This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings Cade. Tut, when struck'st thou one blow in the field? Say. Great men have reaching hands: oft have I struck Those that I never saw, and struck them dead. Geo. O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks? Say. These cheeks are pale for watching for your good. go Cade. Give me a box o' the ear, and that will make 'em red again. Say. Long sitting to determine poor men's causes Hath made me full of sickness and diseases. Dick. Why dost thou quiver, man? Say. Tell me wherein have I offended most? This breast from harboring foul deceitfu! O, let me live! 110 Cade. [Aside] 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. All. It shall be done. [king Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the And yield to mercy whilst 'tis offer'd you; Who hateth him and honors not his father, All. God save the king! God save the king! Cade. 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 ye had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Let 120 them break your backs with burthens, 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! Say. Ah, countrymen! if when you make God should be so obdurate as yourselves, Dick. My lord, when shall we go to Cheap- Re-enter one with the heads. 40 All. We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade! I see them lording it in London streets, All. A Clifford! a Clifford! we'll follow the king and Clifford. Cade. Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them to an 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 honor be witness that no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' base and ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels. (Exit. Buck. What, is he fled? Go some, and follow him; And he that brings his head unto the king [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Kenilworth Castle. Sound trumpets. Enter KING, QUEEN, and SOMERSET, on the terrace. King. Was ever king that joy'd an earthly throne, And could command no more content than I? Enter BUCKINGHAM and old Clifford. King. Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd; 31 Like to a ship that, having 'scaped a tempest, I'll yield myself to prison willingly, 40 Cade. 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 am I 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 Buck. Health and glad tidings to your maj-have I climbed into this garden, to see if I can esty! King. Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised? Or is he but retired to make him strong? Enter, below, multitudes, with halters about their necks. Clif. He is fled, my lord, and all his do yield; powers And humbly thus, with halters on their necks, Expect your highness' dcom, of life or death. 10 King 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 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. Enter IDEN. Iden. Lord, who would live turmoiled in the court, And may enjoy such quiet walks as these? 20 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. • Cade. 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. Iden. Why, rude companion, whatsoe'er thou be, I know thee not; why, then, should I betray thee? Cade. 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. Iden. Nay, it shall ne'er be said, while Eng- That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent, The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. Buck. York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well. York. Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting. Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? To know the reason of these arms in peace; Let this my sword report what speech forbears. 70 Iden. Is't Cade that I have slain, that mon- Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deed, Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bare And as I thrust thy body in with my sword, SCENE I. ACT V. 89 30 I could hew up rocks and fight with flint. 40 But if thy arms be to no other end, powers. Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; Fields between Dartford and Is his to use, so Somerset may die. Enter YORK, and his army of Irish, with York. From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right, And pluck the crown from feeble Henry's head: Buck. York, I commend this kind submission: King. Buckingham, doth York intend no That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm? York. In all submission and humility York doth present himself unto your highness. King. Then, what intends these forces thou dost bring? 60 York. To heave the traitor Somerset from hence, And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade, Who since I heard to be discomfited. Enter IDEN, with CADE's head. Iden. If one so rude and of so mean condition O, let me view his visage, being dead, Iden. I was, an't like your majesty. 71 King. How art thou call'd? and what is thy degree? Iden. Alexander Iden, that's my name; A poor esquire of Kent, that loves his king. Buck. So please it you, my lord, 'twere not amiss He were created knight for his good service. King. Iden, kneel down. He kneels.] Rise up a knight. We give thee for reward a thousand marks, And will that thou henceforth attend on us. 80 lden. May Iden live to merit such a bounty, And never live but true unto his liege! [Rises. Enter QUEEN and SOMERSET. King See, Buckingham, Somerset comes with the queen: Go, bid him hide him quickly from the duke. Queen. For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head, But boldly stand and front him to his face. 90 York. How now! is Somerset at liberty? Of capital treason 'gainst the king and crown: If they can brook I bow a knee to man. 110 Queen. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain, To say if that the bastard boys of York Enter EDWARD and RICHARD. See where they come: I'll warrant they'll make it good. Enter old CLIFFORD and his Son. Queen. And here comes Clifford to deny their bail. Chf. Health and all happiness to my lord the king! Kneels. York. I thank thee, Clifford: say, what news with thee? Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again; For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee. Clif. This is my king, York, I do not mistake; But thou mistakest me much to think I do: 130 To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad? King. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humor Makes him oppose himself against his king. Clif. He is a traitor; let him to the Tower, And chop away that factious pate of his. Queen. He is arrested, but will not obey: His sons, he says, shall give their words for him. York. Will you not, sons? Edw. Ay, noble father, if our words will serve. Rich. And if words will not, then our weap ons shall. 140 Clif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we here! York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so: And manacle the bear-ward in their chains, As crooked in thy manners as thy shape! York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves. 160 King. 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 harbor in the earth? Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war, And shame thine honorable age with blood?170 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. Sal. 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. King. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me? King Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath? Sal. 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? 190 Queen. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. King. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast, I am resolved for death or dignity. Clif. The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true. War. You were best to go to bed and dream again, To keep thee from the tempest of the field. 200 Clif. I am resolved to bear a greater storm The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, And tread it under foot with all contempt, Rich. Fie charity, for shame! speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. Y. Clif. Foul stigmatic, that's more than thou canst tell. Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. Saint Alban's. Alarums to the battle. Enter WARWICK. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls: And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum And dead inen'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. As I in justice and true right express it. Clif. My soul and body on the action both! York. A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls. Clif. La fin couronne les œuvres. [Dies. York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still. Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! 30 (Exit. Enter young CLIFFORD. Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself 40 |