William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (55 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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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, an if I do not leave you all as dead as a doornail I pray God I may never eat grass more.
IDEN
Nay, it shall ne’er be said while England stands
That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famished man.
Oppose thy steadfast gazing eyes to mine—
See if thou canst outface 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 digged already in the earth.
As for words, whose greatness answers words,
Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
(
To his men
) Stand you all aside.
That Alexander Iden, an esquire of Kent,
Took odds to combat a poor famished man.
Oppose thy steadfast gazing eyes to mine—
See if thou canst outface 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 digged already in the earth.
As for words, whose greatness answers words,
Let this my sword report what speech forbears.
(
To his men
) Stand you all aside.
CADE By my valour, the most complete champion that ever I heard. (
To his sword
) 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 God on my knees thou mayst be turned to hobnails.
To his sword
) 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 God on my knees thou mayst be turned to hobnails.
⌈
Cade stands.
⌉
Here they fight
,
and Cade falls down
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’d 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.
IDEN
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.
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.
CADE 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.
He dies
IDEN
How much thou wrong’st me, heaven be my judge.
Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bore thee!
And ⌈
stabbing him again
⌉ 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.
Die, damned wretch, the curse of her that bore thee!
And ⌈
stabbing him again
⌉ 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.
Exeunt with the body
Enter the Duke of York and his army of Irish with a drummer and soldiers bearing colours
YORK
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 maiestas
! Who would not buy thee dear?
Let them obey that knows not how to rule;
This hand was made to handle naught but gold.
I cannot give due action to my words,
Except a sword or sceptre balance it.
A sceptre shall it have, have I as word,
On which I’ll toss the fleur-de-lis of France.
Enter the Duke of Buckingham
(
Aside
) Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb
me?
The King hath sent him sure—I must dissemble.
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 maiestas
! Who would not buy thee dear?
Let them obey that knows not how to rule;
This hand was made to handle naught but gold.
I cannot give due action to my words,
Except a sword or sceptre balance it.
A sceptre shall it have, have I as word,
On which I’ll toss the fleur-de-lis of France.
Enter the Duke of Buckingham
(
Aside
) Whom have we here? Buckingham to disturb
me?
The King hath sent him sure—I must dissemble.
BUCKINGHAM
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?
Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure?
BUCKINGHAM
A messenger from Henry, our dread liege,
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,
Should raise so great a power without his leave,
Or dare to bring thy force so near the court?
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,
Should raise so great a power without his leave,
Or dare to bring thy force so near the court?
YORK (
aside
)
aside
)
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 a while,
Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.
(
Aloud
) 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.
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 a while,
Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.
(
Aloud
) 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.
BUCKINGHAM
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.
But if thy arms be to no other end,
The King hath yielded unto thy demand:
The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower.
YORK
Upon thine honour, is he prisoner?
BUCKINGHAM
Upon mine honour, he is prisoner.
YORK
Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers.
Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;
Meet me tomorrow in Saint George’s field.
You shall have pay and everything you wish.
Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves;
Meet me tomorrow in Saint George’s field.
You shall have pay and everything you wish.
Exeunt soldiers
(
To Buckingham
) And let my sovereign, 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.
To Buckingham
) And let my sovereign, 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.
BUCKINGHAM
York, I commend this kind submission.
We twain will go into his highness’ tent.
We twain will go into his highness’ tent.
Enter King Henry and attendants
KING HENRY
Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,
That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?
That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?
YORK
In all submission and humility
York doth present himself unto your highness.
York doth present himself unto your highness.
KING HENRY
Then what intends these forces thou dost bring?
YORK
To heave the traitor Somerset from hence,
And fight against that monstrous rebel Cade,
Who since I heard to be discomfited.
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
May pass into the presence of a king,
⌈
Kneeling
⌉ Lo, I present your grace a traitor’s head,
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
May pass into the presence of a king,
⌈
Kneeling
⌉ Lo, I present your grace a traitor’s head,
The head of Cade, whom I in combat slew.
KING HENRY
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?
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?
IDEN ⌈
rising
⌉
rising
⌉
Iwis, an’t like your majesty.
KING HENRY
How art thou called? And what is thy degree?
IDEN
Alexander Iden, that’s my name;
A poor esquire of Kent that loves his king.
A poor esquire of Kent that loves his king.
BUCKINGHAM (
to King Henry
)
to King Henry
)
So please it you, my lord, ’twere not amiss
He were created knight for his good service.
He were created knight for his good service.
KING HENRY
Iden, kneel down.
Iden kneels and King Henry knights him
Rise up a knight.
Iden rises
We give thee for reward a thousand marks,
And will that thou henceforth attend on us.
And will that thou henceforth attend on us.
IDEN
May Iden live to merit such a bounty,
And never live but true unto his liege.
And never live but true unto his liege.
⌈
Exit
⌉
Exit
⌉
Enter Queen Margaret and the Duke of Somerset
KING HENRY
See, Buckingham, Somerset comes wi’th’ Queen.
Go bid her hide him quickly from the Duke.
Go bid her hide him quickly from the Duke.
QUEEN MARGARET
For thousand Yorks he shall not hide his head,
But boldly stand and front him to his face.
But boldly stand and front him to his face.
YORK
How now? Is Somerset at liberty?
Then, York, unloose thy long imprisoned 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 aweful princely sceptre.
That gold must round engird 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.
Then, York, unloose thy long imprisoned 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 aweful princely sceptre.
That gold must round engird 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.
SOMERSET
O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York,
Of capital treason ’gainst the King and crown.
Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.
Of capital treason ’gainst the King and crown.
Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace.
YORK (
to an attendant
)
to an attendant
)
Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail.
Exit attendant
I know, ere they will have me go to ward,
They’ll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement.
Exit attendant
I know, ere they will have me go to ward,
They’ll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement.
QUEEN MARGARET ⌈
to Buckingham
⌉
to Buckingham
⌉
Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain,
To say if that the bastard boys of York
Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
To say if that the bastard boys of York
Shall be the surety for their traitor father.
Exit
⌈
Buckingham
⌉
⌈
Buckingham
⌉
YORK
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.
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.
Enter
⌈
at one door
⌉
York’s sons Edward and crookback Richard
⌈
with a drummer and soldiers
⌉
See where they come. I’ll warrant they’ll make it good.
Enter
⌈
at the other door
⌉
Clifford
⌈
and his son, with a drummer and soldiers
⌉
QUEEN MARGARET
And here comes Clifford to deny their bail.
CLIFFORD (
kneeling before King Henry
)
kneeling before King Henry
)
Health and all happiness to my lord the King.
He rises
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.
Nay, do not fright us with an angry look—
We are thy sovereign, Clifford; kneel again.
For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee.
CLIFFORD
This is my king, York; I do not mistake.
But thou mistakes me much to think I do.
(
To King Henry
)
To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?
But thou mistakes me much to think I do.
(
To King Henry
)
To Bedlam with him! Is the man grown mad?
KING HENRY
Ay, Clifford, a bedlam and ambitious humour
Makes him oppose himself against his king.
Makes him oppose himself against his king.
CLIFFORD
He is a traitor; let him to the Tower,
And chop away that factious pate of his.
And chop away that factious pate of his.
QUEEN MARGARET
He is arrested, but will not obey.
His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.
His sons, he says, shall give their words for him.
YORK (
to Edward and Richard
) Will you not, sons?
to Edward and Richard
) Will you not, sons?
EDWARD
Ay, noble father, if our words will serve.
RICHARD
And if words will not, then our weapons shall.
CLIFFORD
Why, what a brood of traitors have we here!
YORK
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.
(
To an attendant
)
Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me.
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.
(
To an attendant
)
Bid Salisbury and Warwick come to me.
Exit attendant
Enter the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury
⌈
with a drummer and soldiers
⌉
CLIFFORD
Are these thy bears? We’ll bait thy bears to death,
And manacle the bearherd in their chains,
If thou dar’st bring them to the baiting place.
And manacle the bearherd in their chains,
If thou dar’st bring them to the baiting place.
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