +Too full of foolish pity ; and Gloucester's show +Beguiles him as the mournful crocodile +With sorrow snares relenting passengers ; +Or as the snake , roll'd in a flow'ring bank , +With shining checker'd slough , doth sting a child +That for the beauty thinks it excellent . +Believe me , lords , were none more wise than I , +And yet herein I judge mine own wit good , +This Gloucester should be quickly rid the world , +To rid us from the fear we have of him . + +That he should die is worthy policy ; +And yet we want a colour for his death . +'Tis meet he be condemn'd by course of law . + +But in my mind that were no policy : +The king will labour still to save his life ; +The commons haply rise to save his life ; +And yet we have but trivial argument , +More than mistrust , that shows him worthy death . + +So that , by this , you would not have him die . + +Ah ! York , no man alive so fain as I . + +'Tis York that hath more reason for his death . +But my Lord Cardinal , and you , my Lord of Suffolk , +Say as you think , and speak it from your souls , +Were't not all one an empty eagle were set +To guard the chicken from a hungry kite , +As place Duke Humphrey for the king's protector ? + +So the poor chicken should be sure of death . + +Madam , 'tis true : and were't not madness , then , +To make the fox surveyor of the fold ? +Who , being accus'd a crafty murderer , +His guilt should be but idly posted over +Because his purpose is not executed . +No ; let him die , in that he is a fox , +By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock , +Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood , +As Humphrey , prov'd by reasons , to my liege . +And do not stand on quillets how to slay him : +Be it by gins , by snares , by subtilty , +Sleeping or waking , 'tis no matter how , +So he be dead ; for that is good deceit +Which mates him first that first intends deceit . + +Thrice noble Suffolk , 'tis resolutely spoke . + +Not resolute , except so much were done , +For things are often spoke and seldom meant ; +But , that my heart accordeth with my tongue , +Seeing the deed is meritorious , +And to preserve my sovereign from his foe , +Say but the word and I will be his priest . + +But I would have him dead , my Lord of Suffolk , +Ere you can take due orders for a priest : +Say you consent and censure well the deed , +And I'll provide his executioner ; +I tender so the safety of my liege . + +Here is my hand , the deed is worthy doing . + +And so say I . + +And I : and now we three have spoke it , +It skills not greatly who impugns our doom . + + +Great lords , from Ireland am I come amain , +To signify that rebels there are up , +And put the Englishmen unto the sword . +Send succours , lords , and stop the rage betime , +Before the wound do grow uncurable ; +For , being green , there is great hope of help . + +A breach that craves a quick expedient stop ! +What counsel give you in this weighty cause ? + +That Somerset be sent as regent thither . +'Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ'd ; +Witness the fortune he hath had in France . + +If York , with all his far-fet policy , +Had been the regent there instead of me , +He never would have stay'd in France so long . + +No , not to lose it all , as thou hast done : +I rather would have lost my life betimes +Than bring a burden of dishonour home , +By staying there so long till all were lost . +Show me one scar character'd on thy skin : +Men's flesh preserv'd so whole do seldom win . + +Nay then , this spark will prove a raging fire , +If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with . +No more , good York ; sweet Somerset , be still : +Thy fortune , York , hadst thou been regent there , +Might happily have prov'd far worse than his . + +What ! worse than nought ? nay , then a shame take all . + +And in the number thee , that wishest shame . + +My Lord of York , try what your fortune is . +The uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms +And temper clay with blood of Englishmen : +To Ireland will you lead a band of men , +Collected choicely , from each county some , +And try your hap against the Irishmen ? + +I will , my lord , so please his majesty . + +Why , our authority is his consent , +And what we do establish he confirms : +Then , noble York , take thou this task in hand . + +I am content : provide me soldiers , lords , +Whiles I take order for mine own affairs . + +A charge , Lord York , that I will see perform'd . +But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey . + +No more of him ; for I will deal with him +That henceforth he shall trouble us no more . +And so break off ; the day is almost spent . +Lord Suffolk , you and I must talk of that event . + +My Lord of Suffolk , within fourteen days +At Bristol I expect my soldiers ; +For there I'll ship them all for Ireland . + +I'll see it truly done , my Lord of York . + + +Now , York , or never , steel thy fearful thoughts , +And change misdoubt to resolution : +Be that thou hop'st to be , or what thou art +Resign to death ; it is not worth the enjoying . +Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man , +And find no harbour in a royal heart . +Faster than spring-time showers comes thought on thought , +And not a thought but thinks on dignity . +My brain , more busy than the labouring spider , +Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies . +Well , nobles , well ; 'tis politicly done , +To send me packing with a host of men : +I fear me you but warm the starved snake , +Who , cherish'd in your breasts , will sting your hearts . +'Twas men I lack'd , and you will give them me : +I take it kindly ; yet be well assur'd +You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands . +Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band , +I will stir up in England some black storm +Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell ; +And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage +Until the golden circuit on my head , +Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams , +Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw . +And , for a minister of my intent , +I have seduc'd a headstrong Kentishman , +John Cade of Ashford , +To make commotion , as full well he can , +Under the title of John Mortimer . +In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade +Oppose himself against a troop of kerns , +And fought so long , till that his thighs with darts +Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porpentine : +And , in the end being rescu'd , I have seen +Him caper upright like a wild Morisco , +Shaking the bloody darts as he his bells . +Full often , like a shag-hair'd crafty kern , +Hath he conversed with the enemy , +And undiscover'd come to me again , +And given me notice of their villanies . +This devil here shall be my substitute ; +For that John Mortimer , which now is dead , +In face , in gait , in speech , he doth resemble ; +By this I shall perceive the commons' mind , +How they affect the house and claim of York . +Say he be taken , rack'd , and tortured , +I know no pain they can inflict upon him +Will make him say I mov'd him to those arms . +Say that he thrive ,as 'tis great like he will , +Why , then from Ireland come I with my strength , +And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd ; +For , Humphrey being dead , as he shall be , +And Henry put apart , the next for me . + + +Run to my Lord of Suffolk ; let him know +We have dispatch'd the duke , as he commanded . + +O ! that it were to do . What have we done ? +Didst ever hear a man so penitent ? + + +Here comes my lord . + +Now , sirs , have you dispatch'd this thing ? + +Ay , my good lord , he's dead . + +Why , that's well said . Go , get you to my house ; +I will reward you for this venturous deed . +The king and all the peers are here at hand . +Have you laid fair the bed ? is all things well , +According as I gave directions ? + +'Tis , my good lord . + +Away ! be gone . + +Go , call our uncle to our presence straight ; +Say , we intend to try his Grace to-day , +If he be guilty , as 'tis published . + +I'll call him presently , my noble lord . + + +Lords , take your places ; and , I pray you all , +Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloucester +Than from true evidence , of good esteem , +He be approv'd in practice culpable . + +God forbid any malice should prevail +That faultless may condemn a nobleman ! +Pray God , he may acquit him of suspicion ! + +I thank thee , Meg ; these words content me much . + + +How now ! why look'st thou pale ? why tremblest thou ? + +Where is our uncle ? what's the matter , Suffolk ? + +Dead in his bed , my lord ; Gloucester is dead . + +Marry , God forfend ! + +God's secret judgment : I did dream to-night +The duke was dumb , and could not speak a word . + + +How fares my lord ? Help , lords ! the king is dead . + +Rear up his body ; wring him by the nose . + +Run , go , help , help ! O Henry , ope thine eyes ! + +He doth revive again . Madam , be patient . + +O heavenly God ! + +How fares my gracious lord ? + +Comfort , my sovereign ! grocious Henry , comfort ! + +What ! doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me ? +Came he right now to sing a raven's note , +Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers , +And thinks he that the chirping of a wren , +By crying comfort from a hollow breast , +Can chase away the first-conceived sound ? +Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words : +Lay not thy hands on me ; forbear , I say : +Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting . +Thou baleful messenger , out of my sight ! +Upon thy eyeballs murderous tyranny +Sits in grim majesty to fright the world . +Look not upon me , for thine eyes are wounding : +Yet do not go away ; come , basilisk , +And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight ; +For in the shade of death I shall find joy , +In life but double death , now Gloucester's dead . + +Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus ? +Although the duke was enemy to him , +Yet he , most Christian-like , laments his death : +And for myself , foe as he was to me , +Might liquid tears or heart-offending groans +Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life , +I would be blind with weeping , sick with groans , +Look pale as primrose with blood-drinking sighs , +And all to have the noble duke alive . +What know I how the world may deem of me ? +For it is known we were but hollow friends : +It may be judg'd I made the duke away : +So shall my name with slander's tongue be wounded , +And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach . +This get I by his death . Ay me , unhappy ! +To be a queen , and crown'd with infamy ! + +Ah ! woe is me for Gloucester , wretched man . + +Be woe for me , more wretched than he is . +What ! dost thou turn away and hide thy face ? +I am no loathsome leper ; look on me . +What ! art thou , like the adder , waxen deaf ? +Be poisonous too and kill thy forlorn queen . +Is all thy comfort shut in Gloucester's tomb ? +Why , then , Dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy : +Erect his statua and worship it , +And make my image but an alehouse sign . +Was I for this nigh wrack'd upon the sea , +And twice by awkward wind from England's bank +Drove back again unto my native clime ? +What boded this , but well forewarning wind +Did seem to say , 'Seek not a scorpion's nest , +Nor set no footing on this unkind shore ?' +What did I then , but curs'd the gentle gusts +And he that loos'd them forth their brazen caves ; +And bid them blow towards England's blessed shore , +Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock ? +Yet olus would not be a murderer , +But left that hateful office unto thee : +The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me , +Knowing that thou wouldst have me drown'd on shore +With tears as salt as sea through thy unkindness : +The splitting rocks cower'd in the sinking sands , +And would not dash me with their ragged sides , +Because thy flinty heart , more hard than they , +Might in thy palace perish Margaret . +As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs , +When from thy shore the tempest beat us back , +I stood upon the hatches in the storm , +And when the dusky sky began to rob +My earnest-gaping sight of thy land's view , +I took a costly jewel from my neck , +A heart it was , bound in with diamonds , +And threw it towards thy land : the sea receiv'd it , +And so I wish'd thy body might my heart : +And even with this I lost fair England's view , +And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart , +And call'd them blind and dusky spectacles +For losing ken of Albion's wished coast . +How often have I tempted Suffolk's tongue +The agent of thy foul inconstancy +To sit and witch me , as Ascanius did +When he to madding Dido would unfold +His father's acts , commenc'd in burning Troy ! +Am I not witch'd like her ? or thou not false like him ? +Ay me ! I can no more . Die , Margaret ! +For Henry weeps that thou dost live so long . + +It is reported , mighty sovereign , +That good Duke Humphrey trait'rously is murder'd +By Suffolk and the Cardinal Beaufort's means . +The commons , like an angry hive of bees +That want their leader , scatter up and down , +And care not who they sting in his revenge . +Myself have calm'd their spleenful mutiny , +Until they hear the order of his death . + +That he is dead , good Warwick , 'tis too true ; +But how he died God knows , not Henry . +Enter his chamber , view his breathless corpse , +And comment then upon his sudden death . + +That shall I do , my liege . Stay , Salisbury , +With the rude multitude till I return . + + +O ! Thou that judgest all things , stay my thoughts , +My thoughts that labour to persuade my soul +Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life . +If my suspect be false , forgive me , God , +For judgment only doth belong to thee . +Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips +With twenty thousand kisses , and to drain +Upon his face an ocean of salt tears , +To tell my love unto his deaf dumb trunk , +And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling : +But all in vain are these mean obsequies , +And to survey his dead and earthly image +What were it but to make my sorrow greater ? + + +Come hither , gracious sovereign , view this body . + +That is to see how deep my grave is made ; +For with his soul fled all my worldly solace , +For seeing him I see my life in death . + +As surely as my soul intends to live +With that dread King that took our state upon him +To free us from his Father's wrathful curse , +I do believe that violent hands were laid +Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke . + +A dreadful oath , sworn with a solemn tongue ! +What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow ? + +See how the blood is settled in his face . +Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost , +Of ashy semblance , meagre , pale , and bloodless , +Being all descended to the labouring heart ; +Who , in the conflict that it holds with death , +Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy ; +Which with the heart there cools , and ne'er returneth +To blush and beautify the cheek again . +But see , his face is black and full of blood , +His eyeballs further out than when he liv'd , +Staring full ghastly like a strangled man ; +His hair uprear'd , his nostrils stretch'd with struggling : +His hands abroad display'd , as one that grasp'd +And tugg'd for life , and was by strength subdu'd . +Look on the sheets , his hair , you see , is sticking ; +His well-proportion'd beard made rough and rugged , +Like to the summer's corn by tempest lodg'd . +It cannot be but he was murder'd here ; +The least of all these signs were probable . + +Why , Warwick , who should do the duke to death ? +Myself and Beaufort had him in protection ; +And we , I hope , sir , are no murderers . + +But both of you were vow'd Duke Humphrey's foes , +And you , forsooth , had the good duke to keep : +'Tis like you would not feast him like a friend , +And 'tis well seen he found an enemy . + +Then you , belike , suspect these noblemen +As guilty of Duke Humphrey's timeless death . + +Who finds the heifer dead , and bleeding fresh , +And sees fast by a butcher with an axe , +But will suspect 'twas he that made the slaughter ? +Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest , +But may imagine how the bird was dead , +Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak ? +Even so suspicious is this tragedy . + +Are you the butcher , Suffolk ? where's your knife ? +Is Beaufort term'd a kite ? where are his talons ? + +I wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men ; +But here's a vengeful sword , rusted with ease , +That shall be scoured in his rancorous heart +That slanders me with murder's crimson badge . +Say , if thou dar'st , proud Lord of Warwickshire , +That I am faulty in Duke Humphrey's death . + + +What dares not Warwick , if false Suffolk dare him ? + +He dares not calm his contumelious spirit , +Nor cease to be an arrogant controller , +Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times . + +Madam , be still , with reverence may I say ; +For every word you speak in his behalf +Is slander to your royal dignity . + +Blunt-witted lord , ignoble in demeanour ! +If ever lady wrong'd her lord so much , +Thy mother took into her blameful bed +Some stern untutor'd churl , and noble stock +Was graft with crab-tree slip ; whose fruit thou art , +And never of the Nevils' noble race . + +But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee , +And I should rob the deathsman of his fee , +Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames , +And that my sov'reign's presence makes me mild , +I would , false murd'rous coward , on thy knee +Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech , +And say it was thy mother that thou meant'st ; +That thou thyself wast born in bastardy : +And after all this fearful homage done , +Give thee thy hire , and send thy soul to hell , +Pernicious blood-sucker of sleeping men . + +Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood , +If from this presence thou dar'st go with me . + +Away even now , or I will drag thee hence : +Unworthy though thou art , I'll cope with thee , +And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost . + + +What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted ! +Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just , +And he but naked , though lock'd up in steel , +Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted . + +What noise is this ? + +Why , how now , lords ! your wrathful weapons drawn +Here in our presence ! dare you be so bold ? +Why , what tumultuous clamour have we here ? + +The traitorous Warwick , with the men of Bury , +Set all upon me , mighty sovereign . + + +Sirs , stand apart ; the king shall know your mind . +Dread lord , the commons send you word by me , +Unless false Suffolk straight be done to death , +Or banished fair England's territories , +They will by violence tear him from your palace +And torture him with grievous lingering death . +They say , by him the good Duke Humphrey died ; +They say , in him they fear your highness' death ; +And mere instinct of love and loyalty , +Free from a stubborn opposite intent , +As being thought to contradict your liking , +Makes them thus forward in his banishment . +They say , in care of your most royal person , +That if your highness should intend to sleep , +And charge that no man should disturb your rest +In pain of your dislike or pain of death , +Yet , notwithstanding such a strait edict , +Were there a serpent seen , with forked tongue , +That slily glided towards your majesty , +It were but necessary you were wak'd , +Lest , being suffer'd in that harmful slumber , +The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal : +And therefore do they cry , though you forbid , +That they will guard you , whe'r you will or no , +From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is ; +With whose envenomed and fatal sting , +Your loving uncle , twenty times his worth , +They say , is shamefully bereft of life . + +An answer from the king , my Lord of Salisbury ! + +'Tis like the commons , rude unpolish'd hinds , +Could send such message to their sovereign ; +But you , my lord , were glad to be employ'd , +To show how quaint an orator you are : +But all the honour Salisbury hath won +Is that he was the lord ambassador , +Sent from a sort of tinkers to the king . + +An answer from the king , or we will all break in ! + +Go , Salisbury , and tell them all from me , +I thank them for their tender loving care ; +And had I not been cited so by them , +Yet did I purpose as they do entreat ; +For , sure , my thoughts do hourly prophesy +Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means : +And therefore , by his majesty I swear , +Whose far unworthy deputy I am , +He shall not breathe infection in this air +But three days longer , on the pain of death . + + +O Henry ! let me plead for gentle Suffolk . + +Ungentle queen , to call him gentle Suffolk ! +No more , I say ; if thou dost plead for him +Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath . +Had I but said , I would have kept my word , +But when I swear , it is irrevocable . + + +If after three days' space thou here be'st found +On any ground that I am ruler of , +The world shall not be ransom for thy life . +Come , Warwick , come , good Warwick , go with me ; +I have great matters to impart to thee . + + +Mischance and sorrow go along with you ! +Heart's discontent and sour affliction +Be playfellows to keep you company ! +There's two of you ; the devil make a third , +And threefold vengeance tend upon your steps ! + +Cease , gentle queen , these execrations , +And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave . + +Fie , coward woman and soft-hearted wretch ! +Hast thou not spirit to curse thine enemy ? + +A plague upon them ! Wherefore should I curse them ? +Would curses kill , as doth the mandrake's groan , +I would invent as bitter-searching terms , +As curst , as harsh and horrible to hear , +Deliver'd strongly through my fixed teeth , +With full as many signs of deadly hate , +As lean-fac'd Envy in her loathsome cave . +My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words ; +Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint ; +My hair be fix'd on end , as one distract ; +Ay , every joint should seem to curse and ban : +And even now my burden'd heart would break +Should I not curse them . Poison be their drink ! +Gall , worse than gall , the daintiest that they taste ! +Their sweetest shade a grove of cypress trees ! +Their chiefest prospect murdering basilisks ! +Their softest touch as smart as lizard's stings ! +Their music frightful as the serpent's hiss , +And boding screech-owls make the concert full ! +All the foul terrors in dark-seated hell + +Enough , sweet Suffolk ; thou torment'st thyself ; +And these dread curses , like the sun 'gainst glass , +Or like an over-charged gun , recoil , +And turn the force of them upon thyself . + +You bade me ban , and will you bid me leave ? +Now , by the ground that I am banish'd from , +Well could I curse away a winter's night , +Though standing naked on a mountain top , +Where biting cold would never let grass grow , +And think it but a minute spent in sport . + +O ! let me entreat thee , cease ! Give me thy hand , +That I may dew it with my mournful tears ; +Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place , +To wash away my woeful monuments . +O ! could this kiss be printed in thy hand , + +That thou mightst think upon these by the seal , +Through whom a thousand sighs are breath'd for thee . +So , get thee gone , that I may know my grief ; +'Tis but surmis'd whiles thou art standing by , +As one that surfeits thinking on a want . +I will repeal thee , or , be well assur'd , +Adventure to be banished myself ; +And banished I am , if but from thee . +Go ; speak not to me ; even now be gone . +O ! go not yet . Even thus two friends condemn'd +Embrace and kiss , and take ten thousand leaves , +Loather a hundred times to part than die . +Yet now farewell ; and farewell life with thee ! + +Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished , +Once by the king , and three times thrice by thee . +'Tis not the land I care for , wert thou thence ; +A wilderness is populous enough , +So Suffolk had thy heavenly company : +For where thou art , there is the world itself , +With every several pleasure in the world , +And where thou art not , desolation . +I can no more : live thou to joy thy life ; +Myself to joy in nought but that thou liv'st . + + +Whither goes Vaux so fast ? what news , I prithee ? + +To signify unto his majesty +That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death ; +For suddenly a grievous sickness took him , +That makes him gasp and stare , and catch the air , +Blaspheming God , and cursing men on earth . +Sometime he talks as if Duke Humphrey's ghost +Were by his side ; sometime he calls the king , +And whispers to his pillow , as to him , +The secrets of his overcharged soul : +And I am sent to tell his majesty +That even now he cries aloud for him . + +Go tell this heavy message to the king . + +Ay me ! what is this world ! what news are these ! +But wherefore grieve I at an hour's poor loss , +Omitting Suffolk's exile , my soul's treasure ? +Why only , Suffolk , mourn I not for thee , +And with the southern clouds contend in tears , +Theirs for the earth's increase , mine for my sorrows ? +Now get thee hence : the king , thou know'st , is coming ; +If thou be found by me thou art but dead . + +If I depart from thee I cannot live ; +And in thy sight to die , what were it else +But like a pleasant slumber in thy lap ? +Here could I breathe my soul into the air , +As mild and gentle as the cradle babe , +Dying with mother's dug between its lips ; +Where , from thy sight , I should be raging mad , +And cry out for thee to close up mine eyes , +To have thee with thy lips to stop my mouth : +So shouldst thou either turn my flying soul , +Or I should breathe it so into thy body , +And then it liv'd in sweet Elysium . +To die by thee , were but to die in jest ; +From thee to die were torture more than death . +O ! let me stay , befall what may befall ! + +Away ! though parting be a fretful corsive , +It is applied to a deathful wound . +To France , sweet Suffolk : let me hear from thee ; +For wheresoe'er thou art in this world's globe , +I'll have an Iris that shall find thee out . + +I go . + +And take my heart with thee . + +A jewel , lock'd into the woefull'st cask +That ever did contain a thing of worth . +Even as a splitted bark , so sunder we : +This way fall I to death . + +This way for me . + + +How fares my lord ? speak , Beaufort , to thy sovereign . + +If thou be'st death , I'll give thee England's treasure , +Enough to purchase such another island , +So thou wilt let me live , and feel no pain . + +Ah ! what a sign it is of evil life +Where death's approach is seen so terrible . + +Beaufort , it is thy sov'reign speaks to thee . + +Bring me unto my trial when you will . +Died he not in his bed ? where should he die ? +Can I make men live whe'r they will or no ? +O ! torture me no more , I will confess . +Alive again ? then show me where he is : +I'll give a thousand pound to look upon him . +He hath no eyes , the dust hath blinded them . +Comb down his hair ; look ! look ! it stands upright , +Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul . +Give me some drink ; and bid the apothecary +Bring the strong poison that I bought of him . + +O thou eternal Mover of the heavens ! +Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch ; +O ! beat away the busy meddling fiend +That lays strong siege unto this wretch's soul , +And from his bosom purge this black despair . + +See how the pangs of death do make him grin ! + +Disturb him not ! let him pass peaceably . + +Peace to his soul , if God's good pleasure be ! +Lord Cardinal , if thou think'st on heaven's bliss , +Hold up thy hand , make signal of thy hope . +He dies , and makes no sign . O God , forgive him ! + +So bad a death argues a monstrous life . + +Forbear to judge , for we are sinners all . +Close up his eyes , and draw the curtain close ; +And let us all to meditation . + +The gaudy , blabbing , and remorseful day +Is crept into the bosom of the sea , +And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades +That drag the tragic melancholy night ; +Who with their drowsy , slow , and flagging wings +Clip dead men's graves , and from their misty jaws +Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air . +Therefore bring forth the soldiers of our prize , +For , whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs +Here shall they make their ransom on the sand , +Or with their blood stain this discolour'd shore . +Master , this prisoner freely give I thee : +And thou that art his mate make boot of this ; +The other + +, Walter Whitmore , is thy share . + +What is my ransom , master ? let me know . + +A thousand crowns , or else lay down your head . + +And so much shall you give , or off goes yours . + +What ! think you much to pay two thousand crowns , +And bear the name and port of gentlemen ? +Cut both the villains' throats ! for die you shall : +The lives of those which we have lost in fight +Cannot be counterpois'd with such a petty sum ! + +I'll give it , sir ; and therefore spare my life . + +And so will I , and write home for it straight . + +I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard , + + +And therefore to revenge it shalt thou die ; +And so should these if I might have my will . + +Be not so rash : take ransom ; let him live . + +Look on my George ; I am a gentleman : +Rate me at what thou wilt , thou shalt be paid . + +And so am I ; my name is Walter Whitmore . +How now ! why start'st thou ? what ! doth death affright ? + +Thy name affrights me , in whose sound is death . +A cunning man did calculate my birth , +And told me that by Water I should die : +Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded ; +Thy name is Gaultier , being rightly sounded . + +Gaultier , or Walter , which it is I care not ; +Never yet did base dishonour blur our name +But with our sword we wip'd away the blot : +Therefore , when merchant-like I sell revenge , +Broke be my sword , my arms torn and defac'd , +And I proclaim'd a coward through the world ! + + +Stay , Whitmore ; for thy prisoner is a prince , +The Duke of Suffolk , William de la Pole . + +The Duke of Suffolk muffled up in rags ! + +Ay , but these rags are no part of the duke : +Jove sometimes went disguis'd , and why not I ? + +But Jove was never slain , as thou shalt be . + +Obscure and lowly swain , King Henry's blood , +The honourable blood of Lancaster , +Must not be shed by such a jaded groom . +Hast thou not kiss'd thy hand and held my stirrup ? +Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule , +And thought thee happy when I shook my head ? +How often hast thou waited at my cup , +Fed from my trencher , kneel'd down at the board , +When I have feasted with Queen Margaret ? +Remember it and let it make thee crest-fall'n ; +Ay , and allay this thy abortive pride . +How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood +And duly waited for my coming forth ? +This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf , +And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue . + +Speak , captain , shall I stab the forlorn swain ? + +First let my words stab him , as he hath me . + +Base slave , thy words are blunt , and so art thou . + +Convey him hence , and on our longboat's side +Strike off his head . + +Thou dar'st not for thy own . + +Yes , Pole . + +Pole ! + +Pool ! Sir Pool ! lord ! +Ay , kennel , puddle , sink ; whose filth and dirt +Troubles the silver spring where England drinks . +Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth +For swallowing the treasure of the realm : +Thy lips , that kiss'd the queen , shall sweep the ground ; +And thou , that smil'dst at good Duke Humphrey's death , +Against the senseless winds shall grin in vain , +Who in contempt shall hiss at thee again : +And wedded be thou to the hags of hell , +For daring to affy a mighty lord +Unto the daughter of a worthless king , +Having neither subject , wealth , nor diadem . +By devilish policy art thou grown great , +And , like ambitious Sylla , overgorg'd +With gobbets of thy mother's bleeding heart . +By thee Anjou and Maine were sold to France , +The false revolting Normans thorough thee +Disdain to call us lord , and Picardy +Hath slain their governors , surpris'd our forts , +And sent the ragged soldiers wounded home . +The princely Warwick , and the Nevils all , +Whose dreadful swords were never drawn in vain , +As hating thee , are rising up in arms : +And now the house of York , thrust from the crown +By shameful murder of a guiltless king , +And lofty proud encroaching tyranny , +Burns with revenging fire ; whose hopeful colours +Advance our half-fac'd sun , striving to shine , +Under the which is writ Invitis nubibus . +The commons here in Kent are up in arms ; +And to conclude , reproach and beggary +Is crept into the palace of our king , +And all by thee . Away ! convey him hence . + +O ! that I were a god , to shoot forth thunder +Upon these paltry , servile , abject drudges . +Small things make base men proud : this villain here , +Being captain of a pinnace , threatens more +Than Bargulus the strong Illyrian pirate . +Drones suck not eagles' blood , but rob beehives . +It is impossible that I should die +By such a lowly vassal as thyself . +Thy words move rage , and not remorse in me : +I go of message from the queen to France ; +I charge thee , waft me safely cross the Channel . + +Walter ! + +Come , Suffolk , I must waft thee to thy death . + +Gelidus timor occupat artus : 'tis thee I fear . + +Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee . +What ! are ye daunted now ? now will ye stoop ? + +My gracious lord , entreat him , speak him fair . + +Suffolk's imperial tongue is stern and rough , +Us'd to command , untaught to plead for favour . +Far be it we should honour such as these +With humble suit : no , rather let my head +Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any +Save to the God of heaven , and to my king ; +And sooner dance upon a bloody pole +Than stand uncover'd to the vulgar groom . +True nobility is exempt from fear : +More can I bear than you dare execute . + +Hale him away , and let him talk no more . + +Come , soldiers , show what cruelty ye can , +That this my death may never be forgot . +Great men oft die by vile bezonians . +A Roman sworder and banditto slave +Murder'd sweet Tully ; Brutus' bastard hand +Stabb'd Julius C sar ; savage islanders +Pompey the Great ; and Suffolk dies by pirates . + + +And as for these whose ransom we have set , +It is our pleasure one of them depart : +Therefore come you with us and let him go . + +There let his head and lifeless body lie , +Until the queen his mistress bury it . + + +O barbarous and bloody spectacle ! +His body will I bear unto the king : +If he revenge it not , yet will his friends ; +So will the queen , that living held him dear . + + +Come , and get thee a sword , though made of a lath : they have been up these two days . + +They have the more need to sleep now then . + +I tell thee , Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth , and turn it , and set a new nap upon it . + +So he had need , for 'tis threadbare . Well , I say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up . + +O miserable age ! Virtue is not regarded in handicrafts-men . + +The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons . + +Nay , more ; the king's council are no good workmen . + +True ; and yet it is said , 'Labour in thy vocation :' which is as much to say as , let the magistrates be labouring men ; and therefore should we be magistrates . + +Thou hast hit it ; for there's no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand . + +I see them ! I see them ! There's Best's son , the tanner of Wingham , + +He shall have the skins of our enemies to make dog's-leather of . + +And Dick the butcher , + +Then is sin struck down like an ox , and iniquity's throat cut like a calf . + +And Smith the weaver , + +Argo , their thread of life is spun . + +Come , come , let's fall in with them . + + +We John Cade , so termed of our supposed father , + +Or rather , of stealing a cade of herrings . + +For our enemies shall fall before us , inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes ,Command silence . + +Silence ! + +My father was a Mortimer . + +He was an honest man , and a good bricklayer . + +My mother a Plantagenet , + +I knew her well ; she was a midwife . + +My wife descended of the Lacies , + +She was , indeed , a pedlar's daughter , and sold many laces . + +But now of late , not able to travel with her furred pack , she washes bucks here at home . + +Therefore am I of an honourable house . + +Ay , by my faith , the field is honourable ; and there was he born , under a hedge ; for his father had never a house but the cage . + +Valiant I am . + +A' must needs , for beggary is valiant . + +I am able to endure much . + +No question of that , for I have seen him whipped three market-days together . + +I fear neither sword nor fire . + +He need not fear the sword , for his coat is of proof . + +But methinks he should stand in fear of fire , being burnt i' the hand for stealing of sheep . + +Be brave , then ; for your captain is brave , and vows reformation . There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny ; the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops ; and I will make it felony to drink small beer . All the realm shall be in common , and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to grass . And when I am king ,as king I will be , + +God save your majesty ! + +I thank you , good people : there shall be no money ; all shall eat and drink on my score , and I will apparel them all in one livery , that they may agree like brothers , and worship me their lord . + +The first thing we do , let's kill all the lawyers . + +Nay , that I mean to do . Is not this a lamentable thing , that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment ? that parchment , being scribbled o'er , should undo a man ? Some say the bee stings ; but I say , 'tis the bee's wax , for I did but seal once to a thing , and I was never mine own man since . How now ! who's there ? + + +The clerk of Chatham : he can write and read and cast accompt . + +O monstrous ! + +We took him setting of boys' copies . + +Here's a villain ! + +Has a book in his pocket with red letters in't . + +Nay , then he is a conjurer . + +Nay , he can make obligations , and write court-hand . + +I am sorry for't : the man is a proper man , of mine honour ; unless I find him guilty , he shall not die . Come hither , sirrah , I must examine thee . What is thy name ? + +Emmanuel . + +They use to write it on the top of letters . 'Twill go hard with you . + +Let me alone . Dost thou use to write thy name , or hast thou a mark to thyself , like an honest plain-dealing man ? + +Sir , I thank God , I have been so well brought up , that I can write my name . + +He hath confessed : away with him ! he's a villain and a traitor . + +Away with him ! I say : hang him with his pen and ink-horn about his neck . + +Where's our general ? + +Here I am , thou particular fellow . + +Fly , fly , fly ! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by , with the king's forces . + +Stand , villain , stand , or I'll fell thee down . He shall be encountered with a man as good as himself : he is but a knight , is a' ? + +No . + +To equal him , I will make myself a knight presently . + +Rise up Sir John Mortimer . [Rises .] Now have at him . + + +Rebellious hinds , the filth and scum of Kent , +Mark'd for the gallows , lay your weapons down ; +Home to your cottages , forsake this groom : +The king is merciful , if you revolt . + +But angry , wrathful , and inclin'd to blood , +If you go forward : therefore yield , or die . + +As for these silken-coated slaves , I pass not : +It is to you , good people , that I speak , +O'er whom , in time to come I hope to reign ; +For I am rightful heir unto the crown . + +Villain ! thy father was a plasterer ; +And thou thyself a shearman , art thou not ? + +And Adam was a gardener . + +And what of that ? + +Marry , this : Edmund Mortimer , Earl of March , +Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter , did he not ? + +Ay , sir . + +By her he had two children at one birth . + +That's false . + +Ay , there's the question ; but I say , 'tis true : +The elder of them , being put to nurse , +Was by a beggar-woman stol'n away ; +And , ignorant of his birth and parentage , +Became a bricklayer when he came to age : +His son am I ; deny it if you can . + +Nay , 'tis too true ; therefore he shall be king . + +Sir , he made a chimney in my father's house , and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it ; therefore deny it not . + +And will you credit this base drudge's words , +That speaks he knows not what ? + +Ay , marry , will we ; therefore get ye gone . + +Jack Cade , the Duke of York hath taught you this . + +He lies , for I invented it myself . Go to , sirrah ; tell the king from me , that , for his father's sake , Henry the Fifth , in whose time boys went to span-counter for French crowns , I am content he shall reign ; but I'll be protector over him . + +And furthermore , we'll have the Lord Say's head for selling the dukedom of Maine . + +And good reason ; for thereby is England mained , and fain to go with a staff , but that my puissance holds it up . Fellow kings , I tell you that that Lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth , and made it a eunuch ; and more than that , he can speak French ; and therefore he is a traitor . + +O gross and miserable ignorance ! + +Nay , answer , if you can : the Frenchmen are our enemies ; go to then , I ask but this , can he that speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor , or no ? + +No , no ; and therefore we'll have his head . + +Well , seeing gentle words will not prevail , +Assail them with the army of the king . + +Herald , away ; and throughout every town +Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade ; +That those which fly before the battle ends +May , even in their wives' and children's sight , +Be hang'd up for example at their doors : +And you , that be the king's friends , follow me . + + +And you , that love the commons , follow me . +Now show yourselves men ; 'tis for liberty . +We will not leave one lord , one gentleman : +Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon , +For they are thrifty honest men , and such +As would , but that they dare not take our parts . + +They are all in order , and march toward us . + +But then are we in order when we are most out of order . Come , march ! forward ! + + +Where's Dick , the butcher of Ashford ? + +Here , sir . + +They fell before thee like sheep and oxen , and thou behavedst thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughter-house : therefore thus will I reward thee , the Lent shall be as long again as it is ; and thou shalt have a licence to kill for a hundred lacking one . + +I desire no more . + +And , to speak truth , thou deservest no less . This monument of the victory will I bear ; + +and the bodies shall be dragged at my horse' heels , till I do come to London , where we will have the Mayor's sword borne before us . + +If we mean to thrive and do good , break open the gaols and let out the prisoners . + +Fear not that , I warrant thee . Come ; let's march towards London . + + +Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind , +And makes it fearful and degenerate ; +Think therefore on revenge , and cease to weep . +But who can cease to weep and look on this ? +Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast ; +But where's the body that I should embrace ? + +What answer makes your Grace to the rebels' supplication ? + +I'll send some holy bishop to entreat ; +For God forbid so many simple souls +Should perish by the sword ! And I myself , +Rather than bloody war shall cut them short , +Will parley with Jack Cade their general . +But stay , I'll read it over once again . + +Ah , barbarous villains ! hath this lovely face +Rul'd like a wandering planet over me , +And could it not enforce them to relent , +That were unworthy to behold the same ? + +Lord Say , Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head . + +Ay , but I hope your highness shall have his . + +How now , madam ! +Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk's death ? +I fear me , love , if that I had been dead , +Thou wouldest not have mourn'd so much for me . + +No , my love ; I should not mourn , but die for thee . + + +How now ! what news ? why com'st thou in such haste ? + +The rebels are in Southwark ; fly , my lord ! +Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer , +Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house , +And calls your Grace usurper openly , +And vows to crown himself in Westminster . +His army is a ragged multitude +Of hinds and peasants , rude and merciless : +Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death +Hath given them heart and courage to proceed . +All scholars , lawyers , courtiers , gentlemen , +They call false caterpillars , and intend their death . + +O graceless men ! they know not what they do . + +My gracious lord , retire to Killingworth , +Until a power be rais'd to put them down . + +Ah ! were the Duke of Suffolk now alive , +These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd . + +Lord Say , the traitors hate thee , +Therefore away with us to Killingworth . + +So might your Grace's person be in danger . +The sight of me is odious in their eyes ; +And therefore in this city will I stay , +And live alone as secret as I may . + + +Jack Cade hath gotten London bridge ; +The citizens fly and forsake their houses ; +The rascal people , thirsting after prey , +Join with the traitor ; and they jointly swear +To spoil the city and your royal court . + +Then linger not , my lord ; away ! take horse . + +Come , Margaret ; God , our hope , will succour us . + +My hope is gone , now Suffolk is deceas'd . + +Farewell , my lord : trust not the Kentish rebels . + +Trust nobody , for fear you be betray'd . + +The trust I have is in mine innocence , +And therefore am I bold and resolute . + + +How now ! is Jack Cade slain ? + +No , my lord , nor likely to be slain ; for they have won the bridge , killing all those that withstand them . The Lord Mayor craves aid of your honour from the Tower , to defend the city from the rebels . + +Such aid as I can spare you shall command ; +But I am troubled here with them myself ; +The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower . +But get you to Smithfield and gather head , +And thither I will send you Matthew Goffe : +Fight for your king , your country , and your lives ; +And so , farewell , for I must hence again . + + +Now is Mortimer lord of this city . And here , sitting upon London-stone , I charge and command that , of the city's cost , the pissing-conduit run nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign . And now , henceforward , it shall be treason for any that calls me other than Lord Mortimer . + + +Jack Cade ! Jack Cade ! + +Knock him down there . + + +If this fellow be wise , he'll never call you Jack Cade more : I think he hath a very fair warning . + +My lord , there's an army gathered together in Smithfield . + +Come then , let's go fight with them . But first , go and set London-bridge on fire , and , if you can , burn down the Tower too . Come , let's away . + + +So , sirs :Now go some and pull down the Savoy ; others to the inns of court : down with them all . + +I have a suit unto your lordship . + +Be it a lordship , thou shalt have it for that word . + +Only that the laws of England may come out of your mouth . + +Mass , 'twill be sore law then ; for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear , and 'tis not whole yet . + +Nay , John , it will be stinking law ; for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese . + +I have thought upon it ; it shall be so . Away ! burn all the records of the realm : my mouth shall be the parliament of England . + +Then we are like to have biting statutes , unless his teeth be pulled out . + +And henceforward all things shall be in common . + + +My lord , a prize , a prize ! here's the Lord Say , which sold the towns in France ; he that made us pay one-and-twenty fifteens , and one shilling to the pound , the last subsidy . + + +Well , he shall be beheaded for it ten times . Ah ! thou say , thou serge , nay , thou buckram lord ; now art thou within pointblank of our jurisdiction regal . What canst thou answer to my majesty for giving up of Normandy unto Monsieur Basimecu , the Dauphin of France ? Be it known unto thee by these presence , even the presence of Lord Mortimer , that I am the besom that must sweep the court clean of such filth as thou art . Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar-school ; and whereas , before , our fore-fathers had no other books but the score and the tally , thou hast caused printing to be used ; and , contrary to the king , his crown , and dignity , thou hast built a paper-mill . It will be proved to thy face that thou hast men about thee that usually talk of a noun and a verb , and such abominable words as no Christian car can endure to hear . Thou hast appointed justices of peace , to call poor men before them about matters they were not able to answer . Moreover , thou hast put them in prison ; and because they could not read , thou hast hanged them ; when indeed only for that cause they have been most worthy to live . Thou dost ride on a foot-cloth , dost thou not ? + +What of that ? + +Marry , thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a cloak , when honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets . + +And work in their shirt too ; as myself , for example , that am a butcher . + +You men of Kent , + +What say you of Kent ? + +Nothing but this : 'tis bona terra , mala gens . + +Away with him ! away with him ! he speaks Latin . + +Hear me but speak , and bear me where you will . +Kent , in the Commentaries C sar writ , +Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle : +Sweet is the country , because full of riches ; +The people liberal , valiant , active , wealthy ; +Which makes me hope you are not void of pity . +I sold not Maine , I lost not Normandy ; +Yet , to recover them , would lose my life . +Justice with favour have I always done ; +Prayers and tears have mov'd me , gifts could never . +When have I aught exacted at your hands , +But to maintain the king , the realm , and you ? +Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks , +Because my book preferr'd me to the king , +And seeing ignorance is the curse of God , +Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven , +Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits , +You cannot but forbear to murder me : +This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings +For your behoof , + +Tut ! when struck'st thou one blow in the field ? + +Great men have reaching hands : oft have I struck +Those that I never saw , and struck them dead . + +O monstrous coward ! what , to come behind folks ! + +These cheeks are pale for watching for your good . + +Give him a box o' the ear , and that will make 'em red again . + +Long sitting , to determine poor men's causes , +Hath made me full of sickness and diseases . + +Ye shall have a hempen caudle then , and the help of hatchet . + +Why dost thou quiver , man ?. + +The palsy , and not fear , provokes me . + +Nay , he nods at us ; as who should say , I'll be even with you : I'll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole , or no . Take him away and behead him . + +Tell me wherein have I offended most ? +Have I affected wealth , or honour ? speak . +Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold ? +Is my apparel sumptuous to behold ? +Whom have I injur'd , that ye seek my death ? +These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding , +This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts . +O ! let me live . + +I feel remorse in myself with his words ; but I'll bridle it : he shall die , an it be but for pleading so well for his life . Away with him ! he has a familiar under his tongue ; he speaks not o' God's name . Go , take him away , I say , and strike off his head presently ; and then break into his son-in-law's house , Sir James Cromer , and strike off his head , and bring them both upon two poles hither . + +It shall be done . + +Ah , countrymen ! if when you make your prayers , +God should be so obdurate as yourselves , +How would it fare with your departed souls ? +And therefore yet relent , and save my life . + +Away with him ! and do as I command ye . + +The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head on his shoulders , unless he pay me tribute ; there shall not a maid be married , but she shall pay to me her maidenhead , ere they have it ; men shall hold of me in capite ; and we charge and command that their wives be as free as heart can wish or tongue can tell . + +My lord , when shall we go to Cheapside and take up commodities upon our bills ? + +Marry , presently . + +O ! brave ! + + +But is not this braver ? Let them kiss one another , for they loved well when they were alive . Now part them again , lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in France . Soldiers , defer the spoil of the city until night : for with these borne before us , instead of maces , will we ride through the streets ; and at every corner have them kiss . Away ! + + +Up Fish Street ! down St . Magnus' corner ! kill and knock down ! throw them into Thames ! [A parley sounded , then a retreat .] What noise is this I hear ? Dare any be so bold to sound retreat or parley , when I command them kill ? + + +Ay , here they be that dare and will disturb thee . +Know , Cade , we come ambassadors from the king +Unto the commons whom thou hast misled ; +And here pronounce free pardon to them all +That will forsake thee and go home in peace . + +What say ye , countrymen ? will ye relent , +And yield to mercy , whilst 'tis offer'd you , +Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths ? +Who loves the king , and will embrace his pardon , +Fling up his cap , and say 'God save his majesty !' +Who hateth him , and honours not his father , +Henry the Fifth , that made all France to quake , +Shake he his weapon at us , and pass by . + +God save the king ! God save the king ! + +What ! Buckingham and Clifford , are ye so brave ? And you , base peasants , do ye believe him ? will you needs be hanged with your pardons about your necks ? Hath my sword therefore broke through London Gates , that you should leave me at the White Hart in Southwark ? I thought ye would never have given out these arms till you had recovered your ancient freedom ; but you are all recreants and dastards , and delight to live in slavery to the nobility . Let them break your backs with burdens , take your houses over your heads , ravish your wives and daughters before your faces : for me , I will make shift for one , and so , God's curse light upon you all ! + +We'll follow Cade , we'll follow Cade ! + +Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth , +That thus you do exclaim you'll go with him ? +Will he conduct you through the heart of France , +And make the meanest of you earls and dukes ? +Alas ! he hath no home , no place to fly to ; +Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil , +Unless by robbing of your friends and us . +Were't not a shame , that whilst you live at jar , +The fearful French , whom you late vanquished , +Should make a start o'er seas and vanquish you ? +Methinks already in this civil broil +I see them lording it in London streets , +Crying Villiago ! unto all they meet . +Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry , +Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy . +To France , to France ! and get what you have lost ; +Spare England , for it is your native coast . +Henry hath money , you are strong and manly ; +God on our side , doubt not of victory . + +A Clifford ! a Clifford ! we'll follow the king and Clifford . + +Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this multitude ? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them to a hundred mischiefs , and makes them leave me desolate . I see them lay their heads together to surprise me . My sword make way for me , for here is no staying . In despite of the devils and hell , have through the very middest of you ! and heavens and honour be witness , that no want of resolution in me , but only my followers' base and ignominious treasons , makes me betake me to my heels . + + +What , is he fled ? go some , and follow him ; +And he that brings his head unto the king +Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward . + +Follow me , soldiers : we'll devise a mean +To reconcile you all unto the king . + + +Was ever king that joy'd an earthly throne , +And could command no more content than I ? +No sooner was I crept out of my cradle +But I was made a king at nine months old : +Was never subject long'd to be a king +As I do long and wish to be a subject . + + +Health , and glad tidings , to your majesty ! + +Why , Buckingham , is the traitor Cade surpris'd ? +Or is he but retir'd to make him strong ? + + +He's fled , my lord , and all his powers do yield ; +And humbly thus , with halters on their necks , +Expect your highness' doom , of life , or death . + +Then , heaven , set ope thy everlasting gates , +To entertain my vows of thanks and praise ! +Soldiers , this day have you redeem'd your lives , +And show'd how well you love your prince and country : +Continue still in this so good a mind , +And Henry , though he be infortunate , +Assure yourselves , will never be unkind : +And so , with thanks and pardon to you all , +I do dismiss you to your several countries . + +God save the king ! God save the king ! + + +Please it your Grace to be advertised , +The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland ; +And with a puissant and a mighty power +Of Gallowglasses , and stout kerns , +Is marching hitherward in proud array ; +And still proclaimeth , as he comes along , +His arms are only to remove from thee +The Duke of Somerset , whom he terms a traitor . + +Thus stands my state , 'twixt Cade and York distress'd ; +Like to a ship , that , having scap'd a tempest , +Is straight way calm'd , and boarded with a pirate . +But now is Cade driven back , his men dispers'd ; +And now is York in arms to second him . +I pray thee , Buckingham , go and meet him , +And ask him what's the reason of these arms . +Tell him I'll send Duke Edmund to the Tower ; +And , Somerset , we will commit thee thither , +Until his army be dismiss'd from him . + +My lord , +I'll yield myself to prison willingly , +Or unto death , to do my country good . + +In any case , be not too rough in terms ; +For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language . + +I will , my lord ; and doubt not so to deal +As all things shall redound unto your good . + +Come , wife , let's in , and learn to govern better ; +For yet may England curse my wretched reign . + +Fie on ambition ! fie on myself , that have a sword , and yet am ready to famish ! These five days have I hid me in these woods and durst not peep out , for all the country is laid for me ; but now I am so hungry , that if I might have a lease of my life for a thousand years I could stay no longer . Wherefore , on a brick wall have I climbed into this garden , to see if I can eat grass , or pick a sallet another while , which is not amiss to cool a man's stomach this hot weather . And I think this word 'sallet' was born to do me good : for many a time , but for a sallet , my brain-pan had been cleft with a brown bill ; and many a time , when I have been dry , and bravely marching , it hath served me instead of a quart-pot to drink in ; and now the word 'sallet' must serve me to feed on . + + +Lord ! who would live turmoiled in the court , +And may enjoy such quiet walks as these ? +This small inheritance my father left me +Contenteth me , and worth a monarchy . +I seek not to wax great by others' waning , +Or gather wealth I care not with what envy : +Sufficeth that I have maintains my state , +And sends the poor well pleased from my gate . + +Here's the lord of the soil come to seize me for a stray , for entering his fee-simple without leave . Ah , villain ! thou wilt betray me , and get a thousand crowns of the king by carrying my head to him ; but I'll make thee eat iron like an ostrich , and swallow my sword like a great pin , ere thou and I part . + +Why , rude companion , whatsoe'er thou be , +I know thee not ; why then should I betray thee ? +Is't not enough to break into my garden , +And like a thief to come to rob my grounds , +Climbing my walls in spite of me the owner , +But thou wilt brave me with these saucy terms ? + +Brave thee ! ay , by the best blood that ever was broached , and beard thee too . Look on me well : I have eat no meat these five days ; yet , come thou and thy five men , and if I do not leave you all as dead as a door-nail , I pray God I may never eat grass more . + +Nay , it shall ne'er be said , while England stands , +That Alexander Iden , an esquire of Kent , +Took odds to combat a poor famish'd man . +Oppose thy steadfast-gazing eyes to mine , +See if thou canst out-face me with thy looks : +Set limb to limb , and thou art far the lesser ; +Thy hand is but a finger to my fist ; +Thy leg a stick compared with this truncheon ; +My foot shall fight with all the strength thou hast ; +And if mine arm be heaved in the air +Thy grave is digg'd already in the earth . +As for more words , whose greatness answers words , +Let this my sword report what speech forbears . + +By my valour , the most complete champion that ever I heard ! Steel , if thou turn the edge , or cut not out the burly-boned clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath , I beseech Jove on my knees , thou mayst be turned to hobnails . + +O , I am slain ! Famine and no other hath slain me : let ten thousand devils come against me , and give me but the ten meals I have lost , and I'll defy them all . Wither , garden ; and be henceforth a burying-place to all that do dwell in this house , because the unconquered soul of Cade is fled . + +Is't Cade that I have slain , that monstrous traitor ? +Sword , I will hallow thee for this thy deed , +And hang thee o'er my tomb when I am dead : +Ne'er shall this blood be wiped from thy point , +But thou shalt wear it as a herald's coat , +To emblaze the honour that thy master got . + +Iden , farewell ; and be proud of thy victory . Tell Kent from me , she hath lost her best man , and exhort all the world to be cowards ; for I , that never feared any , am vanquished by famine , not by valour . + + +How much thou wrong'st me , heaven be my judge . +Die , damned wretch , the curse of her that bare thee ! +And as I thrust thy body in with my sword , +So wish I I might thrust thy soul to hell . +Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels +Unto a dunghill which shall be thy grave , +And there cut off thy most ungracious head ; +Which I will bear in triumph to the king , +Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon . + + +From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right , +And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head : +Ring , bells , aloud ; burn , bonfires , clear and bright , +To entertain great England's lawful king . +Ah sancta majestas , who would not buy thee dear ? +Let them obey that know not how to rule ; +This hand was made to handle nought but gold : +I cannot give due action to my words , +Except a sword , or sceptre balance it . +A sceptre shall it have , have I-a soul , +On which I'll toss the flower-de-luce of France . + + +Whom have we here ? Buckingham , to disturb me ? + +The king hath sent him , sure : I must dissemble . + +York , if thou meanest well , I greet thee well . + +Humphrey of Buckingham , I accept thy greeting . +Art thou a messenger , or come of pleasure ? + +A messenger from Henry , our dread hege , +To know the reason of these arms in peace ; +Or why thou ,being a subject as I am , +Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn , +Shouldst raise so great a power without his leave , +Or dare to bring thy force so near the court . + +Scarce can I speak , my choler is so great : +O ! I could hew up rocks and fight with flint , +I am so angry at these abject terms ; +And now , like Ajax Telamonius , +On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury . +I am far better born than is the king , +More like a king , more kingly in my thoughts ; +But I must make fair weather yet awhile , +Till Henry be more weak , and I more strong . + + +Buckingham , I prithee , pardon me , +That I have given no answer all this while ; +My mind was troubled with deep melancholy . +The cause why I have brought this army hither +Is to remove proud Somerset from the king , +Seditious to his Grace and to the state . + +That is too much presumption on thy part : +But if thy arms be to no other end , +The king hath yielded unto thy demand : +The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower . + +Upon thine honour , is he a prisoner ? + +Upon mine honour , he is a prisoner . + +Then , Buckingham , I do dismiss my powers . +Soldiers , I thank you all ; disperse yourselves ; +Meet me to-morrow in Saint George's field , +You shall have pay , and everything you wish , +And let my sov'reign , virtuous Henry , +Command my eldest son , nay , all my sons , +As pledges of my fealty and love ; +I'll send them all as willing as I live : +Lands , goods , horse , armour , anything I have +Is his to use , so Somerset may die . + +York , I commend this kind submission : +We twain will go into his highness' tent . + + +Buckingham , doth York intend no harm to us , +That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm ? + +In all submission and humility +York doth present himself unto your highness . + +Then what intend these forces thou dost bring ? + +To heave the traitor Somerset from hence , +And fight against that monstrous rebel , Cade , +Who since I heard to be discomfited . + + +If one so rude and of so mean condition +May pass into the presence of a king , +Lo ! I present your Grace a traitor's head , +The head of Cade , whom I in combat slew . + +The head of Cade ! Great God , how just art thou ! +O ! let me view his visage , being dead , +That living wrought me such exceeding trouble . +Tell me , my friend , art thou the man that slew him ? + +I was , an't like your majesty . + +How art thou call'd , and what is thy degree ? + +Alexander Iden , that's my name ; +A poor esquire of Kent , that loves his king . + +So please it you , my lord , 'twere not amiss +He were created knight for his good service . + +Iden , kneel down . + +Rise up a knight . +We give thee for reward a thousand marks ; +And will , that thou henceforth attend on us . + +May Iden live to merit such a bounty , +And never live but true unto his liege ! + +See ! Buckingham ! Somerset comes with the queen : +Go , bid her hide him quickly from the duke . + + +For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head , +But boldly stand and front him to his face . + +How now ! is Somerset at liberty ? +Then , York , unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts +And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart . +Shall I endure the sight of Somerset ? +False king ! why hast thou broken faith with me , +Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse ? +King did I call thee ? no , thou art not king ; +Not fit to govern and rule multitudes , +Which dar'st not , no , nor canst not rule a traitor . +That head of thine doth not become a crown ; +Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff , +And not to grace an awful princely sceptre . +That gold must round engirt these brows of mine , +Whose smile and frown , like to Achilles' spear , +Is able with the change to kill and cure . +Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up , +And with the same to act controlling laws . +Give place : by heaven , thou shalt rule no more +O'er him whom heaven created for thy ruler . + +O monstrous traitor :I arrest thee , York , +Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown . +Obey , audacious traitor ; kneel for grace . + +Wouldst have me kneel ? first let me ask of these +If they can brook I bow a knee to man . +Sirrah , call in my sons to be my bail : + +I know ere they will have me go to ward , +They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement . + +Call hither Clifford ; bid him come amain , +To say if that the bastard boys of York +Shall be the surety for their traitor father . + + +O blood-bespotted Neapolitan , +Outcast of Naples , England's bloody scourge ! +The sons of York , thy betters in their birth , +Shall be their father's bail ; and bane to those +That for my surety will refuse the boys ! + + +See where they come : I'll warrant they'll make it good . + +And here comes Clifford , to deny their bail . + +Health and all happiness to my lord the king ! + +I thank thee , Clifford : say , what news with thee ? +Nay , do not fright us with an angry look : +We are thy sov'reign , Clifford , kneel again ; +For thy mistaking so , we pardon thee . + +This is my king , York , I do not mistake ; +But thou mistak'st me much to think I do . +To Bedlam with him ! is the man grown mad ? + +Ay , Clifford ; a bedlam and ambitious humour +Makes him oppose himself against his king . + +He is a traitor ; let him to the Tower , +And chop away that factious pate of his . + +He is arrested , but will not obey : +His sons , he says , shall give their words for him . + +Will you not , sons ? + +Ay , noble father , if our words will serve . + +And if words will not , then our weapons shall . + +Why , what a brood of traitors have we here ! + +Look in a glass , and call thy image so : +I am thy king , and thou a false-heart traitor . +Call hither to the stake my two brave bears , +That with the very shaking of their chains +They may astonish these fell-lurking curs : +Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me . + + +Are these thy bears ? we'll bait thy bears to death , +And manacle the bear-ward in their chains , +If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place . + +Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur +Run back and bite , because he was withheld ; +Who , being suffer'd with the bear's fell paw , +Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs , and cried : +And such a piece of service will you do , +If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick . + +Hence , heap of wrath , foul indigested lump , +As crooked in thy manners as thy shape ! + +Nay , we shall heat you thoroughly anon . + +Take heed , lest by your heat you burn yourselves . + +Why , Warwick , hath thy knee forgot to bow ? +Old Salisbury , shame to thy silver hair , +Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son ! +What ! wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian , +And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles ? +O ! where is faith ? O , where is loyalty ? +If it be banish'd from the frosty head , +Where shall it find a harbour in the earth ? +Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war , +And shame thine honourable age with blood ? +Why art thou old , and want'st experience ? +Or wherefore dost abuse it , if thou hast it ? +For shame ! in duty bend thy knee to me , +That bows unto the grave with mickle age . + +My lord , I have consider'd with myself +The title of this most renowned duke ; +And in my conscience do repute his Grace +The rightful heir to England's royal seat . + +Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me ? + +I have . + +Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath ? + +It is great sin to swear unto a sin , +But greater sin to keep a sinful oath . +Who can be bound by any solemn vow +To do a murderous deed , to rob a man , +To force a spotless virgin's chastity , +To reave the orphan of his patrimony , +To wring the widow from her custom'd right , +And have no other reason for this wrong +But that he was bound by a solemn oath ? + +A subtle traitor needs no sophister . + +Call Buckingham , and bid him arm himself . + +Call Buckingham , and all the friends thou hast , +I am resolv'd for death , or dignity . + +The first I warrant thee , if dreams prove true . + +You were best to go to bed and dream again , +To keep thee from the tempest of the field . + +I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm +Than any thou canst conjure up to-day ; +And that I'll write upon thy burgonet , +Might I but know thee by thy household badge . + +Now , by my father's badge , old Nevil's crest , +The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff , +This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet , +As on a mountain-top the cedar shows , +That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm , +Even to affright thee with the view thereof . + +And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear , +And tread it underfoot with all contempt , +Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear . + +And so to arms , victorious father , +To quell the rebels and their complices . + +Fie ! charity ! for shame ! speak not in spite , +For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night . + +Foul stigmatic , that's more than thou canst tell . + +If not in heaven , you'll surely sup in hell . + + +Clifford of Cumberland , 'tis Warwick calls : +And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear , +Now , when the angry trumpet sounds alarm , +And dead men's cries do fill the empty air , +Clifford , I say , come forth , and fight with me ! +Proud northern lord , Clifford of Cumberland , +Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms . + +How now , my noble lord ! what ! all afoot ? + +The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed ; +But match to match I have encounter'd him , +And made a prey for carrion kites and crows +Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well . + + +Of one or both of us the time is come . + +Hold , Warwick ! seek thee out some other chase , +For I myself must hunt this deer to death . + +Then , nobly , York ; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st . +As I intend , Clifford , to thrive to-day , +It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd . + + +What seest thou in me , York ? why dost thou pause ? + +With thy brave bearing should I be in love , +But that thou art so fast mine enemy . + +Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem , +But that 'tis shown ignobly and in treason . + +So let it help me now against thy sword +As I in justice and true right express it . + +My soul and body on the action both ! + +A dreadful lay ! address thee instantly . + +La fin couronne les uvres . + + +Thus war hath given thee peace , for thou art still . +Peace with his soul , heaven , if it be thy will ! + +Shame and confusion ! all is on the rout : +Fear frames disorder , and disorder wounds +Where it should guard . O war ! thou son of hell , +Whom angry heavens do make their minister , +Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part +Hot coals of vengeance ! Let no soldier fly : +He that is truly dedicate to war +Hath no self-love ; nor he that loves himself +Hath not essentially , but by circumstance , +The name of valour . + +O ! let the vile world end , +And the premised flames of the last day +Knit heaven and earth together ; +Now let the general trumpet blow his blast , +Particularities and petty sounds +To cease !Wast thou ordain'd , dear father , +To lose thy youth in peace , and to achieve +The silver livery of advised age , +And , in thy reverence and thy chair-days thus +To die in ruffian battle ? Even at this sight +My heart is turn'd to stone : and while 'tis mine +It shall be stony . York not our old men spares : +No more will I their babes : tears virginal +Shall be to me even as the dew to fire ; +And beauty , that the tyrant oft reclaims , +Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax . +Henceforth I will not have to do with pity : +Meet I an infant of the house of York , +Into as many gobbets will I cut it +As wild Medea young Absyrtus did : +In cruelty will I seek out my fame . +Come , thou new ruin of old Clifford's house : + +As did neas old Anchises bear , +So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders ; +But then neas bare a living load , +Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine . + +So , lie thou there ; +For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign , +The Castle in Saint Alban's , Somerset +Hath made the wizard famous in his death . +Sword , hold thy temper ; heart , be wrathful still : +Priests pray for enemies , but princes kill . + +Away , my lord ! you are slow : for shame , away ! + +Can we outrun the heavens ? good Margaret , stay . + +What are you made of ? you'll nor fight nor fly : +Now is it manhood , wisdom , and defence , +To give the enemy way , and to secure us +By what we can , which can no more but fly . + +If you be ta'en , we then should see the bottom +Of all our fortunes : but if we haply scape , +As well we may , if not through your neglect , +We shall to London get , where you are lov'd , +And where this breach now in our fortunes made +May readily be stopp'd . + + +But that my heart's on future mischief set , +I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly ; +But fly you must : uncurable discomfit +Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts . +Away , for your relief ! and we will live +To see their day and them our fortune give . +Away , my lord , away ! + + +Of Salisbury , who can report of him ; +That winter lion , who in rage forgets +Aged contusions and all brush of time , +And , like a gallant in the brow of youth , +Repairs him with occasion ? this happy day +Is not itself , nor have we won one foot , +If Salisbury be lost . + +My noble father , +Three times to-day I holp him to his horse , +Three times bestrid him ; thrice I led him off , +Persuaded him from any further act : +But still , where danger was , still there I met him ; +And like rich hangings in a homely house , +So was his will in his old feeble body . +But , noble as he is , look where he comes . + + +Now , by my sword , well hast thou fought to-day ; +By the mass , so did we all . I thank you , Richard : +God knows how long it is I have to live ; +And it hath pleas'd him that three times to-day +You have defended me from imminent death . +Well , lords , we have not got that which we have : +'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled , +Being opposites of such repairing nature . + +I know our safety is to follow them ; + +For , as I hear , the king is fled to London , +To call a present court of parliament : +Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth : +What says Lord Warwick ? shall we after them ? + +After them ! nay , before them , if we can . +Now , by my hand , lords , 'twas a glorious day : +Saint Alban's battle , won by famous York , +Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come . +Sound , drums and trumpets , and to London all : +And more such days as these to us befall ! + +THE THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI + +I wonder how the king escap'd our hands . + +While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north , +He slily stole away and left his men : +Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland , +Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat , +Cheer'd up the drooping army ; and himself , +Lord Clifford , and Lord Stafford , all abreast , +Charg'd our main battle's front , and breaking in +Were by the swords of common soldiers slain . + +Lord Stafford's father , Duke of Buckingham , +Is either slain or wounded dangerously ; +I cleft his beaver with a downright blow : +That this is true , father , behold his blood . + + +And , brother , here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood , + +Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd . + +Speak thou for me , and tell them what I did . + + +Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons . +But , is your Grace dead , my Lord of Somerset ? + +Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt ! + +Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's head . + +And so do I . Victorious Prince of York , +Before I see thee seated in that throne +Which now the house of Lancaster usurps , +I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close . +This is the palace of the fearful king , +And this the regal seat : possess it , York ; +For this is thine , and not King Henry's heirs' . + +Assist me , then , sweet Warwick , and I will ; +For hither we have broken in by force . + +We'll all assist you ; he that flies shall die . + +Thanks , gentle Norfolk . Stay by me , my lords ; +And , soldiers , stay and lodge by me this night . + +And when the king comes , offer him no violence , +Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce . + + +The queen this day here holds her parliament , +But little thinks we shall be of her council : +By words or blows here let us win our right . + +Arm'd as we are , let's stay within this house . + +The bloody parliament shall this be call'd , +Unless Plantagenet , Duke of York , be king , +And bashful Henry depos'd , whose cowardice +Hath made us by-words to our enemies . + +Then leave me not , my lords ; be resolute ; +I mean to take possession of my right . + +Neither the king , nor he that loves him best , +The proudest he that holds up Lancaster , +Dares stir a wing if Warwick shake his bells . +I'll plant Plantagenet , root him up who dares . +Resolve thee , Richard ; claim the English crown . + + +My lords , look where the sturdy rebel sits , +Even in the chair of state ! belike he means +Back'd by the power of Warwick , that false peer +To aspire unto the crown and reign as king . +Earl of Northumberland , he slew thy father , +And thine , Lord Clifford ; and you both have vow'd revenge +On him , his sons , his favourites , and his friends . + +If I be not , heavens be reveng'd on me ! + +The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel . + +What ! shall we suffer this ? let's pluck him down : +My heart for anger burns ; I cannot brook it . + +Be patient , gentle Earl of Westmoreland . + +Patience is for poltroons , such as he : +He durst not sit there had your father liv'd . +My gracious lord , here in the parliament +Let us assail the family of York . + +Well hast thou spoken , cousin : be it so . + +Ah ! know you not the city favours them , +And they have troops of soldiers at their beck ? + +But when the duke is slain they'll quickly fly . + +Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart , +To make a shambles of the parliament-house ! +Cousin of Exeter , frowns , words , and threats , +Shall be the war that Henry means to use . + +Thou factious Duke of York , descend my throne , +And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet ; +I am thy sovereign . + +I am thine . + +For shame ! come down : he made thee Duke of York . + +'Twas my inheritance , as the earldom was . + +Thy father was a traitor to the crown . + +Exeter , thou art a traitor to the crown +In following this usurping Henry . + +Whom should he follow but his natural king ? + +True , Clifford ; and that's Richard , Duke of York . + +And shall I stand , and thou sit in my throne ? + +It must and shall be so : content thyself . + +Be Duke of Lancaster : let him be king . + +He is both king and Duke of Lancaster ; +And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall maintain . + +And Warwick shall disprove it . You forget +That we are those which chas'd you from the field +And slew your fathers , and with colours spread +March'd through the city to the palace gates . + +Yes , Warwick , I remember it to my grief ; +And , by his soul , thou and thy house shall rue it . + +Plantagenet , of thee , and these thy sons , +Thy kinsmen and thy friends , I'll have more lives +Than drops of blood were in my father's veins . + +Urge it no more ; lest that instead of words , +I send thee , Warwick , such a messenger +As shall revenge his death before I stir . + +Poor Clifford ! how I scorn his worthless threats . + +Will you we show our title to the crown ? +If not , our swords shall plead it in the field . + +What title hast thou , traitor , to the crown ? +Thy father was , as thou art , Duke of York ; +Thy grandfather , Roger Mortimer , Earl of March ; +I am the son of Henry the Fifth , +Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop , +And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces . + +Talk not of France , sith thou hast lost it all . + +The Lord Protector lost it , and not I : +When I was crown'd I was but nine months old . + +You are old enough now , and yet , methinks , you lose . +Father , tear the crown from the usurper's head . + +Sweet father , do so ; set it on your head . + +Good brother , as thou lov'st and honour'st arms , +Let's fight it out and not stand cavilling thus . + +Sound drums and trumpets , and the king will fly . + +Sons , peace ! + +Peace thou ! and give King Henry leave to speak . + +Plantagenet shall speak first : hear him , lords ; +And be you silent and attentive too , +For he that interrupts him shall not live . + +Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne , +Wherein my grandsire and my father sat ? +No : first shall war unpeople this my realm ; +Ay , and their colours , often borne in France , +And now in England to our heart's great sorrow , +Shall be my winding-sheet . Why faint you , lords ? +My title's good , and better far than his . + +Prove it , Henry , and thou shalt be king . + +Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown . + +'Twas by rebellion against his king . + +I know not what to say : my title's weak . + + +Tell me , may not a king adopt an heir ? + +What then ? + +An if he may , then am I lawful king ; +For Richard , in the view of many lords , +Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth , +Whose heir my father was , and I am his . + +He rose against him , being his sovereign , +And made him to resign his crown perforce . + +Suppose , my lords , he did it unconstrain'd , +Think you 'twere prejudicial to his crown ? + +No ; for he could not so resign his crown +But that the next heir should succeed and reign . + +Art thou against us , Duke of Exeter ? + +His is the right , and therefore pardon me . + +Why whisper you , my lords , and answer not ? + +My conscience tells me he is lawful king . + +All will revolt from me , and turn to him . + +Plantagenet , for all the claim thou lay'st , +Think not that Henry shall be so depos'd . + +Depos'd he shall be in despite of all . + +Thou art deceiv'd : 'tis not thy southern power , +Of Essex , Norfolk , Suffolk , nor of Kent , +Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud , +Can set the duke up in despite of me . + +King Henry , be thy title right or wrong , +Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence : +May that ground gape and swallow me alive , +Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father ! + +O Clifford , how thy words revive my heart ! + +Henry of Lancaster , resign thy crown . +What mutter you , or what conspire you , lords ? + +Do right unto this princely Duke of York , +Or I will fill the house with armed men , +And o'er the chair of state , where now he sits , +Write up his title with usurping blood . + + +My Lord of Warwick , hear me but one word : +Let me for this my life-time reign as king . + +Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs , +And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st . + +I am content : Richard Plantagenet , +Enjoy the kingdom after my decease . + +What wrong is this unto the prince your son ! + +What good is this to England and himself ! + +Base , fearful , and despairing Henry ! + +How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us ! + +I cannot stay to hear these articles . + +Nor I . + +Come , cousin , let us tell the queen these news . + +Farewell , faint-hearted and degenerate king , +In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides . + +Be thou a prey unto the house of York , +And die in bands for this unmanly deed ! + +In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome , +Or live in peace abandon'd and despis'd ! + + +Turn this way , Henry , and regard them not . + +They seek revenge and therefore will not yield . + +Ah ! Exeter . + +Why should you sigh , my lord ? + +Not for myself , Lord Warwick , but my son , +Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit . +But be it as it may ; I here entail +The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever ; +Conditionally , that here thou take an oath +To cease this civil war , and , whilst I live , +To honour me as thy king and sovereign ; +And neither by treason nor hostility +To seek to put me down and reign thyself . + +This oath I willingly take and will perform . + + +Long live King Henry ! Plantagenet , embrace him . + +And long live thou and these thy forward sons ! + +Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd . + +Accurs'd be he that seeks to make them foes ! + + +Farewell , my gracious lord ; I'll to my castle . + +And I'll keep London with my soldiers . + +And I to Norfolk with my followers . + +And I unto the sea from whence I came . + + +And I , with grief and sorrow , to the court . + + +Here comes the queen , whose looks bewray her anger : +I'll steal away . + + +Exeter , so will I . + + +Nay , go not from me ; I will follow thee . + +Be patient , gentle queen , and I will stay . + +Who can be patient in such extremes ? +Ah ! wretched man ; would I had died a maid , +And never seen thee , never borne thee son , +Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father . +Hath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus ? +Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I , +Or felt that pain which I did for him once , +Or nourish'd him as I did with my blood , +Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there , +Rather than have made that savage duke thine heir , +And disinherited thine only son . + +Father , you cannot disinherit me : +If you be king , why should not I succeed ? + +Pardon me , Margaret ; pardon me , sweet son ; +The Earl of Warwick , and the duke , enforc'd me . + +Enforc'd thee ! art thou king , and wilt be forc'd ? +I shame to hear thee speak . Ah ! timorous wretch ; +Thou hast undone thyself , thy son , and me ; +And given unto the house of York such head +As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance . +To entail him and his heirs unto the crown , +What is it but to make thy sepulchre , +And creep into it far before thy time ? +Warwick is chancellor and the Lord of Calais ; +Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow seas ; +The duke is made protector of the realm ; +And yet shalt thou be safe ? such safety finds +The trembling lamb environed with wolves . +Had I been there , which am a silly woman , +The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes +Before I would have granted to that act ; +But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour : +And seeing thou dost , I here divorce myself , +Both from thy table , Henry , and thy bed , +Until that act of parliament be repeal'd +Whereby my son is disinherited . +The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours +Will follow mine , if once they see them spread ; +And spread they shall be , to thy foul disgrace , +And utter ruin of the house of York . +Thus do I leave thee . Come , son , let's away ; +Our army is ready ; come , we'll after them . + +Stay , gentle Margaret , and hear me speak . + +Thou hast spoke too much already : get thee gone . + +Gentle son Edward , thou wilt stay with me ? + +Ay , to be murder'd by his enemies . + +When I return with victory from the field +I'll see your Grace : till then , I'll follow her . + +Come , son , away ; we may not linger thus . + + +Poor queen ! how love to me and to her son +Hath made her break out into terms of rage . +Reveng'd may she be on that hateful duke , +Whose haughty spirit , winged with desire , +Will cost my crown , and like an empty eagle +Tire on the flesh of me and of my son ! +The loss of those three lords torments my heart : +I'll write unto them , and entreat them fair . +Come , cousin ; you shall be the messenger . + +And I , I hope , shall reconcile them all . + + +Brother , though I be youngest , give me leave . + +No , I can better play the orator . + +But I have reasons strong and forcible . + + +Why , how now , sons and brother ! at a strife ? +What is your quarrel ? how began it first ? + +No quarrel , but a slight contention . + +About what ? + +About that which concerns your Grace and us ; +The crown of England , father , which is yours . + +Mine , boy ? not till King Henry be dead . + +Your right depends not on his life or death . + +Now you are heir , therefore enjoy it now : +By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe , +It will outrun you , father , in the end . + +I took an oath that he should quietly reign . + +But for a kingdom any oath may be broken : +I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year . + +No ; God forbid your Grace should be forsworn . + +I shall be , if I claim by open war . + +I'll prove the contrary , if you'll hear me speak . + +Thou canst not , son ; it is impossible . + +An oath is of no moment , being not took +Before a true and lawful magistrate +That hath authority over him that swears : +Henry had none , but did usurp the place ; +Then , seeing 'twas he that made you to depose , +Your oath , my lord , is vain and frivolous . +Therefore , to arms ! And , father , do but think +How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown , +Within whose circuit is Elysium , +And all that poets feign of bliss and joy . +Why do we linger thus ? I cannot rest +Until the white rose that I wear be dy'd +Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart . + +Richard , enough , I will be king , or die . +Brother , thou shalt to London presently , +And whet on Warwick to this enterprise . +Thou , Richard , shalt unto the Duke of Norfolk , +And tell him privily of our intent . +You , Edward , shall unto my Lord Cobham , +With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise : +In them I trust ; for they are soldiers , +Witty , courteous , liberal , full of spirit . +While you are thus employ'd , what resteth more , +But that I seek occasion how to rise , +And yet the king not privy to my drift , +Nor any of the house of Lancaster ? + +But , stay : what news ? why com'st thou in such post ? + +The queen with all the northern earls and lords +Intend here to besiege you in your castle . +She is hard by with twenty thousand men , +And therefore fortify your hold , my lord . + +Ay , with my sword . What ! think'st thou that we fear them ? +Edward and Richard , you shall stay with me ; +My brother Montague shall post to London : +Let noble Warwick , Cobham , and the rest , +Whom we have left protectors of the king , +With powerful policy strengthen themselves , +And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths . + +Brother , I go ; I'll win them , fear it not : +And thus most humbly I do take my leave . + +Sir John , and Sir Hugh Mortimer , mine uncles ! +You are come to Sandal in a happy hour ; +The army of the queen mean to besiege us . + +She shall not need , we'll meet her in the field . + +What ! with five thousand men ? + +Ay , with five hundred , father , for a need : +A woman's general ; what should we fear ? + + +I hear their drums ; let's set our men in order , +And issue forth and bid them battle straight . + +Five men to twenty ! though the odds be great , +I doubt not , uncle , of our victory . +Many a battle have I won in France , +When as the enemy hath been ten to one : +Why should I not now have the like success ? + + +Ah , whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands ? +Ah ! tutor , look , where bloody Clifford comes ! + + +Chaplain , away ! thy priesthood saves thy life . +As for the brat of this accursed duke , +Whose father slew my father , he shall die . + +And I , my lord , will bear him company . + +Soldiers , away with him . + +Ah ! Clifford , murder not this innocent child , +Lest thou be hated both of God and man ! + + +How now ! is he dead already ? Or is it fear +That makes him close his eyes ? I'll open them . + +So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch +That trembles under his devouring paws ; +And so he walks , insulting o'er his prey , +And so he comes to rend his limbs asunder . +Ah ! gentle Clifford , kill me with thy sword , +And not with such a cruel threatening look . +Sweet Clifford ! hear me speak before I die : +I am too mean a subject for thy wrath ; +Be thou reveng'd on men , and let me live . + +In vain thou speak'st , poor boy ; my father's blood +Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter . + +Then let my father's blood open it again : +He is a man , and , Clifford , cope with him . + +Had I thy brethren here , their lives and thine +Were not revenge sufficient for me ; +No , if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves , +And hung their rotten coffins up in chains , +It could not slake mine ire , nor ease my heart . +The sight of any of the house of York +Is as a fury to torment my soul ; +And till I root out their accursed line , +And leave not one alive , I live in hell . +Therefore + + +O ! let me pray before I take my death . +To thee I pray ; sweet Clifford , pity me ! + +Such pity as my rapier's point affords . + +I never did thee harm : why wilt thou slay me ? + +Thy father hath . + +But 'twas ere I was born . +Thou hast one son ; for his sake pity me , +Lest in revenge thereof , sith God is just , +He be as miserably slain as I . +Ah ! let me live in prison all my days ; +And when I give occasion of offence , +Then let me die , for now thou hast no cause . + +No cause ! +Thy father slew my father ; therefore , die . + + +Dii faciant laudis summa sit ista tu ! + + +Plantagenet ! I come , Plantagenet ! +And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade +Shall rust upon my weapon , till thy blood , +Congeal'd with this , do make me wipe off both . + + +The army of the queen hath got the field : +My uncles both are slain in rescuing me ; +And all my followers to the eager foe +Turn back and fly , like ships before the wind , +Or lambs pursu'd by hunger-starved wolves . +My sons , God knows what hath bechanced them : +But this I know , they have demean'd themselves +Like men born to renown by life or death . +Three times did Richard make a lane to me , +And thrice cried , 'Courage , father ! fight it out !' +And full as oft came Edward to my side , +With purple falchion , painted to the hilt +In blood of those that had encounter'd him : +And when the hardiest warriors did retire , +Richard cried , 'Charge ! and give no foot of ground !' +And cried , 'A crown , or else a glorious tomb ! +A sceptre , or an earthly sepulchre !' +With this , we charg'd again ; but , out , alas ! +We bodg'd again : as I have seen a swan +With bootless labour swim against the tide , +And spend her strength with over-matching waves . + +Ah , hark ! the fatal followers do pursue ; +And I am faint and cannot fly their fury ; +And were I strong I would not shun their fury : +The sands are number'd that make up my life ; +Here must I stay , and here my life must end . + + +Come , bloody Clifford , rough Northumberland , +I dare your quenchless fury to more rage : + +I am your butt , and I abide your shot . + +Yield to our mercy , proud Plantagenet . + +Ay , to such mercy as his ruthless arm +With downright payment show'd unto my father . +Now Ph thon hath tumbled from his car , +And made an evening at the noontide prick . + +My ashes , as the ph nix , may bring forth +A bird that will revenge upon you all ; +And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven , +Scorning whate'er you can afflict me with . +Why come you not ? what ! multitudes , and fear ? + +So cowards fight when they can fly no further ; +So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons ; +So desperate thieves , all hopeless of their lives , +Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers . + +O Clifford ! but bethink thee once again , +And in thy thought o'er-run my former time ; +And , if thou canst for blushing , view this face , +And bite thy tongue , that slanders him with cowardice +Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this . + +I will not bandy with thee word for word , +But buckle with thee blows , twice two for one . + + +Hold , valiant Clifford ! for a thousand causes +I would prolong awhile the traitor's life . +Wrath makes him deaf : speak thou , Northumberland . + +Hold , Clifford ! do not honour him so much +To prick thy finger , though to wound his heart . +What valour were it , when a cur doth grin , +For one to thrust his hand between his teeth , +When he might spurn him with his foot away ? +It is war's prize to take all vantages , +And ten to one is no impeach of valour . + + +Ay , ay ; so strives the woodcock with the gin . + +So doth the cony struggle in the net . + + +So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty ; +So true men yield , with robbers so o'er-matched . + +What would your Grace have done unto him now ? + +Brave warriors , Clifford and Northumberland , +Come , make him stand upon this molehill here , +That raught at mountains with outstretched arms , +Yet parted but the shadow with his hand . +What ! was it you that would be England's king ? +Was't you that revell'd in our parliament , +And made a preachment of your high descent ? +Where are your mess of sons to back you now ? +The wanton Edward , and the lusty George ? +And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy , +Dicky your boy , that with his grumbling voice +Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies ? +Or , with the rest , where is your darling Rutland ? +Look , York : I stain'd this napkin with the blood +That valiant Clifford with his rapier's point +Made issue from the bosom of the boy ; +And if thine eyes can water for his death , +I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal . +Alas , poor York ! but that I hate thee deadly , +I should lament thy miserable state . +I prithee grieve , to make me merry , York . +What ! hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails +That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death ? +Why art thou patient , man ? thou shouldst be mad ; +And I , to make thee mad , do mock thee thus . +Stamp , rave , and fret , that I may sing and dance . +Thou wouldst be fee'd , I see , to make me sport : +York cannot speak unless he wear a crown . +A crown for York ! and , lords , bow low to him : +Hold you his hands whilst I do set it on . + +Ay , marry , sir , now looks he like a king ! +Ay , this is he that took King Henry's chair ; +And this is he was his adopted heir . +But how is it that great Plantagenet +Is crown'd so soon , and broke his solemn oath ? +As I bethink me , you should not be king +Till our King Henry had shook hands with death . +And will you pale your head in Henry's glory , +And rob his temples of the diadem , +Now in his life , against your holy oath ? +O ! 'tis a fault too-too unpardonable . +Off with the crown ; and , with the crown , his head ; +And , whilst we breathe , take time to do him dead . + +That is my office , for my father's sake . + +Nay , stay ; let's hear the orisons he makes . + +She-wolf of France , but worse than wolves of France , +Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth ! +How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex +To triumph , like an Amazonian trull , +Upon their woes whom fortune captivates ! +But that thy face is , visor-like , unchanging , +Made impudent with use of evil deeds , +I would assay , proud queen , to make thee blush : +To tell thee whence thou cam'st , of whom deriv'd , +Were shame enough to shame thee , wert thou not shameless . +Thy father bears the type of King of Naples , +Of both the Sicils and Jerusalem ; +Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman . +Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult ? +It needs not , nor it boots thee not , proud queen , +Unless the adage must be verified , +That beggars mounted run their horse to death . +'Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud ; +But , God he knows , thy share thereof is small : +'Tis virtue that doth make them most admir'd ; +The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at : +'Tis government that makes them seem divine ; +The want thereof makes thee abominable . +Thou art as opposite to every good +As the Antipodes are unto us , +Or as the south to the septentrion . +O tiger's heart wrapp'd in a woman's hide ! +How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child , +To bid the father wipe his eyes withal , +And yet be seen to bear a woman's face ? +Women are soft , mild , pitiful , and flexible ; +Thou stern , obdurate , flinty , rough , remorseless . +Bidd'st thou me rage ? why , now thou hast thy wish : +Wouldst have me weep ? why , now thou hast thy will ; +For raging wind blows up incessant showers , +And when the rage allays , the rain begins . +These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies , +And every drop cries vengeance for his death , +'Gainst thee , fell Clifford , and thee , false Frenchwoman . + +Beshrew me , but his passion moves me so +That hardly can I check my eyes from tears . + +That face of his the hungry cannibals +Would not have touch'd , would not have stain'd with blood ; +But you are more inhuman , more inexorable , +O ! ten times more , than tigers of Hyrcania . +See , ruthless queen , a hapless father's tears : +This cloth thou dipp'dst in blood of my sweet boy , +And I with tears do wash the blood away . +Keep thou the napkin , and go boast of this ; + +And if thou tell'st the heavy story right , +Upon my soul , the hearers will shed tears ; +Yea , even my foes will shed fast-falling tears , +And say , 'Alas ! it was a piteous deed !' +There , take the crown , and , with the crown my curse , +And in thy need such comfort come to thee +As now I reap at thy too cruel hand ! +Hard-hearted Clifford , take me from the world ; +My soul to heaven , my blood upon your heads ! + +Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin , +I should not for my life but weep with him , +To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul . + +What ! weeping-ripe , my Lord Northumberland ? +Think but upon the wrong he did us all , +And that will quickly dry thy melting tears . + +Here's for my oath ; here's for my father's death . + + +And here's to right our gentlehearted king . + + +Open thy gate of mercy , gracious God ! +My soul flies through these wounds to seek out thee . + + +Off with his head , and set it on York gates ; +So York may overlook the town of York . + +I wonder how our princely father 'scap'd , +Or whether he be 'scap'd away or no +From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit . +Had he been ta'en we should have heard the news ; +Had he been slain we should have heard the news ; +Or had he 'scap'd , methinks we should have heard +The happy tidings of his good escape . +How fares my brother ? why is he so sad ? + +I cannot joy until I be resolv'd +Where our right valiant father is become . +I saw him in the battle range about , +And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth . +Methought he bore him in the thickest troop +As doth a lion in a herd of neat ; +Or as a bear , encompass'd round with dogs , +Who having pinch'd a few and made them cry , +The rest stand all aloof and bark at him . +So far'd our father with his enemies ; +So fled his enemies my war-like father : +Methinks , 'tis prize enough to be his son . +See how the morning opes her golden gates , +And takes her farewell of the glorious sun ; +How well resembles it the prime of youth , +Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love . + +Dazzle mine eyes , or do I see three suns ? + +Three glorious suns , each one a perfect sun ; +Not separated with the racking clouds , +But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky . +See , see ! they join , embrace , and seem to kiss , +As if they vow'd some league inviolable : +Now are they but one lamp , one light , one sun . +In this the heaven figures some event . + +'Tis wondrous strange , the like yet never heard of . +I think it cites us , brother , to the field ; +That we , the sons of brave Plantagenet , +Each one already blazing by our meeds , +Should notwithstanding join our lights together , +And over-shine the earth , as this the world . +Whate'er it bodes , henceforward will I bear +Upon my target three fair-shining suns . + +Nay , bear three daughters : by your leave I speak it , +You love the breeder better than the male . + + +But what art thou , whose heavy looks foretell + +Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue ? + +Ah ! one that was a woeful looker-on , +When as the noble Duke of York was slain , +Your princely father , and my loving lord . + +O ! speak no more , for I have heard too much . + +Say how he died , for I will hear it all . + +Environed he was with many foes , +And stood against them , as the hope of Troy +Against the Greeks that would have enter'd Troy . +But Hercules himself must yield to odds ; +And many strokes , though with a little axe , +Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak . +By many hands your father was subdu'd ; +But only slaughter'd by the ireful arm +Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen , +Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite ; +Laugh'd in his face ; and when with grief he wept , +The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks , +A napkin steeped in the harmless blood +Of sweet young Rutland , by rough Clifford slain : +And after many scorns , many foul taunts , +They took his head , and on the gates of York +They set the same ; and there it doth remain , +The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd . + +Sweet Duke of York ! our prop to lean upon , +Now thou art gone , we have no staff , no stay ! +O Clifford ! boist'rous Clifford ! thou hast slain +The flower of Europe for his chivalry ; +And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him , +For hand to hand he would have vanquish'd thee . +Now my soul's palace is become a prison : +Ah ! would she break from hence , that this my body +Might in the ground be closed up in rest , +For never henceforth shall I joy again , +Never , O ! never , shall I see more joy . + +I cannot weep , for all my body's moisture +Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart : +Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burden ; +For self-same wind , that I should speak withal +Is kindling coals that fire all my breast , +And burn me up with flames , that tears would quench . +To weep is to make less the depth of grief : +Tears then , for babes ; blows and revenge for me ! +Richard , I bear thy name ; I'll venge thy death , +Or die renowned by attempting it . + +His name that valiant duke hath left with thee ; +His dukedom and his chair with me is left . + +Nay , if thou be that princely eagle's bird , +Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun : +For chair and dukedom , throne and kingdom say ; +Either that is thine , or else thou wert not his . + + +How now , fair lords ! What fare ? what news abroad ? + +Great Lord of Warwick , if we should recount +Our baleful news , and at each word's deliv'rance +Stab poniards in our flesh till all were told , +The words would add more anguish than the wounds . +O valiant lord ! the Duke of York is slain . + +O Warwick ! Warwick ! that Plantagenet +Which held thee dearly as his soul's redemption , +Is by the stern Lord Clifford done to death . + +Ten days ago I drown'd these news in tears , +And now , to add more measure to your woes , +I come to tell you things sith then befallen . +After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought , +Where your brave father breath'd his latest gasp , +Tidings , as swiftly as the posts could run , +Were brought me of your loss and his depart . +I , then in London , keeper of the king , +Muster'd my soldiers , gather'd flocks of friends , +And very well appointed , as I thought , +March'd towards Saint Alban's to intercept the queen , +Bearing the king in my behalf along ; +For by my scouts I was advertised +That she was coming with a full intent +To dash our late decree in parliament , +Touching King Henry's oath and your succession . +Short tale to make , we at Saint Alban's met , +Our battles join'd , and both sides fiercely fought : +But whether 'twas the coldness of the king , +Who look'd full gently on his war-like queen , +That robb'd my soldiers of their heated spleen ; +Or whether 'twas report of her success ; +Or more than common fear of Clifford's rigour , +Who thunders to his captives blood and death , +I cannot judge : but , to conclude with truth , +Their weapons like to lightning came and went ; +Our soldiers' like the night-owl's lazy flight , +Or like a lazy thresher with a flail +Fell gently down , as if they struck their friends . +I cheer'd them up with justice of our cause , +With promise of high pay , and great rewards : +But all in vain ; they had no heart to fight , +And we in them no hope to win the day ; +So that we fled : the king unto the queen ; +Lord George your brother , Norfolk , and myself , +In haste , post-haste , are come to join with you ; +For in the marches here we heard you were , +Making another head to fight again . + +Where is the Duke of Norfolk , gentle Warwick ? +And when came George from Burgundy to England ? + +Some six miles off the duke is with the soldiers ; +And for your brother , he was lately sent +From your kind aunt , Duchess of Burgundy , +With aid of soldiers to this needful war . + +'Twas odds , belike , when valiant Warwick fled : +Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit , +But ne'er till now his scandal of retire . + +Nor now my scandal , Richard , dost thou hear ; +For thou shalt know , this strong right hand of mine +Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head , +And wring the awful sceptre from his fist , +Were he as famous , and as bold in war +As he is fam'd for mildness , peace , and prayer . + +I know it well , Lord Warwick ; blame me not : +'Tis love I bear thy glories makes me speak . +But , in this troublous time what's to be done ? +Shall we go throw away our coats of steel , +And wrap our bodies in black mourning gowns , +Numb'ring our Ave-Maries with our beads ? +Or shall we on the helmets of our foes +Tell our devotion with revengeful arms ? +If for the last , say 'Ay ,' and to it , lords . + +Why , therefore Warwick came to seek you out ; +And therefore comes my brother Montague . +Attend me , lords . The proud insulting queen , +With Clifford and the haught Northumberland , +And of their feather many more proud birds , +Have wrought the easy-melting king like wax . +He swore consent to your succession , +His oath enrolled in the parliament ; +And now to London all the crew are gone , +To frustrate both his oath and what beside +May make against the house of Lancaster . +Their power , I think , is thirty thousand strong : +Now , if the help of Norfolk and myself , +With all the friends that thou , brave Earl of March , +Amongst the loving Welshmen canst procure , +Will but amount to five and twenty thousand , +Why , Via ! to London will we march amain , +And once again bestride our foaming steeds , +And once again cry , 'Charge upon our foes !' +But never once again turn back and fly . + +Ay , now methinks I hear great Warwick speak : +Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day , +That cries 'Retire ,' if Warwick bid him stay . + +Lord Warwick , on thy shoulder will I lean ; +And when thou fail'st as God forbid the hour ! +Must Edward fall , which peril heaven forfend ! + +No longer Earl of March , but Duke of York : +The next degree is England's royal throne ; +For King of England shalt thou be proclaim'd +In every borough as we pass along ; +And he that throws not up his cap for joy +Shall for the fault make forfeit of his head . +King Edward , valiant Richard , Montague , +Stay we no longer dreaming of renown , +But sound the trumpets , and about our task . + +Then , Clifford , were thy heart as hard as steel , +As thou hast shown it flinty by thy deeds , +I come to pierce it , or to give thee mine . + +Then strike up , drums ! God , and Saint George for us ! + + +How now ! what news ? + +The Duke of Norfolk sends you word by me , +The queen is coming with a puissant host ; +And craves your company for speedy counsel . + +Why then it sorts ; brave warriors , let's away . + +Welcome , my lord , to this brave town of York . +Yonder's the head of that arch-enemy , +That sought to be encompass'd with your crown : +Doth not the object cheer your heart , my lord ? + +Ay , as the rocks cheer them that fear their wrack : +To see this sight , it irks my very soul . +Withhold revenge , dear God ! 'tis not my fault , +Nor wittingly have I infring'd my vow . + +My gracious liege , this too much lenity +And harmful pity must be laid aside . +To whom do lions cast their gentle looks ? +Not to the beast that would usurp their den . +Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick ? +Not his that spoils her young before her face . +Who 'scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting ? +Not he that sets his foot upon her back . +The smallest worm will turn being trodden on , +And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood . +Ambitious York did level at thy crown ; +Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows : +He , but a duke , would have his son a king , +And raise his issue like a loving sire ; +Thou , being a king , bless'd with a goodly son , +Didst yield consent to disinherit him , +Which argu'd thee a most unloving father . +Unreasonable creatures feed their young ; +And though man's face be fearful to their eyes , +Yet , in protection of their tender ones , +Who hath not seen them , even with those wings +Which sometime they have us'd with fearful flight , +Make war with him that climb'd unto their nest , +Offering their own lives in their young's defence ? +For shame , my liege ! make them your precedent . +Were it not pity that this goodly boy +Should lose his birthright by his father's fault , +And long hereafter say unto his child , +'What my great grandfather and grandsire got , +My careless father fondly gave away ?' +Ah ! what a shame were this . Look on the boy ; +And let his manly face , which promiseth +Successful fortune , steel thy melting heart +To hold thine own and leave thine own with him . + +Full well hath Clifford play'd the orator , +Inferring arguments of mighty force . +But , Clifford , tell me , didst thou never hear +That things ill got had ever bad success ? +And happy always was it for that son +Whose father for his hoarding went to hell ? +I'll leave my son my virtuous deeds behind ; +And would my father had left me no more ! +For all the rest is held at such a rate +As brings a thousand-fold more care to keep +Than in possession any jot of pleasure . +Ah ! cousin York , would thy best friends did know +How it doth grieve me that thy head is here ! + +My lord , cheer up your spirits : our foes are nigh , +And this soft courage makes your followers faint . +You promis'd knighthood to our forward son : +Unsheathe your sword , and dub him presently . +Edward , kneel down . + +Edward Plantagenet , arise a knight ; +And learn this lesson , draw thy sword in right . + +My gracious father , by your kingly leave , +I'll draw it as apparent to the crown , +And in that quarrel use it to the death . + +Why , that is spoken like a toward prince . + + +Royal commanders , be in readiness : +For with a band of thirty thousand men +Comes Warwick , backing of the Duke of York ; +And in the towns , as they do march along , +Proclaims him king , and many fly to him : +Darraign your battle , for they are at hand . + +I would your highness would depart the field : +The queen hath best success when you are absent . + +Ay , good my lord , and leave us to our fortune . + +Why , that's my fortune too ; therefore I'll stay . + +Be it with resolution then to fight . + +My royal father , cheer these noble lords , +And hearten those that fight in your defence : +Unsheathe your sword , good father : cry , 'Saint George !' + + +Now , perjur'd Henry , wilt thou kneel for grace , +And set thy diadem upon my head ; +Or bide the mortal fortune of the field ? + +Go , rate thy minions , proud insulting boy ! +Becomes it thee to be thus bold in terms +Before thy sovereign and thy lawful king ? + +I am his king , and he should bow his knee ; +I was adopted heir by his consent : +Since when , his oath is broke ; for , as I hear , +You , that are king , though he do wear the crown , +Have caus'd him , by new act of parliament , +To blot out me , and put his own son in . + +And reason too : +Who should succeed the father but the son ? + +Are you there , butcher ? O ! I cannot speak . + +Ay , crook-back ; here I stand to answer thee , +Or any he the proudest of thy sort . + +'Twas you that kill'd young Rutland , was it not ? + +Ay , and old York , and yet not satisfied . + +For God's sake , lords , give signal to the fight . + +What sayst thou , Henry , wilt thou yield the crown ? + +Why , how now , long-tongu'd Warwick ! dare you speak ? +When you and I met at Saint Alban's last , +Your legs did better service than your hands . + +Then 'twas my turn to fly , and now 'tis thine . + +You said so much before , and yet you fled . + +'Twas not your valour , Clifford , drove me thence . + +No , nor your manhood that durst make you stay . + +Northumberland , I hold thee reverently . +Break off the parley ; for scarce I can refrain +The execution of my big-swoln heart +Upon that Clifford , that cruel child-killer . + +I slew thy father : call'st thou him a child ? + +Ay , like a dastard and a treacherous coward , +As thou didst kill our tender brother Rutland ; +But ere sun-set I'll make thee curse the deed . + +Have done with words , my lords , and hear me speak . + +Defy them , then , or else hold close thy lips . + +I prithee , give no limits to my tongue : +I am a king , and privileg'd to speak . + +My liege , the wound that bred this meeting here +Cannot be cur'd by words ; therefore be still . + +Then , executioner , unsheathe thy sword . +By him that made us all , I am resolv'd +That Clifford's manhood lies upon his tongue . + +Say , Henry , shall I have my right or no ? +A thousand men have broke their fasts to-day , +That ne'er shall dine unless thou yield the crown . + +If thou deny , their blood upon thy head ; +For York in justice puts his armour on . + +If that be right which Warwick says is right , +There is no wrong , but everything is right . + +Whoever got thee , there thy mother stands ; +For well I wot thou hast thy mother's tongue . + +But thou art neither like thy sire nor dam , +But like a foul misshapen stigmatic , +Mark'd by the destinies to be avoided , +As venom toads , or lizards' dreadful stings . + +Iron of Naples hid with English gilt , +Whose father bears the title of a king , +As if a channel should be call'd the sea , +Sham'st thou not , knowing whence thou art extraught , +To let thy tongue detect thy base-born heart ? + +A wisp of straw were worth a thousand crowns , +To make this shameless callet know herself . +Helen of Greece was fairer far than thou , +Although thy husband may be Menelaus ; +And ne'er was Agamemnon's brother wrong'd +By that false woman as this king by thee . +His father revell'd in the heart of France , +And tam'd the king , and made the Dauphin stoop ; +And had he match'd according to his state , +He might have kept that glory to this day ; +But when he took a beggar to his bed , +And grac'd thy poor sire with his bridal day , +Even then that sunshine brew'd a shower for him , +That wash'd his father's fortunes forth of France , +And heap'd sedition on his crown at home . +For what hath broach'd this tumult but thy pride ? +Hadst thou been meek our title still had slept , +And we , in pity of the gentle king , +Had slipp'd our claim until another age . + +But when we saw our sunshine made thy spring , +And that thy summer bred us no increase , +We set the axe to thy usurping root ; +And though the edge hath something hit ourselves , +Yet know thou , since we have begun to strike , +We'll never leave , till we have hewn thee down , +Or bath'd thy growing with our heated bloods . + +And in this resolution I defy thee ; +Not willing any longer conference , +Since thou deny'st the gentle king to speak . +Sound trumpets !let our bloody colours wave ! +And either victory , or else a grave . + +Stay , Edward . + +No , wrangling woman , we'll no longer stay : +These words will cost ten thousand lives this day + + +Forspent with toil , as runners with a race , +I lay me down a little while to breathe ; +For strokes receiv'd , and many blows repaid , +Have robb'd my strong-knit sinews of their strength , +And spite of spite needs must I rest a while . + + +Smile , gentle heaven ! or strike , ungentle death ! +For this world frowns , and Edward's sun is clouded . + +How now , my lord ! what hap ? what hope of good ? + + +Our hap is loss , our hope but sad despair , +Our ranks are broke , and ruin follows us . +What counsel give you ? whither shall we fly ? + +Bootless is flight , they follow us with wings ; +And weak we are and cannot shun pursuit . + + +Ah ! Warwick , why hast thou withdrawn thyself ? +Thy brother's blood the thirsty earth hath drunk , +Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance ; +And in the very pangs of death he cried , +Like to a dismal clangor heard from far , +'Warwick , revenge ! brother , revenge my death !' +So , underneath the belly of their steeds , +That stain'd their fetlocks in his smoking blood , +The noble gentleman gave up the ghost . + +Then let the earth be drunken with our blood : +I'll kill my horse because I will not fly . +Why stand we like soft-hearted women here , +Wailing our losses , whiles the foe doth rage ; +And look upon , as if the tragedy +Were play'd in jest by counterfeiting actors ? +Here on my knee I vow to God above , +I'll never pause again , never stand still +Till either death hath clos'd these eyes of mine , +Of fortune given me measure of revenge . + +O Warwick ! I do bend my knee with thine ; +And in this vow do chain my soul to thine . +And , ere my knee rise from the earth's cold face , +I throw my hands , mine eyes , my heart to thee , +Thou setter up and plucker down of kings , +Beseeching thee , if with thy will it stands +That to my foes this body must be prey , +Yet that thy brazen gates of heaven may ope , +And give sweet passage to my sinful soul ! +Now , lords , take leave until we meet again , +Where'er it be , in heaven or in earth . + +Brother , give me thy hand ; and , gentle Warwick , +Let me embrace thee in my weary arms : +I , that did never weep , now melt with woe +That winter should cut off our spring-time so . + +Away , away ! Once more , sweet lords , farewell . + +Yet let us all together to our troops , +And give them leave to fly that will not stay , +And call them pillars that will stand to us ; +And if we thrive , promise them such rewards +As victors wear at the Olympian games . +This may plant courage in their quailing breasts ; +For yet is hope of life and victory . +Forslow no longer ; make we hence amain . + + +Now , Clifford , I have singled thee alone . +Suppose this arm is for the Duke of York , +And this for Rutland ; both bound to revenge , +Wert thou environ'd with a brazen wall . + +Now , Richard , I am with thee here alone . +This is the hand that stabb'd thy father York , +And this the hand that slew thy brother Rutland ; +And here's the heart that triumphs in their death +And cheers these hands that slew thy sire and brother , +To execute the like upon thyself ; +And so , have at thee ! + + +Nay , Warwick , single out some other chase ; +For I myself will hunt this wolf to death . + + +This battle fares like to the morning's war , +When dying clouds contend with growing light , +What time the shepherd , blowing of his nails , +Can neither call it perfect day nor night . +Now sways it this way , like a mighty sea +Forc'd by the tide to combat with the wind ; +Now sways it that way , like the self-same sea +Forc'd to retire by fury of the wind : +Sometime the flood prevails , and then the wind ; +Now one the better , then another best ; +Both tugging to be victors , breast to breast , +Yet neither conqueror nor conquered : +So is the equal poise of this fell war . +Here on this molehill will I sit me down . +To whom God will , there be the victory ! +For Margaret my queen , and Clifford too , +Have chid me from the battle ; swearing both +They prosper best of all when I am thence . +Would I were dead ! if God's good will were so ; +For what is in this world but grief and woe ? +O God ! methinks it were a happy life , +To be no better than a homely swain ; +To sit upon a hill , as I do now , +To carve out dials quaintly , point by point , +Thereby to see the minutes how they run , +How many make the hour full complete ; +How many hours bring about the day ; +How many days will finish up the year ; +How many years a mortal man may live . +When this is known , then to divide the times : +So many hours must I tend my flock ; +So many hours must I take my rest ; +So many hours must I contemplate ; +So many hours must I sport myself ; +So many days my ewes have been with young ; +So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean ; +So many years ere I shall shear the fleece : +So minutes , hours , days , months , and years , +Pass'd over to the end they were created , +Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave . +Ah ! what a life were this ! how sweet ! how lovely ! +Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade +To shepherds , looking on their silly sheep , +Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy +To kings , that fear their subjects' treachery ? +O , yes ! it doth ; a thousand-fold it doth . +And to conclude , the shepherd's homely curds , +His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle , +His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade , +All which secure and sweetly he enjoys , +Is far beyond a prince's delicates , +His viands sparkling in a golden cup , +His body couched in a curious bed , +When care , mistrust , and treason wait on him . + + +Ill blows the wind that profits nobody . +This man whom hand to hand I slew in fight , +May be possessed with some store of crowns ; +And I , that haply take them from him now , +May yet ere night yield both my life and them +To some man else , as this dead man doth me . +Who's this ? O God ! it is my father's face , +Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill'd . +O heavy times , begetting such events ! +From London by the king was I press'd forth ; +My father , being the Earl of Warwick's man , +Came on the part of York , press'd by his master ; +And I , who at his hands receiv'd my life , +Have by my hands of life bereaved him . +Pardon me , God , I knew not what I did ! +And pardon , father , for I knew not thee ! +My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks ; +And no more words till they have flow'd their fill . + +O piteous spectacle ! O bloody times ! +Whiles lions war and battle for their dens , +Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity . +Weep , wretched man , I'll aid thee tear for tear ; +And let our hearts and eyes , like civil war , +Be blind with tears , and break o'ercharg'd with grief . + + +Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me , +Give me thy gold , if thou hast any gold , +For I have bought it with a hundred blows . +But let me see : is this our foeman's face ? +Ah ! no , no , no , it is mine only son . +Ah ! boy , if any life be left in thee , +Throw up thine eye : see , see ! what showers arise , +Blown with the windy tempest of my heart , +Upon thy wounds , that kill mine eye and heart . +O ! pity , God , this miserable age . +What stratagems , how fell , how butcherly , +Erroneous , mutinous , and unnatural , +This deadly quarrel daily doth beget ! +O boy ! thy father gave thee life too soon , +And hath bereft thee of thy life too late . + +Woe above woe ! grief more than common grief ! +O ! that my death would stay these ruthful deeds . +O ! pity , pity ; gentle heaven , pity . +The red rose and the white are on his face , +The fatal colours of our striving houses : +The one his purple blood right well resembles ; +The other his pale cheeks , methinks , presenteth : +Wither one rose , and let the other flourish ! +If you contend , a thousand lives must wither . + +How will my mother for a father's death +Take on with me and ne'er be satisfied ! + +How will my wife for slaughter of my son +Shed seas of tears and ne'er be satisfied ! + +How will the country for these woeful chances +Misthink the king and not be satisfied ! + +Was ever son so ru'd a father's death ? + +Was ever father so bemoan'd a son ? + +Was ever king so griev'd for subjects' woe ? +Much is your sorrow ; mine , ten times so much . + +I'll bear thee hence , where I may weep my fill . + + +These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet ; +My heart , sweet boy , shall be thy sepulchre , +For from my heart thine image ne'er shall go : +My sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell ; +And so obsequious will thy father be , +E'en for the loss of thee , having no more , +As Priam was for all his valiant sons . +I'll bear thee hence ; and let them fight that will , +For I have murder'd where I should not kill . + + +Sad-hearted men ,' much overgone with care , +Here sits a king more woeful than you are . + + +Fly , father , fly ! for all your friends are fled , +And Warwick rages like a chafed bull . +Away ! for death doth hold us in pursuit . + +Mount you , my lord ; towards Berwick post amain . +Edward and Richard , like a brace of greyhounds +Having the fearful flying hare in sight , +With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath , +And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands , +Are at our backs ; and therefore hence amain . + +Away ! for vengeance comes along with them . +Nay , stay not to expostulate ; make speed , +Or else come after : I'll away before . + +Nay , take me with thee , good sweet Exeter : +Not that I fear to stay , but love to go +Whither the queen intends . Forward ! away ! + + +Here burns my candle out ; ay , here it dies , +Which , while it lasted , gave King Henry light . +O Lancaster ! I fear thy overthrow +More than my body's parting with my soul . +My love and fear glu'd many friends to thee ; +And , now I fall , thy tough commixtures melt , +Impairing Henry , strengthening misproud York : +The common people swarm like summer flies ; +And whither fly the gnats but to the sun ? +And who shines now but Henry's enemies ? +O Ph bus ! hadst thou never given consent +That Ph thon should check thy fiery steeds , +Thy burning car never had scorch'd the earth ; +And , Henry , hadst thou sway'd as kings should do , +Or as thy father and his father did , +Giving no ground unto the house of York , +They never then had sprung like summer flies ; +I and ten thousand in this luckless realm +Had left no mourning widows for our death , +And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace . +For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air ? +And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity ? +Bootless are plaints , and cureless are my wounds ; +No way to fly , nor strength to hold out flight : +The foe is merciless , and will not pity ; +For at their hands I have deserv'd no pity . +The air hath got into my deadly wounds , +And much effuse of blood doth make me faint . +Come , York and Richard , Warwick and the rest ; +I stabb'd your fathers' bosoms , split my breast . + +Now breathe we , lords : good fortune bids us pause , +And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks . +Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen , +That led calm Henry , though he were a king , +As doth a sail , fill'd with a fretting gust , +Command an argosy to stern the waves . +But think you , lords , that Clifford fled with them ? + +No , 'tis impossible he should escape ; +For , though before his face I speak the words , +Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave ; +And wheresoe'er he is , he's surely dead . + + +Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave ? + +A deadly groan , like life and death's departing . + +See who it is : and now the battle's ended , +If friend or foe let him be gently us'd . + +Revoke that doom of mercy , for 'tis Clifford ; +Who not contented that he lopp'd the branch +In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth , +But set his murd'ring knife unto the root +From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring , +I mean our princely father , Duke of York . + +From off the gates of York fetch down the head , +Your father's head , which Clifford placed there ; +Instead whereof let this supply the room : +Measure for measure must be answered . + +Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house , +That nothing sung but death to us and ours : +Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound , +And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak . + + +I think his understanding is bereft . +Speak , Clifford ; dost thou know who speaks to thee ? +Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life , +And he nor sees , nor hears us what we say . + +O ! would he did ; and so perhaps he doth : +'Tis but his policy to counterfeit , +Because he would avoid such bitter taunts +Which in the time of death he gave our father . + +If so thou think'st , vex him with eager words . + +Clifford ! ask mercy and obtain no grace . + +Clifford , repent in bootless penitence . + +Clifford ! devise excuses for thy faults . + +While we devise fell tortures for thy faults . + +Thou didst love York , and I am son to York . + +Thou pitiedst Rutland , I will pity thee . + +Where's Captain Margaret , to fence you now ? + +They mock thee , Clifford : swear as thou wast wont . + +What ! not an oath ? nay , then the world goes hard +When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath . +I know by that he's dead ; and , by my soul , +If this right hand would buy two hours' life , +That I in all despite might rail at him , +This hand should chop it off , and with the issuing blood +Stifle the villain whose unstaunched thirst +York and young Rutland could not satisfy . + +Ay , but he's dead : off with the traitor's head , +And rear it in the place your father's stands . +And now to London with triumphant march , +There to be crowned England's royal king : +From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France , +And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen . +So shalt thou sinew both these lands together ; +And , having France thy friend , thou shalt not dread +The scatter'd foe that hopes to rise again ; +For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt , +Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears . +First will I see the coronation ; +And then to Brittany I'll cross the sea , +To effect this marriage , so it please my lord . + +Even as thou wilt , sweet Warwick , let it be ; +For on thy shoulder do I build my seat , +And never will I undertake the thing +Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting . +Richard , I will create thee Duke of Gloucester ; +And George , of Clarence ; Warwick , as ourself , +Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best . + +Let me be Duke of Clarence , George of Gloucester , +For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous . + +Tut ! that's a foolish observation : +Richard , be Duke of Gloucester . Now to London , +To see these honours in possession . + +Under this thick-grown hrake we'll shroud ourselves ; +For through this laund anon the deer will come ; +And in this covert will we make our stand , +Culling the principal of all the deer . + +I'll stay above the hill , so both may shoot . + +That cannot be ; the noise of thy cross-bow +Will scare the herd , and so my shoot is lost . +Here stand we both , and aim we at the best : +And , for the time shall not seem tedious , +I'll tell thee what befell me on a day +In this self place where now we mean to stand . + +Here comes a man ; let's stay till he be past . + + +From Scotland am I stol'n , even of pure love , +To greet mine own land with my wishful sight . +No , Harry , Harry , 'tis no land of thine ; +Thy place is fill'd , thy sceptre wrung from thee , +Thy balm wash'd off wherewith thou wast anointed : +No bending knee will call thee C sar now , +No humble suitors press to speak for right , +No , not a man comes for redress of thee ; +For how can I help them , and not myself ? + +Ay , here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee : +This is the quondam king ; let's seize upon him . + +Let me embrace thee , sour adversity , +For wise men say it is the wisest course . + +Why linger we ? let us lay hands upon him . + +Forbear awhile ; we'll hear a little more . + +My queen and son are gone to France for aid ; +And , as I hear , the great commanding Warwick +Is thither gone , to crave the French king's sister +To wife for Edward . If this news be true , +Poor queen and son , your labour is but lost ; +For Warwick is a subtle orator , +And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words . +By this account then Margaret may win him , +For she's a woman to be pitied much : +Her sighs will make a battery in his breast ; +Her tears will pierce into a marble heart ; +The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn ; +And Nero will be tainted with remorse , +To hear and see her plaints , her brinish tears . +Ay , but she's come to beg ; Warwick , to give : +She on his left side craving aid for Henry ; +He on his right asking a wife for Edward . +She weeps , and says her Henry is depos'd ; +He smiles , and says his Edward is install'd ; +That she , poor wretch , for grief can speak no more : +Whiles Warwick tells his title , smooths the wrong , +Inferreth arguments of mighty strength , +And in conclusion wins the king from her , +With promise of his sister , and what else , +To strengthen and support King Edward's place . +O Margaret ! thus 'twill be ; and thou , poor soul , +Art then forsaken , as thou went'st forlorn . + +Say , what art thou , that talk'st of kings and queens ? + +More than I seem , and less than I was born to : +A man at least , for less I should not be ; +And men may talk of kings , and why not I ? + +Ay , but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king . + +Why , so I am , in mind ; and that's enough . + +But , if thou be a king , where is thy crown ? + +My crown is in my heart , not on my head ; +Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones , +Nor to be seen : my crown is call'd content ; +A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy . + +Well , if you be a king crown'd with content , +Your crown content and you must be contented +To go along with us ; for , as we think , +You are the king King Edward hath depos'd ; +And we his subjects , sworn in all allegiance , +Will apprehend you as his enemy . + +But did you never swear , and break an oath ? + +No , never such an oath ; nor will not now . + +Where did you dwell when I was King of England ? + +Here in this country , where we now remain . + +I was anointed king at nine months old ; +My father and my grandfather were kings , +And you were sworn true subjects unto me : +And tell me , then , have you not broke your oaths ? + +No ; +For we were subjects but while you were king . + +Why , am I dead ? do I not breathe a man ? +Ah ! simple men , you know not what you swear . +Look , as I blow this feather from my face , +And as the air blows it to me again , +Obeying with my wind when I do blow , +And yielding to another when it blows , +Commanded always by the greater gust ; +Such is the lightness of you common men . +But do not break your oaths ; for of that sin +My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty . +Go where you will , the king shall be commanded ; +And be you kings : command , and I'll obey . + +We are true subjects to the king , King Edward . + +So would you be again to Henry , +If he were seated as King Edward is . + +We charge you , in God's name , and in the king's , +To go with us unto the officers . + +In God's name , lead ; your king's name be obey'd : +And what God will , that let your king perform ; +And what he will , I humbly yield unto . + + +Brother of Gloucester , at Saint Alban's field +This lady's husband , Sir John Grey , was slain , +His lands then seiz'd on by the conqueror : +Her suit is now , to repossess those lands ; +Which we in justice cannot well deny , +Because in quarrel of the house of York +The worthy gentleman did lose his life . + +Your highness shall do well to grant her suit ; +It were dishonour to deny it her . + +It were no less : but yet I'll make a pause . + +Yea ; is it so ? +I see the lady hath a thing to grant +Before the king will grant her humble suit . + +He knows the game : how true he keeps the wind ! + +Silence ! + +Widow , we will consider of your suit , +And come some other time to know our mind . + +Right gracious lord , I cannot brook delay : +May it please your highness to resolve me now , +And what your pleasure is shall satisfy me . + +Ay , widow ? then I'll warrant you all your lands , +An if what pleases him shall pleasure you , +Fight closer , or , good faith , you'll catch a blow . + +I fear her not , unless she chance to fall . + +God forbid that ! for he'll take vantages . + +How many children hast thou , widow ? tell me . + +I think he means to beg a child of her . + +Nay , whip me , then ; he'll rather give her two . + +Three , my most gracious lord . + +You shall have four , if you'll be rul'd by him . + +'Twere pity they should lose their father's lands . + +Be pitiful , dread lord , and grant it then . + +Lords , give us leave : I'll try this widow's wit . + +Ay , good leave have you ; for you will have leave , +Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch . + + +Now , tell me , madam , do you love your children ? + +Ay , full as dearly as I love myself . + +And would you not do much to do them good ? + +To do them good I would sustain some harm . + +Then get your husband's lands , to do them good . + +Therefore I came unto your majesty . + +I'll tell you how these lands are to be got . + +So shall you bind me to your highness' service . + +What service wilt thou do me , if I give them ? + +What you command , that rests in me to do . + +But you will take exceptions to my boon . + +No , gracious lord , except I cannot do it . + +Ay , but thou canst do what I mean to ask . + +Why , then I will do what your Grace commands . + +He plies her hard ; and much rain wears the marble . + +As red as fire ! nay , then her wax must melt . + +Why stops my lord ? shall I not hear my task ? + +An easy task : 'tis but to love a king . + +That's soon perform'd , because I am a subject . + +Why then , thy husband's lands I freely give thee . + +I take my leave with many thousand thanks . + +The match is made ; she seals it with a curtsy . + +But stay thee ; 'tis the fruits of love I mean . + +The fruits of love I mean , my loving liege . + +Ay , but , I fear me , in another sense . +What love think'st thou I sue so much to get ? + +My love till death , my humble thanks , my prayers : +That love which virtue begs and virtue grants . + +No , by my troth , I did not mean such love . + +Why , then you mean not as I thought you did . + +But now you partly may perceive my mind . + +My mind will never grant what I perceive +Your highness aims at , if I aim aright . + +To tell thee plain , I aim to lie with thee . + +To tell you plain , I had rather lie in prison . + +Why , then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands . + +Why , then mine honesty shall be my dower ; +For by that loss I will not purchase them . + +Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily . + +Herein your highness wrongs both them and me . +But , mighty lord , this merry inclination +Accords not with the sadness of my suit : +Please you dismiss me , either with 'ay ,' or 'no .' + +Ay , if thou wilt say 'ay' to my request ; +No , if thou dost say 'no' to my demand . + +Then , no , my lord . My suit is at an end . + +The widow likes him not , she knits her brows . + +He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom . + +Her looks do argue her replete with modesty ; +Her words do show her wit incomparable ; +All her perfections challenge sovereignty : +One way or other , she is for a king ; +And she shall be my love , or else my queen . +Say that King Edward take thee for his queen ? + +'Tis better said than done , my gracious lord : +I am a subject fit to jest withal , +But far unfit to be a sovereign . + +Sweet widow , by my state I swear to thee , +I speak no more than what my soul intends ; +And that is , to enjoy thee for my love . + +And that is more than I will yield unto . +I know I am too mean to be your queen , +And yet too good to be your concubine . + +You cavil , widow : I did mean , my queen . + +'Twill grieve your Grace my sons should call you father . + +No more than when my daughters call thee mother . +Thou art a widow , and thou hast some children ; +And , by God's mother , I , being but a bachelor , +Have other some : why , 'tis a happy thing +To be the father unto many sons . +Answer no more , for thou shalt be my queen . + +The ghostly father now hath done his shrift . + +When he was made a shriver , 'twas for shift . + +Brothers , you muse what chat we two have had . + +The widow likes it not , for she looks very sad . + +You'd think it strange if I should marry her . + +To whom , my lord ? + +Why , Clarence , to myself . + +That would be ten days' wonder at the least . + +That's a day longer than a wonder lasts . + +By so much is the wonder in extremes . + +Well , jest on , brothers : I can tell you both +Her suit is granted for her husband's lands . + + +My gracious lord , Henry your foe is taken , +And brought as prisoner to your palace gate . + +See that he be convey'd unto the Tower : +And go we , brothers , to the man that took him , +To question of his apprehension . +Widow , go you along . Lords , use her honourably . + + +Ay , Edward will use women honourably . +Would he were wasted , marrow , bones , and all , +That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring , +To cross me from the golden time I look for ! +And yet , between my soul's desire and me +The lustful Edward's title buried , +Is Clarence , Henry , and his son young Edward , +And all the unlook'd for issue of their bodies , +To take their rooms , ere I can place myself : +A cold premeditation for my purpose ! +Why then , I do but dream on sovereignty ; +Like one that stands upon a promontory , +And spies a far-off shore where he would tread , +Wishing his foot were equal with his eye ; +And chides the sea that sunders him from thence , +Saying , he'll lade it dry to have his way : +So do I wish the crown , being so far off , +And so I chide the means that keep me from it , +And so I say I'll cut the causes off , +Flattering me with impossibilities . +My eye's too quick , my heart o'erweens too much , +Unless my hand and strength could equal them . +Well , say there is no kingdom then for Richard ; +What other pleasure can the world afford ? +I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap , +And deck my body in gay ornaments , +And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks . +O miserable thought ! and more unlikely +Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns . +Why , love forswore me in my mother's womb : +And , for I should not deal in her soft laws , +She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe , +To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub ; +To make an envious mountain on my back , +Where sits deformity to mock my body ; +To shape my legs of an unequal size ; +To disproportion me in every part , +Like to a chaos , or an unlick'd bear-whelp +That carries no impression like the dam . +And am I then a man to be belov'd ? +O monstrous fault ! to harbour such a thought . +Then , since this earth affords no joy to me +But to command , to check , to o'erbear such +As are of better person than myself , +I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown ; +And , whiles I live , to account this world but hell , +Until my mis-shap'd trunk that bears this head +Be round impaled with a glorious crown . +And yet I know not how to get the crown , +For many lives stand between me and home : +And I , like one lost in a thorny wood , +That rents the thorns and is rent with the thorns , +Seeking a way and straying from the way ; +Not knowing how to find the open air , +But toiling desperately to find it out , +Torment myself to catch the English crown : +And from that torment I will free myself , +Or hew my way out with a bloody axe . +Why , I can smile , and murder while I smile , +And cry , 'Content ,' to that which grieves my heart , +And wet my cheeks with artificial tears , +And frame my face to all occasions . +I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall ; +I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk ; +I'll play the orator as well as Nestor , +Deceive more slily than Ulysses could , +And , like a Sinon , take another Troy . +I can add colours to the chameleon , +Change shapes with Proteus for advantages , +And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school . +Can I do this , and cannot get a crown ? +Tut ! were it further off , I'll pluck it down . + +Fair Queen of England , worthy Margaret , +Sit down with us : it ill befits thy state +And birth , that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit . + +No , mighty King of France : now Margaret +Must strike her sail , and learn a while to serve +Where kings command . I was , I must confess , +Great Albion's queen in former golden days ; +But now mischance hath trod my title down , +And with dishonour laid me on the ground , +Where I must take like seat unto my fortune , +And to my humble seat conform myself . + +Why , say , fair queen , whence springs this deep despair ? + +From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears +And stops my tongue , while heart is drown'd in cares . + +Whate'er it be , be thou still like thyself , +And sit thee by our side . + +Yield not thy neck +To fortune's yoke , but let thy dauntless mind +Still ride in triumph over all mischance . +Be plain , Queen Margaret , and tell thy grief ; +It shall be eas'd , if France can yield relief . + +Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts , +And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak . +Now , therefore , be it known to noble Lewis , +That Henry , sole possessor of my love , +Is of a king become a banish'd man , +And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn ; +While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York +Usurps the regal title and the seat +Of England's true-anointed lawful king . +This is the cause that I , poor Margaret , +With this my son , Prince Edward , Henry's heir , +Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid ; +And if thou fail us , all our hope is done . +Scotland hath will to help , but cannot help ; +Our people and our peers are both misled , +Our treasure seiz'd , our soldiers put to flight , +And , as thou seest , ourselves in heavy plight . + +Renowned queen , with patience calm the storm , +While we bethink a means to break it off . + +The more we stay , the stronger grows our foe . + +The more I stay , the more I'll succour thee . + +O ! but impatience waiteth on true sorrow : +And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow . + + +What's he , approacheth boldly to our presence ? + +Our Earl of Warwick , Edward's greatest friend . + +Welcome , brave Warwick ! What brings thee to France ? + + +Ay , now begins a second storm to rise ; +For this is he that moves both wind and tide . + +From worthy Edward , King of Albion , +My lord and sovereign , and thy vowed friend , +I come , in kindness and unfeigned love , +First , to do greetings to thy royal person ; +And then to crave a league of amity ; +And lastly to confirm that amity +With nuptial knot , if thou vouchsafe to grant +That virtuous Lady Bona , thy fair sister , +To England's king in lawful marriage . + +If that go forward , Henry's hope is done . + +And , gracious madam , in our king's behalf , +I am commanded , with your leave and favour , +Humbly to kiss your hand , and with my tongue +To tell the passion of my sov'reign's heart ; +Where fame , late entering at his heedful ears , +Hath plac'd thy beauty's image and thy virtue . + +King Lewis and Lady Bona , hear me speak , +Before you answer Warwick . His demand +Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love , +But from deceit bred by necessity ; +For how can tyrants safely govern home , +Unless abroad they purchase great alliance ? +To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice , +That Henry liveth still ; but were he dead , +Yet here Prince Edward stands , King Henry's son . +Look , therefore , Lewis , that by this league and marriage +Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour ; +For though usurpers sway the rule awhile , +Yet heavens are just , and time suppresseth wrongs . + +Injurious Margaret ! + +And why not queen ? + +Because thy father Henry did usurp , +And thou no more art prince than she is queen . + +Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt , +Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain ; +And , after John of Gaunt , Henry the Fourth , +Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest ; +And , after that wise prince , Henry the Fifth , +Who by his prowess conquered all France : +From these our Henry lineally descends . + +Oxford , how haps it , in this smooth discourse , +You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost +All that which Henry the Fifth had gotten ? +Methinks these peers of France should smile at that . +But for the rest , you tell a pedigree +Of threescore and two years ; a silly time +To make prescription for a kingdom's worth . + +Why , Warwick , canst thou speak against thy liege , +Whom thou obeyedst thirty and six years , +And not bewray thy treason with a blush ? + +Can Oxford , that did ever fence the right , +Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree ? +For shame ! leave Henry , and call Edward king . + +Call him my king , by whose injurious doom +My elder brother , the Lord Aubrey Vere , +Was done to death ? and more than so , my father , +Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years , +When nature brought him to the door of death ? +No , Warwick , no ; while life upholds this arm , +This arm upholds the house of Lancaster . + +And I the house of York . + +Queen Margaret , Prince Edward , and Oxford , +Vouchsafe at our request to stand aside , +While I use further conference with Warwick . + + +Heaven grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not ! + +Now , Warwick , tell me , even upon thy conscience , +Is Edward your true king ? for I were loath +To link with him that were not lawful chosen . + +Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour . + +But is he gracious in the people's eye ? + +The more that Henry was unfortunate . + +Then further , all dissembling set aside , +Tell me for truth the measure of his love +Unto our sister Bona . + +Such it seems +As may beseem a monarch like himself . +Myself have often heard him say and swear +That this his love was an eternal plant , +Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground , +The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun , +Exempt from envy , but not from disdain , +Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain . + +Now , sister , let us hear your firm resolve . + +Your grant , or your denial , shall be mine : + + +Yet I confess that often ere this day , +When I have heard your king's desert recounted , +Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire . + +Then , Warwick , thus : our sister shall be Edward's ; +And now forthwith shall articles be drawn +Touching the jointure that your king must make , +Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd . +Draw near , Queen Margaret , and be a witness +That Bona shall be wife to the English king . + +To Edward , but not to the English king . + +Deceitful Warwick ! it was thy device +By this alliance to make void my suit : +Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend . + +And still is friend to him and Margaret : +But if your title to the crown be weak , +As may appear by Edward's good success , +Then 'tis but reason that I be releas'd +From giving aid which late I promised . +Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand +That your estate requires and mine can yield . + +Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease , +Where having nothing , nothing can he lose . +And as for you yourself , our quondam queen , +You have a father able to maintain you , +And better 'twere you troubled him than France . + +Peace ! impudent and shameless Warwick , peace ; +Proud setter up and puller down of kings ; +I will not hence , till , with my talk and tears , +Both full of truth , I make King Lewis behold +Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love ; +For both of you are birds of self-same feather . + + +Warwick , this is some post to us or thee . + + +My lord ambassador , these letters are for you , +Sent from your brother , Marquess Montague : +These from our king unto your majesty ; + + +And , madam , these for you ; from whom I know not . + + +I like it well that our fair queen and mistress +Smiles at her news , while Warwick frowns at his . + +Nay , mark how Lewis stamps as he were nettled : +I hope all's for the best . + +Warwick , what are thy news ? and yours , fair queen ? + +Mine , such as fill my heart with unhop'd joys . + +Mine , full of sorrow and heart's discontent . + +What ! has your king married the Lady Grey ? +And now , to soothe your forgery and his , +Sends me a paper to persuade me patience ? +Is this the alliance that he seeks with France ? +Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner ? + +I told your majesty as much before : +This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty . + +King Lewis , I here protest , in sight of heaven , +And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss , +That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's ; +No more my king , for he dishonours me ; +But most himself , if he could see his shame . +Did I forget that by the house of York +My father came untimely to his death ? +Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece ? +Did I impale him with the regal crown ? +Did I put Henry from his native right ? +And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame ? +Shame on himself ! for my desert is honour : +And , to repair my honour , lost for him , +I here renounce him and return to Henry . +My noble queen , let former grudges pass , +And henceforth I am thy true servitor . +I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona , +And replant Henry in his former state . + +Warwick , these words have turn'd my hate to love ; +And I forgive and quite forget old faults , +And joy that thou becom'st King Henry's friend . + +So much his friend , ay , his unfeigned friend , +That , if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us +With some few bands of chosen soldiers , +I'll undertake to land them on our coast , +And force the tyrant from his seat by war . +'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him : +And as for Clarence , as my letters tell me , +He's very likely now to fall from him , +For matching more for wanton lust than honour , +Or than for strength and safety of our country . + +Dear brother , how shall Bona be reveng'd , +But by thy help to this distressed queen ? + +Renowned prince , how shall poor Henry live , +Unless thou rescue him from foul despair ? + +My quarrel and this English queen's are one . + +And mine , fair Lady Bona , joins with yours . + +And mine with hers , and thine and Margaret's . +Therefore , at last , I firmly am resolv'd +You shall have aid . + +Let me give humble thanks for all at once . + +Then , England's messenger , return in post , +And tell false Edward , thy supposed king , +That Lewis of France is sending over masquers , +To revel it with him and his new bride . +Thou seest what's past ; go fear thy king withal . + +Tell him , in hope he'll prove a widower shortly , +I'll wear the willow garland for his sake . + +Tell him , my mourning weeds are laid aside , +And I am ready to put armour on . + +Tell him from me , that he hath done me wrong , +And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long . +There's thy reward : be gone . + + +But , Warwick , +Thou and Oxford , with five thousand men , +Shall cross the seas , and bid false Edward battle ; +And , as occasion serves , this noble queen +And prince shall follow with a fresh supply . +Yet ere thou go , but answer me one doubt : +What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty ? + +This shall assure my constant loyalty : +That if our queen and this young prince agree , +I'll join mine eldest daughter and my joy +To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands . + +Yes , I agree , and thank you for your motion . +Son Edward , she is fair and virtuous , +Therefore delay not , give thy hand to Warwick ; +And , with thy hand , thy faith irrevocable , +That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine . + +Yes , I accept her , for she well deserves it ; +And here , to pledge my vow , I give my hand . + + +Why stay we now ? These soldiers shall be levied , +And thou , Lord Bourbon , our high admiral , +Shall waft them over with our royal fleet . +I long till Edward fall by war's mischance , +For mocking marriage with a dame of France . + + +I came from Edward as ambassador , +But I return his sworn and mortal foe : +Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me , +But dreadful war shall answer his demand . +Had he none else to make a stale but me ? +Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow . +I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown , +And I'll be chief to bring him down again : +Not that I pity Henry's misery , +But seek revenge on Edward's mockery . + +Now tell me , brother Clarence , what think you +Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey ? +Hath not our brother made a worthy choice ? + +Alas ! you know , 'tis far from hence to France ; +How could he stay till Warwick made return ? + +My lords , forbear this talk ; here comes the king . + +And his well-chosen bride . + +I mind to tell him plainly what I think . + +Now , brother Clarence , how like you our choice , +That you stand pensive , as half malcontent ? + +As well as Lewis of France , or the Earl of Warwick ; +Which are so weak of courage and in judgment +That they'll take no offence at our abuse . + +Suppose they take offence without a cause , +They are but Lewis and Warwick : I am Edward , +Your king and Warwick's , and must have my will . + +And you shall have your will , because our king : +Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well . + +Yea , brother Richard , are you offended too ? + +Not I : +No , God forbid , that I should wish them sever'd +Whom God hath join'd together ; ay , and 'twere pity +To sunder them that yoke so well together . + +Setting your scorns and your mislike aside , +Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey +Should not become my wife and England's queen : +And you too , Somerset and Montague , +Speak freely what you think . + +Then this is mine opinion : that King Lewis +Becomes your enemy for mocking him +About the marriage of the Lady Bona . + +And Warwick , doing what you gave in charge , +Is now dishonoured by this new marriage . + +What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd +By such invention as I can devise ? + +Yet to have join'd with France in such alliance +Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth +'Gainst foreign storms , than any home-bred marriage . + +Why , knows not Montague , that of itself +England is safe , if true within itself ? + +Yes ; but the safer when 'tis back'd with France . + +'Tis better using France than trusting France : +Let us be back'd with God and with the seas +Which he hath given for fence impregnable , +And with their helps only defend ourselves : +In them and in ourselves our safety lies . + +For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves +To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford . + +Ay , what of that ? it was my will and grant ; +And for this once my will shall stand for law . + +And yet methinks your Grace hath not done well , +To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales +Unto the brother of your loving bride : +She better would have fitted me or Clarence : +But in your bride you bury brotherhood . + +Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir +Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son , +And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere . + +Alas , poor Clarence , is it for a wife +That thou art malcontent ? I will provide thee . + +In choosing for yourself you show'd your judgment , +Which being shallow , you shall give me leave +To play the broker on mine own behalf ; +And to that end I shortly mind to leave you . + +Leave me , or tarry , Edward will be king , +And not be tied unto his brother's will . + +My lords , before it pleas'd his majesty +To raise my state to title of a queen , +Do me but right , and you must all-confess +That I was not ignoble of descent ; +And meaner than myself have had like fortune . +But as this title honours me and mine , +So your dislikes , to whom I would be pleasing , +Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow . + +My love , forbear to fawn upon their frowns : +What danger or what sorrow can befall thee , +So long as Edward is thy constant friend , +And their true sovereign , whom they must obey ? +Nay , whom they shall obey , and love thee too , +Unless they seek for hatred at my hands ; +Which if they do , yet will I keep thee safe , +And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath . + +I hear , yet say not much , but think the more . + + +Now , messenger , what letters or what news +From France ? + +My sovereign liege , no letters ; and few words ; +But such as I , without your special pardon , +Dare not relate . + +Go to , we pardon thee : therefore , in brief , +Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them . +What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters ? + +At my depart these were his very words : +'Go tell false Edward , thy supposed king , +That Lewis of France is sending over masquers , +To revel it with him and his new bride .' + +Is Lewis so brave ? belike he thinks me Henry . +But what said Lady Bona to my marriage ? + +These were her words , utter'd with mild disdain : +'Tell him , in hope he'll prove a widower shortly , +I'll wear the willow garland for his sake .' + +I blame not her , she could say little less ; +She had the wrong . But what said Henry's queen ? +For I have heard that she was there in place . + +'Tell him ,' quoth she , 'my mourning weeds are done , +And I am ready to put armour on .' + +Belike she minds to play the Amazon . +But what said Warwick to these injuries ? + +He , more incens'd against your majesty +Than all the rest , discharg'd me with these words : +'Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong , +And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long .' + +Ha ! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words ? +Well , I will arm me , being thus forewarn'd : +They shall have wars , and pay for their presumption . +But say , is Warwick friends with Margaret ? + +Ay , gracious sovereign ; they are so link'd in friendship , +That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter . + +Belike the elder ; Clarence will have the younger . +Now , brother king , farewell , and sit you fast , +For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter ; +That , though I want a kingdom , yet in marriage +I may not prove inferior to yourself . +You , that love me and Warwick , follow me . + + +Not I . +My thoughts aim at a further matter ; I +Stay not for love of Edward , but the crown . + +Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick ! +Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen , +And haste is needful in this desperate case . +Pembroke and Stafford , you in our behalf +Go levy men , and make prepare for war : +They are already , or quickly will be landed : +Myself in person will straight follow you , + +But ere I go , Hastings and Montague , +Resolve my doubt . You twain , of all the rest , +Are near to Warwick by blood , and by alliance : +Tell me if you love Warwick more than me ? +If it be so , then both depart to him ; +I rather wish you foes than hollow friends : +But if you mind to hold your true obedience , +Give me assurance with some friendly vow +That I may never have you in suspect . + +So God help Montague as he proves true ! + +And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause ! + +Now , brother Richard , will you stand by us ? + +Ay , in despite of all that shall withstand you . + +Why , so ! then am I sure of victory . +Now therefore let us hence ; and lose no hour +Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power . + + +Trust me , my lord , all hitherto goes well ; +The common people by numbers swarm to us . + + +But see where Somerset and Clarence come ! + +Speak suddenly , my lords , are we all friends ? + +Fear not that , my lord . + +Then , gentle Clarence , welcome unto Warwick ; +And welcome , Somerset : I hold it cowardice , +To rest mistrustful where a noble heart +Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love ; +Else might I think that Clarence , Edward's brother , +Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings : +But welcome , sweet Clarence ; my daughter shall be thine . +And now what rests , but in night's coverture , +Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd , +His soldiers lurking in the towns about , +And but attended by a simple guard , +We may surprise and take him at our pleasure ? +Our scouts have found the adventure very easy . +That as Ulysses , and stout Diomede , +With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents , +And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds ; +So we , well cover'd with the night's black mantle , +At unawares may beat down Edward's guard , +And seize himself ; I say not , slaughter him , +For I intend but only to surprise him . +You , that will follow me to this attempt , +Applaud the name of Henry with your leader . + +Why , then , let's on our way in silent sort . +For Warwick and his friends , God and Saint George ! + + +Come on , my masters , each man take his stand ; +The king , by this , is set him down to sleep . + +What , will he not to bed ? + +Why , no : for he hath made a solemn vow +Never to lie and take his natural rest +Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd . + +To-morrow then belike shall be the day , +If Warwick be so near as men report . + +But say , I pray , what nobleman is that +That with the king here resteth in his tent ? + +'Tis the Lord Hastings , the king's chiefest friend . + +O ! is it so ? But why commands the king +That his chief followers lodge in towns about him , +While he himself keeps in the cold field ? + +'Tis the more honour , because the more dangerous . + +Ay , but give me worship and quietness ; +I like it better than a dangerous honour . +If Warwick knew in what estate he stands , +'Tis to be doubted he would waken him . + +Unless our halberds did shut up his passage . + +Ay ; wherefore else guard we his royal tent , +But to defend his person from night-foes ? + + +This is his tent ; and see where stand his guard . +Courage , my masters ! honour now or never ! +But follow me , and Edward shall be ours . + +Who goes there ? + +Stay , or thou diest . + + +What are they that fly there ? + +Richard and Hastings : let them go ; here's the duke . + +The duke ! Why , Warwick , when we parted last , +Thou call'dst me king ! + +Ay , but the case is alter'd : +When you disgrac'd me in my embassade , +Then I degraded you from being king , +And come now to create you Duke of York . +Alas ! how should you govern any kingdom , +That know not how to use ambassadors , +Nor how to be contented with one wife , +Nor how to use your brothers brotherly , +Nor how to study for the people's welfare , +Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies ? + +Yea , brother of Clarence , art thou here too ? +Nay , then , I see that Edward needs must down . +Yet , Warwick , in despite of all mischance , +Of thee thyself , and all thy complices , +Edward will always bear himself as king : +Though Fortune's malice overthrow my state , +My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel . + +Then , for his mind , be Edward England's king : + +But Henry now shall wear the English crown , +And be true king indeed , thou but the shadow . +My Lord of Somerset , at my request , +See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd +Unto my brother , Archbishop of York . +When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows , +I'll follow you , and tell what answer +Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him : +Now , for a while farewell , good Duke of York . + +What fates impose , that men must needs abide ; +It boots not to resist both wind and tide . + + +What now remains , my lords , for us to do , +But march to London with our soldiers ? + +Ay , that's the first thing that we have to do ; +To free King Henry from imprisonment , +And see him seated in the regal throne . + + +Madam , what makes you in this sudden change ? + +Why , brother Rivers , are you yet to learn , +What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward ? + +What ! loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick ? + +No , but the loss of his own royal person . + +Then is my sovereign slain ? + +Ay , almost slain , for he is taken prisoner ; +Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard +Or by his foe surpris'd at unawares : +And , as I further have to understand , +Is new committed to the Bishop of York , +Fell Warwick's brother , and by that our foe . + +These news , I must confess , are full of grief ; +Yet , gracious madam , bear it as you may : +Warwick may lose , that now hath won the day . + +Till then fair hope must hinder life's decay . +And I the rather wean me from despair +For love of Edward's offspring in my womb : +This is it that makes me bridle passion , +And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross ; +Ay , ay , for this I draw in many a tear , +And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs , +Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown +King Edward's fruit , true heir to the English crown . + +But , madam , where is Warwick then become ? + +I am inform'd that he comes towards London , +To set the crown once more on Henry's head : +Guess thou the rest ; King Edward's friends must down . +But , to prevent the tyrant's violence , +For trust not him that hath once broken faith , +I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary , +To save at least the heir of Edward's right : +There shall I rest secure from force and fraud . +Come , therefore ; let us fly while we may fly : +If Warwick take us we are sure to die . + + +Now , my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley , +Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither , +Into this chiefest thicket of the park . +Thus stands the case . You know , our king , my brother , +Is prisoner to the bishop here , at whose hands +He hath good usage and great liberty , +And often but attended with weak guard , +Comes hunting this way to disport himself . +I have advertis'd him by secret means , +That if about this hour he make this way , +Under the colour of his usual game , +He shall here find his friends , with horse and men +To set him free from his captivity . + + +This way , my lord , for this way lies the game . + +Nay , this way , man : see where the huntsmen stand . +Now , brother of Gloucester , Lord Hastings , and the rest , +Stand you thus close , to steal the bishop's deer ? + +Brother , the time and case requireth haste . +Your horse stands ready at the park corner . + +But whither shall we then ? + +To Lynn , my lord ; and ship from thence to Flanders . + +Well guess'd , believe me ; for that was my meaning . + +Stanley , I will requite thy forwardness . + +But wherefore stay we ? 'tis no time to talk . + +Huntsman , what sayst thou ? wilt thou go along ? + +Better do so than tarry and be hang'd . + +Come then , away ; let's ha' no more ado . + +Bishop , farewell : shield thee from Warwick's frown , +And pray that I may repossess the crown . + +Master lieutenant , now that God and friends +Have shaken Edward from the regal seat , +And turn'd my captive state to liberty , +My fear to hope , my sorrows unto joys , +At our enlargement what are thy due fees ? + +Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns ; +But if a humble prayer may prevail , +I then crave pardon of your majesty . + +For what , lieutenant ? for well using me ? +Nay , be thou sure , I'll well requite thy kindness , +For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure ; +Ay , such a pleasure as encaged birds +Conceive , when , after many moody thoughts +At last by notes of household harmony +They quite forget their loss of liberty . +But , Warwick , after God , thou set'st me free , +And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee ; +He was the author , thou the instrument . +Therefore , that I may conquer Fortune's spite +By living low , where Fortune cannot hurt me , +And that the people of this blessed land +May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars , +Warwick , although my head still wear the crown , +I here resign my government to thee , +For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds . + +Your Grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous ; +And now may seem as wise as virtuous , +By spying and avoiding Fortune's malice ; +For few men rightly temper with the stars : +Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace , +For choosing me when Clarence is in place . + +No , Warwick , thou art worthy of the sway , +To whom the heavens , in thy nativity +Adjudg'd an olive branch and laurel crown , +As likely to be blest in peace , and war ; +And therefore I yield thee my free consent . + +And I choose Clarence only for protector . + +Warwick and Clarence , give me both your hands : +Now join your hands , and with your hands your hearts , +That no dissension hinder government : +I make you both protectors of this land , +While I myself will lead a private life , +And in devotion spend my latter days , +To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise . + +What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will ? + +That he consents , if Warwick yield consent ; +For on thy fortune I repose myself . + +Why then , though loath , yet must I be content : +We'll yoke together , like a double shadow +To Henry's body , and supply his place ; +I mean , in bearing weight of government , +While he enjoys the honour and his ease . +And , Clarence , now then it is more than needful +Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor , +And all his lands and goods be confiscate . + +What else ? and that succession be determin'd . + +Ay , therein Clarence shall not want his part . + +But , with the first of all your chief affairs , +Let me entreat , for I command no more , +That Margaret your queen , and my son Edward , +Be sent for , to return from France with speed : +For , till I see them here , by doubtful fear +My joy of liberty is half eclips'd . + +It shall be done , my sov'reign , with all speed . + +My Lord of Somerset , what youth is that +Of whom you seem to have so tender care ? + +My liege , it is young Henry , Earl of Richmond . + +Come hither , England's hope : + +If secret powers +Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts , +This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss . +His looks are full of peaceful majesty , +His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown , +His hand to wield a sceptre , and himself +Likely in time to bless a regal throne . +Make much of him , my lords ; for this is he +Must help you more than you are hurt by me . + + +What news , my friend ? + +That Edward is escaped from your brother , +And fled , as he hears since , to Burgundy . + +Unsavoury news ! but how made he escape ? + +He was convey'd by Richard Duke of Gloucester , +And the Lord Hastings , who attended him +In secret ambush on the forest side , +And from the bishop's huntsmen rescu'd him : +For hunting was his daily exercise . + +My brother was too careless of his charge . +But let us hence , my sovereign , to provide +A salve for any sore that may betide . + + +My lord , I like not of this flight of Edward's ; +For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help , +And we shall have more wars before't be long . +As Henry's late presaging prophecy +Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond , +So doth my heart misgive me , in these conflicts +What may befall him to his harm and ours : +Therefore , Lord Oxford , to prevent the worst , +Forthwith we'll send him hence to Brittany , +Till storms be past of civil enmity . + +Ay , for if Edward repossess the crown , +'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down . + +It shall be so ; he shall to Brittany . +Come , therefore , let's about it speedily . + + +Now , brother Richard , Lord Hastings , and the rest , +Yet thus far Fortune maketh us amends , +And says , that once more I shall interchange +My waned state for Henry's regal crown . +Well have we pass'd , and now repass'd the seas , +And brought desired help from Burgundy : +What then remains , we being thus arriv'd +From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York , +But that we enter , as into our dukedom ? + +The gates made fast ! Brother , I like not this ; +For many men that stumble at the threshold +Are well foretold that danger lurks within . + +Tush , man ! abodements must not now affright us . +By fair or foul means we must enter in , +For hither will our friends repair to us . + +My liege , I'll knock once more to summon them . + + +My lords , we were forewarned of your coming , +And shut the gates for safety of ourselves ; +For now we owe allegiance unto Henry . + +But , Master Mayor , if Henry be your king , +Yet Edward , at the least , is Duke of York . + +True , my good lord , I know you for no less . + +Why , and I challenge nothing but my dukedom , +As being well content with that alone . + +But when the fox hath once got in his nose , +He'll soon find means to make the body follow . + +Why , Master Mayor , why stand you in a doubt ? +Open the gates ; we are King Henry's friends . + +Ay , say you so ? the gates shall then be open'd . + + +A wise stout captain , and soon persuaded . + +The good old man would fain that all were well , +So 'twere not 'long of him ; but being enter'd , +I doubt not , I , but we shall soon persuade +Both him and all his brothers unto reason . + + +So , Master Mayor : these gates must not be shut +But in the night , or in the time of war . +What ! fear not , man , but yield me up the keys ; + +For Edward will defend the town and thee , +And all those friends that deign to follow me . + + +Brother , this is Sir John Montgomery , +Our trusty friend , unless I be deceiv'd . + +Welcome , Sir John ! but why come you in arms ? + +To help King Edward in his time of storm , +As every loyal subject ought to do . + +Thanks , good Montgomery ; but we now forget +Our title to the crown , and only claim +Our dukedom till God please to send the rest . + +Then fare you well , for I will hence again : +I came to serve a king and not a duke . +Drummer , strike up , and let us march away . + + +Nay , stay , Sir John , awhile ; and we'll debate +By what safe means the crown may be recover'd . + +What talk you of debating ? in few words , +If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king . +I'll leave you to your fortune , and be gone +To keep them back that come to succour you . +Why shall we fight , if you pretend no title ? + +Why , brother , wherefore stand you on nice points ? + +When we grow stronger then we'll make our claim ; +Till then , 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning . + +Away with scrupulous wit ! now arms must rule . + +And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns . +Brother , we will proclaim you out of hand ; +The bruit thereof will bring you many friends . + +Then be it as you will ; for 'tis my right , +And Henry but usurps the diadem . + +Ay , now my sov'reign speaketh like himself ; +And now will I be Edward's champion . + +Sound , trumpet ! Edward shall be here proclaim'd ; +Come , fellow soldier , make thou proclamation . + + +Edward the Fourth , by the grace of God , King of England and France , and Lord of Ireland , &c . + +And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right , +By this I challenge him to single fight . + + +Long live Edward the Fourth ! + +Thanks , brave Montgomery ;and thanks unto you all : +If Fortune serve me , I'll requite this kindness . +Now , for this night , let's harbour here in York ; +And when the morning sun shall raise his car +Above the border of this horizon , +We'll forward towards Warwick , and his mates ; +For well I wot that Henry is no soldier . +Ah , froward Clarence , how evil it beseems thee +To flatter Henry , and forsake thy brother ! +Yet , as we may , we'll meet both thee and Warwick . +Come on , brave soldiers : doubt not of the day ; +And , that once gotten , doubt not of large pay . + + +What counsel , lords ? Edward from Belgia , +With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders , +Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas , +And with his troops doth march amain to London ; +And many giddy people flock to him . + +Let's levy men , and beat him back again . + +A little fire is quickly trodden out , +Which , being suffer'd , rivers cannot quench . + +In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends , +Not mutinous in peace , yet bold in war ; +Those will I muster up : and thou , son Clarence , +Shalt stir up in Suffolk , Norfolk , and in Kent , +The knights and gentlemen to come with thee : +Thou , brother Montague , in Buckingham , +Northampton , and in Leicestershire , shalt find +Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st : +And thou , brave Oxford , wondrous well belov'd +In Oxfordshire , shalt muster up thy friends . +My sov'reign , with the loving citizens , +Like to his island girt in with the ocean , +Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs , +Shall rest in London till we come to him . +Fair lords , take leave , and stand not to reply . +Farewell , my sovereign . + +Farewell , my Hector , and my Troy's true hope . + +In sign of truth , I kiss your highness' hand . + +Well-minded Clarence , be thou fortunate ! + +Comfort , my lord ; and so , I take my leave . + +And thus I seal my truth , and bid adieu . + +Sweet Oxford , and my loving Montague , +And all at once , once more a happy farewell . + +Farewell , sweet lords : let's meet at Coventry . + + +Here at the palace will I rest awhile . +Cousin of Exeter , what thinks your lordship ? +Methinks the power that Edward hath in field +Should not be able to encounter mine . + +The doubt is that he will seduce the rest . + +That's not my fear ; my meed hath got me fame : +I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands , +Nor posted off their suits with slow delays ; +My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds , +My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs , +My mercy dried their water-flowing tears ; +I have not been desirous of their wealth ; +Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies , +Nor forward of revenge , though they much err'd . +Then why should they love Edward more than me ? +No , Exeter , these graces challenge grace : +And , when the lion fawns upon the lamb , +The lamb will never cease to follow him . + + +Hark , hark , my lord ! what shouts are these ? + + +Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry ! bear him hence : +And once again proclaim us King of England . +You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow : +Now stops thy spring ; my sea shall suck them dry , +And swell so much the higher by their ebb . +Hence with him to the Tower ! let him not speak . + +And , lords , towards Coventry bend we our course , +Where peremptory Warwick now remains : +The sun shines hot ; and , if we use delay , +Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay . + +Away betimes , before his forces join , +And take the great-grown traitor unawares : +Brave warriors , march amain towards Coventry . + +Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford ? +How far hence is thy lord , mine honest fellow ? + +By this at Dunsmore , marching hitherward . + +How far off is our brother Montague ? +Where is the post that came from Montague ? + +By this at Daintry , with a puissant troop . + + +Say , Somerville , what says my loving son ? +And , by thy guess , how nigh is Clarence now ? + +At Southam I did leave him with his forces , +And do expect him here some two hours hence . + + +Then Clarence is at hand , I hear his drum . + +It is not his , my lord ; here Southam lies : +The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick . + +Who should that be ? belike , unlook'd for friends . + +They are at hand , and you shall quickly know . + + +Go , trumpet , to the walls , and sound a parle . + +See how the surly Warwick mans the wall . + +O , unbid spite ! is sportful Edward come ? +Where slept our scouts , or how are they seduc'd , +That we could hear no news of his repair ? + +Now , Warwick , wilt thou ope the city gates , +Speak gentle words , and humbly bend thy knee ? +Call Edward king , and at his hands beg mercy ? +And he shall pardon thee these outrages . + +Nay , rather , wilt thou draw thy forces hence , +Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down ? +Call Warwick patron , and be penitent ; +And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York . + +I thought , at least , he would have said the king ; +Or did he make the jest against his will ? + +Is not a dukedom , sir , a goodly gift ? + +Ay , by my faith , for a poor earl to give : +I'll do thee service for so good a gift . + +'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother . + +Why then 'tis mine , if but by Warwick's gift . + +Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight : +And , weakling , Warwick takes his gift again ; +And Henry is my king , Warwick his subject . + +But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner ; +And , gallant Warwick , do but answer this , +What is the body , when the head is off ? + +Alas ! that Warwick had no more forecast , +But , whiles he thought to steal the single ten , +The king was slily finger'd from the deck . +You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace , +And , ten to one , you'll meet him in the Tower . + +'Tis even so : yet you are Warwick still . + +Come , Warwick , take the time ; kneel down , kneel down : +Nay , when ? strike now , or else the iron cools . + +I had rather chop this hand off at a blow , +And with the other fling it at thy face , +Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee . + +Sail how thou canst , have wind and tide thy friend ; +This hand , fast wound about thy coal-black hair , +Shall , whiles thy head is warm and new cut off , +Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood : +'Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more .' + + +O cheerful colours ! see where Oxford comes ! + +Oxford , Oxford , for Lancaster ! + + +The gates are open , let us enter too . + +So other foes may set upon our backs . +Stand we in good array ; for they no doubt +Will issue out again and bid us battle : +If not , the city being but of small defence , +We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same . + +O ! welcome , Oxford ! for we want thy help . + + +Montague , Montague , for Lancaster ! + + +Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason +Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear . + +The harder match'd , the greater victory : +My mind presageth happy gain , and conquest . + + +Somerset , Somerset , for Lancaster ! + + +Two of thy name , both Dukes of Somerset , +Have sold their lives unto the house of York ; +And thou shalt be the third , if this sword hold . + + +And lo ! where George of Clarence sweeps along , +Of force enough to bid his brother battle ; +With whom an upright zeal to right prevails +More than the nature of a brother's love . +Come , Clarence , come ; thou wilt , if Warwick call . + +Father of Warwick , know you what this means ? + +Look here , I throw my infamy at thee : +I will not ruinate my father's house , +Who gave his blood to lime the stones together , +And set up Lancaster . Why , trow'st thou , Warwick , +That Clarence is so harsh , so blunt , unnatural , +To bend the fatal instruments of war +Against his brother and his lawful king ? +Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath : +To keep that oath were more impiety +Than Jephthah's , when he sacrific'd his daughter . +I am so sorry for my trespass made +That , to deserve well at my brother's hands , +I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe ; +With resolution , wheresoe'er I meet thee +As I will meet thee if thou stir abroad +To plague thee for thy foul misleading me . +And so , proud-hearted Warwick , I defy thee , +And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks . +Pardon me , Edward , I will make amends ; +And , Richard , do not frown upon my faults , +For I will henceforth be no more unconstant . + +Now welcome more , and ten times more belov'd , +Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate . + +Welcome , good Clarence ; this is brother-like . + +O passing traitor , perjur'd , and unjust ! + +What , Warwick , wilt thou leave the town , and fight ? +Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears ? + +Alas ! I am not coop'd here for defence : +I will away towards Barnet presently , +And bid thee battle , Edward , if thou dar'st . + +Yes , Warwick , Edward dares , and leads the way . +Lords , to the field ; Saint George and victory ! + + +So , lie thou there : die thou , and die our fear ; +For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all . +Now Montague , sit fast ; I seek for thee , +That Warwick's bones may keep thine company . + + +Ah ! who is nigh ? come to me , friend or foe , +And tell me who is victor , York or Warwick ? +Why ask I that ? my mangled body shows , +My blood , my want of strength , my sick heart shows , +That I must yield my body to the earth , +And , by my fall , the conquest to my foe . +Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge , +Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle , +Under whose shade the ramping lion slept , +Whose top branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree , +And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind . +These eyes , that now are dimm'd with death's black veil , +Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun , +To search the secret treasons of the world : +The wrinkles in my brows , now fill'd with blood , +Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres ; +For who liv'd king , but I could dig his grave ? +And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow ? +Lo ! now my glory smear'd in dust and blood ; +My parks , my walks , my manors that I had , +Even now forsake me ; and , of all my lands +Is nothing left me but my body's length . +Why , what is pomp , rule , reign , but earth and dust ? +And , live we how we can , yet die we must . + + +Ah ! Warwick , Warwick , wert thou as we are , +We might recover all our loss again . +The queen from France hath brought a puissant power ; +Even now we heard the news . Ah ! couldst thou fly . + +Why , then , I would not fly . Ah ! Montague , +If thou be there , sweet brother , take my hand , +And with thy lips keep in my soul awhile . +Thou lov'st me not ; for , brother , if thou didst , +Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood +That glues my lips and will not let me speak . +Come quickly , Montague , or I am dead . + +Ah ! Warwick , Montague hath breath'd his last ; +And to the latest gasp , cried out for Warwick , +And said , 'Commend me to my valiant brother .' +And more he would have said ; and more he spoke , +Which sounded like a clamour in a vault , +That mought not be distinguish'd : but at last +I well might hear , deliver'd with a groan , +'O ! farewell , Warwick !' + +Sweet rest his soul ! Fly , lords , and save yourselves ; +For Warwick bids you all farewell , to meet in heaven . + + +Away , away , to meet the queen's great power . + + +Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course , +And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory . +But in the midst of this bright-shining day , +I spy a black , suspicious , threat'ning cloud , +That will encounter with our glorious sun , +Ere he attain his easeful western bed : +I mean , my lords , those powers that the queen +Hath rais'd in Gallia , have arriv'd our coast , +And , as we hear , march on to fight with us . + +A little gale will soon disperse that cloud , +And blow it to the source from whence it came : +Thy very beams will dry those vapours up , +For every cloud engenders not a storm . + +The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong , +And Somerset , with Oxford , fled to her : +If she have time to breathe , be well assur'd +Her faction will be full as strong as ours . + +We are advertis'd by our loving friends +That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury . +We , having now the best at Barnet field , +Will thither straight , for willingness rids way ; +And , as we march , our strength will be augmented +In every county as we go along . +Strike up the drum ! cry 'Courage !' and away . + + +Great lords , wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss , +But cheerly seek how to redress their harms . +What though the mast be now blown over-board , +The cable broke , the holding anchor lost , +And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood ? +Yet lives our pilot still : is't meet that he +Should leave the helm and like a fearful lad +With tearful eyes add water to the sea , +And give more strength to that which hath too much ; +Whiles in his moan the ship splits on the rock , +Which industry and courage might have sav'd ? +Ah ! what a shame ! ah , what a fault were this . +Say , Warwick was our anchor ; what of that ? +And Montague our top-mast ; what of him ? +Our slaughter'd friends the tackles ; what of these ? +Why , is not Oxford here another anchor ? +And Somerset , another goodly mast ? +The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings ? +And , though unskilful , why not Ned and I +For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge ? +We will not from the helm , to sit and weep , +But keep our course , though the rough wind say no , +From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wrack . +As good to chide the waves as speak them fair . +And what is Edward but a ruthless sea ? +What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit ? +And Richard but a ragged fatal rock ? +All those the enemies to our poor bark . +Say you can swim ; alas ! 'tis but a while : +Tread on the sand ; why , there you quickly sink : +Bestride the rock ; the tide will wash you off , +Or else you famish ; that's a threefold death . +This speak I , lords , to let you understand , +In case some one of you would fly from us , +That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers +More than with ruthless waves , with sands and rocks . +Why , courage , then ! what cannot be avoided +'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear . + +Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit +Should , if a coward heard her speak these words , +Infuse his breast with magnanimity , +And make him , naked , foil a man at arms . +I speak not this , as doubting any here ; +For did I but suspect a fearful man , +He should have leave to go away betimes , +Lest in our need he might infect another , +And make him of like spirit to himself . +If any such be here , as God forbid ! +Let him depart before we need his help . + +Women and children of so high a courage , +And warriors faint ! why , 'twere perpetual shame . +O brave young prince ! thy famous grandfather +Doth live again in thee : long mayst thou live +To bear his image and renew his glories ! + +And he , that will not fight for such a hope , +Go home to bed , and , like the owl by day , +If he arise , be mock'd and wonder'd at . + +Thanks , gentle Somerset : sweet Oxford , thanks . + +And take his thanks that yet hath nothing else . + + +Prepare you , lords , for Edward is at hand , +Ready to fight ; therefore be resolute . + +I thought no less : it is his policy +To haste thus fast , to find us unprovided . + +But he's deceiv'd ; we are in readiness . + +This cheers my heart to see your forwardness . + +Here pitch our battle ; hence we will not budge . + + +Brave followers , yonder stands the thorny wood , +Which , by the heavens' assistance , and your strength , +Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night . +I need not add more fuel to your fire , +For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out : +Give signal to the fight , and to it , lords . + +Lords , knights , and gentlemen , what I should say +My tears gainsay ; for every word I speak , +Ye see , I drink the water of mine eyes . +Therefore , no more but this : Henry , your sovereign , +Is prisoner to the foe ; his state usurp'd , +His realm a slaughter house , his subjects slain , +His statutes cancell'd , and his treasure spent ; +And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil . +You fight in justice : then , in God's name , lords , +Be valiant , and give signal to the fight . + + +Now , here a period of tumultuous broils . +Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight : +For Somerset , off with his guilty head . +Go , bear them hence ; I will not hear them speak . + +For my part , I'll not trouble thee with words . + +Nor I , but stoop with patience to my fortune . + + +So part we sadly in this troublous world , +To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem . + +Is proclamation made , that who finds Edward +Shall have a high reward , and he his life ? + +It is : and lo , where youthful Edward comes . + + +Bring forth the gallant : let us hear him speak . +What ! can so young a thorn begin to prick ? +Edward , what satisfaction canst thou make , +For bearing arms , for stirring up my subjects , +And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to ? + +Speak like a subject , proud ambitious York ! +Suppose that I am now my father's mouth : +Resign thy chair , and where I stand kneel thou , +Whilst I propose the self-same words to thee , +Which , traitor , thou wouldst have me answer to . + +Ah ! that thy father had been so resolv'd . + +That you might still have worn the petticoat , +And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster . + +Let sop fable in a winter's night ; +His currish riddles sort not with this place . + +By heaven , brat , I'll plague you for that word . + +Ay , thou wast born to be a plague to men . + +For God's sake , take away this captive scold . + +Nay , take away this scolding crookback rather . + +Peace , wilful boy , or I will charm your tongue . + +Untutor'd lad , thou art too malapert . + +I know my duty ; you are all undutiful : +Lascivious Edward , and thou perjur'd George , +And thou mis-shapen Dick , I tell ye all , +I am your better , traitors as ye are ; +And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine . + +Take that , the likeness of this railer here . + + +Sprawl'st thou ? take that , to end thy agony . + + +And there's for twitting me with perjury . + + +O , kill me too ! + +Marry , and shall . + + +Hold , Richard , hold ! for we have done too much . + +Why should she live , to fill the world with words ? + +What ! doth she swoon ? use means for her recovery . + +Clarence , excuse me to the king , my brother ; +I'll hence to London on a serious matter : +Ere ye come there , be sure to hear some news . + +What ? what ? + +The Tower ! the Tower ! + + +O Ned , sweet Ned ! speak to thy mother , boy ! +Canst thou not speak ? O traitors ! murderers ! +They that stabb'd C sar shed no blood at all , +Did not offend , nor were not worthy blame , +If this foul deed were by , to equal it : +He was a man ; this , in respect , a child ; +And men ne'er spend their fury on a child . +What's worse than murderer , that I may name it ? +No , no , my heart will burst , an if I speak : +And I will speak , that so my heart may burst . +Butchers and villains ! bloody cannibals ! +How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd ! +You have no children , butchers ! if you had , +The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse : +But if you ever chance to have a child , +Look in his youth to have him so cut off +As , deathsmen , you have rid this sweet young prince ! + +Away with her ! go , bear her hence perforce . + +Nay , never bear me hence , dispatch me here : +Here sheathe thy sword , I'll pardon thee my death . +What ! wilt thou not ? then , Clarence , do it thou . + +By heaven , I will not do thee so much ease . + +Good Clarence , do ; sweet Clarence , do thou do it . + +Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it ? + +Ay , but thou usest to forswear thyself : +'Twas sin before , but now 'tis charity . +What ! wilt thou not ? Where is that devil's butcher , +Hard-favour'd Richard ? Richard , where art thou ? +Thou art not here : murder is thy alms-deed ; +Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back . + +Away , I say ! I charge ye , bear her hence . + +So come to you and yours , as to this prince ! + + +Where's Richard gone ? + +To London , all in post ; and , as I guess , +To make a bloody supper in the Tower . + +He's sudden if a thing comes in his head . +Now march we hence : discharge the common sort +With pay and thanks , and let's away to London +And see our gentle queen how well she fares ; +By this , I hope , she hath a son for me . + +Good day , my lord . What ! at your book so hard ? + +Ay , my good lord :my lord , I should say rather ; +'Tis sin to flatter , 'good' was little better : +'Good Gloucester' and 'good devil' were alike , +And both preposterous ; therefore , not 'good lord .' + +Sirrah , leave us to ourselves : we must confer . + + +So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf ; +So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece , +And next his throat unto the butcher's knife . +What scene of death hath Roscius now to act ? + +Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind ; +The thief doth fear each bush an officer . + +The bird that hath been limed in a bush , +With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush ; +And I , the hapless male to one sweet bird , +Have now the fatal object in my eye +Where my poor young was lim'd , was caught , and kill'd . + +Why , what a peevish fool was that of Crete , +That taught his son the office of a fowl ! +And yet , for all his wings , the fool was drown'd . + +I , D dalus ; my poor boy , Icarus ; +Thy father , Minos , that denied our course ; +The sun , that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy , +Thy brother Edward , and thyself the sea , +Whose envious gulf did swallow up his life . +Ah ! kill me with thy weapon , not with words . +My breast can better brook thy dagger's point +Than can my ears that tragic history . +But wherefore dost thou come ? is't for my life ? + +Think'st thou I am an executioner ? + +A persecutor , I am sure , thou art : +If murd'ring innocents be executing , +Why , then thou art an executioner . + +Thy son I kill'd for his presumption . + +Hadst thou been kill'd , when first thou didst presume , +Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine . +And thus I prophesy : that many a thousand , +Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear , +And many an old man's sigh , and many a widow's , +And many an orphan's water-standing eye , +Men for their sons' , wives for their husbands' , +And orphans for their parents' timeless death , +Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born . +The owl shriek'd at thy birth , an evil sign ; +The night-crow cried , aboding luckless time ; +Dogs howl'd , and hideous tempest shook down trees ! +The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top , +And chattering pies in dismal discords sung . +Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain , +And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope ; +To wit an indigest deformed lump , +Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree . +Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born , +To signify thou cam'st to bite the world : +And , if the rest be true which I have heard , +Thou cam'st + +I'll hear no more : die , prophet , in thy speech : + +For this , amongst the rest , was I ordain'd . + +Ay , and for much more slaughter after this . +O , God forgive my sins , and pardon thee ! + + +What ! will the aspiring blood of Lancaster +Sink in the ground ? I thought it would have mounted . +See how my sword weeps for the poor king's death ! +O ! may such purple tears be always shed +From those that wish the downfall of our house . +If any spark of life be yet remaining , +Down , down to hell ; and say I sent thee thither , + +I , that have neither pity , love , nor fear . +Indeed , 'tis true , that Henry told me of ; +For I have often heard my mother say +I came into the world with my legs forward . +Had I not reason , think ye , to make haste , +And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right ? +The midwife wonder'd , and the women cried +'O ! Jesus bless us , he is born with teeth .' +And so I was ; which plainly signified +That I should snarl and bite and play the dog . +Then , since the heavens have shap'd my body so , +Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it . +I have no brother , I am like no brother ; +And this word 'love ,' which greybeards call divine , +Be resident in men like one another +And not in me : I am myself alone . +Clarence , beware ; thou keep'st me from the light : +But I will sort a pitchy day for thee ; +For I will buzz abroad such prophecies +That Edward shall be fearful of his life ; +And then , to purge his fear , I'll be thy death . +King Henry and the prince his son are gone : +Clarence , thy turn is next , and then the rest , +Counting myself but bad till I be best . +I'll throw thy body in another room , +And triumph , Henry , in thy day of doom . + +Once more we sit in England's royal throne , +Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies . +What valiant foemen like to autumn's corn , +Have we mow'd down , in tops of all their pride ! +Three Dukes of Somerset , threefold renown'd +For hardy and undoubted champions ; +Two Cliffords , as the father and the son ; +And two Northumberlands : two braver men +Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound ; +With them , the two brave bears , Warwick and Montague , +That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion , +And made the forest tremble when they roar'd . +Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat , +And made our footstool of security . +Come hither , Bess , and let me kiss my boy . +Young Ned , for thee thine uncles and myself +Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night ; +Went all a-foot in summer's scalding heat , +That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace ; +And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain . + +I'll blast his harvest , if your head were laid ; +For yet I am not look'd on in the world . +This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave ; +And heave it shall some weight , or break my back : +Work thou the way , and thou shalt execute . + +Clarence and Gloucester , love my lovely queen ; +And kiss your princely nephew , brothers both . + +The duty , that I owe unto your majesty , +I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe . + +Thanks , noble Clarence ; worthy brother , thanks . + +And , that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st , +Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit . + + +To say the truth , so Judas kiss'd his master , +And cried 'all hail !' when as he meant all harm . + +Now am I seated as my soul delights , +Having my country's peace and brothers' loves . + +What will your Grace have done with Margaret ? +Reignier , her father , to the King of France +Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem , +And hither have they sent it for her ransom . + +Away with her , and waft her hence to France . +And now what rests but that we spend the time +With stately triumphs , mirthful comic shows , +Such as befit the pleasure of the court ? +Sound , drums and trumpets ! farewell , sour annoy ! +For here , I hope , begins our lasting joy . + +THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD II + +Old John of Gaunt , time-honour'd Lancaster , +Hast thou , according to thy oath and band , +Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son , +Here to make good the boisterous late appeal , +Which then our leisure would not let us hear , +Against the Duke of Norfolk , Thomas Mowbray ? + +I have , my liege . + +Tell me , moreover , hast thou sounded him , +If he appeal the duke on ancient malice , +Or worthily , as a good subject should , +On some known ground of treachery in him ? + +As near as I could sift him on that argument , +On some apparent danger seen in him +Aim'd at your highness , no inveterate malice . + +Then call them to our presence : face to face , +And frowning brow to brow , ourselves will hear +The accuser and the accused freely speak : + +High-stomach'd are they both , and full of ire , +In rage deaf as the sea , hasty as fire . + + +Many years of happy days befall +My gracious sovereign , my most loving liege ! + +Each day still better other's happiness ; +Until the heavens , envying earth's good hap , +Add an immortal title to your crown ! + +We thank you both : yet one but flatters us , +As well appeareth by the cause you come ; +Namely , to appeal each other of high treason . +Cousin of Hereford , what dost thou object +Against the Duke of Norfolk , Thomas Mowbray ? + +First ,heaven be the record to my speech ! +In the devotion of a subject's love , +Tendering the precious safety of my prince , +And free from other misbegotten hate , +Come I appellant to this princely presence . +Now , Thomas Mowbray , do I turn to thee , +And mark my greeting well ; for what I speak +My body shall make good upon this earth , +Or my divine soul answer it in heaven . +Thou art a traitor and a miscreant ; +Too good to be so and too bad to live , +Since the more fair and crystal is the sky , +The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly . +Once more , the more to aggravate the note , +With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat ; +And wish , so please my sovereign , ere I move , +What my tongue speaks , my right drawn sword may prove . + +Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal : +'Tis not the trial of a woman's war , +The bitter clamour of two eager tongues , +Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain ; +The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this : +Yet can I not of such tame patience boast +As to be hush'd and nought at all to say . +First , the fair reverence of your highness curbs me +From giving reins and spurs to my free speech ; +Which else would post until it had return'd +These terms of treason doubled down his throat . +Setting aside his high blood's royalty , +And let him be no kinsman to my liege , +I do defy him , and I spit at him ; +Call him a slanderous coward and a villain : +Which to maintain I would allow him odds , +And meet him , were I tied to run afoot +Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps , +Or any other ground inhabitable , +Wherever Englishman durst set his foot . +Meantime let this defend my loyalty : +By all my hopes , most falsely doth he lie . + +Pale trembling coward , there I throw my gage , +Disclaiming here the kindred of the king ; +And lay aside my high blood's royalty , +Which fear , not reverence , makes thee to except : +If guilty dread have left thee so much strength +As to take up mine honour's pawn , then stoop : +By that , and all the rites of knighthood else , +Will I make good against thee , arm to arm , +What I have spoke , or thou canst worse devise . + +I take it up ; and by that sword I swear , +Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder , +I'll answer thee in any fair degree , +Or chivalrous design of knightly trial : +And when I mount , alive may I not light , +If I be traitor or unjustly fight ! + +What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge ? +It must be great that can inherit us +So much as of a thought of ill in him . + +Look , what I speak , my life shall prove it true ; +That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand nobles +In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers , +The which he hath detain'd for lewd employments , +Like a false traitor and injurious villain . +Besides I say and will in battle prove , +Or here or elsewhere to the furthest verge +That ever was survey'd by English eye , +That all the treasons for these eighteen years +Complotted and contrived in this land , +Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring . +Further I say and further will maintain +Upon his bad life to make all this good , +That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester's death , +Suggest his soon believing adversaries , +And consequently , like a traitor coward , +Sluic'd out his innocent soul through streams of blood : +Which blood , like sacrificing Abel's , cries , +Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth , +To me for justice and rough chastisement ; +And , by the glorious worth of my descent , +This arm shall do it , or this life be spent . + +How high a pitch his resolution soars ! +Thomas of Norfolk , what sayst thou to this ? + +O ! let my sovereign turn away his face +And bid his ears a little while be deaf , +Till I have told this slander of his blood +How God and good men hate so foul a liar . + +Mowbray , impartial are our eyes and ears : +Were he my brother , nay , my kingdom's heir , +As he is but my father's brother's son , +Now , by my sceptre's awe I make a vow , +Such neighbour nearness to our sacred blood +Should nothing privilege him , nor partialize +The unstooping firmness of my upright soul . +He is our subject , Mowbray ; so art thou : +Free speech and fearless I to thee allow . + +Then , Bolingbroke , as low as to thy heart , +Through the false passage of thy throat , thou liest . +Three parts of that receipt I had for Calais +Disburs'd I duly to his highness' soldiers ; +The other part reserv'd I by consent , +For that my sovereign liege was in my debt +Upon remainder of a dear account , +Since last I went to France to fetch his queen . +Now swallow down that lie . For Gloucester's death , +I slew him not ; but to mine own disgrace +Neglected my sworn duty in that case . +For you , my noble Lord of Lancaster , +The honourable father to my foe , +Once did I lay an ambush for your life , +A trespass that doth vex my grieved soul ; +But ere I last receiv'd the sacrament +I did confess it , and exactly begg'd +Your Grace's pardon , and I hope I had it . +This is my fault : as for the rest appeal'd , +It issues from the rancour of a villain , +A recreant and most degenerate traitor ; +Which in myself I boldly will defend , +And interchangeably hurl down my gage +Upon this overweening traitor's foot , +To prove myself a loyal gentleman +Even in the best blood chamber'd in his bosom . +In haste whereof , most heartily I pray +Your highness to assign our trial day . + +Wrath-kindled gentlemen , be rul'd by me ; +Let's purge this choler without letting blood : +This we prescribe , though no physician ; +Deep malice makes too deep incision : +Forget , forgive ; conclude and be agreed , +Our doctors say this is no month to bleed . +Good uncle , let this end where it begun ; +We'll calm the Duke of Norfolk , you your son . + +To be a make-peace shall become my age : +Throw down , my son , the Duke of Norfolk's gage . + +And , Norfolk , throw down his . + +When , Harry , when ? +Obedience bids I should not bid again . + +Norfolk , throw down , we bid ; there is no boot . + +Myself I throw , dread sovereign , at thy foot . +My life thou shalt command , but not my shame : +The one my duty owes ; but my fair name , +Despite of death that lives upon my grave , +To dark dishonour's use thou shalt not have . +I am disgrac'd , impeach'd , and baffled here , +Pierc'd to the soul with slander's venom'd spear , +The which no balm can cure but his heart-blood +Which breath'd this poison . + +Rage must be withstood : +Give me his gage : lions make leopards tame . + +Yea , but not change his spots : take but my shame , +And I resign my gage . My dear dear lord , +The purest treasure mortal times afford +Is spotless reputation ; that away , +Men are but gilded loam or painted clay . +A jewel in a ten-times-barr'd-up chest +Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast . +Mine honour is my life ; both grow in one ; +Take honour from me , and my life is done : +Then , dear my liege , mine honour let me try ; +In that I live and for that will I die . + +Cousin , throw down your gage : do you begin . + +O ! God defend my soul from such deep sin . +Shall I seem crest fall'n in my father's sight , +Or with pale beggar-fear impeach my height +Before this out-dar'd dastard ? Ere my tongue +Shall wound mine honour with such feeble wrong , +Or sound so base a parle , my teeth shall tear +The slavish motive of recanting fear , +And spit it bleeding in his high disgrace , +Where shame doth harbour , even in Mowbray's face . + + +We were not born to sue , but to command : +Which since we cannot do to make you friends , +Be ready , as your lives shall answer it , +At Coventry , upon Saint Lambert's day : +There shall your swords and lances arbitrate +The swelling difference of your settled hate : +Since we cannot atone you , we shall see +Justice design the victor's chivalry . +Marshal , command our officers-at-arms +Be ready to direct these home alarms . + + +Alas ! the part I had in Woodstock's blood +Doth more solicit me than your exclaims , +To stir against the butchers of his life . +But since correction lieth in those hands +Which made the fault that we cannot correct , +Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven ; +Who , when they see the hours ripe on earth , +Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads . + +Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur ? +Hath love in thy old blood no living fire ? +Edward's seven sons , whereof thyself art one , +Were as seven vials of his sacred blood , +Or seven fair branches springing from one root : +Some of those seven are dried by nature's course , +Some of those branches by the Destinies cut ; +But Thomas , my dear lord , my life , my Gloucester , +One vial full of Edward's sacred blood , +One flourishing branch of his most royal root , +Is crack'd , and all the precious liquor spilt ; +Is hack'd down , and his summer leaves all vaded , +By envy's hand and murder's bloody axe . +Ah , Gaunt ! his blood was thine : that bed , that womb , +That metal , that self-mould , that fashion'd thee +Made him a man ; and though thou liv'st and breath'st , +Yet art thou slain in him : thou dost consent +In some large measure to thy father's death +In that thou seest thy wretched brother die , +Who was the model of thy father's life . +Call it not patience , Gaunt ; it is despair : +In suffering thus thy brother to be slaughter'd +Thou show'st the naked pathway to thy life , +Teaching stern murder how to butcher thee : +That which in mean men we entitle patience +Is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts . +What shall I say ? to safeguard thine own life , +The best way is to venge my Gloucester's death . + +God's is the quarrel ; for God's substitute , +His deputy anointed in his sight , +Hath caus'd his death ; the which if wrongfully , +Let heaven revenge , for I may never lift +An angry arm against his minister . + +Where then , alas ! may I complain myself ? + +To God , the widow's champion and defence . + +Why then , I will . Farewell , old Gaunt . +Thou go'st to Coventry , there to behold +Our cousin Hereford and fell Mowbray fight : +O ! sit my husband's wrongs on Hereford's spear , +That it may enter butcher Mowbray's breast . +Or if misfortune miss the first career , +Be Mowbray's sins so heavy in his bosom +That they may break his foaming courser's back , +And throw the rider headlong in the lists , +A caitiff recreant to my cousin Hereford ! +Farewell , old Gaunt : thy sometimes brother's wife +With her companion grief must end her life . + +Sister , farewell ; I must to Coventry . +As much good stay with thee as go with me ! + +Yet one word more . Grief boundeth where it falls , +Not with the empty hollowness , but weight : +I take my leave before I have begun , +For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done . +Commend me to my brother , Edmund York . +Lo ! this is all : nay , yet depart not so ; +Though this be all , do not so quickly go ; +I shall remember more . Bid him ah , what ? +With all good speed at Plashy visit me . +Alack ! and what shall good old York there see +But empty lodgings and unfurnish'd walls , +Unpeopled offices , untrodden stones ? +And what hear there for welcome but my groans ? +Therefore commend me ; let him not come there , +To seek out sorrow that dwells every where . +Desolate , desolate will I hence , and die : +The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye . + + +My Lord Aumerle , is Harry Hereford arm'd ? + +Yea , at all points , and longs to enter in . + +The Duke of Norfolk , sprightfully and bold , +Stays but the summons of the appellant's trumpet . + +Why then , the champions are prepar'd , and stay +For nothing but his majesty's approach . + + +Marshal , demand of yonder champion +The cause of his arrival here in arms : +Ask him his name , and orderly proceed +To swear him in the justice of his cause . + +In God's name , and the king's , say who thou art , +And why thou com'st thus knightly clad in arms , +Against what man thou com'st , and what thy quarrel . +Speak truly , on thy knighthood and thine oath : +As so defend thee heaven and thy valour ! + +My name is Thomas Mowbray , Duke of Norfolk , +Who hither come engaged by my oath , +Which God defend a knight should violate ! +Both to defend my loyalty and truth +To God , my king , and his succeeding issue , +Against the Duke of Hereford that appeals me ; +And , by the grace of God and this mine arm , +To prove him , in defending of myself , +A traitor to my God , my king , and me : +And as I truly fight , defend me heaven ! + +Marshal , ask yonder knight in arms , +Both who he is and why he cometh hither +Thus plated in habiliments of war ; +And formally , according to our law , +Depose him in the justice of his cause . + +What is thy name ? and wherefore com'st thou hither , +Before King Richard in his royal lists ? +Against whom comest thou ? and what's thy quarrel ? +Speak like a true knight , so defend thee heaven ! + +Harry of Hereford , Lancaster , and Derby , +Am I ; who ready here do stand in arms , +To prove by God's grace and my body's valour , +In lists , on Thomas Mowbray , Duke of Norfolk , +That he's a traitor foul and dangerous , +To God of heaven , King Richard , and to me : +And as I truly fight , defend me heaven ! + +On pain of death , no person be so bold +Or daring-hardy as to touch the lists , +Except the marshal and such officers +Appointed to direct these fair designs . + +Lord marshal , let me kiss my sovereign's hand , +And bow my knee before his majesty : +For Mowbray and myself are like two men +That vow a long and weary pilgrimage ; +Then let us take a ceremonious leave +And loving farewell of our several friends . + +The appellant in all duty greets your highness , +And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave . + +We will descend and fold him in our arms . +Cousin of Hereford , as thy cause is right , +So be thy fortune in this royal fight ! +Farewell , my blood ; which if to-day thou shed , +Lament we may , but not revenge thee dead . + +O ! let no noble eye profane a tear +For me , if I be gor'd with Mowbray's spear . +As confident as is the falcon's flight +Against a bird , do I with Mowbray fight . +My loving lord , I take my leave of you ; +Of you , my noble cousin , Lord Aumerle ; +Not sick , although I have to do with death , +But lusty , young , and cheerly drawing breath . +Lo ! as at English feasts , so I regreet +The daintiest last , to make the end most sweet : +O thou , the earthly author of my blood , +Whose youthful spirit , in me regenerate , +Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me up +To reach at victory above my head , +Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers , +And with thy blessings steel my lance's point , +That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat , +And furbish new the name of John a Gaunt , +Even in the lusty haviour of his son . + +God in thy good cause make thee prosperous ! +Be swift like lightning in the execution ; +And let thy blows , doubly redoubled , +Fall like amazing thunder on the casque +Of thy adverse pernicious enemy : +Rouse up thy youthful blood , be valiant and live . + +Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive ! + + +However God or fortune cast my lot , +There lives or dies , true to King Richard's throne , +A loyal , just , and upright gentleman . +Never did captive with a freer heart +Cast off his chains of bondage and embrace +His golden uncontroll'd enfranchisement , +More than my dancing soul doth celebrate +This feast of battle with mine adversary . +Most mighty liege , and my companion peers , +Take from my mouth the wish of happy years . +As gentle and as jocund as to jest , +Go I to fight : truth has a quiet breast . + +Farewell , my lord : securely I espy +Virtue with valour couched in thine eye . +Order the trial , marshal , and begin . + + +Harry of Hereford , Lancaster , and Derby , +Receive thy lance ; and God defend the right ! + +Strong as a tower in hope , I cry 'amen .' + +Go bear this lance to Thomas , Duke of Norfolk . + +Harry of Hereford , Lancaster , and Derby , +Stands here for God , his sovereign , and himself , +On pain to be found false and recreant , +To prove the Duke of Norfolk , Thomas Mowbray , +A traitor to his God , his king , and him ; +And dares him to set forward to the fight . + +Here standeth Thomas Mowbray , Duke of Norfolk , +On pain to be found false and recreant , +Both to defend himself and to approve +Henry of Hereford , Lancaster , and Derby , +To God , his sovereign , and to him , disloyal ; +Courageously and with a free desire , +Attending but the signal to begin . + +Sound , trumpets ; and set forward , combatants . + +Stay , stay , the king hath thrown his warderdown . + +Let them lay by their helmets and their spears , +And both return back to their chairs again : +Withdraw with us ; and let the trumpets sound +While we return these dukes what we decree . + +Draw near , +And list what with our council we have done . +For that our kingdom's earth should not be soil'd +With that dear blood which it hath fostered ; +And for our eyes do hate the dire aspect +Of civil wounds plough'd up with neighbours' swords ; +And for we think the eagle-winged pride +Of sky-aspiring and ambitious thoughts , +With rival-hating envy , set on you +To wake our peace , which in our country's cradle +Draws the sweet infant breath of gentle sleep ; +Which so rous'd up with boist'rous untun'd drums , +With harsh-resounding trumpets' dreadful bray , +And grating shock of wrathful iron arms , +Might from our quiet confines fright fair peace +And make us wade even in our kindred's blood : +Therefore , we banish you our territories : +You , cousin Hereford , upon pain of life , +Till twice five summers have enrich'd our fields , +Shall not regreet our fair dominions , +But tread the stranger paths of banishment . + +Your will be done : this must my comfort be , +That sun that warms you here shall shine on me ; +And those his golden beams to you here lent +Shall point on me and gild my banishment . + +Norfolk , for thee remains a heavier doom , +Which I with some unwillingness pronounce : +The sly slow hours shall not determinate +The dateless limit of thy dear exile ; +The hopeless word of 'never to return' +Breathe I against thee , upon pain of life . + +A heavy sentence , my most sovereign liege , +And all unlook'd for from your highness' mouth : +A dearer merit , not so deep a maim +As to be cast forth in the common air , +Have I deserved at your highness' hands . +The language I have learn'd these forty years , +My native English , now I must forego ; +And now my tongue's use is to me no more +Than an unstringed viol or a harp , +Or like a cunning instrument cas'd up , +Or , being open , put into his hands +That knows no touch to tune the harmony : +Within my mouth you have engaol'd my tongue , +Doubly portcullis'd with my teeth and lips ; +And dull , unfeeling , barren ignorance +Is made my gaoler to attend on me . +I am too old to fawn upon a nurse , +Too far in years to be a pupil now : +What is thy sentence then but speechless death , +Which robs my tongue from breathing native breath ? + +It boots thee not to be compassionate : +After our sentence plaining comes too late . + +Then , thus I turn me from my country's light , +To dwell in solemn shades of endless night . + + +Return again , and take an oath with thee . +Lay on our royal sword your banish'd hands ; +Swear by the duty that you owe to God +Our part therein we banish with yourselves +To keep the oath that we administer . +You never shall ,so help you truth and God ! +Embrace each other's love in banishment ; +Nor never look upon each other's face ; +Nor never write , regreet , nor reconcile +This low'ring tempest of your home-bred hate ; +Nor never by advised purpose meet +To plot , contrive , or complot any ill +'Gainst us , our state , our subjects , or our land . + +I swear . + +And I , to keep all this . + +Norfolk , so far , as to mine enemy : +By this time , had the king permitted us , +One of our souls had wander'd in the air , +Banish'd this frail sepulchre of our flesh , +As now our flesh is banish'd from this land : +Confess thy treasons ere thou fly the realm ; +Since thou hast far to go , bear not along +The clogging burden of a guilty soul . + +No , Bolingbroke : if ever I were traitor , +My name be blotted from the book of life , +And I from heaven banish'd as from hence ! +But what thou art , God , thou , and I do know ; +And all too soon , I fear , the king shall rue . +Farewell , my liege . Now no way can I stray ; +Save back to England , all the world's my way . + + +Uncle , even in the glasses of thine eyes +I see thy grieved heart : thy sad aspect +Hath from the number of his banish'd years +Pluck'd four away . + +Six frozen winters spent , +Return with welcome home from banishment . + +How long a time lies in one little word ! +Four lagging winters and four wanton springs +End in a word : such is the breath of kings . + +I thank my liege , that in regard of me +He shortens four years of my son's exile ; +But little vantage shall I reap thereby : +For , ere the six years that he hath to spend +Can change their moons and bring their times about , +My oil-dried lamp and time-bewasted light +Shall be extinct with age and endless night ; +My inch of taper will be burnt and done , +And blindfold death not let me see my son . + +Why , uncle , thou hast many years to live . + +But not a minute , king , that thou canst give : +Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorrow , +And pluck nights from me , but not lend a morrow ; +Thou canst help time to furrow me with age . +But stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage ; +Thy word is current with him for my death , +But dead , thy kingdom cannot buy my breath . + +Thy son is banish'd upon good advice , +Whereto thy tongue a party-verdict gave : +Why at our justice seem'st thou then to lower ? + +Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour . +You urg'd me as a judge ; but I had rather +You would have bid me argue like a father . +O ! had it been a stranger , not my child , +To smooth his fault I should have been more mild : +A partial slander sought I to avoid , +And in the sentence my own life destroy'd . +Alas ! I look'd when some of you should say , +I was too strict to make mine own away ; +But you gave leave to my unwilling tongue +Against my will to do myself this wrong . + +Cousin , farewell ; and , uncle , bid him so : +Six years we banish him , and he shall go . + + +Cousin , farewell : what presence must not know , +From where you do remain let paper show . + +My lord , no leave take I ; for I will ride , +As far as land will let me , by your side . + +O ! to what purpose dost thou hoard thy words , +That thou return'st no greeting to thy friends ? + +I have too few to take my leave of you , +When the tongue's office should be prodigal +To breathe the abundant dolour of the heart . + +Thy grief is but thy absence for a time . + +Joy absent , grief is present for that time . + +What is six winters ? they are quickly gone . + +To men in joy ; but grief makes one hour ten . + +Call it a travel that thou tak'st for pleasure . + +My heart will sigh when I miscall it so , +Which finds it an inforced pilgrimage . + +The sullen passage of thy weary steps +Esteem as foil wherein thou art to set +The precious jewel of thy home return . + +Nay , rather , every tedious stride I make +Will but remember me what a deal of world +I wander from the jewels that I love . +Must I not serve a long apprenticehood +To foreign passages , and in the end , +Having my freedom , boast of nothing else +But that I was a journeyman to grief ? + +All places that the eye of heaven visits +Are to a wise man ports and happy havens . +Teach thy necessity to reason thus ; +There is no virtue like necessity . +Think not the king did banish thee , +But thou the king . Woe doth the heavier sit , +Where it perceives it is but faintly borne . +Go , say I sent thee forth to purchase honour , +And not the king exil'd thee ; or suppose +Devouring pestilence hangs in our air , +And thou art flying to a fresher clime . +Look , what thy soul holds dear , imagine it +To lie that way thou go'st , not whence thou com'st . +Suppose the singing birds musicians , +The grass whereon thou tread'st the presence strew'd , +The flowers fair ladies , and thy steps no more +Than a delightful measure or a dance ; +For gnarling sorrow hath less power to bite +The man that mocks at it and sets it light . + +O ! who can hold a fire in his hand +By thinking on the frosty Caucasus ? +Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite +By bare imagination of a feast ? +Or wallow naked in December snow +By thinking on fantastic summer's heat ? +O , no ! the apprehension of the good +Gives but the greater feeling to the worse : +Fell sorrow's tooth doth never rankle more +Than when it bites , but lanceth not the sore . + +Come , come , my son , I'll bring thee on thy way . +Had I thy youth and cause , I would not stay . + +Then , England's ground , farewell ; sweet soil , adieu : +My mother , and my nurse , that bears me yet ! +Where'er I wander , boast of this I can , +Though banish'd , yet a true-born Englishman . + + +We did observe . Cousin Aumerle , +How far brought you high Hereford on his way ? + +I brought high Hereford , if you call him so , +But to the next highway , and there I left him . + +And say , what store of parting tears were shed ? + +Faith , none for me ; except the northeast wind , +Which then blew bitterly against our faces , +Awak'd the sleeping rheum , and so by chance +Did grace our hollow parting with a tear . + +What said our cousin when you parted with him ? + +'Farewell :' +And , for my heart disdained that my tongue +Should so profane the word , that taught me craft +To counterfeit oppression of such grief +That words seem'd buried in my sorrow's grave . +Marry , would the word 'farewell' have lengthen'd hours +And added years to his short banishment , +He should have had a volume of farewells ; +But , since it would not , he had none of me . + +He is our cousin , cousin ; but 'tis doubt , +When time shall call him home from banishment , +Whether our kinsman come to see his friends . +Ourself and Bushy , Bagot here and Green +Observ'd his courtship to the common people , +How he did seem to dive into their hearts +With humble and familiar courtesy , +What reverence he did throw away on slaves , +Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles +And patient underbearing of his fortune , +As 'twere to banish their affects with him . +Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench ; +A brace of draymen bid God speed him well , +And had the tribute of his supple knee , +With 'Thanks , my countrymen , my loving friends ;' +As were our England in reversion his , +And he our subjects' next degree in hope . + +Well , he is gone ; and with him go these thoughts . +Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland ; +Expedient manage must be made , my liege , +Ere further leisure yield them further means +For their advantage and your highness' loss . + +We will ourself in person to this war . +And , for our coffers with too great a court +And liberal largess are grown somewhat light , +We are enforc'd to farm our royal realm ; +The revenue whereof shall furnish us +For our affairs in hand . If that come short , +Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters ; +Whereto , when they shall know what men are rich , +They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold , +And send them after to supply our wants ; +For we will make for Ireland presently . + +Bushy , what news ? + +Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick , my lord , +Suddenly taken , and hath sent post-haste +To entreat your majesty to visit him . + +Where lies he ? + +At Ely House . + +Now , put it , God . in his physician's mind +To help him to his grave immediately ! +The lining of his coffers shall make coats +To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars . +Come , gentlemen , let's all go visit him : +Pray God we may make haste , and come too late . + +Amen . + +Will the king come , that I may breathe my last +In wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth ? + +Vex not yourself , nor strive not with your breath ; +For all in vain comes counsel to his ear . + +O ! but they say the tongues of dying men +Enforce attention like deep harmony : +Where words are scarce , they are seldom spent in vain , +For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain . +He that no more must say is listen'd more +Than they whom youth and ease have taught to glose ; +More are men's ends mark'd than their lives before : +The setting sun , and music at the close , +As the last taste of sweets , is sweetest last , +Writ in remembrance more than things long past : +Though Richard my life's counsel would not hear , +My death's sad tale may yet undeaf his ear . + +No ; it is stopp'd with other flattering sounds , +As praises of his state : then there are fond +Lascivious metres , to whose venom sound +The open ear of youth doth always listen : +Report of fashions in proud Italy , +Whose manners still our tardy apish nation +Limps after in base imitation . +Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity , +So it be new there's no respect how vile , +That is not quickly buzz'd into his ears ? +Then all too late comes counsel to be heard , +Where will doth mutiny with wit's regard . +Direct not him whose way himself will choose : +'Tis breath thou lack'st , and that breath wilt thou lose . + +Methinks I am a prophet new inspir'd , +And thus expiring do foretell of him : +His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last , +For violent fires soon burn out themselves ; +Small showers last long , but sudden storms are short ; +He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes ; +With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder : +Light vanity , insatiate cormorant , +Consuming means , soon preys upon itself . +This royal throne of kings , this scepter'd isle , +This earth of majesty , this seat of Mars , +This other Eden , demi-paradise , +This fortress built by Nature for herself +Against infection and the hand of war , +This happy breed of men , this little world , +This precious stone set in the silver sea , +Which serves it in the office of a wall , +Or as a moat defensive to a house , +Against the envy of less happier lands , +This blessed plot , this earth , this realm , this England , +This nurse , this teeming womb of royal kings , +Fear'd by their breed and famous by their birth , +Renowned for their deeds as far from home , +For Christian service and true chivalry , +As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry +Of the world's ransom , blessed Mary's Son : +This land of such dear souls , this dear , dear land , +Dear for her reputation through the world , +Is now leas'd out ,I die pronouncing it , +Like to a tenement , or pelting farm : +England , bound in with the triumphant sea , +Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege +Of watery Neptune , is now bound in with shame , +With inky blots , and rotten parchment bonds : +That England , that was wont to conquer others , +Hath made a shameful conquest of itself . +Ah ! would the scandal vanish with my life , +How happy then were my ensuing death . + + +The king is come : deal mildly with his youth ; +For young hot colts , being rag'd , do rage the more . + +How fares our noble uncle , Lancaster ? + +What comfort , man ? How is't with aged Gaunt ? + +O ! how that name befits my composition ; +Old Gaunt indeed , and gaunt in being old : +Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast ; +And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt ? +For sleeping England long time have I watch'd ; +Watching breeds leanness , leanness is all gaunt . +The pleasure that some fathers feed upon +Is my strict fast , I mean my children's looks ; +And therein fasting hast thou made me gaunt . +Gaunt am I for the grave , gaunt as a grave , +Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones . + +Can sick men play so nicely with their names ? + +No ; misery makes sport to mock itself : +Since thou dost seek to kill my name in me , +I mock my name , great king , to flatter thee . + +Should dying men flatter with those that live ? + +No , no ; men living flatter those that die . + +Thou , now a-dying , sayst thou flatter'st me . + +O , no ! thou diest , though I the sicker be . + +I am in health , I breathe , and see thee ill . + +Now , he that made me knows I see thee ill ; +Ill in myself to see , and in thee seeing ill . +Thy death-bed is no lesser than thy land +Wherein thou liest in reputation sick : +And thou , too careless patient as thou art , +Committ'st thy anointed body to the cure +Of those physicians that first wounded thee : +A thousand flatterers sit within thy crown , +Whose compass is no bigger than thy head ; +And yet , incaged in so small a verge , +The waste is no whit lesser than thy land . +O ! had thy grandsire , with a prophet's eye , +Seen how his son's son should destroy his sons , +From forth thy reach he would have laid thy shame , +Deposing thee before thou wert possess'd , +Which art possess'd now to depose thyself . +Why , cousin , wert thou regent of the world , +It were a shame to let this land by lease ; +But for thy world enjoying but this land , +Is it not more than shame to shame it so ? +Landlord of England art thou now , not king : +Thy state of law is bond-slave to the law , +And + +And thou a lunatic lean-witted fool , +Presuming on an ague's privilege , +Dar'st with thy frozen admonition +Make pale our cheek , chasing the royal blood +With fury from his native residence . +Now , by my seat's right royal majesty , +Wert thou not brother to great Edward's son , +This tongue that runs so roundly in thy head +Should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders . + +O ! spare me not , my brother Edward's son , +For that I was his father Edward's son . +That blood already , like the pelican , +Hast thou tapp'd out and drunkenly carous'd : +My brother Gloucester , plain well-meaning soul , +Whom fair befall in heaven 'mongst happy souls ! +May be a precedent and witness good +That thou respect'st not spilling Edward's blood : +Join with the present sickness that I have ; +And thy unkindness be like crooked age , +To crop at once a too-long wither'd flower . +Live in thy shame , but die not shame with thee ! +These words hereafter thy tormentors be ! +Convey me to my bed , then to my grave : +Love they to live that love and honour have . + + +And let them die that age and sullens have ; +For both hast thou , and both become the grave . + +I do beseech your majesty , impute his words +To wayward sickliness and age in him : +He loves you , on my life , and holds you dear +As Harry , Duke of Hereford , were he here . + +Right , you say true : as Hereford's love , so his ; +As theirs , so mine ; and all be as it is . + + +My liege , old Gaunt commends him to your majesty . + +What says he ? + +Nay , nothing ; all is said : +His tongue is now a stringless instrument ; +Words , life , and all , old Lancaster hath spent . + +Be York the next that must be bankrupt so ! +Though death be poor , it ends a mortal woe . + +The ripest fruit first falls , and so doth he : +His time is spent ; our pilgrimage must be . +So much for that . Now for our Irish wars . +We must supplant those rough rug-headed kerns , +Which live like venom where no venom else +But only they have privilege to live . +And for these great affairs do ask some charge , +Towards our assistance we do seize to us +The plate , coin , revenues , and moveables , +Whereof our uncle Gaunt did stand possess'd . + +How long shall I be patient ? Ah ! how long +Shall tender duty make me suffer wrong ? +Not Gloucester's death , nor Hereford's banishment , +Not Gaunt's rebukes , nor England's private wrongs , +Nor the prevention of poor Bolingbroke +About his marriage , nor my own disgrace , +Have ever made me sour my patient cheek , +Or bend one wrinkle on my sovereign's face . +I am the last of noble Edward's sons , +Of whom thy father , Prince of Wales , was first ; +In war was never lion rag'd more fierce , +In peace was never gentle lamb more mild , +Than was that young and princely gentleman . +His face thou hast , for even so look'd he , +Accomplish'd with the number of thy hours ; +But when he frown'd , it was against the French , +And not against his friends ; his noble hand +Did win what he did spend , and spent not that +Which his triumphant father's hand had won : +His hands were guilty of no kindred's blood , +But bloody with the enemies of his kin . +O , Richard ! York is too far gone with grief , +Or else he never would compare between . + +Why , uncle , what's the matter ? + +O ! my liege . +Pardon me , if you please ; if not , I , pleas'd +Not to be pardon'd , am content withal . +Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands +The royalties and rights of banish'd Hereford ? +Is not Gaunt dead , and doth not Hereford live ? +Was not Gaunt just , and is not Harry true ? +Did not the one deserve to have an heir ? +Is not his heir a well-deserving son ? +Take Hereford's rights away , and take from Time +His charters and his customary rights ; +Let not to-morrow then ensue to-day ; +Be not thyself ; for how art thou a king +But by fair sequence and succession ? +Now , afore God ,God forbid I say true ! +If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights , +Call in the letters-patent that he hath +By his attorneys-general to sue +His livery , and deny his offer'd homage , +You pluck a thousand dangers on your head , +You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts , +And prick my tender patience to those thoughts +Which honour and allegiance cannot think . + +Think what you will : we seize into our hands +His plate , his goods , his money , and his lands . + +I'll not be by the while : my liege , farewell : +What will ensue hereof , there's none can tell ; +But by bad courses may be understood +That their events can never fall out good . + + +Go , Bushy , to the Earl of Wiltshire straight : +Bid him repair to us to Ely House +To see this business . To-morrow next +We will for Ireland ; and 'tis time , I trow : +And we create , in absence of ourself , +Our uncle York lord governor of England ; +For he is just , and always lov'd us well . +Come on , our queen : to-morrow must we part ; +Be merry , for our time of stay is short . + +Well , lords , the Duke of Lancaster is dead . + +And living too ; for now his son is duke . + +Barely in title , not in revenue . + +Richly in both , if justice had her right . + +My heart is great ; but it must break with silence , +Ere't be disburden'd with a liberal tongue . + +Nay , speak thy mind ; and let him ne'er speak more +That speaks thy words again to do thee harm ! + +Tends that thou'dst speak to the Duke of Hereford ? +If it be so , out with it boldly , man ; +Quick is mine ear to hear of good towards him . + +No good at all that I can do for him , +Unless you call it good to pity him , +Bereft and gelded of his patrimony . + +Now , afore God , 'tis shame such wrongs are borne +In him , a royal prince , and many more +Of noble blood in this declining land . +The king is not himself , but basely led +By flatterers ; and what they will inform , +Merely in hate , 'gainst any of us all , +That will the king severely prosecute +'Gainst us , our lives , our children , and our heirs . + +The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes , +And quite lost their hearts : the nobles hath he fin'd +For ancient quarrels , and quite lost their hearts . + +And daily new exactions are devis'd ; +As blanks , benevolences , and I wot not what : +But what , o' God's name , doth become of this ? + +Wars have not wasted it , for warr'd he hath not , +But basely yielded upon compromise +That which his ancestors achiev'd with blows . +More hath he spent in peace than they in wars . + +The Earl of Wiltshire hath the realm in farm . + +The king's grown bankrupt , like a broken man . + +Reproach and dissolution hangeth over him . + +He hath not money for these Irish wars , +His burdenous taxations notwithstanding , +But by the robbing of the banish'd duke . + +His noble kinsman : most degenerate king ! +But , lords , we hear this fearful tempest sing , +Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm ; +We see the wind sit sore upon our sails , +And yet we strike not , but securely perish . + +We see the very wrack that we must suffer ; +And unavoided is the danger now , +For suffering so the causes of our wrack . + +Not so : even through the hollow eyes of death +Ispy life peering ; but I dare not say +How near the tidings of our comfort is . + +Nay , let us share thy thoughts , as thou dost ours . + +Be confident to speak , Northumberland : +We three are but thyself : and , speaking so , +Thy words are but as thoughts ; therefore , be bold . + +Then thus : I have from Port le Blanc , a bay +In Brittany , receiv'd intelligence +That Harry Duke of Hereford , Rainold Lord Cobham , +That late broke from the Duke of Exeter , +His brother , Archbishop late of Canterbury , +Sir Thomas Erpingham , Sir John Ramston , +Sir John Norbery , Sir Robert Waterton , and Francis Quoint , +All these well furnish'd by the Duke of Britaine , +With eight tall ships , three thousand men of war , +Are making hither with all due expedience , +And shortly mean to touch our northern shore . +Perhaps they had ere this , but that they stay +The first departing of the king for Ireland . +If then we shall shake off our slavish yoke , +Imp out our drooping country's broken wing , +Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown , +Wipe off the dust that hides our sceptre's gilt , +And make high majesty look like itself , +Away with me in post to Ravenspurgh ; +But if you faint , as fearing to do so , +Stay and be secret , and myself will go . + +To horse , to horse ! urge doubts to them that fear . + +Hold out my horse , and I will first be there . + + +Madam , your majesty is too much sad : +You promis'd , when you parted with the king , +To lay aside life-harming heaviness , +And entertain a cheerful disposition . + +To please the king I did ; to please myself +I cannot do it ; yet I know no cause +Why I should welcome such a guest as grief , +Save bidding farewell to so sweet a guest +As my sweet Richard : yet , again , methinks , +Some unborn sorrow , ripe in fortune's womb , +Is coming towards me , and my inward soul +With nothing trembles ; at some thing it grieves +More than with parting from my lord the king . + +Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows , +Which show like grief itself , but are not so . +For sorrow's eye , glazed with blinding tears , +Divides one thing entire to many objects ; +Like perspectives , which rightly gaz'd upon +Show nothing but confusion ; ey'd awry +Distinguish form : so your sweet majesty , +Looking awry upon your lord's departure , +Finds shapes of grief more than himself to wail ; +Which , look'd on as it is , is nought but shadows +Of what it is not . Then , thrice-gracious queen , +More than your lord's departure weep not : more's not seen ; +Or if it be , 'tis with false sorrow's eye , +Which for things true weeps things imaginary . + +It may be so ; but yet my inward soul +Persuades me it is otherwise : howe'er it be , +I cannot but be sad , so heavy sad , +As , though in thinking on no thought I think , +Makes me with heavy nothing faint and shrink . + +'Tis nothing but conceit , my gracious lady . + +'Tis nothing less : conceit is still deriv'd +From some forefather grief ; mine is not so , +For nothing hath begot my something grief ; +Or something hath the nothing that I grieve : +'Tis in reversion that I do possess ; +But what it is , that is not yet known ; what +I cannot name ; 'tis nameless woe , I wot . + + +God save your majesty ! and well met , gentlemen : +I hope the king is not yet shipp'd for Ireland . + +Why hop'st thou so ? 'tis better hope he is , +For his designs crave haste , his haste good hope : +Then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shipp'd ? + +That he , our hope , might have retir'd his power , +And driven into despair an enemy's hope , +Who strongly hath set footing in this land : +The banish'd Bolingbroke repeals himself , +And with uplifted arms is safe arriv'd +At Ravenspurgh . + +Now God in heaven forbid ! + +Ah ! madam , 'tis too true : and that is worse , +The Lord Northumberland , his son young Henry Percy , +The Lords of Ross , Beaumond , and Willoughby , +With all their powerful friends , are fled to him . + +Why have you not proclaim'd Northumberland +And all the rest of the revolted faction traitors ? + +We have : whereupon the Earl of Worcester +Hath broke his staff , resign'd his stewardship , +And all the household servants fled with him +To Bolingbroke . + +So , Green , thou art the midwife to my woe , +And Bolingbroke my sorrow's dismal heir : +Now hath my soul brought forth her prodigy , +And I , a gasping new-deliver'd mother , +Have woe to woe , sorrow to sorrow join'd . + +Despair not , madam . + +Who shall hinder me ? +I will despair , and be at enmity +With cozening hope : he is a flatterer , +A parasite , a keeper-back of death , +Who gently would dissolve the bands of life , +Which false hope lingers in extremity . + + +Here comes the Duke of York . + +With signs of war about his aged neck : +O ! full of careful business are his looks . +Uncle , for God's sake , speak comfortable words . + +Should I do so , I should belie my thoughts : +Comfort's in heaven ; and we are on the earth , +Where nothing lives but crosses , cares , and grief . +Your husband , he is gone to save far off , +Whilst others come to make him lose at home : +Here am I left to underprop his land , +Who , weak with age , cannot support myself . +Now comes the sick hour that his surfeit made ; +Now shall he try his friends that flatter'd him . + + +My lord , your son was gone before I came . + +He was ? Why , so ! go all which way it will ! +The nobles they are fled , the commons they are cold , +And will , I fear , revolt on Hereford's side . +Sirrah , get thee to Plashy , to my sister Gloucester ; +Bid her send me presently a thousand pound . +Hold , take my ring . + +My lord , I had forgot to tell your lordship : +To-day , as I came by , I called there ; +But I shall grieve you to report the rest . + +What is't , knave ? + +An hour before I came the duchess died . + +God for his mercy ! what a tide of woes +Comes rushing on this woeful land at once ! +I know not what to do : I would to God , +So my untruth had not provok'd him to it , +The king had cut off my head with my brother's . +What ! are there no posts dispatch'd for Ireland ? +How shall we do for money for these wars ? +Come , sister ,cousin , I would say ,pray , pardon me . +Go , fellow , get thee home ; provide some carts +And bring away the armour that is there . + +Gentlemen , will you go muster men ? If I know +How or which way to order these affairs +Thus thrust disorderly into my hands , +Never believe me . Both are my kinsmen : +The one is my sovereign , whom both my oath +And duty bids defend ; the other again +Is my kinsman , whom the king hath wrong'd , +Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right . +Well , somewhat we must do . Come , cousin , +I'll dispose of you . Gentlemen , go muster up your men , +And meet me presently at Berkeley Castle . +I should to Plashy too : +But time will not permit . All is uneven , +And every thing is left at six and seven . + + +The wind sits fair for news to go to Ireland , +But none returns . For us to levy power +Proportionable to the enemy +Is all unpossible . + +Besides , our nearness to the king in love +Is near the hate of those love not the king . + +And that's the wavering commons ; for their love +Lies in their purses , and whoso empties them , +By so much fills their hearts with deadly hate . + +Wherein the king stands generally condemn'd . + +If judgment lie in them , then so do we , +Because we ever have been near the king . + +Well , I'll for refuge straight to Bristol Castle ; +The Earl of Wiltshire is already there . + +Thither will I with you ; for little office +Will the hateful commons perform for us , +Except like curs to tear us all to pieces . +Will you go along with us ? + +No ; I will to Ireland to his majesty . +Farewell : if heart's presages be not vain , +We three here part that ne'er shall meet again . + +That's as York thrives to beat back Bolingbroke . + +Alas , poor duke ! the task he undertakes +Is numbering sands and drinking oceans dry : +Where one on his side fights , thousands will fly . +Farewell at once ; for once , for all , and ever . + +Well , we may meet again . + +I fear me , never . + + +How far is it , my lord , to Berkeley now ? + +Believe me , noble lord , +I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire : +These high wild hills and rough uneven ways +Draw out our miles and make them wearisome ; +But yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar , +Making the hard way sweet and delectable . +But I bethink me what a weary way +From Ravenspurgh to Cotswold will be found +In Ross and Willoughby , wanting your company , +Which , I protest , hath very much beguil'd +The tediousness and process of my travel : +But theirs is sweeten'd with the hope to have +The present benefit which I possess ; +And hope to joy is little less in joy +Than hope enjoy'd : by this the weary lords +Shall make their way seem short , as mine hath done +By sight of what I have , your noble company . + +Of much less value is my company +Than your good words . But who comes here ? + + +It is my son , young Harry Percy , +Sent from my brother Worcester , whencesoever . +Harry , how fares your uncle ? + +I had thought , my lord , to have learn'd his health of you . + +Why , is he not with the queen ? + +No , my good lord ; he hath forsook the court , +Broken his staff of office , and dispers'd +The household of the king . + +What was his reason ? +He was not so resolv'd when last we spake together . + +Because your lordship was proclaimed traitor . +But he , my lord , is gone to Ravenspurgh , +To offer service to the Duke of Hereford , +And sent me over by Berkeley to discover +What power the Duke of York had levied there ; +Then with direction to repair to Ravenspurgh . + +Have you forgot the Duke of Hereford , boy ? + +No , my good lord ; for that is not forgot +Which ne'er I did remember : to my knowledge +I never in my life did look on him . + +Then learn to know him now : this is the duke . + +My gracious lord , I tender you my service , +Such as it is , being tender , raw , and young , +Which elder days shall ripen and confirm +To more approved service and desert . + +I thank thee , gentle Percy ; and be sure +I count myself in nothing else so happy +As in a soul remembering my good friends ; +And as my fortune ripens with thy love , +It shall be still thy true love's recompense : +My heart this covenant makes , my hand thus seals it . + +How far is it to Berkeley ? and what stir +Keeps good old York there with his men of war ? + +There stands the castle , by yon tuft of trees , +Mann'd with three hundred men , as I have heard ; +And in it are the Lords of York , Berkeley , and Seymour ; +None else of name and noble estimate . + + +Here come the Lords of Ross and Willoughby , +Bloody with spurring , fiery-red with haste . + +Welcome , my lords . I wot your love pursues +A banish'd traitor ; all my treasury +Is yet but unfelt thanks , which , more enrich'd , +Shall be your love and labour's recompense . + +Your presence makes us rich , most noble lord . + +And far surmounts our labour to attain it . + +Evermore thanks , the exchequer of the poor ; +Which , till my infant fortune comes to years , +Stands for my bounty . But who comes here ? + + +It is my Lord of Berkeley , as I guess . + +My lord of Hereford , my message is to you . + +My lord , my answer is to Lancaster ; +And I am come to seek that name in England ; +And I must find that title in your tongue +Before I make reply to aught you say . + +Mistake me not , my lord ; 'tis not my meaning +To raze one title of your honour out : +To you , my lord , I come , what lord you will , +From the most gracious regent of this land , +The Duke of York , to know what pricks you on +To take advantage of the absent time +And fright our native peace with self-born arms . + + +I shall not need transport my words by you : +Here comes his Grace in person . +My noble uncle ! + + +Show me thy humble heart , and not thy knee , +Whose duty is deceivable and false . + +My gracious uncle + +Tut , tut ! +Grace me no grace , nor uncle me no uncle : +I am no traitor's uncle ; and that word 'grace' +In an ungracious mouth is but profane . +Why have those banish'd and forbidden legs +Dar'd once to touch a dust of England's ground ? +But then , more 'why ?' why have they dar'd to march +So many miles upon her peaceful bosom , +Frighting her pale-fac'd villages with war +And ostentation of despised arms ? +Com'st thou because the anointed king is hence ? +Why , foolish boy , the king is left behind , +And in my loyal bosom lies his power . +Were I but now the lord of such hot youth +As when brave Gaunt thy father , and myself , +Rescu'd the Black Prince , that young Mars of men , +From forth the ranks of many thousand French , +O ! then , how quickly should this arm of mine , +Now prisoner to the palsy , chastise thee +And minister correction to thy fault ! + +My gracious uncle , let me know my fault : +On what condition stands it and wherein ? + +Even in condition of the worst degree , +In gross rebellion and detested treason : +Thou art a banish'd man , and here art come +Before the expiration of thy time , +In braving arms against thy sovereign . + +As I was banish'd , I was banish'd Hereford ; +But as I come , I come for Lancaster . +And , noble uncle , I beseech your Grace +Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye : +You are my father , for methinks in you +I see old Gaunt alive : O ! then , my father , +Will you permit that I shall stand condemn'd +A wandering vagabond ; my rights and royalties +Pluck'd from my arms perforce and given away +To upstart unthrifts ? Wherefore was I born ? +If that my cousin king be King of England , +It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster . +You have a son , Aumerle , my noble kinsman ; +Had you first died , and he been thus trod down , +He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father , +To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay . +I am denied to sue my livery here , +And yet my letters-patent give me leave : +My father's goods are all distrain'd and sold , +And these and all are all amiss employ'd . +What would you have me do ? I am a subject , +And challenge law : attorneys are denied me , +And therefore personally I lay my claim +To my inheritance of free descent . + +The noble duke hath been too much abus'd . + +It stands your Grace upon to do him right . + +Base men by his endowments are made great . + +My lords of England , let me tell you this : +I have had feeling of my cousin's wrongs , +And labour'd all I could to do him right ; +But in this kind to come , in braving arms , +Be his own carver and cut out his way , +To find out right with wrong , it may not be ; +And you that do abet him in this kind +Cherish rebellion and are rebels all . + +The noble duke hath sworn his coming is +But for his own ; and for the right of that +We all have strongly sworn to give him aid ; +And let him ne'er see joy that breaks that oath ! + +Well , well , I see the issue of these arms : +I cannot mend it , I must needs confess , +Because my power is weak and all ill left ; +But if I could , by him that gave me life , +I would attach you all and make you stoop +Unto the sovereign mercy of the king ; +But since I cannot , be it known to you +I do remain as neuter . So , fare you well ; +Unless you please to enter in the castle +And there repose you for this night . + +An offer , uncle , that we will accept : +But we must win your Grace to go with us +To Bristol Castle ; which they say is held +By Bushy , Bagot , and their complices , +The caterpillars of the commonwealth , +Which I have sworn to weed and pluck away . + +It may be I will go with you ; but yet I'll pause ; +For I am loath to break our country's laws . +Nor friends nor foes , to me welcome you are : +Things past redress are now with me past care . + + +My Lord of Salisbury , we have stay'd ten days , +And hardly kept our countrymen together , +And yet we hear no tidings from the king ; +Therefore we will disperse ourselves : farewell . + +Stay yet another day , thou trusty Welshman : +The king reposeth all his confidence in thee . + +'Tis thought the king is dead : we will not stay . +The bay-trees in our country are all wither'd +And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven , +The pale-fac'd moon looks bloody on the earth +And lean-look'd prophets whisper fearful change , +Rich men look sad and ruffians dance and leap , +The one in fear to lose what they enjoy , +The other to enjoy by rage and war : +These signs forerun the death or fall of kings . +Farewell : our countrymen are gone and fled , +As well assur'd Richard their king is dead . + + +Ah , Richard ! with the eyes of heavy mind +I see thy glory like a shooting star +Fall to the base earth from the firmament . +Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west , +Witnessing storms to come , woe , and unrest . +Thy friends are fled to wait upon thy foes , +And crossly to thy good all fortune goes . + + +Bring forth these men . +Bushy and Green , I will not vex your souls +Since presently your souls must part your bodies +With too much urging your pernicious lives , +For 'twere no charity ; yet , to wash your blood +From off my hands , here in the view of men +I will unfold some causes of your deaths . +You have misled a prince , a royal king , +A happy gentleman in blood and lineaments , +By you unhappied and disfigur'd clean : +You have in manner with your sinful hours +Made a divorce betwixt his queen and him , +Broke the possession of a royal bed , +And stain'd the beauty of a fair queen's cheeks +With tears drawn from her eyes by your foul wrongs . +Myself , a prince by fortune of my birth , +Near to the king in blood , and near in love +Till you did make him misinterpret me , +Have stoop'd my neck under your injuries , +And sigh'd my English breath in foreign clouds , +Eating the bitter bread of banishment ; +Whilst you have fed upon my signories , +Dispark'd my parks , and felled my forest woods , +From mine own windows torn my household coat , +Raz'd out my impress , leaving me no sign , +Save men's opinions and my living blood , +To show the world I am a gentleman . +This and much more , much more than twice all this , +Condemns you to the death . See them deliver'd over +To execution and the hand of death . + +More welcome is the stroke of death to me +Than Bolingbroke to England . Lords , farewell . + +My comfort is , that heaven will take our souls +And plague injustice with the pains of hell . + +My Lord Northumberland , see them dispatch'd . + +Uncle , you say the queen is at your house ; +For God's sake , fairly let her be entreated : +Tell her I send to her my kind commends ; +Take special care my greetings be deliver'd . + +A gentleman of mine I have dispatch'd +With letters of your love to her at large . + +Thanks , gentle uncle . Come , lords , away , +To fight with Glendower and his complices : +Awhile to work , and after holiday . + + +Barkloughly Castle call they this at hand ? + +Yea , my lord . How brooks your Grace the air , +After your late tossing on the breaking seas ? + +Needs must I like it well : I weep for joy +To stand upon my kingdom once again . +Dear earth , I do salute thee with my hand , +Though rebels wound thee with their horses' hoofs : +As a long-parted mother with her child +Plays fondly with her tears and smiles in meeting , +So , weeping , smiling , greet I thee , my earth , +And do thee favour with my royal hands . +Feed not thy sovereign's foe , my gentle earth , +Nor with thy sweets comfort his revenous sense ; +But let thy spiders , that suck up thy venom , +And heavy-gaited toads lie in their way , +Doing annoyance to the treacherous feet +Which with usurping steps do trample thee . +Yield stinging nettles to mine enemies ; +And when they from thy bosom pluck a flower , +Guard it , I pray thee , with a lurking adder +Whose double tongue may with a mortal touch +Throw death upon thy sovereign's enemies . +Mock not my senseless conjuration , lords : +This earth shall have a feeling and these stones +Prove armed soldiers , ere her native king +Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms . + +Fear not , my lord : that power that made you king +Hath power to keep you king in spite of all . +The means that heaven yields must be embrac'd , +And not neglected ; else , if heaven would , +And we will not , heaven's offer we refuse , +The proffer'd means of succour and redress . + +He means , my lord , that we are too remiss ; +Whilst Bolingbroke , through our security , +Grows strong and great in substance and in friends . + +Discomfortable cousin ! know'st thou not +That when the searching eye of heaven is hid +Behind the globe , and lights the lower world , +Then thieves and robbers range abroad unseen , +In murders and in outrage bloody here ; +But when , from under this terrestrial ball +He fires the proud tops of the eastern pines +And darts his light through every guilty hole , +Then murders , treasons , and detested sins , +The cloak of night being pluck'd from off their backs , +Stand bare and naked , trembling at themselves ? +So when this thief , this traitor , Bolingbroke , +Who all this while hath revell'd in the night +Whilst we were wandering with the antipodes , +Shall see us rising in our throne , the east , +His treasons will sit blushing in his face , +Not able to endure the sight of day , +But self-affrighted tremble at his sin . +Not all the water in the rough rude sea +Can wash the balm from an anointed king ; +The breath of worldly men cannot depose +The deputy elected by the Lord . +For every man that Bolingbroke hath press'd +To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown , +God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay +A glorious angel : then , if angels fight , +Weak men must fall , for heaven still guards the right . + +Welcome , my lord : how far off lies your power ? + +Nor near nor further off , my gracious lord , +Than this weak arm : discomfort guides my tongue +And bids me speak of nothing but despair . +One day too late , I fear me , noble lord , +Hath clouded all thy happy days on earth . +O ! call back yesterday , bid time return , +And thou shalt have twelve thousand fighting men : +To-day , to-day , unhappy day too late , +O'erthrows thy joys , friends , fortune , and thy state ; +For all the Welshmen , hearing thou wert dead , +Are gone to Bolingbroke , dispers'd , and fled . + +Comfort , my liege ! why looks your Grace so pale ? + +But now , the blood of twenty thousand men +Did triumph in my face , and they are fled ; +And till so much blood thither come again +Have I not reason to look pale and dead ? +All souls that will be safe , fly from my side ; +For time hath set a blot upon my pride . + +Comfort , my liege ! remember who you are . + +I had forgot myself . Am I not king ? +Awake , thou sluggard majesty ! thou sleepest . +Is not the king's name twenty thousand names ? +Arm , arm , my name ! a puny subject strikes +At thy great glory . Look not to the ground , +Ye favourites of a king : are we not high ? +High be our thoughts : I know my uncle York +Hath power enough to serve our turn . But who comes here ? + + +More health and happiness betide my liege +Than can my care-tun'd tongue deliver him ! + +Mine ear is open and my heart prepar'd : +The worst is worldly loss thou canst unfold . +Say , is my kingdom lost ? why , 'twas my care ; +And what loss is it to be rid of care ? +Strives Bolingbroke to be as great as we ? +Greater he shall not be : if he serve God +We'll serve him too , and be his fellow so : +Revolt our subjects ? that we cannot mend ; +They break their faith to God as well as us : +Cry woe , destruction , ruin , loss , decay ; +The worst is death , and death will have his day . + +Glad am I that your highness is so arm'd +To bear the tidings of calamity . +Like an unseasonable stormy day +Which makes the silver rivers drown their shores , +As if the world were all dissolv'd to tears , +So high above his limits swells the rage +Of Bolingbroke , covering your fearful land +With hard bright steel and hearts harder than steel . +White-beards have arm'd their thin and hairless scalps +Against thy majesty ; and boys , with women's voices , +Strive to speak big , and clap their female joints +In stiff unwieldy arms against thy crown ; +Thy very beadsmen learn to bend their bows +Of double-fatal yew against thy state ; +Yea , distaff-women manage rusty bills +Against thy seat : both young and old rebel , +And all goes worse than I have power to tell . + +Too well , too well thou tell'st a tale so ill . +Where is the Earl of Wiltshire ? where is Bagot ? +What is become of Bushy ? where is Green ? +That they have let the dangerous enemy +Measure our confines with such peaceful steps ? +If we prevail , their heads shall pay for it . +I warrant they have made peace with Bolingbroke . + +Peace have they made with him , indeed , my lord . + +O villains , vipers , damn'd without redemption ! +Dogs , easily won to fawn on any man ! +Snakes , in my heart-blood warm'd , that sting my heart ! +Three Judases , each one thrice worse than Judas ! +Would they make peace ? terrible hell make war +Upon their spotted souls for this offence ! + +Sweet love , I see , changing his property , +Turns to the sourest and most deadly hate . +Again uncurse their souls ; their peace is made +With heads and not with hands : those whom you curse +Have felt the worst of death's destroying wound +And lie full low , grav'd in the hollow ground . + +Is Bushy , Green , and the Earl of Wiltshire dead ? + +Yea , all of them at Bristol lost their heads . + +Where is the duke my father with his power ? + +No matter where . Of comfort no man speak : +Let's talk of graves , of worms , and epitaphs ; +Make dust our paper , and with rainy eyes +Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth ; +Let's choose executors and talk of wills : +And yet not so for what can we bequeath +Save our deposed bodies to the ground ? +Our lands , our lives , and all are Bolingbroke's , +And nothing can we call our own but death , +And that small model of the barren earth +Which serves as paste and cover to our bones . +For God's sake , let us sit upon the ground +And tell sad stories of the death of kings : +How some have been depos'd , some slain in war , +Some haunted by the ghosts they have depos'd , +Some poison'd by their wives , some sleeping kill'd ; +All murder'd : for within the hollow crown +That rounds the mortal temples of a king +Keeps Death his court , and there the antick sits , +Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp ; +Allowing him a breath , a little scene , +To monarchize , be fear'd , and kill with looks , +Infusing him with self and vain conceit +As if this flesh which walls about our life +Were brass impregnable ; and humour'd thus +Comes at the last , and with a little pin +Bores through his castle wall , and farewell king ! +Cover your heads , and mock not flesh and blood +With solemn reverence : throw away respect , +Tradition , form , and ceremonious duty , +For you have but mistook me all this while : +I live with bread like you , feel want , +Taste grief , need friends : subjected thus , +How can you say to me I am a king ? + +My lord , wise men ne'er sit and wail their woes , +But presently prevent the ways to wail . +To fear the foe , since fear oppresseth strength , +Gives in your weakness strength unto your foe , +And so your follies fight against yourself . +Fear and be slain ; no worse can come to fight : +And fight and die is death destroying death ; +Where fearing dying pays death servile breath . + +My father hath a power ; inquire of him +And learn to make a body of a limb . + +Thou chid'st me well . Proud Boling broke , I come +To change blows with thee for our day of doom . +This ague-fit of fear is over-blown ; +An easy task it is , to win our own . +Say , Scroop , where lies our uncle with his power ? +Speak sweetly , man , although thy looks be sour . + +Men judge by the complexion of the sky +The state and inclination of the day ; +So may you by my dull and heavy eye , +My tongue hath but a heavier tale to say . +I play the torturer , by small and small +To lengthen out the worst that must be spoken . +Your uncle York is join'd with Bolingbroke , +And all your northern castles yielded up , +And all your southern gentlemen in arms +Upon his party . + +Thou hast said enough . + + +Beshrew thee , cousin , which didst lead me forth +Of that sweet way I was in to despair ! +What say you now ? What comfort have we now ? +By heaven , I'll hate him everlastingly +That bids me be of comfort any more . +Go to Flint Castle : there I'll pine away ; +A king , woe's slave , shall kingly woe obey . +That power I have , discharge ; and let them go +To ear the land that hath some hope to grow , +For I have none : let no man speak again +To alter this , for counsel is but vain . + +My liege , one word . + +He does me double wrong , +That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue . +Discharge my followers : let them hence away , +From Richard's night to Bolingbroke's fair day . + + +So that by this intelligence we learn +The Welshmen are dispers'd and Salisbury +Is gone to meet the king , who lately landed +With some few private friends upon this coast . + +The news is very fair and good , my lord : +Richard not far from hence hath hid his head . + +It would beseem the Lord Northumberland +To say , 'King Richard :' alack the heavy day +When such a sacred king should hide his head ! + +Your Grace mistakes ; only to be brief +Left I his title out . + +The time hath been , +Would you have been so brief with him , he would +Have been so brief with you , to shorten you , +For taking so the head , your whole head's length . + +Mistake not , uncle , further than you should . + +Take not , good cousin , further than you should , +Lest you mistake the heavens are o'er our heads . + +I know it , uncle ; and oppose not myself +Against their will . But who comes here ? + +Welcome , Harry : what , will not this castle yield ? + +The castle royally is mann'd , my lord , +Against thy entrance . + +Royally ! +Why , it contains no king ? + +Yes , my good lord , +It doth contain a king : King Richard lies +Within the limits of yon lime and stone ; +And with him are the Lord Aumerle , Lord Salisbury , +Sir Stephen Scroop ; besides a clergyman +Of holy reverence ; who , I cannot learn . + +O ! belike it is the Bishop of Carlisle . + +Noble lord , +Go to the rude ribs of that ancient castle , +Through brazen trumpet send the breath of parley +Into his ruin'd ears , and thus deliver : +Henry Bolingbroke +On both his knees doth kiss King Richard's hand , +And sends allegiance and true faith of heart +To his most royal person ; hither come +Even at his feet to lay my arms and power , +Provided that my banishment repeal'd , +And lands restor'd again be freely granted . +If not , I'll use the advantage of my power , +And lay the summer's dust with showers of blood +Rain'd from the wounds of slaughter'd Englishmen : +The which , how far off from the mind of Bolingbroke +It is , such crimson tempest should bedrench +The fresh green lap of fair King Richard's land , +My stooping duty tenderly shall show . +Go , signify as much , while here we march +Upon the grassy carpet of this plain . +Let's march without the noise of threat'ning drum , +That from the castle's totter'd battlements +Our fair appointments may be well perus'd . +Methinks King Richard and myself should meet +With no less terror than the elements +Of fire and water , when their thundering shock +At meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven . +Be he the fire , I'll be the yielding water : +The rage be his , while on the earth I rain +My waters ; on the earth , and not on him . +March on , and mark King Richard how he looks . + + +See , see , King Richard doth himself appear , +As doth the blushing discontented sun +From out the fiery portal of the east , +When he perceives the envious clouds are bent +To dim his glory and to stain the track +Of his bright passage to the occident . + +Yet looks he like a king : behold , his eye , +As bright as is the eagle's , lightens forth +Controlling majesty : alack , alack , for woe , +That any harm should stain so fair a show ! + +We are amaz'd ; and thus long have we stood +To watch the fearful bending of thy knee , +Because we thought ourself thy lawful king : +And if we be , how dare thy joints forget +To pay their awful duty to our presence ? +If we be not , show us the hand of God +That hath dismiss'd us from our stewardship ; +For well we know , no hand of blood and bone +Can gripe the sacred handle of our sceptre , +Unless he do profane , steal , or usurp . +And though you think that all , as you have done , +Have torn their souls by turning them from us , +And we are barren and bereft of friends ; +Yet know , my master , God omnipotent , +Is mustering in his clouds on our behalf +Armies of pestilence ; and they shall strike +Your children yet unborn and unbegot , +That lift your vassal hands against my head +And threat the glory of my precious crown . +Tell Bolingbroke ,for yond methinks he is , +That every stride he makes upon my land +Is dangerous treason : he is come to open +The purple testament of bleeding war ; +But ere the crown he looks for live in peace , +Ten thousand bloody crowns of mothers' sons +Shall ill become the flower of England's face , +Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace +To scarlet indignation , and bedew +Her pastures' grass with faithful English blood . + +The king of heaven forbid our lord the king +Should so with civil and uncivil arms +Be rush'd upon ! Thy thrice-noble cousin , +Harry Bolingbroke , doth humbly kiss thy hand ; +And by the honourable tomb he swears , +That stands upon your royal grandsire's bones , +And by the royalties of both your bloods , +Currents that spring from one most gracious head , +And by the buried hand of war-like Gaunt , +And by the worth and honour of himself , +Comprising all that may be sworn or said , +His coming hither hath no further scope +Than for his lineal royalties and to beg +Enfranchisement immediate on his knees : +Which on thy royal party granted once , +His glittering arms he will commend to rust , +His barbed steeds to stables , and his heart +To faithful service of your majesty . +This swears he , as he is a prince , is just ; +And , as I am a gentleman , I credit him . + +Northumberland , say , thus the king returns : +His noble cousin is right welcome hither ; +And all the number of his fair demands +Shall be accomplish'd without contradiction : +With all the gracious utterance thou hast +Speak to his gentle hearing kind commends . + +We do debase ourself , cousin , do we not , +To look so poorly and to speak so fair ? +Shall we call back Northumberland and send +Defiance to the traitor , and so die ? + +No , good my lord ; let's fight with gentle words , +Till time lend friends and friends their helpful swords . + +O God ! O God ! that e'er this tongue of mine , +That laid the sentence of dread banishment +On yond proud man , should take it off again +With words of sooth . O ! that I were as great +As is my grief , or lesser than my name , +Or that I could forget what I have been , +Or not remember what I must be now . +Swell'st thou , proud heart ? I'll give thee scope to beat , +Since foes have scope to beat both thee and me . + +Northumberland comes back from Bolingbroke . + +What must the king do now ? Must he submit ? +The king shall do it : must he be depos'd ? +The king shall be contented : must he lose +The name of king ? o' God's name , let it go : +I'll give my jewels for a set of beads , +My gorgeous palace for a hermitage , +My gay apparel for an almsman's gown , +My figur'd goblets for a dish of wood , +My sceptre for a palmer's walking-staff , +My subjects for a pair of carved saints , +And my large kingdom for a little grave , +A little little grave , an obscure grave ; +Or I'll be buried in the king's highway , +Some way of common trade , where subjects' feet +May hourly trample on their sovereign's head ; +For on my heart they tread now whilst I live ; +And buried once , why not upon my head ? +Aumerle , thou weep'st , my tender-hearted cousin ! +We'll make foul weather with despised tears ; +Our sighs and they shall lodge the summer corn , +And make a dearth in this revolting land . +Or shall we play the wantons with our woes , +And make some pretty match with shedding tears ? +As thus ; to drop them still upon one place , +Till they have fretted us a pair of graves +Within the earth ; and , there inlaid : 'There lies +Two kinsmen digg'd their graves with weeping eyes .' +Would not this ill do well ? Well , well , I see +I talk but idly and you laugh at me . +Most mighty prince , my Lord Northumberland , +What says King Bolingbroke ? will his majesty +Give Richard leave to live till Richard die ? +You make a leg , and Bolingbroke says ay . + +My lord , in the base court he doth attend +To speak with you ; may't please you to come down ? + +Down , down , I come ; like glistering Phaethon , +Wanting the manage of unruly jades . +In the base court ? Base court , where kings grow base , +To come at traitors' calls and do them grace . +In the base court ? Come down ? Down , court ! down , king ! +For night-owls shriek where mounting larks should sing . + + +What says his majesty ? + +Sorrow and grief of heart +Makes him speak fondly , like a frantic man : +Yet he is come . + + +Stand all apart , +And show fair duty to his majesty . + +My gracious lord , + +Fair cousin , you debase your princely knee +To make the base earth proud with kissing it : +Me rather had my heart might feel your love +Than my unpleas'd eye see your courtesy . +Up , cousin , up ; your heart is up , I know , +Thus high at least , although your knee be low . + +My gracious lord , I come but for mine own . + +Your own is yours , and I am yours , and all . + +So far be mine , my most redoubted lord , +As my true service shall deserve your love . + +Well you deserve : they well deserve to have +That know the strong'st and surest way to get . +Uncle , give me your hand : nay , dry your eyes ; +Tears show their love , but want their remedies . +Cousin , I am too young to be your father , +Though you are old enough to be my heir . +What you will have I'll give , and willing too ; +For do we must what force will have us do . +Set on towards London . Cousin , is it so ? + +Yea , my good lord . + +Then I must not say no . + + +What sport shall we devise here in this garden , +To drive away the heavy thought of care ? + +Madam , we'll play at bowls . + +'Twill make me think the world is full of rubs ; +And that my fortune runs against the bias . + +Madam , we'll dance . + +My legs can keep no measure in delight +When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief : +Therefore , no dancing , girl ; some other sport . + +Madam , we'll tell tales . + +Of sorrow or of joy ? + +Of either , madam . + +Of neither , girl : +For if of joy , being altogether wanting , +It doth remember me the more of sorrow ; +Or if of grief , being altogether had , +It adds more sorrow to my want of joy : +For what I have I need not to repeat , +And what I want it boots not to complain . + +Madam , I'll sing . + +'Tis well that thou hast cause ; +But thou shouldst please me better wouldst thou weep . + +I could weep , madam , would it do you good . + +And I could sing would weeping do me good , +And never borrow any tear of thee . +But stay , here come the gardeners : +Let's step into the shadow of these trees . +My wretchedness unto a row of pins , +They'll talk of state ; for every one doth so +Against a change : woe is forerun with woe . + +Go , bind thou up yon dangling apricocks , +Which , like unruly children , make their sire +Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight : +Give some supportance to the bending twigs . +Go thou , and like an executioner , +Cut off the heads of too fast growing sprays , +That look too lofty in our commonwealth : +All must be even in our government . +You thus employ'd , I will go root away +The noisome weeds , that without profit suck +The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers . + +Why should we in the compass of a pale +Keep law and form and due proportion , +Showing , as in a model , our firm estate , +When our sea-walled garden , the whole land , +Is full of weeds , her fairest flowers chok'd up , +Her fruit-trees all unprun'd , her hedges ruin'd , +Her knots disorder'd , and her wholesome herbs +Swarming with caterpillars ? + +Hold thy peace : +He that hath suffer'd this disorder'd spring +Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf ; +The weeds that his broad-spreading leaves did shelter , +That seem'd in eating him to hold him up , +Are pluck'd up root and all by Bolingbroke ; +I mean the Earl of Wiltshire , Bushy , Green . + +What ! are they dead ? + +They are ; and Bolingbroke +Hath seiz'd the wasteful king . O ! what pity is it +That he hath not so trimm'd and dress'd his land +As we this garden . We at time of year +Do wound the bark , the skin of our fruit-trees , +Lest , being over-proud with sap and blood , +With too much riches it confound itself : +Had he done so to great and growing men , +They might have liv'd to bear and he to taste +Their fruits of duty : superfluous branches +We lop away that bearing boughs may live : +Had he done so , himself had borne the crown , +Which waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down . + +What ! think you then the king shall be depos'd ? + +Depress'd he is already , and depos'd +'Tis doubt he will be : letters came last night +To a dear friend of the good Duke of York's , +That tell black tidings . + +O ! I am press'd to death through want of speaking . + +Thou , old Adam's likeness , set to dress this garden , +How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news ? +What Eve , what serpent , hath suggested thee +To make a second fall of cursed man ? +Why dost thou say King Richard is depos'd ? +Dar'st thou , thou little better thing than earth , +Divine his downfall ? Say , where , when , and how +Cam'st thou by these ill tidings ? speak , thou wretch . + +Pardon me , madam : little joy have I +To breathe these news , yet what I say is true . +King Richard , he is in the mighty hold +Of Bolingbroke ; their fortunes both are weigh'd : +In your lord's scale is nothing but himself , +And some few vanities that make him light ; +But in the balance of great Bolingbroke , +Besides himself , are all the English peers , +And with that odds he weighs King Richard down . +Post you to London and you'll find it so ; +I speak no more than every one doth know . + +Nimble mischance . that art so light of foot , +Doth not thy embassage belong to me , +And am I last that knows it ? O ! thou think'st +To serve me last , that I may longest keep +Thy sorrow in my breast . Come , ladies , go , +To meet at London London's king in woe . +What ! was I born to this , that my sad look +Should grace the triumph of great Bolingbroke ? +Gardener , for telling me these news of woe , +Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow . + + +Poor queen ! so that thy state might be no worse , +I would my skill were subject to thy curse . +Here did she fall a tear ; here , in this place , +I'll set a bank of rue , sour herb of grace ; +Rue , even for ruth , here shortly shall be seen , +In the remembrance of a weeping queen . + +Call forth Bagot . +Now , Bagot , freely speak thy mind ; +What thou dost know of noble Gloucester's death , +Who wrought it with the king , and who perform'd +The bloody office of his timeless end . + +Then set before my face the Lord Aumerle . + +Cousin , stand forth , and look upon that man . + +My Lord Aumerle , I know your daring tongue +Scorns to unsay what once it hath deliver'd . +In that dead time when Gloucester's death was plotted , +I heard you say , 'Is not my arm of length , +That reacheth from the restful English court +As far as Calais , to my uncle's head ?' +Amongst much other talk , that very time , +I heard you say that you had rather refuse +The offer of a hundred thousand crowns +Than Bolingbroke's return to England ; +Adding withal , how blest this land would be +In this your cousin's death . + +Princes and noble lords , +What answer shall I make to this base man ? +Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars , +On equal terms to give him chastisement ? +Either I must , or have mine honour soil'd +With the attainder of his slanderous lips . +There is my gage , the manual seal of death , +That marks thee out for hell : I say thou liest , +And will maintain what thou hast said is false +In thy heart-blood , though being all too base +To stain the temper of my knightly sword . + +Bagot , forbear ; thou shalt not take it up . + +Excepting one , I would he were the best +In all this presence that hath mov'd me so . + +If that thy valour stand on sympathies , +There is my gage , Aumerle , in gage to thine : +By that fair sun which shows me where thou stand'st , +I heard thee say , and vauntingly thou spak'st it , +That thou wert cause of noble Gloucester's death . +If thou deny'st it twenty times , thou liest ; +And I will turn thy falsehood to thy heart , +Where it was forged , with my rapier's point . + +Thou dar'st not , coward , live to see that day . + +Now , by my soul , I would it were this hour . + +Fitzwater , thou art damn'd to hell for this . + +Aumerle , thou liest ; his honour is as true +In this appeal as thou art all unjust ; +And that thou art so , there I throw my gage , +To prove it on thee to the extremest point +Of mortal breathing : seize it if thou dar'st . + +And if I do not may my hands rot off +And never brandish more revengeful steel +Over the glittering helmet of my foe ! + +I task the earth to the like , forsworn Aumerle ; +And spur thee on with full as many lies +As may be holla'd in thy treacherous ear +From sun to sun : there is my honour's pawn ; +Engage it to the trial if thou dar'st . + +Who sets me else ? by heaven , I'll throw at all : +I have a thousand spirits in one breast , +To answer twenty thousand such as you . + +My Lord Fitzwater , I do remember well +The very time Aumerle and you did talk . + +'Tis very true : you were in presence then ; +And you can witness with me this is true . + +As false , by heaven , as heaven itself is true . + +Surrey , thou best . + +Dishonourable boy ! +That he shall lie so heavy on my sword +That it shall render vengeance and revenge , +Till thou the lie-giver and that lie do lie +In earth as quiet as thy father's skull . +In proof whereof , there is my honour's pawn : +Engage it to the trial if thou dar'st . + +How fondly dost thou spur a forward horse ! +If I dare eat , or drink , or breathe , or live , +I dare meet Surrey in a wilderness , +And spit upon him , whilst I say he lies , +And lies , and lies : there is my bond of faith +To tie thee to my strong correction . +As I intend to thrive in this new world , +Aumerle is guilty of my true appeal : +Besides , I heard the banish'd Norfolk say +That thou , Aumerle , didst send two of thy men +To execute the noble duke at Calais . + +Some honest Christian trust me with a gage . +That Norfolk lies , here do I throw down this , +If he may be repeal'd to try his honour . + +These differences shall all rest under gage +Till Norfolk be repeal'd : repeal'd he shall be , +And though mine enemy , restor'd again +To all his lands and signories ; when he's return'd , +Against Aumerle we will enforce his trial . + +That honourable day shall ne'er be seen . +Many a time hath banish'd Norfolk fought +For Jesu Christ in glorious Christian field , +Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross +Against black pagans , Turks , and Saracens ; +And toil'd with works of war , retir'd himself +To Italy ; and there at Venice gave +His body to that pleasant country's earth , +And his pure soul unto his captain Christ , +Under whose colours he had fought so long . + +Why , bishop , is Norfolk dead ? + +As surely as I live , my lord . + +Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the bosom +Of good old Abraham ! Lords appellants , +Your differences shall all rest under gage +Till we assign you to your days of trial . + + +Great Duke of Lancaster , I come to thee +From plume-pluck'd Richard ; who with willing soul +Adopts thee heir , and his high sceptre yields +To the possession of thy royal hand . +Ascend his throne , descending now from him ; +And long live Henry , of that name the fourth ! + +In God's name , I'll ascend the regal throne . + +Marry , God forbid ! +Worst in this royal presence may I speak , +Yet best beseeming me to speak the truth . +Would God that any in this noble presence +Were enough noble to be upright judge +Of noble Richard ! then , true noblesse would +Learn him forbearance from so foul a wrong . +What subject can give sentence on his king ? +And who sits here that is not Richard's subject ? +Thieves are not judg'd but they are by to hear , +Although apparent guilt be seen in them ; +And shall the figure of God's majesty , +His captain , steward , deputy elect , +Anointed , crowned , planted many years , +Be judg'd by subject and inferior breath , +And he himself not present ? O ! forfend it , God , +That in a Christian climate souls refin'd +Should show so heinous , black , obscene a deed . +I speak to subjects , and a subject speaks , +Stirr'd up by God thus boldly for his king . +My Lord of Hereford here , whom you call king , +Is a foul traitor to proud Hereford's king ; +And if you crown him , let me prophesy , +The blood of English shall manure the ground +And future ages groan for this foul act ; +Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infidels , +And in this seat of peace tumultuous wars +Shall kin with kin and kind with kind confound ; +Disorder , horror , fear and mutiny +Shall here inhabit , and this land be call'd +The field of Golgotha and dead men's skulls . +O ! if you rear this house against this house , +It will the woefullest division prove +That ever fell upon this cursed earth . +Prevent it , resist it , let it not be so , +Lest child , child's children , cry against you 'woe !' + +Well have you argu'd , sir ; and , for your pains , +Of capital treason we arrest you here . +My Lord of Westminster , be it your charge +To keep him safely till his day of trial . +May it please you , lords , to grant the commons' suit ? + +Fetch hither Richard , that in common view +He may surrender ; so we shall proceed +Without suspicion . + +I will be his conduct . + + +Lords , you that here are under our arrest , +Procure your sureties for your days of answer . + + +Little are we beholding to your love , +And little look'd for at your helping hands . + + +Alack ! why am I sent for to a king +Before I have shook off the regal thoughts +Wherewith I reign'd ? I hardly yet have learn'd +To insinuate , flatter , bow , and bend my limbs : +Give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me +To this submission . Yet I well remember +The favours of these men : were they not mine ? +Did they not sometime cry , 'All haill' to me ? +So Judas did to Christ : but he , in twelve , +Found truth in all but one ; I , in twelve thousand , none . +God save the king ! Will no man say , amen ? +Am I both priest and clerk ? well then , amen . +God save the king ! although I be not he ; +And yet , amen , if heaven do think him me . +To do what service am I sent for hither ? + +To do that office of thine own good will +Which tired majesty did make thee offer , +The resignation of thy state and crown +To Henry Bolingbroke . + +Give me the crown . Here , cousin , seize the crown ; +Here cousin , +On this side my hand and on that side thine . +Now is this golden crown like a deep well +That owes two buckets filling one another ; +The emptier ever dancing in the air , +The other down , unseen and full of water : +That bucket down and full of tears am I , +Drinking my griefs , whilst you mount up on high . + +I thought you had been willing to resign . + +My crown , I am ; but still my griefs are mine . +You may my glories and my state depose , +But not my griefs ; still am I king of those . + +Part of your cares you give me with your crown . + +Your cares set up do not pluck my cares down . +My care is loss of care , by old care done ; +Your care is gain of care , by new care won . +The cares I give I have , though given away ; +They tend the crown , yet still with me they stay . + +Are you contented to resign the crown ? + +Ay , no ; no , ay ; for I must nothing be ; +Therefore no no , for I resign to thee . +Now mark me how I will undo myself : +I give this heavy weight from off my head , +And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand , +The pride of kingly sway from out my heart ; +With mine own tears I wash away my balm , +With mine own hands I give away my crown , +With mine own tongue deny my sacred state , +With mine own breath release all duteous rites : +All pomp and majesty I do forswear ; +My manors , rents , revenues , I forego ; +My acts , decrees , and statutes I deny : +God pardon all oaths that are broke to me ! +God keep all vows unbroke are made to thee ! +Make me , that nothing have , with nothing griev'd , +And thou with all pleas'd , that hast all achiev'd ! +Long mayst thou live in Richard's seat to sit , +And soon lie Richard in an earthy pit ! +God save King Henry , unking'd Richard says , +And send him many years of sunshine days ! +What more remains ? + +No more , but that you read +These accusations and these grievous crimes +Committed by your person and your followers +Against the state and profit of this land ; +That , by confessing them , the souls of men +May deem that you are worthily depos'd . + +Must I do so ? and must I ravel out +My weav'd-up follies ? Gentle Northumberland , +If thy offences were upon record , +Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop +To read a lecture of them ? If thou wouldst , +There shouldst thou find one heinous article , +Containing the deposing of a king , +And cracking the strong warrant of an oath , +Mark'd with a blot , damn'd in the book of heaven . +Nay , all of you that stand and look upon me , +Whilst that my wretchedness doth bait myself , +Though some of you with Pilate wash your hands , +Showing an outward pity ; yet you Pilates +Have here deliver'd me to my sour cross , +And water cannot wash away your sin . + +My lord , dispatch ; read o'er these articles . + +Mine eyes are full of tears , I cannot see : +And yet salt water blinds them not so much +But they can see a sort of traitors here . +Nay , if I turn mine eyes upon myself , +I find myself a traitor with the rest ; +For I have given here my soul's consent +To undeck the pompous body of a king ; +Made glory base and sovereignty a slave , +Proud majesty a subject , state a peasant , + +My lord , + +No lord of thine , thou haught insulting man , +Nor no man's lord ; I have no name , no title , +No , not that name was given me at the font , +But 'tis usurp'd : alack the heavy day ! +That I have worn so many winters out , +And know not now what name to call myself . +O ! that I were a mockery king of snow , +Standing before the sun of Bolingbroke , +To melt myself away in water-drops . +Good king , great king ,and yet not greatly good , +An if my word be sterling yet in England , +Let it command a mirror hither straight , +That it may show me what a face I have , +Since it is bankrupt of his majesty . + +Go some of you and fetch a looking-glass . + + +Read o'er this paper while the glass doth come . + +Fiend ! thou torment'st me ere I come to hell . + +Urge it no more , my Lord Northumberland . + +The commons will not then be satisfied . + +They shall be satisfied : I'll read enough +When I do see the very book indeed +Where all my sins are writ , and that's myself . + + +Give me the glass , and therein will I read . +No deeper wrinkles yet ? Hath sorrow struck +So many blows upon this face of mine +And made no deeper wounds ? O , flattering glass ! +Like to my followers in prosperity , +Thou dost beguile me . Was this face the face +That every day under his household roof +Did keep ten thousand men ? Was this the face +That like the sun did make beholders wink ? +Was this the face that fac'd so many follies , +And was at last out-fac'd by Bolingbroke ? +A brittle glory shineth in this face : +As brittle as the glory is the face ; + +For there it is , crack'd in a hundred shivers . +Mark , silent king , the moral of this sport , + +How soon my sorrow hath destroy'd my face . + +The shadow of your sorrow hath destroy'd +The shadow of your face . + +Say that again . +The shadow of my sorrow ! Ha ! let's see : +'Tis very true , my grief lies all within ; +And these external manners of laments +Are merely shadows to the unseen grief +That swells with silence in the tortur'd soul ; +There lies the substance : and I thank thee , king , +For thy great bounty , that not only giv'st +Me cause to wail , but teachest me the way +How to lament the cause . I'll beg one boon , +And then be gone and trouble you no more . +Shall I obtain it ? + +Name it , fair cousin . + +'Fair cousin !' I am greater than a king ; +For when I was a king , my flatterers +Were then but subjects ; being now a subject , +I have a king here to my flatterer . +Being so great , I have no need to beg . + +Yet ask . + +And shall I have ? + +You shall . + +Then give me leave to go . + +Whither ? + +Whither you will , so I were from your sights . + +Go , some of you convey him to the Tower . + +O , good ! convey ? conveyers are you all , +That rise thus nimbly by a true king's fall . + + +On Wednesday next we solemnly set down +Our coronation : lords , prepare yourselves . + + +A woeful pageant have we here beheld . + +The woe's to come ; the children yet unborn +Shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn . + +You holy clergymen , is there no plot +To rid the realm of this pernicious blot ? + +My lord , +Before I freely speak my mind herein , +You shall not only take the sacrament +To bury mine intents , but also to effect +Whatever I shall happen to devise . +I see your brows are full of discontent , +Your hearts of sorrow , and your eyes of tears : +Come home with me to supper ; I will lay +A plot shall show us all a merry day . + +This way the king will come ; this is the way +To Julius C sar's ill-erected tower , +To whose flint bosom my condemned lord +Is doom'd a prisoner by proud Bolingbroke . +Here let us rest , if this rebellious earth +Have any resting for her true king's queen . + + +But soft , but see , or rather do not see , +My fair rose wither : yet look up , behold , +That you in pity may dissolve to dew , +And wash him fresh again with true-love tears . +Ah ! thou , the model where old Troy did stand , +Thou map of honour , thou King Richard's tomb , +And not King Richard ; thou most beauteous inn , +Why should hard-favour'd grief be lodg'd in thee , + +When triumph is become an alehouse guest ? + +Join not with grief , fair woman , do not so , +To make my end too sudden : learn , good soul , +To think our former state a happy dream ; +From which awak'd , the truth of what we are +Shows us but this . I am sworn brother , sweet , +To grim Necessity , and he and I +Will keep a league till death . Hie thee to France , +And cloister thee in some religious house : +Our holy lives must win a new world's crown , +Which our profane hours here have stricken down . + +What ! is my Richard both in shape and mind +Transform'd and weaken'd ! Hath Bolingbroke depos'd +Thine intellect ? hath he been in thy heart ? +The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw +And wounds the earth , if nothing else , with rage +To be o'erpower'd ; and wilt thou , pupil-like , +Take thy correction mildly , kiss the rod , +And fawn on rage with base humility , +Which art a lion and a king of beasts ? + +A king of beasts indeed ; if aught but beasts , +I had been still a happy king of men . +Good sometime queen , prepare thee hence for France , +Think I am dead , and that even here thou tak'st , +As from my death-bed , my last living leave . +In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire +With good old folks , and let them tell thee tales +Of woeful ages , long ago betid ; +And ere thou bid good night , to quit their grief , +Tell thou the lamentable tale of me , +And send the hearers weeping to their beds : +For why the senseless brands will sympathize +The heavy accent of thy moving tongue , +And in compassion weep the fire out ; +And some will mourn in ashes , some coal-black , +For the deposing of a rightful king . + + +My lord , the mind of Bolingbroke is chang'd ; +You must to Pomfret , not unto the Tower . +And , madam , there is order ta'en for you ; +With all swift speed you must away to France . + +Northumberland , thou ladder wherewithal +The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne , +The time shall not be many hours of age +More than it is , ere foul sin gathering head +Shall break into corruption . Thou shalt think , +Though he divide the realm and give thee half , +It is too little , helping him to all ; +And he shall think that thou , which know'st the way +To plant unrightful kings , wilt know again , +Being ne'er so little urg'd , another way +To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne . +The love of wicked friends converts to fear ; +That fear to hate , and hate turns one or both +To worthy danger and deserved death . + +My guilt be on my head , and there an end . +Take leave and part ; for you must part forthwith . + +Doubly divorc'd ! Bad men , ye violate +A two-fold marriage ; 'twixt my crown and me , +And then , betwixt me and my married wife . +Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me ; +And yet not so , for with a kiss 'twas made . +Part us , Northumberland : I towards the north , +Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime ; +My wife to France : from whence , set forth in pomp , +She came adorned hither like sweet May , +Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day . + +And must we be divided ? must we part ? + +Ay , hand from hand , my love , and heart from heart . + +Banish us both and send the king with me . + +That were some love but little policy . + +Then whither he goes , thither let me go . + +So two , together weeping , make one woe . +Weep thou for me in France , I for thee here ; +Better far off , than near , be ne'er the near . +Go , count thy way with sighs , I mine with groans . + +So longest way shall have the longest moans . + +Twice for one step I'll groan , the way being short , +And piece the way out with a heavy heart . +Come , come , in wooing sorrow let's be brief , +Since , wedding it , thero is such length in grief . +One kiss shall stop our mouths , and dumbly part ; +Thus give I mine , and thus take I thy heart . + + +Give me mine own again ; 'twere no good part +To take on me to keep and kill thy heart . + +So , now I have mine own again , be gone , +That I may strive to kill it with a groan . + +We make woe wanton with this fond delay : +Once more , adieu ; the rest let sorrow say . + + +My lord , you told me you would tell the rest , +When weeping made you break the story off , +Of our two cousins coming into London . + +Where did I leave ? + +At that sad stop , my lord , +Where rude misgovern'd hands , from windows' tops , +Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head . + +Then , as I said , the duke , great Bolingbroke , +Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed , +Which his aspiring rider seem'd to know , +With slow but stately pace kept on his course , +While all tongues cried , 'God save thee , Bolingbroke !' +You would have thought the very windows spake , +So many greedy looks of young and old +Through casements darted their desiring eyes +Upon his visage , and that all the walls +With painted imagery had said at once +'Jesu preserve thee ! welcome , Bolingbroke !' +Whilst he , from one side to the other turning , +Bare-headed , lower than his proud steed's neck , +Bespake them thus , 'I thank you , countrymen :' +And thus still doing , thus he pass'd along . + +Alack , poor Richard ! where rode he the whilst ? + +As in a theatre , the eyes of men , +After a well-grac'd actor leaves the stage , +Are idly bent on him that enters next , +Thinking his prattle to be tedious ; +Even so , or with much more contempt , men's eyes +Did scowl on Richard : no man cried , 'God save him ;' +No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home ; +But dust was thrown upon his sacred head , +Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off , +His face still combating with tears and smiles , +The badges of his grief and patience , +That had not God , for some strong purpose , steel'd +The hearts of men , they must perforce have melted , +And barbarism itself have pitied him . +But heaven hath a hand in these events , +To whose high will we bound our calm contents . +To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now , +Whose state and honour I for aye allow . + +Here comes my son Aumerle . + +Aumerle that was ; +But that is lost for being Richard's friend , +And , madam , you must call him Rutland now . +I am in parliament pledge for his truth +And lasting fealty to the new-made king . + + +Welcome , my son : who are the violets now +That strew the green lap of the new come spring ? + +Madam , I know not , nor I greatly care not : +God knows I had as lief be none as one . + +Well , bear you well in this new spring of time , +Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime . +What news from Oxford ? hold those justs and triumphs ? + +For aught I know , my lord , they do . + +You will be there , I know . + +If God prevent it not , I purpose so . + +What seal is that that hangs without thy bosom ? +Yea , look'st thou pale ? let me see the writing . + +My lord , 'tis nothing . + +No matter then , who sees it : +I will be satisfied ; let me see the writing . + +I do beseech your Grace to pardon me : +It is a matter of small consequence , +Which for some reasons I would not have seen . + +Which for some reasons , sir , I mean to see . +I fear , I fear , + +What should you fear ? +'Tis nothing but some bond he's enter'd into +For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day . + +Bound to himself ! what doth he with a bond +That he is bound to ? Wife , thou art a fool . +Boy , let me see the writing . + +I do beseech you , pardon me ; I may not show it . + +I will be satisfied ; let me see it , I say . + +Treason ! foul treason ! villain ! traitor ! slave ! + +What is the matter , my lord ? + +Ho ! who is within there ? + + +Saddle my horse . + +God for his mercy ! what treachery is here ! + +Why , what is it , my lord ? + +Give me my boots , I say ; saddle my horse . +Now , by mine honour , by my life , my troth , +I will appeach the villain . + + +What's the matter ? + +Peace , foolish woman . + +I will not peace . What is the matter , Aumerle ? + +Good mother , be content ; it is no more +Than my poor life must answer . + +Thy life answer ! + +Bring me my boots : I will unto the king . + + +Strike him , Aumerle . Poor boy , thou art amaz'd . + + +Hence , villain ! never more come in my sight . + + +Give me my boots , I say . + +Why , York , what wilt thou do ? +Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own ? +Have we more sons , or are we like to have ? +Is not my teeming date drunk up with time ? +And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age , +And rob me of a happy mother's name ? +Is he not like thee ? is he not thine own ? + +Thou fond , mad woman , +Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy ? +A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament , +And interchangeably set down their hands , +To kill the king at Oxford . + +He shall be none ; +We'll keep him here : then , what is that to him ? + +Away , fond woman ! were he twenty times +My son , I would appeach him . + +Hadst thou groan'd for him +As I have done , thou'dst be more pitiful . +But now I know thy mind : thou dost suspect +That I have been disloyal to thy bed , +And that he is a bastard , not thy son : +Sweet York , sweet husband , be not of that mind : +He is as like thee as a man may be , +Not like to me , nor any of my kin , +And yet I love him . + +Make way , unruly woman ! + + +After , Aumerle ! Mount thee upon his horse ; +Spur post , and get before him to the king , +And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee . +I'll not be long behind ; though I be old , +I doubt not but to ride as fast as York : +And never will I rise up from the ground +Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee . Away ! be gone . + + +Can no man tell of my unthrifty son ? +'Tis full three months since I did see him last . +If any plague hang over us , 'tis he . +I would to God , my lords , he might be found : +Inquire at London , 'mongst the taverns there , +For there , they say , he daily doth frequent , +With unrestrained loose companions , +Even such , they say , as stand in narrow lanes +And beat our watch and rob our passengers ; +While he , young wanton and effeminate boy , +Takes on the point of honour to support +So dissolute a crew . + +My lord , some two days since I saw the prince , +And told him of these triumphs held at Oxford . + +And what said the gallant ? + +His answer was : he would unto the stews , +And from the common'st creature pluck a glove , +And wear it as a favour ; and with that +He would unhorse the lustiest challenger . + +As dissolute as desperate ; yet , through both , +I see some sparkles of a better hope , +Which elder days may happily bring forth . +But who comes here ? + + +Where is the king ? + +What means +Our cousin , that he stares and looks so wildly ? + +God save your Grace ! I do beseech your majesty , +To have some conference with your Grace alone . + +Withdraw yourselves , and leave us here alone . + +What is the matter with our cousin now ? + +For ever may my knees grow to the earth , +My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth , +Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak . + +Intended or committed was this fault ? +If on the first , how heinous e'er it be , +To win thy after-love I pardon thee . + +Then give me leave that I may turn the key , +That no man enter till my tale be done . + +Have thy desire . + + +My liege , beware ! look to thyself ; +Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there . + +Villain , I'll make thee safe . + +Stay thy revengeful hand ; thou hast no cause to fear . + +Open the door , secure , foolhardy king : +Shall I for love speak treason to thy face ? +Open the door , or I will break it open . + +What is the matter , uncle ? speak ; +Recover breath ; tell us how near is danger , +That we may arm us to encounter it . + +Peruse this writing here , and thou shalt know +The treason that my haste forbids me show . + +Remember , as thou read'st , thy promise pass'd : +I do repent me ; read not my name there ; +My heart is not confederate with my hand . + +'Twas , villain , ere thy hand did set it down . +I tore it from the traitor's bosom , king ; +Fear , and not love , begets his penitence . +Forget to pity him , lest thy pity prove +A serpent that will sting thee to the heart . + +O heinous , strong , and bold conspiracy ! +O loyal father of a treacherous son ! +Thou sheer , immaculate , and silver fountain , +From whence this stream through muddy passages +Hath held his current and defil'd himself ! +Thy overflow of good converts to bad , +And thy abundant goodness shall excuse +This deadly blot in thy digressing son . + +So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd , +And he shall spend mine honour with his shame , +As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold . +Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies , +Or my sham'd life in his dishonour lies : +Thou kill'st me in his life ; giving him breath , +The traitor lives , the true man's put to death . + +What ho , my liege ! for God's sake let me in . + +What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this eager cry ? + +A woman , and thine aunt , great king ; 'tis I . +Speak with me , pity me , open the door : +A beggar begs , that never begg'd before . + +Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing , +And now chang'd to 'The Beggar and the King .' +My dangerous cousin , let your mother in : +I know she's come to pray for your foul sin . + + +If thou do pardon , whosoever pray , +More sins , for this forgiveness , prosper may . +This fester'd joint cut off , the rest rests sound ; +This , let alone , will all the rest confound . + + +O king ! believe not this hard-hearted man : +Love , loving not itself , none other can . + +Thou frantic woman , what dost thou make here ? +Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear ? + +Sweet York , be-patient . + +Hear me , gentle liege . + +Rise up , good aunt . + +Not yet , I thee beseech . +For ever will I walk upon my knees , +And never see day that the happy sees , +Till thou give joy ; until thou bid me joy , +By pardoning Rutland , my transgressing boy . + +Unto my mother's prayers I bend my knee . + + +Against them both my true joints bended be . + +Ill mayst thou thrive if thou grant any grace ! + +Pleads he in earnest ? look upon his face ; +His eyes do drop no tears , his prayers are in jest ; +His words come from his mouth , ours from our breast : +He prays but faintly and would be denied ; +We pray with heart and soul and all beside : +His weary joints would gladly rise , I know ; +Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow : +His prayers are full of false hypocrisy ; +Ours of true zeal and deep integrity . +Our prayers do out-pray his ; then let them have +That mercy which true prayer ought to have . + +Good aunt , stand up . + +Nay , do not say 'stand up ;' +But 'pardon' first , and afterwards 'stand up .' +An if I were thy nurse , thy tongue to teach , +'Pardon' should be the first word of thy speech . +I never long'd to hear a word till now ; +Say 'pardon ,' king ; let pity teach thee how : +The word is short , but not so short as sweet ; +No word like 'pardon ,' for kings' mouths so meet . + +Speak it in French , king ; say , 'pardonnez moy .' + +Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy ? +Ah ! my sour husband , my hard-hearted lord , +That sett'st the word itself against the word . +Speak 'pardon' as 'tis current in our land ; +The chopping French we do not understand . +Thine eye begins to speak , set thy tongue there , +Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear , +That hearing how our plants and prayers do pierce , +Pity may move thee pardon to rehearse . + +Good aunt , stand up . + +I do not sue to stand ; +Pardon is all the suit I have in hand . + +I pardon him , as God shall pardon me . + +O happy vantage of a kneeling knee ! +Yet am I sick for fear : speak it again ; +Twice saying 'pardon' doth not pardon twain , +But makes one pardon strong . + +With all my heart +I pardon him . + +A god on earth thou art . + +But for our trusty brother-in-law and the abbot , +With all the rest of that consorted crew , +Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels . +Good uncle , help to order several powers +To Oxford , or where'er these traitors are : +They shall not live within this world , I swear , +But I will have them , if I once know where . +Uncle , farewell : and cousin too , adieu : +Your mother well hath pray'd , and prove you true . + +Come , my old son : I pray God make thee new . + + +Didst thou not mark the king , what words he spake ? +'Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear ?' +Was it not so ? + +Those were his very words . + +'Have I no friend ?' quoth he : he spake it twice , +And urg'd it twice together , did he not ? + +He did . + +And speaking it , he wistly looked on me , +As who should say , 'I would thou wert the man +That would divorce this terror from my heart ;' +Meaning the king at Pomfret . Come , let's go : +I am the king's friend , and will rid his foe . + + +I have been studying how I may compare +This prison where I live unto the world : +And for because the world is populous , +And here is not a creature but myself , +I cannot do it ; yet I'll hammer it out . +My brain I'll prove the female to my soul ; +My soul the father : and these two beget +A generation of still-breeding thoughts , +And these same thoughts people this little world +In humours like the people of this world , +For no thought is contented . The better sort , +As thoughts of things divine , are intermix'd +With scruples , and do set the word itself +Against the word : +As thus , 'Come , little ones ;' and then again , +'It is as hard to come as for a camel +To thread the postern of a needle's eye .' +Thoughts tending to ambition , they do plot +Unlikely wonders ; how these vain weak nails +May tear a passage through the flinty ribs +Of this hard world , my ragged prison walls ; +And , for they cannot , die in their own pride . +Thoughts tending to content flatter themselves +That they are not the first of fortune's slaves , +Nor shall not be the last ; like silly beggars +Who sitting in the stocks refuge their shame , +That many have and others must sit there : +And in this thought they find a kind of ease , +Bearing their own misfortune on the back +Of such as have before endur'd the like . +Thus play I in one person many people , +And none contented : sometimes am I king ; +Then treason makes me wish myself a beggar , +And so I am : then crushing penury +Persuades me I was better when a king ; +Then am I king'd again ; and by and by +Think that I am unking'd by Bolingbroke , +And straight am nothing : but whate'er I be , +Nor I nor any man that but man is +With nothing shall be pleas'd , till he be eas'd +With being nothing . Music do I hear ? + +Ha , ha ! keep time . How sour sweet music is +When time is broke and no proportion kept ! +So is it in the music of men's lives . +And here have I the daintiness of ear +To check time broke in a disorder'd string ; +But for the concord of my state and time +Had not an ear to hear my true time broke . +I wasted time , and now doth time waste me ; +For now hath time made me his numbering clock : +My thoughts are minutes , and with sighs they jar +Their watches on unto mine eyes , the outward watch , +Whereto my finger , like a dial's point , +Is pointing still , in cleansing them from tears . +Now sir , the sound that tells what hour it is +Are clamorous groans , that strike upon my heart +Which is the bell : so sighs and tears and groans +Show minutes , times , and hours ; but my time +Runs posting on in Bolingbroke's proud joy , +While I stand fooling here , his Jack o' the clock . +This music mads me : let it sound no more ; +For though it have holp madmen to their wits , +In me it seems it will make wise men mad . +Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me ! +For 'tis a sign of love , and love to Richard +Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world . + + +Hail , royal prince ! + +Thanks , noble peer ; +The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear . +What art thou ? and how comest thou hither , man , +Where no man never comes but that sad dog +That brings me food to make misfortune live ? + +I was a poor groom of thy stable , king , +When thou wert king ; who , travelling towards York , +With much ado at length have gotten leave +To look upon my sometimes royal master's face . +O ! how it yearn'd my heart when I beheld +In London streets , that coronation day +When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary , +That horse that thou so often hast bestrid , +That horse that I so carefully have dress'd . + +Rode he on Barbary ? Tell me , gentle friend , +How went he under him ? + +So proudly as if he disdain'd the ground . + +So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back ! +That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand ; +This hand hath made him proud with clapping him . +Would he not stumble ? Would he not fall down , +Since pride must have a fall ,and break the neck +Of that proud man that did usurp his back ? +Forgiveness , horse ! why do I rail on thee , +Since thou , created to be aw'd by man , +Wast born to bear ? I was not made a horse ; +And yet I bear a burden like an ass , +Spur-gall'd and tir'd by jauncing Bolingbroke . + + +Fellow , give place ; here is no longer stay . + +If thou love me , 'tis time thou wert away . + +What my tongue dares not , that my heart shall say . + + +My lord , will't please you to fall to ? + +Taste of it first , as thou art wont to do . + +My lord , I dare not : Sir Pierce of Exton , who lately came from the king , commands the contrary . + +The devil take Henry of Lancaster , and thee ! +Patience is stale , and I am weary of it . + + +Help , help , help ! + + +How now ! what means death in this rude assault ? +Villain , thine own hand yields thy death's instrument . + +Go thou and fill another room in hell . + +That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire +That staggers thus my person . Exton , thy fierce hand +Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land . +Mount , mount , my soul ! thy seat is up on high , +Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward , here to die . + + +As full of valour as of royal blood : +Both have I spilt ; O ! would the deed were good ; +For now the devil , that told me I did well , +Says that this deed is chronicled in hell . +This dead king to the living king I'll bear . +Take hence the rest and give them burial here . + + +Kind uncle York , the latest news we hear +Is that the rebels have consum'd with fire +Our town of Cicester in Gloucestershire ; +But whether they be ta'en or slain we hear not . + +Welcome , my lord . What is the news ? + +First , to thy sacred state wish I all happiness . +The next news is : I have to London sent +The heads of Salisbury , Spencer , Blunt , and Kent . +The manner of their taking may appear +At large discoursed in this paper here . + +We thank thee , gentle Percy , for thy pains , +And to thy worth will add right worthy gains . + + +My lord , I have from Oxford sent to London +The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely , +Two of the dangerous consorted traitors +That sought at Oxford thy dire overthrow . + +Thy pains , Fitzwater , shall not be forgot ; +Right noble is thy merit , well I wot . + + +The grand conspirator , Abbot of Westminster , +With clog of conscience and sour melancholy , +Hath yielded up his body to the grave ; +But here is Carlisle living , to abide +Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride . + +Carlisle , this is your doom : +Choose out some secret place , some reverend room , +More than thou hast , and with it joy thy life ; +So , as thou livest in peace , die free from strife : +For though mine enemy thou hast ever been , +High sparks of honour in thee have I seen . + + +Great king , within this coffin I present +Thy buried fear : herein all breathless lies +The mightiest of thy greatest enemies , +Richard of Bordeaux , by me hither brought . + +Exton , I thank thee not ; for thou hast wrought +A deed of slander with thy fatal hand +Upon my head and all this famous land . + +From your own mouth , my lord , did I this deed . + +They love not poison that do poison need , +Nor do I thee : though I did wish him dead , +I hate the murderer , love him murdered . +The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour , +But neither my good word nor princely favour : +With Cain go wander through the shade of night , +And never show thy head by day nor light . +Lords , I protest , my soul is full of woe , +That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow : +Come , mourn with me for that I do lament , +And put on sullen black incontinent . +I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land , +To wash this blood off from my guilty hand . +March sadly after ; grace my mournings here , +In weeping after this untimely bier . + +THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD III + +Now is the winter of our discontent +Made glorious summer by this sun of York ; +And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house +In the deep bosom of the ocean buried . +Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths ; +Our bruised arms hung up for monuments ; +Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings ; +Our dreadful marches to delightful measures . +Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front ; +And now ,instead of mounting barbed steeds , +To fright the souls of fearful adversaries , +He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber +To the lascivious pleasing of a lute . +But I , that am not shap'd for sportive tricks , +Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass ; +I , that am rudely stamp'd , and want love's majesty +To strut before a wanton ambling nymph ; +I , that am curtail'd of this fair proportion , +Cheated of feature by dissembling nature , +Deform'd , unfinish'd , sent before my time +Into this breathing world , scarce half made up , +And that so lamely and unfashionable +That dogs bark at me , as I halt by them ; +Why , I , in this weak piping time of peace , +Have no delight to pass away the time , +Unless to see my shadow in the sun +And descant on mine own deformity : +And therefore , since I cannot prove a lover , +To entertain these fair well-spoken days , +I am determined to prove a villain , +And hate the idle pleasures of these days . +Plots have I laid , inductions dangerous , +By drunken prophecies , libels , and dreams , +To set my brother Clarence and the king +In deadly hate the one against the other : +And if King Edward be as true and just +As I am subtle , false , and treacherous , +This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up , +About a prophecy , which says , that G +Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be . +Dive , thoughts , down to my soul : here Clarence comes . + + +Brother , good day : what means this armed guard + +That waits upon your Grace ? + +His majesty , +Tendering my person's safety , hath appointed +This conduct to convey me to the Tower . + +Upon what cause ? + +Because my name is George . + +Alack ! my lord , that fault is none of yours ; +He should , for that , commit your godfathers . +O ! belike his majesty hath some intent +That you should be new-christen'd in the Tower . +But what's the matter , Clarence ? may I know ? + +Yea , Richard , when I know ; for I protest +As yet I do not : but , as I can learn , +He hearkens after prophecies and dreams ; +And from the cross-row plucks the letter G , +And says a wizard told him that by G +His issue disinherited should be ; +And , for my name of George begins with G , +It follows in his thought that I am he . +These , as I learn , and such like toys as these , +Have mov'd his highness to commit me now . + +Why , this it is , when men are rul'd by women : +'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower ; +My Lady Grey , his wife , Clarence , 'tis she +That tempers him to this extremity . +Was it not she and that good man of worship , +Antony Woodville , her brother there , +That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower , +From whence this present day he is deliver'd ? +We are not safe , Clarence ; we are not safe . + +By heaven , I think there is no man secure +But the queen's kindred and night-walking heralds +That trudge betwixt the king and Mistress Shore . +Heard you not what a humble suppliant +Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery ? + +Humbly complaining to her deity +Got my lord chamberlain his liberty . +I'll tell you what ; I think it is our way , +If we will keep in favour with the king , +To be her men and wear her livery : +The jealous o'er-worn widow and herself , +Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen , +Are mighty gossips in our monarchy . + +I beseech your Graces both to pardon me ; +His majesty hath straitly given in charge +That no man shall have private conference , +Of what degree soever , with your brother . + +Even so ; an please your worship , Brakenbury , +You may partake of anything we say : +We speak no treason , man : we say the king +Is wise and virtuous , and his noble queen +Well struck in years , fair , and not jealous ; +We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot , +A cherry lip , a bonny eye , a passing pleasing tongue ; +And that the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks . +How say you , sir ? can you deny all this ? + +With this , my lord , myself have nought to do . + +Naught to do with Mistress Shore ! I tell thee , fellow , +He that doth naught with her , excepting one , +Were best to do it secretly , alone . + +What one , my lord ? + +Her husband , knave . Wouldst thou betray me ? + +I beseech your Grace to pardon me ; and withal +Forbear your conference with the noble duke . + +We know thy charge , Brakenbury , and will obey . + +We are the queen's abjects , and must obey . +Brother , farewell : I will unto the king ; +And whatsoe'er you will employ me in , +Were it to call King Edward's widow sister , +I will perform it to enfranchise you . +Meantime , this deep disgrace in brotherhood +Touches me deeper than you can imagine . + +I know it pleaseth neither of us well . + +Well , your imprisonment shall not be long ; +I will deliver you , or else lie for you : +Meantime , have patience . + +I must perforce : farewell . + + +Go , tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return , +Simple , plain Clarence ! I do love thee so +That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven , +If heaven will take the present at our hands . +But who comes here ? the new-deliver'd Hastings ! + + +Good time of day unto my gracious lord ! + +As much unto my good lord chamberlain ! +Well are you welcome to this open air . +How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment ? + +With patience , noble lord , as prisoners must : +But I shall live , my lord , to give them thanks +That were the cause of my imprisonment . + +No doubt , no doubt ; and so shall Clarence too ; +For they that were your enemies are his , +And have prevail'd as much on him as you . + +More pity that the eagles should be mew'd , +While kites and buzzards prey at liberty . + +What news abroad ? + +No news so bad abroad as this at home ; +The king is sickly , weak , and melancholy , +And his physicians fear him mightily . + +Now by Saint Paul , this news is bad indeed . +O ! he hath kept an evil diet long , +And over-much consum'd his royal person : +'Tis very grievous to be thought upon . +What , is he in his bed ? + +He is . + +Go you before , and I will follow you . + +He cannot live , I hope ; and must not die +Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to heaven . +I'll in , to urge his hatred more to Clarence , +With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments ; +And , if I fail not in my deep intent , +Clarence hath not another day to live : +Which done , God take King Edward to his mercy , +And leave the world for me to bustle in ! +For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter . +What though I kill'd her husband and her father , +The readiest way to make the wench amends +Is to become her husband and her father : +The which will I ; not all so much for love +As for another secret close intent , +By marrying her , which I must reach unto . +But yet I run before my horse to market : +Clarence still breathes ; Edward still lives and reigns : +When they are gone , then must I count my gains . + +Set down , set down your honourable load , +If honour may be shrouded in a hearse , +Whilst I a while obsequiously lament +The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster . +Poor key-cold figure of a holy king ! +Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster ! +Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood ! +Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost , +To hear the lamentations of poor Anne , +Wife to thy Edward , to thy slaughter'd son , +Stabb'd by the self-same hand that made these wounds ! +Lo , in these windows that let forth thy life , +I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes . +O ! cursed be the hand that made these holes ; +Cursed the heart that had the heart to do it ! +Cursed the blood that let this blood from hence ! +More direful hap betide that hated wretch , +That makes us wretched by the death of thee , +Than I can wish to adders , spiders , toads , +Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives ! +If ever he have child , abortive be it , +Prodigious , and untimely brought to light , +Whose ugly and unnatural aspect +May fright the hopeful mother at the view ; +And that be heir to his unhappiness ! +If ever he have wife , let her be made +More miserable by the death of him +Than I am made by my young lord and thee ! +Come , now toward Chertsey with your holy load , +Taken from Paul's to be interred there ; +And still , as you are weary of the weight , +Rest you , whiles I lament King Henry's corse . + +Stay , you that bear the corse , and set it down . + +What black magician conjures up this fiend , +To stop devoted charitable deeds ? + +Villains ! set down the corse ; or , by Saint Paul , +I'll make a corse of him that disobeys . + +My lord , stand back , and let the coffin pass . + +Unmanner'd dog ! stand thou when I command : +Advance thy halberd higher than my breast , +Or , by Saint Paul , I'll strike thee to my foot , +And spurn upon thee , beggar , for thy boldness . + + +What ! do you tremble ? are you all afraid ? +Alas ! I blame you not ; for you are mortal , +And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil . +Avaunt ! thou dreadful minister of hell , +Thou hadst but power over his mortal body , +His soul thou canst not have : therefore , be gone . + +Sweet saint , for charity , be not so curst . + +Foul devil , for God's sake hence , and trouble us not ; +For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell , +Fill'd it with cursing cries and deep exclaims . +If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds , +Behold this pattern of thy butcheries . +O ! gentlemen ; see , see ! dead Henry's wounds +Open their congeal'd mouths and bleed afresh . +Blush , blush , thou lump of foul deformity , +For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood +From cold and empty veins , where no blood dwells : +Thy deed , inhuman and unnatural , +Provokes this deluge most unnatural . +O God ! which this blood mad'st , revenge his death ; +O earth ! which this blood drink'st , revenge his death ; +Either heaven with lightning strike the murderer dead , +Or earth , gape open wide , and eat him quick , +As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood , +Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered ! + +Lady , you know no rules of charity , +Which renders good for bad , blessings for curses . + +Villain , thou know'st no law of God nor man : +No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity . + +But I know none , and therefore am no beast . + +O ! wonderful , when devils tell the truth . + +More wonderful when angels are so angry . +Vouchsafe , divine perfection of a woman , +Of these supposed evils , to give me leave , +By circumstance , but to acquit myself . + +Vouchsafe , diffus'd infection of a man , +For these known evils , but to give me leave , +By circumstance , to curse thy cursed self . + +Fairer than tongue can name thee , let me have +Some patient leisure to excuse myself . + +Fouler than heart can think thee , thou canst make +No excuse current , but to hang thyself . + +By such despair I should accuse myself . + +And by despairing shouldst thou stand excus'd +For doing worthy vengeance on thyself , +Which didst unworthy slaughter upon others . + +Say that I slew them not . + +Then say they were not slain : +But dead they are , and , devilish slave , by thee . + +I did not kill your husband . + +Why , then he is alive . + +Nay , he is dead ; and slain by Edward's hand . + +In thy foul throat thou liest : Queen Margaret saw +Thy murderous falchion smoking in his blood ; +The which thou once didst bend against her breast , +But that thy brothers beat aside the point . + +I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue , +That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders . + +Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind , +That never dreamt on aught but butcheries . +Didst thou not kill this king ? + +I grant ye . + +Dost grant me , hedge-hog ? Then , God grant me too +Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed ! +O ! he was gentle , mild , and virtuous . + +The fitter for the King of heaven , that hath him . + +He is in heaven , where thou shalt never come . + +Let him thank me , that help'd to send him thither ; +For he was fitter for that place than earth . + +And thou unfit for any place but hell . + +Yes , one place else , if you will bear me name it . + +Some dungeon . + +Your bed-chamber . + +Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest ! + +So will it , madam , till I lie with you . + +I hope so . + +I know so . But , gentle Lady Anne , +To leave this keen encounter of our wits , +And fall somewhat into a slower method , +Is not the causer of the timeless deaths +Of these Plantagenets , Henry and Edward , +As blameful as the executioner ? + +Thou wast the cause , and most accurs'd effect . + +Your beauty was the cause of that effect ; +Your beauty , that did haunt me in my sleep +To undertake the death of all the world , +So might I live one hour in your sweet bosom . + +If I thought that , I tell thee , homicide , +These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks . + +These eyes could not endure that beauty's wrack ; +You should not blemish it if I stood by : +As all the world is cheered by the sun , +So I by that ; it is my day , my life . + +Black night o'ershade thy day , and death thy life ! + +Curse not thyself , fair creature ; thou art both . + +I would I were , to be reveng'd on thee . + +It is a quarrel most unnatural , +To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee . + +It is a quarrel just and reasonable , +To be reveng'd on him that kill'd my husband . + +He that bereft thee , lady , of thy husband , +Did it to help thee to a better husband . + +His better doth not breathe upon the earth . + +He lives that loves thee better than he could . + +Name him . + +Plantagenet . + +Why , that was he . + +The self-same name , but one of better nature . + +Where is he ? + +Here . + +Why dost thou spit at me ? + +Would it were mortal poison , for thy sake ! + +Never came poison from so sweet a place . + +Never hung poison on a fouler toad . +Out of my sight ! thou dost infect mine eyes . + +Thine eyes , sweet lady , have infected mine . + +Would they were basilisks , to strike thee dead ! + +I would they were , that I might die at once ; +For now they kill me with a living death . +Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears , +Sham'd their aspects with store of childish drops ; +These eyes , which never shed remorseful tear ; +No , when my father York and Edward wept +To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made +When black-fac'd Clifford shook his sword at him ; +Nor when thy war-like father like a child , +Told the sad story of my father's death , +And twenty times made pause to sob and weep , +That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks , +Like trees bedash'd with rain : in that sad time , +My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear ; +And what these sorrows could not thence exhale , +Thy beauty hath , and made them blind with weeping . +I never su'd to friend , nor enemy ; +My tongue could never learn sweet smoothing words ; +But , now thy beauty is propos'd my fee , +My proud heart sues , and prompts my tongue to speak . + +Teach not thy lip such scorn , for it was made +For kissing , lady , not for such contempt . +If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive , +Lo ! here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword ; +Which if thou please to hide in this true breast , +And let the soul forth that adoreth thee , +I lay it open to the deadly stroke , +And humbly beg the death upon my knee . + +Nay , do not pause ; for I did kill King Henry ; +But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me . +Nay , now dispatch ; 'twas I that stabb'd young Edward ; + +But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on . + +Take up the sword again , or take up me . + +Arise , dissembler : though I wish thy death , +I will not be thy executioner . + +Then bid me kill myself , and I will do it . + +I have already . + +That was in thy rage : +Speak it again , and , even with the word , +This hand , which for thy love did kill thy love , +Shall , for thy love , kill a far truer love : +To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary . + +I would I knew thy heart . + +'Tis figur'd in my tongue . + +I fear me both are false . + +Then never man was true . + +Well , well , put up your sword . + +Say , then , my peace is made . + +That shalt thou know hereafter . + +But shall I live in hope ? + +All men , I hope , live so . + +Vouchsafe to wear this ring . + +To take is not to give . + + +Look , how my ring encompasseth thy finger , +Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart ; +Wear both of them , for both of them are thine . +And if thy poor devoted servant may +But beg one favour at thy gracious hand , +Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever . + +What is it ? + +That it may please you leave these sad designs +To him that hath most cause to be a mourner , +And presently repair to Crosby-place ; +Where , after I have solemnly interr'd +At Chertsey monastery this noble king , +And wet his grave with my repentant tears , +I will with all expedient duty see you : +For divers unknown reasons , I beseech you , +Grant me this boon . + +With all my heart ; and much it joys me too +To see you are become so penitent . +Tressel and Berkeley , go along with me . + +Bid me farewell . + +'Tis more than you deserve ; +But since you teach me how to flatter you , +Imagine I have said farewell already . + + +Sirs , take up the corse . + +Toward Chertsey , noble lord ? + +No , to White-Friars ; there attend my coming . + +Was ever woman in this humour woo'd ? +Was ever woman in this humour won ? +I'll have her ; but I will not keep her long . +What ! I , that kill'd her husband , and his father , +To take her in her heart's extremest hate ; +With curses in her mouth , tears in her eyes , +The bleeding witness of her hatred by ; +Having God , her conscience , and these bars against me , +And nothing I to back my suit withal +But the plain devil and dissembling looks , +And yet to win her , all the world to nothing ! +Ha ! +Hath she forgot already that brave prince , +Edward , her lord , whom I , some three months since , +Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury ? +A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman , +Fram'd in the prodigality of nature , +Young , valiant , wise , and , no doubt , right royal , +The spacious world cannot again afford : +And will she yet abase her eyes on me , +That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince , +And made her widow to a woeful bed ? +On me , whose all not equals Edward's moiety ? +On me , that halt and am misshapen thus ? +My dukedom to a beggarly denier +I do mistake my person all this while : +Upon my life , she finds , although I cannot , +Myself to be a marvellous proper man . +I'll be at charges for a looking-glass , +And entertain a score or two of tailors , +To study fashions to adorn my body : +Since I am crept in favour with myself , +I will maintain it with some little cost . +But first I'll turn yon fellow in his grave , +And then return lamenting to my love . +Shine out , fair sun , till I have bought a glass , +That I may see my shadow as I pass . + + +Have patience , madam : there's no doubt his majesty +Will soon recover his accustom'd health . + +In that you brook it ill , it makes him worse : +Therefore , for God's sake , entertain good comfort , +And cheer his Grace with quick and merry words . + +If he were dead , what would betide on me ? + +No other harm but loss of such a lord . + +The loss of such a lord includes all harms . + +The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly son , +To be your comforter when he is gone . + +Ah ! he is young ; and his minority +Is put into the trust of Richard Gloucester , +A man that loves not me , nor none of you . + +Is it concluded he shall be protector ? + +It is determin'd , not concluded yet : +But so it must be if the king miscarry . + + +Here come the Lords of Buckingham and Stanley . + +Good time of day unto your royal Grace ! + +God make your majesty joyful as you have been ! + +The Countess Richmond , good my Lord of Stanley , +To your good prayer will scarcely say amen . +Yet , Stanley , notwithstanding she's your wife , +And loves not me , be you , good lord , assur'd +I hate not you for her proud arrogance . + +I do beseech you , either not believe +The envious slanders of her false accusers ; +Or , if she be accus'd on true report , +Bear with her weakness , which , I think , proceeds +From wayward sickness , and no grounded malice . + +Saw you the king to-day , my Lord of Stanley ? + +But now the Duke of Buckingham and I , +Are come from visiting his majesty . + +What likelihood of his amendment , lords ? + +Madam , good hope ; his Grace speaks cheerfully . + +God grant him health ! did you confer with him ? + +Ay , madam : he desires to make atonement +Between the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers , +And between them and my lord chamberlain ; +And sent to warn them to his royal presence . + +Would all were well ! But that will never be . +I fear our happiness is at the highest . + + +They do me wrong , and I will not endure it : +Who are they that complain unto the king , +That I , forsooth , am stern and love them not ? +By holy Paul , they love his Grace but lightly +That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours . +Because I cannot flatter and speak fair , +Smile in men's faces , smooth , deceive , and cog , +Duck with French nods and apish courtesy , +I must be held a rancorous enemy . +Cannot a plain man live and think no harm , +But thus his simple truth must be abus'd +By silken , sly , insinuating Jacks ? + +To whom in all this presence speaks your Grace ? + +To thee , that hast nor honesty nor grace . +When have I injur'd thee ? when done thee wrong ? +Or thee ? or thee ? or any of your faction ? +A plague upon you all ! His royal person , +Whom God preserve better than you would wish ! +Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing-while , +But you must trouble him with lewd complaints . + +Brother of Gloucester , you mistake the matter . +The king , on his own royal disposition , +And not provok'd by any suitor else , +Aiming , belike , at your interior hatred , +That in your outward action shows itself +Against my children , brothers , and myself , +Makes him to send ; that thereby he may gather +The ground of your ill-will , and so remove it . + +I cannot tell ; the world is grown so bad +That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch : +Since every Jack became a gentleman +There's many a gentle person made a Jack . + +Come , come , we know your meaning , brother Gloucester ; +You envy my advancement and my friends' . +God grant we never may have need of you ! + +Meantime , God grants that we have need of you : +Our brother is imprison'd by your means , +Myself disgrac'd , and the nobility +Held in contempt ; while great promotions +Are daily given to ennoble those +That scarce , some two days since , were worth a noble . + +By him that rais'd me to this careful height +From that contented hap which I enjoy'd , +I never did incense his majesty +Against the Duke of Clarence , but have been +An earnest advocate to plead for him . +My lord , you do me shameful injury , +Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects . + +You may deny that you were not the mean +Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment . + +She may , my lord ; for + +She may , Lord Rivers ! why , who knows not so ? +She may do more , sir , than denying that : +She may help you to many fair preferments , +And then deny her aiding hand therein , +And lay those honours on your high deserts . +What may she not ? She may ,ay , marry , may she , + +What , marry , may she ? + +What , marry , may she ! marry with a king , +A bachelor , a handsome stripling too . +I wis your grandam had a worser match . + +My Lord of Gloucester , I have too long borne +Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs ; +By heaven , I will acquaint his majesty +Of those gross taunts that oft I have endur'd . +I had rather be a country servantmaid +Than a great queen , with this condition , +To be so baited , scorn'd , and stormed at : +Small joy have I in being England's queen . + + +And lessen'd be that small , God , I beseech him ! +Thy honour , state , and seat is due to me . + +What ! threat you me with telling of the king ? +Tell him , and spare not : look , what I have said +I will avouch in presence of the king : +I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower . +'Tis time to speak ; my pains are quite forgot . + +Out , devil ! I remember them too well : +Thou kill'dst my husband Henry in the Tower , +And Edward , my poor son , at Tewksbury . + +Ere you were queen , ay , or your husband king , +I was a pack-horse in his great affairs , +A weeder-out of his proud adversaries , +A liberal rewarder of his friends ; +To royalize his blood I split mine own . + +Ay , and much better blood than his , or thine . + +In all which time you and your husband Grey +Were factious for the house of Lancaster ; +And , Rivers , so were you . Was not your husband +In Margaret's battle at Saint Alban's slain ? +Let me put in your minds , if you forget , +What you have been ere now , and what you are ; +Withal , what I have been , and what I am . + +A murderous villain , and so still thou art . + +Poor Clarence did forsake his father , Warwick , +Ay , and forswore himself ,which Jesu pardon ! + +Which God revenge ! + +To fight on Edward's party for the crown ; +And for his meed , poor lord , he is mew'd up . +I would to God my heart were flint , like Edward's ; +Or Edward's soft and pitiful , like mine : +I am too childish-foolish for this world . + +Hie thee to hell for shame , and leave this world , +Thou cacodemon ! there thy kingdom is . + +My Lord of Gloucester , in those busy days +Which here you urge to prove us enemies , +We follow'd then our lord , our lawful king ; +So should we you , if you should be our king . + +If I should be ! I had rather be a pedlar . +Far be it from my heart the thought thereof ! + +As little joy , my lord , as you suppose +You should enjoy , were you this country's king , +As little joy you may suppose in me +That I enjoy , being the queen thereof . + +As little joy enjoys the queen thereof ; +For I am she , and altogether joyless . +I can no longer hold me patient . + +Hear me , you wrangling pirates , that fall out +In sharing that which you have pill'd from me ! +Which of you trembles not that looks on me ? +If not , that , I being queen , you bow like subjects , +Yet that , by you depos'd , you quake like rebels ? +Ah ! gentle villain , do not turn away . + +Foul wrinkled witch , what mak'st thou in my sight ? + +But repetition of what thou hast marr'd ; +That will I make before I let thee go . + +Wert thou not banished on pain of death ? + +I was ; but I do find more pain in banishment +Than death can yield me here by my abode . +A husband and a son thou ow'st to me ; +And thou , a kingdom ; all of you , allegiance : +This sorrow that I have by right is yours , +And all the pleasures you usurp are mine . + +The curse my noble father laid on thee , +When thou didst crown his war-like brows with paper , +And with thy scorns drew'st rivers from his eyes ; +And then , to dry them , gav'st the duke a clout +Steep'd in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland ; +His curses , then from bitterness of soul +Denounc'd against thee , are all fall'n upon thee ; +And God , not we , hath plagu'd thy bloody deed . + +So just is God , to right the innocent + +O ! 'twas the foulest deed to slay that babe , +And the most merciless , that e'er was heard of . + +Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported . + +No man but prophesied revenge for it . + +Northumberland , then present , wept to see it . + +What ! were you snarling all before I came , +Ready to catch each other by the throat , +And turn you all your hatred now on me ? +Did York's dread curse prevail so much with heaven +That Henry's death , my lovely Edward's death , +Their kingdom's loss , my woeful banishment , +Should all but answer for that peevish brat ? +Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven ? +Why then , give way , dull clouds , to my quick curses ! +Though not by war , by surfeit die your king , +As ours by murder , to make him a king ! +Edward , thy son , that now is Prince of Wales , +For Edward , my son , which was Prince of Wales , +Die in his youth by like untimely violence ! +Thyself a queen , for me that was a queen , +Outlive thy glory , like my wretched self ! +Long mayst thou live to wail thy children's loss , +And see another , as I see thee now , +Deck'd in thy rights , as thou art stall'd in mine ! +Long die thy happy days before thy death ; +And , after many lengthen'd hours of grief , +Die neither mother , wife , nor England's queen ! +Rivers , and Dorset , you were standers by , +And so wast thou , Lord Hastings ,when my son +Was stabb'd with bloody daggers : God , I pray him , +That none of you may live your natural age , +But by some unlook'd accident cut off . + +Have done thy charm , thou hateful wither'd hag ! + +And leave out thee ? stay , dog , for thou shalt hear me . +If heaven have any grievous plague in store +Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee , +O ! let them keep it till thy sins be ripe , +And then hurl down their indignation +On thee , the troubler of the poor world's peace . +The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul ! +Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv'st +And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends ! +No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine , +Unless it be while some tormenting dream +Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils ! +Thou elvish-mark'd , abortive , rooting hog ! +Thou that wast seal'd in thy nativity +The slave of nature and the son of hell ! +Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb ! +Thou loathed issue of thy father's loins ! +Thou rag of honour ! thou detested + +Margaret ! + +Richard ! + +Ha ! + +I call thee not . + +I cry thee mercy then , for I did think +That thou hadst call'd me all these bitter names . + +Why , so I did ; but look'd for no reply . +O ! let me make the period to my curse . + +'Tis done by me , and ends in 'Margaret .' + +Thus have you breath'd your curso against yourself . + +Poor painted queen , vain flourish of my fortune ! +Why strew'st thou sugar on that bottled spider , +Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about ? +Fool , fool ! thou whet'st a knife to kill thyself . +The day will come that thou shalt wish for me +To help thee curse this pois'nous bunch-back'd toad . + +False-boding woman , end thy frantic curse , +Lest to thy harm thou move our patience . + +Foul shame upon you ! you have all mov'd mine . + +Were you well serv'd , you would be taught your duty . + +To serve me well , you all should do me duty , +Teach me to be your queen , and you my subjects : +O ! serve me well , and teach yourselves that duty . + +Dispute not with her , she is lunatic . + +Peace ! Master marquess , you are malapert : +Your fire-new stamp of honour is scarce current . +O ! that your young nobility could judge +What 'twere to lose it , and be miserable ! +They that stand high have many blasts to shake them , +And if they fall , they dash themselves to pieces . + +Good counsel , marry : learn it , learn it , marquess . + +It touches you , my lord , as much as me . + +Ay , and much more ; but I was born so high , +Our aery buildeth in the cedar's top , +And dallies with the wind , and scorns the sun . + +And turns the sun to shade ; alas ! alas ! +Witness my son , now in the shade of death ; +Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath +Hath in eternal darkness folded up . +Your aery buildeth in our aery's nest : +O God ! that seest it , do not suffer it ; +As it was won with blood , lost be it so ! + +Peace , peace ! for shame , if not for charity . + +Urge neither charity nor shame to me : +Uncharitably with me have you dealt , +And shamefully my hopes by you are butcher'd . +My charity is outrage , life my shame ; +And in that shame still live my sorrow's rage ! + +Have done , have done . + +O princely Buckingham ! I'll kiss thy hand , +In sign of league and amity with thee : +Now fair befall thee and thy noble house ! +Thy garments are not spotted with our blood , +Nor thou within the compass of my curse . + +Nor no one here ; for curses never pass +The lips of those that breathe them in the air . + +I will not think but they ascend the sky , +And there awake God's gentle-sleeping peace . +O Buckingham ! take heed of yonder dog : +Look , when he fawns , he bites ; and when he bites +His venom tooth will rankle to the death : +Have not to do with him , beware of him ; +Sin , death and hell have set their marks on him , +And all their ministers attend on him . + +What doth she say , my Lord of Buckingham ? + +Nothing that I respect , my gracious lord . + +What ! dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel , +And soothe the devil that I warn thee from ? +O ! but remember this another day , +When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow , +And say poor Margaret was a prophetess . +Live each of you the subject to his hate , +And he to yours , and all of you to God's ! + + +My hair doth stand on end to hear her curses . + +And so doth mine . I muse why she's at liberty . + +I cannot blame her : by God's holy mother , +She hath had too much wrong , and I repent +My part thereof that I have done to her . + +I never did her any , to my knowledge . + +Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong . +I was too hot to do somebody good , +That is too cold in thinking of it now . +Marry , as for Clarence , he is well repaid ; +He is frank'd up to fatting for his pains : +God pardon them that are the cause thereof ! + +A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion , +To pray for them that have done scath to us . + +So do I ever + +being well-advis'd ; +For had I curs'd now , I had curs'd myself . + + +Madam , his majesty doth call for you ; +And for your Grace ; and you , my noble lords . + +Catesby , I come . Lords , will you go with me ? + +We wait upon your Grace . + + +I do the wrong , and first begin to brawl . +The secret mischiefs that I set abroach +I lay unto the grievous charge of others . +Clarence , whom I , indeed , have cast in darkness , +I do beweep to many simple gulls ; +Namely , to Stanley , Hastings , Buckingham ; +And tell them 'tis the queen and her allies +That stir the king against the duke my brother . +Now they believe it ; and withal whet me +To be reveng'd on Rivers , Vaughan , Grey ; +But then I sigh , and , with a piece of scripture , +Tell them that God bids us do good for evil : +And thus I clothe my naked villany +With odd old ends stol'n forth of holy writ , +And seem a saint when most I play the devil . + + +But soft ! here come my executioners . +How now , my hardy , stout resolved mates ! + +Are you now going to dispatch this thing ? + +We are , my lord ; and come to have the warrant , +That we may be admitted where he is . + +Well thought upon ; I have it here about me : + +When you have done , repair to Crosby-place . +But , sirs , be sudden in the execution , +Withal obdurate , do not hear him plead ; +For Clarence is well-spoken , and perhaps +May move your hearts to pity , if you mark him . + +Tut , tut , my lord , we will not stand to prate ; +Talkers are no good doers : be assur'd +We go to use our hands and not our tongues . + +Your eyes drop millstones , when fools' eyes fall tears : +I like you , lads ; about your business straight ; +Go , go , dispatch . + +We will , my noble lord . + + +Why looks your Grace so heavily to-day ? + +O , I have pass'd a miserable night , +So full of ugly sights , of ghastly dreams , +That , as I am a Christian faithful man , +I would not spend another such a night , +Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days , +So full of dismal terror was the time . + +What was your dream , my lord ? I pray you , tell me . + +Methought that I had broken from the Tower , +And was embark'd to cross to Burgundy ; +And in my company my brother Gloucester , +Who from my cabin tempted me to walk +Upon the hatches : thence we look'd toward England , +And cited up a thousand heavy times , +During the wars of York and Lancaster , +That had befall'n us . As we pac'd along +Upon the giddy footing of the hatches , +Methought that Gloucester stumbled ; and , in falling , +Struck me , that thought to stay him , overboard , +Into the tumbling billows of the main . +Lord , Lord ! methought what pain it was to drown : +What dreadful noise of water in mine ears ! +What sights of ugly death within mine eyes ! +Methought I saw a thousand fearful wracks ; +A thousand men that fishes gnaw'd upon ; +Wedges of gold , great anchors , heaps of pearl , +Inestimable stones , unvalu'd jewels , +All scatter'd in the bottom of the sea . +Some lay in dead men's skulls ; and in those holes +Where eyes did once inhabit , there were crept , +As 'twere in scorn of eyes , reflecting gems , +That woo'd the slimy bottom of the deep , +And mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by . + +Had you such leisure in the time of death +To gaze upon those secrets of the deep ? + +Methought I had ; and often did I strive +To yield the ghost ; but still the envious flood +Stopt in my soul , and would not let it forth +To find the empty , vast , and wandering air ; +But smother'd it within my panting bulk , +Which almost burst to belch it in the sea . + +Awak'd you not with this sore agony ? + +No , no , my dream was lengthen'd after life ; +O ! then began the tempest to my soul . +I pass'd , methought , the melancholy flood , +With that grim ferryman which poets write of , +Unto the kingdom of perpetual night . +The first that there did greet my stranger soul , +Was my great father-in-law , renowned Warwick ; +Who cried aloud , 'What scourge for perjury +Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence ?' +And so he vanish'd : then came wandering by +A shadow like an angel , with bright hair +Dabbled in blood ; and he shriek'd out aloud , +'Clarence is come ,false , fleeting , perjur'd Clarence , +That stabb'd me in the field by Tewksbury ; +Seize on him ! Furies , take him unto torment .' +With that , methought , a legion of foul fiends +Environ'd me , and howled in mine ears +Such hideous cries , that , with the very noise +I trembling wak'd , and , for a season after +Could not believe but that I was in hell , +Such terrible impression made my dream . + +No marvel , lord , though it affrighted you ; +I am afraid , methinks , to hear you tell it . + +O Brakenbury ! I have done these things +That now give evidence against my soul , +For Edward's sake ; and see how he requites me . +O God ! if my deep prayers cannot appease thee , +But thou wilt be aveng'd on my misdeeds , +Yet execute thy wrath on me alone : +O ! spare my guiltless wife and my poor children . +I pray thee , gentle keeper , stay by me ; +My soul is heavy , and I fain would sleep . + +I will , my lord . God give your Grace good rest ! + +Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours , +Makes the night morning , and the noon-tide night . +Princes have but their titles for their glories , +An outward honour for an inward toil ; +And , for unfelt imaginations , +They often feel a world of restless cares : +So that , between their titles and low names , +There's nothing differs but the outward fame . + + +Ho ! who's here ? + +What wouldst thou , fellow ? and how cam'st thou hither ? + +I would speak with Clarence , and I came hither on my legs . + +What ! so brief ? + +'Tis better , sir , than to be tedious . +Let him see our commission , and talk no more . + + +I am , in this , commanded to deliver +The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands : +I will not reason what is meant hereby , +Because I will be guiltless of the meaning . +There lies the duke asleep , and there the keys . +I'll to the king ; and signify to him +That thus I have resign'd to you my charge . + +You may , sir ; 'tis a point of wisdom : fare you well . + + +What ! shall we stab him as he sleeps ? + +No ; he'll say 'twas done cowardly , when he wakes . + +When he wakes ! why , fool , he shall never wake till the judgment-day . + +Why , then he'll say we stabbed him sleeping . + +The urging of that word 'judgment' hath bred a kind of remorse in me . + +What ! art thou afraid ? + +Not to kill him , having a warrant for it ; but to be damn'd for killing him , from the which no warrant can defend me . + +I thought thou hadst been resolute . + +So I am , to let him live . + +I'll back to the Duke of Gloucester , and tell him so . + +Nay , I prithee , stay a little : I hope my holy humour will change ; it was wont to hold me but while one tells twenty . + +How dost thou feel thyself now ? + +Some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me . + +Remember our reward when the deed's done . + +'Zounds ! he dies : I had forgot the reward . + +Where's thy conscience now ? + +In the Duke of Gloucester's purse . + +So when he opens his purse to give us our reward , thy conscience flies out . + +'Tis no matter ; let it go : there's few or none will entertain it . + +What if it come to thee again ? + +I'll not meddle with it ; it makes a man a coward ; a man cannot steal , but it accuseth him ; a man cannot swear , but it checks him ; a man cannot lie with his neighbour's wife , but it detects him : 'tis a blushing shamefast spirit , that mutinies in a man's bosom ; it fills one full of obstacles ; it made me once restore a purse of gold that I found ; it beggars any man that keeps it ; it is turned out of all towns and cities for a dangerous thing ; and every man that means to live well , endeavours to trust to himself and live without it . + +'Zounds ! it is even now at my elbow , persuading me not to kill the duke . + +Take the devil in thy mind , and believe him not : he would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh . + +Tut , I am strong-framed ; he cannot prevail with me . + +Spoke like a tall fellow that respects his reputation . Come , shall we to this gear ? + +Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy sword , and then throw him into the malmsey-butt in the next room . + +O , excellent device ! make a sop of him . + +Soft ! he wakes . + +Strike ! + +No , we'll reason with him . + +Where art thou , keeper ? give me a cup of wine . + +You shall have wine enough , my lord , anon . + +In God's name , what art thou ? + +A man , as you are . + +But not , as I am , royal . + +Nor you , as we are , loyal . + +Thy voice is thunder , but thy looks are humble . + +My voice is now the king's , my looks mine own . + +How darkly , and how deadly dost thou speak ! +Your eyes do menace me : why look you pale ? +Who sent you hither ? Wherefore do you come ? + +To , to , to + +To murder me ? + +Ay , ay . + +You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so , +And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it . +Wherein , my friends , have I offended you ? + +Offended us you have not , but the king . + +I shall be reconcil'd to him again . + +Never , my lord ; therefore prepare to die . + +Are you call'd forth from out a world of men +To slay the innocent ? What is my offence ? +Where is the evidence that doth accuse me ? +What lawful quest have given their verdict up +Unto the frowning judge ? or who pronounc'd +The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death ? +Before I be convict by course of law , +To threaten me with death is most unlawful . +I charge you , as you hope to have redemption +By Christ's dear blood shed for our grievous sins , +That you depart and lay no hands on me ; +The deed you undertake is damnable . + +What we will do , we do upon command . + +And he that hath commanded is our king . + +Erroneous vassal ! the great King of kings +Hath in the table of his law commanded +That thou shalt do no murder : will you , then , +Spurn at his edict and fulfil a man's ? +Take heed ; for he holds vengeance in his hand , +To hurl upon their heads that break his law . + +And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee , +For false forswearing and for murder too : +Thou didst receive the sacrament to fight +In quarrel of the house of Lancaster . + +And , like a traitor to the name of God , +Didst break that vow , and , with thy treacherous blade +Unripp'dst the bowels of thy sovereign's son . + +Whom thou wast sworn to cherish and defend . + +How canst thou urge God's dreadful law to us , +When thou hast broke it in such dear degree ? + +Alas ! for whose sake did I that ill deed ? +For Edward , for my brother , for his sake : +He sends you not to murder me for this ; +For in that sin he is as deep as I . +If God will be avenged for the deed , +O ! know you yet , he doth it publicly : +Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm ; +He needs no indirect or lawless course +To cut off those that have offended him . + +Who made thee then a bloody minister , +When gallant-springing , brave Plantagenet , +That princely novice , was struck dead by thee ? + +My brother's love , the devil , and my rage . + +Thy brother's love , our duty , and thy fault , +Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee . + +If you do love my brother , hate not me ; +I am his brother , and I love him well . +If you are hir'd for meed , go back again , +And I will send you to my brother Gloucester , +Who shall reward you better for my life +Than Edward will for tidings of my death . + +You are deceiv'd , your brother Gloucester hates you . + +O , no ! he loves me , and he holds me dear : +Go you to him from me . + +Ay , so we will . + +Tell him , when that our princely father York +Bless'd his three sons with his victorious arm , +And charg'd us from his soul to love each other , +He little thought of this divided friendship : +Bid Gloucester think on this , and he will weep . + +Ay , millstones ; as he lesson'd us to weep . + +O ! do not slander him , for he is kind . + +Right ; +As snow in harvest . Thou deceiv'st thyself : +'Tis he that sends us to destroy you here . + +It cannot be ; for he bewept my fortune , +And hugg'd me in his arms , and swore , with sobs , +That he would labour my delivery . + +Why , so he doth , when he delivers you +From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven . + +Make peace with God , for you must die , my lord . + +Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul , +To counsel me to make my peace with God , +And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind , +That thou wilt war with God by murdering me ? +O ! sirs , consider , he that set you on +To do this deed , will hate you for the deed . + +What shall we do ? + +Relent and save your souls . + +Relent ! 'tis cowardly , and womanish . + +Not to relent , is beastly , savage , devilish . +Which of you , if you were a prince's son , +Being pent from liberty , as I am now , +If two such murd'rers as yourselves came to you , +Would not entreat for life ? +My friend , I spy some pity in thy looks ; +O ! if thine eye be not a flatterer , +Come thou on my side , and entreat for me , +As you would beg , were you in my distress : +A begging prince what beggar pities not ? + +Look behind you , my lord . + +Take that , and that : if all this will not do , +I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within . + + +A bloody deed , and desperately dispatch'd ! +How fain , like Pilate , would I wash my hands +Of this most grievous murder . + + +How now ! what mean'st thou , that thou help'st me not ? +By heaven , the duke shall know how slack you have been . + +I would he knew that I had sav'd his brother ! +Take thou the fee , and tell him what I say ; +For I repent me that the duke is slain . + + +So do not I : go , coward as thou art . +Well , I'll go hide the body in some hole , +Till that the duke give order for his burial : +And when I have my meed , I will away ; +For this will out , and here I must not stay . + +Why , so : now have I done a good day's work . +You peers , continue this united league : +I every day expect an embassage +From my Redeemer to redeem me hence ; +And more in peace my soul shall part to heaven , +Since I have made my friends at peace on earth . +Rivers and Hastings , take each other's hand ; +Dissemble not your hatred , swear your love . + +By heaven , my soul is purg'd from grudging hate ; +And with my hand I seal my true heart's love . + +So thrive I , as I truly swear the like ! + +Take heed , you dally not before your king ; +Lest he that is the supreme King of kings +Confound your hidden falsehood , and award +Either of you to be the other's end . + +So prosper I , as I swear perfect love ! + +And I , as I love Hastings with my heart ! + +Madam , yourself are not exempt in this , +Nor you , son Dorset , Buckingham , nor you ; +You have been factious one against the other . +Wife , love Lord Hastings , let him kiss your hand ; +And what you do , do it unfeignedly . + +There , Hastings ; I will never more remember +Our former hatred , so thrive I and mine ! + +Dorset , embrace him ; Hastings , love lord marquess . + +This interchange of love , I here protest , +Upon my part shall be inviolable . + +And so swear I . + + +Now , princely Buckingham , seal thou this league +With thy embracements to my wife's allies , +And make me happy in your unity . + +Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate +Upon your Grace , but with all duteous love +Doth cherish you and yours , God punish me +With hate in those where I expect most love ! +When I have most need to employ a friend , +And most assured that he is a friend , +Deep , hollow , treacherous , and full of guile , +Be he unto me ! This do I beg of God , +When I am cold in love to you or yours . + + +A pleasing cordial , princely Buckingham , +Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart . +There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here +To make the blessed period of this peace . + +And , in good time , here comes the noble duke . + + +Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen ; +And princely peers , a happy time of day ! + +Happy , indeed , as we have spent the day . +Gloucester , we have done deeds of charity ; +Made peace of enmity , fair love of hate , +Between these swelling wrong-incensed peers . + +A blessed labour , my most sovereign lord . +Among this princely heap , if any here , +By false intelligence , or wrong surmise , +Hold me a foe ; +If I unwittingly , or in my rage , +Have aught committed that is hardly borne +By any in this presence , I desire +To reconcile me to his friendly peace : +'Tis death to me to be at enmity ; +I hate it , and desire all good men's love . +First , madam , I entreat true peace of you , +Which I will purchase with my duteous service ; +Of you , my noble cousin Buckingham , +If ever any grudge were lodg'd between us ; +Of you , Lord Rivers , and Lord Grey , of you , +That all without desert have frown'd on me ; +Of you , Lord Woodvile , and Lord Scales , of you ; +Dukes , earls , lords , gentlemen ; indeed , of all . +I do not know that Englishman alive +With whom my soul is any jot at odds +More than the infant that is born to-night : +I thank my God for my humility . + +A holy day shall this be kept hereafter : +I would to God all strifes were well compounded . +My sov'reign lord , I do beseech your highness +To take our brother Clarence to your grace . + +Why , madam , have I offer'd love for this , +To be so flouted in this royal presence ? +Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead ? + +You do him injury to scorn his corse . + +Who knows not he is dead ! who knows he is ? + +All-seeing heaven , what a world is this ! + +Look I so pale , Lord Dorset , as the rest ? + +Ay , my good lord ; and no man in the presence +But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks . + +Is Clarence dead ? the order was revers'd . + +But he , poor man , by your first order died , +And that a winged Mercury did bear ; +Some tardy cripple bore the countermand , +That came too lag to see him buried . +God grant that some , less noble and less loyal , +Nearer in bloody thoughts , and not in blood , +Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did , +And yet go current from suspicion . + + +A boon , my sov'reign , for my service done ! + +I prithee , peace : my soul is full of sorrow . + +I will not rise , unless your highness hear me . + +Then say at once , what is it thou request'st . + +The forfeit , sovereign , of my servant's life ; +Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman +Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolk . + +Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death , +And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave ? +My brother kill'd no man , his fault was thought ; +And yet his punishment was bitter death . +Who su'd to me for him ? who , in my wrath , +Kneel'd at my feet , and bade me be advis'd ? +Who spoke of brotherhood ? who spoke of love ? +Who told me how the poor soul did forsake +The mighty Warwick , and did fight for me ? +Who told me , in the field at Tewksbury , +When Oxford had me down , he rescu'd me , +And said , 'Dear brother , live , and be a king ?' +Who told me , when we both lay in the field +Frozen almost to death , how he did lap me +Even in his garments ; and did give himself , +All thin and naked , to the numb cold night ? +All this from my remembrance brutish wrath +Sinfully pluck'd , and not a man of you +Had so much grace to put it in my mind . +But when your carters or your waiting-vassals +Have done a drunken slaughter , and defac'd +The precious image of our dear Redeemer , +You straight are on your knees for pardon , pardon ; +And I , unjustly too , must grant it you ; +But for my brother not a man would speak , +Nor I , ungracious , speak unto myself +For him , poor soul . The proudest of you all +Have been beholding to him in his life , +Yet none of you would once beg for his life . +O God ! I fear , thy justice will take hold +On me and you and mine and yours for this . +Come , Hastings , help me to my closet . O ! poor Clarence ! + + +This is the fruit of rashness . Mark'd you not +How that the guilty kindred of the queen +Look'd pale when they did hear of Clarence' death ? +O ! they did urge it still unto the king : +God will revenge it . Come , lords ; will you go +To comfort Edward with our company ? + +We wait upon your Grace . + + +Good grandam , tell us , is our father dead ? + +No , boy . + +Why do you wring your hands , and beat your breast , +And cry 'O Clarence , my unhappy son ?' + +Why do you look on us , and shake your head , +And call us orphans , wretches , castaways , +If that our noble father be alive ? + +My pretty cousins , you mistake me much ; +I do lament the sickness of the king , +As loath to lose him , not your father's death ; +It were lost sorrow to wail one that's lost . + +Then , grandam , you conclude that he is dead . +The king mine uncle is to blame for it : +God will revenge it ; whom I will importune +With earnest prayers all to that effect . + +And so will I . + +Peace , children , peace ! the king doth love you well : +Incapable and shallow innocents , +You cannot guess who caus'd your father's death . + +Grandam , we can ; for my good uncle Gloucester +Told me , the king , provok'd to't by the queen , +Devis'd impeachments to imprison him : +And when my uncle told me so , he wept , +And pitied me , and kindly kiss'd my cheek ; +Bade me rely on him , as on my father , +And he would love me dearly as his child . + +Ah ! that deceit should steal such gentle shape , +And with a virtuous vizard hide deep vice . +He is my son , ay , and therein my shame , +Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit . + +Think you my uncle did dissemble , grandam ? + +Ay , boy . + +I cannot think it . Hark ! what noise is this ? + + +Oh ! who shall hinder me to wail and weep , +To chide my fortune , and torment myself ? +I'll join with black despair against my soul , +And to myself become an enemy . + +What means this scene of rude impatience ? + +To make an act of tragic violence : +Edward , my lord , thy son , our king , is dead ! +Why grow the branches now the root is wither'd ? +Why wither not the leaves that want their sap ? +If you will live , lament : if die , be brief , +That our swift-winged souls may catch the king's ; +Or , like obedient subjects , follow him +To his new kingdom of perpetual rest . + +Ah ! so much interest have I in thy sorrow +As I had title in thy noble husband . +I have bewept a worthy husband's death , +And liv'd with looking on his images ; +But now two mirrors of his princely semblance +Are crack'd in pieces by malignant death , +And I for comfort have but one false glass , +That grieves me when I see my shame in him . +Thou art a widow ; yet thou art a mother , +And hast the comfort of thy children left thee : +But death hath snatch'd my husband from mine arms , +And pluck'd two crutches from my feeble limbs , +Clarence and Edward . O ! what cause have I +Thine being but a moiety of my grief +To overgo thy plaints , and drown thy cries ! + +Ah , aunt , you wept not for our father's death ; +How can we aid you with our kindred tears ? + +Our fatherless distress was left unmoan'd ; +Your widow-dolour likewise be unwept . + +Give me no help in lamentation ; +I am not barren to bring forth complaints : +All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes , +That I , being govern'd by the wat'ry moon , +May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world ! +Ah ! for my husband , for my dear Lord Edward ! + +Ah ! for our father , for our dear Lord Clarence ! + +Alas ! for both , both mine , Edward and Clarence ! + +What stay had I but Edward ? and he's gone . + +What stay had we but Clarence ? and he's gone . + +What stays had I but they ? and they are gone . + +Was never widow had so dear a loss . + +Were never orphans had so dear a loss . + +Was never mother had so dear a loss . +Alas ! I am the mother of these griefs : +Their woes are parcell'd , mine are general . +She for an Edward weeps , and so do I ; +I for a Clarence weep , so doth not she : +These babes for Clarence weep , and so do I ; +I for an Edward weep , so do not they : +Alas ! you three , on me , threefold distress'd , +Pour all your tears ; I am your sorrow's nurse , +And I will pamper it with lamentation . + +Comfort , dear mother : God is much displeas'd +That you take with unthankfulness his doing . +In common worldly things 'tis call'd ungrateful +With dull unwillingness to repay a debt +Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent ; +Much more to be thus opposite with heaven , +For it requires the royal debt it lent you . + +Madam , bethink you , like a careful mother , +Of the young prince your son : send straight for him ; +Let him be crown'd ; in him your comfort lives . +Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward's grave , +And plant your joys in living Edward's throne . + + +Sister , have comfort : all of us have cause +To wail the dimming of our shining star ; +But none can cure their harms by wailing them . +Madam , my mother , I do cry you mercy ; +I did not see your Grace : humbly on my knee +I crave your blessing . + +God bless thee ! and put meekness in thy mind , +Love , charity , obedience , and true duty . + +Amen ; + +and make me die a good old man ! +That is the butt-end of a mother's blessing ; +I marvel that her Grace did leave it out . + +You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers , +That bear this heavy mutual load of moan , +Now cheer each other in each other's love : +Though we have spent our harvest of this king , +We are to reap the harvest of his son . +The broken rancour of your high-swoln hearts , +But lately splinter'd , knit , and join'd together , +Must gently be preserv'd , cherish'd , and kept : +Me seemeth good , that , with some little train , +Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fetch'd +Hither to London , to be crown'd our king . + +Why with some little train , my Lord of Buckingham ? + +Marry , my lord , lest , by a multitude , +The new-heal'd wound of malice should break out ; +Which would be so much the more dangerous , +By how much the estate is green and yet ungovern'd ; +Where every horse bears his commanding rein , +And may direct his course as please himself , +As well the fear of harm , as harm apparent , +In my opinion , ought to be prevented . + +I hope the king made peace with all of us ; +And the compact is firm and true in me . + +And so in me ; and so , I think , in all : +Yet , since it is but green , it should be put +To no apparent likelihood of breach , +Which haply by much company might be urg'd : +Therefore I say with noble Buckingham , +That it is meet so few should fetch the prince . + +And so say I . + +Then be it so ; and go we to determine +Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow . +Madam , and you my mother , will you go +To give your censures in this business ? + + +My lord , whoever journeys to the prince , +For God's sake , let not us two stay at home : +For by the way I'll sort occasion , +As index to the story we late talk'd of , +To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince . + +My other self , my counsel's consistory , +My oracle , my prophet ! My dear cousin , +I , as a child , will go by thy direction . +Towards Ludlow then , for we'll not stay behind . + + +Good morrow , neighbour : whither away so fast ? + +I promise you , I scarcely know myself : +Hear you the news abroad ? + +Ay ; that the king is dead . + +Ill news , by'r lady ; seldom comes the better : +I fear , I fear , 'twill prove a giddy world . + + +Neighbours , God speed ! + +Give you good morrow , sir . + +Doth the news hold of good King Edward's death ? + +Ay , sir , it is too true ; God help the while ! + +Then , masters , look to see a troublous world . + +No , no ; by God's good grace , his son shall reign . + +Woe to that land that's govern'd by a child ! + +In him there is a hope of government , +That in his nonage council under him , +And in his full and ripen'd years himself , +No doubt , shall then and till then govern well . + +So stood the state when Henry the Sixth +Was crown'd at Paris but at nine months old . + +Stood the state so ? no , no , good friends , God wot ; +For then this land was famously enrich'd +With politic grave counsel ; then the king +Had virtuous uncles to protect his Grace . + +Why , so hath this , both by his father and mother . + +Better it were they all came by his father , +Or by his father there were none at all ; +For emulation , who shall now be nearest , +Will touch us all too near , if God prevent not . +O ! full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester ! +And the queen's sons and brothers haught and proud ; +And were they to be rul'd , and not to rule , +This sickly land might solace as before . + +Come , come , we fear the worst , all will be well . + +When clouds are seen , wise men put on their cloaks ; +When great leaves fall , then winter is at hand ; +When the sun sets , who doth not look for night ? +Untimely storms make men expect a dearth . +All may be well ; but , if God sort it so , +'Tis more than we deserve , or I expect . + +Truly , the hearts of men are full of fear : +You cannot reason almost with a man +That looks not heavily and full of dread . + +Before the days of change , still is it so : +By a divine instinct men's minds mistrust +Ensuing danger ; as , by proof , we see +The waters swell before a boisterous storm . +But leave it all to God . Whither away ? + +Marry , we were sent for to the justices . + +And so was I : I'll bear you company . + + +Last night , I hear , they lay at Northampton ; +At Stony-Stratford they do rest to-night : +To-morrow , or next day , they will be here . + +I long with all my heart to see the prince . +I hope he is much grown since last I saw him . + +But I hear , no ; they say my son of York +Hath almost overta'en him in his growth . + +Ay , mother , but I would not have it so . + +Why , my young cousin , it is good to grow . + +Grandam , one night , as we did sit at supper , +My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow +More than my brother : 'Ay ,' quoth my uncle Gloucester , +'Small herbs have grace , great weeds do grow apace :' +And since , methinks , I would not grow so fast , +Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste . + +Good faith , good faith , the saying did not hold +In him that did object the same to thee : +He was the wretched'st thing when he was young , +So long a-growing , and so leisurely , +That , if his rule were true , he should be gracious . + +And so , no doubt , he is , my gracious madam . + +I hope he is ; but yet let mothers doubt . + +Now , by my troth , if I had been remember'd , +I could have given my uncle's grace a flout , +To touch his growth nearer than he touch'd mine . + +How , my young York ? I prithee , let me hear it . + +Marry , they say my uncle grew so fast , +That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old : +'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth . +Grandam , this would have been a biting jest . + +I prithee , pretty York , who told thee this ? + +Grandam , his nurse . + +His nurse ! why , she was dead ere thou wast born . + +If 'twere not she , I cannot tell who told me . + +A parlous boy : go to , you are too shrewd . + +Good madam , be not angry with the child . + +Pitchers have ears . + + +Here comes a messenger . What news ? + +Such news , my lord , as grieves me to report . + +How doth the prince ? + +Well , madam , and in health . + +What is thy news ? + +Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret , +With them Sir Thomas Vaughan , prisoners . + +Who hath committed them ? + +The mighty dukes , +Gloucester and Buckingham . + +For what offence ? + +The sum of all I can I have disclos'd : +Why or for what the nobles were committed +Is all unknown to me , my gracious lord . + +Ah me ! I see the ruin of my house ! +The tiger now hath seiz'd the gentle hind ; +Insulting tyranny begins to jet +Upon the innocent and aweless throne : +Welcome , destruction , death , and massacre ! +I see , as in a map , the end of all . + +Accursed and unquiet wrangling days , +How many of you have mine eyes beheld ! +My husband lost his life to get the crown , +And often up and down my sons were toss'd , +For me to joy and weep their gain and loss : +And being seated , and domestic broils +Clean over-blown , themselves , the conquerors , +Make war upon themselves ; brother to brother , +Blood to blood , self against self : O ! preposterous +And frantic outrage , end thy damned spleen ; +Or let me die , to look on death no more . + +Come , come , my boy ; we will to sanctuary . +Madam , farewell . + +Stay , I will go with you . + +You have no cause . + +My gracious lady , go ; +And thither bear your treasure and your goods . +For my part , I'll resign unto your Grace +The seal I keep : and so betide to me +As well I tender you and all of yours ! +Come ; I'll conduct you to the sanctuary . + + +Welcome , sweet prince , to London , to your chamber . + +Welcome , dear cousin , my thoughts' sovereign ; +The weary way hath made you melancholy . + +No , uncle ; but our crosses on the way +Have made it tedious , wearisome , and heavy : +I want more uncles here to welcome me . + +Sweet prince , the untainted virtue of your years +Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit : +No more can you distinguish of a man +Than of his outward show ; which , God he knows , +Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart . +Those uncles which you want were dangerous ; +Your Grace attended to their sugar'd words , +But look'd not on the poison of their hearts : +God keep you from them , and from such false friends ! + +God keep me from false friends ! but they were none . + +My lord , the Mayor of London comes to greet you . + + +God bless your Grace with health and happy days ! + +I thank you , good my lord ; and thank you all . +I thought my mother and my brother York +Would long ere this have met us on the way : +Fie ! what a slug is Hastings , that he comes not +To tell us whether they will come or no . + + +And in good time here comes the sweating lord . + +Welcome , my lord . What , will our mother come ? + +On what occasion , God he knows , not I , +The queen your mother , and your brother York , +Have taken sanctuary : the tender prince +Would fain have come with me to meet your Grace , +But by his mother was perforce withheld . + +Fie ! what an indirect and peevish course +Is this of hers ! Lord Cardinal , will your Grace +Persuade the queen to send the Duke of York +Unto his princely brother presently ? +If she deny , Lord Hastings , go with him , +And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce . + +My Lord of Buckingham , if my weak oratory +Can from his mother win the Duke of York , +Anon expect him here ; but if she be obdurate +To mild entreaties , God in heaven forbid +We should infringe the holy privilege +Of blessed sanctuary ! not for all this land +Would I be guilty of so great a sin . + +You are too senseless-obstinate , my lord , +Too ceremonious and traditional : +Weigh it but with the grossness of this age , +You break not sanctuary in seizing him . +The benefit thereof is always granted +To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place +And those who have the wit to claim the place : +This prince hath neither claim'd it , nor deserv'd it ; +And therefore , in mine opinion , cannot have it : +Then , taking him from thence that is not there , +You break no privilege nor charter there . +Oft have I heard of sanctuary men , +But sanctuary children ne'er till now . + +My lord , you shall o'er-rule my mind for once . +Come on , Lord Hastings , will you go with me ? + +I go , my lord . + +Good lords , make all the speedy haste you may . + +Say , uncle Gloucester , if our brother come , +Where shall we sojourn till our coronation ? + +Where it seems best unto your royal self . +If I may counsel you , some day or two +Your highness shall repose you at the Tower : +Then where you please , and shall be thought most fit +For your best health and recreation . + +I do not like the Tower , of any place : +Did Julius C sar build that place , my lord ? + +He did , my gracious lord , begin that place , +Which , since , succeeding ages have re-edified . + +Is it upon record , or else reported +Successively from age to age , he built it ? + +Upon record , my gracious lord . + +But say , my lord , it were not register'd , +Methinks the truth should live from age to age , +As 'twere retail'd to all posterity , +Even to the general all-ending day . + +So wise so young , they say , do never live long . + +What say you , uncle ? + +I say , without characters , fame lives long . + + +Thus , like the formal Vice , Iniquity , +I moralize two meanings in one word . + +That Julius C sar was a famous man ; +With what his valour did enrich his wit , +His wit set down to make his valour live : +Death makes no conquest of this conqueror , +For now he lives in fame , though not in life . +I'll tell you what , my cousin Buckingham , + +What , my gracious lord ? + +An if I live until I be a man , +I'll win our ancient right in France again , +Or die a soldier , as I liv'd a king . + +Short summers lightly have a forward spring . + + +Now , in good time , here comes the Duke of York . + +Richard of York ! how fares our loving brother ? + +Well , my dread lord ; so must I call you now . + +Ay , brother , to our grief , as it is yours : +Too late he died that might have kept that title , +Which by his death hath lost much majesty . + +How fares our cousin , noble Lord of York ? + +I thank you , gentle uncle . O , my lord , +You said that idle weeds are fast in growth : +The prince my brother hath outgrown me far . + +He hath , my lord . + +And therefore is he idle ? + +O , my fair cousin , I must not say so . + +Then he is more beholding to you than I . + +He may command me as my sovereign ; +But you have power in me as in a kinsman . + +I pray you , uncle , give me this dagger . + +My dagger , little cousin ? with all my heart . + +A beggar , brother ? + +Of my kind uncle , that I know will give ; +And , being but a toy , which is no grief to give . + +A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin . + +A greater gift ! O , that's the sword to it . + +Ay , gentle cousin , were it light enough . + +O , then , I see , you'll part but with light gifts ; +In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay . + +It is too weighty for your Grace to wear . + +I weigh it lightly , were it heavier . + +What ! would you have my weapon , little lord ? + +I would , that I might thank you , as you call me . + +How ? + +Little . + +My Lord of York will still be cross in talk . +Uncle , your Grace knows how to bear with him . + +You mean , to bear me , not to bear with me : +Uncle , my brother mocks both you and me . +Because that I am little , like an ape , +He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders . + +With what a sharp provided with he reasons ! +To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle , +He prettily and aptly taunts himself : +So cunning and so young is wonderful . + +My lord , will't please you pass along ? +Myself and my good cousin Buckingham +Will to your mother , to entreat of her +To meet you at the Tower and welcome you . + +What ! will you go unto the Tower , my lord ? + +My Lord Protector needs will have it so . + +I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower . + +Why , what would you fear ? + +Marry , my uncle Clarence' angry ghost : +My grandam told me he was murder'd there . + +I fear no uncles dead . + +Nor none that live , I hope . + +An if they live , I hope , I need not fear . +But come , my lord ; and , with a heavy heart , +Thinking on them , go I unto the Tower . + + +Think you , my lord , this little prating York +Was not incensed by his subtle mother +To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously ? + +No doubt , no doubt : O ! 'tis a parlous boy ; +Bold , quick , ingenious , forward , capable : +He's all the mother's , from the top to toe . + +Well , let them rest . Come hither , Catesby ; thou art sworn +As deeply to effect what we intend +As closely to conceal what we impart . +Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way : +What think'st thou ? is it not an easy matter +To make William Lord Hastings of our mind , +For the instalment of this noble duke +In the seat royal of this famous isle ? + +He for his father's sake so loves the prince +That he will not be won to aught against him . + +What think'st thou then of Stanley ? what will he ? + +He will do all in all as Hastings doth . + +Well then , no more but this : go , gentle Catesby , +And , as it were far off , sound thou Lord Hastings , +How he doth stand affected to our purpose ; +And summon him to-morrow to the Tower , +To sit about the coronation . +If thou dost find him tractable to us , +Encourage him , and tell him all our reasons : +If he be leaden , icy-cold , unwilling , +Be thou so too , and so break off the talk , +And give us notice of his inclination ; +For we to-morrow hold divided councils , +Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd . + +Commend me to Lord William : tell him , Catesby , +His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries +To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle ; +And bid my lord , for joy of this good news , +Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more . + +Good Catesby , go , effect this business soundly . + +My good lords both , with all the heed I can . + +Shall we hear from you , Catesby , ere we sleep ? + +You shall , my lord . + +At Crosby-place , there shall you find us both . + + +Now , my lord , what shall we do if we perceive +Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots ? + +Chop off his head ; something we will determine : +And , look , when I am king , claim thou of me +The earldom of Hereford , and all the moveables +Whereof the king my brother stood possess'd . + +I'll claim that promise at your Grace's hand . + +And look to have it yielded with all kindness . +Come , let us sup betimes , that afterwards +We may digest our complots in some form . + + +My lord ! my lord ! + +Who knocks ? + +One from the Lord Stanley . + +What is't o'clock ? + +Upon the stroke of four . + + +Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights ? + +So it appears by that I have to say . +First , he commends him to your noble self . + +What then ? + +Then certifies your lordship , that this night +He dreamt the boar had razed off his helm : +Besides , he says there are two councils held ; +And that may be determin'd at the one +Which may make you and him to rue at the other . +Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure , +If you will presently take horse with him , +And with all speed post with him towards the north , +To shun the danger that his soul divines . + +Go , fellow , go , return unto thy lord ; +Bid him not fear the separated councils : +His honour and myself are at the one , +And at the other is my good friend Catesby ; +Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us +Whereof I shall not have intelligence . +Tell him his fears are shallow , wanting instance : +And for his dreams , I wonder he's so fond +To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers . +To fly the boar before the boar pursues , +Were to incense the boar to follow us +And make pursuit where he did mean no chase . +Go , bid thy master rise and come to me ; +And we will both together to the Tower , +Where , he shall see , the boar will use us kindly . + +I'll go , my lord , and tell him what you say . + +Many good morrows to my noble lord ! + +Good morrow , Catesby ; you are early stirring . +What news , what news , in this our tottering state ? + +It is a reeling world , indeed , my lord ; +And I believe will never stand upright +Till Richard wear the garland of the realm . + +How ! wear the garland ! dost thou mean the crown ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders +Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd . +But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it ? + +Ay , on my life ; and hopes to find you forward +Upon his party for the gain thereof : +And thereupon he sends you this good news , +That this same very day your enemies , +The kindred of the queen , must die at Pomfret . + +Indeed , I am no mourner for that news , +Because they have been still my adversaries ; +But that I'll give my voice on Richard's side , +To bar my master's heirs in true descent , +God knows I will not do it , to the death . + +God keep your lordship in that gracious mind ! + +But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence , +That they which brought me in my master's hate , +I live to look upon their tragedy . +Well , Catesby , ere a fortnight make me older , +I'll send some packing that yet think not on't . + +'Tis a vile thing to die , my gracious lord , +When men are unprepar'd and look not for it . + +O monstrous , monstrous ! and so falls it out +With Rivers , Vaughan , Grey ; and so 'twill do +With some men else , who think themselves as safe +As thou and I ; who , as thou know'st , are dear +To princely Richard and to Buckingham . + +The princes both make high account of you ; + + +For they account his head upon the bridge . + +I know they do , and I have well deserv'd it . + + +Come on , come on ; where is your boar-spear , man ? + +Fear you the boar , and go so unprovided ? + +My lord , good morrow ; good morrow Catesby : +You may jest on , but by the holy rood , +I do not like these several councils , I . + +My lord , I hold my life as dear as you do yours ; +And never , in my days , I do protest , +Was it so precious to me as 'tis now . +Think you , but that I know our state secure , +I would be so triumphant as I am ? + +The lords at Pomfret , when they rode from London , +Were jocund and suppos'd their state was sure , +And they indeed had no cause to mistrust ; +But yet you see how soon the day o'ercast . +This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt ; +Pray God , I say , I prove a needless coward ! +What , shall we toward the Tower ? the day is spent . + +Come , come , have with you . Wot you what , my lord ? +To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded . + +They , for their truth , might better wear their heads , +Than some that have accus'd them wear their hats . +But come , my lord , let's away . + + +Go on before ; I'll talk with this good fellow . + +How now , sirrah ! how goes the world with thee ? + +The better that your lordship please to ask . + +I tell thee , man , 'tis better with me now +Than when I met thee last where now we meet : +Then was I going prisoner to the Tower , +By the suggestion of the queen's allies ; +But now , I tell thee ,keep it to thyself , +This day those enemies are put to death , +And I in better state than e'er I was . + +God hold it to your honour's good content ! + +Gramercy , fellow : there , drink that for me . + + +God save your lordship . + +Well met , my lord ; I am glad to see your honour . + +I thank thee , good Sir John , with all my heart . +I am in your debt for your last exercise ; +Come the next Sabbath , and I will content you . + + +What , talking with a priest , lord chamberlain ? +Your friends at Pomfret , they do need the priest : +Your honour hath no shriving work in hand . + +Good faith , and when I met this holy man , +The men you talk of came into my mind . +What , go you toward the Tower ? + +I do , my lord ; but long I shall not stay : +I shall return before your lordship thence . + +Nay , like enough , for I stay dinner there . + +And supper too , although thou know'st it not . +Come , will you go ? + +I'll wait upon your lordship . + + +Sir Richard Ratcliff , let me tell thee this : +To-day shalt thou behold a subject die +For truth , for duty , and for loyalty . + +God bless the prince from all the pack of you ! +A knot you are of damned blood suckers . + +You live that shall cry woe for this hereafter . + +Dispatch ; the limit of your lives is out . + +O Pomfret , Pomfret ! O thou bloody prison ! +Fatal and ominous to noble peers ! +Within the guilty closure of thy walls +Richard the Second here was hack'd to death ; +And , for more slander to thy dismal seat , +We give thee up our guitless blood to drink . + +Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our heads , +When she exclaim'd on Hastings , you , and I , +For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son . + +Then curs'd she Richard , then curs'd she Buckingham , +Then curs'd she Hastings : O ! remember , God , +To hear her prayer for them , as now for us ; +And for my sister and her princely sons , +Be satisfied , dear God , with our true blood , +Which , as thou know'st , unjustly must be spilt . + +Make haste ; the hour of death is expiate . + +Come , Grey , come , Vaughan ; let us here embrace : +And take our leave until we meet in heaven . + +My lords , at once : the cause why we are met +Is to determine of the coronation : +In God's name , speak , when is the royal day ? + +Are all things ready for that royal time ? + +It is ; and wants but nomination . + +To-morrow then I judge a happy day . + +Who knows the Lord Protector's mind herein ? +Who is most inward with the noble duke ? + +Your Grace , we think , should soonest know his mind . + +We know each other's faces ; for our hearts , +He knows no more of mine than I of yours ; +Nor I of his , my lord , than you of mine . +Lord Hastings , you and he are near in love . + +I thank his Grace , I know he loves me well ; +But , for his purpose in the coronation , +I have not sounded him , nor he deliver'd +His gracious pleasure any way therein : +But you , my noble lords , may name the time ; +And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice , +Which , I presume , he'll take in gentle part . + + +In happy time , here comes the duke himself . + +My noble lords and cousins all , good morrow . +I have been long a sleeper ; but , I trust , +My absence doth neglect no great design , +Which by my presence might have been concluded . + +Had you not come upon your cue , my lord , +William Lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part , +I mean , your voice , for crowning of the king . + +Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder : +His lordship knows me well , and loves me well . +My Lord of Ely , when I was last in Holborn , +I saw good strawberries in your garden there ; +I do beseech you send for some of them . + +Marry , and will , my lord , with all my heart . + + +Cousin of Buckingham , a word with you . + +Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business , +And finds the testy gentleman so hot , +That he will lose his head ere give consent +His master's child , as worshipfully he terms it , +Shall lose the royalty of England's throne . + +Withdraw yourself a while ; I'll go with you . + + +We have not yet set down this day of triumph . +To-morrow , in my judgment , is too sudden ; +For I myself am not so well provided +As else I would be , were the day prolong'd . + + +Where is my lord , the Duke of Gloucester ? +I have sent for these strawberries . + +His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning : +There's some conceit or other likes him well , +When that he bids good morrow with such spirit . +I think there's never a man in Christendom +Can lesser hide his hate or love than he ; +For by his face straight shall you know his heart . + +What of his heart perceiv'd you in his face +By any livelihood he show'd to-day ? + +Marry , that with no man here he is offended ; +For , were he , he had shown it in his looks . + + +I pray you all , tell me what they deserve +That do conspire my death with devilish plots +Of damned witchcraft , and that have prevail'd +Upon my body with their hellish charms ? + +The tender love I bear your Grace , my lord , +Makes me most forward in this princely presence +To doom th' offenders , whosoe'er they be : +I say , my lord , they have deserved death . + +Then be your eyes the witness of their evil . +Look how I am bewitch'd ; behold mine arm +Is like a blasted sapling , wither'd up : +And this is Edward's wife , that monstrous witch +Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore , +That by their witchcraft thus have marked me . + +If they have done this thing , my noble lord , + +If ! thou protector of this damned strumpet , +Talk'st thou to me of ifs ? Thou art a traitor : +Off with his head ! now , by Saint Paul , I swear , +I will not dine until I see the same . +Lovel and Ratcliff , look that it be done : +The rest , that love me , rise , and follow me . + + +Woe , woe , for England ! not a whit for me ; +For I , too fond , might have prevented this . +Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm ; +And I did scorn it , and disdain'd to fly . +Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble , +And startled when he looked upon the Tower , +As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house . +O ! now I need the priest that spake to me : +I now repent I told the pursuivant , +As too triumphing , how mine enemies +To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd +And I myself secure in grace and favour . +O Margaret , Margaret ! now thy heavy curse +Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head . + +Come , come , dispatch ; the duke would be at dinner : +Make a short shrift , he longs to see your head . + +O momentary grace of mortal man , +Which we more hunt for than the grace of God ! +Who builds his hope in air of your good looks , +Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast ; +Ready with every nod to tumble down +Into the fatal bowels of the deep . + +Come , come , dispatch ; 'tis bootless to exclaim . + +O bloody Richard ! miserable England ! +I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee +That ever wretched age hath look'd upon . +Come , lead me to the block ; bear him my head : +They smile at me who shortly shall be dead . + + +Come , cousin , canst thou quake , and change thy colour , +Murder thy breath in middle of a word , +And then again begin , and stop again , +As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror ? + +Tut ! I can counterfeit the deep tragedian , +Speak and look back , and pry on every side , +Tremble and start at wagging of a straw , +Intending deep suspicion : ghastly looks +Are at my service , like enforced smiles ; +And both are ready in their offices , +At any time , to grace my stratagems . +But what ! is Catesby gone ? + +He is ; and , see , he brings the mayor along . + + +Lord Mayor , + +Look to the drawbridge there ! + +Hark ! a drum . + +Catesby , o'erlook the walls . + +Lord Mayor , the reason we have sent , + +Look back , defend thee ; here are enemies . + +God and our innocency defend and guard us ! + + +Be patient , they are friends , Ratcliff and Lovel . + +Here is the head of that ignoble traitor , +The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings . + +So dear I lov'd the man , that I must weep . +I took him for the plainest harmless creature +That breath'd upon the earth a Christian ; +Made him my book , wherein my soul recorded +The history of all her secret thoughts : +So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue , +That , his apparent open guilt omitted , +I mean his conversation with Shore's wife , +He liv'd from all attainder of suspect . + +Well , well , he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor +That ever liv'd . +Would you imagine , or almost believe , +Were't not that by great preservation +We live to tell it , that the subtle traitor +This day had plotted , in the council-house , +To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester ? + +Had he done so ? + +What ! think you we are Turks or infidels ? +Or that we would , against the form of law , +Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death , +But that the extreme peril of the case , +The peace of England and our person's safety , +Enforc'd us to this execution ? + +Now , fair befall you ! he deserv'd his death ; +And your good Graces both have well proceeded , +To warn false traitors from the like attempts . +I never look'd for better at his hands , +After he once fell in with Mistress Shore . + +Yet had we not determin'd he should die , +Until your lordship came to see his end ; +Which now the loving haste of these our friends , +Something against our meaning , hath prevented : +Because , my lord , we would have had you heard +The traitor speak , and timorously confess +The manner and the purpose of his treason ; +That you might well have signified the same +Unto the citizens , who haply may +Misconster us in him , and wail his death . + +But , my good lord , your Grace's word shall serve , +As well as I had seen and heard him speak : +And do not doubt , right noble princes both , +But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens +With all your just proceedings in this cause . + +And to that end we wish'd your lordship here , +To avoid the censures of the carping world . + +But since you come too late of our intent , +Yet witness what you hear we did intend : +And so , my good Lord Mayor , we bid farewell . + + +Go , after , after , cousin Buckingham . +The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post : +There , at your meetest vantage of the time , +Infer the bastardy of Edward's children : +Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen , +Only for saying he would make his son +Heir to the crown ; meaning indeed his house , +Which by the sign thereof was termed so . +Moreover , urge his hateful luxury +And bestial appetite in change of lust ; +Which stretch'd unto their servants , daughters , wives , +Even where his raging eye or savage heart +Without control lusted to make a prey . +Nay , for a need , thus far come near my person : +Tell them , when that my mother went with child +Of that insatiate Edward , noble York +My princely father then had wars in France ; +And , by true computation of the time , +Found that the issue was not his begot ; +Which well appeared in his lineaments , +Being nothing like the noble duke my father . +Yet touch this sparingly , as 'twere far off ; +Because , my lord , you know my mother lives . + +Doubt not , my lord , I'll play the orator +As if the golden fee for which I plead +Were for myself : and so , my lord , adieu . + +If you thrive well , bring them to Baynard's Castle ; +Where you shall find me well accompanied +With reverend fathers and well-learned bishops . + +I go ; and towards three or four o'clock +Look for the news that the Guildhall affords . + + +Go , Lovel , with all speed to Doctor Shaw ; + + +Go thou to Friar Penker ; bid them both +Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle . + +Now will I in , to take some privy order , +To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight ; +And to give notice that no manner person +Have any time recourse unto the princes . + + +Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings ; +Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd , +That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's : +And mark how well the sequel hangs together . +Eleven hours I have spent to write it over , +For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me . +The precedent was full as long a-doing ; +And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd , +Untainted , unexamin'd , free , at liberty . +Here's a good world the while ! Who is so gross +That cannot see this palpable device ? +Yet who so bold but says he sees it not ? +Bad is the world ; and all will come to naught , +When such ill dealing must be seen in thought . + + +How , now , how now ! what say the citizens ? + +Now , by the holy mother of our Lord , +The citizens are mum , say not a word . + +Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children ? + +I did ; with his contract with Lady Lucy , +And his contract by deputy in France ; +The insatiate greediness of his desires , +And his enforcement of the city wives ; +His tyranny for trifles ; his own bastardy , +As being got , your father then in France , +And his resemblance , being not like the duke : +Withal I did infer your lineaments , +Being the right idea of your father , +Both in your form and nobleness of mind ; +Laid open all your victories in Scotland , +Your discipline in war , wisdom in peace , +Your bounty , virtue , fair humility ; +Indeed , left nothing fitting for your purpose +Untouch'd or slightly handled in discourse ; +And when my oratory drew toward end , +I bade them that did love their country's good +Cry 'God save Richard , England's royal king !' + +And did they so ? + +No , so God help me , they spake not a word ; +But , like dumb statuas or breathing stones , +Star'd each on other , and look'd deadly pale . +Which when I saw , I reprehended them ; +And ask'd the mayor what meant this wilful silence : +His answer was , the people were not wont +To be spoke to but by the recorder . +Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again : +'Thus saith the duke , thus hath the duke inferr'd ;' +But nothing spoke in warrant from himself . +When he had done , some followers of mine own , +At lower end of the hall , hurl'd up their caps , +And some ten voices cried , 'God save King Richard !' +And thus I took the vantage of those few , +'Thanks , gentle citizens and friends ,' quoth I ; +'This general applause and cheerful shout +Argues your wisdom and your love to Richard :' +And even here brake off , and came away . + +What tongueless blocks were they ! would they not speak ? +Will not the mayor then and his brethren come ? + +The mayor is here at hand . Intend some fear ; +Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit : +And look you get a prayer-book in your hand , +And stand between two churchmen , good my lord : +For on that ground I'll make a holy descant : +And be not easily won to our requests ; +Play the maid's part , still answer nay , and take it . + +I go ; and if you plead as well for them +As I can say nay to thee for myself , +No doubt we bring it to a happy issue . + +Go , go , up to the leads ! the Lord Mayor knocks . + +Welcome , my lord : I dance attendance here ; +I think the duke will not be spoke withal . + + +Now , Catesby ! what says your lord to my request ? + +He doth entreat your Grace , my noble lord , +To visit him to-morrow or next day . +He is within , with two right reverend fathers , +Divinely bent to meditation ; +And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd , +To draw him from his holy exercise . + +Return , good Catesby , to the gracious duke : +Tell him , myself , the mayor and aldermen , +In deep designs in matter of great moment , +No less importing than our general good , +Are come to have some conference with his Grace . + +I'll signify so much unto him straight . + + +Ah , ha , my lord , this prince is not an Edward ! +He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed , +But on his knees at meditation ; +Not dallying with a brace of courtezans , +But meditating with two deep divines ; +Not sleeping , to engross his idle body , +But praying , to enrich his watchful soul . +Happy were England , would this virtuous prince +Take on his Grace the sovereignty thereof : +But sore , I fear , we shall not win him to it . + +Marry , God defend his Grace should say us nay ! + +I fear he will . Here Catesby comes again . + +Now , Catesby , what says his Grace ? + +He wonders to what end you have assembled +Such troops of citizens to come to him , +His Grace not being warn'd thereof before : +My lord , he fears you mean no good to him . + +Sorry I am my noble cousin should +Suspect me that I mean no good to him . +By heaven , we come to him in perfect love ; +And so once more return , and tell his Grace . + +When holy and devout religious men +Are at their beads , 'tis much to draw them thence ; +So sweet is zealous contemplation . + + +See , where his Grace stands 'tween two clergymen ! + +Two props of virtue for a Christian prince , +To stay him from the fall of vanity ; +And , see , a book of prayer in his hand ; +True ornament to know a holy man . +Famous Plantagenet , most gracious prince , +Lend favourable ear to our requests , +And pardon us the interruption +Of thy devotion , and right Christian zeal . + +My lord , there needs no such apology ; +I do beseech your Grace to pardon me , +Who , earnest in the service of my God , +Deferr'd the visitation of my friends . +But , leaving this , what is your Grace's pleasure ? + +Even that , I hope , which pleaseth God above , +And all good men of this ungovern'd isle . + +I do suspect I have done some offence +That seems disgracious in the city's eye ; +And that you come to reprehend my ignorance . + +You have , my lord : would it might please your Grace , +On our entreaties to amend your fault ! + +Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land ? + +Know then , it is your fault that you resign +The supreme seat , the throne majestical , +The sceptred office of your ancestors , +Your state of fortune and your due of birth , +The lineal glory of your royal house , +To the corruption of a blemish'd stock ; +Whiles , in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts , +Which here we waken to our country's good , +This noble isle doth want her proper limbs ; +Her face defac'd with scars of infamy , +Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants , +And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf +Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion . +Which to recure we heartily solicit +Your gracious self to take on you the charge +And kingly government of this your land ; +Not as protector , steward , substitute , +Or lowly factor for another's gain ; +But as successively from blood to blood , +Your right of birth , your empery , your own . +For this , consorted with the citizens , +Your very worshipful and loving friends , +And by their vehement instigation , +In this just cause come I to move your Grace . + +I cannot tell , if to depart in silence +Or bitterly to speak in your reproof , +Best fitteth my degree or your condition : +If not to answer , you might haply think +Tongue-tied ambition , not replying , yielded +To bear the golden yoke of sov'reignty , +Which fondly you would here impose on me ; +If to reprove you for this suit of yours , +So season'd with your faithful love to me , +Then , on the other side , I check'd my friends . +Therefore , to speak , and to avoid the first , +And then , in speaking , not to incur the last , +Definitively thus I answer you . +Your love deserves my thanks ; but my desert +Unmeritable shuns your high request . +First , if all obstacles were cut away , +And that my path were even to the crown , +As the ripe revenue and due of birth , +Yet so much is my poverty of spirit , +So mighty and so many my defects , +That I would rather hide me from my greatness , +Being a bark to brook no mighty sea , +Than in my greatness covet to be hid , +And in the vapour of my glory smother'd . +But , God be thank'd , there is no need of me ; +And much I need to help you , were there need ; +The royal tree hath left us royal fruit , +Which , mellow'd by the stealing hours of time , +Will well become the seat of majesty , +And make , no doubt , us happy by his reign . +On him I lay that you would lay on me , +The right and fortune of his happy stars ; +Which God defend that I should wring from him ! + +My lord , this argues conscience in your Grace ; +But the respects thereof are nice and trivial , +All circumstances well considered . +You say that Edward is your brother's son : +So say we too , but not by Edward's wife ; +For first was he contract to Lady Lucy , +Your mother lives a witness to his vow , +And afterward by substitute betroth'd +To Bona , sister to the King of France . +These both put by , a poor petitioner , +A care-craz'd mother to a many sons , +A beauty-waning and distressed widow , +Even in the afternoon of her best days , +Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye , +Seduc'd the pitch and height of his degree +To base declension and loath'd bigamy : +By her , in his unlawful bed , he got +This Edward , whom our manners call the prince . +More bitterly could I expostulate , +Save that , for reverence to some alive , +I give a sparing limit to my tongue . +Then , good my lord , take to your royal self +This proffer'd benefit of dignity ; +If not to bless us and the land withal , +Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry +From the corruption of abusing times , +Unto a lineal true-derived course . + +Do , good my lord ; your citizens entreat you . + +Refuse not , mighty lord , this proffer'd love . + +O ! make them joyful : grant their lawful suit : + +Alas ! why would you heap those cares on me ? +I am unfit for state and majesty : +I do beseech you , take it not amiss , +I cannot nor I will not yield to you . + +If you refuse it , as , in love and zeal , +Loath to depose the child , your brother's son ; +As well we know your tenderness of heart +And gentle , kind , effeminate remorse , +Which we have noted in you to your kindred , +And egally , indeed , to all estates , +Yet whether you accept our suit or no , +Your brother's son shall never reign our king ; +But we will plant some other in the throne , +To the disgrace and downfall of your house : +And in this resolution here we leave you . +Come , citizens , we will entreat no more . + + +Call them again , sweet prince ; accept their suit : +If you deny them , all the land will rue it . + +Will you enforce me to a world of cares ? +Call them again : I am not made of stone , +But penetrable to your kind entreats , + +Albeit against my conscience and my soul . + + +Cousin of Buckingham , and sage , grave men , +Since you will buckle fortune on my back , +To bear her burden , whe'r I will or no , +I must have patience to endure the load : +But if black scandal or foul-fac'd reproach +Attend the sequel of your imposition , +Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me +From all the impure blots and stains thereof ; +For God doth know , and you may partly see , + +How far I am from the desire of this . + +God bless your Grace ! we see it , and will say it . + +In saying so , you shall but say the truth . + +Then I salute you with this royal title : +Long live King Richard , England's worthy king ! + +Amen . + +To-morrow may it please you to be crown'd ? + +Even when you please , for you will have it so . + +To-morrow then we will attend your Grace : +And so most joyfully we take our leave . + +Come , let us to our holy work again . +Farewell , my cousin ;farewell , gentle friends . + +Who meets us here ? my niece Plantagenet , +Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester ? +Now , for my life , she's wand'ring to the Tower , +On pure heart's love , to greet the tender princes . +Daughter , well met . + +God give your Graces both +A happy and a joyful time of day ! + +As much to you , good sister ! whither away ? + +No further than the Tower ; and , as I guess , +Upon the like devotion as yourselves , +To gratulate the gentle princes there . + +Kind sister , thanks : we'll enter all together : + + +And , in good time , here the lieutenant comes . +Master lieutenant , pray you , by your leave , + +How doth the prince , and my young son of York ? + +Right well , dear madam . By your patience , +I may not suffer you to visit them : +The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary . + +The king ! who's that ? + +I mean the Lord Protector . + +The Lord protect him from that kingly title ! +Hath he set bounds between their love and me ? +I am their mother ; who shall bar me from them ? + +I am their father's mother ; I will see them . + +Their aunt I am in law , in love their mother : +Then bring me to their sights ; I'll bear thy blame , +And take thy office from thee , on my peril . + +No , madam , no , I may not leave it so : +I am bound by oath , and therefore pardon me . + +Let me but meet you , ladies , one hour hence , +And I'll salute your Grace of York as mother , +And reverend looker-on of two fair queens . + + +Come , madam , you must straight to Westminster , +There to be crowned Richard's royal queen . + +Ah ! cut my lace asunder , +That my pent heart may have some scope to beat , +Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news . + +Despiteful tidings ! O ! unpleasing news ! + +Be of good cheer : mother , how fares your Grace ? + +O , Dorset ! speak not to me , get thee gone ; +Death and destruction dog thee at the heels : +Thy mother's name is ominous to children . +If thou wilt outstrip death , go cross the seas , +And live with Richmond , from the reach of hell : +Go , hie thee , hie thee , from this slaughter-house , +Lest thou increase the number of the dead , +And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse , +Nor mother , wife , nor England's counted queen . + +Full of wise care is this your counsel , madam . + + +Take all the swift advantage of the hours ; +You shall have letters from me to my son +In your behalf , to meet you on the way : +Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay . + +O ill-dispersing wind of misery ! +O ! my accursed womb , the bed of death , +A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world , +Whose unavoided eye is murderous ! + +Come , madam , come ; I in all haste was sent . + +And I with all unwillingness will go . +O ! would to God that the inclusive verge +Of golden metal that must round my brow +Were red-hot steel to sear me to the brain . +Anointed let me be with deadly venom ; +And die , ere men can say 'God save the queen !' + +Go , go , poor soul , I envy not thy glory ; +To feed my humour , wish thyself no harm . + +No ! why ? When he , that is my husband now +Came to me , as I follow'd Henry's corse ; +When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his hands , +Which issu'd from my other angel husband , +And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd ; +O ! when I say , I look'd on Richard's face , +This was my wish , 'Be thou ,' quoth I , 'accurs'd , +For making me so young , so old a widow ! +And , when thou wedd'st , let sorrow haunt thy bed ; +And be thy wife if any be so mad +More miserable by the life of thee +Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death !' +Lo ! ere I can repeat this curse again , +Within so small a time , my woman's heart +Grossly grew captive to his honey words , +And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's curse : +Which hitherto hath held mine eyes from rest ; +For never yet one hour in his bed +Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep , +But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd . +Besides , he hates me for my father Warwick , +And will , no doubt , shortly be rid of me . + +Poor heart , adieu ! I pity thy complaining . + +No more than with my soul I mourn for yours . + +Farewell ! thou woeful welcomer of glory ! + +Adieu , poor soul , that tak'st thy leave of it ! + +Go thou to Richmond , and good fortune guide thee ! + + +Go thou to Richard , and good angels tend thee ! + + +Go thou to sanctuary , and good thoughts possess thee ! +I to my grave , where peace and rest lie with me ! +Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen , +And each hour's joy wrack'd with a week of teen . + +Stay yet , look back with me unto the Tower . +Pity , you ancient stones , those tender babes +Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls , +Rough cradle for such little pretty ones ! +Rude ragged nurse , old sullen playfellow +For tender princes , use my babies well . +So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell . + + +Stand all apart . Cousin of Buckingham . + +My gracious sovereign ! + +Give me thy hand . + +Thus high , by thy advice , +And thy assistance , is King Richard seated : +But shall we wear these glories for a day ? +Or shall they last , and we rejoice in them ? + +Still live they , and for ever let them last ! + +Ah ! Buckingham , now do I play the touch , +To try if thou be current gold indeed : +Young Edward lives : think now what I would speak . + +Say on , my loving lord . + +Why , Buckingham , I say , I would be king . + +Why , so you are , my thrice-renowned liege . + +Ha ! am I king ? 'Tis so : but Edward lives . + +True , noble prince . + +O bitter consequence , +That Edward still should live ! 'True , noble prince !' +Cousin , thou wast not wont to be so dull : +Shall I be plain ? I wish the bastards dead ; +And I would have it suddenly perform'd . +What sayst thou now ? speak suddenly , be brief . + +Your Grace may do your pleasure . + +Tut , tut ! thou art all ice , thy kindness freezes : +Say , have I thy consent that they shall die ? + +Give me some little breath , some pause , dear lord , +Before I positively speak in this : +I will resolve you herein presently . + + +The king is angry : see , he gnaws his lip . + +I will converse with iron-witted fools +And unrespective boys : none are for me +That look into me with considerate eyes . +High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect . +Boy ! + +My lord ! + +Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold +Will tempt unto a close exploit of death ? + +I know a discontented gentleman , +Whose humble means match not his haughty spirit : +Gold were as good as twenty orators , +And will , no doubt , tempt him to anything . + +What is his name ? + +His name , my lord , is Tyrrell . + +I partly know the man : go , call him hither . + +The deep-revolving witty Buckingham +No more shall be the neighbour to my counsel . +Hath he so long held out with me untir'd , +And stops he now for breath ? well , be it so . + +How now , Lord Stanley ! what's the news ? + +Know , my loving lord , +The Marquess Dorset , as I hear , is fled +To Richmond , in the parts where he abides . + +Come hither , Catesby : rumour it abroad , +That Anne my wife is very grievous sick ; +I will take order for her keeping close . +Inquire me out some mean poor gentleman , +Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter : +The boy is foolish , and I fear not him . +Look , how thou dream'st ! I say again , give out +That Anne my queen is sick , and like to die : +About it ; for it stands me much upon , +To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me . + +I must be married to my brother's daughter , +Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass . +Murder her brothers , and then marry her ! +Uncertain way of gain ! But I am in +So far in blood , that sin will pluck on sin : +Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye . + +Is thy name Tyrrell ? + +James Tyrrell , and your most obedient subject . + +Art thou , indeed ? + +Prove me , my gracious lord . + +Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of mine ? + +Please you ; but I had rather kill two enemies . + +Why , then thou hast it : two deep enemies , +Foes to my rest , and my sweet sleep's disturbers , +Are they that I would have thee deal upon . +Tyrrell , I mean those bastards in the Tower . + +Let me have open means to come to them , +And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them . + +Thou sing'st sweet music . Hark , come hither , Tyrrell : +Go , by this token : rise , and lend thine ear . + +There is no more but so : say it is done , +And I will love thee , and prefer thee for it . + +I will dispatch it straight . + +My lord , I have consider'd in my mind +The late demand that you did sound me in . + +Well , let that rest . Dorset is fled to Richmond . + +I hear the news , my lord . + +Stanley , he is your wife's son : well , look to it . + +My lord , I claim the gift , my due by promise , +For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd ; +The earldom of Hereford and the moveables +Which you have promised I shall possess . + +Stanley , look to your wife : if she convey +Letters to Richmond , you shall answer it . + +What says your highness to my just request ? + +I do remember me , Henry the Sixth +Did prophesy that Richmond should be king , +When Richmond was a little peevish boy . +A king ! perhaps + +My lord ! + +How chance the prophet could not at that time +Have told me , I being by , that I should kill him ? + +My lord , your promise for the earldom , + +Richmond ! When last I was at Exeter , +The mayor in courtesy show'd me the castle , +And call'd it Rougemont : at which name I started , +Because a bard of Ireland told me once +I should not live long after I saw Richmond . + +My lord ! + +Ay , what's o'clock ? + +I am thus bold to put your Grace in mind +Of what you promis'd me . + +Well , but what is't o'clock ? + +Upon the stroke of ten . + +Well , let it strike . + +Why let it strike ? + +Because that , like a Jack , thou keep'st the stroke +Betwixt thy begging and my meditation . +I am not in the giving vein to-day . + +Why , then resolve me whe'r you will , or no . + +Thou troublest me : I am not in the vein . + + +And is it thus ? repays he my deep service +With such contempt ? made I him king for this ? +O , let me think on Hastings , and be gone +To Brecknock , while my fearful head is on . + + +The tyrannous and bloody act is done ; +The most arch deed of piteous massacre +That ever yet this land was guilty of . +Dighton and Forrest , whom I did suborn +To do this piece of ruthless butchery , +Albeit they were flesh'd villains , bloody dogs , +Melting with tenderness and mild compassion , +Wept like to children in their death's sad story . +'Oh ! thus ,' quoth Dighton , 'lay the gentle babes :' +'Thus , thus ,' quoth Forrest , 'girdling one another +Within their alabaster innocent arms : +Their lips were four red roses on a stalk , +Which in their summer beauty kiss'd each other . +A book of prayers on their pillow lay ; +Which once ,' quoth Forrest , 'almost chang'd my mind ; +But , O , the devil' there the villain stopp'd ; +When Dighton thus told on : 'We smothered +The most replenished sweet work of nature , +That from the prime creation e'er she fram'd .' +Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse ; +They could not speak ; and so I left them both , +To bear this tidings to the bloody king : +And here he comes . + +All health , my sovereign lord ! + +Kind Tyrrell , am I happy in thy news ? + +If to have done the thing you gave in charge +Beget your happiness , be happy then , +For it is done . + +But didst thou see them dead ? + +I did , my lord . + +And buried , gentle Tyrrell ? + +The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them ; +But how or in what place I do not know . + +Come to me , Tyrrell , soon at after-supper , +When thou shalt tell the process of their death . +Meantime , but think how I may do thee good , +And be inheritor of thy desire . +Farewell till then . + +I humbly take my leave . + + +The son of Clarence have I pent up close ; +His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage ; +The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom , +And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night . +Now , for I know the Breton Richmond aims +At young Elizabeth , my brother's daughter , +And , by that knot , looks proudly on the crown , +To her go I , a jolly thriving wooer . + + +My lord ! + +Good or bad news , that thou com'st in so bluntly ? + +Bad news , my lord : Morton is fled to Richmond ; +And Buckingham , back'd with the hardy Welshmen , +Is in the field , and still his power increaseth . + +Ely with Richmond troubles me more near +Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength . +Come ; I have learn'd that fearful commenting +Is leaden servitor to dull delay : +Delay leads impotent and snail-pac'd beggary : +Then fiery expedition be my wing , +Jove's Mercury , and herald for a king ! +Go , muster men : my counsel is my shield ; +We must be brief when traitors brave the field . + + +So , now prosperity begins to mellow +And drop into the rotten mouth of death . +Here in these confines slily have I lurk'd +To watch the waning of mine enemies . +A dire induction am I witness to , +And will to France , hoping the consequence +Will prove as bitter , black , and tragical . +Withdraw thee , wretched Margaret : who comes here ? + + +Ah ! my poor princes ! ah , my tender babes , +My unblown flowers , new-appearing sweets , +If yet your gentle souls fly in the air +And be not fix'd in doom perpetual , +Hover about me with your airy wings , +And hear your mother's lamentation . + +Hover about her ; say , that right for right +Hath dimm'd your infant morn to aged night . + +So many miseries have craz'd my voice , +That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute . +Edward Plantagenet , why art thou dead ? + +Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet ; +Edward for Edward pays a dying debt . + +Wilt thou , O God ! fly from such gentle lambs , +And throw them in the entrails of the wolf ? +When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done ? + +When holy Harry died , and my sweet son . + +Dead life , blind sight , poor mortal living ghost , +Woe's scene , world's shame , grave's due by life usurp'd , +Brief abstract and record of tedious days , +Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth , + +Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood ! + +Ah ! that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave +As thou canst yield a melancholy seat ; +Then would I hide my bones , not rest them here . +Ah ! who hath any cause to mourn but I ? + + +If ancient sorrow be most reverend , +Give mine the benefit of seniory , +And let my griefs frown on the upper hand , +If sorrow can admit society . + +Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine : +I had an Edward , till a Richard kill'd him ; +I had a Harry , till a Richard kill'd him : +Thou hadst an Edward , till a Richard kill'd him ; +Thou hadst a Richard , till a Richard kill'd him . + +I had a Richard too , and thou didst kill him ; +I had a Rutland too , thou holp'st to kill him . + +Thou hadst a Clarence too , and Richard kill'd him . +From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept +A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death : +That dog , that had his teeth before his eyes , +To worry lambs , and lap their gentle blood , +That foul defacer of God's handiwork , +That excellent grand-tyrant of the earth , +That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls , +Thy womb let loose , to chase us to our graves . +O ! upright , just , and true-disposing God , +How do I thank thee that this carnal cur +Preys on the issue of his mother's body , +And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan . + +O ! Harry's wife , triumph not in my woes : +God witness with me , I have wept for thine . + +Bear with me ; I am hungry for revenge , +And now I cloy me with beholding it . +Thy Edward he is dead , that kill'd my Edward ; +Thy other Edward dead , to quit my Edward ; +Young York he is but boot , because both they +Match not the high perfection of my loss : +Thy Clarence he is dead that stabb'd my Edward ; +And the beholders of this tragic play , +The adulterate Hastings , Rivers , Vaughan , Grey , +Untimely smother'd in their dusky graves . +Richard yet lives , hell's black intelligencer , +Only reserv'd their factor , to buy souls +And send them thither ; but at hand , at hand , +Ensues his piteous and unpitied end : +Earth gapes , hell burns , fiends roar , saints pray , +To have him suddenly convey'd from hence . +Cancel his bond of life , dear God ! I pray , +That I may live to say , The dog is dead . + +O ! thou didst prophesy the time would come +That I should wish for thee to help me curse +That bottled spider , that foul bunchback'd toad . + +I call'd thee then vain flourish of my fortune ; +I call'd thee then poor shadow , painted queen ; +The presentation of but what I was ; +The flattering index of a direful pageant ; +One heav'd a-high to be hurl'd down below ; +A mother only mock'd with two fair babes ; +A dream of what thou wert , a breath , a bubble , +A sign of dignity , a garish flag , +To be the aim of every dangerous shot ; +A queen in jest , only to fill the scene . +Where is thy husband now ? where be thy brothers ? +Where are thy children ? wherein dost thou joy ? +Who sues and kneels and cries God save the queen ? +Where be the bending peers that flatter'd thee ? +Where be the thronging troops that follow'd thee ? +Decline all this , and see what now thou art : +For happy wife , a most distressed widow ; +For joyful mother , one that wails the name ; +For one being su'd to , one that humbly sues ; +For queen , a very caitiff crown'd with care ; +For one that scorn'd at me , now scorn'd of me ; +For one being fear'd of all , now fearing one ; +For one commanding all , obey'd of none . +Thus hath the course of justice whirl'd about , +And left thee but a very prey to time ; +Having no more but thought of what thou wert , +To torture thee the more , being what thou art . +Thou didst usurp my place , and dost thou not +Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow ? +Now thy proud neck bears half my burden'd yoke ; +From which even here , I slip my wearied head , +And leave the burden of it all on thee . +Farewell , York's wife , and queen of sad mischance : +These English woes shall make me smile in France . + +O thou , well skill'd in curses , stay awhile , +And teach me how to curse mine enemies . + +Forbear to sleep the night , and fast the day ; +Compare dead happiness with living woe ; +Think that thy babes were fairer than they were , +And he that slew them fouler than he is : +Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse : +Revolving this will teach thee how to curse . + +My words are dull ; O ! quicken them with thine ! + +Thy woes will make them sharp , and pierce like mine . + + +Why should calamity be full of words ? + +Windy attorneys to their client woes , +Airy succeeders of intestate joys , +Poor breathing orators of miseries ! +Let them have scope : though what they do impart +Help nothing else , yet do they ease the heart . + +If so , then be not tongue-tied : go with me , +And in the breath of bitter words let's smother +My damned son , that thy two sweet sons smother'd . + +The trumpet sounds : be copious in exclaims . + + +Who intercepts me in my expedition ? + +O ! she that might have intercepted thee , +By strangling thee in her accursed womb , +From all the slaughters , wretch , that thou hast done ! + +Hid'st thou that forehead with a golden crown , +Where should be branded , if that right were right , +The slaughter of the prince that ow'd that crown , +And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers ? +Tell me , thou villain slave , where are my children ? + +Thou toad , thou toad , where is thy brother Clarence +And little Ned Plantagenet , his son ? + +Where is the gentle Rivers , Vaughan , Grey ? + +Where is kind Hastings ? + +A flourish , trumpets ! strike alarum , drums ! +Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women +Rail on the Lord's anointed . Strike , I say ! + +Either be patient , and entreat me fair , +Or with the clamorous report of war +Thus will I drown your exclamations . + +Art thou my son ? + +Ay ; I thank God , my father , and yourself . + +Then patiently hear my impatience . + +Madam , I have a touch of your condition , +That cannot brook the accent of reproof . + +O , let me speak ! + +Do , then ; but I'll not hear . + +I will be mild and gentle in my words . + +And brief , good mother ; for I am in haste . + +Art thou so hasty ? I have stay'd for thee , +God knows , in torment and in agony . + +And came I not at last to comfort you ? + +No , by the holy rood , thou know'st it well , +Thou cam'st on earth to make the earth my hell . +A grievous burden was thy birth to me ; +Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy ; +Thy school-days frightful , desperate , wild and furious ; +Thy prime of manhood daring , bold , and venturous ; +Thy age confirm'd , proud , subtle , sly , and bloody , +More mild , but yet more harmful , kind in hatred : +What comfortable hour canst thou name +That ever grac'd me in thy company ? + +Faith , none , but Humphrey Hour , that call'd your Grace +To breakfast once forth of my company . +If I be so disgracious in your eye , +Let me march on , and not offend you , madam . +Strike up the drum ! + +I prithee , hear me speak . + +You speak too bitterly . + +Hear me a word ; +For I shall never speak to thee again . + +So ! + +Either thou wilt die by God's just ordinance , +Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror ; +Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish +And never look upon thy face again . +Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse , +Which , in the day of battle , tire thee more +Than all the complete armour that thou wear'st ! +My prayers on the adverse party fight ; +And there the little souls of Edward's children +Whisper the spirits of thine enemies +And promise them success and victory . +Bloody thou art , bloody will be thy end ; +Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend . + + +Though far more cause , yet much less spirit to curse +Abides in me : I say amen to her . + + +Stay , madam ; I must talk a word with you . + +I have no moe sons of the royal blood +For thee to slaughter : for my daughters , Richard , +They shall be praying nuns , not weeping queens ; +And therefore level not to hit their lives . + +You have a daughter call'd Elizabeth , +Virtuous and fair , royal and gracious . + +And must she die for this ? O ! let her live , +And I'll corrupt her manners , stain her beauty ; +Slander myself as false to Edward's bed ; +Throw over her the veil of infamy : +So she may live unscarr'd of bleeding slaughter , +I will confess she was not Edward's daughter . + +Wrong not her birth ; she is of royal blood . + +To save her life , I'll say she is not so . + +Her life is safest only in her birth . + +And only in that safety died her brothers . + +Lo ! at their births good stars were opposite ! + +No , to their lives ill friends were contrary . + +All unavoided is the doom of destiny . + +True , when avoided grace makes destiny . +My babes were destin'd to a fairer death , +If grace had bless'd thee with a fairer life . + +You speak as if that I had slain my cousins . + +Cousins , indeed ; and by their uncle cozen'd +Of comfort , kingdom , kindred , freedom , life . +Whose hands soever lanc'd their tender hearts +Thy head , all indirectly , gave direction : +No doubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt +Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart , +To revel in the entrails of my lambs . +But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame , +My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys +Till that my nails were anchor'd in thine eyes ; +And I , in such a desperate bay of death , +Like a poor bark , of sails and tackling reft , +Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom . + +Madam , so thrive I in my enterprise +And dangerous success of bloody wars , +As I intend more good to you and yours +Than ever you or yours by me were harm'd . + +What good is cover'd with the face of heaven , +To be discover'd , that can do me good ? + +The advancement of your children , gentle lady . + +Up to some scaffold , there to lose their heads ? + +No , to the dignity and height of fortune , +The high imperial type of this earth's glory . + +Flatter my sorrow with report of it : +Tell me what state , what dignity , what honour , +Canst thou demise to any child of mine ? + +Even all I have ; ay , and myself and all , +Will I withal endow a child of thine ; +So in the Lethe of thy angry soul +Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs +Which thou supposest I have done to thee . + +Be brief , lest that the process of thy kindness +Last longer telling than thy kindness' date . + +Then know , that from my soul I love thy daughter . + +My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul . + +What do you think ? + +That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul : +So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers ; +And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it . + +Be not too hasty to confound my meaning : +I mean , that with my soul I love thy daughter , +And do intend to make her Queen of England . + +Well then , who dost thou mean shall be her king ? + +Even he that makes her queen : who else should be ? + +What ! thou ? + +Even so : what think you of it ? + +How canst thou woo her ? + +That I would learn of you , +As one being best acquainted with her humour . + +And wilt thou learn of me ? + +Madam , with all my heart . + +Send to her , by the man that slew her brothers , +A pair of bleeding hearts ; thereon engrave +Edward and York ; then haply will she weep : +Therefore present to her , as sometime Margaret +Did to thy father , steep'd in Rutland's blood , +A handkerchief , which , say to her , did drain +The purple sap from her sweet brother's body , +And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal . +If this inducement move her not to love , +Send her a letter of thy noble deeds ; +Tell her thou mad'st away her uncle Clarence , +Her uncle Rivers ; ay , and for her sake , +Mad'st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne . + +You mock me , madam ; this is not the way +To win your daughter . + +There is no other way +Unless thou couldst put on some other shape , +And not be Richard that hath done all this . + +Say , that I did all this for love of her ? + +Nay , then indeed , she cannot choose but hate thee , +Having bought love with such a bloody spoil . + +Look , what is done cannot be now amended : +Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes , +Which after-hours give leisure to repent . +If I did take the kingdom from your sons , +To make amends I'll give it to your daughter . +If I have kill'd the issue of your womb , +To quicken your increase , I will beget +Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter : +A grandam's name is little less in love +Than is the doting title of a mother ; +They are as children but one step below , +Even of your mettle , of your very blood ; +Of all one pain , save for a night of groans +Endur'd of her for whom you bid like sorrow . +Your children were vexation to your youth , +But mine shall be a comfort to your age . +The loss you have is but a son being king , +And by that loss your daughter is made queen . +I cannot make you what amends I would , +Therefore accept such kindness as I can . +Dorset your son , that with a fearful soul +Leads discontented steps in foreign soil , +This fair alliance quickly shall call home +To high promotions and great dignity : +The king that calls your beauteous daughter wife , +Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother ; +Again shall you be mother to a king , +And all the ruins of distressful times +Repair'd with double riches of content . +What ! we have many goodly days to see : +The liquid drops of tears that you have shed +Shall come again , transform'd to orient pearl , +Advantaging their loan with interest +Of ten times double gain of happiness . +Go then , my mother ; to thy daughter go : +Make bold her bashful years with your experience ; +Prepare her ears to hear a wooer's tale ; +Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame +Of golden sovereignty ; acquaint the princess +With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys : +And when this arm of mine hath chastised +The petty rebel , dull-brain'd Buckingham , +Bound with triumphant garlands will I come , +And lead thy daughter to a conqueror's bed ; +To whom I will retail my conquest won , +And she shall be sole victress , C sar's C sar . + +What were I best to say ? her father's brother +Would be her lord ? Or shall I say , her uncle ? +Or , he that slew her brothers and her uncles ? +Under what title shall I woo for thee , +That God , the law , my honour , and her love +Can make seem pleasing to her tender years ? + +Infer fair England's peace by this alliance . + +Which she shall purchase with still lasting war . + +Tell her , the king , that may command , entreats . + +That at her hands which the king's King forbids . + +Say , she shall be a high and mighty queen . + +To wail the title , as her mother doth . + +Say , I will love her everlastingly . + +But how long shall that title 'ever' last ? + +Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end . + +But how long fairly shall her sweet life last ? + +As long as heaven and nature lengthens it . + +As long as hell and Richard likes of it . + +Say , I , her sovereign , am her subject low . + +But she , your subject , loathes such sovereignty . + +Be eloquent in my behalf to her . + +An honest tale speeds best being plainly told . + +Then plainly to her tell my loving tale . + +Plain and not honest is too harsh a style . + +Your reasons are too shallow and too quick . + +O , no ! my reasons are too deep and dead ; +Too deep and dead , poor infants , in their graves . + +Harp not on that string , madam ; that is past . + +Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break . + +Now , by my George , my garter , and my crown , + +Profan'd , dishonour'd , and the third usurp'd . + +I swear , + +By nothing ; for this is no oath . +Thy George , profan'd , hath lost his holy honour ; +Thy garter , blemish'd , pawn'd his knightly virtue ; +Thy crown , usurp'd , disgrac'd his kingly glory . +If something thou wouldst swear to be believ'd , +Swear , then , by something that thou hast not wrong'd . + +Now , by the world , + +'Tis full of thy foul wrongs . + +My father's death , + +Thy life hath that dishonour'd . + +Then , by myself , + +Thyself is self-misus'd . + +Why , then , by God , + +God's wrong is most of all . +If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by him , +The unity the king my husband made +Had not been broken , nor my brothers died : +If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by him , +The imperial metal , circling now thy head , +Had grac'd the tender temples of my child , +And both the princes had been breathing here , +Which now , too tender bed-fellows for dust , +Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms . +What canst thou swear by now ? + +The time to come . + +That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast ; +For I myself have many tears to wash +Hereafter time for time past wrong'd by thee . +The children live , whose parents thou hast slaughter'd , +Ungovern'd youth , to wail it in their age : +The parents live , whose children thou hast butcher'd , +Old barren plants , to wail it with their age . +Swear not by time to come ; for that thou hast +Misus'd ere us'd , by times ill-us'd o'erpast . + +As I intend to prosper , and repent , +So thrive I in my dangerous affairs +Of hostile arms ! myself myself confound ! +Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours ! +Day , yield me not thy light ; nor , night , thy rest ! +Be opposite all planets of good luck +To my proceeding , if , with pure heart's love , +Immaculate devotion , holy thoughts , +I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter ! +In her consists my happiness and thine ; +Without her , follows to myself , and thee , +Herself , the land , and many a Christian soul , +Death , desolation , ruin , and decay : +It cannot be avoided but by this ; +It will not be avoided but by this . +Therefore , dear mother ,I must call you so , +Be the attorney of my love to her : +Plead what I will be , not what I have been ; +Not my deserts , but what I will deserve : +Urge the necessity and state of times , +And be not peevish-fond in great designs . + +Shall I be tempted of the devil thus ? + +Ay , if the devil tempt thee to do good . + +Shall I forget myself to be myself ? + +Ay , if your self's remembrance wrong yourself . + +Yet thou didst kill my children . + +But in your daughter's womb I bury them : +Where , in that nest of spicery , they shall breed +Selves of themselves , to your recomforture . + +Shall I go win my daughter to thy will ? + +And be a happy mother by the deed . + +I go . Write to me very shortly , +And you shall understand from me her mind . + +Bear her my true love's kiss ; and so farewell . + +Relenting fool , and shallow changing woman ! + +How now ! what news ? + +Most mighty sovereign , on the western coast +Rideth a puissant navy ; to the shores +Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends , +Unarm'd , and unresolv'd to beat them back . +'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral ; +And there they hull , expecting but the aid +Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore . + +Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk : +Ratcliff , thyself , or Catesby ; where is he ? + +Here , my good lord . + +Catesby , fly to the duke . + +I will , my lord , with all convenient haste . + +Ratcliff , come hither . Post to Salisbury : +When thou com'st thither , + +Dull , unmindful villain , +Why stay'st thou here , and go'st not to the duke ? + +First , mighty liege , tell me your highness' pleasure , +What from your Grace I shall deliver to him . + +O ! true , good Catesby : bid him levy straight +The greatest strength and power he can make , +And meet me suddenly at Salisbury . + +I go . + + +What , may it please you , shall I do at Salisbury ? + +Why , what wouldst thou do there before I go ? + +Your highness told me I should post before . + + +My mind is chang'd . Stanley , what news with you ? + +None good , my liege , to please you with the hearing ; +Nor none so bad but well may be reported . + +Hoyday , a riddle ! neither good nor bad ! +What need'st thou run so many miles about , +When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way ? +Once more , what news ? + +Richmond is on the seas . + +There let him sink , and be the seas on him ! +White-liver'd runagate ! what doth he there ? + +I know not , mighty sovereign , but by guess . + +Well , as you guess ? + +Stirr'd up by Dorset , Buckingham , and Morton , +He makes for England , here to claim the crown . + +Is the chair empty ? is the sword unsway'd ? +Is the king dead ? the empire unpossess'd ? +What heir of York is there alive but we ? +And who is England's king but great York's heir ? +Then , tell me , what makes he upon the seas ? + +Unless for that , my liege , I cannot guess . + +Unless for that he comes to be your liege , +You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes . +Thou wilt revolt and fly to him I fear . + +No , my good lord ; therefore mistrust me not . + +Where is thy power then to beat him back ? +Where be thy tenants and thy followers ? +Are they not now upon the western shore , +Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships ? + +No , my good lord , my friends are in the north . + +Cold friends to me : what do they in the north +When they should serve their sovereign in the west ? + +They have not been commanded , mighty king : +Pleaseth your majesty to give me leave , +I'll muster up my friends , and meet your Grace , +Where and what time your majesty shall please . + +Ay , ay , thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond : +But I'll not trust thee . + +Most mighty sovereign , +You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful . +I never was nor never will be false . + +Go then and muster men : but leave behind +Your son , George Stanley : look your heart be firm , +Or else his head's assurance is but frail . + +So deal with him as I prove true to you . + +My gracious sovereign , now in Devonshire , +As I by friends am well advertised , +Sir Edward Courtney , and the haughty prelate , +Bishop of Exeter , his brother there , +With many moe confederates are in arms . + + +In Kent , my liege , the Guildfords are in arms ; +And every hour more competitors +Flock to the rebels , and their power grows strong . + + +My lord , the army of great Buckingham + +Out on ye , owls ! nothing but songs of death ? + +There , take thou that , till thou bring better news . + +The news I have to tell your majesty +Is , that by sudden floods and fall of waters , +Buckingham's army is dispers'd and scatter'd ; +And he himself wander'd away alone , +No man knows whither . + +I cry thee mercy : +There is my purse , to cure that blow of thine . +Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd +Reward to him that brings the traitor in ? + +Such proclamation hath been made , my liege . + + +Sir Thomas Lovel , and Lord Marquess Dorset , +'Tis said , my liege , in Yorkshire are in arms : +But this good comfort bring I to your highness , +The Breton navy is dispers'd by tempest . +Richmond , in Dorsetshire , sent out a boat +Unto the shore to ask those on the banks +If they were his assistants , yea or no ; +Who answer'd him , they came from Buckingham +Upon his party : he , mistrusting them , +Hois'd sail , and made away for Brittany . + +March on , march on , since we are up in arms ; +If not to fight with foreign enemies , +Yet to beat down these rebels here at home . + + +My liege , the Duke of Buckingham is taken , +That is the best news : that the Earl of Richmond +Is with a mighty power landed at Milford +Is colder news , but yet they must be told . + +Away towards Salisbury ! while we reason here , +A royal battle might be won and lost . +Some one take order Buckingham be brought +To Salisbury ; the rest march on with me . + + +Sir Christopher , tell Richmond this from me : +That in the sty of this most bloody boar +My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold : +If I revolt , off goes young George's head ; +The fear of that holds off my present aid . +So , get thee gone : commend me to thy lord . +Withal , say that the queen hath heartily consented +He should espouse Elizabeth her daughter . +But , tell me , where is princely Richmond now ? + +At Pembroke , or at Ha'rford-west , in Wales . + +What men of name resort to him ? + +Sir Walter Herbert , a renowned soldier , +Sir Gilbert Talbot , Sir William Stanley , +Oxford , redoubted Pembroke , Sir James Blunt , +And Rice ap Thomas , with a valiant crew ; +And many other of great name and worth : +And towards London do they bend their power , +If by the way they be not fought withal . + +Well , hie thee to thy lord ; I kiss his hand : +My letter will resolve him of my mind . +Farewell . + +Will not King Richard let me speak with him ? + +No , my good lord ; therefore be patient . + +Hastings , and Edward's children , Grey and Rivers , +Holy King Henry , and thy fair son Edward , +Vaughan , and all that have miscarried +By underhand corrupted foul injustice , +If that your moody discontented souls +Do through the clouds behold this present hour , +Even for revenge mock my destruction ! +This is All-Souls' day , fellows , is it not ? + +It is , my lord . + +Why , then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday . +This is the day that , in King Edward's time , +I wish'd might fall on me , when I was found +False to his children or his wife's allies ; +This is the day wherein I wish'd to fall +By the false faith of him whom most I trusted ; +This , this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul +Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs . +That high All-Seer which I dallied with +Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head , +And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest . +Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men +To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms : +Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck : +'When he ,' quoth she , 'shall split thy heart with sorrow , +Remember Margaret was a prophetess .' +Come , lead me , officers , to the block of shame : +Wrong hath but wrong , and blame the due of blame . + +Fellows in arms , and my most loving friends , +Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny , +Thus far into the bowels of the land +Have we march'd on without impediment : +And here receive we from our father Stanley +Lines of fair comfort and encouragement . +The wretched , bloody , and usurping boar , +That spoil'd your summer fields and fruitful vines , +Swills your warm blood like wash , and makes his trough +In your embowell'd bosoms , this foul swine +Is now even in the centre of this isle , +Near to the town of Leicester , as we learn : +From Tamworth thither is but one day's march . +In God's name , cheerly on , courageous friends , +To reap the harvest of perpetual peace +By this one bloody trial of sharp war . + +Every man's conscience is a thousand men , +To fight against this guilty homicide . + +I doubt not but his friends will turn to us . + +He hath no friends but what are friends for fear , +Which in his dearest need will fly from him . + +All for our vantage : then , in God's name , march : +True hope is swift , and flies with swallow's wings ; +Kings it makes gods , and meaner creatures kings . + + +Here pitch our tent , even here in Bosworth field . +My Lord of Surrey , why look you so sad ? + +My heart is ten times lighter than my looks . + +My Lord of Norfolk , + +Here , most gracious liege . + +Norfolk , we must have knocks ; ha ! must we not ? + +We must both give and take , my loving lord . + +Up with my tent ! here will I lie to-night ; + +But where to-morrow ? Well , all's one for that . +Who hath descried the number of the traitors ? + +Six or seven thousand is their utmost power . + +Why , our battalia trebles that account ; +Besides , the king's name is a tower of strength , +Which they upon the adverse faction want . +Up with the tent ! Come , noble gentlemen , +Let us survey the vantage of the ground ; +Call for some men of sound direction : +Let's lack no discipline , make no delay ; +For , lords , to-morrow is a busy day . + + +The weary sun hath made a golden set , +And , by the bright track of his fiery car , +Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow . +Sir William Brandon , you shall bear my standard . +Give me some ink and paper in my tent : +I'll draw the form and model of our battle , +Limit each leader to his several charge , +And part in just proportion our small power . +My Lord of Oxford , you , Sir William Brandon , +And you , Sir Walter Herbert , stay with me . +The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment : +Good Captain Blunt , bear my good-night to him , +And by the second hour in the morning +Desire the earl to see me in my tent . +Yet one thing more , good captain , do for me ; +Where is Lord Stanley quarter'd , do you know ? + +Unless I have mista'en his colours much , +Which , well I am assur'd , I have not done , +His regiment lies half a mile at least +South from the mighty power of the king . + +If without peril it be possible , +Good Captain Blunt , bear my good-night to him , +And give him from me this most needful note . + +Upon my life , my lord , I'll undertake it ; +And so , God give you quiet rest to-night ! + +Good-night , good Captain Blunt . Come , gentlemen , +Let us consult upon to-morrow's business ; +In to my tent , the air is raw and cold . + +What is 't o'clock ? + +It's supper-time , my lord ; +It's nine o'clock . + +I will not sup to-night . +Give me some ink and paper . +What , is my beaver easier than it was , +And all my armour laid into my tent ? + +It is , my liege ; and all things are in readiness . + +Good Norfolk , hie thee to thy charge ; +Use careful watch ; choose trusty sentinels . + +I go , my lord . + +Stir with the lark to-morrow , gentle Norfolk . + +I warrant you , my lord . + + +Ratcliff ! + +My lord ? + +Send out a pursuivant at arms +To Stanley's regiment ; bid him bring his power +Before sun-rising , lest his son George fall +Into the blind cave of eternal night . +Fill me a bowl of wine . Give me a watch . +Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow . +Look that my staves be sound , and not too heavy . +Ratcliff ! + +My lord ! + +Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland ? + +Thomas the Earl of Surrey , and himself , +Much about cock-shut time , from troop to troop +Went through the army , cheering up the soldiers . + +So , I am satisfied . Give me a bowl of wine : +I have not that alacrity of spirit , +Nor cheer of mind , that I was wont to have . +Set it down . Is ink and paper ready ? + +It is , my lord . + +Bid my guard watch ; leave me . +Ratcliff , about the mid of night come to my tent +And help to arm me . Leave me , I say . + + +Fortune and victory sit on thy helm ! + +All comfort that the dark night can afford +Be to thy person , noble father-in-law ! +Tell me , how fares our loving mother ? + +I , by attorney , bless thee from thy mother , +Who prays continually for Richmond's good : +So much for that . The silent hours steal on , +And flaky darkness breaks within the east . +In brief , for so the season bids us be , +Prepare thy battle early in the morning , +And put thy fortune to the arbitrement +Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring war . +I , as I may ,that which I would I cannot , +With best advantage will deceive the time , +And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms : +But on thy side I may not be too forward , +Lest , being seen , thy brother , tender George , +Be executed in his father's sight . +Farewell : the leisure and the fearful time +Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love +And ample interchange of sweet discourse , +Which so long sunder'd friends should dwell upon : +God give us leisure for these rites of love ! +Once more , adieu : be valiant , and speed well ! + +Good lords , conduct him to his regiment . +I'll strive , with troubled thoughts , to take a nap , +Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow , +When I should mount with wings of victory . +Once more , good-night , kind lords and gentlemen . + +O ! thou , whose captain I account myself , +Look on my forces with a gracious eye ; +Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath , +That they may crush down with a heavy fall +The usurping helmets of our adversaries ! +Make us thy ministers of chastisement , +That we may praise thee in thy victory ! +To thee I do commend my watchful soul , +Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes : +Sleeping and waking , O ! defend me still ! + +Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow ! +Think how thou stab'dst me in my prime of youth +At Tewksbury : despair , therefore , and die ! +Be cheerful , Richmond ; for the wronged souls +Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf : +King Henry's issue , Richmond , comforts thee . + + +When I was mortal , my anointed body +By thee was punched full of deadly holes : +Think on the Tower and me ; despair and die ! +Henry the Sixth bids thee despair and die . + + +Virtuous and holy , be thou conqueror ! +Harry , that prophesied thou shouldst be the king , +Doth comfort thee in thy sleep : live thou and flourish ! + + +Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow ! +I , that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine , +Poor Clarence , by thy guile betray'd to death ! +To-morrow in the battle think on me , +And fall thy edgeless sword : despair , and die ! + + +Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster , +The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee : +Good angels guard thy battle ! live , and flourish ! + + +Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow ! +Rivers , that died at Pomfret ! despair , and die ! + +Think upon Grey , and let thy soul despair . + +Think upon Vaughan , and with guilty fear +Let fall thy pointless lance : despair , and die ! + +Awake ! and think our wrongs in Richard's bosom +Will conquer him : awake , and win the day ! + + +Bloody and guilty , guiltily awake ; +And in a bloody battle end thy days ! +Think on Lord Hastings , so despair , and die ! + + +Quiet , untroubled soul , awake , awake ! +Arm , fight , and conquer , for fair England's sake ! + + +Dream on thy cousins smother'd in the Tower : +Let us be lead within thy bosom , Richard , +And weigh thee down to ruin , shame , and death ! +Thy nephews' souls bid thee despair , and die ! + + +Sleep , Richmond , sleep in peace , and wake in joy ; +Good angels guard thee from the boar's annoy ! +Live , and beget a happy race of kings ! +Edward's unhappy sons do bid thee flourish . + + +Richard , thy wife , that wretched Anne thy wife , +That never slept a quiet hour with thee , +Now fills thy sleep with perturbations : +To-morrow in the battle think on me , +And fall thy edgeless sword : despair , and die ! + + +Thou quiet soul , sleep thou a quiet sleep ; +Dream of success and happy victory ! +Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee . + + +The first was I that help'd thee to the crown ; +The last was I that felt thy tyranny . +O ! in the battle think on Buckingham , +And die in terror of thy guiltiness ! +Dream on , dream on , of bloody deeds and death : +Fainting , despair ; despairing , yield thy breath ! + + +I died for hope ere I could lend thee aid : +But cheer thy heart , and be thou not dismay'd : +God and good angels fight on Richmond's side ; +And Richard falls in height of all his pride . + + +Give me another horse ! bind up my wounds ! +Have mercy , Jesu ! Soft ! I did but dream . +O coward conscience , how dost thou afflict me ! +The lights burn blue . It is now dead midnight . +Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh . +What ! do I fear myself ? there's none else by : +Richard loves Richard , that is , I am I . +Is there a murderer here ? No . Yes , I am : +Then fly : what ! from myself ? Great reason why : +Lest I revenge . What ! myself upon myself ? +Alack ! I love myself . Wherefore ? for any good +That I myself have done unto myself ? +O ! no : alas ! I rather hate myself +For hateful deeds committed by myself . +I am a villain . Yet I lie ; I am not . +Fool , of thyself speak well : fool , do not flatter . +My conscience hath a thousand several tongues , +And every tongue brings in a several tale , +And every tale condemns me for a villain . +Perjury , perjury , in the high'st degree : +Murder , stern murder , in the dir'st degree ; +All several sins , all us'd in each degree , +Throng to the bar , crying all , 'Guilty ! guilty !' +I shall despair . There is no creature loves me ; +And if I die , no soul will pity me : +Nay , wherefore should they , since that I myself +Find in myself no pity to myself ? +Methought the souls of all that I had murder'd +Came to my tent ; and every one did threat +To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard . + + +My lord ! + +'Zounds ! who's there ? + +Ratcliff , my lord ; 'tis I . The early village cock +Hath twice done salutation to the morn ; +Your friends are up , and buckle on their armour . + +O Ratcliff ! I have dream'd a fearful dream . +What thinkest thou , will our friends prove all true ? + +No doubt , my lord . + +O Ratcliff ! I fear , I fear , + +Nay , good my lord , be not afraid of shadows . + +By the apostle Paul , shadows to-night +Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard +Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers +Armed in proof , and led by shallow Richmond . +It is not yet near day . Come , go with me ; +Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper , +To hear if any mean to shrink from me . + +Good morrow , Richmond ! + +Cry mercy , lords , and watchful gentlemen , +That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here . + +How have you slept , my lord ? + +The sweetest sleep , the fairest-boding dreams +That ever enter'd in a drowsy head , +Have I since your departure had , my lords . +Methought their souls , whose bodies Richard murder'd , +Came to my tent and cried on victory : +I promise you , my heart is very jocund +In the remembrance of so fair a dream . +How far into the morning is it , lords ? + +Upon the stroke of four . + +Why , then 'tis time to arm and give direction . +His oration to his Soldiers . +More than I have said , loving countrymen , +The leisure and enforcement of the time +Forbids to dwell on : yet remember this , +God and our good cause fight upon our side ; +The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls , +Like high-rear'd bulwarks , stand before our faces ; +Richard except , those whom we fight against +Had rather have us win than him they follow . +For what is he they follow ? truly , gentlemen , +A bloody tyrant and a homicide ; +One rais'd in blood , and one in blood establish'd ; +One that made means to come by what he hath , +And slaughter'd those that were the means to help him ; +A base foul stone , made precious by the foil +Of England's chair , where he is falsely set ; +One that hath ever been God's enemy . +Then , if you fight against God's enemy , +God will in justice , ward you as his soldiers ; +If you do sweat to put a tyrant down , +You sleep in peace , the tyrant being slain ; +If you do fight against your country's foes , +Your country's fat shall pay your pains the hire ; +If you do fight in safeguard of your wives , +Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors ; +If you do free your children from the sword , +Your children's children quit it in your age . +Then , in the name of God and all these rights , +Advance your standards , draw your willing swords . +For me , the ransom of my bold attempt +Shall be this cold corse on the earth's cold face ; +But if I thrive , the gain of my attempt +The least of your shall share his part thereof . +Sound drums and trumpets , boldly and cheerfully ; +God and Saint George ! Richmond and victory ! + +What said Northumberland as touching Richmond ? + +That he was never trained up in arms . + +He said the truth : and what said Surrey then ? + +He smil'd , and said , 'The better for our purpose .' + +He was i' the right ; and so , indeed , it is . + +Tell the clock there . Give me a calendar . +Who saw the sun to-day ? + +Not I , my lord . + +Then he disdains to shine ; for by the book +He should have brav'd the east an hour ago : +A black day will it be to somebody . +Ratcliff ! + +My lord ? + +The sun will not be seen to-day ; +The sky doth frown and lower upon our army . +I would these dewy tears were from the ground . +Not shine to-day ! Why , what is that to me +More than to Richmond ? for the self-same heaven +That frowns on me looks sadly upon him . + + +Arm , arm , my lord ! the foe vaunts in the field . + +Come , bustle , bustle ; caparison my horse . +Call up Lord Stanley , bid him bring his power : +I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain , +And thus my battle shall be ordered : +My foreward shall be drawn out all in length +Consisting equally of horse and foot ; +Our archers shall be placed in the midst : +John Duke of Norfolk , Thomas Earl of Surrey , +Shall have the leading of this foot and horse . +They thus directed , we will follow +In the main battle , whose puissance on either side +Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse . +This , and Saint George to boot ! What think'st thou , Norfolk ? + +A good direction , war-like sovereign . +This found I on my tent this morning . + + +Jockey of Norfolk , be not too bold , +For Dickon thy master is bought and sold . +A thing devised by the enemy . +Go , gentlemen ; every man to his charge : +Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls ; +Conscience is but a word that cowards use , +Devis'd at first to keep the strong in awe : +Our strong arms be our conscience , swords our law . +March on , join bravely , let us to 't pell-mell ; +If not to heaven , then hand in hand to hell . +His oration to his Army . +What shall I say more than I have inferr'd ? +Remember whom you are to cope withal : +A sort of vagabonds , rascals , and run-aways , +A scum of Bretons and base lackey peasants , +Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth +To desperate adventures and assur'd destruction . +You sleeping safe , they bring you to unrest ; +You having lands , and bless'd with beauteous wives , +They would restrain the one , distain the other . +And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow , +Long kept in Britaine at our mother's cost ? +A milksop , one that never in his life +Felt so much cold as over shoes in snow ? +Let's whip these stragglers o'er the sea again ; +Lash hence these overweening rags of France , +These famish'd beggars , weary of their lives ; +Who , but for dreaming on this fond exploit , +For want of means , poor rats , had hang'd themselves : +If we be conquer'd , let men conquer us , +And not these bastard Bretons ; whom our fathers +Have in their own land beaten , bobb'd , and thump'd , +And , on record , left them the heirs of shame . +Shall these enjoy our lands ? lie with our wives ? +Ravish our daughters ? + +Hark ! I hear their drum . +Fight , gentlemen of England ! fight , bold yeomen ! +Draw , archers , draw your arrows to the head ! +Spur your proud horses hard , and ride in blood ; +Amaze the welkin with your broken staves ! + +What says Lord Stanley ? will he bring his power ? + +My lord , he doth deny to come . + +Off with his son George's head ! + +My lord , the enemy is pass'd the marsh : +After the battle let George Stanley die . + +A thousand hearts are great within my bosom : +Advance our standards ! set upon our foes ! +Our ancient word of courage , fair Saint George , +Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons ! +Upon them ! Victory sits upon our helms . + + +Rescue , my Lord of Norfolk ! rescue , rescue ! +The king enacts more wonders than a man , +Daring an opposite to every danger : +His horse is slain , and all on foot he fights , +Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death . +Rescue , fair lord , or else the day is lost ! + + +A horse ! a horse ! my kingdom for a horse ! + +Withdraw , my lord ; I'll help you to a horse . + +Slave ! I have set my life upon a cast , +And I will stand the hazard of the die . +I think there be six Richmonds in the field ; +Five have I slain to-day , instead of him . +A horse ! a horse ! my kingdom for a horse ! + +God and your arms be prais'd , victorious friends ; +The day is ours , the bloody dog is dead . + +Courageous Richmond , well hast thou acquit thee ! +Lo ! here , this long-usurped royalty +From the dead temples of this bloody wretch +Have I pluck'd off , to grace thy brows withal : +Wear it , enjoy it , and make much of it . + +Great God of heaven , say amen to all ! +But , tell me , is young George Stanley living ? + +He is , my lord , and safe in Leicester town ; +Whither , if you please , we may withdraw us . + +What men of name are slain on either side ? + +John Duke of Norfolk , Walter Lord Ferrers , +Sir Robert Brakenbury , and Sir William Brandon . + +Inter their bodies as becomes their births : +Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fied +That in submission will return to us ; +And then , as we have ta'en the sacrament , +We will unite the white rose and the red : +Smile , heaven , upon this fair conjunction , +That long hath frown'd upon their enmity ! +What traitor hears me , and says not amen ? +England hath long been mad , and scarr'd herself ; +The brother blindly shed the brother's blood , +The father rashly slaughter'd his own son , +The son , compell'd , been butcher to the sire : +All this divided York and Lancaster , +Divided in their dire division , +O ! now , let Richmond and Elizabeth , +The true succeeders of each royal house , +By God's fair ordinance conjoin together ; +And let their heirs God , if thy will be so , +Enrich the time to come with smooth-fac'd peace , +With smiling plenty , and fair prosperous days ! +Abate the edge of traitors , gracious Lord , +That would reduce these bloody days again , +And make poor England weep in streams of blood ! +Let them not live to taste this land's increase , +That would with treason wound this fair land's peace ! +Now civil wounds are stopp'd , peace lives again : +That she may long live here , God say amen ! + +ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA + +Nay , but this dotage of our general's +O'erflows the measure ; those his goodly eyes , +That o'er the files and musters of the war +Have glow'd like plated Mars , now bend , now turn +The office and devotion of their view +Upon a tawny front ; his captain's heart , +Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst +The buckles on his breast , reneges all temper , +And is become the bellows and the fan +To cool a gipsy's lust . Look ! where they come . + + +Take but good note , and you shall see in him +The triple pillar of the world transform'd + +Into a strumpet's fool ; behold and see . + +If it be love indeed , tell me how much . + +There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd . + +I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd . + +Then must thou needs find out new heaven , new earth . + + +News , my good lord , from Rome . + +Grates me ; the sum . + +Nay , hear them , Antony : +Fulvia , perchance , is angry ; or , who knows +If the scarce-bearded C sar have not sent +His powerful mandate to you , 'Do this , or this ; +Take in that kingdom , and enfranchise that ; +Perform 't , or else we damn thee .' + +How , my love ! + +Perchance ! nay , and most like ; +You must not stay here longer ; your dismission +Is come from C sar ; therefore hear it , Antony . +Where's Fulvia's process ? C sar's I would say ? both ? +Call in the messengers . As I am Egypt's queen , +Thou blushest , Antony , and that blood of thine +Is C sar's homager ; else so thy cheek pays shame +When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds . The messengers ! + +Let Rome in Tiber melt , and the wide arch +Of the rang'd empire fall ! Here is my space . +Kingdoms are clay ; our dungy earth alike +Feeds beast as man ; the nobleness of life +Is to do thus ; when such a mutual pair + +And such a twain can do 't , in which I bind , +On pain of punishment , the world to weet +We stand up peerless . + +Excellent falsehood ! +Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her ? +I'll seem the fool I am not ; Antony +Will be himself . + +But stirr'd by Cleopatra . +Now , for the love of Love and her soft hours , +Let's not confound the time with conference harsh : +There's not a minute of our lives should stretch +Without some pleasure now . What sport to-night ? + +Hear the ambassadors . + +Fie , wrangling queen ! +Whom every thing becomes , to chide , to laugh , +To weep ; whose every passion fully strives +To make itself , in thee , fair and admir'd . +No messenger , but thine ; and all alone , +To-night we'll wander through the streets and note +The qualities of people . Come , my queen ; +Last night you did desire it : speak not to us . + + +Is C sar with Antonius priz'd so slight ? + +Sir , sometimes , when he is not Antony , +He comes too short of that great property +Which still should go with Antony . + +I am full sorry +That he approves the common liar , who +Thus speaks of him at Rome ; but I will hope +Of better deeds to-morrow . Rest you happy ! + + +Lord Alexas , sweet Alexas , most any thing Alexas , almost most absolute Alexas , where's the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen ? O ! that I knew this husband , which , you say , must charge his horns with garlands . + +Soothsayer ! + +Your will ? + +Is this the man ? Is't you , sir , that know things ? + +In nature's infinite book of secrecy +A little I can read . + +Show him your hand . + + +Bring in the banquet quickly ; wine enough +Cleopatra's health to drink . + +Good sir , give me good fortune . + +I make not , but foresee . + +Pray then , foresee me one . + +You shall be yet far fairer than you are . + +He means in flesh . + +No , you shall paint when you are old . + +Wrinkles forbid ! + +Vex not his prescience ; be attentive . + +Hush ! + +You shall be more beloving than belov'd . + +I had rather heat my liver with drinking . + +Nay , hear him . + +Good now , some excellent fortune ! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon , and widow them all ; let me have a child at fifty , to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage ; find me to marry me with Octavius C sar , and companion me with my mistress . + +You shall outlive the lady whom you serve . + +O excellent ! I love long life better than figs . + +You have seen and prov'd a fairer former fortune +Than that which is to approach . + +Then , belike , my children shall have no names ; prithee , how many boys and wenches must I have ? + +If every of your wishes had a womb , +And fertile every wish , a million . + +Out , fool ! I forgive thee for a witch . + +You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes . + +Nay , come , tell Iras hers . + +We'll know all our fortunes . + +Mine , and most of our fortunes , to-night , shall be ,drunk to bed . + +There's a palm presages chastity , if nothing else . + +E'en as the overflowing Nilus presageth famine . + +Go , you wild bedfellow , you cannot soothsay . + +Nay , if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication , I cannot scratch mine ear . +Prithee , tell her but a worky-day fortune . + +Your fortunes are alike . + +But how ? but how ? give me particulars . + +I have said . + +Am I not an inch of fortune better than she ? + +Well , if you were but an inch of fortune better than I , where would you choose it ? + +Not in my husband's nose . + +Our worser thoughts heaven mend ! Alexas ,come , his fortune , his fortune . O ! let him marry a woman that cannot go , sweet Isis , I beseech thee ; and let her die too , and give him a worse ; and let worse follow worse , till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave , fifty-fold a cuckold ! Good Isis , hear me this prayer , though thou deny me a matter of more weight ; good Isis , I beseech thee ! + +Amen . Dear goddess , hear that prayer of the people ! for , as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived , so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded : therefore , dear Isis , keep decorum , and fortune him accordingly ! + +Amen . + +Lo , now ! if it lay in their hands to make me acuckold , they would make themselves whores , but they'd do't ! + +Hush ! here comes Antony . + +Not he ; the queen . + + +Saw you my lord ? + +No , lady . + +Was he not here ? + +No , madam . + +He was dispos'd to mirth ; but on the sudden +A Roman thought hath struck him . Enobarbus ! + +Madam ! + +Seek him , and bring him hither . Where's Alexas ? + +Here , at your service . My lord approaches . + + +We will not look upon him ; go with us . + + +Fulvia thy wife first came into the field . + +Against my brother Lucius ? + +Ay : +But soon that war had end , and the time's state +Made friends of them , jointing their force 'gainst C sar , +Whose better issue in the war , from Italy +Upon the first encounter drave them . + +Well , what worst ? + +The nature of bad news infects the teller . + +When it concerns the fool , or coward . On ; +Things that are past are done with me . 'Tis thus : +Who tells me true , though in his tale lay death , +I hear him as he flatter'd . + +Labienus +This is stiff news hath , with his Parthian force +Extended Asia ; from Euphrates +His conquering banner shook from Syria +To Lydia and to Ionia : whilst + +Antony , thou wouldst say , + +O ! my lord . + +Speak to me home , mince not the general tongue ; +Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome ; +Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase ; and taunt my faults +With such full licence as both truth and malice +Have power to utter . O ! then we bring forth weeds +When our quick winds lie still ; and our ills told us +Is as our earing . Fare thee well awhile . + +At your noble pleasure . + + +From Sicyon , ho , the news ! Speak there ! + +The man from Sicyon , is there such an one ? + +He stays upon your will . + +Let him appear . +These strong Egyptian fetters I must break , +Or lose myself in dotage . + +What are you ? + +Fulvia thy wife is dead . + +Where died she ? + +In Sicyon : +Her length of sickness , with what else more serious +Importeth thee to know , this bears . + + +Forbear me . + +There's a great spirit gone ! Thus did I desire it : +What our contempts do often hurl from us +We wish it ours again ; the present pleasure , +By revolution lowering , does become +The opposite of itself : she's good , being gone ; +The hand could pluck her back that shov'd her on . +I must from this enchanting queen break off ; +Ten thousand harms , more than the ills I know , +My idleness doth hatch . How now ! Enobarbus ! + + +What's your pleasure , sir ? + +I must with haste from hence . + +Why , then , we kill all our women . We see how mortal an unkindness is to them ; if they suffer our departure , death's the word . + +I must be gone . + +Under a compelling occasion let women die ; it were pity to cast them away for nothing ; though between them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing . Cleopatra , catching but the least noise of this , dies instantly ; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment . I do think there is mettle in death which commits some loving act upon her , she hath such a celerity in dying . + +She is cunning past man's thought . + +Alack ! sir , no ; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love . We cannot call her winds and waters sighs and tears ; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report : this cannot be cunning in her ; if it be , she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove . + +Would I had never seen her ! + +O , sir ! you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work which not to have been blessed withal would have discredited your travel . + +Fulvia is dead . + +Sir ? + +Fulvia is dead . + +Fulvia ! + +Dead . + +Why , sir , give the gods a thankful sacrifice . When it pleaseth their de ties to take the wife of a man from him , it shows to man the tailors of the earth ; comforting therein , that when old robes are worn out , there are members to make new . If there were no more women but Fulvia , then had you indeed a cut , and the case to be lamented : this grief is crowned with consolation ; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat ; and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow . + +The business she hath broached in the state +Cannot endure my absence . + +And the business you have broached here cannot be without you ; especially that of Cleopatra's , which wholly depends on your abode . + +No more light answers . Let our officers Have notice what we purpose . I shall break +The cause of our expedience to the queen , +And get her leave to part . For not alone +The death of Fulvia , with more urgent touches , +Do strongly speak to us , but the letters too +Of many our contriving friends in Rome +Petition us at home . Sextus Pompeius +Hath given the dare to C sar , and commands +The empire of the sea ; our slippery people +Whose love is never link'd to the deserver +Till his deserts are past begin to throw +Pompey the Great and all his dignities +Upon his son ; who , high in name and power , +Higher than both in blood and life , stands up +For the main soldier , whose quality , going on , +The sides o' the world may danger . Much is breeding , +Which , like the courser's hair , hath yet but life , +And not a serpent's poison . Say , our pleasure , +To such whose place is under us , requires +Our quick remove from hence . + +I shall do it . + + +Where is he ? + +I did not see him since . + +See where he is , who's with him , what he does ; +I did not send you : if you find him sad , +Say I am dancing ; if in mirth , report +That I am sudden sick : quick , and return . + + +Madam , methinks , if you did love him dearly , +You do not hold the method to enforce +The like from him . + +What should I do I do not ? + +In each thing give him way , cross him in nothing . + +Thou teachest like a fool ; the way to lose him . + +Tempt him not so too far ; I wish , forbear : +In time we hate that which we often fear . +But here comes Antony . + + +I am sick and sullen . + +I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose , + +Help me away , dear Charmian , I shall fall : +It cannot be thus long , the sides of nature +Will not sustain it . + +Now , my dearest queen , + +Pray you , stand further from me . + +What's the matter ? + +I know , by that same eye , there's some good news . +What says the married woman ? You may go : +Would she had never given you leave to come ! +Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here ; +I have no power upon you ; hers you are . + +The gods best know , + +O ! never was there queen +So mightily betray'd ; yet at the first +I saw the treasons planted . + +Cleopatra , + +Why should I think you can be mine and true , +Though you in swearing shake the throned gods , +Who have been false to Fulvia ? Riotous madness , +To be entangled with those mouth-made vows , +Which break themselves in swearing ! + +Most sweet queen , + +Nay , pray you , seek no colour for your going , +But bid farewell , and go : when you su'd staying +Then was the time for words ; no going then : +Eternity was in our lips and eyes , +Bliss in our brows bent ; none our parts so poor +But was a race of heaven ; they are so still , +Or thou , the greatest soldier of the world , +Art turn'd the greatest liar . + +How now , lady ! + +I would I had thy inches ; thou shouldst know +There were a heart in Egypt . + +Hear me , queen : +The strong necessity of time commands +Our services awhile , but my full heart +Remains in use with you . Our Italy +Shines o'er with civil swords ; Sextus Pompeius +Makes his approaches to the port of Rome ; +Equality of two domestic powers +Breeds scrupulous faction . The hated , grown to strength , +Are newly grown to love ; the condemn'd Pompey , +Rich in his father's honour , creeps apace +Into the hearts of such as have not thriv'd +Upon the present state , whose numbers threaten ; +And quietness , grown aick of rest , would purge +By any desperate change . My more particular , +And that which most with you should safe my going , +Is Fulvia's death . + +Though age from folly could not give me freedom , +It does from childishness : can Fulvia die ? + +She's dead , my queen : +Look here , and at thy sovereign leisure read +The garboils she awak'd ; at the last , best , +See when and where she died . + +O most false love ! +Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill +With sorrowful water ? Now I see , I see , +In Fulvia's death , how mine receiv'd shall be . + +Quarrel no more , but be prepar'd to know +The purposes I bear , which are or cease +As you shall give the advice . By the fire +That quickens Nilus' slime , I go from hence +Thy soldier , servant , making peace or war +As thou affect'st . + +Cut my lace , Charmian , come ; +But let it be : I am quickly ill , and well ; +So Antony loves . + +My precious queen , forbear , +And give true evidence to his love which stands +An honourable trial . + +So Fulvia told me . +I prithee , turn aside and weep for her ; +Then bid adieu to me , and say the tears +Belong to Egypt : good now , play one scene +Of excellent dissembling , and let it look +Like perfect honour . + +You'll heat my blood ; no more . + +You can do better yet , but this is meetly . + +Now , by my sword , + +And target . Still he mends ; +But this is not the best . Look , prithee , Charmian , +How this Herculean Roman does become +The carriage of his chafe . + +I'll leave you , lady . + +Courteous lord , one word . +Sir , you and I must part , but that 's not it : +Sir , you and I have lov'd , but there 's not it ; +That you know well : something it is I would , +O ! my oblivion is a very Antony , +And I am all forgotten . + +But that your royalty +Holds idleness your subject , I should take you +For idleness itself . + +'Tis sweating labour +To bear such idleness so near the heart +As Cleopatra this . But , sir , forgive me ; +Since my becomings kill me when they do not +Eye well to you : your honour calls you hence ; +Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly , +And all the gods go with you ! Upon your sword +Sit laurel victory ! and smooth success +Be strew'd before your feet ! + +Let us go . Come ; +Our separation so abides and flies , +That thou , residing here , go'st yet with me , +And I , hence fleeting , here remain with thee . +Away ! + + +You may see , Lepidus , and henceforth know , +It is not C sar's natural vice to hate +Our great competitor . From Alexandria +This is the news : he fishes , drinks , and wastes +The lamps of night in revel ; is not more manlike +Than Cleopatra , nor the queen of Ptolemy +More womanly than he ; hardly gave audience , or +Vouchsaf'd to think he had partners : you shall find there +A man who is the abstract of all faults +That all men follow . + +I must not think there are +Evils enow to darken all his goodness ; +His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven , +More fiery by night's blackness ; hereditary +Rather than purchas'd ; what he cannot change +Than what he chooses . + +You are too indulgent . Let us grant it is not +Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy , +To give a kingdom for a mirth , to sit +And keep the turn of tippling with a slave , +To reel the streets at noon , and stand the buffet +With knaves that smell of sweat ; say this becomes him , +As his composure must be rare indeed +Whom these things cannot blemish ,yet must Antony +No way excuse his soils , when we do bear +So great weight in his lightness . If he fill'd +His vacancy with his voluptuousness , +Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones +Call on him for 't ; but to confound such time +That drums him from his sport , and speaks as loud +As his own state and ours , 'tis to be chid +As we rate boys , who , being mature in knowledge , +Pawn their experience to their present pleasure , +And so rebel to judgment . + + +Here's more news . + +Thy biddings have been done , and every hour , +Most noble C sar , shalt thou have report +How 'tis abroad . Pompey is strong at sea , +And it appears he is belov'd of those +That only have fear'd C sar ; to the ports +The discontents repair , and men's reports +Give him much wrong'd . + +I should have known no less . +It hath been taught us from the primal state , +That he which is was wish'd until he were ; +And the ebb'd man , ne'er lov'd till ne'er worth love , +Comes dear'd by being lack'd . This common body , +Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream , +Goes to and back , lackeying the varying tide , +To rot itself with motion . + +C sar , I bring thee word , +Menecrates and Menas , famous pirates , +Make the sea serve them , which they ear and wound +With keels of every kind : many hot inroads +They make in Italy ; the borders maritime +Lack blood to think on't , and flush youth revolt ; +No vessel can peep forth , but 'tis as soon +Taken as seen ; for Pompey's name strikes more +Than could his war resisted . + +Antony , +Leave thy lascivious wassails . When thou once +Wast beaten from Modena , where thou slew'st +Hirtius and Pansa , consuls , at thy heel +Did famine follow , whom thou fought'st against , +Though daintily brought up , with patience more +Than savages could suffer ; thou didst drink +The stale of horses and the gilded puddle +Which beasts would cough at ; thy palate then did deign +The roughest berry on the rudest hedge ; +Yea , like the stag , when snow the pasture sheets , +The barks of trees thou browsed'st ; on the Alps +It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh , +Which some did die to look on ; and all this +It wounds thy honour that I speak it now +Was borne so like a soldier , that thy cheek +So much as lank'd not . + +'Tis pity of him . + +Let his shames quickly +Drive him to Rome . 'Tis time we twain +Did show ourselves i' the field ; and to that end +Assemble me immediate council ; Pompey +Thrives in our idleness . + +To-morrow , C sar , +I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly +Both what by sea and land I can be able +To front this present time . + +Till which encounter , +It is my business too . Farewell . + +Farewell , my lord . What you shall know meantime +Of stirs abroad , I shall beseech you , sir , +To let me be partaker . + +Doubt not , sir ; +I knew it for my bond . + + +Charmian ! + +Madam ! + +Ha , ha ! +Give me to drink mandragora . + +Why , madam ? + +That I might sleep out this great gap of time +My Antony is away . + +You think of him too much . + +O ! 'tis treason . + +Madam , I trust , not so . + +Thou , eunuch Mardian ! + +What 's your highness' pleasure ? + +Not now to hear thee sing ; I take no pleasure +In aught a eunuch has . 'Tis well for thee , +That , being unseminar'd , thy freer thoughts +May not fly forth of Egypt . Hast thou affections ? + +Yes , gracious madam . + +Indeed ! + +Not in deed , madam ; for I can do nothing +But what in deed is honest to be done ; +Yet have I fierce affections , and think +What Venus did with Mars . + +O Charmian ! +Where think'st thou he is now ? Stands he , or sits he ? +Or does he walk ? or is he on his horse ? +O happy horse , to bear the weight of Antony ! +Do bravely , horse , for wot'st thou whom thou mov'st ? +The demi-Atlas of this earth , the arm +And burgonet of men . He's speaking now , +Or murmuring 'Where's my serpent of old Nile ?' +For so he calls me . Now I feed myself +With most delicious poison . Think on me , +That am with Ph bus' amorous pinches black , +And wrinkled deep in time ? Broad-fronted C sar , +When thou wast here above the ground I was +A morsel for a monarch , and great Pompey +Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow ; +There would he anchor his aspect and die +With looking on his life . + + +Sovereign of Egypt , hail ! + +How much unlike art thou Mark Antony ! +Yet , coming from him , that great medicine hath +With his tinct gilded thee . +How goes it with my brave Mark Antony ? + +Last thing he did , dear queen , +He kiss'd , the last of many doubled kisses , +This orient pearl . His speech sticks in my heart . + +Mine ear must pluck it thence . + +'Good friend ,' quoth he , +'Say , the firm Roman to great Egypt sends +This treasure of an oyster ; at whose foot , +To mend the petty present , I will piece +Her opulent throne with kingdoms ; all the east , +Say thou , shall call her mistress .' So he nodded , +And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed , +Who neigh'd so high that what I would have spoke +Was beastly dumb'd by him . + +What ! was he sad or merry ? + +Like to the time o' the year between the extremes +Of hot and cold ; he was nor sad nor merry . + +O well-divided disposition ! Note him , +Note him , good Charmian , 'tis the man ; but note him : +He was not sad , for he would shire on those +That make their looks by his ; he was not merry , +Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay +In Egypt with his joy ; but between both : +O heavenly mingle ! Be'st thou sad or merry , +The violence of either thee becomes , +So does it no man else . Mett'st thou my posts ? + +Ay , madam , twenty several messengers . +Why do you send so thick ? + +Who's born that day +When I forget to send to Antony , +Shall die a beggar . Ink and paper , Charmian . +Welcome , my good Alexas . Did I , Charmian , +Ever love C sar so ? + +O ! that brave C sar . + +Be chok'd with such another emphasis ! +Say the brave Antony . + +The valiant C sar ! + +By Isis , I will give thee bloody teeth , +If thou with C sar paragon again +My man of men . + +By your most gracious pardon , +I sing but after you . + +My salad days , +When I was green in judgment , cold in blood , +To say as I said then ! But come , away ; +Get me ink and paper : +He shall have every day a several greeting , +Or I'll unpeople Egypt . + +If the great gods be just , they shall assist +The deeds of justest men . + +Know , worthy Pompey , +That what they do delay , they not deny . + +Whiles we are suitors to their throne , decays +The thing we sue for . + +We , ignorant of ourselves , +Beg often our own harms , which the wise powers +Deny us for our good ; so find we profit +By losing of our prayers . + +I shall do well : +The people love me , and the sea is mine ; +My powers are crescent , and my auguring hope +Says it will come to the full . Mark Antony +In Egypt sits at dinner , and will make +No wars without doors ; C sar gets money where +He loses hearts ; Lepidus flatters both , +Of both is flatter'd ; but he neither loves , +Nor either cares for him . + +C sar and Lepidus +Are in the field ; a mighty strength they carry . + +Where have you this ? 'tis false . + +From Silvius , sir . + +He dreams ; I know they are in Rome together , +Looking for Antony . But all the charms of love , +Salt Cleopatra , soften thy wan'd lip ! +Let witchcraft join with beauty , lust with both ! +Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts , +Keep his brain fuming ; Epicurean cooks +Sharpen with cloyless sance his appetite , +That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour +Even till a Lethe'd dulness ! + +How now , Varrius ! + +This is most certain that I shall deliver : +Mark Antony is every hour in Rome +Expected ; since he went from Egypt 'tis +A space for further travel . + +I could have given less matter +A better ear . Menas , I did not think +This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm +For such a petty war ; his soldiership +Is twice the other twain . But let us rear +The higher our opinion , that our stirring +Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck +The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony . + +I cannot hope +C sar and Antony shall well greet together ; +His wife that's dead did trespasses to C sar , +His brother warr'd upon him , although I think +Not mov'd by Antony . + +I know not , Menas , +How lesser enmities may give way to greater . +Were 't not that we stand up against them all +'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves , +For they have entertained cause enough +To draw their swords ; but how the fear of us +May cement their divisions and bind up +The petty difference , we yet not know . +Be it as our gods will have 't ! It only stands +Our lives upon , to use our strongest hands . +Come , Menas . + + +Good Enobarbus , 'tis a worthy deed , +And shall become you well , to entreat your captain +To soft and gentle speech . + +I shall entreat him +To answer like himself : if C sar move him , +Let Antony look over C sar's head , +And speak as loud as Mars . By Jupiter , +Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard , +I would not shave 't to-day . + +'Tis not a time +For private stomaching . + +Every time +Serves for the matter that is then born in 't . + +But small to greater matters must give way . + +Not if the small come first . + +Your speech is passion ; +But , pray you , stir no embers up . Here comes +The noble Antony . + + +And yonder , C sar . + + +If we compose well here , to Parthia : +Hark ye , Ventidius . + +I do not know , +Mec nas ; ask Agrippa . + +Noble friends , +That which combin'd us was most great , and let not +A leaner action rend us . What's amiss , +May it be gently heard ; when we debate +Our trivial difference loud , we do commit +Murder in healing wounds ; then , noble partners , +The rather for I earnestly beseech , +Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms , +Nor curstness grow to the matter . + +'Tis spoken well . +Were we before our armies , and to fight , +I should do thus . + +Welcome to Rome . + +Thank you . + +Sit . + +Sit , sir . + +Nay , then . + +I learn , you take things ill which are not so , +Or being , concern you not . + +I must be laugh'd at +If , or for nothing or a little , I +Should say myself offended , and with you +Chiefly i' the world ; more laugh'd at that I should +Once name you derogately , when to sound your name +It not concern'd me . + +My being in Egypt , C sar , +What was 't to you ? + +No more than my residing here at Rome +Might be to you in Egypt ; yet , if you there +Did practise on my state , your being in Egypt +Might be my question . + +How intend you , practis'd ? + +You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent +By what did here befall me . Your wife and brother +Made wars upon me , and their contestation +Was theme for you , you were the word of war . + +You do mistake your business ; my brother never +Did urge me in his act : I did inquire it ; +And have my learning from some true reports , +That drew their swords with you . Did he not rather +Discredit my authority with yours , +And make the wars alike against my stomach , +Having alike your cause ? Of this my letters +Before did satisfy you . If you'll patch a quarrel , +As matter whole you n' have to make it with , +It must not be with this . + +You praise yourself +By laying defects of judgment to me , but +You patch'd up your excuses . + +Not so , not so ; +I know you could not lack , I am certain on 't , +Very necessity of this thought , that I , +Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought , +Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars +Which fronted mine own peace . As for my wife , +I would you had her spirit in such another : +The third o' the world is yours , which with a snaffle +You may pace easy , but not such a wife . + +Would we had all such wives , that the men might go to wars with the women ! + +So much uncurbable , her garboils , C sar , +Made out of her impatience ,which not wanted +Shrewdness of policy too ,I grieving grant +Did you too much disquiet ; for that you must +But say I could not help it . + +I wrote to you +When rioting in Alexandria ; you +Did pocket up my letters , and with taunts +Did gibe my missive out of audience . + +Sir , +He fell upon me , ere admitted : then +Three kings I had newly feasted , and did want +Of what I was i' the morning ; but next day +I told him of myself , which was as much +As to have ask'd him pardon . Let this fellow +Be nothing of our strife ; if we contend , +Out of our question wipe him . + +You have broken +The article of your oath , which you shall never +Have tongue to charge me with . + +Soft , C sar ! + +No , +Lepidus , let him speak : +The honour's sacred which he talks on now , +Supposing that I lack'd it . But on , C sar ; +The article of my oath . + +To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd them , +The which you both denied . + +Neglected , rather ; +And then , when poison'd hours had bound me up +From mine own knowledge . As nearly as I may , +I'll play the penitent to you ; but mine honesty +Shall not make poor my greatness , nor my power +Work without it . Truth is , that Fulvia , +To have me out of Egypt , made wars here ; +For which myself , the ignorant motive , do +So far ask pardon as befits mine honour +To stoop in such a case . + +'Tis noble spoken . + +If it might please you , to enforce no further +The griefs between ye : to forget them quite +Were to remember that the present need +Speaks to atone you . + +Worthily spoken , Mec nas . + +Or , if you borrow one another's love for the instant , you may , when you hear no more words of Pompey , return it again : you shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do . + +Thou art a soldier only ; speak no more . + +That truth should be silent I had almost forgot . + +You wrong this presence ; therefore speak no more . + +Go to , then ; your considerate stone . + +I do not much dislike the matter , but +The manner of his speech ; for it cannot be +We shall remain in friendship , our conditions +So differing in their acts . Yet , if I knew +What hoop should hold us stanch , from edge to edge +O' the world I would pursue it . + +Give me leave , C sar . + +Speak , Agrippa . + +Thou hast a sister by the mother's side , +Admir'd Octavia ; great Mark Antony +Is now a widower . + +Say not so , Agrippa : +If Cleopatra heard you , your reproof +Were well deserv'd of rashness . + +I am not married , C sar ; let me hear +Agrippa further speak . + +To hold you in perpetual amity , +To make you brothers , and to knit your hearts +With an unslipping knot , take Antony +Octavia to his wife ; whose beauty claims +No worse a husband than the best of men , +Whose virtue and whose general graces speak +That which none else can utter . By this marriage , +All little jealousies which now seem great , +And all great fears which now import their dangers , +Would then be nothing ; truths would be but tales +Where now half tales be truths ; her love to both +Would each to other and all loves to both +Draw after her . Pardon what I have spoke , +For 'tis a studied , not a present thought , +By duty ruminated . + +Will C sar speak ? + +Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd +With what is spoke already . + +What power is in Agrippa , +If I would say , 'Agrippa , be it so ,' +To make this good ? + +The power of C sar , and +His power unto Octavia . + +May I never +To this good purpose , that so fairly shows , +Dream of impediment ! Let me have thy hand ; +Further this act of grace , and from this hour +The heart of brothers govern in our loves +And sway our great designs ! + +There is my hand . +A sister I bequeath you , whom no brother +Did ever love so dearly ; let her live +To join our kingdoms and our hearts , and never +Fly off our loves again ! + +Happily , amen ! + +I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey , +For he hath laid strange courtesies and great +Of late upon me ; I must thank him only , +Lest my remembrance suffer ill report ; +At heel of that , defy him . + +Time calls upon 's : +Of us must Pompey presently be sought , +Or else he seeks out us . + +Where lies he ? + +About the Mount Misenum . + +What's his strength +By land ? + +Great and increasing ; but by sea +He is an absolute master . + +So is the fame . +Would we had spoke together ! Haste we for it ; +Yet , ere we put ourselves in arms , dispatch we +The business we have talk'd of . + +With most gladness ; +And do invite you to my sister's view , +Whither straight I'll lead you . + +Let us , Lepidus , +Not lack your company . + +Noble Antony , +Not sickness should detain me . + + +Welcome from Egypt , sir . + +Half the heart of C sar , worthy Mec nas ! My honourable friend , Agrippa ! + +Good Enobarbus ! + +We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested . You stayed well by 't in +Egypt . + +Ay , sir ; we did sleep day out of countenance , and made the night light with drinking . + +Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast , and but twelve persons there ; is this true ? + +This was but as a fly by an eagle ; we had much more monstrous matter of feast , which worthily deserved noting . + +She's a most triumphant lady , if report be square to her . + +When she first met Mark Antony she pursed up his heart , upon the river of Cydnus . + +There she appeared indeed , or my reporter devised well for her . + +I will tell you . +The barge she sat in , like a burnish'd throne , +Burn'd on the water ; the poop was beaten gold , +Purple the sails , and so perfumed , that +The winds were love-sick with them , the oars were silver , +Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke , and made +The water which they beat to follow faster , +As amorous of their strokes . For her own person , +It beggar'd all description ; she did lie +In her pavilion ,cloth-of-gold of tissue , +O'er-picturing that Venus where we see +The fancy outwork nature ; on each side her +Stood pretty-dimpled boys , like smiling Cupids , +With divers-colour'd fans , whose wind did seem +To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool , +And what they undid did . + +O ! rare for Antony . + +Her gentlewomen , like the Nereides , +So many mermaids , tended her i' the eyes , +And made their bends adornings ; at the helm +A seeming mermaid steers ; the silken tackle +Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands , +That yarely frame the office . From the barge +A strange invisible perfume hits the sense +Of the adjacent wharfs . The city cast +Her people out upon her , and Antony , +Enthron'd i' the market-place , did sit alone , +Whistling to the air ; which , but for vacancy , +Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too +And made a gap in nature . + +Rare Egyptian ! + +Upon her landing , Antony sent to her , +Invited her to supper ; she replied +It should be better he became her guest , +Which she entreated . Our courteous Antony , +Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak , +Being barber'd ten times o'er , goes to the feast , +And , for his ordinary pays his heart +For what his eyes eat only . + +Royal wench ! +She made great C sar lay his sword to bed ; +He plough'd her , and she cropp'd . + +I saw her once +Hop forty paces through the public street ; +And having lost her breath , she spoke , and panted +That she did make defect perfection , +And , breathless , power breathe forth . + +Now Antony must leave her utterly . + +Never ; he will not : +Age cannot wither her , nor custom stale +Her infinite variety ; other women cloy +The appetites they feed , but she makes hungry +Where most she satisfies ; for vilest things +Become themselves in her , that the holy priests +Bless her when she is riggish . + +If beauty , wisdom , modesty , can settle +The heart of Antony , Octavia is +A blessed lottery to him . + +Let us go . +Good Enobarbus , make yourself my guest +Whilst you abide here . + +Humbly , sir , I thank you . + + +The world and my great office will sometimes +Divide me from your bosom . + +All which time +Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers +To them for you . + +Good night , sir . My Octavia , +Read not my blemishes in the world's report ; +I have not kept my square , but that to come +Shall all be done by the rule . Good night , dear lady . + +Good night , sir . + +Good night . + +Now , sirrah ; you do wish yourself in Egypt ? + +Would I had never come from thence , nor you +Thither ! + +If you can , your reason ? + +I see it in +My motion , have it not in my tongue : but yet +Hie you to Egypt again . + +Say to me , +Whose fortunes shall rise higher , C sar's or mine ? + +C sar's . +Therefore , O Antony ! stay not by his side ; +Thy demon that's thy spirit which keeps thee ,is +Noble , courageous , high , unmatchable , +Where C sar's is not ; but near him thy angel +Becomes a fear , as being o'erpower'd ; therefore +Make space enough between you . + +Speak this no more . + +To none but thee ; no more but when to thee . +If thou dost play with him at any game +Thou art sure to lose , and , of that natural luck , +He beats thee 'gainst the odds ; thy lustre thickens +When he shines by . I say again , thy spirit +Is all afraid to govern thee near him , +But he away , 'tis noble . + +Get thee gone : +Say to Ventidius I would speak with him . + +He shall to Parthia . Be it art or hap +He hath spoken true ; the very dice obey him . +And in our sports my better cunning faints +Under his chance ; if we draw lots he speeds , +His cocks do win the battle still of mine +When it is all to nought , and his quails ever +Beat mine , inhoop'd , at odds . I will to Egypt ; +And though I make this marriage for my peace , +I' the east my pleasure lies . + + +O ! come , Ventidius , +You must to Parthia ; your commission's ready ; +Follow me , and receive 't . + +Trouble yourselves no further ; pray you hasten +Your generals after . + +Sir , Mark Antony +Will e'en but kiss Octavia , and we'll follow . + +Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress , +Which will become you both , farewell . + +We shall , +As I conceive the journey , be at the Mount +Before you , Lepidus . + +Your way is shorter ; +My purposes to draw me much about : +You 'll win two days upon me . + +Sir , good success ! + +Sir , good success ! + +Farewell . + + +Give me some music ; music , moody food +Of us that trade in love . + +The music , ho ! + + +Let it alone ; let 's to billiards : come , Charmian . + +My arm is sore ; best play with Mardian . + +As well a woman with a eunuch play'd +As with a woman . Come , you 'll play with me , sir ? + +As well as I can , madam . + +And when good will is show'd , though't come too short , +The actor may plead pardon . I 'll none now . +Give me mine angle ; we'll to the river : there +My music playing far off I will betray +Tawny-finn'd fishes ; my bended hook shall pierce +Their slimy jaws ; and , as I draw them up , +I'll think them every one an Antony , +And say , 'Ah , ha !' you're caught . + +'Twas merry when +You wager'd on your angling ; when your diver +Did hang a salt-fish on his hook , which he +With fervency drew up . + +That time O times ! +I laugh'd him out of patience ; and that night +I laugh'd him into patience : and next morn , +Ere the ninth hour , I drunk him to his bed ; +Then put my tires and mantles on him , whilst +I wore his sword Philippan . + + +O ! from Italy ; +Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears , + +That long time have been barren . + +Madam , madam , + +Antony's dead ! if thou say so , villain , +Thou kill'st thy mistress ; but well and free , +If thou so yield him , there is gold , and here +My bluest veins to kiss ; a hand that kings +Have lipp'd , and trembled kissing . + +First , madam , he is well . + +Why , there's more gold . +But , sirrah , mark , we use +To say the dead are well : bring it to that , +The gold I give thee will I melt , and pour +Down thy ill-uttering throat . + +Good madam , hear me . + +Well , go to , I will ; +But there's no goodness in thy face ; if Antony +Be free and healthful , so tart a favour +To trumpet such good tidings ! if not well , +Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes , +Not like a formal man . + +Will't please you hear me ? + +I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st : +Yet , if thou say Antony lives , is well , +Or friends with C sar , or not captive to him , +I'll set thee in a shower of gold , and hail +Rich pearls upon thee . + +Madam , he's well . + +Well said . + +And friends with C sar . + +Thou'rt an honest man . + +C sar and he are greater friends than ever . + +Make thee a fortune from me . + +But yet , madam , + +I do not like 'but yet ,' it does allay +The good precedence ; fie upon 'but yet !' +'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth +Some monstrous malefactor . Prithee , friend , +Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear , +The good and bad together . He's friends with C sar ; +In state of health , thou sayst ; and thou sayst , free . + +Free , madam ! no ; I made no such report : +He's bound unto Octavia . + +For what good turn ? + +For the best turn i' the bed . + +I am pale , Charmian ! + +Madam , he's married to Octavia . + +The most infectious pestilence upon thee ! + + +Good madam , patience . + +What say you ? Hence , + +Horrible villain ! or I'll spurn thine eyes +Like balls before me ; I'll unhair thy head : + +Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire , and stew'd in brine , +Smarting in lingering pickle . + +Gracious madam , +I , that do bring the news made not the match . + +Say 'tis not so , a province I will give thee , +And make thy fortunes proud ; the blow thou hadst +Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage , +And I will boot thee with what gift beside +Thy modesty can beg . + +He's married , madam . + +Rogue ! thou hast liv'd too long . + + +Nay , then I'll run . +What mean you , madam ? I have made no fault . + + +Good madam , keep yourself within yourself ; +The man is innocent . + +Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt . +Melt Egypt into Nile ! and kindly creatures +Turn all to serpents ! Call the slave again : +Though I am mad , I will not bite him . Call . + +He is afeard to come . + +I will not hurt him . + +These hands do lack nobility , that they strike +A meaner than myself ; since I myself +Have given myself the cause . + + +Come hither , sir . +Though it be honest , it is never good +To bring bad news ; give to a gracious message +A host of tongues , but let ill tidings tell + +Themselves when they be felt . + +I have done my duty . + +Is he married ? +I cannot hate thee worser than I do +If thou again say 'Yes .' + +He's married , madam . + +The gods confound thee ! dost thou hold there still ? + +Should I lie , madam ? + +O ! I would thou didst , +So half my Egypt were submerg'd and made +A cistern for scal'd snakes . Go , get thee hence ; +Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face , to me +Thou wouldst appear most ugly . He is married ? + +I crave your highness' pardon . + +He is married ? + +Take no offence that I would not offend you ; +To punish me for what you make me do +Seems much unequal ; he's married to Octavia . + +O ! that his fault should make a knave of thee , +That art not what thou'rt sure of . Get thee hence ; +The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome +Are all too dear for me ; lie they upon thy hand +And be undone by 'em ! + + +Good your highness , patience . + +In praising Antony I have disprais'd C sar . + +Many times , madam . + +I am paid for 't now . +Lead me from hence ; +I faint . O Iras ! Charmian ! 'Tis no matter . +Go to the fellow , good Alexas ; bid him +Report the feature of Octavia , her years , +Her inclination , let him not leave out +The colour of her hair : bring me word quickly . + +Let him forever go :let him not Charmian ! +Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon , +The other way's a Mars . + +Bid you Alexas +Bring me word how tall she is . Pity me , Charmian , +But do not speak to me . Lead me to my chamber . + + +Your hostages I have , so have you mine ; +And we shall talk before we fight . + +Most meet +That first we come to words , and therefore have we +Our written purposes before us sent ; +Which if thou hast consider'd , let us know +If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword , +And carry back to Sicily much tall youth +That else must perish here . + +To you all three , +The senators alone of this great world , +Chief factors for the gods , I do not know +Wherefore my father should revengers want , +Having a son and friends ; since Julius C sar , +Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted , +There saw you labouring for him . What was 't +That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire ? and what +Made the all-honour'd , honest Roman , Brutus , +With the arm'd rest , courtiers of beauteous freedom , +To drench the Capitol , but that they would +Have one man but a man ? And that is it +Hath made me rig my navy , at whose burden +The anger'd ocean foams , with which I meant +To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome +Cast on my noble father . + +Take your time . + +Thou canst not fear us , Pompey , with thy sails ; +We 'll speak with thee at sea : at land , thou know'st +How much we do o'er-count thee . + +At land , indeed , +Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house ; +But , since the cuckoo builds not for himself , +Remain in 't as thou mayst . + +Be pleas'd to tell us +For this is from the present how you take +The offers we have sent you . + +There's the point . + +Which do not be entreated to , but weigh +What it is worth embrac'd . + +And what may follow , +To try a larger fortune . + +You have made me offer +Of Sicily , Sardinia ; and I must +Rid all the sea of pirates ; then , to send +Measures of wheat to Rome ; this 'greed upon , +To part with unhack'd edges , and bear back +Our targets undinted . + +That's our offer . + +That's our offer . + +That's our offer . + +Know , then , +I came before you here a man prepar'd +To take this offer ; but Mark Antony +Put me to some impatience . Though I lose +The praise of it by telling , you must know , +When C sar and your brother were at blows , +Your mother came to Sicily and did find +Her welcome friendly . + +I have heard it , Pompey ; +And am well studied for a liberal thanks +Which I do owe you . + +Let me have your hand : +I did not think , sir , to have met you here . + +The beds i' the east are soft ; and thanks to you , +That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither , +For I have gain'd by 't . + +Since I saw you last , +There is a change upon you . + +Well , I know not +What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face , +But in my bosom shall she never come +To make my heart her vassal . + +Well met here . + +I hope so , Lepidus . Thus we are agreed . +I crave our composition may be written +And seal'd between us . + +That 's the next to do . + +We'll feast each other ere we part ; and let's +Draw lots who shall begin . + +That will I , Pompey . + +No , Antony , take the lot : +But , first or last , your fine Egyptian cookery +Shall have the fame . I have heard that Julius C sar +Grew fat with feasting there . + +You have heard much . + +I have fair meanings , sir . + +And fair words to them . + +Then , so much have I heard ; +And I have heard Apollodorus carried + +No more of that : he did so . + +What , I pray you ? + +A certain queen to C sar in a mattress . + +I know thee now ; how far'st thou , soldier ? + +Well ; +And well am like to do ; for I perceive +Four feasts are toward . + +Let me shake thy hand ; +I never hated thee . I have seen thee fight , +When I have envied thy behaviour . + +Sir , +I never lov'd you much , but I ha' prais'd ye +When you have well deserv'd ten times as much +As I have said you did . + +Enjoy thy plainness , +It nothing ill becomes thee . +Aboard my galley I invite you all : +Will you lead , lords ? + +Show us the way , sir . + +Show us the way , sir . + +Show us the way , sir . + +Come . + + +Thy father , Pompey , would ne'er have made this treaty . You and I have known , sir . + +At sea , I think . + +We have , sir . + +You have done well by water . + +And you by land . + +I will praise any man that will praise me ; though it cannot be denied what I have done by land . + +Nor what I have done by water . + +Yes , something you can deny for your own safety ; you have been a great thief by sea . + +And you by land . + +There I deny my land service . But give me your hand , Menas ; if our eyes had authority , here they might take two thieves kissing . + +All men's faces are true , whatsoe'er their hands are . + +But there is never a fair woman has a true face . + +No slander ; they steal hearts . + +We came hither to fight with you . + +For my part , I am sorry it is turned to a drinking . Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune . + +If he do , sure , he cannot weep it back again . + +You have said , sir . We looked not for Mark Antony here : pray you , is he married to Cleopatra ? + +C sar's sister is called Octavia . + +True , sir ; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus . + +But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius . + +Pray ye , sir ? + +'Tis true . + +Then is C sar and he for ever knit together . + +If I were bound to divine of this unity , I would not prophesy so . + +I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties . + +I think so too ; but you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity . Octavia is of a holy , cold , and still conversation . + +Who would not have his wife so ? + +Not he that himself is not so ; which is Mark Antony . He will to his Egyptian dish again ; then , shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in C sar , and , as I said before , that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance . Antony will use his affection where it is ; he married but his occasion here . + +And thus it may be . Come , sir , will you aboard ? I have a health for you . + +I shall take it , sir : we have used our throats in Egypt . + +Come ; let 's away . + + +Here they'll be , man . Some o' their plants are ill-rooted already ; the least wind i' the world will blow them down . + +Lepidus is high-coloured . + +They have made him drink alms-drink . + +As they pinch one another by the disposition , he cries out , 'No more ;' reconciles them to his entreaty , and himself to the drink . + +But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion . + +Why , this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship ; I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave . + +To be called into a huge sphere , and not to be seen to move in't , are the holes where eyes should be , which pitifully disaster the cheeks . + +Thus do they , sir . They take the flow o' the Nile +By certain scales i' the pyramid ; they know +By the height , the lowness , or the mean , if dearth +Or foison follow . The higher Nilus swells +The more it promises ; as it ebbs , the seedsman +Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain , +And shortly comes to harvest . + +You've strange serpents there . + +Ay , Lepidus . + +Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun ; so is your crocodile . + +They are so . + +Sit ,and some wine ! A health to Lepidus ! + +I am not so well as I should be , but I'll ne'er out . + +Not till you have slept ; I fear me you'll be in till then . + +Nay , certainly , I have heard the Ptolemies' pyramises are very goodly things ; without contradiction , I have heard that . + +Pompey , a word . + +Say in mine ear ; what is't ? + +Forsake thy seat , I do beseech thee , captain , +And bear me speak a word . + +Forbear me till anon . +This wine for Lepidus ! + +What manner o' thing is your crocodile ? + +It is shaped , sir , like itself , and it is as broad as it hath breadth ; it is just so high as it is , and moves with it own organs ; it lives by that which nourisheth it ; and the elements once out of it , it transmigrates . + +What colour is it of ? + +Of it own colour too . + +'Tis a strange serpent . + +'Tis so ; and the tears of it are wet . + +Will this description satisfy him ? + +With the health that Pompey gives him , else he is a very epicure . + +Go hang , sir , hang ! Tell me of that ? away ! +Do as I bid you . Where's this cup I call'd for ? + +If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me , +Rise from thy stool . + +I think thou'rt mad . The matter ? + + +I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes . + +Thou hast serv'd me with much faith . What 's else to say ? +Be jolly , lords . + +These quick-sands , Lepidus , +Keep off them , for you sink . + +Wilt thou be lord of all the world ? + +What sayst thou ? + +Wilt thou be lord of the whole world ? That 's twice . + +How should that be ? + +But entertain it , +And though thou think me poor , I am the man +Will give thee all the world . + +Hast thou drunk well ? + +No , Pompey , I have kept me from the cup . +Thou art , if thou dar'st be , the earthly Jove : +Whate'er the ocean pales , or sky inclips , +Is thine , if thou wilt ha 't . + +Show me which way . + +These three world-sharers , these competitors , +Are in thy vessel : let me cut the cable ; +And , when we are put off , fall to their throats : +All there is thine . + +Ah ! this thou shouldst have done , +And not have spoke on 't . In me 'tis villany ; +In thee 't had been good service . Thou must know +'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour ; +Mine honour it . Repent that e'er thy tongue +Hath so betray'd thine act ; being done unknown , +I should have found it afterwards well done , +But must condemn it now . Desist , and drink . + +For this , +I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more . +Who seeks , and will not take when once 'tis offer'd , +Shall never find it more . + +This health to Lepidus ! + +Bear him ashore . I'll pledge it for him , Pompey . + +Here's to thee , Menas ! + +Enobarbus , welcome ! + +Fill till the cup be hid . + +There's a strong fellow , Menas . + + +Why ? + +A' bears the third part of the world , man ; see'st not ? + +The third part then is drunk ; would it were all , +That it might go on wheels ! + +Drink thou ; increase the reels . + +Come . + +This is not yet an Alexandrian feast . + +It ripens towards it . Strike the vessels , ho ! +Here is to C sar ! + +I could well forbear't . +It's monstrous labour , when I wash my brain , +And it grows fouler . + +Be a child o' the time . + +Possess it , I'll make answer ; +But I had rather fast from all four days +Than drink so much in one . + +Ha ! my brave emperor ; +Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals , +And celebrate our drink ? + +Let 's ha 't , good soldier . + +Come , let 's all take hands , +Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense +In soft and delicate Lethe . + +All take hands . +Make battery to our ears with the loud music ; +The while I'll place you ; then the boy shall sing , +The holding every man shall bear as loud +As his strong sides can volley . + + +Come , thou monarch of the vine , +Plumpy Bacchus , with pink eyne ! +In thy fats our cares be drown'd , +With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd : +Cup us , till the world go round , +Cup us , till the world go round ! + +What would you more ? Pompey , good night . Good brother , +Let me request you off ; our graver business +Frowns at this levity . Gentle lords , let's part ; +You see we have burnt our cheeks ; strong Enobarb +Is weaker than the wine , and mine own tongue +Splits what it speaks ; the wild disguise hath almost +Antick'd us all . What needs more words ? Good night . +Good Antony , your hand . + +I'll try you on the shore . + +And shall , sir . Give's your hand . + +O , Antony ! +You have my father s house ,But , what ? we are friends . +Come down into the boat . + +Take heed you fall not . + +Menas , I'll not on shore . + +No , to my cabin . +These drums ! these trumpets , flutes ! what ! +Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell +To these great fellows : sound and be hang'd ! sound out ! + + +Hoo ! says a' . There's my cap . + +Hoo ! noble captain ! come . + + +Now , darting Parthia , art thou struck ; and now +Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death +Make me revenger . Bear the king's son's body +Before our army . Thy Pacorus , Orodes , +Pays this for Marcus Crassus . + +Noble Ventidius , +Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm , +The fugitive Parthians follow ; spur through Media , +Mesopotamia , and the shelters whither +The routed fly ; so thy grand captain Antony +Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and +Put garlands on thy head . + +O Silius , Silius ! +I have done enough ; a lower place , note well , +May make too great an act ; for learn this , Silius , +Better to leave undone than by our deed +Acquire too high a fame when him we serve's away . +C sar and Antony have ever won +More in their officer than person ; Sossius , +One of my place in Syria , his lieutenant , +For quick accumulation of renown , +Which he achiev'd by the minute , lost his favour . +Who does i' the wars more than his captain can +Becomes his captain's captain ; and ambition , +The soldier's virtue , rather makes choice of loss +Than gain which darkens him . +I could do more to do Antonius good , +But 'twould offend him ; and in his offence +Should my performance perish . + +Thou hast , Ventidius , that +Without the which a soldier , and his sword , +Grants scarce distinction . Thou wilt write to Antony ? + +I'll humbly signify what in his name , +That magical word of war , we have effected ; +How , with his banners and his well-paid ranks , +The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia +We have jaded out o' the field . + +Where is he now ? + +He purposeth to Athens ; whither , with what haste +The weight we must convey with 's will permit , +We shall appear before him . On , there ; pass along . + + +What ! are the brothers parted ? + +They have dispatch'd with Pompey ; he is gone ; +The other three are sealing . Octavia weeps +To part from Rome ; C sar is sad ; and Lepidus , +Since Pompey's feast , as Menas says , is troubled +With the green sickness . + +'Tis a noble Lepidus . + +A very fine one . O ! how he loves C sar . + +Nay , but how dearly he adores Mark Antony ! + +C sar ? Why , he's the Jupiter of men . + +What's Antony ? The god of Jupiter . + +Spake you of C sar ? How ! the non-pareil ! + +O , Antony ! O thou Arabian bird ! + +Would you praise C sar , say , 'C sar ,' go no further . + +Indeed , he plied them both with excellent praises . + +But he loves C sar best ; yet he loves Antony . +Hoo ! hearts , tongues , figures , scribes , bards , poets , cannot +Think , speak , cast , write , sing , number ; hoo ! +His love to Antony . But as for C sar , +Kneel down , kneel down , and wonder . + +Both he loves . + +They are his shards , and he their beetle . + + +So ; +This is to horse . Adieu , noble Agrippa . + +Good fortune , worthy soldier , and farewell . + + +No further , sir . + +You take from me a great part of myself ; +Use me well in't . Sister , prove such a wife +As my thoughts make thee , and as my furthest band +Shall pass on thy approof . Most noble Antony , +Let not the piece of virtue , which is set +Betwixt us as the cement of our love +To keep it builded , be the ram to batter +The fortress of it ; for better might we +Have lov'd without this mean , if on both parts +This be not cherish'd . + +Make me not offended +In your distrust . + +I have said . + +You shall not find , +Though you be therein curious , the least cause +For what you seem to fear . So , the gods keep you , +And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends ! +We will here part . + +Farewell , my dearest sister , fare thee well : +The elements be kind to thee , and make +Thy spirits all of comfort ! fare thee well . + +My noble brother ! + +The April's in her eyes ; it is love's spring , +And these the showers to bring it on . Be cheerful . + +Sir , look well to my husband's house ; and + +What , +Octavia ? + +I'll tell you in your ear . + +Her tongue will not obey her heart , nor can +Her heart obey her tongue ; the swan's downfeather , +That stands upon the swell at full of tide , +And neither way inclines . + +Will C sar weep ? + +He has a cloud in's face . + +He were the worse for that were he a horse ; +So is he , being a man . + +Why , Enobarbus , +When Antony found Julius C sar dead +He cried almost to roaring ; and he wept +When at Philippi he found Brutus slain . + +That year , indeed , he was troubled with a rheum ; +What willingly he did confound he wail'd , +Believe 't , till I wept too . + +No , sweet Octavia , +You shall hear from me still ; the time shall not +Out-go my thinking on you . + +Come , sir , come ; +I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love : +Look , here I have you ; thus I let you go , +And give you to the gods . + +Adieu ; be happy ! + +Let all the number of the stars give light +To thy fair way ! + +Farewell , farewell ! + + +Farewell ! + + +Where is the fellow ? + +Half afeard to come . + +Go to , go to . + +Come hither , sir . + +Good majesty , +Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you +But when you are well pleas'd . + +That Herod's head +I'll have ; but how , when Antony is gone +Through whom I might command it ? Come thou near . + +Most gracious majesty ! + +Didst thou behold +Octavia ? + +Ay , dread queen . + +Where ? + +Madam , in Rome ; +I look'd her in the face , and saw her led +Between her brother and Mark Antony . + +Is she as tall as me ? + +She is not , madam . + +Didst hear her speak ? is she shrill-tongu'd , or low ? + +Madam , I heard her speak ; she is low-voic'd . + +That's not so good . He cannot like her long . + +Like her ! O Isis ! 'tis impossible . + +I think so , Charmian : dull of tongue , and dwarfish ! +What majesty is in her gait ? Remember , +If e'er thou look'dst on majesty . + +She creeps ; +Her motion and her station are as one ; +She shows a body rather than a life , +A statue than a breather . + +Is this certain ? + +Or I have no observance . + +Three in Egypt +Cannot make better note . + +He's very knowing , +I do perceive 't . There's nothing in her yet . +The fellow has good judgment . + +Excellent . + +Guess at her years , I prithee . + +Madam , +She was a widow , + +Widow ! Charmian , hark . + +And I do think she's thirty . + +Bear'st thou her face in mind ? is't long or round ? + +Round even to faultiness . + +For the most part , too , they are foolish that are so . +Her hair , what colour ? + +Brown , madam ; and her forehead +As low as she would wish it . + +There's gold for thee : +Thou must not take my former sharpness ill . +I will employ thee back again ; I find thee +Most fit for business . Go , make thee ready ; +Our letters are prepar'd . + + +A proper man . + +Indeed , he is so ; I repent me much +That so I harried him . Why , methinks , by him , +This creature's no such thing . + +Nothing , madam . + +The man hath seen some majesty , and should know . + +Hath he seen majesty ? Isis else defend , +And serving you so long ! + +I have one thing more to ask him yet , good Charmian : +But 'tis no matter ; thou shalt bring him to me +Where I will write . All may be well enough . + +I warrant you , madam . + + +Nay , nay , Octavia , not only that , +That were excusable , that , and thousands more +Of semblable import , but he hath wag'd +New wars 'gainst Pompey ; made his will , and read it +To public ear : +Spoke scantly of me ; when perforce he could not +But pay me terms of honour , cold and sickly +He vented them ; most narrow measure lent me ; +When the best hint was given him , he not took 't , +Or did it from his teeth . + +O my good lord ! +Believe not all ; or , if you must believe , +Stomach not all . A more unhappy lady , +If this division chance , ne'er stood between , +Praying for both parts : +The good gods will mock me presently , +When I shall pray , 'O ! bless my lord and husband ;' +Undo that prayer , by crying out as loud , +'O ! bless my brother !' Husband win , win brother , +Prays , and destroys the prayer ; no midway +'Twixt these extremes at all . + +Gentle Octavia , +Let your best love draw to that point which seeks +Best to preserve it . If I lose mine honour +I lose myself ; better I were not yours +Than yours so branchless . But , as you requested , +Yourself shall go between's ; the mean time , lady , +I'll raise the preparation of a war +Shall stain your brother ; make your soonest haste , +So your desires are yours . + +Thanks to my lord . +The Jove of power make me most weak , most weak , +Your reconciler ! Wars 'twixt you twain would be +As if the world should cleave , and that slain men +Should solder up the rift . + +When it appears to you where this begins , +Turn your displeasure that way ; for our faults +Can never be so equal that your love +Can equally move with them . Provide your going ; +Choose your own company , and command what cost +Your heart has mind to . + + +How now , friend Eros ! + +There's strange news come , sir . + +What , man ? + +C sar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey . + +This is old : what is the success ? + +C sar , having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey , presently denied him rivality , would not let him partake in the glory of the action ; and not resting here , accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey ; upon his own appeal , seizes him : so the poor third is up , till death enlarge his confine . + +Then , world , thou hast a pair of chaps , no more ; +And throw between them all the food thou hast , +They'll grind the one the other . Where's Antony ? + +He's walking in the garden thus : and spurns +The rush that lies before him ; cries , 'Fool , Lepidus !' +And threats the throat of that his officer +That murder'd Pompey . + +Our great navy's rigg'd . + +For Italy and C sar . More , Domitius ; +My lord desires you presently : my news +I might have told hereafter . + +'Twill be naught ; +But let it be . Bring me to Antony . + +Come , sir . + + +Contemning Rome , he has done all this and more +In Alexandria ; here's the manner of 't ; +I' the market-place , on a tribunal silver'd , +Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold +Were publicly enthron'd ; at the feet sat +C sarion , whom they call my father's son , +And all the unlawful issue that their lust +Since then hath made between them . Unto her +He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt ; made her +Of Lower Syria , Cyprus , Lydia , +Absolute queen . + +This in the public eye ? + +I' the common show-place , where they exercise . +His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings ; +Great Media , Parthia , and Armenia +He gave to Alexander ; to Ptolemy he assign'd +Syria , Cilicia , and Ph nicia . She +In the habiliments of the goddess Isis +That day appear'd ; and oft before gave audience , +As 'tis reported , so . + +Let Rome be thus +Informed . + +Who , queasy with his insolence +Already , will their good thoughts call from him . + +The people know it ; and have now receiv'd +His accusations . + +Whom does he accuse ? + +C sar ; and that , having in Sicily +Sextus Pompeius spoil'd , we had not rated him +His part o' the isle ; then does he say , he lent me +Some shipping unrestor'd ; lastly , he frets +That Lepidus of the triumvirate +Should be depos'd ; and , being , that we detain +All his revenue . + +Sir , this should be answer'd . + +'Tis done already , and the messenger gone . +I have told him , Lepidus was grown too cruel ; +That he his high authority abus'd , +And did deserve his change : for what I have conquer'd , +I grant him part ; but then , in his Armenia , +And other of his conquer'd kingdoms , I +Demand the like . + +He'll never yield to that . + +Nor must not then be yielded to in this . + + +Hail , C sar , and my lord ! hail , most dear C sar ! + +That ever I should call thee cast-away ! + +You have not call'd me so , nor have you cause . + +Why have you stol'n upon us thus ? You come not +Like C sar's sister ; the wife of Antony +Should have an army for an usher , and +The neighs of horse to tell of her approach +Long ere she did appear ; the trees by the way +Should have borne men ; and expectation fainted , +Longing for what it had not ; nay , the dust +Should have ascended to the roof of heaven , +Rais'd by your populous troops . But you are come +A market-maid to Rome , and have prevented +The ostentation of our love , which , left unshown , +Is often left unlov'd : we should have met you +By sea and land , supplying every stage +With an augmented greeting . + +Good my lord , +To come thus was I not constrain'd , but did it +On my free-will . My lord , Mark Antony , +Hearing that you prepar'd for war , acquainted +My grieved ear withal ; whereon , I begg'd +His pardon for return . + +Which soon he granted , +Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him . + +Do not say so , my lord . + +I have eyes upon him , +And his affairs come to me on the wind . +Where is he now ? + +My lord , in Athens . + +No , my most wrong'd sister ; Cleopatra +Hath nodded him to her . He hath given his empire +Up to a whore ; who now are levying +The kings o' the earth for war . He hath assembled +Bocchus , the King of Libya ; Archelaus , +Of Cappadocia ; Philadelphos , King +Of Paphlagonia ; the Thracian king , Adallas ; +King Malchus of Arabia ; King of Pont ; +Herod of Jewry ; Mithridates , King +Of Comagene ; Polemon and Amintas , +The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia , +With a more larger list of sceptres . + +Ay me , most wretched , +That have my heart parted betwixt two friends +That do afflict each other ! + +Welcome hither : +Your letters did withhold our breaking forth , +Till we perceiv'd both how you were wrong led +And we in negligent danger . Cheer your heart ; +Be you not troubled with the time , which drives +O'er your content these strong necessities , +But let determin'd things to destiny +Hold unbewail'd their way . Welcome to Rome ; +Nothing more dear to me . You are abus'd +Beyond the mark of thought , and the high gods , +To do you justice , make their ministers +Of us and those that love you . Best of comfort , +And ever welcome to us . + +Welcome , lady . + +Welcome , dear madam . +Each heart in Rome does love and pity you ; +Only the adulterous Antony , most large +In his abominations , turns you off , +And gives his potent regiment to a trull , +That noises it against us . + +Is it so , sir ? + +Most certain . Sister , welcome ; pray you , +Be ever known to patience ; my dearest sister ! + + +I will be even with thee , doubt it not . + +But why , why , why ? + +Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars , +And sayst it is not fit . + +Well , is it , is it ? + +If not denounc'd against us , why should not we +Be there in person ? + +Well , I could reply : +If we should serve with horse and mares together , +The horse were merely lost ; the mares would bear +A soldier and his horse . + +What is 't you say ? + +Your presence needs must puzzle Antony ; +Take from his heart , take from his brain , from 's time , +What should not then be spar'd . He is already +Traduc'd for levity , and 'tis said in Rome +That Photinus a eunuch and your maids +Manage this war . + +Sink Rome , and their tongues rot +That speak against us ! A charge we bear i' the war , +And , as the president of my kingdom , will +Appear there for a man . Speak not against it ; +I will not stay behind . + +Nay , I have done . +Here comes the emperor . + + +Is it not strange , Canidius , +That from Tarentum and Brundusium +He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea , +And take in Toryne ? You have heard on 't , sweet ? + +Celerity is never more admir'd +Than by the negligent . + +A good rebuke , +Which might have well becom'd the best of men , +To taunt at slackness . Canidius , we +Will fight with him by sea . + +By sea ! What else ? + +Why will my lord do so ? + +For that he dares us to 't . + +So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight . + +Ay , and to wage his battle at Pharsalia , +Where C sar fought with Pompey ; but these offers , +Which serve not for his vantage , he shakes off ; +And so should you . + +Your ships are not well mann'd ; +Your mariners are muleters , reapers , people +Ingross'd by swift impress ; in C sar's fleet +Are those that often have gainst Pompey fought : +Their ships are yare ; yours , heavy . No disgrace +Shall fall you for refusing him at sea , +Being prepar'd for land . + +By sea , by sea . + +Most worthy sir , you therein throw away +The absolute soldiership you have by land ; +Distract your army , which doth most consist +Of war-mark'd footmen ; leave unexecuted +Your own renowned knowledge ; quite forego +The way which promises assurance ; and +Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard +From firm security . + +I'll fight at sea . + +I have sixty sails , C sar none better . + +Our overplus of shipping will we burn ; +And with the rest , full-mann'd , from the head of Actium +Beat the approaching C sar . But if we fail , +We then can do 't at land . + +Thy business ? + +The news is true , my lord ; he is descried ; +C sar has taken Toryne . + +Can he be there in person ? 'tis impossible ; +Strange that his power should be . Canidius , +Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land , +And our twelve thousand horse . We'll to our ship : +Away , my Thetis ! + +How now , worthy soldier ! + +O noble emperor ! do not fight by sea ; +Trust not to rotten planks : do you misdoubt +This sword and these my wounds ? Let the Egyptians +And the Ph nicians go a-ducking ; we +Have used to conquer , standing on the earth , +And fighting foot to foot . + +Well , well : away ! + + +By Hercules , I think I am i' the right . + +Soldier , thou art ; but his whole action grows +Not in the power on 't : so our leader's led , +And we are women's men . + +You keep by land +The legions and the horse whole , do you not ? + +Marcus Octavius , Marcus Justeius , +Publicola , and C lius , are for sea ; +But we keep whole by land . This speed of C sar's +Carries beyond belief . + +While he was yet in Rome +His power went out in such distractions as +Beguil'd all spies . + +Who's his lieutenant , hear you ? + +They say , one Taurus . + +Well I know the man . + + +The emperor calls Canidius . + +With news the time's with labour , and throes forth +Each minute some . + + +Taurus ! + +My lord ? + +Strike not by land ; keep whole : provoke not battle . +Till we have done at sea . Do not exceed +The prescript of this scroll : our fortune lies +Upon this jump . + +Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the hill , +In eye of C sar's battle ; from which place +We may the number of the ships behold , +And so proceed accordingly . + + +Naught , naught , all naught ! I can behold no longer . +The Antoniad , the Egyptian admiral , +With all their sixty , fly , and turn the rudder ; +To see 't mine eyes are blasted . + + +Gods and goddesses , +All the whole synod of them ! + +What's thy passion ? + +The greater cantle of the world is lost +With very ignorance ; we have kiss'd away +Kingdoms and provinces . + +How appears the fight ? + +On our side like the token'd pestilence , +Where death is sure . Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt , +Whom leprosy o'ertake ! i' the midst o' the fight , +When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd , +Both as the same , or rather ours the elder , +The breese upon her , like a cow in June , +Hoists sails and flies . + +That I beheld : +Mine eyes did sicken at the sight , and could not +Endure a further view . + +She once being loof'd , +The noble ruin of her magic , Antony , +Clapson his sea-wing , and like a doting mallard , +Leaving the fight in height , flies after her . +I never saw an action of such shame ; +Experience , manhood , honour , ne'er before +Did violate so itself . + +Alack , alack ! + + +Our fortune on the sea is out of breath , +And sinks most lamentably . Had our general +Been what he knew himself , it had gone well : +O ! he has given example for our flight +Most grossly by his own . + +Ay , are you thereabouts ? +Why , then , good night , indeed . + +Towards Peloponnesus are they fled . + +'Tis easy to 't ; and there I will attend +What further comes . + +To C sar will I render +My legions and my horse ; six kings already +Show me the way of yielding . + +I'll yet follow +The wounded chance of Antony , though my reason +Sits in the wind against me . + + +Hark ! the land bids me tread no more upon 't ; +It is asham'd to bear me . Friends , come hither : +I am so lated in the world that I +Have lost my way for ever . I have a ship +Laden with gold ; take that , divide it ; fly , +And make your peace with C sar . + +Fly ! not we . + +I have fled myself , and have instructed cowards +To run and show their shoulders . Friends , be gone ; +I have myself resolv'd upon a course +Which has no need of you ; be gone : +My treasure's in the harbour , take it . O ! +I follow'd that I blush to look upon : +My very hairs do mutiny , for the white +Reprove the brown for rashness , and they them +For fear and doting . Friends , be gone ; you shall +Have letters from me to some friends that will +Sweep your way for you . Pray you , look not sad , +Nor make replies of loathness ; take the hint +Which my despair proclaims ; let that be left +Which leaves itself ; to the sea-side straightway ; +I will possess you of that ship and treasure . +Leave me , I pray , a little ; pray you now : +Nay , do so ; for , indeed , I have lost command , +Therefore I pray you . I'll see you by and by . + +Nay , gentle madam , to him , comfort him . + +Do , most dear queen . + +Do ! Why , what else ? + +Let me sit down . O Juno ! + +No , no , no , no , no . + +See you here , sir ? + +O fie , fie , fie ! + +Madam ! + +Madam ; O good empress ! + +Sir , sir ! + +Yes , my lord , yes . He , at Philippi kept +His sword e'en like a dancer , while I struck +The lean and wrinkled Cassius ; and 'twas I +That the mad Brutus ended : he alone +Dealt on lieutenantry , and no practice had +In the brave squares of war : yet now No matter . + +Ah ! stand by . + +The queen , my lord , the queen . + +Go to him , madam , speak to him ; +He is unqualitied with very shame . + +Well then , sustain me : O ! + +Most noble sir , arise ; the queen approaches : +Her head's declin'd , and death will seize her , but +Your comfort makes the rescue . + +I have offended reputation , +A most unnoble swerving . + +Sir , the queen . + +O ! whither hast thou led me , Egypt ? See , +How I convey my shame out of thine eyes +By looking back what I have left behind +'Stroy'd in dishonour . + +O my lord , my lord ! +Forgive my fearful sails : I little thought +You would have follow'd . + +Egypt , thou knew'st too well +My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings , +And thou shouldst tow me after ; o'er my spirit +Thy full supremacy thou knew'st , and that +Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods +Command me . + +O ! my pardon . + +Now I must +To the young man send humble treaties , dodge +And palter in the shifts of lowness , who +With half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleas'd , +Making and marring fortunes . You did know +How much you were my conqueror , and that +My sword , made weak by my affection , would +Obey it on all cause . + +Pardon , pardon ! + +Fall not a tear , I say ; one of them rates +All that is won and lost . Give me a kiss ; +Even this repays me . We sent our schoolmaster ; +Is he come back ? Love , I am full of lead . +Some wine , within there , and our viands ! Fortune knows , +We scorn her most when most she offers blows . + +Let him appear that's come from Antony . +Know you him ? + +C sar , 'tis his schoolmaster : +An argument that he is pluck'd , when hither +He sends so poor a pinion of his wing , +Which had superfluous kings for messengers +Not many moons gone by . + + +Approach , and speak . + +Such as I am , I come from Antony : +I was of late as petty to his ends +As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf +To his grand sea . + +Be 't so . Declare thine office . + +Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee , and +Requires to live in Egypt ; which not granted , +He lessens his requests , and to thee sues +To let him breathe between the heavens and earth , +A private man in Athens ; this for him . +Next , Cleopatra does confess thy greatness , +Submits her to thy might , and of thee craves +The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs , +Now hazarded to thy grace . + +For Antony , +I have no ears to his request . The queen +Of audience nor desire shall fail , so she +From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend , +Or take his life there ; this if she perform , +She shall not sue unheard . So to them both . + +Fortune pursue thee ! + +Bring him through the bands . + +From Antony win Cleopatra ; promise , +And in our name , what she requires ; add more , +From thine invention , offers . Women are not +In their best fortunes strong , but want will perjure +The ne'er-touch'd vestal . Try thy cunning , Thyreus ; +Make thine own edict for thy pains , which we + +Will answer as a law . + +C sar , I go . + +Observe how Antony becomes his flaw , +And what thou think'st his very action speaks +In every power that moves . + +C sar , I shall . + +What shall we do , Enobarbus ? + +Think , and die . + +Is Antony or we , in fault for this ? + +Antony only , that would make his will +Lord of his reason . What though you fled +From that great face of war , whose several ranges +Frighted each other , why should he follow ? +The itch of his affection should not then +Have nick'd his captainship ; at such a point , +When half to half the world oppos'd , he being +The mered question . 'Twas a shame no less +Than was his loss , to course your flying flags , +And leave his navy gazing . + +Prithee , peace . + + +Is that his answer ? + +Ay , my lord . + +The queen shall then have courtesy , so she +Will yield us up ? + +He says so . + +Let her know't . +To the boy C sar send this grizzled head , +And he will fill thy wishes to the brim +With principalities . + +That head , my lord ? + +To him again . Tell him he wears the rose +Of youth upon him , from which the world should note +Something particular ; his coin , ships , legions , +May be a coward's , whose ministers would prevail +Under the service of a child as soon +As i' the command of C sar : I dare him therefore +To lay his gay comparisons apart , +And answer me declin'd , sword against sword , +Ourselves alone . I'll write it : follow me . + + +Yes , like enough , high-battled C sar will +Unstate his happiness , and be stag'd to the show +Against a sworder ! I see men's judgments are +A parcel of their fortunes , and things outward +Do draw the inward quality after them , +To suffer all alike . That he should dream , +Knowing all measures , the full C sar will +Answer his emptiness ! C sar , thou hast subdu'd +His judgment too . + + +A messenger from C sar . + +What ! no more ceremony ? See ! my women ; +Against the blown rose may they stop their nose , +That kneel'd unto the buds . Admit him , sir . + + +Mine honesty and I begin to square . +The loyalty well held to fools does make +Our faith mere folly ; yet he that can endure +To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord , +Does conquer him that did his master conquer , +And earns a place i' the story . + + +C sar's will ? + +Hear it apart . + +None but friends ; say boldly . + +So , haply , are they friends to Antony . + +He needs as many , sir , as C sar has , +Or needs not us . If C sar please , our master +Will leap to be his friend ; for us , you know +Whose he is we are , and that is C sar's . + +So . +Thus then , thou most renown'd : C sar entreats , +Not to consider in what case thou stand'st , +Further than he is C sar . + +Go on ; right royal . + +He knows that you embrace not Antony +As you did love , but as you fear'd him . + +O ! + +The scars upon your honour therefore he +Does pity , as constrained blemishes , +Not as deserv'd . + +He is a god , and knows +What is most right . Mine honour was not yielded , +But conquer'd merely . + +To be sure of that , +I will ask Antony . Sir , sir , thou'rt so leaky , +That we must leave thee to thy sinking , for +Thy dearest quit thee . + + +Shall I say to C sar +What you require of him ? for he partly begs +To be desir'd to give . It much would please him , +That of his fortunes you should make a staff +To lean upon ; but it would warm his spirits +To hear from me you had left Antony , +And put yourself under his shroud , +The universal landlord . + +What's your name ? + +My name is Thyreus . + +Most kind messenger , +Say to great C sar this : in deputation +I kiss his conqu'ring hand ; tell him , I am prompt +To lay my crown at 's feet , and there to kneel ; +Tell him , from his all-obeying breath I hear +The doom of Egypt . + +'Tis your noblest course . +Wisdom and fortune combating together , +If that the former dare but what it can , +No chance may shake it . Give me grace to lay +My duty on your hand . + +Your C sar's father oft , +When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in , +Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place , +As it rain'd kisses . + + +Favours , by Jove that thunders ! +What art thou , fellow ? + +One that but performs +The bidding of the fullest man , and worthiest +To have command obey'd . + +You will be whipp'd . + +Approach there ! Ah , you kite ! Now , gods and devils ! +Authority melts from me : of late , when I cried 'Ho !' +Like boys unto a muss , kings would start forth , +And cry , 'Your will ?' Have you no ears ? I am +Antony yet . + +Take hence this Jack and whip him . + +'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp +Than with an old one dying . + +Moon and stars ! +Whip him . Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries +That do acknowledge C sar , should I find them +So saucy with the hand of she here , what's her name , +Since she was Cleopatra ? Whip him , fellows , +Till , like a boy , you see him cringe his face +And whine aloud for mercy ; take him hence . + +Mark Antony , + +Tug him away ; being whipp'd , +Bring him again ; this Jack of C sar's shall +Bear us an errand to him . + +You were half blasted ere I knew you : ha ! +Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome , +Forborne the getting of a lawful race , +And by a gem of women , to be abus'd +By one that looks on feeders ? + +Good my lord , + +You have been a boggler ever : +But when we in our viciousness grow hard , +O misery on 't !the wise gods seel our eyes ; +In our own filth drop our clear judgments ; make us +Adore our errors ; laugh at 's while we strut +To our confusion . + +O ! is't come to this ? + +I found you as a morsel , cold upon +Dead C sar's trencher ; nay , you were a fragment +Of Cneius Pompey's ; besides what hotter hours , +Unregister'd in vulgar fame , you have +Luxuriously pick'd out ; for , I am sure , +Though you can guess what temperance should be , +You know not what it is . + +Wherefore is this ? + +To let a fellow that will take rewards +And say 'God quit you !' be familiar with +My playfellow , your hand ; this kingly seal +And plighter of high hearts . O ! that I were +Upon the hill of Basan , to outroar +The horned herd ; for I have savage cause ; +And to proclaim it civilly were like +A halter'd neck , which does the hangman thank +For being yare about him . + +Is he whipp'd ? + +Soundly , my lord . + +Cried he ? and begg'd a' pardon ? + +He did ask favour . + +If that thy father live , let him repent +Thou wast not made his daughter ; and be thou sorry +To follow C sar in his triumph , since +Thou hast been whipp'd for following him : henceforth , +The white hand of a lady fever thee , +Shake thou to look on 't . Get thee back to C sar , +Tell him thy entertainment ; look , thou say +He makes me angry with him ; for he seems +Proud and disdainful , harping on what I am , +Not what he knew I was : he makes me angry ; +And at this time most easy 'tis to do 't , +When my good stars , that were my former guides , +Have empty left their orbs , and shot their fires +Into the abysm of hell . If he mislike +My speech and what is done , tell him he has +Hipparchus , my enfranched bondman , whom +He may at pleasure whip , or hang , or torture , +As he shall like , to quit me : urge it thou : +Hence with thy stripes ; be gone ! + + +Have you done yet ? + +Alack ! our terrene moon +Is now eclips'd ; and it portends alone +The fall of Antony . + +I must stay his time . + +To flatter C sar , would you mingle eyes +With one that ties his points ? + +Not know me yet ? + +Cold-hearted toward me ? + +Ah ! dear , if I be so , +From my cold heart let heaven engender hail , +And poison it in the source ; and the first stone +Drop in my neck : as it determines , so +Dissolve my life . The next C sarion smite , +Till by degrees the memory of my womb , +Together with my brave Egyptians all , +By the discandying of this pelleted storm , +Lie graveless , till the flies and gnats of Nile +Have buried them for prey ! + +I am satisfied . +C sar sits down in Alexandria , where +I will oppose his fate . Our force by land +Hath nobly held ; our sever'd navy too +Have knit again , and fleet , threat'ning most sea-like . +Where hast thou been , my heart ? Dost thou hear , lady ? +If from the field I shall return once more +To kiss these lips , I will appear in blood ; +I and my sword will earn our chronicle : +There's hope in 't yet . + +That's my brave lord ! + +I will betreble-sinew'd , hearted , breath'd , +And fight maliciously ; for when mine hours +Were nice and lucky , men did ransom lives +Of me for jests ; but now I'll set my teeth , +And send to darkness all that stop me . Come , +Let's have one other gaudy night : call to me +All my sad captains ; fill our bowls once more ; +Let's mock the midnight bell . + +It is my birth-day : +I had thought to have held it poor ; but , since my lord +Is Antony again , I will be Cleopatra . + +We will yet do well . + +Call all his noble captains to my lord . + +Do so , we'll speak to them ; and to-night I'll force +The wine peep through their scars . Come on , my queen ; +There's sap in 't yet . The next time I do fight +I'll make death love me , for I will contend +Even with his pestilent scythe . + + +Now he'll outstare the lightning . To be furious +Is to be frighted out of fear , and in that mood +The dove will peck the estridge ; and I see still , +A diminution in our captain's brain +Restores his heart . When valour preys on reason +It eats the sword it fights with . I will seek +Some way to leave him . + +He calls me boy , and chides as he had power +To beat me out of Egypt ; my messenger +He hath whipp'd with rods ; dares me to personal combat , +C sar to Antony . Let the old ruffian know +I have many other ways to die ; meantime +Laugh at his challenge . + +C sar must think , +When one so great begins to rage , he's hunted +Even to falling . Give him no breath , but now +Make boot of his distraction : never anger +Made good guard for itself . + +Let our best heads +Know that to-morrow the last of many battles +We mean to fight . Within our files there are , +Of those that serv'd Mark Antony but late , +Enough to fetch him in . See it done ; +And feast the army ; we have store to do 't , +And they have earn'd the waste . Poor Antony ! + + +He will not fight with me , Domitius . + +No . + +Why should he not ? + +He thinks , being twenty times of better fortune , +He is twenty men to one . + +To-morrow , soldier , +By sea and land I'll fight : or I will live , +Or bathe my dying honour in the blood +Shall make it live again . Woo't thou fight well ? + +I'll strike , and cry , 'Take all .' + +Well said ; come on . +Call forth my household servants ; let's to-night +Be bounteous at our meal . + + +Give me thy hand , +Thou hast been rightly honest ; so hast thou ; +Thou ; and thou , and thou : you have serv'd me well , + +And kings have been your fellows . + +What means this ? + +'Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots +Out of the mind . + +And thou art honest too . +I wish I could be made so many men , +And all of you clapp'd up together in +An Antony , that I might do you service +So good as you have done . + +The gods forbid ! + +Well , my good fellows , wait on me to-night , +Scant not my cups , and make as much of me +As when mine empire was your fellow too , +And suffer'd my command . + +What does he mean ? + +To make his followers weep . + +Tend me to-night ; +May be it is the period of your duty : +Haply , you shall not see me more ; or if , +A mangled shadow : perchance to-morrow +You'll serve another master . I look on you +As one that takes his leave . Mine honest friends , +I turn you not away ; but , like a master +Married to your good service , stay till death . +Tend me to-night two hours , I ask no more , +And the gods yield you for 't ! + +What mean you , sir , +To give them this discomfort ? Look , they weep ; +And I , an ass , am onion-ey'd : for shame , +Transform us not to women . + +Ho , ho , ho ! +Now , the witch take me , if I meant it thus ! +Grace grow where those drops fall ! My hearty friends , +You take me in too dolorous a sense , +For I spake to you for your comfort ; did desire you +To burn this night with torches . Know , my hearts , +I hope well of to-morrow ; and will lead you +Where rather I'll expect victorious life +Than death and honour . Let's to supper , come , +And drown consideration . + + +Brother , good night ; to-morrow is the day . + +It will determine one way ; fare you well . +Heard you of nothing strange about the streets ? + +Nothing . What news ? + +Belike , 'tis but a rumour . Good night to you . + +Well , sir , good night . + + +Soldiers , have careful watch . + +And you . Good night , good night . + + +Here we : + +And if to-morrow +Our navy thrive , I have an absolute hope +Our landmen will stand up . + +'Tis a brave army , +And full of purpose . + + +Peace ! what noise ? + +List , list ! + +Hark ! + +Music i' the air . + +Under the earth . + +It signs well , does it not ? + +No . + +Peace , I say ! +What should this mean ? + +'Tis the god Hercules , whom Antony lov'd , +Now leaves him . + +Walk ; let's see if other watchmen +Do hear what we do . + + +How now , masters ! + +How now ! +How now !do you hear this ? + +Ay ; is 't not strange ? + +Do you hear , masters ? do you hear ? + +Follow the noise so far as we have quarter ; +Let's see how 't will give off . + +Content .'Tis strange . + + +Eros ! mine armour , Eros ! + +Sleep a little . + +No , my chuck . Eros , come ; mine armour , Eros ! + +Come , good fellow , put mine iron on : +If Fortune be not ours to-day , it is +Because we brave her . Come . + +Nay , I'll help too . +What's this for ? + +Ah ! let be , let be ; thou art +The armourer of my heart : false , false ; this , this . + +Sooth , la ! I'll help : thus it must be . + +Well , well ; +We shall thrive now . Seest thou , my good fellow ? +Go put on thy defences . + +Briefly , sir . + +Is not this buckled well ? + +Rarely , rarely : +He that unbuckles this , till we do please +To daff 't for our repose , shall hear a storm . +Thou fumblest , Eros ; and my queen's a squire +More tight at this than thou : dispatch . O love ! +That thou couldst see my wars to-day , and knew'st +The royal occupation , thou shouldst see +A workman in 't . + + +Good morrow to thee ; welcome ; +Thou look'st like him that knows a war-like charge : +To business that we love we rise betime , + +And go to 't with delight . + +A thousand , sir , +Early though 't be , have on their riveted trim , +And at the port expect you . + +The morn is fair . Good morrow , general . + +Good morrow , general . + +'Tis well blown , lads . +This morning , like the spirit of a youth +That means to be of note , begins betimes . +So , so ; come , give me that : this way ; well said . +Fare thee well , dame , whate'er becomes of me ; +This is a soldier's kiss . + +Rebukeable +And worthy shameful check it were , to stand +On more mechanic compliment ; I'll leave thee +Now , like a man of steel . You that will fight , +Follow me close ; I'll bring you to 't . Adieu . + + +Please you , retire to your chamber . + +Lead me . +He goes forth gallantly . That he and C sar might +Determine this great war in single fight ! +Then , Antony ,but now .Well , on . + + +The gods make this a happy day to Antony ! + +Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd +To make me fight at land ! + +Hadst thou done so , +The kings that have revolted , and the soldier +That has this morning left thee , would have still +Follow'd thy heels . + +Who's gone this morning ? + +Who ! +One ever near thee : call for Enobarbus , +He shall not hear thee ; or from C sar's camp +Say , 'I am none of thine .' + +What sayst thou ? + +Sir , +He is with C sar . + +Sir , his chests and treasure +He has not with him . + +Is he gone ? + +Most certain . + +Go , Eros , send his treasure after ; do it ; +Detain no jot , I charge thee . Write to him +I will subscribe gentle adieus and greetings ; +Say that I wish he never find more cause +To change a master . O ! my fortunes have +Corrupted honest men . Dispatch . Enobarbus ! + + +Go forth , Agrippa , and begin the fight : +Our will is Antony be took alive ; +Make it so known . + +C sar , I shall . + + +The time of universal peace is near : +Prove this a prosperous day , the three-nook'd world +Shall bear the olive freely . + + +Antony +Is come into the field . + +Go charge Agrippa +Plant those that have revolted in the van , +That Antony may seem to spend his fury +Upon himself . + + +Alexas did revolt , and went to Jewry on +Affairs of Antony ; there did persuade +Great Herod to incline himself to C sar , +And leave his master Antony : for this pains +C sar hath hang'd him . Canidius and the rest +That fell away have entertainment , but +No honourable trust . I have done ill , +Of which I do accuse myself so sorely +That I will joy no more . + + +Enobarbus , Antony +Hath after thee sent all thy treasure , with +His bounty overplus : the messenger +Came on my guard ; and at thy tent is now +Unloading of his mules . + +I give it you . + +Mock not , Enobarbus . +I tell you true : best you saf'd the bringer +Out of the host ; I must attend mine office +Or would have done 't myself . Your emperor +Continues still a Jove . + + +I am alone the villain of the earth , +And feel I am so most . O Antony ! +Thou mine of bounty , how wouldst thou have paid +My better service , when my turpitude +Thou dost so crown with gold ! This blows my heart : +If swift thought break it not , a swifter mean +Shall outstrike thought ; but thought will do 't , I feel . +I fight against thee ! No : I will go seek +Some ditch , wherein to die ; the foul'st best fits +My latter part of life . + + +Retire , we have engag'd ourselves too far . +C sar himself has work , and our oppression +Exceeds what we expected . + +O my brave emperor , this is fought indeed ! +Had we done so at first , we had droven them home +With clouts about their heads . + +Thou bleed'st apace . + +I had a wound here that was like a T , +But now 'tis made an H . + +They do retire . + +We'll beat 'em into bench-holes : I have yet +Room for six scotches more . + + +They are beaten , sir ; and our advantage serves +For a fair victory . + +Let us score their backs , +And snatch 'em up , as we take hares , behind : +'Tis sport to maul a runner . + +I will reward thee +Once for thy sprightly comfort , and ten-fold +For thy good valour . Come thee on . + +I'll halt after . + + +We have beat him to his camp ; run one before +And let the queen know of our gests . To-morrow , +Before the sun shall see 's , we'll spill the blood +That has to-day escap'd . I thank you all ; +For doughty-handed are you , and have fought +Not as you serv'd the cause , but as 't had been +Each man's like mine ; you have shown all Hectors . +Enter the city , clip your wives , your friends , +Tell them your feats ; whilst they with joyful tears +Wash the congealment from your wounds , and kiss +The honour'd gashes whole . + +Give me thy hand : + + +To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts , +Make her thanks bless thee . O thou day o' the world ! +Chain mine arm'd neck ; leap thou , attire and all , +Through proof of harness to my heart , and there + +Ride on the pants triumphing . + +Lord of lords ! +O infinite virtue ! com'st thou smiling from +The world's great snare uncaught ? + +My nightingale , +We have beat them to their beds . What , girl ! though grey +Do something mingle with our younger brown , yet ha' we +A brain that nourishes our nerves , and can +Get goal for goal of youth . Behold this man ; +Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand : +Kiss it , my warrior : he hath fought to-day +As if a god , in hate of mankind , had +Destroy'd in such a shape . + +I'll give thee , friend , +An armour all of gold ; it was a king's . + +He has deserv'd it , were it carbuncled +Like holy Ph bus' car . Give me thy hand : +Through Alexandria make a jolly march ; +Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them : +Had our great palace the capacity +To camp this host , we all would sup together +And drink carouses to the next day's fate , +Which promises royal peril . Trumpeters , +With brazen din blast you the city's ear , +Make mingle with our rattling tabourines , +That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together , +Applauding our approach . + + +If we be not reliev'd within this hour , +We must return to the court of guard : the night +Is shiny , and they say we shall embattle +By the second hour i' the morn . + +This last day was +A shrewd one to 's . + + +O ! bear me witness , night , + +What man is this ? + +Stand close and list him . + +Be witness to me , O thou blessed moon , +When men revolted shall upon record +Bear hateful memory , poor Enobarbus did +Before thy face repent ! + +Enobarbus ! + +Peace ! +Hark further . + +O sovereign mistress of true melancholy , +The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me , +That life , a very rebel to my will , +May hang no longer on me ; throw my heart +Against the flint and hardness of my fault , +Which , being dried with grief , will break to powder , +And finish all foul thoughts . O Antony ! +Nobler than my revolt is infamous , +Forgive me in thine own particular ; +But let the world rank me in register +A master-leaver and a fugitive . +O Antony ! O Antony ! + + +Let's speak to him . + +Let's hear him , for the things he speaks +May concern C sar . + +Let's do so . But he sleeps . + +Swounds rather ; for so bad a prayer as his +Was never yet for sleep . + +Go we to him . + +Awake , sir , awake ! speak to us . + +Hear you , sir ? + +The Land of death hath raught him . + +Hark ! the drums +Demurely wake the sleepers . Let us bear him +To the court of guard ; he is of note : our hour +Is fully out . + +Come on , then ; +He may recover yet . + +Their preparation is to-day by sea ; +We please them not by land . + +For both , my lord . + +I would they'd fight i' the fire or i' the air ; +We'd fight there too . But this it is ; our foot +Upon the hills adjoining to the city +Shall stay with us ; order for sea is given , +They have put forth the haven , +Where their appointment we may best discover +And look on their endeavour . + +But being charg'd , we will be still by land , +Which , as I take 't , we shall ; for his best force +Is forth to man his galleys . To the vales , +And hold our best advantage ! + +Yet they are not join'd . Where yond pine does stand +I shall discover all ; I'll bring thee word +Straight how 'tis like to go . + + +Swallows have built +In Cleopatra's sails their nests ; the augurers +Say they know not , they cannot tell ; look grimly , +And dare not speak their knowledge . Antony +Is valiant , and dejected ; and , by starts , +His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear +Of what he has and has not . + +All is lost ! +This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me ; +My fleet hath yielded to the foe , and yonder +They cast their caps up and carouse together +Like friends long lost . Triple-turn'd whore ! 'tis thou +Hast sold me to this novice , and my heart +Makes only wars on thee . Bid them all fly ; +For when I am reveng'd upon my charm , +I have done all . Bid them all fly ; be gone . + +O sun ! thy uprise shall I see no more ; +Fortune and Antony part here ; even here +Do we shake hands . All come to this ? The hearts +That spaniel'd me at heels , to whom I gave +Their wishes , do discandy , melt their sweets +On blossoming C sar ; and this pine is bark'd , +That overtopp'd them all . Betray'd I am . +O this false soul of Egypt ! this grave charm , +Whose eyes beck'd forth my wars , and call'd them home , +Whose bosom was my crownet , my chief end , +Like a right gipsy , hath , at fast and loose , +Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss . +What , Eros ! Eros ! + +Ah ! thou spell . Avaunt ! + +Why is my lord enrag'd against his love ? + +Vanish , or I shall give thee thy deserving , +And blemish C sar's triumph . Let him take thee , +And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians ; +Follow his chariot , like the greatest spot +Of all thy sex ; most monster-like , be shown +For poor'st diminutives , for doits ; and let +Patient Octavia plough thy visage up +With her prepared nails . + +'Tis well thou'rt gone , +If it be well to live ; but better 'twere +Thou fell'st into my fury , for one death +Might have prevented many . Eros , ho ! +The shirt of Nessus is upon me ; teach me , +Alcides , thou mine ancestor , thy rage ; +Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon ; +And with those hands , that grasp'd the heaviest club , +Subdue my worthiest self . The witch shall die : +To the young Roman boy she hath sold me , and I fall +Under this plot ; she dies for 't . Eros , ho ! + +Help me , my women ! O ! he is more mad +Than Telamon for his shield ; the boar of Thessaly +Was never so emboss'd . + +To the monument ! +There lock yourself , and send him word you are dead . +The soul and body rive not more in parting +Than greatness going off . + +To the monument ! +Mardian , go tell him I have slain myself ; +Say that the last I spoke was 'Antony ,' +And word it , prithee , piteously . Hence , +Mardian , and bring me how he takes my death . +To the monument ! + +Eros , thou yet behold'st me ? + +Ay , noble lord . + +Sometimes we see a cloud that's dragonish ; +A vapour sometime like a bear or lion , +A tower'd citadel , a pendant rock , +A forked mountain , or blue promontory +With trees upon 't , that nod unto the world +And mock our eyes with air : thou hast seen these signs ; +They are black vesper's pageants . + +Ay , my lord . + +That which is now a horse , even with a thought +The rack dislimns , and makes it indistinct , +As water is in water . + +It does , my lord . + +My good knave , Eros , now thy captain is +Even such a body : here I am Antony ; +Yet cannot hold this visible shape , my knave . +I made these wars for Egypt ; and the queen , +Whose heart I thought I had , for she had mine , +Which whilst it was mine had annex'd unto 't +A million more , now lost ; she , Eros , has +Pack'd cards with C sar , and false-play'd my glory +Unto an enemy's triumph . +Nay , weep not , gentle Eros ; there is left us +Ourselves to end ourselves . + + +O ! thy vile lady ; + +She has robb'd me of my sword . + +No , Antony ; +My mistress lov'd thee , and her fortunes mingled +With thine entirely . + +Hence , saucy eunuch ; peace ! +She hath betray'd me and shall die the death . + +Death of one person can be paid but once , +And that she has discharg'd . What thou wouldst do +Is done unto thy hand ; the last she spake +Was , 'Antony ! most noble Antony !' +Then in the midst a tearing groan did break +The name of Antony ; it was divided +Between her heart and lips . She render'd life , +Thy name so buried in her . + +Dead , then ? + +Dead . + +Unarm , Eros ; the long day's task is done , +And we must sleep . + +That thou depart'st hence safe , +Does pay thy labour richly ; go . + +Off , pluck off : +The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep +The battery from my heart . O ! cleave , my sides ; +Heart , once be stronger than thy continent , +Crack thy frail case ! Apace , Eros , apace . +No more a soldier ; bruised pieces , go ; +You have been nobly borne . From me awhile . + +I will o'ertake thee , Cleopatra , and +Weep for my pardon . So it must be , for now +All length is torture ; since the torch is out , +Lie down , and stray no further . Now all labour +Mars what it does ; yea , very force entangles +Itself with strength ; seal then , and all is done . +Eros !I come , my queen .Eros !Stay for me : +Where souls do couch on flowers , we'll hand in hand , +And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze ; +Dido and her neas shall want troops , +And all the haunt be ours . Come , Eros ! Eros ! + + +What would my lord ? + +Since Cleopatra died , +I have liv'd in such dishonour , that the gods +Detest my baseness . I , that with my sword +Quarter'd the world , and o'er green Neptune's back +With ships made cities , condemn myself to lack +The courage of a woman ; less noble mind +Than she , which by her death our C sar tells +'I am conqueror of myself .' Thou art sworn , Eros , +That , when the exigent should come ,which now +Is come indeed ,when I should see behind me +The inevitable prosecution of +Disgrace and horror , that , on my command , +Thou then wouldst kill me : do 't ; the time is come . +Thou strik'st not me , 'tis C sar thou defeat'st . +Put colour in thy cheek . + +The gods withhold me ! +Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts , +Though enemy , lost aim and could not ? + +Eros , +Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome , and see +Thy master thus with pleach'd arms , bending down +His corrigible neck , his face subdu'd +To penetrative shame , whilst the wheel'd seat +Of fortunate C sar , drawn before him , branded +His baseness that ensu'd ? + +I would not see't . + +Come , then ; for with a wound I must be cur'd . +Draw that thy honest sword , which thou hast worn +Most useful for thy country . + +O , sir ! pardon me . + +When I did make thee free , swor'st thou not then +To do this when I bade thee ? Do it at once , +Or thy precedent services are all +But accidents unpurpos'd . Draw , and come . + +Turn from me then that noble countenance , +Wherein the worship of the whole world lies . + +Lo thee ! + + +My sword is drawn . + +Then let it do at once +The thing why thou hast drawn it . + +My dear master , +My captain , and my emperor , let me say , +Before I strike this bloody stroke , farewell . + +'Tis said , man ; and farewell . + +Farewell , great chief . Shall I strike now ? + +Now , Eros . + +Why , there then ; thus do I escape the sorrow + +Of Antony's death . + +Thrice-nobler than myself ! +Thou teachest me , O valiant Eros , what +I should , and thou couldst not . My queen and Eros +Have by their brave instruction got upon me +A nobleness in record ; but I will be +A bridegroom in my death , and run into 't +As to a lover's bed . Come , then ; and , Eros , +Thy master dies thy scholar : to do thus + +I learn'd of thee . How ! not dead ? not dead ? +The guard , ho ! O ! dispatch me . + + +What's the noise ? + +I have done my work ill , friends : O ! make an end +Of what I have begun . + +The star is fallen . + +And time is at his period . + +Alas , and woe ! + +Let him that loves me strike me dead . + +Not I . + +Nor I . + +Nor any one . + + +Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly . +This sword but shown to C sar , with this tidings , +Shall enter me with him . + + +Where's Antony ? + +There , Diomed , there . + +Lives he ? +Wilt thou not answer , man ? + + +Art thou there , Diomed ? Draw thy sword , and give me +Sufficing strokes for death . + +Most absolute lord , +My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee . + +When did she send thee ? + +Now , my lord . + +Where is she ? + +Lock'd in her monument . She had a prophesying fear +Of what hath come to pass ; for when she saw +Which never shall be found you did suspect +She had dispos'd with C sar , and that your rage +Would not be purg'd , she sent you word she was dead ; +But , fearing since how it might work , hath sent +Me to proclaim the truth ; and I am come , +I dread , too late . + +Too late , good Diomed . Call my guard , I prithee . + +What , ho ! the emperor's guard ! The guard , what , ho ! +Come , your lord calls ! + + +Bear me , good friends , where Cleopatra bides ; +'Tis the last service that I shall command you . + +Woe , woe are we , sir , you may not live to wear +All your true followers out . + +Most heavy day ! + +Nay , good my fellows , do not please sharp fate +To grace it with your sorrows ; bid that welcome +Which comes to punish us , and we punish it +Seeming to bear it lightly . Take me up ; +I have led you oft ; carry me now , good friends , +And have my thanks for all . + +O Charmian ! I will never go from hence . + +Be comforted , dear madam . + +No , I will not . +All strange and terrible events are welcome , +But comforts we despise ; our size of sorrow , +Proportion'd to our cause , must be as great +As that which makes it . + +How now ! is he dead ? + +His death's upon him , but not dead . +Look out o' the other side your monument ; +His guard have brought him thither . + + +O sun ! +Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in ; darkling stand +The varying star o' the world . O Antony , +Antony , Antony ! Help , Charmian , help , Iras , help ; +Help , friends below ! let's draw him hither . + +Peace ! +Not C sar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony , +But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself . + +So it should be , that none but Antony +Should conquer Antony ; but woe 'tis so ! + +I am dying , Egypt , dying ; only +I here importune death awhile , until +Of many thousand kisses the poor last +I lay upon thy lips . + +I dare not , dear , +Dear my lord , pardon ,I dare not , +Lest I be taken : not the imperious show +Of the full-fortun'd C sar ever shall +Be brooch'd with me ; if knife , drugs , serpents , have +Edge , sting , or operation , I am safe : +Your wife Octavia , with her modest eyes +And still conclusion , shall acquire no honour +Demuring upon me . But come , come , Antony , +Help me , my women ,we must draw thee up . +Assist , good friends . + +O ! quick , or I am gone . + +Here's sport indeed ! How heavy weighs my lord ! +Our strength is all gone into heaviness , +That makes the weight . Had I great Juno's power , +The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up , +And set thee by Jove's side . Yet come a little , +Wishers were ever fools . O ! come , come , come ; + +And welcome , welcome ! die where thou hastliv'd ; +Quicken with kissing ; had my lips that power , +Thus would I wear them out . + +A heavy sight ! + +I am dying , Egypt , dying : +Give me some wine , and let me speak a little . + +No , let me speak ; and let me rail so high , +That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel , +Provok'd by my offence . + +One word , sweet queen . +Of C sar seek your honour with your safety . O ! + +They do not go together . + +Gentle , hear me : +None about C sar trust , but Proculeius . + +My resolution and my hands I'll trust ; +None about C sar . + +The miserable change now at my end +Lament nor sorrow at ; but please your thoughts +In feeding them with those my former fortunes +Wherein I liv'd , the greatest prince o' the world , +The noblest ; and do now not basely die , +Not cowardly put off my helmet to +My countryman ; a Roman by a Roman +Valiantly vanquish'd . Now my spirit is going ; +I can no more . + +Noblest of men , woo 't die ? +Hast thou no care of me ? shall I abide +In this dull world , which in thy absence is +No better than a sty ? O ! see my women , + +The crown o' the earth doth melt . My lord ! +O ! wither'd is the garland of the war , +The soldier's pole is fall'n ; young boys and girls +Are level now with men ; the odds is gone , +And there is nothing left remarkable +Beneath the visiting moon . + + +O , quietness , lady ! + +She is dead too , our sovereign . + +Lady ! + +Madam ! + +O madam , madam , madam ! + +Royal Egypt ! +Empress ! + +Peace , peace , Iras ! + +No more , but e'en a woman , and commanded +By such poor passion as the maid that milks +And does the meanest chares . It were for me +To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods ; +To tell them that this world did equal theirs +Till they had stol'n our jewel . All's but naught ; +Patience is sottish , and impatience does +Become a dog that's mad ; then is it sin +To rush into the secret house of death , +Ere death dare come to us ? How do you , women ? +What , what ! good cheer ! Why , how now , Charmian ! +My noble girls ! Ah , women , women , look ! +Our lamp is spent , it's out . Good sirs , take heart ; +We'll bury him ; and then , what's brave , what's noble , +Let's do it after the high Roman fashion , +And make death proud to take us . Come , away ; +This case of that huge spirit now is cold ; +Ah ! women , women . Come ; we have no friend +But resolution , and the briefest end . + +Go to him , Dolabella , bid him yield ; +Being so frustrate , tell him he mocks +The pauses that he makes . + +C sar , I shall . + +Wherefore is that ? and what art thou that dar'st +Appear thus to us ? + +I am call'd Dercetas ; +Mark Antony I serv'd , who best was worthy +Best to be serv'd ; whilst he stood up and spoke +He was my master , and I wore my life +To spend upon his haters . If thou please +To take me to thee , as I was to him +I'll be to C sar ; if thou pleasest not , +I yield thee up my life . + +What is 't thou sayst ? + +I say , O C sar , Antony is dead . + +The breaking of so great a thing should make +A greater crack ; the round world +Should have shook lions into civil streets , +And citizens to their dens . The death of Antony +Is not a single doom ; in the name lay +A moiety of the world . + +He is dead , C sar ; +Not by a public minister of justice , +Nor by a hired knife ; but that self hand , +Which writ his honour in the acts it did , +Hath , with the courage which the heart did lend it , +Splitted the heart . This is his sword ; +I robb'd his wound of it ; behold it stain'd +With his most noble blood . + +Look you sad , friends ? +The gods rebuke me , but it is tidings +To wash the eyes of kings . + +And strange it is , +That nature must compel us to lament +Our most persisted deeds . + +His taints and honours +Wag'd equal with him . + +A rarer spirit never +Did steer humanity ; but you , gods , will give us +Some faults to make us men . C sar is touch'd . + +When such a spacious mirror's set before him , +He needs must see himself . + +O Antony ! +I have follow'd thee to this ; but we do lance +Diseases in our bodies : I must perforce +Have shown to thee such a declining day , +Or look on thine ; we could not stall together +In the whole world . But yet let me lament , +With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts , +That thou , my brother , my competitor +In top of all design , my mate in empire , +Friend and companion in the front of war , +The arm of mine own body , and the heart +Where mine his thoughts did kindle , that our stars , +Unreconciliable , should divide +Our equalness to this . Hear me , good friends , + + +But I will tell you at some meeter season : +The business of this man looks out of him ; + +We'll hear him what he says . Whence are you ? + +A poor Egyptian yet . The queen my mistress , +Confin'd in all she has , her monument , +Of thy intents desires instruction , +That she preparedly may frame herself +To the way she's forc'd to . + +Bid her have good heart ; +She soon shall know of us , by some of ours , +How honourable and how kindly we +Determine for her ; for C sar cannot live +To be ungentle . + +So the gods preserve thee ! + + +Come hither , Proculeius . Go and say , +We purpose her no shame ; give her what comforts +The quality of her passion shall require , +Lest , in her greatness , by some mortal stroke +She do defeat us ; for her life in Rome +Would be eternal in our triumph . Go , +And with your speediest bring us what she says , +And how you find of her . + +C sar , I shall . + + +Gallus , go you along . + +To second Proculeius ? + +Dolabella ! + +Dolabella ! + +Let him alone , for I remember now +How he's employ'd , he shall in time be ready . +Go with me to my tent ; where you shall see +How hardly I was drawn into this war ; +How calm and gentle I proceeded still +In all my writings . Go with me , and see +What I can show in this . + + +My desolation does begin to make +A better life . 'Tis paltry to be C sar ; +Not being Fortune , he's but Fortune's knave , +A minister of her will ; and it is great +To do that thing that ends all other deeds , +Which shackles accidents , and bolts up change , +Which sleeps , and never palates more the dug , +The beggar's nurse and C sar's . + + +C sar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt ; +And bids thee study on what fair demands +Thou mean'st to have him grant thee . + +What's thy name ? + +My name is Proculeius . + +Antony +Did tell me of you , bade me trust you ; but +I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd , +That have no use for trusting . If your master +Would have a queen his beggar , you must tell him , +That majesty , to keep decorum , must +No less beg than a kingdom ; if he please +To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son , +He gives me so much of mine own as I +Will kneel to him with thanks . + +Be of good cheer ; +You're fall'n into a princely hand , fear nothing . +Make your full reference freely to my lord , +Who is so full of grace , that it flows over +On all that need ; let me report to him +Your sweet dependancy , and you shall find +A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness +Where he for grace is kneel'd to . + +Pray you , tell him +I am his fortune's vassal , and I send him +The greatness he has got . I hourly learn +A doctrine of obedience , and would gladly +Look him i' the face . + +This I'll report , dear lady : +Have comfort , for I know your plight is pitied +Of him that caus'd it . + +You see how easily she may be surpris'd . + + +Guard her till C sar come . + +Royal queen ! + +O Cleopatra ! thou art taken , queen . + +Quick , quick , good hands . + + +Hold , worthy lady , hold ! + +Do not yourself such wrong , who are in this +Reliev'd , but not betray'd . + +What , of death too , +That rids our dogs of languish ? + +Cleopatra , +Do not abuse my master's bounty by +The undoing of yourself ; let the world see +His nobleness well acted , which your death +Will never let come forth . + +Where art thou , death ? +Come hither , come ! come , come , and take a queen +Worth many babes and beggars ! + +O ! temperance , lady . + +Sir , I will eat no meat , I'll not drink , sir ; +If idle talk will once be necessary , +I'll not sleep neither . This mortal house I'll ruin , +Do C sar what he can . Know , sir , that I +Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court , +Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye +Of dull Octavia . Shall they hoist me up +And show me to the shouting varletry +Of censuring Rome ? Rather a ditch in Egypt +Be gentle grave unto me ! rather on Nilus' mud +Lay me stark nak'd , and let the water-flies +Blow me into abhorring ! rather make +My country's high pyramides my gibbet , +And hang me up in chains ! + +You do extend +These thoughts of horror further than you shall +Find cause in C sar . + + +Proculeius , +What thou hast done thy master C sar knows , +And he hath sent for thee ; as for the queen , +I'll take her to my guard . + +So , Dolabella , +It shall content me best ; be gentle to her . + + +To C sar I will speak what you shall please , +If you'll employ me to him . + +Say , I would die . + + +Most noble empress , you have heard of me ? + +I cannot tell . + +Assuredly you know me . + +No matter , sir , what I have heard or known . +You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams ; +Is 't not your trick ? + +I understand not , madam . + +I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony : +O ! such another sleep , that I might see +But such another man . + +If it might please ye , + +His face was as the heavens , and therein stuck +A sun and moon , which kept their course , and lighted +The little O , the earth . + +Most sovereign creature , + +His legs besfrid the ocean ; his rear'd arm +Crested the world ; his voice was propertied +As all the tuned spheres , and that to friends ; +But when he meant to quail and shake the orb , +He was as rattling thunder . For his bounty , +There was no winter in 't , an autumn 'twas +That grew the more by reaping ; his delights +Were dolphin-like , they show'd his back above +The element they liv'd in ; in his livery +Walk'd crowns and crownets , realms and islands were +As plates dropp'd from his pocket . + +Cleopatra , + +Think you there was , or might be , such a man +As this I dream'd of ? + +Gentle madam , no . + +You lie , up to the hearing of the gods . +But , if there be , or ever were , one such , +It's past the size of dreaming ; nature wants stuff +To vie strange forms with fancy ; yet to imagine +An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy , +Condemning shadows quite . + +Hear me , good madam . +Your loss is as yourself , great ; and you bear it +As answering to the weight : would I might never +O'ertake pursu'd success , but I do feel , +By the rebound of yours , a grief that smites +My very heart at root . + +I thank you , sir . +Know you what C sar means to do with me ? + +I am loath to tell you what I would you knew . + +Nay , pray you , sir , + +Though he be honourable , + +He'll lead me then in triumph ? + +Madam , he will ; I know 't . + +Which is the Queen of Egypt ? + +It is the emperor , madam . + + +Arise , you shall not kneel . +I pray you , rise ; rise , Egypt . + +Sir , the gods +Will have it thus ; my master and my lord +I must obey . + +Take to you no hard thoughts ; +The record of what injuries you did us , +Though written in our flesh , we shall remember +As things but done by chance . + +Sole sir o' the world , +I cannot project mine own cause so well +To make it clear ; but do confess I have +Been laden with like frailties which before +Have often sham'd our sex . + +Cleopatra , know , +We will extenuate rather than enforce : +If you apply yourself to our intents , +Which towards you are most gentle ,you shall find +A benefit in this change ; but if you seek +To lay on me a cruelty , by taking +Antony's course , you shall bereave yourself +Of my good purposes , and put your children +To that destruction which I'll guard them from , +If thereon you rely . I'll take my leave . + +And may through all the world : 'tis yours ; and we , +Your scutcheons , and your signs of conquest , shall +Hang in what place you please . Here , my good lord . + +You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra . + +This is the brief of money , plate , and jewels , +I am possess'd of : 'tis exactly valued ; +Not petty things admitted . Where's Seleucus ? + +Here , madam . + +This is my treasurer ; let him speak , my lord , +Upon his peril , that I have reserv'd +To myself nothing . Speak the truth , Seleucus . + +Madam , +I had rather seal my lips , than , to my peril , +Speak that which is not . + +What have I kept back ? + +Enough to purchase what you have made known . + +Nay , blush not , Cleopatra ; I approve +Your wisdom in the deed . + +See ! C sar ! O , behold , +How pomp is follow'd ; mine will now be yours ; +And , should we shift estates , yours would be mine . +The ingratitude of this Seleucus does +Even make me wild . O slave ! of no more trust +Than love that's hir'd . What ! goest thou back ? thou shalt +Go back , I warrant thee ; but I'll catch thine eyes , +Though they had wings : slave , soulless villain , dog ! +O rarely base ! + +Good queen , let us entreat you . + +O C sar ! what a wounding shame is this , +That thou , vouchsafing here to visit me , +Doing the honour of thy lordliness +To one so meek , that mine own servant should +Parcel the sum of my disgraces by +Addition of his envy . Say , good C sar , +That I some lady trifles have reserv'd , +Immoment toys , things of such dignity +As we greet modern friends withal ; and say , +Some nobler token I have kept apart +For Livia and Octavia , to induce +Their mediation ; must I be unfolded +With one that I have bred ? The gods ! it smites me +Beneath the fall I have . + +Prithee , go hence ; +Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits +Through the ashes of my chance . Wert thou a man , +Thou wouldst have mercy on me . + +Forbear , Seleucus . + + +Be it known that we , the greatest , are misthought +For things that others do ; and , when we fall , +We answer others' merits in our name , +Are therefore to be pitied . + +Cleopatra , +Not what you have reserv'd , nor what acknowledg'd , +Put we i' the roll of conquest : still be 't yours , +Bestow it at your pleasure ; and believe , +C sar's no merchant , to make prize with you +Of things that merchants sold . Therefore be cheer'd ; +Make not your thoughts your prisons : no , dear queen ; +For we intend so to dispose you as +Yourself shall give us counsel . Feed , and sleep : +Our care and pity is so much upon you , +That we remain your friend ; and so , adieu . + +My master , and my lord ! + +Not so . Adieu . + + +He words me , girls , he words me , that I should not +Be noble to myself : but , hark thee , Charmian . + + +Finish , good lady ; the bright day is done , +And we are for the dark . + +Hie thee again : +I have spoke already , and it is provided ; +Go , put it to the haste . + +Madam , I will . + + +Where is the queen ? + +Behold , sir . + + +Dolabella ! + +Madam , as thereto sworn by your command , +Which my love makes religion to obey , +I tell you this : C sar through Syria +Intends his journey ; and within three days +You with your children will be send before . +Make your best use of this ; I have perform'd +Your pleasure and my promise . + +Dolabella , +I shall remain your debtor . + +I your servant . +Adieu , good queen ; I must attend on C sar . + +Farewell , and thanks . + +Now , Iras , what think'st thou ? +Thou , an Egyptian puppet , shall be shown +In Rome , as well as I ; mechanic slaves +With greasy aprons , rules and hammers , shall +Uplift us to the view ; in their thick breaths , +Rank of gross diet , shall we be enclouded , +And forc'd to drink their vapour . + +The gods forbid ! + +Nay , 'tis most certain , Iras . Saucy lictors +Will catch at us , like strumpets , and scald rimers +Ballad us out o' tune ; the quick comedians +Extemporally will stage us , and present +Our Alexandrian revels . Antony +Shall be brought drunken forth , and I shall see +Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness +I' the posture of a whore . + +O , the good gods ! + +Nay , that's certain . + +I'll never see it ; for , I am sure my nails +Are stronger than mine eyes . + +Why , that's the way +To fool their preparation , and to conquer +Their most absurd intents . + + +Now , Charmian , +Show me , my women , like a queen ; go fetch +My best attires ; I am again for Cydnus , +To meet Mark Antony . Sirrah Iras , go . +Now , noble Charmian , we'll dispatch indeed ; +And , when thou hast done this chare , I'll give thee leave +To play till doomsday . Bring our crown and all . + +Wherefore's this noise ? + +Here is a rural fellow +That will not be denied your highness' presence : +He brings you figs . + +Let him come in . + +What poor an instrument +May do a noble deed ! he brings me liberty . +My resolution's plac'd , and I have nothing +Of woman in me ; now from head to foot +I am marble-constant , now the fleeting moon +No planet is of mine . + + +This is the man . + +Avoid , and leave him . + +Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there , +That kills and pains not ? + +Truly , I have him ; but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him , for his biting is immortal ; those that do die of it do seldom or never recover . + +Remember'st thou any that have died on 't ? + +Very many , men and women too . I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday ; a very honest woman , but something given to lie , as a woman should not do but in the way of honesty , how she died of the biting of it , what pain she felt . Truly , she makes a very good report o' the worm ; but he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half that they do . But this is most fallible , the worm's an odd worm . + +Get thee hence ; farewell . + +I wish you all joy of the worm . + + +Farewell . + +You must think this , look you , that the worm will do his kind . + +Ay , ay ; farewell . + +Look you , the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people ; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm . + +Take thou no care ; it shall be heeded . + +Very good . Give it nothing , I pray you , for it is not worth the feeding . + +Will it eat me ? + +You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman ; I know that a woman is a dish for the gods , if the devil dress her not . But , truly , these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women , for in every ten that they make , the devils mar five . + +Well , get thee gone ; farewell . + +Yes , forsooth ; I wish you joy of the worm . + +Give me my robe , put on my crown ; I have +Immortal longings in me ; now no more +The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip . +Yare , yare , good Iras ; quick . Methinks I hear +Antony call ; I see him rouse himself +To praise my noble act ; I hear him mock +The luck of C sar , which the gods give men +To excuse their after wrath : husband , I come : +Now to that name my courage prove my title ! +I am fire , and air ; my other elements +I give to baser life . So ; have you done ? +Come then , and take the last warmth of my lips . +Farewell , kind Charmian ; Iras , long farewell . + +Have I the aspic in my lips ? Dost fall ? +If thou and nature can so gently part , +The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch , +Which hurts , and is desir'd . Dost thou lie still ? +If thus thou vanishest , thou tell'st the world +It is not worth leave-taking . + +Dissolve , thick cloud , and rain ; that I may say , +The gods themselves do weep . + +This proves me base : +If she first meet the curled Antony , +He'll make demand of her , and spend that kiss +Which is my heaven to have . Come , thou mortal wretch , + +With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate +Of life at once untie ; poor venomous fool , +Be angry , and dispatch . O ! couldst thou speak , +That I might hear thee call great C sar ass +Unpolicied . + +O eastern star ! + +Peace , peace ! +Dost thou not see my baby at my breast , +That sucks the nurse asleep ? + +O , break ! O , break ! + +As sweet as balm , as soft as air , as gentle , +O Antony !Nay , I will take thee too . + +What should I stay + + +In this vile world ? So , fare thee well . +Now boast thee , death , in thy possession lies +A lass unparallel'd . Downy windows , close ; +And golden Ph bus never be beheld +Of eyes again so royal ! Your crown's awry ; +I'll mend it , and then play . + + +Where is the queen ? + +Speak softly , wake her not . + +C sar hath sent + +Too slow a messenger . + +O ! come apace , dispatch ; I partly feel thee . + +Approach , ho ! All's not well ; C sar's beguil'd . + +There's Dolabella sent from C sar ; call him . + +What work is here ! Charmian , is this well done ? + +It is well done , and fitting for a princess +Descended of so many royal kings . +Ah ! soldier . + +How goes it here ? + +All dead . + +C sar , thy thoughts +Touch their effects in this ; thyself art coming +To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou +So sought'st to hinder . + +O ! sir , you are too sure an augurer ; +That you did fear is done . + +Bravest at the last , +She levell'd at our purposes , and , being royal , +Took her own way . The manner of their deaths ? +I do not see them bleed . + +Who was last with them ? + +A simple countryman that brought her figs : +This was his basket . + +Poison'd then . + +O C sar ! +This Charmian liv'd but now ; she stood , and spake : +I found her trimming up the diadem +On her dead mistress ; tremblingly she stood , +And on the sudden dropp'd . + +O noble weakness ! +If they had swallow'd poison 'twould appear +By external swelling ; but she looks like sleep , +As she would catch another Antony +In her strong toil of grace . + +Here , on her breast , +There is a vent of blood , and something blown ; +The like is on her arm . + +This is an aspic's trail ; and these fig-leaves +Have slime upon them , such as the aspic leaves +Upon the caves of Nile . + +Most probable +That so she died ; for her physician tells me +She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite +Of easy ways to die . Take up her bed ; +And bear her women from the monument . +She shall be buried by her Antony : +No grave upon the earth shall clip in it +A pair so famous . High events as these +Strike those that make them ; and their story is +No less in pity than his glory which +Brought them to be lamented . Our army shall , +In solemn show , attend this funeral , +And then to Rome . Come , Dolabella , see +High order in this great solemnity . + +CORIOLANUS + +Before we proceed any further , hear me speak . + +Speak , speak . + +You are all resolved rather to die than to famish ? + +Resolved , resolved . + +First , you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people . + +We know't , we know't . + +Let us kill him , and we'll have corn at our own price . Is't a verdict ? + +No more talking on't ; let it be done . +Away , away ! + +One word , good citizens . + +We are accounted poor citizens , the patricians good . What authority surfeits on would relieve us . If they would yield us but the superfluity , while it were wholesome , we might guess they relieved us humanely ; but they think we are too dear : the leanness that afflicts us , the object of our misery , is as an inventory to particularise their abundance ; our sufferance is a gain to them . Let us revenge this with our pikes , ere we become rakes : for the gods know I speak this in hunger for bread , not in thirst for revenge . + +Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius ? + +Against him first : he's a very dog to the commonalty . + +Consider you what services he has done for his country ? + +Very well ; and could be content to give him good report for't , but that he pays himself with being proud . + +Nay , but speak not maliciously . + +I say unto you , what he hath done famously , he did it to that end : though soft-conscienced men can be content to say it was for his country , he did it to please his mother , and to be partly proud ; which he is , even to the altitude of his virtue . + +What he cannot help in his nature , you account a vice in him . You must in no way say he is covetous . + +If I must not , I need not be barren of accusations : he hath faults , with surplus , to tire in repetition . + +What shouts are these ? The other side o' the city is risen : why stay we prating here ? to the Capitol ! + +Come , come . + +Soft ! who comes here ? + + +Worthy Menenius Agrippa ; one that hath always loved the people . + +He's one honest enough : would all the rest were so ! + +What work's , my countrymen , in hand ? Where go you +With bats and clubs ? The matter ? Speak , I pray you . + +Our business is not unknown to the senate ; they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do , which now we'll show 'em in deeds . They say poor suitors have strong breaths : they shall know we have strong arms too . + +Why , masters , my good friends , mine honest neighbours , +Will you undo yourselves ? + +We cannot , sir ; we are undone already . + +I tell you , friends , most charitable care +Have the patricians of you . For your wants , +Your suffering in this dearth , you may as well +Strike at the heaven with your staves as lift them +Against the Roman state , whose course will on +The way it takes , cracking ten thousand curbs +Of more strong link asunder than can ever +Appear in your impediment . For the dearth , +The gods , not the patricians , make it , and +Your knees to them , not arms , must help . Alack ! +You are transported by calamity +Thither where more attends you ; and you slander +The helms o' the state , who care for you like fathers , +When you curse them as enemies . + +Care for us ! True , indeed ! They ne'er cared for us yet : suffer us to famish , and their storehouses crammed with grain ; make edicts for usury , to support usurers ; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich , and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor . If the wars eat us not up , they will ; and there's all the love they bear us . + +Either you must +Confess yourselves wondrous malicious , +Or be accus'd of folly . I shall tell you +A pretty tale : it may be you have heard it ; +But , since it serves my purpose , I will venture +To scale't a little more . + +Well , I'll hear it , sir ; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale ; but , an't please you , deliver . + +There was a time when all the body's members +Rebell'd against the belly ; thus accus'd it : +That only like a gulf it did remain +I' the midst o' the body , idle and unactive , +Still cupboarding the viand , never bearing +Like labour with the rest , where the other instruments +Did see and hear , devise , instruct , walk , feel , +And , mutually participate , did minister +Unto the appetite and affection common +Of the whole body . The belly answer'd , + +Well , sir , what answer made the belly ? + +Sir , I shall tell you .With a kind of smile , +Which ne'er came from the lungs , but even thus +For , look you , I may make the belly smile +As well as speak it tauntingly replied +To the discontented members , the mutinous parts +That envied his receipt ; even so most fitly +As you malign our senators for that +They are not such as you . + +Your belly's answer ? What ! +The kingly crowned head , the vigilant eye , +The counsellor heart , the arm our soldier , +Our steed the leg , the tongue our trumpeter , +With other muniments and petty helps +In this our fabric , if that they + +What then ? +'Fore me , this fellow speaks ! what then ? what then ? + +Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd , +Who is the sink o' the body , + +Well , what then ? + +The former agents , if they did complain , +What could the belly answer ? + +I will tell you ; +If you'll bestow a small , of what you have little , +Patience a while , you'll hear the belly's answer . + +You're long about it . + +Note me this , good friend ; +Your most grave belly was deliberate , +Not rash like his accusers , and thus answer'd : +'True is it , my incorporate friends ,' quoth he , +'That I receive the general food at first , +Which you do live upon ; and fit it is ; +Because I am the store-house and the shop +Of the whole body : but , if you do remember , +I send it through the rivers of your blood , +Even to the court , the heart , to the seat o' the brain ; +And , through the cranks and offices of man , +The strongest nerves and small inferior veins +From me receive that natural competency +Whereby they live . And though that all at once , +You , my good friends ,' this says the belly , mark me , + +Ay , sir ; well , well . + +'Though all at once cannot +See what I do deliver out to each , +Yet I can make my audit up , that all +From me do back receive the flour of all , +And leave me but the bran .' What say you to't ? + +It was an answer : how apply you this ? + +The senators of Rome are this good belly , +And you the mutinous members ; for , examine +Their counsels and their cares , digest things rightly +Touching the weal o' the common , you shall find +No public benefit which you receive +But it proceeds or comes from them to you , +And no way from yourselves . What do you think , +You , the great toe of this assembly ? + +I the great toe ? Why the great toe ? + +For that , being one o' the lowest , basest , poorest , +Of this most wise rebellion , thou go'st foremost : +Thou rascal , that art worst in blood to run , +Lead'st first to win some vantage . +But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs : +Rome and her rats are at the point of battle ; +The one side must have bale . + +Hail , noble Marcius ! + +Thanks .What's the matter , you dissentious rogues , +That , rubbing the poor itch of your opinion , +Make yourselves scabs ? + +We have ever your good word . + +He that will give good words to thee will flatter +Beneath abhorring . What would you have , you curs , +That like nor peace nor war ? the one affrights you , +The other makes you proud . He that trusts to you , +Where he should find you lions , finds you hares ; +Where foxes , geese : you are no surer , no , +Than is the coal of fire upon the ice , +Or hailstone in the sun . Your virtue is , +To make him worthy whose offence subdues him , +And curse that justice did it . Who deserves greatness +Deserves your hate ; and your affections are +A sick man's appetite , who desires most that +Which would increase his evil . He that depends +Upon your favours swims with fins of lead +And hews down oaks with rushes . Hang ye ! Trust ye ? +With every minute you do change a mind , +And call him noble that was now your hate , +Him vile that was your garland . What's the matter , +That in these several places of the city +You cry against the noble senate , who , +Under the gods , keep you in awe , which else +Would feed on one another ? What's their seeking ? + +For corn at their own rates ; whereof they say +The city is well stor'd . + +Hang 'em ! They say ! +They'll sit by the fire , and presume to know +What's done i' the Capitol ; who's like to rise , +Who thrives , and who declines ; side factions , and give out +Conjectural marriages ; making parties strong , +And feebling such as stand not in their liking , +Below their cobbled shoes . They say there's grain enough ! +Would the nobility lay aside their ruth , +And let me use my sword , I'd make a quarry +With thousands of these quarter'd slaves , as high +As I could pick my lance . + +Nay , these are almost thoroughly persuaded ; +For though abundantly they lack discretion , +Yet are they passing cowardly . But , I beseech you , +What says the other troop ? + +They are dissolv'd : hang 'em ! +They said they were an-hungry ; sigh'd forth proverbs : +That hunger broke stone walls ; that dogs must eat ; +That meat was made for mouths ; that the gods sent not +Corn for the rich men only . With these shreds +They vented their complainings ; which being answer'd , +And a petition granted them , a strange one , +To break the heart of generosity , +And make bold power look pale ,they threw their caps +As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon , +Shouting their emulation . + +What is granted them ? + +Five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms , +Of their own choice : one's Junius Brutus , +Sicinius Velutus , and I know not 'Sdeath ! +The rabble should have first unroof'd the city , +Ere so prevail'd with me ; it will in time +Win upon power , and throw forth greater themes +For insurrection's arguing . + +This is strange . + +Go ; get you home , you fragments ! + + +Where's Caius Marcius ? + +Here : what's the matter ? + +The news is , sir , the Volsces are in arms . + +I am glad on't ; then we shall ha' means to vent +Our musty superfluity . See , our best elders . + + +Marcius , 'tis true that you have lately told us ; +The Volsces are in arms . + +They have a leader , +Tullus Aufidius , that will put you to't . +I sin in envying his nobility , +And were I anything but what I am , +I would wish me only he . + +You have fought together . + +Were half to half the world by the ears , and he +Upon my party , I'd revolt , to make +Only my wars with him : he is a lion +That I am proud to hunt . + +Then , worthy Marcius , +Attend upon Cominius to these wars . + +It is your former promise . + +Sir , it is ; +And I am constant . Titus Lartius , thou +Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face . +What ! art thou stiff ? stand'st out ? + +No , Caius Marcius ; +I'll lean upon one crutch and fight with t'other , +Ere stay behind this business . + +O ! true-bred . + +Your company to the Capitol ; where I know +Our greatest friends attend us . + +Lead you on : + + +Follow Cominius ; we must follow you ; +Right worthy you priority . + +Noble Marcius ! + +Hence ! to your homes ! be gone . + +Nay , let them follow : +The Volsces have much corn ; take these rats thither +To gnaw their garners . Worshipful mutiners , +Your valour puts well forth ; pray , follow . + + +Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius ? + +He has no equal . + +When we were chosen tribunes for the people , + +Mark'd you his lip and eyes ? + +Nay , but his taunts . + +Being mov'd , he will not spare to gird the gods . + +Bemock the modest moon . + +The present wars devour him ; he is grown +Too proud to be so valiant . + +Such a nature , +Tickled with good success , disdains the shadow +Which he treads on at noon . But I do wonder +His insolence can brook to be commanded +Under Cominius . + +Fame , at the which he aims , +In whom already he is well grac'd , cannot +Better be held nor more attain'd than by +A place below the first ; for what miscarries +Shall be the general's fault , though he perform +To the utmost of a man ; and giddy censure +Will then cry out of Marcius 'O ! if he +Had borne the business .' + +Besides , if things go well , +Opinion , that so sticks on Marcius , shall +Of his demerits rob Cominius . + +Come : +Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius , +Though Marcius earn'd them not ; and all his faults +To Marcius shall be honours , though indeed +In aught he merit not . + +Let's hence and hear +How the dispatch is made ; and in what fashion , +More than his singularity , he goes +Upon this present action . + +Let's along . + + +So , your opinion is , Aufidius , +That they of Rome are enter'd in our counsels , +And know how we proceed . + +Is it not yours ? +What ever have been thought on in this state , +That could be brought to bodily act ere Rome +Had circumvention ? 'Tis not four days gone +Since I heard thence ; these are the words : I think +I have the letter here ; yes , here it is . +They have press'd a power , but it is not known +Whether for east , or west : the dearth is great ; +The people mutinous ; and it is rumour'd , +Cominius , Marcius , your old enemy , +Who is of Rome worse hated than of you , +And Titus Lartius , a most valiant Roman , +These three lead on this preparation +Whither 'tis bent : most likely 'tis for you : +Consider of it . + +Our army's in the field : +We never yet made doubt but Rome was ready +To answer us . + +Nor did you think it folly +To keep your great pretences veil'd till when +They needs must show themselves ; which in the hatching , +It seem'd , appear'd to Rome . By the discovery +We shall be shorten'd in our aim , which was +To take in many towns ere almost Rome +Should know we were afoot . + +Noble Aufidius , +Take your commission ; hie you to your bands ; +Let us alone to guard Corioli : +If they set down before's , for the remove +Bring up your army ; but , I think you'll find +They've not prepared for us . + +O ! doubt not that ; +I speak from certainties . Nay , more ; +Some parcels of their power are forth already , +And only hitherward . I leave your honours . +If we and Caius Marcius chance to meet , +'Tis sworn between us we shall ever strike +Till one can do no more . + +The gods assist you ! + +And keep your honours safe ! + +Farewell . + +Farewell . + +Farewell . + + +I pray you , daughter , sing ; or express yourself in a more comfortable sort . If my son were my husband , I would freelier rejoice in that absence wherein he won honour than in the embracements of his bed where he would show most love . When yet he was but tender-bodied and the only son of my womb , when youth with comeliness plucked all gaze his way , when for a day of kings' entreaties a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding , I , considering how honour would become such a person , that it was no better than picture-like to hang by the wall , if renown made it not stir , was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame . To a cruel war I sent him ; from whence he returned , his brows bound with oak . I tell thee , daughter , I sprang not more in joy at first hearing he was a man-child than now in first seeing he had proved himself a man . + +But had he died in the business , madam ; how then ? + +Then , his good report should have been my son ; I therein would have found issue . Hear me profess sincerely : had I a dozen sons , each in my love alike , and none less dear than thine and my good Marcius , I had rather had eleven die nobly for their country than one voluptuously surfeit out of action . + + +Madam , the Lady Valeria is come to visit you . + +Beseech you , give me leave to retire myself . + +Indeed , you shall not . +Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum , +See him pluck Aufidius down by the hair , +As children from a bear , the Volsces shunning him : +Methinks I see him stamp thus , and call thus : +'Come on , you cowards ! you were got in fear , +Though you were born in Rome .' His bloody brow +With his mail'd hand then wiping , forth he goes , +Like to a harvestman that's task'd to mow +Or all or lose his hire . + +His bloody brow ! O Jupiter ! no blood . + +Away , you fool ! it more becomes a man +Than gilt his trophy : the breasts of Hecuba , +When she did suckle Hector , look'd not lovelier +Than Hector's forehead when it spit forth blood +At Grecian swords , contemning . Tell Valeria +We are fit to bid her welcome . + + +Heavens bless my lord from fell Aufidius ! + +He'll beat Aufidius' head below his knee , +And tread upon his neck . + + +My ladies both , good day to you . + +Sweet madam . + +I am glad to see your ladyship . + +How do you both ? you are manifest housekeepers . What are you sewing here ? A fine spot , in good faith . How does your little son ? + +I thank your ladyship ; well , good madam . + +He had rather see the swords and hear a drum , than look upon his schoolmaster . + +O' my word , the father's son ; I'll swear 'tis a very pretty boy . O' my troth , I looked upon him o' Wednesday half an hour together : he has such a confirmed countenance . I saw him run after a gilded butterfly ; and when he caught it , he let it go again ; and after it again ; and over and over he comes , and up again ; catched it again : or whether his fall enraged him , or how 'twas , he did so set his teeth and tear it ; O ! I warrant , how he mammocked it ! + +One on's father's moods . + +Indeed , la , 'tis a noble child . + +A crack , madam . + +Come , lay aside your stitchery ; I must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon . + +No , good madam ; I will not out of doors . + +Not out of doors ! + +She shall , she shall . + +Indeed , no , by your patience ; I'll not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars . + +Fie ! you confine yourself most unreasonably . Come ; you must go visit the good lady that lies in . + +I will wish her speedy strength , and visit her with my prayers ; but I cannot go thither . + +Why , I pray you ? + +'Tis not to save labour , nor that I want love . + +You would be another Penelope ; yet , they say , all the yarn she spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths . Come ; I would your cambric were sensible as your finger , that you might leave pricking it for pity . Come , you shall go with us . + +No , good madam , pardon me ; indeed , I will not forth . + +In truth , la , go with me ; and I'll tell you excellent news of your husband . + +O , good madam , there can be none yet . + +Verily , I do not jest with you ; there came news from him last night . + +Indeed , madam ? + +In earnest , it's true ; I heard a senator speak it . Thus it is : The Volsces have an army forth ; against whom Cominius the general is gone , with one part of our Roman power : your lord and Titus Lartius are set down before their city Corioli ; they nothing doubt prevailing and to make it brief wars . This is true , on mine honour ; and so , I pray , go with us . + +Give me excuse , good madam ; I will obey you in every thing hereafter . + +Let her alone , lady : as she is now she will but disease our better mirth . + +In troth , I think she would . Fare you well then . Come , good sweet lady . Prithee , Virgilia , turn thy solemness out o' door , and go along with us . + +No , at a word , madam ; indeed I must not . I wish you much mirth . + +Well then , farewell . + + +Yonder comes news : a wager they have met . + +My horse to yours , no . + +'Tis done . + +Agreed . + +Say , has our general met the enemy ? + +They lie in view , but have not spoke as yet . + +So the good horse is mine . + +I'll buy him of you . + +No , I'll nor sell nor give him ; lend you him I will +For half a hundred years . Summon the town . + +How far off lie these armies ? + +Within this mile and half . + +Then shall we hear their 'larum , and they ours . +Now , Mars , I prithee , make us quick in work , +That we with smoking swords may march from hence , +To help our fielded friends ! Come , blow thy blast . + +Tullus Aufidius , is he within your walls ? + +No , nor a man that fears you less than he , +That's lesser than a little . Hark , our drums + +Are bringing forth our youth : we'll break our walls , +Rather than they shall pound us up : our gates , +Which yet seem shut , we have but pinn'd with rushes ; +They'll open of themselves . Hark you , far off ! + +There is Aufidius : list , what work he makes +Amongst your cloven army . + +O ! they are at it ! + +Their noise be our instruction . Ladders , ho ! + + +They fear us not , but issue forth their city . +Now put your shields before your hearts , and fight +With hearts more proof than shields . Advance , brave Titus : +They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts , +Which makes me sweat with wrath . Come on , my fellows : +He that retires , I'll take him for a Volsce , +And he shall feel mine edge . + + +All the contagion of the south light on you , +You shames of Rome ! you herd of Boils and plagues +Plaster you o'er , that you may be abhorr'd +Further than seen , and one infect another +Against the wind a mile ! You souls of geese , +That bear the shapes of men , how have you run +From slaves that apes would beat ! Pluto and hell ! +All hurt behind ; backs red , and faces pale +With flight and agu'd fear ! Mend and charge home , +Or , by the fires of heaven , I'll leave the foe +And make my wars on you ; look to 't : come on ; +If you'll stand fast , we'll beat them to their wives , +As they us to our trenches follow'd . + + +So , now the gates are ope : now prove good seconds : +'Tis for the followers Fortune widens them , +Not for the fliers : mark me , and do the like . + + +Foolhardiness ! not I . + +Nor I . + + +See , they have shut him in . + +To the pot , I warrant him . + +What is become of Marcius ? + +Slain , sir , doubtless . + +Following the fliers at the very heels , +With them he enters ; who , upon the sudden , +Clapp'd-to their gates ; he is himself alone , +To answer all the city . + +O noble fellow ! +Who , sensibly , outdares his senseless sword , +And , when it bows , stands up . Thou art left , Marcius : +A carbuncle entire , as big as thou art , +Were not so rich a jewel . Thou wast a soldier +Even to Cato's wish , not fierce and terrible +Only in strokes ; but , with thy grim looks and +The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds , +Thou mad'st thine enemies shake , as if the world +Were feverous and did tremble . + + +Look , sir ! + +O ! 'tis Marcius ! +Let's fetch him off , or make remain alike . + + +This will I carry to Rome . + +And I this . + +A murrain on't ! I took this for silver . + +See here these movers that do prize their hours +At a crack'd drachme ! Cushions , leaden spoons , +Irons of a doit , doublets that hangmen would +Bury with those that wore them , these base slaves , +Ere yet the fight be done , pack up . Down with them ! +And hark , what noise the general makes ! To him ! +There is the man of my soul's hate , Aufidius , +Piercing our Romans : then , valiant Titus , take +Convenient numbers to make good the city , +Whilst I , with those that have the spirit , will haste +To help Cominius . + +Worthy sir , thou bleed'st ; +Thy exercise hath been too violent +For a second course of fight . + +Sir , praise me not ; +My work hath yet not warm'd me : fare you well : +The blood I drop is rather physical +Than dangerous to me : to Aufidius thus +I will appear , and fight . + +Now the fair goddess , Fortune , +Fall deep in love with thee ; and her great charms +Misguide thy opposers' swords ! Bold gentleman , +Prosperity be thy page ! + +Thy friend no less +Than those she places highest ! So , farewell . + +Thou worthiest Marcius ! + +Go , sound thy trumpet in the market-place ; +Call thither all the officers of the town , +Where they shall know our mind . Away ! + + +Breathe you , my friends : well fought ; we are come off +Like Romans , neither foolish in our stands , +Nor cowardly in retire : believe me , sirs , +We shall be charg'd again . Whiles we have struck , +By interims and conveying gusts we have heard +The charges of our friends . Ye Roman gods ! +Lead their successes as we wish our own , +That both our powers , with smiling fronts encountering , +May give you thankful sacrifice . + +Thy news ? + +The citizens of Corioli have issu'd , +And given to Lartius and to Marcius battle : +I saw our party to their trenches driven , +And then I came away . + +Though thou speak'st truth , +Methinks thou speak'st not well . How long is't since ? + +Above an hour , my lord . + +'Tis not a mile ; briefly we heard their drums : +How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour , +And bring thy news so late ? + +Spies of the Volsces +Held me in chase , that I was forc'd to wheel +Three or four miles about ; else had I , sir , +Half an hour since brought my report . + +Who's yonder , +That does appear as he were flay'd ? O gods ! +He has the stamp of Marcius ; and I have +Before-time seen him thus . + +Come I too late ? + +The shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor , +More than I know the sound of Marcius' tongue +From every meaner man . + + +Come I too late ? + +Ay , if you come not in the blood of others , +But mantled in your own . + +O ! let me clip ye +In arms as sound as when I woo'd , in heart +As merry as when our nuptial day was done , +And tapers burn'd to bedward . + +Flower of warriors . +How is't with Titus Lartius ? + +As with a man busied about decrees : +Condemning some to death , and some to exile ; +Ransoming him , or pitying , threat'ning the other ; +Holding Corioli in the name of Rome , +Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash , +To let him slip at will . + +Where is that slave +Which told me they had beat you to your trenches ? +Where is he ? Call him hither . + +Let him alone ; +He did inform the truth : but for our gentlemen , +The common file a plague ! tribunes for them ! +The mouse ne'er shunn'd the cat as they did budge +From rascals worse than they . + +But how prevail'd you ? + +Will the time serve to tell ? I do not think . +Where is the enemy ? Are you lords o' the field ? +If not , why cease you till you are so ? + +Marcius , we have at disadvantage fought , +And did retire to win our purpose . + +How lies their battle ? Know you on which side +They have plac'd their men of trust ? + +As I guess , Marcius , +Their bands i' the vaward are the Antiates , +Of their best trust ; o'er them Aufidius , +Their very heart of hope . + +I do beseech you , +By all the battles wherein we have fought , +By the blood we have shed together , by the vows +We have made to endure friends , that you directly +Set me against Aufidius and his Antiates ; +And that you not delay the present , but , +Filling the air with swords advanc'd and darts , +We prove this very hour . + +Though I could wish +You were conducted to a gentle bath , +And balms applied to you , yet dare I never +Deny your asking : take your choice of those +That best can aid your action . + +Those are they +That most are willing . If any such be here +As it were sin to doubt that love this painting +Wherein you see me smear'd ; if any fear +Lesser his person than an ill report ; +If any think brave death outweighs bad life , +And that his country's dearer than himself ; +Let him , alone , or so many so minded , +Wave thus , to express his disposition , +And follow Marcius . + +O ! me alone ? Make you a sword of me ? +If these shows be not outward , which of you +But is four Volsces ? None of you but is +Able to bear against the great Aufidius +A shield as hard as his . A certain number , +Though thanks to all , must I select from all : the rest +Shall bear the business in some other fight , +As cause will be obey'd . Please you to march ; +And four shall quickly draw out my command , +Which men are best inclin'd . + +March on , my fellows : +Make good this ostentation , and you shall +Divide in all with us . + + +So ; let the ports be guarded : keep your duties , +As I have set them down . If I do send , dispatch +Those centuries to our aid ; the rest will serve +For a short holding : if we lose the field , +We cannot keep the town . + +Fear not our care , sir . + +Hence , and shut your gates upon us . +Our guider , come ; to the Roman camp conduct us . + + +I'll fight with none but thee ; for I do hate thee +Worse than a promise-breaker . + +We hate alike : +Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor +More than thy fame and envy . Fix thy foot . + +Let the first budger die the other's slave , +And the gods doom him after ! + +If I fly , Marcius , +Halloo me like a hare . + +Within these three hours , Tullus , +Alone I fought in your Corioli walls , +And made what work I pleas'd ; 'tis not my blood +Wherein thou seest me mask'd ; for thy revenge +Wrench up thy power to the highest . + +Wert thou the Hector +That was the whip of your bragg'd progeny , +Thou shouldst not 'scape me here . + +Officious , and not valiant , you have sham'd me +In your condemned seconds . + + +If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work , +Thou'lt not believe thy deeds : but I'll report it +Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles , +Where great patricians shall attend and shrug , +I' the end , admire ; where ladies shall be frighted , +And , gladly quak'd , hear more ; where the dull Tribunes , +That , with the fusty plebeians , hate thine honours , +Shall say , against their hearts , +'We thank the gods our Rome hath such a soldier !' +Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast , +Having fully din'd before . + + +O general , +Here is the steed , we the caparison : +Hadst thou beheld + +Pray now , no more : my mother , +Who has a charter to extol her blood , +When she does praise me grieves me . I have done +As you have done ; that's what I can ; induc'd +As you have been ; that's for my country : +He that has but effected his good will +Hath overta'en mine act . + +You shall not be +The grave of your deserving ; Rome must know +The value of her own : 'twere a concealment +Worse than a theft , no less than a traducement , +To hide your doings ; and to silence that , +Which , to the spire and top of praises vouch'd , +Would seem but modest . Therefore , I beseech you , +In sign of what you are , not to reward +What you have done ,before our army hear me . + +I have some wounds upon me , and they smart +To hear themselves remember'd . + +Should they not . +Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude , +And tent themselves with death . Of all the horses , +Whereof we have ta'en good , and good store , of all +The treasure , in this field achiev'd and city , +We render you the tenth ; to be ta'en forth , +Before the common distribution , +At your only choice . + +I thank you , general ; +But cannot make my heart consent to take +A bribe to pay my sword : I do refuse it ; +And stand upon my common part with those +That have beheld the doing . + +May these same instruments , which you profane , +Never sound more ! When drums and trumpets shall +I' the field prove flatterers , let courts and cities be +Made all of false-fac'd soothing ! +When steel grows soft as is the parasite's silk , +Let him be made a coverture for the wars ! +No more , I say ! For that I have not wash'd +My nose that bled , or foil'd some debile wretch , +Which , without note , here's many else have done , +You shout me forth +In acclamations hyperbolical ; +As if I lov'd my little should be dieted +In praises sauc'd with lies . + +Too modest are you ; +More cruel to your good report than grateful +To us that give you truly . By your patience , +If 'gainst yourself you be incens'd , we'll put you , +Like one that means his proper harm , in manacles , +Then reason safely with you . Therefore , be it known , +As to us , to all the world , that Caius Marcius +Wears this war's garland ; in token of the which , +My noble steed , known to the camp , I give him , +With all his trim belonging ; and from this time , +For what he did before Corioli , call him , +With all the applause and clamour of the host , +The addition nobly ever ! + +Caius Marcius Coriolanus ! + + +I will go wash ; +And when my face is fair , you shall perceive +Whether I blush , or no : howbeit , I thank you . +I mean to stride your steed , and at all times +To undercrest your good addition +To the fairness of my power . + +So , to our tent ; +Where , ere we do repose us , we will write +To Rome of our success . You , Titus Lartius , +Must to Corioli back : send us to Rome +The best , with whom we may articulate , +For their own good and ours . + +I shall , my lord . + +The gods begin to mock me . I , that now +Refus'd most princely gifts , am bound to beg +Of my lord general . + +Take it ; 'tis yours . What is't ? + +I sometime lay here in Corioli +At a poor man's house ; he us'd me kindly : +He cried to me ; I saw him prisoner ; +But then Aufidius was within my view , +And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity : I request you +To give my poor host freedom . + +O ! well begg'd ! +Were he the butcher of my son , he should +Be free as is the wind . Deliver him , Titus . + +Marcius , his name ? + +By Jupiter ! forgot . +I am weary ; yea , my memory is tir'd . +Have we no wine here ? + +Go we to our tent : +The blood upon your visage dries ; 'tis time +It should be look'd to : come . + +The town is ta'en ! + +'Twill be deliver'd back on good condition . + +Condition ! +I would I were a Roman ; for I cannot , +Being a Volsce , be that I am . Condition ! +What good condition can a treaty find +I' the part that is at mercy ? Five times , Marcius , +I have fought with thee ; so often hast thou beat me , +And wouldst do so , I think , should we encounter +As often as we eat . By the elements , +If e'er again I meet him beard to beard , +He is mine , or I am his : mine emulation +Hath not that honour in't it had ; for where +I thought to crush him in an equal force +True sword to sword I'll potch at him some way +Or wrath or craft may get him . + +He's the devil . + +Bolder , though not so subtle . My valour's poison'd +With only suffering stain by him ; for him +Shall fly out of itself . Nor sleep nor sanctuary , +Being naked , sick , nor fane nor Capitol , +The prayers of priests , nor times of sacrifice , +Embarquements all of fury , shall lift up +Their rotten privilege and custom 'gainst +My hate to Marcius . Where I find him , were it +At home , upon my brother's guard , even there +Against the hospitable canon , would I +Wash my fierce hand in 's heart . Go you to the city ; +Learn how 'tis held , and what they are that must +Be hostages for Rome . + +Will not you go ? + +I am attended at the cypress grove : I pray you +'Tis south the city mills bring me word thither +How the world goes , that to the pace of it +I may spur on my journey . + +I shall , sir . + +The augurer tells me we shall have news to-night . + +Good or bad ? + +Not according to the prayer of the people , for they love not Marcius . + +Nature teaches beasts to know their friends . + +Pray you , who does the wolf love ? + +The lamb . + +Ay , to devour him ; as the hungry plebeians would the noble Marcius . + +He's a lamb indeed , that baes like a bear . + +He's a bear indeed , that lives like a lamb . You two are old men ; tell me one thing that I shall ask you . + +Well , sir . + +Well , sir . + +In what enormity is Marcius poor in , that you two have not in abundance ? + +He's poor in no one fault , but stored with all . + +Especially in pride . + +And topping all others in boasting . + +This is strange now : do you two know how you are censured here in the city , I mean of us o' the right hand file ? Do you ? + +Why , how are we censured ? + +Because you talk of pride now ,Will you not be angry ? + +Well , well , sir ; well . + +Why , 'tis no great matter ; for a very little thief of occasion will rob you of a great deal of patience : give your dispositions the reins , and be angry at your pleasures ; at the least , if you take it as a pleasure to you in being so . You blame Marcius for being proud ? + +We do it not alone , sir . + +I know you can do very little alone ; for your helps are many , or else your actions would grow wondrous single : your abilities are too infant-like , for doing much alone . You talk of pride : O ! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks , and make but an interior survey of your good selves . O ! that you could . + +What then , sir ? + +Why , then you should discover a brace of unmeriting , proud , violent , testy magistrates alias fools as any in Rome . + +Menenius , you are known well enough too . + +I am known to be a humorous patrician , and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in't ; said to be something imperfect in favouring the first complaint ; hasty and tinder-like upon too trivial motion ; one that converses more with the buttock of the night than with the forehead of the morning . What I think I utter , and spend my malice in my breath . Meeting two such wealsmen as you are ,I cannot call you Lycurguses ,if the drink you give me touch my palate adversely , I make a crooked face at it . I cannot say your worships have delivered the matter well when I find the ass in compound with the major part of your syllables ; and though I must be content to bear with those that say you are reverend grave men , yet they lie deadly that tell you have good faces . If you see this in the map of my microcosm , follows it that I am known well enough too ? What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character , if I be known well enough too ? + +Come , sir , come , we know you well enough . + +You know neither me , yourselves , nor anything . You are ambitious for poor knaves' caps and legs : you wear out a good wholesome forenoon in hearing a cause between an orange-wife and a fosset-seller , and then rejourn the controversy of three-pence to a second day of audience . When you are hearing a matter between party and party , if you chance to be pinched with the colic , you make faces like mummers , set up the bloody flag against all patience , and , in roaring for a chamber-pot , dismiss the controversy bleeding , the more entangled by your hearing : all the peace you make in their cause is , calling both the parties knaves . You are a pair of strange ones . + +Come , come , you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the Capitol . + +Our very priests must become mockers if they shall encounter such ridiculous subjects as you are . When you speak best unto the purpose it is not worth the wagging of your beards ; and your beards deserve not so honourable a grave as to stuff a botcher's cushion , or to be entombed in an ass's pack-saddle . Yet you must be saying Marcius is proud ; who , in a cheap estimation , is worth all your predecessors since Deucalion , though peradventure some of the best of 'em were hereditary hangmen . Good den to your worships : more of your conversation would infect my brain , being the herdsmen of the beastly plebeians : I will be bold to take my leave of you . + + +How now , my as fair as noble ladies ,and the moon , were she earthly , no nobler ,whither do you follow your eyes so fast ? + +Honourable Menenius , my boy Marcius approaches ; for the love of Juno , let's go . + +Ha ! Marcius coming home ? + +Ay , worthy Menenius ; and with most prosperous approbation . + +Take my cap , Jupiter , and I thank thee . Hoo ! Marcius coming home ! + +Nay , 'tis true . + +Nay , 'tis true . + +Look , here's a letter from him : the state hath another , his wife another ; and , I think , there's one at home for you . + +I will make my very house reel to-night . A letter for me ! + +Yes , certain , there's a letter for you ; I saw it . + +A letter for me ! It gives me an estate of seven years' health ; in which time I will make a lip at the physician : the most sovereign prescription in Galen is but empiricutic , and , to this preservative , of no better report than a horse-drench . Is he not wounded ? he was wont to come home wounded . + +O ! no , no , no . + +O ! he is wounded , I thank the gods for't . + +So do I too , if it be not too much . Brings a' victory in his pocket ? The wounds become him . + +On 's brows , Menenius ; he comes the third time home with the oaken garland . + +Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly ? + +Titus Lartius writes they fought together , but Aufidius got off . + +And 'twas time for him too , I'll warrant him that : an he had stayed by him I would not have been so fidiused for all the chests in Corioli , and the gold that's in them . Is the senate possessed of this ? + +Good ladies , let's go . Yes , yes , yes ; the senate has letters from the general , wherein he gives my son the whole name of the war . He hath in this action outdone his former deeds doubly . + +In troth there's wondrous things spoke of him . + +Wondrous ! ay , I warrant you , and not without his true purchasing . + +The gods grant them true ! + +True ! pow , wow . + +True ! I'll be sworn they are true . Where is he wounded ? + + +Where is he wounded ? + +I' the shoulder , and i' the left arm : there will be large cicatrices to show the people when he shall stand for his place . He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts i' the body . + +One i' the neck , and two i' the thigh , there's nine that I know . + +He had , before this last expedition , twenty-five wounds upon him . + +Now , it's twenty-seven : every gash was an enemy's grave . + +Hark ! the trumpets . + +These are the ushers of Marcius : before him he carries noise , and behind him he leaves tears : +Death , that dark spirit , in 's nervy arm doth lie ; +Which , being advanc'd , declines , and then men die . + + +Know , Rome , that all alone Marcius did fight +Within Corioli gates : where he hath won , +With fame , a name to Caius Marcius ; these +In honour follows Coriolanus . +Welcome to Rome , renowned Coriolanus ! + + +Welcome to Rome , renowned Coriolanus ! + +No more of this ; it does offend my heart : +Pray now , no more . + +Look , sir , your mother ! + +O ! +You have , I know , petition'd all the gods +For my prosperity . + + +Nay , my good soldier , up ; +My gentle Marcius , worthy Caius , and +By deed-achieving honour newly nam'd , +What is it ?Coriolanus must I call thee ? +But O ! thy wife ! + +My gracious silence , hail ! +Wouldst thou have laugh'd had I come coffin'd home , +That weep'st to see me triumph ? Ah ! my dear , +Such eyes the widows in Corioli wear , +And mothers that lack sons . + +Now , the gods crown thee ! + +And live you yet ? + +O my sweet lady , pardon . + +I know not where to turn : O ! welcome home ; +And welcome , general ; and ye're welcome all . + +A hundred thousand welcomes : I could weep , +And I could laugh ; I am light , and heavy . Welcome . +A curse begnaw at very root on 's heart +That is not glad to see thee ! You are three +That Rome should dote on ; yet , by the faith of men , +We have some old crab-trees here at home that will not +Be grafted to your relish . Yet , welcome , warriors ! +We call a nettle but a nettle , and +The faults of fools but folly . + +Ever right . + +Menenius , ever , ever . + +Give way there , and go on ! + +Your hand , and yours : +Ere in our own house I do shade my head , +The good patricians must be visited ; +From whom I have receiv'd not only greetings , +But with them change of honours . + +I have liv'd +To see inherited my very wishes , +And the buildings of my fancy : only +There's one thing wanting , which I doubt not but +Our Rome will cast upon thee . + +Know , good mother , +I had rather be their servant in my way +Than sway with them in theirs . + +On , to the Capitol ! + + +All tongues speak of him , and the bleared sights +Are spectacled to see him : your prattling nurse +Into a rapture lets her baby cry +While she chats him : the kitchen malkin pins +Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck , +Clambering the walls to eye him : stalls , bulks , windows , +Are smother'd up , leads fill'd , and ridges hors'd +With variable complexions , all agreeing +In earnestness to see him : seld-shown flamens +Do press among the popular throngs , and puff +To win a vulgar station : our veil'd dames +Commit the war of white and damask in +Their nicely-gawded cheeks to the wanton spoil +Of Ph bus' burning kisses : such a pother +As if that whatsoever god who leads him +Were slily crept into his human powers , +And gave him graceful posture . + +On the sudden +I warrant him consul . + +Then our office may , +During his power , go sleep . + +He cannot temperately transport his honours +From where he should begin and end , but will +Lose those he hath won . + +In that there's comfort . + +Doubt not , the commoners , for whom we stand , +But they upon their ancient malice will +Forget with the least cause these his new honours , +Which that he'll give them , make I as little question +As he is proud to do't . + +I heard him swear , +Were he to stand for consul , never would he +Appear i' the market-place , nor on him put +The napless vesture of humility ; +Nor , showing , as the manner is , his wounds +To the people , beg their stinking breaths . + +'Tis right . + +It was his word . O ! he would miss it rather +Than carry it but by the suit o' the gentry to him +And the desire of the nobles . + +I wish no better +Than have him hold that purpose and to put it +In execution . + +'Tis most like he will . + +It shall be to him then , as our good wills , +A sure destruction . + +So it must fall out +To him or our authorities . For an end , +We must suggest the people in what hatred +He still hath held them ; that to his power he would +Have made them mules , silenc'd their pleaders , and +Dispropertied their freedoms ; holding them , +In human action and capacity , +Of no more soul nor fitness for the world +Than camels in the war ; who have their provand +Only for bearing burdens , and sore blows +For sinking under them . + +This , as you say , suggested +At some time when his soaring insolence +Shall teach the people which time shall not want , +If he be put upon 't ; and that's as easy +As to set dogs on sheep will be his fire +To kindle their dry stubble ; and their blaze +Shall darken him for ever . + + +What's the matter ? + +You are sent for to the Capitol . 'Tis thought +That Marcius shall be consul . +I have seen the dumb men throng to see him , and +The blind to hear him speak : matrons flung gloves , +Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers +Upon him as he pass'd ; the nobles bended , +As to Jove's statue , and the commons made +A shower and thunder with their caps and shouts : +I never saw the like . + +Let's to the Capitol ; +And carry with us ears and eyes for the time , +But hearts for the event . + +Have with you . + + +Come , come , they are almost here . +How many stand for consulships ? + +Three , they say ; but 'tis thought of every one Coriolanus will carry it . + +That's a brave fellow ; but he's vengeance proud , and loves not the common people . + +Faith , there have been many great men that have flattered the people , who ne'er loved them ; and there be many that they have loved , they know not wherefore : so that if they love they know not why , they hate upon no better a ground . Therefore , for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition ; and out of his noble carelessness lets them plainly see't . + +If he did not care whether he had their love or no , he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm ; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him ; and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite . Now , to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he dislikes , to flatter them for their love . + +He hath deserved worthily of his country ; and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who , having been supple and courteous to the people , bonneted , without any further deed to have them at all into their estimation and report ; but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes , and his actions in their hearts , that for their tongues to be silent , and not confess so much , were a kind of ingrateful injury ; to report otherwise , were a malice , that , giving itself the lie , would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it . + +No more of him ; he is a worthy man : make way , they are coming . + +Having determin'd of the Volsces , and +To send for Titus Lartius , it remains , +As the main point of this our after-meeting , +To gratify his noble service that +Hath thus stood for his country : therefore , please you , +Most reverend and grave elders , to desire +The present consul , and last general +In our well-found successes , to report +A little of that worthy work perform'd +By Caius Marcius Coriolanus , whom +We meet here both to thank and to remember +With honours like himself . + +Speak , good Cominius : +Leave nothing out for length , and make us think +Rather our state's defective for requital , +Than we to stretch it out . + +Masters o' the people , +We do request your kindest ears , and , after , +Your loving motion toward the common body , +To yield what passes here . + +We are convented +Upon a pleasing treaty , and have hearts +Inclinable to honour and advance +The theme of our assembly . + +Which the rather +We shall be bless'd to do , if he remember +A kinder value of the people than +He hath hereto priz'd them at . + +That's off , that's off ; +I would you rather had been silent . Please you +To hear Cominius speak ? + +Most willingly ; +But yet my caution was more pertinent +Than the rebuke you give it . + +He loves your people ; +But tie him not to be their bedfellow . +Worthy Cominius , speak . + +Nay , keep your place . + +Sit , Coriolanus ; never shame to hear +What you have nobly done . + +Your honours' pardon : +I had rather have my wounds to heal again +Than hear say how I got them . + +Sir , I hope +My words disbench'd you not . + +No , sir : yet oft , +When blows have made me stay , I fled from words . +You sooth'd not , therefore hurt not . But your people , +I love them as they weigh . + +Pray now , sit down . + +I had rather have one scratch my head i' the sun +When the alarum were struck than idly sit +To hear my nothings monster'd . + + +Masters of the people , +Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter , +That's thousand to one good one ,when you now see +He had rather venture all his limbs for honour +Than one on 's ears to hear it . Proceed , Cominius . + +I shall lack voice : the deeds of Coriolanus +Should not be utter'd feebly . It is held +That valour is the chiefest virtue , and +Most dignifies the haver : if it be , +The man I speak of cannot in the world +Be singly counterpois'd . At sixteen years , +When Tarquin made a head for Rome , he fought +Beyond the mark of others ; our then dictator , +Whom with all praise I point at , saw him fight , +When with his Amazonian chin he drove +The bristled lips before him . He bestrid +An o'er-press'd Roman , and i' the consul's view +Slew three opposers : Tarquin's self he met , +And struck him on his knee : in that day's feats , +When he might act the woman in the scene , +He prov'd best man i' the field , and for his meed +Was brow-bound with the oak . His pupil age +Man-enter'd thus , he waxed like a sea , +And in the brunt of seventeen battles since +He lurch'd all swords of the garland . For this last , +Before and in Corioli , let me say , +I cannot speak him home : he stopp'd the fliers , +And by his rare example made the coward +Turn terror into sport : as weeds before +A vessel under sail , so men obey'd , +And fell below his stem : his sword , death's stamp , +Where it did mark , it took ; from face to foot +He was a thing of blood , whose every motion +Was tim'd with dying cries : alone he enter'd +The mortal gate of the city , which he painted +With shunless destiny ; aidless came off , +And with a sudden re-enforcement struck +Corioli like a planet . Now all's his : +When by and by the din of war 'gan pierce +His ready sense ; then straight his doubled spirit +Re-quicken'd what in flesh was fatigate , +And to the battle came he ; where he did +Run reeking o'er the lives of men , as if +'Twere a perpetual spoil ; and till we call'd +Both field and city ours , he never stood +To ease his breast with panting . + +Worthy man ! + +He cannot but with measure fit the honours +Which we devise him . + +Our spoils he kick'd at , +And look'd upon things precious as they were +The common muck o' the world : he covets less +Than misery itself would give ; rewards +His deeds with doing them , and is content +To spend the time to end it . + +He's right noble : +Let him be call'd for . + +Call Coriolanus . + +He doth appear . + + +The senate , Coriolanus , are well pleas'd +To make thee consul . + +I do owe them still +My life and services . + +It then remains +That you do speak to the people . + +I do beseech you , +Let me o'erleap that custom , for I cannot +Put on the gown , stand naked , and entreat them , +For my wounds' sake , to give their suffrage : please you , +That I may pass this doing . + +Sir , the people +Must have their voices ; neither will they bate +One jot of ceremony . + +Put them not to 't : +Pray you , go fit you to the custom , and +Take to you , as your predecessors have , +Your honour with your form . + +It is a part +That I shall blush in acting , and might well +Be taken from the people . + +Mark you that ? + +To brag unto them , thus I did , and thus ; +Show them the unaching scars which I should hide , +As if I had receiv'd them for the hire +Of their breath only ! + +Do not stand upon't . +We recommend to you , tribunes of the people , +Our purpose to them ; and to our noble consul +Wish we all joy and honour . + +To Coriolanus come all joy and honour ! + + +You see how he intends to use the people . + +May they perceive 's intent ! He will require them , +As if he did contemn what he requested +Should be in them to give . + +Come ; we'll inform them +Of our proceedings here : on the market-place +I know they do attend us . + + +Once , if he do require our voices , we ought not to deny him . + +We may , sir , if we will . + +We have power in ourselves to do it , but it is a power that we have no power to do ; for if he show us his wounds , and tell us his deeds , we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them ; so , if he tell us his noble deeds , we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them . Ingratitude is monstrous , and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude ; of the which , we being members , should bring ourselves to be monstrous members . + +And to make us no better thought of , a little help will serve ; for once we stood up about the corn , he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude . + +We have been called so of many ; not that our heads are some brown , some black , some abram , some bald , but that our wits are so diversely coloured : and truly I think , if all our wits were to issue out of one skull , they would fly east , west , north , south ; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass . + +Think you so ? Which way do you judge my wit would fly ? + +Nay , your wit will not so soon out as another man's will ; 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head ; but if it were at liberty , 'twould , sure , southward . + +Why that way ? + +To lose itself in a fog ; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews , the fourth would return for conscience' sake , to help to get thee a wife . + +You are never without your tricks . you may , you may . + +Are you all resolved to give your voices ? But that's no matter , the greater part carries it . I say , if he would incline to the people , there was never a worthier man . + +Here he comes , and in a gown of humility mark his behaviour . We are not to stay all together , but to come by him where he stands , by ones , by twos , and by threes . He's to make his requests by particulars ; wherein every one of us has a single honour , in giving him our own voices with our own tongues : therefore follow me , and I'll direct you how you shall go by him . + +Content , content . + + +O , sir , you are not right : have you not known +The worthiest men have done't ? + +What must I say ? +'I pray , sir ,' Plague upon't ! I cannot bring +My tongue to such a pace . 'Look , sir , my wounds ! +I got them in my country's service , when +Some certain of your brethren roar'd and ran +From the noise of our own drums .' + +O me ! the gods ! +You must not speak of that : you must desire them +To think upon you . + +Think upon me ! Hang 'em ! +I would they would forget me , like the virtues +Which our divines lose by 'em . + +You'll mar all : +I'll leave you . Pray you , speak to 'em , I pray you , +In wholesome manner . + +Bid them wash their faces , +And keep their teeth clean . + +So , here comes a brace . + +You know the cause , sir , of my standing here ? + +We do , sir ; tell us what hath brought you to 't . + +Mine own desert . + +Your own desert ! + +Ay , not mine own desire . + +How ! not your own desire ? + +No , sir , 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging . + +You must think , if we give you any thing , we hope to gain by you . + +Well , then , I pray , your price o' the consulship ? + +The price is , to ask it kindly . + +Kindly ! sir , I pray , let me ha 't : I have wounds to show you , which shall be yours in private . Your good voice , sir ; what say you ? + +You shall ha 't , worthy sir . + +A match , sir . There is in all two worthy voices begged . I have your alms : adieu . + +But this is something odd . + +An 'twere to give again ,but 'tis no matter . + +Pray you now , if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I may be consul , I have here the customary gown . + +You have deserved nobly of your country , and you have not deserved nobly . + +Your enigma ? + +You have been a scourge to her enemies , you have been a rod to her friends ; you have not indeed loved the common people . + +You should account me the more virtuous that I have not been common in my love . I will , sir , flatter my sworn brother the people , to earn a dearer estimation of them ; 'tis a condition they account gentle : and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart , I will practise the insinuating nod , and be off to them most counterfeitly ; that is , sir , I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man , and give it bountifully to the desirers . Therefore , beseech you , I may be consul . + +We hope to find you our friend , and therefore give you our voices heartily . + +You have received many wounds for your country . + +I will not seal your knowledge with showing them . I will make much of your voices , and so trouble you no further . + +The gods give you joy , sir , heartily ! + + +Most sweet voices ! +Better it is to die , better to starve , +Than crave the hire which first we do deserve . +Why in this woolvish toge should I stand here , +To beg of Hob and Dick , that do appear , +Their needless vouches ? Custom calls me to 't : +What custom wills , in all things should we do 't , +The dust on antique time would lie unswept , +And mountainous error be too highly heap'd +For truth to o'er-peer . Rather than fool it so , +Let the high office and the honour go +To one that would do thus . I am half through ; +The one part suffer'd , the other will I do . +Here come more voices . + + +Your voices : for your voices I have fought ; +Watch'd for your voices ; for your voices bear +Of wounds two dozen odd ; battles thrice six +I have seen and heard of ; for your voices have +Done many things , some less , some more ; your voices : + +Indeed , I would be consul . + +He has done nobly , and cannot go without any honest man's voice . + +Therefore let him be consul . The gods give him joy , and make him good friend to the people ! + +Amen , amen . +God save thee , noble consul ! + + +Worthy voices ! + + +You have stood your limitation ; and the tribunes +Endue you with the people's voice : remains +That , in the official marks invested , you +Anon do meet the senate . + +Is this done ? + +The custom of request you have discharg'd : +The people do admit you , and are summon'd +To meet anon , upon your approbation . + +Where ? at the senate-house ? + +There , Coriolanus . + +May I change these garments ? + +You may , sir . + +That I'll straight do ; and , knowing myself again , +Repair to the senate-house . + +I'll keep you company . Will you along ? + +We stay here for the people . + +Fare you well . + +He has it now ; and by his looks , methinks , +'Tis warm at's heart . + +With a proud heart he wore +His humble weeds . Will you dismiss the people ? + + +How now , my masters ! have you chose this man ? + +He has our voices , sir . + +We pray the gods he may deserve your love . + +Amen , sir . To my poor unworthy notice , +He mock'd us when he begg'd our voices . + +Certainly , +He flouted us downright . + +No , 'tis his kind of speech ; he did not mock us . + +Not one amongst us , save yourself , but says +He used us scornfully : he should have show'd us +His marks of merit , wounds receiv'd for's country . + +Why , so he did , I am sure . + +No , no ; no man saw 'em . + +He said he had wounds , which he could show in private ; +And with his hat , thus waving it in scorn , +'I would be consul ,' says he : 'aged custom , +But by your voices , will not so permit me ; +Your voices therefore :' when we granted that , +Here was , 'I thank you for your voices , thank you , +Your most sweet voices : now you have left your voices +I have no further with you .' Was not this mockery ? + +Why , either were you ignorant to see 't , +Or , seeing it , of such childish friendliness +To yield your voices ? + +Could you not have told him +As you were lesson'd , when he had no power , +But was a petty servant to the state , +He was your enemy , ever spake against +Your liberties and the charters that you bear +I' the body of the weal ; and now , arriving +A place of potency and sway o' the state , +If he should still malignantly remain +Fast foe to the plebeii , your voices might +Be curses to yourselves ? You should have said +That as his worthy deeds did claim no less +Than what he stood for , so his gracious nature +Would think upon you for your voices and +Translate his malice towards you into love , +Standing your friendly lord . + +Thus to have said , +As you were fore-advis'd , had touch'd his spirit +And tried his inclination ; from him pluck'd +Either his gracious promise , which you might , +As cause had call'd you up , have held him to ; +Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature , +Which easily endures not article +Tying him to aught ; so , putting him to rage , +You should have ta'en the advantage of his choler , +And pass'd him unelected . + +Did you perceive +He did solicit you in free contempt +When he did need your loves , and do you think +That his contempt shall not be bruising to you +When he hath power to crush ? Why , had your bodies +No heart among you ? or had you tongues to cry +Against the rectorship of judgment ? + +Have you +Ere now denied the asker ? and now again +Of him that did not ask , but mock , bestow +Your su'd-for tongues ? + +He's not confirm'd ; we may deny him yet . + +And will deny him : +I'll have five hundred voices of that sound . + +Ay , twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em . + +Get you hence instantly , and tell those friends , +They have chose a consul that will from them take +Their liberties ; make them of no more voice +Than dogs that are as often beat for barking +As therefore kept to do so . + +Let them assemble ; +And , on a safer judgment , all revoke +Your ignorant election . Enforce his pride , +And his old hate unto you ; besides , forget not +With what contempt he wore the humble weed ; +How in his suit he scorn'd you ; but your loves , +Thinking upon his services , took from you +The apprehension of his present portance , +Which most gibingly , ungravely , he did fashion +After the inveterate hate he bears you . + +Lay +A fault on us , your tribunes ; that we labour'd , +No impediment between ,but that you must +Cast your election on him . + +Say , you chose him +More after our commandment than as guided +By your own true affections ; and that , your minds , +Pre-occupied with what you rather must do +Than what you should , made you against the grain +To voice him consul : lay the fault on us . + +Ay , spare us not . Say we read lectures to you , +How youngly he began to serve his country , +How long continu'd , and what stock he springs of , +The noble house o' the Marcians , from whence came +That Ancus Marcius , Numa's daughter's son , +Who , after great Hostilius , here was king ; +Of the same house Publius and Quintus were , +That our best water brought by conduits hither ; +And Censorinus , that was so surnam'd , +And nobly nam'd so , twice being censor , +Was his great ancestor . + +One thus descended , +That hath , beside , well in his person wrought +To be set high in place , we did commend +To your remembrances : but you have found , +Scaling his present bearing with his past , +That he's your fixed enemy , and revoke +Your sudden approbation . + +Say you ne'er had done 't +Harp on that still but by our putting on ; +And presently , when you have drawn your number , +Repair to the Capitol . + +We will so ; almost all +Repent in their election . + + +Let them go on ; +This mutiny were better put in hazard +Than stay , past doubt , for greater . +If , as his nature is , he fall in rage +With their refusal , both observe and answer +The vantage of his anger . + +To the Capitol , come : +We will be there before the stream o' the people ; +And this shall seem , as partly 'tis , their own , +Which we have goaded onward . + +Tullus Aufidius then had made new head ? + +He had , my lord ; and that it was which caus'd +Our swifter composition . + +So then the Volsces stand but as at first , +Ready , when time shall prompt them , to make road +Upon 's again . + +They are worn , lord consul , so , +That we shall hardly in our ages see +Their banners wave again . + +Saw you Aufidius ? + +On safe-guard he came to me ; and did curse +Against the Volsces , for they had so vilely +Yielded the town : he is retir'd to Antium . + +Spoke he of me ? + +He did , my lord . + +How ? what ? + +How often he had met you , sword to sword ; +That of all things upon the earth he hated +Your person most , that he would pawn his fortunes +To hopeless restitution , so he might +Be call'd your vanquisher . + +At Antium lives he ? + +At Antium . + +I wish I had a cause to seek him there , +To oppose his hatred fully . Welcome home . + + +Behold ! these are the tribunes of the people , +The tongues o' the common mouth : I do despise them ; +For they do prank them in authority + +Against all noble sufferance . + +Pass no further . + +Ha ! what is that ? + +It will be dangerous to go on : no further . + +What makes this change ? + +The matter ? + +Hath he not pass'd the noble and the common ? + +Cominius , no . + +Have I had children's voices ? + +Tribunes , give way ; he shall to the market-place . + +The people are incens'd against him . + +Stop , +Or all will fall in broil . + +Are these your herd ? +Must these have voices , that can yield them now , +And straight disclaim their tongues ? What are your offices ? +You being their mouths , why rule you not their teeth ? +Have you not set them on ? + +Be calm , be calm . + +It is a purpos'd thing , and grows by plot , +To curb the will of the nobility : +Suffer't , and live with such as cannot rule +Nor ever will be rul'd . + +Call't not a plot : +The people cry you mock'd them , and of late , +When corn was given them gratis , you repin'd ; +Scandall'd the suppliants for the people , call'd them +Time-pleasers , flatterers , foes to nobleness . + +Why , this was known before . + +Not to them all . + +Have you inform'd them sithence ? + +How ! I inform them ! + +You are like to do such business . + +Not unlike , +Each way , to better yours . + +Why then should I be consul ? By yond clouds , +Let me deserve so ill as you , and make me +Your fellow tribune . + +You show too much of that +For which the people stir ; if you will pass +To where you are bound , you must inquire your way , +Which you are out of , with a gentler spirit ; +Or never be so noble as a consul , +Nor yoke with him for tribune . + +Let's be calm . + +The people are abus'd ; set on . This paltering +Becomes not Rome , nor has Coriolanus +Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub , laid falsely +I' the plain way of his merit . + +Tell me of corn ! +This was my speech , and I will speak't again , + +Not now , not now . + +Not in this heat , sir , now . + +Now , as I live , I will . My nobler friends , +I crave their pardons : +For the mutable , rank-scented many , let them +Regard me as I do not flatter , and +Therein behold themselves : I say again , +In soothing them we nourish 'gainst our senate +The cockle of rebellion , insolence , sedition , +Which we ourselves have plough'd for , sow'd and scatter'd , +By mingling them with us , the honour'd number ; +Who lack'd not virtue , no , nor power , but that +Which they have given to beggars . + +Well , no more . + +No more words , we beseech you . + +How ! no more ! +As for my country I have shed my blood , +Not fearing outward force , so shall my lungs +Coin words till they decay against those measles , +Which we disdain should tetter us , yet sought +The very way to catch them . + +You speak o' the people , +As if you were a god to punish , not +A man of their infirmity . + +'Twere well +We let the people know't . + +What , what ? his choler ? + +Choler ! +Were I as patient as the midnight sleep , +By Jove , 'twould be my mind ! + +It is a mind +That shall remain a poison where it is , +Not poison any further . + +Shall remain ! +Hear you this Triton of the minnows ? mark you +His absolute 'shall ?' + +'Twas from the canon . + +'Shall !' +O good but most unwise patricians ! why , +You grave but reckless senators , have you thus +Given Hydra here to choose an officer , +That with his peremptory 'shall ,' being but +The horn and noise o' the monster's , wants not spirit +To say he'll turn your current in a ditch , +And make your channel his ? If he have power , +Then vail your ignorance ; if none , awake +Your dangerous lenity . If you are learned , +Be not as common fools ; if you are not , +Let them have cushions by you . You are plebeians +If they be senators ; and they are no less , +When , both your voices blended , the great'st taste +Most palates theirs . They choose their magistrate , +And such a one as he , who puts his 'shall ,' +His popular 'shall ,' against a graver bench +Than ever frown'd in Greece . By Jove himself ! +It makes the consuls base ; and my soul aches +To know , when two authorities are up ; +Neither supreme , how soon confusion +May enter 'twixt the gap of both and take +The one by the other . + +Well , on to the market-place . + +Whoever gave that counsel , to give forth +The corn o' the store-house gratis , as 'twas us'd +Sometime in Greece , + +Well , well ; no more of that . + +Though there the people had more absolute power , +I say , they nourish'd disobedience , fed +The ruin of the state . + +Why , shall the people give +One that speaks thus their voice ? + +I'll give my reasons , +More worthier than their voices . They know the corn +Was not our recompense , resting well assur'd +They ne'er did service for 't . Being press'd to the war , +Even when the navel of the state was touch'd , +They would not thread the gates : this kind of service +Did not deserve corn gratis . Being i' the war , +Their mutinies and revolts , wherein they show'd +Most valour , spoke not for them . The accusation +Which they have often made against the senate , +All cause unborn , could never be the motive +Of our so frank donation . Well , what then ? +How shall this bisson multitude digest +The senate's courtesy ? Let deeds express +What's like to be their words : 'We did request it ; +We are the greater poll , and in true fear +They gave us our demands .' Thus we debase +The nature of our seats , and make the rabble +Call our cares , fears ; which will in time break ope +The locks o' the senate , and bring in the crows +To peck the eagles . + +Come , enough . + +Enough , with over-measure . + +No , take more : +What may be sworn by , both divine and human , +Seal what I end withal ! This double worship , +Where one part does disdain with cause , the other +Insult without all reason ; where gentry , title , wisdom , +Cannot conclude , but by the yea and no +Of general ignorance ,it must omit +Real necessities , and give way the while +To unstable slightness : purpose so barr'd , it follows +Nothing is done to purpose . Therefore , beseech you , +You that will be less fearful than discreet , +That love the fundamental part of state +More than you doubt the change on 't , that prefer +A noble life before a long , and wish +To jump a body with a dangerous physic +That's sure of death without it , at once pluck out +The multitudinous tongue ; let them not lick +The sweet which is their poison . Your dishonour +Mangles true judgment , and bereaves the state +Of that integrity which should become it , +Not having the power to do the good it would , +For the ill which doth control 't . + +He has said enough . + +He has spoken like a traitor , and shall answer +As traitors do . + +Thou wretch ! despite o'erwhelm thee ! +What should the people do with these bald tribunes ? +On whom depending , their obedience fails +To the greater bench . In a rebellion , +When what's not meet , but what must be , was law , +Then were they chosen : in a better hour , +Let what is meet be said it must be meet , +And throw their power i' the dust . + +Manifest treason ! + +This a consul ? no . + +The diles , ho ! Let him be apprehended . + + +Go , call the people ; + +in whose name , myself +Attach thee as a traitorous innovator , +A foe to the public weal : obey , I charge thee , +And follow to thine answer . + +Hence , old goat ! + +We'll surety him . + +Aged sir , hands off . + +Hence , rotten thing ! or I shall shake thy bones +Out of thy garments . + +Help , ye citizens ! + + +On both sides more respect . + +Here's he that would take from you all your power . + +Seize him , diles ! + +Down with him !down with him ! + +Weapons !weapons !weapons ! + +What is about to be ?I am out of breath ; +Confusion's near ; I cannot speak . You , tribunes +To the people ! Coriolanus , patience ! +Speak , good Sicinius . + +Hear me , people ; peace ! + +Let's hear our tribune :Peace !Speak , speak , speak . + +You are at point to lose your liberties : +Marcius would have all from you ; Marcius , +Whom late you have nam'd for consul . + +Fie , fie , fie ! +This is the way to kindle , not to quench . + +To unbuild the city and to lay all flat . + +What is the city but the people ? + +True , +The people are the city . + +By the consent of all , we were establish'd +The people's magistrates . + +You so remain . + +And so are like to do . + +That is the way to lay the city flat ; +To bring the roof to the foundation , +And bury all , which yet distinctly ranges , +In heaps and piles of ruin . + +This deserves death . + +Or let us stand to our authority , +Or let us lose it . We do here pronounce , +Upon the part o' the people , in whose power +We were elected theirs , Marcius is worthy +Of present death . + +Therefore lay hold of him ; +Bear him to the rock Tarpeian , and from thence +Into destruction cast him . + +diles , seize him ! + +Yield , Marcius , yield ! + +Hear me one word ; +Beseech you , tribunes , hear me but a word . + +Peace , peace ! + +Be that you seem , truly your country's friends , +And temperately proceed to what you would +Thus violently redress . + +Sir , those cold ways , +That seem like prudent helps , are very poisonous +Where the disease is violent . Lay hands upon him , +And bear him to the rock . + +No , I'll die here . + +There's some among you have beheld me fighting : +Come , try upon yourselves what you have seen me . + +Down with that sword ! Tribunes , withdraw awhile . + +Lay hands upon him . + +Help Marcius , help , +You that be noble ; help him , young and old ! + +Down with him !down with him ! + + +Go , get you to your house ; be gone , away ! +All will be naught else . + +Get you gone . + +Stand fast ; +We have as many friends as enemies . + +Shall it be put to that ? + +The gods forbid ! +I prithee , noble friend , home to thy house ; +Leave us to cure this cause . + +For 'tis a sore upon us , +You cannot tent yourself : be gone , beseech you . + +Come , sir , along with us . + +I would they were barbarians ,as they are , +Though in Rome litter'd ,not Romans ,as they are not , +Though calv'd i' the porch o' the Capitol , + +Be gone ; +Put not your worthy rage into your tongue ; +One time will owe another . + +On fair ground +I could beat forty of them . + +I could myself +Take up a brace o' the best of them ; yea , the two tribunes . + +But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic ; +And manhood is call'd foolery when it stands +Against a falling fabric . Will you hence , +Before the tag return ? whose rage doth rend +Like interrupted waters and o'erbear +What they are us'd to bear . + +Pray you , be gone . +I'll try whether my old wit be in request +With those that have but little : this must be patch'd +With cloth of any colour . + +Nay , come away . + + +This man has marr'd his fortune . + +His nature is too noble for the world : +He would not flatter Neptune for his trident , +Or Jove for 's power to thunder . His heart's his mouth : +What his breast forges , that his tongue must vent ; +And , being angry , does forget that ever +He heard the name of death . + +Here's goodly work ! + +I would they were a-bed ! + +I would they were in Tiber ! What the vengeance ! +Could he not speak 'em fair ? + + +Where is this viper +That would depopulate the city and +Be every man himself ? + +You worthy tribunes , + +He shall be thrown down the Tarpeian rock +With rigorous hands : he hath resisted law , +And therefore law shall scorn him further trial +Than the severity of the public power , +Which he so sets at nought . + +He shall well know +The noble tribunes are the people's mouths , +And we their hands . + +He shall , sure on't . + +Sir , sir , + +Peace ! + +Do not cry havoc , where you should but hunt +With modest warrant . + +Sir , how comes 't that you +Have holp to make this rescue ? + +Hear me speak : +As I do know the consul's worthiness , +So can I name his faults . + +Consul ! what consul ? + +The Consul Coriolanus . + +He consul ! + +No , no , no , no , no . + +If , by the tribunes' leave , and yours , good people , +I may be heard , I would crave a word or two , +The which shall turn you to no further harm +Than so much loss of time . + +Speak briefly then ; +For we are peremptory to dispatch +This viperous traitor . To eject him hence +Were but one danger , and to keep him here +Our certain death ; therefore it is decreed +He dies to-night . + +Now the good gods forbid +That our renowned Rome , whose gratitude +Towards her deserved children is enroll'd +In Jove's own book , like an unnatural dam +Should now eat up her own ! + +He's a disease that must be cut away . + +O ! he's a limb that has but a disease ; +Mortal to cut it off ; to cure it easy . +What has he done to Rome that's worthy death ? +Killing our enemies , the blood he hath lost , +Which , I dare vouch , is more than that he hath +By many an ounce ,he dropp'd it for his country ; +And what is left , to lose it by his country , +Were to us all , that do't and suffer it , +A brand to th' end o' the world . + +This is clean kam . + +Merely awry : when he did love his country +It honour'd him . + +The service of the foot +Being once gangren'd , is not then respected +For what before it was . + +We'll hear no more . +Pursue him to his house , and pluck him thence , +Lest his infection , being of catching nature , +Spread further . + +One word more , one word . +This tiger-footed rage , when it shall find +The harm of unscann'd swiftness , will , too late , +Tie leaden pounds to's heels . Proceed by process ; +Lest parties as he is belov'd break out , +And sack great Rome with Romans . + +If 'twere so , + +What do ye talk ? +Have we not had a taste of his obedience ? +Our diles smote ? ourselves resisted ? Come ! + +Consider this : he has been bred i' the wars +Since he could draw a sword , and is ill school'd +In bolted language ; meal and bran together +He throws without distinction . Give me leave , +I'll go to him , and undertake to bring him +Where he shall answer by a lawful form , +In peace ,to his utmost peril . + +Noble tribunes , +It is the humane way : the other course +Will prove too bloody , and the end of it +Unknown to the beginning . + +Noble Menenius , +Be you then as the people's officer . +Masters , lay down your weapons . + +Go not home . + +Meet on the market-place . We'll attend you there : +Where , if you bring not Marcius , we'll proceed +In our first way . + +I'll bring him to you . + + +Let me desire your company . He must come , +Or what is worst will follow . + +Pray you , let's to him . + + +Let them pull all about mine ears ; present me +Death on the wheel , or at wild horses' heels ; +Or pile ten hills on the Tarpeian rock , +That the precipitation might down stretch +Below the beam of sight ; yet will I still +Be thus to them . + +You do the nobler . + +I muse my mother +Does not approve me further , who was wont +To call them woollen vassals , things created +To buy and sell with groats , to show bare heads +In congregations , to yawn , be still , and wonder , +When one but of my ordinance stood up +To speak of peace or war . + + +I talk of you : +Why did you wish me milder ? Would you have me +False to my nature ? Rather say I play + +The man I am . + +O ! sir , sir , sir , +I would have had you put your power well on +Before you had worn it out . + +Let go . + +You might have been enough the man you are +With striving less to be so : lesser had been +The thwarting of your dispositions if +You had not show'd them how you were dispos'd , +Ere they lack'd power to cross you . + +Let them hang . + +Ay , and burn too . + + +Come , come ; you have been too rough , something too rough ; +You must return and mend it . + +There's no remedy ; +Unless , by not so doing , our good city +Cleave in the midst , and perish . + +Pray be counsell'd . +I have a heart of mettle apt as yours , +But yet a brain that leads my use of anger +To better vantage . + +Well said , noble woman ! +Before he should thus stoop to the herd , but that +The violent fit o' the time craves it as physic +For the whole state , I would put mine armour on , +Which I can scarcely bear . + +What must I do ? + +Return to the tribunes . + +Well , what then ? what then ? + +Repent what you have spoke . + +For them ! I cannot do it to the gods ; +Must I then do't to them ? + +You are too absolute ; +Though therein you can never be too noble , +But when extremities speak . I have heard you say , +Honour and policy , like unsever'd friends , +I' the war do grow together : grant that , and tell me , +In peace what each of them by th' other lose , +That they combine not there . + +Tush , tush ! + +A good demand . + +If it be honour in your wars to seem +The same you are not ,which , for your best ends , +You adopt your policy ,how is it less or worse , +That it shall hold companionship in peace +With honour , as in war , since that to both +It stands in like request ? + +Why force you this ? + +Because that now it lies you on to speak +To the people ; not by your own instruction , +Nor by the matter which your heart prompts you , +But with such words that are but rooted in +Your tongue , though but bastards and syllables +Of no allowance to your bosom's truth . +Now , this no more dishonours you at all +Than to take in a town with gentle words , +Which else would put you to your fortune and +The hazard of much blood . +I would dissemble with my nature where +My fortunes and my friends at stake requir'd +I should do so in honour : I am in this , +Your wife , your son , these senators , the nobles ; +And you will rather show our general louts +How you can frown than spend a fawn upon 'em , +For the inheritance of their loves and safeguard +Of what that want might ruin . + +Noble lady ! +Come , go with us ; speak fair ; you may salve so , +Not what is dangerous present , but the loss +Of what is past . + +I prithee now , my son , +Go to them , with this bonnet in thy hand ; +And thus far having stretch'd it ,here be with them , +Thy knee bussing the stones ,for in such business +Action is eloquence , and the eyes of the ignorant +More learned than the ears ,waving thy head , +Which often , thus , correcting thy stout heart , +Now humble as the ripest mulberry +That will not hold the handling : or say to them , +Thou art their soldier , and being bred in broils +Hast not the soft way which , thou dost confess , +Were fit for thee to use as they to claim , +In asking their good loves ; but thou wilt frame +Thyself , forsooth , hereafter theirs , so far +As thou hast power and person . + +This but done , +Even as she speaks , why , their hearts were yours ; +For they have pardons , being ask'd , as free +As words to little purpose . + +Prithee now , +Go , and be rul'd ; although I know thou hadst rather +Follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf +Than flatter him in a bower . Here is Cominius . + + +I have been i' the market-place ; and , sir , 'tis fit +You make strong party , or defend yourself +By calmness or by absence : all's in anger . + +Only fair speech . + +I think 'twill serve if he +Can thereto frame his spirit . + +He must , and will . +Prithee now , say you will , and go about it . + +Must I go show them my unbarbed sconce ? +Must I with my base tongue give to my noble heart +A lie that it must bear ? Well , I will do't : +Yet , were there but this single plot to lose , +This mould of Marcius , they to dust should grind it , +And throw 't against the wind . To the market-place ! +You have put me now to such a part which never +I shall discharge to the life . + +Come , come , we'll prompt you . + +I prithee now , sweet son , as thou hast said +My praises made thee first a soldier , so , +To have my praise for this , perform a part +Thou hast not done before . + +Well , I must do 't : +Away , my disposition , and possess me +Some harlot's spirit ! My throat of war be turn'd , +Which quired with my drum , into a pipe +Small as a eunuch , or the virgin voice +That babies lulls asleep ! The smiles of knaves +Tent in my cheeks , and school-boys' tears take up +The glasses of my sight ! A beggar's tongue +Make motion through my lips , and my arm'd knees , +Who bow'd but in my stirrup , bend like his +That hath receiv'd an alms ! I will not do 't , +Lest I surcease to honour mine own truth , +And by my body's action teach my mind +A most inherent baseness . + +At thy choice then : +To beg of thee it is my more dishonour +Than thou of them . Come all to ruin ; let +Thy mother rather feel thy pride than fear +Thy dangerous stoutness , for I mock at death +With as big heart as thou . Do as thou list , +Thy valiantness was mine , thou suck'dst it from me , +But owe thy pride thyself . + +Pray , be content : +Mother , I am going to the market-place ; +Chide me no more . I'll mountebank their loves , +Cog their hearts from them , and come home belov'd +Of all the trades in Rome . Look , I am going : +Commend me to my wife . I'll return consul , +Or never trust to what my tongue can do +I' the way of flattery further . + +Do your will . + + +Away ! the tribunes do attend you : arm yourself +To answer mildly ; for they are prepar'd +With accusations , as I hear , more strong +Than are upon you yet . + +The word is 'mildly .' + +Pray you , let us go : +Let them accuse me by invention , I +Will answer in mine honour . + +Ay , but mildly . + +Well , mildly be it then . Mildly ! + + +In this point charge him home , that he affects +Tyrannical power : if he evade us there , +Enforce him with his envy to the people , +And that the spoil got on the Antiates +Was ne'er distributed . + +What , will he come ? + +He's coming . + +How accompanied ? + +With old Menenius , and those senators +That always favour'd him . + +Have you a catalogue +Of all the voices that we have procur'd , +Set down by the poll ? + +I have ; 'tis ready . + +Have you collected them by tribes ? + +I have . + +Assemble presently the people hither ; +And when they hear me say , 'It shall be so , +I' the right and strength o' the commons ,' be it either +For death , for fine , or banishment , then let them , +If I say , fine , cry 'fine ,' if death , cry 'death ,' +Insisting on the old prerogative +And power i' the truth o' the cause . + +I shall inform them . + +And when such time they have begun to cry , +Let them not cease , but with a din confus'd +Enforce the present execution +Of what we chance to sentence . + +Very well . + +Make them be strong and ready for this hint , +When we shall hap to give 't them . + +Go about it . + +Put him to choler straight . He hath been us'd +Ever to conquer , and to have his worth +Of contradiction : being once chaf'd , he cannot +Be rein'd again to temperance ; then he speaks +What's in his heart ; and that is there which looks +With us to break his neck . + +Well , here he comes . + + +Calmly , I do beseech you . + +Ay , as an ostler , that for the poorest piece +Will bear the knave by the volume . The honour'd gods +Keep Rome in safety , and the chairs of justice +Supplied with worthy men ! plant love among us ! +Throng our large temples with the shows of peace , +And not our streets with war ! + +Amen , amen . + +A noble wish . + + +Draw near , ye people . + +List to your tribunes ; audience ; peace ! I say . + +First , hear me speak . + +Well , say . Peace , ho ! + +Shall I be charg'd no further than this present ? +Must all determine here ? + +I do demand , +If you submit you to the people's voices , +Allow their officers , and are content +To suffer lawful censure for such faults +As shall be prov'd upon you ? + +I am content . + +Lo ! citizens , he says he is content : +The war-like service he has done , consider ; think +Upon the wounds his body bears , which show +Like graves i' the holy churchyard . + +Scratches with briers , +Scars to move laughter only . + +Consider further , +That when he speaks not like a citizen , +You find him like a soldier : do not take +His rougher accents for malicious sounds , +But , as I say , such as become a soldier , +Rather than envy you . + +Well , well ; no more . + +What is the matter , +That being pass'd for consul with full voice +I am so dishonour'd that the very hour +You take it off again ? + +Answer to us . + +Say , then : 'tis true , I ought so . + +We charge you , that you have contriv'd to take +From Rome all season'd office , and to wind +Yourself into a power tyrannical ; +For which you are a traitor to the people . + +How ! Traitor ! + +Nay , temperately ; your promise . + +The fires i' the lowest hell fold-in the people ! +Call me their traitor ! Thou injurious tribune ! +Within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths , +In thy hands clutch'd as many millions , in +Thy lying tongue both numbers , I would say +'Thou liest' unto thee with a voice as free +As I do pray the gods . + +Mark you this , people ! + +To the rock !to the rock with him ! + +Peace ! +We need not put new matter to his charge : +What you have seen him do , and heard him speak , +Beating your officers , cursing yourselves , +Opposing laws with strokes , and here defying +Those whose great power must try him ; even this , +So criminal and in such capital kind , +Deserves the extremest death . + +But since he hath +Serv'd well for Rome , + +What do you prate of service ? + +I talk of that , that know it . + +You ! + +Is this the promise that you made your mother ? + +Know , I pray you , + +I'll know no further : +Let them pronounce the steep Tarpeian death , +Vagabond exile , flaying , pent to linger +But with a grain a day , I would not buy +Their mercy at the price of one fair word , +Nor check my courage for what they can give , +To have 't with saying 'Good morrow .' + +For that he has , +As much as in him lies ,from time to time +Envied against the people , seeking means +To pluck away their power , as now at last +Given hostile strokes , and that not in the presence +Of dreaded justice , but on the ministers +That do distribute it ; in the name o' the people , +And in the power of us the tribunes , we , +Even from this instant , banish him our city , +In peril of precipitation +From off the rock Tarpeian , never more +To enter our Rome gates : i' the people's name , +I say , it shall be so . + +It shall be so ,It shall be so ,Let him away . +He's banish'd , and it shall be so . + +Hear me , my masters , and my common friends , + +He's sentenc'd ; no more hearing . + +Let me speak : +I have been consul , and can show for Rome +Her enemies' marks upon me . I do love +My country's good with a respect more tender , +More holy , and profound , than mine own life , +My dear wife's estimate , her womb's increase , +And treasure of my loins ; then if I would +Speak that + +We know your drift : speak what ? + +There's no more to be said , but he is banish'd , +As enemy to the people and his country : +It shall be so . + +It shall be so ,it shall be so . + +You common cry of curs ! whose breath I hate +As reek o' the rotten fens , whose loves I prize +As the dead carcases of unburied men +That do corrupt my air , I banish you ; +And here remain with your uncertainty ! +Let every feeble rumour shake your hearts ! +Your enemies , with nodding of their plumes , +Fan you into despair ! Have the power still +To banish your defenders ; till at length +Your ignorance ,which finds not , till it feels , +Making but reservation of yourselves , +Still your own foes ,deliver you as most +Abated captives to some nation +That won you without blows ! Despising , +For you , the city , thus I turn my back : +There is a world elsewhere . + + +The people's enemy is gone , is gone ! + +Our enemy is banish'd !he is gone !Hoo ! hoo ! + + +Go , see him out at gates , and follow him , +As he hath follow'd you , with all despite ; +Give him deserv'd vexation . Let a guard +Attend us through the city . + +Come , come ,let us see him out at gates ! come ! +The gods preserve our noble tribunes ! Come ! + +Come , leave your tears : a brief farewell : the beast +With many heads butts me away . Nay , mother , +Where is your ancient courage ? you were us'd , +To say extremity was the trier of spirits ; +That common chances common men could bear ; +That when the sea was calm all boats alike +Show'd mastership in floating ; fortune's blows , +When most struck home , being gentle wounded , craves +A noble cunning : you were us'd to load me +With precepts that would make invincible +The heart that conn'd them . + +O heavens ! O heavens ! + +Nay , I prithee , woman , + +Now the red pestilence strike all trades in Rome , +And occupations perish ! + +What , what , what ! +I shall be lov'd when I am lack'd . Nay , mother , +Resume that spirit , when you were wont to say , +If you had been the wife of Hercules , +Six of his labours you'd have done , and sav'd +Your husband so much sweat . Cominius , +Droop not ; adieu . Farewell , my wife ! my mother ! +I'll do well yet . Thou old and true Menenius , +Thy tears are salter than a younger man's . +And venomous to thine eyes . My sometime general , +I have seen thee stern , and thou hast oft beheld +Heart-hardening spectacles ; tell these sad women +'Tis fond to wail inevitable strokes +As 'tis to laugh at them . My mother , you wot well +My hazards still have been your solace ; and +Believe 't not lightly ,though I go alone +Like to a lonely dragon , that his fen +Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen ,your son +Will or exceed the common or be caught +With cautelous baits and practice . + +My first son , +Whither wilt thou go ? Take good Cominius +With thee awhile : determine on some course , +More than a wild exposture to each chance +That starts i' the way before thee . + +O the gods ! + +I'll follow thee a month , devise with thee +Where thou shalt rest , that thou mayst hear of us , +And we of thee : so , if the time thrust forth +A cause for thy repeal , we shall not send +O'er the vast world to seek a single man , +And lose advantage , which doth ever cool +I' the absence of the needer . + +Fare ye well : +Thou hast years upon thee ; and thou art too full +Of the wars' surfeits , to go rove with one +That's yet unbruis'd : bring me but out at gate . +Come , my sweet wife , my dearest mother , and +My friends of noble touch , when I am forth , +Bid me farewell , and smile . I pray you , come . +While I remain above the ground you shall +Hear from me still ; and never of me aught +But what is like me formerly . + +That's worthily +As any ear can hear . Come , let's not weep . +If I could shake off but one seven years +From these old arms and legs , by the good gods , +I'd with thee every foot . + +Give me thy hand : +Come . + + +Bid them all home ; he's gone , and we'll no further . +The nobility are vex'd , whom we see have sided +In his behalf . + +Now we have shown our power , +Let us seem humbler after it is done +Than when it was a-doing . + +Bid them home ; +Say their great enemy is gone , and they +Stand in their ancient strength . + +Dismiss them home . + + +Here comes his mother . + +Let's not meet her . + +Why ? + +They say she's mad . + +They have ta'en note of us : keep on your way . + +O ! you're well met . The hoarded plague o' the gods +Requite your love ! + +Peace , peace ! be not so loud . + +If that I could for weeping , you should hear , +Nay , and you shall hear some . + +Will you be gone ? + +You shall stay too . I would I had the power +To say so to my husband . + +Are you mankind ? + +Ay , fool ; is that a shame ? Note but this fool . +Was not a man my father ? Hadst thou foxship +To banish him that struck more blows for Rome +Than thou hast spoken words ? + +O blessed heavens ! + +More noble blows than ever thou wise words ; +And for Rome's good . I'll tell thee what ; yet go : +Nay , but thou shalt stay too : I would my son +Were in Arabia , and thy tribe before him , +His good sword in his hand . + +What then ? + +What then ! +He'd make an end of thy posterity . + +Bastards and all . +Good man , the wounds that he does bear for Rome ! + +Come , come : peace ! + +I would he had continu'd to his country +As he began , and not unknit himself +The noble knot he made . + +I would he had . + +'I would he had !' 'Twas you incens'd the rabble : +Cats , that can judge as fitly of his worth +As I can of those mysteries which heaven +Will not have earth to know . + +Pray , let us go . + +Now , pray , sir , get you gone : +You have done a brave deed . Ere you go , hear this : +As far as doth the Capitol exceed +The meanest house in Rome , so far my son , +This lady's husband here , this , do you see , +Whom you have banish'd , does exceed you all . + +Well , well , we'll leave you . + +Why stay we to be baited +With one that wants her wits ? + +Take my prayers with you . + +I would the gods had nothing else to do +But to confirm my curses ! Could I meet 'em +But once a day , it would unclog my heart +Of what lies heavy to 't . + +You have told them home , +And , by my troth , you have cause . You'll sup with me ? + +Anger's my meat ; I sup upon myself , +And so shall starve with feeding . Come , let's go . +Leave this faint puling and lament as I do , +In anger , Juno-like . Come , come , come . + +Fie , fie , fie ! + + +I know you well , sir , and you know me : your name I think is Adrian . + +It is so , sir : truly , I have forget you . + +I am a Roman ; and my services are , as you are , against 'em : know you me yet ? + +Nicanor ? No . + +The same , sir . + +You had more beard , when I last saw you ; but your favour is well approved by your tongue . What's the news in Rome ? I have a note from the Volscian state to find you out there : you have well saved me a day's journey . + +There hath been in Rome strange insurrections : the people against the senators , patricians , and nobles . + +Hath been ! Is it ended then ? Our state thinks not-so ; they are in a most war-like preparation , and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division . + +The main blaze of it is past , but a small thing would make it flame again . For the nobles receive so to heart the banishment of that worthy Coriolanus , that they are in a ripe aptness to take all power from the people and to pluck from them their tribunes for ever . This lies glowing , I can tell you , and is almost mature for the violent breaking out . + +Coriolanus banished ! + +Banished , sir . + +You will be welcome with this intelligence , Nicanor . + +The day serves well for them now . I have heard it said , the fittest time to corrupt a man's wife is when she's fallen out with her husband . Your noble Tullus Aufidius will appear well in these wars , his great opposer , Coriolanus , being now in no request of his country . + +He cannot choose . I am most fortunate , thus accidentally to encounter you : you have ended my business , and I will merrily accompany you home . + +I shall , between this and supper , tell you most strange things from Rome ; all tending to the good of their adversaries . Have you an army ready , say you ? + +A most royal one : the centurions and their charges distinctly billeted , already in the entertainment , and to be on foot at an hour's warning . + +I am joyful to hear of their readiness , and am the man , I think , that shall set them in present action . So , sir , heartily well met , and most glad of your company . + +You take my part from me , sir ; I have the most cause to be glad of yours . + +Well , let us go together . + + +A goodly city is this Antium . City , +'Tis I that made thy widows : many an heir +Of these fair edifices 'fore my wars +Have I heard groan and drop : then , know me not , +Lest that thy wives with spits and boys with stones +In puny battle slay me . + +Save you , sir . + +And you . + +Direct me , if it be your will , +Where great Aufidius lies . Is he in Antium ? + +He is , and feasts the nobles of the state +At his house this night . + +Which is his house , beseech you ? + +This , here before you . + +Thank you , sir . Farewell . + +O world ! thy slippery turns . Friends now fast sworn , +Whose double bosoms seem to wear one heart , +Whose hours , whose bed , whose meal , and exercise , +Are still together , who twin , as 'twere , in love +Unseparable , shall within this hour , +On a dissension of a doit , break out +To bitterest enmity : so , fellest foes , +Whose passions and whose plots have broke their sleep +To take the one the other , by some chance , +Some trick not worth an egg , shall grow dear friends +And interjoin their issues . So with me : +My birth-place hate I , and my love's upon +This enemy town . I'll enter : if he slay me , +He does fair justice ; if he give me way , +I'll do his country service . + + +Wine , wine , wine ! What service is here ! I think our fellows are asleep . + +Where's Cotus ? my master calls for him . Cotus ! + +A goodly house : the feast smells well ; but I +Appear not like a guest . + + +What would you have , friend ? Whence are you ? Here's no place for you : pray , go to the door . + + +I have deserv'd no better entertainment , +In being Coriolanus . + + +Whence are you , sir ? Has the porter his eyes in his head , that he gives entrance to such companions ? Pray , get you out . + +Away ! + +'Away !' Get you away . + +Now , thou art troublesome . + +Are you so brave ? I'll have you talked with anon . + + +What fellow's this ? + +A strange one as ever I looked on : +I cannot get him out o' the house : prithee , call my master to him . + +What have you to do here , fellow ? Pray you , avoid the house . + +Let me but stand ; I will not hurt your hearth . + +What are you ? + +A gentleman . + +A marvellous poor one . + +True , so I am . + +Pray you , poor gentleman , take up some other station ; here's no place for you ; pray you , avoid : come . + +Follow your function ; go , and batten on cold bits . + + +What , you will not ? Prithee , tell my master what a strange guest he has here . + +And I shall . + + +Where dwell'st thou ? + +Under the canopy . + +'Under the canopy !' + +Ay . + +Where's that ? + +I' the city of kites and crows . + +'I' the city of kites and crows !' What an ass it is ! Then thou dwell'st with daws too ? + +No ; I serve not thy master . + +How sir ! Do you meddle with my master ? + +Ay ; 'tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress . +Thou prat'st , and prat'st : serve with thy trencher . Hence . + +Where is this fellow ? + +Here , sir : I'd have beaten him like a dog , but for disturbing the lords within . + +Whence com'st thou ? what wouldst thou ? Thy name ? +Why speak'st not ? Speak , man : what's thy name ? + +If , Tullus , +Not yet thou know'st me , and , seeing me , dost not +Think me for the man I am , necessity +Commands me name myself . + +What is thy name ? + + +A name unmusical to the Volscians' ears , +And harsh in sound to thine . + +Say , what's thy name ? +Thou hast a grim appearance , and thy face +Bears a command in 't ; though thy tackle's torn , +Thou show'st a noble vessel . What's thy name ? + +Prepare thy brow to frown . Know'st thou me yet ? + +I know thee not . Thy name ? + +My name is Caius Marcius , who hath done +To thee particularly , and to all the Volsces , +Great hurt and mischief ; thereto witness may +My surname , Coriolanus : the painful service , +The extreme dangers , and the drops of blood +Shed for my thankless country , are requited +But with that surname ; a good memory , +And witness of the malice and displeasure +Which thou shouldst bear me : only that name remains ; +The cruelty and envy of the people , +Permitted by our dastard nobles , who +Have all forsook me , hath devour'd the rest ; +And suffer'd me by the voice of slaves to be +Whoop'd out of Rome . Now this extremity +Hath brought me to thy hearth ; not out of hope , +Mistake me not , to save my life ; for if +I had fear'd death , of all the men i' the world +I would have 'voided thee ; but in mere spite , +To be full quit of those my banishers , +Stand I before thee here . Then if thou hast +A heart of wreak in thee , that will revenge +Thine own particular wrongs and stop those maims +Of shame seen through thy country , speed thee straight , +And make my misery serve thy turn : so use it , +That my revengeful services may prove +As benefits to thee , for I will fight +Against my canker'd country with the spleen +Of all the under fiends . But if so be +Thou dar'st not this , and that to prove more fortunes +Thou art tir'd , then , in a word , I also am +Longer to live most weary , and present +My throat to thee and to thy ancient malice ; +Which not to cut would show thee but a fool , +Since I have ever follow'd thee with hate , +Drawn tuns of blood out of thy country's breast , +And cannot live but to thy shame , unless +It be to do thee service . + +O Marcius , Marcius ! +Each word thou hast spoke hath weeded from my heart +A root of ancient envy . If Jupiter +Should from yond cloud speak divine things , +And say , ''Tis true ,' I'd not believe them more +Than thee , all noble Marcius . Let me twine +Mine arms about that body , where against +My grained ash a hundred times hath broke , +And scarr'd the moon with splinters : here I clip +The anvil of my sword , and do contest +As hotly and as nobly with thy love +As ever in ambitious strength I did +Contend against thy valour . Know thou first , +I lov'd the maid I married ; never man +Sigh'd truer breath ; but that I see thee here , +Thou noble thing ! more dances my rapt heart +Than when I first my wedded mistress saw +Bestride my threshold . Why , thou Mars ! I tell thee , +We have a power on foot ; and I had purpose +Once more to hew thy target from thy brawn , +Or lose mine arm for 't . Thou hast beat me out +Twelve several times , and I have nightly since +Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thyself and me ; +We have been down together in my sleep , +Unbuckling helms , fisting each other's throat , +And wak'd half dead with nothing . Worthy Marcius , +Had we no quarrel else to Rome , but that +Thou art thence banish'd , we would muster all +From twelve to seventy , and , pouring war +Into the bowels of ungrateful Rome , +Like a bold flood o'er-bear . O ! come ; go in , +And take our friendly senators by the hands , +Who now are here , taking their leaves of me , +Who am prepar'd against your territories , +Though not for Rome itself . + +You bless me , gods ! + +Therefore , most absolute sir , if thou wilt have +The leading of thine own revenges , take +The one half of my commission , and set down , +As best thou art experienc'd , since thou know'st +Thy country's strength and weakness , thine own ways ; +Whether to knock against the gates of Rome , +Or rudely visit them in parts remote , +To fright them , ere destroy . But come in : +Let me commend thee first to those that shall +Say yea to thy desires . A thousand welcomes ! +And more a friend than e'er an enemy ; +Yet , Marcius , that was much . Your hand : most welcome ! + + +Here's a strange alteration ! + +By my hand , I had thought to have strucken him with a cudgel ; and yet my mind gave me his clothes made a false report of him . + +What an arm he has ! He turned me about with his finger and his thumb , as one would set up a top . + +Nay , I knew by his face that there was something in him : he had , sir , a kind of face , methought ,I cannot tell how to term it . + +He had so ; looking as it were , would I were hanged but I thought there was more in him than I could think . + +So did I , I'll be sworn : he is simply the rarest man i' the world . + +I think he is ; but a greater soldier than he you wot on . + +Who ? my master ? + +Nay , it's no matter for that . + +Worth six on him . + +Nay , not so neither ; but I take him to be the greater soldier . + +Faith , look you , one cannot tell how to say that : for the defence of a town our general is excellent . + +Ay , and for an assault too . + + +O slaves ! I can tell you news ; news , you rascals . + +What , what , what ? let's partake . + +What , what , what ? let's partake . + +I would not be a Roman , of all nations ; I had as lief be a condemned man . + +Wherefore ? wherefore ? + +Wherefore ? wherefore ? + +Why , here's he that was wont to thwack our general , Caius Marcius . + +Why do you say 'thwack our general ?' + +I do not say , 'thwack our general ;' but he was always good enough for him . + +Come , we are fellows and friends : he was ever too hard for him ; I have heard him say so himself . + +He was too hard for him ,directly to say the truth on 't : before Corioli he scotched him and notched him like a carbonado . + +An he had been cannibally given , he might have broiled and eaten him too . + +But , more of thy news . + +Why , he is so made on here within , as if he were son and heir to Mars ; set at upper end o' the table ; no question asked him by any of the senators , but they stand bald before him . Our general himself makes a mistress of him ; sanctifies himself with 's hand , and turns up the white o' the eye to his discourse . But the bottom of the news is , our general is out i' the middle , and but one half of what he was yesterday , for the other has half , by the entreaty and grant of the whole table . He'll go , he says , and sowle the porter of Rome gates by the ears : he will mow down all before him , and leave his passage polled . + +And he's as like to do 't as any man I can imagine . + +Do 't ! he will do 't for look you , sir he has as many friends as enemies ; which friends , sir as it were durst not look you , sir show themselves as we term it his friends , whilst he's in directitude . + +Directitude ! what's that ? + +But when they shall see , sir , his crest up again , and the man in blood , they will out of their burrows , like comes after rain , and revel all with him . + +But when goes this forward ? + +To-morrow ; to-day ; presently . You shall have the drum struck up this afternoon ; 'tis , as it were , a parcel of their feast , and to be executed ere they wipe their lips . + +Why , then we shall have a stirring world again . This peace is nothing but to rust iron , increase tailors , and breed ballad-makers . + +Let me have war , say I ; it exceeds peace as far as day does night ; it's spritely , waking , audible , and full of vent . Peace is a very apoplexy , lethargy ; mulled , deaf , sleepy , insensible ; a getter of more bastard children than war's a destroyer of men . + +'Tis so : and as war , in some sort , may be said to be a ravisher , so it cannot be denied but peace is a great maker of cuckolds . + +Ay , and it makes men hate one another . + +Reason : because they then less need one another . The wars for my money . I hope to see Romans as cheap as Volscians . They are rising , they are rising . + +In , in , in , in ! + + +We hear not of him , neither need we fear him ; +His remedies are tame i' the present peace +And quietness o' the people , which before +Were in wild hurry . Here do we make his friends +Blush that the world goes well , who rather had , +Though they themselves did suffer by 't , behold +Dissentious numbers pestering streets , than see +Our tradesmen singing in their shops and going +About their functions friendly . + + +We stood to 't in good time . Is this Menenius ? + +'Tis he , 'tis he O ! he is grown most kind +Of late . Hail , sir ! + +Hail to you both ! + +Your Coriolanus is not much miss'd +But with his friends : the commonwealth doth stand , +And so would do , were he more angry at it . + +All's well ; and might have been much better , if +He could have temporiz'd . + +Where is he , hear you ? + +Nay , I hear nothing : his mother and his wife +Hear nothing from him . + + +The gods preserve you both ! + +Good den , our neighbours . + +Good den to you all , good den to you all . + +Ourselves , our wives , and children , on our knees , +Are bound to pray for you both . + +Live , and thrive ! + +Farewell , kind neighbours : we wish'd Coriolanus +Had lov'd you as we did . + +Now the gods keep you ! + +Farewell , farewell . + + +Farewell , farewell . + +This is a happier and more comely time +Than when these fellows ran about the streets +Crying confusion . + +Caius Marcius was +A worthy officer i' the war ; but insolent , +O'ercome with pride , ambitious past all thinking , +Self-loving , + +And affecting one sole throne . +Without assistance . + +I think not so . + +We should by this , to all our lamentation , +If he had gone forth consul , found it so . + +The gods have well prevented it , and Rome +Sits safe and still without him . + + +Worthy tribunes , +There is a slave , whom we have put in prison , +Reports , the Volsces with two several powers +Are enter'd in the Roman territories , +And with the deepest malice of the war +Destroy what lies before them . + +'Tis Aufidius , +Who , hearing of our Marcius' banishment , +Thrusts forth his horns again into the world ; +Which were inshell'd when Marcius stood for Rome , +And durst not once peep out . + +Come , what talk you of Marcius ? + +Go see this rumourer whipp'd . It cannot be +The Volsces dare break with us . + +Cannot be ! +We have record that very well it can , +And three examples of the like have been +Within my age . But reason with the fellow , +Before you punish him , where he heard this , +Lest you shall chance to whip your information , +And beat the messenger who bids beware +Of what is to be dreaded . + +Tell not me : +I know this cannot be . + +Not possible . + + +The nobles in great earnestness are going +All to the senate-house : some news is come , +That turns their countenances . + +'Tis this slave . +Go whip him 'fore the people's eyes : his raising ; +Nothing but his report . + +Yes , worthy sir , +The slave's report is seconded ; and more , +More fearful , is deliver'd . + +What more fearful ? + +It is spoke freely out of many mouths +How probable I do not know that Marcius , +Join'd with Aufidius , leads a power 'gainst Rome , +And vows revenge as spacious as between +The young'st and oldest thing . + +This is most likely . + +Rais'd only , that the weaker sort may wish +Good Marcius home again . + +The very trick on 't . + +This is unlikely : +He and Aufidius can no more atone , +Than violentest contrariety . + + +You are sent for to the senate : +A fearful army , led by Caius Marcius , +Associated with Aufidius , rages +Upon our territories ; and have already +O'erborne their way , consum'd with fire , and took +What lay before them . + + +O ! you have made good work ! + +What news ? what news ? + +You have holp to ravish your own daughters ; and +To melt the city leads upon your pates . +To see your wives dishonour'd to your noses , + +What's the news ? what's the news ? + +Your temples burned in their cement , and +Your franchises , whereon you stood , confin'd +Into an auger's bore . + +Pray now , your news ? +You have made fair work , I fear me . Pray , your news ? +If Marcius should be join'd with Volscians , + +If ! +He is their god : he leads them like a thing +Made by some other deity than Nature , +That shapes man better ; and they follow him , +Against us brats , with no less confidence +Than boys pursuing summer butterflies , +Or butchers killing flies . + +You have made good work , +You , and your apron-men ; you that stood so much +Upon the voice of occupation and +The breath of garlic-eaters ! + +He will shake +Your Rome about your ears . + +As Hercules +Did shake down mellow fruit . You have made fair work ! + +But is this true , sir ? + +Ay ; and you'll look pale +Before you find it other . All the regions +Do smilingly revolt ; and who resist +Are mock'd for valiant ignorance , +And perish constant fools . Who is't can blame him ? +Your enemies , and his , find something in him . + +We are all undone unless +The noble man have mercy . + +Who shall ask it ? +The tribunes cannot do't for shame ; the people +Deserve such pity of him as the wolf +Does of the shepherds : for his best friends , if they +Should say , 'Be good to Rome ,' they charg'd him even +As those should do that had deserv'd his hate , +And therein show'd like enemies . + +'Tis true : +If he were putting to my house the brand +That should consume it , I have not the face +To say , 'Beseech you , cease .' You have made fair hands , +You and your crafts ! you have crafted fair ! + +You have brought +A trembling upon Rome , such as was never +So incapable of help . + +Say not we brought it . + +Say not we brought it . + +How ! Was it we ? We lov'd him ; but , like beasts +And cowardly nobles , gave way unto your clusters , +Who did hoot him out o' the city . + +But I fear +They'll roar him in again . Tullus Aufidius , +The second name of men , obeys his points +As if he were his officer : desperation +Is all the policy , strength , and defence , +That Rome can make against them . + + +Here come the clusters . +And is Aufidius with him ? You are they +That made the air unwholesome , when you cast +Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at +Coriolanus' exile . Now he's coming ; +And not a hair upon a soldier's head +Which will not prove a whip : as many coxcombs +As you threw caps up will he tumble down , +And pay you for your voices . 'Tis no matter ; +If he could burn us all into one coal , +We have deserv'd it . + +Faith , we hear fearful news . + +For mine own part , +When I said banish him , I said 'twas pity . + +And so did I . + +And so did I ; and , to say the truth , so did very many of us . That we did we did for the best ; and though we willingly consented to his banishment , yet it was against our will . + +You're goodly things , you voices ! + +You have made +Good work , you and your cry ! Shall's to the Capitol ? + +O ! ay ; what else ? + + +Go , masters , get you home ; be not dismay'd : +These are a side that would be glad to have +This true which they so seem to fear . Go home , +And show no sign of fear . + +The gods be good to us ! Come , masters , let's home . I ever said we were i' the wrong when we banished him . + +So did we all . But come , let's home . + + +I do not like this news . + +Nor I . + +Let's to the Capitol . Would half my wealth +Would buy this for a lie ! + +Pray let us go . + + +Do they still fly to the Roman ? + +I do not know what witchcraft's in him , but +Your soldiers use him as the grace 'fore meat , +Their talk at table , and their thanks at end ; +And you are darken'd in this action , sir , +Even by your own . + +I cannot help it now , +Unless , by using means , I lame the foot +Of our design . He bears himself more proudlier , +Even to my person , than I thought he would +When first I did embrace him ; yet his nature +In that's no changeling , and I must excuse +What cannot be amended . + +Yet , I wish , sir , +I mean for your particular ,you had not +Join'd in commission with him ; but either +Had borne the action of yourself , or else +To him had left it solely . + +I understand thee well ; and be thou sure , +When he shall come to his account , he knows not +What I can urge against him . Although it seems , +And so he thinks , and is no less apparent +To the vulgar eye , that he bears all things fairly , +And shows good husbandry for the Volscian state , +Fights dragon-like , and does achieve as soon +As draw his sword ; yet he hath left undone +That which shall break his neck or hazard mine , +Whene'er we come to our account . + +Sir , I beseech you , think you he'll carry Rome ? + +All places yield to him ere he sits down ; +And the nobility of Rome are his : +The senators and patricians love him too : +The tribunes are no soldiers ; and their people +Will be as rash in the repeal as hasty +To expel him thence . I think he'll be to Rome +As is the osprey to the fish , who takes it +By sovereignty of nature . First he was +A noble servant to them , but he could not +Carry his honours even ; whether 'twas pride , +Which out of daily fortune ever taints +The happy man ; whether defect of judgment , +To fail in the disposing of those chances +Which he was lord of ; or whether nature , +Not to be other than one thing , not moving +From the casque to the cushion , but commanding peace +Even with the same austerity and garb +As he controll'd the war ; but one of these , +As he hath spices of them all , not all , +For I dare so far free him , made him fear'd , +So hated , and so banish'd : but he has a merit +To choke it in the utterance . So our virtues +Lie in the interpretation of the time ; +And power , unto itself most commendable , +Hath not a tomb so evident as a chair +To extol what it hath done . +One fire drives out one fire ; one nail , one nail ; +Rights by rights falter , strengths by strengths do fail . +Come , let's away . When , Caius , Rome is thine , +Thou art poor'st of all ; then shortly art thou mine . + +No , I'll not go : you hear what he hath said +Which was sometime his general ; who lov'd him +In a most dear particular . He call'd me father : +But what o' that ? Go , you that banish'd him ; +A mile before his tent fall down , and knee +The way into his mercy . Nay , if he coy'd +To hear Cominius speak , I'll keep at home . + +He would not seem to know me . + +Do you hear ? + +Yet one time he did call me by my name . +I urg'd our old acquaintance , and the drops +That we have bled together . Coriolanus +He would not answer to ; forbad all names ; +He was a kind of nothing , titleless , +Till he had forg'd himself a name o' the fire +Of burning Rome . + +Why , so : you have made good work ! +A pair of tribunes that have rack'd for Rome , +To make coals cheap : a noble memory ! + +I minded him how royal 'twas to pardon +When it was less expected : he replied , +It was a bare petition of a state +To one whom they had punish'd . + +Very well . +Could he say less ? + +I offer'd to awaken his regard +For's private friends : his answer to me was , +He could not stay to pick them in a pile +Of noisome musty chaff : he said 'twas folly , +For one poor grain or two , to leave unburnt , +And still to nose the offence . + +For one poor grain or two ! +I am one of those ; his mother , wife , his child , +And this brave fellow too , we are the grains : +You are the musty chaff , and you are smelt +Above the moon . We must be burnt for you . + +Nay , pray , be patient : if you refuse your aid +In this so-never-needed help , yet do not +Upbraid's with our distress . But , sure , if you +Would be your country's pleader , your good tongue , +More than the instant army we can make , +Might stop our countryman . + +No ; I'll not meddle . + +Pray you , go to him . + +What should I do ? + +Only make trial what your love can do +For Rome , towards Marcius . + +Well ; and say that Marcius +Return me , as Cominius is return'd , +Unheard ; what then ? +But as a discontented friend , grief-shot +With his unkindness ? say 't be so ? + +Yet your good will +Must have that thanks from Rome , after the measure +As you intended well . + +I'll undertake it : +I think he'll hear me . Yet , to bite his lip , +And hum at good Cominius , much unhearts me . +He was not taken well ; he had not din'd : +The veins unfill'd , our blood is cold , and then +We pout upon the morning , are unapt +To give or to forgive ; but when we have stuff'd +These pipes and these conveyances of our blood +With wine and feeding , we have suppler souls +Than in our priest-like fasts : therefore , I'll watch him +Till he be dieted to my request , +And then I'll set upon him . + +You know the very road into his kindness , +And cannot lose your way . + +Good faith , I'll prove him , +Speed how it will . I shall ere long have knowledge +Of my success . + + +He'll never hear him . + +Not ? + +I tell you he does sit in gold , his eye +Red as 'twould burn Rome , and his injury +The gaoler to his pity . I kneel'd before him ; +'Twas very faintly he said 'Rise ;' dismiss'd me +Thus , with his speechless hand : what he would do +He sent in writing after me ; what he would not , +Bound with an oath to yield to his conditions : +So that all hope is vain +Unless his noble mother and his wife , +Who , as I hear , mean to solicit him +For mercy to his country . Therefore let's hence , +And with our fair entreaties haste them on . + + +Stay ! whence are you ? + +Stand ! and go back . + +You guard like men ; 'tis well ; but , by your leave , +I am an officer of state , and come +To speak with Coriolanus . + +From whence ? + +From Rome . + +You may not pass ; you must return : our general +Will no more hear from thence . + +You'll see your Rome embrac'd with fire before +You'll speak with Coriolanus . + +Good my friends , +If you have heard your general talk of Rome , +And of his friends there , it is lots to blanks +My name hath touch'd your ears : it is Menenius . + +Be it so ; go back : the virtue of your name +Is not here passable . + +I tell thee , fellow , +Thy general is my lover : I have been +The book of his good acts , whence men have read +His fame unparallel'd , haply amplified ; +For I have ever glorified my friends +Of whom he's chief with all the size that verity +Would without lapsing suffer : nay , sometimes , +Like to a bowl upon a subtle ground , +I have tumbled past the throw , and in his praise +Have almost stamp'd the leasing . Therefore , fellow , +I must have leave to pass . + +Faith , sir , if you had told as many lies in his behalf as you have uttered words in your own , you should not pass here ; no , though it were as virtuous to lie as to live chastely . Therefore go back . + +Prithee , fellow , remember my name is Menenius , always factionary on the party of your general . + +Howsoever you have been his liar as you say you have I am one that , telling true under him , must say you cannot pass . Therefore go back . + +Has he dined , canst thou tell ? for I would not speak with him till after dinner . + +You are a Roman , are you ? + +I am as thy general is . + +Then you should hate Rome , as he does . Can you , when you have pushed out your gates the very defender of them , and , in a violent popular ignorance , given your enemy your shield , think to front his revenges with the easy groans of old women , the virginal palms of your daughters , or with the palsied intercession of such a decayed dotant as you seem to be ? Can you think to blow out the intended fire your city is ready to flame in with such weak breath as this ? No , you are deceived ; therefore , back to Rome , and prepare for your execution : you are condemned , our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon . + +Sirrah , if thy captain know I were here , he would use me with estimation . + +Come , my captain knows you not . + +I mean , thy general . + +My general cares not for you . +Back , I say : go , lest I let forth your half-pint of blood ; back , that's the utmost of your having : back . + +Nay , but , fellow , fellow , + + +What's the matter ? + +Now , you companion , I'll say an errand for you : you shall know now that I am in estimation ; you shall perceive that a Jack guardant cannot office me from my son Coriolanus : guess , but by my entertainment with him , if thou standest not i' the state of hanging , or of some death more long in spectatorship , and crueller in suffering ; behold now presently , and swound for what's to come upon thee . + +The glorious gods sit in hourly synod about thy particular prosperity , and love thee no worse than thy old father Menenius does ! O my son ! my son ! thou art preparing fire for us ; look thee , here's water to quench it . I was hardly moved to come to thee ; but being assured none but myself could move thee , I have been blown out of your gates with sighs ; and conjure thee to pardon Rome , and thy petitionary countrymen . The good gods assuage thy wrath , and turn the dregs of it upon this varlet here ; this , who , like a block , hath denied my access to thee . + +Away ! + +How ! away ! + +Wife , mother , child , I know not . My affairs +Are servanted to others : though I owe +My revenge properly , my remission lies +In Volscian breasts . That we have been familiar , +Ingrate forgetfulness shall poison , rather +Than pity note how much . Therefore , be gone : +Mine ears against your suits are stronger than +Your gates against my force . Yet , for I lov'd thee , +Take this along ; I writ it for thy sake , + +And would have sent it . Another word , Menenius , +I will not hear thee speak . This man , Aufidius , +Was my belov'd in Rome : yet thou behold'st ! + +You keep a constant temper . + + +Now , sir , is your name Menenius ? + +'Tis a spell , you see , of much power . You know the way home again . + +Do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back ? + +What cause , do you think , I have to swound ? + +I neither care for the world , nor your general : for such things as you , I can scarce think there's any , ye're so slight . He that hath a will to die by himself fears it not from another . Let your general do his worst . For you , be that you are , long ; and your misery increase with your age ! I say to you , as I was said to , Away ! + + +A noble fellow , I warrant him . + +The worthy fellow is our general : he is the rock , the oak not to be wind-shaken . + + +We will before the walls of Rome to-morrow +Set down our host . My partner in this action , +You must report to the Volscian lords , how plainly +I have borne this business . + +Only their ends +You have respected ; stopp'd your ears against +The general suit of Rome ; never admitted +A private whisper ; no , not with such friends +That thought them sure of you . + +This last old man , +Whom with a crack'd heart I have sent to Rome , +Lov'd me above the measure of a father ; +Nay , godded me indeed . Their latest refuge +Was to send him ; for whose old love I have , +Though I show'd sourly to him , once more offer'd +The first conditions , which they did refuse , +And cannot now accept , to grace him only +That thought he could do more . A very little +I have yielded to ; fresh embassies and suits , +Nor from the state , nor private friends , hereafter +Will I lend ear to . + +Ha ! what shout is this ? +Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow +In the same time 'tis made ? I will not . + + +My wife comes foremost ; then the honour'd mould +Wherein this trunk was fram'd , and in her hand +The grandchild to her blood . But out , affection ! +All bond and privilege of nature , break ! +Let it be virtuous to be obstinate . +What is that curtsy worth ? or those doves' eyes , +Which can make gods forsworn ? I melt , and am not +Of stronger earth than others . My mother bows , +As if Olympus to a molehill should +In supplication nod ; and my young boy +Hath an aspect of intercession , which +Great nature cries , 'Deny not .' Let the Volsces +Plough Rome , and harrow Italy ; I'll never +Be such a gosling to obey instinct , but stand +As if a man were author of himself + +And knew no other kin . + +My lord and husband ! + +These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome . + +The sorrow that delivers us thus chang'd +Makes you think so . + +Like a dull actor now , +I have forgot my part , and I am out , +Even to a full disgrace . Best of my flesh , +Forgive my tyranny ; but do not say +For that , 'Forgive our Romans .' O ! a kiss +Long as my exile , sweet as my revenge ! +Now , by the jealous queen of heaven , that kiss +I carried from thee , dear , and my true lip +Hath virgin'd it e'er since . You gods ! I prate , +And the most noble mother of the world +Leave unsaluted . Sink , my knee , i' the earth ; + +Of thy deep duty more impression show +Than that of common sons . + +O ! stand up bless'd ; +Whilst , with no softer cushion than the flint , +I kneel before thee , and unproperly +Show duty , as mistaken all this while +Between the child and parent . + + +What is this ? +Your knees to me ! to your corrected son ! +Then let the pebbles on the hungry beach +Fillip the stars ; then let the mutinous winds +Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the fiery sun , +Murd'ring impossibility , to make +What cannot be , slight work . + +Thou art my warrior ; +I holp to frame thee . Do you know this lady ? + +The noble sister of Publicola , +The moon of Rome ; chaste as the icicle +That's curdied by the frost from purest snow , +And hangs on Dian's temple : dear Valeria ! + +This is a poor epitome of yours , + +Which by the interpretation of full time +May show like all yourself . + +The god of soldiers , +With the consent of supreme Jove , inform +Thy thoughts with nobleness ; that thou mayst prove +To shame unvulnerable , and stick i' the wars +Like a great sea-mark , standing every flaw , +And saving those that eye thee ! + +Your knee , sirrah . + +That's my brave boy ! + +Even he , your wife , this lady , and myself , +Are suitors to you . + +I beseech you , peace : +Or , if you'd ask , remember this before : +The things I have forsworn to grant may never +Be held by you denials . Do not bid me +Dismiss my soldiers , or capitulate +Again with Rome's mechanics : tell me not +Wherein I seem unnatural : desire not +To allay my rages and revenges with +Your colder reasons . + +O ! no more , no more ; +You have said you will not grant us any thing ; +For we have nothing else to ask but that +Which you deny already : yet we will ask ; +That , if you fail in our request , the blame +May hang upon your hardness . Therefore , hear us . + +Aufidius , and you Volsces , mark ; for we'll +Hear nought from Rome in private . Your request ? + +Should we be silent and not speak , our raiment +And state of bodies would bewray what life +We have led since thy exile . Think with thyself +How more unfortunate than all living women +Are we come hither : since that thy sight , which should +Make our eyes flow with joy , hearts dance with comforts , +Constrains them weep and shake with fear and sorrow ; +Making the mother , wife , and child to see +The son , the husband , and the father tearing +His country's bowels out . And to poor we +Thine enmity's most capital : thou barr'st us +Our prayers to the gods , which is a comfort +That all but we enjoy ; for how can we , +Alas ! how can we for our country pray , +Whereto we are bound , together with thy victory , +Whereto we are bound ? Alack ! or we must lose +The country , our dear nurse , or else thy person , +Our comfort in the country . We must find +An evident calamity , though we had +Our wish , which side should win ; for either thou +Must , as a foreign recreant , be led +With manacles through our streets , or else +Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin , +And bear the palm for having bravely shed +Thy wife and children's blood . For myself , son , +I purpose not to wait on Fortune till +These wars determine : if I cannot persuade thee +Rather to show a noble grace to both parts +Than seek the end of one , thou shalt no sooner +March to assault thy country than to tread +Trust to't , thou shalt not on thy mother's womb , +That brought thee to this world . + +Ay , and mine , +That brought you forth this boy , to keep your name +Living to time . + +A' shall not tread on me : +I'll run away till I am bigger , but then I'll fight . + +Not of a woman's tenderness to be , +Requires nor child nor woman's face to see . +I have sat too long . + + +Nay , go not from us thus . +If it were so , that our request did tend +To save the Romans , thereby to destroy +The Volsces whom you serve , you might condemn us , +As poisonous of your honour : no ; our suit +Is , that you reconcile them : while the Volsces +May say , 'This mercy we have show'd ;' the Romans , +'This we receiv'd ;' and each in either side +Give the all-hail to thee , and cry , 'Be bless'd +For making up this peace !' Thou know'st , great son , +The end of war's uncertain ; but this certain , +That , if thou conquer Rome , the benefit +Which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name +Whose repetition will be dogg'd with curses ; +Whose chronicle thus writ : 'The man was noble , +But with his last attempt he wip'd it out , +Destroy'd his country , and his name remains +To the ensuing age abhorr'd .' Speak to me , son ! +Thou hast affected the fine strains of honour , +To imitate the graces of the gods ; +To tear with thunder the wide cheeks o' the air , +And yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt +That should but rive an oak . Why dost not speak ? +Think'st thou it honourable for a noble man +Still to remember wrongs ? Daughter , speak you : +He cares not for your weeping . Speak thou , boy : +Perhaps thy childishness will move him more +Than can our reasons . There is no man in the world +More bound to 's mother ; yet here he lets me prate +Like one i' the stocks . Thou hast never in thy life +Show'd thy dear mother any courtesy ; +When she poor hen ! fond of no second brood +Has cluck'd thee to the wars , and safely home , +Loaden with honour . Say my request's unjust , +And spurn me back ; but if it be not so , +Thou art not honest , and the gods will plague thee , +That thou restrain'st from me the duty which +To a mother's part belongs . He turns away : +Down , ladies ; let us shame him with our knees . +To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride +Than pity to our prayers . Down : an end ; +This is the last : so we will home to Rome , +And die among our neighbours . Nay , behold us . +This boy , that cannot tell what he would have , +But kneels and holds up hands for fellowship , +Does reason our petition with more strength +Than thou hast to deny 't . Come , let us go : +This fellow had a Volscian to his mother ; +His wife is in Corioli , and his child +Like him by chance . Yet give us our dispatch : +I am hush'd until our city be a-fire , +And then I'll speak a little . + + +O , mother , mother ! +What have you done ? Behold ! the heavens do ope , +The gods look down , and this unnatural scene +They laugh at . O my mother ! mother ! O ! +You have won a happy victory to Rome ; +But , for your son , believe it , O ! believe it , +Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd , +If not most mortal to him . But let it come . +Aufidius , though I cannot make true wars , +I'll frame convenient peace . Now , good Aufidius , +Were you in my stead , would you have heard +A mother less , or granted less , Aufidius ? + +I was mov'd withal . + +I dare be sworn you were : +And , sir , it is no little thing to make +Mine eyes to sweat compassion . But , good sir , +What peace you'll make , advise me : for my part , +I'll not to Rome , I'll back with you ; and pray you , +Stand to me in this cause . O mother ! wife ! + +I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour +At difference in thee : out of that I'll work +Myself a former fortune . + + +Ay , by and by ; +But we will drink together ; and you shall bear +A better witness back than words , which we , +On like conditions , would have counter-seal'd . +Come , enter with us . Ladies , you deserve +To have a temple built you : all the swords +In Italy , and her confederate arms , +Could not have made this peace . + + +See you yond coign o' the Capitol , yond corner-stone ? + +Why , what of that ? + +If it be possible for you to displace it with your little finger , there is some hope the ladies of Rome , especially his mother , may prevail with him . But I say , there is no hope in 't . Our throats are sentenced and stay upon execution . + +Is't possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man ? + +There is differency between a grub and a butterfly ; yet your butterfly was a grub . This Marcius is grown from man to dragon : he has wings ; he's more than a creeping thing . + +He loved his mother dearly . + +So did he me ; and he no more remembers his mother now than an eight-year-old horse . The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes : when he walks , he moves like an engine , and the ground shrinks before his treading : he is able to pierce a corslet with his eye ; talks like a knell , and his hum is a battery . He sits in his state , as a thing made for Alexander . What he bids be done is finished with his bidding . He wants nothing of a god but eternity and a heaven to throne in . + +Yes , mercy , if you report him truly . + +I paint him in the character . Mark what mercy his mother shall bring from him : there is no more mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger ; that shall our poor city find : and all this is 'long of you . + +The gods be good unto us ! + +No , in such a case the gods will not be good unto us . When we banished him , we respected not them ; and , he returning to break our necks , they respect not us . + + +Sir , if you'd save your life , fly to your house : +The plebeians have got your fellow-tribune , +And hale him up and down ; all swearing , if +The Roman ladies bring not comfort home , +They'll give him death by inches . + + +What's the news ? + +Good news , good news ! the ladies have prevail'd , +The Volscians are dislodg'd , and Marcius gone . +A merrier day did never yet greet Rome , +No , not the expulsion of the Tarquins . + +Friend , +Art thou certain this is true ? is it most certain ? + +As certain as I know the sun is fire : +Where have you lurk'd that you make doubt of it ? +Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide , +As the recomforted through the gates . Why , hark you ! + +The trumpets , sackbuts , psalteries , and fifes , +Tabors , and cymbals , and the shouting Romans , +Make the sun dance . Hark you ! + + +This is good news : +I will go meet the ladies . This Volumnia +Is worth of consuls , senators , patricians , +A city full ; of tribunes , such as you , +A sea and land full . You have pray'd well to-day : +This morning for ten thousand of your throats +I'd not have given a doit . Hark , how they joy ! + + +First , the gods bless you for your tidings ; next , +Accept my thankfulness . + +Sir , we have all +Great cause to give great thanks . + +They are near the city ? + +Almost at point to enter . + +We will meet them , +And help the joy . + +Behold our patroness , the life of Rome ! +Call all your tribes together , praise the gods , +And make triumphant fires ; strew flowers before them : +Unshout the noise that banish'd Marcius ; +Repeal him with the welcome of his mother ; +Cry , 'Welcome , ladies , welcome !' + +Welcome , ladies , +Welcome ! + + +Go tell the lords o' the city I am here : +Deliver them this paper : having read it , +Bid them repair to the market-place ; where I , +Even in theirs and in the commons' ears , +Will vouch the truth of it . Him I accuse +The city ports by this hath enter'd , and +Intends to appear before the people , hoping +To purge himself with words : dispatch . + + +Most welcome ! + +How is it with our general ? + +Even so +As with a man by his own alms empoison'd , +And with his charity slain . + +Most noble sir , +If you do hold the same intent wherein +You wish'd us parties , we'll deliver you +Of your great danger . + +Sir , I cannot tell : +We must proceed as we do find the people . + +The people will remain uncertain whilst +'Twixt you there's difference ; but the fall of either +Makes the survivor heir of all . + +I know it ; +And my pretext to strike at him admits +A good construction . I rais'd him , and I pawn'd +Mine honour for his truth : who being so heighten'd , +He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery , +Seducing so my friends ; and , to this end , +He bow'd his nature , never known before +But to be rough , unswayable , and free . + +Sir , his stoutness +When he did stand for consul , which he lost +By lack of stooping , + +That I would have spoke of : +Being banish'd for't , he came unto my hearth ; +Presented to my knife his throat : I took him ; +Made him joint-servant with me ; gave him way +In all his own desires ; nay , let him choose +Out of my files , his projects to accomplish , +My best and freshest men ; serv'd his designments +In mine own person ; holp to reap the fame +Which he did end all his ; and took some pride +To do myself this wrong : till , at the last , +I seem'd his follower , not partner ; and +He wag'd me with his countenance , as if +I had been mercenary . + +So he did , my lord : +The army marvell'd at it ; and , in the last , +When we had carried Rome , and that we look'd +For no less spoil than glory , + +There was it ; +For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him . +At a few drops of women's rheum , which are +As cheap as lies , he sold the blood and labour +Of our great action : therefore shall he die , +And I'll renew me in his fall . But , hark ! + + +Your native town you enter'd like a post , +And had no welcomes home ; but he returns , +Splitting the air with noise . + +And patient fools , +Whose children he hath slain , their base throats tear +With giving him glory . + +Therefore , at your vantage , +Ere he express himself , or move the people +With what he would say , let him feel your sword , +Which we will second . When he lies along , +After your way his tale pronounc'd shall bury +His reasons with his body . + +Say no more : +Here come the lords . + + +You are most welcome home . + +I have not deserv'd it . +But , worthy lords , have you with heed perus'd +What I have written to you ? + +We have . + +And grieve to hear 't . +What faults he made before the last , I think +Might have found easy fines ; but there to end +Where he was to begin , and give away +The benefit of our levies , answering us +With our own charge , making a treaty where +There was a yielding , this admits no excuse . + +He approaches : you shall hear him . + + +Hail , lords ! I am return'd your soldier ; +No more infected with my country's love +Than when I parted hence , but still subsisting +Under your great command . You are to know , +That prosperously I have attempted and +With bloody passage led your wars even to +The gates of Rome . Our spoils we have brought home +Do more than counterpoise a full third part +The charges of the action . We have made peace +With no less honour to the Antiates +Than shame to the Romans ; and we here deliver , +Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians , +Together with the seal o' the senate , what +We have compounded on . + +Read it not , noble lords ; +But tell the traitor in the highest degree +He hath abus'd your powers . + +Traitor ! How now ? + +Ay , traitor , Marcius . + +Marcius ! + +Ay , Marcius , Caius Marcius . Dost thou think +I'll grace thee with that robbery , thy stol'n name +Coriolanus in Corioli ? +You lords and heads of the state , perfidiously +He has betray'd your business , and given up , +For certain drops of salt , your city Rome , +I say 'your city ,' to his wife and mother ; +Breaking his oath and resolution like +A twist of rotten silk , never admitting +Counsel o' the war , but at his nurse's tears +He whin'd and roar'd away your victory , +That pages blush'd at him , and men of heart +Look'd wondering each at other . + +Hear'st thou , Mars ? + +Name not the god , thou boy of tears . + +Ha ! + +No more . + +Measureless liar , thou hast made my heart +Too great for what contains it . Boy ! O slave ! +Pardon me , lords , 'tis the first time that ever +I was forc'd to scold . Your judgments , my grave lords , +Must give this cur the lie : and his own notion +Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him , that +Must bear my beating to his grave shall join +To thrust the lie unto him . + +Peace , both , and hear me speak . + +Cut me to pieces , Volsces ; men and lads , +Stain all your edges on me . Boy ! False hound ! +If you have writ your annals true , 'tis there , +That , like an eagle in a dove-cote , I +Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli : +Alone I did it . Boy ! + +Why , noble lords , +Will you be put in mind of his blind fortune , +Which was your shame , by this unholy braggart , +'Fore your own eyes and ears ? + +Let him die for 't . + +Tear him to pieces .Do it presently .He killed my son .My daughter .He killed my cousin Marcus .He killed my father . + +Peace , ho ! no outrage : peace ! +The man is noble and his fame folds in +This orb o' the earth . His last offences to us +Shall have judicious hearing . Stand , Aufidius , +And trouble not the peace . + +O ! that I had him , +With six Aufidiuses , or more , his tribe , +To use my lawful sword ! + +Insolent villain ! + +Kill , kill , kill , kill , kill him ! + + +Hold , hold , hold , hold ! + +My noble masters , hear me speak . + +O Tullus ! + +Thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep . + +Tread not upon him . Masters all , be quiet . +Put up your swords . + +My lords , when you shall know ,as in this rage , +Provok'd by him , you cannot ,the great danger +Which this man's life did owe you , you'll rejoice +That he is thus cut off . Please it your honours +To call me to your senate , I'll deliver +Myself your loyal servant , or endure +Your heaviest censure . + +Bear from hence his body ; +And mourn you for him ! Let him be regarded +As the most noble corse that ever herald +Did follow to his urn . + +His own impatience +Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame . +Let's make the best of it . + +My rage is gone , +And I am struck with sorrow . Take him up : +Help , three o' the chiefest soldiers ; I'll be one . +Beat thou the drum , that it speak mournfully ; +Trail your steel pikes . Though in this city he +Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one , +Which to this hour bewail the injury , +Yet he shall have a noble memory . +Assist . + +HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK + +Ghost of Hamlet's Father . + + +Who's there ? + +Nay , answer me ; stand , and unfold yourself . + +Long live the king ! + +Bernardo ? + +He . + +You come most carefully upon your hour . + +'Tis now struck twelve ; get thee to bed , Francisco . + +For this relief much thanks ; 'tis bitter cold , +And I am sick at heart . + +Have you had quiet guard ? + +Not a mouse stirring . + +Well , good-night . +If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus , +The rivals of my watch , bid them make hasie . + +I think I hear them . Stand , ho ! Who's there ? + + +Friends to this ground . + +And liegemen to the Dane . + +Give you good-night . + +O ! farewell , honest soldier : +Who hath reliev'd you ? + +Bernardo has my place . +Give you good-night . + + +Holla ! Bernardo ! + +Say , +What ! is Horatio there ? + +A piece of him . + +Welcome , Horatio ; welcome , good Marcellus . + +What ! has this thing appear'd again to-night ? + +I have seen nothing . + +Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy , +And will not let belief take hold of him +Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us : +Therefore I have entreated him along +With us to watch the minutes of this night ; +That if again this apparition come , +He may approve our eyes and speak to it . + +Tush , tush ! 'twill not appear . + +Sit down awhile , +And let us once again assail your ears , +That are so fortified against our story , +What we two nights have seen . + +Well , sit we down , +And let us hear Bernardo speak of this . + +Last night of all , +When yond same star that's westward from the pole +Had made his course to illume that part of heaven +Where now it burns , Marcellus and myself , +The bell then beating one , + +Peace ! break thee off ; look , where it comes again ! + + +In the same figure , like the king that's dead . + +Thou art a scholar ; speak to it , Horatio . + +Looks it not like the king ? mark it , Horatio . + +Most like : it harrows me with fear and wonder . + +It would be spoke to . + +Question it , Horatio . + +What art thou that usurp'st this time of night , +Together with that fair and war-like form +In which the majesty of buried Denmark +Did sometimes march ? by heaven I charge thee , speak ! + +It is offended . + +See ! it stalks away . + +Stay ! speak , speak ! I charge thee , speak ! + + +'Tis gone , and will not answer . + +How now , Horatio ! you tremble and look pale : +Is not this something more than fantasy ? +What think you on 't ? + +Before my God , I might not this believe +Without the sensible and true avouch +Of mine own eyes . + +Is it not like the king ? + +As thou-art to thyself : +Such was the very armour he had on +When he the ambitious Norway combated ; +So frown'd he once , when , in an angry parle , +He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice . +'Tis strange . + +Thus twice before , and jump at this dead hour , +With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch . + +In what particular thought to work I know not ; +But in the gross and scope of my opinion , +This bodes some strange eruption to our state . + +Good now , sit down , and tell me , he that knows , +Why this same strict and most observant watch +So nightly toils the subject of the land ; +And why such daily cast of brazen cannon , +And foreign mart for implements of war ; +Why such impress of shipwrights , whose sore task +Does not divide the Sunday from the week ; +What might be toward , that this sweaty haste +Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day : +Who is 't that can inform me ? + +That can I ; +At least , the whisper goes so . Our last king , +Whose image even but now appear'd to us , +Was , as you know , by Fortinbras of Norway , +Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride , +Dar'd to the combat ; in which our valiant Hamlet +For so this side of our known world esteem'd him +Did slay this Fortinbras ; who , by a seal'd compact , +Well ratified by law and heraldry , +Did forfeit with his life all those his lands +Which he stood seiz'd of , to the conqueror ; +Against the which , a moiety competent +Was gaged by our king ; which had return'd +To the inheritance of Fortinbras , +Had he been vanquisher ; as , by the same covenant , +And carriage of the article design'd , +His fell to Hamlet . Now , sir , young Fortinbras , +Of unimproved mettle hot and full , +Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there +Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes , +For food and diet , to some enterprise +That hath a stomach in 't ; which is no other +As it doth well appear unto our state +But to recover of us , by strong hand +And terms compulsative , those foresaid lands +So by his father lost . And this , I take it , +Is the main motive of our preparations , +The source of this our watch and the chief head +Of this post-haste and romage in the land . + +I think it be no other but e'en so ; +Well may it sort that this portentous figure +Comes armed through our watch , so like the king +That was and is the question of these wars . + +A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye . +In the most high and palmy state of Rome , +A little ere the mightiest Julius fell , +The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead +Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets ; +As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood , +Disasters in the sun ; and the moist star +Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands +Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse ; +And even the like precurse of fierce events , +As harbingers preceding still the fates +And prologue to the omen coming on , +Have heaven and earth together demonstrated +Unto our climatures and countrymen . +But , soft ! behold ! lo ! where it comes again . + + +I'll cross it , though it blast me . Stay , illusion ! +If thou hast any sound , or use of voice , +Speak to me : +If there be any good thing to be done , +That may to thee do ease and grace to me , +Speak to me : +If thou art privy to thy country's fate , +Which happily foreknowing may avoid , +O ! speak ; +Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life +Extorted treasure in the womb of earth , +For which , they say , you spirits oft walk in death , + + +Speak of it : stay , and speak ! Stop it , Marcellus . + +Shall I strike at it with my partisan ? + +Do , if it will not stand . + +'Tis here ! + +'Tis here ! + + +'Tis gone ! +We do it wrong , being so majestical , +To offer it the show of violence ; +For it is , as the air , invulnerable , +And our vain blows malicious mockery . + +It was about to speak when the cock crew . + +And then it started like a guilty thing +Upon a fearful summons . I have heard , +The cock , that is the trumpet to the morn , +Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat +Awake the god of day ; and at his warning , +Whether in sea or fire , in earth or air , +The extravagant and erring spirit hies +To his confine ; and of the truth herein +This present object made probation . + +It faded on the crowing of the cock . +Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes +Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated , +The bird of dawning singeth all night long ; +And then , they say , no spirit can walk abroad ; +The nights are wholesome ; then no planets strike , +No fairy takes , nor witch hath power to charm , +So hallow'd and so gracious is the time . + +So have I heard and do in part believe it . +But , look , the morn in russet mantle clad , +Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill ; +Break we our watch up ; and by my advice +Let us impart what we have seen to-night +Unto young Hamlet ; for , upon my life , +This spirit , dumb to us , will speak to him . +Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it , +As needful in our loves , fitting our duty ? + +Let's do't , I pray ; and I this morning know +Where we shall find him most conveniently . + + +Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death +The memory be green , and that it us befitted +To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom +To be contracted in one brow of woe , +Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature +That we with wisest sorrow think on him , +Together with remembrance of ourselves . +Therefore our sometime sister , now our queen , +The imperial jointress of this war-like state , +Have we , as 'twere with a defeated joy , +With one auspicious and one dropping eye , +With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage , +In equal scale weighing delight and dole , +Taken to wife : nor have we herein barr'd +Your better wisdoms , which have freely gone +With this affair along : for all , our thanks . +Now follows , that you know , young Fortinbras , +Holding a weak supposal of our worth , +Or thinking by our late dear brother's death +Our state to be disjoint and out of frame , +Colleagued with the dream of his advantage , +He hath not fail'd to pester us with message , +Importing the surrender of those lands +Lost by his father , with all bands of law , +To our most valiant brother . So much for him . +Now for ourself and for this time of meeting . +Thus much the business is : we have here writ +To Norway , uncle of young Fortinbras , +Who , impotent and bed-rid , scarcely hears +Of this his nephew's purpose , to suppress +His further gait herein ; in that the levies , +The lists and full proportions , are all made +Out of his subject ; and we here dispatch +You , good Cornelius , and you , Voltimand , +For bearers of this greeting to old Norway , +Giving to you no further personal power +To business with the king more than the scope +Of these delated articles allow . +Farewell and let your haste commend your duty . + +In that and all things will we show our duty . + +In that and all things will we show our duty . + +We doubt it nothing : heartily farewell . + +And now , Laertes , what's the news with you ? +You told us of some suit ; what is't , Laertes ? +You cannot speak of reason to the Dane , +And lose your voice ; what wouldst thou beg , Laertes , +That shall not be my offer , not thy asking ? +The head is not more native to the heart , +The hand more instrumental to the mouth , +Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father . +What wouldst thou have , Laertes ? + +Dread my lord , +Your leave and favour to return to France ; +From whence though willingly I came to Denmark , +To show my duty in your coronation , +Yet now , I must confess , that duty done , +My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France +And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon . + +Have you your father's leave ? What says Polonius ? + +He hath , my lord , wrung from me my slow leave +By laboursome petition , and at last +Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent : +I do beseech you , give him leave to go . + +Take thy fair hour , Laertes ; time be thine , +And thy best graces spend it at thy will . +But now , my cousin Hamlet , and my son , + +A little more than kin , and less than kind . + +How is it that the clouds still hang on you ? + +Not so , my lord ; I am too much i' the sun . + +Good Hamlet , cast thy nighted colour off , +And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark . +Do not for ever with thy vailed lids +Seek for thy noble father in the dust : +Thou know'st 'tis common ; all that live must die , +Passing through nature to eternity . + +Ay , madam , it is common . + +If it be , +Why seems it so particular with thee ? + +Seems , madam ! Nay , it is ; I know not 'seems .' +'Tis not alone my inky cloak , good mother , +Nor customary suits of solemn black , +Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath , +No , nor the fruitful river in the eye , +Nor the dejected haviour of the visage , +Together with all forms , modes , shows of grief , +That can denote me truly ; these indeed seem , +For they are actions that a man might play : +But I have that within which passeth show ; +These but the trappings and the suits of woe . + +'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature , Hamlet , +To give these mourning duties to your father : +But , you must know , your father lost a father ; +That father lost , lost his ; and the survivor bound +In filial obligation for some term +To do obsequious sorrow ; but to persever +In obstinate condolement is a course +Of impious stubbornness ; 'tis unmanly grief : +It shows a will most incorrect to heaven , +A heart unfortified , a mind impatient , +An understanding simple and unschool'd : +For what we know must be and is as common +As any the most vulgar thing to sense , +Why should we in our peevish opposition +Take it to heart ? Fie ! 'tis a fault to heaven , +A fault against the dead , a fault to nature , +To reason most absurd , whose common theme +Is death of fathers , and who still hath cried , +From the first corse till he that died to-day , +'This must be so .' We pray you , throw to earth +This unprevailing woe , and think of us +As of a father ; for let the world take note , +You are the most immediate to our throne ; +And with no less nobility of love +Than that which dearest father bears his son +Do I impart toward you . For your intent +In going back to school in Wittenberg , +It is most retrograde to our desire ; +And we beseech you , bend you to remain +Here , in the cheer and comfort of our eye , +Our chiefest courtier , cousin , and our son . + +Let not thy mother lose her prayers , Hamlet : +I pray thee , stay with us ; go not to Wittenberg . + +I shall in all my best obey you , madam . + +Why , 'tis a loving and a fair reply : +Be as ourself in Denmark . Madam , come ; +This gentle and unforc'd accord of Hamlet +Sits smiling to my heart ; in grace whereof , +No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day , +But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell , +And the king's rouse the heavens shall bruit again , +Re-speaking earthly thunder . Come away . + + +O ! that this too too solid flesh would melt , +Thaw and resolve itself into a dew ; +Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd +His canon 'gainst self-slaughter ! O God ! O God ! +How weary , stale , flat , and unprofitable +Seem to me all the uses of this world . +Fie on 't ! O fie ! 'tis an unweeded garden , +That grows to seed ; things rank and gross in nature +Possess it merely . That it should come to this ! +But two months dead : nay , not so much , not two : +So excellent a king ; that was , to this , +Hyperion to a satyr ; so loving to my mother +That he might not beteem the winds of heaven +Visit her face too roughly . Heaven and earth ! +Must I remember ? why , she would hang on him , +As if increase of appetite had grown +By what it fed on ; and yet , within a month , +Let me not think on't : Frailty , thy name is woman ! +A little month ; or ere those shoes were old +With which she follow'd my poor father's body , +Like Niobe , all tears ; why she , even she , +O God ! a beast , that wants discourse of reason , +Would have mourn'd longer ,married with mine uncle , +My father's brother , but no more like my father +Than I to Hercules : within a month , +Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears +Had left the flushing in her galled eyes , +She married . O ! most wicked speed , to post +With such dexterity to incestuous sheets . +It is not nor it cannot come to good ; +But break , my heart , for I must hold my tongue ! + + +Hail to your lordship ! + +I am glad to see you well : +Horatio , or I do forget myself . + +The same , my lord , and your poor servant ever . + +Sir , my good friend ; I'll change that name with you . +And what make you from Wittenberg , Horatio ? +Marcellus ? + +My good lord , + +I am very glad to see you . + +Good even , sir . +But what , in faith , make you from Wittenberg ? + +A truant disposition , good my lord . + +I would not hear your enemy say so , +Nor shall you do mine ear that violence , +To make it truster of your own report +Against yourself ; I know you are no truant . +But what is your affair in Elsinore ? +We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart . + +My lord , I came to see your father's funeral . + +I pray thee , do not mock me , fellow-student ; +I think it was to see my mother's wedding . + +Indeed , my lord , it follow'd hard upon . + +Thrift , thrift , Horatio ! the funeral bak'd meats +Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables . +Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven +Ere I had ever seen that day , Horatio ! +My father , methinks I see my father . + +O ! where , my lord ? + +In my mind's eye , Horatio . + +I saw him once ; he was a goodly king . + +He was a man , take him for all in all , +I shall not look upon his like again . + +My lord , I think I saw him yesternight . + +Saw who ? + +My lord , the king your father . + +The king , my father ! + +Season your admiration for a while +With an attent ear , till I may deliver , +Upon the witness of these gentlemen , +This marvel to you . + +For God's love , let me hear . + +Two nights together had these gentlemen , +Marcellus and Bernardo , on their watch , +In the dead vast and middle of the night , +Been thus encounter'd : a figure like your father , +Armed at points exactly , cap-a-pe , +Appears before them , and with solemn march +Goes slow and stately by them : thrice he walk'd +By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes , +Within his truncheon's length ; whilst they , distill'd +Almost to jelly with the act of fear , +Stand dumb and speak not to him . This to me +In dreadful secrecy impart they did , +And I with them the third night kept the watch ; +Where , as they had deliver'd , both in time , +Form of the thing , each word made true and good , +The apparition comes . I knew your father ; +These hands are not more like . + +But where was this ? + +My lord , upon the platform where we watch'd . + +Did you not speak to it ? + +My lord , I did ; +But answer made it none ; yet once methought +It lifted up its head and did address +Itself to motion , like as it would speak ; +But even then the morning cock crew loud , +And at the sound it shrunk in haste away +And vanish'd from our sight . + +'Tis very strange . + +As I do live , my honour'd lord , 'tis true ; +And we did think it writ down in our duty +To let you know of it . + +Indeed , indeed , sirs , but this troubles me . +Hold you the watch to-night ? + +We do , my lord . + +We do , my lord . + +Arm'd , say you ? + +Arm'd , my lord . + +Arm'd , my lord . + +From top to toe ? + +My lord , from head to foot . + +My lord , from head to foot . + +Then saw you not his face ? + +O yes ! my lord ; he wore his beaver up . + +What ! look'd he frowningly ? + +A countenance more in sorrow than in anger . + +Pale or red ? + +Nay , very pale . + +And fix'd his eyes upon you ? + +Most constantly . + +I would I had been there . + +It would have much amaz'd you . + +Very like , very like . Stay'd it long ? + +While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred . + +Longer , longer . + +Longer , longer . + +Not when I saw it . + +His beard was grizzled , no ? + +It was , as I have seen it in his life , +A sable silver'd . + +I will watch to-night ; +Perchance 'twill walk again . + +I warrant it will . + +If it assume my noble father's person , +I'll speak to it , though hell itself should gape +And bid me hold my peace . I pray you all , +If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight , +Let it be tenable in your silence still ; +And whatsoever else shall hap to-night , +Give it an understanding , but no tongue : +I will requite your loves . So , fare you well . +Upon the platform , 'twixt eleven and twelve , +I'll visit you . + +Our duty to your honour . + +Your loves , as mine to you . Farewell . + +My father's spirit in arms ! all is not well ; +I doubt some foul play : would the night were come ! +Till then sit still , my soul : foul deeds will rise , +Though all the earth o'erwhelm them , to men's eyes . + + +My necessaries are embark'd ; farewell : +And , sister , as the winds give benefit +And convoy is assistant , do not sleep , +But let me hear from you . + +Do you doubt that ? + +For Hamlet , and the trifling of his favour , +Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood , +A violet in the youth of primy nature , +Forward , not permanent , sweet , not lasting , +The perfume and suppliance of a minute ; +No more . + +No more but so ? + +Think it no more : +For nature , crescent , does not grow alone +In thews and bulk ; but , as this temple waxes , +The inward service of the mind and soul +Grows wide withal . Perhaps he loves you now , +And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch +The virtue of his will ; but you must fear , +His greatness weigh'd , his will is not his own , +For he himself is subject to his birth ; +He may not , as unvalu'd persons do , +Carve for himself , for on his choice depends +The safety and the health of the whole state ; +And therefore must his choice be circumscrib'd +Unto the voice and yielding of that body +Whereof he is the head . Then if he says he loves you , +It fits your wisdom so far to believe it +As he in his particular act and place +May give his saying deed ; which is no further +Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal . +Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain , +If with too credent ear you list his songs , +Or lose your heart , or your chaste treasure open +To his unmaster'd importunity . +Fear it , Ophelia , fear it , my dear sister ; +And keep you in the rear of your affection , +Out of the shot and danger of desire . +The chariest maid is prodigal enough +If she unmask her beauty to the moon ; +Virtue herself 'scapes not calumnious strokes ; +The canker galls the infants of the spring +Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd , +And in the morn and liquid dew of youth +Contagious blastments are most imminent . +Be wary then ; best safety lies in fear : +Youth to itself rebels , though none else near . + +I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep , +As watchman to my heart . But , good my brother , +Do not , as some ungracious pastors do , +Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven , +Whiles , like a puff'd and reckless libertine , +Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads , +And recks not his own rede . + +O ! fear me not . +I stay too long ; but here my father comes . + + +A double blessing is a double grace ; + +Occasion smiles upon a second leave . + +Yet here , Laertes ! aboard , aboard , for shame ! +The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail , +And you are stay'd for . There , my blessing with thee ! +And these few precepts in thy memory +Look thou character . Give thy thoughts no tongue , +Nor any unproportion'd thought his act . +Be thou familiar , but by no means vulgar ; +The friends thou hast , and their adoption tried , +Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel ; +But do not dull thy palm with entertainment +Of each new-hatch'd , unfledg'd comrade . Beware +Of entrance to a quarrel , but , being in , +Bear 't that th' opposed may beware of thee . +Give every man thine ear , but few thy voice ; +Take each man's censure , but reserve thy judgment . +Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy , +But not express'd in fancy ; rich , not gaudy ; +For the apparel oft proclaims the man , +And they in France of the best rank and station +Are most select and generous , chief in that . +Neither a borrower , nor a lender be ; +For loan oft loses both itself and friend , +And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry . +This above all : to thine own self be true , +And it must follow , as the night the day , +Thou canst not then be false to any man . +Farewell ; my blessing season this in thee ! + +Most humbly do I take my leave , my lord . + +The time invites you ; go , your servants tend . + +Farewell , Ophelia ; and remember well +What I have said to you . + +'Tis in my memory lock'd , +And you yourself shall keep the key of it . + +Farewell . + + +What is 't , Ophelia , he hath said to you ? + +So please you , something touching the Lord Hamlet . + +Marry , well bethought : +'Tis told me , he hath very oft of late +Given private time to you ; and you yourself +Have of your audience been most free and bounteous . +If it be so ,as so 'tis put on me , +And that in way of caution ,I must tell you , +You do not understand yourself so clearly +As it behoves my daughter and your honour . +What is between you ? give me up the truth . + +He hath , my lord , of late made many tenders +Of his affection to me . + +Affection ! pooh ! you speak like a green girl , +Unsifted in such perilous circumstance . +Do you believe his tenders , as you call them ? + +I do not know , my lord , what I should think . + +Marry , I'll teach you : think yourself a baby , +That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay , +Which are not sterling . Tender yourself more dearly ; +Or ,not to crack the wind of the poor phrase , +Running it thus ,you'll tender me a fool . + +My lord , he hath importun'd me with love +In honourable fashion . + +Ay , fashion you may call it : go to , go to . + +And hath given countenance to his speech , my lord , +With almost all the holy vows of heaven . + +Ay , springes to catch woodcocks . I do know , +When the blood burns , how prodigal the soul +Lends the tongue vows : these blazes , daughter , +Giving more light than heat , extinct in both , +Even in their promise , as it is a-making , +You must not take for fire . From this time +Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence ; +Set your entreatments at a higher rate +Than a command to parley . For Lord Hamlet , +Believe so much in him , that he is young , +And with a larger tether may he walk +Than may be given you : in few , Ophelia , +Do not believe his vows , for they are brokers , +Not of that dye which their investments show , +But mere implorators of unholy suits , +Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds , +The better to beguile . This is for all : +I would not , in plain terms , from this time forth , +Have you so slander any moment's leisure , +As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet . +Look to 't , I charge you ; come your ways . + +I shall obey , my lord . + + +The air bites shrewdly ; it is very cold . + +It is a nipping and an eager air . + +What hour now ? + +I think it lacks of twelve . + +No , it is struck . + +Indeed ? I heard it not : then it draws near the season +Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk . + +What does this mean , my lord ? + +The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse , +Keeps wassail , and the swaggering up-spring reels ; +And , as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down , +The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out +The triumph of his pledge . + +Is it a custom ? + +Ay , marry , is 't : +But to my mind ,though I am native here +And to the manner born ,it is a custom +More honour'd in the breach than the observance . +This heavy-headed revel east and west +Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations ; +They clepe us drunkards , and with swinish phrase +Soil our addition ; and indeed it takes +From our achievements , though perform'd at height , +The pith and marrow of our attribute . +So , oft it chances in particular men , +That for some vicious mole of nature in them , +As , in their birth ,wherein they are not guilty , +Since nature cannot choose his origin , +By the o'ergrowth of some complexion , +Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason , +Or by some habit that too much o'er-leavens +The form of plausive manners ; that these men , +Carrying , I say , the stamp of one defect , +Being nature's livery , or fortune's star , +Their virtues else , be they as pure as grace , +As infinite as man may undergo , +Shall in the general censure take corruption +From that particular fault : the dram of eale +Doth all the noble substance of a doubt , +To his own scandal . + + +Look , my lord , it comes . + +Angels and ministers of grace defend us ! +Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd , +Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell , +Be thy intents wicked or charitable , +Thou com'st in such a questionable shape +That I will speak to thee : I'll call thee Hamlet , +King , father ; royal Dane , O ! answer me : +Let me not burst in ignorance ; but tell +Why thy canoniz'd bones , hearsed in death , +Have burst their cerements ; why the sepulchre , +Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd , +Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws , +To cast thee up again . What may this mean , +That thou , dead corse , again in complete steel +Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon , +Making night hideous ; and we fools of nature +So horridly to shake our disposition +With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls ? +Say , why is this ? wherefore ? what should we do ? + + +It beckons you to go away with it , +As if it some impartment did desire +To you alone . + +Look , with what courteous action +It waves you to a more removed ground : +But do not go with it . + +No , by no means . + +It will not speak ; then , will I follow it . + +Do not , my lord . + +Why , what should be the fear ? +I do not set my life at a pin's fee ; +And for my soul , what can it do to that , +Being a thing immortal as itself ? +It waves me forth again ; I'll follow it . + +What if it tempt you toward the flood , my lord , +Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff +That beetles o'er his base into the sea , +And there assume some other horrible form , +Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason +And draw you into madness ? think of it ; +The very place puts toys of desperation , +Without more motive , into every brain +That looks so many fathoms to the sea +And hears it roar beneath . + +It waves me still . Go on , I'll follow thee . + +You shall not go , my lord . + +Hold off your hands ! + +Be rul'd ; you shall not go . + +My fate cries out , +And makes each petty artery in this body +As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve . + +Still am I call'd . Unhand me , gentlemen , + +By heaven ! I'll make a ghost of him that lets me : +I say , away ! Go on , I'll follow thee . + + +He wares desperate with imagination . + +Let's follow ; 'tis not fit thus to obey him . + +Have after . To what issue will this come ? + +Something is rotten in the state of Denmark . + +Heaven will direct it . + +Nay , let's follow him . + + +Whither wilt thou lead me ? speak ; I'll go no further . + +Mark me . + +I will . + +My hour is almost come , +When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames +Must render up myself . + +Alas ! poor ghost . + +Pity me not , but lend thy serious hearing +To what I shall unfold . + +Speak ; I am bound to hear . + +So art thou to revenge , when thou shalt hear . + +What ? + +I am thy father's spirit ; +Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night , +And for the day confin'd to fast in fires , +Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature +Are burnt and purg'd away . But that I am forbid +To tell the secrets of my prison-house , +I could a tale unfold whose lightest word +Would harrow up thy soul , freeze thy young blood , +Make thy two eyes , like stars , start from their spheres , +Thy knotted and combined locks to part , +And each particular hair to stand an end , +Like quills upon the fretful porpentine : +But this eternal blazon must not be +To ears of flesh and blood . List , list , O list ! +If thou didst ever thy dear father love + +O God ! + +Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder . + +Murder ! + +Murder most foul , as in the best it is ; +But this most foul , strange , and unnatural . + +Haste me to know't , that I , with wings as swift +As meditation or the thoughts of love , +May sweep to my revenge . + +I find thee apt ; +And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed +That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf , +Wouldst thou not stir in this . Now , Hamlet , hear : +'Tis given out that , sleeping in mine orchard , +A serpent stung me ; so the whole ear of Denmark +Is by a forged process of my death +Rankly abus'd ; but know , thou noble youth , +The serpent that did sting thy father's life +Now wears his crown . + +O my prophetic soul ! +My uncle ! + +Ay , that incestuous , that adulterate beast , +With witchcraft of his wit , with traitorous gifts , +O wicked wit and gifts , that have the power +So to seduce !won to his shameful lust +The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen . +O Hamlet ! what a falling-off was there ; +From me , whose love was of that dignity +That it went hand in hand even with the vow +I made to her in marriage ; and to decline +Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor +To those of mine ! +But virtue , as it never will be mov'd , +Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven , +So lust , though to a radiant angel link'd , +Will sate itself in a celestial bed , +And prey on garbage . +But , soft ! methinks I scent the morning air ; +Brief let me be . Sleeping within mine orchard , +My custom always in the afternoon , +Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole , +With juice of cursed hebona in a vial , +And in the porches of mine ears did pour +The leperous distilment ; whose effect +Holds such an enmity with blood of man +That swift as quicksilver it courses through +The natural gates and alleys of the body , +And with a sudden vigour it doth posset +And curd , like eager droppings into milk , +The thin and wholesome blood : so did it mine ; +And a most instant tetter bark'd about , +Most lazar-like , with vile and loathsome crust , +All my smooth body . +Thus was I , sleeping , by a brother's hand , +Of life , of crown , of queen , at once dispatch'd ; +Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin , +Unhousel'd , disappointed , unanel'd , +No reckoning made , but sent to my account +With all my imperfections on my head : +O , horrible ! O , horrible ! most horrible ! +If thou hast nature in thee , bear it not ; +Let not the royal bed of Denmark be +A couch for luxury and damned incest . +But , howsoever thou pursu'st this act , +Taint not thy mind , nor let thy soul contrive +Against thy mother aught ; leave her to heaven , +And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge , +To prick and sting her . Fare thee well at once ! +The glow-worm shows the matin to be near , +And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire ; +Adieu , adieu ! Hamlet , remember me . + + +O all you host of heaven ! O earth ! What else ? +And shall I couple hell ? O fie ! Hold , hold , my heart ! +And you , my sinews , grow not instant old , +But bear me stiffly up ! Remember thee ! +Ay , thou poor ghost , while memory holds a seat +In this distracted globe . Remember thee ! +Yea , from the table of my memory +I'll wipe away all trivial fond records , +All saws of books , all forms , all pressures past , +That youth and observation copied there ; +And thy commandment all alone shall live +Within the book and volume of my brain , +Unmix'd with baser matter : yes , by heaven ! +O most pernicious woman ! +O villain , villain , smiling , damned villain ! +My tables ,meet it is I set it down , +That one may smile , and smile , and be a villain ; +At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark : + +So , uncle , there you are . Now to my word ; +It is , 'Adieu , adieu ! remember me . +I have sworn 't . + +My lord ! my lord ! + +Lord Hamlet ! + +Heaven secure him ! + +So be it ! + +Hillo , ho , ho , my lord ! + +Hillo , ho , ho , boy ! come , bird , come . + + +How is't , my noble lord ? + +What news , my lord ? + +O ! wonderful . + +Good my lord , tell it . + +No ; you will reveal it . + +Not I , my lord , by heaven ! + +Nor I , my lord . + +How say you , then ; would heart of man once think it ? +But you'll be secret ? + +Ay , by heaven , my lord . + +Ay , by heaven , my lord . + +There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark , +But he's an arrant knave . + +There needs no ghost , my lord , come from the grave , +To tell us this . + +Why , right ; you are i' the right ; +And so , without more circumstance at all , +I hold it fit that we shake hands and part ; +You , as your business and desire shall point you , +For every man hath business and desire , +Such as it is ,and , for mine own poor part , +Look you , I'll go pray . + +These are but wild and whirling words , my lord . + +I am sorry they offend you , heartily ; +Yes , faith , heartily . + +There's no offence , my lord . + +Yes , by Saint Patrick , but there is , Horatio , +And much offence , too . Touching this vision here , +It is an honest ghost , that let me tell you ; +For your desire to know what is between us , +O'ermaster't as you may . And now , good friends , +As you are friends , scholars , and soldiers , +Give me one poor request . + +What is't , my lord ? we will . + +Never make known what you have seen to-night . + +My lord , we will not . + +My lord , we will not . + +Nay , but swear't . + +In faith , +My lord , not I . + +Nor I , my lord , in faith . + +Upon my sword . + +We have sworn , my lord , already . + +Indeed , upon my sword , indeed . + +Swear . + +Ah , ha , boy ! sayst thou so ? art thou there , true-penny ? +Come on ,you hear this fellow in the cellar-age , +Consent to swear . + +Propose the oath , my lord . + +Never to speak of this that you have seen , +Swear by my sword . + +Swear . + +Hic et ubique ? then we'll shift our ground . +Come hither , gentlemen , +And lay your hands again upon my sword : +Never to speak of this that you have heard , +Swear by my sword . + +Swear . + +Well said , old mole ! canst work i' the earth so fast ? +A worthy pioner ! once more remove , good friends . + +O day and night , but this is wondrous strange ! + +And therefore as a stranger give it welcome . +There are more things in heaven and earth , Horatio , +Than are dreamt of in your philosophy . +But come ; +Here , as before , never , so help you mercy , +How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself , +As I perchance hereafter shall think meet +To put an antic disposition on , +That you , at such times seeing me , never shall , +With arms encumber'd thus , or this head-shake , +Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase , +As , 'Well , well , we know ,' or , 'We could , an if we would ;' +Or , 'If we list to speak ,' or , 'There be , an if they might ;' +Or such ambiguous giving out , to note +That you know aught of me : this not to do , +So grace and mercy at your most need help you , +Swear . + +Swear . + + +Rest , rest , perturbed spirit ! So , gentlemen , +With all my love I do commend me to you : +And what so poor a man as Hamlet is +May do , to express his love and friending to you , +God willing , shall not lack . Let us go in together ; +And still your fingers on your lips , I pray . +The time is out of joint ; O cursed spite , +That ever I was born to set it right ! +Nay , come , let's go together . + +Give him this money and these notes , Reynaldo . + +I will , my lord . + +You shall do marvellous wisely , good Reynaldo , +Before you visit him , to make inquiry +Of his behaviour . + +My lord , I did intend it . + +Marry , well said , very well said . Look you , sir , +Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris ; +And how , and who , what means , and where they keep , +What company , at what expense ; and finding +By this encompassment and drift of question +That they do know my son , come you more nearer +Than your particular demands will touch it : +Take you , as 'twere , some distant knowledge of him ; +As thus , 'I know his father , and his friends , +And , in part , him ;' do you mark this , Reynaldo ? + +Ay , very well , my lord . + +'And , in part , him ; but ,' you may say , 'not well : +But if't be he I mean , he's very wild , +Addicted so and so ;' and there put on him +What forgeries you please ; marry , none so rank +As may dishonour him ; take heed of that ; +But , sir , such wanton , wild , and usual slips +As are companions noted and most known +To youth and liberty . + +As gaming , my lord ? + +Ay , or drinking , fencing , swearing , quarrelling , +Drabbing ; you may go so far . + +My lord , that would dishonour him . + +Faith , no ; as you may season it in the charge . +You must not put another scandal on him , +That he is open to incontinency ; +That's not my meaning ; but breathe his faults so quaintly +That they may seem the taints of liberty , +The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind , +A savageness in unreclaimed blood , +Of general assault . + +But , my good lord , + +Wherefore should you do this ? + +Ay , my lord , +I would know that . + +Marry , sir , here's my drift ; +And , I believe , it is a fetch of warrant : +You laying these slight sullies on my son , +As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working , +Mark you , +Your party in converse , him you would sound , +Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes +The youth you breathe of guilty , be assur'd , +He closes with you in this consequence ; +'Good sir ,' or so ; or 'friend ,' or 'gentleman ,' +According to the phrase or the addition +Of man and country . + +Very good , my lord . + +And then , sir , does he this ,he does ,what was I about to say ? By the mass I was about to say something : where did I leave ? + +At 'closes in the consequence .' +At 'friend or so ,' and 'gentleman .' + +At 'closes in the consequence ,' ay , marry ; +He closes with you thus : 'I know the gentleman ; +I saw him yesterday , or t' other day , +Or then , or then ; with such , or such ; and , as you say , +There was a' gaming ; there o'ertook in 's rouse ; +There falling out at tennis ;' or perchance , +'I saw him enter such a house of sale ,' +Videlicet , a brothel , or so forth . +See you now ; +Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth ; +And thus do we of wisdom and of reach , +With windlasses , and with assays of bias , +By indirections find directions out : +So by my former lecture and advice +Shall you my son . You have me , have you not ? + +My lord , I have . + +God be wi' you ; fare you well . + +Good my lord ! + +Observe his inclination in yourself . + +I shall , my lord . + +And let him ply his music . + +Well , my lord . + +Farewell ! + + +How now , Ophelia ! what's the matter ? + +Alas ! my lord , I have been so affrighted . + +With what , in the name of God ? + +My lord , as I was sewing in my closet , +Lord Hamlet , with his doublet all unbrac'd ; +No hat upon his head ; his stockings foul'd , +Ungarter'd , and down-gyved to his ancle ; +Pale as his shirt ; his knees knocking each other ; +And with a look so piteous in purport +As if he had been loosed out of hell +To speak of horrors , he comes before me . + +Mad for thy love ? + +My lord , I do not know ; +But truly I do fear it . + +What said he ? + +He took me by the wrist and held me hard , +Then goes he to the length of all his arm , +And , with his other hand thus o'er his brow , +He falls to such perusal of my face +As he would draw it . Long stay'd he so ; +At last , a little shaking of mine arm , +And thrice his head thus waving up and down , +He rais'd a sigh so piteous and profound +That it did seem to shatter all his bulk +And end his being . That done , he lets me go , +And , with his head over his shoulder turn'd , +He seem'd to find his way without his eyes ; +For out o' doors he went without their help , +And to the last bended their light on me . + +Come , go with me ; I will go seek the king . +This is the very ecstasy of love , +Whose violent property fordoes itself +And leads the will to desperate undertakings +As oft as any passion under heaven +That does afflict our natures . I am sorry . +What ! have you given him any hard words of late ? + +No , my good lord ; but , as you did command , +I did repel his letters and denied +His access to me . + +That hath made him mad . +I am sorry that with better heed and judgment +I had not quoted him ; I fear'd he did but trifle , +And meant to wrack thee ; but , beshrew my jealousy ! +By heaven , it is as proper to our age +To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions +As it is common for the younger sort +To lack discretion . Come , go we to the king : +This must be known ; which , being kept close , might move +More grief to hide than hate to utter love . +Come . + + +Welcome , dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ! +Moreover that we much did long to see you , +The need we have to use you did provoke +Our hasty sending . Something have you heard +Of Hamlet's transformation ; so I call it , +Since nor the exterior nor the inward man +Resembles that it was . What it should be +More than his father's death , that thus hath put him +So much from the understanding of himself , +I cannot dream of : I entreat you both , +That , being of so young days brought up with him , +And since so neighbour'd to his youth and humour , +That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court +Some little time ; so by your companies +To draw him on to pleasures , and to gather , +So much as from occasion you may glean , +Whe'r aught to us unknown afflicts him thus , +That , open'd , lies within our remedy . + +Good gentlemen , he hath much talk'd of you ; +And sure I am two men there are not living +To whom he more adheres . If it will please you +To show us so much gentry and good will +As to expend your time with us awhile , +For the supply and profit of our hope , +Your visitation shall receive such thanks +As fits a king's remembrance . + +Both your majesties +Might , by the sovereign power you have of us , +Put your dread pleasures more into command +Than to entreaty . + +But we both obey , +And here give up ourselves , in the full bent , +To lay our service freely at your feet , +To be commanded . + +Thanks , Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern . + +Thanks , Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz ; +And I beseech you instantly to visit +My too much changed son . Go , some of you , +And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is . + +Heavens make our presence , and our practices +Pleasant and helpful to him ! + +Ay , amen ! + +The ambassadors from Norway , my good lord , +Are joyfully return'd . + +Thou still hast been the father of good news . + +Have I , my lord ? Assure you , my good liege , +I hold my duty , as I hold my soul , +Both to my God and to my gracious king ; +And I do think or else this brain of mine +Hunts not the trail of policy so sure +As it hath us'd to do that I have found +The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy . + +O ! speak of that ; that do I long to hear . + +Give first admittance to the ambassadors ; +My news shall be the fruit to that great feast . + +Thyself do grace to them , and bring them in . + +He tells me , my sweet queen , that he hath found +The head and source of all your son's distemper . + +I doubt it is no-other but the main ; +His father's death , and our o'erhasty marriage . + +Well , we shall sift him . + + +Welcome , my good friends ! + +Say , Voltimand , what from our brother Norway ? + +Most fair return of greetings , and desires . +Upon our first , he sent out to suppress +His nephew's levies , which to him appear'd +To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack ; +But , better look'd into , he truly found +It was against your highness : whereat griev'd , +That so his sickness , age , and impotence +Was falsely borne in hand , sends out arrests +On Fortinbras ; which he , in brief , obeys , +Receives rebuke from Norway , and , in fine , +Makes vow before his uncle never more +To give the assay of arms against your majesty . +Whereon old Norway , overcome with joy , +Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee , +And his commission to employ those soldiers , +So levied as before , against the Polack ; +With an entreaty , herein further shown , + +That it might please you to give quiet pass +Through your dominions for this enterprise , +On such regards of safety and allowance +As therein are set down . + +It likes us well ; +And at our more consider'd time we'll read , +Answer , and think upon this business : +Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour . +Go to your rest ; at night we'll feast together : +Most welcome home . + + +This business is well ended . +My liege , and madam , to expostulate +What majesty should be , what duty is , +Why day is day , night night , and time is time , +Were nothing but to waste night , day , and time . +Therefore , since brevity is the soul of wit , +And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes , +I will be brief . Your noble son is mad : +Mad call I it ; for , to define true madness , +What is 't but to be nothing else but mad ? +But let that go . + +More matter , with less art . + +Madam , I swear I use no art at all . +That he is mad , 'tis true ; 'tis true 'tis pity ; +And pity 'tis 'tis true : a foolish figure ; +But farewell it , for I will use no art . +Mad let us grant him , then ; and now remains +That we find out the cause of this effect , +Or rather say , the cause of this defect , +For this effect defective comes by cause ; +Thus it remains , and the remainder thus . +Perpend . +I have a daughter , have while she is mine ; +Who , in her duty and obedience , mark , +Hath given me this : now , gather , and surmise . +"To the celestial , and my soul's idol , the most beautified Ophelia ." +That's an ill phrase , a vile phrase ; 'beautified' +is a vile phrase ; but you shall hear . Thus : +In her excellent white bosom , these , &c . + +Came this from Hamlet to her ? + +Good madam , stay awhile ; I will be faithful . + +"Doubt thou the stars are fire ; +Doubt that the sun doth move ; +Doubt truth to be a liar ; +But never doubt I love . + +O dear Ophelia ! I am ill at these numbers : I have not art to reckon my groans ; but that I love thee best , O most best ! believe it . Adieu . +Thine evermore , most dear lady , whilst this machine is to him ,HAMLET ." + +This in obedience hath my daughter shown me ; +And more above , hath his solicitings , +As they fell out by time , by means , and place , +All given to mine ear . + +But how hath she +Receiv'd his love ? + +What do you think of me ? + +As of a man faithful and honourable . + +I would fain prove so . But what might you think , +When I had seen this hot love on the wing , +As I perceiv'd it , I must tell you that , +Before my daughter told me ,what might you , +Or my dear majesty , your queen here , think , +If I had play'd the desk or table-book , +Or given my heart a winking , mute and dumb , +Or look'd upon this love with idle sight ; +What might you think ? No , I went round to work , +And my young mistress thus I did bespeak : +'Lord Hamlet is a prince , out of thy star ; +This must not be :' and then I precepts gave her , +That she should lock herself from his resort , +Admit no messengers , receive no tokens . +Which done , she took the fruits of my advice ; +And he , repulsed ,a short tale to make , +Fell into a sadness , then into a fast , +Thence to a watch , thence into a weakness , +Thence to a lightness ; and by this declension +Into the madness wherein now he raves , +And all we wail for . + +Do you think 'tis this ? + +It may be , very likely . + +Hath there been such a time ,I'd fain know that , +That I have positively said , ''Tis so ,' +When it prov'd otherwise ? + +Not that I know . + +Take this from this , if this be otherwise : + +If circumstances lead me , I will find +Where truth is hid , though it were hid indeed +Within the centre . + +How may we try it further ? + +You know sometimes he walks four hours together +Here in the lobby . + +So he does indeed . + +At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him ; +Be you and I behind an arras then ; +Mark the encounter ; if he love her not , +And be not from his reason fallen thereon , +Let me be no assistant for a state , +But keep a farm , and carters . + +We will try it . + +But look , where sadly the poor wretch comes reading . + +Away ! I do beseech you , both away . +I'll board him presently . + +O ! give me leave . + +How does my good Lord Hamlet ? + +Well , God a-mercy . + +Do you know me , my lord ? + +Excellent well ; you are a fishmonger . + +Not I , my lord . + +Then I would you were so honest a man . + +Honest , my lord ! + +Ay , sir ; to be honest , as this world goes , is to be one man picked out of ten thousand . + +That's very true , my lord . + +For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog , being a good kissing carrion ,Have you a daughter ? + +I have , my lord . + +Let her not walk i' the sun : conception is a blessing ; but not as your daughter may conceive . Friend , look to 't . + +How say you by that ? Still harping on my daughter : yet he knew me not at first ; he said I was a fishmonger : he is far gone , far gone : and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love ; very near this . I'll speak to him again . What do you read , my lord ? + +Words , words , words . + +What is the matter , my lord ? + +Between who ? + +I mean the matter that you read , my lord . + +Slanders , sir : for the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards , that their faces are wrinkled , their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum , and that they have a plentiful lack of wit , together with most weak hams : all which , sir , though I most powerfully and potently believe , yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down ; for you yourself , sir , should be old as I am , if , like a crab , you could go backward . + +Though this be madness , yet there is method in 't . Will you walk out of the air , my lord ? + +Into my grave ? + +Indeed , that is out o' the air . + +How pregnant sometimes his replies are ! a happiness that often madness hits on , which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of . I will leave him , and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter . My honourable lord , I will most humbly take my leave of you . + +You cannot , sir , take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal ; except my life , except my life , except my life . + +Fare you well , my lord . + + +These tedious old fools ! + + +You go to seek the Lord Hamlet ; there he is . + +God save you , sir ! + + +Mine honoured lord ! + +My most dear lord ! + +My excellent good friends ! How dost thou , Guildenstern ? Ah , Rosencrantz ! Good lads , how do ye both ? + +As the indifferent children of the earth . + +Happy in that we are not over happy ; On Fortune's cap we are not the very button . + +Nor the soles of her shoe ? + +Neither , my lord . + +Then you live about her waist , or in the middle of her favours ? + +Faith , her privates we . + +In the secret parts of Fortune ? O ! most true ; she is a strumpet . What news ? + +None , my lord , but that the world's grown honest . + +Then is doomsday near ; but your news is not true . Let me question more in particular : what have you , my good friends , deserved at the hands of Fortune , that she sends you to prison hither ? + +Prison , my lord ! + +Denmark's a prison . + +Then is the world one . + +A goodly one ; in which there are many confines , wards , and dungeons , Denmark being one o' the worst . + +We think not so , my lord . + +Why , then , 'tis none to you ; for there is nothing either good or bad , but thinking makes it so : to me it is a prison . + +Why , then your ambition makes it one ; 'tis too narrow for your mind . + +O God ! I could be bounded in a nutshell , and count myself a king of infinite space , were it not that I have bad dreams . + +Which dreams , indeed , are ambition , for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream . + +A dream itself is but a shadow . + +Truly , and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow's shadow . + +Then are our beggars bodies , and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows . Shall we to the court ? for , by my fay , I cannot reason . + +We'll wait upon you . + +We'll wait upon you . + +No such matter ; I will not sort you with the rest of my servants , for , to speak to you like an honest man , I am most dreadfully attended . But , in the beaten way of friendship , what make you at Elsinore ? + +To visit you , my lord ; no other occasion . + +Beggar that I am , I am even poor in thanks ; but I thank you : and sure , dear friends , my thanks are too dear a halfpenny . Were you not sent for ? Is it your own inclining ? Is it a free visitation ? Come , come , deal justly with me : come , come ; nay , speak . + +What should we say , my lord ? + +Why anything , but to the purpose . You were sent for ; and there is a kind of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to colour : I know the good king and queen have sent for you . + +To what end , my lord ? + +That you must teach me . But let me conjure you , by the rights of our fellowship , by the consonancy of our youth , by the obligation of our ever-preserved love , and by what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal , be even and direct with me , whether you were sent for or no ! + +What say you ? + +Nay , then , I have an eye of you . If you love me , hold not off . + +My lord , we were sent for . + +I will tell you why ; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery , and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather . I have of late ,but wherefore I know not ,lost all my mirth , forgone all custom of exercises ; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame , the earth , seems to me a sterile promontory ; this most excellent canopy , the air , look you , this brave o'erhanging firmament , this majestical roof fretted with golden fire , why , it appears no other thing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours . What a piece of work is a man ! How noble in reason ! how infinite in faculty ! in form , in moving , how express and admirable ! in action how like an angel ! in apprehension how like a god ! the beauty of the world ! the paragon of animals ! And yet , to me , what is this quintessence of dust ? man delights not me ; no , nor woman neither , though , by your smiling , you seem to say so . + +My lord , there was no such stuff in my thoughts . + +Why did you laugh then , when I said , 'man delights not me ?' + +To think , my lord ; if you delight not in man , what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you : we coted them on the way ; and hither are they coming , to offer you service . + +He that plays the king shall be welcome ; his majesty shall have tribute of me ; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target ; the lover shall not sigh gratis ; the humorous man shall end his part in peace ; the clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' the sere ; and the lady shall say her mind freely , or the blank verse shall halt for't . What players are they ? + +Even those you were wont to take delight in , the tragedians of the city . + +How chances it they travel ? their residence , both in reputation and profit , was better both ways . + +I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation . + +Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city ? Are they so followed ? + +No , indeed they are not . + +How comes it ? Do they grow rusty ? + +Nay , their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace : but there is , sir , an aery of children , little eyases , that cry out on the top of question , and are most tyrannically clapped for't : these are now the fashion , and so berattle the common stages ,so they call them ,that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills , and dare scarce come thither . + +What ! are they children ? who maintains 'em ? how are they escoted ? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing ? will they not say afterwards , if they should grow themselves to common players ,as it is most like , if their means are no better ,their writers do them wrong , to make them exclaim against their own succession ? + +Faith , there has been much to-do on both sides : and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy : there was , for a while , no money bid for argument , unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question . + +Is it possible ? + +O ! there has been much throwing about of brains . + +Do the boys carry it away ? + +Ay , that they do , my lord ; Hercules and his load too . + +It is not very strange ; for my uncle is King of Denmark , and those that would make mows at him while my father lived , give twenty , forty , fifty , a hundred ducats a-piece for his picture in little . 'Sblood , there is something in this more than natural , if philosophy could find it out . + + +There are the players . + +Gentlemen , you are welcome to Elsinore . Your hands , come then ; the appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony : let me comply with you in this garb , lest my extent to the players which , I tell you , must show fairly outward should more appear like entertainment than yours . You are welcome ; but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived . + +In what , my dear lord ? + +I am but mad north-north-west : when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw . + + +Well be with you , gentlemen ! + +Hark you , Guildenstern ; and you too ; at each ear a hearer : that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts . + +Happily he's the second time come to them ; for they say an old man is twice a child . + +I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players ; mark it . You say right , sir ; o' Monday morning ; 'twas so indeed . + +My lord , I have news to tell you . + +My lord , I have news to tell you . When Roscius was an actor in Rome , + +The actors are come hither , my lord . + +Buzz , buzz ! + +Upon my honour , + +Then came each actor on his ass , + +The best actors in the world , either for tragedy , comedy , history , pastoral , pastoral-comical , historical-pastoral , tragical-historical , tragical-comical-historical-pastoral , scene individable , or poem unlimited : Seneca cannot be too heavy , nor Plautus too light . For the law of writ and the liberty , these are the only men . + +O Jephthah , judge of Israel , what a treasure hadst thou ! + +What a treasure had he , my lord ? + +Why + +One fair daughter and no more , +The which he loved passing well . + + +Still on my daughter . + +Am I not i' the right , old Jephthah ? + +If you call me Jephthah , my lord , I have a daughter that I love passing well . + +Nay , that follows not . + +What follows , then , my lord ? + +Why , +As by lot , God wot . +And then , you know , +It came to pass , as most like it was . +The first row of the pious chanson will show you more ; for look where my abridgment comes . + +You are welcome , masters ; welcome , all . I am glad to see thee well : welcome , good friends . O , my old friend ! Thy face is valanced since I saw thee last : comest thou to beard me in Denmark ? What ! my young lady and mistress ! By 'r lady , your ladyship is nearer heaven than when I saw you last , by the altitude of a chopine . Pray God , your voice , like a piece of uncurrent gold , be not cracked within the ring . Masters , you are all welcome . We'll e'en to't like French falconers , fly at anything we see : we'll have a speech straight . Come , give us a taste of your quality ; come , a passionate speech . + +What speech , my good lord ? + +I heard thee speak me a speech once , but it was never acted ; or , if it was , not above once ; for the play , I remember , pleased not the million ; 'twas caviare to the general : but it was as I received it , and others , whose judgments in such matters cried in the top of mine an excellent play , well digested in the scenes , set down with as much modesty as cunning . I remember one said there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury , nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of affectation ; but called it an honest method , as wholesome as sweet , and by very much more handsome than fine . One speech in it I chiefly loved ; 'twas neas' tale to Dido ; and thereabout of it especially , where he speaks of Priam's slaughter . If it live in your memory , begin at this line : let me see , let me see : +Therugged Pyrrhus , like the Hyrcanian beast , +'tis not so , it begins with Pyrrhus : +The rugged Pyrrhus , he whose sable arm , +Black as his purpose , did the night resemble +When he lay couched in the ominous horse , +Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd +With heraldry more dismal ; head to foot +Now is he total gules ; horridly trick'd +With blood of fathers , mothers , daughters , sons , +Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets , +That lend a tyrannous and damned light +To their vile murders : rousted in wrath and fire , +And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore , +With eyes like carbuncles , the hellish Pyrrhus +Old grandsire Priam seeks . +So proceed you . + +'Fore God , my lord , well spoken ; with good accent and good discretion . + +Anon , he finds him +Striking too short at Greeks ; his antique sword , +Rebellious to his arm , lies where it falls , +Repugnant to command . Unequal match'd , +Pyrrhus at Priam drives ; in rage strikes wide ; +But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword +The unnerved father falls . Then senseless Ilium , +Seeming to feel this blow , with flaming top +Stoops to his base , and with a hideous crash +Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear : for lo ! his sword , +Which was declining on the milky head +Of rever end Priam , seem'd i' the air to stick : +So , as a painted tyrant , Pyrrhus stood , +And like a neutral to his will and matter , +Did nothing . +But , as we often see , against some storm , +A silence in the heavens , the rack stand still , +The bold winds speechless and the orb below +As hush as death , anon the dreadful thunder +Doth rend the region ; so , after Pyrrhus' pause , +Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work ; +And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall +On Mars's armour , forg'd for proof eterne , +With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword +Now falls on Priam . +Out , out , thou strumpet , Fortune ! All you gods , +In general synod , take away her power ; +Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel , +And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven , +As low as to the fiends ! + +This is too long . + +It shall to the barber's , with your beard . Prithee , say on : he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry , or he sleeps . Say on ; come to Hecuba . + +But who , O ! who had seen the mobled queen + +'The mobled queen ?' + +That's good ; 'mobled queen' is good . + +Run barefoot up and down , threat'ning the flames +With bisson rheum ; a clout upon that head +Where late the diadem stood ; and , for a robe , +About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins , +A blanket , in the alarm of fear caught up ; +Who this had seen , with tongue in venom steep'd , +'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounc'd : +But if the gods themselves did see her then , +When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport +In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs , +The instant burst of clamour that she made +Unless things mortal move them not at all +Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven , +And passion in the gods . + +Look ! wh'er he has not turned his colour and has tears in's eyes . Prithee , no more . + +'Tis well ; I'll have thee speak out the rest soon . Good my lord , will you see the players well bestowed ? Do you hear , let them be well used ; for they are the abstracts and brief chronicles of the time : after your death you were better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live . + +My lord , I will use them according to their desert . + +God's bodikins , man , much better ; use every man after his desert , and who should 'scape whipping ? Use them after your own honour and dignity : the less they deserve , the more merit is in your bounty . Take them in . + +Come , sirs . + +Follow him , friends : we'll hear a play to-morrow . + +Dost thou hear me , old friend ; can you play the Murder of Gonzago ? + +Ay , my lord . + +We'll ha't to-morrow night . You could , for a need , study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines , which I would set down and insert in't , could you not ? + +Ay , my lord . + +Very well . Follow that lord ; and look you mock him not . + +My good friends , I'll leave you till night ; you are welcome to Elsinore . + +Good my lord ! + + +Ay , so , God be wi' ye ! Now I am alone . +O ! what a rogue and peasant slave am I : +Is it not monstrous that this player here , +But in a fiction , in a dream of passion , +Could force his soul so to his own conceit +That from her working all his visage wann'd , +Tears in his eyes , distraction in 's aspect , +A broken voice , and his whole function suiting +With forms to his conceit ? and all for nothing ! +For Hecuba ! +What 's Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba +That he should weep for her ? What would he do +Had he the motive and the cue for passion +That I have ? He would drown the stage with tears , +And cleave the general ear with horrid speech , +Make mad the guilty and appal the free , +Confound the ignorant , and amaze indeed +The very faculties of eyes and ears . +Yet I , +A dull and muddy-mettled rascal , peak , +Like John-a-dreams , unpregnant of my cause , +And can say nothing ; no , not for a king , +Upon whose property and most dear life +A damn'd defeat was made . Am I a coward ? +Who calls me villain ? breaks my pate across ? +Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face ? +Tweaks me by the nose ? gives me the lie i' the throat , +As deep as to the lungs ? Who does me this ? +Ha ! +Swounds , I should take it , for it cannot be +But I am pigeon-liver'd , and lack gall +To make oppression bitter , or ere this +I should have fatted all the region kites +With this slave's offal . Bloody , bawdy villain ! +Remorseless , treacherous , lecherous , kindless villain ! +O ! vengeance ! +Why , what an ass am I ! This is most brave +That I , the son of a dear father murder'd , +Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell , +Must , like a whore , unpack my heart with words , +And fall a-cursing , like a very drab , +A scullion ! +Fie upon't ! foh ! About , my brain ! I have heard , +That guilty creatures sitting at a play +Have by the very cunning of the scene +Been struck so to the soul that presently +They have proclaim'd their malefactions ; +For murder , though it have no tongue , will speak +With most miraculous organ . I'll have these players +Play something like the murder of my father +Before mine uncle ; I'll observe his looks ; +I'll tent him to the quick : if he but blench +I know my course . The spirit that I have seen +May be the devil : and the devil hath power +To assume a pleasing shape ; yea , and perhaps +Out of my weakness and my melancholy +As he is very potent with such spirits +Abuses me to damn me . I'll have grounds +More relative than this : the play 's the thing +Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king . + +And can you , by no drift of circumstance , +Get from him why he puts on this confusion , +Grating so harshly all his days of quiet +With turbulent and dangerous lunacy ? + +He does confess he feels himself distracted ; +But from what cause he will by no means speak . + +Nor do we find him forward to be sounded , +But , with a crafty madness , keeps aloof , +When we would bring him on to some confession +Of his true state . + +Did he receive you well ? + +Most like a gentleman . + +But with much forcing of his disposition . + +Niggard of question , but of our demands +Most free in his reply . + +Did you assay him +To any pastime ? + +Madam , it so fell out that certain players +We o'er-raught on the way ; of these we told him , +And there did seem in him a kind of joy +To hear of it : they are about the court , +And , as I think , they have already order +This night to play before him . + +'Tis most true ; +And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties +To hear and see the matter . + +With all my heart ; and it doth much content me +To hear him so inclin'd . +Good gentlemen , give him a further edge , +And drive his purpose on to these delights . + +We shall , my lord . + + +Sweet Gertrude , leave us too ; +For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither , +That he , as 'twere by accident , may here +Affront Ophelia . +Her father and myself , lawful espials , +Will so bestow ourselves , that , seeing , unseen , +We may of their encounter frankly judge , +And gather by him , as he is behav'd , +If 't be the affliction of his love or no +That thus he suffers for . + +I shall obey you . +And for your part , Ophelia , I do wish +That your good beauties be the happy cause +Of Hamlet's wildness ; so shall I hope your virtues +Will bring him to his wonted way again , +To both your honours . + +Madam , I wish it may . + + +Ophelia , walk you here . Gracious , so please you , +We will bestow ourselves . + +Read on this book ; +That show of such an exercise may colour +Your loneliness . We are oft to blame in this , +'Tis too much prov'd , that with devotion's visage +And pious action we do sugar o'er +The devil himself . + +O ! 'tis too true ; +How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience ! +The harlot's cheek , beautied with plastering art , +Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it +Than is my deed to my most painted word : +O heavy burden ! + +I hear him coming ; let's withdraw , my lord . + +To be , or not to be : that is the question : +Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer +The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune , +Or to take arms against a sea of troubles , +And by opposing end them ? To die : to sleep ; +No more ; and , by a sleep to say we end +The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks +That flesh is heir to , 'tis a consummation +Devoutly to be wish'd . To die , to sleep ; +To sleep : perchance to dream : ay , there's the rub ; +For in that sleep of death what dreams may come +When we have shuffled off this mortal coil , +Must give us pause . There's the respect +That makes calamity of so long life ; +For who would bear the whips and scorns of time , +The oppressor's wrong , the proud man's contumely , +The pangs of dispriz'd love , the law's delay , +The insolence of office , and the spurns +That patient merit of the unworthy takes , +When he himself might his quietus make +With a bare bodkin ? who would fardels bear , +To grunt and sweat under a weary life , +But that the dread of something after death , +The undiscover'd country from whose bourn +No traveller returns , puzzles the will , +And makes us rather bear those ills we have +Than fly to others that we know not of ? +Thus conscience does make cowards of us all ; +And thus the native hue of resolution +Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought , +And enterprises of great pith and moment +With this regard their currents turn awry , +And lose the name of action . Soft you now ! +The fair Ophelia ! Nymph , in thy orisons +Be all my sins remember'd . + +Good my lord , +How does your honour for this many a day ? + +I humbly thank you ; well , well , well . + +My lord , I have remembrances of yours , +That I have longed long to re-deliver ; +I pray you , now receive them . + +No , not I ; +I never gave you aught . + +My honour'd lord , you know right well you did ; +And , with them , words of so sweet breath compos'd +As made the things more rich : their perfume lost , +Take these again ; for to the noble mind +Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind . +There , my lord . + +Ha , ha ! are you honest ? + +My lord ! + +Are you fair ? + +What means your lordship ? + +That if you be honest and fair , your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty . + +Could beauty , my lord , have better commerce than with honesty ? + +Ay , truly ; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness : this was sometime a paradox , but now the time gives it proof . I did love thee once . + +Indeed , my lord , you made me believe so . + +You should not have believed me ; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it : I loved you not . + +I was the more deceived . + +Get thee to a nunnery : why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners ? I am myself indifferent honest ; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me . I am very proud , revengeful , ambitious ; with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in , imagination to give them shape , or time to act them in . What should such fellows as I do crawling between heaven and earth ? We are arrant knaves , all ; believe none of us . Go thy ways to a nunnery . Where's your father ? + +At home , my lord . + +Let the doors be shut upon him , that he may play the fool nowhere but in's own house . Farewell . + +O ! help him , you sweet heavens ! + +If thou dost marry , I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry : be thou as chaste as ice , as pure as snow , thou shalt not escape calumny . Get thee to a nunnery , go ; farewell . Or , if thou wilt needs marry , marry a fool ; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them . To a nunnery , go ; and quickly too . Farewell . + +O heavenly powers , restore him ! + +I have heard of your paintings too , well enough ; God hath given you one face , and you make yourselves another : you jig , you amble , and you lisp , and nickname God's creatures , and make your wantonness your ignorance . Go to , I'll no more on't ; it hath made me mad . I say , we will have no more marriages ; those that are married already , all but one , shall live ; the rest shall keep as they are . To a nunnery , go . + + +O ! what a noble mind is here o'erthrown : +The courtier's , soldier's , scholar's , eye , tongue , sword ; +The expectancy and rose of the fair state , +The glass of fashion and the mould of form , +The observ'd of all observers , quite , quite down ! +And I , of ladies most deject and wretched , +That suck'd the honey of his music vows , +Now see that noble and most sovereign reason , +Like sweet bells jangled , out of tune and harsh ; +That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth +Blasted with ecstasy : O ! woe is me , +To have seen what I have seen , see what I see ! + + +Love ! his affections do not that way tend ; +Nor what he spake , though it lack'd form a little , +Was not like madness . There's something in his soul +O'er which his melancholy sits on brood ; +And , I do doubt , the hatch and the disclose +Will be some danger ; which for to prevent , +I have in quick determination +Thus set it down : he shall with speed to England , +For the demand of our neglected tribute : +Haply the seas and countries different +With variable objects shall expel +This something-settled matter in his heart , +Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus +From fashion of himself . What think you on't ? + +It shall do well : but yet do I believe +The origin and commencement of his grief +Sprung from neglected love . How now , Ophelia ! +You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said ; +We heard it all . My lord , do as you please ; +But , if you hold it fit , after the play , +Let his queen mother all alone entreat him +To show his griefs : let her be round with him ; +And I'll be plac'd , so please you , in the ear +Of all their conference . If she find him not , +To England send him , or confine him where +Your wisdom best shall think . + +It shall be so : +Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go . + + +Speak the speech , I pray you , as I pronounced it to you , trippingly on the tongue ; but if you mouth it , as many of your players do , I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines . Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand , thus ; but use all gently : for in the very torrent , tempest , and as I may say whirlwind of passion , you must acquire and beget a temperance , that may give it smoothness . O ! it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwigpated fellow tear a passion to tatters , to very rage , to split the ears of the groundlings , who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise : I would have such a fellow whipped for o'er-doing Termagant ; it out-herods Herod : pray you , avoid it . + +I warrant your honour . + +Be not too tame neither , but let your own discretion be your tutor : suit the action to the word , the word to the action ; with this special observance , that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature ; for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing , whose end , both at the first and now , was and is , to hold , as 'twere , the mirror up to nature ; to show virtue her own feature , scorn her own image , and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure . Now , this overdone , or come tardy off , though it make the unskilful laugh , cannot but make the judicious grieve ; the censure of which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theatre of others . O ! there be players that I have seen play , and heard others praise , and that highly , not to speak it profanely , that , neither having the accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian , pagan , nor man , have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well , they imitated humanity so abominably . + +I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us . + +O ! reform it altogether . And let those that play your clowns speak no more than is set down for them ; for there be of them that will themselves laugh , to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too , though in the mean time some necessary question of the play be then to be considered ; that's villanous , and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it . Go , make you ready . + + +How now , my lord ! will the king hear this piece of work ? + +And the queen too , and that presently . + +Bid the players make haste . + +Will you two help to hasten them ? + +We will , my lord . + +We will , my lord . + + +What , ho ! Horatio ! + + +Here , sweet lord , at your service . + +Horatio , thou art e'en as just a man +As e'er my conversation cop'd withal . + +O ! my dear lord , + +Nay , do not think I flatter ; +For what advancement may I hope from thee , +That no revenue hast but thy good spirits +To feed and clothe thee ? Why should the poor be flatter'd ? +No ; let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp , +And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee +Where thrift may follow fawning . Dost thou hear ? +Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice +And could of men distinguish , her election +Hath seal'd thee for herself ; for thou hast been +As one , in suffering all , that suffers nothing , +A man that fortune's buffets and rewards +Hast ta'en with equal thanks ; and bless'd are those +Whose blood and judgment are so well comingled +That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger +To sound what stop she please . Give me that man +That is not passion's slave , and I will wear him +In my heart's core , ay , in my heart of heart , +As I do thee . Something too much of this . +There is a play to-night before the king ; +One scene of it comes near the circumstance +Which I have told thee of my father's death : +I prithee , when thou seest that act afoot , +Even with the very comment of thy soul +Observe mine uncle ; if his occulted guilt +Do not itself unkennel in one speech , +It is a damned ghost that we have seen , +And my imaginations are as foul +As Vulcan's stithy . Give him heedful note ; +For I mine eyes will rivet to his face , +And after we will both our judgments join +In censure of his seeming . + +Well , my lord : +If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing , +And 'scape detecting , I will pay the theft . + +They are coming to the play ; I must be idle : +Get you a place . + +How fares our cousin Hamlet ? + +Excellent , i' faith ; of the chameleon's dish : I eat the air , promise-crammed ; you cannot feed capons so . + +I have nothing with this answer , Hamlet ; these words are not mine . + +No , nor mine now . + +My lord , you played once i' the university , you say ? + +That did I , my lord , and was accounted a good actor . + +And what did you enact ? + +I did enact Julius C sar : I was killed i' the Capitol ; Brutus killed me . + +It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there . Be the playcrs ready ? + +Ay , my lord ; they stay upon your patience . + +Come hither , my good Hamlet , sit by me . + +No , good mother , here's metal more attractive . + +O ho ! do you mark that ? + +Lady , shall I lie in your lap ? + + +No , my lord . + +I mean , my head upon your lap ? + +Ay , my lord . + +Do you think I meant country matters ? + +I think nothing , my lord . + +That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs . + +What is , my lord ? + +Nothing . + +You are merry , my lord . + +Who , I ? + +Ay , my lord . + +O God , your only jig-maker . What should a man do but be merry ? for , look you , how cheerfully my mother looks , and my father died within's two hours . + +Nay , 'tis twice two months , my lord . + +So long ? Nay , then , let the devil wear black , for I'll have a suit of sables . O heavens ! die two months ago , and not forgotten yet ? Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year ; but , by'r lady , he must build churches then , or else shall he suffer not thinking on , with the hobby-horse , whose epitaph is , 'For , O ! for , O ! the hobby-horse is forgot .' + + +What means this , my lord ? + +Marry , this is miching mallecho ; it means mischief . + +Belike this show imports the argument of the play . + + +We shall know by this fellow : the players cannot keep counsel ; they'll tell all . + +Will he tell us what this show meant ? + +Ay , or any show that you'll show him ; be not you ashamed to show , he'll not shame to tell you what it means . + +You are naught , you are naught . I'll mark the play . + + +For us and for our tragedy , +Here stooping to your clemency , +We beg your hearing patiently . + + +Is this a prologue , or the posy of a ring ? + +'Tis brief , my lord . + +As woman's love . + + +Full thirty times hath Ph bus' cart gone round +Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground , +And thirty dozen moons with borrow'd sheen +About the world have times twelve thirties been , +Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands +Unite commutual in most sacred bands . + +So many journeys may the sun and moon +Make us again count o'er ere love be done ! +But , woe is me ! you are so sick of late , +So far from cheer and from your former state , +That I distrust you . Yet , though I distrust , +Discomfort you , my lord , it nothing must ; +For women's fear and love holds quantity , +In neither aught , or in extremity . +Now , what my love is , proof hath made you know ; +And as my love is siz'd , my fear is so . +Where love is great , the littlest doubts are fear ; +Where little fears grow great , great love grows there . + +Faith , I must leave thee , love , and shortly too ; +My operant powers their functions leave to do : +And thou shall live in this fair world behind , +Honour'd , belov'd ; and haply one as kind +For husband shalt thou + +O ! confound the rest ; +Such love must needs be treason in my breast : +In second husband let me be accurst : +None wed the second but who kill'd the first . + +Wormwood , wormwood . + +The instances that second marriage move , +Are base respects of thrift , but none of love ; +A second time I kill my husband dead , +When second husband kisses me in bed . + +I do believe you think what now you speak ; +But what we do determine oft we break . +Purpose is but the slave to memory , +Of violent birth , but poor validity ; +Which now , like fruit unripe , sticks on the tree , +But fall unshaken when they mellow be . +Most necessary 'tis that we forget +To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt ; +What to ourselves in passion we propose , +The passion ending , doth the purpose lose . +The violence of either grief or joy +Their own enactures with themselves destroy ; +Where joy most revels grief doth most lament , +Grief joys , joy grieves , on slender accident . +This world is not for aye , nor 'tis not strange , +That even our love should with our fortunes change ; +For 'tis a question left us yet to prove +Whe'r love lead fortune or else fortune love . +The great man down , you mark his favourite flies ; +The poor advanc'd makes friends of enemies . +And hitherto doth love on fortune tend , +For who not needs shall never lack a friend ; +And who in want a hollow friend doth try +Directly seasons him his enemy . +But , orderly to end where I begun , +Our wills and fates do so contrary run +That our devices still are overthrown , +Our thoughts are ours , their ends none of our own : +So think thou wilt no second husband wed ; +But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead + +Nor earth to me give food , nor heaven light ! +Sport and repose lock from me day and night ! +To desperation turn my trust and hope ! +An anchor's cheer in prison be my scope ! +Each opposite that blanks the face of joy +Meet what I would have well , and it destroy ! +Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife , +If , once a widow , ever I be wife ! + +If she should break it now ! + +'Tis deeply sworn . Sweet , leave me here awhile ; +My spirits grow dull , and fain I would beguile +The tedious day with sleep . + + +Sleep rock thy brain ; +And never come mischance between us twain ! + + +Madam , how like you this play ? + +The lady doth protest too much , methinks . + +O ! but she'll keep her word . + +Have you heard the argument ? Is there no offence in 't ? + +No , no , they do but jest , poison in jest ; no offence i' the world . + +What do you call the play ? + +The Mouse-trap . Marry , how ? Tropically . This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna : Gonzago is the duke's name ; his wife , Baptista . You shall see anon ; 'tis a knavish piece of work : but what of that ? your majesty and we that have free souls , it touches us not : let the galled jade wince , our withers are unwrung . + +This is one Lucianus , nephew to the king . + +You are a good chorus , my lord . + +I could interpret between you and your love , if I could see the puppets dallying . + +You are keen , my lord , you are keen . + +It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge . + +Still better , and worse . + +So you must take your husbands . Begin , murderer ; pox , leave thy damnable faces , and begin . Come ; the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge . + +Thoughts black , hands apt , drugs fit , and time agreeing ; +Confederate season , else no creature seeing ; +Thou mixture rank , of midnight weeds collected , +With Hecate's ban thrice blasted , thrice infected , +Thy natural magic and dire property , +On wholesome life usurp immediately . + + +He poisons him i' the garden for's estate . Hisname's Gonzago ; the story is extant , and writ in very choice Italian . You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife . + +The king rises . + +What ! frighted with false fire ? + +How fares my lord ? + +Give o'er the play . + +Give me some light : away ! + +Lights , lights , lights ! + +Why , let the stricken deer go weep , +The hart ungalled play ; +For some must watch , while some must sleep : +So runs the world away . + +Would not this , sir , and a forest of feathers , if the rest of my fortunes turn Turk with me , with two Provincial roses on my razed shoes , get me a fellowship in a cry of players , sir ? + +Half a share . + +A whole one , I . + +For thou dost know , O Damon dear , +This realm dismantled was +Of Jove himself ; and now reigns here +A very , very pajock . + + +You might have rimed . + +O good Horatio ! I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound . Didst perceive ? + +Very well , my lord . + +Upon the talk of the poisoning ? + +I did very well note him . + +Ah , ha ! Come , some music ! come , the recorders ! + +For if the king like not the comedy , +Why then , belike he likes it not , perdy . + +Come , some music ! + + +Good my lord , vouchsafe me a word with you . + +Sir , a whole history . + +The king , sir , + +Ay , sir , what of him ? + +Is in his retirement marvellous distempered . + +With drink , sir ? + +No , my lord , rather with choler . + +Your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to his doctor ; for , for me to put him to his purgation would perhaps plunge him into far more choler . + +Good my lord , put your discourse into some frame , and start not so wildly from my affair . + +I am tame , sir ; pronounce . + +The queen , your mother , in most great affliction of spirit , hath sent me to you . + +You are welcome . + +Nay , good my lord , this courtesy is not of the right breed . If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer , I will do your mother's commandment ; if not , your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business . + +Sir , I cannot . + +What , my lord ? + +Make you a wholesome answer ; my wit's diseased ; but , sir , such answer as I can make , you shall command ; or , rather , as you say , my mother : therefore no more , but to the matter : my mother , you say , + +Then , thus she says : your behaviour hath struck her into amasement and admiration . + +O wonderful son , that can so astonish a mother ! But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration ? Impart . + +She desires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed . + +We shall obey , were she ten times our mother . Have you any further trade with us ? + +My lord , you once did love me . + +So I do still , by these pickers and stealers . + +Good my lord , what is your cause of distemper ? you do surely bar the door upon your own liberty , if you deny your griefs to your friend . + +Sir , I lack advancement . + +How can that be when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark ? + +Ay , sir , but 'While the grass grows ,' the proverb is something musty . + +O ! the recorders : let me see one . To withdraw with you : why do you go about to recover the wind of me , as if you would drive me into a toil ? + +O ! my lord , if my duty be too bold , my love is too unmannerly . + +I do not well understand that . Will you play upon this pipe ? + +My lord , I cannot . + +I pray you . + +Believe me , I cannot . + +I do beseech you . + +I know no touch of it , my lord . + +'Tis as easy as lying ; govern these ventages with your finger and thumb , give it breath with your mouth , and it will discourse most eloquent music . Look you , these are the stops . + +But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony ; I have not the skill . + +Why , look you now , how unworthy a thing you make of me . You would play upon me ; you would seem to know my stops ; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery ; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass ; and there is much music , excellent voice , in this little organ , yet cannot you make it speak . 'Sblood , do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe ? Call me what instrument you will , though you can fret me , you cannot play upon me . + +God bless you , sir ! + +My lord , the queen would speak with you , and presently . + +Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel ? + +By the mass , and 'tis like a camel , indeed . + +Methinks it is like a weasel . + +It is backed like a weasel . + +Or like a whale ? + +Very like a whale . + +Then I will come to my mother by and by + +They fool me to the top of my bent . [Aloud .] I will come by and by . + +I will say so . + + +By and by is easily said . Leave me , friends . + +'Tis now the very witching time of night , +When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out +Contagion to this world : now could I drink hot blood , +And do such bitter business as the day +Would quake to look on . Soft ! now to my mother . +O heart ! lose not thy nature ; let not ever +The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom ; +Let me be cruel , not unnatural ; +I will speak daggers to her , but use none ; +My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites ; +How in my words soever she be shent , +To give them seals never , my soul , consent ! + + +I like him not , nor stands it safe with us +To let his madness range . Therefore prepare you ; +I your commission will forth with dispatch , +And he to England shall along with you . +The terms of our estate may not endure +Hazard so dangerous as doth hourly grow +Out of his lunacies . + +We will ourselves provide . +Most holy and religious fear it is +To keep those many many bodies safe +That live and feed upon your majesty . + +The single and peculiar life is bound +With all the strength and armour of the mind +To keep itself from noyance ; but much more +That spirit upon whose weal depend and rest +The lives of many . The cease of majesty +Dies not alone , but , like a gulf doth draw +What's near it with it ; it is a massy wheel , +Fix'd on the summit of the highest mount , +To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things +Are mortis'd and adjoin'd ; which , when it falls , +Each small annexment , petty consequence , +Attends the boisterous ruin . Never alone +Did the king sigh , but with a general groan . + +Arm you , I pray you , to this speedy voyage ; +For we will fetters put upon this fear , +Which now goes too free-footed . + +We will haste us . + +We will haste us . + +My lord , he's going to his mother's closet : +Behind the arras I'll convey myself +To hear the process ; I'll warrant she'll tax him home ; +And , as you said , and wisely was it said , +'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother , +Since nature makes them partial , should o'erhear +The speech , of vantage . Fare you well , my liege : +I'll call upon you ere you go to bed +And tell you what I know . + +Thanks , dear my lord . + +O ! my offence is rank , it smells to heaven ; +It hath the primal eldest curse upon't ; +A brother's murder ! Pray can I not , +Though inclination be as sharp as will : +My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent ; +And , like a man to double business bound , +I stand in pause where I shall first begin , +And both neglect . What if this cursed hand +Were thicker than itself with brother's blood , +Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens +To wash it white as snow ? Whereto serves mercy +But to confront the visage of offence ? +And what's in prayer but this two-fold force , +To be forestalled , ere we come to fall , +Or pardon'd , being down ? Then , I'll look up ; +My fault is past . But , O ! what form of prayer +Can serve my turn ? 'Forgive me my foul murder ?' +That cannot be ; since I am still possess'd +Of those effects for which I did the murder , +My crown , mine own ambition , and my queen . +May one be pardon'd and retain the offence ? +In the corrupted currents of this world +Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice , +And oft 'tis seen the wicked prise itself +Buys out the law ; but 'tis not so above ; +There is no shuffling , there the action lies +In his true nature , and we ourselves compell'd +Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults +To give in evidence . What then ? what rests ? +Try what repentance can : what can it not ? +Yet what can it , when one can not repent ? +O wretched state ! O bosom black as death ! +O limed soul , that struggling to be free +Art more engaged ! Help , angels ! make assay ; +Bow , stubborn knees ; and heart with strings of steel +Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe . +All may be well . + +Now might I do it pat , now he is praying ; +And now I'll do't : and so he goes to heaven ; +And so am I reveng'd . That would be scann'd : +A villain kills my father ; and for that , +I , his sole son , do this same villain send +To heaven . +Why , this is hire and salary , not revenge . +He took my father grossly , full of bread , +With all his crimes broad blown , as flush as May ; +And how his audit stands who knows save heaven ? +But in our circumstance and course of thought +'Tis heavy with him . And am I then reveng'd , +To take him in the purging of his soul , +When he is fit and season'd for his passage ? +No . +Up , sword , and know thou a more horrid hent ; +When he is drunk asleep , or in his rage , +Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed , +At gaming , swearing , or about some act +That has no relish of salvation in't ; +Then trip him , that his heels may kick at heaven , +And that his soul may be as damn'd and black +As hell , whereto it goes . My mother stays : +This physic but prolongs thy sickly days . + +My words fly up , my thoughts remain below : +Words without thoughts never to heaven go . + + +He will come straight . Look you lay home to him ; +Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with , +And that your Grace hath screen'd and stood between +Much heat and him . I'll silence me e'en here . +Pray you , be round with him . + +Mother , mother , mother ! + +I'll warrant you ; +Fear me not . Withdraw , I hear him coming . + + +Now , mother , what's the matter ? + +Hamlet , thou hast thy father much offended . + +Mother , you have my father much offended . + +Come , come , you answer with an idle tongue . + +Go , go , you question with a wicked tongue . + +Why , how now , Hamlet ! + +What's the matter now ? + +Have you forgot me ? + +No , by the rood , not so : +You are the queen , your husband's brother's wife ; +And ,would it were not so !you are my mother . + +Nay then , I'll set those to you that can speak . + +Come , come , and sit you down ; you shall not budge ; +You go not , till I set you up a glass +Where you may see the inmost part of you . + +What wilt thou do ? thou wilt not murder me ? +Help , help , ho ! + +What , ho ! help ! help ! help ! + +How now ! a rat ? Dead , for a ducat , dead ! + + +O ! I am slain . + +O me ! what hast thou done ? + +Nay , I know not : is it the king ? + +O ! what a rash and bloody deed is this ! + +A bloody deed ! almost as bad , good mother , +As kill a king , and marry with his brother . + +As kill a king ! + +Ay , lady , 'twas my word . + +Thou wretched , rash , intruding fool , farewell ! +I took thee for thy better ; take thy fortune ; +Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger . +Leave wringing of your hands : peace ! sit you down , +And let me wring your heart ; for so I shall +If it be made of penetrable stuff , +If damned custom have not brass'd it so +That it is proof and bulwark against sense + +What have I done that thou dar'st wag thy tongue +In noise so rude against me ? + +Such an act +That blurs the grace and blush of modesty , +Calls virtue hypocrite , takes off the rose +From the fair forehead of an innocent love +And sets a blister there , makes marriage vows +As false as dicers' oaths ; O ! such a deed +As from the body of contraction plucks +The very soul , and sweet religion makes +A rhapsody of words ; heaven's face doth glow , +Yea , this solidity and compound mass , +With tristful visage , as against the doom , +Is thought-sick at the act . + +Ay me ! what act , +That roars so loud and thunders in the index ? + +Look here , upon this picture , and on this ; +The counterfeit presentment of two brothers . +See , what a grace was seated on this brow ; +Hyperion's curls , the front of Jove himself , +An eye like Mars , to threaten and command , +A station like the herald Mercury +New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill , +A combination and a form indeed , +Where every god did seem to set his seal , +To give the world assurance of a man . +This was your husband : look you now , what follows . +Here is your husband ; like a mildew'd ear , +Blasting his wholesome brother . Have you eyes ? +Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed , +And batten on this moor ? Ha ! have you eyes ? +You cannot call it love , for at your age +The hey-day in the blood is tame , it's humble , +And waits upon the judgment ; and what judgment +Would step from this to this ? Sense , sure , you have , +Else could you not have motion ; but sure , that sense +Is apoplex'd ; for madness would not err , +Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd +But it reserv'd some quantity of choice , +To serve in such a difference . What devil was 't +That thus hath comen'd you at hoodman-blind ? +Eyes without feeling , feeling without sight , +Ears without hands or eyes , smelling sans all , +Or but a sickly part of one true sense +Could not so mope . +O shame ! where is thy blush ? Rebellious hell , +If thou canst mutine in a matron's bones , +To flaming youth let virtue be as wax , +And melt in her own fire : proclaim no shame +When the compulsive ardour gives the charge , +Since first itself as actively doth burn , +And reason panders will . + +O Hamlet ! speak no more ; +Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul ; +And there I see such black and grained spots +As will not leave their tinct . + +Nay , but to live +In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed , +Stew'd in corruption , honeying and making love +Over the nasty sty , + +O ! speak to me no more ; +These words like daggers enter in mine ears ; +No more , sweet Hamlet ! + +A murderer , and a villain ; +A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe +Of your precedent lord ; a vice of kings ; +A cut-purse of the empire and the rule , +That from a shelf the precious diadem stole , +And put it in his pocket ! + +No more ! + +A king of shreds and patches , + + +Save me , and hover o'er me with your wings , + +You heavenly guards ! What would your gracious figure ? + +Alas ! he's mad ! + +Do you not come your tardy son to chide , +That , laps'd in time and passion , lets go by +The important acting of your dread command ? +O ! say . + +Do not forget : this visitation +Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose . +But , look ! amazement on thy mother sits ; +O ! step between her and her fighting soul ; +Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works : +Speak to her , Hamlet . + +How is it with you , lady ? + +Alas ! how is't with you , +That you do bend your eye on vacancy +And with the incorporal air do hold discourse ? +Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep ; +And , as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm , +Your bedded hair , like life in excrements , +Starts up and stands an end . O gentle son ! +Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper +Sprinkle cool patience . Whereon do you look ? + +On him , on him ! Look you , how pale he glares ! +His form and cause conjoin'd , preaching to stones , +Would make them capable . Do not look upon me ; +Lest with this piteous action you convert +My stern effects : then what I have to do +Will want true colour ; tears perchance for blood . + +To whom do you speak this ? + +Do you see nothing there ? + +Nothing at all ; yet all that is I see . + +Nor did you nothing hear ? + +No , nothing but ourselves . + +Why , look you there ! look , how it steals away ; +My father , in his habit as he liv'd ; +Look ! where he goes , even now , out at the portal . + + +This is the very coinage of your brain : +This bodiless creation ecstasy +Is very cunning in . + +Ecstasy ! +My pulse , as yours , doth temperately keep time , +And makes as healthful music . It is not madness +That I have utter'd : bring me to the test , +And I the matter will re-word , which madness +Would gambol from . Mother , for love of grace , +Lay not that flattering unction to your soul , +That not your trespass but my madness speaks ; +It will but skin and film the ulcerous place , +Whiles rank corruption , mining all within , +Infects unseen . Confess yourself to heaven ; +Repent what's past ; avoid what is to come ; +And do not spread the compost on the weeds +To make them ranker . Forgive me this my virtue ; +For in the fatness of these pursy times +Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg , +Yea , curb and woo for leave to do him good . + +O Hamlet ! thou hast cleft my heart in twain . + +O ! throw away the worser part of it , +And live the purer with the other half . +Good night ; but go not to mine uncle's bed ; +Assume a virtue , if you have it not . +That monster , custom , who all sense doth eat , +Of habits devil , is angel yet in this , +That to the use of actions fair and good +He likewise gives a frock or livery , +That aptly is put on . Refrain to-night ; +And that shall lend a kind of easiness +To the next abstinence : the next more easy ; +For use almost can change the stamp of nature , +And master ev'n the devil or throw him out +With wondrous potency . Once more , goodnight : +And when you are desirous to be bless'd , +I'll blessing beg of you . For this same lord , + +I do repent : but heaven hath pleas'd it so , +To punish me with this , and this with me , +That I must be their scourge and minister . +I will bestow him , and will answer well +The death I gave him . So , again , good-night . +I must be cruel only to be kind : +Thus bad begins and worse remains behind . +One word more , good lady . + +What shall I do ? + +Not this , by no means , that I bid you do : +Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed ; +Pinch wanton on your cheek ; call you his mouse ; +And let him , for a pair of reechy kisses , +Or paddling in your neck with his damn'd fingers , +Make you to ravel all this matter out , +That I essentially am not in madness , +But mad in craft . 'Twere good you let him know ; +For who that's but a queen , fair , sober , wise , +Would from a paddock , from a bat , a gib , +Such dear concernings hide ? who would do so ? +No , in despite of sense and secrecy , +Unpeg the basket on the house's top , +Let the birds fly , and , like the famous ape , +To try conclusions , in the basket creep , +And break your own neck down . + +Be thou assur'd , if words be made of breath , +And breath of life , I have no life to breathe +What thou hast said to me . + +I must to England ; you know that ? + +Alack ! +I had forgot : 'tis so concluded on . + +There's letters seal'd ; and my two schoolfellows , +Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd , +They bear the mandate ; they must sweep my way , +And marshal me to knavery . Let it work ; +For 'tis the sport to have the enginer +Hoist with his own petar : and it shall go hard +But I will delve one yard below their mines , +And blow them at the moon . O ! 'tis most sweet , +When in one line two crafts directly meet . +This man shall set me packing ; +I'll lug the guts into the neighbour room . +Mother , good-night . Indeed this counsellor +Is now most still , most secret , and most grave , +Who was in life a foolish prating knave . +Come , sir , to draw toward an end with you . +Good-night , mother . + +There's matter in these sighs , these profound heaves : +You must translate ; 'tis fit we understand them . +Where is your son ? + +Bestow this place on us a little while . + +Ah ! my good lord , what have I seen to-night . + +What , Gertrude ? How does Hamlet ? + +Mad as the sea and wind , when both contend +Which is the mightier . In his lawless fit , +Behind the arras hearing something stir , +Whips out his rapier , cries , 'A rat ! a rat !' +And , in his brainish apprehension , kills +The unseen good old man . + +O heavy deed ! +It had been so with us had we been there . +His liberty is full of threats to all ; +To you yourself , to us , to every one . +Alas ! how shall this bloody deed be answer'd ? +It will be laid to us , whose providence +Should have kept short , restrain'd , and out of haunt , +This mad young man : but so much was our love , +We would not understand what was most fit , +But , like the owner of a foul disease , +To keep it from divulging , let it feed +Even on the pith of life . Where is he gone ? + +To draw apart the body he hath kill'd ; +O'er whom his very madness , like some ore +Among a mineral of metals base , +Shows itself pure : he weeps for what is done . + +O Gertrude ! come away . +The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch +But we will ship him hence ; and this vile deed +We must , with all our majesty and skill , +Both countenance and excuse . Ho ! Guildenstern ! + + +Friends both , go join you with some further aid : +Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain , +And from his mother's closet hath he dragg'd him : +Go seek him out ; speak fair , and bring the body +Into the chapel . I pray you , haste in this . + +Come , Gertrude , we'll call up our wisest friends ; +And let them know both what we mean to do , +And what's untimely done : so , haply , slander , +Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter , +As level as the cannon to his blank +Transports his poison'd shot , may miss our name , +And hit the woundless air . O ! come away ; +My soul is full of discord and dismay . + +Safely stowed . + +Hamlet ! Lord Hamlet ! + +Hamlet ! Lord Hamlet ! + +What noise ? who calls on Hamlet ? +O ! here they come . + + +What have you done , my lord , with the dead body ? + +Compounded it with dust , whereto 'tis kin . + +Tell us where 'tis , that we may take it thence +And bear it to the chapel . + +Do not believe it . + +Believe what ? + +That I can keep your counsel and not mine own . Besides , to be demanded of a sponge ! what replication should be made by the son of a king ? + +Take you me for a sponge , my lord ? + +Ay , sir , that soaks up the king's countenance , his rewards , his authorities . But such officers do the king best service in the end : he keeps them , like an ape , in the corner of his jaw ; first mouthed , to be last swallowed : when he needs what you have gleaned , it is but squeezing you , and , sponge , you shall be dry again . + +I understand you not , my lord . + +I am glad of it : a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear . + +My lord , you must tell us where the body is , and go with us to the king . + +The body is with the king , but the king is not with the body . The king is a thing + +A thing , my lord ! + +Of nothing : bring me to him . Hide fox , and all after . + + +I have sent to seek him , and to find the body . +How dangerous is it that this man goes loose ! +Yet must not we put the strong law on him : +He's lov'd of the distracted multitude , +Who like not in their judgment , but their eyes ; +And where 'tis so , the offender's scourge is weigh'd , +But never the offence . To bear all smooth and even , +This sudden sending him away must seem +Deliberate pause : diseases desperate grown +By desperate appliance are reliev'd , +Or not at all . + +How now ! what hath befall'n ? + +Where the dead body is bestow'd , my lord , +We cannot get from him . + +But where is he ? + +Without , my lord ; guarded , to know your pleasure . + +Bring him before us . + +Ho , Guildenstern ! bring in my lord . + + +Now , Hamlet , where's Polonius ? + +At supper . + +At supper ! Where ? + +Not where he eats , but where he is eaten : a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him . Your worm is your only emperor for diet : we fat all creatures else to fat us , and we fat ourselves for maggots : your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service ; two dishes , but to one table : that's the end . + +Alas , alas ! + +A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king , and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm . + +What dost thou mean by this ? + +Nothing , but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar . + +Where is Polonius ? + +In heaven ; send thither to see : if your messenger find him not there , seek him i' the other place yourself . But , indeed , if you find him not within this month , you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby . + +Go seek him there . + +He will stay till you come . + + +Hamlet , this deed , for thine especial safety , +Which we do tender , as we dearly grieve +For that which thou hast done , must send thee hence +With fiery quickness : therefore prepare thyself ; +The bark is ready , and the wind at help , +The associates tend , and every thing is bent +For England . + +For England ! + +Ay , Hamlet . + +Good . + +So is it , if thou knew'st our purposes . + +I see a cherub that sees them . But , come ; for England ! Farewell , dear mother . + +Thy loving father , Hamlet . + +My mother : father and mother is man and wife , man and wife is one flesh , and so , my mother . Come , for England ! + + +Follow him at foot ; tempt him with speed aboard : +Delay it not , I'll have him hence to-night . +Away ! for every thing is seal'd and done +That else leans on the affair : pray you , make haste . + +And , England , if my love thou hold'st at aught , +As my great power thereof may give thee sense , +Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red +After the Danish sword , and thy free awe +Pays homage to us ,thou mayst not coldly set +Our sovereign process , which imports at full , +By letters conjuring to that effect , +The present death of Hamlet . Do it , England ; +For like the hectic in my blood he rages , +And thou must cure me . Till I know 'tis done , +Howe'er my haps , my joys were ne'er begun . + + +Go , captain , from me greet the Danish king ; +Tell him that , by his licence , Fortinbras +Claims the conveyance of a promis'd march +Over his kingdom . You know the rendezvous . +If that his majesty would aught with us , +We shall express our duty in his eye , +And let him know so . + +I will do 't , my lord . + +Go softly on . + +Good sir , whose powers are these ? + +They are of Norway , sir . + +How purpos'd , sir , I pray you ? + +Against some part of Poland . + +Who commands them , sir ? + +The nephew to old Norway , Fortinbras . + +Goes it against the main of Poland , sir , +Or for some frontier ? + +Truly to speak , and with no addition , +We go to gain a little patch of ground +That hath in it no profit but the name . +To pay five ducats , five , I would not farm it ; +Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole +A ranker rate , should it be sold in fee . + +Why , then the Polack never will defend it . + +Yes , 'tis already garrison'd . + +Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats +Will not debate the question of this straw : +This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace , +That inward breaks , and shows no cause without +Why the man dies . I humbly thank you , sir . + +God be wi' you , sir . + + +Will 't please you go , my lord ? + +I'll be with you straight . Go a little before . + +How all occasions do inform against me , +And spur my dull revenge ! What is a man , +If his chief good and market of his time +Be but to sleep and feed ? a beast , no more . +Sure he that made us with such large discourse , +Looking before and after , gave us not +That capability and god-like reason +To fust in us unus'd . Now , whe'r it be +Bestial oblivion , or some craven scruple +Of thinking too precisely on the event , +A thought , which , quarter'd , hath but one part wisdom , +And ever three parts coward , I do not know +Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do ;' +Sith I have cause and will and strength and means +To do 't . Examples gross as earth exhort me : +Witness this army of such mass and charge +Led by a delicate and tender prince , +Whose spirit with divine ambition puff'd +Makes mouths at the invisible event , +Exposing what is mortal and unsure +To all that fortune , death and danger dare , +Even for an egg-shell . Rightly to be great +Is not to stir without great argument , +But greatly to find quarrel in a straw +When honour's at the stake . How stand I then , +That have a father kill'd , a mother stain'd , +Excitements of my reason and my blood , +And let all sleep , while , to my shame , I see +The imminent death of twenty thousand men , +That , for a fantasy and trick of fame , +Go to their graves like beds , fight for a plot +Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause , +Which is not tomb enough and continent +To hide the slaim ? O ! from this time forth , +My thoughts be bloody , or be nothing worth ! + + +I will not speak with her . + +She is importunate , indeed distract : +Her mood will needs be pitied . + +What would she have ? + +She speaks much of her father ; says she hears +There's tricks i' the world ; and hems , and beats her heart ; +Spurns enviously at straws ; speaks things in doubt , +That carry but half sense : her speech is nothing , +Yet the unshaped use of it doth move +The hearers to collection ; they aim at it , +And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts ; +Which , as her winks , and nods , and gestures yield them , +Indeed would make one think there might be thought , +Though nothing sure , yet much unhappily . + +'Twere good she were spoken with , for she may strew +Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds . + +Let her come in . + +To my sick soul , as sin's true nature is , +Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss : +So full of artless jealousy is guilt , +It spills itself in fearing to be spilt . + + +Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark ? + +How now , Ophelia ! + + +How should I your true love know +From another one ? +By his cockle hat and staff , +And his sandal shoon . + + +Alas ! sweet lady , what imports this song ? + +Say you ? nay , pray you , mark . + +He is dead and gone , lady , +He is dead and gone ; +At his head a grass-green turf ; +At his heals a stone . + +O , ho ! + +Nay , but Ophelia , + +Pray you , mark . + +White his shroud as the mountain snow , + +Alas ! look here , my lord . + + +Larded with sweet flowers ; +Which bewept to the grave did go +With true-love showers . + + +How do you , pretty lady ? + +Well , God 'ild you ! They say the owl was a baker's daughter . Lord ! we know what we are , but know not what we may be . God be at your table ! + +Conceit upon her father . + +Pray you , let's have no words of this ; but when they ask you what it means , say you this : + +To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day , +All in the morning betime , +And I a maid at your window , +To be your Valentine : +Then up he rose , and donn'd his clothes , +And dupp'd the chamber door ; +Let in the maid , that out a maid +Never departed more . + + +Pretty Ophelia ! + +Indeed , la ! without an oath , I'll make an end on 't : + +By Gis and by Saint Charity , +Alack , and fie for shame ! +Young men will do't , if they come to't ; +By Cock they are to blame . +Quoth she , before you tumbled me , +You promis'd me to wed : +So would I ha' done , by yonder sun , +An thou hadst not come to my bed . + + +How long hath she been thus ? + +I hope all will be well . We must be patient : but I cannot choose but weep , to think they should lay him i' the cold ground . My brother shall know of it : and so I thank you for your good counsel . Come , my coach ! Good-night , ladies ; good-night , sweet ladies ; good-night , good-night . + + +Follow her close ; give her good watch , I pray you . + +O ! this is the poison of deep grief ; it springs +All from her father's death . O Gertrude , Gertrude ! +When sorrows come , they come not single spies , +But in battalions . First , her father slain ; +Next , your son gone ; but he most violent author +Of his own just remove : the people muddied , +Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers , +For good Polonius' death ; and we have done but greenly , +In hugger-mugger to inter him : poor Ophelia +Divided from herself and her fair judgment , +Without the which we are pictures , or mere beasts : +Last , and as much containing as all these , +Her brother is in secret come from France , +Feeds on his wonder , keeps himself in clouds , +And wants not buzzers to infect his ear +With pestilent speeches of his father's death ; +Wherein necessity , of matter beggar'd , +Will nothing stick our person to arraign +In ear and ear . O my dear Gertrude ! this , +Like to a murdering-piece , in many places +Gives me superfluous death . + + +Alack ! what noise is this ? + + +Where are my Switzers ? Let them guard the door . +What is the matter ? + +Save yourself , my lord ; +The ocean , overpeering of his list , +Eats not the flats with more impetuous haste +Than young Laertes , in a riotous head , +O'erbears your officers . The rabble call him lord ; +And , as the world were now but to begin , +Antiquity forgot , custom not known , +The ratifiers and props of every word , +They cry , 'Choose we ; Laertes shall be king !' +Caps , hands , and tongues , applaud it to the clouds , +'Laertes shall be king , Laertes king !' + +How cheerfully on the false trail they cry ! +O ! this is counter , you false Danish dogs ! + +The doors are broke . + +Where is the king ? Sirs , stand you all without . + +No , let's come in . + +I pray you , give me leave . + +We will , we will . + + +I thank you : keep the door . O thou vile king ! +Give me my father . + +Calmly , good Laertes . + +That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard , +Cries cuckold to my father , brands the harlot +Even here , between the chaste unsmirched brow +Of my true mother . + +What is the cause , Laertes , +That thy rebellion looks so giant-like ? +Let him go , Gertrude ; do not fear our person : +There's such divinity doth hedge a king , +That treason can but peep to what it would , +Acts little of his will . Tell me , Laertes , +Why thou art thus incens'd . Let him go , Gertrude . +Speak , man . + +Where is my father ? + +Dead . + +But not by him . + +Let him demand his fill . + +How came he dead ? I'll not be juggled with . +To hell , allegiance ! vows , to the blackest devil ! +Conscience and grace , to the profoundest pit ! +I dare damnation . To this point I stand , +That both the worlds I give to negligence , +Let come what comes ; only I'll be reveng'd +Most throughly for my father . + +Who shall stay you ? + +My will , not all the world : +And , for my means , I'll husband them so well , +They shall go far with little . + +Good Laertes , +If you desire to know the certainty +Of your dear father's death , is't writ in your revenge , +That , swoopstake , you will draw both friend and foe , +Winner and loser ? + +None but his enemies . + +Will you know them then ? + +To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms ; +And like the kind life-rendering pelican , +Repast them with my blood . + +Why , now you speak +Like a good child and a true gentleman . +That I am guiltless of your father's death , +And am most sensibly in grief for it , +It shall as level to your judgment pierce +As day does to your eye . + +Let her come in . + +How now ! what noise is that ? + + +O heat , dry up my brains ! tears seven times salt , +Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye ; +By heaven , thy madness shall be paid by weight , +Till our scale turn the beam . O rose of May ! +Dear maid , kind sister , sweet Ophelia ! +O heavens ! is't possible a young maid's wits +Should be as mortal as an old man's life ? +Nature is fine in love , and where 'tis fine +It sends some precious instance of itself + +After the thing it loves . + + +They bore him barefac'd on the bier ; +Hey non nonny , nonny , hey nonny ; +And in his grave rain'd many a tear ; + +Fare you well , my dove ! + +Hadst thou thy wits , and didst persuade revenge , +It could not move thus . + + +You must sing , a-down a-down , +And you call him a-down-a . + +O how the wheel becomes it ! It is the false steward that stole his master's daughter . + +This nothing's more than matter . + +There's rosemary , that's for remembrance ; brance ; pray , love , remember : and there is pansies , that's for thoughts . + +A document in madness , thoughts and remembrance fitted . + +There's fennel for you , and columbines ; there's rue for you ; and here's some for me ; we may call it herb of grace o' Sundays . O ! you must wear your rue with a difference . There's a daisy ; I would give you some violets , but they withered all when my father died . They say he made a good end , + +For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy . + + +Thought and affliction , passion , hell itself , +She turns to favour and to prettiness . + + +And will he not come again ? +And will he not come again ? +No , no , he is dead ; +Go to thy death-bed , +He never will come again . +His beard was as white as snow +All fiaxen was his poll , +He is gone , he is gone , +And we cast away moan : +God ha' mercy on his soul ! + +And of all Christian souls ! I pray God . God be wi' ye ! + + +Do you see this , O God ? + +Laertes , I must common with your grief , +Or you deny me right . Go but apart , +Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will , +And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me . +If by direct or by collateral hand +They find us touch'd , we will our kingdom give , +Our crown , our life , and all that we call ours , +To you in satisfaction ; but if not , +Be you content to lend your patience to us , +And we shall jointly labour with your soul +To give it due content . + +Let this be so : +His means of death , his obscure burial , +No trophy , sword , nor hatchment o'er his bones , +No noble rite nor formal ostentation , +Cry to be heard , as 'twere from heaven to earth , +That I must call 't in question . + +So you shall ; +And where the offence is let the great axe fall . +I pray you go with me . + + +What are they that would speak with me ? + +Sailors , sir : they say , they have letters for you . + +Let them come in . + +I do not know from what part of the world +I should be greeted , if not from Lord Hamlet . + + +God bless you , sir . + +Let him bless thee too . + +He shall , sir , an't please him . There's a letter for you , sir ;it comes from the ambassador that was bound for England ;if your name be Horatio , as I am let to know it is . + +Horatio , when thou shalt have overlooked this , give these fellows some means to the king : they have letters for him . Ere we were two days old at sea , a pirate of very war-like appointment gave us chase . Finding ourselves too slow of sail , we put on a compelled valour ; in the grapple I boarded them : on the instant they got clear of our ship , so I alone became their prisoner . They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy , but they knew what they did ; I am to do a good turn for them . Let the king have the letters I have sent ; and repair thou to me with as much haste as thou wouldst fly death . I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb ; yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter . These good fellows will bring thee where I am . Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England : of them I have much to tell thee . Farewell . +He that thou knowest thine , +Come , I will give you way for these your letters ; +And do 't the speedier , that you may direct me +To him from whom you brought them . + + +Now must your conscience my acquittance seal , +And you must put me in your heart for friend , +Sith you have heard , and with a knowing ear , +That he which hath your noble father slain +Pursu'd my life . + +It well appears : but tell me +Why you proceeded not against these feats , +So crimeful and so capital in nature , +As by your safety , wisdom , all things else , +You mainly were stirr'd up . + +O ! for two special reasons ; +Which may to you , perhaps , seem much unsinew'd , +But yet to me they are strong . The queen his mother +Lives almost by his looks , and for myself , +My virtue or my plague , be it either which , +She's so conjunctive to my life and soul , +That , as the star moves not but in his sphere , +I could not but by her . The other motive , +Why to a public count I might not go , +Is the great love the general gender bear him ; +Who , dipping all his faults in their affection , +Would , like the spring that turneth wood to stone , +Convert his gyves to graces ; so that my arrows , +Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind , +Would have reverted to my bow again , +And not where I had aim'd them . + +And so have I a noble father lost ; +A sister driven into desperate terms , +Whose worth , if praises may go back again , +Stood challenger on mount of all the age +For her perfections . But my revenge will come . + +Break not your sleeps for that ; you must not think +That we are made of stuff so flat and dull +That we can let our beard be shook with danger +And think it pastime . You shortly shall hear more ; +I lov'd your father , and we love ourself , +And that , I hope , will teach you to imagine , + +How now ! what news ? + +Letters , my lord , from Hamlet : +This to your majesty ; this to the queen . + +From Hamlet ! who brought them ? + +Sailors , my lord , they say ; I saw them not : +They were given me by Claudio , he receiv'd them +Of him that brought them . + +Laertes , you shall hear them . +Leave us . + +High and mighty , you shall know I am set naked on your kingdom . To-morrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes ; when I shall , first asking your pardon thereunto , recount the occasions of my sudden and more strange return +What should this mean ? Are all the rest come back ? +Or is it some abuse and no such thing ? + +Know you the hand ? + +'Tis Hamlet's character . 'Naked ,' +And in a postscript here , he says , 'alone .' +Can you advise me ? + +I'm lost in it , my lord . But let him come : +It warms the very sickness in my heart , +That I shall live and tell him to his teeth , +'Thus diddest thou .' + +If it be so , Laertes , +As how should it be so ? how otherwise ? +Will you be rul'd by me ? + +Ay , my lord ; +So you will not o'er-rule me to a peace . + +To thine own peace . If he be now return'd , +As checking at his voyage , and that he means +No more to undertake it , I will work him +To an exploit , now ripe in my device , +Under the which he shall not choose but fall ; +And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe , +But even his mother shall uncharge the practice +And call it accident . + +My lord , I will be rul'd ; +The rather , if you could devise it so +That I might be the organ . + +It falls right . +You have been talk'd of since your travel much , +And that in Hamlet's hearing , for a quality +Wherein , they say , you shine ; your sum of parts +Did not together pluck such envy from him +As did that one , and that , in my regard , +Of the unworthiest siege . + +What part is that , my lord ? + +A very riband in the cap of youth , +Yet needful too ; for youth no less becomes +The light and careless livery that it wears +Than settled age his sables and his weeds , +Importing health and graveness . Two months since +Here was a gentleman of Normandy : +I've seen myself , and serv'd against , the French , +And they can well on horseback ; but this gallant +Had witchcraft in 't , he grew unto his seat , +And to such wondrous doing brought his horse , +As he had been incorps'd and demi-natur'd +With the brave beast ; so far he topp'd my thought , +That I , in forgery of shapes and tricks , +Come short of what he did . + +A Norman was 't ? + +A Norman . + +Upon my life , Lamord . + +The very same . + +I know him well ; he is the brooch indeed +And gem of all the nation . + +He made confession of you , +And gave you such a masterly report +For art and exercise in your defence , +And for your rapier most especially , +That he cried out , 'twould be a sight indeed +If one could match you ; the scrimers of their nation , +He swore , had neither motion , guard , nor eye , +If you oppos'd them . Sir , this report of his +Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy +That he could nothing do but wish and beg +Your sudden coming o'er , to play with him . +Now , out of this , + +What out of this , my lord ? + +Laertes , was your father dear to you ? +Or are you like the painting of a sorrow , +A face without a heart ? + +Why ask you this ? + +Not that I think you did not love your father , +But that I know love is begun by time , +And that I see , in passages of proof , +Time qualifies the spark and fire of it . +There lives within the very flame of love +A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it , +And nothing is at a like goodness still , +For goodness , growing to a plurisy , +Dies in his own too-much . That we would do , +We should do when we would , for this 'would' changes , +And hath abatements and delays as many +As there are tongues , are hands , are accidents ; +And then this 'should' is like a spendthrift sigh , +That hurts by easing . But , to the quick o' the ulcer ; +Hamlet comes back ; what would you undertake +To show yourself your father's son in deed +More than in words ? + +To cut his throat i' the church . + +No place , indeed , should murder sanctuarize ; +Revenge should have no bounds . But , good Laertes , +Will you do this , keep close within your chamber . +Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home ; +We'll put on those shall praise your excellence , +And set a double varnish on the fame +The Frenchman gave you , bring you , in fine , together , +And wager on your heads : he , being remise , +Most generous and free from all contriving , +Will not peruse the foils ; so that , with ease +Or with a little shuffling , you may choose +A sword unbated , and , in a pass of practice +Requite him for your father . + +I will do 't ; +And , for that purpose , I'll anoint my sword . +I bought an unction of a mountebank , +So mortal that , but dip a knife in it , +Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare , +Collected from all simples that have virtue +Under the moon , can save the thing from death +That is but scratch'd withal ; I'll touch my point +With this contagion , that , if I gall him slightly , +It may be death . + +Let's further think of this ; +Weigh what convenience both of time and means +May fit us to our shape . If this should fail , +And that our drift look through our bad performance +'Twere better not assay'd ; therefore this project +Should have a back or second , that might hold , +If this should blast in proof . Soft ! let me see ; +We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings : +I ha't : +When in your motion you are hot and dry , +As make your bouts more violent to that end , +And that he calls for drink , I'll have prepar'd him +A chalice for the nonce , whereon but sipping , +If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck , +Our purpose may hold there . But stay ! what noise ? + +How now , sweet queen ! + +One woe doth tread upon another's heel , +So fast they follow : your sister's drown'd , Laertes . + +Drown'd ! O , where ? + +There is a willow grows aslant a brook , +That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream ; +There with fantastic garlands did she come , +Of crow-flowers , nettles , daisies , and long purples , +That liberal shepherds give a grosser name , +But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them : +There , on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds +Clambering to hang , an envious sliver broke , +When down her weedy trophies and herself +Fell in the weeping brook . Her clothes spread wide , +And , mermaid-like , awhile they bore her up ; +Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes , +As one incapable of her own distress , +Or like a creature native and indu'd +Unto that element ; but long it could not be +Till that her garments , heavy with their drink , +Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay +To muddy death . + +Alas ! then , she is drown'd ? + +Drown'd , drown'd . + +Too much of water hast thou , poor Ophelis , +And therefore I forbid my tears ; but yet +It is our trick , nature her custom holds , +Let shame say what it will ; when these are gone +The woman will be out . Adieu , my lord ! +I have a speech of fire , that fain would blaze , +But that this folly douts it . + + +Let's follow , Gertrude . +How much I had to do to calm his rage ! +Now fear I this will give it start again ; +Therefore let's follow . + +Is she to be buried in Christian burial that wilfully seeks her own salvation ? + +I tell thee she is ; and therefore make her grave straight : the crowner hath sat on her , and finds it Christian burial . + +How can that be , unless she drowned herself in her own defence ? + +Why , 'tis found so . + +It must be se offendendo ; it cannot be else . For here lies the point : if I drown myself wittingly it argues an act ; and an act hath three branches ; it is , to act , to do , and to perform : argal , she drowned herself wittingly . + +Nay , but hear you , goodman delver , + +Give me leave . Here lies the water ; good : here stands the man ; good : if the man go to this water , and drown himself , it is , will he , nill he , he goes ; mark you that ? but if the water come to him , and drown him , he drowns not himself : argal , he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life . + +But is this law ? + +Ay , marry , is 't ; crowner's quest law . + +Will you ha' the truth on 't ? If this had not been a gentlewoman she should have been buried out o' Christian burial . + +Why , there thou sayest ; and the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian . Come , my spade . There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners , ditchers , and grave-makers ; they hold up Adam's profession . + +Was he a gentleman ? + +A' was the first that ever bore arms . + +Why , he had none . + +What ! art a heathen ? How dost thou understand the Scripture ? The Scripture says , Adam digged ; could be dig without arms ? +I'll put another question to thee ; if thou answerest me not to the purpose , confess thyself + +Go to . + +What is he that builds stronger than either the mason , the shipwright , or the carpenter ? + +The gallows-maker ; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants . + +I like thy wit well , in good faith ; the gallows does well , but how does it well ? it does well to those that do ill ; now thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church : argal , the gallows may do well to thee . +To 't again ; come . + +Who builds stronger than a mason , a shipwright , or a carpenter ? + +Ay , tell me that , and unyoke . + +Marry , now I can tell . + +To 't . + +Mass , I cannot tell . + + +Cudgel thy brains no more about it , for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating ; and , when you are asked this question next , say , 'a grave-maker :' the houses that he makes last till doomsday . Go , get thee to Yaughan ; fetch me a stoup of liquor . + +First Clown digs , and sings . + +In youth , when I did love , did love , +Methought it was very sweet , +To contract , O ! the time , for-a my behove , +O ! methought there was nothing meet . + + +Has this fellow no feeling of his business , that he sings at grave-making ? + +Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness . + +'Tis e'en so ; the hand of little employment hath the daintier sense . + + +But age , with his stealing steps , +Hath claw'd me in his clutch , +And hath shipped me intil the land , +As if I had never been such . + +That skull had a tongue in it , and could sing once ; how the knave jowls it to the ground , as if it were Cain's jaw-bone , that did the first murder ! This might be the pate of a politician , which this ass now o'er-offices , one that would circumvent God , might it not ? + +It might , my lord . + +Or of a courtier , which could say , 'Good morrow , sweet lord ! How dost thou , good lord ?' This might be my Lord Such-a-one , that praised my Lord Such-a-one's horse , when he meant to beg it , might it not ? + +Ay , my lord . + +Why , e'en so , and now my Lady Worm's ; chapless , and knocked about the mazzard with a sexton's spade . Here's fine revolution , an we had the trick to see 't . Did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggats with 'em ? mine ache to think on 't . + + +A pick-axe , and a spade , a spade , +For and a shrouding sheet ; +O ! a pit of clay for to be made +For such a guest is meet . + +There's another ; why may not that be the skull of a lawyer ? Where be his quiddities now , his quillets , his cases , his tenures , and his tricks ? why does he suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty shovel , and will not tell him of his action of battery ? Hum ! This fellow might be in 's time a great buyer of land , with his statutes , his recognizances , his fines , his double vouchers , his recoveries ; is this the fine of his fines , and the recovery of his recoveries , to have his fine pate full of fine dirt ? will his vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases , and double ones too , than the length and breadth of a pair of indentures ? The very conveyance of his lands will hardly lie in this box , and must the inheritor himself have no more , ha ? + +Not a jot more , my lord . + +Is not parchment made of sheep-skins ? + +Ay , my lord , and of calf-skins too . + +They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance in that . I will speak to this fellow . Whose grave's this , sir ? + +Mine , sir , + +O ! a pit of clay for to be made +For such a guest is meet . + + +I think it be thine , indeed ; for thou liest in 't . + +You lie out on 't , sir , and therefore it is not yours ; for my part , I do not lie in 't , and yet it is mine . + +Thou dost lie in 't , to be in 't and say it is thine : 'tis for the dead , not for the quick ; therefore thou liest . + +'Tis a quick lie , sir ; 'twill away again , from me to you . + +What man dost thou dig it for ? + +For no man , sir . + +What woman , then ? + +For none , neither . + +Who is to be buried in 't ? + +One that was a woman , sir ; but , rest her soul , she's dead . + +How absolute the knave is ! we must speak by the card , or equivocation will undo us . By the Lord , Horatio , these three years I have taken note of it ; the age is grown so picked that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier , he galls his kibe . How long hast thou been a grave-maker ? + +Of all the days i' the year , I came to 't that day that our last King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras . + +How long is that since ? + +Cannot you tell that ? every fool can tell that ; it was the very day that young Hamlet was born ; he that is mad , and sent into England . + +Ay , marry ; why was he sent into England ? + +Why , because he was mad : he shall recover his wits there ; or , if he do not , 'tis no great matter there + +Why ? + +'Twill not be seen in him there ; there the men are as mad as he . + +How came he mad ? + +Very strangely , they say . + +How strangely ? + +Faith , e'en with losing his wits . + +Upon what ground ? + +Why , here in Denmark ; I have been sexton here , man and boy , thirty years . + +How long will a man lie i' the earth ere he rot ? + +Faith , if he be not rotten before he die ,as we have many pocky corses now-a-days , that will scarce hold the laying in ,he will last you some eight year or nine year ; a tanner will last you nine year . + +Why he more than another ? + +Why , sir , his hide is so tanned with his trade that he will keep out water a great while , and your water is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body . Here's a skull now ; this skull hath lain you i' the earth three-and-twenty years . + +Whose was it ? + +A whoreson mad fellow's it was : whose do you think it was ? + +Nay , I know not . + +A pestilence on him for a mad rogue ! a' poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once . This same skull , sir , was Yorick's skull , the king's jester . + +This ! + +E'en that . + +Let me see . + +Alas ! poor Yorick . I knew him , Horatio ; a fellow of infinite jest , of most excellent fancy ; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times ; and now , how abhorred in my imagination it is ! my gorge rises at it . Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft . Where be your gibes now ? your gambols ? your songs ? your flashes of merriment , that were wont to set the table on a roar ? Not one now , to mock your own grinning ? quite chapfallen ? Now get you to my lady's chamber , and tell her , let her paint an inch thick , to this favour she must come ; make her laugh at that . Prithee , Horatio , tell me one thing . + +What's that , my lord ? + +Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion i' the earth ? + +E'en so . + +And smelt so ? pah ! + + +E'en so , my lord . + +To what base uses we may return , Horatio ! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander , till he find it stopping a bung-hole ? + +'Twere to consider too curiously , to consider so . + +No , faith , not a jot ; but to follow him thither with modesty enough , and likelihood to lead it ; as thus : Alexander died , Alexander was buried , Alexander returneth into dust ; the dust is earth ; of earth we make loam , and why of that loam , whereto he was converted , might they not stop a beer-barrel ? + +Imperious C sar , dead and turn'd to clay , +Might stop a hole to keep the wind away : +O ! that that earth , which kept the world in awe , +Should patch a wall to expal the winter's flaw . + +But soft ! but soft ! aside : here comes the king . + +The queen , the courtiers : who is that they follow ? +And with such maimed rites ? This doth betoken +The corse they follow did with desperate hand +Fordo its own life ; 'twas of some estate . +Couch we awhile , and mark . + +What ceremony else ? + +That is Laertes , +A very noble youth : mark . + +What ceremony else ? + +Her obsequies have been as far enlarg'd +As we have warrantise : her death was doubtful , +And , but that great command o'ersways the order , +She should in ground unsanctified have lodg'd +Till the last trumpet ; for charitable prayers , +Shards , flints , and pebbles should be thrown on her ; +Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants , +Her maiden strewments , and the bringing home +Of bell and burial . + +Must there no more be done ? + +No more be done : +We should profane the service of the dead , +To sing a requiem , and such rest to her +As to peace-parted souls . + +Lay her i' the earth ; +And from her fair and unpolluted flesh +May violets spring ! I tell thee , churlish priest , +A ministering angel shall my sister be , +When thou liest howling . + +What ! the fair Ophelia ? + +Sweets to the sweet : farewell ! + +I hop'd thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife ; +I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd , sweet maid , +And not have strew'd thy grave . + +O ! treble woe +Fall ten times treble on that cursed head +Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense +Depriv'd thee of . Hold off the earth awhile , +Till I have caught her once more in mine arms . + +Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead , +Till of this flat a mountain you have made , +To o'er-top old Pelion or the skyish head +Of blue Olympus . + +What is he whose grief +Bears such an emphasis ? whose phrase of sorrow +Conjures the wandering stars , and makes them stand +Like wonder-wounded hearers ? this is I , +Hamlet the Dane . + + +The devil take thy soul ! + + +Thou pray'st not well . +I prithee , take thy fingers from my throat ; +For though I am not splenetive and rash +Yet have I in me something dangerous , +Which let thy wisdom fear . Away thy hand ! + +Pluck them asunder . + +Hamlet ! Hamlet ! + +Gentlemen , + +Good my lord , be quiet . + + +Why , I will fight with him upon this theme +Until my eyelids will no longer wag . + +O my son ! what theme ? + +I lov'd Ophelia : forty thousand brothers +Could not , with all their quantity of love , +Make up my sum . What wilt thou do for her ? + +O ! he is mad , Laertes . + +For love of God , forbear him . + +'Swounds , show me what thou'lt do : +Woo't weep ? woo't fight ? woo't fast ? woo't tear thyself ? +Woo't drink up eisel ? eat a crocodile ? +I'll do't . Dost thou come here to whine ? +To outface me with leaping in her grave ? +Be buried quick with her , and so will I : +And , if thou prate of mountains , let them throw +Millions of acres on us , till our ground , +Singeing his pate against the burning zone , +Make Ossa like a wart ! Nay , an thou'lt mouth , +I'll rant as well as thou . + +This is mere madness : +And thus a while the fit will work on him ; +Anon , as patient as the female dove , +When that her golden couplets are disclos'd , +His silence will sit drooping . + +Hear you , sir ; +What is the reason that you use me thus ? +I lov'd you ever : but it is no matter ; +Let Hercules himself do what he may , +The cat will mew and dog will have his day . + + +I pray you , good Horatio , wait upon him . + +Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech ; +We'll put the matter to the present push . +Good Gertrude , set some watch over your son . +This grave shall have a living monument : +An hour of quiet shortly shall we see ; +Till then , in patience our proceeding be . + + +So much for this , sir : now shall you see the other ; +You do remember all the circumstance ? + +Remember it , my lord ? + +Sir , in my heart there was a kind of fighting +That would not let me sleep ; methought I lay +Worse than the mutines in the bilboes . Rashly , +And prais'd be rashness for it , let us know , +Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well +When our deep plots do pall ; and that should teach us +There's a divinity that shapes our ends , +Rough-hew them how we will . + +That is most certain . + +Up from my cabin , +My sea-gown scarf'd about me , in the dark +Grop'd I to find out them , had my desire , +Finger'd their packet , and in fine withdrew +To mine own room again ; making so bold +My fears forgetting manners to unseal +Their grand commission ; where I found , Horatio , +O royal knavery ! an exact command , +Larded with many several sorts of reasons +Importing Denmark's health , and England's too , +With , ho ! such bugs and goblins in my life , +That , on the supervise , no leisure bated , +No , not to stay the grinding of the axe , +My head should be struck off . + +Is 't possible ? + +Here's the commission : read it at more leisure . +But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed ? + +I beseech you . + +Being thus be-netted round with villanies , +Ere I could make a prologue to my brains +They had begun the play ,I sat me down , +Devis'd a new commission , wrote it fair ; +I once did hold it , as our statists do , +A baseness to write fair , and labour'd much +How to forget that learning ; but , sir , now +It did me yeoman's service . Wilt thou know +The effect of what I wrote ? + +Ay , good my lord . + +An earnest conjuration from the king , +As England was his faithful tributary , +As love between them like the palm should flourish , +As peace should still her wheaten garland wear , +And stand a comma 'tween their amities , +And many such-like 'As'es of great charge , +That , on the view and knowing of these contents , +Without debatement further , more or less , +He should the bearers put to sudden death , +Not shriving-time allow'd . + +How was this seal'd ? + +Why , even in that was heaven ordinant . +I had my father's signet in my purse , +Which was the model of that Danish seal ; +Folded the writ up in form of the other , +Subscrib'd it , gave't th' impression , plac'd it safely , +The changeling never known . Now , the next day +Was our sea-fight , and what to this was sequent +Thou know'st already . + +So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to 't . + +Why , man , they did make love to this employment ; +They are not near my conscience ; their defeat +Does by their own insinuation grow . +'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes +Between the pass and fell-incensed points +Of mighty opposites . + +Why , what a king is this ! + +Does it not , thinks't thee , stand me now upon +He that hath kill'd my king and whor'd my mother , +Popp'd in between the election and my hopes , +Thrown out his angle for my proper life , +And with such cozenage is 't not perfect conscience +To quit him with this arm ? and is 't not to be damn'd +To let this canker of our nature come +In further evil ? + +It must be shortly known to him from England +What is the issue of the business there . + +It will be short : the interim is mine ; +And a man's life's no more than to say 'One .' +But I am very sorry , good Horatio , +That to Laertes I forgot myself ; +For , by the image of my cause , I see +The portraiture of his : I'll count his favours : +But , sure , the bravery of his grief did put me +Into a towering passion . + +Peace ! who comes here ? + + +Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark . + +I humbly thank you , sir . + +Dost know this water-fly ? + +No , my good lord . + +Thy state is the more gracious ; for 'tis a vice to know him . He hath much land , and fertile : let a beast be lord of beasts , and his crib shall stand at the king's mess : 'tis a chough ; but , as I say , spacious in the possession of dirt . + +Sweet lord , if your lordship were at leisure , I should impart a thing to you from his majesty . + +I will receive it , sir , with all diligence of spirit . Your bonnet to his right use ; 'tis for the head . + +I thank your lordship , 'tis very hot . + +No , believe me , 'tis very cold ; the wind is northerly . + +It is indifferent cold , my lord , indeed . + +But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion . + +Exceedingly , my lord ; it is very sultry , as 'twere , I cannot tell how . But , my lord , his majesty bade me signify to you that he has laid a great wager on your head . Sir , this is the matter , + +I beseech you , remember + + +Nay , good my lord ; for mine ease , in good faith . Sir , here is newly come to court Laertes ; believe me , an absolute gentleman , full of most excellent differences , of very soft society and great showing ; indeed , to speak feelingly of him , he is the card or calendar of gentry , for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see . + +Sir , his definement suffers no perdition in you ; though , I know , to divide him inventorially would dizzy the arithmetic of memory , and yet but yaw neither , in respect of his quick sail . But , in the verity of extolment , I take him to be a soul of great article ; and his infusion of such dearth and rareness , as , to make true diction of him , his semblable is his mirror ; and who else would trace him , his umbrage , nothing more . + +Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him . + +The concernancy , sir ? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath ? + +Sir ? + +Is 't not possible to understand in another tongue ? You will do 't , sir , really . + +What imports the nomination of this gentleman ? + +Of Laertes ? + +His purse is empty already ; all 's golden words are spent . + +Of him , sir . + +I know you are not ignorant + +I would you did , sir ; in faith , if you did , it would not much approve me . Well , sir . + +You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is + +I dare not confess that , lest I should compare with him in excellence ; but , to know a man well , were to know himself . + +I mean , sir , for his weapon ; but in the imputation laid on him by them , in his meed he's unfellowed . + +What's his weapon ? + +Rapier and dagger . + +That's two of his weapons ; but , well . + +The king , sir , hath wagered with him six Barbary horses ; against the which he has imponed , as I take it , six French rapiers and poniards , with their assigns , as girdle , hangers , and so : three of the carriages , in faith , are very dear to fancy , very responsive to the hilts , most delicate carriages , and of very liberal conceit . + +What call you the carriages ? + +I knew you must be edified by the margent , ere you had done . + +The carriages , sir , are the hangers . + +The phrase would be more german to the matter , if we could carry cannon by our sides ; I would it might be hangers till then . But , on ; six Barbary horses against six French swords , their assigns , and three liberal-conceited carriages ; that's the French bet against the Danish . Why is this 'imponed ,' as you call it ? + +The king , sir , hath laid , that in a dozen passes between yourself and him , he shall not exceed you three hits ; he hath laid on twelve for nine , and it would come to immediate trial , if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer . + +How if I answer no ? + +I mean , my lord , the opposition of your person in trial . + +Sir , I will walk here in the hall ; if it please his majesty , 'tis the breathing time of day with me ; let the foils be brought , the gentleman willing , and the king hold his purpose , I will win for him an I can ; if not , I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits . + +Shall I re-deliver you so ? + +To this effect , sir ; after what flourish your nature will . + +I commend my duty to your lordship . + +Yours , yours . + +He does well to commend it himself ; there are no tongues else for 's turn . + +This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head . + +He did comply with his dug before he sucked it . Thus has he and many more of the same bevy , that I know the drossy age dotes on only got the tune of the time and outward habit of encounter , a kind of yesty collection which carries them through and through the most fond and winnowed opinions ; and do but blow them to their trial , the bubbles are out . + + +My lord , his majesty commended him to you by young Osric , who brings back to him , that you attend him in the hall ; he sends to know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes , or that you will take longer time . + +I am constant to my purposes ; they follow the king's pleasure : if his fitness speaks , mine is ready ; now , or whensoever , provided I be so able as now . + +The king , and queen , and all are coming down . + +In happy time . + +The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play . + +She well instructs me . + + +You will lose this wager , my lord . + +I do not think so ; since he went into France , I have been in continual practice ; I shall win at the odds . But thou wouldst not think how ill all 's here about my heart ; but it is no matter . + +Nay , good my lord , + +It is but foolery ; but it is such a kind of gain-giving as would perhaps trouble a woman . + +If your mind dislike any thing , obey it ; I will forestal their repair hither , and say you are not fit . + +Not a whit , we defy augury ; there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow . If it be now , 'tis not to come ; if it be not to come , it will be now ; if it be not now , yet it will come : the readiness is all . Since no man has aught of what he leaves , what is 't to leave betimes ? Let be . + + +Come , Hamlet , come , and take this hand from me . + + +Give me your pardon , sir ; I've done you wrong ; +But pardon 't , as you are a gentleman . +This presence knows , +And you must needs have heard , how I am punish'd +With sore distraction . What I have done , +That might your nature , honour and exception +Roughly awake , I here proclaim was madness . +Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes ? Never Hamlet : +If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away , +And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes , +Then Hamlet does it not ; Hamlet denies it . +Who does it then ? His madness . If 't be so , +Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd ; +His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy . +Sir , in this audience , +Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil +Free me so far in your most generous thoughts , +That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house , +And hurt my brother . + +I am satisfied in nature , +Whose motive , in this case , should stir me most +To my revenge ; but in my terms of honour +I stand aloof , and will no reconcilement , +Till by some elder masters , of known honour , +I have a voice and precedent of peace , +To keep my name ungor'd . But till that time , +I do receive your offer'd love like love , +And will not wrong it . + +I embrace it freely ; +And will this brother's wager frankly play . +Give us the foils . Come on . + +Come , one for me . + +I'll be your foil , Laertes ; in mine ignorance +Your skill shall , like a star i' the darkest night , +Stick fiery off indeed . + +You mock me , sir . + +No , by this hand . + +Give them the foils , young Osric . Cousin Hamlet , +You know the wager ? + +Very well , my lord ; +Your Grace hath laid the odds o' the weaker side . + +I do not fear it ; I have seen you both ; +But since he is better'd , we have therefore odds . + +This is too heavy ; let me see another . + +This likes me well . These foils have all a length ? + +Ay , my good lord . + + +Set me the stoups of wine upon that table . +If Hamlet give the first or second hit , +Or quit in answer of the third exchange , +Let all the battlements their ordnance fire ; +The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath ; +And in the cup an union shall he throw , +Richer than that which four successive kings +In Denmark's crown have worn . Give me the cups ; +And let the kettle to the trumpet speak , +The trumpet to the cannoneer without , +The cannons to the heavens , the heavens to earth , +'Now the king drinks to Hamlet !' Come , begin ; +And you , the judges , bear a wary eye . + +Come on , sir . + +Come , my lord . + + +One . + +No . + +Judgment . + +A hit , a very palpable hit . + +Well ; again . + +Stay ; give me drink . Hamlet , this pearl is thine ; +Here's to thy health . Give him the cup . + + +I'll play this bout first ; set it by awhile . +Come . + +Another hit ; what say you ? + +A touch , a touch , I do confess . + +Our son shall win . + +He's fat , and scant of breath . +Here , Hamlet , take my napkin , rub thy brows ; +The queen carouses to thy fortune , Hamlet . + +Good madam ! + +Gertrude , do not drink . + +I will , my lord ; I pray you , pardon me . + +It is the poison'd cup ! it is too late . + +I dare not drink yet , madam ; by and by . + +Come , let me wipe thy face . + +My lord , I'll hit him now . + +I do not think 't + +And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience . + +Come , for the third , Laertes . You but dally ; +I pray you , pass with your best violence . +I am afeard you make a wanton of me . + +Say you so ? come on . + + +Nothing , neither way . + +Have at you now . + + +Part them ! they are incens'd + +Nay , come , again . + + +Look to the queen there , ho ! + +They bleed on both sides . How is it , my lord ? + +How is it , Laertes ? + +Why , as a woodcock to mine own springe , Osric ; +I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery . + +How does the queen ? + +She swounds to see them bleed . + +No , no , the drink , the drink ,O my dear Hamlet ! +The drink , the drink ; I am poison'd . + + +O villany ! Ho ! let the door be lock'd : +Treachery ! seek it out . + + +It is here , Hamlet . Hamlet , thou art slain ; +No medicine in the world can do thee good ; +In thee there is not half an hour of life ; +The treacherous instrument is in thy hand , +Unbated and envenom'd . The foul practice +Hath turn'd itself on me ; lo ! here I lie , +Never to rise again . Thy mother's poison'd . +I can no more . The king , the king's to blame . + +The point envenom'd tool . +Then , venom , to thy work . + + +Treason ! treason ! + +O ! yet defend me , friends ; I am but hurt . + +Here , thou incestuous , murderous , damned Dane , +Drink off this potion ;is thy union here ? +Follow my mother . + + +He is justly serv'd ; +It is a poison temper'd by himself . +Exchange forgiveness with me , noble Hamlet : +Mine and my father's death come not upon thee , +Nor thine on me ! + + +Heaven make thee free of it ! I follow thee . +I am dead , Horatio . Wretched queen , adieu ! +You that look pale and tremble at this chance , +That are but mutes or audience to this act , +Had I but time ,as this fell sergeant , death , +Is strict in his arrest ,O ! I could tell you +But let it be . Horatio , I am dead ; +Thou liv'st ; report me and my cause aright +To the unsatisfied . + +Never believe it ; +I am more an antique Roman than a Dane : +Here's yet some liquor left . + +As thou'rt a man , +Give me the cup : let go ; by heaven , I'll have 't . +O God ! Horatio , what a wounded name , +Things standing thus unknown , shall live behind me . +If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart , +Absent thee from felicity awhile , +And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain , +To tell my story . + +What war-like noise is this ? + +Young Fortinbras , with conquest come from Poland , +To the ambassadors of England gives +This war-like volley . + +O ! I die , Horatio ; +The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit : +I cannot live to hear the news from England , +But I do prophesy the election lights +On Fortinbras : he has my dying voice ; +So tell him , with the occurrents , more and less , +Which have solicited The rest is silence . + + +Now cracks a noble heart . Good-night , sweet prince , +And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest ! +Why does the drum come hither ? + +Where is this sight ? + +What is it ye would see ? +If aught of woe or wonder , cease your search . + +This quarry cries on havoc . O proud death ! +What feast is toward in thine eternal cell , +That thou so many princes at a shot +So bloodily hast struck ? + +The sight is dismal ; +And our affairs from England come too late : +The ears are senseless that should give us hearing , +To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd , +That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead . +Where should we have our thanks ? + +Not from his mouth , +Had it the ability of life to thank you : +He never gave commandment for their death . +But since , so jump upon this bloody question , +You from the Polack wars , and you from England , +Are here arriv'd , give order that these bodies +High on a stage be placed to the view ; +And let me speak to the yet unknowing world +How these things came about : so shall you hear +Of carnal , bloody , and unnatural acts , +Of accidental judgments , casual slaughters ; +Of deaths put on by cunning and forc'd cause , +And , in this upshot , purposes mistook +Fall'n on the inventors' heads ; all this can I +Truly deliver . + +Let us haste to hear it , +And call the noblest to the audience . +For me , with sorrow I embrace my fortune ; +I have some rights of memory in this kingdom , +Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me . + +Of that I shall have also cause to speak , +And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more : +But let this same be presently perform'd , +Even while men's minds are wild , lest more mischance +On plots and errors happen . + +Let four captains +Bear Hamlet , like a soldier , to the stage ; +For he was likely , had he been put on , +To have prov'd most royally : and , for his passage , +The soldiers' music and the rites of war +Speak loudly for him . +Take up the bodies : such a sight as this +Becomes the field , but here shows much amiss . +Go , bid the soldiers shoot . + +JULIUS CAESAR + +Hence ! home , you idle creatures , get you home : +Is this a holiday ? What ! know you not , +Being mechanical , you ought not walk +Upon a labouring day without the sign +Of your profession ? Speak , what trade art thou ? + +Why , sir , a carpenter . + +Where is thy leather apron , and thy rule ? +What dost thou with thy best apparel on ? +You , sir , what trade are you ? + +Truly , sir , in respect of a fine workman , I am but , as you would say , a cobbler . + +But what trade art thou ? Answer me directly . + +A trade , sir , that , I hope , I may use with a safe conscience ; which is , indeed , sir , a mender of bad soles . + +What trade , thou knave ? thou naughty knave , what trade ? + +Nay , I beseech you , sir , be not out with me : yet , if you be out , sir , I can mend you . + +What meanest thou by that ? Mend me , thou saucy fellow ! + +Why , sir , cobble you . + +Thou art a cobbler , art thou ? + +Truly , sir , all that I live by is with the awl : I meddle with no tradesman's matters , nor women's matters , but with awl . I am , indeed , sir , a surgeon to old shoes ; when they are in great danger , I recover them . As proper men as ever trod upon neat's leather have gone upon my handiwork . + +But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day ? +Why dost thou lead these men about the streets ? + +Truly , sir , to wear out their shoes , to get myself into more work . But , indeed , sir , we make holiday to see C sar and to rejoice in his triumph . + +Wherefore rejoice ? What conquest brings he home ? +What tributaries follow him to Rome +To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels ? +You blocks , you stones , you worse than senseless things ! +O you hard hearts , you cruel men of Rome , +Knew you not Pompey ? Many a time and oft +Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements , +To towers and windows , yea , to chimney-tops , +Your infants in your arms , and there have sat +The livelong day , with patient expectation , +To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome : +And when you saw his chariot but appear , +Have you not made a universal shout , +That Tiber trembled underneath her banks , +To hear the replication of your sounds +Made in her concave shores ? +And do you now put on your best attire ? +And do you now cull out a holiday ? +And do you now strew flowers in his way , +That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood ? +Be gone ! +Run to your houses , fall upon your knees , +Pray to the gods to intermit the plague +That needs must light on this ingratitude . + +Go , go , good countrymen , and , for this fault +Assemble all the poor men of your sort ; +Draw them to Tiber banks , and weep your tears +Into the channel , till the lowest stream +Do kiss the most exalted shores of all . + +See whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd ; +They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness . +Go you down that way towards the Capitol ; +This way will I . Disrobe the images +If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies . + +May we do so ? +You know it is the feast of Lupercal . + +It is no matter ; let no images +Be hung with C sar's trophies . I'll about +And drive away the vulgar from the streets : +So do you too where you perceive them thick . +These growing feathers pluck'd from C sar's wing +Will make him fly an ordinary pitch , +Who else would soar above the view of men +And keep us all in servile fearfulness . + + +Calphurnia ! + +Peace , ho ! C sar speaks . + + +Calphurnia ! + +Here , my lord . + +Stand you directly in Antonius' way +When he doth run his course . Antonius ! + +C sar , my lord . + +Forget not , in your speed , Antonius , +To touch Calphurnia ; for our elders say , +The barren , touched in this holy chase , +Shake off their sterile curse . + +I shall remember : +When C sar says 'Do this ,' it is perform'd . + +Set on ; and leave no ceremony out . + + +C sar ! + +Ha ! Who calls ? + +Bid every noise be still : peace yet again ! + + +Who is it in the press that calls on me ? +I hear a tongue , shriller than all the music , +Cry 'C sar .' Speak ; C sar is turn'd to hear . + +Beware the ides of March . + +What man is that ? + +A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March . + +Set him before me ; let me see his face . + +Fellow , come from the throng ; look upon C sar . + +What sayst thou to me now ? Speak once again . + +Beware the ides of March . + +He is a dreamer ; let us leave him : pass . + + +Will you go see the order of the course ? + +Not I . + +I pray you , do . + +I am not gamesome : I do lack some part +Of that quick spirit that is in Antony . +Let me not hinder , Cassius , your desires ; +I'll leave you . + +Brutus , I do observe you now of late : +I have not from your eyes that gentleness +And show of love as I was wont to have : +You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand +Over your friend that loves you . + +Cassius , +Be not deceiv'd : if I have veil'd my look , +I turn the trouble of my countenance +Merely upon myself . Vexed I am +Of late with passions of some difference , +Conceptions only proper to myself , +Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviours ; +But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd , +Among which number , Cassius , be you one , +Nor construe any further my neglect , +Than that poor Brutus , with himself at war , +Forgets the shows of love to other men . + +Then , Brutus , I have much mistook your passion ; +By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried +Thoughts of great value , worthy cogitations . +Tell me , good Brutus , can you see your face ? + +No , Cassius ; for the eye sees not itself , +But by reflection , by some other things . + +'Tis just : +And it is very much lamented , Brutus , +That you have no such mirrors as will turn +Your hidden worthiness into your eye , +That you might see your shadow . I have heard , +Where many of the best respect in Rome , +Except immortal C sar ,speaking of Brutus , +And groaning underneath this age's yoke , +Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes . + +Into what dangers would you lead me , Cassius , +That you would have me seek into myself +For that which is not in me ? + +Therefore , good Brutus , be prepar'd to hear ; +And , since you know you cannot see yourself +So well as by reflection , I , your glass , +Will modestly discover to yourself +That of yourself which you yet know not of . +And be not jealous on me , gentle Brutus : +Were I a common laugher , or did use +To stale with ordinary oaths my love +To every new protester ; if you know +That I do fawn on men and hug them hard , +And after scandal them ; or if you know +That I profess myself in banqueting +To all the rout , then hold me dangerous . + + +What means this shouting ? I do fear the people +Choose C sar for their king . + +Ay , do you fear it ? +Then must I think you would not have it so . + +I would not , Cassius ; yet I love him well . +But wherefore do you hold me here so long ? +What is it that you would impart to me ? +If it be aught toward the general good , +Set honour in one eye and death i' the other , +And I will look on both indifferently ; +For let the gods so speed me as I love +The name of honour more than I fear death . + +I know that virtue to be in you , Brutus , +As well as I do know your outward favour . +Well , honour is the subject of my story . +I cannot tell what you and other men +Think of this life ; but , for my single self , +I had as lief not be as live to be +In awe of such a thing as I myself . +I was born free as C sar ; so were you : +We both have fed as well , and we can both +Endure the winter's cold as well as he : +For once , upon a raw and gusty day , +The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores , +C sar said to me , 'Dar'st thou , Cassius , now +Leap in with me into this angry flood , +And swim to yonder point ?' Upon the word , +Accoutred as I was , I plunged in +And bade him follow ; so , indeed he did . +The torrent roar'd , and we did buffet it +With lusty sinews , throwing it aside +And stemming it with hearts of controversy ; +But ere we could arrive the point propos'd , +C sar cried , 'Help me , Cassius , or I sink !' +I , as neas , our great ancestor , +Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder +The old Anchises bear , so from the waves of Tiber +Did I the tired C sar . And this man +Is now become a god , and Cassius is +A wretched creature and must bend his body +If C sar carelessly but nod on him . +He had a fever when he was in Spain , +And when the fit was on him , I did mark +How he did shake ; 'tis true , this god did shake ; +His coward lips did from their colour fly , +And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world +Did lose his lustre ; I did hear him groan ; +Ay , and that tongue of his that bade the Romans +Mark him and write his speeches in their books , +Alas ! it cried , 'Give me some drink , Titinius ,' +As a sick girl . Ye gods , it doth amaze me , +A man of such a feeble temper should +So get the start of the majestic world , +And bear the palm alone . + + +Another general shout ! +I do believe that these applauses are +For some new honours that are heaped on C sar . + +Why , man , he doth bestride the narrow world +Like a Colossus ; and we petty men +Walk under his huge legs , and peep about +To find ourselves dishonourable graves . +Men at some time are masters of their fates : +The fault , dear Brutus , is not in our stars , +But in ourselves , that we are underlings . +Brutus and C sar : what should be in that 'C sar ?' +Why should that name be sounded more than yours ? +Write them together , yours is as fair a name ; +Sound them , it doth become the mouth as well ; +Weigh them , it is as heavy ; conjure with 'em , +'Brutus' will start a spirit as soon as 'C sar .' +Now , in the names of all the gods at once , +Upon what meat doth this our C sar feed , +That he is grown so great ? Age , thou art sham'd ! +Rome , thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods ! +When went there by an age , since the great flood , +But it was fam'd with more than with one man ? +When could they say , till now , that talk'd of Rome , +That her wide walls encompass'd but one man ? +Now is it Rome indeed and room enough , +When there is in it but one only man . +O ! you and I have heard our fathers say , +There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd +Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome +As easily as a king . + +That you do love me , I am nothing jealous ; +What you would work me to , I have some aim : +How I have thought of this and of these times , +I shall recount hereafter ; for this present , +I would not , so with love I might entreat you , +Be any further mov'd . What you have said +I will consider ; what you have to say +I will with patience hear , and find a time +Both meet to hear and answer such high things . +Till then , my noble friend , chew upon this : +Brutus had rather be a villager +Than to repute himself a son of Rome +Under these hard conditions as this time +Is like to lay upon us . + +I am glad +That my weak words have struck but thus much show +Of fire from Brutus . + +The games are done and C sar is returning . + +As they pass by , pluck Casca by the sleeve , +And he will , after his sour fashion , tell you +What hath proceeded worthy note to-day . + + +I will do so . But , look you , Cassius , +The angry spot doth glow on C sar's brow , +And all the rest look like a chidden train : +Calphurnia's cheek is pale , and Cicero +Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes +As we have seen him in the Capitol , +Being cross'd in conference by some senators . + +Casca will tell us what the matter is . + +Antonius ! + +C sar . + +Let me have men about me that are fat ; +Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights . +Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look ; +He thinks too much : such men are dangerous : + +Fear him not , C sar , he's not dangerous ; +He is a noble Roman , and well given . + +Would he were fatter ! but I fear him not : +Yet if my name were liable to fear , +I do not know the man I should avoid +So soon as that spare Cassius . He reads much ; +He is a great observer , and he looks +Quite through the deeds of men ; he loves no plays , +As thou dost , Antony ; he hears no music ; +Seldom he smiles , and smiles in such a sort +As if he mock'd himself , and scorn'd his spirit +That could be mov'd to smile at any thing . +Such men as he be never at heart's ease +Whiles they behold a greater than themselves , +And therefore are they very dangerous . +I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd +Than what I fear , for always I am C sar . +Come on my right hand , for this ear is deaf , +And tell me truly what thou think'st of him . + + +You pull'd me by the cloak ; would you speak with me ? + +Ay , Casca ; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day , +That C sar looks so sad . + +Why , you were with him , were you not ? + +I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd . + +Why , there was a crown offered him ; and , being offered him , he put it by with the back of his hand , thus ; and then the people fell a-shouting . + +What was the second noise for ? + +Why , for that too . + +They shouted thrice : what was the last cry for ? + +Why , for that too . + +Was the crown offered him thrice ? + +Ay , marry , was 't , and he put it by thrice , everytime gentler than other ; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted . + +Who offered him the crown ? + +Why , Antony . + +Tell us the manner of it , gentle Casca . + +I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it : it was mere foolery ; I did not mark it . I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown ; yet 'twas not a crown neither , 'twas one of these coronets ; and , as I told you , he put it by once ; but , for all that , to my thinking , he would fain have had it . Then he offered it to him again ; then he put it by again ; but , to my thinking , he was very loath to lay his fingers off it . And then he offered it the third time ; he put it the third time by ; and still as he refused it the rabblement shouted and clapped their chopped hands , and threw up their sweaty night-caps , and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because C sar refused the crown , that it had almost choked C sar ; for he swounded and fell down at it : and for mine own part , I durst not laugh , for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air . + +But soft , I pray you : what ! did C sar swound ? + +He fell down in the market-place , and foamed at mouth , and was speechless . + +'Tis very like : he hath the falling-sickness . + +No , C sar hath it not ; but you , and I , And honest Casca , we have the falling-sickness . + +I know not what you mean by that ; but I am sure C sar fell down . If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him , according as he pleased and displeased them , as they use to do the players in the theatre , I am no true man . + +What said he , when he came unto himself ? + +Marry , before he fell down , when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown , he plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut . An I had been a man of any occupation , if I would not have taken him at a word , I would I might go to hell among the rogues . And so he fell . When he came to himself again , he said , if he had done or said any thing amiss , he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity . Three or four wenches , where I stood , cried , 'Alas ! good soul ,' and forgave him with all their hearts : but there's no head to be taken of them ; if C sar had stabbed their mothers , they would have done no less . + +And after that he came , thus sad , away ? + +Ay . + +Did Cicero say any thing ? + +Ay , he spoke Greek . + +To what effect ? + +Nay , an I tell you that , I'll ne'er look you i' the face again ; but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads ; but , for mine own part , it was Greek to me . I could tell you more news too ; Marullus and Flavius , for pulling scarfs off C sar's images , are put to silence . Fare you well . There was more foolery yet , if I could remember it . + +Will you sup with me to-night , Casca ? + +No , I am promised forth . + +Will you dine with me to-morrow ? + +Ay , if I be alive , and your mind hold , and your dinner worth the eating . + +Good ; I will expect you . + +Do so . Farewell , both . + + +What a blunt fellow is this grown to be ! +He was quick mettle when he went to school . + +So is he now in execution +Of any bold or noble enterprise , +However he puts on this tardy form . +This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit , +Which gives men stomach to digest his words +With better appetite . + +And so it is . For this time I will leave you : +To-morrow , if you please to speak with me , +I will come home to you ; or , if you will , +Come home to me , and I will wait for you . + +I will do so : till then , think of the world . + +Well , Brutus , thou art noble ; yet , I see , +Thy honourable metal may be wrought +From that it is dispos'd : therefore 'tis meet +That noble minds keep ever with their likes ; +For who so firm that cannot be seduc'd ? +C sar doth bear me hard ; but he loves Brutus : +If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius +He should not humour me . I will this night , +In several hands , in at his windows throw , +As if they came from several citizens , +Writings all tending to the great opinion +That Rome holds of his name ; wherein obscurely +C sar's ambition shall be glanced at : +And after this let C sar seat him sure ; +For we will shake him , or worse days endure . + + +Good even , Casca : brought you C sar home ? +Why are you breathless ? and why stare you so ? + +Are not you mov'd , when all the sway of earth +Shakes like a thing unfirm ? O Cicero ! +I have seen tempests , when the scolding winds +Have riv'd the knotty oaks ; and I have seen +The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam , +To be exalted with the threat'ning clouds : +But never till to-night , never till now , +Did I go through a tempest dropping fire . +Either there is a civil strife in heaven , +Or else the world , too saucy with the gods , +Incenses them to send destruction . + +Why , saw you any thing more wonderful ? + +A common slave you know him well by sight +Held up his left hand , which did flame and burn +Like twenty torches join'd ; and yet his hand , +Not sensible of fire , remain'd unscorch'd . +Besides ,I have not since put up my sword , +Against the Capitol I met a hon , +Who glar'd upon me , and went surly by , +Without annoying me ; and there were drawn +Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women , +Transformed with their fear , who swore they saw +Men all in fire walk up and down the streets . +And yesterday the bird of night did sit , +Even at noon-day , upon the market-place , +Hooting and shrieking . When these prodigies +Do so conjointly meet , let not men say +'These are their reasons , they are natural ;' +For , I believe , they are portentous things +Unto the climate that they point upon . + +Indeed , it is a strange-disposed time : +But men may construe things after their fashion , +Clean from the purpose of the things themselves . +Comes C sar to the Capitol to-morrow ? + +He doth ; for he did bid Antonius +Send word to you he would be there to-morrow . + +Good-night then , Casca : this disturbed sky +Is not to walk in . + +Farewell , Cicero . + +Who's there ? + +A Roman . + +Casca , by your voice . + +Your ear is good . Cassius , what night is this ! + +A very pleasing night to honest men . + +Who ever knew the heavens menace so ? + +Those that have known the earth so full of faults . +For my part , I have walk'd about the streets , +Submitting me unto the perilous night , +And , thus unbraced , Casca , as you see , +Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone ; +And , when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open +The breast of heaven , I did present myself +Even in the aim and very flash of it . + +But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens ? +It is the part of men to fear and tremble +When the most mighty gods by tokens send +Such dreadful heralds to astonish us . + +You are dull , Casca , and those sparks of life +That should be in a Roman you do want , +Or else you use not . You look pale , and gaze , +And put on fear , and cast yourself in wonder , +To see the strange impatience of the heavens ; +But if you would consider the true cause +Why all these fires , why all these gliding ghosts , +Why birds and beasts , from quality and kind ; +Why old men , fools , and children calculate ; +Why all these things change from their ordinance , +Their natures , and pre-formed faculties , +To monstrous quality , why , you shall find +That heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits +To make them instruments of fear and warning +Unto some monstrous state . +Now could I , Casca , name to thee a man +Most like this dreadful night , +That thunders , lightens , opens graves , and roars +As doth the lion in the Capitol , +A man no mightier than thyself or me +In personal action , yet prodigious grown +And fearful as these strange eruptions are . + +'Tis C sar that you mean ; is it not , Cassius ? + +Let it be who it is : for Romans now +Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors ; +But , woe the while ! our fathers' minds are dead , +And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits ; +Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish . + +Indeed , they say the senators to-morrow +Mean to establish C sar as a king ; +And he shall wear his crown by sea and land , +In every place , save here in Italy . + +I know where I will wear this dagger then ; +Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius : +Therein , ye gods , you make the weak most strong ; +Therein , ye gods , you tyrants do defeat : +Nor stony tower , nor walls of beaten brass , +Nor airless dungeon , nor strong links of iron , +Can be retentive to the strength of spirit ; +But life , being weary of those worldly bars , +Never lacks power to dismiss itself . +If I know this , know all the world besides , +That part of tyranny that I do bear +I can shake off at pleasure . + + +So can I : +So every bondman in his own hand bears +The power to cancel his captivity . + +And why should C sar be a tyrant then ? +Poor man ! I know he would not be a wolf +But that he sees the Romans are but sheep ; +He were no lion were not Romans hinds . +Those that with haste will make a mighty fire +Begin it with weak straws ; what trash is Rome , +What rubbish , and what offal , when it serves +For the base matter to illuminate +So vile a thing as C sar ! But , O grief ! +Where hast thou led me ? I , perhaps , speak this +Before a willing bondman ; then I know +My answer must be made : but I am arm'd , +And dangers are to me indifferent . + +You speak to Casca , and to such a man +That is no fleering tell-tale . Hold , my hand : +Be factious for redress of all these griefs , +And I will set this foot of mine as far +As who goes furthest . + +There's a bargain made . +Now know you , Casca , I have mov'd already +Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans +To undergo with me an enterprise +Of honourable-dangerous consequence ; +And I do know by this they stay for me +In Pompey's porch : for now , this fearful night , +There is no stir , or walking in the streets ; +And the complexion of the element +In favour's like the work we have in hand , +Most bloody , fiery , and most terrible . + +Stand close awhile , for here comes one in haste . + +'Tis Cinna ; I do know him by his gait : +He is a friend . + +Cinna , where haste you so ? + +To find out you . Who's that ? Metellus Cimber ? + +No , it is Casca ; one incorporate +To our attempts . Am I not stay'd for , Cinna ? + +I am glad on 't . What a fearful night is this ! +There's two or three of us have seen strange sights . + +Am I not stay'd for ? Tell me . + +Yes , you are . +O Cassius ! if you could +But win the noble Brutus to our party + +Be you content . Good Cinna , take this paper , +And look you lay it in the pr tor's chair , +Where Brutus may but find it ; and throw this +In at his window ; set this up with wax +Upon old Brutus' statue : all this done , +Repair to Pompey's porch , where you shall find us . +Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there ? + +All but Metellus Cimber ; and he's gone +To seek you at your house . Well , I will hie , +And so bestow these papers as you bade me . + +That done , repair to Pompey's theatre . + +Come , Casca , you and I will yet ere day +See Brutus at his house : three parts of him +Is ours already , and the man entire +Upon the next encounter yields him ours . + +O ! he sits high in all the people's hearts : +And that which would appear offence in us , +His countenance , like richest alchemy , +Will change to virtue and to worthiness . + +Him and his worth and our great need of him +You have right well conceited . Let us go , +For it is after midnight ; and ere day +We will awake him and be sure of him . + +What , Lucius ! ho ! +I cannot , by the progress of the stars , +Give guess how near to day . Lucius , I say ! +I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly . +When , Lucius , when ! Awake , I say ! what , Lucius ! + + +Call'd you , my lord ? + +Get me a taper in my study , Lucius : +When it is lighted , come and call me here . + +I will , my lord . + + +It must be by his death : and , for my part , +I know no personal cause to spurn at him , +But for the general . He would be crown'd : +How that might change his nature , there's the question : +It is the bright day that brings forth the adder ; +And that craves wary walking . Crown him ?that ! +And then , I grant , we put a sting in him , +That at his will he may do danger with . +The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins +Remorse from power ; and , to speak truth of C sar , +I have not known when his affections sway'd +More than his reason . But 'tis a common proof , +That lowliness is young ambition's ladder , +Whereto the climber-upward turns his face ; +But when he once attains the upmost round , +He then unto the ladder turns his back , +Looks in the clouds , scorning the base degrees +By which he did ascend . So C sar may : +Then , lest he may , prevent . And , since the quarrel +Will bear no colour for the thing he is , +Fashion it thus ; that what he is , augmented , +Would run to these and these extremities ; +And therefore think him as a serpent's egg +Which , hatch'd , would , as his kind , grow mischievous , +And kill him in the shell . + + +The taper burneth in your closet , sir . +Searching the window for a flint , I found +This paper , thus seal'd up ; and I am sure +It did not lie there when I went to bed . + +Get you to bed again ; it is not day . +Is not to-morrow , boy , the ides of March ? + +I know not , sir . + +Look in the calendar , and bring me word . + +I will , sir . + + +The exhalations whizzing in the air +Give so much light that I may read by them . + +Brutus , thou sleep'st : awake and see thyself . +Shall Rome , &c . Speak , strike , redress ! +Brutus , thou sleep'st : awake ! +Such instigations have been often dropp'd +Where I have took them up . +'Shall Rome , &c .' Thus must I piece it out : +Shall Rome stand under one man's awe ? What , Rome ? +My ancestors did from the streets of Rome +The Tarquin drive , when he was call'd a king . +'Speak , strike , redress !' Am I entreated +To speak , and strike ? O Rome ! I make thee promise ; +If the redress will follow , thou receiv'st +Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus ! + + +Sir , March is wasted fourteen days . + + +'Tis good . Go to the gate : somebody knocks . + +Since Cassius first did whet me against C sar , +I have not slept . +Between the acting of a dreadful thing +And the first motion , all the interim is +Like a phantasma , or a hideous dream : +The genius and the mortal instruments +Are then in council ; and the state of man , +Like to a little kingdom , suffers then +The nature of an insurrection . + + +Sir , 'tis your brother Cassius at the door , +Who doth desire to see you . + +Is he alone ? + +No , sir , there are more with him . + +Do you know them ? + +No , sir ; their hats are pluck'd about their ears , +And half their faces buried in their cloaks , +That by no means I may discover them +By any mark of favour . + +Let 'em enter . + +They are the faction . O conspiracy ! +Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night , +When evils are most free ? O ! then by day +Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough +To mask thy monstrous visage ? Seek none , conspiracy ; +Hide it in smiles and affability : +For if thou path , thy native semblance on , +Not Erebus itself were dim enough +To hide thee from prevention . + + +I think we are too bold upon your rest : +Good morrow , Brutus ; do we trouble you ? + +I have been up this hour , awake all night . +Know I these men that come along with you ? + +Yes , every man of them ; and no man here +But honours you ; and every one doth wish +You had but that opinion of yourself +Which every noble Roman bears of you . +This is Trebonius . + +He is welcome hither . + +This , Decius Brutus . + +He is welcome too . + +This , Casca ; this , Cinna ; +And this , Metellus Cimber . + +They are all welcome . +What watchful cares do interpose themselves +Betwixt your eyes and night ? + +Shall I entreat a word ? + + +Here lies the east : doth not the day break here ? + +No . + +O ! pardon , sir , it doth ; and yon grey lines +That fret the clouds are messengers of day . + +You shall confess that you are both deceiv'd . +Here , as I point my sword , the sun arises ; +Which is a great way growing on the south , +Weighing the youthful season of the year . +Some two months hence up higher toward the north +He first presents his fire ; and the high east +Stands , as the Capitol , directly here . + +Give me your hands all over , one by one . + +And let us swear our resolution . + +No , not an oath : if not the face of men , +The sufferance of our souls , the time's abuse , +If these be motives weak , break off betimes , +And every man hence to his idle bed ; +So let high-sighted tyranny range on , +Till each man-drop by lottery . But if these , +As I am sure they do , bear fire enough +To kindle cowards and to steel with valour +The melting spirits of women , then , countrymen , +What need we any spur but our own cause +To prick us to redress ? what other bond +Than secret Romans , that have spoke the word +And will not palter ? and what other oath +Than honesty to honesty engag'd , +That this shall be , or we will fall for it ? +Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous , +Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls +That welcome wrongs ; unto bad causes swear +Such creatures as men doubt ; but do not stain +The even virtue of our enterprise , +Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits , +To think that or our cause or our performance +Did need an oath ; when every drop of blood +That every Roman bears , and nobly bears , +Is guilty of a several bastardy , +If he do break the smallest particle +Of any promise that hath pass'd from him . + +But what of Cicero ? Shall we sound him ? +I think he will stand very strong with us . + +Let us not leave him out . + +No , by no means . + +O ! let us have him ; for his silver hairs +Will purchase us a good opinion +And buy men's voices to commend our deeds : +It shall be said his judgment rul'd our hands ; +Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear , +But all be buried in his gravity . + +O ! name him not : let us not break with him ; +For he will never follow any thing +That other men begin . + +Then leave him out . + +Indeed he is not fit . + +Shall no man else be touch'd but only C sar ? + +Decius , well urg'd . I think it is not meet , +Mark Antony , so well belov'd of C sar , +Should outlive C sar : we shall find of him +A shrewd contriver ; and , you know , his means , +If he improve them , may well stretch so far +As to annoy us all ; which to prevent , +Let Antony and C sar fall together . + +Our course will seem too bloody , Caius Cassius , +To cut the head off and then hack the limbs , +Like wrath in death and envy afterwards ; +For Antony is but a limb of C sar . +Let us be sacrificers , but not butchers , Caius . +We all stand up against the spirit of C sar ; +And in the spirit of men there is no blood : +O ! then that we could come by C sar's spirit , +And not dismember C sar . But , alas ! +C sar must bleed for it . And , gentle friends , +Let's kill him boldly , but not wrathfully ; +Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods , +Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds : +And let our hearts , as subtle masters do , +Stir up their servants to an act of rage , +And after seem to chide 'em . This shall make +Our purpose necessary and not envious ; +Which so appearing to the common eyes , +We shall be call'd purgers , not murderers . +And , for Mark Antony , think not of him ; +For he can do no more than C sar's arm +When C sar's head is off . + +Yet I fear him ; +For in the engrafted love he bears to C sar + +Alas ! good Cassius , do not think of him : +If he love C sar , all that he can do +Is to himself , take thought and die for C sar : +And that were much he should ; for he is given +To sports , to wildness , and much company . + +There is no fear in him ; let him not die : +For he will live , and laugh at this hereafter . + + +Peace ! count the clock . + +The clock hath stricken three . + +'Tis time to part . + +But it is doubtful yet +Whether C sar will come forth to-day or no ; +For he is superstitious grown of late , +Quite from the main opinion he held once +Of fantasy , of dreams , and ceremonies . +It may be , these apparent prodigies , +The unaccustom'd terror of this night , +And the persuasion of his augurers , +May hold him from the Capitol to-day . + +Never fear that : if he be so resolv'd , +I can o'ersway him ; for he loves to hear +That unicorns may be betray'd with trees , +And bears with glasses , elephants with holes , +Lions with toils , and men with flatterers ; +But when I tell him he hates flatterers , +He says he does , being then most flattered . +Let me work ; +For I can give his humour the true bent , +And I will bring him to the Capitol . + +Nay , we will all of us be there to fetch him . + +By the eighth hour : is that the uttermost ? + +Be that the uttermost , and fail not then . + +Caius Ligarius doth bear C sar hard , +Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey : +I wonder none of you have thought of him . + +Now , good Metellus , go along by him : +He loves me well , and I have given him reasons ; +Send him but hither , and I'll fashion him . + +The morning comes upon 's : we'll leave you , Brutus . +And , friends , disperse yourselves ; but all remember +What you have said , and show yourselves true Romans . + +Good gentlemen , look fresh and merrily ; +Let not our looks put on our purposes , +But bear it as our Roman actors do , +With untir'd spirits and formal constancy : +And so good morrow to you every one . + +Boy ! Lucius ! Fast asleep ? It is no matter ; +Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber : +Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies +Which busy care draws in the brains of men ; +Therefore thou sleep'st so sound . + + +Brutus , my lord ! + +Portia , what mean you ? Wherefore rise you now ? +It is not for your health thus to commit +Your weak condition to the raw cold morning . + +Nor for yours neither . You've ungently , Brutus , +Stole from my bed ; and yesternight at supper +You suddenly arose , and walk'd about , +Musing and sighing , with your arms across , +And when I ask'd you what the matter was , +You star'd upon me with ungentle looks . +I urg'd you further ; then you scratch'd your head , +And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot ; +Yet I insisted , yet you answer'd not , +But , with an angry wafture of your hand . +Gave sign for me to leave you . So I did , +Fearing to strengthen that impatience +Which seem'd too much enkindled , and withal +Hoping it was but an effect of humour , +Which sometime hath his hour with every man . +It will not let you eat , nor talk , nor sleep , +And could it work so much upon your shape +As it hath much prevail'd on your condition , +I should not know you , Brutus . Dear my lord , +Make me acquainted with your cause of grief . + +I am not well in health , and that is all . + +Brutus is wise , and were he not in health , +He would embrace the means to come by it . + +Why , so I do . Good Portia , go to bed . + +Is Brutus sick , and is it physical +To walk unbraced and suck up the humours +Of the dank morning ? What ! is Brutus sick , +And will he steal out of his wholesome bed +To dare the vile contagion of the night , +And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air +To add unto his sickness ? No , my Brutus ; +You have some sick offence within your mind , +Which , by the right and virtue of my place , +I ought to know of ; and , upon my knees , +I charm you , by my once-commended beauty , +By all your vows of love , and that great vow +Which did incorporate and make us one , +That you unfold to me , your self , your half , +Why are you heavy , and what men to-night +Have had resort to you ; for here have been +Some six or seven , who did hide their faces +Even from darkness . + +Kneel not , gentle Portia . + +I should not need , if you were gentle Brutus . +Within the bond of marriage , tell me , Brutus , +Is it excepted , I should know no secrets +That appertain to you ? Am I yourself +But , as it were , in sort of limitation , +To keep with you at meals , comfort your bed , +And talk to you sometimes ? Dwell I but in the suburbs +Of your good pleasure ? If it be no more , +Portia is Brutus' harlot , not his wife . + +You are my true and honourable wife , +As dear to me as are the ruddy drops +That visit my sad heart . + +If this were true then should I know this secret . +I grant I am a woman , but , withal , +A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife ; +I grant I am a woman , but , withal , +A woman well-reputed , Cato's daughter . +Think you I am no stronger than my sex , +Being so father'd and so husbanded ? +Tell me your counsels , I will not disclose 'em . +I have made strong proof of my constancy , +Giving myself a voluntary wound +Here , in the thigh : can I bear that with patience +And not my husband's secrets ? + +O ye gods ! +Render me worthy of this noble wife . + +Hark , hark ! one knocks . Portia , go in awhile ; +And by and by thy bosom shall partake +The secrets of my heart . +All my engagements I will construe to thee , +All the charactery of my sad brows . +Leave me with haste . + +Lucius , who's that knocks ? + + +Here is a sick man that would speak with you . + +Caius Ligarius , that Metellus spoke of . +Boy , stand aside . Caius Ligarius ! how ? + +Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue . + +O ! what a time have you chose out , brave Caius , +To wear a kerchief . Would you were not sick . + +I am not sick if Brutus have in hand +Any exploit worthy the name of honour . + +Such an exploit have I in hand , Ligarius , +Had you a healthful ear to hear of it . + +By all the gods that Romans bow before +I here discard my sickness . Soul of Rome ! +Brave son , deriv'd from honourable loins ! +Thou , like an exorcist , hast conjur'd up +My mortified spirit . Now bid me run , +And I will strive with things impossible ; +Yea , get the better of them . What's to do ? + +A piece of work that will make sick men whole . + +But are not some whole that we must make sick ? + +That must we also . What it is , my Caius , +I shall unfold to thee as we are going +To whom it must be done . + +Set on your foot , +And with a heart new-fir'd I follow you , +To do I know not what ; but it sufficeth +That Brutus leads me on . + +Follow me then . + + +Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night : +Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out , +'Help , ho ! They murder C sar !' Who's within ? + + +My lord ! + +Go bid the priests do present sacrifice , +And bring me their opinions of success . + +I will , my lord . + +What mean you , C sar ? Think you to walk forth ? +You shall not stir out of your house to-day . + +C sar shall forth : the things that threaten'd me +Ne'er look'd but on my back ; when they shall see +The face of C sar , they are vanished . + +C sar , I never stood on ceremonies , +Yet now they fright me . There is one within , +Besides the things that we have heard and seen , +Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch . +A lioness hath whelped in the streets ; +And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead ; +Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds , +In ranks and squadrons and right form of war , +Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol ; +The noise of battle hurtled in the air , +Horses did neigh , and dying men did groan , +And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets . +O C sar ! these things are beyond all use , +And I do fear them . + +What can be avoided +Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods ? +Yet C sar shall go forth ; for these predictions +Are to the world in general as to C sar . + +When beggars die there are no comets seen ; +The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes . + +Cowards die many times before their deaths ; +The valiant never taste of death but once . +Of all the wonders that I yet have heard , +It seems to me most strange that men should fear ; +Seeing that death , a necessary end , +Will come when it will come . + +What say the augurers ? + +They would not have you to stir forth to-day . +Plucking the entrails of an offering forth , +They could not find a heart within the beast . + +The gods do this in shame of cowardice : +C sar should be a beast without a heart +If he should stay at home to-day for fear . +No , C sar shall not ; danger knows full well +That C sar is more dangerous than he : +We are two lions litter'd in one day , +And I the elder and more terrible : +And C sar shall go forth . + +Alas ! my lord , +Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence . +Do not go forth to-day : call it my fear +That keeps you in the house , and not your own . +We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house , +And he shall say you are not well to-day : +Let me , upon my knee , prevail in this . + +Mark Antony shall say I am not well ; +And , for thy humour , I will stay at home . + +Here's Decius Brutus , he shall tell them so . + +C sar , all hail ! Good morrow , worthy C sar : +I come to fetch you to the senate-house . + +And you are come in very happy time +To bear my greeting to the senators , +And tell them that I will not come to-day : +Cannot , is false , and that I dare not , falser ; +I will not come to-day : tell them so , Decius . + +Say he is sick . + +Shall C sar send a lie ? +Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far +To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth ? +Decius , go tell them C sar will not come . + +Most mighty C sar , let me know some cause , +Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so . + +The cause is in my will : I will not come ; +That is enough to satisfy the senate : +But for your private satisfaction , +Because I love you , I will let you know : +Calphurnia here , my wife , stays me at home : +She dreamt to-night she saw my statua , +Which , like a fountain with a hundred spouts , +Did run pure blood ; and many lusty Romans +Came smiling , and did bathe their hands in it : +And these does she apply for warnings and portents , +And evils imminent ; and on her knee +Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day . + +This dream is all amiss interpreted ; +It was a vision fair and fortunate : +Your statue spouting blood in many pipes , +In which so many smiling Romans bath'd , +Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck +Reviving blood , and that great men shall press +For tinctures , stains , relics , and cognizance . +This by Calphurnia's dream is signified . + +And this way have you well expounded it . + +I have , when you have heard what I can say : +And know it now : the senate have concluded +To give this day a crown to mighty C sar . +If you shall send them word you will not come , +Their minds may change . Besides , it were a mock +Apt to be render'd , for some one to say +'Break up the senate till another time , +When C sar's wife shall meet with better dreams .' +If C sar hide himself , shall they not whisper +'Lo ! C sar is afraid ?' +Pardon me , C sar ; for my dear dear love +To your proceeding bids me tell you this , +And reason to my love is liable . + +How foolish do your fears seem now , Calphurnia ! +I am ashamed I did yield to them . +Give me my robe , for I will go : + +And look where Publius is come to fetch me . + +Good morrow , C sar . + +Welcome , Publius . +What ! Brutus , are you stirr'd so early too ? +Good morrow , Casca . Caius Ligarius , +C sar was ne'er so much your enemy +As that same ague which hath made you lean . +What is't o'clock ? + +C sar , 'tis strucken eight . + +I thank you for your pains and courtesy . + + +See ! Antony , that revels long o' nights , + +Is notwithstanding up . Good morrow , Antony . + +So to most noble C sar . + +Bid them prepare within : +I am to blame to be thus waited for . +Now , Cinna ; now , Metellus ; what , Trebonius ! +I have an hour's talk in store for you ; +Remember that you call on me to-day : +Be near me , that I may remember you . + +C sar , I will : + +and so near will I be , +That your best friends shall wish I had been further . + +Good friends , go in , and taste some wine with me ; +And we , like friends , will straightway go together . + +That every like is not the same , O C sar ! +The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon . + + +C sar , beware of Brutus ; take heed of Cassius ; come not near Casca ; have an eye to Cinna ; trust not Trebonius ; mark well Metellus Cimber ; Decius Brutus loves thee not ; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius . There is but one mind in all these men , and it is bent against C sar . If thou be'st not immortal , look about you : security gives way to conspiracy . The mighty gods defend thee ! Thy lover , +Here will I stand till C sar pass along , +And as a suitor will I give him this . +My heart laments that virtue cannot live +Out of the teeth of emulation . +If thou read this , O C sar ! thou mayst live ; +If not , the Fates with traitors do contrive . + + +I prithee , boy , run to the senate-house ; +Stay not to answer me , but get thee gone . +Why dost thou stay ? + +To know my errand , madam . + +I would have had thee there , and here again , +Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there . +O constancy ! be strong upon my side ; +Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue ; +I have a man's mind , but a woman's might . +How hard it is for women to keep counsel ! +Art thou here yet ? + +Madam , what shall I do ? +Run to the Capitol , and nothing else ? +And so return to you , and nothing else ? + +Yes , bring me word , boy , if thy lord look well , +For he went sickly forth ; and take good note +What C sar doth , what suitors press to him . +Hark , boy ! what noise is that ? + +I hear none , madam . + +Prithee , listen well : +I heard a bustling rumour , like a fray , +And the wind brings it from the Capitol . + +Sooth , madam , I hear nothing . + + +Come hither , fellow : which way hast thou been ? + +At mine own house , good lady . + +What is 't o'clock ? + +About the ninth hour , lady . + +Is C sar yet gone to the Capitol ? + +Madam , not yet : I go to take my stand , +To see him pass on to the Capitol . + +Thou hast some suit to C sar , hast thou not ? + +That I have , lady : if it will please C sar +To be so good to C sar as to hear me , +I shall beseech him to befriend himself . + +Why , know'st thou any harm's intended towards him ? + +None that I know will be , much that I fear may chance . +Good morrow to you . Here the street is narrow : +The throng that follows C sar at the heels , +Of senators , of pr tors , common suitors , +Will crowd a feeble man almost to death : +I'll get me to a place more void , and there +Speak to great C sar as he comes along . + + +I must go in . Ay me ! how weak a thing +The heart of woman is . O Brutus ! +The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise . +Sure , the boy heard me : Brutus hath a suit +That C sar will not grant . O ! I grow faint . +Run , Lucius , and commend me to my lord ; +Say I am merry : come to me again , +And bring me word what he doth say to thee . + +The idea of March are come . + +Ay , C sar ; but not gone . + +Hail , C sar ! Read this schedule . + +Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read , +At your best leisure , this his humble suit . + +O C sar ! read mine first ; for mine's a suit +That touches C sar nearer . Read it , great C sar . + +What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd + +Delay not , C sar ; read it instantly . + +What ! is the fellow mad ? + +Sirrah , give place . + +What ! urge you your petitions in the street ? +Come to the Capitol . + + +I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive . + +What enterprise , Popilius ? + +Fare you well . + + +What said Popilius Lena ? + +He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive . +I fear our purpose is discovered . + +Look , how he makes to C sar : mark him . + +Casca , be sudden , for we fear prevention . +Brutus , what shall be done ? If this be known , +Cassius or C sar never shall turn back , +For I will slay myself . + +Cassius , be constant : +Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes ; +For , look , he smiles , and C sar doth not change . + +Trebonius knows his time ; for , look you , Brutus , +He draws Mark Antony out of the way . + + +Where is Metellus Cimber ? Let him go , +And presently prefer his suit to C sar . + +He is address'd ; press near and second him . + +Casca , you are the first that rears your hand . + +Are we all ready ? What is now amiss , +That C sar and his senate must redress ? + +Most high , most mighty , and most puissant C sar , +Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat +A humble heart , + + +I must prevent thee , Cimber . +These couchings and these lowly courtesies , +Might fire the blood of ordinary men , +And turn pre-ordinance and first decree +Into the law of children . Be not fond , +To think that C sar bears such rebel blood +That will be thaw'd from the true quality +With that which melteth fools ; I mean sweet words , +Low-crooked curtsies , and base spaniel fawning . +Thy brother by decree is banished : +If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him , +I spurn thee like a cur out of my way . +Know , C sar doth not wrong , nor without cause +Will he be satisfied . + +Is there no voice more worthy than my own , +To sound more sweetly in great C sar's ear +For the repealing of my banish'd brother ? + +I kiss thy hand , but not in flattery , C sar ; +Desiring thee , that Publius Cimber may +Have an immediate freedom of repeal . + +What , Brutus ! + +Pardon , C sar ; C sar , pardon : +As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall , +To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber . + +I could be well mov'd if I were as you ; +If I could pray to move , prayers would move me ; +But I am constant as the northern star , +Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality +There is no fellow in the firmament . +The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks , +They are all fire and every one doth shine , +But there's but one in all doth hold his place : +So , in the world ; 'tis furnish'd well with men , +And men are flesh and blood , and apprehensive ; +Yet in the number I do know but one +That unassailable holds on his rank , +Unshak'd of motion : and that I am he , +Let me a little show it , even in this , +That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd , +And constant do remain to keep him so . + +O C sar , + +Hence ! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ! + +Great C sar , + +Doth not Brutus bootless kneel ? + +Speak , hands , for me ! + + +Et tu , Brute ? Then fall , C sar ! + + +Liberty ! Freedom ! Tyranny is dead ! +Run hence , proclaim , cry it about the streets . + +Some to the common pulpits , and cry out , +'Liberty , freedom , and enfranchisement !' + +People and senators be not affrighted ; +Fly not ; stand still ; ambition's debt is paid . + +Go to the pulpit , Brutus . + +And Cassius too . + +Where's Publius ? + +Here , quite confounded with this mutiny . + +Stand fast together , lest some friend of C sar's +Should chance + +Talk not of standing . Publius , good cheer ; +There is no harm intended to your person , +Nor to no Roman else ; so tell them , Publius . + +And leave us , Publius ; lest that the people , +Rushing on us , should do your age some mischief . + +Do so ; and let no man abide this deed +But we the doers . + + +Where's Antony ? + +Fled to his house amaz'd . +Men , wives and children stare , cry out and run +As it were doomsday . + +Fates , we will know your pleasures . +That we shall die , we know ; 'tis but the time +And drawing days out , that men stand upon . + +Why , he that cuts off twenty years of life +Cuts off so many years of fearing death . + +Grant that , and then is death a benefit : +So are we C sar's friends , that have abridg'd +His time of fearing death . Stoop , Romans , stoop , +And let us bathe our hands in C sar's blood +Up to the elbows , and besmear our swords : +Then walk we forth , even to the market-place ; +And waving our red weapons o'er our heads , +Let's all cry , 'Peace , freedom , and liberty !' + +Stoop , then , and wash . How many ages hence +Shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er , +In states unborn and accents yet unknown ! + +How many times shall C sar bleed in sport , +That now on Pompey's basis lies along +No worthier than the dust ! + +So oft as that shall be , +So often shall the knot of us be call'd +The men that gave their country liberty . + +What ! shall we forth ? + +Ay , every man away : +Brutus shall lead ; and we will grace his heels +With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome . + + +Soft ! who comes here ? A friend of Antony's . + +Thus , Brutus , did my master bid me kneel ; +Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down ; +And , being prostrate , thus he bade me say : +Brutus is noble , wise , valiant , and honest ; +C sar was mighty , bold , royal , and loving : +Say I love Brutus , and I honour him ; +Say I fear'd C sar , honour'd him , and lov'd him . +If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony +May safely come to him , and be resolv'd +How C sar hath deserv'd to lie in death , +Mark Antony shall not love C sar dead +So well as Brutus living ; but will follow +The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus +Thorough the hazards of this untrod state +With all true faith . So says my master Antony . + +Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman ; +I never thought him worse . +Tell him , so please him come unto this place , +He shall be satisfied ; and , by my honour , +Depart untouch'd . + +I'll fetch him presently . + + +I know that we shall have him well to friend . + +I wish we may : but yet have I a mind +That fears him much ; and my misgiving still +Falls shrewdly to the purpose . + + +But here comes Antony . Welcome , Mark Antony . + +O mighty C sar ! dost thou lie so low ? +Are all thy conquests , glories , triumphs , spoils , +Shrunk to this little measure ? Fare thee well . +I know not , gentlemen , what you intend , +Who else must be let blood , who else is rank : +If I myself , there is no hour so fit +As C sar's death's hour , nor no instrument +Of half that worth as those your swords , made rich +With the most noble blood of all this world . +I do beseech ye , if ye bear me hard , +Now , whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke , +Fulfil your pleasure . Live a thousand years , +I shall not find myself so apt to die : +No place will please me so , no mean of death , +As here by C sar , and by you cut off , +The choice and master spirits of this age . + +O Antony ! beg not your death of us . +Though now we must appear bloody and cruel , +As , by our hands and this our present act , +You see we do , yet see you but our hands +And this the bleeding business they have done : +Our hearts you see not ; they are pitiful ; +And pity to the general wrong of Rome +As fire drives out fire , so pity pity +Hath done this deed on C sar . For your part , +To you our swords have leaden points , Mark Antony ; +Our arms , in strength of malice , and our hearts +Of brothers' temper , do receive you in +With all kind love , good thoughts , and reverence . + +Your voice shall be as strong as any man's +In the disposing of new dignities . + +Only be patient till we have appeas'd +The multitude , beside themselves with fear , +And then we will deliver you the cause +Why I , that did love C sar when I struck him , +Have thus proceeded . + +I doubt not of your wisdom . +Let each man render me his bloody hand : +First , Marcus Brutus , will I shake with you ; +Next , Caius Cassius , do I take your hand ; +Now , Decius Brutus , yours ; now yours , Metellus ; +Yours , Cinna ; and , my valiant Casca , yours ; +Though last , not least in love , yours , good Trebonius . +Gentlemen all ,alas ! what shall I say ? +My credit now stands on such slippery ground , +That one of two bad ways you must conceit me , +Either a coward or a flatterer . +That I did love thee , C sar , O ! 'tis true : +If then thy spirit look upon us now , +Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death , +To see thy Antony making his peace , +Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes , +Most noble ! in the presence of thy corse ? +Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds , +Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood , +It would become me better than to close +In terms of friendship with thine enemies . +Pardon me , Julius ! Here wast thou bay'd , brave hart ; +Here didst thou fall ; and here thy hunters stand , +Sign'd in thy spoil , and crimson'd in thy leth +O world ! thou wast the forest to this hart ; +And this , indeed , O world ! the heart of thee . +How like a deer , strucken by many princes , +Dost thou here lie ! + +Mark Antony , + +Pardon me , Caius Cassius : +The enemies of C sar shall say this ; +Then , in a friend , it is cold modesty . + +I blame you not for praising C sar so ; +But what compact mean you to have with us ? +Will you be prick'd in number of our friends , +Or shall we on , and not depend on you ? + +Therefore I took your hands , but was indeed +Sway'd from the point by looking down on C sar . +Friends am I with you all , and love you all , +Upon this hope , that you shall give me reasons +Why and wherein C sar was dangerous . + +Or else were this a savage spectacle . +Our reasons are so full of good regard +That were you , Antony , the son of C sar , +You should be satisfied . + +That's all I seek : +And am moreover suitor that I may +Produce his body to the market place ; +And in the pulpit , as becomes a friend , +Speak in the order of his funeral . + +You shall , Mark Antony . + +Brutus , a word with you . + + +You know not what you do ; do not consent +That Antony speak in his funeral : +Know you how much the people may be mov'd +By that which he will utter ? + +By your pardon ; +I will myself into the pulpit first , +And show the reason of our C sar's death : +What Antony shall speak , I will protest +He speaks by leave and by permission , +And that we are contented C sar shall +Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies . +It shall advantage more than do us wrong . + +I know not what may fall ; I like it not . + +Mark Antony , here , take you C sar's body . +You shall not in your funeral speech blame us , +But speak all good you can devise of C sar , +And say you do 't by our permission ; +Else shall you not have any hand at all +About his funeral ; and you shall speak +In the same pulpit whereto I am going , +After my speech is ended . + +Be it so ; +I do desire no more . + +Prepare the body then , and follow us . + + +O ! pardon me , thou bleeding piece of earth , +That I am meek and gentle with these butchers ; +Thou art the ruins of the noblest man +That ever lived in the tide of times . +Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood ! +Over thy wounds now do I prophesy , +Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips , +To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue , +A curse shall light upon the limbs of men ; +Domestic fury and fierce civil strife +Shall cumber all the parts of Italy ; +Blood and destruction shall be so in use , +And dreadful objects so familiar , +That mothers shall but smile when they behold +Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war ; +All pity chok'd with custom of fell deeds : +And C sar's spirit , ranging for revenge , +With Ate by his side come hot from hell , +Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice +Cry 'Havoc !' and let slip the dogs of war ; +That this foul deed shall smell above the earth +With carrion men , groaning for burial . + +You serve Octavius C sar , do you not ? + +I do , Mark Antony . + +C sar did write for him to come to Rome . + +He did receive his letters , and is coming ; +And bid me say to you by word of mouth + +O C sar ! + +Thy heart is big , get thee apart and weep . +Passion , I see , is catching ; for mine eyes , +Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine , +Began to water . Is thy master coming ? + +He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome . + +Post back with speed , and tell him what hath chanc'd : +Hare is a mourning Rome , a dangerous Rome , +No Rome of safety for Octavius yet ; +Hie hence and tell him so . Yet , stay awhile ; +Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corpse +Into the market-place ; there shall I try , +In my oration , how the people take +The cruel issue of these bloody men ; +According to the which thou shalt discourse +To young Octavius of the state of things . +Lead me your hand . + + +We will be satisfied : let us be satisfied . + +Then follow me , and give me audience , friends . +Cassius , go you into the other street , +And part the numbers . +Those that will hear me speak , let 'em stay here ; +Those that will follow Cassius , go with him ; +And public reasons shall be rendered +Of C sar's death . + +I will hear Brutus speak . + +I will hear Cassius ; and compare their reasons , +When severally we hear them rendered . + + +The noble Brutus is ascended : silence ! + +Be patient till the last . +Romans , countrymen , and lovers ! hear me for my cause ; and be silent , that you may hear : believe me for mine honour , and have respect to mine honour , that you may believe : censure me in your wisdom , and awake your senses , that you may the better judge . If there be any in this assembly , any dear friend of C sar's , to him I say , that Brutus' love to C sar was no less than his . If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against C sar , this is my answer : Not that I loved C sar less , but that I loved Rome more . Had you rather C sar were living , and die all slaves , than that C sar were dead , to live all free men ? As C sar loved me , I weep for him ; as he was fortunate , I rejoice at it ; as he was valiant , I honour him ; but , as he was ambitious , I slew him . There is tears for his love ; joy for his fortune ; honour for his valour ; and death for his ambition . Who is here so base that would be a bondman ? If any , speak ; for him have I offended . Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman ? If any , speak ; for him have I offended . Who is here so vile that will not love his country ? If any , speak ; for him have I offended . I pause for a reply . + +None , Brutus , none . + +Then none have I offended . I have done no more to C sar , than you shall do to Brutus . The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol ; his glory not extenuated , wherein he was worthy , nor his offences enforced , for which he suffered death . + +Here comes his body , mourned by Mark Antony : who , though he had no hand in his death , shall receive the benefit of his dying , a place in the commonwealth ; as which of you shall not ? With this I depart : that , as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome , I have the same dagger for myself , when it shall please my country to need my death . + +Live , Brutus ! live ! live ! + +Bring him with triumph home unto his house . + +Give him a statue with his ancestors . + +Let him be C sar . + +C sar's better parts +Shall be crown'd in Brutus . + +We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours . + +My countrymen , + +Peace ! silence ! Brutus speaks . + +Peace , ho ! + +Good countrymen , let me depart alone , +And , for my sake , stay here with Antony . +Do grace to C sar's corpse , and grace his speech +Tending to C sar's glories , which Mark Antony , +By our permission , is allow'd to make . +I do entreat you , not a man depart , +Save I alone , till Antony have spoke . + + +Stay , ho ! and let us hear Mark Antony . + +Let him go up into the public chair ; +We'll hear him . Noble Antony , go up . + +For Brutus' sake , I am beholding to you . + + +What does he say of Brutus ? + +He says , for Brutus' sake , +He finds himself beholding to us all . + +'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here . + +This C sar was a tyrant . + +Nay , that's certain : +We are bless'd that Rome is rid of him . + +Peace ! let us hear what Antony can say . + +You gentle Romans , + +Peace , ho ! let us hear him . + +Friends , Romans , countrymen , lend me your ears ; +I come to bury C sar , not to praise him . +The evil that men do lives after them , +The good is oft interred with their bones ; +So let it be with C sar . The noble Brutus +Hath told you C sar was ambitious ; +If it were so , it was a grievous fault , +And grievously hath C sar answer'd it . +Here , under leave of Brutus and the rest , +For Brutus is an honourable man ; +So are they all , all honourable men , +Come I to speak in C sar's funeral . +He was my friend , faithful and just to me : +But Brutus says he was ambitious ; +And Brutus is an honourable man . +He hath brought many captives home to Rome , +Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill : +Did this in C sar seem ambitious ? +When that the poor have cried , C sar hath wept ; +Ambition should be made of sterner stuff : +Yet Brutus says he was ambitious ; +And Brutus is an honourable man . +You all did see that on the Lupercal +I thrice presented him a kingly crown , +Which he did thrice refuse : was this ambition ? +Yet Brutus says he was ambitious ; +And , sure , he is an honourable man . +I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke , +But here I am to speak what I do know , +You all did love him once , not without cause : +What cause withholds you then to mourn for him ? +O judgment ! thou art fled to brutish beasts , +And men have lost their reason . Bear with me ; +My heart is in the coffin there with C sar , +And I must pause till it come back to me . + +Methinks there is much reason in his sayings . + +If thou consider rightly of the matter , +C sar has had great wrong . + +Has he , masters ? +I fear there will a worse come in his place . + +Mark'd ye his words ? He would not take the crown ; +Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious . + +If it be found so , some will dear abide it . + +Poor soul ! his eyes are red as fire with weeping . + +There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony . + +Now mark him ; he begins again to speak . + +But yesterday the word of C sar might +Have stood against the world ; now lies he there , +And none so poor to do him reverence . +O masters ! if I were dispos'd to stir +Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage , +I should do Brutus wrong , and Cassius wrong , +Who , you all know , are honourable men . +I will not do them wrong ; I rather choose +To wrong the dead , to wrong myself , and you , +Than I will wrong such honourable men +But here's a parchment with the seal of C sar ; +I found it in his closet , 'tis his will . +Let but the commons hear this testament +Which , pardon me , I do not mean to read +And they would go and kiss dead C sar's wounds , +And dip their napkins in his sacred blood , +Yea , beg a hair of him for memory , +And , dying , mention it within their wills , +Bequeathing it as a rich legacy +Unto their issue . + +We'll hear the will : read it , Mark Antony . + +The will , the will ! we will hear C sar's will . + +Have patience , gentle friends ; I must not read it : +It is not meet you know how C sar lov'd you . +You are not wood , you are not stones , but men ; +And , being men , hearing the will of C sar , +It will inflame you , it will make you mad . +'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs ; +For if you should , O ! what would come of it . + +Read the will ! we'll hear it , Antony ; +You shall read us the will , C sar's will . + +Will you be patient ? Will you stay awhile ? +I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it . +I fear I wrong the honourable men +Whose daggers have stabb'd C sar ; I do fear it . + +They were traitors : honourable men ! + +The will ! the testament ! + +They were villains , murderers . The will ! read the will . + +You will compel me then to read the will ? +Then make a ring about the corpse of C sar , +And let me show you him that made the will . +Shall I descend ? and will you give me leave ? + +Come down . + +Descend . + + +You shall have leave . + +A ring ; stand round . + +Stand from the hearse ; stand from the body . + +Room for Antony ; most noble Antony . + +Nay , press not so upon me ; stand far off . + +Stand back ! room ! bear back ! + +If you have tears , prepare to shed them now . +You all do know this mantle : I remember +The first time ever C sar put it on ; +'Twas on a summer's evening , in his tent , +That day he overcame the Nervii . +Look ! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through : +See what a rent the envious Casca made : +Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd ; +And , as he pluck'd his cursed steel away , +Mark how the blood of C sar follow'd it , +As rushing out of doors , to be resolv'd +If Brutus so unkindly knock'd or no ; +For Brutus , as you know , was C sar's angel : +Judge , O you gods ! how dearly C sar lov'd him . +This was the most unkindest cut of all ; +For when the noble C sar saw him stab , +Ingratitude , more strong than traitors' arms , +Quite vanquish'd him : then burst his mighty heart ; +And , in his mantle muffling up his face , +Even at the base of Pompey's status , +Which all the while ran blood , great C sar fell . +O ! what a fall was there , my countrymen ; +Then I , and you , and all of us fell down , +Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us . +O ! now you weep , and I perceive you feel +The dint of pity ; these are gracious drops . +Kind souls , what ! weep you when you but behold +Our C sar's vesture wounded ? Look you here , +Here is himself , marr'd , as you see , with traitors . + +O piteous spectacle ! + +O noble C sar ! + +O woeful day ! + +O traitors ! villains ! + +O most bloody sight ! + +We will be revenged . + +Revenge !About !Seek !Burn ! +Fire !Kill !Slay ! Let not a traitor live . + +Stay , countrymen ! + +Peace there ! Hear the noble Antony . + +We'll hear him , we'll follow him , we'll die with him . + +Good friends , sweet friends , let me not stir you up +To such a sudden flood of mutiny . +They that have done this deed are honourable : +What private griefs they have , alas ! I know not , +That made them do it ; they are wise and honourable , +And will , no doubt , with reasons answer you . +I come not , friends , to steal away your hearts : +I am no orator , as Brutus is ; +But , as you know me all , a plain blunt man , +That love my friend ; and that they know full well +That gave me public leave to speak of him . +For I have neither wit , nor words , nor worth , +Action , nor utterance , nor the power of speech , +To stir men's blood : I only speak right on ; +I tell you that which you yourselves do know , +Show you sweet C sar's wounds , poor poor dumb mouths , +And bid them speak for me : but were I Brutus , +And Brutus Antony , there were an Antony +Would ruffle up your spirits , and put a tongue +In every wound of C sar , that should move +The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny . + +We'll mutiny . + +We'll burn the house of Brutus . + +Away , then ! come , seek the conspirators . + +Yet hear me , countrymen ; yet hear me speak . + +Peace , ho !Hear Antony ,most noble Antony . + +Why , friends , you go to do you know not what . +Wherein hath C sar thus deserv'd your loves ? +Alas ! you know not : I must tell you then . +You have forgot the will I told you of . + +Most true . The will ! let's stay and hear the will . + +Here is the will , and under C sar's seal . +To every Roman citizen he gives , +To every several man , seventy-five drachmas . + +Most noble C sar ! we'll revenge his death . + +O royal C sar ! + +Hear me with patience . + +Peace , ho ! + +Moreover , he hath left you all his walks , +His private arbours , and new-planted orchards , +On this side Tiber ; he hath left them you , +And to your heirs for ever ; common pleasures , +To walk abroad , and recreate yourselves . +Here was a C sar ! when comes such another ? + +Never , never ! Come , away , away ! +We'll burn his body in the holy place , +And with the brands fire the traitors' houses . +Take up the body . + +Go fetch fire . + +Pluck down benches . + +Pluck down forms , windows , any thing . + + +Now let it work : mischief , thou art afoot , +Take thou what course thou wilt ! + +How now , fellow ! + +Sir , Octavius is already come to Rome . + +Where is he ? + +He and Lepidus are at C sar's house . + +And thither will I straight to visit him . +He comes upon a wish . Fortune is merry , +And in this mood will give us any thing . + +I heard him say Brutus and Cassius +Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome . + +Belike they had some notice of the people , +How I had mov'd them . Bring me to Octavius . + + +I dreamt to-night that I did feast with C sar , +And things unlucky charge my fantasy : +I have no will to wander forth of doors , +Yet something leads me forth . + + +What is your name ? + +Whither are you going ? + +Where do you dwell ? + +Are you a married man , or a bachelor ? + +Answer every man directly . + +Ay , and briefly . + +Ay , and wisely . + +Ay , and truly , you were best . + +What is my name ? Whither am I going ? Where do I dwell ? Am I a married man , or a bachelor ? Then , to answer every man directly and briefly , wisely and truly : wisely I say , I am a bachelor . + +That's as much as to say , they are fools that marry ; you'll bear me a bang for that , I fear . Proceed ; directly . + +Directly , I am going to C sar's funeral . + +As a friend or an enemy ? + +As a friend . + +That matter is answered directly . + +For your dwelling , briefly . + +Briefly , I dwell by the Capitol . + +Your name , sir , truly . + +Truly , my name is Cinna . + +Tear him to pieces ; he's a conspirator . + +I am Cinna the poet , I am Cinna the poet . + +Tear him for his bad verses , tear him for his bad verses . + +I am not Cinna the conspirator . + +It is no matter , his name's Cinna ; pluck but his name out of his heart , and turn him going . + +Tear him , tear him ! Come , brands , ho ! firebrands ! To Brutus' , to Cassius' ; burn all . Some to Decius' house , and some to Casca's ; some to Ligarius' . Away ! go ! + +These many then shall die ; their names are prick'd . + +Your brother too must die ; consent you , Lepidus ? + +I do consent . + +Prick him down , Antony . + +Upon condition Publius shall not live , +Who is your sister's son , Mark Antony . + +He shall not live ; look , with a spot I damn him . +But , Lepidus , go you to C sar's house ; +Fetch the will hither , and we shall determine +How to cut off some charge in legacies . + +What ! shall I find you here ? + +Or here or at the Capitol . + + +This is a slight unmeritable man , +Meet to be sent on errands : is it fit , +The three-fold world divided , he should stand +One of the three to share it ? + +So you thought him ; +And took his voice who should be prick'd to die , +In our black sentence and proscription . + +Octavius , I have seen more days than you : +And though we lay these honours on this man , +To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads , +He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold , +To groan and sweat under the business , +Either led or driven , as we point the way ; +And having brought our treasure where we will , +Then take we down his load , and turn him off , +Like to the empty ass , to shake his ears , +And graze in commons . + +You may do your will ; +But he's a tried and valiant soldier . + +So is my horse , Octavius ; and for that +I do appoint him store of provender . +It is a creature that I teach to fight , +To wind , to stop , to run directly on , +His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit . +And , in some taste , is Lepidus but so ; +He must be taught , and train'd , and bid go forth ; +A barren-spirited fellow ; one that feeds +On abject orts , and imitations , +Which , out of use and stal'd by other men , +Begin his fashion : do not talk of him +But as a property . And now , Octavius , +Listen great things : Brutus and Cassius +Are levying powers ; we must straight make head ; +Therefore let our alliance be combin'd , +Our best friends made , and our best means stretch'd out ; +And let us presently go sit in council , +How covert matters may be best disclos'd , +And open perils surest answered . + +Let us do so : for we are at the stake , +And bay'd about with many enemies ; +And some that smile have in their hearts , I fear , +Millions of mischiefs . + + +Stand , ho ! + +Give the word , ho ! and stand . + +What now , Lucilius ! is Cassius near ? + +He is at hand ; and Pindarus is come +To do you salutation from his master . + + +He greets me well . Your master , Pindarus , +In his own change , or by ill officers , +Hath given me some worthy cause to wish +Things done , undone ; but , if he be at hand , +I shall be satisfied . + +I do not doubt +But that my noble master will appear +Such as he is , full of regard and honour . + +He is not doubted . A word , Lucilius ; +How he receiv'd you , let me be resolv'd . + +With courtesy and with respect enough ; +But not with such familiar instances , +Nor with such free and friendly conference , +As he hath us'd of old . + +Thou hast describ'd +A hot friend cooling . Ever note , Lucilius , +When love begins to sicken and decay , +It useth an enforced ceremony . +There are no tricks in plain and simple faith ; +But hollow men , like horses hot at hand , +Make gallant show and promise of their mettle ; +But when they should endure the bloody spur , +They fall their crests , and , like deceitful jades , +Sink in the trial . Comes his army on ? + +They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd ; +The greater part , the horse in general , +Are come with Cassius . + +Hark ! he is arriv'd . + +March gently on to meet him . + + +Stand , ho ! + +Stand , ho ! Speak the word along . + +Stand ! + +Stand ! + +Stand ! + +Most noble brother , you have done me wrong . + +Judge me , you gods ! Wrong I mine enemies ? +And , if not so , how should I wrong a brother ? + +Brutus , this sober form of yours hides wrongs ; +And when you do them + +Cassius , be content ; +Speak your griefs softly : I do know you well . +Before the eyes of both our armies here , +Which should perceive nothing but love from us , +Let us not wrangle : bid them move away ; +Then in my tent , Cassius , enlarge your griefs , +And I will give you audience . + +Pindarus , +Bid our commanders lead their charges off +A little from this ground . + +Lucilius , do you the like ; and let no man +Come to our tent till we have done our conference . +Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door . + + +That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this : +You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella +For taking bribes here of the Sardians ; +Wherein my letters , praying on his side , +Because I knew the man , were slighted off . + +You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case . + +In such a time as this it is not meet +That every nice offence should bear his comment . + +Let me tell you , Cassius , you yourself +Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm ; +To sell and mart your offices for gold +To undeservera . + +I an itching palm ! +You know that you are Brutus that speak this , +Or , by the gods , this speech were else your last . + +The name of Cassius honours this corruption , +And chastisement doth therefore hide his head . + +Chastisement ! + +Remember March , the ides of March remember : +Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake ? +What villain touch'd his body , that did stab , +And not for justice ? What ! shall one of us , +That struck the foremost man of all this world +But for supporting robbers , shall we now +Contaminate our fingers with base bribes , +And sell the mighty space of our large honours +For so much trash as may be grasped thus ? +I had rather be a dog , and bay the moon , +Than such a Roman . + +Brutus , bay not me ; +I'll not endure it : you forget yourself , +To hedge me in . I am a soldier , I , +Older in practice , abler than yourself +To make conditions . + +Go to ; you are not , Cassius . + +I am . + +I say you are not . + +Urge me no more , I shall forget myself ; +Have mind upon your health ; tempt me no further . + +Away , slight man ! + +Is 't possible ? + +Hear me , for I will speak . +Must I give way and room to your rash choler ? +Shall I be frighted when a madman stares ? + +O ye gods ! ye gods ! Must I endure all this ? + +All this ! ay , more : fret till your proud heart break ; +Go show your slaves how choleric you are , +And make your bondmen tremble . Must I budge ? +Must I observe you ? Must I stand and crouch +Under your testy humour ? By the gods , +You shall digest the venom of your spleen , +Though it do split you ; for , from this day forth , +I'll use you for my mirth , yea , for my laughter , +When you are waspish . + +Is it come to this ? + +You say you are a better soldier : +Let it appear so ; make your vaunting true , +And it shall please me well . For mine own part , +I shall be glad to learn of noble men . + +You wrong me every way ; you wrong me , Brutus ; +I said an elder soldier , not a better : +Did I say , 'better ?' + +If you did , I care not . + +When C sar liv'd , he durst not thus have mov'd me . + +Peace , peace ! you durst not so have tempted him . + +I durst not ! + +No . + +What ! durst not tempt him ! + +For your life you durst not . + +Do not presume too much upon my love ; +I may do that I shall be sorry for . + +You have done that you should be sorry for . +There is no terror , Cassius , in your threats ; +For I am arm'd so strong in honesty +That they pass by me as the idle wind , +Which I respect not . I did send to you +For certain sums of gold , which you denied me ; +For I can raise no money by vile means : +By heaven , I had rather coin my heart , +And drop my blood for drachmas , than to wring +From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash +By any indirection . I did send +To you for gold to pay my legions , +Which you denied me : was that done like Cassius ? +Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so ? +When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous , +To lock such rascal counters from his friends , +Be ready , gods , with all your thunderbolts ; +Dash him to pieces ! + +I denied you not . + +You did . + +I did not : he was but a fool +That brought my answer back . Brutus hath riv'd my heart . +A friend should bear his friend's infirmities , +But Brutus makes mine greater than they are . + +I do not , till you practise them on me . + +You love me not . + +I do not like your faults . + +A friendly eye could never see such faults . + +A flatterer's would not , though they do appear +As huge as high Olympus . + +Come , Antony , and young Octavius , come , +Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius , +For Cassius is aweary of the world ; +Hated by one he loves ; brav'd by his brother ; +Check'd like a bondman ; all his faults observ'd , +Set in a note-book , learn'd , and conn'd by rote , +To cast into my teeth . O ! I could weep +My spirit from mine eyes . There is my dagger , +And here my naked breast ; within , a heart +Dearer than Plutus' mine , richer than gold : +If that thou be'st a Roman , take it forth ; +I , that denied thee gold , will give my heart : +Strike , as thou didst at C sar ; for , I know , +When thou didst hate him worst , thou lov'dst him better +Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius . + +Sheathe your dagger : +Be angry when you will , it shall have scope ; +Do what you will , dishonour shall be humour . +O Cassius ! you are yoked with a lamb +That carries anger as the flint bears fire , +Who , much enforced , shows a hasty spark , +And straight is cold again . + +Hath Cassius liv'd +To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus , +When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him ? + +When I spoke that I was ill-temper'd too . + +Do you confess so much ? Give me your hand . + +And my heart too . + +O Brutus ! + +What's the matter ? + +Have not you love enough to bear with me , +When that rash humour which my mother gave me +Makes me forgetful ? + +Yes , Cassius ; and from henceforth +When you are over-earnest with your Brutus , +He'll think your mother chides , and leave you so . + + +Let me go in to see the generals ; +There is some grudge between 'em , 'tis not meet +They be alone . + +You shall not come to them . + +Nothing but death shall stay me . + + +How now ! What's the matter ? + +For shame , you generals ! What do you mean ? +Love , and be friends , as two such men should be ; +For I have seen more years , I'm sure , than ye . + +Ha , ha ! how vilely doth this cynic rime ! + +Get you hence , sirrah ; saucy fellow , hence ! + +Bear with him , Brutus ; 'tis his fashion . + +I'll know his humour , when he knows his time : +What should the wars do with these jigging fools ? +Companion , hence ! + +Away , away ! be gone . + + +Lucilius and Titinius , bid the commanders +Prepare to lodge their companies to-night . + +And come yourselves , and bring Messala with you , +Immediately to us . + + +Lucius , a bowl of wine ! + + +I did not think you could have been so angry . + +O Cassius ! I am sick of many griefs . + +Of your philosophy you make no use +If you give place to accidental evils . + +No man bears sorrow better : Portia is dead . + +Ha ! Portia ! + +She is dead . + +How 'scap'd I killing when I cross'd you so ? +O insupportable and touching loss ! +Upon what sickness ? + +Impatient of my absence , +And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony +Have made themselves so strong ;for with her death +That tidings came :with this she fell distract , +And , her attendants absent , swallow'd fire . + +And died so ? + +Even so . + +O ye immortal gods ! + + +Speak no more of her . Give me a bowl of wine . +In this I bury all unkindness , Cassius . + + +My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge . +Fill , Lucius , till the wine o'erswell the cup ; +I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love . + + +Come in , Titinius . + +Welcome , good Messala . +Now sit we close about this taper here , + +And call in question our necessities . + +Portia , art thou gone ? + +No more , I pray you . +Messala , I have here received letters , +That young Octavius and Mark Antony +Come down upon us with a mighty power , +Bending their expedition towards Philippi . + +Myself have letters of the self-same tenour . + +With what addition ? + +That by proscription and bills of outlawry , +Octavius , Antony , and Lepidus , +Have put to death an hundred senators . + +Therein our letters do not well agree ; +Mine speak of seventy senators that died +By their proscriptions , Cicero being one . + +Cicero one ! + +Cicero is dead , +And by that order of proscription . +Had you your letters from your wife , my lord ? + +No , Messala . + +Nor nothing in your letters writ of her ? + +Nothing , Messala . + +That , methinks , is strange . + +Why ask you ? Hear you aught of her in yours ? + +No , my lord . + +Now , as you are a Roman , tell me true . + +Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell : +For certain she is dead , and by strange manner . + +Why , farewell , Portia . We must die , Messala : +With meditating that she must die once , +I have the patience to endure it now . + +Even so great men great losses should endure . + +I have as much of this in art as you , +But yet my nature could not bear it so . + +Well , to our work alive . What do you think +Of marching to Philippi presently ? + +I do not think it good . + +Your reason ? + +This is it : +'Tis better that the enemy seek us : +So shall he waste his means , weary his soldiers , +Doing himself offence ; whilst we , lying still , +Are full of rest , defence , and nimbleness . + +Good reasons must , of force , give place to better , +The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground +Do stand but in a forc'd affection ; +For they have grudg'd us contribution : +The enemy , marching along by them , +By them shall make a fuller number up , +Come on refresh'd , new-added , and encourag'd ; +From which advantage shall we cut him off , +If at Philippi we do face him there , +These people at our back . + +Hear me , good brother . + +Under your pardon . You must note beside , +That we have tried the utmost of our friends , +Our legions are brim-full , our cause is ripe : +The enemy increaseth every day ; +We , at the height , are ready to decline . +There is a tide in the affairs of men , +Which , taken at the flood , leads on to fortune ; +Omitted , all the voyage of their life +Is bound in shallows and in miseries . +On such a full sea are we now afloat ; +And we must take the current when it serves , +Or lose our ventures . + +Then , with your will , go on ; +We'll along ourselves , and meet them at Philippi . + +The deep of night is crept upon our talk , +And nature must obey necessity , +Which we will niggard with a little rest . +There is no more to say ? + +No more . Good-night : +Early to-morrow will we rise , and hence . + +Lucius ! + + +My gown . + +Farewell , good Messala : +Good-night , Titinius . Noble , noble Cassius , + +Good-night , and good repose . + +O my dear brother ! +This was an ill beginning of the night : +Never come such division 'tween our souls ! +Let it not , Brutus . + +Every thing is well . + +Good-night , my lord . + +Good-night , good brother . + +Good-night , Lord Brutus . + +Good-night , Lord Brutus . + +Farewell , every one . + + +Give me the gown . Where is thy instrument ? + +Here in the tent . + +What ! thou speak'st drowsily ? +Poor knave , I blame thee not ; thou art o'erwatch'd . +Call Claudius and some other of my men ; +I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent . + +Varro ! and Claudius ! + + +Calls my lord ? + +I pray you , sirs , lie in my tent and sleep : +It may be I shall raise you by and by +On business to my brother Cassius . + +So please you , we will stand and watch your pleasure . + +I will not have it so ; lie down , good sirs ; +It may be I shall otherwise bethink me . +Look , Lucius , here's the book I sought for so ; +I put it in the pocket of my gown . + + +I was sure your lordship did not give it me . + +Bear with me , good boy , I am much forgetful . +Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile , +And touch thy instrument a strain or two ? + +Ay , my lord , an 't please you . + +It does , my boy : +I trouble thee too much , but thou art willing . + +It is my duty , sir . + +I should not urge thy duty past thy might ; +I know young bloods look for a time of rest . + +I have slept , my lord , already . + +It was well done , and thou shalt sleep again ; +I will not hold thee long : if I do live , +I will be good to thee . + +This is a sleepy tune : O murderous slumber ! +Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy , +That plays thee music ? Gentle knave , good-night ; +I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee . +If thou dost nod , thou break'st thy instrument ; +I'll take it from thee ; and , good boy , good-night . +Let me see , let me see ; is not the leaf turn'd down +Where I left reading ? Here it is , I think . + + +How ill this taper burns ! Ha ! who comes here ? +I think it is the weakness of mine eyes +That shapes this monstrous apparition . +It comes upon me . Art thou any thing ? +Art thou some god , some angel , or some devil , +That mak'st my blood cold and my hair to stare ? + +Speak to me what thou art . + +Thy evil spirit , Brutus . + +Why com'st thou ? + +To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi . + +Well ; then I shall see thee again ? + +Ay , at Philippi . + +Why , I will see thee at Philippi then . + +Now I have taken heart thou vanishest : +Ill spirit , I would hold more talk with thee . +Boy , Lucius ! Varro ! Claudius ! Sirs , awake ! +Claudius ! + +The strings , my lord , are false . + +He thinks he still is at his instrument . +Lucius , awake ! + +My lord ! + +Didst thou dream , Lucius , that thou so criedst out ? + +My lord , I do not know that I did cry . + +Yes , that thou didst . Didst thou see any thing ? + +Nothing , my lord . + +Sleep again , Lucius . Sirrah , Claudius ! +Fellow thou ! awake ! + +My lord ! + +My lord ! + +Why did you so cry out , sirs , in your sleep ? + +Did we , my lord ? + +Did we , my lord ? + +Ay : saw you any thing ? + +No , my lord , I saw nothing . + +Nor I , my lord . + +Go , and commend me to my brother Cassius . +Bid him set on his powers betimes before , +And we will follow . + +It shall be done , my lord . + +It shall be done , my lord . + +Now , Antony , our hopes are answered : +You said the enemy would not come down , +But keep the hills and upper regions ; +It proves not so ; their battles are at hand ; +They mean to warn us at Philippi here , +Answering before we do demand of them . + +Tut ! I am in their bosoms , and I know +Wherefore they do it : they could be content +To visit other places ; and come down +With fearful bravery , thinking by this face +To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage ; +But 'tis not so . + + +Prepare you , generals : +The enemy comes on in gallant show ; +Their bloody sign of battle is hung out , +And something to be done immediately . + +Octavius , lead your battle softly on , +Upon the left hand of the even field . + +Upon the right hand I ; keep thou the left . + +Why do you cross me in this exigent ? + +I do not cross you ; but I will do so . + +They stand , and would have parley . + +Stand fast , Titinius : we must out and talk . + +Mark Antony , shall we give sign of battle ? + +No , C sar , we will answer on their charge . +Make forth ; the generals would have some words . + +Stir not until the signal . + +Words before blows : is it so , countrymen ? + +Not that we love words better , as you do . + +Good words are better than bad strokes , Octavius . + +In your bad strokes , Brutus , you give good words : +Witness the hole you made in C sar's heart , +Crying , 'Long live ! hail , C sar !' + +Antony , +The posture of your blows are yet unknown ; +But for your words , they rob the Hybla bees , +And leave them honeyless . + +Not stingless too . + +O ! yes , and soundless too ; +For you have stol'n their buzzing , Antony , +And very wisely threat before you sting . + +Villains ! you did not so when your vile daggers +Hack'd one another in the sides of C sar : +How show'd your teeth like apes , and fawn'd like hounds , +And bow'd like bondmen , kissing C sar's feet ; +Whilst damned Casca , like a cur , behind +Struck C sar on the neck . O you flatterers ! + +Flatterers ! Now , Brutus , thank yourself : +This tongue had not offended so to-day , +If Cassius might have rul'd . + +Come , come , the cause : if arguing make us sweat , +The proof of it will turn to redder drops . +Look ; +I draw a sword against conspirators ; +When think you that the sword goes up again ? +Never , till C sar's three-and-thirty wounds +Be well aveng'd ; or till another C sar +Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors . + +C sar , thou canst not die by traitors' hands , +Unless thou bring'st them with thee . + +So I hope ; +I was not born to die on Brutus' sword . + +O ! if thou wert the noblest of thy strain , +Young man , thou couldst not die more honourable . + +A peevish schoolboy , worthless of such honour , +Join'd with a masquer and a reveller . + +Old Cassius still ! + +Come , Antony ; away ! +Defiance , traitors , hurl we in your teeth . +If you dare fight to-day , come to the field ; +If not , when you have stomachs . + + +Why now , blow wind , swell billow , and swim bark ! +The storm is up , and all is on the hazard . + +Ho ! +Lucilius ! hark , a word with you . + +My lord ? + + +Messala ! + +What says my general ? + +Messala , +This is my birth-day ; as this very day +Was Cassius born . Give me thy hand , Messala : +Be thou my witness that against my will , +As Pompey was , am I compell'd to set +Upon one battle all our liberties . +You know that I held Epicurus strong , +And his opinion ; now I change my mind , +And partly credit things that do presage . +Coming from Sardis , on our former ensign +Two mighty eagles fell , and there they perch'd , +Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands ; +Who to Philippi here consorted us : +This morning are they fled away and gone , +And in their stead do ravens , crows , and kites +Fly o'er our heads , and downward look on us , +As we were sickly prey : their shadows seem +A canopy most fatal , under which +Our army lies , ready to give up the ghost . + +Believe not so . + +I but believe it partly , +For I am fresh of spirit and resolv'd +To meet all perils very constantly . + +Even so , Lucilius . + +Now , most noble Brutus , +The gods to-day stand friendly , that we may , +Lovers in peace , lead on our days to age ! +But since the affairs of men rest still incertain , +Let's reason with the worst that may befall . +If we do lose this battle , then is this +The very last time we shall speak together : +What are you then , determined to do ? + +Even by the rule of that philosophy +By which I did blame Cato for the death +Which he did give himself ; I know not how , +But I do find it cowardly and vile , +For fear of what might fall , so to prevent +The time of life : arming myself with patience , +To stay the providence of some high powers +That govern us below . + +Then , if we lose this battle , +You are contented to be led in triumph +Thorough the streets of Rome ? + +No , Cassius , no : think not , thou noble Roman , +That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome ; +He bears too great a mind : but this same day +Must end that work the ides of March begun ; +And whether we shall meet again I know not . +Therefore our everlasting farewell take : +For ever , and for ever , farewell , Cassius ! +If we do meet again , why , we shall smile ; +If not , why then , this parting was well made . + +For ever , and for ever , farewell , Brutus ! +If we do meet again , we'll smile indeed ; +If not , 'tis true this parting was well made . + +Why , then , lead on . O ! that a man might know +The end of this day's business , ere it come ; +But it sufficeth that the day will end , +And then the end is known . Come , ho ! away ! + + +Ride , ride , Messala , ride , and give these bills +Unto the legions on the other side . + +Let them set on at once , for I perceive +But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing , +And sudden push gives them the overthrow . +Ride , ride , Messala : let them all come down . + + +O ! look , Titinius , look , the villains fly : +Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy ; +This ensign here of mine was turning back ; +I slew the coward , and did take it from him . + +O Cassius ! Brutus gave the word too early ; +Who , having some advantage on Octavius , +Took it too eagerly : his soldiers fell to spoil , +Whilst we by Antony are all enclos'd . + + +Fly further off , my lord , fly further off ; +Mark Antony is in your tents , my lord : +Fly , therefore , noble Cassius , fly far off . + +This hill is far enough . Look , look , Titinius ; +Are those my tents where I perceive the fire ? + +They are , my lord . + +Titinius , if thou lov'st me , +Mount thou my horse , and hide thy spurs in him , +Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops +And here again ; that I may rest assur'd +Whether yond troops are friend or enemy . + +I will be here again , even with a thought . + + +Go , Pindarus , get higher on that hill ; +My sight was ever thick ; regard Titinius , +And tell me what thou not'st about the field . + +This day I breathed first ; time is come round , +And where I did begin , there shall I end ; +My life is run his compass . Sirrah , what news ? + +O my lord ! + +What news ? + +Titinius is enclosed round about +With horsemen , that make to him on the spur ; +Yet he spurs on : now they are almost on him ; +Now , Titinius ! now some light ; O ! he lights too : +He's ta'en ; + +and , hark ! they shout for joy . + +Come down ; behold no more . +O , coward that I am , to live so long , +To see my best friend ta'en before my face ! + +Come hither , sirrah : +In Parthia did I take thee prisoner ; +And then I swore thee , saving of thy life , +That whatsoever I did bid thee do , +Thou shouldst attempt it . Come now , keep thine oath ; +Now be a freeman ; and with this good sword , +That ran through C sar's bowels , search this bosom . +Stand not to answer ; here , take thou the hilts ; +And , when my face is cover'd , as 'tis now , +Guide thou the sword . C sar , thou art reveng'd , +Even with the sword that kill'd thee . + + +So , I am free ; yet would not so have been ; +Durst I have done my will . O Cassius , +Far from this country Pindarus shall run , +Where never Roman shall take note of him . + +It is but change , Titinius ; for Octavius +Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power , +As Cassius' legions are by Antony . + +These tidings will well comfort Cassius . + +Where did you leave him ? + +All disconsolate , +With Pindarus his bondman , on this hill . + +Is not that he that lies upon the ground ? + +He lies not like the living . O my heart ! + +Is not that he ? + +No , this was he , Messala , +But Cassius is no more . O setting sun ! +As in thy red rays thou dost sink to-night , +So in his red blood Cassius' day is set ; +The sun of Rome is set . Our day is gone ; +Clouds , dews , and dangers come ; our deeds are done . +Mistrust of my success hath done this deed . + +Mistrust of good success hath done this deed . +O hateful error , melancholy's child ! +Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men +The things that are not ? O error ! soon conceiv'd , +Thou never com'st unto a happy birth , +But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee . + +What , Pindarus ! Where art thou , Pindarus ? + +Seek him , Titinius , whilst I go to meet +The noble Brutus , thrusting this report +Into his ears ; I may say , thrusting it ; +For piercing steel and darts envenomed +Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus +As tidings of this sight . + +Hie you , Messala , +And I will seek for Pindarus the while . + +Why didst thou send me forth , brave Cassius ? +Did I not meet thy friends ? and did not they +Put on my brows this wreath of victory , +And bid me give it thee ? Didst thou not hear their shouts ? +Alas ! thou hast misconstru'd every thing . +But , hold thee , take this garland on thy brow ; +Thy Brutus bid me give it thee , and I +Will do his bidding . Brutus , come apace , +And see how I regarded Caius Cassius . +By your leave , gods : this is a Roman's part : +Come , Cassius' sword , and find Titinius' heart . + +Where , where , Messala , doth his body lie ? + +Lo , yonder : and Titinius mourning it . + +Titinius' face is upward . + +He is slain . + +O Julius C sar ! thou art mighty yet ! +Thy spirit walks abroad , and turns our swords +In our own proper entrails . + + +Brave Titinius ! +Look whe'r he have not crown'd dead Cassius ! + +Are yet two Romans living such as these ? +The last of all the Romans , fare thee well ! +It is impossible that ever Rome +Should breed thy fellow . Friends , I owe more tears +To this dead man than you shall see me pay . +I shall find time , Cassius , I shall find time . +Come therefore , and to Thassos send his body : +His funerals shall not be in our camp , +Lest it discomfort us . Lucilius , come ; +And come , young Cato ;let us to the field . +Labeo and Flavius , set our battles on : +'Tis three o'clock ; and , Romans , yet ere night +We shall try fortune in a second fight . + + +Yet , countrymen , O ! yet hold up your heads ! + +What bastard doth not ? Who will go with me ? +I will proclaim my name about the field : +I am the son of Marcus Cato , ho ! +A foe to tyrants , and my country's friend ; +I am the son of Marcus Cato , ho ! + +And I am Brutus , Marcus Brutus , I ; +Brutus , my country's friend ; know me for Brutus ! + + +O young and noble Cato , art thou down ? +Why , now thou diest as bravely as Titinius , +And mayst be honour'd being Cato's son . + +Yield , or thou diest . + +Only I yield to die : +There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight . + +Kill Brutus , and be honour'd in his death . + +We must not . A noble prisoner ! + +Room , ho ! Tell Antony , Brutus is ta'en . + +I'll tell the news : here comes the general . + +Brutus is ta'en , my lord . + +Where is he ? + +Safe , Antony ; Brutus is safe enough : +I dare assure thee that no enemy +Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus : +The gods defend him from so great a shame ! +When you do find him , or alive or dead , +He will be found like Brutus , like himself . + +This is not Brutus , friend ; but , I assure you , +A prize no less in worth . Keep this man safe , +Give him all kindness : I had rather have +Such men my friends than enemies . Go on , +And see whe'r Brutus be alive or dead ; +And bring us word unto Octavius' tent , +How every thing is chanc'd . + + +Come , poor remains of friends , rest on this rock . + +Statilius show'd the torch-light ; but , my lord , +He came not back : he is or ta'en or slain . + +Sit thee down , Clitus : slaying is the word ; +It is a deed in fashion . Hark thee , Clitus . + + +What , I , my lord ? No , not for all the world . + +Peace , then ! no words . + +I'll rather kill myself . + +Hark thee , Dardanius . + + +Shall I do such a deed ? + +O , Dardanius ! + +O , Clitus ! + +What ill request did Brutus make to thee ? + +To kill him , Clitus . Look , he meditates . + +Now is that noble vessel full of grief , +That it runs over even at his eyes . + +Come hither , good Volumnius : list a word . + +What says my lord ? + +Why this , Volumnius : +The ghost of C sar hath appear'd to me +Two several times by night ; at Sardis once , +And this last night here in Philippi fields . +I know my hour is come . + +Not so , my lord . + +Nay , I am sure it is , Volumnius . +Thou seest the world , Volumnius , how it goes ; +Our enemies have beat us to the pit : +It is more worthy to leap in ourselves , +Than tarry till they push us . Good Volumnius , +Thou know'st that we two went to school together : +Even for that our love of old , I prithee , +Hold thou my sword-hilts , whilst I run on it . + +That's not an office for a friend , my lord . + + +Fly , fly , my lord ! there is no tarrying here . + +Farewell to you ; and you ; and you , Volumnius . +Strato , thou hast been all this while asleep ; +Farewell to thee too , Strato . Countrymen , +My heart doth joy that yet , in all my life , +I found no man but he was true to me . +I shall have glory by this losing day , +More than Octavius and Mark Antony +By this vile conquest shall attain unto . +So fare you well at once ; for Brutus' tongue +Hath almost ended his life's history : +Night hangs upon mine eyes ; my bones would rest , +That have but labour'd to attain this hour . + + +Fly , my lord , fly . + +Hence ! I will follow . + +I prithee , Strato , stay thou by thy lord : +Thou art a fellow of a good respect ; +Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it : +Hold then my sword , and turn away thy face , +While I do run upon it . Wilt thou , Strato ? + +Give me your hand first : fare you well , my lord . + +Farewell , good Strato . + +C sar , now be still ; +I kill'd not thee with half so good a will . + +What man is that ? + +My master's man . Strato , where is thy master ? + +Free from the bondage you are in , Messala ; +The conquerors can but make a fire of him ; +For Brutus only overcame himself , +And no man else hath honour by his death . + +So Brutus should be found . I thank thee , Brutus , +That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true . + +All that serv'd Brutus , I will entertain them . +Fellow , wilt thou bestow thy time with me ? + +Ay , if Messala will prefer me to you . + +Do so , good Messala . + +How died my master , Strato ? + +I held the sword , and he did run on it . + +Octavius , then take him to follow thee , +That did the latest service to my master . + +This was the noblest Roman of them all ; +All the conspirators save only he +Did that they did in envy of great C sar ; +He only , in a general honest thought +And common good to all , made one of them . +His life was gentle , and the elements +So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up +And say to all the world , 'This was a man !' + +According to his virtue let us use him , +With all respect and rites of burial . +Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie , +Most like a soldier , order'd honourably . +So , call the field to rest ; and let's away , +To part the glories of this happy day . + +KING LEAR + +I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall . + +It did always seem so to us ; but now , in the division of the kingdom , it appears not which of the dukes he values most ; for equalities are so weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety . + +Is not this your son , my lord ? + +His breeding , sir , hath been at my charge : I have so often blushed to acknowledge him , that now I am brazed to it . + +I cannot conceive you . + +Sir , this young fellow's mother could ; whereupon she grew round-wombed , and had , indeed , sir , a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed . Do you smell a fault ? + +I cannot wish the fault undone , the issue of it being so proper . + +But I have a son , sir , by order of law , some year elder than this , who yet is no dearer in my account : though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for , yet was his mother fair ; there was good sport at his making , and the whoreson must be acknowledged . Do you know this noble gentleman , Edmund ? + +No , my lord . + +My Lord of Kent : remember him hereafter as my honourable friend . + +My services to your lordship . + +I must love you , and sue to know you better . + +Sir , I shall study deserving . + +He hath been out nine years , and away he shall again . The king is coming . + + +Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy , Gloucester . + +I shall , my liege . + + +Meantime we shall express our darker purpose . +Give me the map there . Know that we have divided +In three our kingdom ; and 'tis our fast intent +To shake all cares and business from our age , +Conferring them on younger strengths , while we +Unburden'd crawl toward death . Our son of Cornwall , +And you , our no less loving son of Albany , +We have this hour a constant will to publish +Our daughters' several dowers , that future strife +May be prevented now . The princes , France and Burgundy , +Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love , +Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn , +And here are to be answer'd . Tell me , my daughters , +Since now we will divest us both of rule , +Interest of territory , cares of state , +Which of you shall we say doth love us most ? +That we our largest bounty may extend +Where nature doth with merit challenge . Goneril , +Our eldest-born , speak first . + +Sir , I love you more than words can wield the matter ; +Dearer than eye-sight , space , and liberty ; +Beyond what can be valu'd , rich or rare ; +No less than life , with grace , health , beauty , honour ; +As much as child e'er lov'd , or father found ; +A love that makes breath poor and speech unable ; +Beyond all manner of so much I love you . + +What shall Cordelia do ? Love , and be silent . + +Of all these bounds , even from this line to this , +With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd , +With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads , +We make thee lady : to thine and Albany's issue +Be this perpetual . What says our second daughter , +Our dearest Regan , wife to Cornwall ? Speak . + +I am made of that self metal as my sister , +And prize me at her worth . In my true heart +I find she names my very deed of love ; +Only she comes too short : that I profess +Myself an enemy to all other joys +Which the most precious square of sense possesses +And find I am alone felicitate +In your dear highness' love . + +Then , poor Cordelia ! +And yet not so ; since , I am sure , my love's +More richer than my tongue . + +To thee and thine , hereditary ever , +Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom , +No less in space , validity , and pleasure , +Than that conferr'd on Goneril . Now , our joy , +Although our last , not least ; to whose young love +The vines of France and milk of Burgundy +Strive to be interess'd ; what can you say to draw +A third more opulent than your sisters ? Speak . + +Nothing , my lord . + +Nothing ? + +Nothing . + +Nothing will come of nothing : speak again . + +Unhappy that I am , I cannot heave +My heart into my mouth : I love your majesty +According to my bond ; nor more nor less . + +How , how , Cordelia ! mend your speech a little , +Lest you may mar your fortunes . + +Good my lord , +You have begot me , bred me , lov'd me : I +Return those duties back as are right fit , +Obey you , love you , and most honour you . +Why have my sisters husbands , if they say +They love you all ? Haply , when I shall wed , +That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry +Half my love with him , half my care and duty : +Sure I shall never marry like my sisters , +To love my father all . + +But goes thy heart with this ? + +Ay , good my lord . + +So young , and so untender ? + +So young , my lord , and true . + +Let it be so ; thy truth then be thy dower : +For , by the sacred radiance of the sun , +The mysteries of Hecate and the night , +By all the operation of the orbs +From whom we do exist and cease to be , +Here I disclaim all my paternal care , +Propinquity and property of blood , +And as a stranger to my heart and me +Hold thee from this for ever . The barbarous Scythian , +Or he that makes his generation messes +To gorge his appetite , shall to my bosom +Be as well neighbour'd , pitied , and reliev'd , +As thou my sometime daughter . + +Good my liege , + +Peace , Kent ! +Come not between the dragon and his wrath . +I lov'd her most , and thought to set my rest +On her kind nursery . Hence , and avoid my sight ! +So be my grave my peace , as here I give +Her father's heart from her ! Call France . Who stirs ? +Call Burgundy . Cornwall and Albany , +With my two daughters' dowers digest the third ; +Let pride , which she calls plainness , marry her . +I do invest you jointly with my power , +Pre-eminence , and all the large effects +That troop with majesty . Ourself by monthly course , +With reservation of a hundred knights , +By you to be sustain'd , shall our abode +Make with you by due turn . Only we shall retain +The name and all th' addition to a king ; +The sway , revenue , execution of the rest , +Beloved sons , be yours : which to confirm , +This coronet part between you . + +Royal Lear , +Whom I have ever honour'd as my king , +Lov'd as my father , as my master follow'd , +As my great patron thought on in my prayers , + +The bow is bent and drawn ; make from the shaft . + +Let it fall rather , though the fork invade +The region of my heart : be Kent unmannerly +When Lear is mad . What wouldst thou do , old man ? +Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak +When power to flattery bows ? To plainness honour's bound +When majesty falls to folly . Reserve thy state ; +And , in thy best consideration , check +This hideous rashness : answer my life my judgment , +Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least ; +Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound +Reverbs no hollowness . + +Kent , on thy life , no more . + +My life I never held but as a pawn +To wage against thine enemies ; nor fear to lose it , +Thy safety being the motive . + +Out of my sight ! + +See better , Lear ; and let me still remain +The true blank of thine eye . + +Now , by Apollo , + +Now , by Apollo , king , +Thou swear'st thy gods in vain . + +O vassal ! miscreant ! + + +Dear sir , forbear . + +Dear sir , forbear . + +Do ; +Kill thy physician , and the fee bestow +Upon the foul disease . Revoke thy gift ; +Or , whilst I can vent clamour from my throat , +I'll tell thee thou dost evil . + +Hear me , recreant ! +On thine allegiance , hear me ! +Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow , +Which we durst never yet ,and , with strain'd pride +To come betwixt our sentence and our power , +Which nor our nature nor our place can hear , +Our potency made good , take thy reward . +Five days we do allot thee for provision +To shield thee from diseases of the world ; +And , on the sixth , to turn thy hated back +Upon our kingdom : if , on the tenth day following +Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions , +The moment is thy death . Away ! By Jupiter , +This shall not be revok'd . + +Fare thee well , king ; sith thus thou wilt appear , +Freedom lives hence , and banishment is here . + + +The gods to their dear shelter take thee , maid , +That justly think'st , and hast most rightly said ! + + +And your large speeches may your deeds approve , +That good effects may spring from words of love . +Thus Kent , O princes ! bids you all adieu ; +He'll shape his old course in a country new . + +Here's France and Burgundy , my noble lord . + +My Lord of Burgundy , +We first address toward you , who with this king +Hath rivall'd for our daughter . What , in the least , +Will you require in present dower with her , +Or cease your quest of love ? + +Most royal majesty , +I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd , +Nor will you tender less . + +Right noble Burgundy , +When she was dear to us we did hold her so , +But now her price is fall'n . Sir , there she stands : +If aught within that little-seeming substance , +Or all of it , with our displeasure piec'd , +And nothing more , may fitly like your Grace , +She's there , and she is yours . + +I know no answer . + +Will you , with those infirmities she owes , +Unfriended , new-adopted to our hate , +Dower'd with our curse , and stranger'd with our oath , +Take her , or leave her ? + +Pardon me , royal sir ; +Election makes not up on such conditions . + +Then leave her , sir ; for , by the power that made me , +I tell you all her wealth . + +For you , great king , +I would not from your love make such a stray +To match you where I hate ; therefore , beseech you +To avert your liking a more worthier way +Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd +Almost to acknowledge hers . + +This is most strange , +That she , who even but now was your best object , +The argument of your praise , balm of your age , +The best , the dearest , should in this trice of time +Commit a thing so monstrous , to dismantle +So many folds of favour . Sure , her offence +Must be of such unnatural degree +That monsters it , or your fore-vouch'd affection +Fall into taint ; which to believe of her , +Must be a faith that reason without miracle +Could never plant in me . + +I yet beseech your majesty +If for I want that glib and oily art +To speak and purpose not ; since what I well intend , +I'll do 't before I speak that you make known +It is no vicious blot nor other foulness , +No unchaste action , or dishonour'd step , +That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour , +But even for want of that for which I am richer , +A still-soliciting eye , and such a tongue +That I am glad I have not , though not to have it +Hath lost me in your liking . + +Better thou +Hadst not been born than not to have pleas'd me better . + +Is it but this ? a tardiness in nature +Which often leaves the history unspoke +That it intends to do ? My Lord of Burgundy , +What say you to the lady ? Love is not love +When it is mingled with regards that stand +Aloof from the entire point . Will you have her ? +She is herself a dowry . + +Royal Lear , +Give but that portion which yourself propos'd , +And here I take Cordelia by the hand , +Duchess of Burgundy . + +Nothing : I have sworn ; I am firm . + +I am sorry , then , you have so lost a father +That you must lose a husband . + +Peace be with Burgundy ! +Since that respects of fortune are his love , +I shall not be his wife . + +Fairest Cordelia , that art most rich , being poor ; +Most choice , forsaken ; and most lov'd , despis'd ! +Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon : +Be it lawful I take up what's cast away . +Gods , gods ! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect +My love should kindle to inflam'd respect . +Thy dowerless daughter , king , thrown to my chance , +Is queen of us , of ours , and our fair France : +Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy +Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me . +Bid them farewell , Cordelia , though unkind : +Thou losest here , a better where to find . + +Thou hast her , France ; let her be thine , for we +Have no such daughter , nor shall ever see +That face of hers again , therefore be gone +Without our grace , our love , our benison . +Come , noble Burgundy . + + +Bid farewell to your sisters . + +The jewels of our father , with wash'd eyes +Cordelia leaves you : I know you what you are ; +And like a sister am most loath to call +Your faults as they are nam'd . Use well our father : +To your professed bosoms I commit him : +But yet , alas ! stood I within his grace , +I would prefer him to a better place . +So farewell to you both . + +Prescribe not us our duties . + +Let your study +Be to content your lord , who hath receiv'd you +At fortune's alms ; you have obedience scanted , +And well are worth the want that you have wanted . + +Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides ; +Who covers faults , at last shame them derides . +Well may you prosper ! + +Come , my fair Cordelia . + + +Sister , it is not little I have to say of what most nearly appertains to us both . I think our father will hence to-night . + +That's most certain , and with you ; next month with us . + +You see how full of changes his age is ; the observation we have made of it hath not been little : he always loved our sister most ; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly . + +'Tis the infirmity of his age ; yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself . + +The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash ; then , must we look to receive from his age , not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed condition , but , therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them . + +Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent's banishment . + +There is further compliment of leave-taking between France and him . Pray you , let us hit together : if our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears , this last surrender of his will but offend us . + +We shall further think on't . + +We must do something , and i' the heat . + + +Thou , Nature , art my goddess ; to thy law +My services are bound . Wherefore should I +Stand in the plague of custom , and permit +The curiosity of nations to deprive me , +For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines +Lag of a brother ? Why bastard ? wherefore base ? +When my dimensions are as well compact , +My mind as generous , and my shape as true , +As honest madam's issue ? Why brand they us +With base ? with baseness ? bastardy ? base , base ? +Who in the lusty stealth of nature take +More composition and fierce quality +Than doth , within a dull , stale , tired bed , +Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops , +Got 'tween asleep and wake ? Well then , +Legitimate Edgar , I must have your land : +Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund +As to the legitimate . Fine word , 'legitimate !' +Well , my legitimate , if this letter speed , +And my invention thrive , Edmund the base +Shall top the legitimate :I grow , I prosper ; +Now , gods , stand up for bastards ! + + +Kent banished thus ! And France in choler parted ! +And the king gone to-night ! subscrib'd his power ! +Confin'd to exhibition ! All this done +Upon the gad ! Edmund , how now ! what news ? + +So please your lordship , none . + + +Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter ? + +I know no news , my lord . + +What paper were you reading ? + +Nothing , my lord . + +No ? What needed then that terrible dispatch of it into your pocket ? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself . Let's see ; come ; if it be nothing , I shall not need spectacles . + +I beseech you , sir , pardon me ; it is a letter from my brother that I have not all o'er-read , and for so much as I have perused , I find it not fit for your o'er-looking . + +Give me the letter , sir . + +I shall offend , either to detain or give it . The contents , as in part I understand them , are to blame . + +Let's see , let's see . + +I hope , for my brother's justification , he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue . + +This policy and reverence of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times ; keeps our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish them . I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny , who sways , not as it hath power , but as it is suffered . Come to me , that of this I may speak more . If our father would sleep till I waked him , you should enjoy half his revenue for ever , and live the beloved of your brother , + +It was not brought me , my lord ; there's the cunning of it ; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet . + +You know the character to be your brother's ? + +If the matter were good , my lord , I durst swear it were his ; but , in respect of that , I would fain think it were not . + +It is his . + +It is his hand , my lord ; but I hope his heart is not in the contents . + +Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business ? + +Never , my lord : but I have often heard him maintain it to be fit that , sons at perfect age , and fathers declined , the father should be as ward to the son , and the son manage his revenue . + +O villain , villain ! His very opinion in the letter ! Abhorred villain ! Unnatural , detested , brutish villain ! worse than brutish ! Go , sirrah , seek him ; I'll apprehend him . Abominable villain ! Where is he ? + +I do not well know , my lord . If it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my brother till you can derive from him better testimony of his intent , you shall run a certain course ; where , if you violently proceed against him , mistaking his purpose , it would make a great gap in your own honour , and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience . I dare pawn down my life for him , that he hath writ this to feel my affection to your honour , and to no other pretence of danger . + +Think you so ? + +If your honour judge it meet , I will place you where you shall hear us confer of this , and by an auricular assurance have your satisfaction ; and that without any further delay than this very evening . + +He cannot be such a monster + +Nor is not , sure . + +to his father , that so tenderly and entirely loves him . Heaven and earth ! Edmund , seek him out ; wind me into him , I pray you : frame the business after your own wisdom . I would unstate myself to be in a due resolution . + +I will seek him , sir , presently ; convey the business as I shall find means , and acquaint you withal . + +These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us : though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus , yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects . Love cools , friendship falls off , brothers divide : in cities , mutinies ; in countries , discord ; in palaces , treason ; and the bond cracked between son and father . This villain of mine comes under the prediction ; there's son against father : the king falls from bias of nature ; there's father against child . We have seen the best of our time : machinations , hollowness , treachery , and all ruinous disorders , follow us disquietly to our graves . Find out this villain , Edmund ; it shall lose thee nothing : do it carefully . And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished ! his offence , honesty ! 'Tis strange ! + + +This is the excellent foppery of the world , that , when we are sick in fortune ,often the surfeit of our own behaviour ,we make guilty of our disasters the sun , the moon , and the stars ; as if we were villains by necessity , fools by heavenly compulsion , knaves , thieves , and treachers by spherical predominance , drunkards , liars , and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence ; and all that we are evil in , by a divine thrusting on : an admirable evasion of whoremaster man , to lay his goatish disposition to the charge of a star ! My father compounded with my mother under the dragon's tail , and my nativity was under ursa major ; so that it follows I am rough and lecherous . 'Sfoot ! I should have been that I am had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing . Edgar + +and pat he comes , like the catastrophe of the old comedy : my cue is villanous melancholy , with a sigh like Tom o' Bedlam . O , these eclipses do portend these divisions ! Fa , sol , la , mi . + +How now , brother Edmund ! What serious contemplation are you in ? + +I am thinking , brother , of a prediction I read this other day , what should follow these eclipses . + +Do you busy yourself with that ? + +I promise you the effects he writes of succeed unhappily ; as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent ; death , dearth , dissolutions of ancient amities ; divisions in state ; menaces and maledictions against king and nobles ; needless diffidences , banishment of friends , dissipation of cohorts , nuptial breaches , and I know not what . + +How long have you been a sectary astronomical ? + +Come , come ; when saw you my father last ? + +The night gone by . + +Spake you with him ? + +Ay , two hours together . + +Parted you in good terms ? Found you no displeasure in him by word or countenance ? + +None at all . + +Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him ; and at my entreaty forbear his presence till some little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure , which at this instant so rageth in him that with the mischief of your person it would scarcely allay . + +Some villain hath done me wrong . + +That's my fear . I pray you have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower , and , as I say , retire with me to my lodging , from whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak . Pray you , go ; there's my key . If you do stir abroad , go armed . + +Armed , brother ! + +Brother , I advise you to the best ; go armed ; I am no honest man if there be any good meaning toward you ; I have told you what I have seen and heard ; but faintly , nothing like the image and horror of it ; pray you , away . + +Shall I hear from you anon ? + +I do serve you in this business . + +A credulous father , and a brother noble , +Whose nature is so far from doing harms +That he suspects none ; on whose foolish honesty +My practices ride easy ! I see the business . +Let me , if not by birth , have lands by wit : +All with me's meet that I can fashion fit . + + +Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool ? + +Ay , madam . + +By day and night he wrongs me ; every hour +He flashes into one gross crime or other , +That sets us all at odds : I'll not endure it : +His knights grow riotous , and himself upbraids us +On every trifle . When he returns from hunting +I will not speak with him ; say I am sick : +If you come slack of former services , +You shall do well ; the fault of it I'll answer . + +He's coming , madam ; I hear him . + + +Put on what weary negligence you please , +You and your fellows ; I'd have it come to question : +If he distaste it , let him to my sister , +Whose mind and mine , I know , in that are one , +Not to be over-rul'd . Idle old man , +That still would manage those authorities +That he hath given away ! Now , by my life , +Old fools are babes again , and must be us'd +With cheeks as flatteries , when they are seen abus'd . +Remember what I have said . + +Well , madam . + +And let his knights have colder looks among you ; +What grown of it , no matter ; advise your fellows so : +I would breed from hence occasions , and I shall , +That I may speak : I'll write straight to my sister +To hold my very source . Prepare for dinner . + + +If but as well I other accents borrow , +That can my speech diffuse , my good intent +May carry through itself to that full issue +For which I raz'd my likeness . Now , banish'd Kent , +If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd , +So may it come , thy master , whom thou lov'st , +Shall find thee full of labours . + + +Let me not stay a jot for dinner : go , get it ready . + +How now ! what art thou ? + +A man , sir . + +What dost thou profess ? What wouldst thou with us ? + +I do profess to be no less than I seem ; to serve him truly that will put me in trust ; to love him that is honest ; to converse with him that is wise , and says little ; to fear judgment ; to fight when I cannot choose ; and to eat no fish . + +What art thou ? + +A very honest-hearted fellow , and as poor as the king . + +If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a king , thou art poor enough . What wouldst thou ? + +Service . + +Whom wouldst thou serve ? + +You . + +Dost thou know me , fellow ? + +No , sir ; but you have that in your countenance which I would fain call master . + +What's that ? + +Authority . + +What services canst thou do ? + +I can keep honest counsel , ride , run , mar a curious tale in telling it , and deliver a plain message bluntly ; that which ordinary men are fit for , I am qualified in , and the best of me is diligence . + +How old art thou ? + +Not so young , sir , to love a woman for singing , nor so old to dote on her for any thing ; I have years on my back forty-eight . + +Follow me ; thou shalt serve me ; if I like thee no worse after dinner I will not part from thee yet . Dinner , ho ! dinner ! Where's my knave ? my fool ? Go you and call my fool hither . + + +You , you , sirrah , where's my daughter ? + +So please you , + + +What says the fellow there ? Call the clotpoll back . + +Where's my fool , ho ? I think the world's asleep . How now ! where's that mongrel ? + + +He says , my lord , your daughter is not well . + +Why came not the slave back to me when I called him ? + +Sir , he answered me in the roundest manner , he would not . + +He would not ! + +My lord , I know not what the matter is ; but , to my judgment , your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont ; there's a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependants as in the duke himself also and your daughter . + +Ha ! sayest thou so ? + +I beseech you , pardon me , my lord , if I be mistaken ; for my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged . + +Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception : I have perceived a most faint neglect of late ; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness : I will look further into 't . But where's my fool ? I have not seen him this two days . + +Since my young lady's going into France , sir , the fool hath much pined him away . + +No more of that ; I have noted it well . +Go you and tell my daughter I would speak with her . + +Go you , call hither my fool . + +O ! you sir , you , come you hither , sir . Who am + +I , sir ? + +My lady's father . + +'My lady's father !' my lord's knave : you whoreson dog ! you slave ! you cur ! + +I am none of these , my lord ; I beseech your pardon . + +Do you bandy looks with me , you rascal ? + + +I'll not be struck , my lord . + +Nor tripped neither , you base football player . + + +I thank thee , fellow ; thou servest me , and I'll love thee . + +Come , sir , arise , away ! I'll teach you differences : away , away ! If you will measure your lubber's length again , tarry ; but away ! +Go to ; have you wisdom ? so . + + +Now , my friendly knave , I thank thee : there's earnest of thy service . + +Let me hire him too : here's my coxcomb . + + +How now , my pretty knave ! how dost thou ? + +Sirrah , you were best take my coxcomb . + +Why , fool ? + +Why ? for taking one's part that's out of favour . Nay , an thou canst not smile as the wind sits , thou'lt catch cold shortly : there , take my coxcomb . Why , this fellow has banished two on 's daughters , and did the third a blessing against his will : if thou follow him thou must needs wear my coxcomb . How now , nuncle ! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters ! + +Why , my boy ? + +If I gave them all my living , I'd keep my coxcombs myself . There's mine ; beg another of thy daughters . + +Take heed , sirrah ; the whip . + +Truth's a dog must to kennel ; he must be whipped out when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink . + +A pestilent gall to me ! + +Sirrah , I'll teach' thee a speech . + +Do . + +Mark it , nuncle : + +Have more than thou showest , +Speak less than thou knowest , +Lend less than thou owest , +Ride more than thou goest , +Learn more than thou trowest , +Set less than thou throwest ; +Leave thy drink and thy whore , +And keep in-a-door , +And thou shalt have more +Than two tens to a score . + + +This is nothing , fool . + +Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer , you gave me nothing for 't . Can you make no use of nothing , nuncle ? + +Why , no , boy ; nothing can be made out of nothing . + +Prithee , tell him , so much the rent of his land comes to : he will not believe a fool . + +A bitter fool ! + +Dost thou know the difference , my boy , between a bitter fool and a sweet fool ? + +No , lad ; teach me . + + +That lord that counsell'd thee +To give away thy land , +Come place him here by me , +Do thou for him stand : +The sweet and bitter fool +Will presently appear ; +The one in motley here , +The other found out there . + + +Dost thou call me fool , boy ? + +All thy other titles thou hast given away ; that thou wast born with . + +This is not altogether fool , my lord . + +No , faith , lords and great men will not let me ; if I had a monopoly out , they would have part on 't , and ladies too : they will not let me have all fool to myself ; they'll be snatching . Nuncle , give me an egg , and I'll give thee two crowns . + +What two crowns shall they be ? + +Why , after I have cut the egg i' the middle and eat up the meat , the two crowns of the egg . When thou clovest thy crown i' the middle , and gavest away both parts , thou borest thine ass on thy back o'er the dirt : thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gavest thy golden one away . If I speak like myself in this , let him be whipped that first finds it so . + +Fools had ne'er less grace in a year ; +For wise men are grown foppish , +And know not how their wits to wear , +Their manners are so apish . + + +When were you wont to be so full of songs , sirrah ? + +I have used it , nuncle , ever since thou madest thy daughters thy mothers ; for when thou gavest them the rod and puttest down thine own breeches , + +Then they for sudden joy did weep , +And I for sorrow sung , +That such a king should play bo-peep , +And go the fools among . + +Prithee , nuncle , keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to lie : I would fain learn to lie . + +An you lie , sirrah , we'll have you whipped . + +I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are : they'll have me whipped for speaking true , thou'lt have me whipped for lying ; and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace . I had rather be any kind o' thing than a fool ; and yet I would not be thee , nuncle ; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides , and left nothing i' the middle : here comes one o' the parings . + + +How now , daughter ! what makes that frontlet on ? Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown . + +Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for her frowning ; now thou art an O without a figure . I am better than thou art now ; I am a fool , thou art nothing . + +Yes , forsooth , I will hold my tongue ; so your face bids me , though you say nothing . + +Mum , mum ; +He that keeps nor crust nor crumb , +Weary of all , shall want some . + +That's a shealed peascod . + + +Not only , sir , this your all-licens'd fool , +But other of your insolent retinue +Do hourly carp and quarrel , breaking forth +In rank and not-to-be-endured riots . Sir , +I had thought , by making this well known unto you , +To have found a safe redress ; but now grow fearful , +By what yourself too late have spoke and done . +That you protect this course , and put it on +By your allowance ; which if you should , the fault +Would not 'scape censure , nor the redresses sleep , +Which , in the tender of a wholesome weal , +Might in their working do you that offence , +Which else were shame , that then necessity +Will call discreet proceeding . + +For you trow , nuncle , + +The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long , +That it had it head bit off by it young . + +So out went the candle , and we were left darkling . + +Are you our daughter ? + +I would you would make use of your good wisdom , +Whereof I know you are fraught ; and put away +These dispositions which of late transform you +From what you rightly are . + +May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse ? Whoop , Jug ! I love thee . + +Does any here know me ? This is not Lear : +Does Lear walk thus ? speak thus ? Where are his eyes ? +Either his notion weakens , his discernings +Are lethargied . Ha ! waking ? 'tis not so . +Who is it that can tell me who I am ? + +Lear's shadow . + +I would learn that ; for , by the marks of sovereignty , knowledge and reason , I should be false persuaded I had daughters . + +Which they will make an obedient father . + +Your name , fair gentlewoman ? + +This admiration , sir , is much o' the favour +Of other your new pranks . I do beseech you +To understand my purposes aright : +As you are old and reverend , should be wise . +Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires ; +Men so disorder'd , so debosh'd , and bold , +That this our court , infected with their manners , +Shows like a riotous inn : epicurism and lust +Make it more like a tavern or a brothel +Than a grac'd palace . The shame itself doth speak +For instant remedy ; be then desir'd +By her that else will take the thing she begs , +A little to disquantity your train ; +And the remainder , that shall still depend , +To be such men as may besort your age , +Which know themselves and you . + +Darkness and devils ! +Saddle my horses ; call my train together . +Degenerate bastard ! I'll not trouble thee : +Yet have I left a daughter . + +You strike my people , and your disorder'd rabble +Make servants of their betters . + + +Woe , that too late repents ; + + +O ! sir , are you come ? +Is it your will ? Speak , sir . Prepare my horses . +Ingratitude , thou marble-hearted fiend , +More hideous , when thou show'st thee in a child , +Than the sea-monster . + +Pray , sir , be patient . + +Detested kite ! thou liest : +My train are men of choice and rarest parts , +That all particulars of duty know , +And in the most exact regard support +The worships of their name . O most small fault , +How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show ! +Which , like an engine , wrench'd my frame of nature +From the fix'd place , drew from my heart all love , +And added to the gall . O Lear , Lear , Lear ! +Beat at this gate , that let thy folly in , + +And thy dear judgment out ! Go , go , my people . + +My lord , I am guiltless , as I am ignorant +Of what hath mov'd you . + +It may be so , my lord . +Hear , Nature , hear ! dear goddess , hear ! +Suspend thy purpose , if thou didst intend +To make this creature fruitful ! +Into her womb convey sterility ! +Dry up in her the organs of increase , +And from her derogate body never spring +A babe to honour her ! If she must teem , +Create her child of spleen , that it may live +And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her ! +Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth , +With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks , +Turn all her mother's pains and benefits +To laughter and contempt , that she may feel +How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is +To have a thankless child ! Away , away ! + + +Now , gods that we adore , whereof comes this ? + +Never afflict yourself to know the cause ; +But let his disposition have that scope +That dotage gives it . + + +What ! fifty of my followers at a clap , +Within a fortnight ? + +What's the matter , sir ? + +I'll tell thee . + +Life and death ! I am asham'd +That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus , +That these hot tears , which break from me perforce , +Should make thee worth them . Blasts and fogs upon thee ! +Th' untented woundings of a father's curse +Pierce every sense about thee ! Old fond eyes , +Beweep this cause again , I'll pluck ye out , +And cast you , with the waters that you lose , +To temper clay . Yea , is it come to this ? +Let it be so : I have another daughter , +Who , I am sure , is kind and comfortable : +When she shall hear this of thee , with her nails +She'll flay thy wolvish visage . Thou shalt find +That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think +I have cast off for ever ; thou shalt , I warrant thee . + + +Do you mark that ? + +I cannot be so partial , Goneril , +To the great love I bear you . + +Pray you , content . What , Oswald , ho ! + + +You , sir , more knave than fool , after your master . + +Nuncle Lear , nuncle Lear ! tarry , and take the fool with thee . + +A fox , when one has caught her , +And such a daughter , +Should sure to the slaughter , +If my cap would buy a halter ; +So the fool follows after . + +This man hath had good counsel . A hundred knights ! +'Tis politic and safe to let him keep +At point a hundred knights ; yes , that on every dream , +Each buzz , each fancy , each complaint , dislike , +He may enguard his dotage with their powers , +And hold our lives in mercy . Oswald , I say ! + +Well , you may fear too far . + +Safer than trust too far . +Let me still take away the harms I fear , +Not fear still to be taken : I know his heart . +What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister ; +If she sustain him and his hundred knights , +When I have show'd the unfitness , + + +How now , Oswald ! + +What ! have you writ that letter to my sister ? + +Ay , madam . + +Take you some company , and away to horse : +Inform her full of my particular fear ; +And thereto add such reasons of your own +As may compact it more . Get you gone , +And hasten your return . + +No , no , my lord , +This milky gentleness and course of yours +Though I condemn not , yet , under pardon , +You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom +Than prais'd for harmful mildness . + +How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell : +Striving to better , oft we mar what's well . + +Nay , then + +Well , well ; the event . + + +Go you before to Gloucester with these letters . Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter . If your diligence be not speedy I shall be there before you . + +I will not sleep , my lord , till I have delivered your letter . + + +If a man's brains were in 's heels , were't not in danger of kibes ? + +Ay , boy . + +Then , I prithee , be merry ; thy wit shall not go slip-shod . + +Ha , ha , ha ! + +Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly ; for though she's as like this as a crab is like an apple , yet I can tell what I can tell . + +What canst tell , boy ? + +She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab . Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on 's face ? + +No . + +Why , to keep one's eyes of either side's nose , that what a man cannot smell out , he may spy into . + +I did her wrong , + +Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell ? + +No . + +Nor I neither ; but I can tell why a snail has a house . + +Why ? + +Why , to put his head in ; not to give it away to his daughters , and leave his horns without a case . + +I will forget my nature . So kind a father ! Be my horses ready ? + +Thy asses are gone about 'em . The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason . + +Because they are not eight ? + +Yes , indeed : thou wouldst make a good fool . + +To take it again perforce ! Monster ingratitude ! + +If thou wert my fool , nuncle , I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time . + +How's that ? + +Thou shouldst not have been old before thou hadst been wise . + +O ! let me not be mad , not mad , sweet heaven ; +Keep me in temper ; I would not be mad ! + +How now ! Are the horses ready ? + +Ready , my lord . + +Come , boy . + +She that's a maid now , and laughs at my departure , +Shall not be a maid long , unless things be cut shorter . + +Save thee , Curan . + +And you , sir . I have been with your father , and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here with him to-night . + +How comes that ? + +Nay , I know not . You have heard of the news abroad ? I mean the whispered ones , for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments ? + +Not I : pray you , what are they ? + +Have you heard of no likely wars toward , 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany ? + +Not a word . + +You may do then , in time . Fare you well , sir . + + +The duke be here to-night ! The better ! best ! +This weaves itself perforce into my business . +My father hath set guard to take my brother ; +And I have one thing , of a queasy question , +Which I must act . Briefness and fortune , work ! +Brother , a word ; descend : brother , I say ! + + +My father watches : O sir ! fly this place ; +Intelligence is given where you are hid ; +You have now the good advantage of the night . +Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall ? +He's coming hither , now , i' the night , i' the haste , +And Regan with him ; have you nothing said +Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany ? + +Advise yourself . + +I am sure on 't , not a word . + +I hear my father coming ; pardon me ; +In cunning I must draw my sword upon you ; +Draw ; seem to defend yourself ; now 'quit you well . +Yield ;come before my father . Light , ho ! here ! +Fly , brother . Torches ! torches ! So , farewell . + +Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion + +Of my more fierce endeavour : I have seen drunkards +Do more than this in sport . Father ! father ! +Stop , stop ! No help ? + + +Now , Edmund , where's the villain ? + +Here stood he in the dark , his sharp sword out , +Mumbling of wicked charms , conjuring the moon +To stand auspicious mistress . + +But where is he ? + +Look , sir , I bleed . + +Where is the villain , Edmund ? + +Fled this way , sir . When by no means he could + +Pursue him , ho ! Go after . + +'By no means' what ? + +Persuade me to the murder of your lordship ; +But that I told him , the revenging gods +'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend ; +Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond +The child was bound to the father ; sir , in fine , +Seeing how loathly opposite I stood +To his unnatural purpose , in fell motion , +With his prepared sword he charges home +My unprovided body , lanc'd mine arm : +But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits +Bold in the quarrel's right , rous'd to the encounter , +Or whether gasted by the noise I made , +Full suddenly he fled . + +Let him fly far : +Not in this land shall he remain uncaught ; +And found dispatch . The noble duke my master , +My worthy arch and patron , comes to-night : +By his authority I will proclaim it , +That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks , +Bringing the murderous coward to the stake ; +He that conceals him , death . + +When I dissuaded him from his intent , +And found him pight to do it , with curst speech +I threaten'd to discover him : he replied , +'Thou unpossessing bastard ! dost thou think , +If I would stand against thee , would the reposal +Of any trust , virtue , or worth , in thee +Make thy words faith'd ? No : what I should deny , +As this I would ; ay , though thou didst produce +My very character ,I'd turn it all +To thy suggestion , plot , and damned practice : +And thou must make a dullard of the world , +If they not thought the profits of my death +Were very pregnant and potential spurs +To make thee seek it .' + +Strong and fasten'd villain ! +Would he deny his letter ? I never got him . + +Hark ! the duke's trumpets . I know not why he comes . +All ports I'll bar ; the villain shall not 'scape ; +The duke must grant me that : besides , his picture +I will send far and near , that all the kingdom +May have due note of him ; and of my land , +Loyal and natural boy , I'll work the means +To make thee capable . + + +How now , my noble friend ! since I came hither , +Which I can call but now ,I have heard strange news . + +If it be true , all vengeance comes too short +Which can pursue the offender . How dost , my lord ? + +O ! madam , my old heart is crack'd , it's crack'd . + +What ! did my father's godson seek your life ? +He whom my father nam'd ? your Edgar ? + +O ! lady , lady , shame would have it hid . + +Was he not companion with the riotous knights +That tend upon my father ? + +I know not , madam ; 'tis too bad , too bad . + +Yes , madam , he was of that consort . + +No marvel then though he were ill affected ; +'Tis they have put him on the old man's death , +To have the expense and waste of his revenues . +I have this present evening from my sister +Been well-inform'd of them , and with such cautions +That if they come to sojourn at my house , +I'll not be there . + +Nor I , assure thee , Regan . +Edmund , I hear that you have shown your father +A child-like office . + +'Twas my duty , sir . + +He did bewray his practice ; and receiv'd +This hurt you see , striving to apprehend him . + +Is he pursu'd ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +If he be taken he shall never more +Be fear'd of doing harm ; make your own purpose , +How in my strength you please . For you , Edmund , +Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant +So much commend itself , you shall be ours : +Natures of such deep trust we shall much need ; +You we first seize on . + +I shall serve you , sir , +Truly , however else . + +For him I thank your Grace . + +You know not why we came to visit you , + +Thus out of season , threading dark-ey'd night : +Occasions , noble Gloucester , of some prize , +Wherein we must have use of your advice . +Our father he hath writ , so hath our sister , +Of differences , which I best thought it fit +To answer from our home ; the several messengers +From hence attend dispatch . Our good old friend , +Lay comforts to your bosom , and bestow +Your needful counsel to our businesses , +Which craves the instant use . + +I serve you , madam . +Your Graces are right welcome . + + +Good dawning to thee , friend : art of this house ? + +Ay . + +Where may we set our horses ? + +I' the mire . + +Prithee , if thou lovest me , tell me . + +I love thee not . + +Why , then I care not for thee . + +If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold , I would make thee care for me . + +Why dost thou use me thus ? I know thee not . + +Fellow , I know thee . + +What dost thou know me for ? + +A knave , a rascal , an eater of broken meats ; a base , proud , shallow , beggarly , three-suited , hundred-pound , filthy , worsted-stocking knave ; a lily-liver'd , action-taking knave ; a whoreson , glass-gazing , superserviceable , finical rogue ; one-trunk-inheriting slave ; one that wouldst be a bawd , in way of good service , and art nothing but the composition of a knave , beggar , coward , pandar , and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch : one whom I will beat into clamorous whining if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition . + +Why , what a monstrous fellow art thou , thus to rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee ! + +What a brazen-faced varlet art thou , to deny thou knowest me ! Is it two days since I tripped up thy heels and beat thee before the king ? Draw , you rogue ; for , though it be night , yet the moon shines : I'll make a sop o' the moonshine of you . + +Draw , you whoreson , cullionly , barber-monger , draw . + +Away ! I have nothing to do with thee . + +Draw , you rascal ; you come with letters against the king , and take vanity the pupet's part against the royalty of her father . Draw , you rogue , or I'll so carbonado your shanks : draw , you rascal ; come your ways . + +Help , ho ! murder ! help ! + +Strike , you slave ; stand , rogue , stand ; you neat slave , strike . + + +Help , oh ! murder ! murder ! + + +How now ! What's the matter ? + + +With you , goodman boy , if you please : come , +I'll flesh ye ; come on , young master . + + +Weapons ! arms ! What's the matter here ? + +Keep peace , upon your lives : +He dies that strikes again . What is the matter ? + +The messengers from our sister and the king . + +What is your difference ? speak . + +I am scarce in breath , my lord . + +No marvel , you have so bestirred your valour . You cowardly rascal , nature disclaims in thee : a tailor made thee . + +Thou art a strange fellow ; a tailor make a man ? + +Ay , a tailor , sir : a stone-cutter or a painter could not have made him so ill , though they had been but two hours o' the trade . + +Speak yet , how grew your quarrel ? + +This ancient ruffian , sir , whose life I have spar'd at suit of his grey beard , + +Thou whoreson zed ! thou unnecessary letter ! My lord , if you will give me leave , I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar , and daub the wall of a jakes with him . Spare my grey beard , you wagtail ? + +Peace , sirrah ! +You beastly knave , know you no reverence ? + +Yes , sir ; but anger hath a privilege . + +Why art thou angry ? + +That such a slave as this should wear a sword , +Who wears no honesty . Such smiling rogues as these , +Like rats , oft bite the holy cords a-twain +Which are too intrinse t' unloose ; smooth every passion +That in the natures of their lords rebel ; +Bring oil to fire , snow to their colder moods ; +Renege , affirm , and turn their halcyon beaks +With every gale and vary of their masters , +Knowing nought , like dogs , but following . +A plague upon your epileptic visage ! +Smile you my speeches , as I were a fool ? +Goose , if I had you upon Sarum plain , +I'd drive ye cackling home to Camelot . + +What ! art thou mad , old fellow ? + +How fell you out ? say that . + +No contraries hold more antipathy +Than I and such a knave . + +Why dost thou call him knave ? What is his fault ? + +His countenance likes me not . + +No more , perchance , does mine , nor his , nor hers . + +Sir , 'tis my occupation to be plain : +I have seen better faces in my time +Than stands on any shoulder that I see +Before me at this instant . + +This is some fellow , +Who , having been prais'd for bluntness , doth affect +A saucy roughness , and constrains the garb +Quite from his nature : he cannot flatter , he , +An honest mind and plain , he must speak truth : +An they will take it , so ; if not , he's plain . +These kind of knaves I know , which in this plainness +Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends +Than twenty silly-ducking observants , +That stretch their duties nicely . + +Sir , in good sooth , in sincere verity , +Under the allowance of your grand aspect , +Whose influence , like the wreath of radiant fire +On flickering Ph bus' front , + +What mean'st by this ? + +To go out of my dialect , which you discommend so much . I know , sir , I am no flatterer : he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave ; which for my part I will not be , though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't . + +What was the offence you gave him ? + +I never gave him any : +It pleas'd the king his master very late +To strike at me , upon his misconstruction ; +When he , conjunct , and flattering his displeasure , +Tripp'd me behind ; being down , insulted , rail'd , +And put upon him such a deal of man , +That worthied him , got praises of the king +For him attempting who was self-subdu'd ; +And , in the fleshment of this dread exploit , +Drew on me here again . + +None of these rogues and cowards +But Ajax is their fool . + +Fetch forth the stocks ! +You stubborn ancient knave , you reverend braggart , +We'll teach you . + +Sir , I am too old to learn , +Call not your stocks for me ; I serve the king , +On whose employment I was sent to you ; +You shall do small respect , show too bold malice +Against the grace and person of my master , +Stocking his messenger . + +Fetch forth the stocks ! As I have life and honour , +There shall he sit till noon . + +Till noon ! Till night , my lord ; and all night too . + +Why , madam , if I were your father's dog , +You should not use me so . + +Sir , being his knave , I will . + +This is a fellow of the self-same colour +Our sister speaks of . Come , bring away the stocks . + + +Let me beseech your Grace not to do so . +His fault is much , and the good king his master +Will check him for't : your purpos'd low correction +Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches +For pilferings and most common trespasses +Are punish'd with : the king must take it ill , +That he , so slightly valu'd in his messenger , +Should have him thus restrain'd . + +I'll answer that . + +My sister may receive it much more worse +To have her gentleman abus'd , assaulted , +For following her affairs . Put in his legs . + +Come , my good lord , away . + + +I am sorry for thee , friend ; 'tis the duke's pleasure , +Whose disposition , all the world well knows , +Will not be rubb'd nor stopp'd ; I'll entreat for thee . + +Pray , do not , sir . I have watch'd and travell'd hard ; +Some time I shall sleep out , the rest I'll whistle . +A good man's fortune may grow out at heels : +Give you good morrow ! + +The duke's to blame in this ; 'twill be ill taken . + + +Good king , that must approve the common saw , +Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st +To the warm sun . +Approach , thou beacon to this under globe , +That by thy comfortable beams I may +Peruse this letter . Nothing almost sees miracles +But misery : I know 'tis from Cordelia , +Who hath most fortunately been inform'd +Of my obscured course ; and shall find time +From this enormous state , seeking to give +Losses their remedies . All weary and o'erwatch'd , +Take vantage , heavy eyes , not to behold +This shameful lodging . +Fortune , good night , smile once more ; turn thy wheel ! + + +I heard myself proclaim'd ; +And by the happy hollow of a tree +Escap'd the hunt . No port is free ; no place , +That guard , and most unusual vigilance , +Does not attend my taking . While I may 'scape +I will preserve myself ; and am bethought +To take the basest and most poorest shape +That ever penury , in contempt of man , +Brought near to beast ; my face I'll grime with filth , +Blanket my loins , elf all my hair in knots , +And with presented nakedness outface +The winds and persecutions of the sky . +The country gives me proof and precedent +Of Bedlam beggars , who with roaring voices , +Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare arms +Pins , wooden pricks , nails , sprigs of rosemary ; +And with this horrible object , from low farms , +Poor pelting villages , sheep-cotes , and mills , +Sometime with lunatic bans , sometime with prayers , +Enforce their charity . Poor Turlygood ! poor Tom ! +That's something yet : Edgar I nothing am . + + +'Tis strange that they should so depart from home , +And not send back my messenger . + +As I learn'd , +The night before there was no purpose in them +Of this remove . + +Hail to thee , noble master ! + +Ha ! +Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime ? + +No , my lord . + +Ha , ha ! he wears cruel garters . Horses are tied by the head , dogs and bears by the neck , monkeys by the loins , and men by the legs : when a man is over-lusty at legs , then he wears wooden nether-stocks . + +What's he that hath so much thy place mistook +To set thee here ? + +It is both he and she , +Your son and daughter . + +No . + +Yes . + +No , I say . + +I say , yea . + +No , no ; they would not . + +Yes , they have . + +By Jupiter , I swear , no . + +By Juno , I swear , ay . + +They durst not do't ; +They could not , would not do 't ; 'tis worse than murder , +To do upon respect such violent outrage . +Resolve me , with all modest haste , which way +Thou mightst deserve , or they impose , this usage , +Coming from us . + +My lord , when at their home +I did commend your highness' letters to them , +Ere I was risen from the place that show'd +My duty kneeling , there came a reeking post , +Stew'd in his haste , half breathless , panting forth +From Goneril his mistress salutations ; +Deliver'd letters , spite of intermission , +Which presently they read : on whose contents +They summon'd up their meiny , straight took horse ; +Commanded me to follow , and attend +The leisure of their answer ; gave me cold looks : +And meeting here the other messenger , +Whose welcome , I perceiv'd , had poison'd mine , +Being the very fellow which of late +Display'd so saucily against your highness , +Having more man than wit about me ,drew : +He rais'd the house with loud and coward cries . +Your son and daughter found this trespass worth +The shame which here it suffers . + +Winter's not gone yet , if the wild geese fly that way . + +Fathers that wear rags +Do make their children blind , +But fathers that bear bags +Shall see their children kind . +Fortune , that arrant whore , +Ne'er turns the key to the poor . + +But for all this thou shalt have as many dolours for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year . + +O ! how this mother swells up toward my heart ; +Hysterica passio ! down , thou climbing sorrow ! +Thy element's below . Where is this daughter ? + +With the earl , sir : here within . + +Follow me not ; stay here . + + +Made you no more offence than what you speak of ? + +None . +How chance the king comes with so small a number ? + +An thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that question , thou hadst well deserved it . + +Why , fool ? + +We'll set thee to school to an ant , to teach thee there's no labouring i' the winter . All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men ; and there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking . Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill , lest it break thy neck with following it ; but the great one that goes up the hill , let him draw thee after . When a wise man gives thee better counsel , give me mine again : I would have none but knaves follow it , since a fool gives it . + +That sir which serves and seeks for gain , +And follows but for form , +Will pack when it begins to rain , +And leave thee in the storm . +But I will tarry ; the fool will stay , +And let the wise man fly : +The knave turns fool that runs away ; +The fool no knave , perdy . + + +Where learn'd you this , fool ? + +Not i' the stocks , fool . + + +Deny to speak with me ! They are sick ! they are weary , +They have travell'd hard to-night ! Mere fetches , +The images of revolt and flying off . +Fetch me a better answer . + +My dear lord , +You know the fiery quality of the duke ; +How unremovable and fix'd he is +In his own course . + +Vengeance ! plague ! death ! confusion ! +Fiery ! what quality ? Why , Gloucester , Gloucester , +I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife . + +Well , my good lord , I have inform'd them so . + +Inform'd them ! Dost thou understand me , man ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +The king would speak with Cornwall ; the dear father +Would with his daughter speak , commands her service : +Are they inform'd of this ? My breath and blood ! +Fiery ! the fiery duke ! Tell the hot duke that +No , but not yet ; may be he is not well : +Infirmity doth still neglect all office +Whereto our health is bound ; we are not ourselves +When nature , being oppress'd , commands the mind +To suffer with the body . I'll forbear ; +And am fall'n out with my more headier will , +To take the indispos'd and sickly fit +For the sound man . Death on my state ! + +Wherefore +Should he sit here ? This act persuades me +That this remotion of the duke and her +Is practice only . Give me my servant forth . +Go , tell the duke and's wife I'd speak with them , +Now , presently : bid them come forth and hear me , +Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum +Till it cry sleep to death . + +I would have all well betwixt you . + + +O , me ! my heart , my rising heart ! but , down ! + +Cry to it , nuncle , as the cockney did to the eels when she put 'em i' the paste alive ; she knapped 'em o' the coxcombs with a stick , and cried , 'Down , wantons , down !' 'Twas her brother that , in pure kindness to his horse , buttered his hay . + + +Good morrow to you both . + +Hail to your Grace ! + + +I am glad to see your highness . + +Regan , I think you are ; I know what reason +I have to think so : if thou shouldst not be glad , +I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb , +Sepulchring an adult'ress . + +O ! are you free ? +Some other time for that . Beloved Regan , +Thy sister's naught : O Regan ! she hath tied +Sharp-tooth'd unkindness , like a vulture , here : + +I can scarce speak to thee ; thou'lt not believe +With how deprav'd a quality O Regan ! + +I pray you , sir , take patience . I have hope +You less know how to value her desert +Than she to scant her duty . + +Say , how is that ? + +I cannot think my sister in the least +Would fail her obligation : if , sir , perchance +She have restrain'd the riots of your followers , +'Tis on such ground , and to such wholesome end , +As clears her from all blame . + +My curses on her ! + +O , sir ! you are old ; +Nature in you stands on the very verge +Of her confine : you should be rul'd and led +By some discretion that discerns your state +Better than you yourself . Therefore I pray you +That to our sister you do make return ; +Say , you have wrong'd her , sir . + +Ask her forgiveness ? +Do you but mark how this becomes the house : +'Dear daughter , I confess that I am old ; +Age is unnecessary : on my knees I beg + +That you'll vouchsafe me raiment , bed , and food .' + +Good sir , no more ; these are unsightly tricks : +Return you to my sister . + +Never , Regan . +She hath abated me of half my train ; +Look'd black upon me ; struck me with her tongue , +Most serpent-like , upon the very heart . +All the stor'd vengeances of heaven fall +On her ingrateful top ! Strike her young bones , +You taking airs , with lameness ! + +Fie , air , fie ! + +You nimble lightnings , dart your blinding flames +Into her scornful eyes ! Infect her beauty , +You fen-suck'd fogs , drawn by the powerful sun , +To fall and blast her pride ! + +O the blest gods ! So will you wish on me , +When the rash mood is on . + +No , Regan , thou shalt never have my curse : +Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give +Thee o'er to harshness : her eyes are fierce , but thine +Do comfort and not burn . 'Tis not in thee +To grudge my pleasures , to cut off my train , +To bandy hasty words , to scant my sizes , +And , in conclusion , to oppose the bolt +Against my coming in : thou better know'st +The offices of nature , bond of childhood , +Effects of courtesy , dues of gratitude ; +Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot , +Wherein I thee endow'd . + +Good sir , to the purpose . + +Who put my man i' the stocks ? + + +What trumpet's that ? + +I know't , my sister's ; this approves her letter , +That she would soon be here . Is your lady come ? + + +This is a slave , whose easy-borrow'd pride +Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows . +Out , varlet , from my sight ! + +What means your Grace ? + +Who stock'd my servant ? Regan , I have good hope +Thou didst not know on 't . Who comes here ? O heavens , + + +If you do love old men , if your sweet sway +Allow obedience , if yourselves are old , +Make it your cause ; send down and take my part ! + + +Art not asham'd to look upon this beard ? + +O Regan , wilt thou take her by the hand ? + +Why not by the hand , sir ? How have I offended ? +All's not offence that indiscretion finds +And dotage terms so . + +O sides ! you are too tough ; +Will you yet hold ? How came my man i' the stocks ? + +I set him there , sir : but his own disorders +Deserv'd much less advancement . + +You ! did you ? + +I pray you , father , being weak , seem so . +If , till the expiration of your month , +You will return and sojourn with my sister , +Dismissing half your train , come then to me : +I am now from home , and out of that provision +Which shall be needful for your entertainment . + +Return to her ? and fifty men dismiss'd ! +No , rather I abjure all roofs , and choose +To wage against the enmity o' the air ; +To be a comrade with the wolf and owl , +Necessity's sharp pinch ! Return with her ! +Why , the hot-blooded France , that dowerless took +Our youngest born , I could as well be brought +To knee his throne , and , squire-like , pension beg +To keep base life afoot . Return with her ! +Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter +To this detested groom . + + +At your choice , sir . + +I prithee , daughter , do not make me mad : +I will not trouble thee , my child ; farewell . +We'll no more meet , no more see one another ; +But yet thou art my flesh , my blood , my daughter ; +Or rather a disease that's in my flesh , +Which I must needs call mine : thou art a boil , +A plague-sore , an embossed carbuncle , +In my corrupted blood . But I'll not chide thee ; +Let shame come when it will , I do not call it : +I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot , +Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove . +Mend when thou canst ; be better at thy leisure : +I can be patient ; I can stay with Regan , +I and my hundred knights . + +Not altogether so : +I look'd not for you yet , nor am provided +For your fit welcome . Give ear , sir , to my sister ; +For those that mingle reason with your passion +Must be content to think you old , and so +But she knows what she does . + +Is this well spoken ? + +I dare avouch it , sir : what ! fifty followers ? +Is it not well ? What should you need of more ? +Yea , or so many , sith that both charge and danger +Speak 'gainst so great a number ? How , in one house , +Should many people , under two commands , +Hold amity ? 'Tis hard ; almost impossible . + +Why might not you , my lord , receive attendance +From those that she calls servants , or from mine ? + +Why not , my lord ? If then they chanc'd to slack you +We could control them . If you will come to me , +For now I spy a danger ,I entreat you +To bring but five-and-twenty ; to no more +Will I give place or notice . + +I gave you all + +And in good time you gave it + +Made you my guardians , my depositaries , +But kept a reservation to be follow'd +With such a number . What ! must I come to you +With five-and-twenty ? Regan , said you so ? + +And speak't again , my lord ; no more with me . + +Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd , +When others are more wicked ; not being the worst +Stands in some rank of praise . + +I'll go with thee : +Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty , +And thou art twice her love . + +Hear me , my lord . +What need you five-and-twenty , ten , or five , +To follow in a house , where twice so many +Have a command to tend you ? + +What need one ? + +O ! reason not the need ; our basest beggars +Are in the poorest thing superfluous : +Allow not nature more than nature needs , +Man's life is cheap as beast's . Thou art a lady ; +If only to go warm were gorgeous , +Why , nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st , +Which scarcely keeps thee warm . But , for true need , +You heavens , give me that patience , patience I need ! +You see me here , you gods , a poor old man , +As full of grief as age ; wretched in both ! +If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts +Against their father , fool me not so much +To bear it tamely ; touch me with noble anger , +And let not women's weapons , water-drops , +Stain my man's cheeks ! No , you unnatural hags , +I will have such revenges on you both +That all the world shall I will do such things , +What they are yet I know not ,but they shall be +The terrors of the earth . You think I'll weep ; +No , I'll not weep : +I have full cause of weeping , but this heart +Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws +Or ere I'll weep . O fool ! I shall go mad . + + +Let us withdraw ; 'twill be a storm . + + +This house is little : the old man and his people +Cannot be well bestow'd . + +'Tis his own blame ; hath put himself from rest , +And must needs taste his folly . + +For his particular , I'll receive him gladly , +But not one follower . + +So am I purpos'd . +Where is my Lord of Gloucester ? + +Follow'd the old man forth . He is return'd . + + +The king is in high rage . + +Whither is he going ? + +He calls to horse ; but will I know not whither . + +'Tis best to give him way ; he leads himself . + +My lord , entreat him by no means to stay . + +Alack ! the night comes on , and the bleak winds +Do sorely ruffle ; for many miles about +There's scarce a bush . + +O ! sir , to wilful men , +The injuries that they themselves procure +Must be their schoolmasters . Shut up your doors ; +He is attended with a desperate train , +And what they may incense him to , being apt +To have his ear abus'd , wisdom bids fear . + +Shut up your doors , my lord ; 'tis a wild night : +My Regan counsels well : come out o' the storm . + +Who's here , beside foul weather ? + +One minded like the weather , most unquietly . + +I know you . Where's the king ? + +Contending with the fretful elements ; +Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea , +Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main , +That things might change or cease ; tears his white hair , +Which the impetuous blasts , with eyeless rage , +Catch in their fury , and make nothing of ; +Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn +The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain . +This night , wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch , +The lion and the belly-pinched wolf +Keep their fur dry , unbonneted he runs , +And bids what will take all . + +But who is with him ? + +None but the fool , who labours to out-jest +His heart-struck injuries . + +Sir , I do know you ; +And dare , upon the warrant of my note , +Commend a dear thing to you . There is division , +Although as yet the face of it be cover'd +With mutual cunning , 'twixt Albany and Cornwall ; +Who have as who have not , that their great stars +Thron'd and set high servants , who seem no less , +Which are to France the spies and speculations +Intelligent of our state ; what hath been seen , +Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes , +Or the hard rein which both of them have borne +Against the old kind king ; or something deeper , +Whereof perchance these are but furnishings ; +But , true it is , from France there comes a power +Into this scatter'd kingdom ; who already , +Wise in our negligence , have secret feet +In some of our best ports , and are at point +To show their open banner . Now to you : +If on my credit you dare build so far +To make your speed to Dover , you shall find +Some that will thank you , making just report +Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow +The king hath cause to plain . +I am a gentleman of blood and breeding , +And from some knowledge and assurance offer +This office to you . + +I will talk further with you . + +No , do not . +For confirmation that I am much more +Than my out-wall , open this purse , and take +What it contains . If you shall see Cordelia , +As doubt not but you shall ,show her this ring , +And she will tell you who your fellow is +That yet you do not know . Fie on this storm ! +I will go seek the king . + +Give me your hand . Have you no more to say ? + +Few words , but , to effect , more than all yet ; +That , when we have found the king ,in which your pain +That way , I'll this ,he that first lights on him +Holla the other . + + +Blow , winds , and crack your cheeks ! rage ! blow ! +You cataracts and hurricanoes , spout +Till you have drench'd our steeples , drown'd the cocks ! +You sulphurous and thought-executing fires , +Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts , +Singe my white head ! And thou , all-shaking thunder , +Strike flat the thick rotundity o' the world ! +Crack nature's moulds , all germens spill at once +That make ingrateful man ! + +O nuncle , court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o' door . Good nuncle , in , and ask thy daughters' blessing ; here's a night pities neither wise man nor fool . + +Rumble thy bellyfull Spit , fire ! spout , rain ! +Nor rain , wind , thunder , fire , are my daughters : +I tax not you , you elements , with unkindness ; +I never gave you kingdom , call'd you children , +You owe me no subscription : then , let fall +Your horrible pleasure ; here I stand , your slave , +A poor , infirm , weak , and despis'd old man . +But yet I call you servile ministers , +That have with two pernicious daughters join'd +Your high-engender'd battles 'gainst a head +So old and white as this . O ! O ! 'tis foul . + +He that has a house to put his head in has a good head-piece . + +The cod-piece that will house +Before the head has any , +The head and he shall louse ; +So beggars marry many . +The man that makes his toe +What he his heart should make , +Shall of a corn cry woe , +And turn his sleep to wake . + +For there was never yet fair woman but she made mouths in a glass . + + +No , I will be the pattern of all patience ; I will say nothing . + +Who's there ? + +Marry , here's grace and a cod-piece ; that's a wise man and a fool . + +Alas ! sir , are you here ? things that love night +Love not such nights as these ; the wrathful skies +Gallow the very wanderers of the dark , +And make them keep their caves . Since I was man +Such sheets of fire , such bursts of horrid thunder , +Such groans of roaring wind and rain , I never +Remember to have heard ; man's nature cannot carry +The affliction nor the fear . + +Let the great gods , +That keep this dreadful pother o'er our heads , +Find out their enemies now . Tremble , thou wretch , +That hast within thee undivulged crimes , +Unwhipp'd of justice ; hide thee , thou bloody hand ; +Thou perjur'd , and thou simular of virtue +That art incestuous ; caitiff , to pieces shake , +That under covert and convenient seeming +Hast practis'd on man's life ; close pent-up guilts , +Rive your concealing continents , and cry +These dreadful summoners grace . I am a man +More sinn'd against than sinning . + +Alack ! bare-headed ! +Gracious my lord , hard by here is a hovel ; +Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest ; +Repose you there while I to this hard house , +More harder than the stone whereof 'tis rais'd , +Which even but now , demanding after you , +Denied me to come in , return and force +Their scanted courtesy . + +My wits begin to turn . +Come on , my boy . How dost , my boy ? Art cold ? +I am cold myself . Where is this straw , my fellow ? +The art of our necessities is strange , +That can make vile things precious . Come , your hovel . +Poor fool and knave , I have one part in my heart +That's sorry yet for thee . + + +He that has a little tiny wit , +With hey , ho , the wind and the rain , +Must make content with his fortunes fit , +Though the rain it raineth every day . + + +True , my good boy . Come , bring us to this hovel . + + +This is a brave night to cool a courtezan . +I'll speak a prophecy ere I go : + +When priests are more in word than matter ; +When brewers mar their malt with water ; +When nobles are their tailors' tutors ; +No heretics burn'd , but wenches' suitors ; +When every case in law is right ; +No squire in debt , nor no poor knight ; +When slanders do not live in tongues ; +Nor cutpurses come not to throngs ; +When usurers tell their gold i' the field ; +And bawds and whores do churches build ; +Then shall the realm of Albion +Come to great confusion : +Then comes the time , who lives to see 't , +That going shall be us'd with feet . + +This prophecy Merlin shall make ; for I live before his time . + + +Alack , alack ! Edmund , I like not this unnatural dealing . When I desired their leave that I might pity him , they took from me the use of mine own house ; charged me , on pain of their perpetual displeasure , neither to speak of him , entreat for him , nor any way sustain him . + +Most savage , and unnatural ! + +Go to ; say you nothing . There is division between the dukes , and a worse matter than that . I have received a letter this night ; 'tis dangerous to be spoken ; I have locked the letter in my closet . These injuries the king now bears will be revenged home ; there's part of a power already footed ; we must incline to the king . I will seek him and privily relieve him ; go you and maintain talk with the duke , that my charity be not of him perceived . If he ask for me , I am ill and gone to bed . If I die for it , as no less is threatened me , the king , my old master , must be relieved . There is some strange thing toward , Edmund ; pray you , be careful . + + +This courtesy , forbid thee , shall the duke +Instantly know ; and of that letter too : +This seems a fair deserving , and must draw me +That which my father loses ; no less than all : +The younger rises when the old doth fall . + + +Here is the place , my lord ; good my lord , enter : +The tyranny of the open night's too rough +For nature to endure . + + +Let me alone . + +Good my lord , enter here . + +Wilt break my heart ? + +I'd rather break mine own . Good my lord , enter . + +Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm +Invades us to the skin : so 'tis to thee ; +But where the greater malady is fix'd , +The lesser is scarce felt . Thou'dst shun a bear ; +But if thy flight lay toward the roaring sea , +Thou'dst meet the bear i' the mouth . When the mind's free +The body's delicate ; the tempest in my mind +Doth from my senses take all feeling else +Save what beats there . Filial ingratitude ! +Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand +For lifting food to 't ? But I will punish home : +No , I will weep no more . In such a night +To shut me out ! Pour on ; I will endure . +In such a night as this ! O Regan , Goneril ! +Your old kind father , whose frank heart gave all , +O ! that way madness lies ; let me shun that ; +No more of that . + +Good , my lord , enter here . + +Prithee , go in thyself ; seek thine own ease : +This tempest will not give me leave to ponder +On things would hurt me more . But I'll go in . + + +In , boy ; go first . You houseless poverty , +Nay , get thee in . I'll pray , and then I'll sleep . + +Poor naked wretches , wheresoe'er you are , +That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm , +How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides , +Your loop'd and window'd raggedness , defend you +From seasons such as these ? O ! I have ta'en +Too little care of this . Take physic , pomp ; +Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel , +That thou mayst shake the superflux to them , +And show the heavens more just . + +Fathom and half , fathom and half ! Poor Tom ! + + +Come not in here , nuncle ; here's a spirit . +Help me ! help me ! + +Give me thy hand . Who's there ? + +A spirit , a spirit : he says his name's poor Tom . + +What art thou that dost grumble there i' the straw ? +Come forth . + + +Away ! the foul fiend follows me ! +Through the sharp hawthorn blow the winds . +Hum ! go to thy cold bed and warm thee . + +Didst thou give all to thy two daughters ? +And art thou come to this ? + +Who gives anything to poor Tom ? whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame , through ford and whirlpool , o'er bog and quagmire ; that hath laid knives under his pillow , and halters in his pew ; set ratsbane by his porridge ; made him proud of heart , to ride on a bay trotting-horse over four-inched bridges , to course his own shadow for a traitor . Bless thy five wits ! Tom's a-cold . O ! do de , do de , do de . Bless thee from whirlwinds , starblasting , and taking ! Do poor Tom some charity , whom the foul fiend vexes . There could I have him now , and there , and there again , and there . + + +What ! have his daughters brought him to this pass ? +Couldst thou save nothing ? Didst thou give them all ? + +Nay , he reserved a blanket , else we had been all shamed . + +Now all the plagues that in the pendulous air +Hang fated o'er men's faults light on thy daughters ! + +He hath no daughters , sir . + +Death , traitor ! nothing could have subdu'd nature +To such a lowness , but his unkind daughters . +Is it the fashion that discarded fathers +Should have thus little mercy on their flesh ? +Judicious punishment ! 'twas this flesh begot +Those pelican daughters . + +Pillicock sat on Pillicock-hill : +Halloo , halloo , loo , loo ! + +This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen . + +Take heed o' the foul fiend . Obey thy parents ; keep thy word justly ; swear not ; commit not with man's sworn spouse ; set not thy sweet heart on proud array . Tom's a-cold . + +What hast thou been ? + +A servingman , proud in heart and mind ; that curled my hair , wore gloves in my cap , served the lust of my mistress's heart , and did the act of darkness with her ; swore as many oaths as I spake words , and broke them in the sweet face of heaven ; one that slept in the contriving of lust , and waked to do it . Wine loved I deeply , dice dearly , and in woman out-paramoured the Turk : false of heart , light of ear , bloody of hand ; hog in sloth , fox in stealth , wolf in greediness , dog in madness , lion in prey . Let not the creaking of shoes nor the rustling of silks betray thy poor heart to woman : keep thy foot out of brothels , thy hand out of plackets , thy pen from lenders' books , and defy the foul fiend . Still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind ; says suum , mun ha no nonny . Dolphin my boy , my boy ; sessa ! let him trot by . + + +Why , thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies . Is man no more than this ? Consider him well . Thou owest the worm no silk , the beast no hide , the sheep no wool , the cat no perfume . Ha ! here's three on's are sophisticated ; thou art the thing itself ; unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor , bare , forked animal as thou art . Off , off , you lendings ! Come ; unbutton here . + + +Prithee , nuncle , be contented ; 'tis a naughty night to swim in . Now a little fire in a wide field were like an old lecher's heart ; a small spark , all the rest on's body cold . Look ! here comes a walking fire . + + +This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet : he begins at curfew , and walks till the first cock ; he gives the web and the pin , squints the eye , and makes the harelip ; mildews the white wheat , and hurts the poor creature of earth . + +Swithold footed thrice the old ; +He met the night-mare , and her nine-fold ; +Bid her alight , +And her troth plight , +And aroint thee , witch , aroint thee ! + + +How fares your Grace ? + +What's he ? + +Who's there ? What is't you seek ? + +What are you there ? Your names ? + +Poor Tom ; that eats the swimming frog ; the toad , the tadpole , the wall-newt , and the water ; that in the fury of his heart , when the foul fiend rages , eats cow-dung for sallets ; swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog ; drinks the green mantle of the standing pool ; who is whipped from tithing to tithing , and stock-punished , and imprisoned ; who hath had three suits to his back , six shirts to his body , horse to ride , and weapon to wear ; + +But mice and rats and such small deer +Have been Tom's food for seven long year . + +Beware my follower . Peace , Smulkin ! peace , thou fiend . + +What ! hath your Grace no better company ? + +The prince of darkness is a gentleman ; +Modo he's call'd , and Mahu . + +Our flesh and blood , my lord , is grown so vile , +That it doth hate what gets it . + +Poor Tom's a-cold . + +Go in with me . My duty cannot suffer +To obey in all your daughters' hard commands : +Though their injunction be to bar my doors , +And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you , +Yet have I ventur'd to come seek you out +And bring you where both fire and food is ready . + +First let me talk with this philosopher . +What is the cause of thunder ? + +Good my lord , take his offer ; go into the house . + +I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban . +What is your study ? + +How to prevent the fiend , and to kill vermin . + +Let me ask you one word in private . + +Importune him once more to go , my lord ; +His wits begin to unsettle . + +Canst thou blame him ? + +His daughters seek his death . Ah ! that good Kent ; +He said it would be thus , poor banish'd man ! +Thou sayst the king grows mad ; I'll tell thee , friend , +I am almost mad myself . I had a son , +Now outlaw'd from my blood ; he sought my life , +But lately , very late ; I lov'd him , friend , +No father his son dearer ; true to tell thee , + +The grief hath craz'd my wits . What a night's this ! +I do beseech your Grace , + +O ! cry you mercy , sir . +Noble philosopher , your company . + +Tom's a-cold . + +In , fellow , there , into the hovel : keep thee warm . + +Come , let's in all . + +This way , my lord . + +With him ; +I will keep still with my philosopher . + +Good my lord , soothe him ; let him take the fellow . + +Take him you on . + +Sirrah , come on ; go along with us . + +Come , good Athenian . + +No words , no words : hush . + + +Child Rowland to the dark tower came , +His word was still , Fie , foh , and fum , +I smell the blood of a British man . + +I will have my revenge ere I depart his house . + +How , my lord , I may be censured , that nature thus gives way to loyalty , something fears me to think of . + +I now perceive it was not altogether your brother's evil disposition made him seek his death ; but a provoking merit , set a-work by a reproveable badness in himself . + +How malicious is my fortune , that I must repent to be just ! This is the letter he spoke of , which approves him an intelligent party to the advantages of France . O heavens ! that this treason were not , or not I the detector ! + +Go with me to the duchess . + +If the matter of this paper be certain , you have mighty business in hand . + +True , or false , it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester . Seek out where thy father is , that he may be ready for our apprehension . + +If I find him comforting the king , it will stuff his suspicion more fully . I will persever in my course of loyalty , though the conflict be sore between that and my blood . + +I will lay trust upon thee ; and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love . + + +Here is better than the open air ; take it thankfully . I will piece out the comfort with what addition I can : I will not be long from you . + +All the power of his wits has given way to his impatience . The gods reward your kindness ! + + +Frateretto calls me , and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness . Pray , innocent , and beware the foul fiend . + +Prithee , nuncle , tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman ! + +A king , a king ! + +No ; he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son ; for he's a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him . + +To have a thousand with red burning spits +Come hizzing in upon 'em , + +The foul fiend bites my back . + +He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf , a horse's health , a boy's love , or a whore's oath . + +It shall be done ; I will arraign them straight . + + +Come , sit thou here , most learned justicer ; + + +Thou , sapient sir , sit here . Now , you she foxes ! + +Look , where he stands and glares ! wantest thou eyes at trial , madam ? +Come o'er the bourn , Bessy , to me , + + +Her boat hath a leak , +And she must not speak +Why she dares not come over to thee . + + +The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale . Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white herring . Croak not , black angel ; I have no food for thee . + +How do you , sir ? Stand you not so amaz'd : +Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions ? + +I'll see their trial first . Bring in their evidence . + + +Thou robed man of justice , take thy place ; + + +And thou , his yoke-fellow of equity , +Bench by his side . + +You are o' the commission , +Sit you too . + +Let us deal justly . + +Sleepest or wakest thou , jolly shepherd ? +Thy sheep be in the corn , +And for one blast of thy minikin mouth , +Thy sheep shall take no harm . + +Purr ! the cat is grey . + +Arraign her first ; 'tis Goneril . I here take my oath before this honourable assembly , she kicked the poor king her father . + +Come hither , mistress . Is your name Goneril ? + +She cannot deny it . + +Cry you mercy , I took you for a joint-stool . + +And here's another , whose warp'd looks proclaim +What store her heart is made on . Stop her there ! +Arms , arms , sword , fire ! Corruption in the place ! +False justicer , why hast thou let her 'scape ? + +Bless thy five wits ! + +O pity ! Sir , where is the patience now +That you so oft have boasted to retain ? + +My tears begin to take his part so much , +They'll mar my counterfeiting . + +The little dogs and all , +Tray , Blanch , and Sweet-heart , see , they bark at me . + +Tom will throw his head at them . +Avaunt , you curs ! + +Be thy mouth or black or white , +Tooth that poisons if it bite ; +Mastiff , greyhound , mongrel grim , +Hound or spaniel , brach or lym ; +Or bobtail tike or trundle-tail ; +Tom will make them weep and wail : +For , with throwing thus my head , +Dogs leap the hatch , and all are fled . + +Do de , de , de . Sessa ! Come , march to wakes and fairs and market-towns . Poor Tom , thy horn is dry . + +Then let them anatomize Regan , see what breeds about her heart . Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts ? + +You , sir , I entertain you for one of my hundred ; only I do not like the fashion of your garments : you will say , they are Persian attire ; but let them be changed . + +Now , good my lord , lie here and rest awhile . + +Make no noise , make no noise ; draw the curtains : so , so , so . We'll go to supper i' the morning : so , so , so . + +And I'll go to bed at noon . + + +Come hither , friend : where is the king my master ? + +Here , sir ; but trouble him not , his wits are gone . + +Good friend , I prithee , take him in thy arms ; +I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him . +There is a litter ready ; lay him in 't , +And drive toward Dover , friend , where thou shalt meet +Both welcome and protection . Take up thy master : +If thou shouldst dally half an hour , his life , +With thine , and all that offer to defend him , +Stand in assured loss . Take up , take up ; +And follow me , that will to some provision +Give thee quick conduct . + +Oppress'd nature sleeps : +This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken sinews , +Which , if convenience will not allow , +Stand in hard cure . + +Come , help to bear thy master ; +Thou must not stay behind . + +Come , come , away . + + +When we our betters see bearing our woes , +We scarcely think our miseries our foes . +Who alone suffers suffers most i' the mind , +Leaving free things and happy shows behind ; +But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip , +When grief hath mates , and bearing fellowship . +How light and portable my pain seems now , +When that which makes me bend makes the king bow ; +He childed as I father'd ! Tom , away ! +Mark the high noises , and thyself bewray +When false opinion , whose wrong thought defiles thee , +In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee . +What will hap more to-night , safe 'scape the king ! +Lurk , lurk . + + +Post speedily to my lord your husband ; show him this letter : the army of France is landed . Seek out the traitor Gloucester . + + +Hang him instantly . + +Pluck out his eyes . + +Leave him to my displeasure . Edmund , keep you our sister company : the revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding . Advise the duke , where you are going , to a most festinate preparation : we are bound to the like . Our posts shall be swift and intelligent betwixt us . Farewell , dear sister : farewell , my Lord of Gloucester . + +How now ? Where's the king ? + +My Lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence : +Some five or six and thirty of his knights , +Hot questrists after him , met him at gate ; +Who , with some other of the lord's dependants , +Are gone with him toward Dover , where they boast +To have well-armed friends . + +Get horses for your mistress . + +Farewell , sweet lord , and sister . + +Edmund , farewell . + +Go seek the traitor Gloucester , +Pinion him like a thief , bring him before us . + +Though well we may not pass upon his life +Without the form of justice , yet our power +Shall do a courtesy to our wrath , which men +May blame but not control . Who's there ? The traitor ? + + +Ingrateful fox ! 'tis he . + +Bind fast his corky arms . + +What mean your Graces ? Good my friends , consider +You are my guests : do me no foul play , friends + +Bind him , I say . + + +Hard , hard . O filthy traitor ! + +Unmerciful lady as you are , I'm none . + +To this chair bind him . Villain , thou shalt find + + +By the kind gods , 'tis most ignobly done +To pluck me by the beard . + +So white , and such a traitor ! + +Naughty lady , +These hairs , which thou dost ravish from my chin , +Will quicken , and accuse thee : I am your host : +With robbers' hands my hospitable favours +You should not ruffle thus . What will you do ? + +Come , sir , what letters had you late from France ? + +Be simple-answer'd , for we know the truth . + +And what confederacy have you with the traitors +Late footed in the kingdom ? + +To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king ? +Speak . + +I have a letter guessingly set down , +Which came from one that's of a neutral heart , +And not from one oppos'd . + +Cunning . + +And false . + +Where hast thou sent the king ? + +To Dover . + +Wherefore to Dover ? Wast thou not charg'd at peril + +Wherefore to Dover ? Let him answer that . + +I am tied to the stake , and I must stand the course . + +Wherefore to Dover ? + +Because I would not see thy cruel nails +Pluck out his poor old eyes ; nor thy fierce sister +In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs . +The sea , with such a storm as his bare head +In hell-black night endur'd , would have buoy'd up , +And quench'd the stelled fires ; +Yet , poor old heart , he holp the heavens to rain . +If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that dern time , +Thou shouldst have said , 'Good porter , turn the key ,' +All cruels else subscrib'd : but I shall see +The winged vengeance overtake such children . + +See 't shalt thou never . Fellows , hold the chair . +Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot . + +He that will think to live till he be old , +Give me some help ! O cruel ! O ye gods ! + + +One side will mock another ; the other too . + +If you see vengeance . + +Hold your hand , my lord : +I have serv'd you ever since I was a child , +But better service have I never done you +Than now to bid you hold . + +How now , you dog ! + +If you did wear a beard upon your chin , +I'd shake it on this quarrel . What do you mean ? + +My villain ! + + +Nay then , come on , and take the chance of anger . + + +Give me thy sword . A peasant stand up thus ! + + +O ! I am slain . My lord , you have one eye left +To see some mischief on him . O ! + + +Lest it see more , prevent it . Out , vile jelly ! +Where is thy lustre now ? + +All dark and comfortless . Where's my son Edmund ? +Edmund , enkindle all the sparks of nature +To quit this horrid act . + +Out , treacherous villain ! +Thou call'st on him that hates thee ; it was he +That made the overture of thy treasons to us , +Who is too good to pity thee . + +O my follies ! Then Edgar was abus'd . +Kind gods , forgive me that , and prosper him ! + +Go thrust him out at gates , and let him smell +His way to Dover . + +How is 't , my lord ? How look you ? + +I have receiv'd a hurt . Follow me , lady . +Turn out that eyeless villain ; throw this slave +Upon the dunghill . Regan , I bleed apace : +Untimely comes this hurt . Give me your arm . + + +I'll never care what wickedness I do +If this man come to good . + +If she live long , +And , in the end , meet the old course of death , +Women will all turn monsters . + +Let's follow the old earl , and get the Bedlam +To lead him where he would : his roguish madness +Allows itself to any thing . + +Go thou ; I'll fetch some flax , and whites of eggs , +To apply to his bleeding face . Now , heaven help him ! + +Yet better thus , and known to be contemn'd , +Than still contemn'd and flatter'd . To be worst , +The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune , +Stands still in esperance , lives not in fear : +The lamentable change is from the best ; +The worst returns to laughter . Welcome , then , +Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace : +The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst +Owes nothing to thy blasts . But who comes here ? + + +My father , poorly led ? World , world , O world ! +But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee , + +Life would not yield to age . + +O my good lord ! +I have been your tenant , and your father's tenant , +These fourscore years . + +Away , get thee away ; good friend , be gone ; +Thy comforts can do me no good at all ; +Thee they may hurt . + +You cannot see your way . + +I have no way , and therefore want no eyes ; +I stumbled when I saw . Full oft 'tis seen , +Our means secure us , and our mere defects +Prove our commodities . Ah ! dear son Edgar . +The food of thy abused father's wrath ; +Might I but live to see thee in my touch , +I'd say I had eyes again . + +How now ! Who's there ? + +O gods ! Who is 't can say , 'I am at the worst ?' +I am worse than e'er I was . + +'Tis poor mad Tom . + +And worse I may be yet ; the worst is not , +So long as we can say , 'This is the worst .' + +Fellow , where goest ? + +Is it a beggar-man ? + +Madman and beggar too . + +He has some reason , else he could not beg . +I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw , +Which made me think a man a worm : my son +Came then into my mind ; and yet my mind +Was then scarce friends with him : I have heard more since . +As flies to wanton boys , are we to the gods ; +They kill us for their sport . + +How should this be ? +Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow , +Angering itself and others . + +Bless thee , master ! + +Is that the naked fellow ? + +Ay , my lord . + +Then , prithee , get thee gone . If , for my sake , +Thou wilt o'ertake us , hence a mile or twain , +I' the way toward Dover , do it for ancient love ; +And bring some covering for this naked soul +Who I'll entreat to lead me . + +Alack , sir ! he is mad . + +'Tis the times' plague , when madmen lead the blind . +Do as I bid thee , or rather do thy pleasure ; +Above the rest , be gone . + +I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have , +Come on 't what will . + + +Sirrah , naked fellow , + +Poor Tom's a-cold . + +I cannot daub it further . + +Come hither , fellow . + +And yet I must . Bless thy sweet eyes , they bleed . + +Know'st thou the way to Dover ? + +Both stile and gate , horse-way and footpath . Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits : bless thee , good man's son , from the foul fiend ! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once ; of lust , as Obidicut ; Hobbididance , prince of dumbness ; Mahu , of stealing ; Modo , of murder ; and Flibbertigibbet , of mopping and mowing ; who since possesses chambermaids and waiting-women . So , bless thee , master ! + +Here , take this purse , thou whom the heavens' plagues +Have humbled to all strokes : that I am wretched +Makes thee the happier : heavens , deal so still ! +Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man , +That slaves your ordinance , that will not see +Because he doth not feel , feel your power quickly ; +So distribution should undo excess , +And each man have enough . Dost thou know Dover ? + +Ay , master . + +There is a cliff , whose high and bending head +Looks fearfully in the confined deep ; +Bring me but to the very brim of it , +And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear ; +With something rich about me ; from that place +I shall no leading need . + +Give me thy arm : +Poor Tom shall lead thee . + + +Welcome , my lord ; I marvel our mild husband +Not met us on the way . + +Now , where's your master ? + +Madam , within ; but never man so chang'd . +I told him of the army that was landed ; +He smil'd at it : I told him you were coming ; +His answer was , 'The worse :' of Gloucester's treachery , +And of the loyal service of his son , +When I inform'd him , then he call'd me sot , +And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out : +What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him ; +What like , offensive . + +Then , shall you go no further . +It is the cowish terror of his spirit +That dares not undertake ; he'll not feel wrongs +Which tie him to an answer . Our wishes on the way +May prove effects . Back , Edmund , to my brother ; +Hasten his musters and conduct his powers : +I must change arms at home , and give the distaff +Into my husband's hands . This trusty servant +Shall pass between us ; ere long you are like to hear , +If you dare venture in your own behalf , +A mistress's command . Wear this ; spare speech ; + +Decline your head : this kiss , if it durst speak , +Would stretch thy spirits up into the air . +Conceive , and fare thee well . + +Yours in the ranks of death . + +My most dear Gloucester ! + +O ! the difference of man and man ! +To thee a woman's services are due : +My fool usurps my bed . + +Madam , here comes my lord . + +I have been worth the whistle . + +O Goneril ! +You are not worth the dust which the rude wind +Blows in your face . I fear your disposition : +That nature , which contemns its origin , +Cannot be border'd certain in itself ; +She that herself will sliver and disbranch +From her material sap , perforce must wither +And come to deadly use . + +No more ; the text is foolish . + +Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile ; +Filths savour but themselves . What have you done ? +Tigers , not daughters , what have you perform'd ? +A father , and a gracious aged man , +Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick , +Most barbarous , most degenerate ! have you madded . +Could my good brother suffer you to do it ? +A man , a prince , by him so benefited ! +If that the heavens do not their visible spirits +Send quickly down to tame these vile offences , +It will come , +Humanity must perforce prey on itself , +Like monsters of the deep . + +Milk-liver'd man ! +That bear'st a cheek for blows , a head for wrongs ; +Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning +Thine honour from thy suffering ; that not know'st +Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd +Ere they have done their mischief . Where's thy drum ? +France spreads his banners in our noiseless land , +With plumed helm thy slayer begins threats , +Whilst thou , a moral fool , sitt'st still , and criest +'Alack ! why does he so ?' + +See thyself , devil ! +Proper deformity seems not in the fiend +So horrid as in woman . + +O vain fool ! + +Thou changed and self-cover'd thing , for shame , +Be-monster not thy feature . Were 't my fitness +To let these hands obey my blood , +They are apt enough to dislocate and tear +Thy flesh and bones ; howe'er thou art a fiend , +A woman's shape doth shield thee . + +Marry , your manhood .Mew ! + + +What news ? + +O ! my good lord , the Duke of Cornwall's dead ; +Slain by his servant , going to put out +The other eye of Gloucester . + +Gloucester's eyes ! + +A servant that he bred , thrill'd with remorse , +Oppos'd against the act , bending his sword +To his great master ; who , thereat enrag'd , +Flew on him , and amongst them fell'd him dead ; +But not without that harmful stroke , which since +Hath pluck'd him after . + +This shows you are above , +You justicers , that these our nether crimes +So speedily can venge ! But , O poor Gloucester ! +Lost he his other eye ? + +Both , both , my lord . +This letter , madam , craves a speedy answer ; +'Tis from your sister . + +One way I like this well ; +But being widow , and my Gloucester with her , +May all the building in my fancy pluck +Upon my hateful life : another way , +This news is not so tart . + +I'll read and answer . + + +Where was his son when they did take his eyes ? + +Come with my lady hither . + +He is not here . + +No , my good lord ; I met him back again . + +Knows he the wickedness ? + +Ay , my good lord ; 'twas he inform'd against him , +And quit the house on purpose that their punishment +Might have the freer course . + +Gloucester , I live +To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king , +And to revenge thine eyes . Come hither , friend : +Tell me what more thou knowest . + + +Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason ? + +Something he left imperfect in the state , which since his coming forth is thought of ; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger , that his personal return was most required and necessary . + +Who hath he left behind him general ? + +The Marshal of France , Monsieur la Far . + +Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief ? + +Ay , sir ; she took them , read them in my presence ; +And now and then an ample tear trill'd down +Her delicate cheek ; it seem'd she was a queen +Over her passion ; who , most rebel-like , +Sought to be king o'er her . + +O ! then it mov'd her . + +Not to a rage ; patience and sorrow strove +Who should express her goodliest . You have seen +Sunshine and rain at once ; her smiles and tears +Were like a better way ; those happy smilets +That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know +What guests were in her eyes ; which parted thence , +As pearls from diamonds dropp'd . In brief , +Sorrow would be a rarity most belov'd , +If all could so become it . + +Made she no verbal question ? + +Faith , once or twice she heav'd the name of 'father' +Pantingly forth , as if it press'd her heart ; +Cried , 'Sisters ! sisters ! Shame of ladies ! sisters ! +Kent ! father ! sisters ! What , i' the storm ? i' the night ? +Let pity not be believed !' There she shook +The holy water from her heavenly eyes , +And clamour-moisten'd , then away she started +To deal with grief alone . + +It is the stars , +The stars above us , govern our conditions ; +Else one self mate and make could not beget +Such different issues . You spoke not with her since ? + +No . + +Was this before the king return'd ? + +No , since . + +Well , sir , the poor distress'd Lear's i' the town , +Who sometime , in his better tune , remembers +What we are come about , and by no means +Will yield to see his daughter . + +Why , good sir ? + +A sovereign shame so elbows him : his own unkindness , +That stripp'd her from his benediction , turn'd her +To foreign casualties , gave her dear rights +To his dog-hearted daughters ,these things sting +His mind so venomously that burning shame +Detains him from Cordelia . + +Alack ! poor gentleman . + +Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not ? + +'Tis so , they are afoot . + +Well , sir , I'll bring you to our master Lear , +And leave you to attend him . Some dear cause +Will in concealment wrap me up awhile ; +When I am known aright , you shall not grieve +Lending me this acquaintance . I pray you , go +Along with me . + + +Alack ! 'tis he : why , he was met even now +As mad as the vex'd sea ; singing aloud ; +Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow weeds , +With burdocks , hemlock , nettles , cuckoo-flowers , +Darnel , and all the idle weeds that grow +In our sustaining corn . A century send forth ; +Search every acre in the high-grown field , +And bring him to our eye . + +What can man's wisdom +In the restoring his bereaved sense ? +He that helps him take all my outward worth . + +There is means , madam ; +Our foster-nurse of nature is repose , +The which he lacks ; that to provoke in him , +Are many simples operative , whose power +Will close the eye of anguish . + +All bless'd secrets , +All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth , +Spring with my tears ! be aidant and remediate +In the good man's distress ! Seek , seek for him , +Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life +That wants the means to lead it . + + +News , madam ; +The British powers are marching hitherward . + +'Tis known before ; our preparation stands +In expectation of them . O dear father ! +It is thy business that I go about ; +Therefore great France +My mourning and important tears hath pitied , +No blown ambition doth our arms incite , +But love , dear love , and our ag'd father's right , +Soon may I hear and see him ! + + +But are my brother's powers set forth ? + +Ay , madam . + +Himself in person there ? + +Madam , with much ado : +Your sister is the better soldier . + +Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home ? + +No , madam . + +What might import my sister's letter to him ? + +I know not , lady . + +Faith , he is posted hence on serious matter . +It was great ignorance , Gloucester's eyes being out , +To let him live ; where he arrives he moves +All hearts against us . Edmund , I think , is gone , +In pity of his misery , to dispatch +His nighted life ; moreover , to descry +The strength o' the enemy . + +I must needs after him , madam , with my letter . + +Our troops set forth to-morrow ; stay with us , +The ways are dangerous . + +I may not , madam ; +My lady charg'd my duty in this business . + +Why should she write to Edmund ? Might not you +Transport her purposes by word ? Belike , +Something I know not what . I'll love thee much , +Let me unseal the letter . + +Madam , I had rather + +I know your lady does not love her husband ; +I am sure of that : and at her late being here +She gave strange ceilliades and most speaking looks +To noble Edmund . I know you are of her bosom . + +I , madam ! + +I speak in understanding ; you are , I know't : +Therefore I do advise you , take this note : +My lord is dead ; Edmund and I have talk'd , +And more convenient is he for my hand +Than for your lady's . You may gather more . +If you do find him , pray you , give him this , +And when your mistress hears thus much from you , +I pray desire her call her wisdom to her : +So , fare you well . +If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor , +Preferment falls on him that cuts him off . + +Would I could meet him , madam : I would show +What party I do follow . + +Fare thee well . + + +When shall I come to the top of that same hill ? + +You do climb up it now ; look how we labour . + +Methinks the ground is even . + +Horrible steep : +Hark ! do you hear the sea ? + +No , truly . + +Why , then you other senses grow imperfect +By your eyes' anguish . + +So may it be , indeed . +Methinks thy voice is alter'd , and thou speak'st +In better phrase and matter than thou didst . + +Y'are much deceiv'd ; in nothing am I chang'd +But in my garments . + +Methinks you're better spoken . + +Come on , sir ; here's the place : stand still . +How fearful +And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low ! +The crows and choughs that wing the midway air +Show scarce so gross as beetles ; half way down +Hangs one that gathers samphire , dreadful trade ! +Methinks he seems no bigger than his head . +The fishermen that walk upon the beach +Appear like mice , and yond tall anchoring bark +Diminish'd to her cock , her cock a buoy +Almost too small for sight . The murmuring surge , +That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes , +Cannot be heard so high . I'll look no more , +Lest my brain turn , and the deficient sight +Topple down headlong . + +Set me where you stand . + +Give me your hand ; you are now within a foot +Of the extreme verge : for all beneath the moon +Would I not leap upright . + +Let go my hand . +Here , friend , 's another purse ; in it a jewel +Well worth a poor man's taking : fairies and gods +Prosper it with thee ! Go thou further off ; +Bid me farewell , and let me hear thee going . + +Now fare you well , good sir . + + +With all my heart . + +Why I do trifle thus with his despair +Is done to cure it . + +O you mighty gods ! +This world I do renounce , and , in your sights , +Shake patiently my great affliction off ; +If I could bear it longer , and not fall +To quarrel with your great opposeless wills , +My snuff and loathed part of nature should +Burn itself out . If Edgar live , O , bless him ! +Now , fellow , fare thee well . + + +Gone , sir : farewell . + + +And yet I know not how conceit may rob +The treasury of life when life itself +Yields to the theft ; had he been where he thought +By this had thought been past . Alive or dead ? + + +Ho , you sir ! friend ! Hear you , sir ? speak ! +Thus might he pass indeed ; yet he revives . +What are you , sir ? + +Away and let me die . + +Hadst thou been aught but gossamer , feathers , air , +So many fathom down precipitating , +Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg ; but thou dost breathe , +Hast heavy substance , bleed'st not , speak'st , art sound . +Ten masts at each make not the altitude +Which thou hast perpendicularly fell : +Thy life's a miracle . Speak yet again . + +But have I fallen or no ? + +From the dread summit of this chalky bourn . +Look up a-height ; the shrill-gorg'd lark so far +Cannot be seen or heard : do but look up . + +Alack ! I have no eyes . +Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit +To end itself by death ? 'Twas yet some comfort , +When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage , +And frustrate his proud will . + +Give me your arm : +Up : so . How is 't ? Feel you your legs ? You stand . + +Too well , too well . + +This is above all strangeness . +Upon the crown o' the cliff , what thing was that +Which parted from you ? + +A poor unfortunate beggar . + +As I stood here below methought his eyes +Were two full moons ; he had a thousand noses , +Horns whelk'd and wav'd like the enridged sea : +It was some fiend ; therefore , thou happy father , +Think that the clearest gods , who make them honours +Of men's impossibilities , have preserv'd thee . + +I do remember now ; henceforth I'll bear +Affliction till it do cry out itself +'Enough , enough ,' and die . That thing you speak of +I took it for a man ; often 'twould say +'The fiend , the fiend :' he led me to that place . + +Bear free and patient thoughts . But who comes here ? + + +The safer sense will ne'er accommodate + +His master thus . + +No , they cannot touch me for coining ; +I am the king himself . + +O thou side-piercing sight ! + +Nature's above art in that respect . There's your press-money . That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper : draw me a clothier's yard . Look , look ! a mouse . Peace , peace ! this piece of toasted cheese will do 't . There's my gauntlet ; I'll prove it on a giant . Bring up the brown bills . O ! well flown , bird ; i' the clout , i' the clout : hewgh ! Give the word . + +Sweet marjoram . + +Pass . + +I know that voice . + +Ha ! Goneril , with a white beard ! They flatter'd me like a dog , and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there . To say 'ay' and 'no' to everything I said ! 'Ay' and 'no' too was no good divinity . When the rain came to wet me once and the wind to make me chatter , when the thunder would not peace at my bidding , there I found 'em , there I smelt 'em out . Go to , they are not men o' their words : they told me I was every thing ; 'tis a lie , I am not ague-proof . + +The trick of that voice I do well remember : +Is 't not the king ? + +Ay , every inch a king : +When I do stare , see how the subject quakes . +I pardon that man's life . What was thy cause ? +Adultery ? +Thou shalt not die : die for adultery ! No : +The wren goes to 't , and the small gilded fly +Does lecher in my sight . +Let copulation thrive ; for Gloucester's bastard son +Was kinder to his father than my daughters +Got 'tween the lawful sheets . +To 't luxury , pell-mell ! for I lack soldiers . +Behold yond simpering dame , +Whose face between her forks presageth snow ; +That minces virtue , and does shake the head +To hear of pleasure's name ; +The fitchew nor the soiled horse goes to 't +With a more riotous appetite . +Down from the waist they are Centaurs , +Though women all above : +But to the girdle do the gods inherit , +Beneath is all the fiends' : +There's hell , there's darkness , there is the sulphurous pit , +Burning , scalding , stench , consumption ; fie , fie , fie ! pah , pah ! Give me an ounce of civet , good apothecary , to sweeten my imagination : there's money for thee . + +O ! let me kiss that hand ! + +Let me wipe it first ; it smells of mortality . + +O ruin'd piece of nature ! This great world +Shall so wear out to nought . Dost thou know me ? + +I remember thine eyes well enough . +Dost thou squiny at me ? No , do thy worst , blind Cupid ; I'll not love . Read thou this challenge ; mark but the penning of it . + +Were all the letters suns , I could not see . + +I would not take this from report ; it is , +And my heart breaks at it . + +Read . + +What ! with the case of eyes ? + +O , ho ! are you there with me ? No eyes in your head , nor no money in your purse ? Your eyes are in a heavy case , your purse in a light : yet you see how this world goes . + +I see it feelingly . + +What ! art mad ? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes . Look with thine ears : see how yound justice rails upon yon simple thief . Hark , in thine ear : change places ; and , handy-dandy , which is the justice , which is the thief ? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar ? + +Ay , sir . + +And the creature run from the cur ? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority ; a dog's obey'd in office . +Thou rascal beadle , hold thy bloody hand ! +Why dost thou lash that whore ? Strip thine own back ; +Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind +For which thou whipp'st her . The usurer hangs the cozener . +Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear ; +Robes and furr'd gowns hide all . Plate sin with gold , +And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks ; +Arm it in rags , a pigmy's straw doth pierce it . +None does offend , none , I say none ; I'll able 'em : +Take that of me , my friend , who have the power +To seal the accuser's lips . Get thee glass eyes ; +And , like a scurvy politician , seem +To see the things thou dost not . Now , now , now , now ; +Pull off my boots ; harder , harder ; so . + +O ! matter and impertinency mix'd ; +Reason in madness ! + +If thou wilt weep my fortunes , take my eyes ; +I know thee well enough ; thy name is Gloucester : +Thou must be patient ; we came crying hither : +Thou know'st the first time that we smell the air +We waul and cry . I will preach to thee : mark . + +Alack ! alack the day ! + +When we are born , we cry that we are come +To this great stage of fools . This' a good block ! +It were a delicate stratagem to shoe +A troop of horse with felt ; I'll put it in proof , +And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law , +Then , kill , kill , kill , kill , kill , kill ! + + +O ! here he is ; lay hand upon him . Sir , +Your most dear daughter + +No rescue ? What ! a prisoner ? I am even +The natural fool of fortune . Use me well ; +You shall have ransom . Let me have surgeons ; +I am cut to the brains . + +You shall have any thing . + +No seconds ? All myself ? +Why this would make a man a man of salt , +To use his eyes for garden water-pots , +Ay , and laying autumn's dust . + +Good sir , + +I will die bravely as a bridegroom . What ! +I will be jovial : come , come ; I am a king , +My masters , know you that ? + +You are a royal one , and we obey you . + +Then there's life in it . Nay , an you get it , you shall get it by running . Sa , sa , sa , sa + + +A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch , +Past speaking of in a king ! Thou hast one daughter , +Who redeems nature from the general curse +Which twain have brought her to . + +Hail , gentle sir ! + +Sir , speed you : what's your will ? + +Do you hear aught , sir , of a battle toward ? + +Most sure and vulgar ; every one hears that , +Which can distinguish sound . + +But , by your favour , +How near's the other army ? + +Near , and on speedy foot ; the main descry +Stands on the hourly thought . + +I thank you , sir : that's all + +Though that the queen on special cause is here , +Her army is mov'd on . + +I thank you , sir . + + +You ever-gentle gods , take my breath from me : +Let not my worser spirit tempt me again +To die before you please ! + +Well pray you , father . + +Now , good sir , what are you ? + +A most poor man , made tame to fortune's blows ; +Who , by the art of known and feeling sorrows , +Am pregnant to good pity . Give me your hand , +I'll lead you to some biding . + +Hearty thanks : +The bounty and the benison of heaven +To boot , and boot ! + + +A proclaim'd prize ! Most happy ! +That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh +To raise my fortunes . Thou old unhappy traitor , +Briefly thyself remember : the sword in out +That must destroy thee . + +Now let thy friendly hand +Put strength enough to 't . + + +Wherefore , bold peasant , +Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor ? Hence ; +Lest that infection of his fortune take +Like hold on thee . Let go his arm . + +Chill not let go , zur , without vurther 'casion . + +Let go , slave , or thou diest . + +Good gentleman , go your gait , and let poor volk pass . An chud ha' bin zwaggered out of my life , 'twould not ha' bin zo long as 'tis by a vortnight . Nay , come not near th' old man ; keep out , che vor ye , or ise try whether your costard or my ballow be the harder . Chill be plain with you . + +Out , dunghill ! + +Chill pick your teeth , zur . Come ; no matter vor your foins . + + +Slave , thou hast slain me . Villain , take my purse . +If ever thou wilt thrive , bury my body ; +And give the letters which thou find'st about me +To Edmund Earl of Gloucester ; seek him out +Upon the English party : O ! untimely death . + + +I know thee well : a serviceable villain ; +As duteous to the vices of thy mistress +As badness would desire . + +What ! is he dead ? + +Sit you down , father ; rest you . +Let's see his pockets : these letters that he speaks of +May be my friends . He's dead ; I am only sorry +He had no other deaths-man . Let us see : +Leave , gentle wax ; and , manners , blame us not : +To know our enemies' minds , we'd rip their hearts ; +Their papers , is more lawful . +Let our reciprocal vows be remembered . You have many opportunities to cut him off ; if your will want not , time and place will be fruitfully offered . There is nothing done if he return the conqueror ; then am I the prisoner , and his bed my gaol ; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me , and supply the place for your labour . +Your wife , so I would say +Affectionate servant , +O undistinguish'd space of woman's will ! +A plot upon her virtuous husband's life , +And the exchange my brother ! Here , in the sands , +Thee I'll rake up , the post unsanctified +Of murderous lechers ; and in the mature time +With this ungracious paper strike the sight +Of the death-practis'd duke . For him 'tis well +That of thy death and business I can tell . + +The king is mad : how stiff is my vile sense , +That I stand up , and have ingenious feeling +Of my huge sorrows ! Better I were distract : +So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs , +And woes by wrong imaginations lose +The knowledge of themselves . + + +Give me your hand : +Far off , methinks , I hear the beaten drum . +Come , father , I'll bestow you with a friend . + + +O thou good Kent ! how shall I live and work +To match thy goodness ? My life will be too short , +And every measure fail me . + +To be acknowledg'd , madam , is o'erpaid . +All my reports go with the modest truth , +Nor more nor clipp'd , but so . + +Be better suited : +These weeds are memories of those worser hours : +I prithee , put them off . + +Pardon me , dear madam ; +Yet to be known shortens my made intent : +My boon I make it that you know me not +Till time and I think meet . + +Then be 't so , my good lord . + +How does the king ? + +Madam , sleeps still . + +O you kind gods , +Cure this great breach in his abused nature ! +The untun'd and jarring senses , O ! wind up +Of this child-changed father ! + +So please your majesty +That we may wake the king ? he hath slept long . + +Be govern'd by your knowledge , and proceed +I' the sway of your own will . Is he array'd ? + + +Ay , madam ; in the heaviness of sleep , +We put fresh garments on him . + +Be by , good madam , when we do awake him ; +I doubt not of his temperance . + +Very well . + + +Please you , draw near . Louder the music there . + +O my dear father ! Restoration , hang +Thy medicine on my lips , and let this kiss +Repair those violent harms that my two sisters +Have in thy reverence made ! + +Kind and dear princess ! + +Had you not been their father , these white flakes +Had challeng'd pity of them . Was this a face +To be expos'd against the warring winds ? +To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder ? +In the most terrible and nimble stroke +Of quick cross lightning ? to watch poor perdu ! +With this thin helm ? Mine enemy's dog , +Though he had bit me , should have stood that night +Against my fire . And wast thou fain , poor father , +To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn , +In short and musty straw ? Alack , alack ! +'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once +Had not concluded all . He wakes ; speak to him . + +Madam , do you ; 'tis fittest . + +How does my royal lord ? How fares your majesty ? + +You do me wrong to take me out o' the grave ; +Thou art a soul in bliss ; but I am bound +Upon a wheel of fire , that mine own tears +Do scald like molten lead . + +Sir , do you know me ? + +You are a spirit , I know ; when did you die ? + +Still , still , far wide . + +He's scarce awake ; let him alone awhile . + +Where have I been ? Where am I ? Fair day-light ? +I am mightily abus'd . I should even die with pity +To see another thus . I know not what to say . +I will not swear these are my hands : let's see ; +I feel this pin prick . Would I were assur'd +Of my condition ! + +O ! look upon me , sir , +And hold your hands in benediction o'er me . +No , sir , you must not kneel . + +Pray , do not mock me : +I am a very foolish fond old man , +Fourscore and upward , not an hour more or less ; +And , to deal plainly , +I fear I am not in my perfect mind . +Methinks I should know you and know this man ; +Yet I am doubtful : for I am mainly ignorant +What place this is , and all the skill I have +Remembers not these garments ; nor I know not +Where I did lodge last night . Do not laugh at me ; +For , as I am a man , I think this lady +To be my child Cordelia . + +And so I am , I am . + +Be your tears wet ? Yes , faith . I pray , weep not : +If you have poison for me , I will drink it . +I know you do not love me ; for your sisters +Have , as I do remember , done me wrong : +You have some cause , they have not . + +No cause , no cause . + +Am I in France ? + +In your own kingdom , sir . + +Do not abuse me . + +Be comforted , good madam ; the great rage , +You see , is kill'd in him ; and yet it is danger +To make him even o'er the time he has lost . +Desire him to go in ; trouble him no more +Till further settling . + +Will 't please your highness walk ? + +You must bear with me . +Pray you now , forget and forgive : I am old and foolish . + + +Holds it true , sir , that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain ? + +Most certain , sir . + +Who is conductor of his people ? + +As 'tis said , the bastard son of Gloucester . + +They say Edgar , his banished son , is with the Earl of Kent in Germany . + +Report is changeable . 'Tis time to look about ; the powers of the kingdom approach apace . + +The arbitrement is like to be bloody . +Fare you well , sir . + + +My point and period will be throughly wrought , +Or well or ill , as this day's battle's fought . + +Know of the duke if his last purpose hold , +Or whether since he is advis'd by aught +To change the course ; he's full of alteration +And self-reproving ; bring his constant pleasure . + + +Our sister's man is certainly miscarried . + +'Tis to be doubted , madam . + +Now , sweet lord , +You know the goodness I intend upon you : +Tell me , but truly , but then speak the truth , +Do you not love my sister ? + +In honour'd love . + +But have you never found my brother's way +To the forefended place ? + +That thought abuses you . + +I am doubtful that you have been conjunct +And bosom'd with her , as far as we call hers . + +No , by mine honour , madam . + +I never shall endure her : dear my lord , +Be not familiar with her . + +Fear me not . +She and the duke her husband ! + + +I had rather lose the battle than that sister +Should loosen him and me . + +Our very loving sister , well be-met . +Sir , this I heard , the king is come to his daughter , +With others ; whom the rigour of our state +Forc'd to cry out . Where I could not be honest +I never yet was valiant : for this business , +It toucheth us , as France invades our land , +Not bolds the king , with others , whom , I fear , +Most just and heavy causes make oppose . + +Sir , you speak nobly . + +Why is this reason'd ? + +Combine together 'gainst the enemy ; +For these domestic and particular broils +Are not the question here . + +Let's then determine +With the ancient of war on our proceeding . + +I shall attend you presently at your tent . + +Sister , you'll go with us ? + +No . + +'Tis most convenient ; pray you , go with us . + +O , ho ! I know the riddle . [Aloud .] I will go . + + +If e'er your Grace had speech with man so poor , +Hear me one word . + +I'll overtake you . Speak . + + +Before you fight the battle , ope this letter . +If you have victory , let the trumpet sound +For him that brought it : wretched though I seem , +I can produce a champion that will prove +What is avouched there . If you miscarry , +Your business of the world hath so an end , +And machination ceases . Fortune love you ! + +Stay till I have read the letter . + +I was forbid it . +When time shall serve , let but the herald cry , +And I'll appear again . + +Why , fare thee well : I will o'erlook thy paper . + +The enemy's in view ; draw up your powers . +Here is the guess of their true strength and forces +By diligent discovery ; but your haste +Is now urg'd on you . + +We will greet the time . + + +To both these sisters have I sworn my love ; +Each jealous of the other , as the stung +Are of the adder . Which of them shall I take ? +Both ? one ? or neither ? Neither can be enjoy'd +If both remain alive : to take the widow +Exasperates , makes mad her sister Goneril ; +And hardly shall I carry out my side , +Her husband being alive . Now then , we'll use +His countenance for the battle ; which being done +Let her who would be rid of him devise +His speedy taking off . As for the mercy +Which he intends to Lear , and to Cordelia , +The battle done , and they within our power , +Shall never see his pardon ; for my state +Stands on me to defend , not to debate . + +Here , father , take the shadow of this tree +For your good host ; pray that the right may thrive . +If ever I return to you again , +I'll bring you comfort . + +Grace go with you , sir ! + +Away , old man ! give me thy hand : away ! +King Lear hath lost , he and his daughter ta'en . +Give me thy hand ; come on . + +No further , sir ; a man may rot even here . + +What ! in ill thoughts again ? Men must endure +Their going hence , even as their coming hither : +Ripeness is all . Come on . + +And that's true too . + +Some officers take them away : good guard , +Until their greater pleasures first be known +That are to censure them . + +We are not the first +Who , with best meaning , have incurr'd the worst . +For thee , oppressed king , am I cast down ; +Myself could else out-frown false Fortune's frown . +Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters ? + +No , no , no , no ! Come , let's away to prison ; +We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage : +When thou dost ask me blessing , I'll kneel down , +And ask of thee forgiveness : so we'll live , +And pray , and sing , and tell old tales , and laugh +At gilded butterflies , and hear poor rogues +Talk of court news ; and we'll talk with them too , +Who loses and who wins ; who's in , who's out ; +And take upon's the mystery of things , +As if we were God's spies : and we'll wear out , +In a wall'd prison , packs and sets of great ones +That ebb and flow by the moon . + +Take them away . + +Upon such sacrifices , my Cordelia , +The gods themselves throw incense . Have I caught thee ? +He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven , +And fire us hence like foxes . Wipe thine eyes ; +The goujeres shall devour them , flesh and fell , +Ere they shall make us weep : we'll see 'em starve first . +Come . + + +Come hither , captain ; hark , +Take thou this note ; + +go follow them to prison : +One step I have advanc'd thee ; if thou dost +As this instructs thee , thou dost make thy way +To noble fortunes ; know thou this , that men +Are as the time is ; to be tender-minded +Does not become a sword ; thy great employment +Will not bear question ; either say thou'lt do't , +Or thrive by other means . + +I'll do't , my lord . + +About it ; and write happy when thou hast done . +Mark ,I say , instantly , and carry it so +As I have set it down . + +I cannot draw a cart nor eat dried oats ; +If it be man's work I will do it . + +Sir , you have show'd to-day your valiant strain , +And fortune led you well ; you have the captives +Who were the opposites of this day's strife ; +We do require them of you , so to use them +As we shall find their merits and our safety +May equally determine . + +Sir , I thought it fit +To send the old and miserable king +To some retention , and appointed guard ; +Whose age has charms in it , whose title more , +To pluck the common bosom on his side , +And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes +Which do command them . With him I sent the queen ; +My reason all the same ; and they are ready +To-morrow , or at further space , to appear +Where you shall hold your session . At this time +We sweat and bleed ; the friend hath lost his friend , +And the best quarrels , in the heat , are curs'd +By those that feel their sharpness ; +The question of Cordelia and her father +Requires a fitter place . + +Sir , by your patience , +I hold you but a subject of this war , +Not as a brother . + +That's as we list to grace him : +Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded , +Ere you had spoke so far . He led our powers , +Bore the commission of my place and person ; +The which immediacy may well stand up , +And call itself your brother . + +Not so hot ; +In his own grace he doth exalt himself +More than in your addition . + +In my rights , +By me invested , he compeers the best . + +That were the most , if he should husband you . + +Jesters do oft prove prophets . + +Holla , holla ! +That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint . + +Lady , I am not well ; else I should answer +From a full-flowing stomach . General , +Take thou my soldiers , prisoners , patrimony ; +Dispose of them , of me ; the walls are thine ; +Witness the world , that I create thee here +My lord and master . + +Mean you to enjoy him ? + +The let-alone lies not in your good will . + +Nor in thine , lord . + +Half-blooded fellow , yes . + +Let the drum strike , and prove my title thine . + +Stay yet ; hear reason . Edmund , I arrest thee +On capital treason ; and , in thy arrest , +This gilded serpent . + +For your claim , fair sister , +I bar it in the interest of my wife ; +'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord , +And I , her husband , contradict your bans . +If you will marry , make your love to me , +My lady is bespoke . + +An interlude ! + +Thou art arm'd , Gloucester ; let the trumpet sound : +If none appear to prove upon thy person +Thy heinous , manifest , and many treasons , +There is my pledge ; + +I'll prove it on thy heart , +Ere I taste bread , thou art in nothing less +Than I have here proclaim'd thee . + +Sick ! O sick ! + +If not , I'll ne'er trust medicine . + +There's my exchange : + +what in the world he is +That names me traitor , villain-like be lies . +Call by thy trumpet : he that dares approach , +On him , on you , who not ? I will maintain +My truth and honour firmly . + +A herald , ho ! + +A herald , ho ! a herald ! + +Trust to thy single virtue ; for thy soldiers , +All levied in my name , have in my name +Took their discharge . + +My sickness grows upon me . + +She is not well ; convey her to my tent . + +Come hither , herald , + + +Let the trumpet sound , + +And read out this . + +Sound , trumpet ! + + +If any man of quality or degree within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund , supposed Earl of Gloucester , that he is a manifold traitor , let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet . He is bold in his defence . + +Sound ! + + +Again ! + + +Again ! + + +Ask him his purposes , why he appears +Upon this call o' the trumpet . + +What are you ? +Your name ? your quality ? and why you answer +This present summons ? + +Know , my name is lost ; +By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit : +Yet am I noble as the adversary +I come to cope . + +Which is that adversary ? + +What's he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Gloucester ? + +Himself : what sayst thou to him ? + +Draw thy sword , +That , if my speech offend a noble heart , +Thy arm may do thee justice ; here is mine : +Behold , it is the privilege of mine honours , +My oath , and my profession : I protest , +Maugre thy strength , youth , place , and eminence , +Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune , +Thy valour and thy heart , thou art a traitor , +False to thy gods , thy brother , and thy father , +Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince , +And , from the extremest upward of thy head +To the descent and dust below thy foot , +A most toad-spotted traitor . Say thou 'No ,' +This sword , this arm , and my best spirits are bent +To prove upon thy heart , whereto I speak , +Thou liest . + +In wisdom I should ask thy name ; +But since thy outside looks so fair and war-like , +And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes , +What safe and nicely I might well delay +By rule of knighthood , I disdain and spurn ; +Back do I toss these treasons to thy head , +With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart , +Which , for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise , +This sword of mine shall give them instant way , +Where they shall rest for ever . Trumpets , speak ! + + +Save him , save him ! + +This is practice , Gloucester : +By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer +An unknown opposite ; thou art not vanquish'd , +But cozen'd and beguil'd . + +Shut your mouth , dame , +Or with this paper shall I stop it . Hold , sir ; +Thou worse than any name , read thine own evil : +No tearing , lady ; I perceive you know it . + + +Say , if I do , the laws are mine , not thine : +Who can arraign me for 't ? + + +Most monstrous ! +Know'st thou this paper ? + +Ask me not what I know . + +Go after her : she's desperate ; govern her . + + +What you have charg'd me with , that have I done , +And more , much more ; the time will bring it out : +'Tis past , and so am I . But what art thou +That hast this fortune on me ? If thou'rt noble , +I do forgive thee . + +Let's exchange charity . +I am no less in blood than thou art , Edmund ; +If more , the more thou hast wrong'd me . +My name is Edgar , and thy father's son . +The gods are just , and of our pleasant vices +Make instruments to plague us : +The dark and vicious place where thee he got +Cost him his eyes . + +Thou hast spoken right , 'tis true ; +The wheel is come full circle ; I am here . + +Methought thy very gait did prophesy +A royal nobleness : I must embrace thee : +Let sorrow split my heart , if ever I +Did hate thee or thy father . + +Worthy prince , I know 't . + +Where have you hid yourself ? +How have you known the miseries of your father ? + +By nursing them , my lord . List a brief tale ; +And , when 'tis told , O ! that my heart would burst , +The bloody proclamation to escape +That follow'd me so near ,O ! our lives' sweetness , +That we the pain of death would hourly die +Rather than die at once !taught me to shift +Into a madman's rags , to assume a semblance +That very dogs disdain'd : and in this habit +Met I my father with his bleeding rings , +Their precious stones new lost ; became his guide , +Led him , begg'd for him , sav'd him from despair ; +Never ,O fault !reveal'd myself unto him , +Until some half hour past , when I was arm'd ; +Not sure , though hoping , of this good success , +I ask'd his blessing , and from first to last +Told him my pilgrimage : but his flaw'd heart , +Alack ! too weak the conflict to support ; +'Twixt two extremes of passion , joy and grief , +Burst smilingly . + +This speech of yours hath mov'd me , +And shall perchance do good ; but speak you on ; +You look as you had something more to say . + +If there be more , more woeful , hold it in ; +For I am almost ready to dissolve , +Hearing of this . + +This would have seem'd a period +To such as love not sorrow ; but another , +To amplify too much , would make much more , +And top extremity . +Whilst I was big in clamour came there a man , +Who , having seen me in my worst estate , +Shunn'd my abhorr'd society ; but then , finding +Who 'twas that so endur'd , with his strong arms +He fasten'd on my neck , and bellow'd out +As he'd burst heaven ; threw him on my father ; +Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him +That ever ear receiv'd ; which in recounting +His grief grew puissant , and the strings of life +Began to crack : twice then the trumpet sounded , +And there I left him tranc'd . + +But who was this ? + +Kent , sir , the banish'd Kent ; who in disguise +Follow'd his enemy king , and did him service +Improper for a slave . + + +Help , help ! O help ! + +What kind of help ? + +Speak , man . + +What means that bloody knife ? + +'Tis hot , it smokes ; +It came even from the heart of O ! she's dead . + +Who dead ? speak , man . + +Your lady , sir , your lady : and her sister +By her is poison'd ; she confesses it . + +I was contracted to them both : all three +Now marry in an instant . + +Here comes Kent . + +Produce the bodies , be they alive or dead : +This judgment of the heavens , that makes us tremble , +Touches us not with pity . + +O ! is this he ? +The time will not allow the compliment + +Which very manners urges . + +I am come +To bid my king and master aye good-night ; +Is he not here ? + +Great thing of us forgot ! +Speak , Edmund , where's the king ? and where's Cordelia ? +Seest thou this object , Kent ? + + +Alack ! why thus ? + +Yet Edmund was belov'd : +The one the other poison'd for my sake , +And after slew herself . + +Even so . Cover their faces . + +I pant for life : some good I mean to do +Despite of mine own nature . Quickly send , +Be brief in it , to the castle ; for my writ +Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia . +Nay , send in time . + +Run , run ! O run ! + +To whom , my lord ? Who has the office ? send +Thy token of reprieve . + +Well thought on : take my sword , +Give it the captain . + +Haste thee , for thy life . + + +He hath commission from my wife and me +To hang Cordelia in the prison , and +To lay the blame upon her own despair , +That she fordid herself . + +The gods defend her ! Bear him hence awhile . + +Howl , howl , howl , howl ! O ! you are men of stones : +Had I your tongues and eyes , I'd use them so +That heaven's vaults should crack . She's gone for ever . +I know when one is dead , and when one lives ; +She's dead as earth . Lend me a looking-glass ; +If that her breath will mist or stain the stone , +Why , then she lives . + +Is this the promis'd end ? + +Or image of that horror ? + +Fall and cease ? + +This feather stirs ; she lives ! if it be so , +It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows +That ever I have felt . + +O , my good master ! + +Prithee , away . + +'Tis noble Kent , your friend . + +A plague upon you , murderers , traitors all ! +I might have sav'd her ; now , she's gone for ever ! +Cordelia , Cordelia ! stay a little . Ha ! +What is 't thou sayst ? Her voice was ever soft , +Gentle and low , an excellent thing in woman . +I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee . + +'Tis true , my lord , he did . + +Did I not , fellow ? +I have seen the day , with my good biting falchion +I would have made them skip : I am old now , +And these same crosses spoil me . Who are you ? +Mine eyes are not o' the best : I'll tell you straight . + +If fortune brag of two she lov'd and hated , +One of them we behold . + +This is a dull sight . Are you not Kent ? + +The same , +Your servant Kent . Where is your servant Caius ? + +He's a good fellow , I can tell you that ; +He'll strike , and quickly too . He's dead and rotten . + +No , my good lord ; I am the very man + +I'll see that straight . + +That , from your first of difference and decay , +Have follow'd your sad steps . + +You are welcome hither . + +Nor no man else ; all's cheerless , dark , and deadly : +Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves , +And desperately are dead . + +Ay , so I think . + +He knows not what he says , and vain it is +That we present us to him . + +Very bootless . + + +Edmund is dead , my lord . + +That's but a trifle here . +You lords and noble friends , know our intent ; +What comfort to this great decay may come +Shall be applied : for us , we will resign , +During the life of this old majesty , +To him our absolute power : + +You , to your rights ; +With boot and such addition as your honours +Have more than merited . All friends shall taste +The wages of their virtue , and all foes +The cup of their deservings . O ! see , see ! + +And my poor fool is hang'd ! No , no , no life ! +Why should a dog , a horse , a rat , have life , +And thou no breath at all ? Thou'lt come no more , +Never , never , never , never , never ! +Pray you , undo this button : thank you , sir . +Do you see this ? Look on her , look , her lips , +Look there , look there ! + + +He faints !my lord , my lord ! + +Break , heart ; I prithee , break . + +Look up , my lord . + +Vex not his ghost : O ! let him pass ; he hates him +That would upon the rack of this tough world +Stretch him out longer . + +He is gone , indeed . + +The wonder is he hath endur'd so long : +He but usurp'd his life . + +Bear them from hence . Our present business +Is general woe . + +Friends of my soul , you twain +Rule in this realm , and the gor'd state sustain . + +I have a journey , sir , shortly to go ; +My master calls me , I must not say no . + +The weight of this sad time we must obey ; +Speak what we feel , not what we ought to say . +The oldest hath borne most : we that are young , +Shall never see so much , nor live so long . + +MACBETH + +When shall we three meet again +In thunder , lightning , or in rain ? + +When the hurlyburly's done , +When the battle's lost and won . + +That will be ere the set of sun . + +Where the place ? + +Upon the heath . + +There to meet with Macbeth . + +I come , Graymalkin ! + +Paddock calls . + +Anon . + +Fair is foul , and foul is fair : +Hover through the fog and filthy air . + +What bloody man is that ? He can report , +As seemeth by his plight , of the revolt +The newest state . + +This is the sergeant +Who , like a good and hardy soldier fought +'Gainst my captivity . Hail , brave friend ! +Say to the king the knowledge of the broil +As thou didst leave it . + +Doubtful it stood ; +As two spent swimmers , that do cling together +And choke their art . The merciless Macdonwald +Worthy to be a rebel , for to that +The multiplying villanies of nature +Do swarm upon him from the western isles +Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied ; +And fortune , on his damned quarrel smiling , +Show'd like a rebel's whore : but all's too weak ; +For brave Macbeth ,well he deserves that name , +Disdaining fortune , with his brandish'd steel , +Which smok'd with bloody execution , +Like valour's minion carv'd out his passage +Till he fac'd the slave ; +Which ne'er shook hands , nor bade farewell to him , +Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps , +And fix'd his head upon our battlements . + +O valiant cousin ! worthy gentleman ! + +As whence the sun 'gins his reflection +Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break , +So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come +Discomfort swells . Mark , King of Scotland , mark : +No sooner justice had with valour arm'd +Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels , +But the Norweyan lord surveying vantage , +With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men +Began a fresh assault . + +Dismay'd not this +Our captains , Macbeth and Banquo ? + +Yes ; +As sparrows eagles , or the hare the lion . +If I say sooth , I must report they were +As cannons overcharg'd with double cracks ; +So they +Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe : +Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds , +Or memorize another Golgotha , +I cannot tell +But I am faint , my gashes cry for help . + +So well thy words become thee as thy wounds ; +They smack of honour both . Go , get him surgeons . + + +Who comes here ? + +The worthy Thane of Ross . + +What a haste looks through his eyes ! So should he look +That seems to speak things strange . + +God save the king ! + +Whence cam'st thou , worthy thane ? + +From Fife , great king ; +Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky +And fan our people cold . Norway himself , +With terrible numbers , +Assisted by that most disloyal traitor , +The Thane of Cawdor , began a dismal conflict ; +Till that Bellona's bridegroom , lapp'd in proof , +Confronted him with self-comparisons , +Point against point , rebellious arm 'gainst arm , +Curbing his lavish spirit : and , to conclude , +The victory fell on us . + +Great happiness ! + +That now +Sweno , the Norways' king , craves composition ; +Nor would we deign him burial of his men +Till he disbursed , at Saint Colme's Inch , +Ten thousand dollars to our general use . + +No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive +Our bosom interest . Go pronounce his present death , +And with his former title greet Macbeth . + +I'll see it done . + +What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won . + + +Where hast thou been , sister ? + +Killing swine . + +Sister , where thou ? + +A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap , +And munch'd , and munch'd , and munch'd : 'Give me ,' quoth I : +'Aroint thee , witch !' the rump-fed ronyon cries . +Her husband's to Aleppo gone , master o' the Tiger : +But in a sieve I'll thither sail , +And , like a rat without a tail , +I'll do , I'll do , and I'll do . + +I'll give thee a wind . + +Thou'rt kind . + +And I another . + +I myself have all the other ; +And the very ports they blow , +All the quarters that they know +I' the shipman's card . +I'll drain him dry as hay : +Sleep shall neither night nor day +Hang upon his pent-house lid ; +He shall live a man forbid . +Weary se'nnights nine times nine +Shall he dwindle , peak and pine : +Though his bark cannot be lost , +Yet it shall be tempest-tost . +Look what I have . + +Show me , show me . + +Here I have a pilot's thumb , +Wrack'd as homeward he did come . + + +A drum ! a drum ! +Macbeth doth come . + +The weird sisters , hand in hand , +Posters of the sea and land , +Thus do go about , about : +Thrice to thine , and thrice to mine , +And thrice again , to make up nine . +Peace ! the charm's wound up . + + +So foul and fair a day I have not seen . + +How far is 't call'd to Forres ? What are these , +So wither'd and so wild in their attire , +That look not like th' inhabitants o' the earth , +And yet are on 't ? Live you ? or are you aught +That man may question ? You seem to understand me , +By each at once her choppy finger laying +Upon her skinny lips : you should be women , +And yet your beards forbid me to interpret +That you are so . + +Speak , if you can : what are you ? + +All hail , Macbeth ! hail to thee , Thane of Glamis ! + +All hail , Macbeth ! hail to thee , Thane of Cawdor ! + +All hail , Macbeth ! that shalt be king hereafter . + +Good sir , why do you start , and seem to fear +Things that do sound so fair ? I' the name of truth , +Are ye fantastical , or that indeed +Which outwardly ye show ? My noble partner +You greet with present grace and great prediction +Of noble having and of royal hope , +That he seems rapt withal : to me you speak not . +If you can look into the seeds of time , +And say which grain will grow and which will not , +Speak then to me , who neither beg nor fear +Your favours nor your hate . + +Hail ! + +Hail ! + +Hail ! + +Lesser than Macbeth , and greater . + +Not so happy , yet much happier . + +Thou shalt get kings , though thou be none : +So , all hail , Macbeth and Banquo ! + +Banquo and Macbeth , all hail ! + +Stay , you imperfect speakers , tell me more : +By Sinel's death I know I am Thane of Glamis ; +But how of Cawdor ? the Thane of Cawdor lives , +A prosperous gentleman ; and to be king +Stands not within the prospect of belief +No more than to be Cawdor . Say , from whence +You owe this strange intelligence ? or why +Upon this blasted heath you stop our way +With such prophetic greeting ? Speak , I charge you . + + +The earth hath bubbles , as the water has , +And these are of them . Whither are they vanish'd ? + +Into the air , and what seem'd corporal melted +As breath into the wind . Would they had stay'd ! + +Were such things here as we do speak about ? +Or have we eaten on the insane root +That takes the reason prisoner ? + +Your children shall be kings . + +You shall be king . + +And Thane of Cawdor too ; went it not so ? + +To the self-same tune and words . Who's here ? + + +The king hath happily receiv'd , Macbeth , +The news of thy success ; and when he reads +Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight , +His wonders and his praises do contend +Which should be thine or his . Silenc'd with that , +In viewing o'er the rest o' the self-same day , +He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks , +Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make , +Strange images of death . As thick as hail +Came post with post , and every one did bear +Thy praises in his kingdom's great defence , +And pour'd them down before him . + +We are sent +To give thee from our royal master thanks ; +Only to herald thee into his sight , +Not pay thee . + +And , for an earnest of a greater honour , +He bade me , from him , call thee Thane of Cawdor : +In which addition , hail , most worthy thane ! +For it is thine . + +What ! can the devil speak true ? + +The Thane of Cawdor lives : why do you dress me +In borrow'd robes ? + +Who was the thane lives yet ; +But under heavy judgment bears that life +Which he deserves to lose . Whether he was combin'd +With those of Norway , or did line the rebel +With hidden help or vantage , or that with both +He labour'd in his country's wrack , I know not ; +But treasons capital , confess'd and prov'd , +Have overthrown him . + +Glamis , and Thane of Cawdor : +The greatest is behind . + +Thanks for your pains . + + +Do you not hope your children shall be kings , +When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me +Promis'd no less to them ? + +That , trusted home , +Might yet enkindle you unto the crown , +Besides the Thane of Cawdor . But 'tis strange : +And oftentimes , to win us to our harm , +The instruments of darkness tell us truths , +Win us with honest trifles , to betray's +In deepest consequence . +Cousins , a word , I pray you . + +Two truths are told , +As happy prologues to the swelling act +Of the imperial theme . I thank you , gentlemen . + + +This supernatural soliciting +Cannot be ill , cannot be good ; if ill , +Why hath it given me earnest of success , +Commencing in a truth ? I am Thane of Cawdor : +If good , why do I yield to that suggestion +Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair +And make my seated heart knock at my ribs , +Against the use of nature ? Present fears +Are less than horrible imaginings ; +My thought , whose murder yet is but fantastical , +Shakes so my single state of man that function +Is smother'd in surmise , and nothing is +But what is not . + +Look , how our partner's rapt . + +If chance will have me king , why , chance may crown me , +Without my stir . + +New honours come upon him , +Like our strange garments , cleave not to their mould +But with the aid of use . + +Come what come may , +Time and the hour runs through the roughest day . + +Worthy Macbeth , we stay upon your leisure . + +Give me your favour : my dull brain was wrought +With things forgotten . Kind gentlemen , your pains +Are register'd where every day I turn +The leaf to read them . Let us toward the king . +Think upon what hath chanc'd ; and , at more time , +The interim having weigh'd it , let us speak +Our free hearts each to other . + +Very gladly . + +Till then , enough . Come , friends . + + +Is execution done on Cawdor ? Are not +Those in commission yet return'd ? + +My liege , +They are not yet come back ; but I have spoke +With one that saw him die ; who did report +That very frankly he confess'd his treasons , +Implor'd your highness' pardon and set forth +A deep repentance . Nothing in his life +Became him like the leaving it ; he died +As one that had been studied in his death +To throw away the dearest thing he ow'd , +As 'twere a careless trifle . + +There's no art +To find the mind's construction in the face : +He was a gentleman on whom I built +An absolute trust . + + +O worthiest cousin ! +The sin of my ingratitude even now +Was heavy on me . Thou art so far before +That swiftest wing of recompense is slow +To overtake thee ; would thou hadst less deserv'd , +That the proportion both of thanks and payment +Might have been mine ! only I have left to say , + +More is thy due than more than all can pay . + +The service and the loyalty I owe , +In doing it , pays itself . Your highness' part +Is to receive our duties : and our duties +Are to your throne and state , children and servants ; +Which do but what they should , by doing everything +Safe toward your love and honour . + +Welcome hither : +I have begun to plant thee , and will labour +To make thee full of growing . Noble Banquo , +That hast no less deserv'd , nor must be known +No less to have done so , let me infold thee +And hold thee to my heart . + +There if I grow , +The harvest is your own . + +My plenteous joys +Wanton in fulness , seek to hide themselves +In drops of sorrow . Sons , kinsmen , thanes , +And you whose places are the nearest , know +We will establish our estate upon +Our eldest , Malcolm , whom we name hereafter +The Prince of Cumberland ; which honour must +Not unaccompanied invest him only , +But signs of nobleness , like stars , shall shine +On all deservers . From hence to Inverness , +And bind us further to you . + +The rest is labour , which is not us'd for you : +I'll be myself the harbinger , and make joyful +The hearing of my wife with your approach ; +So , humbly take my leave . + +My worthy Cawdor ! + +The Prince of Cumberland ! that is a step +On which I must fall down , or else o'er-leap , +For in my way it lies . Stars , hide your fires ! +Let not light see my black and deep desires ; +The eye wink at the hand ; yet let that be +Which the eye fears , when it is done , to see . + + +True , worthy Banquo ; he is full so valiant , +And in his commendations I am fed ; +It is a banquet to me . Let's after him , +Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome : +It is a peerless kinsman . + +They met me in the day of success ; and I have learned by the perfectest report , they have more in them than mortal knowledge . When I burned in desire to question them further , they made themselves air , into which they vanished . Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it , came missives from the king , who all-hailed me , 'Thane of Cawdor ;' by which title , before , these weird sisters saluted me , and referred me to the coming on of time , with , 'Hail , king that shall be !' This have I thought good to deliver thee , my dearest partner of greatness , that thou mightest not lose the dues of rejoicing , by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee . Lay it to thy heart , and farewell . +Glamis thou art , and Cawdor ; and shalt be +What thou art promis'd . Yet do I fear thy nature ; +It is too full o' the milk of human kindness +To catch the nearest way ; thou wouldst be great , +Art not without ambition , but without +The illness should attend it ; what thou wouldst highly , +That thou wouldst holily ; wouldst not play false , +And yet wouldst wrongly win ; thou'dst have , great Glamis , +That which cries , 'Thus thou must do , if thou have it ;' +And that which rather thou dost fear to do +Than wishest should be undone . Hie thee hither , +That I may pour my spirits in thine ear , +And chastise with the valour of my tongue +All that impedes thee from the golden round , +Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem +To have thee crown'd withal . + +What is your tidings ? + +The king comes here to-night . + +Thou'rt mad to say it . +Is not thy master with him ? who , were't so , +Would have inform'd for preparation . + +So please you , it is true : our thane is coming ; +One of my fellows had the speed of him , +Who , almost dead for breath , had scarcely more +Than would make up his message . + +Give him tending ; +He brings great news . + +The raven himself is hoarse +That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan +Under my battlements . Come , you spirits +That tend on mortal thoughts ! unsex me here , +And fill me from the crown to the toe top full +Of direst cruelty ; make thick my blood , +Stop up the access and passage to remorse , +That no compunctious visitings of nature +Shake my fell purpose , nor keep peace between +The effect and it ! Come to my woman's breasts , +And take my milk for gall , you murdering ministers , +Wherever in your sightless substances +You wait on nature's mischief ! Come , thick night , +And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell , +That my keen knife see not the wound it makes , +Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark , +To cry , 'Hold , hold !' + + +Great Glamis ! worthy Cawdor ! +Greater than both , by the all-hail hereafter ! +Thy letters have transported me beyond +This ignorant present , and I feel now + +The future in the instant . + +My dearest love , +Duncan comes here to-night . + +And when goes hence ? + +To-morrow , as he purposes . + +O ! never +Shall sun that morrow see . +Your face , my thane , is as a book where men +May read strange matters . To beguile the time , +Look like the time ; bear welcome in your eye , +Your hand , your tongue : look like the innocent flower , +But be the serpent under't . He that's coming +Must be provided for ; and you shall put +This night's great business into my dispatch ; +Which shall to all our nights and days to come +Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom . + +We will speak further . + +Only look up clear ; +To alter favour ever is to fear . +Leave all the rest to me . + +This castle hath a pleasant seat ; the air +Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself +Unto our gentle senses . + +This guest of summer , +The temple-haunting martlet , does approve +By his lov'd mansionry that the heaven's breath +Smells wooingly here : no jutty , frieze , +Buttress , nor coign of vantage , but this bird +Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle : +Where they most breed and haunt , I have observ'd +The air is delicate . + + +See , see , our honour'd hostess ! +The love that follows us sometime is our trouble , +Which still we thank as love . Herein I teach you +How you shall bid God 'eyld us for your pains , +And thank us for your trouble . + +All our service , +In every point twice done , and then done double , +Were poor and single business , to contend +Against those honours deep and broad wherewith +Your majesty loads our house : for those of old , +And the late dignities heap'd up to them , +We rest your hermits . + +Where's the Thane of Cawdor ? +We cours'd him at the heels , and had a purpose +To be his purveyor ; but he rides well , +And his great love , sharp as his spur , hath holp him +To his home before us . Fair and noble hostess , +We are your guest to-night . + +Your servants ever +Have theirs , themselves , and what is theirs , in compt , +To make their audit at your highness' pleasure , +Still to return your own . + +Give me your hand ; +Conduct me to mine host : we love him highly , +And shall continue our graces towards him . +By your leave , hostess . + +If it were done when 'tis done , then 'twere well +It were done quickly ; if the assassination +Could trammel up the consequence , and catch +With his surcease success ; that but this blow +Might be the be-all and the end-all here , +But here , upon this bank and shoal of time , +We'd jump the life to come . But in these cases +We still have judgment here ; that we but teach +Bloody instructions , which , being taught , return +To plague the inventor ; this even-handed justice +Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice +To our own lips . He's here in double trust : +First , as I am his kinsman and his subject , +Strong both against the deed ; then , as his host , +Who should against his murderer shut the door , +Not bear the knife myself . Besides , this Duncan +Hath borne his faculties so meek , hath been +So clear in his great office , that his virtues +Will plead like angels trumpet-tongu'd against +The deep damnation of his taking-off ; +And pity , like a naked new-born babe , +Striding the blast , or heaven's cherubin , hors'd +Upon the sightless couriers of the air , +Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye , +That tears shall drown the wind . I have no spur +To prick the sides of my intent , but only +Vaulting ambition , which o'er-leaps itself +And falls on the other . + +How now ! what news ? + +He has almost supp'd : why have you left the chamber ? + +Hath he ask'd for me ? + +Know you not he has ? + +We will proceed no further in this business : +He hath honour'd me of late ; and I have bought +Golden opinions from all sorts of people , +Which would be worn now in their newest gloss , +Not cast aside so soon . + +Was the hope drunk , +Wherein you dress'd yourself ? hath it slept since , +And wakes it now , to look so green and pale +At what it did so freely ? From this time +Such I account thy love . Art thou afeard +To be the same in thine own act and valour +As thou art in desire ? Wouldst thou have that +Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life , +And live a coward in thine own esteem , +Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would ,' +Like the poor cat i' the adage ? + +Prithee , peace . +I dare do all that may become a man ; +Who dares do more is none . + +What beast was't , then , +That made you break this enterprise to me ? +When you durst do it then you were a man ; +And , to be more than what you were , you would +Be so much more the man . Nor time nor place +Did then adhere , and yet you would make both : +They have made themselves , and that their fitness now +Does unmake you . I have given suck , and know +How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me : +I would , while it was smiling in my face , +Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums , +And dash'd the brains out , had I so sworn as you +Have done to this . + +If we should fail , + +We fail ! +But screw your courage to the sticking-place , +And we'll not fail . When Duncan is asleep , +Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey +Soundly invite him , his two chamberlains +Will I with wine and wassail so convince +That memory , the warder of the brain , +Shall be a fume , and the receipt of reason +A limbeck only ; when in swinish sleep +Their drenched natures lie , as in a death , +What cannot you and I perform upon +The unguarded Duncan ? what not put upon +His spongy officers , who shall bear the guilt +Of our great quell ? + +Bring forth men-children only ; +For thy undaunted mettle should compose +Nothing but males . Will it not be receiv'd , +When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two +Of his own chamber and us'd their very daggers , +That they have done't ? + +Who dares receive it other , +As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar +Upon his death ? + +I am settled , and bend up +Each corporal agent to this terrible feat . +Away , and mock the time with fairest show : +False face must hide what the false heart doth know . + +How goes the night , boy ? + +The moon is down ; I have not heard the clock . + +And she goes down at twelve . + +I take't , 'tis later , sir . + +Hold , take my sword . There's husbandry in heaven ; +Their candles are all out . Take thee that too . +A heavy summons lies like lead upon me , +And yet I would not sleep : merciful powers ! +Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature +Gives way to in repose . + + +Give me my sword . + +Who's there ? + +A friend . + +What , sir ! not yet at rest ? The king's a-bed : +He hath been in unusual pleasure , and +Sent forth great largess to your offices . +This diamond he greets your wife withal , +By the name of most kind hostess ; and shut up +In measureless content . + +Being unprepar'd , +Our will became the servant to defect , +Which else should free have wrought . + +All's well . +I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters : +To you they have show'd some truth . + +I think not of them : +Yet , when we can entreat an hour to serve , +We would spend it in some words upon that business , +If you would grant the time . + +At your kind'st leisure . + +If you shall cleave to my consent , when 'tis , +It shall make honour for you . + +So I lose none +In seeking to augment it , but still keep +My bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear , +I shall be counsell'd . + +Good repose the while ! + +Thanks , sir : the like to you . + + +Go bid thy mistress , when my drink is ready +She strike upon the bell . Get thee to bed . + +Is this a dagger which I see before me , +The handle toward my hand ? Come , let me clutch thee : +I have thee not , and yet I see thee still . +Art thou not , fatal vision , sensible +To feeling as to sight ? or art thou but +A dagger of the mind , a false creation , +Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain ? +I see thee yet , in form as palpable +As this which now I draw . +Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going ; +And such an instrument I was to use . +Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses , +Or else worth all the rest : I see thee still ; +And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood , +Which was not so before . There's no such thing : +It is the bloody business which informs +Thus to mine eyes . Now o'er the one half-world +Nature seems dead , and wicked dreams abuse +The curtain'd sleep ; witchcraft celebrates +Pale Hecate's offerings ; and wither'd murder , +Alarum'd by his sentinel , the wolf , +Whose howl's his watch , thus with his stealthy pace , +With Tarquin's ravishing strides , toward his design +Moves like a ghost . Thou sure and firm-set earth , +Hear not my steps , which way they walk , for fear +Thy very stones prate of my whereabout , +And take the present horror from the time , +Which now suits with it . Whiles I threat he lives : +Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives . + +I go , and it is done ; the bell invites me . +Hear it not , Duncan ; for it is a knell +That summons thee to heaven or to hell . + + +That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold , +What hath quench'd them hath given me fire . Hark ! +Peace ! +It was the owl that shriek'd , the fatal bellman , +Which gives the stern'st good-night . He is about it : +The doors are open , and the surfeited grooms +Do mock their charge with snores : I have drugg'd their possets , +That death and nature do contend about them , +Whether they live or die . + +Who's there ? what , ho ! + +Alack ! I am afraid they have awak'd , +And 'tis not done ; the attempt and not the deed +Confounds us . Hark ! I laid their daggers ready ; +He could not miss them . Had he not resembled +My father as he slept I had done 't . My husband ! + + +I have done the deed . Didst thou not hear a noise ? + +I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry . +Did not you speak ? + +When ? + +Now . + +As I descended ? + +Ay . + +Hark ! +Who lies i' the second chamber ? + +Donalbain . + +This is a sorry sight . + +A foolish thought to say a sorry sight . + +There's one did laugh in 's sleep , and one cried 'Murder !' +That they did wake each other : I stood and heard them ; +But they did say their prayers , and address'd them +Again to sleep . + +There are two lodg'd together . + +One cried 'God bless us !' and 'Amen' the other : +As they had seen me with these hangman's hands . +Listening their fear , I could not say 'Amen ,' +When they did say 'God bless us !' + +Consider it not so deeply . + +But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen ?' +I had most need of blessing , and 'Amen' +Stuck in my throat . + +These deeds must not be thought +After these ways ; so , it will make us mad . + +Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more ! +Macbeth does murder sleep ,' the innocent sleep , +Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care , +The death of each day's life , sore labour's bath , +Balm of hurt minds , great nature's second course , +Chief nourisher in life's feast , + +What do you mean ? + +Still it cried , 'Sleep no more !' to all the house : +'Glamis hath murder'd sleep , and therefore Cawdor +Shall sleep no more , Macbeth shall sleep no more !' + +Who was it that thus cried ? Why , worthy thane , +You do unbend your noble strength to think +So brainsickly of things . Go get some water , +And wash this filthy witness from your hand . +Why did you bring these daggers from the place ? +They must lie there : go carry them , and smear +The sleepy grooms with blood . + +I'll go no more : +I am afraid to think what I have done ; +Look on 't again I dare not . + +Infirm of purpose ! +Give me the daggers . The sleeping and the dead +Are but as pictures ; 'tis the eye of childhood +That fears a painted devil . If he do bleed , +I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal ; +For it must seem their guilt . + + +Whence is that knocking ? +How is't with me , when every noise appals me ? +What hands are here ! Ha ! they pluck out mine eyes . +Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood +Clean from my hand ? No , this my hand will rather +The multitudinous seas incarnadine , +Making the green one red . + + +My hands are of your colour , but I shame +To wear a heart so white . + +I hear a knocking +At the south entry ; retire we to our chamber ; +A little water clears us of this deed ; +How easy is it , then ! Your constancy +Hath left you unattended . + +Hark ! more knocking . +Get on your night-gown , lest occasion call us , +And show us to be watchers . Be not lost +So poorly in your thoughts . + +To know my deed 'twere best not know myself . + +Wake Duncan with thy knocking ! I would thou couldst ! + + +Here's a knocking , indeed ! If a man were porter of hell-gate he should have old turning the key . + +Knock , knock , knock ! Who's there , i' the name of Beelzebub ? Here's a farmer that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty : come in time ; have napkins enough about you ; here you'll sweat for 't . [Knocking within .] Knock , knock ! Who's there i' the other devil's name ! Faith , here's an equivocator , that could swear in both the scales against either scale ; who committed treason enough for God's sake , yet could not equivocate to heaven : O ! come in , equivocator . [Knocking within .] Knock , knock , knock ! Who's there ? Faith , here's an English tailor come hither for stealing out of a French hose : come in , tailor ; here you may roast your goose . [Knocking within .] Knock , knock ; never at quiet ! What are you ? But this place is too cold for hell . I'll devil-porter it no further : I had thought to have let in some of all professions , that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire . [Knocking within .] Anon , anon ! I pray you , remember the porter . + +Was it so late , friend , ere you went to bed , +That you do lie so late ? + +Faith , sir , we were carousing till the second cock ; and drink , sir , is a great provoker of three things . + +What three things does drink especially provoke ? + +Marry , sir , mose-painting , sleep , and urine . Lechery , sir , it provokes , and unprovokes ; it provokes the desire , but it takes away the performance . Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery ; it makes him , and it mars him ; it sets him on , and it takes him off ; it persuades him , and disheartens him ; makes him stand to , and not stand to ; in conclusion , equivocates him in a sleep , and , giving him the lie , leaves him . + +I believe drink gave thee the lie last night . + +That it did , sir , i' the very throat o' me : but I requited him for his lie ; and , I think , being too strong for him , though he took up my legs sometime , yet I made a shift to cast him . + +Is thy master stirring ? + +Our knocking has awak'd him ; here he comes . + +Good morrow , noble sir . + +Good morrow , both . + +Is the king stirring , worthy thane ? + +Not yet . + +He did command me to call timely on him : +I have almost slipp'd the hour . + +I'll bring you to him . + +I know this is a joyful trouble to you ; +But yet 'tis one . + +The labour we delight in physics pain . +This is the door . + +I'll make so bold to call , +For 'tis my limited service . + + +Goes the king hence to-day ? + +He does : he did appoint so . + +The night has been unruly : where we lay , +Ourchimneys were blown down ; and , as they say , +Lamentings heard i' the air ; strange screams of death , +And prophesying with accents terrible +Of dire combustion and confus'd events +New hatch'd to the woeful time . The obscure bird +Clamour'd the livelong night : some say the earth +Was feverous and did shake . + +'Twas a rough night . + +My young remembrance cannot parallel +A fellow to it . + + +O horror ! horror ! horror ! Tongue nor heart +Cannot conceive nor name thee ! + +What's the matter ? + +What's the matter ? + +Confusion now hath made his masterpiece ! +Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope +The Lord's anointed temple , and stole thence +The life o' the building ! + +What is 't you say ? the life ? + +Mean you his majesty ? + +Approach the chamber , and destroy your sight +With a new Gorgon : do not bid me speak ; +See , and then speak yourselves . + +Awake ! awake ! +Ring the alarum-bell . Murder and treason ! +Banquo and Donalbain ! Malcolm ! awake ! +Shake off this downy sleep , death's counterfeit , +And look on death itself ! up , up , and see +The great doom's image ! Malcolm ! Banquo ! +As from your graves rise up , and walk like sprites , +To countenance this horror ! Ring the bell . + +What's the business , +That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley +The sleepers of the house ? speak , speak ! + +O gentle lady ! +'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak ; +The repetition in a woman's ear +Would murder as it fell . + + +O Banquo ! Banquo ! + +Our royal master's murder'd ! + +Woe , alas ! +What ! in our house ? + +Too cruel any where . +Dear Duff , I prithee , contradict thyself , +And say it is not so . + + +Had I but died an hour before this chance +I had liv'd a blessed time ; for , from this instant , +There's nothing serious in mortality , +All is but toys ; renown and grace is dead , +The wine of life is drawn , and the mere lees +Is left this vault to brag of . + + +What is amiss ? + +You are , and do not know 't : +The spring , the head , the fountain of your blood +Is stopp'd ; the very source of it is stopp'd . + +Your royal father's murder'd . + +O ! by whom ? + +Those of his chamber , as it seem'd , had done 't : +Their hands and faces were all badg'd with blood ; +So were their daggers , which unwip'd we found +Upon their pillows : they star'd , and were distracted ; no man's life +Was to be trusted with them . + +O ! yet I do repent me of my fury , +That I did kill them . + +Wherefore did you so ? + +Who can be wise , amaz'd , temperate and furious , +Loyal and neutral , in a moment ? No man : +The expedition of my violent love +Outran the pauser , reason . Here lay Duncan , +His silver skin lac'd with his golden blood ; +And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature +For ruin's wasteful entrance : there , the murderers , +Steep'd in the colours of their trade , their daggers +Unmannerly breech'd with gore : who could refrain , +That had a heart to love , and in that heart +Courage to make 's love known ? + +Help me hence , ho ! + +Look to the lady . + +Why do we hold our tongues , +That most may claim this argument for ours : + +What should be spoken +Here where our fate , hid in an auger-hole , +May rush and seize us ? Let's away : our tears +Are not yet brew'd . + +Nor our strong sorrow +Upon the foot of motion . + +Look to the lady : + +And when we have our naked frailties hid , +That suffer in exposure , let us meet , +And question this most bloody piece of work , +To know it further . Fears and scruples shake us : +In the great hand of God I stand , and thence +Against the undivulg'd pretence I fight +Of treasonous malice . + +And so do I . + +So all . + +Let's briefly put on manly readiness , +And meet i' the hall together . + +Well contented . + + +What will you do ? Let's not consort with them : +To show an unfelt sorrow is an office +Which the false man does easy . I'll to England . + +To Ireland , I ; our separated fortune +Shall keep us both the safer : where we are , +There's daggers in men's smiles : the near in blood , +The nearer bloody . + +This murderous shaft that's shot +Hath not yet lighted , and our safest way +Is to avoid the aim : therefore , to horse ; +And let us not be dainty of leave-taking , +But shift away : there's warrant in that theft +Which steals itself when there's no mercy left . + + +Threescore and ten I can remember well ; +Within the volume of which time I have seen +Hours dreadful and things strange , but this sore night +Hath trifled former knowings . + +Ah ! good father , +Thou seest , the heavens , as troubled with man's act , +Threaten his bloody stage : by the clock 'tis day , +And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp . +Is 't night's predominance , or the day's shame , +That darkness does the face of earth entomb , +When living light should kiss it ? + +'Tis unnatural , +Even like the deed that's done . On Tuesday last , +A falcon , towering in her pride of place , +Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd . + +And Duncan's horses ,a thing most strange and certain , +Beauteous and swift , the minions of their race , +Turn'd wild in nature , broke their stalls , flung out , +Contending 'gainst obedience , as they would +Make war with mankind . + +'Tis said they eat each other . + +They did so ; to the amazement of mine eyes , +That look'd upon 't . Here comes the good Macduff . + +How goes the world , sir , now ? + +Why , see you not ? + +Is 't known who did this more than bloody deed ? + +Those that Macbeth hath slain . + +Alas , the day ! +What good could they pretend ? + +They were suborn'd . +Malcolm and Donalbain , the king's two sons , +Are stol'n away and fled , which puts upon them +Suspicion of the deed . + +'Gainst nature still ! +Thriftless ambition , that wilt ravin up +Thine own life's means ! Then 'tis most like +The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth . + +He is already nam'd , and gone to Scone +To be invested . + +Where is Duncan's body ? + +Carried to Colmekill ; +The sacred storehouse of his predecessors +And guardian of their bones . + +Will you to Scone ? + +No , cousin , I'll to Fife . + +Well , I will thither . + +Well , may you see things well done there : adieu ! +Lest our old robes sit easier than our new ! + +Farewell , father . + +God's benison go with you ; and with those +That would make good of bad , and friends of foes ! + +Thou hast it now : King , Cawdor , Glamis , all , +As the weird women promis'd ; and , I fear , +Thou play'dst most foully for 't ; yet it was said +It should not stand in thy posterity , +But that myself should be the root and father +Of many kings . If there come truth from them , +As upon thee , Macbeth , their speeches shine , +Why , by the verities on thee made good , +May they not be my oracles as well , +And set me up in hope ? But , hush ! no more . + +Here's our chief guest . + +If he had been forgotten +It had been as a gap in our great feast , +And all-thing unbecoming . + +To-night we hold a solemn supper , sir , +And I'll request your presence . + +Let your highness +Command upon me ; to the which my duties +Are with a most indissoluble tie +For ever knit . + +Ride you this afternoon ? + +Ay , my good lord . + +We should have else desir'd your good advice +Which still hath been both grave and prosperous +In this day's council ; but we'll take to-morrow . +Is 't far you ride ? + +As far , my lord , as will fill up the time +'Twixt this and supper ; go not my horse the better , +I must become a borrower of the night +For a dark hour or twain . + +Fail not our feast . + +My lord , I will not . + +We hear our bloody cousins are bestow'd +In England and in Ireland , not confessing +Their cruel parricide , filling their hearers +With strange invention ; but of that to-morrow , +When therewithal we shall have cause of state +Craving us jointly . Hie you to horse ; adieu +Till you return at night . Goes Fleance with you ? + +Ay , my good lord : our time does call upon 's . + +I wish your horses swift and sure of foot ; +And so I do commend you to their backs . +Farewell . + +Let every man be master of his time +Till seven at night ; to make society +The sweeter welcome , we will keep ourself +Till supper-time alone ; while then , God be with you ! + +Sirrah , a word with you . Attend those men +Our pleasure ? + +They are , my lord , without the palace gate . + +Bring them before us . + +To be thus is nothing ; +But to be safely thus . Our fears in Banquo +Stick deep , and in his royalty of nature +Reigns that which would be fear'd : 'tis much he dares , +And , to that dauntless temper of his mind , +He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour +To act in safety . There is none but he +Whose being I do fear ; and under him +My genius is rebuk'd , as it is said +Mark Antony's was by C sar . He chid the sisters +When first they put the name of king upon me , +And bade them speak to him ; then , prophet-like , +They hail'd him father to a line of kings . +Upon my head they plac'd a fruitless crown , +And put a barren sceptre in my gripe , +Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand , +No son of mine succeeding . If 't be so , +For Banquo's issue have I fil'd my mind ; +For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd ; +Put rancours in the vessel of my peace +Only for them ; and mine eternal jewel +Given to the common enemy of man , +To make them kings , the seed of Banquo kings ! +Rather than so , come fate into the list , +And champion me to the utterance ! Who's there ? + + +Now go to the door , and stay there till we call . + + +Was it not yesterday we spoke together ? + +It was , so please your highness . + +Well then , now +Have you consider'd of my speeches ? Know +That it was he in the times past which held you +So under fortune , which you thought had been +Our innocent self . This I made good to you +In our last conference , pass'd in probation with you , +How you were borne in hand , how cross'd , the instruments , +Who wrought with them , and all things else that might +To half a soul and to a notion craz'd +Say , 'Thus did Banquo .' + +You made it known to us . + +I did so ; and went further , which is now +Our point of second meeting . Do you find +Your patience so predominant in your nature +That you can let this go ? Are you so gospell'd +To pray for this good man and for his issue , +Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave +And beggar'd yours for ever ? + +We are men , my liege . + +Ay , in the catalogue ye go for men ; +As hounds and greyhounds , mongrels , spaniels , curs , +Shoughs , water-rugs , and demi-wolves , are clept +All by the name of dogs : the valu'd file +Distinguishes the swift , the slow , the subtle , +The housekeeper , the hunter , every one +According to the gift which bounteous nature +Hath in him clos'd ; whereby he does receive +Particular addition , from the bill +That writes them all alike : and so of men . +Now , if you have a station in the file , +Not i' the worst rank of manhood , say it ; +And I will put that business in your bosoms , +Whose execution takes your enemy off , +Grapples you to the heart and love of us , +Who wear our health but sickly in his life , +Which in his death were perfect . + +I am one , my liege , +Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world +Have so incens'd that I am reckless what +I do to spite the world . + +And I another , +So weary with disasters , tugg'd with fortune , +That I would set my life on any chance , +To mend it or be rid on 't . + +Both of you +Know Banquo was your enemy . + +True , my lord . + +So is he mine ; and in such bloody distance +That every minute of his being thrusts +Against my near'st of life : and though I could +With bare-fac'd power sweep him from my sight +And bid my will avouch it , yet I must not , +For certain friends that are both his and mine , +Whose loves I may not drop , but wail his fall +Whom I myself struck down ; and thence it is +That I to your assistance do make love , +Masking the business from the common eye +For sundry weighty reasons . + +We shall , my lord , +Perform what you command us . + +Though our lives + +Your spirits shine through you . Within this hour at most +I will advise you where to plant yourselves , +Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time , +The moment on 't ; for 't must be done to-night , +And something from the palace ; always thought +That I require a clearness : and with him +To leave no rubs nor botches in the work +Fleance his son , that keeps him company , +Whose absence is no less material to me +Than is his father's , must embrace the fate +Of that dark hour . Resolve yourselves apart ; +I'll come to you anon . + +We are resolv'd , my lord . + +I'll call upon you straight : abide within . + +It is concluded : Banquo , thy soul's flight , +If it find heaven , must find it out to-night . + + +Is Banquo gone from court ? + +Ay , madam , but returns again to-night . + +Say to the king , I would attend his leisure +For a few words . + +Madam , I will . + + +Nought's had , all's spent , +Where our desire is got without content : +'Tis safer to be that which we destroy +Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy . + + +How now , my lord ! why do you keep alone , +Of sorriest fancies your companions making , +Using those thoughts which should indeed have died +With them they think on ? Things without all remedy + +Should be without regard : what's done is done . + +We have scotch'd the snake , not kill'd it : +She'll close and be herself , whilst our poor malice +Remains in danger of her former tooth . +But let the frame of things disjoint , both the worlds suffer , +Ere we will eat our meal in fear , and sleep +In the affliction of these terrible dreams +That shake us nightly . Better be with the dead , +Whom we , to gain our peace , have sent to peace , +Than on the torture of the mind to lie +In restless ecstasy . Duncan is in his grave ; +After life's fitful fever he sleeps well ; +Treason has done his worst : nor steel , nor poison , +Malice domestic , foreign levy , nothing +Can touch him further . + +Come on ; +Gentle my lord , sleek o'er your rugged looks ; +Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night . + +So shall I , love ; and so , I pray , be you . +Let your remembrance apply to Banquo ; +Present him eminence , both with eye and tongue : +Unsafe the while , that we +Must lave our honours in these flattering streams , +And make our faces vizards to our hearts , +Disguising what they are . + +You must leave this . + +O ! full of scorpions is my mind , dear wife ; +Thou know'st that Banquo and his Fleance lives . + +But in them nature's copy's not eterne . + +There's comfort yet ; they are assailable ; +Then be thou jocund . Ere the bat hath flown +His cloister'd flight , ere , to black Hecate's summons +The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums +Hath rung night's yawning peal , there shall be done +A deed of dreadful note . + +What's to be done ? + +Be innocent of the knowledge , dearest chuck , +Till thou applaud the deed . Come , seeling night , +Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day , +And with thy bloody and invisible hand +Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond +Which keeps me pale ! Light thickens , and the crow +Makes wing to the rooky wood ; +Good things of day begin to droop and drowse , +Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse . +Thou marvell'st at my words : but hold thee still ; +Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill : +So , prithee , go with me . + + +But who did bid thee join with us ? + +Macbeth . + +He needs not our mistrust , since he delivers +Our offices and what we have to do +To the direction just . + +Then stand with us . +The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day : +Now spurs the lated traveller apace +To gain the timely inn ; and near approaches +The subject of our watch . + +Hark ! I hear horses . + +Give us a light there , ho ! + +Then 'tis he : the rest +That are within the note of expectation +Already are i' the court . + +His horses go about . + +Almost a mile ; but he does usually , +So all men do , from hence to the palace gate +Make it their walk . + +A light , a light ! + +'Tis he . + +Stand to 't . + + +It will be rain to-night . + +Let it come down . + + +O , treachery ! Fly , good Fleance , fly , fly , fly ! +Thou mayst revenge . O slave ! + + +Who did strike out the light ? + +Was 't not the way ? + +There's but one down ; the son is fled . + +We have lost +Best half of our affair . + +Well , let's away , and say how much is done . + + +You know your own degrees ; sit down : at first and last , +The hearty welcome . + +Thanks to your majesty . + +Ourself will mingle with society +And play the humble host . +Our hostess keeps her state , but in best time +We will require her welcome . + +Pronounce it for me , sir , to all our friends ; +For my heart speaks they are welcome . + + +See , they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks ; +Both sides are even : here I'll sit i' the midst : +Be large in mirth ; anon , we'll drink a measure +The table round . + +There's blood upon thy face . + +'Tis Banquo's , then . + +'Tis better thee without than he within . +Is he dispatch'd ? + +My lord , his throat is cut ; that I did for him . + +Thou art the best o' the cut-throats ; yet he's good +That did the like for Fleance : if thou didst it , +Thou art the nonpareil . + +Most royal sir , +Fleance is 'scap'd . + +Then comes my fit again : I had else been perfect ; +Whole as the marble , founded as the rock , +As broad and general as the casing air : +But now I am cabin'd , cribb'd , confin'd , bound in +To saucy doubts and fears . But Banquo's safe ? + +Ay , my good lord ; safe in a ditch he bides , +With twenty trenched gashes on his head ; +The least a death to nature . + +Thanks for that . +There the grown serpent lies : the worm that's fled +Hath nature that in time will venom breed , +No teeth for the present . Get thee gone ; to-morrow +We'll hear ourselves again . + + +My royal lord , +You do not give the cheer : the feast is sold +That is not often vouch'd , while 'tis a-making , +'Tis given with welcome : to feed were best at home ; +From thence , the sauce to meat is ceremony ; +Meeting were bare without it . + +Sweet remembrancer ! +Now good digestion wait on appetite , +And health on both ! + +May it please your highness sit ? + + +Here had we now our country's honour roof'd , +Were the grac'd person of our Banquo present ; +Who may I rather challenge for unkindness +Than pity for mischance ! + +His absence , sir , +Lays blame upon his promise . Please 't your highness +To grace us with your royal company . + +The table's full . + +Here is a place reserv'd , sir . + +Where ? + +Here , my good lord . What is 't that moves your highness ? + +Which of you have done this ? + +What , my good lord ? + +Thou canst not say I did it : never shake +Thy gory locks at me . + +Gentlemen , rise ; his highness is not well . + +Sit , worthy friends : my lord is often thus , +And hath been from his youth : pray you , keep seat ; +The fit is momentary ; upon a thought +He will again be well . If much you note him +You shall offend him and extend his passion : +Feed and regard him not . Are you a man ? + +Ay , and a bold one , that dare look on that +Which might appal the devil . + +O proper stuff ! +This is the very painting of your fear ; +This is the air-drawn dagger which , you said , +Led you to Duncan . O ! these flaws and starts +Impostors to true fear would well become +A woman's story at a winter's fire , +Authoriz'd by her grandam . Shame itself ! +Why do you make such faces ? When all's done +You look but on a stool . + +Prithee , see there ! behold ! look ! lo ! how say you ? +Why , what care I ? If thou canst nod , speak too . +If charnel-houses and our graves must send +Those that we bury back , our monuments +Shall be the maws of kites . + + +What ! quite unmann'd in folly ? + +If I stand here , I saw him . + +Fie , for shame ! + +Blood hath been shed ere now , i' the olden time , +Ere human statute purg'd the gentle weal ; +Ay , and since too , murders have been perform'd +Too terrible for the ear : the times have been , +That , when the brains were out , the man would die , + +And there an end ; but now they rise again , +With twenty mortal murders on their crowns , +And push us from our stools : this is more strange +Than such a murder is . + +My worthy lord , +Your noble friends do lack you . + +I do forget . +Do not muse at me , my most worthy friends ; +I have a strange infirmity , which is nothing +To those that know me . Come , love and health to all ; +Then , I'll sit down . Give me some wine ; fill full . +I drink to the general joy of the whole table , +And to our dear friend Banquo , whom we miss ; +Would he were here ! to all , and him , we thirst , +And all to all . + +Our duties , and the pledge . + + +Avaunt ! and quit my sight ! Let the earth hide thee ! +Thy bones are marrowless , thy blood is cold ; +Thou hast no speculation in those eyes +Which thou dost glare with . + +Think of this , good peers , +But as a thing of custom : 'tis no other ; +Only it spoils the pleasure of the time . + +What man dare , I dare : +Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear , +The arm'd rhinoceros , or the Hyrcan tiger ; +Take any shape but that , and my firm nerves +Shall never tremble : or be alive again , +And dare me to the desart with thy sword ; +If trembling I inhabit then , protest me +The baby of a girl . Hence , horrible shadow ! +Unreal mockery , hence ! + +Why , so ; being gone , +I am a man again . Pray you , sit still . + +You have displac'd the mirth , broke the good meeting , +With most admir'd disorder . + +Can such things be +And overcome us like a summer's cloud , +Without our special wonder ? You make me strange +Even to the disposition that I owe , +When now I think you can behold such sights , +And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks , +When mine are blanch'd with fear . + +What sights , my lord ? + +I pray you , speak not ; he grows worse and worse ; +Question enrages him . At once , good-night : +Stand not upon the order of your going , +But go at once . + +Good-night ; and better health +Attend his majesty ! + +A kind good-night to all ! + + +It will have blood , they say ; blood will have blood : +Stones have been known to move and trees to speak ; +Augurs and understood relations have +By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth +The secret'st man of blood . What is the night ? + +Almost at odds with morning , which is which . + +How sayst thou , that Macduff denies his person +At our great bidding ? + +Did you send to him , sir ? + +I hear it by the way ; but I will send . +There's not a one of them but in his house +I keep a servant fee'd . I will to-morrow +And betimes I will to the weird sisters : +More shall they speak ; for now I am bent to know , +By the worst means , the worst . For mine own good +All causes shall give way : I am in blood +Stepp'd in so far , that , should I wade no more , +Returning were as tedious as go o'er . +Strange things I have in head that will to hand , +Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd . + +You lack the season of all natures , sleep . + +Come , we'll to sleep . My strange and self-abuse +Is the initiate fear that wants hard use : +We are yet but young in deed . + + +Why , how now , Hecate ! you look angerly . + +Have I not reason , beldams as you are , +Saucy and overbold ? How did you dare +To trade and traffic with Macbeth +In riddles and affairs of death ; +And I , the mistress of your charms , +The close contriver of all harms , +Was never call'd to bear my part , +Or show the glory of our art ? +And , which is worse , all you have done +Hath been but for a wayward son , +Spiteful and wrathful ; who , as others do , +Loves for his own ends , not for you . +But make amends now : get you gone , +And at the pit of Acheron +Meet me i' the morning : thither he +Will come to know his destiny : +Your vessels and your spells provide , +Your charms and every thing beside . +I am for the air ; this night I'll spend +Unto a dismal and a fatal end : +Great business must be wrought ere noon : +Upon the corner of the moon +There hangs a vaporous drop profound ; +I'll catch it ere it come to ground : +And that distill'd by magic sleights +Shall raise such artificial sprites +As by the strength of their illusion +Shall draw him on to his confusion : +He shall spurn fate , scorn death , and bear +His hopes 'bove wisdom , grace , and fear ; +And you all know security +Is mortals' chiefest enemy . + +Hark ! I am call'd ; my little spirit , see , +Sits in a foggy cloud , and stays for me . + + +Come , let's make haste ; she'll soon be back again . + + +My former speeches have but hit your thoughts , +Which can interpret further : only , I say , +Things have been strangely borne . The gracious Duncan +Was pitied of Macbeth : marry , he was dead : +And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late ; +Whom , you may say , if 't please you , Fleance kill'd , +For Fleance fled : men must not walk too late . +Who cannot want the thought how monstrous +It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain +To kill their gracious father ? damned fact ! +How it did grieve Macbeth ! did he not straight +In pious rage the two delinquents tear , +That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep ? +Was not that nobly done ? Ay , and wisely too ; +For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive +To hear the men deny 't . So that , I say , +He has borne all things well ; and I do think +That , had he Duncan's sons under his key , +As , an 't please heaven , he shall not ,they should find +What 'twere to kill a father ; so should Fleance . +But , peace ! for from broad words , and 'cause he fail'd . +His presence at the tyrant's feast , I hear , +Macduff lives in disgrace . Sir , can you tell +Where he bestows himself ? + +The son of Duncan , +From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth , +Lives in the English court , and is receiv'd +Of the most pious Edward with such grace +That the malevolence of fortune nothing +Takes from his high respect . Thither Macduff +Is gone to pray the holy king , upon his aid +To wake Northumberland and war-like Siward : +That , by the help of these with him above +To ratify the work we may again +Give to our tables meat , sleep to our nights , +Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives , +Do faithful homage and receive free honours ; +All which we pine for now . And this report +Hath so exasperate the king that he +Prepares for some attempt at war . + +Sent he to Macduff ? + +He did : and with an absolute , 'Sir , not I ,' +The cloudy messenger turns me his back , +And hums , as who should say , 'You'll rue the time +That clogs me with this answer .' + +And that well might +Advise him to a caution to hold what distance +His wisdom can provide . Some holy angel +Fly to the court of England and unfold +His message ere he come , that a swift blessing +May soon return to this our suffering country +Under a hand accurs'd ! + +I'll send my prayers with him ! + +Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd . + +Thrice and once the hedge-pig whin'd . + +Harper cries : 'Tis time , 'tis time . + + +Round about the cauldron go , +In the poison'd entrails throw . +Toad , that under cold stone +Days and nights hast thirty-one +Swelter'd venom sleeping got , +Boil thou first i' the charmed pot . + +Double , double toil and trouble ; +Fire burn and cauldron bubble . + +Fillet of a fenny snake , +In the cauldron boil and bake ; +Eye of newt , and toe of frog , +Wool of bat , and tongue of dog , +Adder's fork , and blind-worm's sting , +Lizard's leg , and howlet's wing , +For a charm of powerful trouble , +Like a hell-broth boil and bubble . + +Double , double toil and trouble ; +Fire burn and cauldron bubble . + +Scale of dragon , tooth of wolf , +Witches' mummy , maw and gulf +Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark , +Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark , +Liver of blaspheming Jew , +Gall of goat , and slips of yew +Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse , +Nose of Turk , and Tartar's lips , +Finger of birth-strangled babe +Ditch-deliver'd by a drab , +Make the gruel thick and slab : +Add thereto a tiger's chaudron , +For the ingredients of our cauldron . + +Double , double toil and trouble ; +Fire burn and cauldron bubble . + +Cool it with a baboon's blood , +Then the charm is firm and good . + + +O ! well done ! I commend your pains , +And every one shall share i' the gains . +And now about the cauldron sing , +Like elves and fairies in a ring , +Enchanting all that you put in . + + +By the pricking of my thumbs , +Something wicked this way comes . +Open , locks , +Whoever knocks . + +How now , you secret , black , and mid-night hags ! +What is 't you do ? + +A deed without a name . + +I conjure you , by that which you profess , +Howe'er you come to know it ,answer me : +Though you untie the winds and let them fight +Against the churches ; though the yesty waves +Confound and swallow navigation up ; +Though bladed corn be lodg'd and trees blown down ; +Though castles topple on their warders' heads ; +Though palaces and pyramids do slope +Their heads to their foundations ; though the treasure +Of Nature's germens tumble all together , +Even till destruction sicken ; answer me +To what I ask you . + +Speak . + +Demand . + +We'll answer . + +Say if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths , +Or from our masters' ? + +Call 'em : let me see 'em . + + +Pour in sow's blood , that hath eaten +Her nine farrow ; grease , that's sweaten +From the murderer's gibbet throw +Into the flame . + +Come , high or low ; +Thyself and office deftly show . + +Tell me , thou unknown power , + +He knows thy thought : +Hear his speech , but say thou nought . + +Macbeth ! Macbeth ! Macbeth ! beware Macduff ; +Beware the Thane of Fife . Dismiss me . Enough . + + +Whate'er thou art , for thy good caution thanks ; +Thou hast harp'd my fear aright . But one word more , + +He will not be commanded : here's another , +More potent than the first . + + +Macbeth ! Macbeth ! Macbeth ! + +Had I three ears , I'd hear thee . + +Be bloody , bold , and resolute ; laugh to scorn +The power of man , for none of woman born +Shall harm Macbeth . + +Then live , Macduff : what need I fear of thee ? +But yet I'll make assurance double sure , +And take a bond of fate : thou shalt not live ; +That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies , +And sleep in spite of thunder . + +What is this , +That rises like the issue of a king , +And wears upon his baby brow the round + +And top of sovereignty ? + +Listen , but speak not to 't . + +Be lion-mettled , proud , and take no care +Who chafes , who frets or where conspirers are : +Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until +Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill +Shall come against him . + + +That will never be : +Who can impress the forest , bid the tree +Unfix his earth-bound root ? Sweet bodements ! good ! +Rebellion's head , rise never till the wood +Of Birnam rise , and our high-plac'd Macbeth +Shall live the lease of nature , pay his breath +To time and mortal custom . Yet my heart +Throbs to know one thing : tell me if your art +Can tell so much ,shall Banquo's issue ever +Reign in this kingdom ? + +Seek to know no more . + +I will be satisfied : deny me this , +And an eternal curse fall on you ! Let me know . +Why sinks that cauldron ? and what noise is this ? + + +Show ! + +Show ! + +Show ! + +Show his eyes , and grieve his heart ; +Come like shadows , so depart . + + +Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo ; down ! +Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs : and thy hair , +Thou other gold-bound brow , is like the first : +A third is like the former . Filthy hags ! +Why do you show me this ? A fourth ! Start , eyes ! +What ! will the line stretch out to the crack of doom ? +Another yet ? A seventh ! I'll see no more : +And yet the eighth appears , who bears a glass +Which shows me many more ; and some I see +That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry . +Horrible sight ! Now , I see , 'tis true ; +For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me , +And points at them for his . + +What ! is this so ? + +Ay , sir , all this is so : but why +Stands Macbeth thus amazedly ? +Come , sisters , cheer we up his sprites , +And show the best of our delights . +I'll charm the air to give a sound , +While you perform your antick round , +That this great king may kindly say , +Our duties did his welcome pay . + + +Where are they ? Gone ? Let this pernicious hour +Stand aye accursed in the calendar ! +Come in , without there ! + + +What's your Grace's will ? + +Saw you the weird sisters ? + +No , my lord . + +Came they not by you ? + +No indeed , my lord . + +Infected be the air whereon they ride , +And damn'd all those that trust them ! I did hear +The galloping of horse : who was 't came by ? + +'Tis two or three , my lord , that bring you word +Macduff is fled to England . + +Fled to England ! + +Ay , my good lord . + +Time , thou anticipat'st my dread exploits ; +The flighty purpose never is o'ertook +Unless the deed go with it ; from this moment +The very firstlings of my heart shall be +The firstlings of my hand . And even now , +To crown my thoughts with acts , be it thought and done : +The castle of Macduff I will surprise ; +Seize upon Fife ; give to the edge of the sword +His wife , his babes , and all unfortunate souls +That trace him in his line . No boasting like a fool ; +This deed I'll do , before this purpose cool : +But no moresights ! Where are these gentlemen ? +Come , bring me where they are . + + +What had he done to make him fly the land ? + +You must have patience , madam . + +He had none : +His flight was madness : when our actions do not , +Our fears do make us traitors . + +You know not +Whether it was his wisdom or his fear . + +Wisdom ! to leave his wife , to leave his babes , +His mansion and his titles in a place +From whence himself does fly ? He loves us not ; +He wants the natural touch ; for the poor wren , +The most diminutive of birds , will fight +Her young ones in her nest against the owl . +All is the fear and nothing is the love ; +As little is the wisdom , where the flight +So runs against all reason . + +My dearest coz , +I pray you , school yourself : but , for your husband , +He is noble , wise , judicious , and best knows +The fits o' the season . I dare not speak much further : +But cruel are the times , when we are traitors +And do not know ourselves , when we hold rumour +From what we fear , yet know not what we fear , +But float upon a wild and violent sea +Each way and move . I take my leave of you : +Shall not be long but I'll be here again . +Things at the worst will cease , or else climb upward +To what they were before . My pretty cousin , +Blessing upon you ! + +Father'd he is , and yet he's fatherless . + +I am so much a fool , should I stay longer , +It would be my disgrace , and your discomfort : +I take my leave at once . + + +Sirrah , your father's dead : +And what will you do now ? How will you live ? + +As birds do , mother . + +What ! with worms and flies ? + +With what I get , I mean ; and so do they . + +Poor bird ! thou'dst never fear the net nor lime , +The pit-fall nor the gin . + +Why should I , mother ? Poor birds they are not set for . +My father is not dead , for all your saying . + +Yes , he is dead : how wilt thou do for a father ? + +Nay , how will you do for a husband ? + +Why , I can buy me twenty at any market . + +Then you'll buy 'em to sell again . + +Thou speak'st with all thy wit ; and yet , i' faith , +With wit enough for thee . + +Was my father a traitor , mother ? + +Ay , that he was . + +What is a traitor ? + +Why , one that swears and lies . + +And be all traitors that do so ? + +Every one that does so is a traitor , and must be hanged . + +And must they all be hanged that swear and lie ? + +Every one . + +Who must hang them ? + +Why , the honest men . + +Then the liars and swearers are fools , for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men , and hang up them . + +Now God help thee , poor monkey ! +But how wilt thou do for a father ? + +If he were dead , you'd weep for him : if you would not , it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new father . + +Poor prattler , how thou talk'st ! + + +Bless you , fair dame ! I am not to you known , +Though in your state of honour I am perfect . +I doubt some danger does approach you nearly : +If you will take a homely man's advice , +Be not found here ; hence , with your little ones . +To fright you thus , methinks , I am too savage ; +To do worse to you were fell cruelty , +Which is too nigh your person . Heaven preserve you ! +I dare abide no longer . + + +Whither should I fly ? +I have done no harm . But I remember now +I am in this earthly world , where , to do harm +Is often laudable , to do good sometime +Accounted dangerous folly ; why then , alas ! +Do I put up that womanly defence , +To say I have done no harm ? + +What are these faces ? + +Where is your husband ? + +I hope in no place so unsanctified +Where such as thou mayst find him . + +He's a traitor . + +Thou liest , thou shag-hair'd villain . + +What ! you egg . +Young fry of treachery ! + + +He has killed me , mother : +Run away , I pray you ! + +Let us seek out some desolate shade , and there +Weep our sad bosoms empty . + +Let us rather +Hold fast the mortal sword , and like good men +Bestride our down-fall'n birthdom ; each new morn +New widowshowl , new orphans cry , new sorrows +Strike heaven on the face , that it resounds +As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out +Like syllable of dolour . + +What I believe I'll wail , +What know believe , and what I can redress , +As I shall find the time to friend , I will . +What you have spoke , it may be so perchance . +This tyrant , whosesole name blisters our tongues , +Was once thought honest : you have lov'd him well ; +He hath not touch'd you yet . I am young ; but something +You may deserve of him through me , and wisdom +To offer up a weak , poor , innocent lamb +To appease an angry god . + +I am not treacherous . + +But Macbeth is . +A good and virtuous nature may recoil +In an imperial charge . But I shall crave your pardon ; +That which you are my thoughts cannot transpose ; +Angels are bright still , though the brightest fell ; +Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace , +Yet grace must still look so . + +I have lost my hopes . + +Perchance even there where I did find my doubts . +Why in that rawness left you wife and child +Those precious motives , those strong knots of love +Without leave-taking ? I pray you , +Let not my jealousies be your dishonours , +But mine own safeties : you may be rightly just , +Whatever I shall think . + +Bleed , bleed , poor country ! +Great tyranny , lay thou thy basis sure , +For goodness dares not check thee ! wear thou thy wrongs ; +The title is affeer'd ! Fare thee well , lord : +I would not be the villain that thou think'st +For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp , +And the rich East to boot . + +Be not offended : +I speak not as in absolute fear of you . +I think our country sinks beneath the yoke ; +It weeps , it bleeds , and each new day a gash +Is added to her wounds : I think withal , +There would be hands uplifted in my right ; +And here from gracious England have I offer +Of goodly thousands : but , for all this , +When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head , +Or wear it on my sword , yet my poor country +Shall have more vices than it had before , +More suffer , and more sundry ways than ever , +By him that shall succeed . + +What should he be ? + +It is myself I mean ; in whom I know +All the particulars of vice so grafted , +That , when they shall be open'd , black Macbeth +Will seem as pure as snow , and the poor state +Esteem him as a lamb , being compar'd +With my confineless harms . + +Not in the legions +Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn'd +In evils to top Macbeth . + +I grant him bloody , +Luxurious , avaricious , false , deceitful , +Sudden , malicious , smacking of every sin +That has a name ; but there's no bottom , none , +In my voluptuousness : your wives , your daughters , +Your matrons , and your maids , could not fill up +The cistern of my lust ; and my desire +All continent impediments would o'erbear +That did oppose my will ; better Macbeth +Than such an one to reign . + +Boundless intemperance +In nature is a tyranny ; it hath been +Th' untimely emptying of the happy throne , +And fall of many kings . But fear not yet +To take upon you what is yours ; you may +Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty , +And yet seem cold , the time you may so hoodwink . +We have willing dames enough ; there cannot be +That vulture in you , to devour so many +As will to greatness dedicate themselves , +Finding it so inclin'd . + +With this there grows +In my most ill-compos'd affection such +A stanchless avarice that , were I king , +I should cut off the nobles for their lands , +Desire his jewels and this other's house ; +And my more-having would be as a sauce +To make me hunger more , that I should forge +Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal , +Destroying them for wealth . + +This avarice +Sticks deeper , grows with more pernicious root +Than summer-seeming lust , and it hath been +The sword of our slain kings : yet do not fear ; +Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will , +Of your mere own ; all these are portable , +With other graces weigh'd . + +But I have none : the king-becoming graces , +As justice , verity , temperance , stableness , +Bounty , perseverance , mercy , lowliness , +Devotion , patience , courage , fortitude , +I have no relish of them , but abound +In the division of each several crime , +Acting it many ways . Nay , had I power , I should +Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell , +Uproar the universal peace , confound +All unity on earth . + +O Scotland , Scotland ! + +If such a one be fit to govern , speak : +I am as I have spoken . + +Fit to govern ! +No , not to live . O nation miserable , +With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd , +When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again , +Since that the truest issue of thy throne +By his own interdiction stands accurs'd , +And does blaspheme his breed ? Thy royal father +Was a most sainted king ; the queen that bore thee , +Oft'ner upon her knees than on her feet , +Died every day she liv'd . Fare thee well ! +These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself +Have banish'd me from Scotland . O my breast , +Thy hope ends here ! + +Macduff , this noble passion , +Child of integrity , hath from my soul +Wip'd the black scruples , reconcil'd my thoughts +To thy good truth and honour . Devilish Macbeth +By many of these trains hath sought to win me +Into his power , and modest wisdom plucks me +From over-credulous haste ; but God above +Deal between thee and me ! for even now +I put myself to thy direction , and +Unspeak mine own detraction , here abjure +The taints and blames I laid upon myself , +For strangers to my nature . I am yet +Unknown to woman , never was forsworn , +Scarcely have coveted what was mine own ; +At no time broke my faith , would not betray +The devil to his fellow , and delight +No less in truth than life ; my first false speaking +Was this upon myself . What I am truly , +Is thine and my poor country's to command ; +Whither indeed , before thy here-approach , +Old Siward , with ten thousand war-like men , +Already at a point , was setting forth . +Now we'll together , and the chance of goodness +Be like our warranted quarrel . Why are you silent ? + +Such welcome and unwelcome things at once +'Tis hard to reconcile . + + +Well ; more anon . Comes the king forth , I pray you ? + +Ay , sir ; there are a crew of wretched souls +That stay his cure ; their malady convinces +The great assay of art ; but , at his touch , +Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand , +They presently amend . + +I thank you , doctor . + + +What's the disease he means ? + +'Tis call'd the evil : +A most miraculous work in this good king , +Which often , since my here-remain in England , +I have seen him do . How he solicits heaven , +Himself best knows ; but strangely-visited people , +All swoln and ulcerous , pitiful to the eye , +The mere despair of surgery , he cures ; +Hanging a golden stamp about their necks , +Put on with holy prayers ; and 'tis spoken +To the succeeding royalty he leaves +The healing benediction . With this strange virtue , +He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy , +And sundry blessings hang about his throne +That speak him full of grace . + +See , who comes here ? + +My countryman ; but yet I know him not . + + +My ever-gentle cousin , welcome hither . + +I know him now . Good God , betimes remove +The means that make us strangers ! + +Sir , amen . + +Stands Scotland where it did ? + +Alas ! poor country ; +Almost afraid to know itself . It cannot +Be call'd our mother , but our grave ; where nothing , +But who knows nothing , is once seen to smile ; +Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rent the air +Are made , not mark'd ; where violent sorrow seems +A modern ecstasy ; the dead man's knell +Is there scarce ask'd for who ; and good men's lives +Expire before the flowers in their caps , +Dying or ere they sicken . + +O ! relation +Too nice , and yet too true ! + +What's the newest grief ? + +That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker ; +Each minute teems a new one . + +How does my wife ? + +Why , well . + +And all my children ? + +Well too . + +The tyrant has not batter'd at their peace ? + +No ; they were well at peace when I did leave 'em . + +Be not a niggard of your speech : how goes 't ? + +When I came hither to transport the tidings , +Which I have heavily borne , there ran a rumour +Of many worthy fellows that were out ; +Which was to my belief witness'd the rather +For that I saw the tyrant's power a-foot . +Now is the time of help ; your eye in Scotland +Would create soldiers , make our women fight , +To doff their dire distresses . + +Be 't their comfort , +We are coming thither . Gracious England hath +Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men ; +An older and a better soldier none +That Christendom gives out . + +Would I could answer +This comfort with the like ! But I have words +That would be howl'd out in the desert air , +Where hearing should not latch them . + +What concern they ? +The general cause ? or is it a fee-grief +Due to some single breast ? + +No mind that's honest +But in it shares some woe , though the main part +Pertains to you alone . + +If it be mine +Keep it not from me ; quickly let me have it . + +Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever , +Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound +That ever yet they heard . + +Hum ! I guess at it . + +Your castle is surpris'd ; your wife and babes +Savagely slaughter'd ; to relate the manner , +Were , on the quarry of these murder'd deer , +To add the death of you . + +Merciful heaven ! +What ! man ; ne'er pull your hat upon your brows ; +Give sorrow words ; the grief that does not speak +Whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break . + +My children too ? + +Wife , children , servants , all +That could be found . + +And I must be from thence ! +My wife kill'd too ? + +I have said . + +Be comforted : +Let's make us medicine of our great revenge , +To cure this deadly grief . + +He has no children . All my pretty ones ? +Did you say all ? O hell-kite ! All ? +What ! all my pretty chickens and their dam +At one fell swoop ? + +Dispute it like a man . + +I shall do so ; +But I must also feel it as a man : +I cannot but remember such things were , +That were most precious to me . Did heaven look on , +And would not take their part ? Sinful Macduff ! +They were all struck for thee . Naught that I am , +Not for their own demerits , but for mine , +Fell slaughter on their souls . Heaven rest them now ! + +Be this the whetstone of your sword : let grief +Convert to anger ; blunt not the heart , enrage it . + +O ! I could play the woman with mine eyes , +And braggart with my tongue . But , gentle heavens , +Cut short all intermission ; front to front +Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself ; +Within my sword's length set him ; if he 'scape , +Heaven forgive him too ! + +This tune goes manly . +Come , go we to the king ; our power is ready ; +Our lack is nothing but our leave . Macbeth +Is ripe for shaking , and the powers above +Put on their instruments . Receive what cheer you may ; +The night is long that never finds the day . + +I have two nights watched with you , but can perceive no truth in your report . When was it she last walked ? + +Since his majesty went into the field , I have seen her rise from her bed , throw her night-gown upon her , unlock her closet , take forth paper , fold it , write upon 't , read it , afterwards seal it , and again return to bed ; yet all this while in a most fast sleep . + +A great perturbation in nature , to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching ! In this slumbery agitation , besides her walking and other actual performances , what , at any time , have you heard her say ? + +That , sir , which I will not report after her . + +You may to me , and 'tis most meet you should . + +Neither to you nor any one , having no witness to confirm my speech . + +Lo you ! here she comes . This is her very guise ; and , upon my life , fast asleep . Observe her ; stand close . + +How came she by that light ? + +Why , it stood by her : she has light by her continually ; 'tis her command . + +You see , her eyes are open . + +Ay , but their sense is shut . + +What is it she does now ? Look , how she rubs her hands . + +It is an accustomed action with her , to seem thus washing her hands . I have known her to continue in this a quarter of an hour . + +Yet here's a spot . + +Hark ! she speaks . I will set down what comes from her , to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly . + +Out , damned spot ! out , I say ! One ; two : why , then , 'tis time to do't . Hell is murky ! Fie , my lord , fie ! a soldier , and afeard ? What need we fear who knows it , when none can call our power to account ? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him ? + +Do you mark that ? + +The Thane of Fife had a wife : where is she now ? What ! will these hands ne'er be clean ? No more o' that , my lord , no more o' that : you mar all with this starting . + +Go to , go to ; you have known what you should not . + +She has spoke what she should not , I am sure of that : Heaven knows what she has known . + +Here's the smell of the blood still : all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand . Oh ! oh ! oh ! + +What a sigh is there ! The heart is sorely charged . + +I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body . + +Well , well , well . + +Pray God it be , sir . + +This disease is beyond my practice : yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their beds . + +Wash your hands , put on your night-gown ; look not so pale . I tell you yet again , Banquo's buried ; he cannot come out on 's grave . + +Even so ? + +To bed , to bed : there's knocking at the gate . Come , come , come , come , give me your hand . What's done cannot be undone . +To bed , to bed , to bed . + + +Will she go now to bed ? + +Directly . + +Foul whisperings are abroad . Unnatural deeds +Do breed unnatural troubles ; infected minds +To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets ; +More needs she the divine than the physician . +God , God forgive us all ! Look after her ; +Remove from her the means of all annoyance , +And still keep eyes upon her . So , good-night : +My mind she has mated , and amaz'd my sight . +I think , but dare not speak . + +Good-night , good doctor . + + +The English power is near , led on by Malcolm , +His uncle Siward , and the good Macduff . +Revenges burn in them ; for their dear causes +Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm +Excite the mortified man . + +Near Birnam wood +Shall we well meet them ; that way are they coming . + +Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother ? + +For certain , sir , he is not : I have a file +Of all the gentry : there is Siward's son , +And many unrough youths that even now +Protest their first of manhood . + +What does the tyrant ? + +Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies . +Some say he's mad ; others that lesser hate him +Do call it valiant fury ; but , for certain , +He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause +Within the belt of rule . + +Now does he feel +His secret murders sticking on his hands ; +Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach ; +Those he commands move only in command , +Nothing in love ; now does he feel his title +Hang loose about him , like a giant's robe +Upon a dwarfish thief . + +Who then shall blame +His pester'd senses to recoil and start , +When all that is within him does condemn +Itself for being there ? + +Well , march we on , +To give obedience where 'tis truly ow'd ; +Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal , +And with him pour we in our country's purge +Each drop of us . + +Or so much as it needs +To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds . +Make we our march towards Birnam . + + +Bring me no more reports ; let them fly all : +Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane +I cannot taint with fear . What's the boy Malcolm ? +Was he not born of woman ? The spirits that know +All mortal consequences have pronounc'd me thus : +'Fear not , Macbeth ; no man that's born of woman +Shall e'er have power upon thee .' Then fly , false thanes , +And mingle with the English epicures : +The mind I sway by and the heart I bear +Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear . + + +The devil damn thee black , thou cream-fac'd loon ! + +Where gott'st thou that goose look ? + +There is ten thousand + +Geese , villain ? + +Soldiers , sir . + +Go , prick thy face , and over-red thy fear , +Thou lily-liver'd boy . What soldiers , patch ? +Death of thy soul ! those linen cheeks of thine +Are counsellors to fear . What soldiers , wheyface ? + +The English force , so please you . + +Take thy face hence . + +Seyton !I am sick at heart +When I behold Seyton , I say !This push +Will cheer me ever or disseat me now . +I have liv'd long enough : my way of life +Is fall'n into the sear , the yellow leaf ; +And that which should accompany old age , +As honour , love , obedience , troops of friends , +I must not look to have ; but , in their stead , +Curses , not loud but deep , mouth-honour , breath , +Which the poor heart would fain deny , and dare not . +Seyton ! + + +What is your gracious pleasure ? + +What news more ? + +All is confirm'd , my lord , which was reported . + +I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack'd . +Give me my armour . + +'Tis not needed yet . + +I'll put it on . +Send out more horses , skirr the country round ; +Hang those that talk of fear . Give me mine armour . +How does your patient , doctor ? + +Not so sick , my lord , +As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies , +That keep her from her rest . + +Cure her of that : +Canst thou not minister to a mind diseas'd , +Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow , +Raze out the written troubles of the brain , +And with some sweet oblivious antidote +Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff +Which weighs upon the heart ? + +Therein the patient +Must minister to himself . + +Throw physic to the dogs ; I'll none of it . +Come , put mine armour on ; give me my staff . +Seyton , send out .Doctor , the thanes fly from me . +Come , sir , dispatch .If thou couldst , doctor , cast +The water of my land , find her disease , +And purge it to a sound and pristine health , +I would applaud thee to the very echo , +That should applaud again .Pull 't off , I say . +What rhubarb , senna , or what purgative drug +Would scour these English hence ? Hear'st thou of them ? + +Ay , my good lord ; your royal preparation +Makes us hear something . + +Bring it after me . +I will not be afraid of death and bane +Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane . + +Were I from Dunsinane away and clear , +Profit again should hardly draw me here . + +Cousins , I hope the days are near at hand +That chambers will be safe . + +We doubt it nothing . + +What wood is this before us ? + +The wood of Birnam . + +Let every soldier hew him down a bough +And bear 't before him : thereby shall we shadow +The numbers of our host , and make discovery +Err in report of us . + +It shall be done . + +We learn no other but the confident tyrant +Keeps still in Dunsinane , and will endure +Our setting down before 't . + +'Tis his main hope ; +For where there is advantage to be given , +Both more and less have given him the revolt , +And none serve with him but constrained things +Whose hearts are absent too . + +Let our just censures +Attend the true event , and put we on +Industrious soldiership . + +The time approaches +That will with due decision make us know +What we shall say we have and what we owe . +Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate , +But certain issue strokes must arbitrate , +Towards which advance the war . + + +Hang out our banners on the outward walls ; +The cry is still , 'They come ;' our castle's strength +Will laugh a siege to scorn ; here let them lie +Till famine and the ague eat them up ; +Were they not forc'd with those that should be ours , +We might have met them dareful , beard to beard , +And beat them backward home . + +What is that noise ? + +It is the cry of women , my good lord . + + +I have almost forgot the taste of fears . +The time has been my senses would have cool'd +To hear a night-shriek , and my fell of hair +Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir +As life were in 't . I have supp'd full with horrors ; +Direness , familiar to my slaughterous thoughts , +Cannot once start me . + +Wherefore was that cry ? + +The queen , my lord , is dead . + +She should have died hereafter ; +There would have been a time for such a word . +To-morrow , and to-morrow , and to-morrow , +Creeps in this petty pace from day to day , +To the last syllable of recorded time ; +And all our yesterdays have lighted fools +The way to dusty death . Out , out , brief candle ! +Life's but a walking shadow , a poor player +That struts and frets his hour upon the stage , +And then is heard no more ; it is a tale +Told by an idiot , full of sound and fury , +Signifying nothing . + +Thou com'st to use thy tongue ; thy story quickly . + +Gracious my lord , +I should report that which I say I saw , +But know not how to do it . + +Well , say , sir . + +As I did stand my watch upon the hill , +I look'd towards Birnam , and anon , methought , +The wood began to move . + +Liar and slave ! + +Let me endure your wrath if't be not so : +Within this three mile may you see it coming ; +I say , a moving grove . + +If thou speak'st false , +Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive , +Till famine cling thee ; if thy speech be sooth , +I care not if thou dost for me as much . +I pull in resolution and begin +To doubt the equivocation of the fiend +That lies like truth ; 'Fear not , till Birnam wood +Do come to Dunsinane ;' and now a wood +Comes toward Dunsinane . Arm , arm , and out ! +If this which he avouches does appear , +There is nor flying hence , nor tarrying here . +I 'gin to be aweary of the sun , +And wish the estate o' the world were now undone . +Ring the alarum-bell ! Blow , wind ! come , wrack ! +At least we'll die with harness on our back . + + +Now near enough ; your leavy screens throw down , +And show like those you are . You , worthy uncle , +Shall , with my cousin , your right-noble son , +Lead our first battle ; worthy Macduff and we +Shall take upon 's what else remains to do , +According to our order . + +Fare you well . +Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night , +Let us be beaten , if we cannot fight . + +Make all our trumpets speak ; give them all breath , +Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death . + + +They have tied me to a stake ; I cannot fly , +But bear-like I must fight the course . What's he +That was not born of woman ? Such a one +Am I to fear , or none . + + +What is thy name ? + +Thou'lt be afraid to hear it . + +No ; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name +Than any is in hell . + +My name's Macbeth . + +The devil himself could not pronounce a title +More hateful to mine ear . + +No , nor more fearful . + +Thou liest , abhorred tyrant ; with my sword +I'll prove the lie thou speak'st . + + +Thou wast born of woman : +But swords I smile at , weapons laugh to scorn , +Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born . + +That way the noise is . Tyrant , show thy face : +If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine , +My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still . +I cannot strike at wretched kerns , whose arms +Are hir'd to bear their staves : either thou , Macbeth , +Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge +I sheathe again undeeded . There thou shouldst be ; +By this great clatter , one of greatest note +Seems bruited . Let me find him , fortune ! +And more I beg not . + +This way , my lord ; the castle's gently render'd : +The tyrant's people on both sides do fight ; +The noble thanes do bravely in the war ; +The day almost itself professes yours , +And little is to do . + +We have met with foes +That strike beside us . + +Enter , sir , the castle . + +Why should I play the Roman fool , and die +On mine own sword ? whiles I see lives , the gashes +Do better upon them . + + +Turn , hell-hound , turn ! + +Of all men else I have avoided thee : +But get thee back , my soul is too much charg'd +With blood of thine already . + +I have no words ; +My voice is in my sword , thou bloodier villain +Than terms can give thee out ! + + +Thou losest labour : +As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air +With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed : +Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests ; +I bear a charmed life , which must not yield +To one of woman born . + +Despair thy charm ; +And let the angel whom thou still hast serv'd +Tell thee , Macduff was from his mother's womb +Untimely ripp'd . + +Accursed be that tongue that tells me so , +For it hath cow'd my better part of man : +And be these juggling fiends no more believ'd , +That palter with us in a double sense ; +That keep the word of promise to our ear , +And break it to our hope . I'll not fight with thee . + +Then yield thee , coward , +And live to be the show and gaze o' the time : +We'll have thee , as our rarer monsters are , +Painted upon a pole , and underwrit , +'Here may you see the tyrant .' + +I will not yield , +To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet , +And to be baited with the rabble's curse . +Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane , +And thou oppos'd , being of no woman born , +Yet I will try the last : before my body +I throw my war-like shield . Lay on , Macduff , +And damn'd be him that first cries , 'Hold , enough !' + + +I would the friends we miss were safe arriv'd . + +Some must go off ; and yet , by these I see , +So great a day as this is cheaply bought . + +Macduff is missing , and your noble son . + +Your son , my lord , has paid a soldier's debt : +He only liv'd but till he was a man ; +The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd +In the unshrinking station where he fought , +But like a man he died . + +Then he is dead ? + +Ay , and brought off the field . Your cause of sorrow +Must not be measur'd by his worth , for then +It hath no end . + +Had he his hurts before ? + +Ay , on the front . + +Why then , God's soldier be he ! +Had I as many sons as I have hairs , +I would not wish them to a fairer death : +And so , his knell is knoll'd . + +He's worth more sorrow , +And that I'll spend for him . + +He's worth no more ; +They say , he parted well , and paid his score : +And so , God be with him ! Here comes newer comfort . + + +Hail , king ! for so thou art . Behold , where stands +The usurper's cursed head : the time is free : +I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl , +That speak my salutation in their minds ; +Whose voices I desire aloud with mine ; +Hail , King of Scotland ! + +Hail , King of Scotland ! + + +We shall not spend a large expense of time +Before we reckon with your several loves , +And make us even with you . My thanes and kinsmen , +Henceforth be earls , the first that ever Scotland +In such an honour nam'd . What's more to do , +Which would be planted newly with the time , +As calling home our exil'd friends abroad +That fled the snares of watchful tyranny ; +Producing forth the cruel ministers +Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen , +Who , as 'tis thought , by self and violent hands +Took off her life ; this , and what needful else +That calls upon us , by the grace of Grace +We will perform in measure , time , and place : +So , thanks to all at once and to each one , +Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone . + +OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE + +Tush ! Never tell me ; I take it much unkindly +That thou , Iago , who hast had my purse +As if the strings were thine , shouldst know of this . + +'Sblood , but you will not hear me : +If ever I did dream of such a matter , +Abhor me . + +Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate . + +Despise me if I do not . Three great ones of the city , +In personal suit to make me his lieutenant , +Off-capp'd to him ; and , by the faith of man . +I know my price , I am worth no worse a place ; +But he , as loving his own pride and purposes , +Evades them , with a bombast circumstance +Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war ; +And , in conclusion , +Nonsuits my mediators ; for , 'Certes ,' says he , +'I have already chose my officer .' +And what was he ? +Forsooth , a great arithmetician , +One Michael Cassio , a Florentine , +A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife ; +That never set a squadron in the field , +Nor the division of a battle knows +More than a spinster ; unless the bookish theoric , +Wherein the toged consuls can propose +As masterly as he : mere prattle , without practice , +Is all his soldiership . But he , sir , had the election ; +And I of whom his eyes had seen the proof +At Rhodes , at Cyprus , and on other grounds +Christian and heathen must be be-lee'd and calm'd +By debitor and creditor ; this counter caster , +He , in good time , must his lieutenant be , +And I God bless the mark !his Moorship's ancient . + +By heaven , I rather would have been his hangman . + +Why , there's no remedy : 'tis the curse of the service , +Preferment goes by letter and affection , +Not by the old gradation , where each second +Stood heir to the first . Now , sir , be judge yourself , +Whe'r I in any just term am affin'd +To love the Moor . + +I would not follow him then . + +O ! sir , content you ; +I follow him to serve my turn upon him ; +We cannot all be masters , nor all masters +Cannot be truly follow'd . You shall mark +Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave , +That , doting on his own obsequious bondage , +Wears out his time , much like his master's ass , +For nought but provender , and when he's old , cashier'd ; +Whip me such honest knaves . Others there are +Who , trimm'd in forms and visages of duty , +Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves , +And , throwing but shows of service on their lords , +Do well thrive by them , and when they have lin'd their coats +Do themselves homage : these fellows have some soul ; +And such a one do I profess myself . For , sir , +It is as sure as you are Roderigo , +Were I the Moor , I would not be Iago : +In following him , I follow but myself ; +Heaven is my judge , not I for love and duty , +But seeming so , for my peculiar end : +For when my outward action doth demonstrate +The native act and figure of my heart +In compliment extern , 'tis not long after +But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve +For daws to peck at : I am not what I am . + +What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe , +If he can carry 't thus ! + +Call up her father ; +Rouse him , make after him , poison his delight , +Proclaim him in the streets , incense her kinsmen , +And , though he in a fertile climate dwell , +Plague him with flies ; though that his joy be joy , +Yet throw such changes of vexation on 't +As it may lose some colour . + +Here is her father's house ; I'll call aloud . + +Do ; with like timorous accent and dire yell +As when , by night and negligence , the fire +Is spied in populous cities . + +What , ho ! Brabantio ! Signior Brabantio , ho ! + +Awake ! what , ho ! Brabantio ! thieves ! thieves ! thieves ! +Look to your house , your daughter , and your bags ! +Thieves ! thieves ! + + +What is the reason of this terrible summons ? +What is the matter there ? + +Signior , is all your family within ? + +Are your doors lock'd ? + +Why ? wherefore ask you this ? + +'Zounds ! sir , you're robb'd ; for shame , put on your gown ; +Your heart is burst , you have lost half your soul ; +Even now , now , very now , an old black ram +Is tupping your white ewe . Arise , arise ! +Awake the snorting citizens with the bell , +Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you . +Arise , I say . + +What ! have you lost your wits ? + +Most reverend signior , do you know my voice ? + +Not I , what are you ? + +My name is Roderigo . + +The worser welcome : +I have charg'd thee not to haunt about my doors : +In honest plainness thou hast heard me say +My daughter is not for thee ; and now , in madness , +Being full of supper and distempering draughts , +Upon malicious knavery dost thou come +To start my quiet . + +Sir , sir , sir ! + +But thou must needs be sure +My spirit and my place have in them power +To make this bitter to thee . + +Patience , good sir . + +What tell'st thou me of robbing ? this is Venice ; +My house is not a grange . + +Most grave Brabantio , +In simple and pure soul I come to you . + +'Zounds ! sir , you are one of those that will not serve God if the devil bid you . Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians , you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse ; you'll have your nephews neigh to you ; you'll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans . + +What profane wretch art thou ? + +I am one , sir , that comes to tell you , your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs . + +Thou art a villain . + +You are a senator . + +This thou shalt answer ; I know thee , Roderigo . + +Sir , I will answer any thing . But , I beseech you , +If 't be your pleasure and most wise consent , +As partly , I find , it is ,that your fair daughter , +At this odd-even and dull-watch o' the night , +Transported with no worse nor better guard +But with a knave of common hire , a gondolier , +To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor , +If this be known to you , and your allowance , +We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs ; +But if you know not this , my manners tell me +We have your wrong rebuke . Do not believe , +That , from the sense of all civility , +I thus would play and trifle with your reverence : +Your daughter , if you have not given her leave , +I say again , hath made a gross revolt ; +Tying her duty , beauty , wit and fortunes +In an extravagant and wheeling stranger +Of here and every where . Straight satisfy yourself : +If she be in her chamber or your house , +Let loose on me the justice of the state +For thus deluding you . + +Strike on the tinder , ho ! +Give me a taper ! call up all my people ! +This accident is not unlike my dream ; +Belief of it oppresses me already . +Light , I say ! light ! + + +Farewell , for I must leave you : +It seems not meet nor wholesome to my place +To be produc'd , as , if I stay , I shall , +Against the Moor ; for , I do know the state , +However this may gall him with some check , +Cannot with safety cast him ; for he's embark'd +With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars , +Which even now stand in act ,that , for their souls , +Another of his fathom they have none , +To lead their business ; in which regard , +Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains , +Yet , for necessity of present life , +I must show out a flag and sign of love , +Which is indeed but sign . That you shall surely find him , +Lead to the Sagittary the raised search ; +And there will I be with him . So , farewell . + +It is too true an evil : gone she is , +And what's to come of my despised time +Is nought but bitterness . Now , Roderigo , +Where didst thou see her ? O , unhappy girl ! +With the Moor , sayst thou ? Who would be a father ! +How didst thou know 'twas she ? O , she deceives me +Past thought . What said she to you ? Get more tapers ! +Raise all my kindred ! Are they married , think you ? + +Truly , I think they are . + +O heaven ! How got she out ? O , treason of the blood : +Fathers , from hence trust not your daughters' minds +By what you see them act . Are there not charms +By which the property of youth and maidhood +May be abus'd ? Have you not read , Roderigo , +Of some such thing ? + +Yes , sir , I have indeed . + +Call up my brother . O ! that you had had her . +Some one way , some another ! Do you know +Where we may apprehend her and the Moor ? + +I think I can discover him , if you please +To get good guard and go along with me . + +Pray you , lead on . At every house I'll call ; +I may command at most . Get weapons , ho ! +And raise some special officers of night . +On , good Roderigo ; I'll deserve your pains . + + +Though in the trade of war I have slain men , +Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience +To do no contriv'd murder : I lack iniquity +Sometimes to do me service . Nine or ten times +I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs . + +'Tis better as it is . + +Nay , but he prated , +And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms +Against your honour +That , with the little godliness I have , +I did full hard forbear him . But , I pray , sir , +Are you fast married ? Be assur'd of this , +That the magnifico is much belov'd , +And hath in his effect a voice potential +As double as the duke's ; he will divorce you , +Or put upon you what restraint and grievance +The law with all his might to enforce it on +Will give him cable . + +Let him do his spite : +My services which I have done the signiory +Shall out-tongue his complaints . 'Tis yet to know , +Which when I know that boasting is an honour +I shall promulgate , I fetch my life and being +From men of royal siege , and my demerits +May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune +As this that I have reach'd ; for know , Iago , +But that I love the gentle Desdemona , +I would not my unhoused free condition +Put into circumscription and confine +For the sea's worth . But , look ! what lights come yond ? + +Those are the raised father and his friends : +You were best go in . + +Not I ; I must be found : +My parts , my title , and my perfect soul +Shall manifest me rightly . Is it they ? + +By Janus , I think no . + + +The servants of the duke , and my lieutenant . +The goodness of the night upon you , friends ! +What is the news ? + +The duke does greet you , general , +And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance , +Even on the instant . + +What is the matter , think you ? + +Something from Cyprus , as I may divine . +It is a business of some heat ; the galleys +Have sent a dozen sequent messengers +This very night at one another's heels , +And many of the consuls , rais'd and met , +Are at the duke's already . You have been hotly call'd for ; +When , being not at your lodging to be found , +The senate hath sent about three several quests +To search you out . + +'Tis well I am found by you . +I will but spend a word here in the house , +And go with you . + + +Ancient , what makes he here ? + +Faith , he to-night hath boarded a land carrack ; +If it prove lawful prize , he's made for ever . + +I do not understand . + +He's married . + +To who ? + + +Marry , to Come , captain , will you go ? + +Have with you . + +Here comes another troop to seek for you . + +It is Brabantio . General , be advis'd ; +He comes to bad intent . + + +Holla ! stand there ! + +Signior , it is the Moor . + +Down with him , thief ! + + +You , Roderigo ! come , sir , I am for you . + +Keep up your bright swords , for the dew will rust them . +Good signior , you shall more command with years +Than with your weapons . + +O thou foul thief ! where hast thou stow'd my daughter ? +Damn'd as thou art , thou hast enchanted her ; +For I'll refer me to all things of sense , +If she in chains of magic were not bound , +Whether a maid so tender , fair , and happy , +So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd +The wealthy curled darlings of our nation , +Would ever have , to incur a general mock , +Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom +Of such a thing as thou ; to fear , not to delight . +Judge me the world , if 'tis not gross in sense +That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms , +Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals +That weaken motion : I'll have 't disputed on ; +'Tis probable , and palpable to thinking . +I therefore apprehend and do attach thee +For an abuser of the world , a practiser +Of arts inhibited and out of warrant . +Lay hold upon him : if he do resist , +Subdue him at his peril . + +Hold your hands , +Both you of my inclining , and the rest : +Were it my cue to fight , I should have known it +Without a prompter . Where will you that I go +To answer this your charge ? + +To prison ; till fit time +Of law and course of direct session +Call thee to answer . + +What if I do obey ? +How may the duke be therewith satisfied , +Whose messengers are here about my side , +Upon some present business of the state +To bring me to him ? + +'Tis true , most worthy signior ; +The duke's in council , and your noble self , +I am sure , is sent for . + +How ! the duke in council ! +In this time of the night ! Bring him away . +Mine's not an idle cause : the duke himself , +Or any of my brothers of the state , +Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own ; +For if such actions may have passage free , +Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be . + +There is no composition in these news +That gives them credit . + +Indeed , they are disproportion'd ; +My letters say a hundred and seven galleys . + +And mine , a hundred and forty . + +And mine , two hundred : +But though they jump not on a just account , +As in these cases , where the aim reports , +'Tis oft with difference ,yet do they all confirm +A Turkish fleet , and bearing up to Cyprus . + +Nay , it is possible enough to judgment : +I do not so secure me in the error , +But the main article I do approve +In fearful sense . + +What , ho ! what , ho ! what , ho ! + +A messenger from the galleys . + + +Now , what's the business ? + +The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes ; +So was I bid report here to the state +By Signior Angelo . + +How say you by this change ? + +This cannot be , +By no assay of reason ; 'tis a pageant +To keep us in false gaze . When we consider +The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk , +And let ourselves again but understand , +That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes , +So may he with more facile question bear it , +For that it stands not in such war-like brace , +But altogether lacks the abilities +That Rhodes is dress'd in : if we make thought of this , +We must not think the Turk is so unskilful +To leave that latest which concerns him first , +Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain , +To wake and wage a danger profitless . + +Nay , in all confidence , he's not for Rhodes . + +Here is more news . + + +The Ottomites , reverend and gracious , +Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes , +Have there injointed them with an after fleet . + +Ay , so I thought . How many , as you guess ? + +Of thirty sail ; and now they do re-stem +Their backward course , bearing with frank appearance +Their purposes toward Cyprus . Signior Montano , +Your trusty and most valiant servitor , +With his free duty recommends you thus , +And prays you to believe him . + +'Tis certain then , for Cyprus . +Marcus Luccicos , is not he in town ? + +He's now in Florence . + +Write from us to him ; post-post-haste dispatch . + +Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor . + + +Valiant Othello , we must straight employ you +Against the general enemy Ottoman . + + +I did not see you ; welcome , gentle signior ; +We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night . + +So did I yours . Good your grace , pardon me ; +Neither my place nor aught I heard of business +Hath rais'd me from my bed , nor doth the general care +Take hold of me , for my particular grief +Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature +That it engluts and swallows other sorrows +And it is still itself . + +Why , what's the matter ? + +My daughter ! O ! my daughter . + +Dead ? + +Dead ? + +Ay , to me ; +She is abus'd , stol'n from me , and corrupted +By spells and medicines bought of mounte-banks ; +For nature so preposterously to err , +Being not deficient , blind , or lame of sense , +Sans witchcraft could not . + +Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding +Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself +And you of her , the bloody book of law +You shall yourself read in the bitter letter +After your own sense ; yea , though our proper son +Stood in your action . + +Humbly I thank your Grace . +Here is the man , this Moor ; whom now , it seems , +Your special mandate for the state affairs , +Hath hither brought . + +We are very sorry for it . + +We are very sorry for it . + +What , in your own part , can you say to this ? + +Nothing , but this is so . + +Most potent , grave , and reverend signiors , +My very noble and approv'd good masters , +That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter , +It is most true ; true , I have married her : +The very head and front of my offending +Hath this extent , no more . Rude am I in my speech , +And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace ; +For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith , +Till now some nine moons wasted , they have us'd +Their dearest action in the tented field ; +And little of this great world can I speak , +More than pertains to feats of broil and battle ; +And therefore little shall I grace my cause +In speaking for myself . Yet , by your gracious patience , +I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver +Of my whole course of love ; what drugs , what charms , +What conjuration , and what mighty magic , +For such proceeding I am charg'd withal , +I won his daughter . + +A maiden never bold ; +Of spirit so still and quiet , that her motion +Blush'd at herself ; and she , in spite of nature , +Of years , of country , credit , every thing , +To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on ! +It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect +That will confess perfection so could err +Against all rules of nature , and must be driven +To find out practices of cunning hell , +Why this should be . I therefore vouch again +That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood , +Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect , +He wrought upon her . + +To vouch this , is no proof , +Without more certain and more overt test +Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods +Of modern seeming do prefer against him . + +But , Othello , speak : +Did you by indirect and forced courses +Subdue and poison this young maid's affections ; +Or came it by request and such fair question +As soul to soul affordeth ? + +I do beseech you , +Send for the lady to the Sagittary , +And let her speak of me before her father : +If you do find me foul in her report , +The trust , the office I do hold of you , +Not only take away , but let your sentence +Even fall upon my life . + +Fetch Desdemona hither . + +Ancient , conduct them ; you best know the place . + +And , till she come , as truly as to heaven +I do confess the vices of my blood , +So justly to your grave ears I'll present +How I did thrive in this fair lady's love , +And she in mine . + +Say it , Othello . + +Her father lov'd me ; oft invited me ; +Still question'd me the story of my life +From year to year , the battles , sieges , fortunes +That I have pass'd . +I ran it through , even from my boyish days +To the very moment that he bade me tell it ; +Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances , +Of moving accidents by flood and field , +Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach , +Of being taken by the insolent foe +And sold to slavery , of my redemption thence +And portance in my travel's history ; +Wherein of antres vast and desarts idle , +Rough quarries , rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven , +It was my hint to speak , such was the process ; +And of the Cannibals that each other eat , +The Anthropophagi , and men whose heads +Do grow beneath their shoulders . This to hear +Would Desdemona seriously incline ; +But still the house-affairs would draw her thence ; +Which ever as she could with haste dispatch , +She'd come again , and with a greedy ear +Devour up my discourse . Which I observing , +Took once a pliant hour , and found good means +To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart +That I would all my pilgrimage dilate , +Whereof by parcels she had something heard , +But not intentively : I did consent ; +And often did beguile her of her tears , +When I did speak of some distressful stroke +That my youth suffer'd . My story being done , +She gave me for my pains a world of sighs : +She swore , in faith , 'twas strange , 'twas passing strange ; +'Twas pitiful , 'twas wondrous pitiful : +She wish'd she had not heard it , yet she wish'd +That heaven had made her such a man ; she thank'd me , +And bade me , if I had a friend that lov'd her , +I should but teach him how to tell my story , +And that would woo her . Upon this hint I spake : +She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd , +And I lov'd her that she did pity them . +This only is the witchcraft I have us'd : +Here comes the lady ; let her witness it . + + +I think this tale would win my daughter too . +Good Brabantio , +Take up this mangled matter at the best ; +Men do their broken weapons rather use +Than their bare hands . + +I pray you , hear her speak : +If she confess that she was half the wooer , +Destruction on my head , if my bad blame +Light on the man ! Come hither , gentle mistress : +Do you perceive in all this noble company +Where most you owe obedience ? + +My noble father , +I do perceive here a divided duty : +To you I am bound for life and education ; +My life and education both do learn me +How to respect you ; you are the lord of duty , +I am hitherto your daughter : but here's my husband ; +And so much duty as my mother show'd +To you , preferring you before her father , +So much I challenge that I may profess +Due to the Moor my lord . + +God be with you ! I have done . +Please it your Grace , on to the state affairs : +I had rather to adopt a child than get it . +Come hither , Moor : +I here do give thee that with all my heart +Which , but thou hast already , with all my heart +I would keep from thee . For your sake , jewel , +I am glad at soul I have no other child ; +For thy escape would teach me tyranny , +To hang clogs on them . I have done , my lord . + +Let me speak like yourself and lay a sentence , +Which as a grize or step , may help these lovers +Into your favour . +When remedies are past , the griefs are ended +By seeing the worst , which late on hopes depended . +To mourn a mischief that is past and gone +Is the next way to draw new mischief on . +What cannot be preserv'd when Fortune takes , +Patience her injury a mockery makes . +The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief ; +He robs himself that spends a bootless grief . + +So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile ; +We lose it not so long as we can smile . +He bears the sentence well that nothing bears +But the free comfort which from thence he hears ; +But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow +That , to pay grief , must of poor patience borrow . +These sentences , to sugar , or to gall , +Being strong on both sides , are equivocal : +But words are words ; I never yet did hear +That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the ear . +I humbly beseech you , proceed to the affairs of state . + +The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus . Othello , the fortitude of the place is best known to you ; and though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency , yet opinion , a sovereign mistress of effects , throws a more safer voice on you : you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition . + +The tyrant custom , most grave senators , +Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war +My thrice-driven bed of down : I do agnize +A natural and prompt alacrity +I find in hardness , and do undertake +These present wars against the Ottomites . +Most humbly therefore bending to your state , +I crave fit disposition for my wife , +Due reference of place and exhibition , +With such accommodation and besort +As levels with her breeding . + +If you please , +Be 't at her father's . + +I'll not have it so . + +Nor I . + +Nor I ; I would not there reside , +To put my father in impatient thoughts +By being in his eye . Most gracious duke , +To my unfolding lend your gracious ear ; +And let me find a charter in your voice +To assist my simpleness . + +What would you , Desdemona ? + +That I did love the Moor to live with him , +My downright violence and storm of fortunes +May trumpet to the world ; my heart's subdu'd +Even to the very quality of my lord ; +I saw Othello's visage in his mind , +And to his honours and his valiant parts +Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate . +So that , dear lords , if I be left behind , +A moth of peace , and he go to the war , +The rites for which I love him are bereft me , +And I a heavy interim shall support +By his dear absence . Let me go with him . + +Let her have your voices . +Vouch with me , heaven , I therefore beg it not +To please the palate of my appetite , +Nor to comply with heat ,the young affects +In me defunct ,and proper satisfaction , +But to be free and bounteous to her mind ; +And heaven defend your good souls that you think +I will your serious and great business scant +For she is with me . No , when light-wing'd toys +Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dulness +My speculative and offic'd instruments , +That my disports corrupt and taint my business , +Let housewives make a skillet of my helm , +And all indign and base adversities +Make head against my estimation ! + +Be it as you shall privately determine , +Either for her stay or going . The affair cries haste , +And speed must answer it . + +You must away to-night . + +With all my heart . + +At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again . +Othello , leave some officer behind , +And he shall our commission bring to you ; +With such things else of quality and respect +As doth import you . + +So please your Grace , my ancient ; +A man he is of honesty and trust : +To his conveyance I assign my wife , +With what else needful your good grace shall think +To be sent after me . + +Let it be so . +Good night to every one . + +And , noble signior , +If virtue no delighted beauty lack , +Your son-in-law is far more fair than black . + +Adieu , brave Moor ! use Desdemona well . + +Look to her , Moor , if thou hast eyes to see : +She has deceiv'd her father , and may thee . + + +My life upon her faith ! Honest Iago , +My Desdemona must I leave to thee : +I prithee , let thy wife attend on her ; +And bring them after in the best advantage . +Come , Desdemona ; I have but an hour +Of love , of worldly matters and direction , +To spend with thee : we must obey the time . + + +Iago ! + +What sayst thou , noble heart ? + +What will I do , think'st thou ? + +Why , go to bed , and sleep . + +I will incontinently drown myself . + +Well , if thou dost , I shall never love thee after . Why , thou silly gentleman ! + +It is silliness to live when to live is torment ; and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician . + +O ! villanous ; I have looked upon the world for four times seven years , and since I could distinguish betwixt a benefit and an injury , I never found man that knew how to love himself . Ere I would say , I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen , I would change my humanity with a baboon . + +What should I do ? I confess it is my shame to be so fond ; but it is not in my virtue to amend it . + +Virtue ! a fig ! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus , or thus . Our bodies are our gardens , to the which our wills are gardeners ; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce , set hyssop and woed up thyme , supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many , either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry , why , the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills . If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality , the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions ; but we have reason to cool our raging motions , our carnal stings , our unbitted lusts , whereof I take this that you call love to be a sect or scion . + +It cannot be . + +It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will . Come , be a man . Drown thyself ! drown cats and blind puppies . I have professed me thy friend , and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness ; I could never better stead thee than now . Put money in thy purse ; follow these wars ; defeat thy favour with a usurped beard ; I say , put money in thy purse . It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor ,put money in thy purse ,nor he his to her . It was a violent commencement in her , and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration ; put but money in thy purse . These Moors are changeable in their wills ;fill thy purse with money :the food that to him now is as luscious as locusts , shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida . She must change for youth : when she is sated with his body , she will find the error of her choice . She must have change , she must : therefore put money in thy purse . If thou wilt needs damn thyself , do it a more delicate way than drowning . Make all the money thou canst . If sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell , thou shalt enjoy her ; therefore make money . A pox of drowning thyself ! it is clean out of the way : seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than to be drowned and go without her . + +Wilt thou be fast to my hopes , if I depend on the issue ? + +Thou art sure of me : go , make money . I have told thee often , and I re-tell thee again and again , I hate the Moor : my cause is hearted : thine hath no less reason . Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him ; if thou canst cuckold him , thou dost thyself a pleasure , me a sport . There are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered . Traverse ; go : provide thy money . We will have more of this to-morrow . Adieu . + +Where shall we meet i' the morning ? + +At my lodging . + +I'll be with thee betimes . + +Go to ; farewell . Do you hear , Roderigo ? + +What say you ? + +No more of drowning , do you hear ? + +I am changed . I'll sell all my land . + +Go to ; farewell ! put money enough in your purse . + +Thus do I ever make my fool my purse ; +For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane , +If I would time expend with such a snipe +But for my sport and profit . I hate the Moor , +And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets +He has done my office : I know not if 't be true , +But I , for mere suspicion in that kind , +Will do as if for surety . He holds me well ; +The better shall my purpose work on him . +Cassio's a proper man ; let me see now : +To get his place ; and to plume up my will +In double knavery ; how , how ? Let's see : +After some time to abuse Othello's ear +That he is too familiar with his wife : +He hath a person and a smooth dispose +To be suspected ; framed to make women false . +The Moor is of a free and open nature , +That thinks men honest that but seem to be so , +And will as tenderly be led by the nose +As asses are . +I have 't ; it is engender'd : hell and night +Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light . + +What from the cape can you discern at sea ? + +Nothing at all : it is a high-wrought flood ; +I cannot 'twixt the heaven and the main +Descry a sail . + +Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land ; +A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements ; +If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea , +What ribs of oak , when mountains melt on them , +Can hold the mortise ? what shall we hear of this ? + +A segregation of the Turkish fleet ; +For do but stand upon the foaming shore , +The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds ; +The wind-shak'd surge , with high and monstrous mane , +Seems to cast water on the burning bear +And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole : +I never did like molestation view +On the enchafed flood . + +If that the Turkish fleet +Be not enshelter'd and embay'd , they are drown'd ; +It is impossible they bear it out . + + +News , lads ! our wars are done . +The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks +That their designment halts ; a noble ship of Venice +Hath seen a grievous wrack and sufferance +On most part of their fleet . + +How ! is this true ? + +The ship is here put in , +A Veronesa ; Michael Cassio , +Lieutenant to the war-like Moor Othello , +Is come on shore : the Moor himself's at sea , +And is in full commission here for Cyprus . + +I am glad on 't ; 'tis a worthy governor . + +But this same Cassio , though he speak of comfort +Touching the Turkish loss , yet he looks sadly +And prays the Moor be safe ; for they were parted +With foul and violent tempest . + +Pray heaven he be ; +For I have serv'd him , and the man commands +Like a full soldier . Let's to the sea-side , ho ! +As well to see the vessel that's come in +As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello , +Even till we make the main and the aerial blue +An indistinct regard . + +Come , let's do so ; +For every minute is expectancy +Of more arrivance . + + +Thanks , you the valiant of this war-like isle , +That so approve the Moor . O ! let the heavens +Give him defence against the elements , +For I have lost him on a dangerous sea . + +Is he well shipp'd ? + +His bark is stoutly timber'd , and his pilot +Of very expert and approv'd allowance ; +Therefore my hopes , not surfeited to death , +Stand in bold cure . + +What noise ? + +The town is empty ; on the brow o' the sea +Stand ranks of people , and they cry , 'A sail !' + +My hopes do shape him for the governor . + + +They do discharge their shot of courtesy ; +Our friends at least . + +I pray you , sir , go forth , +And give us truth who 'tis that is arriv'd . + +I shall . + + +But , good lieutenant , is your general wiv'd ? + +Most fortunately : he hath achiev'd a maid +That paragons description and wild fame ; +One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens , +And in th' essential vesture of creation +Does tire the ingener . + +How now ! who has put in ? + +'Tis one Iago , ancient to the general . + +He has had most favourable and happy speed : +Tempests themselves , high seas , and howling winds , +The gutter'd rocks , and congregated sands , +Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel , +As having sense of beauty , do omit +Their mortal natures , letting go safely by +The divine Desdemona . + +What is she ? + +She that I spake of , our great captain's captain , +Left in the conduct of the bold Iago , +Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts +A se'nnight's speed . Great Jove , Othello guard , +And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath , +That he may bless this bay with his tall ship , +Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms , +Give renew'd fire to our extinc'ed spirits , +And bring all Cyprus comfort ! + + +O ! behold , +The riches of the ship is come on shore . +Ye men of Cyprus , let her have your knees . +Hail to thee , lady ! and the grace of heaven , +Before , behind thee , and on every hand , + +Enwheel thee round ! + +I thank you , valiant Cassio . +What tidings can you tell me of my lord ? + +He is not yet arriv'd ; nor know I aught +But that he's well , and will be shortly here . + +O ! but I fear How lost you company ? + +The great contention of the sea and skies +Parted our fellowship . But hark ! a sail . + + +They give their greeting to the citadel : +This likewise is a friend . + +See for the news ! + +Good ancient , you are welcome : + +welcome , mistress . +Let it not gall your patience , good Iago , +That I extend my manners ; 'tis my breeding +That gives me this bold show of courtesy . + + +Sir , would she give you so much of her lips +As of her tongue she oft bestows on me , +You'd have enough . + +Alas ! she has no speech . + +In faith , too much ; +I find it still when I have list to sleep : +Marry , before your ladyship , I grant , +She puts her tongue a little in her heart , +And chides with thinking . + +You have little cause to say so . + +Come on , come on ; you are pictures out of doors , +Bells in your parlours , wild cats in your kitchens , +Saints in your injuries , devils being offended , +Players in your housewifery , and housewives in your beds . + +O ! fie upon thee , slanderer . + +Nay , it is true , or else I am a Turk : +You rise to play and go to bed to work . + +You shall not write my praise . + +No , let me not . + +What wouldst thou write of me , if thou shouldst praise me ? + +O gentle lady , do not put me to 't , +For I am nothing if not critical . + +Come on ; assay . There's one gone to the harbour ? + +Ay , madam . + +I am not merry , but I do beguile +The thing I am by seeming otherwise . +Come , how wouldst thou praise me ? + +I am about it ; but indeed my invention +Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frize ; +It plucks out brains and all : but my muse labours , +And thus she is deliver'd . +If she be fair and wise , fairness and wit , +The one's for use , the other useth it . + +Well prais'd ! How if she be black and witty ? + +If she be black , and thereto have a wit , +She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit . + +Worse and worse . + +How if fair and foolish ? + +She never yet was foolish that was fair , +For even her folly help'd her to an heir . + +These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the alehouse . What miserable praise hast thou for her that's foul and foolish ? + +There's none so foul and foolish thereunto +But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do . + +O heavy ignorance ! thou praisest the worst best . But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed , one that , in the authority of her merit , did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself ? + +She that was ever fair and never proud , +Had tongue at will and yet was never loud , +Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay , +Fled from her wish and yet said 'Now I may ,' +She that being anger'd , her revenge being nigh , +Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly , +She that in wisdom never was so frail +To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail , +She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind , +See suitors following and not look behind , +She was a wight , if ever such wight were , + +To do what ? + +To suckle fools and chronicle small beer . + +O most lame and impotent conclusion ! Do not learn of him , Emilia , though he be thy husband . How say you , Cassio ? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ? + +He speaks home , madam ; you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar . + +He takes her by the palm ; ay , well said , whisper ; with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio . Ay , smile upon her , do ; I will gyve thee in thine own courtship . You say true , 'tis so , indeed . If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry , it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft , which now again you are most apt to play the sir in . Very good ; well kissed ! an excellent courtesy ! 'tis so , indeed . Yet again your fingers to your lips ? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake ! [A trumpet heard .] The Moor ! I know his trumpet . + +'Tis truly so . + +Let's meet him and receive him . + +Lo ! where he comes . + + +O my fair warrior ! + +My dear Othello ! + +It gives me wonder great as my content +To see you here before me . O my soul's joy ! +If after every tempest come such calms , +May the winds blow till they have waken'd death ! +And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas +Olympus-high , and duck again as low +As hell's from heaven ! If it were now to die , +'Twere now to be most happy , for I fear +My soul hath her content so absolute +That not another comfort like to this +Succeeds in unknown fate . + +The heavens forbid +But that our loves and comforts should increase +Even as our days do grow ! + +Amen to that , sweet powers ! +I cannot speak enough of this content ; +It stops me here ; it is too much of joy : +And this , and this , the greatest discords be , + +That e'er our hearts shall make ! + +O ! you are well tun'd now , +But I'll set down the pegs that make this music , +As honest as I am . + +Come , let us to the castle . +News , friends ; our wars are done , the Turks are drown'd . +How does my old acquaintance of this isle ? +Honey , you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus ; +I have found great love amongst them . O my sweet , +I prattle out of fashion , and I dote +In mine own comforts . I prithee , good Iago , +Go to the bay and disembark my coffers . +Bring thou the master to the citadel ; +He is a good one , and his worthiness +Does challenge much respect . Come , Desdemona , +Once more well met at Cyprus . + + +Do thou meet me presently at the harbour . Come hither . If thou be'st valiant , as they say base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them , list me . The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard : first , I must tell thee this , Desdemona is directly in love with him . + +With him ! why , 'tis not possible . + +Lay thy finger thus , and let thy soul be instructed . Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies ; and will she love him still for prating ? let not thy discreet heart think it . Her eye must be fed ; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil ? When the blood is made dull with the act of sport , there should be , again to inflame it , and to give satiety a fresh appetite , loveliness in favour , sympathy in years , manners , and beauties ; all which the Moor is defective in . Now , for want of these required conveniences , her delicate tenderness will find itself abused , begin to heave the gorge , disrelish and abhor the Moor ; very nature will instruct her in it , and compel her to some second choice . Now , sir , this granted , as it is a most pregnant and unforced position , who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune as Cassio does ? a knave very voluble , no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming , for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection ? why , none ; why , none : a slipper and subtle knave , a finder-out of occasions , that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages , though true advantage never present itself ; a devilish knave ! Besides , the knave is handsome , young , and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after ; a pestilent complete knave ! and the woman hath found him already . + +I cannot believe that in her ; she is full of most blessed condition . + +Blessed fig's end ! the wine she drinks is made of grapes ; if she had been blessed she would never have loved the Moor ; blessed pudding ! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand ? didst not mark that ? + +Yes , that I did ; but that was but courtesy . + +Lechery , by this hand ! an index and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts . They met so near with their lips , that their breaths embraced together . Villanous thoughts , Roderigo ! when these mutualities so marshal the way , hard at hand comes the master and main exercise , the incorporate conclusion . Pish ! But , sir , be you ruled by me : I have brought you from Venice . Watch you to-night ; for the command , I'll lay 't upon you : Cassio knows you not . I'll not be far from you : do you find some occasion to anger Cassio , either by speaking too loud , or tainting his discipline ; or from what other course you please , which the time shall more favourably minister . + +Well . + +Sir , he is rash and very sudden in choler , and haply may strike at you : provoke him , that he may ; for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny , whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio . So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by the means I shall then have to prefer them ; and the impediment most profitably removed , without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity . + +I will do this , if I can bring it to any opportunity . + +I warrant thee . Meet me by and by at the citadel : I must fetch his necessaries ashore . +Farewell . + +Adieu . + + +That Cassio loves her , I do well believe it ; +That she loves him , 'tis apt , and of great credit : +The Moor , howbeit that I endure him not , +Is of a constant , loving , noble nature ; +And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona +A most dear husband . Now , I do love her too ; +Not out of absolute lust ,though peradventure +I stand accountant for as great a sin , +But partly led to diet my revenge , +For that I do suspect the lusty Moor +Hath leap'd into my seat ; the thought whereof +Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards ; +And nothing can or shall content my soul +Till I am even'd with him , wife for wife ; +Or failing so , yet that I put the Moor +At least into a jealousy so strong +That judgment cannot cure . Which thing to do , +If this poor trash of Venice , whom I trash +For his quick hunting , stand the putting on , +I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip ; +Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb , +For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too , +Make the Moor thank me , love me , and reward me +For making him egregiously an ass +And practising upon his peace and quiet +Even to madness . 'Tis here , but yet confus'd : +Knavery's plain face is never seen till us'd . + + +It is Othello's pleasure , our noble and valiant general , that , upon certain tidings now arrived , importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet , every man put himself into triumph ; some to dance , some to make bonfires , each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads him ; for , besides these beneficial news , it is the celebration of his nuptial . So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed . All offices are open , and there is full liberty of feasting from this present hour of five till the bell have told eleven . Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our noble general Othello ! + + +Good Michael , look you to the guard to-night : +Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop , +Not to outsport discretion . + +Iago hath direction what to do ; +But , notwithstanding , with my personal eye +Will I look to 't . + +Iago is most honest . +Michael , good night ; to-morrow with your earliest +Let me have speech with you . + +Come , my dear love , +The purchase made , the fruits are to ensue ; +That profit's yet to come 'twixt me and you . +Good night . + +Welcome , Iago ; we must to the watch . + +Not this hour , lieutenant ; 'tis not yet ten o' the clock . Our general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona , who let us not therefore blame ; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her , and she is sport for Jove . + +She's a most exquisite lady . + +And , I'll warrant her , full of game . + +Indeed , she is a most fresh and delicate creature . + +What an eye she has ! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation . + +An inviting eye ; and yet methinks right modest . + +And when she speaks , is it not an alarum to love ? + +She is indeed perfection . + +Well , happiness to their sheets ! Come , lieutenant , I have a stoup of wine , and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of black Othello . + +Not to-night , good Iago : I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking : I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment . + +O ! they are our friends ; but one cup : I'll drink for you . + +I have drunk but one cup to-night , and that was craftily qualified too , and , behold , what innovation it makes here : I am unfortunate in the infirmity , and dare not task my weakness with any more . + +What , man ! 'tis a night of revels ; the gallants desire it . + +Where are they ? + +Here at the door ; I pray you , call them in . + +I'll do 't ; but it dislikes me . + + +If I can fasten but one cup upon him , +With that which he hath drunk to-night already , +He'll be as full of quarrel and offence +As my young mistress' dog . Now , my sick fool Roderigo , +Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side out , +To Desdemona hath to-night carous'd +Potations pottle deep ; and he's to watch . +Three lads of Cyprus , noble swelling spirits , +That hold their honours in a wary distance , +The very elements of this war-like isle , +Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups , +And they watch too . Now , 'mongst this flock of drunkards , +Am I to put our Cassio in some action +That may offend the isle . But here they come . +If consequence do but approve my dream , +My boat sails freely , both with wind and stream . + + +'Fore God , they have given me a rouse already . + +Good faith , a little one ; not past a pint , as I am a soldier . + +Some wine , ho ! + +And let me the canakin clink , clink ; +And let me the canakin clink : +A soldier's a man ; +A life's but a span ; +Why then let a soldier drink . + +Some wine , boys ! + +'Fore God , an excellent song . + +I learned it in England , where indeed they are most potent in potting ; your Dane , your German , and your swag-bellied Hollander , drink , ho !are nothing to your English . + +Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking ? + +Why , he drinks you with facility your Dane dead drunk ; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain ; he gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled . + +To the health of our general ! + +I am for it , lieutenant ; and I'll do you justice . + +O sweet England ! + +King Stephen was a worthy peer , +His breeches cost him but a crown ; +He held them sixpence all too dear , +With that he call'd the tailor lown . +He was a wight of high renown , +And thou art but of low degree : +'Tis pride that pulls the country down , +Then take thine auld cloak about thee . + +Some wine , ho ! + +Why , this is a more exquisite song than the other . + +Will you hear 't again ? + +No ; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things . Well , God's above all ; and there be souls must be saved , and there be souls must not be saved . + +It's true , good lieutenant . + +For mine own part ,no offence to the general , nor any man of quality ,I hope to be saved . + +And so do I too , lieutenant . + +Ay ; but , by your leave , not before me ; the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient . Let's have no more of this ; let's to our affairs . God forgive us our sins ! Gentlemen , let's look to our business . Do not think , gentlemen , I am drunk : this is my ancient ; this is my right hand , and this is my left hand . I am not drunk now ; I can stand well enough , and speak well enough . + +Excellent well . + +Why , very well , then ; you must not think then that I am drunk . + + +To the platform , masters ; come , let's set the watch . + +You see this fellow that is gone before ; +He is a soldier fit to stand by C sar +And give direction ; and do but see his vice ; +'Tis to his virtue a just equinox , +The one as long as the other ; 'tis pity of him . +I fear the trust Othello puts him in , +On some odd time of his infirmity , +Will shake this island . + +But is he often thus ? + +'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep : +He'll watch the horologe a double set , +If drink rock not his cradle . + +It were well +The general were put in mind of it . +Perhaps he sees it not ; or his good nature +Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio , +And looks not on his evils . Is not this true ? + + +How now , Roderigo ! +I pray you , after the lieutenant ; go . + + +And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor +Should hazard such a place as his own second +With one of an ingraft infirmity ; +It were an honest action to say +So to the Moor . + +Not I , for this fair island : +I do love Cassio well , and would do much +To cure him of this evil . But hark ! what noise ? + +You rogue ! you rascal ! + +What's the matter , lieutenant ? + +A knave teach me my duty ! +I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle . + +Beat me ! + +Dost thou prate , rogue ? + + +Nay , good lieutenant ; +I pray you , sir , hold your hand . + +Let me go , sir , +Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard . + +Come , come ; you're drunk . + +Drunk ! + + +Away , I say ! go out , and cry a mutiny . + +Nay , good lieutenant ! God's will , gentlemen ! +Help , ho ! Lieutenant ! sir ! Montano ! sir ! +Help , masters ! Here's a goodly watch indeed ! + +Who's that that rings the bell ? Diablo , ho ! +The town will rise : God's will ! lieutenant , hold ! +You will be sham'd for ever . + + +What is the matter here ? + +'Zounds ! I bleed still ; I am hurt to the death . + +Hold , for your lives ! + +Hold , ho , lieutenant ! Sir ! Montano ! gentlemen ! +Have you forgot all sense of place and duty ? +Hold ! the general speaks to you ; hold for shame ! + +Why , how now , ho ! from whence ariseth this ? +Are we turn'd Turks , and to ourselves do that +Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites ? +For Christian shame put by this barbarous brawl ; +He that stirs next to carve for his own rage +Holds his soul light ; he dies upon his motion . +Silence that dreadful bell ! it frights the isle +From her propriety . What is the matter , masters ? +Honest Iago , that look'st dead with grieving , +Speak , who began this ? on thy love , I charge thee . + +I do not know ; friends all but now , even now , +In quarter and in terms like bride and groom +Devesting them for bed ; and then , but now , +As if some planet had unwitted men , +Swords out , and tilting one at other's breast , +In opposition bloody . I cannot speak +Any beginning to this peevish odds , +And would in action glorious I had lost +Those legs that brought me to a part of it ! + +How comes it , Michael , you are thus forgot ? + +I pray you , pardon me ; I cannot speak . + +Worthy Montano , you were wont be civil ; +The gravity and stillness of your youth +The world hath noted , and your name is great +In mouths of wisest censure : what's the matter , +That you unlace your reputation thus +And spend your rich opinion for the name +Of a night-brawler ? give me answer to it . + +Worthy Othello , I am hurt to danger ; +Your officer , Iago , can inform you , +While I spare speech , which something now offends me , +Of all that I do know ; nor know I aught +By me that's said or done amiss this night , +Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice , +And to defend ourselves it be a sin +When violence assails us . + +Now , by heaven , +My blood begins my safer guides to rule , +And passion , having my best judgment collied , +Assays to lead the way . If I once stir , +Or do but lift this arm , the best of you +Shall sink in my rebuke . Give me to know +How this foul rout began , who set it on ; +And he that is approv'd in this offence , +Though he had twinn'd with me both at a birth +Shall lose me . What ! in a town of war , +Yet wild , the people's hearts brimful of fear , +To manage private and domestic quarrel , +In night , and on the court and guard of safety ! +'Tis monstrous . Iago , who began 't ? + +If partially affin'd , or leagu'd in office , +Thou dost deliver more or less than truth , +Thou art no soldier . + +Touch me not so near ; +I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth +Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio ; +Yet , I persuade myself , to speak the truth +Shall nothing wrong him . Thus it is , general . +Montano and myself being in speech , +There comes a fellow crying out for he'p , +And Cassio following with determin'd sword +To execute upon him . Sir , this gentleman +Steps in to Cassio , and entreats his pause ; +Myself the crying fellow did pursue , +Lest by his clamour , as it so fell out , +The town might fall in fright ; he , swift of foot , +Outran my purpose , and I return'd the rather +For that I heard the clink and fall of swords , +And Cassio high in oath , which till to-night +I ne'er might say before . When I came back , +For this was brief ,I found them close together , +At blow and thrust , even as again they were +When you yourself did part them . +More of this matter can I not report : +But men are men ; the best sometimes forget : +Though Cassio did some little wrong to him , +As men in rage strike those that wish them best , +Yet , surely Cassio , I believe , receiv'd +From him that fled some strange indignity , +Which patience could not pass . + +I know , Iago , +Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter , +Making it light to Cassio . Cassio , I love thee ; +But never more be officer of mine . + + +Look ! if my gentle love be not rais'd up ; + +I'll make thee an example . + +What's the matter ? + +All's well now , sweeting ; come away to bed . +Sir , for your hurts , myself will be your surgeon . +Lead him off . + +Iago , look with care about the town , +And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted . +Come , Desdemona ; 'tis the soldiers' life , +To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife . + + +What ! are you hurt , lieutenant ? + +Ay ; past all surgery . + +Marry , heaven forbid ! + +Reputation , reputation , reputation ! O ! I have lost my reputation . I have lost the immortal part of myself , and what remains is bestial . My reputation , Iago , my reputation ! + +As I am an honest man , I thought you had received some bodily wound ; there is more offence in that than in reputation . Reputation is an idle and most false imposition ; oft got without merit , and lost without deserving : you have lost no reputation at all , unless you repute yourself such a loser . What ! man ; there are ways to recover the general again ; you are but now cast in his mood , a punishment more in policy than in malice ; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion . Sue to him again , and he is yours . + +I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight , so drunken , and so indiscreet an officer . Drunk ! and speak parrot ! and squabble , swagger , swear , and discourse fustian with one's own shadow ! O thou invisible spirit of wine ! if thou hast no name to be known by , let us call thee devil ! + +What was he that you followed with your sword ? What had he done to you ? + +I know not . + +Is 't possible ? + +I remember a mass of things , but nothing distinctly ; a quarrel , but nothing wherefore . O God ! that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains ; that we should , with joy , pleasance , revel , and applause , transform ourselves into beasts . + +Why , but you are now well enough ; how came you thus recovered ? + +It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath ; one unperfectness shows me another , to make me frankly despise myself . + +Come , you are too severe a moraler . As the time , the place , and the condition of this country stands , I could heartily wish this had not befallen , but since it is as it is , mend it for your own good . + +I will ask him for my place again ; he shall tell me I am a drunkard ! Had I as many mouths as Hydra , such an answer would stop them all . To be now a sensible man , by and by a fool , and presently a beast ! O strange ! Every inordinate cup is unblessed and the ingredient is a devil . + +Come , come ; good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used ; exclaim no more against it . And , good lieutenant , I think you think I love you . + +I have well approved it , sir . I drunk ! + +You or any man living may be drunk at some time , man . I'll tell you what you shall do . Our general's wife is now the general : I may say so in this respect , for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation , mark , and denotement of her parts and graces : confess yourself freely to her ; importune her ; she'll help to put you in your place again . She is of so free , so kind , so apt , so blessed a disposition , that she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested . This broken joint between you and her husband entreat her to splinter ; and my fortunes against any lay worth naming , this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before . + +You advise me well . + +I protest , in the sincerity of love and honest kindness . + +I think it freely ; and betimes in the morning I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me . I am desperate of my fortunes if they check me here . + +You are in the right . Good night , lieutenant ; I must to the watch . + +Good night , honest Iago ! + + +And what's he then that says I play the villain ? +When this advice is free I give and honest , +Probal to thinking and indeed the course +To win the Moor again ? For 'tis most easy +The inclining Desdemona to subdue +In any honest suit ; she's fram'd as fruitful +As the free elements . And then for her +To win the Moor , were 't to renounce his baptism , +All seals and symbols of redeemed sin , +His soul is so enfetter'd to her love , +That she may make , unmake , do what she list , +Even as her appetite shall play the god +With his weak function . How am I then a villain +To counsel Cassio to this parallel course , +Directly to his good ? Divinity of hell ! +When devils will the blackest sins put on , +They do suggest at first with heavenly shows , +As I do now ; for while this honest fool +Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes , +And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor , +I'll pour this pestilence into his ear +That she repeals him for her body's lust ; +And , by how much she strives to do him good , +She shall undo her credit with the Moor . +So will I turn her virtue into pitch , +And out of her own goodness make the net +That shall enmesh them all . + +How now , Roderigo ! + +I do follow here in the chase , not like a hound that hunts , but one that fills up the cry . My money is almost spent ; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled ; and I think the issue will be , I shall have so much experience for my pains ; and so , with no money at all and a little more wit , return again to Venice . + +How poor are they that have not patience ! +What wound did ever heal but by degrees ? +Thou know'st we work by wit and not by witchcraft , +And wit depends on dilatory time . +Does 't not go well ? Cassio hath beaten thee , +And thou by that small hurt hast cashiered Cassio . +Though other things grow fair against the sun , +Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe : +Content thyself awhile . By the mass , 'tis morning ; +Pleasure and action make the hours seem short . +Retire thee ; go where thou art billeted : +Away , I say ; thou shalt know more hereafter : +Nay , get thee gone . + +Two things are to be done , +My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress ; +I'll set her on ; +Myself the while to draw the Moor apart , +And bring him jump when he may Cassio find +Soliciting his wife : ay , that's the way : +Dull not device by coldness and delay . + +Masters , play here , I will content your pains ; +Something that's brief ; and bid 'Good morrow , general .' + +Why , masters , have your instruments been in Naples , that they speak i' the nose thus ? + +How , sir , how ? + +Are these , I pray you , wind-instruments ? + +Ay , marry , are they , sir . + +O ! thereby hangs a tail . + +Whereby hangs a tale , sir ? + +Marry , sir , by many a wind-instrument that I know . But , masters , here's money for you ; and the general so likes your music , that he desires you , for love's sake , to make no more noise with it . + +Well , sir , we will not . + +If you have any music that may not be heard , to 't again ; but , as they say , to hear music the general does not greatly care . + +We have none such , sir . + +Then put up your pipes in your bag , for +I'll away . Go ; vanish into air ; away ! + + +Dost thou hear , mine honest friend ? + +No , I hear not your honest friend ; I hear you . + +Prithee , keep up thy quillets . There's a poor piece of gold for thee . If the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife be stirring , tell her there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech : wilt thou do this ? + +She is stirring , sir : if she will stir hither , +I shall seem to notify unto her . + +Do , good my friend . + + +In happy time , Iago . + +You have not been a-bed , then ? + +Why , no ; the day had broke +Before we parted . I have made bold , Iago , +To send in to your wife ; my suit to her +Is , that she will to virtuous Desdemona +Procure me some access . + +I'll send her to you presently ; +And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor +Out of the way , that your converse and business +May be more free . + +I humbly thank you for 't . + +I never knew +A Florentine more kind and honest . + + +Good morrow , good lieutenant : I am sorry +For your displeasure ; but all will soon be well . +The general and his wife are talking of it , +And she speaks for you stoutly : the Moor replies +That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus +And great affinity , and that in wholesome wisdom +He might not but refuse you ; but he protests he loves you , +And needs no other suitor but his likings +To take the saf'st occasion by the front +To bring you in again . + +Yet , I beseech you , +If you think fit , or that it may be done , +Give me advantage of some brief discourse +With Desdemona alone . + +Pray you , come in : +I will bestow you where you shall have time +To speak your bosom freely . + +I am much bound to you . + + +These letters give , Iago , to the pilot , +And by him do my duties to the senate ; +That done , I will be walking on the works ; +Repair there to me . + +Well , my good lord , I'll do t . + +This fortification , gentlemen , shall we see 't ? + +We'll wait upon your lordship . + + +Be thou assur'd , good Cassio , I will do +All my abilities in thy behalf . + +Good madam , do : I warrant it grieves my husband , +As if the case were his . + +O ! that's an honest fellow . Do not doubt , Cassio , +But I will have my lord and you again +As friendly as you were . + +Bounteous madam , +Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio , +He's never anything but your true servant . + +I know 't ; I thank you . You do love my lord ; +You have known him long ; and be you well assur'd +He shall in strangeness stand no further off +Than in a politic distance . + +Ay , but , lady , +That policy may either last so long , +Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet , +Or breed itself so out of circumstance , +That , I being absent and my place supplied , +My general will forget my love and service . + +Do not doubt that ; before Emilia here +I give thee warrant of thy place . Assure thee , +If I do vow a friendship , I'll perform it +To the last article ; my lord shall never rest ; +I'll watch him tame , and talk him out of patience ; +His bed shall seem a school , his board a shrift ; +I'll intermingle every thing he does +With Cassio's suit . Therefore be merry , Cassio ; +For thy solicitor shall rather die +Than give thy cause away . + + +Madam , here comes my lord . + +Madam , I'll take my leave . + +Why , stay , and hear me speak . + +Madam , not now ; I am very ill at ease , +Unfit for mine own purposes . + +Well , do your discretion . + + +Ha ! I like not that . + +What dost thou say ? + +Nothing , my lord : or if I know not what . + +Was not that Cassio parted from my wife ? + +Cassio , my lord ? No , sure , I cannot think it +That he would steal away so guilty-like , +Seeing you coming . + +I do believe 'twas he . + +How now , my lord ! +I have been talking with a suitor here , +A man that languishes in your displeasure . + +Who is 't you mean ? + +Why , your lieutenant , Cassio . Good my lord , +If I have any grace or power to move you , +His present reconciliation take ; +For if he be not one that truly loves you , +That errs in ignorance and not in cunning , +I have no judgment in an honest face . +I prithee call him back . + +Went he hence now ? + +Ay , sooth ; so humbled , +That he hath left part of his grief with me , +To suffer with him . Good love , call him back . + +Not now , sweet Desdemona ; some other time . + +But shall 't be shortly ? + +The sooner , sweet , for you . + +Shall 't be to-night at supper ? + +No , not to-night . + +To-morrow dinner then ? + +I shall not dine at home ; +I meet the captains at the citadel . + +Why then , to-morrow night ; or Tuesday morn ; +On Tuesday noon , or night ; on Wednesday morn : +I prithee name the time , but let it not +Exceed three days : in faith , he's penitent ; +And yet his trespass , in our common reason , +Save that they say , the wars must make examples +Out of their best ,is not almost a fault +To incur a private check . When shall he come ? +Tell me , Othello : I wonder in my soul , +What you could ask me that I should deny , +Or stand so mammering on . What ! Michael Cassio , +That came a wooing with you , and so many a time , +When I have spoke of you dispraisingly , +Hath ta'en your part ; to have so much to do +To bring him in ! Trust me , I could do much . + +Prithee , no more ; let him come when he will ; +I will deny thee nothing . + +Why , this is not a boon ; +'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves , +Or feed on nourishing dishes , or keep you warm , +Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit +To your own person ; nay , when I have a suit +Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed , +It shall be full of poise and difficult weight , +And fearful to be granted . + +I will deny thee nothing : +Whereon , I do beseech thee , grant me this , +To leave me but a little to myself . + +Shall I deny you ? no : farewell , my lord . + +Farewell , my Desdemona : I'll come to thee straight . + +Emilia , come . Be as your fancies teach you ; +Whate'er you be , I am obedient . + + +Excellent wretch ! Perdition catch my soul +But I do love thee ! and when I love thee not , +Chaos is come again . + +My noble lord , + +What dost thou say , Iago ? + +Did Michael Cassio , when you woo'd my lady , +Know of your love ? + +He did , from first to last : why dost thou ask ? + +But for a satisfaction of my thought ; +No further harm . + +Why of thy thought , Iago ? + +I did not think he had been acquainted with her . + +O ! yes ; and went between us very oft . + +Indeed ! + +Indeed ! ay , indeed ; discern'st thou aught in that ? +Is he not honest ? + +Honest , my lord ? + +Honest ! ay , honest . + +My lord , for aught I know . + +What dost thou think ? + +Think , my lord ! + +Think , my lord ! +By heaven , he echoes me , +As if there were some monster in his thought +Too hideous to be shown . Thou dost mean something : +I heard thee say but now , thou lik'dst not that , +When Cassio left my wife ; what didst not like ? +And when I told thee he was of my counsel +In my whole course of wooing , thou criedst , 'Indeed !' +And didst contract and purse thy brow together , +As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain +Some horrible conceit . If thou dost love me , +Show me thy thought . + +My lord , you know I love you . + +I think thou dost ; +And , for I know thou art full of love and honesty , +And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath , +Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more ; +For such things in a false disloyal knave +Are tricks of custom , but in a man that's just +They are close delations , working from the heart +That passion cannot rule . + +For Michael Cassio , +I dare be sworn I think that he is honest . + +I think so too . + +Men should be what they seem ; +Or those that be not , would they might seem none ! + +Certain , men should be what they seem . + +Why then , I think Cassio 's an honest man . + +Nay , yet there's more in this . +I pray thee , speak to me as to thy thinkings , +As thou dost ruminate , and give thy worst of thoughts +The worst of words . + +Good my lord , pardon me ; +Though I am bound to every act of duty , +I am not bound to that all slaves are free to . +Utter my thoughts ? Why , say they are vile and false ; +As where's that palace whereinto foul things +Sometimes intrude not ? who has a breast so pure +But some uncleanly apprehensions +Keep leets and law days , and in session sit +With meditations lawful ? + +Thou dost conspire against thy friend , Iago , +If thou but think'st him wrong'd , and mak'st his ear +A stranger to thy thoughts . + +I do beseech you , +Though I perchance am vicious in my guess , +As , I confess , it is my nature's plague +To spy into abuses , and oft my jealousy +Shapes faults that are not ,that your wisdom yet , +From one that so imperfectly conceits , +Would take no notice , nor build yourself a trouble +Out of his scattering and unsure observance . +It were not for your quiet nor your good , +Nor for my manhood , honesty , or wisdom , +To let you know my thoughts . + +What dost thou mean ? + +Good name in man and woman , dear my lord , +Is the immediate jewel of their souls : +Who steals my purse steals trash ; 'tis something , nothing ; +'Twas mine , 'tis his , and has been slave to thousands ; +But he that filches from me my good name +Robs me of that which not enriches him , +And makes me poor indeed . + +By heaven , I'll know thy thoughts . + +You cannot , if my heart were in your hand ; +Nor shall not , whilst 'tis in my custody . + +Ha ! + +O ! beware , my lord , of jealousy ; +It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock +The meat it feeds on ; that cuckold lives in bliss +Who , certain of his fate , loves not his wronger ; +But , O ! what damned minutes tells he o'er +Who dotes , yet doubts ; suspects , yet soundly loves ! + +O misery ! + +Poor and content is rich , and rich enough , +But riches fineless is as poor as winter +To him that ever fears he shall be poor . +Good heaven , the souls of all my tribe defend +From jealousy ! + +Why , why is this ? +Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy , +To follow still the changes of the moon +With fresh suspicions ? No ; to be once in doubt +Is once to be resolved . Exchange me for a goat +When I shall turn the business of my soul +To such exsufflicate and blown surmises , +Matching thy inference . 'Tis not to make me jealous +To say my wife is fair , feeds well , loves company , +Is free of speech , sings , plays , and dances well ; +Where virtue is , these are more virtuous : +Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw +The smallest fear , or doubt of her revolt ; +For she had eyes , and chose me . No , Iago ; +I'll see before I doubt ; when I doubt , prove ; +And , on the proof , there is no more but this , +Away at once with love or jealousy ! + +I am glad of it ; for now I shall have reason +To show the love and duty that I bear you +With franker spirit ; therefore , as I am bound , +Receive it from me ; I speak not yet of proof . +Look to your wife ; observe her well with Cassio ; +Wear your eye thus , not jealous nor secure : +I would not have your free and noble nature +Out of self-bounty be abus'd ; look to 't : +I know our country disposition well ; +In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks +They dare not show their husbands ; their best conscience +Is not to leave 't undone , but keep 't unknown . + +Dost thou say so ? + +She did deceive her father , marrying you : +And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks , +She lov'd them most . + +And so she did . + +Why , go to , then ; +She that so young could give out such a seeming , +To seel her father's eyes up close as oak , +He thought 'twas witchcraft ; but I am much to blame ; +I humbly do beseech you of your pardon +For too much loving you . + +I am bound to thee for ever . + +I see , this hath a little dash'd your spirits . + +Not a jot , not a jot . + +I' faith , I fear it has . +I hope you will consider what is spoke +Comes from my love . But , I do see you're mov'd ; +I am to pray you not to strain my speech +To grosser issues nor to larger reach +Than to suspicion . + +I will not . + +Should you do so , my lord , +My speech should fall into such vile success +As my thoughts aim not at . Cassio's my worthy friend +My lord , I see you're mov'd . + +No , not much mov'd : +I do not think but Desdemona's honest . + +Long live she so ! and long live you to think so ! + +And , yet , how nature erring from itself , + +Ay , there's the point : as , to be bold with you , +Not to affect many proposed matches +Of her own clime , complexion , and degree , +Whereto , we see , in all things nature tends ; +Foh ! one may smell in such , a will most rank , +Foul disproportion , thoughts unnatural . +But pardon me ; I do not in position +Distinctly speak of her , though I may fear +Her will , recoiling to her better judgment , +May fail to match you with her country forms +And happily repent . + +Farewell , farewell : +If more thou dost perceive , let me know more ; +Set on thy wife to observe . Leave me , Iago . + +My lord , I take my leave . + + +Why did I marry ? This honest creature , doubtless , +Sees and knows more , much more , than he unfolds . + +My lord , I would I might entreat your honour +To scan this thing no further ; leave it to time . +Although 'tis fit that Cassio have his place , +For , sure he fills it up with great ability , +Yet , if you please to hold him off awhile , +You shall by that perceive him and his means : +Note if your lady strain his entertainment +With any strong or vehement importunity ; +Much will be seen in that . In the mean time , +Let me be thought too busy in my fears , +As worthy cause I have to fear I am , +And hold her free , I do beseech your honour . + +Fear not my government . + +I once more take my leave . + + +This fellow's of exceeding honesty , +And knows all qualities , with a learned spirit , +Of human dealings ; if I do prove her haggard , +Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings , +I'd whistle her off and let her down the wind , +To prey at fortune . Haply , for I am black , +And have not those soft parts of conversation +That chamberers have , or , for I am declin'd +Into the vale of years yet that's not much +She's gone , I am abus'd ; and my relief +Must be to loathe her . O curse of marriage ! +That we can call these delicate creatures ours , +And not their appetites . I had rather be a toad , +And live upon the vapour of a dungeon , +Than keep a corner in the thing I love +For others' uses . Yet , 'tis the plague of great ones ; +Prerogativ'd are they less than the base ; +'Tis destiny unshunnable , like death : +Even then this forked plague is fated to us +When we do quicken . +Look ! where she comes . +If she be false , O ! then heaven mocks itself . +I'll not believe it . + + +How now , my dear Othello ! +Your dinner and the generous islanders +By you invited , do attend your presence . + +I am to blame . + +Why do you speak so faintly ? +Are you not well ? + +I have a pain upon my forehead here . + +Faith , that's with watching ; 'twill away again : +Let me but bind it hard , within this hour +It will be well . + +Your napkin is too little : + +Let it alone . Come , I'll go in with you . + +I am very sorry that you are not well . + + +I am glad I have found this napkin ; +This was her first remembrance from the Moor ; +My wayward husband hath a hundred times +Woo'd me to steal it , but she so loves the token , +For he conjur'd her she should ever keep it , +That she reserves it evermore about her +To kiss and talk to . I'll have the work ta'en out , +And give 't Iago : +What he will do with it heaven knows , not I ; +I nothing but to please his fantasy . + + +How now ! what do you here alone ? + +Do not you chide ; I have a thing for you . + +A thing for me ? It is a common thing + +Ha ! + +To have a foolish wife . + +O ! is that all ? What will you give me now +For that same handkerchief ? + +What handkerchief ? + +What handkerchief ! +Why , that the Moor first gave to Desdemona : +That which so often you did bid me steal . + +Hast stol'n it from her ? + +No , faith ; she let it drop by negligence , +And , to the advantage , I , being there , took't up . +Look , here it is . + +A good wench ; give it me . + +What will you do with 't , that you have been so earnest +To have me filch it ? + +Why , what's that to you ? + + +If it be not for some purpose of import +Give 't me again ; poor lady ! she'll run mad +When she shall lack it . + +Be not acknown on 't ; I have use for it . +Go , leave me . + +I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin , +And let him find it ; trifles light as air +Are to the jealous confirmations strong +As proofs of holy writ ; this may do something . +The Moor already changes with my poison : +Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons , +Which at the first are scarce found to distaste , +But with a little act upon the blood , +Burn like the mines of sulphur . I did say so : +Look ! where he comes ! + + +Not poppy , nor mandragora , +Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world , +Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep + +Which thou ow'dst yesterday . + +Ha ! ha ! false to me ? + +Why , how now , generall no more of that . + +Avaunt ! be gone ! thou hast set me on the rack ; +I swear 'tis better to be much abus'd +Than but to know 't a little . + +How now , my lord ! + +What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust ? +I saw 't not , thought it not , it harm'd not me ; +I slept the next night well , was free and merry ; +I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips ; +He that is robb'd , not wanting what is stol'n , +Let him not know 't and he's not robb'd at all . + +I am sorry to hear this . + +I had been happy , if the general camp , +Pioners and all , had tasted her sweet body , +So I had nothing known . O ! now , for ever +Farewell the tranquil mind ; farewell content ! +Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars +That make ambition virtue ! O , farewell ! +Farewell the neighing steed , and the shrill trump , +The spirit-stirring drum , the ear-piercing fife , +The royal banner , and all quality , +Pride , pomp , and circumstance of glorious war ! +And , O you mortal engines , whose rude throats +The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit , +Farewell ! Othello's occupation's gone ! + +Is it possible , my lord ? + +Villain , be sure thou prove my love a whore , +Be sure of it ; give me the ocular proof ; +Or , by the worth of mine eternal soul , +Thou hadst been better have been born a dog +Than answer my wak'd wrath . + +Is 't come to this ? + +Make me to see 't ; or , at the least , so prove it , +That the probation bear no hinge nor loop +To hang a doubt on ; or woe upon thy life ! + +My noble lord , + +If thou dost slander her and torture me , +Never pray more ; abandon all remorse ; +On horror's head horrors accumulate ; +Do deeds to make heaven weep , all earth amaz'd ; +For nothing canst thou to damnation add +Greater than that . + +O grace ! O heaven forgive me ! +Are you a man ! have you a soul or sense ? +God be wi' you ; take mine office . O wretched fool ! +That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice . +O monstrous world ! Take note , take note , O world ! +To be direct and honest is not safe . +I thank you for this profit , and , from hence +I'll love no friend , sith love breeds such offence . + +Nay , stay ; thou shouldst be honest . + +I should be wise ; for honesty's a fool , +And loses that it works for . + +By the world , +I think my wife be honest and think she is not ; +I think that thou art just and think thou art not . +I'll have some proof . Her name , that was as fresh +As Dian's visage , is now begrim'd and black +As mine own face . If there be cords or knives , +Poison or fire or suffocating streams , +I'll not endure it . Would I were satisfied ! + +I see , sir , you are eaten up with passion . +I do repent me that I put it to you . +You would be satisfied ? + +Would ! nay , I will . + +And may ; but how ? how satisfied , my lord ? +Would you , the supervisor , grossly gape on ; +Behold her tupp'd ? + +Death and damnation ! O ! + +It were a tedious difficulty , I think , +To bring them to that prospect ; damn them then , +If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster +More than their own ! What then ? how then ? +What shall I say ? Where's satisfaction ? +It is impossible you should see this , +Were they as prime as goats , as hot as monkeys , +As salt as wolves in pride , and fools as gross +As ignorance made drunk ; but yet , I say , +If imputation , and strong circumstances , +Which lead directly to the door of truth , +Will give you satisfaction , you may have it . + +Give me a living reason she's disloyal . + +I do not like the office ; +But , sith I am enter'd in this cause so far , +Prick'd to 't by foolish honesty and love , +I will go on . I lay with Cassio lately ; +And , being troubled with a raging tooth , +I could not sleep . +There are a kind of men so loose of soul +That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs ; +One of this kind is Cassio . +In sleep I heard him say , 'Sweet Desdemona , +Let us be wary , let us hide our loves !' +And then , sir , would he gripe and wring my hand , +Cry , 'O , sweet creature !' and then kiss me hard , +As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots , +That grew upon my lips ; then laid his leg +Over my thigh , and sigh'd , and kiss'd ; and then +Cried , 'Cursed fate , that gave thee to the Moor !' + +O monstrous ! monstrous ! + +Nay , this was but his dream . + +But this denoted a foregone conclusion : +'Tis a shrewd doubt , though it be but a dream . + +And this may help to thicken other proofs +That do demonstrate thinly . + +I'll tear her all to pieces . + +Nay , but be wise ; yet we see nothing done ; +She may be honest yet . Tell me but this : +Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief +Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand ? + +I gave her such a one ; 'twas my first gift . + +I know not that ; but such a handkerchief +I am sure it was your wife's did I to-day +See Cassio wipe his beard with . + +If it be that , + +If it be that , or any that was hers , +It speaks against her with the other proofs . + +O ! that the slave had forty thousand lives ; +One is too poor , too weak for my revenge . +Now do I see 'tis true . Look here , Iago ; +All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven : +'Tis gone . +Arise , black vengeance , from the hollow hell ! +Yield up , O love ! thy crown and hearted throne +To tyrannous hate . Swell , bosom , with thy fraught , +For 'tis of aspics' tongues ! + +Yet be content . + +O ! blood , blood , blood ! + +Patience , I say ; your mind , perhaps , may change . + +Never , Iago . Like to the Pontick sea , +Whose icy current and compulsive course +Ne'er feels retiring ebb , but keeps due on +To the Propontic and the Hellespont , +Even so my bloody thoughts , with violent pace , +Shall ne'er look back , ne'er ebb to humble love , +Till that a capable and wide revenge +Swallow them up . + +Now , by yond marble heaven , +In the due reverence of a sacred vow +I here engage my words . + +Do not rise yet . + +Witness , you ever-burning lights above ! +You elements that clip us round about ! +Witness , that here Iago doth give up +The execution of his wit , hands , heart , +To wrong'd Othello's service ! Let him command , +And to obey shall be in me remorse , +What bloody business ever . + +I greet thy love , +Not with vain thanks , but with acceptance bounteous , +And will upon the instant put thee to 't : +Within these three days let me hear thee say +That Cassio's not alive . + +My friend is dead ; 'tis done at your request : +But let her live . + +Damn her , lewd minx ! O , damn her ! +Come , go with me apart ; I will withdraw +To furnish me with some swift means of death +For the fair devil . Now art thou my lieutenant . + +I am your own for ever . + + +Do you know , sirrah , where Lieutenant Cassio lies ? + +I dare not say he lies any where . + +Why , man ? + +He is a soldier ; and for one to say a soldier lies , is stabbing . + +Go to ; where lodges he ? + +To tell you where he lodges is to tell you where I lie . + +Can anything be made of this ? + +I know not where he lodges , and for me to devise a lodging , and say he lies here or he lies there , were to lie in mine own throat . + +Can you inquire him out , and be edified by report ? + +I will catechize the world for him ; that is , make questions , and by them answer . + +Seek him , bid him come hither ; tell him I have moved my lord in his behalf , and hope all will be well . + +To do this is within the compass of man's wit , and therefore I will attempt the doing it . + + +Where should I lose that handkerchief , Emilia ? + +I know not , madam . + +Believe me , I had rather have lost my purse +Full of cruzadoes ; and , but my noble Moor +Is true of mind , and made of no such baseness +As jealous creatures are , it were enough +To put him to ill thinking . + +Is he not jealous ? + +Who ! he ? I think the sun where he was born +Drew all such humours from him . + +Look ! where he comes . + +I will not leave him now till Cassio +Be call'd to him . + +How is 't with you , my lord ? + +Well , my good lady . + +O ! hardness to dissemble . +How do you , Desdemona ? + +Well , my good lord . + +Give me your hand . This hand is moist , my lady . + +It yet has felt no age nor known no sorrow . + +This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart ; +Hot , hot , and moist ; this hand of yours requires +A sequester from liberty , fasting and prayer , +Much castigation , exercise devout ; +For here's a young and sweating devil here , +That commonly rebels . 'Tis a good hand , +A frank one . + +You may , indeed , say so ; +For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart . + +A liberal hand ; the hearts of old gave hands , +But our new heraldry is hands not hearts . + +I cannot speak of this . Come now , your promise . + +What promise , chuck ? + +I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you . + +I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me . +Lend me thy handkerchief . + +Here , my lord . + +That which I gave you . + +I have it not about me . + +Not ? + +No , indeed , my lord . + +That is a fault . +That handkerchief +Did an Egyptian to my mother give ; +She was a charmer , and could almost read +The thoughts of people ; she told her , while she kept it , +'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father +Entirely to her love , but if she lost it +Or made a gift of it , my father's eye +Should hold her loathed , and his spirits should hunt +After new fancies . She dying gave it me ; +And bid me , when my fate would have me wive , +To give it her . I did so : and take heed on 't ; +Make it a darling like your precious eye ; +To lose't or give't away , were such perdition +As nothing else could match . + +Is 't possible ? + +'Tis true ; there's magic in the web of it ; +A sibyl , that had number'd in the world +The sun to course two hundred compasses , +In her prophetic fury sew'd the work ; +The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk , +And it was dy'd in mummy which the skilful +Conserv'd of maidens' hearts . + +Indeed ! is 't true ? + +Most veritable ; therefore look to 't well . + +Then would to heaven that I had never seen it ! + +Ha ! wherefore ? + +Why do you speak so startingly and rash ? + +Is 't lost ? is 't gone ? speak , is it out o' the way ? + +Heaven bless us ! + +Say you ? + +It is not lost : but what an if it were ? + +How ! + +I say , it is not lost . + +Fetch 't , let me see 't . + +Why , so I can , sir , but I will not now . +This is a trick to put me from my suit : +Pray you let Cassio be receiv'd again . + +Fetch me the handkerchief ; my mind misgives . + +Come , come ; +You'll never meet a more sufficient man . + +The handkerchief ! + +I pray , talk me of Cassio . + +The handkerchief ! + +A man that all his time +Hath founded his good fortunes on your love , +Shar'd dangers with you , + +The handkerchief ! + +In sooth you are to blame . + +Away ! + + +Is not this man jealous ? + +I ne'er saw this before . +Sure , there's some wonder in this handkerchief ; +I am most unhappy in the loss of it . + +'Tis not a year or two shows us a man ; +They are all but stomachs , and we all but food ; +They eat us hungerly , and when they are full +They belch us . Look you ! Cassio and my husband . + + +There is no other way ; 'tis she must do 't : +And , lo ! the happiness : go and importune her . + +How now , good Cassio ! what's the news with you ? + +Madam , my former suit : I do beseech you +That by your virtuous means I may again +Exist , and be a member of his love +Whom I with all the office of my heart +Entirely honour ; I would not be delay'd . +If my offence be of such mortal kind +That nor my service past , nor present sorrows , +Nor purpos'd merit in futurity , +Can ransom me into his love again , +But to know so must be my benefit ; +So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content , +And shut myself up in some other course +To fortune's alms . + +Alas ! thrice-gentle Cassio ! +My advocation is not now in tune ; +My lord is not my lord ; nor should I know him , +Were he in favour as in humour alter'd . +So help me every spirit sanctified , +As I have spoken for you all my best +And stood within the blank of his displeasure +For my free speech . You must awhile be patient ; +What I can do I will , and more I will +Than for myself I dare : let that suffice you . + +Is my lord angry ? + +He went hence but now , +And , certainly in strange unquietness . + +Can he be angry ? I have seen the cannon , +When it hath blown his ranks into the air , +And , like the devil , from his very arm +Puff'd his own brother ; and can he be angry ? +Something of moment then ; I will go meet him ; +There's matter in 't indeed , if he be angry . + +I prithee , do so . + +Something , sure , of state , +Either from Venice , or some unhatch'd practice +Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him , +Hath puddled his clear spirit ; and , in such cases +Men's natures wrangle with inferior things , +Though great ones are their object . 'Tis even so ; +For let our finger ache , and it indues +Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense +Of pain . Nay , we must think men are not gods , +Nor of them look for such observancy +As fits the bridal . Beshrew me much , Emilia , +I was unhandsome warrior as I am +Arraigning his unkindness with my soul ; +But now I find I had suborn'd the witness , +And he's indicted falsely . + +Pray heaven it be state-matters , as you think , +And no conception , nor no jealous toy +Concerning you . + +Alas the day ! I never gave him cause . + +But jealous souls will not be answer'd so ; +They are not ever jealous for the cause , +But jealous for they are jealous ; 'tis a monster +Begot upon itself , born on itself . + +Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind ! + +Lady , amen . + +I will go seek him . Cassio , walk hereabout ; +If I do find him fit , I'll move your suit +And seek to effect it to my uttermost . + +I humbly thank your ladyship . + +Save you , friend Cassio ! + +What make you from home ? +How is it with you , my most fair Bianca ? +I' faith , sweet love , I was coming to your house . + +And I was going to your lodging , Cassio . +What ! keep a week away ? seven days and nights ? +Eight score eight hours ? and lovers' absent hours , +More tedious than the dial eight score times ? +O weary reckoning ! + +Pardon me , Bianca , +I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd , +But I shall , in a more continuate time , +Strike off this score of absence . Sweet Bianca . + +Take me this work out . + +O Cassio ! whence came this ? +This is some token from a newer friend ; +To the felt absence now I feel a cause ; +Is 't come to this ? Well , well . + +Go to , woman ! +Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth , +From whence you have them . You are jealous now +That this is from some mistress , some remembrance : +No , in good troth , Bianca . + +Why , whose is it ? + +I know not , sweet ; I found it in my chamber . +I like the work well ; ere it be demanded , +As like enough it will ,I'd have it copied ; +Take it and do 't ; and leave me for this time . + +Leave you ! wherefore ? + +I do attend here on the general , +And think it no addition nor my wish +To have him see me woman'd . + +Why , I pray you ? + +Not that I love you not . + +But that you do not love me . +I pray you , bring me on the way a little +And say if I shall see you soon at night . + +'Tis but a little way that I can bring you , +For I attend here ; but I'll see you soon . + +'Tis very good ; I must be circumstanc'd . + +Will you think so ? + +Think so , Iago ! + +What ! +To kiss in private ? + +An unauthoriz'd kiss . + +Or to be naked with her friend a-bed +An hour or more , not meaning any harm ? + +Naked a-bed , Iago , and not mean harm ? +It is hypocrisy against the devil : +They that mean virtuously , and yet do so , +The devil their virtue tempts , and they tempt heaven . + +If they do nothing , 'tis a venial slip ; +But if I give my wife a handkerchief , + +What then ? + +Why , then , 'tis hers , my lord ; and , being hers , +She may , I think , bestow 't on any man . + +She is protectress of her honour too ; +May she give that ? + +Her honour is an essence that's not seen ; +They have it very oft that have it not : +But for the handkerchief , + +By heaven , I would most gladly have forgot it : +Thou said'st ,O ! it comes o'er my memory , +As doth the raven o'er the infected house , +Boding to all ,he had my handkerchief . + +Ay , what of that ? + +That's not so good now . + +What , +If I had said I had seen him do you wrong ? +Or heard him say , as knaves be such abroad , +Who having , by their own importunate suit , +Or voluntary dotage of some mistress , +Convinced or supplied them , cannot choose +But they must blab . + +Hath he said any thing ? + +He hath , my lord ; but be you well assur'd , +No more than he'll unswear . + +What hath he said ? + +Faith , that he did I know not what he did . + +What ? what ? + +Lie + +With her ? + +With her , on her ; what you will . + +Lie with her ! lie on her ! We say , lie on her , when they belie her . Lie with her ! that's fulsome . Handkerchief ,confessions ,handkerchief ! To confess , and be hanged for his labour . First , to be hanged , and then to confess : I tremble at it . Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction . It is not words that shake me thus . Pish ! Noses , ears , and lips . Is it possible ?Confess !Handkerchief !O devil ! + + +Work on , +My medicine , work ! Thus credulous fools are caught ; +And many worthy and chaste dames even thus , +All guitless , meet reproach . What , ho ! my lord ! +My lord , I say ! Othello ! + +How now , Cassio ! + +What's the matter ? + +My lord is fallen into an epilepsy ; +This is his second fit ; he had one yesterday . + +Rub him about the temples . + +No , forbear ; +The lethargy must have his quiet course , +If not he foams at mouth , and by and by +Breaks out to savage madness . Look ! he stirs ; +Do you withdraw yourself a little while , +He will recover straight ; when he is gone , +I would on great occasion speak with you . + +How is it , general ? have you not hurt your head ? + +Dost thou mock me ? + +I mock you ! no , by heaven . +Would you would bear your fortune like a man ! + +A horned man's a monster and a beast . + +There's many a beast then , in a populous city , +And many a civil monster . + +Did he confess it ? + +Good sir , be a man ; +Think every bearded fellow that's but yok'd +May draw with you ; there's millions now alive +That nightly lie in those unproper beds +Which they dare swear peculiar ; your case is better . +O ! 'tis the spite of hell , the fiend's arch-mock , +To lip a wanton in a secure couch , +And to suppose her chaste . No , let me know ; +And knowing what I am I know what she shall be . + +O ! thou art wise ; 'tis certain . + +Stand you awhile apart ; +Confine yourself but in a patient list . +Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief , +A passion most unsuiting such a man , +Cassio came hither ; I shifted him away , +And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy ; +Bade him anon return and here speak with me ; +The which he promis'd . Do but encave yourself , +And mark the fleers , the gibes , and notable scorns , +That dwell in every region of his face ; +For I will make him tell the tale anew , +Where , how , how oft , how long ago , and when +He hath , and is again to cope your wife : +I say , but mark his gesture . Marry , patience ; +Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen , +And nothing of a man . + +Dost thou hear , Iago ? +I will be found most cunning in my patience ; +But dost thou hear ?most bloody . + +That's not amiss ; +But yet keep time in all . Will you withdraw ? + +Now will I question Cassio of Bianca , +A housewife that by selling her desires +Buys herself bread and clothes ; it is a creature +That dotes on Cassio ; as 'tis the strumpet's plague +To beguile many and be beguil'd by one . +He , when he hears of her , cannot refrain +From the excess of laughter . Here he comes : + + +As he shall smile , Othello shall go mad ; +And his unbookish jealousy must construe +Poor Cassio's smiles , gestures , and light behaviour + +Quite in the wrong . How do you now , lieutenant ? + +The worser that you give me the addition +Whose want even kills me . + +Ply Desdemona well , and you are sure on 't . + + +Now , if this suit lay in Bianca's power , +How quickly should you speed ! + +Alas ! poor caitiff ! + +Look ! how he laughs already ! + +I never knew woman love man so . + +Alas ! poor rogue , I think , i' faith , she loves me . + +Now he denies it faintly , and laughs it out . + +Do you hear , Cassio ? + +Now he importunes him +To tell it o'er : go to ; well said , well said . + +She gives it out that you shall marry her ; +Do you intend it ? + +Ha , ha , ha ! + +Do you triumph , Roman ? do you triumph ? + +I marry her ! what ? a customer ? I prithee , bear some charity to my wit ; do not think it so unwholesome . Ha , ha , ha ! + +So , so , so , so . They laugh that win . + +Faith , the cry goes that you shall marry her . + +Prithee , say true . + +I am a very villain else . + +Have you scored me ? Well . + +This is the monkey's own giving out : she is persuaded I will marry her , out of her own love and flattery , not out of my promise . + +Iago beckons me ; now he begins the story . + +She was here even now ; she haunts me in every place . I was the other day talking on the sea bank with certain Venetians , and thither come this bauble , and , by this hand , she falls me thus about my neck ; + +Crying , 'O dear Cassio !' as it were ; his gesture imports it . + +So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me ; so hales and pulls me ; ha , ha , ha ! + +Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber . O ! I see that nose of yours , but not the dog I shall throw it to . + +Well , I must leave her company . + +Before me ! look , where she comes . + +'Tis such another fitchew ! marry , a perfumed one . + +What do you mean by this haunting of me ? + +Let the devil and his dam haunt you ! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now ? I was a fine fool to take it . I must take out the work ! A likely piece of work , that you should find it in your chamber , and not know who left it there ! This is some minx's token , and I must take out the work ! There , give it your hobby-horse ; wheresoever you had it I'll take out no work on 't . + +How now , my sweet Bianca ! how now , how now ! + +By heaven , that should be my handkerchief ! + +An you'll come to supper to-night , you may ; an you will not , come when you are next prepared for . + + +After her , after her . + +Faith , I must ; she'll rail in the street else . + +Will you sup there ? + +Faith , I intend so . + +Well , I may chance to see you , for I would very fain speak with you . + +Prithee , come ; will you ? + +Go to ; say no more . + + +How shall I murder him , Iago ? + +Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice ? + +O ! Iago ! + +And did you see the handkerchief ? + +Was that mine ? + +Yours , by this hand ; and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife ! she gave it him , and he hath given it his whore . + +I would have him nine years a-killing . +A fine woman ! a fair woman ! a sweet woman ! + +Nay , you must forget that . + +Ay , let her rot , and perish , and be damned to-night ; for she shall not live . No , my heart is turned to stone ; I strike it , and it hurts my hand . O ! the world hath not a sweeter creature ; she might lie by an emperor's side and command him tasks . + +Nay , that's not your way . + +Hang her ! I do but say what she is . So delicate with her needle ! An admirable musician ! O , she will sing the savageness out of a bear . Of so high and plenteous wit and invention ! + +She's the worse for all this . + +O ! a thousand , a thousand times . And then , of so gentle a condition ! + +Ay , too gentle . + +Nay , that's certain ;but yet the pity of it , Iago ! O ! Iago , the pity of it , Iago ! + +If you are so fond over her iniquity , give her patent to offend ; for , if it touch not you , it comes near nobody . + +I will chop her into messes . Cuckold me ! + +O ! 'tis foul in her . + +With mine officer ! + +That's fouler . + +Get me some poison , Iago ; this night : I'll not expostulate with her , lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again . This night , Iago . + +Do it not with poison , strangle her in her bed , even the bed she hath contaminated . + +Good , good ; the justice of it pleases ; very good . + +And for Cassio , let me be his undertaker ; you shall hear more by midnight . + +Excellent good . + +What trumpet is that same ? + +Something from Venice , sure . 'Tis Lodovico , +Come from the duke ; and see , your wife is with him . + + +God save you , worthy general ! + +With all my heart , sir . + +The duke and senators of Venice greet you . + + +I kiss the instrument of their pleasures . + + +And what's the news , good cousin Lodovico ? + +I am very glad to see you , signior ; +Welcome to Cyprus . + +I thank you . How does Lieutenant Cassio ? + +Lives , sir . + +Cousin , there's fall'n between him and my lord +An unkind breach ; but you shall make all well . + +Are you sure of that ? + +My lord ? + +This fail you not to do , as you will + +He did not call ; he's busy in the paper . +Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio ? + +A most unhappy one ; I would do much +To atone them , for the love I bear to Cassio . + +Fire and brimstone ! + +My lord ? + +Are you wise ? + +What ! is he angry ? + +May be the letter mov'd him ; +For , as I think , they do command him home , +Deputing Cassio in his government . + +Trust me , I am glad on 't . + +Indeed ! + +My lord ? + +I am glad to see you mad . + +Why , sweet Othello ? + +Devil ! + + +I have not deserved this . + +My lord , this would not be believ'd in Venice , +Though I should swear I saw 't : 'tis very much ; +Make her amends , she weeps . + +O devil , devil ! +If that the earth could teem with woman's tears , +Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile . +Out of my sight ! + +I will not stay to offend you . + + +Truly , an obedient lady ; +I do beseech your lordship , call her back . + +Mistress ! + +My lord ? + +What would you with her , sir ? + +Who , I , my lord ? + +Ay ; you did wish that I would make her turn : +Sir , she can turn , and turn , and yet go on , +And turn again ; and she can weep , sir , weep ; +And she's obedient , as you say , obedient , +Very obedient . Proceed you in your tears . +Concerning this , sir ,O well-painted passion ! +I am commanded home . Get you away ; +I'll send for you anon . Sir , I obey the mandate , +And will return to Venice . Hence ! avaunt ! + +Cassio shall have my place . And , sir , to-night , +I do entreat that we may sup together ; +You are welcome , sir , to Cyprus . Goats and monkeys ! + + +Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate +Call all-in-all sufficient ? is this the noble nature +Whom passion could not shake ? whose solid virtue +The shot of accident nor dart of chance +Could neither graze nor pierce ? + +He is much chang'd . + +Are his wits safe ? is he not light of brain ? + +He's that he is ; I may not breathe my censure . +What he might be , if , what he might , he is not , +I would to heaven he were ! + +What ! strike his wife ! + +Faith , that was not so well ; yet would I knew +That stroke would prove the worst ! + +Is it his use ? +Or did the letters work upon his blood , +And new-create this fault ? + +Alas , alas ! +It is not honesty in me to speak +What I have seen and known . You shall observe him , +And his own courses will denote him so +That I may save my speech . Do but go after +And mark how he continues . + +I am sorry that I am deceiv'd in him . + + +You have seen nothing , then ? + +Nor ever heard , nor ever did suspect . + +Yes , you have seen Cassio and her together . + +But then I saw no harm , and then I heard +Each syllable that breath made up between them . + +What ! did they never whisper ? + +Never , my lord . + +Nor send you out o' the way ? + +Never . + +To fetch her fan , her gloves , her mask , nor nothing ? + +Never , my lord . + +That's strange . + +I durst , my lord , to wager she is honest , +Lay down my soul at stake : if you think other , +Remove your thought ; it doth abuse your bosom . +If any wretch have put this in your head , +Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse ! +For , if she be not honest , chaste , and true , +There's no man happy ; the purest of their wives +Is foul as slander . + +Bid her come hither ; go . + +She says enough ; yet she's a simple bawd +That cannot say as much . This is a subtle whore , +A closet lock and key of villanous secrets ; +And yet she'll kneel and pray ; I have seen her do 't . + + +My lord , what is your will ? + +Pray , chuck , come hither . + +What is your pleasure ? + +Let me see your eyes ; +Look in my face . + +What horrible fancy's this ? + +Some of your function , mistress ; +Leave procreants alone and shut the door ; +Cough or cry 'hem' if any body come ; +Your mystery , your mystery ; nay , dispatch . + + +Upon my knees , what doth your speech import ? +I understand a fury in your words , +But not the words . + +Why , what art thou ? + +Your wife , my lord ; your true +And loyal wife . + +Come , swear it , damn thyself ; +Lest , being like one of heaven , the devils themselves +Should fear to seize thee ; therefore be double-damn'd ; +Swear thou art honest . + +Heaven doth truly know it . + +Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell . + +To whom , my lord ? with whom ? how am I false ? + +Ah ! Desdemona ; away , away , away ! + +Alas , the heavy day !Why do you weep ? +Am I the motive of these tears , my lord ? +If haply you my father do suspect +An instrument of this your calling back , +Lay not your blame on me ; if you have lost him , +Why , I have lost him too . + +Had it pleas'd heaven +To try me with affliction , had he rain'd +All kinds of sores , and shames , on my bare head , +Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips , +Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes , +I should have found in some part of my soul +A drop of patience ; but , alas ! to make me +The fixed figure for the time of scorn +To point his slow and moving finger at ; +Yet could I bear that too ; well , very well : +But there , where I have garner'd up my heart , +Where either I must live or bear no life , +The fountain from the which my current runs +Or else dries up ; to be discarded thence ! +Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads +To knot and gender in ! Turn thy complexion there , +Patience , thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin ; +Ay , there , look grim as hell ! + +I hope my noble lord esteems me honest . + +O ! ay ; as summer flies are in the shambles , +That quicken even with blowing . O thou weed ! +Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet +That the sense aches at thee , would thou hadst ne'er been born . + +Alas ! what ignorant sin have I committed ? + +Was this fair paper , this most goodly book , +Made to write 'whore' upon ? What committed ! +Committed ! O thou public commoner ! +I should make very forges of my cheeks , +That would to cinders burn up modesty , +Did I but speak thy deeds . What committed ! +Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks , +The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets +Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth , +And will not hear it . What committed ! +Impudent strumpet ! + +By heaven , you do me wrong . + +Are not you a strumpet ? + +No , as I am a Christian . +If to preserve this vessel for my lord +From any other foul unlawful touch +Be not to be a strumpet , I am none . + +What ! not a whore ? + +No , as I shall be sav'd . + +Is it possible ? + +O ! heaven forgive us . + +I cry you mercy , then ; +I took you for that cunning whore of Venice +That married with Othello . You , mistress , +That have the office opposite to Saint Peter , +And keep the gate of hell ! + + +You , you , ay , you ! +We have done our course ; there's money for your pains . +I pray you , turn the key and keep our counsel . + +Alas ! what does this gentleman conceive ? +How do you , madam ? how do you , my good lady ? + +Faith , half asleep . + +Good madam , what's the matter with my lord ? + +With who ? + +Why , with my lord , madam . + +Who is thy lord ? + +He that is yours , sweet lady . + +I have none ; do not talk to me , Emilia ; +I cannot weep , nor answer have I none , +But what should go by water . Prithee , to-night +Lay on my bed my wedding sheets : remember : +And call thy husband hither . + +Here is a change indeed ! + + +'Tis meet I should be us'd so , very meet . +How have I been behav'd , that he might stick +The small'st opinion on my least misuse ? + + +What is your pleasure , madam ? How is it with you ? + +I cannot tell . Those that do teach young babes +Do it with gentle means and easy tasks ; +He might have chid me so ; for , in good faith , +I am a child to chiding . + +What's the matter , lady ? + +Alas ! Iago , my lord hath so bewhor'd her , +Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her , +As true hearts cannot bear . + +Am I that name , Iago ? + +What name , fair lady ? + +Such as she says my lord did say I was . + +He call'd her whore ; a beggar in his drink +Could not have laid such terms upon his callat . + +Why did he so ? + +I do not know ; I am sure I am none such . + +Do not weep , do not weep . Alas the day ! + +Has she forsook so many noble matches , +Her father and her country and her friends , +To be call'd whore ? would it not make one weep ? + +It is my wretched fortune . + +Beshrew him for it ! +How comes this trick upon him ? + +Nay , heaven doth know . + +I will be hang'd , if some eternal villain , +Some busy and insinuating rogue , +Some cogging cozening slave , to get some office , +Have not devis'd this slander ; I'll be hang'd else . + +Fie ! there is no such man ; it is impossible . + +If any such there be , heaven pardon him ! + +A halter pardon him , and hell gnaw his bones ! +Why should he call her whore ? who keeps her company ? +What place ? what time ? what form ? what likelihood ? +The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave , +Some base notorious knave , some scurvy fellow . +O heaven ! that such companions thou'dst unfold , +And put in every honest hand a whip +To lash the rascals naked through the world , +Even from the east to the west ! + +Speak within door . + +O ! fie upon them . Some such squire he was +That turn'd your wit the seamy side without , +And made you to suspect me with the Moor . + +You are a fool ; go to . + +O good Iago , +What shall I do to win my lord again ? +Good friend , go to him ; for , by this light of heaven , +I know not how I lost him . Here I kneel : +If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love , +Either in discourse of thought or actual deed , +Or that mine eyes , mine ears , or any sense , +Delighted them in any other form ; +Or that I do not yet , and ever did , +And ever will , though he do shake me off +To beggarly divorcement , love him dearly , +Comfort forswear me ! Unkindness may do much ; +And his unkindness may defeat my life , +But never taint my love . I cannot say 'whore :' +It does abhor me now I speak the word ; +To do the act that might the addition earn +Not the world's mass of vanity could make me . + +I pray you be content , 'tis but his humour ; +The business of the state does him offence , +And he does chide with you . + +If 'twere no other , + +'Tis but so , I warrant . + +Hark ! how these instruments summon to supper ; +The messengers of Venice stay the meat : +Go in , and weep not ; all things shall be well . + + +How now , Roderigo ! + +I do not find that thou dealest justly with me . + +What in the contrary ? + +Every day thou daffest me with some device , Iago ; and rather , as it seems to me now , keepest from me all conveniency , than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope . I will indeed no longer endure it , nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered . + +Will you hear me , Roderigo ? + +Faith , I have heard too much , for your words and performances are no kin together . + +You charge me most unjustly . + +With nought but truth . I have wasted myself out of my means . The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist ; you have told me she has received them , and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance , but I find none . + +Well ; go to ; very well . + +Very well ! go to ! I cannot go to , man ; nor 'tis not very well : by this hand , I say , it is very scurvy , and begin to find myself fobbed in it . + +Very well . + +I tell you 'tis not very well . I will make myself known to Desdemona ; if she will return me my jewels , I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation ; if not , assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you . + +You have said now . + +Ay , and said nothing , but what I protest intendment of doing . + +Why , now I see there's mettle in thee , and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before . Give me thy hand , Roderigo ; thou hast taken against me a most just exception ; but yet , I protest , I have dealt most directly in thy affair . + +It hath not appeared . + +I grant indeed it hath not appeared , and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment . But , Roderigo , if thou hast that in thee indeed , which I have greater reason to believe now than ever , I mean purpose , courage , and valour , this night show it : if thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona , take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life . + +Well , what is it ? is it within reason and compass ? + +Sir , there is especial commission come from Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place . + +Is that true ? why , then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice . + +O , no ! he goes into Mauritania , and takes away with him the fair Desdemona , unless his abode be lingered here by some accident ; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio . + +How do you mean , removing of him ? + +Why , by making him uncapable of Othello's place ; knocking out his brains . + +And that you would have me do ? + +Ay ; if you dare do yourself a profit and a right . He sups to-night with a harlotry , and thither will I go to him ; he knows not yet of his honourable fortune . If you will watch his going thence ,which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one ,you may take him at your pleasure ; I will be near to second your attempt , and he shall fall between us . Come , stand not amazed at it , but go along with me ; I will show you such a necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him . It is now high supper-time , and the night grows to waste ; about it . + +I will hear further reason for this . + +And you shall be satisfied . + + +I do beseech you , sir , trouble yourself no further . + +O ! pardon me ; 'twill do me good to walk . + +Madam , good night ; I humbly thank your ladyship . + +Your honour is most welcome . + +Will you walk , sir ? +O ! Desdemona , + +My lord ? + +Get you to bed on the instant ; I will be returned forthwith ; dismiss your attendant there ; look it be done . + +I will , my lord . + + +How goes it now ? he looks gentler than he did . + +He says he will return incontinent ; +He hath commanded me to go to bed , +And bade me to dismiss you . + +Dismiss me ! + +It was his bidding ; therefore , good Emilia , +Give me my nightly wearing , and adieu : +We must not now displease him . + +I would you had never seen him . + +So would not I ; my love doth so approve him , +That even his stubbornness , his checks and frowns , +Prithee , unpin me ,have grace and favour in them . + +I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed . + +All's one . Good faith ! how foolish are our minds ! +If I do die before thee , prithee , shroud me +In one of those same sheets . + +Come , come , you talk . + +My mother had a maid call'd Barbara ; +She was in love , and he she lov'd prov'd mad +And did forsake her ; she had a song of 'willow ;' +An old thing 'twas , but it express'd her fortune , +And she died singing it ; that song to-night +Will not go from my mind ; I have much to do +But to go hang my head all at one side , +And sing it like poor Barbara . Prithee , dispatch . + +Shall I go fetch your night-gown ? + +No , unpin me here . +This Lodovico is a proper man . + +A very handsome man . + +He speaks well . + +I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip . + + +The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree , +Sing all a green willow ; +Her hand on her bosom , her head on her knee , +Sing willow , willow , willow : +The fresh streams ran by her , and murmur'd her moans ; +Sing willow , willow , willow : +Her salt tears fell from her , and soften'd the stones ; + +Lay by these : + +Sing willow , willow , willow : + +Prithee , hie thee ; he'll come anon . + +Sing all a green willow must be my garland . +Let nobody blame him , his scorn I approve , + +Nay , that's not next . Hark ! who is it that knocks ? + +It is the wind . + + +I call'd my love false love ; but what said he then ? +Sing willow , willow , willow : +If I court moe women , you'll couch with moe men . + +So , get thee gone ; good night . Mine eyes do itch ; +Doth that bode weeping ? + +'Tis neither here nor there . + +I have heard it said so . O ! these men , these men ! +Dost thou in conscience think , tell me , Emilia , +That there be women do abuse their husbands +In such gross kind ? + +There be some such , no question . + +Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world ? + +Why , would not you ? + +No , by this heavenly light ! + +Nor I neither by this heavenly light ; might do 't as well i' the dark . + +Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world ? + +The world is a huge thing ; 'tis a great price +For a small vice . + +In troth , I think thou wouldst not . + +In troth , I think I should , and undo 't when I had done . Marry , I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring , nor measures of lawn , nor for gowns , petticoats , nor caps , nor any petty exhibition ; but for the whole world , who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch ? I should venture purgatory for 't . + +Beshrew me , if I would do such a wrong +For the whole world . + +Why , the wrong is but a wrong i' the world ; and having the world for your labour , 'tis a wrong in your own world , and you might quickly make it right . + +I do not think there is any such woman . + +Yes , a dozen ; and as many to the vantage , as would store the world they played for . +But I do think it is their husbands' faults +If wives do fall . Say that they slack their duties , +And pour our treasures into foreign laps , +Or else break out in peevish jealousies , +Throwing restraint upon us ; or , say they strike us , +Or scant our former having in despite ; +Why , we have galls , and though we have some grace , +Yet have we some revenge . Let husbands know +Their wives have sense like them ; they see and smell , +And have their palates both for sweet and sour , +As husbands have . What is it that they do +When they change us for others ? Is it sport ? +I think it is ; and doth affection breed it ? +I think it doth : is 't frailty that thus errs ? +It is so too ; and have not we affections , +Desires for sport , and frailty , as men have ? +Then , let them use us well ; else let them know , +The ills we do , their ills instruct us so . + +Good night , good night ; heaven me such usage send , +Not to pick bad from bad , but by bad mend ! + +Here , stand behind this bulk ; straight will he come : +Wear thy good rapier bare , and put it home . +Quick , quick ; fear nothing ; I'll be at thy elbow . +It makes us , or it mars us ; think on that , +And fix most firm thy resolution . + +Be near at hand ; I may miscarry in 't . + +Here , at thy hand : be bold , and take thy stand . + + +I have no great devotion to the deed ; +And yet he has given me satisfying reasons : +'Tis but a man gone : forth , my sword ; he dies . + +I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense , +And he grows angry . Now , whether he kill Cassio , +Or Cassio him , or each do kill the other , +Every way makes my gain : live Roderigo , +He calls me to a restitution large +Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him , +As gifts to Desdemona ; +It must not be : if Cassio do remain , +He hath a daily beauty in his life +That makes me ugly ; and , besides , the Moor +May unfold me to him ; there stand I in much peril . +No , he must die . But so ; I hear him coming . + + +I know his gait ; 'tis he . Villain , thou diest ! + + +That thrust had been mine enemy indeed +But that my coat is better than thou know'st ; +I will make proof of thine . + + +O ! I am slain . + + +I am maim'd for ever . Help , ho ! murder ! murder ! + +The voice of Cassio : Iago keeps his word . + +O ! villain that I am ! + +It is e'en so . + +O , help , ho ! light ! a surgeon ! + +'Tis he : O brave Iago , honest and just ! +That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong ; +Thou teachest me . Minion , your dear lies dead , +And your unblest fate hies ; strumpet , I come ! +Forth of my heart those charms , thine eyes , are blotted ; +Thy bed lust-stain'd shall with lust's blood be spotted . + +What ho ! no watch ? no passage ? murder ! murder ! + +'Tis some mischance ; the cry is very direful . + +O , help ! + +Hark ! + +O wretched villain ! + +Two or three groan : it is a heavy night ; +These may be counterfeits ; let's think 't unsafe +To come in to the cry without more help . + +Nobody come ? then shall I bleed to death . + +Hark ! + + +Here's one comes in his shirt , with light and weapons . + +Who's there ? whose noise is this that cries on murder ? + +We do not know . + +Did not you hear a cry ? + +Here , here ! for heaven's sake , help me . + +What's the matter ? + +This is Othello's ancient , as I take it . + +The same indeed ; a very valiant fellow . + +What are you here that cry so grievously ? + +Iago ? O ! I am spoil'd , undone by villains ! +Give me some help . + +O me , lieutenant ! what villains have done this ? + +I think that one of them is hereabout , +And cannot make away . + +O treacherous villains ! + + +What are you there ? come in , and give some help . + +O ! help me here . + +That's one of them . + +O murderous slave ! O villain ! + + +O damn'd Iago ! O inhuman dog ! + +Kill men i' the dark ! Where be these bloody thieves ? +How silent is this town ! Ho ! murder ! murder ! +What may you be ? are you of good or evil ? + +As you shall prove us , praise us . + +Signior Lodovico ? + +He , sir . + +I cry you mercy . Here's Cassio hurt by villains . + +Cassio ! + +How is it , brother ? + +My leg is cut in two . + +Marry , heaven forbid , +Light , gentlemen ; I'll bind it with my shirt . + + +What is the matter , ho ? who is 't that cried ? + +Who is 't that cried ! + +O my dear Cassio ! my sweet Cassio ! +O Cassio , Cassio , Cassio ! + +O notable strumpet ! Cassio , may you suspect +Who they should be that have thus mangled you ? + +No . + +I am sorry to find you thus ; I have been to seek you . + +Lend me a garter . So . O ! for a chair , +To bear him easily hence ! + +Alas ! he faints ! O Cassio , Cassio , Cassio ! + +Gentlemen all , I do suspect this trash +To be a party in this injury . +Patience awhile , good Cassio . Come , come . +Lend me a light . Know we this face , or no ? +Alas ! my friend and my dear countryman , +Roderigo ? no : yes , sure , O heaven ! Roderigo . + +What ! of Venice ? + +Even he , sir : did you know him ? + +Know him ! ay . + +Signior Gratiano ? I cry you gentle pardon ; +These bloody accidents must excuse my manners , +That so neglected you . + +I am glad to see you . + +How do you , Cassio ? O ! a chair , a chair ! + +Roderigo ! + + +He , he , 'tis he .O ! that's well said ; the chair : +Some good men bear him carefully from hence ; +I'll fetch the general's surgeon . + +For you , mistress , +Save you your labour . He that lies slain here , Cassio , +Was my dear friend . What malice was between you ? + +None in the world ; nor do I know the man . + +What ! look you pale ? O ! bear him out o' the air + +Stay you , good gentlemen . Look you pale , mistress ? +Do you perceive the gastness of her eye ? +Nay , if you stare , we shall hear more anon . +Behold her well ; I pray you , look upon her : +Do you see , gentlemen ? nay , guiltiness will speak +Though tongues were out of use . + + +'Las ! what's the matter ? what's the matter , husband ? + +Cassio hath here been set on in the dark +By Roderigo and fellows that are 'scap'd : +He's almost slain , and Roderigo dead . + +Alas ! good gentleman ; alas ! good Cassio ! + +This is the fruit of whoring . Prithee , Emilia , +Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night . +What ! do you shake at that ? + +He supp'd at my house ; but I therefore shake not . + +O ! did he so ? I charge you , go with me . + +Fie , fie upon thee , strumpet ! + +I am no strumpet , but of life as honest +As you that thus abuse me . + +As I ! foh ! fie upon thee ! + +Kind gentlemen , let's go see poor Cassio dress'd . +Come , mistress , you must tell 's another tale . +Emilia , run you to the citadel , +And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd . +Will you go on afore ? + +This is the night +That either makes me or fordoes me quite . + + +It is the cause , it is the cause , my soul ; +Let me not name it to you , you chaste stars ! +It is the cause . Yet I'll not shed her blood , +Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow , +And smooth as monumental alabaster . +Yet she must die , else she'll betray more men . +Put out the light , and then put out the light : +If I quench thee , thou flaming minister , +I can again thy former light restore , +Should I repent me ; but once put out thy light , +Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature , +I know not where is that Promethean heat +That can thy light relume . When I have pluck'd the rose , +I cannot give it vital growth again , +It needs must wither : I'll smell it on the tree . + +O balmy breath , that dost almost persuade +Justice to break her sword ! One more , one more . +Be thus when thou art dead , and I will kill thee , +And love thee after . One more , and this the last : +So sweet was ne'er so fatal . I must weep , +But they are cruel tears ; this sorrow's heavenly , +It strikes where it doth love . She wakes . + +Who's there ? Othello ? + +Ay , Desdemona . + +Will you come to bed , my lord ? + +Have you pray'd to-night , Desdemona ? + +Ay , my lord . + +If you bethink yourself of any crime +Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace , +Solicit for it straight . + +Alas ! my lord , what may you mean by that ? + +Well , do it , and be brief ; I will walk by : +I would not kill thy unprepared spirit ; +No ; heaven forfend ! I would not kill thy soul . + +Talk you of killing ? + +Ay , I do . + +Then heaven +Have mercy on me ! + +Amen ! with all my heart . + +If you say so , I hope you will not kill me . + +Hum ! + +And yet I fear you ; for you are fatal then +When your eyes roll so . Why I should fear I know not , +Since guiltiness I know not ; but yet I feel I fear . + +Think on thy sins . + +They are loves I bear to you . + +Ay , and for that thou diest . + +That death's unnatural that kills for loving . +Alas ! why gnaw you so your nether lip ? +Some bloody passion shakes your very frame ; +These are portents , but yet , I hope , I hope +They do not point on me . + +Peace , and be still ! + +I will so . What's the matter ? + +That handkerchief which I so lov'd and gave thee +Thou gav'st to Cassio . + +No , by my life and soul ! +Send for the man and ask him . + +Sweet soul , take heed , +Take heed of perjury ; thou'rt on thy death-bed . + +Ay , but not yet to die . + +Yes , presently ; +Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin ; +For to deny each article with oath +Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception +That I do groan withal . Thou art to die . + +Then Lord have mercy on me ! + +I say , amen . + +And have you mercy too ! I never did +Offend you in my life ; never lov'd Cassio +But with such general warranty of heaven +As I might love ; I never gave him token . + +By heaven , I saw my handkerchief in 's hand . +O perjur'd woman ! thou dost stone my heart , +And mak'st me call what I intend to do +A murder , which I thought a sacrifice : +I saw the handkerchief . + +He found it then ; +I never gave it him . Send for him hither ; +Let him confess a truth . + +He hath confess'd . + +What , my lord ? + +That he hath us'd thee . + +How ? unlawfully ? + +Ay . + +He will not say so . + +No ; his mouth is stopp'd : +Honest Iago hath ta'en order for 't . + +O ! my fear interprets . What ! is he dead ? + +Had all his hairs been lives , my great revenge +Had stomach for them all . + +Alas ! he is betray'd and I undone . + +Out , strumpet ! Weep'st thou for him to my face ? + +O ! banish me , my lord , but kill me not ! + +Down , strumpet ! + +Kill me to-morrow ; let me live to-night ! + +Nay , if you strive , + +But half an hour ! + +Being done , there is no pause . + +But while I say one prayer ! + +It is too late . + + +My lord , my lord ! what , ho ! my lord , my lord ! + +What noise is this ? Not dead ? not yet quite dead ? +I that am cruel am yet merciful ; +I would not have thee linger in thy pain . +So , so . + +What , ho ! my lord , my lord ! + +Who's there ? + +O ! good my lord , I would speak a word with you ! + +Yes ; 'tis Emilia : by and by . She's dead . +'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death ; +The noise was high . Ha ! no more moving ? +Still as the grave . Shall she come in ? Were 't good ? +I think she stirs again : no . What's best to do ? +If she come in she'll sure speak to my wife : +My wife ! my wife ! what wife ? I have no wife : +O , insupportable ! O heavy hour ! +Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse +Of sun and moon , and that the affrighted globe +Should yawn at alteration . + +I do beseech you +That I may speak with you , O ! good my lord . + +I had forgot thee : O ! come in , Emilia : +Soft , by and by : let me the curtains draw . +Where art thou ? + + +What's the matter with thee now ? + +O ! my good lord , yonder's foul murder done . + +What ! now ? + +But now , my lord . + +It is the very error of the moon ; +She comes more near the earth than she was wont , +And makes men mad . + +Cassio , my lord , has kill'd a young Venetian +Call'd Roderigo . + +Roderigo kill'd ! +And Cassio kill'd ? + +No , Cassio is not kill'd . + +Not Cassio kill'd ! then murder's out of tune , +And sweet revenge grows harsh . + +O ! falsely , falsely murder'd . + +Alas ! what cry is that ? + +That ! what ? + +Out , and alas ! that was my lady's voice : +Help ! Help , ho ! help ! O lady , speak again ! +Sweet Desdemona ! O ! sweet mistress , speak . + +A guiltless death I die . + +O ! who hath done this deed ? + +Nobody ; I myself ; farewell : +Commend me to my kind lord . O ! farewell ! + + +Why , how should she be murder'd ? + +Alas ! who knows ? + +You heard her say herself it was not I . + +She said so ; I must needs report the truth . + +She's like a liar gone to burning hell ; +'Twas I that kill'd her . + +O ! the more angel she , +And you the blacker devil . + +She turn'd to folly , and she was a whore . + +Thou dost belie her , and thou art a devil . + +She was false as water . + +Thou art rash as fire to say +That she was false : O ! she was heavenly true . + +Cassio did tup her ; ask thy husband else . +O ! I were damn'd beneath all depth in bell +But that I did proceed upon just grounds +To this extremity . Thy husband knew it all . + +My husband ! + +Thy husband . + +That she was false to wedlock ? + +Ay , with Cassio . Nay , had she been true , +If heaven would make me such another world +Of one entire and perfect chrysolite , +I'd not have sold her for it . + +My husband ! + +Ay , 'twas he that told me first : +An honest man he is , and hates the slime +That sticks on filthy deeds . + +My husband ! + +What needs this iterance , woman ? I say thy husband . + +O mistress ! villany hath made mocks with love . +My husband say that she was false ! + +He , woman ; +I say , thy husband : dost understand the word ? +My friend , thy husband , honest , honest Iago . + +If he say so , may his pernicious soul +Rot half a grain a day ! he lies to the heart : +She was too fond of her most filthy bargain . + +Ha ! + +Do thy worst : +This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven +Than thou wast worthy her . + +Peace ! you were best . + +Thou hast not half the power to do me harm +As I have to be hurt . O gull ! O dolt ! +As ignorant as dirt ! thou hast done a deed , +I care not for thy sword ; I'll make thee known , +Though I lost twenty lives . Help ! help , ho ! help ! +The Moor has kill'd my mistress ! Murder ! murder ! + + +What is the matter ? How now , general ! + +O ! are you come , Iago ? you have done well , +That men must lay their murders on your neck . + +What is the matter ? + +Disprove this villain if thou be'st a man : +He says thou told'st him that his wife was false . +I know thou didst not , thou'rt not such a villain , +Speak , for my heart is full . + +I told him what I thought , and told no more +Than what he found himself was apt and true . + +But did you ever tell him she was false ? + +I did . + +You told a lie , an odious damned lie ; +Upon my soul , a lie , a wicked lie . +She false with Cassio ! Did you say with Cassio ? + +With Cassio , mistress . Go to , charm your tongue . + +I will not charm my tongue ; I am bound to speak . +My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed . + +O heavens forfend ! + +And your reports have set the murder on . + +Nay , stare not , masters ; it is true , indeed . + +'Tis a strange truth . + +O monstrous act ! + +Villany ! villany ! villany ! +I think upon 't , I think , I smell 't ; O villany ! +I thought so then ; I'll kill myself for grief . +O ! villany , villany ! + +What ! are you mad ? I charge you , get you home . + +Good gentlemen , let me have leave to speak : +'Tis proper I obey him , but not now . +Perchance , Iago , I will ne'er go home . + +O ! O ! O ! + + +Nay , lay thee down and roar , +For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent +That e'er did lift up eye . + +O ! she was foul . +I scarce did know you , uncle . There lies your niece , +Whose breath , indeed , these hands have newly stopp'd : +I know this act shows terrible and grim . + +Poor Desdemona ! I am glad thy father's dead . +Thy match was mortal to him , and pure grief +Shore his old thread in twain : did he live now , +This sight would make him do a desperate turn , +Yea , curse his better angel from his side , +And fall to reprobation . + +'Tis pitiful ; but yet Iago knows +That she with Cassio hath the act of shame +A thousand times committed ; Cassio confess'd it : +And she did gratify his amorous works +With that recognizance and pledge of love +Which I first gave her . I saw it in his hand : +It was a handkerchief , an antique token +My father gave my mother . + +O heaven ! O heavenly powers ! + +Come , hold your peace . + +'Twill out , 'twill out ; I hold my peace , air ? no ; +No , I will speak as liberal as the north ; +Let heaven and men and devils , let them all , +All , all , cry shame against me , yet I'll speak . + +Be wise , and get you home . + +I will not . + + +Fie ! +Your sword upon a woman ? + +O thou dull Moor ! that handkerchief thou speak'st of +I found by fortune and did give my husband ; +For often , with a solemn earnestness , +More than , indeed , belong'd to such a trifle , +He begg'd of me to steal it . + +Villanous whore ! + +She give it Cassio ! no , alas ! I found it , +And I did give 't my husband . + +Filth , thou liest ! + +By heaven , I do not , I do not , gentlemen . +O murderous coxcomb ! what should such a fool +Do with so good a wife ? + +Are there no stones in heaven +But what serve for the thunder ? Precious villain ! + + +The woman falls : sure , he has kill'd his wife . + +Ay , ay ; O ! lay me by my mistress' side . + +He's gone ; but his wife's kill'd . + +'Tis a notorious villain . Take you this weapon , +Which I have here recover'd from the Moor . +Come , guard the door without ; let him not pass , +But kill him rather . I'll after that same villain , +For 'tis a damned slave . + + +I am not valiant neither , +But every puny whipster gets my sword . +But why should honour outlive honesty ? +Let it go all . + +What did thy song bode , lady ? +Hark , canst thou hear me ? I will play the swan , +And die in music : +Willow , willow , willow . +Moor , she was chaste ; she lov'd thee , cruel Moor ; +So come my soul to bliss as I speak true ; +So speaking as I think , I die , I die . + + +I have another weapon in this chamber ; +It is a sword of Spain , the ice brook's temper . +O ! here it is . Uncle , I must come forth . + +If thou attempt it , it will cost thee dear : +Thou hast no weapon , and perforce must suffer . + +Look in upon me then , and speak with me , +Or , naked as I am , I will assault thee . + + +What is the matter ? + +Behold ! I have a weapon ; +A better never did itself sustain +Upon a soldier's thigh : I have seen the day , +That with this little arm , and this good sword , +I have made my way through more impediments +Than twenty times your stop : but , O vain boast ! +Who can control his fate ? 'tis not so now . +Be not afraid , though you do see me weapon'd ; +Here is my journey's end , here is my butt , +And very sea-mark of my utmost sail . +Do you go back dismay'd ? 'tis a lost fear ; +Man but a rush against Othello's breast , +And he retires . Where should Othello go ? +Now how dost thou look now ? O ill-starr'd wench ! +Pale as thy smock ! when we shall meet at compt , +This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven , +And fiends will snatch at it . Cold , cold , my girl ! +Even like thy chastity . +O ! cursed , cursed slave . Whip me , ye devils , +From the possession of this heavenly sight ! +Blow me about in winds ! roast me in sulphur ! +Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire ! +O Desdemona ! Desdemona ! dead ! +Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! + + +Where is this rash and most unfortunate man ? + +That's he that was Othello ; here I am . + +Where is that viper ? bring the villain forth . + +I look down towards his feet ; but that's a fable . +If that thou be'st a devil , I cannot kill thee . + + +Wrench his sword from him . + +I bleed , sir ; but not kill'd . + +I am not sorry neither ; I'd have thee live ; +For , in my sense , 'tis happiness to die . + +O thou Othello ! that wert once so good , +Fall'n in the practice of a damned slave , +What shall be said to thee ? + +Why , any thing : +An honourable murderer , if you will ; +For nought did I in hate , but all in honour . + +This wretch hath part confess'd his villany : +Did you and he consent in Cassio's death ? + +Ay . + +Dear general , I never gave you cause . + +I do believe it , and I ask your pardon . +Will you , I pray , demand that demi-devil +Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body ? + +Demand me nothing : what you know , you know : +From this time forth I never will speak word . + +What ! not to pray ? + +Torments will ope your lips . + +Well , thou dost best . + +Sir , you shall understand what hath befall'n , +Which , as I think , you know not . Here is a letter +Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo , +And here another ; the one of them imports +The death of Cassio to be undertook +By Roderigo . + +O villain ! + +Most heathenish and most gross ! + +Now here's another discontented paper , +Found in his pocket too ; and this , it seems , +Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain , +But that , belike , Iago in the interim +Came in and satisfied him . + +O the pernicious caitiff ! +How came you , Cassio , by that handkerchief +That was my wife's ? + +I found it in my chamber ; +And he himself confess'd but even now +That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose +Which wrought to his desire . + +O fool ! fool ! fool ! + +There is besides in Roderigo's letter +How he upbraids Iago that he made him +Brave me upon the watch ; whereon it came +That I was cast : and even but now he spake , +After long seeming dead , Iago hurt him , +Iago set him on . + +You must forsake this room and go with us ; +Your power and your command is taken off , +And Cassio rules in Cyprus . For this slave , +If there be any cunning cruelty +That can torment him much and hold him long , +It shall be his . You shall close prisoner rest . +Till that the nature of your fault be known +To the Venetian state . Come , bring him away . + +Soft you ; a word or two before you go . +I have done the state some service , and they know't ; +No more of that . I pray you , in your letters , +When you shall these unlucky deeds relate , +Speak of me as I am ; nothing extenuate , +Nor set down aught in malice : then , must you speak +Of one that lov'd not wisely but too well ; +Of one not easily jealous , but , being wrought , +Perplex'd in the extreme ; of one whose hand , +Like the base Indian , threw a pearl away +Richer than all his tribe ; of one whose subdu'd eyes +Albeit unused to the melting mood , +Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees +Their med'cinable gum . Set you down this ; +And say besides , that in Aleppo once , +Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk +Beat a Venetian and traduc'd the state , +I took by the throat the circumcised dog , +And smote him thus . + + +O bloody period ! + +All that's spoke is marr'd . + +I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee ; no way but this , + +Killing myself to die upon a kiss . + + +This did I fear , but thought he had no weapon ; +For he was great of heart . + +O Spartan dog ! +More fell than anguish , hunger , or the sea . +Look on the tragic loading of this bed ; +This is thy work ; the object poisons sight ; +Let it be hid . Gratiano , keep the house , +And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor , +For they succeed on you . To you , lord governor , +Remains the censure of this hellish villain , +The time , the place , the torture ; O ! enforce it . +Myself will straight aboard , and to the state +This heavy act with heavy heart relate . + +ROMEO AND JULIET + +Two households , both alike in dignity , +In fair Verona , where we lay our scene , +From ancient grudge break to new mutiny , +Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean . +From forth the fatal loins of these two foes +A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life ; +Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows +Do with their death bury their parents' strife . +The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love , +And the continuance of their parents' rage , +Which , but their children's end , nought could remove , +Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage ; +The which if you with patient ears attend , +What here shall miss , our toil shall strive to mend . + +Gregory , o' my word , we'll not carry coals . + +No . for then we should be colliers . + +I mean , an we be in choler , we'll draw . + +Ay , while you live , draw your neck out o' the collar . + +I strike quickly , being moved . + +But thou art not quickly moved to strike . + +A dog of the house of Montague moves me . + +To move is to stir , and to be valiant is to stand ; therefore , if thou art moved , thou runnest away . + +A dog of that house shall move me to stand : I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's . + +That shows thee a weak slave ; for the weakest goes to the wall . + +'Tis true ; and therefore women , being the weaker vessels , are ever thrust to the wall : therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall , and thrust his maids to the wall . + +The quarrel is between our masters and us their men . + +'Tis all one , I will show myself a tyrant : when I have fought with the men , I will be cruel with the maids ; I will cut off their heads . + +The heads of the maids ? + +Ay , the heads of the maids , or their maidenheads ; take it in what sense thou wilt . + +They must take it in sense that feel it . + +Me they shall feel while I am able to stand ; and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh . + +'Tis well thou art not fish ; if thou hadst , thou hadst been poor John . Draw thy tool ; here comes two of the house of the Montagues . + + +My naked weapon is out ; quarrel , I will back thee . + +How ! turn thy back and run ? + +Fear me not . + +No , marry ; I fear thee ! + +Let us take the law of our sides ; let them begin . + +I will frown as I pass by , and let them take it as they list . + +Nay , as they dare . I will bite my thumb at them ; which is a disgrace to them , if they bear it . + +Do you bite your thumb at us , sir ? + +I do bite my thumb , sir . + +Do you bite your thumb at us , sir ? + +Is the law of our side if I say ay ? + +No . + +No , sir , I do not bite my thumb at you , sir ; but I bite my thumb , sir . + +Do you quarrel , sir ? + +Quarrel , sir ! no , sir . + +If you do , sir , I am for you : I serve as good a man as you . + +No better . + +Well , sir . + +Say , 'better ;' here comes one of my master's kinsmen . + +Yes , better , sir . + +You lie . + +Draw , if you be men . Gregory , remember thy swashing blow . + +Part , fools ! +Put up your swords ; you know not what you do . + +What ! art thou drawn among these heartless hinds ? +Turn-thee , Benvolio , look upon thy death . + +I do but keep the peace : put up thy sword , +Or manage it to part these men with me . + +What ! drawn , and talk of peace ? I hate the word , +As I hate hell , all Montagues , and thee . +Have at thee , coward ! + + +Clubs , bills , and partisans ! strike ! beat them down ! +Down with the Capulets ! down with the Montagues ! + + +What noise is this ? Give me my long sword , ho ! + +A crutch , a crutch ! Why call you for a sword ? + +My sword , I say ! Old Montague is come , +And flourishes his blade in spite of me . + + +Thou villain Capulet ! Hold me not ; let me go . + +Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe . + + +Rebellious subjects , enemies to peace , +Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel , +Will they not hear ? What ho ! you men , you beasts , +That quench the fire of your pernicious rage +With purple fountains issuing from your veins , +On pain of torture , from those bloody hands +Throw your mis-temper'd weapons to the ground , +And hear the sentence of your moved prince . +Three civil brawls , bred of an airy word , +By thee , old Capulet , and Montague , +Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets , +And made Verona's ancient citizens +Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments , +To wield old partisans , in hands as old , +Canker'd with peace , to part your canker'd hate . +If ever you disturb our streets again +Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace . +For this time , all the rest depart away : +You , Capulet , shall go along with me ; +And , Montague , come you this afternoon +To know our further pleasure in this case , +To old Free-town , our common judgment-place . +Once more , on pain of death , all men depart . + + +Who set this ancient quarrel new a-broach ? +Speak , nephew , were you by when it began ? + +Here were the servants of your adversary +And yours close fighting ere I did approach : +I drew to part them ; in the instant came +The fiery Tybalt , with his sword prepar'd , +Which , as he breath'd defiance to my ears , +He swung about his head , and cut the winds , +Who , nothing hurt withal hiss'd him in scorn . +While we were interchanging thrusts and blows , +Came more and more , and fought on part and part , +Till the prince came , who parted either part . + +O ! where is Romeo ? saw you him to-day ? +Right glad I am he was not at this fray . + +Madam , an hour before the worshipp'd sun +Peer'd forth the golden window of the east , +A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad ; +Where , underneath the grove of sycamore +That westward rooteth from the city's side , +So early walking did I see your son : +Towards him I made ; but he was ware of me , +And stole into the covert of the wood : +I , measuring his affections by my own , +That most are busied when they're most alone , +Pursu'd my humour not pursuing his , +And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me . + +Many a morning hath he there been seen , +With tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew , +Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs : +But all so soon as the all-cheering sun +Should in the furthest east begin to draw +The shady curtains from Aurora's bed , +Away from light steals home my heavy son , +And private in his chamber pens himself , +Shuts up his windows , locks fair daylight out , +And makes himself an artificial night . +Black and portentous must this humour prove +Unless good-counsel may the cause remove . + +My noble uncle , do you know the cause ? + +I neither know it nor can learn of him . + +Have you importun'd him by any means ? + +Both by myself and many other friends : +But he , his own affections' counsellor , +Is to himself , I will not say how true , +But to himself so secret and so close , +So far from sounding and discovery , +As is the bud bit with an envious worm , +Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air , +Or dedicate his beauty to the sun . +Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow , +We would as willingly give cure as know . + +See where he comes : so please you , step aside ; +I'll know his grievance , or be much denied . + +I would thou wert so happy by thy stay , +To hear true shrift . Come , madam , let's away . + +Good morrow , cousin . + +Is the day so young ? + +But new struck nine . + +Ay me ! sad hours seem long . +Was that my father that went hence so fast ? + +It was . What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours ? + +Not having that , which having , makes them short . + +In love ? + +Out + +Of love ? + +Out of her favour , where I am in love . + +Alas ! that love , so gentle in his view , +Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof . + +Alas ! that love , whose view is muffled still , +Should , without eyes , see pathways to his will . +Where shall we dine ? O me ! What fray was here ? +Yet tell me not , for I have heard it all . +Here's much to do with hate , but more with love : +Why then , O brawling love ! O loving hate ! +O any thing ! of nothing first create . +O heavy lightness ! serious vanity ! +Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms ! +Feather of lead , bright smoke , cold fire , sick health ! +Still-waking sleep , that is not what it is ! +This love feel I , that feel no love in this . +Dost thou not laugh ? + +No , coz , I rather weep . + +Good heart , at what ? + +At thy good heart's oppression . + +Why , such is love's transgression . +Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast , +Which thou wilt propagate to have it press'd +With more of thine : this love that thou hast shown +Doth add more grief to too much of mine own . +Love is a smoke rais'd with the fume of sighs ; +Being purg'd , a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes ; +Being vex'd , a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears : +What is it else ? a madness most discreet , +A choking gall , and a preserving sweet . +Farewell , my coz . + + +Soft , I will go along ; +An if you leave me so , you do me wrong . + +Tut ! I have lost myself ; I am not here ; +This is not Romeo , he's some other where . + +Tell me in sadness , who is that you love . + +What ! shall I groan and tell thee ? + +Groan ! why , no ; +But sadly tell me who . + +Bid a sick man in sadness make his will ; +Ah ! word ill urg'd to one that is so ill . +In sadness , cousin , I do love a woman . + +I aim'd so near when I suppos'd you lov'd . + +A right good mark-man ! And she's fair I love . + +A right fair mark , fair coz , is soonest hit . + +Well , in that hit you miss : she'll not be hit +With Cupid's arrow ; she hath Dian's wit ; +And , in strong proof of chastity well arm'd , +From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd . +She will not stay the siege of loving terms , +Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes , +Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold : +O ! she is rich in beauty ; only poor +That , when she dies , with beauty dies her store . + +Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste ? + +She hath , and in that sparing makes huge waste ; +For beauty , starv'd with her severity , +Cuts beauty off from all posterity . +She is too fair , too wise , wisely too fair , +To merit bliss by making me despair : +She hath forsworn to love , and in that vow +Do I live dead that live to tell it now . + +Be rul'd by me ; forget to think of her . + +O ! teach me how I should forget to think . + +By giving liberty unto thine eyes : +Examine other beauties . + +'Tis the way +To call hers exquisite , in question more . +These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows +Being black put us in mind they hide the fair ; +He , that is strucken blind cannot forget +The precious treasure of his eyesight lost : +Show me a mistress that is passing fair , +What doth her beauty serve but as a note +Where I may read who pass'd that passing fair ? +Farewell : thou canst not teach me to forget . + +I'll pay that doctrine , or else die in debt . + + +But Montague is bound as well as I , +In penalty alike ; and 'tis not hard , I think , +For men so old as we to keep the peace . + +Of honourable reckoning are you both ; +And pity 'tis you liv'd at odds so long . +But now , my lord , what say you to my suit ? + +But saying o'er what I have said before : +My child is yet a stranger in the world , +She hath not seen the change of fourteen years ; +Let two more summers wither in their pride +Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride . + +Younger than she are happy mothers made . + +And too soon marr'd are those so early made . +Earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she , +She is the hopeful lady of my earth : +But woo her , gentle Paris , get her heart , +My will to her consent is but a part ; +An she agree , within her scope of choice +Lies my consent and fair according voice . +This night I hold an old accustom'd feast , +Whereto I have invited many a guest +Such as I love ; and you , among the store , +One more , most welcome , makes my number more . +At my poor house look to behold this night +Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light : +Such comfort as do lusty young men feel +When well-apparel'd April on the heel +Of limping winter treads , even such delight +Among fresh female buds shall you this night +Inherit at my house ; hear all , all see , +And like her most whose merit most shall be : +Which on more view , of many mine being one +May stand in number , though in reckoning none . +Come , go with me . + +Go , sirrah , trudge about +Through fair Verona ; find those persons out +Whose names are written there , and to them say , +My house and welcome on their pleasure stay . + + +Find them out whose names are written here ! It is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard , and the tailor with his last , the fisher with his pencil , and the painter with his nets ; but I am sent to find those persons , whose names are here writ , and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ . I must to the learned . In good time . + + +Tut ! man , one fire burns out another's burning , +One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish ; +Turn giddy , and be holp by backward turning ; +One desperate grief cures with another's languish : +Take thou some new infection to thy eye , +And the rank poison of the old will die . + +Your plantain leaf is excellent for that . + +For what , I pray thee ? + +For your broken shin . + +Why , Romeo , art thou mad ? + +Not mad , but bound more than a madman is ; +Shut up in prison , kept without my food , +Whipp'd and tormented , and Good den , good fellow . + +God gi' good den . I pray , sir , can you read ? + +Ay , mine own fortune in my misery . + +Perhaps you have learn'd it without book : but , I pray , can you read any thing you see ? + +Ay , if I know the letters and the language . + +Ye say honestly ; rest you merry ! + + +Stay , fellow ; I can read . +Signior Martino and his wife and daughters ; County Anselme and his beauteous sisters ; the lady widow of Vitruvio ; Signior Placentio , and his lovely nieces ; Mercutio and his brother Valentine ; mine uncle Capulet , his wife and daughters ; my fair niece Rosaline ; Livia ; Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt ; Lucio and the lively Helena . +A fair assembly : whither should they come ? + +Up . + +Whither ? + +To supper ; to our house . + +Whose house ? + +My master's . + +Indeed , I should have asked you that before . + +Now I'll tell you without asking . My master is the great rich Capulet ; and if you be not of the house of Montagues , I pray , come and crush a cup of wine . Rest you merry ! + + +At this same ancient feast of Capulet's , +Sups the fair Rosaline , whom thou so lov'st , +With all the admired beauties of Verona : +Go thither ; and , with unattainted eye +Compare her face with some that I shall show , +And I will make thee think thy swan a crow . + +When the devout religion of mine eye +Maintains such falsehood , then turn tears to fires ! +And these , who often drown'd could never die , +Transparent heretics , be burnt for liars ! +One fairer than my love ! the all-seeing sun +Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun . + +Tut ! you saw her fair , none else being by , +Herself pois'd with herself in either eye ; +But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd +Your lady's love against some other maid +That I will show you shining at this feast , +And she shall scant show well that now shows best . + +I'll go along , no such sight to be shown , +But to rejoice in splendour of mine own . + + +Nurse , where's my daughter ? call her forth to me . + +Now , by my maidenhead , at twelve year old , +I bade her come . What , lamb ! what , ladybird ! +God forbid ! where's this girl ? what , Juliet ! + + +How now ! who calls ? + +Your mother . + +Madam , I am here . +What is your will ? + +This is the matter . Nurse , give leave awhile . +We must talk in secret : nurse , come back again ; +I have remember'd me , thou's hear our counsel . +Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age . + +Faith , I can tell her age unto an hour . + +She's not fourteen . + +I'll lay fourteen of my teeth +And yet to my teen be it spoken I have but four +She is not fourteen . How long is it now +To Lammas-tide ? + +A fortnight and odd days . + +Even or odd , of all days in the year , +Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen . +Susan and she God rest all Christian souls ! +Were of an age . Well , Susan is with God ; +She was too good for me . But , as I said , +On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen ; +That shall she , marry ; I remember it well . +'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years ; +And she was wean'd , I never shall forget it , +Of all the days of the year , upon that day ; +For I had then laid wormwood to my dug , +Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall ; +My lord and you were then at Mantua . +Nay , I do bear a brain :but , as I said , +When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple +Of my dug and felt it bitter , pretty fool ! +To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug . +'Shake ,' quoth the dove-house : 'twas no need , I trow , +To bid me trudge : +And since that time it is eleven years ; +For then she could stand high lone ; nay , by the rood , +She could have run and waddled all about ; +For even the day before she broke her brow : +And then my husband God be with his soul ! +A' was a merry man took up the child : +'Yea ,' quoth he , 'dost thou fall upon thy face ? +Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit ; +Wilt thou not , Jule ?' and , by my halidom , +The pretty wretch left crying , and said 'Ay .' +To see now how a jest shall come about ! +I warrant , an I should live a thousand years , +I never should forget it : 'Wilt thou not , Jule ?' quoth he ; +And , pretty fool , it stinted and said 'Ay .' + +Enough of this ; I pray thee , hold thy peace . + +Yes , madam . Yet I cannot choose but laugh , +To think it should leave crying , and say 'Ay .' +And yet , I warrant , it had upon its brow +A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone ; +A parlous knock ; and it cried bitterly : +'Yea ,' quoth my husband , 'fall'st upon thy face ? +Thou wilt fall backward when thou com'st to age ; +Wilt thou not , Jule ?' it stinted and said 'Ay .' + +And stint thou too , I pray thee , nurse , say I . + +Peace , I have done . God mark thee to his grace ! +Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed : +An I might live to see thee married once , +I have my wish . + +Marry , that 'marry' is the very theme +I came to talk of . Tell me , daughter Juliet , +How stands your disposition to be married ? + +It is an honour that I dream not of . + +An honour ! were not I thine only nurse , +I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat . + +Well , think of marriage now ; younger than you , +Here in Verona , ladies of esteem , +Are made already mothers : by my count , +I was your mother much upon these years +That you are now a maid . Thus then in brief , +The valiant Paris seeks you for his love . + +A man , young lady ! lady , such a man +As all the world why , he's a man of wax . + +Verona's summer hath not such a flower . + +Nay , he's a flower ; in faith , a very flower . + +What say you ? can you love the gentleman ? +This night you shall behold him at our feast ; +Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face +And find delight writ there with beauty's pen ; +Examine every married lineament , +And see how one another lends content ; +And what obscur'd in this fair volume lies +Find written in the margent of his eyes . +This precious book of love , this unbound lover , +To beautify him , only lacks a cover : +The fish lives in the sea , and 'tis much pride +For fair without the fair within to hide : +That book in many eyes doth share the glory , +That in gold clasps locks in the golden story : +So shall you share all that he doth possess , +By having him making yourself no less . + +No less ! nay , bigger ; women grow by men . + +Speak briefly , can you like of Paris' love ? + +I'll look to like , if looking liking move ; +But no more deep will I endart mine eye +Than your consent gives strength to make it fly . + + +Madam , the guests are come , supper served up , you called , my young lady asked for , the nurse cursed in the pantry , and everything in extremity . I must hence to wait ; I beseech you , follow straight . + +We follow thee . Juliet , the county stays . + +Go , girl , seek happy nights to happy days . + + +What ! shall this speech be spoke for our excuse , +Or shall we on without apology ? + +The date is out of such prolixity : +We'll have no Cupid hood-wink'd with a scarf , +Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath , +Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper ; +Nor no without-book prologue , faintly spoke +After the prompter , for our entrance : +But , let them measure us by what they will , +We'll measure them a measure , and be gone . + +Give me a torch : I am not for this ambling ; +Being but heavy , I will bear the light . + +Nay , gentle Romeo , we must have you dance . + +Not I , believe me : you have dancing shoes +With nimble soles ; I have a soul of lead +So stakes me to the ground I cannot move . + +You are a lover ; borrow Cupid's wings , +And soar with them above a common bound . + +I am too sore enpierced with his shaft +To soar with his light feathers ; and so bound +I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe : +Under love's heavy burden do I sink . + +And , to sink in it , should you burden love ; +Too great oppression for a tender thing . + +Is love a tender thing ? it is too rough , +Too rude , too boisterous ; and it pricks like thorn . + +If love be rough with you , be rough with love ; +Prick love for pricking , and you beat love down . +Give me a case to put my visage in : + +A visor for a visor ! what care I , +What curious eye doth quote deformities ? +Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me . + +Come , knock and enter ; and no sooner in , +But every man betake him to his legs . + +A torch for me ; let wantons , light of heart , +Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels , +For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase ; +I'll be a candle holder , and look on . +The game was ne'er so fair , and I am done . + +Tut ! dun's the mouse , the constable's own word . +If thou art Dun , we'll draw thee from the mire , +Of save your reverence love , wherein thou stick'st +Up to the ears . Come , we burn daylight , ho ! + +Nay , that's not so . + +I mean , sir , in delay +We waste our lights in vain , like lamps by day . +Take our good meaning , for our judgment sits +Five times in that ere once in our five wits . + +And we mean well in going to this masque ; +But 'tis no wit to go . + +Why , may one ask ? + +I dream'd a dream to-night . + +And so did I . + +Well , what was yours ? + +That dreamers often lie . + +In bed asleep , while they do dream things true . + +O ! then , I see , Queen Mab hath been with you . + +Queen Mab ! What's she ? + +She is the fairies' midwife , and she comes +In shape no bigger than an agate-stone +On the fore-finger of an alderman , +Drawn with a team of little atomies +Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep : +Her waggon-spokes made of long spinners' legs ; +The cover , of the wings of grasshoppers ; +The traces , of the smallest spider's web ; +The collars , of the moonshine's watery beams ; +Her whip , of cricket's bone ; the lash , of film ; +Her waggoner , a small grey-coated gnat , +Not half so big as a round little worm +Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid ; +Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut , +Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub , +Time out o' mind the fairies' coach-makers . +And in this state she gallops night by night +Through lovers' brains , and then they dream of love ; +O'er courtiers' knees , that dream on curtsies straight ; +O'er lawyers' fingers , who straight dream on fees ; +O'er ladies' lips , who straight on kisses dream ; +Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues , +Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are . +Sometimes she gallops o'er a courtier's nose , +And then dreams he of smelling out a suit ; +And sometimes comes she with a tithe pig's tail , +Tickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep , +Then dreams he of another benefice ; +Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck , +And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats , +Of breaches , ambuscadoes , Spanish bladed , +Of healths five fathom deep ; and then anon +Drums in his ear , at which he starts and wakes ; +And , being thus frighted , swears a prayer or two , +And sleeps again . This is that very Mab +That plats the manes of horses in the night ; +And bakes the elf-locks in foul sluttish hairs , +Which once untangled much misfortune bodes ; +This is the hag , when maids lie on their backs , +That presses them and learns them first to bear , +Making them women of good carriage : +This is she + +Peace , peace ! Mercutio , peace ! +Thou talk'st of nothing . + +True , I talk of dreams , +Which are the children of an idle brain , +Begot of nothing but vain fantasy ; +Which is as thin of substance as the air , +And more inconstant than the wind , who woos +Even now the frozen bosom of the north , +And , being anger'd , puffs away from thence , +Turning his face to the dew-dropping south . + +This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves ; +Supper is done , and we shall come too late . + +I fear too early ; for my mind misgives +Some consequence yet hanging in the stars +Shall bitterly begin his fearful date +With this night's revels , and expire the term +Of a despised life clos'd in my breast +By some vile forfeit of untimely death . +But he , that hath the steerage of my course , +Direct my sail !, On , lusty gentlemen . + +Strike , drum . + + +Where's Potpan , that he helps not to take away ? he shift a trencher ! he scrape a trencher ! + +When good manners shall lie all in one or two men's hands , and they unwashed too , 'tis a foul thing . + +Away with the joint-stools , remove the court-cupboard , look to the plate . Good thou , save me a piece of marchpane ; and , as thou lovest me , let the porter let in Susan Grindstone and Nell . Antony ! and Potpan ! + +Ay , boy ; ready . + +You are looked for and called for , asked for and sought for in the great chamber . + +We cannot be here and there too . + +Cheerly , boys ; be brisk awhile , and the longer liver take all . + +Welcome , gentlemen ! ladies that have their toes +Unplagu'd with corns will walk a bout with you . +Ah ha ! my mistresses , which of you all +Will now deny to dance ? she that makes dainty , she , +I'll swear , hath corns ; am I come near ye now ? +Welcome , gentlemen ! I have seen the day +That I have worn a visor , and could tell +A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear +Such as would please ; 'tis gone , 'tis gone , 'tis gone . +You are welcome , gentlemen ! Come , musicians , play . +A hall ! a hall ! give room , and foot it , girls . + +More light , ye knaves ! and turn the tables up , +And quench the fire , the room has grown too hot . +Ah ! sirrah , this unlook'd-for sport comes well . +Nay , sit , nay , sit , good cousin Capulet , +For you and I are past our dancing days ; +How long is 't now since last yourself and I +Were in a mask ? + +By'r Lady , thirty years . + +What , man ! 'tis not so much , 'tis not so much : +'Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio , +Come Pentecost as quickly as it will , +Some five and twenty years ; and then we mask'd . + +'Tis more , 'tis more ; his son is older , sir . +His son is thirty . + +Will you tell me that ? +His son was but a ward two years ago . + +What lady is that which doth enrich the hand +Of yonder knight ? + +I know not , sir . + +O ! she doth teach the torches to burn bright . +It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night +Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear ; +Beauty too rich for use , for earth too dear ! +So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows , +As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows . +The measure done , I'll watch her place of stand , +And , touching hers , make blessed my rude hand . +Did my heart love till now ? forswear it , sight ! +For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night . + +This , by his voice , should be a Montague . +Fetch me my rapier , boy . What ! dares the slave +Come hither , cover'd with an antick face , +To fleer and scorn at our solemnity ? +Now , by the stock and honour of my kin , +To strike him dead I hold it not a sin . + +Why , how now , kinsman ! wherefore storm you so ? + +Uncle , this is a Montague , our foe ; +A villain that is hither come in spite , +To scorn at our solemnity this night . + +Young Romeo , is it ? + +'Tis he , that villain Romeo . + +Content thee , gentle coz , let him alone : +He bears him like a portly gentleman ; +And , to say truth , Verona brags of him +To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth . +I would not for the wealth of all this town +Here in my house do him disparagement ; +Therefore be patient , take no note of him : +It is my will ; the which if thou respect , +Show a fair presence and put off these frowns , +An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast . + +It fits , when such a villain is a guest : +I'll not endure him . + +He shall be endur'd : +What ! goodman boy ; I say , he shall , go to ; +Am I the master here , or you ? go to . +You'll not endure him ! God shall mend my soul ! +You'll make a mutiny among my guests ! +You will set cock-a-hoop ! you'll be the man ! + +Why , uncle , 'tis a shame . + +Go to , go to ; +You are a saucy boy is't so indeed ? +This trick may chance to scathe you .I know what : +You must contrary me ! marry , 'tis time . +Well said , my hearts ! You are a princox ; go : +Be quiet , or More light , more light !For shame ! +I'll make you quiet . What ! cheerly , my hearts ! + +Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting +Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting . +I will withdraw ; but this intrusion shall +Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall . + + +If I profane with my unworthiest hand +This holy shrine , the gentle sin is this ; +My lips , two blushing pilgrims , ready stand +To smooth that rough touch with a tenderkiss . + +Good pilgrim , you do wrong your hand too much , +Which mannerly devotion shows in this ; +For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch , +And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss . + +Have not saints lips , and holy palmers too ? + +Ay , pilgrim , lips that they must use in prayer . + +O ! then , dear saint , let lips do what hands do ; +They pray , grant thou , lest faith turn to despair . + +Saints do not move , though grant for prayers' sake . + +Then move not , while my prayers' effect I take . +Thus from my lips , by thine , my sin is purg'd . + + +Then have my lips the sin that they have took . + +Sin from my lips ? O trespass sweetly urg'd ! +Give me my sin again . + +You kiss by the book . + +Madam , your mother craves a word with you . + +What is her mother ? + +Marry , bachelor , +Her mother is the lady of the house , +And a good lady , and a wise , and virtuous : +I nurs'd her daughter , that you talk'd withal ; +I tell you he that can lay hold of her +Shall have the chinks . + +Is she a Capulet ? +O dear account ! my life is my foe's debt . + +Away , be gone ; the sport is at the best . + +Ay , so I fear ; the more is my unrest . + +Nay , gentlemen , prepare not to be gone ; +We have a trifling foolish banquet towards . +Is it e'en so ? Why then , I thank you all ; +I thank you , honest gentlemen ; good-night . +More torches here ! Come on then , let's to bed . +Ah ! sirrah , by my fay , it waxes late ; +I'll to my rest . + + +Come hither , nurse . What is yond gentleman ? + +The son and heir of old Tiberio . + +What's he that now is going out of door ? + +Marry , that , I think , be young Petruchio . + +What's he , that follows there , that would not dance ? + +I know not . + +Go , ask his name .If he be married , +My grave is like to be my wedding bed . + +His name is Romeo , and a Montague ; +The only son of your great enemy . + +My only love sprung from my only hate ! +Too early seen unknown , and known too late ! +Prodigious birth of love it is to me , +That I must love a loathed enemy . + +What's this , what's this ? + +A rime I learn'd even now +Of one I danc'd withal . + + +Anon , anon ! +Come , let's away ; the strangers are all gone . + +Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie , +And young affection gapes to be his heir ; +That fair for which love groan'd for and would die , +With tender Juliet match'd , is now not fair . +Now Romeo is belov'd and loves again , +Alike bewitched by the charm of looks , +But to his foe suppos'd he must complain , +And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks : +Being held a foe , he may not have access +To breathe such vows as lovers us'd to swear ; +And she as much in love , her means much less +To meet her new-beloved any where : +But passion lends them power , time means , to meet , +Tempering extremity with extreme sweet . + +Can I go forward when my heart is here ? +Turn back , dull earth , and find thy centre out . + +Romeo ! my cousin Romeo ! + +He is wise ; +And , on my life , hath stol'n him home to bed . + +He ran this way , and leap'd this orchard wall : +Call , good Mercutio . + +Nay , I'll conjure too . +Romeo ! humours ! madman ! passion ! lover ! +Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh : +Speak but one rime and I am satisfied ; +Cry but 'Ay me !' couple but 'love' and 'dove ;' +Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word . +One nickname for her purblind son and heir , +Young Adam Cupid , he that shot so trim +When King Cophetua lov'd the beggar-maid . +He heareth not , he stirreth not , he moveth not ; +The ape is dead , and I must conjure him . +I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes , +By her high forehead , and her scarlet lip , +By her fine foot , straight leg , and quivering thigh , +And the demesnes that there adjacent lie , +That in thy likeness thou appear to us . + +An if he hear thee , thou wilt anger him . + +This cannot anger him : 'twould anger him +To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle +Of some strange nature , letting it there stand +Till she had laid it , and conjur'd it down ; +That were some spite : my invocation +Is fair and honest , and in his mistress' name +I conjure only but to raise up him . + +Come , he hath hid himself among these trees , +To be consorted with the humorous night : +Blind is his love and best befits the dark . + +If love be blind , love cannot hit the mark . +Now will he sit under a medlar tree , +And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit +As maids call medlars , when they laugh alone . +O Romeo ! that she were , O ! that she were +An open et c tera , thou a poperin pear . +Romeo , good night : I'll to my truckle-bed ; +This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep : +Come , shall we go ? + +Go , then ; for 'tis in vain +To seek him here that means not to be found . + + +He jests at scars , that never felt a wound . + +But , soft ! what light through yonder window breaks ? +It is the east , and Juliet is the sun ! +Arise , fair sun , and kill the envious moon , +Who is already sick and pale with grief , +That thou her maid art far more fair than she : +Be not her maid , since she is envious ; +Her vestal livery is but sick and green , +And none but fools do wear it ; cast it off . +It is my lady ; O ! it is my love : +O ! that she knew she were . +She speaks , yet she says nothing : what of that ? +Her eye discourses ; I will answer it . +I am too bold , 'tis not to me she speaks : +Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven , +Having some business , do entreat her eyes +To twinkle in their spheres till they return . +What if her eyes were there , they in her head ? +The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars +As daylight doth a lamp ; her eyes in heaven +Would through the airy region stream so bright +That birds would sing and think it were not night . +See ! how she leans her cheek upon her hand : +O ! that I were a glove upon that hand , +That I might touch that cheek . + +Ay me ! + +She speaks : +O ! speak again , bright angel ; for thou art +As glorious to this night , being o'er my head , +As is a winged messenger of heaven +Unto the white-upturned wond'ring eyes +Of mortals , that fall back to gaze on him +When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds , +And sails upon the bosom of the air . + +O Romeo , Romeo ! wherefore art thou Romeo ? +Deny thy father , and refuse thy name ; +Or , if thou wilt not , be but sworn my love , +And I'll no longer be a Capulet . + +Shall I hear more , or shall I speak at this ? + +'Tis but thy name that is my enemy ; +Thou art thyself though , not a Montague . +What's Montague ? it is nor hand , nor foot , +Nor arm , nor face , nor any other part +Belonging to a man . O ! be some other name : +What's in a name ? that which we call a rose +By any other name would smell as sweet ; +So Romeo would , were he not Romeo call'd , +Retain that dear perfection which he owes +Without that title . Romeo , doff thy name ; +And for that name , which is no part of thee , +Take all myself . + +I take thee at thy word . +Call me but love , and I'll be new baptiz'd ; +Henceforth I never will be Romeo . + +What man art thou , that , thus bescreen'd in night , +So stumblest on my counsel ? + +By a name +I know not how to tall thee who I am : +My name , dear saint , is hateful to myself , +Because it is an enemy to thee : +Had I it written , I would tear the word . + +My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words +Of that tongue's uttering , yet I know the sound : +Art thou not Romeo , and a Montague ? + +Neither , fair maid , if either thee dislike . + +How cam'st thou hither , tell me , and wherefore ? +The orchard walls are high and hard to climb , +And the place death , considering who thou art , +If any of my kinsmen find thee here . + +With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls ; +For stony limits cannot hold love out , +And what love can do that dares love attempt ; +Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me . + +If they do see thee they will murder thee . + +Alack ! there lies more peril in thine eye +Than twenty of their swords : look thou but sweet , +And I am proof against their enmity . + +I would not for the world they saw thee here . + +I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes ; +And but thou love me , let them find me here ; +My life were better ended by their hate , +Than death prorogued , wanting of thy love . + +By whose direction found'st thou out this place ? + +By Love , that first did prompt me to inquire ; +He lent me counsel , and I lent him eyes . +I am no pilot ; yet , wert thou as far +As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea , +I would adventure for such merchandise . + +Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face , +Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek +For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night . +Fain would I dwell on form , fain , fain deny +What I have spoke : but farewell compliment ! +Dost thou love me ? I know thou wilt say 'Ay ;' +And I will take thy word ; yet , if thou swear'st , +Thou mayst prove false ; at lovers' perjuries , +They say , Jove laughs . O gentle Romeo ! +If thou dost love , pronounce it faithfully : +Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won , +I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay , +So thou wilt woo ; but else , not for the world . +In truth , fair Montague , I am too fond , +And therefore thou mayst think my haviour light : +But trust me , gentleman , I'll prove more true +Than those that have more cunning to be strange . +I should have been more strange , I must confess , +But that thou over-heard'st , ere I was 'ware , +My true love's passion : therefore pardon me , +And not impute this yielding to light love , +Which the dark night hath so discovered . + +Lady , by yonder blessed moon I swear +That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops , + +O ! swear not by the moon , the inconstant moon , +That monthly changes in her circled orb , +Lest that thy love prove likewise variable . + +What shall I swear by ? + +Do not swear at all ; +Or , if thou wilt , swear by thy gracious self , +Which is the god of my idolatry , +And I'll believe thee . + +If my heart's dear love + +Well , do not swear . Although I joy in thee , +I have no joy of this contract to-night : +It is too rash , too unadvis'd , too sudden ; +Too like the lightning , which doth cease to be +Ere one can say it lightens . Sweet , good-night ! +This bud of love , by summer's ripening breath , +May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet . +Good-night , good-night ! as sweet repose and rest +Come to thy heart as that within my breast ! + +O ! wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied ? + +What satisfaction canst thou have to-night ? + +The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine . + +I gave thee mine before thou didst request it ; +And yet I would it were to give again . + +Wouldst thou withdraw it ? for what purpose , love ? + +But to be frank , and give it thee again . +And yet I wish but for the thing I have : +My bounty is as boundless as the sea , +My love as deep ; the more I give to thee , +The more I have , for both are infinite . + +I hear some noise within ; dear love , adieu ! +Anon , good nurse ! Sweet Montague , be true . +Stay but a little , I will come again . + + +O blessed , blessed night ! I am afeard , +Being in night , all this is but a dream , +Too flattering-sweet to be substantial . + + +Three words , dear Romeo , and good-night indeed . +If that thy bent of love be honourable , +Thy purpose marriage , send me word to-morrow , +By one that I'll procure to come to thee , +Where , and what time , thou wilt perform the rite ; +And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay , +And follow thee my lord throughout the world . + +Madam ! + +I come , anon .But if thou mean'st not well , +I do beseech thee , + +Madam ! + +By and by ; I come : +To cease thy suit , and leave me to my grief : +To-morrow will I send . + +So thrive my soul , + +A thousand times good-night ! + + +A thousand times the worse , to want thy light . +Love goes toward love , as schoolboys from their books ; +But love from love , toward school with heavy looks . + +Hist ! Romeo , hist ! O ! for a falconer's voice , +To lure this tassel-gentle back again . +Bondage is hoarse , and may not speak aloud , +Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies , +And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine , +With repetition of my Romeo's name . + +It is my soul that calls upon my name : +How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night , +Like softest music to attending ears ! + +Romeo ! + +My dear ! + +At what o'clock to-morrow +Shall I send to thee ? + +At the hour of nine . + +I will not fail ; 'tis twenty years till then . +I have forgot why I did call thee back . + +Let me stand here till thou remember it . + +I shall forget , to have thee still stand there , +Remembering how I love thy company . + +And I'll still stay , to have thee still forget , +Forgetting any other home but this . + +'Tis almost morning ; I would have thee gone ; +And yet no further than a wanton's bird , +Who lets it hop a little from her hand , +Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves , +And with a silk thread plucks it back again , +So loving-jealous of his liberty . + +I would I were thy bird . + +Sweet , so would I : +Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing . +Good-night , good-night ! parting is such sweet sorrow +That I shall say good-night till it be morrow . + + +Sleep dwell upon thine eyes , peace in thy breast ! +Would I were sleep and peace , so sweet to rest ! +Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell , +His help to crave , and my dear hap to tell . + + +The grey-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning night , +Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light , +And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels +From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels : +Now , ere the sun advance his burning eye +The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry , +I must up-fill this osier cage of ours +With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers . +The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb ; +What is her burying grave that is her womb , +And from her womb children of divers kind +We sucking on her natural bosom find , +Many for many virtues excellent , +None but for some , and yet all different . +O ! mickle is the powerful grace that lies +In herbs , plants , stones , and their true qualities : +For nought so vile that on the earth doth live +But to the earth some special good doth give , +Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use +Revolts from true birth , stumbling on abuse : +Virtue itself turns vice , being misapplied , +And vice sometime's by action dignified . +Within the infant rind of this weak flower +Poison hath residence and medicine power : +For this , being smelt , with that part cheers each part ; +Being tasted , slays all senses with the heart . +Two such opposed foes encamp them still +In man as well as herbs , grace and rude will ; +And where the worser is predominant , +Full soon the canker death eats up that plant . + + +Good morrow , father ! + +Benedicite ! +What early tongue so sweet saluteth me ? +Young son , it argues a distemper'd head +So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed : +Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye , +And where care lodges , sleep will never lie ; +But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain +Doth couch his limbs , there golden sleep doth reign : +Therefore thy earliness doth me assure +Thou art up-rous'd by some distemperature ; +Or if not so , then here I hit it right , +Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night . + +That last is true ; the sweeter rest was mine . + +God pardon sin ! wast thou with Rosaline ? + +With Rosaline , my ghostly father ? no ; +I have forgot that name , and that name's woe . + +That's my good son : but where hast thou been , then ? + +I'll tell thee , ere thou ask it me again . +I have been feasting with mine enemy , +Where on a sudden one hath wounded me , +That's by me wounded : both our remedies +Within thy help and holy physic lies : +I bear no hatred , blessed man ; for , lo ! +My intercession likewise steads my foe . + +Be plain , good son , and homely in thy drift ; +Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift . + +Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set +On the fair daughter of rich Capulet : +As mine on hers , so hers is set on mine ; +And all combin'd , save what thou must combine +By holy marriage : when and where and how +We met we woo'd and made exchange of vow , +I'll tell thee as we pass ; but this I pray , +That thou consent to marry us to-day . + +Holy Saint Francis ! what a change is here ; +Is Rosaline , whom thou didst love so dear , +So soon forsaken ? young men's love then lies +Not truly in their hearts , but in their eyes . +Jesu Maria ! what a deal of brine +Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline ; +How much salt water thrown away in waste , +To season love , that of it doth not taste ! +The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears , +Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears ; +Lo ! here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit +Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet . +If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine , +Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline : +And art thou chang'd ? pronounce this sentence then : +Women may fall , when there's no strength in men . + +Thou chidd'st me oft for loving Rosaline . + +For doting , not for loving , pupil mine . + +And bad'st me bury love . + +Not in a grave , +To lay one in , another out to have . + +I pray thee , chide not ; she , whom I love now +Doth grace for grace and love for love allow ; +The other did not so . + +O ! she knew well +Thy love did read by rote and could not spell . +But come , young waverer , come , go with me , +In one respect I'll thy assistant be ; +For this alliance may so happy prove , +To turn your households' rancour to pure love . + +O ! let us hence ; I stand on sudden haste . + +Wisely and slow ; they stumble that run fast . + + +Where the devil should this Romeo be ? +Came he not home to-night ? + +Not to his father's ; I spoke with his man . + +Why that same pale hard-hearted wench , that Rosaline , +Torments him so , that he will sure run mad . + +Tybalt , the kinsman of old Capulet , +Hath sent a letter to his father's house . + +A challenge , on my life . + +Romeo will answer it . + +Any man that can write may answer a letter . + +Nay , he will answer the letter's master , how he dares , being dared . + +Alas ! poor Romeo , he is already dead ; stabbed with a white wench's black eye ; shot through the ear with a love-song ; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft ; and is he a man to encounter Tybalt ? + +Why , what is Tybalt ? + +More than prince of cats , I can tell you . O ! he is the courageous captain of compliments . He fights as you sing prick-song , keeps time , distance , and proportion ; rests me his minim rest , one , two , and the third in your bosom ; the very butcher of a silk button , a duellist , a duellist ; a gentleman of the very first house , of the first and second cause . Ah ! the immortal passado ! the punto reverso ! the hay ! + +The what ? + +The pox of such antick , lisping , affecting fantasticoes , these new tuners of accents !'By Jesu , a very good blade !a very tall man ! a very good whore .' Why , is not this a lamentable thing , grandsire , that we should be thus afflicted with these strange flies , these fashion-mongers , these pardonnez-mois , who stand so much on the new form that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench ? O , their bons , their bons ! + + +Here comes Romeo , here comes Romeo . + +Without his roe , like a dried herring . O flesh , flesh , how art thou fishified ! Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in : Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench ; marry , she had a better love to be-rime her ; Dido a dowdy ; Cleopatra a gipsy ; Helen and Hero hildings and harlots ; Thisbe , a grey eye or so , but not to the purpose . Signior Romeo , bon jour ! there's a French salutation to your French slop . You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night . + +Good morrow to you both . What counterfeit did I give you ? + +The slip , sir , the slip ; can you not conceive ? + +Pardon , good Mercutio , my business was great ; and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy . + +That's as much as to say , such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams . + +Meaning to curtsy . + +Thou hast most kindly hit it . + +A most courteous exposition . + +Nay , I am the very pink of courtesy . + +Pink for flower . + +Right . + +Why , then , is my pump well flowered . + +Well said ; follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out the pump , that , when the single sole of it is worn , the jest may remain after the wearing sole singular . + +O single-soled jest ! solely singular for the singleness . + +Come between us , good Benvolio ; my wit faints . + +Switch and spurs , switch and spurs ; or I'll cry a match . + +Nay , if thy wits run the wild-goose chase , I have done , for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than , I am sure , I have in my whole five . Was I with you there for the goose ? + +Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast not here for the goose . + +I will bite thee by the ear for that jest . + +Nay , good goose , bite not . + +Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting ; it is a most sharp sauce . + +And is it not then well served in to a sweet goose ? + +O ! here's a wit of cheveril , that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad . + +I stretch it out for that word 'broad ;' which added to the goose , proves thee far and wide a broad goose . + +Why , is not this better now than groaning for love ? now art thou sociable , now art thou Romeo ; now art thou what thou art , by art as well as by nature : for this drivelling love is like a great natural , that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole . + +Stop there , stop there . + +Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair . + +Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large . + +O ! thou art deceived ; I would have made it short ; for I was come to the whole depth of my tale , and meant indeed to occupy the argument no longer . + +Here's goodly gear ! + + +A sail , a sail ! + +Two , two ; a shirt and a smock . + +Peter ! + +Anon ! + +My fan , Peter . + +Good Peter , to hide her face ; for her fan's the fairer face . + +God ye good morrow , gentlemen . + +God ye good den , fair gentlewoman . + +Is it good den ? + +'Tis no less , I tell you ; for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon . + +Out upon you ! what a man are you ! + +One , gentlewoman , that God hath made for himself to mar . + +By my troth , it is well said ; 'for himself to mar ,' quoth a' ?Gentlemen , can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo ? + +I can tell you ; but young Romeo will be older when you have found him than he was when you sought him : I am the youngest of that name , for fault of a worse . + +You say well . + +Yea ! is the worst well ? very well took , i' faith ; wisely , wisely . + +If you be he , sir , I desire some confidence with you . + +She will indite him to some supper . + +A bawd , a bawd , a bawd ! So ho ! + +What hast thou found ? + +No hare , sir ; unless a hare , sir , in a lenten pie , that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent . + + +An old hare hoar , and an old hare hoar , +Is very good meat in Lent : +But a hare that is hoar , is too much for a score , +When it hoars ere it be spent . + +Romeo , will you come to your father's ? we'll to dinner thither . + +I will follow you . + +Farewell , ancient lady ; farewell , Lady , lady , lady . + + +Marry , farewell ! I pray you , sir , what saucy merchant was this , that was so full of his ropery ? + +A gentleman , nurse , that loves to hear himself talk , and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month . + +An a' speak anything against me , I'll take him down , an a' were lustier than he is , and twenty such Jacks ; and if I cannot , I'll find those that shall . Scurvy knave ! I am none of his flirt-gills ; I am none of his skeins-mates . + +And thou must stand by too , and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure ! + +I saw no man use you at his pleasure ; if I had , my weapon should quickly have been out , I warrant you . I dare draw as soon as another man , if I see occasion in a good quarrel , and the law on my side . + +Now , afore God , I am so vexed , that every part about me quivers . Scurvy knave ! Pray you , sir , a word ; and as I told you , my young lady bade me inquire you out ; what she bid me say I will keep to myself ; but first let me tell ye , if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise , as they say , it were a very gross kind of behaviour , as they say : for the gentlewoman is young ; and , therefore , if you should deal double with her , truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman , and very weak dealing . + +Nurse , commend me to thy lady and mistress . I protest unto thee , + +Good heart ! and i' faith , I will tell her as much . Lord , Lord ! she will be a joyful woman . + +What wilt thou tell her , nurse ? thou dost not mark me . + +I will tell her , sir , that you do protest ; which , as I take it , is a gentlemanlike offer . + +Bid her devise +Some means to come to shrift this afternoon ; +And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell , +Be shriv'd and married . Here is for thy pains . + +No , truly , sir ; not a penny . + +Go to ; I say , you shall . + +This afternoon , sir ? well , she shall be there . + +And stay , good nurse ; behind the abbey wall : +Within this hour my man shall be with thee , +And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair ; +Which to the high top-gallant of my joy +Must be my convoy in the secret night . +Farewell ! Be trusty , and I'll quit thy pains . +Farewell ! Commend me to thy mistress . + +Now God in heaven bless thee ! Hark you , sir . + +What sayst thou , my dear nurse ? + +Is your man secret ? Did you ne'er hear say , +Two may keep counsel , putting one away ? + +I warrant thee my man's as true as steel . + +Well , sir ; my mistress is the sweetest lady Lord , Lord !when 'twas a little prating thing ,O ! there's a nobleman in town , one Paris , that would fain lay knife aboard ; but she , good soul , had as lief see a toad , a very toad , as see him . I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man ; but , I'll warrant you , when I say so , she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world . Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter ? + +Ay , nurse : what of that ? both with an R . + +Ah ! mocker ; that's the dog's name . R is for the No ; I know it begins with some other letter : and she had the prettiest sententious of it , of you and rosemary , that it would do you good to hear it . + +Commend me to thy lady . + +Ay , a thousand times . + +Peter ! + +Anon ! + +Before , and apace . + + +The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse ; +In half an hour she promis'd to return . +Perchance she cannot meet him : that's not so . +O ! she is lame : love's heralds should be thoughts , +Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams , +Driving back shadows over lowering hills : +Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw Love , +And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings . +Now is the sun upon the highmost hill +Of this day's journey , and from nine till twelve +Is three long hours , yet she is not come . +Had she affections , and warm youthful blood , +She'd be as swift in motion as a ball ; +My words would bandy her to my sweet love , +And his to me : +But old folks , many feign as they were dead ; +Unwieldy , slow , heavy and pale as lead . + + +O God ! she comes . O honey nurse ! what news ? + +Hast thou met with him ? Send thy man away . + +Peter , stay at the gate . + + +Now , good sweet nurse ; O Lord ! why look'st thou sad ? +Though news be sad , yet tell them merrily ; +If good , thou sham'st the music of sweet news +By playing it to me with so sour a face . + +I am aweary , give me leave awhile : +Fie , how my bones ache ! What a jaunce have I had ! + +I would thou hadst my bones , and I thy news . +Nay , come , I pray thee , speak ; good , good nurse , speak . + +Jesu ! what haste ? can you not stay awhile ? +Do you not see that I am out of breath ? + +How art thou out of breath when thou hast breath +To say to me that thou art out of breath ? +The excuse that thou dost make in this delay +Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse . +Is thy news good , or bad ? answer to that ; +Say either , and I'll stay the circumstance : +Let me be satisfied , is 't good or bad ? + +Well , you have made a simple choice ; you know not how to choose a man : Romeo ! no , not he ; though his face be better than any man's , yet his leg excels all men's ; and for a hand , and a foot , and a body , though they be not to be talked on , yet they are past compare . He is not the flower of courtesy , but , I'll warrant him , as gentle as a lamb . Go thy ways , wench ; serve God . What ! have you dined at home ? + +No , no : but all this did I know before . +What says he of our marriage ? what of that ? + +Lord ! how my head aches ; what a head have I ! +It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces . +My back o' t'other side ; O ! my back , my back ! +Beshrew your heart for sending me about , +To catch my death with jauncing up and down . + +I' faith , I am sorry that thou art not well . +Sweet , sweet , sweet nurse , tell me , what says my love ? + +Your love says , like an honest gentleman , and a courteous , and a kind , and a handsome , and , I warrant , a virtuous ,Where is your mother ? + +Where is my mother ! why , she is within ; +Where should she be ? How oddly thou repliest : +'Your love says , like an honest gentleman , +Where is your mother ?' + +O ! God's lady dear , +Are you so hot ? Marry , come up , I trow ; +Is this the poultice for my aching bones ? +Henceforward do your messages yourself . + +Here's such a coil ! come , what says Romeo ? + +Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day ? + +I have . + +Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence' cell , +There stays a husband to make you a wife : +Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks , +They'll be in scarlet straight at any news . +Hie you to church ; I must another way , +To fetch a ladder , by the which your love +Must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark ; +I am the drudge and toil in your delight , +But you shall bear the burden soon at night . +Go ; I'll to dinner : hie you to the cell . + +Hie to high fortune ! Honest nurse , farewell . + + +So smile the heaven upon this holy act , +That after hours with sorrow chide us not ! + +Amen , amen ! but come what sorrow can , +It cannot countervail the exchange of joy +That one short minute gives me in her sight : +Do thou but close our hands with holy words , +Then love-devouring death do what he dare ; +It is enough I may but call her mine . + +These violent delights have violent ends , +And in their triumph die , like fire and powder , +Which , as they kiss consume : the sweetest honey +Is loathsome in his own deliciousness +And in the taste confounds the appetite : +Therefore love moderately ; long love doth so ; +Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow . + + +Here comes the lady : O ! so light a foot +Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint : +A lover may bestride the gossamer +That idles in the wanton summer air , + +And yet not fall ; so light is vanity . + +Good even to my ghostly confessor . + +Romeo shall thank thee , daughter , for us both . + +As much to him , else are his thanks too much . + +Ah ! Juliet , if the measure of thy joy +Be heap'd like mine , and that thy skill be more +To blazon it , then sweeten with thy breath +This neighbour air , and let rich music's tongue +Unfold the imagin'd happiness that both +Receive in either by this dear encounter . + +Conceit , more rich in matter than in words , +Brags of his substance , not of ornament : +They are but beggars that can count their worth ; +But my true love is grown to such excess +I cannot sum up half my sum of wealth . + +Come , come with me , and we will make short work ; +For , by your leaves , you shall not stay alone +Till holy church incorporate two in one . + + +I pray thee , good Mercutio , let's retire : +The day is hot , the Capulets abroad , +And , if we meet , we shall not 'scape a brawl ; +For now , these hot days , is the mad blood stirring . + +Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the table and says , 'God send me no need of thee !' and by the operation of the second cup draws him on the drawer , when , indeed , there is no need . + +Am I like such a fellow ? + +Come , come , thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy ; and as soon moved to be moody , and as soon moody to be moved . + +And what to ? + +Nay , an there were two such , we should have none shortly , for one would kill the other . Thou ! why , thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast . Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts , having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes . What eye , but such an eye , would spy out such a quarrel ? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat , and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling . Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street , because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun . Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter ? with another , for tying his new shoes with old riband ? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling ! + +An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art , any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter . + +The fee-simple ! O simple ! + +By my head , here come the Capulets . + +By my heel , I care not . + + +Follow me close , for I will speak to them . Gentlemen , good den ! a word with one of you . + +And but one word with one of us ? Couple it with something ; make it a word and a blow . + +You shall find me apt enough to that , sir , an you will give me occasion . + +Could you not take some occasion without giving ? + +Mercutio , thou consort'st with Romeo , + +Consort ! What ! dost thou make us minstrels ? an thou make minstrels of us , look to hear nothing but discords : here's my fiddlestick ; here's that shall make you dance . 'Zounds ! consort ! + +We talk here in the public haunt of men : +Either withdraw unto some private place , +Or reason coldly of your grievances , +Or else depart ; here all eyes gaze on us . + +Men's eyes were made to look , and let them gaze ; +I will not budge for no man's pleasure , I . + + +Well , peace be with you , sir . Here comes my man . + +But I'll be hang'd , sir , if he wear your livery : +Marry , go before to field , he'll be your follower ; +Your worship in that sense may call him 'man .' + +Romeo , the hate I bear thee can afford +No better term than this ,thou art a villain . + +Tybalt , the reason that I have to love thee +Doth much excuse the appertaining rage +To such a greeting ; villain am I none , +Therefore farewell ; I see thou know'st me not . + +Boy , this shall not excuse the injuries +That thou hast done me ; therefore turn and draw . + +I do protest I never injur'd thee , +But love thee better than thou canst devise , +Till thou shalt know the reason of my love : +And so , good Capulet , which name I tender +As dearly as my own , be satisfied . + +O calm , dishonourable , vile submission ! +Alla stoccata carries it away . + +Tybalt , you rat-catcher , will you walk ? + +What wouldst thou have with me ? + +Good king of cats , nothing but one of your nine lives , that I mean to make bold withal , and , as you shall use me hereafter , dry-beat the rest of the eight . Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears ? make haste , lest mine be about your ears ere it be out . + +I am for you . + +Gentle Mercutio , put thy rapier up . + +Come , sir , your passado . + + +Draw , Benvolio ; beat down their weapons . +Gentlemen , for shame , forbear this outrage ! +Tybalt , Mercutio , the prince expressly hath +Forbidden bandying in Verona streets . +Hold , Tybalt ! good Mercutio ! + + +I am hurt . +A plague o' both your houses ! I am sped . +Is he gone , and hath nothing ? + +What ! art thou hurt ? + +Ay , ay , a scratch , a scratch ; marry , 'tis enough . +Where is my page ? Go , villain , fetch a surgeon . + + +Courage , man ; the hurt cannot be much . + +No , 'tis not so deep as a well , nor so wide as a church door ; but 'tis enough , 'twill serve : ask for me to-morrow , and you shall find me a grave man . I am peppered , I warrant , for this world . A plague o' both your houses ! 'Zounds , a dog , a rat , a mouse , a cat , to scratch a man to death ! a braggart , a rogue , a villain , that fights by the book of arithmetic ! Why the devil came you between us ? I was hurt under your arm . + +I thought all for the best . + +Help me into some house , Benvolio , +Or I shall faint . A plague o' both your houses ! +They have made worms' meat of me : I have it , +And soundly too :your houses ! + + +This gentleman , the prince's near ally , +My very friend , hath got his mortal hurt +In my behalf ; my reputation stain'd +With Tybalt's slander , Tybalt , that an hour +Hath been my kinsman . O sweet Juliet ! +Thy beauty hath made me effeminate , +And in my temper soften'd valour's steel ! + + +O Romeo , Romeo ! brave Mercutio's dead ; +That gallant spirit hath aspir'd the clouds , +Which too untimely here did scorn the earth . + +This day's black fate on more days doth depend ; +This but begins the woe others must end . + + +Here comes the furious Tybalt back again . + +Alive ! in triumph ! and Mercutio slain ! +Away to heaven , respective lenity , +And fire-ey'd fury be my conduct now ! +Now , Tybalt , take the villain back again +That late thou gav'st me ; for Mercutio's soul +Is but a little way above our heads , +Staying for thine to keep him company : +Either thou , or I , or both , must go with him . + +Thou wretched boy , that didst consort him here , +Shalt with him hence . + +This shall determine that . + + +Romeo , away ! be gone ! +The citizens are up , and Tybalt slain . +Stand not amaz'd : the prince will doom thee death +If thou art taken : hence ! be gone ! away ! + +O ! I am Fortune's fool . + +Why dost thou stay ? + +Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio ? +Tybalt , that murderer , which way ran he ? + +There lies that Tybalt . + +Up , sir , go with me . +I charge thee in the prince's name , obey . + + +Where are the vile beginners of this fray ? + +O noble prince ! I can discover all +The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl : +There lies the man , slain by young Romeo , +That slew thy kinsman , brave Mercutio . + +Tybalt , my cousin ! O my brother's child ! +O prince ! O cousin ! husband ! O ! the blood is spill'd +Of my dear kinsman . Prince , as thou art true , +For blood of ours shed blood of Montague . +O cousin , cousin ! + +Benvolio , who began this bloody fray ? + +Tybalt , here slain , whom Romeo's hand did slay : +Romeo , that spoke him fair , bade him bethink +How nice the quarrel was , and urg'd withal +Your high displeasure : all this , uttered +With gentle breath , calm look , knees humbly bow'd , +Could not take truce with the unruly spleen +Of Tybalt deaf to peace , but that he tilts +With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast , +Who , all as hot , turns deadly point to point , +And , with a martial scorn , with one hand beats +Cold death aside , and with the other sends +It back to Tybalt , whose dexterity +Retorts it : Romeo he cries aloud , +'Hold , friends ! friends , part !' and , swifter than his tongue , +His agile arm beats down their fatal points , +And 'twixt them rushes ; underneath whose arm +An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life +Of stout Mercutio , and then Tybalt fled ; +But by and by comes back to Romeo , +Who had but newly entertain'd revenge , +And to 't they go like lightning , for , ere I . +Could draw to part them , was stout Tybalt slain , +And , as he fell , did Romeo turn and fly . +This is the truth , or let Benvolio die . + +He is a kinsman to the Montague ; +Affection makes him false , he speaks not true : +Some twenty of them fought in this black strife +And all those twenty could but kill one life . +I beg for justice , which thou , prince , must give ; +Romeo slew Tybalt , Romeo must not live . + +Romeo slew him , he slew Mercutio ; +Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe ? + +Not Romeo , prince , he was Mercutio's friend , +His fault concludes but what the law should end , +The life of Tybalt . + +And for that offence +Immediately we do exile him hence : +I have an interest in your hate's proceeding , +My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding ; +But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine +That you shall all repent the loss of mine . +I will be deaf to pleading and excuses ; +Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses ; +Therefore use none ; let Romeo hence in haste , +Else , when he's found , that hour is his last . +Bear hence this body and attend our will : +Mercy but murders , pardoning those that kill . + + +Gallop apace , you fiery-footed steeds , +Towards Ph bus' lodging ; such a waggoner +As Ph thon would whip you to the west , +And bring in cloudy night immediately . +Spread thy close curtain , love-performing night ! +That runaway's eyes may wink , and Romeo +Leap to these arms , untalk'd of and unseen ! +Lovers can see to do their amorous rites +By their own beauties ; or , if love be blind , +It best agrees with night . Come , civil night , +Thou sober-suited matron , all in black , +And learn me how to lose a winning match , +Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods : +Hood my unmann'd blood , bating in my cheeks , +With thy black mantle ; till strange love , grown bold , +Think true love acted simple modesty . +Come , night ! come , Romeo ! come , thou day in night ! +For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night , +Whiter than new snow on a raven's back . +Come , gentle night ; come , loving , black-brow'd night , +Give me my Romeo : and , when he shall die , +Take him and cut him out in little stars , +And he will make the face of heaven so fine +That all the world will be in love with night , +And pay no worship to the garish sun . +O ! I have bought the mansion of a love , +But not possess'd it , and , though I am sold , +Not yet enjoy'd . So tedious is this day +As is the night before some festival +To an impatient child that hath new robes +And may not wear them . O ! here comes my nurse , + + +And she brings news ; and every tongue that speaks +But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence . +Now nurse , what news ? What hast thou there ? the cords + +That Romeo bade thee fetch ? + +Ay , ay , the cords . + + +Ah me ! what news ? why dost thou wring thy hands ? + +Ah well-a-day ! he's dead , he's dead , he's dead ! +We are undone , lady , we are undone ! +Alack the day ! he's gone , he's killed , he's dead ! + +Can heaven be so envious ? + +Romeo can , +Though heaven cannot . O ! Romeo , Romeo ; +Who ever would have thought it ? Romeo ! + +What devil art thou that dost torment me thus ? +This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell . +Hath Romeo slain himself ? say thou but 'I ,' +And that bare vowel , 'I ,' shall poison more +Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice : +I am not I , if there be such an 'I ;' +Or those eyes shut that make thee answer 'I .' +If he be slain , say 'I ;' or if not 'no :' +Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe . + +I saw the wound , I saw it with mine eyes , +God save the mark ! here on his manly breast : +A piteous corse , a bloody piteous corse ; +Pale , pale as ashes , all bedaub'd in blood , +All in gore blood ; I swounded at the sight . + +O break , my heart !poor bankrupt , break at once ! +To prison , eyes , ne'er look on liberty ! +Vile earth , to earth resign ; end motion here ; +And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier ! + +O Tybalt , Tybalt ! the best friend I had : +O courteous Tybalt ! honest gentleman ! +That ever I should live to see thee dead ! + +What storm is this that blows so contrary ? +Is Romeo slaughter'd , and is Tybalt dead ? +My dearest cousin , and my dearer lord ? +Then , dreadful trumpet , sound the general doom ! +For who is living if those two are gone ? + +Tybalt is gone , and Romeo banished ; +Romeo , that kill'd him , he is banished . + +O God ! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood ? + +It did , it did ; alas the day ! it did . + +O serpent heart , hid with a flowering face ! +Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave ? +Beautiful tyrant ! fiend angelical ! +Dove-feather'd raven ! wolvish-ravening lamb ! +Despised substance of divinest show ! +Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st ; +A damned saint , an honourable villain ! +O , nature ! what hadst thou to do in hell +When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend +In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh ? +Was ever book containing such vile matter +So fairly bound ? O ! that deceit should dwell +In such a gorgeous palace . + +There's no trust , +No faith , no honesty in men ; all naught , +All perjur'd , all dissemblers , all forsworn . +Ah ! where's my man ? give me some aqua vit : +These griefs , these woes , these sorrows make me old . +Shame come to Romeo ! + +Blister'd be thy tongue +For such a wish ! he was not born to shame : +Upon his brow shame is asham'd to sit ; +For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd +Sole monarch of the universal earth . +O ! what a beast was I to chide at him . + +Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin ? + +Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband ? +Ah ! poor my lord , what tongue shall smooth thy name , +When I , thy three-hours wife , have mangled it ? +But , wherefore , villain , didst thou kill my cousin ? +That villain cousin would have kill'd my husband : +Back , foolish tears , back to your native spring ; +Your tributary drops belong to woe , +Which you , mistaking , offer up to joy . +My husband lives , that Tybalt would have slain ; +And Tybalt's dead , that would have slain my husband : +All this is comfort ; wherefore weep I then ? +Some word there was , worser than Tybalt's death , +That murder'd me : I would forget it fain ; +But O ! it presses to my memory , +Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds . +'Tybalt is dead , and Romeo banished !' +That 'banished ,' that one word 'banished ,' +Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts . Tybalt's death +Was woe enough , if it had ended there : +Or , if sour woe delights in fellowship , +And needly will be rank'd with other griefs , +Why follow'd not , when she said 'Tybalt's dead ,' +Thy father , or thy mother , nay , or both , +Which modern lamentation might have mov'd ? +But with a rearward following Tybalt's death , +'Romeo is banished !' to speak that word +Is father , mother , Tybalt , Romeo , Juliet , +All slain , all dead : 'Romeo is banished !' +There is no end , no limit , measure , bound +In that word's death ; no words can that woe sound . +Where is my father and my mother , nurse ? + +Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse : +Will you go to them ? I will bring you thither . + +Wash they his wounds with tears : mine shall be spent , +When theirs are dry , for Romeo's banishment . +Take up those cords . Poor ropes , you are beguil'd , +Both you and I , for Romeo is exil'd : +He made you for a highway to my bed , +But I , a maid , die maiden-widowed . +Come , cords ; come , nurse ; I'll to my wedding bed ; +And death , not Romeo , take my maidenhead ! + +Hie to your chamber ; I'll find Romeo +To comfort you : I wot well where he is . +Hark ye , your Romeo will be here to-night : +I'll to him ; he is hid at Laurence' cell . + +O ! find him ; give this ring to my true knight , +And bid him come to take his last farewell . + + +Romeo , come forth ; come forth , thou fearful man : +Affliction is enamour'd of thy parts , +And thou art wedded to calamity . + + +Father , what news ? what is the prince's doom ? +What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand , +That I yet know not ? + +Too familiar +Is my dear son with such sour company : +I bring thee tidings of the prince's doom . + +What less than doomsday is the prince's doom ? + +A gentler judgment vanish'd from his lips , +Not body's death , but body's banishment . + +Ha ! banishment ! be merciful , say 'death ;' +For exile hath more terror in his look , +Much more than death : do not say 'banishment .' + +Hence from Verona art thou banished . +Be patient , for the world is broad and wide . + +There is no world without Verona walls , +But purgatory , torture , hell itself . +Hence banished is banish'd from the world , +And world's exile is death ; then 'banished ,' +Is death mis-term'd . Calling death 'banished ,' +Thou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe , +And smil'st upon the stroke that murders me . + +O deadly sin ! O rude unthankfulness ! +Thy fault our law calls death ; but the kind prince , +Taking thy part , hath rush'd aside the law , +And turn'd that black word death to banishment : +This is dear mercy , and thou seest it not . + +'Tis torture , and not mercy : heaven is here , +Where Juliet lives ; and every cat and dog +And little mouse , every unworthy thing , +Live here in heaven and may look on her ; +But Romeo may not : more validity , +More honourable state , more courtship lives +In carrion flies than Romeo : they may seize +On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand , +And steal immortal blessing from her lips , +Who , even in pure and vestal modesty , +Still blush , as thinking their own kisses sin ; +Flies may do this , but I from this must fly : +They are free men , but I am banished . +And sayst thou yet that exile is not death ? +Hadst thou no poison mix'd , no sharp-ground knife , +No sudden mean of death , though ne'er so mean , +But 'banished' to kill me ? 'Banished !' +O friar ! the damned use that word in hell ; +Howlings attend it : how hast thou the heart , +Being a divine , a ghostly confessor , +A sin-absolver , and my friend profess'd , +To mangle me with that word 'banished ?' + +Thou fond mad man , hear me but speak a word . + +O ! thou wilt speak again of banishment . + +I'll give thee armour to keep off that word ; +Adversity's sweet milk , philosophy , +To comfort thee , though thou art banished . + +Yet 'banished !' Hang up philosophy ! +Unless philosophy can make a Juliet , +Displant a town , reverse a prince's doom , +It helps not , it prevails not : talk no more . + +O ! then I see that madmen have no ears . + +How should they , when that wise men have no eyes ? + +Let me dispute with thee of thy estate . + +Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel : +Wert thou as young as I , Juliet thy love , +An hour but married , Tybalt murdered , +Doting like me , and like me banished , +Then mightst thou speak , then mightst thou tear thy hair , +And fall upon the ground , as I do now , +Taking the measure of an unmade grave . + + +Arise ; one knocks : good Romeo , hide thyself . + +Not I ; unless the breath of heart-sick groans , +Mist-like , infold me from the search of eyes . + + +Hark ! how they knock . Who's there ? Romeo arise ; +Thou wilt be taken . Stay awhile ! Stand up ; + +Run to my study . By and by ! God's will ! +What wilfulness is this ! I come , I come ! + +Who knocks so hard ? whence come you ? what's your will ? + +Let me come in , and you shall know my errand : +I come from Lady Juliet . + +Welcome , then . + + +O holy friar ! O ! tell me , holy friar , +Where is my lady's lord ? where's Romeo ? + +There on the ground , with his own tears made drunk . + +O ! he is even in my mistress' case , +Just in her case ! + +O woeful sympathy ! +Piteous predicament ! Even so lies she , +Blubbering and weeping , weeping and blubbering . +Stand up , stand up ; stand , an you be a man : +For Juliet's sake , for her sake , rise and stand ; +Why should you fall into so deep an O ? + +Nurse ! + +Ah , sir ! ah , sir ! Well , death's the end of all . + +Spak'st thou of Juliet ? how is it with her ? +Doth she not think me an old murderer , +Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joy . +With blood remov'd but little from her own ? +Where is she ? and how doth she ? and what says +My conceal'd lady to our cancell'd love ? + +O ! she says nothing , sir , but weeps and weeps ; +And now falls on her bed ; and then starts up , +And Tybalt calls , and then on Romeo cries , +And then down falls again . + +As if that name , +Shot from the deadly level of a gun , +Did murder her ; as that name's cursed hand +Murder'd her kinsman . O ! tell me , friar , tell me , +In what vile part of this anatomy +Doth my name lodge ? tell me , that I may sack +The hateful mansion . + + +Hold thy desperate hand : +Art thou a man ? thy form cries out thou art : +Thy tears are womanish ; thy wild acts denote +The unreasonable fury of a beast : +Unseemly woman in a seeming man ; +Or ill-beseeming beast in seeming both ! +Thou hast amaz'd me : by my holy order , +I thought thy disposition better temper'd . +Hast thou slain Tybalt ? wilt thou slay thyself ? +And slay thy lady that in thy life lives , +By doing damned hate upon thyself ? +Why rail'st thou on thy birth , the heaven , and earth ? +Since birth , and heaven , and earth , all three do meet +In thes at once , which thou at once wouldst lose . +Fie , fie ! thou sham'st thy shape , thy love , thy wit , +Which , like a usurer , abound'st in all , +And usest none in that true use indeed +Which should bedeck thy shape , thy love , thy wit . +Thy noble shape is but a form of wax , +Digressing from the valour of a man ; +Thy dear love , sworn , but hollow perjury , +Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish ; +Thy wit , that ornament to shape and love , +Misshapen in the conduct of them both , +Like powder in a skilless soldier's flask , +To set a-fire by thine own ignorance , +And thou dismember'd with thine own defence . +What ! rouse thee , man ; thy Juliet is alive , +For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead ; +There art thou happy : Tybalt would kill thee , +But thou slew'st Tybalt ; there art thou happy too : +The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend , +And turns it to exile ; there art thou happy : +A pack of blessings light upon thy back ; +Happiness courts thee in her best array ; +But , like a misbehav'd and sullen wench , +Thou pout'st upon thy fortune and thy love . +Take heed , take heed , for such die miserable . +Go , get thee to thy love , as was decreed , +Ascend her chamber , hence and comfort her ; +But look thou stay not till the watch be set , +For then thou canst not pass to Mantua ; +Where thou shalt live , till we can find a time +To blaze your marriage , reconcile your friends , +Beg pardon of the prince , and call thee back +With twenty hundred thousand times more joy +Than thou went'st forth in lamentation . +Go before , nurse : commend me to thy lady ; +And bid her hasten all the house to bed , +Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto : +Romeo is coming . + +O Lord ! I could have stay'd here all the night +To hear good counsel : O ! what learning is . +My lord , I'll tell my lady you will come . + +Do so , and bid my sweet prepare to chide . + +Here , sir , a ring she bid me give you , sir . +Hie you , make haste , for it grows very late . + + +How well my comfort is reviv'd by this ! + +Go hence ; good-night ; and here stands all your state : +Either be gone before the watch be set , +Or by the break of day disguis'd from hence : +Sojourn in Mantua ; I'll find out your man , +And he shall signify from time to time +Every good hap to you that chances here . +Give me thy hand ; 'tis late : farewell ; goodnight . + +But that a joy past joy calls out on me , +It were a grief so brief to part with thee : +Farewell . + + +Things have fall'n out , sir , so unluckily , +That we have had no time to move our daughter : +Look you , she lov'd her kinsman Tybalt dearly , +And so did I : well , we were born to die . +'Tis very late , she'll not come down to night : +I promise you , but for your company , +I would have been a-bed an hour ago . + +These times of woe afford no time to woo . +Madam , good-night : commend me to your daughter . + +I will , and know her mind early to-morrow ; +To-night she's mew'd up to her heaviness . + +Sir Paris , I will make a desperate tender +Of my child's love : I think she will be rul'd +In all respects by me ; nay , more , I doubt it not . +Wife go you to her ere you go to bed ; +Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love ; +And bid her , mark you me , on Wednesday next +But , soft ! what day is this ? + +Monday , my lord . + +Monday ! ha , ha ! Well , Wednesday is too soon ; +O' Thursday let it be : o' Thursday , tell her , +She shall be married to this noble earl . +Will you be ready ? do you like this haste ? +We'll keep no great ado ; a friend or two ; +For , hark you , Tybalt being slain so late , +It may be thought we held him carelessly , +Being our kinsman , if we revel much . +Therefore we'll have some half a dozen friends , +And there an end . But what say you to Thursday ? + +My lord , I would that Thursday were to-morrow . + +Well , get you gone : o' Thursday be it then . +Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed , +Prepare her , wife , against this wedding-day . +Farewell , my lord . Light to my chamber , ho ! +Afore me ! it is so very very late , +That we may call it early by and by . +Good-night . + + +Wilt thou be gone ? it is not yet near day : +It was the nightingale , and not the lark , +That pierc'd the fearful hollow of thine ear ; +Nightly she sings on you pomegranate tree : +Believe me , love , it was the nightingale . + +It was the lark , the herald of the morn , +No nightingale : look , love , what envious streaks +Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east : +Night's candles are burnt out , and jocund day +Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops : +I must be gone and live , or stay and die . + +Yon light is not daylight , I know it , I : +It is some meteor that the sun exhales , +To be to thee this night a torch-bearer , +And light thee on thy way to Mantua : +Therefore stay yet ; thou need'st not to be gone . + +Let me be ta'en , let me be put to death ; +I am content , so thou wilt have it so . +I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye , +'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow ; +Nor that is not the lark , whose notes do beat +The vaulty heaven so high above our heads : +I have more care to stay than will to go : +Come , death , and welcome ! Juliet wills it so . +How is't , my soul ? let's talk ; it is not day . + +It is , it is ; hie hence , be gone , away ! +It is the lark that sings so out of tune , +Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps . +Some say the lark makes sweet division ; +This doth not so , for she divideth us : +Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes ; +O ! now I would they had chang'd voices too , +Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray , +Hunting thee hence with hunts-up to the day . +O ! now be gone ; more light and light it grows . + +More light and light ; more dark and dark our woes . + + +Madam ! + +Nurse ! + +Your lady mother is coming to your chamber : +The day is broke ; be wary , look about . + + +Then , window , let day in , and let life out . + +Farewell , farewell ! one kiss , and I'll descend . + + +Art thou gone so ? my lord , my love , my friend ! +I must hear from thee every day in the hour , +For in a minute there are many days : +O ! by this count I shall be much in years +Ere I again behold my Romeo . + +Farewell ! +I will omit no opportunity +That may convey my greetings , love , to thee . + +O ! think'st thou we shall ever meet again ? + +I doubt it not ; and all these woes shall serve +For sweet discourses in our time to come . + +O God ! I have an ill-divining soul : +Methinks I see thee , now thou art so low , +As one dead in the bottom of a tomb : +Either my eyesight fails , or thou look'st pale . + +And trust me , love , in my eye so do you : +Dry sorrow drinks our blood . Adieu ! adieu ! + + +O fortune , fortune ! all men call thee fickle : +If thou art fickle , what dost thou with him +That is renown'd for faith ? Be fickle , fortune ; +For then , I hope , thou wilt not keep him long , +But send him back . + +Ho , daughter ! are you up ? + +Who is't that calls ? is it my lady mother ? +Is she not down so late , or up so early ? +What unaccustom'd cause procures her hither ? + + +Why , how now , Juliet ! + +Madam , I am not well . + +Evermore weeping for your cousin's death ? +What ! wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears ? +And if thou couldst , thou couldst not make him live ; +Therefore , have done : some grief shows much of love ; +But much of grief shows still some want of wit . + +Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss . + +So shall you feel the loss , but not the friend +Which you weep for . + +Feeling so the loss , +I cannot choose but ever weep the friend . + +Well , girl , thou weep'st not so much for his death , +As that the villain lives which slaughter'd him . + +What villain , madam ? + +That same villain , Romeo . + +Villain and he be many miles asunder . +God pardon him ! I do , with all my heart ; +And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart . + +That is because the traitor murderer lives . + +Ay , madam , from the reach of these my hands . +Would none but I might venge my cousin's death ! + +We will have vengeance for it , fear thou not : +Then weep no more . I'll send to one in Mantua , +Where that same banish'd runsgate doth live ; +Shall give him such an unaccustom'd dram +That he shall soon keep Tybalt company : +And then , I hope , thou wilt be satisfied . + +Indeed , I never shall be satisfied +With Romeo , till I behold him dead +Is my poor heart so for a kinsman vex'd : +Madam , if you could find out but a man +To bear a poison , I would temper it , +That Romeo should , upon receipt thereof , +Soon sleep in quiet . O ! how my heart abhors +To hear him nam'd , and cannot come to him , +To wreak the love I bore my cousin Tybalt +Upon his body that hath slaughter'd him . + +Find thou the means , and I'll find such a man . +But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings , girl . + +And joy comes well in such a needy time : +What are they , I beseech your ladyship ? + +Well , well , thou hast a careful father , child ; +One who , to put thee from thy heaviness , +Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy +That thou expect'st not , nor I look'd not for . + +Madam , in happy time , what day is that ? + +Marry , my child , early next Thursday morn +The gallant , young , and noble gentleman , +The County Paris , at Saint Peter's church , +Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride . + +Now , by Saint Peter's church , and Peter too , +He shall not make me there a joyful bride . +I wonder at this haste ; that I must wed +Ere he that should be husband comes to woo . +I pray you , tell my lord and father , madam , +I will not marry yet ; and , when I do , I swear , +It shall be Romeo , whom you know I hate , +Rather than Paris . These are news indeed ! + +Here comes your father ; tell him so yourself , +And see how he will take it at your hands . + + +When the sun sets , the air doth drizzle dew ; +But for the sunset of my brother's son +It rains downright . +How now ! a conduit , girl ? what ! still in tears ? +Evermore showering ? In one little body +Thou counterfeit'st a bark , a sea , a wind ; +For still thy eyes , which I may call the sea , +Do ebb and flow with tears ; the bark thy body is , +Sailing in this salt flood ; the winds , thy sighs ; +Who , raging with thy tears , and they with them , +Without a sudden calm , will overset +Thy tempest-tossed body . How now , wife ! +Have you deliver'd to her our decree ? + +Ay , sir ; but she will none , she gives you thanks . +I would the fool were married to her grave ! + +Soft ! take me with you , take me with you , wife . +How ! will she none ? doth she not give us thanks ? +Is she not proud ? doth she not count her bless'd , +Unworthy as she is , that we have wrought +So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom ? + +Not proud , you have ; but thankful , that you have : +Proud can I never be of what I hate ; +But thankful even for hate , that is meant love . + +How now ! how now , chop-logic ! What is this ? +'Proud ,' and 'I thank you ,' and 'I thank you not ;' +And yet 'not proud ;' mistress minion , you , +Thank me no thankings , nor proud me no prouds , +But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next , +To go with Paris to Saint Peter's church , +Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither . +Out , you green-sickness carrion ! out , you baggage ! +You tallow face ! + +Fie , fie ! what , are you mad ? + +Good father , I beseech you on my knees , +Hear me with patience but to speak a word . + +Hang thee , young baggage ! disobedient wretch ! +I tell thee what , get thee to church o' Thursday , +Or never after look me in the face . +Speak not , reply not , do not answer me ; +My fingers itch .Wife , we scarce thought us bless'd +That God had lent us but this only child ; +But now I see this one is one too much , +And that we have a curse in having her . +Out on her , hilding ! + +God in heaven bless her ! +You are to blame , my lord , to rate her so . + +And why , my lady wisdom ? hold your tongue , +Good prudence ; smatter with your gossips , go . + +I speak no treason . + +O ! God ye good den . + +May not one speak ? + +Peace , you mumbling fool ; +Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl ; +For here we need it not . + +You are too hot . + +God's bread ! it makes me mad . +Day , night , hour , tide , time , work , play , +Alone , in company , still my care hath been +To have her match'd ; and having now provided +A gentleman of noble parentage , +Of fair demesnes , youthful , and nobly train'd , +Stuff'd , as they say , with honourable parts , +Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man ; +And then to have a wretched puling fool , +A whining mammet , in her fortune's tender , +To answer 'I'll not wed ,' 'I cannot love ,' +'I am too young ,' 'I pray you , pardon me ;' +But , an you will not wed , I'll pardon you : +Graze where you will , you shall not house with me : +Look to't , think on't , I do not use to jest . +Thursday is near ; lay hand on heart , advise . +An you be mine , I'll give you to my friend ; +An you be not , hang , beg , starve , die in the streets , +For , by my soul , I'll ne'er acknowledge thee , +Nor what is mine shall never do thee good . +Trust to't , bethink you ; I'll not be forsworn . + + +Is there no pity sitting in the clouds , +That sees into the bottom of my grief ? +O ! sweet my mother , cast me not away : +Delay this marriage for a month , a week ; +Or , if you do not , make the bridal bed +In that dim monument where Tybalt lies . + +Talk not to me , for I'll not speak a word . +Do as thou wilt , for I have done with thee . + + +O God ! O nurse ! how shall this be prevented ? +My husband is on earth , my faith in heaven ; +How shall that faith return again to earth , +Unless that husband send it me from heaven +By leaving earth ? comfort me , counsel me . +Alack , alack ! that heaven should practise stratagems +Upon so soft a subject as myself ! +What sayst thou ? hast thou not a word of joy ? +Some comfort , nurse ? + +Faith , here it is . Romeo +Is banished ; and all the world to nothing +That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you ; +Or , if he do , it needs must be by stealth . +Then , since the case so stands as now it doth , +I think it best you married with the county . +O ! he's a lovely gentleman ; +Romeo's a dishclout to him : an eagle , madam , +Hath not so green , so quick , so fair an eye +As Paris hath . Beshrew my very heart , +I think you are happy in this second match , +For it excels your first : or if it did not , +Your first is dead ; or 'twere as good he were , +As living here and you no use of him . + +Speakest thou from thy heart ? + +And from my soul too ; +Or else beshrew them both . + +Amen ! + +What ! + +Well , thou hast comforted me marvellous much . +Go in ; and tell my lady I am gone , +Having displeas'd my father , to Laurence' cell , +To make confession and to be absolv'd . + +Marry , I will ; and this is wisely done . + + +Ancient damnation ! O most wicked fiend ! +Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn , +Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue +Which she hath prais'd him with above compare +So many thousand times ? Go , counsellor ; +Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain . +I'll to the friar , to know his remedy : +If all else fail , myself have power to die . + + +On Thursday , sir ? the time is very short . + +My father Capulet will have it so ; +And I am nothing slow to slack his haste . + +You say you do not know the lady's mind : +Uneven is the course , I like it not . + +Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death , +And therefore have I little talk'd of love ; +For Venus smiles not in a house of tears . +Now , sir , her father counts it dangerous +That she doth give her sorrow so much sway , +And in his wisdom hastes our marriage +To stop the inundation of her tears ; +Which , too much minded by herself alone , +May be put from her by society . +Now do you know the reason of this haste . + +I would I knew not why it should be slow'd . +Look , sir , here comes the lady towards my cell . + + +Happily met , my lady and my wife ! + +That may be , sir , when I may be a wife . + +That may be must be , love , on Thursday next . + +What must be shall be . + +That's a certain text . + +Come you to make confession to this father ? + +To answer that , I should confess to you . + +Do not deny to him that you love me . + +I will confess to you that I love him . + +So will ye , I am sure , that you love me . + +If I do so , it will be of more price , +Being spoke behind your back , than to your face . + +Poor soul , thy face is much abus'd with tears . + +The tears have got small victory by that ; +For it was bad enough before their spite . + +Thou wrong'st it , more than tears , with that report . + +That is no slander , sir , which is a truth ; +And what I spake , I spake it to my face . + +Thy face is mine , and thou hast slander'd it . + +It may be so , for it is not mine own . +Are you at leisure , holy father , now ; +Or shall I come to you at evening mass ? + +My leisure serves me , pensive daughter , now : +My lord , we must entreat the time alone . + +God shield , I should disturb devotion ! +Juliet , on Thursday early will I rouse you : +Till then , adieu ; and keep this holy kiss . + + +O ! shut the door ! and when thou hast done so , +Come weep with me ; past hope , past cure , past help ! + +Ah ! Juliet , I already know thy grief ; +It strains me past the compass of my wits : +I hear thou must , and nothing may prorogue it , +On Thursday next be married to this county . + +Tell me not , friar , that thou hear'st of this , +Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it : +If , in thy wisdom , thou canst give no help , +Do thou but call my resolution wise , +And with this knife I'll help it presently , +God join'd my heart and Romeo's , thou our hands ; +And ere this hand , by thee to Romeo seal'd , +Shall be the label to another deed , +Or my true heart with treacherous revolt +Turn to another , this shall slay them both . +Therefore , out of thy long-experienc'd time , +Give me some present counsel ; or behold , +'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife +Shall play the umpire , arbitrating that +Which the commission of thy years and art +Could to no issue of true honour bring . +Be not so long to speak ; I long to die , +If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy . + +Hold , daughter ; I do spy a kind of hope , +Which craves as desperate an execution +As that is desperate which we would prevent . +If , rather than to marry County Paris , +Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself , +Then is it likely thou wilt undertake +A thing like death to chide away this shame , +That cop'st with death himself to 'scape from it ; +And , if thou dar'st , I'll give thee remedy . + +O ! bid me leap , rather than marry Paris , +From off the battlements of yonder tower ; +Or walk in thievish ways ; or bid me lurk +Where serpents are ; chain me with roaring bears ; +Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house , +O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones , +With reeky shanks , and yellow chapless skulls ; +Or bid me go into a new-made grave +And hide me with a dead man in his shroud ; +Things that , to hear them told , have made me tremble ; +And I will do it without fear or doubt , +To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love . + +Hold , then ; go home , be merry , give consent +To marry Paris : Wednesday is to-morrow ! +To-morrow night look that thou lie alone , +Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber : +Take thou this vial , being then in bed , +And this distilled liquor drink thou off ; +When presently through all thy veins shall run +A cold and drowsy humour , for no pulse +Shall keep his native progress , but surcease ; +No warmth , no breath , shall testify thou liv'st ; +The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade +To paly ashes ; thy eyes' windows fall , +Like death , when he shuts up the day of life ; +Each part , depriv'd of supple government , +Shall , stiff and stark and cold , appear like death ; +And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death +Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours , +And then awake as from a pleasant sleep . +Now , when the bridegroom in the morning comes +To rouse thee from thy bed , there art thou dead : +Then as the manner of our country is +In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier , +Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault +Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie . +In the mean time , against thou shalt awake , +Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift , +And hither shall he come ; and he and I +Will watch thy waking , and that very night +Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua . +And this shall free thee from this present shame ; +If no unconstant toy , nor womanish fear , +Abate thy valour in the acting it . + +Give me , give me ! O ! tell me not of fear ! + +Hold ; get you gone , be strong and prosperous +In this resolve . I'll send a friar with speed +To Mantua , with my letters to thy lord . + +Love , give me strength ! and strength shall help afford . +Farewell , dear father ! + + +So many guests invite as here are writ . + +Sirrah , go hire me twenty cunning cooks . + +You shall have none ill , sir ; for +I'll try if they can lick their fingers . + +How canst thou try them so ? + +Marry , sir , 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers : therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me . + +Go , be gone . + +We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time . +What ! is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence ? + +Ay , forsooth . + +Well , he may chance to do some good on her : +A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is . + +See where she comes from shrift with merry look . + + +How now , my headstrong ! where have you been gadding ? + +Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin +Of disobedient opposition +To you and your behests ; and am enjoin'd +By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here , +And beg your pardon . Pardon , I beseech you ! +Henceforward I am ever rul'd by you . + +Send for the county ; go tell him of this : +I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning . + +I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell ; +And gave him what becomed love I might , +Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty . + +Why , I'm glad on't ; this is well : stand up : +This is as't should be . Let me see the county ; +Ay , marry , go , I say , and fetch him hither . +Now , afore God ! this reverend holy friar , +All our whole city is much bound to him . + +Nurse , will you go with me into my closet , +To help me sort such needful ornaments +As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow ? + +No , not till Thursday ; there is time enough . + +Go , nurse , go with her . We'll to church to-morrow . + + +We shall be short in our provision : +'Tis now near night . + +Tush ! I will stir about , +And all things shall be well , I warrant thee , wife : +Go thou to Juliet , help to deck up her ; +I'll not to bed to-night ; let me alone ; +I'll play the housewife for this once . What , ho ! +They are all forth : well , I will walk myself +To County Paris ; to prepare him up +Against to-morrow . My heart is wondrous light , +Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd . + + +Ay , those attires are best ; but , gentle nurse , +I pray thee , leave me to myself to-night ; +For I have need of many orisons +To move the heavens to smile upon my state , +Which , well thou know'st , is cross and full of sin . + + +What ! are you busy , ho ? need you my help ? + +No , madam ; we have cull'd such necessaries +As are behoveful for our state to-morrow : +So please you , let me now be left alone , +And let the nurse this night sit up with you ; +For , I am sure , you have your hands full all +In this so sudden business . + +Good-night : +Get thee to bed , and rest ; for thou hast need . + + +Farewell ! God knows when we shall meet again . +I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins , +That almost freezes up the heat of life : +I'll call them back again to comfort me : +Nurse ! What should she do here ? +My dismal scene I needs must act alone . +Come , vial . +What if this mixture do not work at all ? +Shall I be married then to-morrow morning ? +No , no ; this shall forbid it : lie thou there . + +What if it be a poison , which the friar +Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead , +Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd +Because he married me before to Romeo ? +I fear it is : and yet , methinks , it should not , +For he hath still been tried a holy man . +I will not entertain so bad a thought . +How if , when I am laid into the tomb , +I wake before the time that Romeo +Come to redeem me ? there's a fearful point ! +Shall I not then be stifled in the vault , +To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in , +And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes ? +Or , if I live , is it not very like , +The horrible conceit of death and night , +Together with the terror of the place , +As in a vault , an ancient receptacle , +Where , for these many hundred years , the bones +Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd ; +Where bloody Tybalt , yet but green in earth , +Lies festering in his shroud ; where , as they say , +At some hours in the night spirits resort : +Alack , alack ! is it not like that I , +So early waking , what with loathsome smells , +And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth , +That living mortals , hearing them , run mad : +O ! if I wake , shall I not be distraught , +Environed with all these hideous fears , +And madly play with my forefathers' joints , +And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud ? +And , in this rage , with some great kinsman's bone , +As with a club , dash out my desperate brains ? +O , look ! methinks I see my cousin's ghost +Seeking out Romeo , that did spit his body +Upon a rapier's point . Stay , Tybalt , stay ! +Romeo , I come ! this do I drink to thee . + + +Hold , take these keys , and fetch more spices , nurse . + +They call for dates and quinces in the pastry . + + +Come , stir , stir , stir ! the second cock hath crow'd , +The curfew bell hath rung , 'tis three o'clock : +Look to the bak'd meats , good Angelica : +Spare not for cost . + +Go , go , you cot-quean , go ; +Get you to bed ; faith , you'll be sick to-morrow +For this night's watching . + +No , not a whit ; what ! I have watch'd ere now +All night for lesser cause , and ne'er been sick . + +Ay , you have been a mouse-hunt in your time ; +But I will watch you from such watching now . + + +A jealous-hood , a jealous-hood ! + + +Now , fellow , + +What's there ? + +Things for the cook , sir ; but I know not what . + +Make haste , make haste . + +Sirrah , fetch drier logs : +Call Peter , he will show thee where they are . + +I have a head , sir , that will find out logs , +And never trouble Peter for the matter . + + +Mass , and well said ; a merry whoreson , ha ! +Thou shalt be logger-head . Good faith ! 'tis day : +The county will be here with music straight , +For so he said he would . + +I hear him near . +Nurse ! Wife ! what , ho ! What , nurse , I say ! + + +Go waken Juliet , go and trim her up ; +I'll go and chat with Paris . Hie , make haste , +Make haste ; the bridegroom he is come already : +Make haste , I say . + +Mistress ! what , mistress ! Juliet ! fast , I warrant her , she : +Why , lamb ! why , lady ! fie , you slug-a-bed ! +Why , love , I say ! madam ! sweet-heart ! why , bride ! +What ! not a word ? you take your pennyworths now : +Sleep for a week ; for the next night , I warrant , +The County Paris hath set up his rest , +That you shall rest but little . God forgive me , +Marry , and amen , how sound is she asleep ! +I needs must wake her . Madam , madam , madam ! +Ay , let the county take you in your bed ; +He'll fright you up , i' faith . Will it not be ? +What , dress'd ! and in your clothes ! and down again ! +I must needs wake you . Lady ! lady ! lady ! +Alas ! alas ! Help ! help ! my lady's dead ! +O ! well-a-day , that ever I was born . +Some aqua-vit , ho ! My lord ! my lady ! + + +What noise is here ? + +O lamentable day ! + +What is the matter ? + +Look , look ! O heavy day ! + +O me , O me ! my child , my only life , +Revive , look up , or I will die with thee ! +Help , help ! Call help . + + +For shame ! bring Juliet forth ; her lord is come . + +She's dead , deceas'd , she's dead ; alack the day ! + +Alack the day ! she's dead , she's dead ! she's dead ! + +Ha ! let me see her . Out , alas ! she's cold ; +Her blood is settled , and her joints are stiff ; +Life and these lips have long been separated : +Death lies on her like an untimely frost +Upon the sweetest flower of all the field . + +O lamentable day ! + +O woeful time ! + +Death , that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail , +Ties up my tongue , and will not let me speak . + + +Come , is the bride ready to go to church ? + +Ready to go , but never to return . +O son ! the night before thy wedding-day +Hath Death lain with thy wife . There she lies , +Flower as she was , deflowered by him . +Death is my son-in-law , Death is my heir ; +My daughter he hath wedded : I will die , +And leave him all ; life , living , all is Death's ! + +Have I thought long to see this morning's face , +And doth it give me such a sight as this ? + +Accurs'd , unhappy , wretched , hateful-day ! +Most miserable hour , that e'er time saw +In lasting labour of his pilgrimage ! +But one , poor one , one poor and loving child , +But one thing to rejoice and solace in , +And cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight ! + +O woe ! O woeful , woeful , woeful day ! +Most lamentable day , most woeful day , +That ever , ever , I did yet behold ! +O day ! O day ! O day ! O hateful day ! +Never was seen so black a day as this : +O woeful day , O woeful day ! + +Beguil'd , divorced , wronged , spited , slain ! +Most detestable death , by thee beguil'd , +By cruel cruel thee quite overthrown ! +O love ! O life ! not life , but love in death ! + +Despis'd , distressed , hated , martyr'd , kill'd ! +Uncomfortable time , why cam'st thou now +To murder , murder our solemnity ? +O child ! O child ! my soul , and not my child ! +Dead art thou ! dead ! alack , my child is dead ; +And with my child my joys are buried ! + +Peace , ho ! for shame ! confusion's cure lives not +In these confusions . Heaven and yourself +Had part in this fair maid ; now heaven hath all , +And all the better is it for the maid : +Your part in her you could not keep from death , +But heaven keeps his part in eternal life . +The most you sought was her promotion , +For 'twas your heaven she should be advanc'd ; +And weep ye now , seeing she is advanc'd +Above the clouds , as high as heaven itself ? +O ! in this love , you love your child so ill , +That you run mad , seeing that she is well : +She's not well married that lives married long ; +But she's best married that dies married young . +Dry up your tears , and stick your rosemary +On this fair corse ; and , as the custom is , +In all her best array bear her to church ; +For though fond nature bids us all lament , +Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment . + +All things that we ordained festival , +Turn from their office to black funeral ; +Our instruments to melancholy bells , +Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast , +Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change , +Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse , +And all things change them to the contrary . + +Sir , go you in ; and , madam , go with him ; +And go , Sir Paris ; every one prepare +To follow this fair corse unto her grave . +The heavens do lower upon you for some ill ; +Move them no more by crossing their high will . + + +Faith , we may put up our pipes , and be gone . + +Honest good fellows , ah ! put up , put up , for , well you know , this is a pitiful case . + + +Ay , by my troth , the case may be amended . + + +Musicians ! O ! musicians , 'Heart's ease , Heart's ease :' O ! an ye will have me live , play 'Heart's ease .' + +Why 'Heart's ease ?' + +O ! musicians , because my heart itself plays 'My heart is full of woe ;' O ! play me some merry dump , to comfort me . + +Not a dump we ; 'tis no time to play now . + +You will not then ? + +No . + +I will then give it you soundly . + +What will you give us ? + +No money , on my faith ! but the gleek ; +I will give you the minstrel . + +Then will I give you the serving-creature . + +Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on your pate , I will carry no crotchets : +I'll re you , I'll fa you . Do you note me ? + +An you re us , and fa us , you note us . + +Pray you , put up your dagger , and put out your wit . + +Then have at you with my wit ! I will dry-beat you with an iron wit , and put up my iron dagger . Answer me like men : + +When griping grief the heart doth wound , +And doleful dumps the mind oppress , +Then music with her silver sound + +Why 'silver sound ?' why 'music with her silver sound ?' What say you , Simon Catling ? + +Marry , sir , because silver hath a sweet sound . + +Pretty ! What say you , Hugh Rebeck ? + +I say 'silver sound ,' because musicians sound for silver . + +Pretty too ! What say you , James Soundpost ? + +Faith , I know not what to say . + +O ! I cry you mercy ; you are the singer ; +I will say for you . It is , 'music with her silver sound ,' because musicians have no gold for sounding : + +Then music with her silver sound +With speedy help doth lend redress . + +What a pestilent knave is this same ! + +Hang him , Jack ! Come , we'll in here ; tarry for the mourners , and stay dinner . + + +If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep , +My dreams presage some joyful news at hand : +My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne ; +And all this day an unaccustom'd spirit +Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts . +I dreamt my lady came and found me dead ; +Strange dream , that gives a dead man leave to think , +And breath'd such life with kisses in my lips , +That I reviv'd , and was an emperor . +Ah me ! how sweet is love itself possess'd , +When but love's shadows are so rich in joy ! + + +News from Verona ! How now , Balthasar ? +Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar ? +How doth my lady ? Is my father well ? +How fares my Juliet ? That I ask again ; + +For nothing can be ill if she be well . + +Then she is well , and nothing can be ill ; +Her body sleeps in Capel's monument , +And her immortal part with angels lives . +I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault , +And presently took post to tell it you . +O ! pardon me for bringing these ill news , +Since you did leave it for my office , sir . + +Is it even so ? then I defy you , stars ! +Thou know'st my lodging : get me ink and paper , +And hire post-horses ; I will hence to-night . + +I do beseech you , sir , have patience : +Your looks are pale and wild , and do import +Some misadventure . + +Tush , thou art deceiv'd ; +Leave me , and do the thing I bid thee do . +Hast thou no letters to me from the friar ? + +No , my good lord . + +No matter ; get thee gone , +And hire those horses : I'll be with thee straight . + +Well , Juliet , I will he with thee to-night . +Let's see for means : O mischief ! thou art swift +To enter in the thoughts of desperate men . +I do remember an apothecary , +And hereabouts he dwells , which late I noted +In tatter'd weeds , with overwhelming brows , +Culling of simples ; meagre were his looks , +Sharp misery had worn him to the bones : +And in his needy shop a tortoise hung , +An alligator stuff'd , and other skins +Of ill-shap'd fishes ; and about his shelves +A beggarly account of empty boxes , +Green earthen pots , bladders , and musty seeds , +Remnants of packthread , and old cakes of roses , +Were thinly scatter'd , to make up a show . +Noting this penury , to myself I said +An if a man did need a poison now , +Whose sale is present death in Mantua , +Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him . +O ! this same thought did but fore-run my need , +And this same needy man must sell it me . +As I remember , this should be the house : +Being holiday , the beggar's shop is shut . +What , ho ! apothecary ! + + +Who calls so loud ? + +Come hither , man . I see that thou art poor ; +Hold , there is forty ducats ; let me have +A dram of poison , such soon-speeding gear +As will disperse itself through all the veins +That the life-weary taker may fall dead , +And that the trunk may be discharg'd of breath +As violently as hasty powder fir'd +Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb . + +Such mortal drugs I have ; but Mantua's law +Is death to any he that utters them . + +Art thou so bare , and full of wretchedness , +And fear'st to die ? famine is in thy cheeks , +Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes , +Contempt and beggary hang upon thy back ; +The world is not thy friend nor the world's law : +The world affords no law to make thee rich ; +Then be not poor , but break it , and take this . + +My poverty , but not my will , consents . + +I pay thy poverty , and not thy will . + +Put this in any liquid thing you will , +And drink it off ; and , if you had the strength +Of twenty men , it would dispatch you straight . + +There is thy gold , worse poison to men's souls , +Doing more murders in this loathsome world +Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell : +I sell thee poison , thou hast sold me none . +Farewell ; buy food , and get thyself in flesh . +Come , cordial and not poison , go with me +To Juliet's grave , for there must I use thee . + + +Holy Franciscan friar ! brother , ho ! + + +This same should be the voice of Friar John . +Welcome from Mantua : what says Romeo ? +Or , if his mind be writ , give me his letter . + +Going to find a bare-foot brother out , +One of our order , to associate me , +Here in this city visiting the sick , +And finding him , the searchers of the town , +Suspecting that we both were in a house +Where the infectious pestilence did reign , +Seal'd up the doors , and would not let us forth ; +So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd . + +Who bare my letter then to Romeo ? + +I could not send it , here it is again , +Nor get a messenger to bring it thee , +So fearful were they of infection . + +Unhappy fortune ! by my brotherhood , +The letter was not nice , but full of charge +Of dear import ; and the neglecting it +May do much danger . Friar John , go hence ; +Get me an iron crow , and bring it straight +Unto my cell . + +Brother , I'll go and bring it thee . + + +Now must I to the monument alone ; +Within these three hours will fair Juliet wake : +She will beshrew me much that Romeo +Hath had no notice of these accidents ; +But I will write again to Mantus , +And keep her at my cell till Romeo come : +Poor living corse , clos'd in a dead man's tomb ! + + +Give me thy torch , boy : hence , and stand aloof ; +Yet put it out , for I would not be seen . +Under yond yew-trees lay thee all along , +Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground : +So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread , +Being loose , unfirm with digging up of graves , +But thou shalt hear it : whistle then to me , +As signal that thou hear'st something approach . +Give me those flowers . Do as I bid thee ; go . + +I am almost afraid to stand alone +Here in the churchyard ; yet I will adventure . + + +Sweet flower , with flowers thy bridal bed I strew , +O woe ! thy canopy is dust and stones ; +Which with sweet water nightly I will dew , +Or , wanting that , with tears distill'd by moans : +The obsequies that I for thee will keep +Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep . + +The boy gives warning something doth approach . +What cursed foot wanders this way to-night , +To cross my obsequies and true love's rite ? +What ! with a torch ?muffle me , night , awhile . + +Give me that mattock , and the wrenching iron . +Hold , take this letter ; early in the morning +See thou deliver it to my lord and father . +Give me the light : upon thy life I charge thee , +Whate'er thou hear'st or seest , stand all aloof , +And do not interrupt me in my course . +Why I descend into this bed of death , +Is partly , to behold my lady's face ; +But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger +A precious ring , a ring that I must use +In dear employment : therefore hence , be gone : +But , if thou , jealous , dost return to pry +In what I further shall intend to do , +By heaven , I will tear thee joint by joint , +And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs . +The time and my intents are savage-wild , +More fierce and more inexorable far +Than empty tigers or the roaring sea . + +I will be gone , sir , and not trouble you . + +So shalt thou show me friendship . Take thou that : +Live , and be prosperous ; and farewell , good fellow . + +For all this same , I'll hide me here about : +His looks I fear , and his intents I doubt . + + +Thou detestable maw , thou womb of death , +Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth , +Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open , + +And , in despite , I'll cram thee with more food ! + +This is that banish'd haughty Montague , +That murder'd my love's cousin , with which grief +It is supposed the fair creature died ; +And here is come to do some villanous shame +To the dead bodies : I will apprehend him . + +Stop thy unhallow'd toil , vile Montague , +Can vengeance be pursu'd further than death ? +Condemned villain , I do apprehend thee : +Obey , and go with me ; for thou must die . + +I must , indeed ; and therefore came I hither . +Good gentle youth , tempt not a desperate man ; +Fly hence and leave me : think upon these gone ; +Let them affright thee . I beseech thee , youth , +Put not another sin upon my head +By urging me to fury : O ! be gone : +By heaven , I love thee better than myself . +For I come hither arm'd against myself : +Stay not , be gone ; live , and hereafter say +A madman's mercy bade thee run away . + +I do defy thy conjurations , +And apprehend thee for a felon here . + +Wilt thou provoke me ? then have at thee , boy ! + + +O Lord ! they fight : I will go call the watch . + + +O , I am slain !If thou be merciful , +Open the tomb , lay me with Juliet . + + +In faith , I will . Let me peruse this face : +Mercutio's kinsman , noble County Paris ! +What said my man when my betossed soul +Did not attend him as we rode ? I think +He told me Paris should have married Juliet : +Said he not so ? or did I dream it so ? +Or am I mad , hearing him talk of Juliet , +To think it was so ? O ! give me thy hand , +One writ with me in sour misfortune's book : +I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave ; +A grave ? O , no ! a lanthorn , slaughter'd youth , +For here lies Juliet , and her beauty makes +This vault a feasting presence full of light . +Death , lie thou there , by a dead man interr'd , + +How oft when men are at the point of death +Have they been merry ! which their keepers call +A lightning before death : O ! how may I +Call this a lightning ? O my love ! my wife ! +Death , that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath , +Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty : +Thou art not conquer'd ; beauty's ensign yet +Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks , +And death's pale flag is not advanced there . +Tybalt , liest thou there in thy bloody sheet ? +O ! what more favour can I do to thee , +Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain +To sunder his that was thine enemy ? +Forgive me , cousin ! Ah ! dear Juliet , +Why art thou yet so fair ? Shall I believe +That unsubstantial Death is amorous , +And that the lean abhorred monster keeps +Thee here in dark to be his paramour ? +For fear of that I still will stay with thee , +And never from this palace of dim night +Depart again : here , here will I remain +With worms that are thy chambermaids ; O ! here +Will I set up my everlasting rest , +And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars +From this world-wearied flesh . Eyes , look your last ! +Arms , take your last embrace ! and , lips , O you +The doors of breath , seal with a righteous kiss +A dateless bargain to engrossing death ! +Come , bitter conduct , come , unsavoury guide ! +Thou desperate pilot , now at once run on +The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark ! +Here's to my love ! + +O true apothecary ! +Thy drugs are quick . Thus with a kiss I die . + +Saint Francis be my speed ! how oft to-night +Have my old feet stumbled at graves ! Who's there ? + +Here's one , a friend , and one that knows you well . + +Bliss be upon you ! Tell me , good my friend , +What torch is yond , that vainly lends his light +To grubs and eyeless skulls ? as I discern , +It burneth in the Capel's monument . + +It doth so , holy sir ; and there's my master , +One that you love . + +Who is it ? + +Romeo . + +How long hath he been there ? + +Full half an hour . + +Go with me to the vault . + +I dare not , sir . +My master knows not but I am gone hence ; +And fearfully did menace me with death +If I did stay to look on his intents . + +Stay then , I'll go alone . Fear comes upon me ; +O ! much I fear some ill unlucky thing . + +As I did sleep under this yew-tree here , +I dreamt my master and another fought , +And that my master slew him . + +Romeo ! +Alack , alack ! what blood is this which stains +The stony entrance of this sepulchre ? +What mean these masterless and gory swords +To lie discolour'd by this place of peace ? + +Romeo ! O , pale ! Who else ? what ! Paris too ? +And steep'd in blood ? Ah ! what an unkind hour +Is guilty of this lamentable chance . +The lady stirs . + + +O , comfortable friar ! where is my lord ? +I do remember well where I should be , +And there I am . Where is my Romeo ? + + +I hear some noise . Lady , come from that nest +Of death , contagion , and unnatural sleep : +A greater power than we can contradict +Hath thwarted our intents : come , come away . +Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead ; +And Paris too : come , I'll dispose of thee +Among a sisterhood of holy nuns . +Stay not to question , for the watch is coming ; +Come , go , good Juliet . + +I dare no longer stay . + +Go , get thee hence , for I will not away . + +What's here ? a cup , clos'd in my true love's hand ? +Poison , I see , hath been his timeless end . +O churl ! drunk all , and left no friendly drop +To help me after ! I will kiss thy lips ; +Haply , some poison yet doth hang on them , +To make me die with a restorative . + +Thy lips are warm ! + +Lead , boy : which way ? + +Yea , noise ? then I'll be brief . O happy dagger ! + +This is thy sheath ; + +there rest , and let me die . + +This is the place ; there where the torch doth burn . + +The ground is bloody ; search about the churchyard . +Go , some of you ; whoe'er you find , attach . + +Pitiful sight ! here lies the county slain , +And Juliet bleeding , warm , and newly dead , +Who here hath lain these two days buried . +Go , tell the prince , run to the Capulets , +Raise up the Montagues , some others search : + +We see the ground whereon these woes do lie ; +But the true ground of all these piteous woes +We cannot without circumstance descry . + + +Here's Romeo's man ; we found him in the churchyard . + +Hold him in safety , till the prince come hither . + + +Here is a friar , that trembles , sighs , and weeps ; +We took this mattock and this spade from him , +As he was coming from this churchyard side . + +A great suspicion : stay the friar too . + + +What misadventure is so early up , +That calls our person from our morning's rest ? + + +What should it be , that they so shriek abroad ? + +The people in the street cry Romeo , +Some Juliet , and some Paris ; and all run +With open outcry toward our monument . + +What fear is this which startles in our ears ? + +Sovereign , here lies the County Paris slain ; +And Romeo dead ; and Juliet , dead before , +Warm and new kill'd . + +Search , seek , and know how this foul murder comes . + +Here is a friar , and slaughter'd Romeo's man ; +With instruments upon them , fit to open +These dead men's tombs . + +O , heaven !O wife ! look how our daughter bleeds ! +This dagger hath mista'en !for , lo , his house +Is empty on the back of Montague +And is mis-sheathed in my daughter's bosom . + +O me ! this sight of death is as a bell , +That warns my old age to a sepulchre . + + +Come , Montague : for thou art early up , +To see thy son and heir more early down . + +Alas ! my liege , my wife is dead to-night ; +Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath . +What further woe conspires against mine age ? + +Look , and thou shalt see . + +O thou untaught ! what manners is in this , +To press before thy father to a grave ? + +Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while , +Till we can clear these ambiguities , +And know their spring , their head , their true descent ; +And then will I be general of your woes , +And lead you even to death : meantime forbear , +And let mischance be slave to patience . +Bring forth the parties of suspicion . + +I am the greatest , able to do least , +Yet most suspected , as the time and place +Doth make against me , of this direful murder ; +And here I stand , both to impeach and purge +Myself condemned and myself excus'd . + +Then say at once what thou dost know in this . + +I will be brief , for my short date of breath +Is not so long as is a tedious tale . +Romeo , there dead , was husband to that Juliet ; +And she , there dead , that Romeo's faithful wife : +I married them ; and their stolen marriage-day +Was Tybalt's doomsday , whose untimely death +Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from this city ; +For whom , and not for Tybalt , Juliet pin'd . +You , to remove that siege of grief from her , +Betroth'd , and would have married her perforce , +To County Paris : then comes she to me , +And , with wild looks bid me devise some mean +To rid her from this second marriage , +Or in my cell there would she kill herself . +Then gave I her ,so tutor'd by my art , +A sleeping potion ; which so took effect +As I intended , for it wrought on her +The form of death : meantime I writ to Romeo +That he should hither come as this dire night , +To help to take her from her borrow'd grave , +Being the time the potion's force should cease . +But he which bore my letter , Friar John , +Was stay'd by accident , and yesternight +Return'd my letter back . Then , all alone , +At the prefixed hour of her waking , +Came I to take her from her kindred's vault , +Meaning to keep her closely at my cell , +Till I conveniently could send to Romeo : +But , when I came ,some minute ere the time +Of her awakening ,here untimely lay +The noble Paris and true Romeo dead . +She wakes ; and I entreated her come forth , +And bear this work of heaven with patience ; +But then a noise did scare me from the tomb , +And she , too desperate , would not go with me , +But , as it seems , did violence on herself . +All this I know ; and to the marriage +Her nurse is privy : and , if aught in this +Miscarried by my fault , let my old life +Be sacrific'd , some hour before his time , +Unto the rigour of severest law . + +We still have known thee for a holy man . +Where's Romeo's man ? what can he say in this ? + +I brought my master news of Juliet's death ; +And then in post he came from Mantua +To this same place , to this same monument . +This letter he early bid me give his father , +And threaten'd me with death , going in the vault , +If I departed not and left him there . + +Give me the letter ; I will look on it . +Where is the county's page that rais'd the watch ? +Sirrah , what made your master in this place ? + +He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave , +And bid me stand aloof , and so I did ; +Anon , comes one with light to ope the tomb ; +And by and by my master drew on him ; +And then I ran away to call the watch . + +This letter doth make good the friar's words , +Their course of love , the tidings of her death : +And here he writes that he did buy a poison +Of a poor 'pothecary , and therewithal +Came to this vault to die , and lie with Juliet . +Where be these enemies ?Capulet ! Montague ! +See what a scourge is laid upon your hate , +That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love ; +And I , for winking at your discords too , +Have lost a brace of kinsmen : all are punish'd . + +O brother Montague ! give me thy hand : +This is my daughter's jointure , for no more +Can I demand . + +But I can give thee more ; +For I will raise her statue in pure gold ; +That while Verona by that name is known . +There shall no figure at such rate be set +As that of true and faithful Juliet . + +As rich shall Romeo by his lady lie ; +Poor sacrifices of our enmity ! + +A glooming peace this morning with it brings ; +The sun , for sorrow , will not show his head : +Go hence , to have more talk of these sad things : +Some shall be pardon'd , and some punished : +For never was a story of more woe +Than this of Juliet and her Romeo . + +TIMON OF ATHENS + +Good day , sir . + +I am glad you're well . + +I have not seen you long . How goes the world ? + +It wears , sir , as it grows . + +Ay , that's well known ; +But what particular rarity ? what strange , +Which manifold record not matches ? See , +Magic of bounty ! all these spirits thy power +Hath conjur'd to attend . I know the merchant . + +I know them both ; th' other's a jeweller . + +O ! 'tis a worthy lord . + +Nay , that's most fix'd . + +A most incomparable man , breath'd , as it were , +To an untirable and continuate goodness : +He passes . + +I have a jewel here + +O ! pray , let's see 't : for the Lord Timon , sir ? + +If he will touch the estimate : but , for that + +When we for recompense have prais'd the vile , +It stains the glory in that happy verse +Which aptly sings the good . + +'Tis a good form . + +And rich : here is a water , look ye . + +You are rapt , sir , in some work , some dedication +To the great lord . + +A thing slipp'd idly from me . +Our poesy is as a gum , which oozes +From whence 'tis nourish'd : the fire i' the flint +Shows not till it be struck ; our gentle flame +Provokes itself , and , like the current flies +Each bound it chafes . What have you there ? + +A picture , sir . When comes your book forth ? + +Upon the heels of my presentment , sir . +Let's see your piece . + +'Tis a good piece . + +So 'tis : this comes off well and excellent . + +Indifferent . + +Admirable ! How this grace +Speaks his own standing ! what a mental power +This eye shoots forth ! how big imagination +Moves in this lip ! to the dumbness of the gesture +One might interpret . + +It is a pretty mocking of the life . +Here is a touch ; is 't good ? + +I'll say of it , +It tutors nature : artificial strife +Lives in these touches , livelier than life . + + +How this lord is follow'd ! + +The senators of Athens : happy man ! + +Look , more ! + +You see this confluence , this great flood of visitors . +I have , in this rough work , shap'd out a man , +Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug +With amplest entertainment : my free drift +Halts not particularly , but moves itself +In a wide sea of wax : no levell'd malice +Infects one comma in the course I hold ; +But flies an eagle flight , bold and forth on , +Leaving no tract behind . + +How shall I understand you ? + +I will unbolt to you . +You see how all conditions , how all minds +As well of glib and slippery creatures as +Of grave and austere quality tender down +Their services to Lord Timon : his large fortune , +Upon his good and gracious nature hanging , +Subdues and properties to his love and tendance +All sorts of hearts ; yea , from the glass-fac'd flatterer +To Apemantus , that few things loves better +Than to abhor himself : even he drops down +The knee before him and returns in peace +Most rich in Timon's nod . + +I saw them speak together . + +Sir , I have upon a high and pleasant hill +Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd : the base o' the mount +Is rank'd with all deserts , all kind of natures , +That labour on the bosom of this sphere +To propagate their states : amongst them all , +Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd , +One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame , +Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her ; +Whose present grace to present slaves and servants +Translates his rivals . + +'Tis conceiv'd to scope . +This throne , this Fortune , and this hill , methinks , +With one man beckon'd from the rest below , +Bowing his head against the steepy mount +To climb his happiness , would be well express'd +In our condition . + +Nay , sir , but hear me on . +All those which were his fellows but of late , +Some better than his value , on the moment +Follow his strides , his lobbies fill with tendance , +Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear , +Make sacred even his stirrup , and through him +Drink the free air . + +Ay , marry , what of these ? + +When Fortune in her shift and change of mood +Spurns down her late belov'd , all his dependants +Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top +Even on their knees and hands , let him slip down , +Not one accompanying his declining foot . + +'Tis common : +A thousand moral paintings I can show +That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's +More pregnantly than words . Yet you do well +To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen +The foot above the head . + + +Imprison'd is he , say you ? + +Ay , my good lord : five talents is his debt , +His means most short , his creditors most strait : +Your honourable letter he desires +To those have shut him up ; which , failing , +Periods his comfort . + +Noble Ventidius ! Well ; +I am not of that feather to shake off +My friend when he must need me . I do know him +A gentleman that well deserves a help , +Which he shall have : I'll pay the debt and free him . + +Your lordship ever binds him . + +Commend me to him . I will send his ransom ; +And being enfranchis'd , bid him come to me . +'Tis not enough to help the feeble up , +But to support him after . Fare you well . + +All happiness to your honour . + +Lord Timon , hear me speak . + +Freely , good father . + +Thou hast a servant nam'd Lucilius . + +I have so : what of him ? + +Most noble Timon , call the man before thee . + +Attends be here or no ? Lucilius ! + +Here , at your lordship's service . + +This fellow here , Lord Timon , this thy creature , +By night frequents my house . I am a man +That from my first have been inclin'd to thrift , +And my estate deserves an heir more rais'd +Than one which holds a trencher . + +Well ; what further ? + +One only daughter have I , no kin else , +On whom I may confer what I have got : +The maid is fair , o' the youngest for a bride , +And I have bred her at my dearest cost +In qualities of the best . This man of thine +Attempts her love : I prithee , noble lord , +Join with me to forbid him her resort ; +Myself have spoke in vain . + +The man is honest . + +Therefore he will be , Timon : +His honesty rewards him in itself ; +It must not bear my daughter . + +Does she love him ? + +She is young and apt : +Our own precedent passions do instruct us +What levity's in youth . + +Love you the maid ? + +Ay , my good lord , and she accepts of it . + +If in her marriage my consent be missing , +I call the gods to witness , I will choose +Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world , +And dispossess her all . + +How shall she be endow'd , +If she be mated with an equal husband ? + +Three talents on the present ; in future , all . + +This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long : +To build his fortune I will strain a little , +For 'tis a bond in men . Give him thy daughter ; +What you bestow , in him I'll counterpoise , +And make him weigh with her . + +Most noble lord , +Pawn me to this your honour , she is his . + +My hand to thee ; mine honour on my promise . + +Humbly I thank your lordship : never may +That state or fortune fall into my keeping +Which is not ow'd to you ! + + +Vouchsafe my labour , and long live your lordship ! + +I thank you ; you shall hear from me anon : +Go not away . What have you there , my friend ? + +A piece of painting , which I do beseech +Your lordship to accept . + +Painting is welcome . +The painting is almost the natural man ; +For since dishonour traffics with man's nature , +He is but outside : these pencil'd figures are +Even such as they give out . I like your work ; +And you shall find I like it : wait attendance +Till you hear further from me . + +The gods preserve you ! + +Well fare you , gentleman : give me your hand ; +We must needs dine together . Sir , your jewel +Hath suffer'd under praise . + +What , my lord ! dispraise ? + +A mere satiety of commendations . +If I should pay you for 't as 'tis extoll'd , +It would unclew me quite . + +My lord , 'tis rated +As those which sell would give : but you well know , +Things of like value , differing in the owners , +Are prized by their masters . Believe 't , dear lord , +You mend the jewel by the wearing it . + +Well mock'd . + +No , my good lord ; he speaks the common tongue , +Which all men speak with him . + +Look , who comes here . Will you be chid ? + + +We'll bear , with your lordship . + +He'll spare none . + +Good morrow to thee , gentle Apemantus ! + +Till I be gentle , stay thou for thy good morrow ; +When thou art Timon's dog , and these knaves honest . + +Why dost thou call them knaves ? thou know'st them not . + +Are they not Athenians ? + +Yes . + +Then I repent not . + +You know me , Apemantus ? + +Thou know'st I do ; I call'd thee by thy name . + +Thou art proud , Apemantus . + +Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon . + +Whither art going ? + +To knock out an honest Athenian's brains . + +That's a deed thou'lt die for . + +Right , if doing nothing be death by the law . + +How likest thou this picture , Apemantus ? + +The best , for the innocence . + +Wrought he not well that painted it ? + +He wrought better that made the painter ; and yet he's but a filthy piece of work . + +You're a dog . + +Thy mother's of my generation : what's she , if I be a dog ? + +Wilt dine with me , Apemantus ? + +No ; I eat not lords . + +An thou shouldst , thou'dst anger ladies . + +O ! they eat lords ; so they come by great bellies . + +That's a lascivious apprehension . + +So thou apprehendest it , take it for thy labour . + +How dost thou like this jewel , Apemantus ? + +Not so well as plain-dealing , which will not cost a man a doit . + +What dost thou think 'tis worth ? + +Not worth my thinking . How now , poet ! + +How now , philosopher ! + +Thou liest . + +Art not one ? + +Yes . + +Then I lie not . + +Art not a poet ? + +Yes . + +Then thou liest : look in thy last work , where thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow . + +That's not feigned ; he is so . + +Yes , he is worthy of thee , and to pay thee for thy labour : he that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer . Heavens , that I were a lord ! + +What wouldst do then , Apemantus ? + +Even as Apemantus does now ; hate a lord with my heart . + +What , thyself ? + +Ay . + +Wherefore ? + +That I had no angry wit to be a lord . +Art not thou a merchant ? + +Ay , Apemantus . + +Traffic confound thee , if the gods will not ! + +If traffic do it , the gods do it . + +Traffic's thy god , and thy god confound thee ! + + +What trumpet's that ? + +'Tis Alcihiades , and some twenty horse , +All of companionship . + +Pray , entertain them ; give them guide to us . + +You must needs dine with me . Go not you hence +Till I have thanked you ; when dinner's done , +Show me this piece . I am joyful of your sights . + +Most welcome , sir ! + +So , so , there ! +Aches contract and starve your supple joints ! +That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves , +And all this courtesy ! The strain of man's bred out +Into baboon and monkey . + +Sir , you have sav'd my longing , and I feed +Most hungerly on your sight . + +Right welcome , sir ! +Ere we depart , we'll share a bounteous time +In different pleasures . Pray you , let us in . + +What time o'day is't , Apemantus ? + +Time to be honest . + +That time serves still . + +The more accursed thou , that still omitt'st it . + +Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast ? + +Ay ; to see meat fill khaves and wine heat fools . + +Fare thee well , fare thee well . + +Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice . + +Why , Apemantus ? + +Shouldst have kept one to thyself , for I mean to give thee none . + +Hang thyself ! + +No , I will do nothing at thy bidding : make thy requests to thy friend . + +Away , unpeaceable dog ! or I'll spurn thee hence . + +I will fly , like a dog , the heels of an ass . + + +He's opposite to humanity . Come , shall we in , +And taste Lord Timon's bounty ? he outgoes +The very heart of kindness . + +He pours it out ; Plutus , the god of gold , +Is but his steward : no meed but he repays +Sevenfold above itself ; no gift to him +But breeds the giver a return exceeding +All use of quittance . + +The noblest mind he carries +That ever govern'd man . + +Long may he live in fortunes ! +Shall we in ? + +I'll keep you company . + +Most honour'd Timon , +It hath pleas'd the gods to remember my father's age , +And call him to long peace . +He is gone happy , and has left me rich : +Then , as in grateful virtue I am bound +To your free heart , I do return those talents , +Doubled with thanks and service , from whose help +I deriv'd liberty . + +O ! by no means , +Honest Ventidius ; you mistake my love ; +I gave it freely ever ; and there's none +Can truly say he gives , if he receives : +If our betters play at that game , we must not dare +To imitate them ; faults that are rich are fair . + +A noble spirit . + + +Nay , my lords , ceremony was but devis'd at first +To set a gloss on faint deeds , hollow welcomes , +Recanting goodness , sorry ere 'tis shown ; +But where there is true friendship , there needs none . +Pray , sit ; more welcome are ye to my fortunes +Than my fortunes to me . + + +My lord , we always have confess'd it . + +Ho , ho ! confess'd it ; hang'd it , have you not ? + +O ! Apemantus , you are welcome . + +No , +You shall not make me welcome : +I come to have thee thrust me out of doors . + +Fie ! thou'rt a churl ; ye've got a humour there +Does not become a man ; 'tis much to blame . +They say , my lords , Ira furor brevis est ; +But yond man is ever angry . +Go , let him have a table by himself , +For he does neither affect company , +Nor is he fit for it , indeed . + +Let me stay at thine apperil , Timon : +I come to observe ; I give thee warning on't . + +I take no heed of thee ; thou'rt an Athenian , therefore , welcome . I myself would have no power ; prithee , let my meat make thee silent . + +I scorn thy meat ; 'twould choke me , for I should +Ne'er flatter thee . O you gods ! what a number +Of men eat Timon , and he sees them not . +It grieves me to see so many dip their meat +In one man's blood ; and all the madness is , +He cheers them up too . +I wonder men dare trust themselves with men : +Methinks they should invite them without knives ; +Good for their meat , and safer for their lives . +There's much example for't ; the fellow that +Sits next him now , parts bread with him , and pledges +The breath of him in a divided draught , +Is the readiest man to kill him : 't has been prov'd . +If I were a huge man , I should fear to drink at meals ; +Lest they should spy my wind-pipe's dangerous notes : +Great men should drink with harness on their throats . + +My lord , in heart ; and let the health go round . + +Let it flow this way , my good lord . + +Flow this way ! A brave fellow ! he keeps his tides well . Those healths will make thee and thy state look ill , Timon . +Here's that which is too weak to be a sinner , +Honest water , which ne'er left man i' the mire : +This and my food are equals , there's no odds : +Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods . + +Immortal gods , I crave no pelf ; +I pray for no man but myself : +Grant I may never prove so fond , +To trust man on his oath or bond ; +Or a harlot for her weeping ; +Or a dog that seems a-sleeping ; +Or a keeper with my freedom ; +Or my friends , if I should need 'em . +Amen . So fall to't : +Rich men sin , and I eat root . + + +Much good dich thy good heart , Apemantus ! + +Captain Alcibiades , your heart's in the field now . + +My heart is ever at your service , my lord . + +You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than a dinner of friends . + +So they were bleeding-new , my lord , there's no meat like 'em : I could wish my best friend at such a feast . + +'Would all those flatterers were thine enemies then , that then thou mightst kill 'em and bid me to 'em . + +Might we but have that happiness , my lord , that you would once use our hearts , whereby we might express some part of our zeals , we should think ourselves for ever perfect . + +O ! no doubt , my good friends , but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you : how had you been my friends else ? why have you that charitable title from thousands , did not you chiefly belong to my heart ? I have told more of you to myself than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf ; and thus far I confirm you . O you gods ! think I , what need we have any friends , if we should ne'er have need of 'em ? they were the most needless creatures living should we ne'er have use for 'em , and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases , that keep their sounds to themselves . Why , I have often wished myself poorer that I might come nearer to you . We are born to do benefits ; and what better or properer can we call our own than the riches of our friends ? O ! what a precious comfort 'tis , to have so many , like brothers , commanding one another's fortunes . O joy ! e'en made away ere it can be born . Mine eyes cannot hold out water , methinks : to forget their faults , I drink to you . + +Thou weepest to make them drink , Timon . + +Joy had the like conception in our eyes , +And , at that instant , like a babe , sprung up . + +Ho , ho ! I laugh to think that babe a bastard . + +I promise you , my lord , you mov'd me much . + +Much ! + + +What means that trump ? + +How now ! + +Please you , my lord , there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance . + +Ladies ? What are their wills ? + +There comes with them a forerunner , my lord , which bears that office , to signify their pleasures . + +I pray , let them be admitted . + + +Hail to thee , worthy Timon ; and to all +That of his bounties taste ! The five best senses +Acknowledge thee their patron ; and come freely +To gratulate thy plenteous bosom . Th' ear , +Taste , touch , smell , pleas'd from thy table rise ; +They only now come but to feast thine eyes . + +They are welcome all ; let 'em have kind admittance : +Music , make their welcome ! + + +You see , my lord , how ample you're belov'd . + +Hoy-day ! what a sweep of vanity comes this way : +They dance ! they are mad women . +Like madness is the glory of this life , +As this pomp shows to a little oil and root . +We make ourselves fools to disport ourselves ; +And spend our flatteries to drink those men +Upon whose age we void it up again , +With poisonous spite and envy . +Who lives that's not depraved or depraves ? +Who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves +Of their friend's gift ? +I should fear those that dance before me now +Would one day stamp upon me : it has been done ; +Men shut their doors against a setting sun . + + +You have done our pleasures much grace , fair ladies , +Set a fair fashion on our entertainment , +Which was not half so beautiful and kind ; +You have added worth unto 't and lustre , +And entertain'd me with mine own device ; +I am to thank you for 't . + +My lord , you take us even at the best . + +Faith , for the worst is filthy ; and would not hold taking , I doubt me . + +Ladies , there is an idle banquet +Attends you : please you to dispose yourselves . + +Most thankfully , my lord . + + +Flavius ! + +My lord ! + +The little casket bring me hither . + +Yes , my lord . + +More jewels yet ! +There is no crossing him in 's humour ; +Else I should tell him well , i' faith , I should , +When all's spent , he'd be cross'd then , an he could . +'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind , +That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind . + + +Where be our men ? + +Here , my lord , in readiness . + +Our horses ! + + +O , my friends ! I have one word to say to you ; +Look you , my good lord , +I must entreat you , honour me so much +As to advance this jewel ; accept it and wear it , +Kind my lord . + +I am so far already in your gifts + +So are we all . + + +My lord , there are certain nobles of the senate +Newly alighted , and come to visit you . + +They are fairly welcome . + +I beseech your honour , +Vouchsafe me a word ; it does concern you near . + +Near ! why then another time I'll hear thee . +I prithee , let's be provided to show them entertainment . + +I scarce know how . + + +May it please your honour , Lord Lucius , +Out of his free love , hath presented to you +Four milk-white horses , trapp'd in silver . + +I shall accept them fairly ; let the presents +Be worthily entertain'd . + +How now ! what news ? + +Please you , my lord , that honourable gentleman , Lord Lucullus , entreats your company to-morrow to hunt with him , and has sent your honour two brace of greyhounds . + +I'll hunt with him ; and let them be receiv'd , +Not without fair reward . + +What will this come to ? +He commands us to provide , and give great gifts , +And all out of an empty coffer : +Nor will he know his purse , or yield me this , +To show him what a beggar his heart is , +Being of no power to make his wishes good . +His promises fly so beyond his state +That what he speaks is all in debt ; he owes +For every word : he is so kind that he now +Pays interest for't ; his land's put to their books . +Well , would I were gently put out of office +Before I were forc'd out ! +Happier he that has no friend to feed +Than such as do e'en enemies exceed . +I bleed inwardly for my lord . + + +You do yourselves +Much wrong , you bate too much of your own merits : +Here , my lord , a trifle of our love . + +With more than common thanks I will receive it . + +O ! he's the very soul of bounty . + +And now I remember , my lord , you gave +Good words the other day of a bay courser +I rode on : it is yours , because you lik'd it . + +O ! I beseech you , pardon me , my lord , in that . + +You may take my word , my lord ; I know no man +Can justly praise but what he does affect : +I weigh my friend's affection with mine own ; +I'll tell you true . I'll call to you . + +O ! none so welcome . + +I take all and your several visitations +So kind to heart , 'tis not enough to give ; +Methinks , I could deal kingdoms to my friends , +And ne'er be weary . Alcibiades , +Thou art a soldier , therefore seldom rich ; +It comes in charity to thee ; for all thy living +Is 'mongst the dead , and all the lands thou hast +Lie in a pitch'd field . + +Ay , defil'd land , my lord . + +We are so virtuously bound , + +And so +Am I to you . + +So infinitely endear'd , + +All to you . Lights , more lights ! + +The best of happiness , +Honour , and fortunes , keep with you , Lord Timon ! + +Ready for his friends . + + +What a coil's here ! +Serving of becks and jutting out of bums ! +I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums +That are given for 'em . Friendship's full of dregs : +Methinks , false hearts should never have sound legs . +Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies . + +Now , Apemantus , if thou wert not sullen , +I would be good to thee . + +No , I'll nothing ; for if I should be bribed too , there would be none left to rail upon thee , and then thou wouldst sin the faster . Thou givest so long , Timon , I fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly : what need these feasts , pomps , and vain-glories ? + +Nay , an you begin to rail on society once , I am sworn not to give regard to you . Farewell ; and come with better music . + + +So : +Thou wilt not hear me now ; thou shalt not then ; +I'll lock thy heaven from thee . +O ! that men's ears should be +To counsel deaf , but not to flattery . + +And late , five thousand : to Varro and to Isidore +He owes nine thousand ; besides my former sum , +Which makes it five-and-twenty . Still in motion +Of raging waste ! It cannot hold ; it will not . +If I want gold , steal but a beggar's dog +And give it Timon , why , the dog coins gold ; +If I would sell my horse , and buy twenty more +Better than he , why , give my horse to Timon , +Ask nothing , give it him , it foals me , straight , +And able horses . No porter at his gate , +But rather one that smiles and still invites +All that pass by . It cannot hold ; no reason +Can found his state in safety . Caphis , ho ! +Caphis , I say ! + + +Here , sir ; what is your pleasure ? + +Get on your cloak , and haste you to Lord Timon ; +Importune him for my moneys ; be not ceas'd +With slight denial , nor then silenc'd when +'Commend me to your master' and the cap +Plays in the right hand , thus ;but tell him , +My uses cry to me ; I must serve my turn +Out of mine own ; his days and times are past , +And my reliances on his fracted dates +Have smit my credit : I love and honour him , +But must not break my back to heal his finger ; +Immediate are my needs , and my relief +Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words , +But find supply immediate . Get you gone : +Put on a most importunate aspect , +A visage of demand ; for , I do fear , +When every feather sticks in his own wing , +Lord Timon will be left a naked gull , +Which flashes now a ph nix . Get you gone . + +I go , sir . + +'I go , sir !' Take the bonds along with you , +And have the dates in compt . + +I will , sir . + +Go . + + +No care , no stop ! so senseless of expense , +That he will neither know how to maintain it , +Nor cease his flow of riot : takes no account +How things go from him , nor resumes no care +Of what is to continue : never mind +Was to be so unwise , to be so kind . +What shall be done ? He will not hear , till feel : +I must be round with him , now he comes from hunting . +Fie , fie , fie , fie ! + + +Good even , Varro . What ! +You come for money ? + +Is't not your business too ? + +It is : and yours too , Isidore ? + +It is so . + +Would we were all discharg'd ! + +I fear it . + +Here comes the lord ! + + +So soon as dinner's done , we'll forth again , +My Alcibiades . With me ? what is your will ? + +My lord , here is a note of certain dues . + +Dues ! Whence are you ? + +Of Athens here , my lord . + +Go to my steward . + +Please it your lordship , he hath put me off +To the succession of new days this month : +My master is awak'd by great occasion +To call upon his own ; and humbly prays you +That with your other noble parts you'll suit +In giving him his right . + +Mine honest friend , +I prithee , but repair to me next morning . + +Nay , good my lord , + +Contain thyself , good friend . + +One Varro's servant , my good lord , + +From Isidore ; +He humbly prays your speedy payment . + +If you did know , my lord , my master's wants , + +'Twas due on forfeiture , my lord , six weeks +And past . + +Your steward puts me off , my lord ; +And I am sent expressly to your lordship . + +Give me breath . +I do beseech you , good my lords , keep on ; +I'll wait upon you instantly . + +Come hither : pray you , +How goes the world , that I am thus encounter'd +With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds , +And the detention of long-since-due debts , +Against my honour ? + +Please you , gentlemen , +The time is unagreeable to this business : +Your importunacy cease till after dinner , +That I may make his lordship understand +Wherefore you are not paid . + +Do so , my friends . +See them well entertained . + + +Pray , draw near . + +Stay , stay ; here comes the fool with +Apemantus : let's ha' some sport with 'em . + +Hang him , he'll abuse us . + +A plague upon him , dog ! + +How dost , fool ? + +Dost dialogue with thy shadow ? + +I speak not to thee . + +No ; 'tis to thyself . + +Come away . + +There's the fool hangs on your back already . + +No , thou stand'st single ; thou'rt not on him yet . + +Where's the fool now ? + +He last asked the question . Poor rogues , and usurers' men ! bawds between gold and want ! + +What are we , Apemantus ? + +Asses . + +Why ? + +That you ask me what you are , and do not know yourselves . Speak to 'em , fool . + +How do you , gentlemen ? + +Gramercies , good fool . How does your mistress ? + +She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens as you are . Would we could see you at Corinth ! + +Good ! gramercy . + + +Look you , here comes my mistress' page . + +Why , how now , captain ! what do you in this wise company ? How dost thou , Apemantus ? + +Would I had a rod in my mouth , that I might answer thee profitably . + +Prithee , Apemantus , read me the superscription of these letters : I know not which is which . + +Canst not read ? + +No . + +There will little learning die then that day thou art hanged . This is to Lord Timon ; this to Alcibiades . Go ; thou wast born a bastard , and thou'lt die a bawd . + +Thou wast whelped a dog , and thou shalt famish a dog's death . Answer not ; I am gone . + + +E'en so thou outrunn'st grace . +Fool , I will go with you to Lord Timon's . + +Will you leave me there ? + +If Timon stay at home . You three serve three usurers ? + +Ay ; would they served us ! + +So would I , as good a trick as ever hangman served thief . + +Are you three usurers' men ? + +Ay , fool . + +I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant : my mistress is one , and I am her fool . When men come to borrow of your masters , they approach sadly , and go away merry ; but they enter my mistress' house merrily , and go away sadly : the reason of this ? + +I could render one . + +Do it , then , that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave ; which , notwithstanding , thou shalt be no less esteemed . + +What is a whoremaster , fool ? + +A fool in good clothes , and something like thee . 'Tis a spirit : sometime 't appears like a lord ; sometime like a lawyer ; sometime like a philosopher , with two stones more than 's artificial one . He is very often like a knight ; and generally in all shapes that man goes up and down in from fourscore to thirteen , this spirit walks in . + +Thou art not altogether a fool . + +Nor thou altogether a wise man : as much foolery as I have , so much wit thou lackest . + +That answer might have become Apemantus . + +Aside , aside ; here comes Lord Timon . + + +Come with me , fool , come . + +I do not always follow lover , elder brother and woman ; sometime the philosopher . + + +Pray you , walk near : I'll speak with you anon . + + +You make me marvel : wherefore , ere this time , +Had you not fully laid my state before me , +That I might so have rated my expense +As I had leave of means ? + +You would not hear me , +At many leisures I propos'd . + +Go to : +Perchance some single vantages you took , +When my indisposition put you back ; +And that unaptness made your minister , +Thus to excuse yourself . + +O my good lord ! +At many times I brought in my accounts , +Laid them before you ; you would throw them off , +And say you found them in mine honesty . +When for some trifling present you have bid me +Return so much , I have shook my head , and wept ; +Yea , 'gainst the authority of manners , pray'd you +To hold your hand more close : I did endure +Not seldom , nor no slight checks , when I have +Prompted you in the ebb of your estate +And your great flow of debts . My loved lord , +Though you hear now , too late , yet now's a time , +The greatest of your having lacks a half +To pay your present debts . + +Let all my land be sold . + +'Tis all engag'd , some forfeited and gone ; +And what remains will hardly stop the mouth +Of present dues ; the future comes apace : +What shall defend the interim ? and at length +How goes our reckoning ? + +To Laced mon did my land extend . + +O my good lord ! the world is but a word ; +Were it all yours to give it in a breath , +How quickly were it gone ! + +You tell me true . + +If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood , +Call me before the exactest auditors , +And set me on the proof . So the gods bless me , +When all our offices have been oppress'd +With riotous feeders , when our vaults have wept +With drunken spilth of wine , when every room +Hath blaz'd with lights and bray'd with minstrelsy , +I have retir'd me to a wasteful cock , +And set mine eyes at flow . + +Prithee , no more . + +Heavens ! have I said , the bounty of this lord ! +How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants +This night englutted ! Who is not Timon's ? +What heart , head , sword , force , means , but is Lord Timon's ? +Great Timon , noble , worthy , royal Timon ! +Ah ! when the means are gone that buy this praise , +The breath is gone whereof this praise is made : +Feast-won , fast-lost ; one cloud of winter showers , +These flies are couch'd . + +Come , sermon me no further ; +No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart ; +Unwisely , not ignobly , have I given . +Why dost thou weep ? Canst thou the conscience lack , +To think I shall lack friends ? Secure thy heart ; +If I would broach the vessels of my love , +And try the argument of hearts by borrowing , +Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use +As I can bid thee speak . + +Assurance bless your thoughts ! + +And , in some sort , these wants of mine are crown'd , +That I account them blessings ; for by these +Shall I try friends . You shall perceive how you +Mistake my fortunes ; I am wealthy in my friends . +Within there ! Flaminius ! Servilius ! + + +My lord ! my lord ! + +I will dispatch you severally : you , to Lord Lucius ; to Lord Lucullus you : I hunted with his honour to-day ; you , to Sempronius . Commend me to their loves ; and I am proud , say , that my occasions have found time to use them toward a supply of money : let the request be fifty talents . + +As you have said , my lord . + +Lord Lucius , and Lucullus ? hum ! + +Go you , sir , to the senators , +Of whom , even to the state's best health , I have +Deserv'd this hearing ,bid 'em send o' the instant +A thousand talents to me . + +I have been bold , +For that I knew it the most general way , +To them to use your signet and your name ; +But they do shake their heads , and I am here +No richer in return . + +Is't true ? can't be ? + +They answer , in a joint and corporate voice , +That now they are at fall , want treasure , cannot +Do what they would ; are sorry ; you are honourable ; +But yet they could have wish'd ; they know not ; +Something hath been amiss ; a noble nature +May catch a wrench ; would all were well ; 'tis pity ; +And so , intending other serious matters , +After distasteful looks and these hard fractions , +With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods +They froze me into silence . + +You gods , reward them ! +Prithee , man , look cheerly . These old fellows +Have their ingratitude in them hereditary ; +Their blood is cak'd , 'tis cold , it seldom flows ; +'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind ; +And nature , as it grows again toward earth , +Is fashion'd for the journey , dull and heavy . + + +Prithee , be not sad , +Thou art true and honest ; ingenuously I speak , +No blame belongs to thee . + +Ventidius lately +Buried his father ; by whose death he's stepp'd +Into a great estate ; when he was poor , +Imprison'd and in scarcity of friends , +I clear'd him with five talents ; greet him from me ; +Bid him suppose some good necessity +Touches his friend , which craves to be remember'd +With those five talents . + +That had , give't these fellows +To whom 'tis instant due . Ne'er speak , or think +That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink . + +I would I could not think it : that thought is bounty's foe ; +Being free itself , it thinks all others so . + +I have told my lord of you ; he is coming down to you . + +I thank you , sir . + + +Here's my lord . + +One of Lord Timon's men ! a gift , I warrant . Why , this hits right ; I dreamt of a silver bason and ewer to-night . Flaminius , honest Flaminius , you are very respectively welcome , sir . Fill me some wine . [Exit Servant .] And how does that honourable , complete , free-hearted gentleman of Athens , thy very bountiful good lord and master ? + +His health is well , sir . + +I am right glad that his health is well , sir . And what hast thou there under thy cloak , pretty Flaminius ? + +Faith , nothing but an empty box , sir ; which , in my lord's behalf , I come to entreat your honour to supply ; who , having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents , hath sent to your lordship to furnish him , nothing doubting your present assistance therein . + +La , la , la , la ! 'nothing doubting ,' says he ? Alas ! good lord ; a noble gentleman 'tis , if he would not keep so good a house . Many a time and often I ha' dined with him , and told him on't ; and come again to supper to him , of purpose to have him spend less ; and yet he would embrace no counsel , take no warning by my coming . Every man has his fault , and honesty is his ; I ha' told him on't , but I could ne'er get him from it . + + +Please your lordship , here is the wine . + +Flaminius , I have noted thee always wise . Here's to thee . + +Your lordship speaks your pleasure . + +I have observed thee always for a towardly prompt spirit , give thee thy due , and one that knows what belongs to reason ; and canst use the time well , if the time use thee well : good parts in thee . + +Get you gone , sirrah .[Exit Servant .] Draw nearer , honest Flaminius . Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman ; but thou art wise , and thou knowest well enough , although thou comest to me , that this is no time to lend money , especially upon bare friendship , without security . Here's three solidares for thee : good boy , wink at me , and say thou sawest me not . Fare thee well . + +Is't possible the world should so much differ , +And we alive that liv'd ? Fly , damned baseness , +To him that worships thee . + + +Ha ! now I see thou art a fool , and fit for thy master . + + +May these add to the number that may scald thee ! +Let molten coin be thy damnation , +Thou disease of a friend , and not himself ! +Has friendship such a faint and milky heart +It turns in less than two nights ? O you gods ! +I feel my master's passion . This slave unto his honour +Has my lord's meat in him : +Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment +When he is turn'd to poison ? +O ! may diseases only work upon 't , +And , when he's sick to death , let not that part of nature +Which my lord paid for , be of any power +To expel sickness , but prolong his hour . + + +Who , the Lord Timon ? he is my very good friend , and an honourable gentleman . + +We know him for no less , though we are but strangers to him . But I can tell you one thing , my lord , and which I hear from common rumours : now Lord Timon's happy hours are done and past , and his estate shrinks from him . + +Fie , no , do not believe it ; he cannot want for money . + +But believe you this , my lord , that , not long ago , one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus , to borrow so many talents , nay , urged extremely for 't , and showed what necessity belonged to 't , and yet was denied . + +How ! + +I tell you , denied , my lord . + +What a strange case was that ! now , before the gods , I am ashamed on 't . Denied that honourable man ! there was very little honour showed in 't . For my own part , I must needs confess , I have received some small kindnesses from him , as money , plate , jewels , and such like trifles , nothing comparing to his ; yet , had he mistook him , and sent to me , I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents . + + +See , by good hap , yonder's my lord ; I have sweat to see his honour . + +My honoured lord ! + +Servilius ! you are kindly met , sir . Fare thee well : commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord , my very exquisite friend . + +May it please your honour , my lord hath sent + +Ha ! what has he sent ? I am so much endeared to that lord ; he's ever sending : how shall I thank him , thinkest thou ? And what has he sent now ? + +He has only sent his present occasion now , my lord ; requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents . + +I know his lordship is but merry with me ; +He cannot want fifty-five hundred talents . + +But in the mean time he wants less , my lord . +If his occasion were not virtuous , +I should not urge it half so faithfully . + +Dost thou speak seriously , Servilius ? + +Upon my soul , 'tis true , sir . + +What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself against such a good time , when I might ha' shown myself honourable ! how unluckily it happened , that I should purchase the day before for a little part , and undo a great deal of honour ! Servilius , now , before the gods , I am not able to do ; the more beast , I say ; I was sending to use Lord Timon myself , these gentlemen can witness ; but I would not , for the wealth of Athens , I had done it now . Commend me bountifully to his good lordship ; and I hope his honour will conceive the fairest of me , because I have no power to be kind : and tell him this from me , I count it one of my greatest afflictions say , that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman . Good Servilius , will you befriend me so far as to use mine own words to him ? + +Yes , sir , I shall . + +I'll look you out a good turn , Servilius . + +True , as you said , Timon is shrunk indeed ; +And he that's once denied will hardly speed . + + +Do you observe this , Hostilius ? + +Ay , too well . + +Why this is the world's soul ; and just of the same piece +Is every flatterer's spirit . Who can call him +His friend that dips in the same dish ? for , in +My knowing , Timon has been this lord's father , +And kept his credit with his purse , +Supported his estate ; nay , Timon's money +Has paid his men their wages : he ne'er drinks +But Timon's silver treads upon his lip ; +And yet , O ! see the monstrousness of man , +When he looks out in an ungrateful shape , +He does deny him , in respect of his , +What charitable men afford to beggars . + +Religion groans at it . + +For mine own part , +I never tasted Timon in my life , +Nor came any of his bounties over me , +To mark me for his friend ; yet , I protest , +For his right noble mind , illustrious virtue , +And honourable carriage , +Had his necessity made use of me , +I would have put my wealth into donation , +And the best half should have return'd to him , +So much I love his heart . But , I perceive , +Men must learn now with pity to dispense ; +For policy sits above conscience . + + +Must he needs trouble me in 't . Hum ! 'bove all others ? +He might have tried Lord Lucius , or Lucullus ; +And now Ventidius is wealthy too , +Whom he redeem'd from prison : all these +Owe their estates unto him . + +My lord , +They have all been touch'd and found base metal , for +They have all denied him . + +How ! have they denied him ? +Have Ventidius and Lucullus denied him ? +And does he send to me ? Three ? hum ! +It shows but little love or judgment in him : +Must I be his last refuge ? His friends , like physicians , +Thrice give him over ; must I take the cure upon me ? +He has much disgrac'd me in 't ; I'm angry at him , +That might have known my place . I see no sense for 't , +But his occasions might have woo'd me first ; +For , in my conscience , I was the first man +That e'er received gift from him : +And does he think so backwardly of me now , +That I'll requite it last ? No : +So it may prove an argument of laughter +To the rest , and I 'mongst lords be thought a fool . +I had rather than the worth of thrice the sum , +He had sent to me first , but for my mind's sake ; +I'd such a courage to do him good . But now return , +And with their faint reply this answer join ; +Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin . + + +Excellent ! Your lordship's a goodly villain . The devil knew not what he did when he made man politic ; he crossed himself by 't : and I cannot think but in the end the villanies of man will set him clear . How fairly this lord strives to appear foul ! takes virtuous copies to be wicked , like those that under hot ardent zeal would set whole realms on fire : +Of such a nature is his politic love . +This was my lord's best hope ; now all are fled +Save only the gods . Now his friends are dead , +Doors , that were ne'er acquainted with their wards +Many a bounteous year , must be employ'd +Now to guard sure their master : +And this is all a liberal course allows ; +Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house . + +Well met ; good morrow , Titus and Hortensius . + +The like to you , kind Varro . + +Lucius ! +What ! do we meet together ! + +Ay , and I think +One business does command us all ; for mine +Is money . + +So is theirs and ours . + + +And Sir Philotus too ! + +Good day at once . + +Welcome , good brother . +What do you think the hour ? + +Labouring for nine . + +So much ? + +Is not my lord seen yet ? + +Not yet . + +I wonder on 't ; he was wont to shine at seven . + +Ay , but the days are waxed shorter with him : +You must consider that a prodigal course +Is like the sun's ; but not , like his , recoverable . +I fear , +'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse ; +That is , one may reach deep enough , and yet +Find little . + +I am of your fear for that . + +I'll show you how to observe a strange event . +Your lord sends now for money . + +Most true , he does . + +And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift , +For which I wait for money . + +It is against my heart . + +Mark , how strange it shows , +Timon in this should pay more than he owes : +And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels , +And send for money for 'em . + +I'm weary of this charge , the gods can witness : +I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth , +And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth . + +Yes , mine's three thousand crowns ; what's yours ? + +Five thousand mine . + +'Tis much deep : and it should seem by the sum , +Your master's confidence was above mine ; +Else , surely , his had equall'd . + + +One of Lord Timon's men . + +Flaminius ! Sir , a word . Pray , is my lord ready to come forth ? + +No , indeed , he is not . + +We attend his lordship ; pray , signify so much . + +I need not tell him that ; he knows you are too diligent . + +Ha ! is not that his steward muffled so ? +He goes away in a cloud : call him , call him . + +Do you hear , sir ? + +By your leave , sir . + +What do you ask of me , my friend ? + +We wait for certain money here , sir . + +Ay , +If money were as certain as your waiting , +'Twere sure enough . +Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills , +When your false masters eat of my lord's meat ? +Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts , +And take down the interest into their gluttonous maws . +You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up ; +Let me pass quietly : +Believe't , my lord and I have made an end ; +I have no more to reckon , he to spend . + +Ay , but this answer will not serve . + +If 'twill not serve , 'tis not so base as you ; +For you serve knaves . + + +How ! what does his cashiered worship mutter ? + +No matter what ; he's poor , and that's revenge enough . Who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in ? such may rail against great buildings . + + +O ! here's Servilius ; now we shall know some answer . + +If I might beseech you , gentlemen , to repair some other hour , I should derive much from 't ; for , take 't of my soul , my lord leans wondrously to discontent . His comfortable temper has forsook him ; he's much out of health , and keeps his chamber . + +Many do keep their chambers are not sick : +And , if it be so far beyond his health , +Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts , +And make a clear way to the gods . + +Good gods ! + +We cannot take this for answer , sir . + +Servilius , help ! my lord ! my lord ! + + +What ! are my doors oppos'd against my passage ? +Have I been ever free , and must my house +Be my retentive enemy , my gaol ? +The place which I have feasted , does it now , +Like all mankind , show me an iron heart ? + +Put in now , Titus . + +My lord , here is my bill . + +Here's mine . + +And mine , my lord . + +And ours , my lord . + +All our bills . + +Knock me down with 'em : cleave me to the girdle . + +Alas ! my lord , + +Cut my heart in sums . + +Mine , fifty talents . + +Tell out my blood . + +Five thousand crowns , my lord . + +Five thousand drops pays that . What yours ? and yours ? + +My lord , + +My lord , + +Tear me , take me ; and the gods fall upon you ! + + +Faith , I perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money : these debts may well be called desperate ones , for a madman owes 'em . + +They have e'en put my breath from me , the slaves : +Creditors ? devils ! + +My dear lord , + +What if it should be so ? + +My lord , + +I'll have it so . My steward ! + +Here , my lord . + +So fitly ! Go , bid all my friends again , +Lucius , Lucullus , and Sempronius ; all : +I'll once more feast the rascals . + +O my lord ! +You only speak from your distracted soul ; +There is not so much left to furnish out +A moderate table . + +Be't not in thy care : go . +I charge thee , invite them all : let in the tide +Of knaves once more ; my cook and I'll provide . + + +My lord , you have my voice to it ; the fault's +Bloody ; 'tis necessary he should die ; +Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy . + +Most true ; the law shall bruise him . + + +Honour , health , and compassion to the senate ! + +Now , captain . + +I am a humble suitor to your virtues ; +For pity is the virtue of the law , +And none but tyrants use it cruelly . +It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy +Upon a friend of mine , who , in hot blood , +Hath stepp'd into the law , which is past depth +To those that without heed to plunge into 't . +He is a man , setting his fate aside , +Of comely virtues ; +Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice , +An honour in him which buys out his fault , +But , with a noble fury and fair spirit , +Seeing his reputation touch'd to death , +He did oppose his foe ; +And with such sober and unnoted passion +He did behave his anger , ere 'twas spent , +As if he had but prov'd an argument . + +You undergo too strict a paradox , +Striving to make an ugly deed look fair : +Your words have took such pains as if they labour'd +To bring manslaughter into form , and set quarrelling +Upon the head of valour ; which indeed +Is valour misbegot , and came into the world +When sects and factions were newly born . +He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer +The worst that man can breathe , and make his wrongs +His outsides , to wear them like his raiment , carelessly , +And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart , +To bring it into danger . +If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill , +What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill ! + +My lord , + +You cannot make gross sins look clear ; +To revenge is no valour , but to bear . + +My lords , then , under favour , pardon me , +If I speak like a captain . +Why do fond men expose themselves to battle , +And not endure all threats ? sleep upon't , +And let the foes quietly cut their throats +Without repugnancy ? If there be +Such valour in the bearing , what make we +Abroad ? why then , women are more valiant +That stay at home , if bearing carry it , +And the ass more captain than the lion , the felon +Loaden with irons wiser than the judge , +If wisdom be in suffering . O my lords ! +As you are great , be pitifully good : +Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood ? +To kill , I grant , is sin's extremest gust ; +But , in defence , by mercy , 'tis most just . +To be in anger is impiety ; +But who is man that is not angry ? +Weigh but the crime with this . + +You breathe in vain . + +In vain ! his service done +At Laced mon and Byzantium +Were a sufficient briber for his life . + +What's that ? + +I say , my lords , he has done fair service , +And slain in fight many of your enemies . +How full of valour did he bear himself +In the last conflict , and made plenteous wounds ! + +He has made too much plenty with 'em ; +He's a sworn rioter ; he has a sin that often +Drowns him and takes his valour prisoner ; +If there were no foes , that were enough +To overcome him ; in that beastly fury +He has been known to commit outrages +And cherish factions ; 'tis inferr'd to us , +His days are foul and his drink dangerous . + +He dies . + +Hard fate ! he might have died in war . +My lords , if not for any parts in him , +Though his right arm might purchase his own time , +And be in debt to none ,yet , more to move you , +Take my deserts to his , and join 'em both ; +And , for I know your reverend ages love +Security , I'll pawn my victories , all +My honour to you , upon his good returns . +If by this crime he owes the law his life , +Why , let the war receive't in valiant gore ; +For law is strict , and war is nothing more . + +We are for law ; he dies : urge it no more , +On height of our displeasure . Friend , or brother , +He forfeits his own blood that spills another . + +Must it be so ? it must not be . My lords , +I do beseech you , know me . + +How ! + +Call me to your remembrances . + +What ! + +I cannot think but your age has forgot me ; +It could not else be I should prove so base , +To sue , and be denied such common grace . +My wounds ache at you . + +Do you dare our anger ? +'Tis in few words , but spacious in effect ; +We banish thee for ever . + +Banish me ! +Banish your dotage ; banish usury , +That makes the senate ugly . + +If , after two days' shine , Athens contain thee , +Attend our weightier judgment . And , not to swell our spirit , +He shall be executed presently . + + +Now the gods keep you old enough ; that you may live +Only in bone , that none may look on you ! +I am worse than mad : I have kept back their foes , +While they have told their money and let out +Their coin upon large interest ; I myself +Rich only in large hurts : all those for this ? +Is this the balsam that the usuring senate +Pours into captains' wounds ? Banishment ! +It comes not ill ; I hate not to be banish'd ; +It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury , +That I may strike at Athens . I'll cheer up +My discontented troops , and lay for hearts . +'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds ; +Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods . + +The good time of day to you , sir . + +I also wish it you . I think this honourable lord did but try us this other day . + +Upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountered : I hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends . + +It should not be , by the persuasion of his new feasting . + +I should think so : he hath sent me an earnest inviting , which many my near occasions did urge me to put off ; but he hath conjured me beyond them , and I must needs appear . + +In like manner was I in debt to my importunate business , but he would not hear my excuse . I am sorry , when he sent to borrow of me , that my provision was out . + +I am sick of that grief too , as I understand how all things go . + +Every man here's so . What would he have borrowed you ? + +A thousand pieces . + +A thousand pieces ! + +What of you ? + +He sent to me , sir ,Here he comes . + + +With all my heart , gentlemen both ; and how fare you ? + +Ever at the best , hearing well of your lordship . + +The swallow follows not summer more willing than we your lordship . + +Nor more willingly leaves winter ; such summer-birds are men . Gentlemen , our dinner will not recompense this long stay : feast your ears with the music awhile , if they will fare so harshly o' the trumpet's sound ; we shall to 't presently . + +I hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that I returned you an empty messenger . + +O ! sir , let it not trouble you . + +My noble lord , + +Ah ! my good friend , what cheer ? + +My most honourable lord , I am e'en sick of shame , that when your lordship this other day sent to me I was so unfortunate a beggar . + +Think not on 't , sir . + +If you had sent but two hours before , + +Let it not cumber your better remembrance . + +Come , bring in all together . + +All covered dishes ! + +Royal cheer , I warrant you . + +Doubt not that , if money and the season can yield it . + +How do you ? What's the news ? + +Alcibiades is banished : hear you of it ? + +Alcibiades banished ! + +Alcibiades banished ! + +'Tis so , be sure of it . + +How ? how ? + +I pray you , upon what ? + +My worthy friends , will you draw near ? + +I'll tell you more anon . Here's a noble feast toward . + +This is the old man still . + +Will't hold ? will't hold ? + +It does ; but time will and so + +I do conceive . + +Each man to his stool , with that spur as he would to the lip of his mistress ; your diet shall be in all places alike . Make not a city feast of it , to let the meat cool ere we can agree upon the first place : sit , sit . The gods require our thanks . +You great benefactors sprinkle our society with thankfulness . For your own gifts , make yourselves praised : but reserve still to give , lest your deities be despised . Lend to each man enough , that one need not lend to another ; for , were your godheads to borrow of men , men would forsake the gods . Make the meat be beloved more than the man that gives it . Let no assembly of twenty be without a score of villains : if there sit twelve women at the table , let a dozen of them be as they are . The rest of your fees , O gods ! the senators of Athens , together with the common lag of people , what is amiss in them , you gods , make suitable for destruction . For these my present friends , as they are to me nothing , so in nothing bless them , and to nothing are they welcome . +Uncover , dogs , and lap . + + +What does his lordship mean ? + +I know not . + +May you a better feast never behold , +You knot of mouth-friends ! smoke and lukewarm water +Is your perfection . This is Timon's last ; +Who , stuck and spangled with your flatteries , +Washes it off , and sprinkles in your faces + +Your reeking villany . Live loath'd , and long , +Most smiling , smooth , detested parasites , +Courteous destroyers , affable wolves , meek bears , +You fools of fortune , trencher-friends , time's flies , +Cap and knee slaves , vapours , and minute-jacks ! +Of man and beast the infinite malady +Crust you quite o'er ! What ! dost thou go ? +Soft ! take thy physic first ,thou too ,and thou ; +Stay , I will lend thee money , borrow none . + +What ! all in motion ? Henceforth be no feast , +Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest . +Burn , house ! sink , Athens ! henceforth hated be +Of Timon man and all humanity ! + +How now , my lords ! + +Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury ? + +Push ! did you see my cap ? + +I have lost my gown . + +He's but a mad lord , and nought but humour sways him . He gave me a jewel th' other day , and now he has beat it out of my hat : did you see my jewel ? + +Did you see my cap ? + +Here 'tis . + +Here lies my gown . + +Let's make no stay . + +Lord Timon's mad . + +I feel 't upon my bones . + +One day he gives us diamonds , next day stones . + +Let me look back upon thee . O thou wall , +That girdlest in those wolves , dive in the earth . +And fence not Athens ! Matrons , turn incontinent ! +Obedience fail in children ! slaves and fools , +Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench , +And minister in their steads ! To general filths +Convert , o'the instant , green virginity ! +Do't in your parents' eyes ! Bankrupts , hold fast ; +Rather than render back , out with your knives , +And cut your trusters' throats ! Bound servants , steal ! +Large-handed robbers your grave masters are , +And pill by law . Maid , to thy master's bed ; +Thy mistress is o' the brothel ! Son of sixteen , +Pluck the lin'd crutch from thy old limping sire , +With it beat out his brains ! Piety , and fear , +Religion to the gods , peace , justice , truth , +Domestic awe , night-rest and neighbourhood , +Instruction , manners , mysteries and trades , +Degrees , observances , customs and laws , +Decline to your confounding contraries , +And let confusion live ! Plagues incident to men , +Your potent and infectious fevers heap +On Athens , ripe for stroke ! Thou cold sciatica , +Cripple our senators , that their limbs may halt +As lamely as their manners ! Lust and liberty +Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth , +That'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive , +And drown themselves in riot ! Itches , blains , +Sow all the Athenian bosoms , and their crop +Be general leprosy ! Breath infect breath , +That their society , as their friendship , may +Be merely poison ! Nothing I'll bear from thee +But nakedness , thou detestable town ! +Take thou that too , with multiplying bans ! +Timon will to the woods ; where he shall find +The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind . +The gods confound hear me , you good gods all +The Athenians both within and out that wall ! +And grant , as Timon grows , his hate may grow +To the whole race of mankind , high and low ! +Amen . + + +Hear you , Master steward ! where's our master ? +Are we undone ? cast off ? nothing remaining ? + +Alack ! my fellows , what should I say to you ? +Let me be recorded by the righteous gods , +I am as poor as you . + +Such a house broke ! +So noble a master fall'n ! All gone ! and not +One friend to take his fortune by the arm , +And go along with him ! + +As we do turn our backs +From our companion thrown into his grave , +So his familiars to his buried fortunes +Slink all away , leave their false vows with him , +Like empty purses pick'd ; and his poor self , +A dedicated beggar to the air , +With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty , +Walks , like contempt , alone . More of our fellows . + + +All broken implements of a ruin'd house . + +Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery , +That see I by our faces ; we are fellows still , +Serving alike in sorrow . Leak'd is our bark , +And we , poor mates , stand on the dying deck , +Hearing the surges threat : we must all part +Into this sea of air . + +Good fellows all , +The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you . +Wherever we shall meet , for Timon's sake +Let's yet be fellows ; let's shake our heads , and say , +As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes , +'We have seen better days .' Let each take some ; + +Nay , put out all your hands . Not one word more : +Thus part we rich in sorrow , parting poor . + +O ! the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us . +Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt , +Since riches point to misery and contempt ? +Who would be so mock'd with glory ? or so live , +But in a dream of friendship ? +To have his pomp and all what state compounds +But only painted , like his varnish'd friends ? +Poor honest lord ! brought low by his own heart , +Undone by goodness . Strange , unusual blood , +When man's worst sin is he does too much good ! +Who then dares to be half so kind agen ? +For bounty , that makes gods , does still mar men . +My dearest lord , bless'd , to be most accurs'd , +Rich , only to be wretched , thy great fortunes +Are made thy chief affictions . Alas ! kind lord , +He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat +Of monstrous friends ; +Nor has he with him to supply his life , +Or that which can command it . +I'll follow and inquire him out : +I'll ever serve his mind with my best will ; +Whilst I have gold I'll be his steward still . + + +O blessed breeding sun ! draw from the earth +Rotten humidity ; below thy sister's orb +Infect the air ! Twinn'd brothers of one womb , +Whose procreation , residence and birth , +Scarce is dividant , touch them with several fortunes ; +The greater scorns the lesser : not nature , +To whom all sores lay siege , can bear great fortune , +But by contempt of nature . +Raise me this beggar , and deny't that lord ; +The senator shall bear contempt hereditary , +The beggar native honour . +It is the pasture lards the rother's sides , +The want that makes him lean . Who dares , who dares , +In purity of manhood stand upright , +And say , 'This man's a flatterer ?' if one be , +So are they all ; for every grize of fortune +Is smooth'd by that below : the learned pate +Ducks to the golden fool : all is oblique ; +There's nothing level in our cursed natures +But direct villany . Therefore , be abhorr'd +All feasts , societies , and throngs of men ! +His semblable , yea , himself , Timon disdains : +Destruction fang mankind ! Earth , yield me roots ! + +Who seeks for better of thee , sauce his palate +With thy most operant poison ! What is here ? +Gold ! yellow , glittering , precious gold ! No , gods , +I am no idle votarist . Roots , you clear heavens ! +Thus much of this will make black white , foul fair , +Wrong right , base noble , old young , coward valiant . +Ha ! you gods , why this ? What this , you gods ? Why , this +Will lug your priests and servants from your sides , +Pluck stout men's pillows from below their head : +This yellow slave +Will knit and breah religions ; bless the accurs'd ; +Make the hoar leprosy ador'd ; place thieves , +And give them title , knee , and approbation , +With senators on the bench ; this is it +That makes the wappen'd widow wed again ; +She , whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores +Would cast the gorge at , this embalms and spices +To the April day again . Come , damned earth , +Thou common whore of mankind , that putt'st odds +Among the rout of nations , I will make thee +Do thy right nature . + +Ha ! a drum ? thou'rt quick , +But yet I'll bury thee : thou'lt go , strong theif , +When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand : +Nay , stay thou out for earnest . + +What art thou there ? speak . + +A beast , as thou art . The canker gnaw thy heart , +For showing me again the eyes of man ! + +What is thy name ? Is man so hateful to thee , +That art thyself a man ? + +I am Misanthropos , and hate mankind . +For thy part , I do wish thou wert a dog , +That I might love thee something . + +I know thee well , +But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange . + +I know thee too ; and more than that I know thee +I not desire to know . Follow thy drum ; +With man's blood paint the ground , gules , gules ; +Religious canons , civil laws are cruel ; +Then what should war be ? This fell whore of thine +Hath in her more destruction than thy sword +For all her cherubin look . + +Thy lips rot off ! + +I will not kiss thee ; then the rot returns +To thine own lips again . + +How came the noble Timon to this change ? + +As the moon does , by wanting light to give : +But then renew I could not like the moon ; +There were no suns to borrow of . + +Noble Timon , what friendship may I do thee ? + +None , but to maintain my opinion . + +What is it , Timon ? + +Promise me friendship , but perform none : if thou wilt not promise , the gods plague thee , for thou art a man ! if thou dost perform , confound thee , for thou art a man ! + +I have heard in some sort of thy miseries . + +Thou saw'st them , when I had prosperity . + +I see them now ; then was a blessed time . + +As thine is now , held with a brace of harlots . + +Is this the Athenian minion , whom the world +Voic'd so regardfully ? + +Art thou Timandra ? + +Yes . + +Be a whore still ; they love thee not that use thee ; +Give them diseases , leaving with thee their lust . +Make use of thy salt hours ; season the slaves +For tubs and baths ; bring down rose-cheeked youth +To the tub-fast and the diet . + +Hang thee , monster ! + +Pardon him , sweet Timandra , for his wits +Are drown'd and lost in his calamities . +I have but little gold of late , brave Timon , +The want whereof doth daily make revolt +In my penurious band : I have heard and griev'd +How cursed Athens , mindless of thy worth , +Forgetting thy great deeds , when neighbour states , +But for thy sword and fortune , trod upon them , + +I prithee , beat thy drum , and get thee gone . + +I am thy friend , and pity thee , dear Timon . + +How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble ? +I had rather be alone . + +Why , fare thee well : +Here is some gold for thee . + +Keep it , I cannot eat it . + +When I have laid proud Athens on a heap , + +Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens ? + +Ay , Timon , and have cause . + +The gods confound them all in thy conquest ; and +Thee after , when thou hast conquer'd ! + +Why me , Timon ? + +That , by killing of villains , thou wast born to conquer +My country . +Put up thy gold : go on ,here's gold ,go on ; +Be as a planetary plague , when Jove +Will o'er some high-vic'd city hang his poison +In the sick air : let not thy sword skip one . +Pity not honour'd age for his white beard ; +He is a usurer . Strike me the counterfeit matron ; +It is her habit only that is honest , +Herself's a bawd . Let not the virgin's cheek +Make soft thy trenchant sword ; for those milkpaps , +That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes , +Are not within the leaf of pity writ , +But set them down horrible traitors . Spare not the babe , +Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy ; +Think it a bastard , whom the oracle +Hath doubtfully pronounc'd thy throat shall cut , +And mince it sans remorse . Swear against objects ; +Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes , +Whose proof nor yells of mothers , maids , nor babes , +Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding , +Shall pierce a jot . There's gold to pay thy soldiers : +Make large confusion ; and , thy fury spent , +Confounded be thyself ! Speak not , be gone . + +Hast thou gold yet ? I'll take the gold thou giv'st me , +Not all thy counsel . + +Dost thou , or dost thou not , heaven's curse upon thee ! + +Give us some gold , good Timon : hast thou more ? + +Give us some gold , good Timon : hast thou more ? + +Enough to make a whore forswear her trade , +And to make whores a bawd . Hold up , you sluts , +Your aprons mountant : you are not oathable , +Although , I know , you'll swear , terribly swear +Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues +The immortal gods that hear you , spare your oaths , +I'll trust to your conditions : be whores still ; +And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you , +Be strong in whore , allure him , burn him up ; +Let your close fire predominate his smoke , +And be no turncoats : yet may your pains , six months , +Be quite contrary : and thatch your poor thin roofs +With burdens of the dead ; some that were hang'd , +No matter ; wear them , betray with them : whore still ; +Paint till a horse may mire upon your face : +A pox of wrinkles ! + +Well , more gold . What then ? + +Well , more gold . What then ? +Believe't , that we'll do anything for gold . + +Consumptions sow +In hollow bones of man ; strike their sharp shins , +And mar men's spurring . Crack the lawyer's voice , +That he may never more false title plead , +Nor sound his quillets shrilly : hoar the flamen , +That scolds against the quality of flesh , +And not believes himself : down with the nose , +Down with it flat ; take the bridge quite away +Of him that , his particular to foresee , +Smells from the general weal : make curl'd-pate ruffians bald , +And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war +Derive some pain from you : plague all , +That your activity may defeat and quell +The source of all erection . There's more gold ; +Do you damn others , and let this damn you , +And ditches grave you all ! + +More counsel with more money , bounteous Timon . + +More counsel with more money , bounteous Timon . + +More whore , more mischief first ; I have given you earnest . + +Strike up the drum towards Athens ! Farewell , Timon : +If I thrive well , I'll visit thee again . + +If I hope well , I'll never see thee more . + +I never did thee harm . + +Yes , thou spok'st well of me . + +Call'st thou that harm ? + +Men daily find it . Get thee away , and take +Thy beagles with thee . + +We but offend him . Strike ! + + +That nature , being sick of man's unkindness , +Should yet be hungry ! Common mother , thou , + +Whose womb unmeasurable , and infinite breast , +Teams , and feeds all ; whose self-same mettle , +Whereof thy proud child , arrogant man , is puff'd , +Engenders the black toad and adder blue , +The gilded newt and eyeless venom'd worm , +With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven +Whareon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine ; +Yield him , who all thy human sons doth hate , +From forth thy plenteous bosom , one poor root ! +Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb , +Let it no more bring out ingrateful man ! +Go great with tigers , dragons , wolves , and bears ; +Teem with new monsters , whom thy upward face +Hath to the marbled mansion all above +Never presented ! O ! a root ; dear thanks : +Dry up thy marrows , vines and plough-torn leas ; +Whereof ingrateful man , with liquorish draughts +And morsels unctuous , greases his pure mind , +That from it all consideration slips ! + +More man ! Plague ! plague ! + +I was directed hither : men report +Thou dost affect my manners , and dost use them . + +'Tis , then , because thou dost not keep a dog +Whom I would imitate : consumption catch thee ! + +This is in thee a nature but infected ; +A poor unmanly melancholy sprung +From change of fortune . Why this spade ? this place ? +This slave-like habit ? and these looks of care ? +Thy flatterers yet wear silk , drink wine , lie soft , +Hug their diseas'd perfumes , and have forgot +That ever Timon was . Shame not these woods +By putting on the cunning of a carper . +Be thou a flatterer now , and seak to thrive +By that which has undone thee : hinge thy knee , +And let his very breath , whom thou'lt observe , +Blow off thy cap ; praise his most vicious strain , +And call it excellent . Thou wast told thus ; +Thou gav'st thine ears , like tapsters that bid welcome , +To knaves and all approachers : 'tis most just +That thou turn rascal ; hadst thou wealth again , +Rascals should have't . Do not assume my likeness . + +Were I like thee I'd throw away myself . + +Thou hast cast away thyself , being like thyself ; +A madman so long , now a fool . What ! think'st +That the bleak air , thy boisterous chamberlain , +Will put thy shirt on warm ? will these moss'd trees , +That have outliv'd the eagle , page thy heels +And skip when thou point'st out ? will the cold brook , +Candied with ice , caudle thy morning taste +To cure the o'er-night's surfeit ? Call the creatures +Whose naked natures live in all the spite +Of wreakful heaven , whose bare unhoused trunks +To the conflicting elements expos'd , +Answer mere nature ; bid them flatter thee ; +O ! thou shalt find + +A fool of thee . Depart . + +I love thee better now than e'er I did . + +I hate thee worse . + +Why ? + +Thou flatter'st misery . + +I flatter not , but say thou art a caitiff . + +Why dost thou seek me out ? + +To vex thee . + +Always a villain's office , or a fool's . +Dost please thyself in 't ? + +Ay . + +What ! a knave too ? + +If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on +To castigate thy pride , 'twere well ; but thou +Dost it enforcedly ; thou'dst courtier be again +Wert thou not beggar . Willing misery +Outlives incertain pomp , is crown'd before ; +The one is filling still , never complete ; +The other , at high wish : best state , contentless , +Hath a distracted and most wretched being , +Worse than the worst , content . +Thou shouldst desire to die , being miserable . + +Not by his breath that is more miserable . +Thou art a slave , whom Fortune's tender arm +With favour never clasp'd , but bred a dog . +Hadst thou , like us from our first swath , proceeded +The sweet degrees that this brief world affords +To such as may the passive drudges of it +Freely command , thou wouldst have plung'd thyself +In general riot ; melted down thy youth +In different beds of lust ; and never learn'd +The icy precepts of respect , but follow'd +The sugar'd game before thee . But myself , +Who had the world as my confectionary , +The mouths , the tongues , the eyes , and hearts of men +At duty , more than I could frame employment , +That numberless upon me stuck as leaves +Do on the oak , have with one winter's brush +Fell from their boughs and left me open , bare +For every storm that blows ; I , to bear this , +That never knew but better , is some burden : +Thy nature did commence in sufferance , time +Hath made thee hard in 't . Why shouldst thou hate men ? +They never flatter'd thee : what hast thou given ? +If thou wilt curse , thy father , that poor rag , +Must be thy subject , who in spite put stuff +To some she beggar and compounded thee +Poor rogue hereditary . Hence ! be gone ! +If thou hadst not been born the worst of men , +Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer . + +Art thou proud yet ? + +Ay , that I am not thee . + +I , that I was +No prodigal . + +I , that I am one now : +Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee , +I'd give thee leave to hang it . Get thee gone . +That the whole life of Athens were in this ! +Thus would I eat it . + + +Here ; I will mend thy feast . + +First mend my company , take away thyself . + +So I shall mend mine own , by the lack of thine . + +'Tis not well mended so , it is but botch'd ; +If not , I would it were . + +What wouldst thou have to Athens ? + +Thee thither in a whirlwind . If thou wilt , +Tell them there I have gold ; look , so I have . + +Here is no use for gold . + +The best and truest ; +For here it sleeps , and does no hired harm . + +Where liest o' nights , Timon ? + +Under that's above me . +Where feed'st thou o' days , Apemantus ? + +Where my stomach finds meat ; or , rather , where I eat it . + +Would poison were obedient and knew my mind ! + +Where wouldst thou send it ? + +To sauce thy dishes . + +The middle of humanity thou never knewest , but the extremity of both ends . When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume , they mocked thee for too much curiosity ; in thy rags thou knowest none , but art despised for the contrary . There's a medlar for thee ; eat it . + +On what I hate I feed not . + +Dost hate a medlar ? + +Ay , though it look like thee . + +An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner , thou shouldst have loved thyself better now . What man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means ? + +Who , without those means thou talkest of , didst thou ever know beloved ? + +Myself . + +I understand thee ; thou hadst some means to keep a dog . + +What things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers ? + +Women nearest ; but men , men are the things themselves . What wouldst thou do with the world , Apemantus , if it lay in thy power ? + +Give it the beasts , to be rid of the men . + +Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men , and remain a beast with the beasts ? + +Ay , Timon . + +A beastly ambition , which the gods grant thee to attain to . If thou wert the lion , the fox would beguile thee ; if thou wert the lamb , the fox would eat thee ; if thou wert the fox , the lion would suspect thee , when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass ; if thou wert the ass , thy dulness would torment thee , and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf ; if thou wert the wolf , thy greediness would afflict thee , and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner ; wert thou the unicorn , pride and wrath would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury ; wert thou a bear , thou wouldst be killed by the horse ; wert thou a horse , thou wouldst be seized by the leopard ; wert thou a leopard , thou wert german to the lion , and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life ; all thy safety were remotion , and thy defence absence . What beast couldst thou be , that were not subject to a beast ? and what a beast art thou already , that seest not thy loss in transformation ! + +If thou couldst please me with speaking to me , thou mightst have hit upon it here ; the commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts . + +How has the ass broke the wall , that thou art out of the city ? + +Yonder comes a poet and a painter : the plague of company light upon thee ! I will fear to catch it , and give way . When I know not what else to do , I'll see thee again . + +When there is nothing living but thee , thou shalt be welcome . I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus . + +Thou art the cap of all the fools alive . + +Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon ! + +A plague on thee ! thou art too bad to curse ! + +All villains that do stand by thee are pure . + +There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st . + +If I name thee . +I'll beat thee , but I should infect my hands . + +I would my tongue could rot them off ! + +Away , thou issue of a mangy dog ! +Choler does kill me that thou art alive ; +I swound to see thee . + +Would thou wouldst burst ! + +Away , +Thou tedious rogue ! I am sorry I shall lose +A stone by thee . + + +Beast ! + +Slave ! + +Toad ! + +Rogue , rogue , rogue ! +I am sick of this false world , and will love nought +But even the mere necessities upon 't . +Then , Timon , presently prepare thy grave ; +Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat +Thy grave-stone daily : make thine epitaph , +That death in me at others' lives may laugh . + +O thou sweet king-killer , and dear divorce +'Twixt natural son and sire ! thou bright defiler +Of Hymen's purest bed ! thou valiant Mars ! +Thou ever young , fresh , lov'd , and delicate wooer , +Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow +That lies on Dian's lap ! thou visible god , +That solder'st close impossibilities , +And mak'st them kiss ! that speak'st with every tongue , +To every purpose ! O thou touch of hearts ! +Think , thy slave man rebels , and by thy virtue +Set them into confounding odds , that beasts +May have the world in empire . + +Would 'twere so : +But not till I am dead ; I'll say thou'st gold : +Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly . + +Throng'd to ? + +Ay . + +Thy back , I prithee . + +Live , and love thy misery ! + +Long live so , and so die ! + +I am quit . +More things like men ! Eat , Timon , and abhor them . + + +Where should he have this gold ? It is some poor fragment , some slender ort of his remainder . The mere want of gold , and the falling-from of his friends , drove him into this melancholy . + +It is noised he hath a mass of treasure . + +Let us make the assay upon him : if he care not for 't , he will supply us easily ; if he covetously reserve it , how shall's get it ? + +True ; for he bears it not about him , 'tis hid . + +Is not this he ? + +Where ? + +'Tis his description . + +He ; I know him . + +Save thee , Timon . + +Now , thieves ? + +Soldiers , not thieves . + +Both too ; and women's sons . + +We are not thieves , but men that much do want . + +Your greatest want is , you want much of meat . +Why should you want ? Behold , the earth hath roots ; +Within this mile break forth a hundred springs ; +The oaks bear mast , the briers scarlet hips ; +The bounteous housewife , nature , on each bush +Lays her full mess before you . Want ! why want ? + +We cannot live on grass , on berries , water , +As beasts , and birds , and fishes . + +Nor on the beasts themselves , the birds , and fishes ; +You must eat men . Yet thanks I must you con +That you are thieves profess'd , that you work not +In holier shapes ; for there is boundless theft +In limited professions . Rascal thieves , +Here's gold . Go , suck the subtle blood o' the grape , +Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth , +And so 'scape hanging : trust not the physician ; +His antidotes are poison , and he slays +More than you rob : take wealth and lives together ; +Do villany , do , since you protest to do't , +Like workmen . I'll example you with thievery : +The sun's a thief , and with his great attraction +Robs the vast sea ; the moon's an arrant thief , +And her pale fire she snatches from the sun ; +The sea's a thief , whose liquid surge resolves +The moon into salt tears ; the earth's a thief , +That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen +From general excrement , each thing's a thief ; +The laws , your curb and whip , in their rough power +Have uncheck'd theft . Love not yourselves ; away ! +Rob one another . There's more gold : cut throats ; +All that you meet are thieves . To Athens go , +Break open shops ; nothing can you steal +But thieves do lose it : steal no less for this +I give you ; and gold confound you howsoe'er ! +Amen . + +He has almost charmed me from my profession , by persuading me to it . + +'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us ; not to have us thrive in our mystery . + +I'll believe him as an enemy , and give over my trade . + +Let us first see peace in Athens ; there is no time so miserable but a man may be true . + +O you gods ! +Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord ? +Full of decay and failing ? O monument +And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd ! +What an alteration of honour +Has desperate want made ! +What viler thing upon the earth than friends +Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends ! +How rarely does it meet with this time's guise , +When man was wish'd to love his enemies ! +Grant I may ever love , and rather woo +Those that would mischief me than those that do ! +He hath caught me in his eye : I will present +My honest grief unto him ; and , as my lord , +Still serve him with my life . My dearest master ! + + +Away ! what art thou ? + +Have you forgot me , sir ? + +Why dost ask that ? I have forgot all men ; +Then , if thou grant'st thou'rt a man , I have forgot thee . + +An honest poor servant of yours . + +Then I know thee not : +I never had an honest man about me ; ay all +I kept were knaves , to serve in meat to villains . + +The gods are witness , +Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief +For his undone lord than mine eyes for you . + +What ! dost thou weep ? Come nearer . Then I love thee , +Because thou art a woman , and disclaim'st +Flinty mankind ; whose eyes do never give , +But thorough lust and laughter . Pity's sleeping : +Strange times , that weep with laughing , not with weeping ! + +I beg of you to know me , good my lord , +To accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts +To entertain me as your steward still . + +Had I a steward +So true , so just , and now so comfortable ? +It almost turns my dangerous nature mild . +Let me behold thy face . Surely , this man +Was born of woman . +Forgive my general and exceptless rashness , +You perpetual sober gods ! I do proclaim +One honest man , mistake me not , but one ; +No more , I pray , and he's a steward . +How fain would I have hated all mankind ! +And thou redeem'st thyself : but all , save thee , +I fell with curses . +Methinks thou art more honest now than wise ; +For , by oppressing and betraying me , +Thou mightst have sooner got another service : +For many so arrive at second masters +Upon their first lord's neck . But tell me true , +For I must ever doubt , though ne'er so sure , +Is not thy kindness subtle , covetous , +If not a usuring kindness and as rich men deal gifts , +Expecting in return twenty for one ? + +No , my most worthy master ; in whose breast +Doubt and suspect , alas ! are plac'd too late . +You should have fear'd false times when you did feast ; +Suspect still comes when an estate is least . +That which I show , heaven knows , is merely love , +Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind , +Care of your food and living ; and , believe it , +My most honour'd lord , +For any benefit that points to me , +Either in hope , or present , I'd exchange +For this one wish , that you had power and wealth +To requite me by making rich yourself . + +Look thee , 'tis so . Thou singly honest man , +Here , take : the gods out of my misery , +Have sent thee treasure . Go , live rich and happy ; +But thus condition'd : thou shalt build from men ; +Hate all , curse all , show charity to none , +But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone , +Ere thou relieve the beggar ; give to dogs +What thou deny'st to men ; let prisons swallow 'em , +Debts wither 'em to nothing ; be men like blasted woods , +And may diseases lick up their false bloods ! +And so , farewell and thrive . + +O ! let me stay +And comfort you , my master . + +If thou hatest +Curses , stay not ; fly , whilst thou'rt bless'd and free : +Ne'er see thou man , and let me ne'er see thee . + +As I took note of the place , it cannot be far where he abides . + +What's to be thought of him ? Does the rumour hold for true that he is so full of gold ? + +Certain : Alcibiades reports it ; Phrynia and Timandra had gold of him : he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity . 'Tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum . + +Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends . + +Nothing else ; you shall see him a palm in Athens again , and flourish with the highest . Therefore 'tis not amiss we tender our loves to him , in this supposed distress of his : it will show honestly in us , and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travel for , if it be a just and true report that goes of his having . + +What have you now to present unto him ? + +Nothing at this time but my visitation ; only , I will promise him an excellent piece . + +I must serve him so too ; tell him of an intent that's coming towards him . + +Good as the best . Promising is the very air o' the time ; it opens the eyes of expectation ; performance is ever the duller for his act ; and , but in the plainer and simpler kind of people , the deed of saying is quite out of use . To promise is most courtly and fashionable ; performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it . + + +Excellent workman ! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself . + +I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him : it must be a personating of himself ; a satire against the softness of prosperity , with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency . + +Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work ? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men ? Do so , I have gold for thee . + +Nay , let's seek him : +Then do we sin against our own estate , +When we may profit meet , and come too late . + +True ; +When the day serves , before black-corner'd night , +Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light . +Come . + +I'll meet you at the turn . What a god's gold , +That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple +Than where swine feed ! +'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the foam , +Settlest admired reverence in a slave : +To thee be worship ; and thy saints for aye +Be crown'd with plagues that thee alone obey . +Fit I meet them . + + +Hail , worthy Timon ! + +Our late noble master ! + +Have I once liv'd to see two honest men ? + +Sir , +Having often of your open bounty tasted , +Hearing you were retir'd , your friends fall'n off , +Whose thankless natures O abhorred spirits ! +Not all the whips of heaven are large enough +What ! to you , +Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence +To their whole being ! I am rapt , and cannot cover +The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude +With any size of words . + +Let it go naked , men may see 't the better : +You , that are honest , by being what you are , +Make them best seen and known . + +He and myself +Have travell'd in the great shower of your gifts , +And sweetly felt it . + +Ay , you are honest men . + +We are hither come to offer you our service . + +Most honest men ! Why , how shall I requite you ? +Can you eat roots and drink cold water ? no . + +What we can do , we'll do , to do you service . + +Ye're honest men . Ye've heard that I have gold ; +I am sure you have : speak truth ; ye're honest men . + +So it is said , my noble lord ; but therefore +Came not my friend nor I . + +Good honest men ! Thou draw'st a counterfeit +Best in all Athens : thou'rt , indeed , the best ; +Thou counterfeit'st most lively . + +So , so , my lord . + +E'en so , sir , as I say . And , for thy fiction , +Why , thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth +That thou art even natural in thine art . +But for all this , my honest-natur'd friends , +I must needs say you have a little fault : +Marry , 'tis not monstrous in you , neither wish I +You take much pains to mend . + +Beseech your honour +To make it known to us . + +You'll take it ill . + +Most thankfully , my lord . + +Will you indeed ? + +Doubt it not , worthy lord . + +There's never a one of you but trusts a knave , +That mightily deceives you . + +Do we , my lord ? + +Ay , and you hear him cog , see him dissemble , +Know his gross patchery , love him , feed him , +Keep in your bosom ; yet remain assur'd +That he's a made-up villain . + +I know none such , my lord . + +Nor I . + +Look you , I love you well ; I'll give you gold , +Rid me these villains from your companies : +Hang them or stab them , drown them in a draught , +Confound them by some course , and come to me , +I'll give you gold enough . + +Name them , my lord ; let's know them . + +You that way and you this , but two in company ; +Each man apart , all single and alone , +Yet an arch villain keeps him company . +If , where thou art two villains shall not be , +Come not near him . + +If thou would not reside +But where one villain is , then him abandon . +Hence ! pack ! there's gold ; ye came for gold , ye slaves : +You have done work for me , there's payment : hence ! +You are an alchemist , make gold of that . +Out , rascal dogs ! + +It is in vain that you would speak with Timon ; +For he is set so only to himself +That nothing but himself , which looks like man , +Is friendly with him . + +Bring us to his cave : +It is our part and promise to the Athenians +To speak with Timon . + +At all times alike +Men are not still the same : 'twas time and griefs +That fram'd him thus : time , with his fairer hand , +Offering the fortunes of his former days , +The former man may make him . Bring us to him , +And chance it as it may . + +Here is his cave . +Peace and content be here ! Lord Timon ! Timon ! +Look out , and speak to friends . The Athenians , +By two of their most reverend senate , greet thee : +Speak to them , noble Timon . + + +Thousun , that comfort'st , burn ! Speak , and be hang'd : +For each true word , a blister ! and each false +Be as a cauterizing to the root o'the tongue , +Consuming it with speaking ! + +Worthy Timon , + +Of none but such as you , and you of Timon . + +The senators of Athens greet thee , Timon . + +I thank them ; and would send them back the plague , +Could I but catch it for them . + +O ! forget +What we are sorry for ourselves in thee . +The senators with one consent of love +Entreat thee back to Athens ; who have thought +On special dignities , which vacant lie +For thy best use and wearing . + +They confess +Toward thee forgetfulness to general , gross ; +Which now the public body , which doth seldom +Play the recanter , feeling in itself +A lack of Timon's aid , hath sense withal +Of its own fail , restraining aid to Timon ; +And send forth us , to make their sorrow'd render , +Together with a recompense more fruitful +Than their offence can weigh down by the dram ; +Ay , even such heaps and sums of love and wealth +As shall to thee block out what wrongs were theirs , +And write in thee the figures of their love , +Ever to read them thine . + +You witch me in it ; +Surprise me to the very brink of tears : +Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes , +And I'll beweep these comforts , worthy senators . + +Therefore so please thee to return with us , +And of our Athens thine and ours to take +The captainship , thou shalt be met with thanks , +Allow'd with absolute power , and thy good name +Live with authority : so soon we shall drive back +Of Alcibiades the approaches wild ; +Who , like a boar too savage , doth root up +His country's peace . + +And shakes his threat'ning sword +Against the walls of Athens . + +Therefore , Timon , + +Well , sir , I will ; therefore , I will , sir ; thus : +If Alcibiades kill my countrymen , +Let Alcibiades know this of Timon , +That Timon cares not . But if he sack fair Athens , +And take our goodly aged men by the beards , +Giving our holy virgins to the stain +Of contumelious , beastly , mad-brain'd war ; +Then let him know , and tell him Timon speaks it , +In pity of our aged and our youth +I cannot choose but tell him , that I care not , +And let him take't at worst ; for their knives care not +While you have throats to answer : for myself , +There's not a whittle in the unruly camp +But I do prize it at my love before +The reverend'st throat in Athens . So I leave you +To the protection of the prosperous gods , +As thieves to keepers . + +Stay not ; all's in vain . + +Why , I was writing of my epitaph ; +It will be seen to-morrow . My long sickness +Of health and living now begins to mend , +And nothing brings me all things . Go ; live still : +Be Alcibiades your plague , you his , +And last so long enough ! + +We speak in vain . + +But yet I love my country , and am not +One that rejoices in the common wrack , +As common bruit doth put it . + +That's well spoke . + +Commend me to my loving countrymen , + +These words become your lips as they pass through them . + +And enter in our ears like great triumphers +In their applauding gates . + +Commend me to them ; +And tell them , that , to ease them of their griefs , +Their fears of hostile strokes , their aches , losses , +Their pangs of love , with other incident throes +That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain +In life's uncertain voyage , I will some kindness do them : +I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath . + +I like this well ; he will return again . + +I have a tree which grows here in my close , +That mine own use invites me to cut down , +And shortly must I fell it ; tell my friends , +Tell Athens , in the sequence of degree , +From high to low throughout , that whoso please +To stop affliction , let him take his haste , +Come hither , ere my tree hath felt the axe , +And hang himself . I pray you , do my greeting . + +Trouble him no further ; thus you still shall find him . + +Come not to me again ; but say to Athans , +Timon hath made his everlasting mansion +Upon the beached verge of the salt flood ; +Who once a day with his embossed froth +The turbulent surge shall cover : thither come , +And let my grave-stone be your oracle . +Lips , let sour words go by and language end : +What is amiss plague and infection mend ! +Graves only be men's works and death their gain ! +Sun , hide thy beams ! Timon hath done his reign . + + +His discontents are unremovably Coupled to nature . + +Our hope in him is dead : let us return , +And strain what other means is left unto us +In our dear peril . + +It requires swift foot . + + +Thou hast painfully discover'd : are his files +As full as thy report ? + +I have spoke the least ; +Besides , his expedition promises +Present approach . + +We stand much hazard if they bring not Timon . + +I met a courier , one mine ancient friend , +Whom , though in general part we were oppos'd , +Yet our old love made a particular force , +And made us speak like friends : this man was riding +From Alcibiades to Timon's cave , +With letters of entreaty , which imported +His fellowship i' the cause against your city , +In part for his sake mov'd . + +Here come our brothers . + + +No talk of Timon , nothing of him expect . +The enemies' drum is heard , and fearful scouring +Doth choke the air with dust . In , and prepare : +Ours is the fall , I fear ; our foes the snare . + + +By all description this should be the place . +Who's here ? speak , ho ! No answer ! What is this ? +Timon is dead , who hath outstretch'd his span : +Some beast rear'd this ; here does not live a man . +Dead , sure ; and this his grave . What's on this tomb +I cannot read ; the character I'll take with wax : +Our captain hath in every figure skill ; +An ag'd interpreter , though young in days . +Before proud Athens he's set down by this , +Whose fall the mark of his ambition is . + + +Sound to this coward and lascivious town +Our terrible approach . + +Till now you have gone on , and fill'd the time +With all licentious measure , making your wills +The scope of justice ; till now myself and such +As slept within the shadow of your power +Have wander'd with our travers'd arms , and breath'd +Our sufferance vainly . Now the time is flush , +When crouching marrow , in the bearer strong , +Cries of itself , 'No more :' now breathless wrong +Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease , +And pursy insolence shall break his wind + +With fear and horrid flight . + +Noble and young , +When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit , +Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear , +We sent to thee , to give thy rages balm , +To wipe out our ingratitude with loves +Above their quantity . + +So did we woo +Transformed Timon to our city's love +By humble message and by promis'd means : +We were not all unkind , nor all deserve +The common stroke of war . + +These walls of ours +Were not erected by their hands from whom +You have receiv'd your grief ; nor are they such +That these great towers , trophies , and schools should fall +For private faults in them . + +Nor are they living +Who were the motives that you first went out ; +Shame that they wanted cunning in excess +Hath broke their hearts . March , noble lord , +Into our city with thy banners spread : +By decimation , and a tithed death , +If thy revenges hunger for that food +Which nature loathes ,take thou the destin'd tenth , +And by the hazard of the spotted die +Let die the spotted . + +All have not offended ; +For those that were , it is not square to take +On those that are , revenges : crimes , like lands , +Are not inherited . Then , dear countryman , +Bring in thy ranks , but leave without thy rage : +Spare thyAthenian cradle , and those kin +Which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall +With those that have offended : like a shepherd , +Approach the fold and cull th' infected forth , +But kill not all together . + +What thou wilt , +Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile +Thank hew to't with thy sword . + +Set but thy foot +Against our rampir'd gates , and they shall ope , +So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before , +To say thou'lt enter friendly . + +Throw thy glove , +Or any token of thine honour else , +That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress +And not as our confusion , all thy powers +Shall make their harbour in our town , till we +Have seal'd thy full desire . + +Then there's my glove ; +Descend , and open your uncharged ports : +Those enemies of Timon's and mine own +Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof , +Fall , and no more ; and , to atone your fears +With my more noble meaning , not a man +Shall pass his quarter , or offend the stream +Of regular justice in your city's bounds , +But shall be render'd to your public laws +At heaviest answer . + +'Tis most nobly spoken . + +Descend , and keep your words . + +My noble general , Timon is dead ; +Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea : +And on his grave-stone this insculpture , which +With wax I brought away , whose soft impression +Interprets for my poor ignorance . + +Here lies a wretched corse , of wretched soul bereft : +Seek not my name : a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left ! +Here lie I , Timon ; who , alive , all living men did hate : +Pass by , and curse thy fill ; but pass and stay not here thy gait . +These well express in thee thy latter spirits : +Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs , +Scorn'dst our brain's flow and those our droplets which +From niggard nature fall , yet rich conceit +Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye +On thy low grave , on faults forgiven . Dead +Is noble Timon ; of whose memory +Hereafter more . Bring me into your city , +And I will use the olive with my sword ; +Make war breed peace ; make peace stint war ; make each +Prescribe to other as each other's leech . +Let our drums strike . + +TITUS ANDRONICUS + + +Noble patricians , patrons of my right , +Defend the justice of my cause with arms ; +And , countrymen , my loving followers , +Plead my successive title with your swords : +I am his first-born son that was the last +That wore the imperial diadem of Rome ; +Then let my father's honours live in me , +Nor wrong mine age with this indignity . + +Romans , friends , followers , favourers of my right , +If ever Bassianus , C sar's son , +Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome , +Keep then this passage to the Capitol , +And suffer not dishonour to approach +The imperial seat , to virtue consecrate , +To justice , continence , and nobility ; +But let desert in pure election shine , +And , Romans , fight for freedom in your choice . + + +Princes , that strive by factions and by friends +Ambitiously for rule and empery , +Know that the people of Rome , for whom we stand +A special party , have , by common voice , +In election for the Roman empery , +Chosen Andronicus , surnamed Pius , +For many good and great deserts to Rome : +A nobler man , a braver warrior , +Lives not this day within the city walls : +He by the senate is accited home +From weary wars against the barbarous Goths ; +That , with his sons , a terror to our foes , +Hath yok'd a nation , strong , train'd up in arms . +Ten years are spent since first he undertook +This cause of Rome , and chastised with arms +Our enemies' pride : five times he hath return'd +Bleeding to Rome , bearing his valiant sons +In coffins from the field ; +And now at last , laden with honour's spoils , +Returns the good Andronicus to Rome , +Renowned Titus , flourishing in arms . +Let us entreat , by honour of his name , +Whom worthily you would have now succeed , +And in the Capitol and senate's right , +Whom you pretend to honour and adore , +That you withdraw you and abate your strength ; +Dismiss your followers , and , as suitors should , +Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness . + +How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts ! + +Marcus Andronicus , so I do affy +In thy uprightness and integrity , +And so I love and honour thee and thine , +Thy noble brother Titus and his sons , +And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all , +Gracious Lavinia , Rome's rich ornament , +That I will here dismiss my loving friends , +And to my fortunes and the people's favour +Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd . + + +Friends , that have been thus forward in my right , +I thank you all and here dismiss you all ; +And to the love and favour of my country +Commit myself , my person , and the cause . + +Rome , be as just and gracious unto me +As I am confident and kind to thee . +Open the gates , and let me in . + +Tribunes , and me , a poor competitor . + +Romans , make way ! the good Andronicus , +Patron of virtue , Rome's best champion , +Successful in the battles that he fights , +With honour and with fortune is return'd +From where he circumscribed with his sword , +And brought to yoke , the enemies of Rome . + +Hail , Rome , victorious in thy mourning weeds ! +Lo ! as the bark , that hath discharg'd her fraught , +Returns with precious lading to the bay +From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage , +Cometh Andronicus , bound with laurel boughs , +To re-salute his country with his tears , +Tears of true joy for his return to Rome . +Thou great defender of this Capitol , +Stand gracious to the rites that we intend ! +Romans , of five-and-twenty valiant sons , +Half of the number that King Priam had , +Behold the poor remains , alive , and dead ! +These that survive let Rome reward with love ; +These that I bring unto their latest home . +With burial among their ancestors : +Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword . +Titus , unkind and careless of thine own , +Why suffer'st thou thy sons , unburied yet +To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx ? +Make way to lay them by their brethren . + +There greet in silence , as the dead are wont , +And sleep in peace , slain in your country's wars ! +O sacred receptacle of my joys , +Sweet cell of virtue and nobility , +How many sons of mine hast thou in store , +That thou wilt never render to me more ! + +Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths , +That we may hew his limbs , and on a pile +Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh , +Before this earthy prison of their bones ; +That so the shadows be not unappeas'd , +Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth . + +I give him you , the noblest that survives +The eldest son of this distressed queen . + +Stay , Roman brethren ! Gracious conqueror , +Victorious Titus , rue the tears I shed , +A mother's tears in passion for her son : +And if thy sons were ever dear to thee , +O ! think my son to be as dear to me . +Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome , +To beautify thy triumphs and return , +Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke ; +But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets +For valiant doings in their country's cause ? +O ! if to fight for king and commonweal +Were piety in thine , it is in these . +Andronicus , stain not thy tomb with blood : +Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods ? +Draw near them then in being merciful ; +Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge : +Thrice-noble Titus , spare my first-born son . + +Patient yourself , madam , and pardon me . +These are their brethren , whom your Goths beheld +Alive and dead , and for their brethren slain +Religiously they ask a sacrifice : +To this your son is mark'd , and die he must , +To appease their groaning shadows that are gone . + +Away with him ! and make a fire straight ; +And with our swords , upon a pile of wood , +Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consum'd . + + +O cruel , irreligious piety ! + +Was ever Scythia half so barbarous ? + +Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome . +Alarbus goes to rest , and we survive +To tremble under Titus' threatening look . +Then , madam , stand resolv'd ; but hope withal +The self-same gods , that arm'd the Queen of Troy +With opportunity of sharp revenge +Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent , +May favour Tamora , the Queen of Goths +When Goths were Goths , and Tamora was queen +To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes . + + +See , lord and father , how we have perform'd +Our Roman rites . Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd , +And entrails feed the sacrificing fire , +Whose smoke , like incense , doth perfume the sky . +Remaineth nought but to inter our brethren , +And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome . + +Let it be so ; and let Andronicus +Make this his latest farewell to their souls . + +In peace and honour rest you here , my sons ; +Rome's readiest champions , repose you here in rest , +Secure from worldly chances and mishaps ! +Here lurks no treason , here no envy swells , +Here grow no damned drugs , here are no storms , +No noise , but silence and eternal sleep : +In peace and honour rest you here , my sons ! + + +In peace and honour live Lord Titus long ; +My noble lord and father , live in fame ! +Lo ! at this tomb my tributary tears +I render for my brethren's obsequies ; +And at thy feet I kneel , with tears of joy +Shed on the earth for thy return to Rome . +O ! bless me here with thy victorious hand , +Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud . + +Kind Rome , that hast thus lovingly reserv'd +The cordial of mine age to glad my heart ! +Lavinia , live ; outlive thy father's days , +And fame's eternal date , for virtue's praise ! + + +Long live Lord Titus , my beloved brother , +Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome ! + +Thanks , gentle Tribune , noble brother Marcus . + +And welcome , nephews , from successful wars , +You that survive , and you that sleep in fame ! +Fair lords , your fortunes are alike in all , +That in your country's service drew your swords ; +But safer triumph is this funeral pomp , +That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness , +And triumphs over chance in honour's bed . +Titus Andronicus , the people of Rome , +Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been , +Send thee by me , their tribune and their trust , +This palliament of white and spotless hue ; +And name thee in election for the empire , +With these our late-deceased emperor's sons : +Be candidatus then , and put it on , +And help to set a head on headless Rome . + +A better head her glorious body fits +Than his that shakes for age and feebleness . +What should I don this robe , and trouble you ? +Be chosen with proclamations to-day , +To-morrow yield up rule , resign my life , +And set abroad new business for you all ? +Rome , I have been thy soldier forty years , +And led my country's strength successfully , +And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons , +Knighted in field , slain manfully in arms , +In right and service of their noble country . +Give me a staff of honour for mine age , +But not a sceptre to control the world : +Upright he held it , lords , that held it last . + +Titus , thou shalt obtain and ask the empery . + +Proud and ambitious tribune , canst thou tell ? + +Patience , Prince Saturninus . + +Romans , do me right : +Patricians , draw your swords , and sheathe them not +Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor . +Andronicus , would thou wert shipp'd to hell , +Rather than rob me of the people's hearts ! + +Proud Saturnine , interrupter of the good +That noble-minded Titus means to thee ! + +Content thee , prince ; I will restore to thee +The people's hearts , and wean them from themselves . + +Andronicus , I do not flatter thee , +But honour thee , and will do till I die : +My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends , +I will most thankful be ; and thanks to men +Of noble minds is honourable meed . + +People of Rome , and people's tribunes here , +I ask your voices and your suffrages : +Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus ? + +To gratify the good Andronicus , +And gratulate his safe return to Rome , +The people will accept whom he admits . + +Tribunes , I thank you ; and this suit I make , +That you create your emperor's eldest son , +Lord Saturnine ; whose virtues will , I hope , +Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth , +And ripen justice in this commonweal : +Then , if you will elect by my advice , +Crown him , and say , 'Long live our emperor !' + +With voices and applause of every sort , +Patricians and plebeians , we create +Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor , +And say , 'Long live our Emperor Saturnine !' + + +Titus Andronicus , for thy favours done +To us in our election this day , +I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts , +And will with deeds requite thy gentleness : +And , for an onset , Titus , to advance +Thy name and honourable family , +Lavinia will I make my empress , +Rome's royal mistress , mistress of my heart , +And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse . +Tell me , Andronicus , doth this motion please thee ? + +It doth , my worthy lord ; and in this match +I hold me highly honour'd of your Grace : +And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine , +King and commander of our commonweal , +The wide world's emperor , do I consecrate +My sword , my chariot , and my prisoners ; +Presents well worthy Rome's imperious lord : +Receive them then , the tribute that I owe , +Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet . + +Thanks , noble Titus , father of my life ! +How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts +Rome shall record , and , when I do forget +The least of these unspeakable deserts , +Romans , forget your fealty to me . + +Now , madam , are you prisoner to an emperor ; +To him that , for your honour and your state , +Will use you nobly and your followers . + +A goodly lady , trust me ; of the hue +That I would choose , were I to choose anew . +Clear up , fair queen , that cloudy countenance : +Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer , +Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome : +Princely shall be thy usage every way . +Rest on my word , and let not discontent +Daunt all your hopes : madam , he comforts you +Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths . +Lavinia , you are not displeas'd with this ? + +Not I , my lord ; sith true nobility +Warrants these words in princely courtesy . + +Thanks , sweet Lavinia . Romans , let us go ; +Ransomless here we set our prisoners free : +Proclaim our honours , lords , with trump and drum . + + +Lord Titus , by your leave , this maid is mine . + + +How , sir ! Are you in earnest then , my lord ? + +Ay , noble Titus ; and resolv'd withal +To do myself this reason and this right . + +Suum cuique is our Roman justice : +This prince in justice seizeth but his own . + +And that he will , and shall , if Lucius live . + +Traitors , avaunt ! Where is the emperor's guard ? +Treason , my lord ! Lavinia is surpris'd . + +Surpris'd ! By whom ? + +By him that justly may +Bear his betroth'd from all the world away . + + +Brothers , help to convey her hence away , +And with my sword I'll keep this door safe . + + +Follow , my lord , and I'll soon bring her back . + +My lord , you pass not here . + +What ! villain boy ; +Barr'st me my way in Rome ? + + +Help , Lucius , help ! + +My lord , you are unjust ; and , more than so , +In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son . + +Nor thou , nor he , are any sons of mine ; +My sons would never so dishonour me . +Traitor , restore Lavinia to the emperor . + +Dead , if you will ; but not to be his wife +That is another's lawful promis'd love . + + +No , Titus , no ; the emperor needs her not , +Nor her , nor thee , nor any of thy stock : +I'll trust , by leisure , him that mocks me once ; +Thee never , nor thy traitorous haughty sons , +Confederates all thus to dishonour me . +Was none in Rome to make a stale +But Saturnine ? Full well , Andronicus , +Agreed these deeds with that proud brag of thine , +That saidst I begg'd the empire at thy hands . + +O monstrous ! what reproachful words are these ! + +But go thy ways ; go , give that changing piece +To him that flourish'd for her with his sword . +A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy ; +One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons , +To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome . + +These words are razors to my wounded heart . + +And therefore , lovely Tamora , Queen of Goths , +That like the stately Ph be 'mongst her nymphs , +Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome , +If thou be pleas'd with this my sudden choice , +Behold , I choose thee , Tamora , for my bride , +And will create thee Empress of Rome . +Speak , Queen of Goths , dost thou applaud my choice ? +And here I swear by all the Roman gods , +Sith priest and holy water are so near , +And tapers burn so bright , and every thing +In readiness for Hymen us stand , +I will not re-salute the streets of Rome , +Or climb my palace , till from forth this place +I lead espous'd my bride along with me . + +And here , in sight of heaven , to Rome I swear , +If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths , +She will a handmaid be to his desires , +A loving nurse , a mother to his youth . + +Ascend , fair queen , Pantheon . Lords , accompany +Your noble emperor , and his lovely bride , +Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine , +Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered : +There shall we consummate our spousal rights . + + +I am not bid to wait upon this bride . +Titus , when wert thou wont to walk alone , +Dishonour'd thus , and challenged of wrongs ? + + +O ! Titus , see , O ! see what thou hast done ; +In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son . + +No , foolish tribune , no ; no son of mine , +Nor thou , nor these , confederates in the deed +That hath dishonour'd all our family : +Unworthy brother , and unworthy sons ! + +But let us give him burial , as becomes ; +Give Mutius burial with our brethren . + +Traitors , away ! he rests not in this tomb . +This monument five hundred years hath stood , +Which I have sumptuously re-edified : +Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors +Repose in fame ; none basely slain in brawls . +Bury him where you can ; he comes not here . + +My lord , this is impiety in you . +My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him ; +He must be buried with his brethren . + +And shall , or him we will accompany . + +And shall , or him we will accompany . + +And shall ! What villain was it spake that word ? + +He that would vouch it in any place but here . + +What ! would you bury him in my despite ? + +No , noble Titus ; but entreat of thee +To pardon Mutius , and to bury him . + +Marcus , even thou hast struck upon my crest , +And , with these boys , mine honour thou hast wounded : +My foes I do repute you every one ; +So , trouble me no more , but get you gone . + +He is not with himself ; let us withdraw . + +Not I , till Mutius' bones be buried . + + +Brother , for in that name doth nature plead , + +Father , and in that name doth nature speak , + +Speak thou no more , if all the rest will speed . + +Renowned Titus , more than half my soul , + +Dear father , soul and substance of us all , + +Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter +His noble nephew here in virtue's nest , +That died in honour and Lavinia's cause . +Thou art a Roman ; be not barbarous : +The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax +That slew himself ; and wise Laertes' son +Did graciously plead for his funerals . +Let not young Mutius then , that was thy joy , +Be barr'd his entrance here . + +Rise , Marcus , rise . +The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw , +To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome ! +Well , bury him , and bury me the next . + + +There lie thy bones , sweet Mutius , with thy friends , +Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb . + +No man shed tears for noble Mutius ; +He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause . + +My lord ,to step out of these dreary dumps , +How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths +Is of a sudden thus advanc'd in Rome ? + +I know not , Marcus ; but I know it is , +Whether by device or no , the heavens can tell . +Is she not , then , beholding to the man +That brought her for this high good turn so far ? + +Yes , and will nobly him remunerate . + +So , Bassianus , you have play'd your prize : +God give you joy , sir , of your gallant bride . + +And you of yours , my lord ! I say no more , +Nor wish no less ; and so I take my leave . + +Traitor , if Rome have law or we have power , +Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape . + +Rape call you it , my lord , to seize my own , +My true-betrothed love and now my wife ? +But let the laws of Rome determine all ; +Meanwhile , I am possess'd of that is mine . + +'Tis good , sir : you are very short with us ; +But , if we live , we'll be as sharp with you . + +My lord , what I have done , as best I may , +Answer I must and shall do with my life . +Only thus much I give your Grace to know : +By all the duties that I owe to Rome , +This noble gentleman , Lord Titus here , +Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd ; +That , in the rescue of Lavinia , +With his own hand did slay his youngest son , +In zeal to you and highly mov'd to wrath +To be controll'd in that he frankly gave : +Receive him then to favour , Saturnine , +That hath express'd himself in all his deeds +A father and a friend to thee and Rome . + +Prince Bassianus , leave to plead my deeds : +'Tis thou and those that have dishonour'd me . +Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge , +How I have lov'd and honour'd Saturnine ! + +My worthy lord , if ever Tamora +Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine , +Then hear me speak indifferently for all ; +And at my suit , sweet , pardon what is past . + +What , madam ! be dishonour'd openly , +And basely put it up without revenge ? + +Not so , my lord ; the gods of Rome forfend +I should be author to dishonour you ! +But on mine honour dare I undertake +For good Lord Titus' innocence in all , +Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs . +Then , at my suit , look graciously on him ; +Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose , +Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart . + + +My lord , be rul'd by me , be won at last ; +Dissemble all your griefs and discontents : +You are but newly planted in your throne ; +Lest then , the people , and patricians too , +Upon a just survey , take Titus' part , +And so supplant you for ingratitude , +Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin , +Yield at entreats , and then let me alone . +I'll find a day to massacre them all , +And raze their faction and their family , +The cruel father , and his traitorous sons , +To whom I sued for my dear son's life ; +And make them know what 'tis to let a queen +Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain . + + +Come , come , sweet emperor ; come , Andronicus ; +Take up this good old man , and cheer the heart +That dies in tempest of thy angry frown : + +Rise , Titus , rise ; my empress hath prevail'd . + +I thank your majesty , and her , my lord . +These words , these looks , infuse new life in me . + +Titus , I am incorporate in Rome , +A Roman now adopted happily , +And must advise the emperor for his good . +This day all quarrels die , Andronicus ; +And let it be mine honour , good my lord , +That I have reconcil'd your friends and you . +For you , Prince Bassianus , I have pass'd +My word and promise to the emperor , +That you will be more mild and tractable . +And fear not , lords , and you , Lavinia , +By my advice , all humbled on your knees , +You shall ask pardon of his majesty . + +We do ; and vow to heaven and to his highness , +That what we did was mildly , as we might , +Tendering our sister's honour and our own . + +That on mine honour here I do protest . + +Away , and talk not ; trouble us no more . + +Nay , nay , sweet emperor , we must all be friends : +The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace ; +I will not be denied : sweet heart , look back . + +Marcus , for thy sake , and thy brother's here , +And at my lovely Tamora's entreats , +I do remit these young men's heinous faults : +Stand up . +Lavinia , though you left me like a churl , +I found a friend , and sure as death I swore +I would not part a bachelor from the priest . +Come ; if the emperor's court can feast two brides , +You are my guest , Lavinia , and your friends . +This day shall be a love-day , Tamora . + +To-morrow , an it please your majesty +To hunt the panther and the hart with me , +With horn and hound we'll give your Grace bon jour . + +Be it so , Titus , and gramercy too . + + +Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top , +Safe out of Fortune's shot ; and sits aloft , +Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash , +Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach . +As when the golden sun salutes the morn , +And , having gilt the ocean with his beams , +Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach , +And overlooks the highest-peering hills ; +So Tamora . +Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait +And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown . +Then , Aaron , arm thy heart , and fit thy thoughts +To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress , +And mount her pitch , whom thou in triumph long +Hast prisoner held , fetter'd in amorous chains , +And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes +Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus . +Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts ! +I will be bright , and shine in pearl and gold , +To wait upon this new-made empress . +To wait , said I ? to wanton with this queen , +This goddess , this Semiramis , this nymph , +This siren , that will charm Rome's Saturnine , +And see his shipwrack and his commonweal's . +Holla ! what storm is this ? + + +Chiron , thy years want wit , thy wit wants edge +And manners , to intrude where I am grac'd , +And may , for aught thou know'st , affected be . + +Demetrius , thou dost over-ween in all +And so in this , to bear me down with braves . +'Tis not the difference of a year or two +Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate : +I am as able and as fit as thou +To serve , and to deserve my mistress' grace ; +And that my sword upon thee shall approve , +And plead my passions for Lavinia's love . + +Clubs , clubs ! these lovers will not keep the peace . + +Why , boy , although our mother , unadvis'd , +Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side , +Are you so desperate grown , to threat your friends ? +Go to ; have your lath glu'd within your sheath +Till you know better how to handle it . + +Meanwhile , sir , with the little skill I have , +Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare . + +Ay , boy , grow ye so brave ? + + +Why , how now , lords ! +So near the emperor's palace dare you draw , +And maintain such a quarrel openly ? +Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge : +I would not for a million of gold +The cause were known to them it most concerns ; +Nor would your noble mother for much more +Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome . +For shame , put up . + +Not I , till I have sheath'd +My rapier in his bosom , and withal +Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat +That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here . + +For that I am prepar'd and full resolv'd , +Foul-spoken coward , that thunder'st with thy tongue , +And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform ! + +Away , I say ! +Now , by the gods that war-like Goths adore , +This petty brabble will undo us all . +Why , lords , and think you not how dangerous +It is to jet upon a prince's right ? +What ! is Lavinia then become so loose , +Or Bassianus so degenerate , +That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd +Without controlment , justice , or revenge ? +Young lords , beware ! an should the empress know +This discord's ground , the music would not please . + +I care not , I , knew she and all the world : +I love Lavinia more than all the world . + +Youngling , learn thou to make some meaner choice : +Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope . + +Why , are ye mad ? or know ye not in Rome +How furious and impatient they be , +And cannot brook competitors in love ? +I tell you , lords , you do but plot your deaths +By this device . + +Aaron , a thousand deaths +Would I propose , to achieve her whom I love . + +To achieve her ! how ? + +Why mak'st thou it so strange ? +She is a woman , therefore may be woo'd ; +She is a woman , therefore may be won ; +She is Lavinia , therefore must be lov'd . +What , man ! more water glideth by the mill +Than wots the miller of ; and easy it is +Of a cut loaf to steal a shive , we know : +Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother , +Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge . + +Ay , and as good as Saturninus may . + +Then why should he despair that knows to court it +With words , fair looks , and liberality ? +What ! hast thou not full often struck a doe , +And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose ? + +Why , then , it seems , some certain snatch or so +Would serve your turns . + +Ay , so the turn were serv'd . + +Aaron , thou hast hit it . + +Would you had hit it too ! +Then should not we be tir'd with this ado . +Why , hark ye , hark ye ! and are you such fools +To square for this ? Would it offend you then +That both should speed ? + +Faith , not me . + +Nor me , so I were one . + +For shame , be friends , and join for that you jar : +'Tis policy and stratagem must do +That you affect ; and so must you resolve , +That what you cannot as you would achieve , +You must perforce accomplish as you may . +Take this of me : Lucrece was not more chaste +Than this Lavinia , Bassianus' love . +A speedier course than lingering languishment +Must we pursue , and I have found the path . +My lords , a solemn hunting is in hand ; +There will the lovely Roman ladies troop : +The forest walks are wide and spacious , +And many unfrequented plots there are +Fitted by kind for rape and villany : +Single you thither then this dainty doe , +And strike her home by force , if not by words : +This way , or not at all , stand you in hope . +Come , come , our empress , with her sacred wit +To villany and vengeance consecrate , +Will we acquaint with all that we intend ; +And she shall file our engines with advice , +That will not suffer you to square yourselves , +But to your wishes' height advance you both . +The emperor's court is like the house of Fame , +The palace full of tongues , of eyes , and ears : +The woods are ruthless , dreadful , deaf , and dull ; +There speak , and strike , brave boys , and take your turns ; +There serve your lusts , shadow'd from heaven's eye , +And revel in Lavinia's treasury . + +Thy counsel , lad , smells of no cowardice . + +Sit fas aut nefas , till I find the stream +To cool this heat , a charm to calm these fits , +Per Styga , per manes vehor . + +The hunt is up , the morn is bright and grey , +The fields are fragrant and the woods are green . +Uncouple here and let us make a bay , +And wake the emperor and his lovely bride , +And rouse the prince and ring a hunter's peal , +That all the court may echo with the noise . +Sons , let it be your charge , as it is ours , +To attend the emperor's person carefully : +I have been troubled in my sleep this night , +But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd . + +Many good morrows to your majesty ; +Madam , to you as many and as good ; + +I promised your Grace a hunter's peal . + +And you have rung it lustily , my lord ; +Somewhat too early for new-married ladies . + +Lavinia , how say you ? + +I say , no ; +I have been broad awake two hours and more . + +Come on , then ; horse and chariots let us have , +And to our sport . + +Madam , now shall ye see +Our Roman hunting . + +I have dogs , my lord , +Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase , +And climb the highest promontory top . + +And I have horse will follow where the game +Makes way , and run like swallows o'er the plain . + +Chiron , we hunt not , we , with horse nor hound , +But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground . + + +He that had wit would think that I had none , +To bury so much gold under a tree , +And never after to inherit it . +Let him that thinks of me so abjectly +Know that this gold must coin a stratagem , +Which , cunningly effected , will beget +A very excellent piece of villany : +And so repose , sweet gold , for their unrest +That have their alms out of the empress' chest . + +My lovely Aaron , wherefore look'st thou sad , +When every thing doth make a gleeful boast ? +The birds chant melody on every bush , +The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun , +The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind , +And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground . +Under their sweet shade , Aaron , let us sit , +And , whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds , +Replying shrilly to the well-tun'd horns , +As if a double hunt were heard at once , +Let us sit down and mark their yelping noise ; +And after conflict , such as was suppos'd +The wandering prince and Dido once enjoy'd , +When with a happy storm they were surpris'd , +And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave , +We may , each wreathed in the other's arms , +Our pastimes done , possess a golden slumber ; +Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds +Be unto us as is a nurse's song +Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep . + +Madam , though Venus govern your desires , +Saturn is dominator over mine : +What signifies my deadly-standing eye , +My silence and my cloudy melancholy ; +My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls +Even as an adder when she doth unroll +To do some fatal execution ? +No , madam , these are no venereal signs : +Vengeance is in my heart , death in my hand , +Blood and revenge are hammering in my head . +Hark , Tamora , the empress of my soul , +Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee , +This is the day of doom for Bassianus ; +His Philomel must lose her tongue to-day , +Thy sons make pillage of her chastity , +And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood . +Seest thou this letter ? take it up , I pray thee , +And give the king this fatal-plotted scroll . +Now question me no more ; we are espied ; +Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty , +Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction . + +Ah ! my sweet Moor , sweeter to me than life . + +No more , great empress ; Bassianus comes : +Be cross with him ; and I'll go fetch thy sons +To back thy quarrels , whatsoe'er they be . + +Who have we here ? Rome's royal empress , +Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop ? +Or is it Dian , habited like her , +Who hath abandoned her holy groves , +To see the general hunting in this forest ? + +Saucy controller of our private steps ! +Had I the power that some say Dian had , +Thy temples should be planted presently +With horns , as was Act on's ; and the hounds +Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs , +Unmannerly intruder as thou art ! + +Under your patience , gentle empress , +'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning ; +And to be doubted that your Moor and you +Are singled forth to try experiments . +Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day ! +'Tis pity they should take him for a stag . + +Believe me , queen , your swarth Cimmerian +Doth make your honour of his body's hue , +Spotted , detested , and abominable . +Why are you sequester'd from all your train , +Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed , +And wander'd hither to an obscure plot , +Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor , +If foul desire had not conducted you ? + +And , being intercepted in your sport , +Great reason that my noble lord be rated +For sauciness . I pray you , let us hence , +And let her joy her raven-colour'd love ; +This valley fits the purpose passing well . + +The king my brother shall have note of this . + +Ay , for these slips have made him noted long : +Good king , to be so mightily abus'd ! + +Why have I patience to endure all this ? + + +How now , dear sovereign , and our gracious mother ! +Why doth your highness look so pale and wan ? + +Have I not reason , think you , to look pale ? +These two have 'tic'd me hither to this place : +A barren detested vale , you see , it is ; +The trees , though summer , yet forlorn and lean , +O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe : +Here never shines the sun ; here nothing breeds , +Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven : +And when they show'd me this abhorred pit , +They told me , here , at dead time of the night , +A thousand fiends , a thousand hissing snakes , +Ten thousand swelling toads , as many urchins , +Would make such fearful and confused cries , +As any mortal body hearing it +Should straight fall mad , or else die suddenly . +No sooner had they told this hellish tale , +But straight they told me they would bind me here +Unto the body of a dismal yew , +And leave me to this miserable death : +And then they called me foul adulteress , +Lascivious Goth , and all the bitterest terms +That ever ear did hear to such effect ; +And , had you not by wondrous fortune come , +This vengeance on me had they executed . +Revenge it , as you love your mother's life , +Or be ye not henceforth call'd my children . + +This is a witness that I am thy son . + + +And this for me , struck home to show my strength . + + +Ay , come , Semiramis , nay , barbarous Tamora ; +For no name fits thy nature but thy own . + +Give me thy poniard ; you shall know , my boys , +Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong . + +Stay , madam ; here is more belongs to her : +First thrash the corn , than after burn the straw . +This minion stood upon her chastity , +Upon her nuptial vow , her loyalty , +And with that painted hope she braves your mightiness : +And shall she carry this unto her grave ? + +An if she do , I would I were an eunuch . +Drag hence her husband to some secret hole , +And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust . + +But when ye have the honey ye desire , +Let not this wasp outlive , us both to sting . + +I warrant you , madam , we will make that sure . +Come , mistress , now perforce we will enjoy +That nice-preserved honesty of yours . + +O Tamora ! thou bear'st a woman's face , + +I will not hear her speak ; away with her ! + +Sweet lords , entreat her hear me but a word . + +Listen , fair madam : let it be your glory +To see her tears ; but be your heart to them +As unrelenting flint to drops of rain . + +When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam ? +O ! do not learn her wrath ; she taught it thee ; +The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble ; +Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny . +Yet every mother breeds not sons alike : + + +Do thou entreat her show a woman pity . + +What ! wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard ? + +'Tis true ! the raven doth not hatch a lark : +Yet have I heard , O ! could I find it now , +The lion mov'd with pity did endure +To have his princely paws par'd all away . +Some say that ravens foster forlorn children , +The whilst their own birds famish in their nests : +O ! be to me , though thy hard heart say no , +Nothing so kind , but something pitiful . + +I know not what it means ; away with her ! + +O , let me teach thee ! for my father's sake , +That gave thee life when well he might have slain thee , +Be not obdurate , open thy deaf ears . + +Hadst thou in person ne'er offended me , +Even for his sake am I pitiless . +Remember , boys , I pour'd forth tears in vain +To save your brother from the sacrifice ; +But fierce Andronicus would not relent : +Therefore , away with her , and use her as you will : +The worse to her , the better lov'd of me . + +O Tamora ! be call'd a gentle queen , +And with thine own hands kill me in this place ; +For 'tis not life that I have begg'd so long ; +Poor I was slain when Bassianus died . + +What begg'st thou then ? fond woman , let me go . + +'Tis present death I beg ; and one thing more +That womanhood denies my tongue to tell . +O ! keep me from their worse than killing lust , +And tumble me into some loathsome pit , +Where never man's eye may behold my body : +Do this , and be a charitable murderer . + +So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee : +No , let them satisfy their lust on thee . + +Away ! for thou hast stay'd us here too long . + +No grace ! no womanhood ! Ah , beastly creature , +The blot and enemy to our general name . +Confusion fall + +Nay , then I'll stop your mouth . Bring thou her husband : +This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him . + +Farewell , my sons : see that you make her sure . +Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed +Till all the Andronici be made away . +Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor , +And let my spleenful sons this trull deflower . + +Come on , my lords , the better foot before : +Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit +Where I espied the panther fast asleep . + +My sight is very dull , whate'er it bodes . + +And mine , I promise you : were't not for shame , +Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile . + + +What ! art thou fall'n ? What subtle hole is this , +Whose mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briers , +Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood +As fresh as morning's dew distill'd on flowers ? +A very fatal place it seems to me . +Speak , brother , hast thou hurt thee with the fall ? + +O brother ! with the dismall'st object hurt +That ever eye with sight made heart lament . + +Now will I fetch the king to find them here , +That he thereby may give a likely guess +How these were they that made away his brother . + + +Why dost not comfort me , and help me out +From this unhallow'd and blood-stained hole ? + +I am surprised with an uncouth fear ; +A chilling sweat o'erruns my trembling joints : +My heart suspects more than mine eye can see . + +To prove thou hast a true-divining heart , +Aaron and thou look down into this den , +And see a fearful sight of blood and death . + +Aaron is gone ; and my compassionate heart +Will not permit mine eyes once to behold +The thing whereat it trembles by surmise . +O ! tell me how it is ; for ne'er till now +Was I a child , to fear I know not what . + +Lord Bassianus lies embrewed here , +All on a heap , like to a slaughter'd lamb , +In this detested , dark , blood-drinking pit . + +If it be dark , how dost thou know 'tis he ? + +Upon his bloody finger he doth wear +A precious ring , that lightens all the hole , +Which , like a taper in some monument , +Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks , +And shows the ragged entrails of the pit : +So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus +When he by night lay bath'd in maiden blood . +O brother ! help me with thy fainting hand , +If fear hath made thee faint , as me it hath , +Out of this fell devouring receptacle , +As hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth . + +Reach me thy hand , that I may help thee out ; +Or , wanting strength to do thee so much good +I may be pluck'd into the swallowing womb +Of this deep pit , poor Bassianus' grave . +I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink . + +Nor I no strength to climb without thy help . + +Thy hand once more ; I will not loose again , +Till thou art here aloft , or I below . +Thou canst not come to me : I come to thee . + +Along with me : I'll see what hole is here , +And what he is that now is leap'd into it . +Say , who art thou that lately didst descend +Into this gaping hollow of the earth ? + +The unhappy son of old Andronicus ; +Brought hither in a most unlucky hour , +To find thy brother Bassianus dead . + +My brother dead ! I know thou dost but jest : +He and his lady both are at the lodge , +Upon the north side of this pleasant chase ; +'Tis not an hour since I left him there . + +We know not where you left him all alive ; +But , out alas ! here have we found him dead . + + +Where is my lord , the king ? + +Here , Tamora ; though griev'd with killing grief . + +Where is thy brother Bassianus ? + +Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound : +Poor Bassianus here lies murdered . + +Then all too late I bring this fatal writ , + +The complot of this timeless tragedy ; +And wonder greatly that man's face can fold +In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny . + +And if we miss to meet him handsomely , +Sweet huntsman , Bassianus 'tis we mean , +Do thou so much as dig the grave for him : +Thou know'st our meaning . Look for thy reward +Among the nettles at the elder-tree +Which overshades the mouth of that same pit +Where we decreed to bury Bassianus : +Do this , and purchase us thy lasting friends . +O Tamora ! was ever heard the like ? +This is the pit , and this the elder-tree . +Look , sirs , if you can find the huntsman out +That should have murder'd Bassianus here . + +My gracious lord , here is the bag of gold . + +Two of thy whelps , fell curs of bloody kind , +Have here bereft my brother of his life . +Sirs , drag them from the pit unto the prison : +There let them bide until we have devis'd +Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them . + +What ! are they in this pit ? O wondrous thing ! +How easily murder is discovered ! + +High emperor , upon my feeble knee +I beg this boon with tears not lightly shed ; +That this fell fault of my accursed sons , +Accursed , if the fault be prov'd in them , + +If it be prov'd ! you see it is apparent . +Who found this letter ? Tamora , was it you ? + +Andronicus himself did take it up . + +I did , my lord : yet let me be their bail ; +For , by my father's reverend tomb , I vow +They shall be ready at your highness' will +To answer their suspicion with their lives . + +Thou shalt not bail them : see thou follow me . +Some bring the murder'd body , some the murderers : +Let them not speak a word ; the guilt is plain ; +For , by my soul , were there worse end than death , +That end upon them should be executed . + +Andronicus , I will entreat the king : +Fear not thy sons , they shall do well enough . + +Come , Lucius , come ; stay not to talk with them . + + +So , now go tell , an if thy tongue can speak , +Who 'twas that cut thy tongue and ravish'd thee . + +Write down thy mind , bewray thy meaning so ; +An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe . + +See , how with signs and tokens she can scrowl . + +Go home , call for sweet water , wash thy hands . + +She hath no tongue to call , nor hands to wash ; +And so let's leave her to her silent walks . + +An 'twere my case , I should go hang myself . + +If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord . + +Who's this ? my niece , that flies away so fast ? +Cousin , a word ; where is your husband ? +If I do dream , would all my wealth would wake me ! +If I do wake , some planet strike me down , +That I may slumber in eternal sleep ! +Speak , gentle niece , what stern ungentle hands +Have lopp'd and hew'd and made thy body bare +Of her two branches , those sweet ornaments , +Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in , +And might not gain so great a happiness +As have thy love ? Why dost not speak to me ? +Alas ! a crimson river of warm blood , +Like to a bubbling fountain stirr'd with wind , +Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips , +Coming and going with thy honey breath . +But , sure , some Tereus hath deflower'd thee , +And , lest thou shouldst detect him , cut thy tongue . +Ah ! now thou turn'st away thy face for shame ; +And , notwithstanding all this loss of blood , +As from a conduit with three issuing spouts , +Yet do thy cheeks look red as Titan's face +Blushing to be encounter'd with a cloud . +Shall I speak for thee ? shall I say 'tis so ? +O ! that I knew thy heart ; and knew the beast , +That I might rail at him to ease my mind . +Sorrow concealed , like to an oven stopp'd , +Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is . +Fair Philomela , she but lost her tongue , +And in a tedious sampler sew'd her mind : +But , lovely niece , that mean is cut from thee ; +A craftier Tereus hast thou met withal , +And he hath cut those pretty fingers off , +That could have better sew'd than Philomel . +O ! had the monster seen those lily hands +Tremble , like aspen-leaves , upon a lute , +And make the silken strings delight to kiss them , +He would not , then , have touch'd them for his life ; +Or had he heard the heavenly harmony +Which that sweet tongue hath made , +He would have dropp'd his knife , and fell asleep , +As Cerberus at the Thracian poet's feet . +Come , let us go , and make thy father blind ; +For such a sight will blind a father's eye : +One hour's storm will drown the fragrant meads ; +What will whole months of tears thy father's eyes ? +Do not draw back , for we will mourn with thee : +O ! could our mourning ease thy misery . + +Hear me , grave fathers ! noble tribunes , stay ! +For pity of mine age , whose youth was spent +In dangerous wars , whilst you securely slept ; +For all my blood in Rome's great quarrel shed ; +For all the frosty nights that I have watch'd ; +And for these bitter tears , which now you see +Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheeks ; +Be pitiful to my condemned sons , +Whose souls are not corrupted as 'tis thought . +For two and twenty sons I never wept , +Because they died in honour's lofty bed . +For these , these , tribunes , in the dust I write + +My heart's deep languor and my soul's sad tears . +Let my tears stanch the earth's dry appetite ; +My sons' sweet blood will make it shame and blush . + +O earth ! I will befriend thee more with rain , +That shall distil from these two ancient urns , +Than youthful April shall with all his showers : +In summer's drought I'll drop upon thee still ; +In winter with warm tears I'll melt the snow , +And keep eternal spring-time on thy face , +So thou refuse to drink my dear sons' blood . + + +O reverend tribunes ! O gentle , aged men ! +Unbind my sons , reverse the doom of death : +And let me say , that never wept before , + +My tears are now prevailing orators . + +O noble father , you lament in vain : +The tribunes hear you not , no man is by ; +And you recount your sorrows to a stone . + +Ah ! Lucius , for thy brothers let me plead . +Grave tribunes , once more I entreat of you , + +My gracious lord , no tribune hears you speak . + +Why , 'tis no matter , man : if they did hear , +They would not mark me , or if they did mark , +They would not pity me , yet plead I must , +All bootless unto them . +Therefore I tell my sorrows to the stones , +Who , though they cannot answer my distress , +Yet in some sort they are better than the tribunes , +For that they will not intercept my tale . +When I do weep , they humbly at my feet +Receive my tears , and seem to weep with me ; +And , were they but attired in grave weeds , +Rome could afford no tribune like to these . +A stone is soft as wax , tribunes more hard than stones ; +A stone is silent , and offendeth not , +And tribunes with their tongues doom men to death . + +But wherefore stand'st thou with thy weapon drawn ? + +To rescue my two brothers from their death ; +For which attempt the judges have pronounc'd +My everlasting doom of banishment . + +O happy man ! they have befriended thee . +Why , foolish Lucius , dost thou not perceive +That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers ? +Tigers must prey ; and Rome affords no prey +But me and mine : how happy art thou then , +From these devourers to be banished ! +But who comes with our brother Marcus here ? + + +Titus , prepare thy aged eyes to weep ; +Or , if not so , thy noble heart to break : +I bring consuming sorrow to thine age . + +Will it consume me ? let me see it then . + +This was thy daughter . + +Why , Marcus , so she is . + +Ay me ! this object kills me . + +Faint-hearted boy , arise , and look upon her . +Speak , Lavinia , what accursed hand +Hath made thee handless in thy father's sight ? +What fool hath added water to the sea , +Or brought a faggot to bright-burning Troy ? +My grief was at the height before thou cam'st ; +And now , like Nilus , it disdaineth bounds . +Give me a sword , I'll chop off my hands too ; +For they have fought for Rome , and all in vain ; +And they have nurs'd this woe , in feeding life ; +In bootless prayer have they been held up , +And they have serv'd me to effectless use : +Now all the service I require of them +Is that the one will help to cut the other . +'Tis well , Lavinia , that thou hast no hands , +For hands , to do Rome service , are but vain . + +Speak , gentle sister , who hath martyr'd thee ? + +O ! that delightful engine of her thoughts , +That blabb'd them with such pleasing eloquence , +Is torn from forth that pretty hollow cage , +Where , like a sweet melodious bird , it sung +Sweet varied notes , enchanting every ear . + +O ! say thou for her , who hath done this deed ? + +O ! thus I found her straying in the park , +Seeking to hide herself , as doth the deer , +That hath receiv'd some unrecuring wound . + +It was my dear ; and he that wounded her +Hath hurt me more than had he kill'd me dead : +For now I stand as one upon a rock +Environ'd with a wilderness of sea , +Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave , +Expecting ever when some envious surge +Will in his brinish bowels swallow him . +This way to death my wretched sons are gone ; +Here stands my other son , a banish'd man , +And here my brother , weeping at my woes : +But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn , +Is dear Lavinia , dearer than my soul . +Had I but seen thy picture in this plight +It would have madded me : what shall I do +Now I behold thy lively body so ? +Thou hast no hands to wipe away thy tears , +Nor tongue to tell me who hath martyr'd thee : +Thy husband he is dead , and for his death +Thy brothers are condemn'd , and dead by this . +Look ! Marcus ; ah ! son Lucius , look on her : +When I did name her brothers , then fresh tears +Stood on her cheeks , as doth the honey-dew +Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd . + +Perchance she weeps because they kill'd her husband ; +Perchance because she knows them innocent . + +If they did kill thy husband , then be joyful , +Because the law hath ta'en revenge on them . +No , no , they would not do so foul a deed ; +Witness the sorrow that their sister makes . +Gentle Lavinia , let me kiss thy lips ; +Or make some sign how I may do thee ease . +Shall thy good uncle , and thy brother Lucius , +And thou , and I , sit round about some fountain , +Looking all downwards , to behold our cheeks +How they are stain'd , like meadows yet not dry , +With miry alime left on them by a flood ? +And in the fountain shall we gaze so long +Till the fresh taste be taken from that clearness , +And made a brine-pit with our bitter tears ? +Or shall we cut away our hands , like thine ? +Or shall we bite our tongues , and in dumb shows +Pass the remainder of our hateful days ? +What shall we do ? let us , that have our tongues , +Plot some device of further misery , +To make us wonder'd at in time to come . + +Sweet father , cease your tears ; for at your grief +See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps . + +Patience , dear niece . Good Titus , dry thine eyes . + +Ah ! Marcus , Marcus , brother ; well I wot +Thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine , +For thou , poor man , hast drown'd it with thine own . + +Ah ! my Lavinia , I will wipe thy cheeks . + +Mark , Marcus , mark ! I understand her signs : +Had she a tongue to speak , now would she say +That to her brother which I said to thee : +His napkin , with his true tears all bewet , +Can do no service on her sorrowful cheeks . +O ! what a sympathy of woe is this ; +As far from help as limbo is from bliss . + + +Titus Andronicus , my lord the emperor +Sends thee this word : that , if thou love thy sons , +Let Marcus , Lucius , or thyself , old Titus , +Or any one of you , chop off your hand , +And send it to the king : he for the same +Will send thee hither both thy sons alive ; +And that shall be the ransom for their fault . + +O gracious emperor ! O gentle Aaron ! +Did ever raven sing so like a lark , +That gives sweet tidings of the sun's uprise ? +With all my heart , I'll send the emperor my hand : +Good Aaron , wilt thou help to chop it off ? + +Stay , father ! for that noble hand of thine , +That hath thrown down so many enemies , +Shall not be sent ; my hand will serve the turn : +My youth can better spare my blood than you ; +And therefore mine shall save my brothers' lives . + +Which of your hands hath not defended Rome , +And rear'd aloft the bloody battle-axe , +Writing destruction on the enemy's castle ? +O ! none of both but are of high desert : +My hand hath been but idle ; let it serve +To ransom my two nephews from their death ; +Then have I kept it to a worthy end . + +Nay , come , agree whose hand shall go along , +For fear they die before their pardon come . + +My hand shall go . + +By heaven , it shall not go ! + +Sirs , strive no more : such wither'd herbs as these +Are meet for plucking up , and therefore mine . + +Sweet father , if I shall be thought thy son , +Let me redeem my brothers both from death . + +And for our father's sake , and mother's care , +Now let me show a brother's love to thee . + +Agree between you ; I will spare my hand . + +Then I'll go fetch an axe . + +But I will use the axe . + + +Come hither , Aaron ; I'll deceive them both : +Lend me thy hand , and I will give thee mine . + +If that be call'd deceit , I will be honest , +And never , whilst I live , deceive men so : +But I'll deceive you in another sort , +And that you'll say , ere half an hour pass . + +Now stay your strife : what shall be is dispatch'd . +Good Aaron , give his majesty my hand : +Tell him it was a hand that warded him +From thousand dangers ; bid him bury it ; +More hath it merited ; that let it have . +As for my sons , say I account of them +As jewels purchas'd at an easy price ; +And yet dear too , because I bought mine own . + +I go , Andronicus ; and for thy hand , +Look by and by to have thy sons with thee . + + +Their heads , I mean . O ! how this villany +Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it . +Let fools do good , and fair men call for grace , +Aaron will have his soul black like his face . + + +O ! here I lift this one hand up to heaven , +And how this feeble ruin to the earth : +If any power pities wretched tears , +To that I call ! + +What ! wilt thou kneel with me ? +Do , then , dear heart ; for heaven shall hear our prayers , +Or with our sighs we'll breathe the welkin dim , +And stain the sun with fog , as sometime clouds +When they do hug him in their melting bosoms . + +O ! brother , speak with possibilities , +And do not break into these deep extremes . + +Is not my sorrow deep , having no bottom ? +Then be my passions bottomless with them . + +But yet let reason govern thy lament . + +If there were reason for these miseries , +Then into limits could I bind my woes . +When heaven doth weep , doth not the earth o'erflow ? +If the winds rage , doth not the sea wax mad , +Threat'ning the welkin with his big-swoln face ? +And wilt thou have a reason for this coil ? +I am the sea ; hark ! how her sighs do blow ; +She is the weeping welkin , I the earth : +Then must my sea be moved with her sighs ; +Then must my earth with her continual tears +Become a deluge , overflow'd and drown'd ; +For why my bowels cannot hide her woes , +But like a drunkard must I vomit them . +Then give me leave , for losers will have leave +To ease their stomachs with their bitter tongues . + + +Worthy Andronicus , ill art thou repaid +For that good hand thou sent'st the emperor . +Here are the heads of thy two noble sons , +And here's thy hand , in scorn to thee sent back : +Thy griefs their sports , thy resolution mock'd ; +That woe is me to think upon thy woes , +More than remembrance of my father's death . + + +Now let hot tna cool in Sicily , +And be my heart an ever burning hell ! +These miseries are more than may be borne . +To weep with them that weep doth ease some deal , +But sorrow flouted at is double death . + +Ah ! that this sight should make so deep a wound , +And yet detested life not shrink thereat , +That ever death should let life bear his name , +Where life hath no more interest but to breathe . + + +Alas ! poor heart ; that kiss is comfortless +As frozen water to a starved snake . + +When will this fearful slumber have an end ? + +Now , farewell , flattery : die , Andronicus ; +Thou dost not slumber : see , thy two sons' heads , +Thy war-like hand , thy mangled daughter here ; +Thy other banish'd son , with this dear sight +Struck pale and bloodless ; and thy brother , I , +Even like a stony image , cold and numb . +Ah ! now no more will I control thy griefs . +Rent off thy silver hair , thy other hand +Gnawing with thy teeth ; and be this dismal sight +The closing up of our most wretched eyes ! +Now is a time to storm ; why art thou still ? + +Ha , ha , ha ! + +Why dost thou laugh ? it fits not with this hour . + +Why , I have not another tear to shed : +Besides , this sorrow is an enemy , +And would usurp upon my watery eyes , +And make them blind with tributary tears : +Then which way shall I find Revenge's cave ? +For these two heads do seem to speak to me , +And threat me I shall never come to bliss +Till all these mischiefs be return'd again +Even in their throats that have committed them . +Come , let me see what task I have to do . +You heavy people , circle me about , +That I may turn me to each one of you , +And swear unto my soul to right your wrongs . +The vow is made . Come , brother , take a head ; +And in this hand the other will I bear . +Lavinia , thou shalt be employ'd in these things : +Bear thou my hand , sweet wench , between thy teeth . +As for thee , boy , go get thee from my sight ; +Thou art an exile , and thou must not stay : +Hie to the Goths , and raise an army there : +And if you love me , as I think you do , +Let's kiss and part , for we have much to do . + + +Farewell , Andronicus , my noble father ; +The woefull'st man that ever liv'd in Rome : +Farewell , proud Rome ; till Lucius come again , +He leaves his pledges dearer than his life . +Farewell , Lavinia , my noble sister ; +O ! would thou wert as thou tofore hast been ; +But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives +But in oblivion and hateful griefs . +If Lucius live , he will requite your wrongs , +And make proud Saturnine and his empress +Beg at the gates like Tarquin and his queen . +Now will I to the Goths , and raise a power , +To be reveng'd on Rome and Saturnine . + + +So , so ; now sit ; and look you eat no more +Than will preserve just so much strength in us +As will revenge these bitter woes of ours . +Marcus , unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot : +Thy niece and I , poor creatures , want our hands , +And cannot passionate our ten-fold grief +With folded arms . This poor right hand of mine +Is left to tyrannize upon my breast ; +And when my heart , all mad with misery , +Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh , +Then thus I thump it down . + + +Thou map of woe , that thus dost talk in signs ! +When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating +Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still . +Wound it with sighing , girl , kill it with groans ; +Or get some little knife between thy teeth , +And just against thy heart make thou a hole ; +That all the tears that thy poor eyes let fall +May run into that sink , and , soaking in , +Drown the lamenting fool in sea-salt tears . + +Fie , brother , fie ! teach her not thus to lay +Such violent hands upon her tender life . + +How now ! has sorrow made thee dote already ? +Why , Marcus , no man should be mad but I . +What violent hands can she lay on her life ? +Ah ! wherefore dost thou urge the name of hands ; +To bid aeas tell the tale twice o'er , +How Troy was burnt and he made miserable ? +O ! handle not the theme , to talk of hands , +Lest we remember still that we have none . +Fie , fie ! how franticly I square my talk , +As if we should forget we had no hands , +If Marcus did not name the word of hands . +Come , let's fall to ; and , gentle girl , eat this : +Here is no drink . Hark , Marcus , what she says ; +I can interpret all her martyr'd signs : +She says she drinks no other drink but tears , +Brew'd with her sorrow , mash'd upon her cheeks . +Speechless complainer , I will learn thy thought ; +In thy dumb action will I be as perfect +As begging hermits in their holy prayers : +Thou shalt not sigh , nor hold thy stumps to heaven , +Nor wink , nor nod , nor kneel , nor make a sign , +But I of these will wrest an alphabet , +And by still practice learn to know thy meaning . + +Good grandsire , leave these bitter deep laments : +Make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale . + +Alas ! the tender boy , in passion mov'd , +Doth weep to see his grandsire's heaviness . + +Peace , tender sapling ; thou art made of tears , +And tears will quickly melt thy life away . + +What dost thou strike at , Marcus , with thy knife ? + +At that that I have kill'd , my lord ; a fly . + +Out on thee , murderer ! thou kill'st my heart ; +Mine eyes are cloy'd with view of tyranny : +A deed of death , done on the innocent , +Becomes not Titus' brother . Get thee gone ; +I see , thou art not for my company . + +Alas ! my lord , I have but kill'd a fly . + +But how if that fly had a father and a mother ? +How would he hang his slender gilded wings +And buzz lamenting doings in the air ! +Poor harmless fly , +That , with his pretty buzzing melody , +Came here to make us merry ! and thou hast kill'd him . + +Pardon me , sir ; it was a black ill-favour'd fly , +Like to the empress' Moor ; therefore I kill'd him . + +O , O , O ! +Then pardon me for reprehending thee , +For thou hast done a charitable deed . +Give me thy knife , I will insult on him ; +Flattering myself , as if it were the Moor +Come hither purposely to poison me . +There's for thyself , and that's for Tamora . +Ah ! sirrah . +Yet I think we are not brought so low , +But that between us we can kill a fly +That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor . + +Alas ! poor man ; grief has so wrought on him , +He takes false shadows for true substances . + +Come , take away . Lavinia , go with me : +I'll to thy closet ; and go read with thee +Sad stories chanced in the times of old . +Come , boy , and go with me : thy sight is young , +And thou shalt read when mine begins to dazzle . + +Help , grandsire , help ! my aunt Lavinia +Follows me everywhere , I know not why : +Good uncle Marcus , see how swift she comes : +Alas ! sweet aunt , I know not what you mean . + +Stand by me , Lucius ; do not fear thine aunt . + +She loves thee , boy , too well to do thee harm . + +Ay , when my father was in Rome , she did . + +What means my niece Lavinia by these signs ? + +Fear her not , Lucius : somewhat doth she mean . +See , Lucius , see how much she makes of thee ; +Somewhither would she have thee go with her . +Ah ! boy ; Cornelia never with more care +Read to her sons , than she hath read to thee +Sweet poetry and Tully's Orator . + +Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus ? + +My lord , I know not , I , nor can I guess , +Unless some fit or frenzy do possess her ; +For I have heard my grandsire say full oft , +Extremity of griefs would make men mad ; +And I have read that Hecuba of Troy +Ran mad through sorrow ; that made me to fear , +Although , my lord , I know my noble aunt +Loves me as dear as e'er my mother did , +And would not , but in fury , fright my youth ; +Which made me down to throw my books and fly , +Causeless , perhaps . But pardon me , sweet aunt ; +And , madam , if my uncle Marcus go , +I will most willingly attend your ladyship . + +Lucius , I will . + + +How now , Lavinia ! Marcus , what means this ? +Some book there is that she desires to see . +Which is it , girl , of these ? Open them , boy . +But thou art deeper read , and better skill'd ; +Come , and take choice of all my library , +And so beguile thy sorrow , till the heavens +Reveal the damn'd contriver of this deed . +Why lifts she up her arms in sequence thus ? + +I think she means that there was more than one +Confederate in the fact : ay , more there was ; +Or else to heaven she heaves them for revenge . + +Lucius ; what book is that she tosseth so ? + +Grandsire , 'tis Ovid's Metamorphoses ; +My mother gave it me . + +For love of her that's gone , +Perhaps , she cull'd it from among the rest . + +Soft ! see how busily she turns the leaves ! + +What would she find ? Lavinia , shall I read ? +This is the tragic tale of Philomel , +And treats of Tereus' treason and his rape ; +And rape , I fear , was root of thine annoy . + +See , brother , see ! note how she quotes the leaves . + +Lavinia , wert thou thus surpris'd , sweet girl , +Ravish'd and wrong'd , as Philomela was , +Forc'd in the ruthless , vast , and gloomy woods ? +See , see ! +Ay , such a place there is , where we did hunt , +O ! had we never , never hunted there , +Pattern'd by that the poet here describes , +By nature made for murders and for rapes . + +O ! why should nature build so foul a den , +Unless the gods delight in tragedies ? + +Give signs , sweet girl , for here are none but friends , +What Roman lord it was durst do the deed : +Or slunk not Saturnine , as Tarquin erst , +That left the camp to sin in Lucrece' bed ? + +Sit down , sweet niece : brother , sit down by me . +Apollo , Pallas , Jove , or Mercury , +Inspire me , that I may this treason find ! +My lord , look here ; look here , Lavinia : +This sandy plot is plain ; guide , if thou canst , +This after me . + +I have writ my name +Without the help of any hand at all . +Curs'd be that heart that forc'd us to this shift ! +Write thou , good niece , and here display at last +What God will have discover'd for revenge . +Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain , +That we may know the traitors and the truth ! + + +O ! do you read , my lord , what she hath writ ? +Stuprum , Chiron , Demetrius . + +What , what ! the lustful sons of Tamora +Performers of this heinous , bloody deed ? + +Magni dominator poli , +Tam lentus audis scelera ? tam lentus vides ? + +O ! calm thee , gentle lord ; although I know +There is enough written upon this earth +To stir a mutiny in the mildest thoughts +And arm the minds of infants to exclaims . +My lord , kneel down with me ; Lavinia , kneel ; +And kneel , sweet boy , the Roman Hector's hope ; +And swear with me , as , with the woeful fere +And father of that chaste dishonour'd dame , +Lord Junius Brutus sware for Lucrece' rape , +That we will prosecute by good advice +Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths , +And see their blood , or die with this reproach . + +'Tis sure enough , an you knew how ; +But if you hunt these bear-whelps , then beware : +The dam will wake , an if she wind you once : +She's with the lion deeply still in league , +And lulls him whilst she playeth on her back , +And when he sleeps will she do what she list . +You're a young huntsman , Marcus ; let it alone ; +And , come , I will go get a leaf of brass , +And with a gad of steel will write these words , +And lay it by : the angry northern wind +Will blow these sands like Sibyl's leaves abroad , +And where's your lesson then ? Boy , what say you ? + +I say , my lord , that if I were a man , +Their mother's bed-chamber should not be safe +For these bad bondmen to the yoke of Rome . + +Ay , that's my boy ! thy father hath full oft +For his ungrateful country done the like . + +And , uncle , so will I , an if I live . + +Come , go with me into mine armoury : +Lucius , I'll fit thee ; and withal my boy +Shall carry from me to the empress' sons +Presents that I intend to send them both : +Come , come ; thou'lt do thy message , wilt thou not ? + +Ay , with my dagger in their bosoms , grandsire . + +No , boy , not so ; I'll teach thee another course . +Lavinia , come . Marcus , look to my house ; +Lucius and I'll go brave it at the court : +Ay , marry , will we , sir ; and we'll be waited on . + + +O heavens ! can you hear a good man groan , +And not relent or not compassion him ? +Marcus , attend him in his ecstasy , +That hath more scars of sorrow in his heart +Than foemen's marks upon his batter'd shield ; +But yet so just that he will not revenge . +Revenge , ye heavens , for old Andronicus ! + + +Demetrius , here's the son of Lucius ; +He hath some message to deliver us . + +Ay , some mad message from his mad grandfather . + +My lords , with all the humbleness I may , +I greet your honours from Andronicus ; + + +And pray the Roman gods , confound you both ! + +Gramercy , lovely Lucius : what's the news ? + +That you are both decipher'd , that's the news , +For villains mark'd with rape . + +May it please you , +My grandsire , well advis'd , hath sent by me +The goodliest weapons of his armoury , +To gratify your honourable youth , +The hope of Rome , for so he bade me say ; +And so I do , and with his gifts present +Your lordships , that whenever you have need , +You may be armed and appointed well . +And so I leave you both : + +like bloody villains . + + +What's here ? A scroll ; and written round about ? +Let's see : + +'Integer vit , scelerisque purus , +Non eget Mauri jaculis , nec arcu . + + +O ! 'tis a verse in Horace ; I know it well : +I read it in the grammar long ago . + +Ay just , a verse in Horace ; right , you have it . + + +Now , what a thing it is to be an ass ! +Here's no sound jest ! the old man hath found their guilt +And sends them weapons wrapp'd about with lines , +That wound , beyond their feeling , to the quick ; +But were our witty empress well afoot , +She would applaud Andronicus' conceit : +But let her rest in her unrest awhile . + + +And now , young lords , was't not a happy star +Led us to Rome , strangers , and more than so , +Captives , to be advanced to this height ? +It did me good before the palace gate +To brave the tribune in his brother's hearing . + +But me more good , to see so great a lord +Basely insinuate and send us gifts . + +Had he not reason , Lord Demetrius ? +Did you not use his daughter very friendly ? + +I would we had a thousand Roman dames +At such a bay , by turn to serve our lust . + +A charitable wish and full of love . + +Here lacks but your mother for to say amen . + +And that would she for twenty thousand more . + +Come , let us go and pray to all the gods +For our beloved mother in her pains . + +Pray to the devils ; the gods have given us over . + + +Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus ? + +Belike , for joy the emperor hath a son . + +Soft ! who comes here ? + + +Good morrow , lords . O ! tell me , did you see +Aaron the Moor ? + +Well , more or less , or ne'er a whit at all , +Here Aaron is ; and what with Aaron now ? + +O gentle Aaron ! we are all undone . +Now help , or woe betide thee evermore ! + +Why , what a caterwauling dost thou keep ! +What dost thou wrap and fumble in thine arms ? + +O ! that which I would hide from heaven's eye , +Our empress' shame , and stately Rome's disgrace ! +She is deliver'd , lords , she is deliver'd . + +To whom ? + +I mean , she's brought a-bed . + +Well , God give her good rest ! What hath he sent her ? + +A devil . + +Why , then she's the devil's dam : a joyful issue . + +A joyless , dismal , black , and sorrowful issue . +Here is the babe , as loathsome as a toad +Amongst the fairest breeders of our clime . +The empress sends it thee , thy stamp , thy seal , +And bids thee christen it with thy dagger's point . + +'Zounds , ye whore ! is black so base a hue ? +Sweet blowse , you are a beauteous blossom , sure . + +Villain , what hast thou done ? + +That which thou canst not undo . + +Thou hast undone our mother . + +Villain , I have done thy mother . + +And therein , hellish dog , thou hast undone . +Woe to her chance , and damn'd her loathed choice ! +Accurs'd the offspring of so foul a fiend ! + +It shall not live . + +It shall not die . + +Aaron , it must ; the mother wills it so . + +What ! must it , nurse ? then let no man but I +Do execution on my flesh and blood . + +I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point : +Nurse , give it me ; my sword shall soon dispatch it . + +Sooner this sword shall plough thy bowels up . + +Stay , murderous villains ! will you kill your brother ? +Now , by the burning tapers of the sky , +That shone so brightly when this boy was got , +He dies upon my scimitar's sharp point +That touches this my first-born son and heir . +I tell you , younglings , not Enceladus , +With all his threatening band of Typhon's brood , +Nor great Alcides , nor the god of war , +Shall seize this prey out of his father's hands . +What , what , ye sanguine , shallow-hearted boys ! +Ye white-lim'd walls ! ye alehouse painted signs ! +Coal-black is better than another hue , +In that it scorns to bear another hue ; +For all the water in the ocean +Can never turn the swan's black legs to white , +Although she lave them hourly in the flood . +Tell the empress from me , I am of age +To keep mine own , excuse it how she can . + +Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus ? + +My mistress is my mistress ; this myself ; +The vigour , and the picture of my youth : +This before all the world do I prefer ; +This maugre all the world will I keep safe , +Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome . + +By this our mother is for ever sham'd . + +Rome will despise her for this foul escape . + +The emperor in his rage will doom her death . + +I blush to think upon this ignomy . + +Why , there's the privilege your beauty bears . +Fie , treacherous hue ! that will betray with blushing +The close enacts and counsels of the heart : +Here's a young lad fram'd of another leer : +Look how the black slavesmiles upon the father , +As who should say , 'Old lad , I am thine own .' +He is your brother , lords , sensibly fed +Of that self blood that first gave life to you ; +And from that womb where you imprison'd were +He is enfranchised and come to light : +Nay , he is your brother by the surer side , +Although my seal be stamped in his face . + +Aaron , what shall I say unto the empress ? + +Advise thee , Aaron , what is to be done , +And we will all subscribe to thy advice : +Save thou the child , so we may all be safe . + +Then sit we down , and let us all consult , +My son and I will have the wind of you : +Keep there ; now talk at pleasure of your safety . + + +How many women saw this child of his ? + +Why , so , brave lords ! when we join in league , +I am a lamb ; but if you brave the Moor , +The chafed boar , the mountain lioness , +The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms . +But say , again , how many saw the child ? + +Cornelia the midwife , and myself , +And no one else but the deliver'd empress . + +The empress , the midwife , and yourself : +Two may keep counsel when the third's away . +Go to the empress ; tell her this I said : + +'Weke , weke !' +So cries a pig prepared to the spit . + +What mean'st thou , Aaron ? Wherefore didst thou this ? + +O lord , sir , 'tis a deed of policy : +Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours , +A long-tongu'd babbling gossip ? no , lords , no . +And now be it known to you my full intent . +Not far , one Muli lives , my countryman ; +His wife but yesternight was brought to bed . +His child is like to her , fair as you are : +Go pack with him , and give the mother gold , +And tell them both the circumstance of all , +And how by this their child shall be advanc'd , +And be received for the emperor's heir , +And substituted in the place of mine , +To calm this tempest whirling in the court ; +And let the emperor dandle him for his own . +Hark ye , lords ; you see , I have given her physic , + +And you must needs bestow her funeral ; +The fields are near , and you are gallant grooms . +This done , see that you take no longer days , +But send the midwife presently to me . +The midwife and the nurse well made away , +Then let the ladies tattle what they please . + +Aaron , I see thou wilt not trust the air +With secrets . + +For this care of Tamora , +Herself and hers are highly hound to thee . + + +Now to the Goths , as swift as swallow flies : +There to dispose this treasure in mine arms , +And secretly to greet the empress' friends . +Come on , you thick-lipp'd slave , I'll bear you hence ; +For it is you that puts us to our shifts : +I'll make you feed on berries and on roots , +And feed on curds and whey , and suck the goat , +And cabin in a cave , and bring you up +To be a warrior , and command a camp . + + +Come , Marcus , come ; kinsmen , this is the way . +Sir boy , now let me see your archery : +Look ye draw home enough , and 'tis there straight . +Terras Astr a reliquit : +Be you remember'd , Marcus , she's gone , she's fled . +Sirs , take you to your tools . You , cousins , shall +Go sound the ocean , and cast your nets ; +Happily you may find her in the sea ; +Yet there's as little justice as at land . +No ; Publius and Sempronius , you must do it ; +'Tis you must dig with mattock and with spade , +And pierce the inmost centre of the earth : +Then , when you come to Pluto's region , +I pray you , deliver him this petition ; +Tell him , it is for justice and for aid , +And that it comes from old Andronicus , +Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome . +Ah ! Rome . Well , well ; I made thee miserable +What time I threw the people's suffrages +On him that thus doth tyrannize o'er me . +Go , get you gone ; and pray be careful all , +And leave you not a man-of-war unsearch'd : +This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her hence ; +And , kinsmen , then we may go pipe for justice . + +O Publius ! is not this a heavy case , +To see thy noble uncle thus distract ? + +Therefore , my lord , it highly us concerns +By day and night to attend him carefully , +And feed his humour kindly as we may , +Till time beget some careful remedy . + +Kinsmen , his sorrows are past remedy . +Join with the Goths , and with revengeful war +Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude , +And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine . + +Publius , how now ! how now , my masters ! +What ! have you met with her ? + +No , my good lord ; but Pluto sends you word , +If you will have Revenge from hell , you shall : +Marry , for Justice , she is so employ'd , +He thinks , with Jove in heaven , or somewhere else , +So that perforce you must needs stay a time . + +He doth me wrong to feed me with delays . +I'll dive into the burning lake below , +And pull her out of Acheron by the heels . +Marcus , we are but shrubs , no cedars we ; +No big-bon'd men fram'd of the Cyclops' size ; +But metal , Marcus , steel to the very back , +Yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear : +And sith there's no justice in earth nor hell , +We will solicit heaven and move the gods +To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs . +Come , to this gear . You are a good archer , Marcus . + +Ad Javem , that's for you : here , ad Apollinem : +Ad Martem , that's for myself : +Here , boy , to Pallas : here , to Mercury : +To Saturn , Caius , not to Saturnine ; +You were as good to shoot against the wind . +To it , boy ! Marcus , loose when I bid . +Of my word , I have written to effect ; +There's not a god left unsolicited . + +Kinsmen , shoot all your shafts into the court : +We will afflict the emperor in his pride . + +Now , masters , draw . + +O ! well said , Lucius ! +Good boy , in Virgo's lap : give it Pallas . + +My lord , I aim a mile beyond the moon ; +Your letter is with Jupiter by this . + +Ha ! Publius , Publius , what hast thou done ? +See , see ! thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns . + +This was the sport , my lord : when Publius shot , +The Bull , being gall'd , gave Aries such a knock +That down fell both the Ram's horns in the court ; +And who should find them but the empress' villain ? +She laugh'd , and told the Moor , he should not choose +But give them to his master for a present . + +Why , there it goes : God give his lordship joy ! + + +News ! news from heaven ! Marcus , the post is come . +Sirrah , what tidings ? have you any letters ? + +Shall I have justice ? what says Jupiter ? + +O ! tho gibbet-maker ? He says that he hath taken them down again , for the man must not be hanged till the next week . + +But what says Jupiter , I ask thee ? + +Alas ! sir , I know not Jupiter ; I never drank with him in all my life . + +Why , villain , art not thou the carrier ? + +Ay , of my pigeons , sir ; nothing else . + +Why , didst thou not come from heaven ? + +From heaven ! alas ! sir , I never came there . God forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young days . Why , I am going with my pigeons to the tribunal plebs , to take up a matter of brawl betwixt my uncle and one of the emperial's men . + +Why , sir , that is as fit as can be to serve for your oration ; and let him deliver the pigeons to the emperor from you . + +Tell me , can you deliver an oration to the emperor with a grace ? + +Nay , truly , sir , I could never say grace in all my life . + +Sirrah , come hither : make no more ado , +But give your pigeons to the emperor : +By me thou shalt have justice at his hands . +Hold , hold ; meanwhile , here's money for thy charges . +Give me pen and ink . +Sirrah , can you with a grace deliver a supplication ? + +Ay , sir . + +Then here is a supplication for you . And when you come to him , at the first approach you must kneel ; then kiss his foot ; then deliver up your pigeons ; and then look for your reward . I'll be at hand , sir ; see you do it bravely . + +I warrant you , sir ; let me alone . + +Sirrah , hast thou a knife ? Come , let me see it . +Here , Marcus , fold it in the oration ; +For thou hast made it like a humble suppliant : +And when thou hast given it to the emperor , +Knock at my door , and tell me what he says . + +God be with you , sir ; I will . + +Come , Marcus , let us go . Publius , follow me . + +Why , lords , what wrongs are these ! Was ever seen +An emperor of Rome thus overborne , +Troubled , confronted thus ; and , for the extent +Of egal justice , us'd in such contempt ? +My lords , you know , as do the mightful gods , +However these disturbers of our peace +Buzz in the people's ears ,there nought hath pass'd , +But even with law , against the wilful sons +Of old Andronicus . And what an if +His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits , +Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks , +His fits , his frenzy , and his bitterness ? +And now he writes to heaven for his redress : +See , here's to Jove , and this to Mercury ; +This to Apollo ; this to the god of war ; +Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome ! +What's this but libelling against the senate , +And blazoning our injustice every where ? +A goodly humour , is it not , my lords ? +As who would say , in Rome no justice were . +But if I live , his feigned ecstasies +Shall be no shelter to these outrages ; +But he and his shall know that justice lives +In Saturninus' health ; whom , if she sleep , +He'll so awake , as she in fury shall +Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives . + +My gracious lord , my lovely Saturnine , +Lord of my life , commander of my thoughts , +Calm thee , and bear the faults of Titus' age , +The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons , +Whose loss hath pierc'd him deep and scarr'd his heart ; +And rather comfort his distressed plight +Than prosecute the meanest or the best +For these contempts . + +Why , thus it shall become +High-witted Tamora to gloze with all : +But , Titus , I have touch'd thee to the quick , +Thy life-blood out : if Aaron now be wise , +Then is all safe , the anchor's in the port . + +How now , good fellow ! wouldst thou speak with us ? + +Yea , forsooth , an your mistership be emperial . + +Empress I am , but yonder sits the emperor . + +'Tis he . God and Saint Stephen give you good den . +I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here . + + +Go , take him away , and hang him presently . + +How much money must I have ? + +Come , sirrah , you must be hanged . + +Hanged ! By 'r , lady , then I have brought up a neck to a fair end . + + +Despiteful and intolerable wrongs ! +Shall I endure this monstrous villany ? +I know from whence this same device proceeds : +May this be borne ? As if his traitorous sons , +That died by law for murder of our brother , +Have by my means been butcher'd wrongfully ! +Go , drag the villain hither by the hair ; +Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege . +For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughterman ; +Sly frantic wretch , that holp'st to make me great , +In hope thyself should govern Rome and me . + +What news with thee , milius ? + +Arm , arm , my lord ! Rome never had more cause . +The Goths have gather'd head , and with a power +Of high-resolved men , bent to the spoil , +They hither march amain , under conduct +Of Lucius , son to old Andronicus ; +Who threats , in course of this revenge , to do +As much as ever Coriolanus did . + +Is war-like Lucius general of the Goths ? +These tidings nip me , and I hang the head +As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms . +Ay , now begin our sorrows to approach : +'Tis he the common people love so much ; +Myself hath often heard them say , +When I have walked like a private man , +That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully , +And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor . + +Why should you fear ? is not your city strong ? + +Ay , but the citizens favour Lucius , +And will revolt from me to succour him . + +King , be thy thoughts imperious , like thy name . +Is the sun dimm'd , that gnats do fly in it ? +The eagle suffers little birds to sing , +And is not careful what they mean thereby , +Knowing that with the shadow of his wings +He can at pleasure stint their melody ; +Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome . +Then cheer thy spirit ; for know , thou emperor , +I will enchant the old Andronicus +With words more sweet , and yet more dangerous , +Than baits to fish , or honey-stalks to sheep , +Whenas the one is wounded with the bait , +The other rotted with delicious feed . + +But he will not entreat his son for us . + +If Tamora entreat him , then he will : +For I can smooth and fill his aged ear +With golden promises , that , were his heart +Almost impregnable , his old ears deaf , +Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue . + + +Go thou before , be our ambassador : +Say that the emperor requests a parley +Of war-like Lucius , and appoint the meeting , +Even at his father's house , the old Andronicus . + +milius , do this message honourably : +And if he stand on hostage for his safety , +Bid him demand what pledge will please him best . + +Your bidding shall I do effectually . + + +Now will I to that old Andronicus , +And temper him with all the art I have , +To pluck proud Lucius from the war-like Goths . +And now , sweet emperor , be blithe again , +And bury all thy fear in my devices . + +Then go successantly , and plead to him . + +Approved warriors , and my faithful friends , +I have received letters from great Rome , +Which signify what hate they bear their emperor , +And how desirous of our sight they are . +Therefore , great lords , be , as your titles witness , +Imperious and impatient of your wrongs ; +And wherein Rome hath done you any scath , +Let him make treble satisfaction . + +Brave slip , sprung from the great Andronicus , +Whose name was once our terror , now our comfort ; +Whose high exploits and honourable deeds +Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt , +Be bold in us : we'll follow where thou lead'st , +Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day +Led by their master to the flower'd fields , +And be aveng'd on cursed Tamora . + +And , as he saith , so say we all with him . + +I humbly thank him , and I thank you all . +But who comes here , led by a lusty Goth ? + + +Renowned Lucius , from our troops I stray'd , +To gaze upon a ruinous monastery ; +And as I earnestly did fix mine eye +Upon the wasted building , suddenly +I heard a child cry underneath a wall . +I made unto the noise ; when soon I heard +The crying babe controll'd with this discourse : +'Peace , tawny slave , half me and half thy dam ! +Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art , +Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look , +Villain , thou mightst have been an emperor : +But where the bull and cow are both milk-white , +They never do beget a coal-black calf . +Peace , villain , peace !' even thus he rates the babe , +'For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth ; +Who , when he knows thou art the empress' babe , +Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake .' +With this , my weapon drawn , I rush'd upon him , +Surpris'd him suddenly , and brought him hither , +To use as you think needful of the man . + +O worthy Goth , this is the incarnate devil +That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand : +This is the pearl that pleas'd your empress' eye , +And here's the base fruit of his burning lust . +Say , wall-ey'd slave , whither wouldst thou convey +This growing image of thy fiend-like face ? +Why dost not speak ? What ! deaf ? not a word ? +A halter , soldiers ! hang him on this tree , +And by his side his fruit of bastardy . + +Touch not the boy ; he is of royal blood . + +Too like the sire for ever being good . +First hang the child , that he may see it sprawl ; +A sight to vex the father's soul withal . +Get me a ladder . + + +Lucius , save the child ; +And bear it from me to the empress . +If thou do this , I'll show thee wondrous things , +That highly may advantage thee to hear : +If thou wilt not , befall what may befall , +I'll speak no more but 'Vengeance rot you all !' + +Say on ; and if it please me which thou speak'st , +Thy child shall live , and I will see it nourish'd . + +An if it please thee ! why , assure thee , Lucius , +'Twill vex'thy soul to hear what I shall speak ; +For I must talk of murders , rapes , and massacres , +Acts of black night , abominable deeds , +Complots of mischief , treason , villanies +Ruthful to hear , yet piteously perform'd : +And this shall all be buried by my death , +Unless thou swear to me my child shall live . + +Tell on thy mind : I say , thy child shall live . + +Swear that he shall , and then I will begin . + +Who should I swear by ? thou believ'st no god : +That granted , how canst thou believe an oath ? + +What if I do not ? as , indeed , I do not ; +Yet , for I know thou art religious , +And hast a thing within thee called conscience , +With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies , +Which I have seen thee careful to observe , +Therefore I urge thy oath ; for that I know +An idiot holds his bauble for a god , +And keeps the oath which by that god he swears , +To that I'll urge him : therefore thou shalt vow +By that same god , what god soe'er it be , +That thou ador'st and hast in reverence , +To save my boy , to nourish and bring him up : +Or else I will discover nought to thee . + +Even by my god I swear to thee I will . + +First , know thou , I begot him on the empress . + +O most insatiate and luxurious woman ! + +Tut ! Lucius , this was but a deed of charity +To that which thou shalt hear of me anon . +'Twas her two sons that murder'd Bassianus ; +They cut thy sister's tongue and ravish'd her , +And cut her hands and trimm'd her as thou saw'st . + +O detestable villain ! call'st thou that trimming ? + +Why , she was wash'd , and cut , and trimm'd , and 'twas +Trim sport for them that had the doing of it . + +O barbarous , beastly villains , like thyself ! + +Indeed , I was their tutor to instruct them . +That codding spirit had they from their mother , +As sure a card as ever won the set ; +That bloody mind , I think , they learn'd of me +As true a dog as ever fought at head . +Well , let my deeds be witness of my worth . +I train'd thy brethren to that guileful hole +Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay ; +I wrote the letter that thy father found , +And hid the gold within the letter mention'd , +Confederate with the queen and her two sons : +And what not done , that thou hast cause to rue , +Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in it ? +I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand , +And , when I had it , drew myself apart , +And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter . +I pry'd me through the crevice of a wall +When , for his hand , he had his two sons' heads ; +Beheld his tears , and laugh'd so heartily , +That both mine eyes were rainy like to his : +And when I told the empress of this sport , +She swounded almost at my pleasing tale , +And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses . + +What ! canst thou say all this , and never blush ? + +Ay , like a black dog , as the saying is . + +Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds ? + +Ay , that I had not done a thousand more . +Even now I curse the day , and yet , I think , +Few come within the compass of my curse , +Wherein I did not some notorious ill : +As kill a man , or else devise his death ; +Ravish a maid , or plot the way to do it ; +Accuse some innocent , and forswear myself ; +Set deadly enmity between two friends ; +Make poor men's cattle break their necks ; +Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night , +And bid the owners quench them with their tears , +Oft have I digg'd up dead men from their graves , +And set them upright at their dear friends' doors , +Even when their sorrows almost were forgot ; +And on their skins , as on the bark of trees , +Have with my knife carved in Roman letters , +'Let not your sorrow die , though I am dead .' +Tut ! I have done a thousand dreadful things +As willingly as one would kill a fly , +And nothing grieves me heartily indeed +But that I cannot do ten thousand more . + +Bring down the devil , for he must not die +So sweet a death as hanging presently . + +If there be devils , would I were a devil , +To live and burn in everlasting fire , +So I might have your company in hell , +But to torment you with my bitter tongue ! + +Sirs , stop his mouth , and let him speak no more . + + +My lord , there is a messenger from Rome +Desires to be admitted to your presence . + +Let him come near . + +Welcome , milius ! what's the news from Rome ? + +Lord Lucius , and you princes of the Goths , +The Roman emperor greets you all by me ; +And , for he understands you are in arms , +He craves a parley at your father's house , +Willing you to demand your hostages , +And they shall be immediately deliver'd . + +What says our general ? + +milius , let the emperor give his pledges +Unto my father and my uncle Marcus , +And we will come . March away . + + +Thus , in this strange and sad habiliment , +I will encounter with Andronicus , +And say I am Revenge , sent from below +To join with him and right his heinous wrongs . +Knock at his study , where , they say , he keeps , +To ruminate strange plots of dire revenge ; +Tell him , Revenge is come to join with him , +And work confusion on his enemies . + +Who doth molest my contemplation ? +Is it your trick to make me ope the door , +That so my sad decrees may fly away , +And all my study be to no effect ? +You are deceiv'd ; for what I mean to do , +See here , in bloody lines I have set down ; +And what is written shall be executed . + +Titus , I am come to talk with thee . + +No , not a word ; how can I grace my talk , +Wanting a hand to give it action ? +Thou hast the odds of me ; therefore no more . + +If thou didst know me , thou wouldst talk with me . + +I am not mad ; I know thee well enough : +Witness this wretched stump , witness these crimson lines ; +Witness these trenches made by grief and care ; +Witness the tiring day and heavy night ; +Witness all sorrow , that I know thee well +For our proud empress , mighty Tamora . +Is not thy coming for my other hand ? + +Know , thou sad man , I am not Tamora ; +She is thy enemy , and I thy friend : +I am Revenge , sent from the infernal kingdom , +To ease the gnawing vulture of thy mind , +By working wreakful vengeance on thy foes . +Come down , and welcome me to this world's light ; +Confer with me of murder and of death . +There's not a hollow cave or lurking-place , +No vast obscurity or misty vale , +Where bloody murder or detested rape +Can couch for fear , but I will find them out ; +And in their ears tell them my dreadful name , +Revenge , which makes the foul offender quake . + +Art thou Revenge ? and art thou sent to me , +To be a torment to mine enemies ? + +I am ; therefore come down , and welcome me . + +Do me some service ere I come to thee . +Lo , by thy side where Rape and Murder stands ; +Now give some surance that thou art Revenge : +Stab them , or tear them on thy chariot-wheels , +And then I'll come and be thy waggoner , +And whirl along with thee about the globe . +Provide two proper palfreys , black as jet , +To hale thy vengeful waggon swift away , +And find out murderers in their guilty caves : +And when thy car is loaden with their heads , +I will dismount , and by the waggon-wheel +Trot like a servile footman all day long , +Even from Hyperion's rising in the east +Until his very downfall in the sea : +And day by day I'll do this heavy task , +So thou destroy Rapine and Murder there . + +These are my ministers , and come with me . + +Are these thy ministers ? what are they call'd ? + +Rapine and Murder ; therefore called so , +Cause they take vengeance of such kind of men . + +Good Lord , how like the empress' sons they are , +And you the empress ! but we worldly men +Have miserable , mad , mistaking eyes . +O sweet Revenge ! now do I come to thee ; +And , if one arm's embracement will content thee , +I will embrace thee in it by and by . + + +This closing with him fits his lunacy . +Whate'er I forge to feed his brain-sick fits , +Do you uphold and maintain in your speeches , +For now he firmly takes me for Revenge ; +And , being credulous in this mad thought , +I'll make him send for Lucius his son ; +And , whilst I at a banquet hold him sure , +I'll find some cunning practice out of hand +To scatter and disperse the giddy Goths , +Or , at the least , make them his enemies . +See , here he comes , and I must ply my theme . + + +Long have I been forlorn , and all for thee : +Welcome , dread Fury , to my woeful house : +Rapine and Murder , you are welcome too . +How like the empress and her sons you are ! +Well are you fitted had you but a Moor : +Could not all hell afford you such a devil ? +For well I wot the empress never wags +But in her company there is a Moor ; +And would you represent our queen aright , +It were convenient you had such a devil . +But welcome as you are . What shall we do ? + +What wouldst thou have us do , Andronicus ? + +Show me a murderer , I'll deal with him . + +Show me a villain that hath done a rape , +And I am sent to be reveng'd on him . + +Show me a thousand that have done thee wrong , +And I will be revenged on them all . + +Look round about the wicked streets of Rome , +And when thou find'st a man that's like thyself , +Good Murder , stab him ; he's a murderer . +Go thou with him ; and when it is thy hap +To find another that is like to thee , +Good Rapine , stab him ; he's a ravisher . +Go thou with them ; and in the emperor's court +There is a queen attended by a Moor ; +Well mayst thou know her by thy own proportion , +For up and down she doth resemble thee : +I pray thee , do on them some violent death ; +They have been violent to me and mine . + +Well hast thou lesson'd us ; this shall we do . +But would it please thee , good Andronicus , +To send for Lucius , thy thrice-valiant son , +Who leads towards Rome a band of war-like Goths , +And bid him come and banquet at thy house : +When he is here , even at thy solemn feast , +I will bring in the empress and her sons , +The emperor himself , and all thy foes , +And at thy mercy shall they stoop and kneel , +And on them shalt thou ease thy angry heart . +What says Andronicus to this device ? + +Marcus , my brother ! 'tis sad Titus calls . + + +Go , gentle Marcus , to thy nephew Lucius ; +Thou shalt inquire him out among the Goths : +Bid him repair to me , and bring with him +Some of the chiefest princes of the Goths ; +Bid him encamp his soldiers where they are : +Tell him , the emperor and the empress too +Feast at my house , and he shall feast with them . +This do thou for my love ; and so let him , + +As he regards his aged father's life . + +This will I do , and soon return again . + + +Now will I hence about thy business , +And take my ministers along with me . + +Nay , nay , let Rape and Murder stay with me ; +Or else I'll call my brother back again , +And cleave to no revenge but Lucius . + +What say you , boys ? will you abide with him , +Whiles I go tell my lord the emperor +How I have govern'd our determin'd jest ? +Yield to his humour , smooth and speak him fair , +And tarry with him till I turn again . + +I know them all , though they suppose me mad ; +And will o'er-reach them in their own devices ; +A pair of cursed hell-hounds and their dam . + +Madam , depart at pleasure ; leave us here . + +Farewell , Andronicus : Revenge now goes +To lay a complot to betray thy foes . + + +I know thou dost ; and , sweet Revenge , farewell . + +Tell us , old man , how shall we be employ'd ? + +Tut ! I have work enough for you to do . +Publius , come hither , Caius , and Valentine ! + + +What is your will ? + +Know you these two ? + +The empress' sons , +I take them , Chiron and Demetrius . + +Fie , Publius , fie ! thou art too much deceiv'd ; +The one is Murder , Rape is the other's name ; +And therefore bind them , gentle Publius ; +Caius and Valentine , lay hands on them ; +Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour , +And now I find it : therefore bind them sure , +And stop their mouths , if they begin to cry . + + +Villains , forbear ! we are the empress' sons . + +And therefore do we what we are commanded . +Stop close their mouths , let them not speak a word . +Is he sure bound ? look that you bind them fast . + + +Come , come , Lavinia ; look , thy foes are bound . +Sirs , stop their mouths , let them not speak to me , +But let them hear what fearful words I utter . +O villains , Chiron and Demetrius ! +Here stands the spring whom you have stain'd with mud , +This goodly summer with your winter mix'd . +You kill'd her husband , and for that vile fault +Two of her brothers were condemn'd to death , +My hand cut off and made a merry jest : +Both her sweet hands , her tongue , and that more dear +Than hands or tongue , her spotless chastity , +Inhuman traitors , you constrain'd and forc'd . +What would you say if I should let you speak ? +Villains ! for shame you could not beg for grace . +Hark , wretches ! how I mean to martyr you . +This one hand yet is left to cut your throats , +Whilst that Levinia 'tween her stumps doth hold +The basin that receives your guilty blood . +You know your mother means to feast with me , +And calls herself Revenge , and thinks me mad . +Hark ! villains , I will grind your bones to dust , +And with your blood and it I'll make a paste ; +And of the paste a coffin I will rear , +And make two pasties of your shameful heads ; +And bid that strumpet , your unhallow'd dam , +Like to the earth swallow her own increase . +This is the feast that I have bid her to , +And this the banquet she shall surfeit on ; +For worse than Philomel you us'd my daughter , +And worse than Procne I will be reveng'd . +And now prepare your throats . Lavinia , come . + +Receive the blood : and when that they are dead , +Let me go grind their bones to powder small , +And with this hateful liquor temper it ; +And in that paste let their vile heads be bak'd . +Come , come , be every one officious +To make this banquet , which I wish may prove +More stern and bloody than the Centaurs' feast . +So , now bring them in , for I will play the cook , +And see them ready 'gainst their mother comes . + + +Uncle Marcus , since it is my father's mind +That I repair to Rome , I am content . + +And ours with thine , befall what fortune will . + +Good uncle , take you in this barbarous Moor , +This ravenous tiger , this accursed devil ; +Let him receive no sustenance , fetter him , +Till he be brought unto the empress' face , +For testimony of her foul proceedings : +And see the ambush of our friends be strong ; +I fear the emperor means no good to us . + +Some devil whisper curses in mine ear , +And prompt me , that my tongue may utter forth +The venomous malice of my swelling heart ! + +Away , inhuman dog ! unhallow'd slave ! +Sirs , help our uncle to convey him in . + +The trumpets show the emperor is at hand . + + +What ! hath the firmament more suns than one ? + +What boots it thee , to call thyself a sun ? + +Rome's emperor , and nephew , break the parle ; +These quarrels must be quietly debated . +The feast is ready which the careful Titus +Hath ordain'd to an honourable end , +For peace , for love , for league , and good to Rome : +Please you , therefore , draw nigh , and take your places . + +Marcus , we will . + + +Welcome , my gracious lord ; welcome , dread queen ; +Welcome , ye war-like Goths ; welcome , Lucius ; +And welcome , all . Although the cheer be poor , +'Twill fill your stomachs ; please you eat of it . + +Why art thou thus attir'd , Andronicus ? + +Because I would be sure to have all well +To entertain your highness , and your empress . + +We are beholding to you , good Andronicus . + +An if your highness knew my heart , you were . +My lord the emperor , resolve me this : +Was it well done of rash Virginius +To slay his daughter with his own right hand , +Because she was enforced , stain'd , and deflower'd ? + +It was , Andronicus . + +Your reason , mighty lord ? + +Because the girl should not survive her shame , +And by her presence still renew his sorrows . + +A reason mighty , strong , and effectual ; +A pattern , precedent , and lively warrant , +For me most wretched , to perform the like . +Die , die . Lavinia , and thy shame with thee ; +And with thy shame thy father's sorrow die ! + + +What hast thou done , unnatural and unkind ? + +Kill'd her , for whom my tears have made me blind . +I am as woeful as Virginius was , +And have a thousand times more cause than he +To do this outrage : and it is now done . + +What ! was she ravish'd ? tell who did the deed . + +Will 't please you eat ? will 't please your highness feed ? + +Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus ? + +Not I ; 'twas Chiron and Demetrius : +They ravish'd her , and cut away her tongue : +And they , 'twas they , that did her all this wrong . + +Go fetch them hither to us presently . + +Why , there they are both , baked in that pie ; +Whereof their mother daintily hath fed , +Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred . +'Tis true , 'tis true ; witness my knife's sharp point . + + +Die , frantic wretch , for this accursed deed ! + + +Can the son's eye behold his father bleed ? +There's meed for meed , death for a deadly deed ! + +You sad-fac'd men , people and sons of Rome , +By uproar sever'd , like a flight of fowl +Scatter'd by winds and high tempestuous gusts , +O ! let me teach you how to knit again +This scatter'd corn into one mutual sheaf , +These broken limbs again into one body , +Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself , +And she whom mighty kingdoms curtsy to , +Like a forlorn and desperate castaway , +Do shameful execution on herself . +But if my frosty signs and chaps of age , +Grave witnesses of true experience , +Cannot induce you to attend my words , + + +Speak , Rome's dear friend , as erst our ancestor , +When with his solemn tongue he did discourse +To love-sick Dido's sad attending ear +The story of that baleful burning night +When subtle Greeks surpris'd King Priam's Troy ; +Tell us what Sinon hath bewitch'd our ears , +Or who hath brought the fatal engine in +That gives our Troy , our Rome , the civil wound . +My heart is not compact of flint nor steel , +Nor can I utter all our bitter grief , +But floods of tears will drown my oratory , +And break my very utterance , even in the time +When it should move you to attend me most , +Lending your kind commiseration . +Here is a captain , let him tell the tale ; +Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak . + +Then , noble auditory , be it known to you , +That cursed Chiron and Demetrius +Were they that murdered our emperor's brother ; +And they it was that ravished our sister . +For their fell faults our brothers were beheaded , +Our father's tears despis'd , and basely cozen'd +Of that true hand that fought Rome's quarrel out , +And sent her enemies unto the grave : +Lastly , myself unkindly banished , +The gates shut on me , and turn'd weeping out , +To beg relief among Rome's enemies ; +Who drown'd their enmity in my true tears , +And op'd their arms to embrace me as a friend : +And I am the turn'd forth , be it known to you , +That have preserv'd her welfare in my blood , +And from her bosom took the enemy's point , +Sheathing the steel in my adventurous body . +Alas ! you know I am no vaunter , I ; +My scars can witness , dumb although they are , +That my report is just and full of truth . +But , soft ! methinks I do digress too much , +Citing my worthless praise : O ! pardon me ; +For when no friends are by , men praise themselves . + +Now is my turn to speak . Behold this child ; +Of this was Tamora delivered , +The issue of an irreligious Moor , +Chief architect and plotter of these woes . +The villain is alive in Titus' house , +Damn'd as he is , to witness this is true . +Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge +These wrongs , unspeakable , past patience , +Or more than any living man could bear . +Now you have heard the truth , what say you Romans ? +Have we done aught amiss , show us wherein , +And , from the place where you behold us now , +The poor remainder of Andronici +Will , hand in hand , all headlong cast us down , +And on the ragged stones beat forth our brains , +And make a mutual closure of our house . +Speak , Romans , speak ! and if you say we shall , +Lo ! hand in hand , Lucius and I will fall . + +Come , come , thou reverend man of Rome , +And bring our emperor gently in thy hand , +Lucius , our emperor ; for well I know +The common voice do cry it shall be so . + +Lucius , all hail ! Rome's royal emperor ! + +Go , go into old Titus' sorrowful house , +And hither , hale that misbelieving Moor , +To be adjudg'd some direful slaughtering death , +As punishment for his most wicked life . + +Lucius , all hail ! Rome's gracious governor ! + +Thanks , gentle Romans : may I govern so , +To heal Rome's harms , and wipe away her woe ! +But , gentle people , give me aim awhile , +For nature puts me to a heavy task . +Stand all aloof ; but , uncle , draw you near , +To shed obsequious tears upon this trunk . +O ! take this warm kiss on thy pale cold lips , + +These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face , +The last true duties of thy noble son ! + +Tear for tear , and loving kiss for kiss , +Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips : +O ! were the sum of these that I should pay +Countless and infinite , yet would I pay them . + +Come hither , boy ; come , come , and learn of us +To melt in showers : thy grandsire lov'd thee well : +Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee , +Sung thee asleep , his loving breast thy pillow ; +Many a matter hath he told to thee , +Meet and agreeing with thine infancy ; +In that respect , then , like a loving child , +Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring , +Because kind nature doth require it so : +Friends should associate friends in grief and woe . +Bid him farewell ; commit him to the grave ; +Do him that kindness , and take leave of him . + +O grandsire , grandsire ! even with all my heart +Would I were dead , so you did live again . +O Lord ! I cannot speak to him for weeping ; +My tears will choke me if I ope my mouth . + + +You sad Andronici , have done with woes : +Give sentence on this execrable wretch , +That hath been breeder of these dire events . + +Set him breast-deep in earth , and famish him ; +There let him stand , and rave , and cry for food : +If any one relieves or pities him , +For the offence he dies . This is our doom : +Some stay to see him fasten'd in the earth . + +O ! why should wrath be mute , and fury dumb ? +I am no baby , I , that with base prayers +I should repent the evils I have done . +Ten thousand worse than ever yet I did +Would I perform , if I might have my will : +If one good deed in all my life I did , +I do repent it from my very soul . + +Some loving friends convey the emperor hence , +And give him burial in his father's grave . +My father and Lavinia shall forthwith +Be closed in our household's monument . +As for that heinous tiger , Tamora , +No funeral rite , nor man in mournful weeds , +No mournful bell shall ring her burial ; +But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey . +Her life was beast-like , and devoid of pity ; +And , being so , shall have like want of pity . +See justice done on Aaron , that damn'd Moor , +By whom our heavy haps had their beginning : +Then , afterwards , to order well the state , +That like events may ne'er it ruinate . +